Row unit for a seed-planting implement having a furrow depth adjustment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12464975-B2
Application number	US-202217727163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2022
Priority date	Apr 22, 2022
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A row unit for a seed-planting implement includes a frame, a gauge wheel arm pivotably coupled to the frame and a gauge wheel rotatably coupled to the gauge wheel arm. Additionally, the row unit includes a wobble bracket configured to engage the gauge wheel arm and a linkage arm coupled to the wobble bracket. Moreover, the row unit includes an actuator, a gearbox coupled to the actuator, and a threaded shaft coupled to the gearbox. In addition, the row unit includes an actuation assembly such that the actuation assembly transmits rotation of the threaded shaft into linear motion of the linkage arm. The actuation assembly includes a hook arm having a first end forming a hook that directly couples to the linkage arm and a second end pivotably coupled to the frame. Furthermore, the actuation assembly includes a collar threadingly coupled to the threaded shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A row unit for a seed-planting implement, the row unit comprising:
a frame defining a depth-setting register including a plurality of depth detents; a disk opener rotatably coupled to the frame, the disk opener configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling; a gauge wheel arm pivotably coupled to the frame; a gauge wheel rotatably coupled to the gauge wheel arm, the gauge wheel configured to roll along a surface of the field; a wobble bracket configured to engage the gauge wheel arm; a linkage arm coupled to the wobble bracket; an actuator configured to move the linkage arm relative to the frame in a manner that adjusts a position of the gauge wheel relative to the frame; a gearbox coupled to the actuator; a threaded shaft coupled to the gearbox, the threaded shaft extending through the depth-setting register; and an actuation assembly coupled between the linkage arm and the threaded shaft such that the actuation assembly transmits rotation of the threaded shaft into linear motion of the linkage arm, the actuation assembly comprising:
a hook arm having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the first end forming a hook that directly couples to the linkage arm, the second end pivotably coupled to the frame; and
a collar threadingly coupled to the threaded shaft.

2 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein movement of the collar along the threaded shaft causes pivoting of the hook arm relative to the frame.

3 . The row unit of claim 2 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises:
an actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm and the collar such that the actuation arm transmits the movement of the collar along the threaded shaft into the pivoting of the hook arm relative to the frame.

4 . The row unit of claim 2 , wherein the collar corresponds to a first collar and the actuation assembly further comprises:
a first actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm and the first collar; a second collar threadingly coupled to the threaded shaft; and a second actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm and the second collar such that the first and second actuation arms transmit the movement of the first and second collars along the threaded shaft into the pivoting of the hook arm relative to the frame.

5 . The row unit of claim 2 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises:
a support member coupled to the frame; a first actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm; a second actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm; a third actuation arm pivotably coupled to first actuation arm and the support member; and a fourth actuation arm pivotably coupled to second actuation arm and the collar such that the first, second, third, and fourth actuation arms transmit the movement of the collar along the threaded shaft into the pivoting of the hook arm relative to the frame.

6 . The row unit of claim 5 , wherein the third actuation arm is pivotably coupled to the fourth actuation arm.

7 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the linkage arm comprises:
a first side wall member; a second side wall member spaced apart from the first side wall member in a width-wise direction of the linkage arm; and a connection rod extending with the width-wise direction between the first and second side wall members.

8 . The row unit of claim 7 , wherein the hook is directly coupled to the connection rod.

9 . The row unit of claim 8 , wherein the hook wraps around a portion of an outer surface of the connection rod.

10 . The row unit of claim 9 , wherein the hook is positioned between the first and second side wall members in the width-wise direction.

11 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the collar defines a threaded passage configured to threadingly receive the threaded shaft.

12 . The row unit of claim 11 , further comprising:
a press wheel assembly positioned aft of the closing assembly relative to a direction of travel, the press wheel assembly configured to roll over a closed furrow.

13 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the gauge wheel arm corresponds to a first gauge wheel arm and the gauge wheel corresponds to a first gauge wheel, the row unit further comprising:
a second gauge wheel arm pivotably coupled to the frame; and a second gauge wheel rotatably coupled to the second gauge wheel arm, the second gauge wheel configured to roll along the surface of the field, wherein the wobble bracket is configured to engage the second gauge wheel arm.

14 . The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a closing assembly positioned aft of the disk opener relative to a direction of travel of the seed-planting implement, the closing assembly configured to close the furrow formed within the field.

15 . A seed-planting implement, comprising:
a toolbar; and a plurality of row units coupled to the toolbar, each row unit comprising:
a frame defining a depth-setting register including a plurality of depth detents;
a disk opener rotatably coupled to the frame, the disk opener configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling;
a gauge wheel arm pivotably coupled to the frame;
a gauge wheel rotatably coupled to the gauge wheel arm, the gauge wheel configured to roll along a surface of the field;
a wobble bracket configured to engage the gauge wheel arm;
a linkage arm coupled to the wobble bracket;
an actuator configured to move the linkage arm relative to the frame in a manner that adjusts a position of the gauge wheel relative to the frame;
a gearbox coupled to the actuator;
a threaded shaft coupled to the gearbox, the threaded shaft extending through the depth-setting register; and
an actuation assembly coupled between the linkage arm and the threaded shaft such that the actuation assembly transmits rotation of the threaded shaft into linear motion of the linkage arm, the actuation assembly comprising:
a hook arm having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the first end forming a hook that directly couples to the linkage arm, the second end pivotably coupled to the frame; and
a collar threadingly coupled to the threaded shaft.

16 . The seed-planting implement of claim 15 , wherein movement of the collar along the threaded shaft causes pivoting of the hook arm relative to the frame.

17 . The seed-planting implement of claim 16 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises:
an actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm and the collar such that the actuation arm transmits the movement of the collar along the threaded shaft into the pivoting of the hook arm relative to the frame.

18 . The seed-planting implement of claim 16 , wherein the collar corresponds to a first collar and the actuation assembly further comprises:
a first actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm and the first collar; a second collar threadingly coupled to the threaded shaft; and a second actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm and the second collar such that the first and second actuation arms transmit the movement of the first and second collars along the threaded shaft into the pivoting of the hook arm relative to the frame.

19 . The seed-planting implement of claim 16 , wherein the collar corresponds to a first collar and the actuation assembly further comprises:
a support member coupled to the frame; a first actuation arm pivotably coupled to the hook arm; a second actuation arm pivotably co

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Conboy Michael Christopher
• STANHOPE Trevor

Classifications

• A01C5/064

  with rotating tools · CPC title

• A01C7/203 Primary

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title