Abstract: The subsoiler has shank assemblies which are designed to cut a thin, clean slice in the soil without frontal upheaval forces that would cause eruption of the soil in a turbulent manner ahead of the shank line. The soil lifting components at the bottom of the shank are configured to produce generally laminar soil flow over and around their lifting surfaces so that the upwardly and outwardly directed fracturing forces occur behind the leading shank line in a readily controllable manner and without disturbing residue and other materials on top of the ground. The subsoiling profile at the bottom of the shank may be varied by interchanging variously configured points and caps which are securely but removably secured to the shank. An alternate embodiment provides adjustment of the profile presented to the soil by having a portion of the component angularly vertically adjustable to vary the angle of attack of its lifting surfaces.

Abstract: The placement device utilizes a flat, upright shank having a pair of rotatable residue cutting discs secured to opposite faces of the shank just outside of a slender, generally crescent shaped, replaceable insert component at the bottom of the shank which is only slightly wider than the shank itself. Instead of transverse fasteners which would widen the overall width of the assembly, a single draw bolt extends generally longitudinally of the shank and attaches the lower component to the lower end of the shank which is configured in the nature of a notch so as to complementally receive in edge-to-edge abutting relationship a matingly configured corner of the component.

Abstract: The ridge preparation tool is adapted to be attached to a seed planter directly ahead of the trench-forming structure of the planter so as to skim off the crest of the ridge for the production of a clean, relatively narrow strip of prepared soil in which the trench-forming structure can operate effectively. The free-wheeling skimming disc of the tool is held at an oblique angle to the centerline of the planter and may be adjusted to increase or decrease the extent of side throw of the skimmed off materials by selectively raising or lowering an outwardly bent mounting arm that holds disc at its oblique angle. Raising or lowering the angled mounting arm causes the disc to cock inwardly or outwardly while maintaining the same oblique angle. The throw-adjusted disc can be returned to the same skimming depth by appropriate manipulation of a vertical adjustment unit associated with the tool.

Abstract: The point is adapted to fit onto the forwardly projecting mounting wedge of a tillage shank and has a downwardly and forwardly inclined, elongated crown provided with a transverse, sharpened tip at its lower front end. An underslung transverse wall looped under the crown at the front end of the point defines a rearwardly opening socket that matingly receives the apex of the mounting wedge of the shank, and depending sidewalls on the crown adjacent its opposite lateral edges rearwardly of the underslung wall serve to present a protective trough on the underside of the crown that matingly receives the upper surface of the mounting wedge so as to protectively cover otherwise exposed side portions of the wedge and thus shield such areas from exposure of abrasive soils.

Abstract: A shank mounting assembly for a soil opening point permits adjustment of the spacing between a pair of mounting bolts of the assembly for permitting attachment of the assembly to farm implement shanks having bolt holes of various spacings. The assembly includes an elongated adapter having a hidden, internal cavity to which access is gained only by an elongated slot on the backside of the adapter. The cavity and slot are so dimensioned that while the bolts may move lengthwise within the slot for positioning adjustment, the enlarged heads of the bolts remain in the cavity and cannot pass through the slot. By having the cavity accessible only from the back of the adapter and by providing the front face of the adapter with a smooth, continuous, soil-engaging surface, the heads of the bolts are protectively unexposed to abrasive contact with the soil during use.

Abstract: The applicator comprises a relatively thin, streamlined knife blade adapted to be positioned with its longitudinal axis inclined upwardly and rearwardly during use with a leading edge of the applicator slicing through the subsoil and a lowermost and forwardmost point thereof penetrating the subsoil for the progressive entry of a wedge immediately behind the point which firms up and smooths the lowermost portion of the slice being created by the knife. Upwardly and rearwardly inclined, streamlined wings at the bottom of the blade but above the wedge project beyond the rear of the wedge to define a pocket into which anhydrous ammonia or other substances can be deposited. In one embodiment, the wings commence at the point and diverge rearwardly therefrom at a faster rate than the wedge to provide increased surface area for lifting and fracturing the soil as the knife moves therethrough, providing particular relief in root-bound subsoils.

Abstract: A pair of circular, furrow-opening disks, supported by separate, angularly oriented axles, rotatable simultaneously as a unit and converging to a leading zone of interengagement within the ground for preventing soil buildup therebetween, have a wedge-shaped, trailing blade, rigidly supported therebetween immediately ahead of materials gravitating into the furrow, and following at a greater depth, for slicing the series of unplowed scallops at the bottom of the furrow, clearing the furrow bottom of loose soil and forming a truly V-shaped, ridgeless, material-receiving apex compressed into a smooth, firm sidewall formation.

Abstract: A double disc attachment for farm implements operating to present a debris-cleared area ahead of the furrow opener of the implement, has a peripherally notched disc with one of the discs spaced from and leading the other. Each disc is rotatably carried by its own independent, rearwardly-extending bracket, and each bracket has its own independent, vertically extensible support, with the supports and the brackets laterally spaced. In two embodiments the supports are disposed entirely behind the discs, and in all forms each support is adjustably secured to its own independent means for separate mounting of its disc unit on the implement. The mounts are also laterally spaced, and in one form the discs are located between the brackets.

Abstract: A ground penetrating tool for a farm implement shank has a pyramidal tooth provided with a pointed, leading apex and a socket in its trailing end that receives a mating, triangular tongue integral with an upwardly and rearwardly extending mount releasably secured to the shank. The trailing end of the tooth abuts shoulders on the mount to absorb the load on the tooth and further protect a fastener passing transversely through the tooth and tongue for releasably attaching the tooth to the mount.

Abstract: A double disc, debris-clearing assembly has a suspension member for releasable attachment to a farm implement and on which is rigidly secured an upright standard. A guide rigid to and depending from the suspension member beneath the standard has a tiltable channel element releasably mounted thereon and provided with an upwardly-extending strap for varying its height along the guide. An adjustable connection is utilized between the strap and the standard. A pair of interconnected brackets carried by the channel element are provided with disc mounts which may, in turn, be adjusted to vary the positions of the discs relative to each other and to their brackets. Accordingly, the suspension member, the standard, the guide, the strap and the channel element are common to the bracket unit and, therefore, the discs.

Abstract: In the art of plant propagation having as its object increased yields and profits for the agricultural industry through proper techniques of soil and furrow preparation, in conjunction with controlled seed orientation, a multi-purpose, wedge-shaped follower is provided for use with a soil-slicing, furrow opener of a seed planter, specially configured and sized, and strategically located on a runner in a manner to assure a truly V-shaped, seed-receiving furrow having firmed side walls, and to increase the useful life of the slicer by decreasing the wear caused by the abrasive effect of the soil thereon.

Abstract: A double disc attachment for planters, operating to present a debris-cleared area ahead of the furrow opener of the planter, has one of the discs peripherally fluted so that the discs cooperate in their debris-clearing function rather than work in opposition to one another. The fluting permits lateral displacement by the other disc of debris which might otherwise be contacted simultaneously by the soil-penetrating cutter disc and left lying across the path of the oncoming furrow opener. The discs are properly oriented insofar as tilt, spacing, convergence, relative overlapping and lead are concerned, with at least certain of such relative positioning and depth being adjustable to accommodate for various conditions.

Abstract: A detachable, self-sharpening digging shoe for deep tillage shanks is shaped, sized and disposed in a manner to provide the proper angle of attack and to minimize resistance to its movement through the soil such that the movement is not only smooth but incapable of creating that kind of soil turbulence which normally results in substantial wear on critical areas of the shoe and the shank.

Abstract: A knife for applying substances such as fertilizer in solid, liquid or gaseous form cuts a slice in the subsoil with its leading, rearwardly inclined cutting edge and simultaneously firms up and maintains the lower portions of the sides of the slice in readiness for receiving the substance in a pocket formed by a recess at the lowermost rear of the knife in conjunction with the firmed up portions. The slice taken by the slender knife is of such narrowness and the movement of the knife through the subsoil is of such a streamlined nature that the cohesive integrity and inherent resiliency of the subsoil is not destroyed, promoting self-closure of the slice behind the knife, thus greatly reducing the escape of the substance where it is a gas.