Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for seeding singulated forest seeds, for connection to the rear of tractor-drawn ground preparing means, comprising a generally tubular member having one end connected by means of a universal joint to said tractor-drawn means at an elevated distance above the ground for movement in vertical and lateral direction, the other end of said tubular member having a terminal portion extending at an angle to said tubular member in a generally horizontal direction, said terminal portion extending through a generally pear-shaped tamping means carried by said terminal portion for compacting the soil while being dragged along the ground and having its pointed end facing in the direction of drag, said tubular member comprising conduit means, including pneumatic means supported by elastic stuffing material in said terminal portion for ejecting seeds at the rear of said tamping means as the latter is dragged along the ground, said universal joint comprising a first arm pivoted to said ground-preparing means to move about a vertical axis, and a second arm supporting said tubular member pivoted to said first arm to move about a horizontal axis, the length of said arms relative to the length of said tubular member being proportioned so as to allow said tubular member to move relatively freely vertically and horizontally in response to unevenness in the terrain while being relatively resistant to twisting while being dragged along the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for seeding singulated forest seeds, for connection to the rear of tractor-drawn ground preparing means, comprising a generally tubular member having one end connected by means of a universal joint to said tractor-drawn means at an elevated distance above the ground for movement in vertical and lateral direction, the other end of said tubular member having a terminal portion extending at an angle to said tubular member in a generally horizontal direction, said terminal portion extending through a generally pear-shaped tamping means carried by said terminal portion for compacting the soil while being dragged along the ground and having its pointed end facing in the direction of drag, said tubular member comprising conduit means, including pneumatic means supported by elastic stuffing material in said terminal portion for ejecting seeds at the rear of said tamping means as the latter is dragged along the ground, said universal joint comprising a first arm pivoted to said ground-preparing means to move about a vertical axis, and a second arm supporting said tubular member pivoted to said first arm to move about a horizontal axis, the length of said arms relative to the length of said tubular member being proportioned so as to allow said tubular member to move relatively freely vertically and horizontally in response to unevenness in the terrain while being relatively resistant to twisting while being dragged along the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said conduit means includes means for supplying mulching material to cover the seeded bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said conduit means includes seed sensor means located adjacent the outlet of the conduit means for monitoring the rate of seed feed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said pneumatic means includes an ejector means located in said conduit means adjacent the outlet thereof, which creates an under-pressure in that portion of the conduit means which extends ahead of the ejector means, and an over-pressure in the portion extending beyond the ejector means in the direction of discharge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the tamping means is provided with rearwardly projecting diverging resilient means for raking soil over the seeds from the walls of the furrows formed by the tamping means.