Abstract: An apparatus for planting seed having a frame adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for transport over the earth in a predetermined direction of travel, a source of seed, a furrowing assembly, an arm borne by the frame mounting the furrowing assembly for movement to and from earth engagement when the frame is mounted on a vehicle, and a conduit interconnecting the source of seed and the furrowing assembly for distributing seed from the source into a furrow formed in the earth by the furrowing assembly during transport of the frame with the vehicle over the earth.

Abstract: A seed drill comprising a frame, a series of coulters mounted on the frame at positions which are spaced apart in a transverse direction relative to the direction of operative forward motion of the drill, and actuating means comprising a beam that extends in a transverse direction and is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis and about axes perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, thrust applying means connected between the frame and the beam so as to move the beam downwards, and thrust transmitting means connected between the beam and the coulters characterized in that said thrust applying means comprises two or more levers (20) pivotally mounted on the frame (1) so that they have a common pivot axis that extends in a transverse direction and is spaced from said beam, said beam (16) being rotatably supported at the ends of said levers with at least one lever located at an intermediate region in the length of the beam, and actuator means (21) being connected between the frame (1) and each lever (20).

Abstract: A planting machine wherein its planter wheel and a packer wheel trailing the same respectively have peripheral velocities greater and less than the speed of advance of the machine. Shoes on the former open the ground and deposit a seed therein on relative rearward movement, with feet on the packer wheel covering deposited seeds on forward movement thereof relative to the ground. The drives for the planter and packer wheels are interconnected to minimize the overall power requirement. Seeds are dispensed from a hopper to a position adjacent the axle of the planter wheel and spirally nested delivery tubes gravitationally deliver the dispensed seeds to the planter shoes in an arrangement such that a seed is delivered to a shoe only after a predetermined advance of the seed has occurred subsequent to its having been dispensed.

Abstract: A planter has the seed box and seed dispensing mechanism supported by a tool bar which is supported by tool bar gage wheels and a tractor. A plow moves loose, dry dirt from the seed bed. The plow, opening plow, and covering mechanism are drawn as a unit from the tool bar by a parallel motion linkage. The plow, opening plow, and covering mechanism unit for each row is supported by a planter gage wheel running in front of the plow.

Abstract: A machine for burying slurry, sewage, or other soil-improving fluids has a hollow straight forward-leaning tine which carries at its bottom end an arched, forward-sloping delta-shaped shoe for lifting the soil into the form of a tunnel. The hollow interior of the tine opens through the roof of this shoe, and slurry is delivered through the tine into the cavity under the shoe. A free-running vibrator on the tine vibrates it and the shoe vertically. The tine is resiliently loaded by a spring to its working position, and the reaction of the spring is applied directly to a reaction lever separately pivoted on a subframe carrying the tine. The spring reaction biases the lever downwards, and the lever is supported at its rearward end behind the tine by a roller which closes the slit formed by the tapered leading edge of the tine.

Abstract: A row unit with a mechanism which provides normal planting via a parallel bar linkage connection to the planter and which can be locked up in a raised, non-planting position when desired. The mechanism includes curved slotted openings in the lower bars of the linkage for frame mounted spacers as the frame pivots about the connection with the upper bars, and locking structure having detents to engage the spacers in the lowered working and raised non-working positions. The mechanism also prevents the release of the locking structure until the row unit weight is lifted therefrom.

Abstract: A seed drill has rotatably mounted opener discs disposed in an acute angle with respect to the direction of travel and mounted on supports. A skid is mounted to each support at the outside surface of the disk at an angle with respect to the direction of travel. Each skid includes a trailing portion configured to have a sliding surface disposed above the depth of penetration of the disk in the ground and a leading portion bent upwardly in the direction of travel and having a recess in the side thereof facing the disk and which extends beyond the forwardmost portion of the disk in the direction of travel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for planting seeds in a field. An anti-cohesion liquid chemical is injected at 30 to 50 p.s.i. into a narrow ribbon of soil, no more than two inches wide and two inches deep. Immediately thereafter, the soil ribbon is vigorously agitated at 900 to 2000 r.p.m. to insure coating of all of the soil particles with the chemical to a depth below that at which the seed is to be planted. The seeds are then placed at precise locations within and covered by the treated soil, and the soil over them is firmed.

Abstract: A combination listing and bed shaping apparatus for use with a self-propelled vehicle having a three-point hitch. A tool bar assembly is provided which is secured to the three-point hitch so that tool bar assembly extends in a generally horizontal direction perpendicular to the path of travel of the self-propelled vehicle. Listing apparatus is carried by said tool bar assembly for forming furrows and raised beds. An additional tool bar is secured to the tool bar assembly permitting pivotal movement of said additional tool bar along about an axis parallel to the tool bar assembly. Bed shaping apparatus is carried by additional tool bar. An actuator is connected between the tool bar assembly and the additional tool bar for raising and lowering said additional tool bar with respect to said tool bar means.

Abstract: An agricultural tool cart having structure for towing a three-point hitch seed planter behind minimum tillage tools for tilling and planting in one pass through a field, the cart being equipped with hydraulic operated wheels for transport of both minimum tillage tools and seed planter.

Abstract: The planter includes a number of forward tillage units each followed by an aligned planting unit. Both units are independently mounted by four-bar linkages to the planter frame. Each tillage unit includes a leading banded coulter followed by a pair of rolling row cleaning discs which are, in turn, followed by a fluted coulter. The system may be used in any of the following planting modes: (1) no-till planting, in which the fluted coulter only is used to prepare a narrow band of soil for planting with no trash removal; (2) ridge planting or till-planting, in which the row cleaning discs clear a deeper wide band before the fluted coulter while leaving bands between the row crops untilled; (3) minimum tillage planting, in which the row cleaning discs may be used to clear a shallow band of surface trash before the fluted coulter; and (4) conventional planting, in which the tillage units are raised and not used.

Abstract: Forwardly disposed furrow openers and rearwardly disposed furrow openers are conventionally offset to one side of the path traversed by the forwardly disposed furrow openers. To prevent partial backfilling of the furrows formed by the front openers when the grain drill on which the openers are mounted is pulled at relatively high speeds, a device including a pair of downwardly converging wheels is provided, the wheels being rotatably mounted on the angled end portions of an axle or shaft. The straight central portion of the shaft is firmly clamped in a sleeve at the rear end of an arm which has its forward end clamped to the rear end of a strut pivotally attached to the grain drill. The central straight portion of the shaft can be rotated so as to obtain the best operation of the wheels. In this way, soil that would be plowed into the furrows formed by the forwardly disposed furrow opener is resisted by the circular wheels.

Abstract: The rotary tiller slot planter of the present invention comprises a subsoiler shank positioned to engage the soil and make a trench therein. A pair of rotary tiller blades are rotatably mounted on the opposite sides of the sub-soil shank in planes parallel thereto. The centerlines of the rotary tiller wheels are located behind the subsoil shank. Each of the wheels have a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the rotational axis thereof and terminating in outer radial ends which engage the soil slightly ahead of the subsoiler shank and adjacent the lateral edges of the trench. A seed tube shank is positioned behind the subsoiler shank and between the tiller wheels. The seed tube shank has a lower end positioned to extend below the soil surface. A seed tube is positioned behind the seed tube shank for depositing seed in the soil. The rotation of the blades on opposite sides of the subsoil shank causes the soil to be mechanically aggregated and aerated and helps prepare a seed bed for the seeds.

Abstract: A farm implement is provided having a sub-soiler followed by a seed bed preparation tool and a planter. The seed bed preparation tool includes a rotary bladed portion for filling in the furrow left by the sub-soiler with soil turned up by the sub-soiler and for forming a depression along the crop row for planting. The seed bed preparation tool can also include a curved packer blade at the rear thereof for packing the soil in a central portion of the depression formed by the rotary portion of the tool.

Abstract: A high ground clearance tractor during one pass through rows of a standing crop, such as corn, opens a small furrow for a second crop, such as beans, plants the second crop, sprays suitable chemicals on the new crop, and trims the tops of the existing or standing crop. A large energy savings is realized compared to using separate machines for the required operations. The machine is particularly useful in regions having a long growing season. Two rows of a second crop can be planted between each adjacent pair of rows of the existing crop.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for planting seed are disclosed. The apparatus comprises frame carried by a plurality of ground engaging wheels. Carried on the frame is a means for raising and lowering the frame with respect to the ground. A planter bar having a plurality of seed dispensing boots for penetrating the ground and insertion seeds therein when the frame is lowered is carried by the frame. Means on the frame oscillates the planter bar laterally as the ground engaging wheels move across the ground.

Abstract: A soil cultivation implement comprising a frame adapted to be coupled to a drive means, and said frame supporting, one behind the other in the direction of travel, first cutting means for cutting the ground substantially vertically, second cutting means for dividing the ground substantially horizontally and lifting it in a rearward direction, and a substantially horizontal rotor. The rotor is provided with power means from said drive means and is adapted to be driven rotationally and provided with prongs for penetrating the surface of the ground. The prongs are disposed helically on a rotor shaft in a least three rows staggered uniformly in relation to one another in the peripheral direction. The prongs are further substantially rectilinear and rigidly fastened substantially tangentially on the rotor shaft. Furthermore the prongs enclose in relation to the radii associated with their fastening points an angle of less than 90.degree.

Abstract: A planter for seed crops, such as grains. A wheeled framework supports the apparatus for movement about a field. At the front of the framework is a row of transversely spaced chisels which produce tilled areas parallel to the path of movement of the framework and separated from one another by strips of untilled soil. Each chisel carries a roller that breaks up any resulting clods of soil. Liquid fertilizer is directed to the tilled areas by delivery conduits extending along the rear of each chisel to their respective lower ends. The rollers provide a cover of soil to the liquid fertilizer. A drill apparatus is mounted to the framework behind the chisels, with individual openers in longitudinal alignment with the respective chisels for planting seeds in the tilled soil at an elevation above the elevation at which fertilizer has been supplied and without the strips of untilled soil.

Abstract: A sub-soil planter machine has a frame, including front and rear transverse tool bars; a plurality of sub-soil blades mounted on and transversely spaced along the front tool bar; a plurality of rotary tilling assemblies mounted on and transversely spaced along the rear tool bar; and a plurality of planter units mounted on and transversely spaced along the rear tool bar in trailing relationship to the rotary tilling assemblies. The sub-soil blades, rotary tilling assemblies and planter units are so arranged in close proximity to one another such that the depth of the machine has been reduced whereby a given sized tractor, to which the machine is mounted on, is capable of lifting a larger machine than heretofore been accomplished due to the closeness of the machine to the rear end of the tractor resulting in a shorter length movement arm.

Abstract: A cultivating machine includes a forward row of subsoil tools and a plurality of elongated cultivating rollers having support plates to which soil penetrating T-section bars or knife edged bars are attached. To the rear of the cultivating rollers, a trailing roller is mounted on the frame and adjusting arms to the roller can be interconnected with the frame to raise or lower same and thereby set the soil working levels of the subsoil. Each cultivating roller can have its soil penetrating depth controlled through pivot arm connections that move the roller through an arc centered on the pivot axes which extend transverse to the direction of machine travel. The machine frame has a coupling that is connectable to the lifting hitch of a tractor and tanks of liquid soil treating material are mounted on the tractor adjacent the coupling.

Abstract: A cottonseed planter for planting cottonseed along a selected side of a raised bed is disclosed. The planter is adapted for two-way operation through the field and includes a tool bar frame having ground engaging means. Multiple seeders are supported on the frame and at least one of the seeders is tiltable in both directions from vertical for seeding operations. Shaping blades are pivotally mounted on the frame intermediate the seeders and precede the seeders in operation. A control rod is operatively connected to the seeders and the blades so that upon reaching the end of a seed bed row, the operator can change the position of the seeders and blades and continue seeding on the same side of the seed bed in the reverse direction of operation through the field. In the preferred embodiment, the seeders are a press wheel type and at least one seeder is disengaged in each direction of operation.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is disclosed which is adapted to perform soil ripping, mixing, and seed planting behind a single prime mover. Soil ripping is accomplished by a parabolic pointed shank attached to a frame by a pivot bolt and secured by a shear bolt to provide release in the event that an essentially immovable object is struck. Attached to the same framework behind the shank is a pair of mixer wheels for tilling the furrowed soil, and attached behind the mixer wheels is a press pan for smoothing the soil into a seed bed, followed by a seed planter of conventional construction connected to a rear planter bar supported by gauge wheels.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn machine adapted to perform tilling, seed bed preparation, and planting in a single operation, comprises a frame from which plow units, a reel unit, a seed bed finishing implement and seed planting units are mounted seriatim. The attitude of the frame may be adjusted during operation in that the operator of the tractor is able to independently adjust the elevation of both the front of the frame and the rear of the frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically planting billets of sugar cane as produced by a chopper-type sugar cane harvester, comprises a hopper for billets, an elevator to convey billets upwards and out of the hopper, and a billet delivery chute to receive the billets from the elevator and deliver them to a furrow in the ground. The elevator has at least two series of staggered slats which meter the billets. The delivery chute has a funnel-shaped upper portion and a trough-shaped downwardly and rearwardly-sloping lower portion, which guide and channel the billets in an endwise flow towards the furrow. The lower end of the chute is positioned close to or in contact with the ground so that billets can engage the ground before they leave the chute whereby billets can build up at the lower end of the chute and be discharged into the furrow at a rate corresponding to the forward speed of the planter.

Abstract: A potato seed platner in which seeds are loaded into cups on an endless conveyor from a hopper of a seed receptacle. The conveyor is driven on upper and lower sprockets and arranged on the receptacle with the cups in two parallel rows in staggered constant relationship and moving upwardly through the hopper for seed loading. The cups pass around the upper sprocket, invert and enter a contoured tube thereat and descend in an attached dicharge tube to a furrow. The cup bottoms are inclined transversely and support the seeds in their descent against the wall of the discharge tube. At the bottom the seeds are discharged from the planter and guided by the transversely inclined cup bottoms are deposited one by one alternately from one row and then the other in the furrow with precision heretofore unachieved. The planter further comprises a wheeled frame and one or more, attached, laterally extending, flexible frames upon which the receptacle is supported.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn machine adapted to perform tilling, seed bed preparation, and planting in a single operation, comprises a frame from which plow units, a soil leveling and pulverizing unit, a seed bed finishing implement and seed planting units are mounted seriatim. The attitude of the frame may be adjusted during operation in that the operator of the tractor is able to independently adjust the elevation of both the front of the frame and the rear of the frame.

Abstract: A seedling transplanter has a main frame securable to a drawing vehicle by a draft bar and supported for movement over a piece of ground in which seedlings are to be planted. Coulter assemblies are mounted on the main frame for cutting a furrow as the frame transverses the ground, with each of the coulter assemblies including a disk having a substantially planar main portion and a bent portion, with the amount of bend of the latter portion determining the width of the furrow. The draft bar is pivotally mounted on the main frame for swinging movement in a substantially vertical plane so as to permit the transplanter to traverse rocks and similar objects within the soil without the coulter disks being lifted from the ground, with a stop being provided on the draft bar for permitting the conventional lift provided on the towing tractor to cause the coulter assemblies to be disengaged from the ground as desired.

Abstract: A cultivator-material dispensing combination includes a soil-working member that rotates about a horizontal axis forwardly, relative to the direction of travel, to displace soil over the top of that member to a screening at the rear thereof. A seed dispensing hopper has conduits that are supported on a hood that overlies the member and extends to the rear thereof. Material is metered from the hopper through outlets at the conduits' lower rear sides. Drive to the hopper is via a one-way transmission that is driven by a rear roller only when the combination moves forwardly. A further roller can be positioned to the rear of the first mentioned roller and a fertilizer hopper feed also driven to dispense material to the worked soil.

Abstract: A mechanism for sowing seeds having a seed supply device which is carried by a sower frame. Front and rear wheels for supporting the frame are carried by arms pivotally coupled to the frame, which arms include lever arm appendages which are coupled together by a coupling rod of variable length pivotally coupled at opposite ends thereof to the lever arm appendages so as to provide for correlated movements of the front and rear arms.

Abstract: A cultivating implement with a coupling mechanism for attachment to the rear of a prime mover has a row of rotatable tined supports mounted on upwardly extending shafts. The implement has an elongated frame to house the drive elements for the row of supports which extend transverse to the direction of travel. A ground roller is pivoted to the frame to trail the tined supports and interconnected with the frame through arms that have adjusting means. The adjusting device can vary the distance between the frame and the ground roller so that, in effect, the working depths of the tines are regulated. The implement is supported solely by the roller, coupling mechanism and the tines. A seed drill with coulters is connected to the implement so that seeds can be directly sown in the soil worked by the tines. The tines are configured to intensely work the soil and the roller is positioned to support much of the weight of the implement and crumble the soil.

Abstract: A new apparatus for opening furrows in soil is disclosed. Specifically, this apparatus consists of an opening mechanism, a closing mechanism, an automatic seed planting mechanism, an automatic seedling planting mechanism, a driving means, a towing means, and the salient component parts necessary to make them function.

Abstract: A towable seed drilling unit of the kind having a hopper-fed seed chamber whose base is constituted by a proportion of the lower run of an endless belt driven by a belt drive roller in a direction contrary to towing direction from a ground-contacting wheel and having regularly spaced holes therein for the containment of single seeds, a seed-repelling roller for agitating seed in the said chamber and a masking plate below the belt permitting release of seeds on a passage of holes therebeyond into a furrow formed ahead of temporarily unmasked holes by a coulter beneath the seed chamber and closed by a furrow closing member, wherein forward and rearward wheels supporting the unit are carried by arms pivotal about substantially horizontal axes and means are provided for adjusting the attitude of the arms relative to the remainder of the unit and thus the penetration depth of the coulter, and wherein a parallel linkage is provided by means of which the unit can be attached to a towing vehicle, said linkage being r

Abstract: A wheel supported chassis has a motor driving it intermittently across a lawn or turf surface for predetermined distances between cycles, a drilling means drills holes in the turf area while the apparatus is stationary, a collecting platform feeds tubular plugs from an upper elevation to a transport wheel which positions a plug carried in a tubular container over a drilled hole, a cylinder for reciprocating the drilling means also effects pushing of the plug into the drilled hole with the plug being removed from a tubular container and the cycle being repeated as the apparatus traverses a desired work area.

Abstract: Seed sowing apparatus comprising a plurality of ground-engaging discs arranged in staggered relationship in two or more rows and driven from ground-engaging wheels, with individual seed metering devices carried by and driven by each disc to deposit seeds at regularly spaced intervals.

Abstract: A depth control for grain drills, planters or the like utilizing a press wheel which can be adjusted to control the depth of each individual furrow opener to insure uniform depth of planting across the width of wide machines presently in use.

Abstract: An implement has a forward structure that supports a fluid distribution system including soil penetrating tools, such as hoe bodies of freely rotatable tine groups through which fluid is ditributed across a broad path. The supporting structure is connectable to a three point tractor hitch and linked to a cultivator frame by a forward parallelogram linkage. The cultivator frame supports a row of driven soilworking rotors and to the rear of the rotors, a wheeled seeder device is mounted on a parallelogram structure so that it can move vertically independently of the supportng structure or cultivator frame. A further, rear parallelogram structure interconnects the rear of the first mentioned parallelogram structure to supporting ground wheels and a hydraulic cylinder is positioned above the rear structure to lift the seeder for transport. A stop is associated with the parallelogram structures to limit their relative movements.

Abstract: A conditioner drill is disclosed herein which comprises two rows of plow teeth mounted at the front of a rectangular frame. Mounted on the frame behind the plow teeth are a drag plate and a compressor roller. A seed drill is mounted upon the frame behind the compressor roller and in front of a plain roller which is located at the rear of the frame. The conditioner drill includes a pair of wheels connected to the frame which may be lowered for transporting the conditioner drill. The conditioner drill may also include a farm chemical distribution system, such as a tank mounted upon the frame and connected to a boom sprayer located at the rear of the conditioner drill.

Abstract: A frame is provided from which front and rear pairs of opposite side wheels are journalled. A prime mover is mounted on the frame and drivingly connected to at least one pair of the wheels thereof. The frame defines a longitudinal center line and the wheels are disposed in four vertical planes paralleling the center line and spaced equally apart transversely of the frame. The wheels include narrow outer peripheral portions adapted, due to the gross weight of the planter, to form narrow depressed tracks in cultivated ground over which the planter travels and each of the wheels has seed planting structure operatively associated therewith and to discharge seeds into the depressed ground tracks at a metered rate.

Abstract: An automatic planting machine for planting plants particularly small and/or young trees, specially designed for forestation and/or reforestation and the like. The machine has, in each of its main wheels, at least one planting tube radially movable and capable of projecting through an aperture in the rim of the wheel coincident with the moment at which a plant is set in the furrow opened by the machine. To open the furrow in the soil, a furrow opening blade is provided in front of each main wheel. Behind each main wheel a pair of auxiliary rear wheels are provided which are capable of tamping the soil at the sides of the plant set in the furrow, and each of said auxiliary rear wheels may be sloped. Means are provided which are capable of feeding plants, one at a time, to each planting tube, the operation of said feeding means and the movement of each planting tube being timed with the rotation of the pertinent main wheel. The machine may be provided with means (e.g.

Abstract: A new apparatus for opening furrows in soil is disclosed. Specifically, this apparatus consists of an opening mechanism, a closing mechanism, an automatic seed planting mechanism, an automatic seedling planting mechanism, a driving means, a towing means, and the salient component parts necessary to make them function.

Abstract: An implement attachment has a row of soil working members that are rotated about upwardly extending axes defined by shafts journalled in an elongated frame portion. One or more further implements are pivoted to respective points on the frame portion and are positioned to the rear of a supporting roller located behind the working members. The further implements can be material dispensing and each has a draw bar connected to a pivot point so that the further implements can each independently pivot about an upwardly extending axis. Delivery members on each further implement are raised automatically by a cable connection to an anchorage on the frame portion when the implement is raised by a lifting device of the prime mover for transport. The further implements are supported on ground wheels during operation and transport.

Abstract: Seeds of a second crop (e.g. soybeans) are sown in a standing grain crop (e.g. wheat). When the grain crop is ripe it is harvested by cutting with a combine at a level slightly above the top of the partially grown second crop. Seeding of the second crop is performed using a self-driven, preferably three-wheel vehicle carrying a grain drill box having flexible tubes which fit between the rows of grain and each of which discharges the seed into a gap between two downward-inward slanted discs which first cut a slit in the ground, then deposit the seed and finally cover the slit. The discs are supported and their depth controlled in such manner as to cause minimum interference with the grain.This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus and method for sowing a second crop in standing grain. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of a seed drill of particular configuration for use in practicing a method whereby two crops may be grown on the same acreage.

Abstract: A self-propelled implement is specially constructed to plant seeds such as beans between rows of a tall growing crop such as wheat. The frame members of the implement are supported above the growing crop on top of selectively spaced front and rear wheel assemblies which are narrow enough to pass between the rows of the growing crop. Each wheel is entirely covered and is provided with a fender that tapers to an inclined forward edge to facilitate passage of the implement through the field. An engine which powers the implement also operates seeding mechanisms which are associated with the wheels.

Abstract: A hanger mechanism for the attachment of a soil engaging tool to a horizontal tool bar located at the forward end of an agricultural vehicle through a series of pivotally interconnected structures. The hanger mechanism includes an upper and lower arm structure which extend forward from the tool bar and are disposed one above the other. A vertical bar structure is pivotally connected to the forward ends of the upper and lower arm structures with the upper and lower arm structures parallel. An implement arm having an upper end adjacent and below the forward end of the lower arm structure extends rearward and downwardly to a lower end. The implement arm is pivotally attached between the upper and lower ends thereof to an extension of the vertical bar structure. A connecting link is pivotally attached at one end to the lower arm structure rearward from the forward end thereof, and pivotally attached at its other end to the upper end of the implement arm.

Abstract: A laminated structure includes a wafer member with a membrane attached thereto, the membrane being formed of substantially hydrogen-free boron nitride having a nominal composition B.sub.3 N. The structure may be a component in a mechanical device for effecting a mechanical function, or the membrane may form a masking layer on the wafer. The structure includes a body formed of at least two wafer members laminated together with a cavity formed therebetween, with the boron nitride membrane extending into the cavity so as to provide the structural component such as a support for a heating element or a membrane in a gas valve. In another aspect borom is selectively diffused from the boron nitride into a <100> surface of a silicon wafer. The surface is then exposed to EDP etchant to which the diffusion layer is resistant, thereby forming a channel the wafer member with smooth walls for fluid flow.