AU2003261490A1 - Seeding System - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: BRIAN DAVID FOWLER BRIAN DAVID FOWLER LORD COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

SEEDING SYSTEM DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NUMBER 2002952579 FILED NOVEMBER 11, 2002 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: "A SEEDING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a seeding apparatus.

It is known in agriculture to require a method of placing seeds in the ground to a known depth and ensuring that the soil is reinstated over the seed. A common method involves the use of a series of tines trailed behind a vehicle to create furrows in the soil. Each tine includes a means for ejecting seeds at regular intervals into the furrow.

A further device is included following the means for ejecting the seed which reinstates the soil over the seed.

A known type of device for reinstating the soil is a press wheel. Such a device has the disadvantage that when the soil is placed back over the seed, the soil is compressed slightly. This creates a crust layer above the seed which makes it more difficult for the growing plant to emerge from the soil. This is a significant problem, especially if there is less than expected rainfall as the rainfall will generally soften the crust and allow the plant to emerge more easily.

The present invention attempts to provide an improved seed placement system.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a seeding apparatus including a foot member being arranged to project below the surface of the ground such that it creates a groove in the ground when moved and at least one backfill means arranged to contact the ground behind the foot member alongside the groove such that it displaces the soil back into the groove when moved.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a seeding apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a seed placement and backfill means of the seeding apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the seed placement and backfill means of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the seed placement and backfill means of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a top view of the seeding apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a rear view of the seeding apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a front view of the seeding apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the seeding apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the seeding apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a side view of the backfill means of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a top view of the backfill means of Figure 9; and Figure 12 is a rear view of the backfill means of Figure 9.

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a seeding apparatus 10 including elongate members 12, a first downwardly extending member arm 14 and a second downwardly extending arm member 16.

The seeding apparatus 10 is also provided with a support member 18 arranged to be mounted to the rear of a vehicle. The vehicle may be a wheeled frame arranged to be towed behind a tractor. First ends of the elongate members 12 are pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the support member 18.

The first arm member 14 is mounted between the second ends of the elongate members 12 and is arranged to extend generally downwardly and away from said second ends. The first arm member 14 is provided with a foot member 22 secured to a lower end thereof. The foot member 22 is fixed to the first arm member 14 by a securing means 24. The securing means 24 is preferably in the form of a bolt 26 inserted through a slot 28 in the foot member 22. This allows the vertical position of the foot member 22 to be varied by securing a nut to the bolt 26 at different positions in the slot 28. A groove of varying depth can then be created by the foot member 22 as the seeding apparatus 10 is moved along.

Further, the first arm member 14 includes a pivot backfill means 32 secured adjacent a lower end thereof. The backfill means 32 are secured to bracket members mounted adjacent the lower end of the first arm member 14. The backfill means 32 extend downwardly and rearwardly from the lower end of the first arm member 14.

Each backfill means 32 is in the form of a bar member 33. The bar members 33 are offset to the side of the line of travel of the foot member 22 and are set at a height to contact the soil either side of the groove created by the foot member 22. This contact causes the soil to be displaced sidewardly into the groove created by the foot member 22 as the bar members 33 are moved.

Also provided is a seed ejection means 34. The seed ejection means is in the form of a hose member 36 secured along the length of the first arm member 12 and arranged with a lower end positioned behind the foot member 22. The hose member 36 is held in place by a first tube member 25 mounted to the bracket member 35. The seeds travel from a seed reservoir (not shown) down the hose member 36 and fall into the groove created by the foot member 22 are regular intervals.

A fertilization means 38 is also provided. The fertilization means 38 is in the form of a second hose member 40 secured to a second tube member 27 mounted on the bracket member 35. The fertilization means 38 is arranged to eject fertilizer alongside the line of seeds. This method prevents overly high levels of fertilizer at the site of the seed.

The support member 18 extends generally upwardly and towards second ends of the elongate members 12. A spring means 20 is provided extending generally downwardly from an upper end of the support member 18 to the second arm member 16. The second arm member 16 is generally arcuate in shape and is secured to the support member 18 adjacent the first end thereof. The second arm member 16 includes a tine member 30 fixed to a lower end thereof. The tine member 30 is positioned in front of the foot member 22 in order to break up the soil ahead of the foot member 22.

The seeding apparatus 10 also includes a hydraulic ram member 42 connecting the support member 18 to a point on the elongate member 12. Alternatively, the function of the hydraulic ram member 42 may be provided by a spring arm. Activating contraction of the ram member 42 allows the elongate member 12 to be raised up such that the foot member 22 and the backfill means 32 are out of engagement with the soil.

In Figure 8 can be seen a seeding apparatus 10 having an alternate embodiment of the backfill means 22 in which the bar members 33 of the first embodiment are replaced by disc members 44. The shape of the backfill means 22 can be varied according to the soil type in which the seeding apparatus is to be used. The disc configuration is a more suitable design in conditions where a heavier soil is encountered.

Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the present invention having an alternative backfill means 32. The backfill means 32 comprise a pair of plate members 50 mounted in a generally vertical orientation. The plate members 50 include a first portion 52 being arranged to be mounted to the lower end of the first arm member 14 and a second portion 54 arranged to extend downwardly and away from the lower end of the first arm 14. The second portion of the plate member 50 is generally triangular in shape wherein the edge adjacent the first portion is generally vertical and the other two edges extend generally downward and away from the first portion to a rearmost point 56, the lowermost of these edges being the ground engaging edge 58. The ground edge 58 is arranged such that the soil is displaced sideways in use into the groove formed by the foot member 22.

The ground engaging edge 58 is provided with a relatively wear resistant covering The wear resistant covering may be in the form of a portion of tungsten carbide material having a rounded lower edge.

In use, the seeding apparatus 10 is secured to a vehicle via the support member 18.

The ram member 42 is extended to allow foot member 22 and the backfill means 32 to come into contact with the soil. The vertical position of the foot member 22 is adjusted via the securing means 24 to suit the conditions and the seeding apparatus is then trailed along by the vehicle.

The tine member 30 breaks up the soil as the seeding apparatus travels and the foot member 22 creates a groove in the soil to an accurate predetermined depth. The seed ejection means 34 ejects seeds into the groove at regular intervals. The fertilization means 38 attached to one of the backfill means 32 dispenses fertilizer along the side of the row of seeds. The backfill means 32 then force soil from alongside the groove back into the groove to cover the seeds.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A seeding apparatus including a foot member being arranged to project below the surface of the ground such that it creates a groove in the ground when moved and at least one backfill means arranged to contact the ground behind the foot member alongside the groove such that it displaces the soil back into the groove when moved.

2. A seeding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the backfill means comprises members arranged to contact the soil on both sides of the groove such that soil is displaced into the groove.

3. A seeding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein a seed ejection means is provided, the seed ejection means being arranged between the foot member and the backfill means to eject seeds into the groove.

4. A seeding apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the foot member is height adjustable to allow the depth of the groove to be varied.

A seeding apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, including a pivotally mounted elongate member and a first downwardly extending member mounted adjacent a distal end of the elongate member, the foot member and the backfill means being mounted adjacent a lower end of the first downwardly extending member.

6. A seeding apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein a ram member is mounted between the elongate member and a support member such that contraction of the ram member causes the elongate member to pivot and the foot member and backfill means to be raised from the ground.

7. A seeding apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second pivotally mounted arm member is provided having a tine member adjacent a lower end thereof, the tine member being arranged to contact the ground in front of the foot member to break up the soil.

8. A seeding apparatus in accordance with claims 6 or 7, wherein the second arm member is pivotally mounted adjacent a first end thereof and a spring member is provided between the support member and the second arm member.

9. A seeding apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fertilisation means is provided, the fertilisation means being arranged to dispense fertiliser on the ground behind the backfill means alongside the filled groove.

A seeding apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backfill means comprises one or more bar members, the or each bar member being arranged to contact the soil alongside the groove.

11. A seeding apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backfill means comprises one or more plate members, the or each plate member being arranged vertically and having a relatively wear resistant lower edge arranged to contact the ground.

12. A seeding apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the or each plate member includes a first portion including means to mount the plate member and a second portion generally triangular in shape extending downwardly from the first portion, the wear resistant lower edge being on the second portion.

13. A seeding apparatus in accordance with claim 12 or 13, wherein the wear resistant lower edge comprises a portion of tungsten carbide material.

14. A seeding apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 7 TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2003. BRIAN DAVID FOWLER By his Patent Attorneys LORD COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.