Agricultural planter

Claim 2

An improved seed dispensing means for an agricultural seed planter having hopper means for receiving and containing seed to be dispensed and ground wheel means for engaging the surface of ground over which the planter moves, the seed dispensing means comprising: drop plate means mounted on said hopper means for defining a seed drop opening through which seed is delivered, stud means extending from said drop plate means into said hopper means, antifriction bearing means having an inner race engaging said stud means and said drop plate means and an outer race encircling said inner race, drive plate means mounted on said bearing means outer race for rotation relative to said drop plate means, seed plate means mounted on said drive plate means for rotation therewith, said drop plate means and said seed plate means each defining a conical surface extending upwardly from said stud means said bearing means and said drive plate means cooperating for mounting said seed plate means in predetermined spaced relation to said drop plate means and accurately positioning selected seed plate means installed in the seed planter, said seed plate means and said drop plate means cooperating on rotation of said seed plate means for selecting and dispensing seed while avoiding rubbing contact between said seed plate means and said drop plate means, and adjustable clearance means penetrated by said stud means and disposed in spaced relation from said drive plate means for establishing an operating clearance for rotation of said seed plate means with said drive plate means, for restraining said seed plate means from disengagement from said drive plate means, and for adjustably varying the operating clearance as required for alternate seed plate means.

Claim 3

A planter according to claim 1 wherein said drive plate means and said seed plate means have mating engagement means for driving engagement of said seed plate means with said drive plate means.

Claim 4

A planter according to claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises an adjustable clearance means engaging said stud means for movement relative to said drive plate means and for establishing a clearance space from said drive plate means for reception of said seed plate means so that said seed plate means can be interchanged while avoiding jamming thereof by seed in said hopper means.

Claim 5

A planter according to claim 1 wherein said stud means is threaded and said restraining means engages the threads of said stud means for accommodating ready adjustment of the clearance space provided for said seed plate means.

Claim 6

In an agricultural seed planter having a hopper means for receiving and containing seed to be dispensed, ground wheel means for engaging the surface of ground over which the planter moves, and seed dispensing means for releasing seed from said hopper means and including drop plate means foR defining a seed drop opening through which seed is delivered and seed plate means for rotation relative to said drop plate means in coordination with rotation of said ground wheel means for selecting and delivering seed, said drop plate means and said seed plate means each defining a conical surface extending upwardly from the axis of rotation of said seed plate means an improvement which facilitates avoidance of rubbing contact between said seed plate means and said drop plate means and of seed plate means jamming otherwise possibly occurring, the improvement comprising: drive plate means for mounting said seed plate means in spaced relation to said drop plate means and for driving said seed plate means in rotation, antifriction bearing means for mounting said drive plate means for rotation and having an outer race engaging said drive plate means and an inner race with a lower part engaging said drop plate means adjustable clearance means for establishing an operating clearance for rotation of said seed plate and for restraining said seed plate against disengagement from said drive plate means, and fastener means penetrating said bearing means and said adjustable clearance means and cooperating therewith for maintaining said drive plate means in predetermined relation to said drop plate means and said adjustable clearance means in predetermined relation to said drive plate means for thereby maintaining said seed plate means out of frictional contact with said drop plate means.

Claim 7

In an agricultural seed planter having a hopper means for receiving and containing seed to be dispensed, ground wheel means for engaging the surface of ground over which the planter moves, and seed dispensing means for releasing seed from said hopper means and including drop plate means foR defining a seed drop opening through which seed is delivered and seed plate means for rotation relative to said drop plate means in coordination with rotation of said ground wheel means for selecting and delivering seed, said drop plate means and said seed plate means each defining a conical surface extending upwardly from the axis of rotation of said seed plate means an improvement which facilitates avoidance of rubbing contact between said seed plate means and said drop plate means and of seed plate means jamming otherwise possibly occurring, the improvement comprising: drive plate means for mounting said seed plate means in spaced relation to said drop plate means and for driving said seed plate means in rotation, antifriction bearing means for mounting said drive plate means for rotation and having an outer race engaging said drive plate means and an inner race with a lower part engaging said drop plate means adjustable clearance means for establishing an operating clearance for rotation of said seed plate and for restraining said seed plate against disengagement from said drive plate means, and fastener means penetrating said bearing means and said adjustable clearance means and cooperating therewith for maintaining said drive plate means in predetermined relation to said drop plate means and said adjustable clearance means in predetermined relation to said drive plate means for thereby maintaining said seed plate means out of frictional contact with said drop plate means.