Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a vertical floating row cleaner may include a mounting bracket configured to engage a row unit frame, which mounting bracket may have a receiver engaged therewith. An extension member may have first and second ends, with one end configured as an adjustor interface and the opposite end configured to pivotally engage at least one row cleaner wheel. An adjustor may engage the extension member at the adjustor interface such that the adjustor prevents the extension member from moving with respect to the receiver past a certain point in at least one direction.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit apparatus, systems, methods for effectively creating a trench having an improved configuration and for improved product placement in or near the trench wherein the trench has a vertical sidewall and an angled sidewall. In some embodiments, a cavity is created adjacent the bottom of the trench. In some embodiments, the depth of the trench is maintained by a gauge wheel compacting soil adjacent to the angled sidewall. In some embodiments, fertilizer or other liquid or crop input is placed in the soil on the side of the trench opposite the gauge wheel. In some embodiments, two trenches each having a vertical sidewall and an angled sidewall are created by a single row unit.

Abstract: An apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row or closes a furrow while causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field or close a furrow. The discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed or for closing a furrow.

Abstract: A residue coulter apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row, causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept shark type teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a double beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field. The clearing discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two clearing discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed. The clearing discs are angled toward each other so that the leading edges of the clearing discs are pointed in a toe-in orientation. The present design effectively removes crop debris without over discharge and causes minimal soil disturbance.

Abstract: A furrow opener apparatus for attachment to an agricultural implement for depositing agricultural material such as seed and fertilizer in the soil. The apparatus comprises a flat disc rotatably attached to the apparatus such its axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of travel; a concave disc rotatably attached to the apparatus such that firstly the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of travel, secondly the rear edge of the concave disc is behind the rear edge of the flat disc, thirdly the concave side of the concave disc is facing the flat disc and the outer rim of the concave disc is in close proximity to or touching the side of the flat disc; and means to introduce the agricultural material into the open area between the concave side of the concave disc and the side of the flat disc. The furrow opener requires less power to pull than present openers and penetrates un-tilled soil. A swivel mount and packer are provided for the furrow opener.

Abstract: A disk colter has a main disk for making a furrow in the ground. A secondary disk keeps the furrow open over a long enough distance that one or more seeds can be deposited. A support member supports the disks which are mounted so that they can rotate freely and are inclined in such a way that their peripheries meet in a region where the disks are closest to each other. This region is located at a bottom front part of the colter. On the main disk and/or the secondary disk, there is a plugging member intended to plug, at least in a vicinity of the region, a slot between the main disk and the secondary disk so that earth and/or plant debris are prevented from accumulating between the disks at least in the region.

Abstract: A seeding device principally for no-tillage seeding conditions comprises a drag arm carrying two disk blades and transmitting the necessary forces thereto to cut through crop residues at the ground surface and to open a furrow for seed placement in the soil. The smaller disk is oriented vertically, whereas the larger disk extends at a compound angle from a lower front contact point between the two disks which thus define a V-shaped opener. The larger disk is angled relative to both the direction of travel and to a vertical axis to cut through residues and the soil and to displace a volume of soil for forming a trench. The smaller disk retains soil on a side of the furrow to allow a tube to deliver seeds therein. The smaller blade can also cut residues at the point of contact between the two disks to avoid trash buildup thereat.

Abstract: A seed delivery device is positioned on the seed tube of a planter and between a pair of V-oriented opening disks. The device has an elongated duct having an upper end with an opening capable of being disposed in spatial communication with the seed tube. A lower end of the duct has an opening which is positioned directly behind and adjacent to the location where the pair of opening disks contact one another. The duct extends along a substantially straight line below the seed tube so that a seed traveling through the duct is directed in a substantially downward direction into a V-shaped trench. Structure is also provided for attaching the duct to the planter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for pulling plant stalks from the ground without severing the stalk at the point of engagement. The pulling action is accomplished with pairs of disks configured to engage the other near each's circumference. An upward pulling action is created by the disks because the disks initially come together, pinching the stalks therebetween, at a lower most position. As the disks roll in response to their traversing movement across the ground and the cleat's engagement with the ground, the pinch point between the disks and the stalk revolves upward producing a pulling action upon the stalk. The advantageous pulling action of the invention is accomplished in part by the novel orientation of the disks, one to the other, and the angles of engagement between the disks, the stalks and the ground during operation.

Abstract: A grain drill is disclosed having a folding frame for parallel operation and a parallel link system that controls the tension to earth openers in order to produce relatively constant downward pressure for the openers. The grain drill includes a rotating tool bar for facilitating the adjustment of downward pressure to the openers, controlling the ground cutting depth of the openers and raising the tools to obtain the ground clearance needed for road transport. The drill has disc openers with axially collocated discs having different outer diameters and a narrow angle between the opener discs producing a "V" shaped groove for seeding. The grain drill has a common horizontal center to support seed boxes, fixed dual wheels and a hitch for connection to a pulling vehicle.

Abstract: An implement for agricultural field work is primarily useful for preparing a field for no-till planting and comprises a wheel carried frame for carrying a massive fertilizer hopper which has apertures in its bottom portion through which fertilizer flows at a metered rate into feed tubes which carry the fertilizer to furrows formed by double-disc ground openers mounted on the frame. The openers aerate the soil and chop crop residues remaining on the ground surface from the previous crop. Hoes attached to the openers draw a portion of the soil displaced from the furrows back into the furrows after the fertilizer is deposited therein.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved row cleaning apparatus to selectively clean away mulch from conservation tilled fields without cultivation of the soil. When mounted on a tractor-drawn planter unit, the cleaning action of the present invention improves depth control and planting speed of the planter unit and facilitates seed germination while retaining the mulch between crop rows for erosion control and yield enhancement. In its planter embodiment, the row cleaner disclosed herein comprises a pair of pointedly toothed wheels journaled for rotation about intersecting axes mounted on the planter unit ahead of the furrow opener. The toothed wheels are mounted with their teeth intermeshed above the soil surface and rotate in planes symmetrically inclined downwardly, outwardly, and forwardly of the direction of travel of the planter unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing upstanding plant stalks from the ground and for mulching the stalks. The apparatus includes simplified disk mechanisms which can be adapted both to cut and mulch plant stalks.

Abstract: An improved double disk blade opener assembly and disk blade therefor are provided for a grain drill or the like. A pair of bearings are supported on opposite sides of a seed boot casting or arm structure mounted on the implement. Each bearing supports a threaded shaft which extends outwardly therefrom to a blade-receiving end. A pair of generally flat disk blades each fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal and having opposed outwardly cupped central portions to accommodate the bearings are secured on and rotate with the shafts. Mounting the bearings in the boot rather than in bearing caps on the blade decreases the overall width of the opener and increases trash flow between adjacent openers. Socket screws which previously were used to secure the blade assembly to the boot, which required tapping of the boot and which frequently worked loose therefrom are eliminated. The specially shaped disk blades retain the desired furrow cutting characteristics of conventional flat disk blades.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for deflecting straw and other debris from in front of a soil opening implement used in farming. The straw and debris deflector is particularly useful where the soil is generally not tilled. The straw and debris deflector includes an adjustable bracket which extends forward of the soil opening disk of the implement. Extending downwardly from the end of the bracket is a flexible oscillating tine. The tine rubs along the surface of the ground immediately in front of the soil openers to collect and deflect straw and other debris. The flexible tine oscillates forwardly and backwardly and from side to side. Periodic flexing to one or the other side of the disk removes collected debris from in front of the tine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of treating or cultivating soil consists of a mobile chassis which when propelled over the ground, has means for removing a predetermined amount of soil from the ground to create an open trench therein, tilling the removed soil and mixing additives therewith and further mixing the soil and forceably replacing the soil into the trench.

Abstract: A scraper assembly for a double disk furrow opener having a hinge bracket bolted rigidly to the cast boot assembly. Scrapers are supported by the hinge bracket and urged against the inside of the blades by a leaf spring. The bolt holds the relative position of the assembly to prevent the scrapers from overhanging the edge of the disk blades, and the leaf spring allows individual scraper action.

Abstract: A compact agricultural planter unit is provided for narrow row crops. The unit includes a pair of double disk furrow openers in combination with adjustable depth gauge wheels. The disks and wheels are carried by frame structure positioned between the wheels and are rotatably mounted on pivots located radially inwardly of the wheel peripheries. Manually adjustable structure for selecting the furrow depth or position of the gauge wheels relative to the disks extends slightly radially outwardly beyond the wheels.