Patent Publication Number: US-2023157200-A1

Title: Apparatus for closing a seed groove

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for planting seeds. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for closing a seed groove after a seed is placed. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     A furrow closing assembly is used in connection with and drawn behind a planter row unit, which is typically towed behind a tractor. The planter row unit opens a furrow in the ground and places seed in the furrow. The closing assembly closes the furrow after placement of the seed. A typical furrow closing assembly, shown in  FIG.  1   , includes blades  30   a  and  30   b  for the purpose of closing the seed groove or furrow after the seed has been placed. A typical closing assembly also includes a press wheel  32  for the purpose of applying pressure to the soil surface after the furrow is closed to improve seed to soil contact. The press wheel  32  moves independently of the blades  30 . The independent motion of the press wheel compresses the soil through the application of a consistent force. The independent contact of the press wheel with the ground relative to the closing wheels provides consistent contact between the press wheel and the ground, but results in a rougher ride of the press wheel over the surface and creates a significant amount of chatter when the press wheel passes over the soil. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device that closes a seed groove without compacting the soil unnecessarily thereby improving crop yield. There is also a need for a device that provides for smoother and more consistent contact between the press wheel and the soil surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device that closes a seed groove in a way that improves crop yield. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a device that creates a smoother and more efficient ride for the closing unit as it is towed behind the tractor and planting unit. 
     The present invention meets these objects by providing a rotary basket that leaves the soil looser than a traditional press wheel and by fixing the axle of the rotary basket relative to the axles of the closing wheels resulting in a smoother ride. 
     According to an aspect a furrow closing unit is provided. The closing unit includes a frame adapted to be pivotally coupled with a planting unit towed behind an agricultural machine, and a pair of coulter blades rotatably attached to the frame and adapted to move soil into a seed groove to facilitate a closing of the seed groove. The closing unit further includes a basket assembly fixedly attached to the frame and having a basket adapted to roll over a soil surface behind the pair of coulter blades. The basket includes a pair of end caps and a plurality of spokes extending between the pair of end caps. The plurality of spokes is arrayed circularly around a central axis of the basket and is arranged spaced apart from each other. 
     In an embodiment, the frame includes a pair of arms arranged at a first longitudinal end of the frame and adapted to pivotally couple to the planting unit. 
     According to one embodiment, the basket assembly includes a fork fixedly attached to a second longitudinal end of the frame and extending rearwardly of the frame. 
     In one embodiment, the fork includes a pair of fork arms coupled to the pair of the end caps of basket assembly. 
     In an embodiment, the basket is rotatably coupled to the fork arms and is adapted to rotate about the central axis. 
     According to one embodiment, the closing unit further includes a lever attached to the frame and a spring having one end adapted to be attached to the planting unit and other end attached to the lever, wherein the spring controls a compressive force applied by the basket on the soil. 
     In one embodiment, the lever is adapted to be displaced between a plurality of positions to vary the compressive force. 
     According to an embodiment, the frame includes a plurality of detents to keep lever at the plurality of positions. 
     In one embodiment, the plurality of spokes extends obliquely relative to the end caps. 
     According to an embodiment, the frame includes a pair of longitudinal sides and a pair of support bars extending downwardly from the pair of longitudinal sides. The pair of coulter blades is rotatably attached to the pair of support bars. 
     According to an aspect a furrow closing unit is provided. The closing unit includes a frame adapted to be pivotally coupled with a planting unit towed behind an agricultural machine and a pair of coulter blades rotatably attached to the frame and adapted to move soil into a seed groove to facilitate a closing of the seed groove. The closing unit further includes a basket assembly fixedly attached to the frame and having a fork fixedly attached to the frame and extending rearwardly of the frame. The basket assembly also includes a basket rotatably coupled to the fork and adapted to roll over a soil surface behind the pair of coulter blades. The basket includes a pair of end caps and a plurality of spokes extending between the pair of end caps and obliquely to the end caps. The plurality of spokes is arrayed circularly around a central axis of the basket and is arranged spaced apart from each other. 
     In an embodiment, the frame includes a pair of arms arranged at a first longitudinal ends of the frame and adapted to pivotally couple to the planting unit. 
     According to an embodiment, the fork includes a pair of fork arms coupled to the pair of the end caps of basket assembly. 
     In some embodiments, the basket is rotatably coupled to the fork arms and is adapted to rotate about the central axis. 
     In an embodiment, the closing unit includes a lever attached to the frame and a spring having one end adapted to be attached to the planting unit and other end attached to the lever. The spring controls a compressive force applied by the basket on the soil. 
     According to an embodiment, the lever is adapted to be displaced between a plurality of positions to vary the compressive force. 
     In one embodiment, the frame includes a plurality of detents to keep lever at the plurality of positions. 
     In an embodiment, the frame includes a pair of longitudinal sides and a pair of support bars extending downwardly from the pair of longitudinal sides. The pair of coulter blades is rotatably attached to the pair of support bars. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the following drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a front perspective view of an existing closing unit as is known in the prior art; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a closing unit attached to a planting unit towed behind an agricultural machine, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a side perspective view of the closing unit of  FIG.  2   , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a top perspective view of the closing unit of  FIG.  3   , according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a bottom perspective view of the closing unit of  FIG.  3   , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention that would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     One presently preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a furrow closing unit having at least one coulter blade to close a seed groove after the seed is deposited inside the seed groove/opening/furrow and a rolling basket trailing the at least one coulter blade to press the soil. The rolling basket facilitates a gentler compression of the soil than the press wheel of the prior art leaving the soil smoother and less compact which promotes growth. Further, the rolling basket is fixedly attached to the frame to which at least one coulter is fixedly attached. Accordingly, the closing unit prevents any independent movement of the rolling basket relative to the at least one coulter blade, enabling a smoother, more consistent ride for the closing unit as a whole. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , a furrow closing unit  100  suitable for closing seed groove/opening/furrow defined in a soil and compacting the soil is shown. The closing unit  100  is adapted to pivotally attach to a planting unit  300  towed behind an agricultural machine, such as, a tractor. Although the tractor is contemplated as the agricultural machine, it may be envisioned that any other agricultural machine suitable for performing operation at an agricultural field can also be utilized. As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the closing unit  100  includes a frame  102  having a first end  104  (i.e., a front end  104 ) and a second end  106  (i.e., a rear end  106 ) and two longitudinal sides  108 ,  110  arranged spaced part and extending from the front end  104  to the rear end  106 . The frame  102  includes a pair of arms, for example, a first arm  112  and a second arm  114  arranged spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first arm  112 , arranged at the front end  104  of the frame  102 . The arms  112 ,  114  are connected to the planting unit  300  and enables a pivotal coupling of the closing unit  100  relative to the planting unit  300  about a pivot axis  120  that passes through holes  122 ,  124  of the arms  112 ,  114  and is aligned with central axes of the holes  122 ,  124 . 
     Further, the frame  102  further includes at least one support bar, for example a first support bar  128  and a second support bar  130  extending downwardly from longitudinal sides  108 ,  110  of the frame  102 , and is adapted to support at least one coulter blade, for example, a first coulter blade  132  and a second coulter blade  134 . As shown, the first support bar  128  is arranged proximate to the arms  112 ,  114  or the front end  104  of the frame and extends downwardly from a first longitudinal side  108  of the frame  102 , while the second support bar  130  extends downwardly from a second longitudinal side  110  of the frame  102  and is disposed proximate to the arms  112 ,  114  or the front end  104  of the frame  102 . Accordingly, the first support bar  128  and the second support bar  130  are disposed spaced apart from each other and are arranged substantially parallel to each other. It may be appreciated that the support bars  128 ,  130  may be attached to the frame  102  by using fasteners, welding, or any other suitable means known in the art. In some embodiments, the support bars  128 ,  130  and the arms  112 ,  114  may be integrally formed or welded with the frame  102 . It may be appreciated that the support bars  128 ,  130  and the arms  112 ,  114  are fixedly connected to the frame  102  to prevent any relative motion of the arms  112 ,  114  and support bars  128 ,  130  relative to the frame  102 . The first coulter blade  132  is adapted to rotate relative to the first support bar  128 , while the second coulter blade  134  is adapted to rotate relative to the second support bar  130 . Further, the coulter blades  132 ,  134  roll on the surface as the closing unit  100  is linearly displaced. The coulter blades  132 ,  134  are arranged to laterally displace soil inwardly toward the opposing coulter blades  132 ,  134  and thereby fill a furrow or opening or seed groove into which seeds have been deposited. 
     Moreover, the closing unit  100  includes a basket assembly  140  having a fork  142  fixedly attached to the rear end  106  of the frame  102  and extending rearwardly and downwardly from the frame  102 . As shown, the fork  142  includes a first fork arm  144  fixedly connected to the first longitudinal side  108  of the frame  102  and a second fork arm  146  fixedly attached to the second longitudinal side  110  of the frame  102 . The first fork arm  144  and the second fork arm  146  extend rearwardly and obliquely from the frame  102  and arranged spaced apart from each other and defines a gap  150  therebetween. Also, the basket assembly  140  includes a rolling basket  152  arranged inside the gap  150  and attached to the two fork arms  144 ,  146 . The basket  152  is attached to the fork arms  144 ,  146  such that the basket  152  is adapted to rotate about its central axis  154  relative to the fork arms  144 ,  146 . Additionally, the basket  152  is a cylindrical structure having two end caps  156 ,  158  with a first end cap  156  coupled to the first fork arm  144  and a second end cap  158  coupled to the second fork arm  146 , and a plurality of spokes  160  extending arrayed circularly around the central axis  154  and extending from the first end cap  156  to the second end cap  158 . Also, it may be appreciated that the spokes  160  are arranged such that a gap exist between two consecutive/neighboring/adjacent spokes  160 . In some embodiments, the spokes  160  extend obliquely to the end caps  156 ,  158 . Preferably, the spokes  160  are arranged at a 50-degree to 70-degree angle relative to the end caps  156 ,  158 . This helps to ensure proper compaction and finishing of the soil surface while simultaneously preventing clogging of the basket  152  with mud when used in wet conditions. Alternatively, the spokes  160  may be arranged substantially perpendicularly to the end caps  156 ,  158 . 
     Additionally, or optionally, shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , a top plate  162  of the frame  102  defines an elongated channel  164  and a plurality of cut-outs, for example, a first cut-out  166 , a second cut-out  168 , and a third cut-out  170  corresponding to a plurality of positions of a lever  172  that enables a control of pressing force applied by the rolling basket  152  on the soil. As shown, the lever  172  includes a first end  174  (shown in  FIG.  5   ) attached to an end of a spring  176  (best shown in  FIG.  5   ) and a second end  178  having a handle  180  to enable a movement of the lever  172  between the plurality of positions. The first end  174  includes a pin  181  which is attached to the frame  102 . As shown, the first cut-out  166  is arranged proximate to the front end  104  of the frame  102 , the second cut-out  168  is arranged between the first cut-out  166  and the third cut-out  170 , and the third cutout  170  is arranged proximate to the rear end  106  of the frame  102 . It may be appreciated that the first cut-out  166  corresponds to a first position of the lever  172 , the second cut-out  168  corresponds to a second position of the lever  172 , and the third cut-out  170  corresponds to a third position of the lever  172 . The pressing force applied by the rolling basket  152  on soil increases when the lever  172  is moved from the first position to the third position. The pressing force increases from the first position to the third position due to the pivotal movement of the closing unit  100  in a downward direction towards the soil as the lever  172  is moved from the first position to the third position. The pressing force increases as another end of the spring  176  is attached to the planting unit  300 , and the spring  176  gets compressed or stretched as the lever  172  is moved between various positions. Also, the top plate  162  defines a plurality of detents, for example, a first detent  182 , a second detent  184 , and a third detent  186  to hold the lever  172  at the first position, the second position, and the third position, respectively and prevent the movement of the lever  172  from the first cut-out  166 , the second cut-out  168 , and the third cut-out  170 , respectively. 
     This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiment disclosed, is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become evident to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.