Ground working equipment to cut channels for subsequent sowing of seed

摘要

There is provided a method of operating a ground cutting blade characterised by the steps of: a) imparting to the blade a substantially vertical motion and b) deliberately imparting to the blade a sideways motion. Preferably, the cutting blade is a disk coulter such as those used in agricultural ground working machinery. Referring to Figure 1 there is provided ground working apparatus generally illustrated by arrow 1 which can operate a blade 2 as indicated above. A drag arm 3 depends from a ground working unit (not shown). A shaft 4 extends from the drag arm 3. The longitudinal axis of the shaft 4 is at approximately right angles to the direction of travel of the drag arm 3. Bearings 8 enable the shaft 4 to rotate with respect to the drag arm 3. At the end of the shaft 4 closest to the blade 2 is an off-set portion 6. The off-set portion 6 is connected to a hub 7 onto which the blade 2 is mounted. The shape of the off-set portion 6 and its relationship to the shaft 4 and the hub 7 is such that the central longitudinal axis of the hub 7 is not aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the shaft 4. Further, the off-set portion 6 causes the hub 7 to tilt with respect to the vertical. This relationship is shown in exaggerated form in Figure 1A.