Agricultural trench depth systems, methods, and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10701853-B2
Application number	US-201815999373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2018
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit of an agricultural planter. The row unit includes a trench depth adjustment assembly configured to modify the furrow depth. A first depth adjustment sub-assembly is configured to select one of a plurality of pre-selected furrow depths. A second adjustment sub-assembly is configured to modify at least one of a plurality of the pre-selected furrow depths.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural row unit, comprising:
a row unit frame;
a furrow opening disc rotatably supported by said row unit frame for opening a furrow in a soil surface as the row unit frame advances in a forward direction of travel;
a gauge wheel disposed adjacent to said furrow opening disc and pivotably supported from said row unit frame by a gauge wheel arm such that said gauge wheel is displaceable with respect to said furrow opening disc;
a depth adjustment assembly, comprising:
a first depth adjustment sub-assembly defining pre-set positions in which a depth adjustment body is selectively positionable such that said depth adjustment body limits an amount of upward displacement of said gauge wheel with respect to said furrow opening disc;
a second depth adjustment sub-assembly operable to modify a position of said depth adjustment body from one of said pre-set positions set by said first depth adjustment sub-assembly so as to further adjust an amount of upward displacement of said gauge wheel with respect to said furrow opening disc.

2. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said first depth adjustment assembly remains fixed at said pre-selected furrow depth, and said second depth adjustment sub-assembly modifies an interaction of said first depth adjustment assembly with said gauge wheel arm.

3. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts a distance between said first depth adjustment assembly and a rocker.

4. The agricultural row unit of claim 3 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises an actuator disposed at a first end on said first depth adjustment assembly and at a second end on said rocker.

5. The agricultural row unit of claim 3 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.

6. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts an angle between a pivot and a rocker.

7. The agricultural row unit of claim 6 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises an actuator disposed at a first end on said first depth adjustment assembly and at a second end on said rocker.

8. The agricultural row unit of claim 6 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.

9. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts an angle between said first depth adjustment assembly and a rocker.

10. The agricultural row unit of claim 9 , wherein said rocker is attached to a cam, said cam pivoting about a pivot, said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprising a drive screw driving a drive member that pivots said cam about said pivot.

11. The agricultural row unit of claim 10 , wherein said drive member further comprises a cog that engages with teeth on said cam.

12. The agricultural row unit of claim 10 , wherein said cam further comprises a cog that engages with teeth on said drive member.

13. The agricultural row unit of claim 10 , wherein said cam further comprises a roller that engages with a sloped side on said drive member.

14. The agricultural row unit of claim 9 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.

15. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts a distance between a rocker and said gauge wheel arm.

16. The agricultural row unit of claim 15 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises a member pivotably connected to said gauge wheel arm and an actuator disposed on said gauge wheel arm, wherein said actuator moves said member to change a distance between said member and said gauge wheel arm.

17. The agricultural row unit of claim 15 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises a depth adjustment member that is slidingly fixed to said gauge wheel arm and has a sloped surface that contacts said rocker, and wherein said depth adjustment member is driven by an actuator.

18. The agricultural row unit of claim 17 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises a first biasing member connected to said depth adjustment member and to a second plate, said actuator connected to said second plate and a first plate for adjusting a distance between said first plate and said second plate.

19. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , further comprising a second biasing member disposed between and connected to said first plate and said second plate.

20. The agricultural row unit of claim 15 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.

21. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts a shape of a rocker.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Swanson Todd
• Plattner Chad
• Stoller Jason
• Koch Dale
• Sloneker Dillon

Classifications

• A01C5/064 Primary

  with rotating tools · CPC title

• A01C7/203 Primary

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/044

  Pneumatic seed wheels · CPC title

• A01B63/008 Primary

  Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01C5/06

  Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting · CPC title