Wing flex apparatus for agricultural planter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10813268-B2
Application number	US-201815942002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2018
Priority date	Oct 1, 2015
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A system and apparatus for attaching ground engaging tools proximate to the pivot point of an agricultural implement is provided. The system includes a flex apparatus configured to be operatively attached proximate to the pivot point of an agricultural implement by a pin. The flex apparatus may be configured to rotate as the pivot point of the agricultural implement flexes. The flex apparatus may include tracks, slots, or the like, configured to dampen the rotation of the flex apparatus relative to the flex of the pivot point of the agricultural implement. The size, location and orientation of the tracks, slots, or the like, may be configured to provide varying amounts of rotation of the flex apparatus relative to the flex of the pivot point of the agricultural implement. Furthermore, the flex apparatus includes holes, slots, grooves, or the like, configured for attaching a ground engaging tool to the flex apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural planter comprising:
a tongue comprising a first end and a second end, said first end comprising a hitch;
a center toolbar attached to the second end of the tongue;
one or more wings pivotally coupled to the center toolbar, said wings comprising an inner section and an outer section coupled by a hinge configured to pivot the outer section relative to the inner section about a substantially horizontal axis;
a plurality of row units operatively attached along the center toolbar and the one or more wings, said plurality of row units adjacent to one another;
a flex apparatus pivotally attached proximate to the hinge of the one or more wings, said flex apparatus attached to one of the plurality of row units; and
wherein an angular rotation of the row unit attached to the flex apparatus is less than an angular rotation of an adjacent row unit attached to the outer wing section.

2. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the flex apparatus comprises one or more tracks/slots configured to permit the angular rotation of the row unit operatively engaged by the flex apparatus relative to the deflection of the hinge.

3. The agricultural planter of claim 2 , wherein the flex apparatus further comprises one or more bushings configured to slide/travel within the one or more tracks/slots.

4. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the flex apparatus is configured to provide a 2:1 ratio of the deflection of the outer wing section relative to angular rotation of the row unit operatively engaged by the flex apparatus, said deflection and said angular rotation measured in degrees.

5. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural planter is a forward folding planter, said one or more wings configured to pivot about a generally vertical axis proximate to the center toolbar.

6. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the flex apparatus is pivotally attached to the inner section of the wing by a pin.

7. The agricultural planter of claim 6 , wherein the flex apparatus further comprises an inner surface and an outer surface.

8. The agricultural planter of claim 7 , wherein the inner surface of the flex apparatus is operatively attached to the outer section of the wing by the one or more bushings.

9. The agricultural planter of claim 7 , wherein the outer surface of the flex apparatus is operatively attached to one of the plurality of row units.

10. The agricultural planter of claim 7 , wherein the pin pivotally attaches the flex apparatus to the inner section of the wing via an aperture through both the inner surface and the outer surface of the flex apparatus.

11. A wing of an agricultural implement comprising:
an inner section pivotally coupled to an outer section at a pivot;
a plurality of ground engaging tools operatively mounted to the wing;
a flex apparatus pivotally attached proximate to the pivot of the wing, said flex apparatus configured to operatively engage one of the plurality of ground engaging tools;
wherein the flex apparatus more significantly dampens angular rotation for the ground engaging tool operatively engaged by the flex apparatus than for an adjacent ground engaging tool mounted on the outer section of the wing, thereby allowing for an increased amount of flex at the hinge; and
wherein the degree of angular rotation of the ground engaging tool operatively engaged by the flex apparatus is less than the angular rotation of the adjacent ground engaging tool mounted on the outer section of the wing.

12. The wing of claim 11 , wherein the flex apparatus comprises a plurality of slotted tracks configured to permit angular rotation of the flex apparatus relative to the deflection of the pivot.

13. The wing of claim 11 , wherein the wing further comprises a plurality of pivots, said plurality of pivots creating a plurality of wing sections.

14. The wing of claim 13 , wherein the flex apparatus is pivotally attached at each of the plurality of pivots along the wing.

15. An agricultural implement comprising:
a telescoping tongue comprising a first end and a second end, said first end comprising a hitch configured to be attached to a tow vehicle;
a center toolbar attached to the second end of the tongue;
one or more wings pivotally coupled to the center toolbar by a hinge configured to pivot the one or more wings relative to the center toolbar about a substantially horizontal axis;
a plurality of ground engaging tools operatively attached along the center toolbar and the one or more wings, said plurality of ground engaging tools adjacent to one another; and
a flex apparatus pivotally attached proximate to the hinge, said flex apparatus operatively engaging one of the plurality of ground engaging tools attached proximate to the hinge;
wherein the substantially horizontal axis is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis traversing the center toolbar;
wherein, when the agricultural implement rests on level ground, the one or more wings are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center toolbar; and
wherein the flex apparatus comprises one or more slotted tracks configured to limit the angular rotation of the ground engaging tool operatively engaged by the flex apparatus, said angular rotation of the ground engaging tool operatively engaged by the flex apparatus is less than the angular rotation of an adjacent ground engaging tool attached to the one or more wings.

16. The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein the agricultural planter is a forward folding planter, said one or more wings configured to pivot about a generally vertical axis proximate to the center toolbar.

17. The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein the flex apparatus is configured to provide a 2:1 ratio of the deflection of the hinge relative to the angular rotation of the row unit operatively engaged by the flex apparatus, said deflection and angular rotation measured in degrees.

18. The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein the one or more wings further comprises a plurality of pivots, said plurality of pivots configured to provide deflection of the wing about a generally horizontal axis.

19. The agricultural implement of claim 18 , wherein the flex apparatus is pivotally attached at each of the plurality of pivots along the wing.

20. The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein the hinge permits concave and convex configurations of the one or more wings.

Assignees

• Kinze Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Blackwell Robert

Classifications

• A01B73/065 Primary

  to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel · CPC title

• A01C7/208

  Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers · CPC title

• F16C11/12

  incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs · CPC title

• A01B73/044 Primary

  the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title