Minimum tillage planting apparatus

Claim 2

A soil conditioning apparatus, particularly useful in clay-type soil, for producing a narrow row zone of loose, soft, friable soil for the planting of seed without prior tillage and without disturbing the soil between row zones, said apparatus comprising (a) a main frame supported for movement over the ground, (b) a coulter supported by said main frame for rolling engagement with the ground and being adapted to cut through surface residue and slice into the soil to a predetermined depth, (c) a plow element supported by said main frame behind said coulter and extending downwardly and forwardly to a point behind and below said coulter and in alignment therewith, said plow element being adapted to penetrate into and lift the soil as its travels therethrough at a predetermined depth, and (d) a pair of spaced-apart pressure means carried by said main frame on opposite sides of the rear portion of said coulter and adjacent opposite sides of said plow element and directly over the point thereof for exerting a downward pressure on the soil on both sides of said plow element in opposition to the lifting action of said plow element for creating a crushing, shearing action on the soil to produce a narrow row zone of loose, soft and friable soil suitable for the planting of seed therein.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 including (e) row covering and leveling means carried by said main frame rearwardly of said plow element for covering the furrow formed by said plow element and for leveling the row zone.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of pressure means comprises a pair of wheels mounted for rotation of said main frame and adapted for rolling engagement with the soil above the point of said plow element.

Claim 5

A soil conditioning apparatus, particularly useful in clay-type soil, for producing a narrow row zone of loose, soft, friable soil for the planting of seed without prior tillage and without disturbing the soil between row zones, said apparatus comprising (a) a main frame supported for movement over the ground, (b) a coulter supported by said main frame for rolling engagement with the ground and being adapted to cut through surface residue and slice into the soil to a predetermined depth, (c) a plow element supported by said main frame behind said coulter and extending downwardly and forwardly to a chisel point behind and below said coulter and in alignment therewith, said plow element being adapted to penetrate into and lift the soil as it travels therethrough at a predetermined depth, and (d) a pair of spaced-apart pressure wheels carried by said main frame and extending downwardly directly over said chisel point of said plow element for exerting a downward pressure on the soil on both sides of said plow element, said pressure wheels cooperating with said chisel point of said plow element for creating a crushing, shearing action on the soil to produce a narrow row zone of loose, soft and friable soil suitable for the planting of seed therein, said frame including means for adjustably mounting said pressure wheels from the frame for varying the downward pressure applied to the soil in accordance with varying soil conditions.

Claim 6

A soil conditioning apparatus, particularly useful in clay-type soil, for producing a narrow row zone of loose, soft, friable soil for the planting of seed without prior tillage and without disturbing the soil between row zones, said apparatus comprising (a) a main frame supported for movement over the ground, (b) a coulter supported by said main frame for rolling engagement with the ground and being adapted to cut through surface residue and slice into the soil to a predetermined depth, (c) a plow element supported by said main frame behind said coulter and extending downwardly and forwardly to a chisel point behind and below said coulter and in alignment therewith, said plow element being adapted to penetrate into and lift the soil as it travels therethrough at a predetermined depth, and (d) a pair of spaced-apart pressure wheels carried by said main frame and extending downwardly directly over said chisel point of said plow element for exerting a downward pressure on the soil on both sides of said plow element, said pressure wheels cooperating with said chisel point of said plow element for creating a crushing, shearing action on the soil to produce a narrow row zone of loose, soft and friable soil suitable for the planting of seed therein, said frame including means for adjustably mounting said pressure wheels from the frame for varying the downward pressure applied to the soil in accordance with varying soil conditions.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said chisel point includes a center fin sloping upwardly and backwardly from a forward end located adjacent the leading end of said point to a rearward end located adjacent the trailing end of said point to assist in breaking up and dividing the soil being lifted by said point.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said plow element includes a shank portion extending downwardly and forwardly at approximately a 45 degree angle, and wherein said chisel point is mounted on the lower end portion of said shank portion at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the horizontal.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pressure wheels are spaced apart a distance no greater than the width of said chisel point of said plow element.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said pressure wheels are spaced apart a distance less than the width of said chisel point.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 including (e) row covering and leveling means carried by said main frame rearwardly of said plow element and in alignment therewith for covering the furrow formed by said plow element and for leveling the row zone.

Claim 12

A minimum tillage planting apparatus, particularly useful in clay-type soil, for planting seeds in a narrow row zone of loose, soft, friable soil without prior tillage and without disturbing the soil between rows zones, said apparatus comprising (a) a main frame supported for movement over the ground, (b) a coulter supported by said main frame for rolling engagement with the ground and being adapted to cut through surface residue and slice into the soil to a predetermined length, (c) a plow element supported by said main frame behind said coulter and extending downwardly and forwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal to a point behind and below said coulter and in alignment therewith, said plow element being adapted to penetrate into and lift the soil as it travels therethrough, (d) a pair of spaced-apart pressure wheels carried by said main frame on opposite sides of the rear portion of said coulter and directly over the point of said plow element, said pressure wheels being adapted to exert a downward pressure on the soil on both sides of said plow element as it its being lifted by said plow element for creating a crushing, shearing action on the soil to produce a narrow row zone of loose, soft and friable soil suitable for the planting of seed therein, (e) furrow opening means carried by said main frame rearwardly of said plow element and in alignment therewith for opening a seed receiving furrow in said row zone, (f) seed depositing means carried by said main frame and operatively associated with said furrow opening means for depositing seed in the furrow opened by said furrow opening means, and (g) seed covering means carried by said main frame rearwardly of and in alignment with said seed depositing means for covering the seed deposited in the furrow with soil and for compacting the soil around the seeds.

Claim 13

A minimum tillage planting apparatus, particularly useful in clay-type soil, for planting seeds in a narrow row zone of loose, soft, friable soil without prior tillage and without disturbing the soil between rows zones, said apparatus comprising (a) a main frame supported for movement over the ground, (b) a coulter supported by said main frame for rolling engagement with the ground and being adapted to cut through surface residue and slice into the soil to a predetermined length, (c) a plow element supported by said main frame behind said coulter and extending downwardly and forwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal to a point behind and below said coulter and in alignment therewith, said plow element being adapted to penetrate into and lift the soil as it travels therethrough, (d) a pair of spaced-apart pressure wheels carried by said main frame on opposite sides of the rear portion of said coulter and directly over the point of said plow element, said pressure wheels being adapted to exert a downward pressure on the soil on both sides of said plow element as it its being lifted by said plow element for creating a crushing, shearing action on the soil to produce a narrow row zone of loose, soft and friable soil suitable for the planting of seed therein, (e) furrow opening means carried by said main frame rearwardly of said plow element and in alignment therewith for opening a seed receiving furrow in said row zone, (f) seed depositing means carried by said main frame and operatively associated with said furrow opening means for depositing seed in the furrow opened by said furrow opening means, and (g) seed covering means carried by said main frame rearwardly of and in alignment with said seed depositing means for covering the seed deposited in the furrow with soil and for compacting the soil around the seeds.