Convertible two rank agricultural implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12507609-B2
Application number	US-202217854288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2022
Priority date	Jun 30, 2022
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

A convertible multiple rank agricultural implement for being towed by an agricultural vehicle. The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement includes a towing assembly, a first rank coupled to the towing assembly, wherein the first rank includes a first plurality of row units longitudinally spaced along a longitudinally extending support structure. A second rank is coupled to the first rank, wherein the second rank includes a first section connected to a second plurality of row units, and a second section connected to a third plurality of row units. In a first configuration, the first section and second section are coupled together with a coupler located at adjacent ends of the first section and second section when the second rank is offset and spaced from the first rank. In a second configuration, the first section and second section are spaced apart and longitudinally aligned with the longitudinally extending support structure of the first rank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A convertible multiple rank agricultural implement for being towed by an agricultural vehicle comprising:
a towing assembly including a first set of drawbars and a second set of drawbars, wherein the second set of drawbars includes adjustable drawbars, wherein each of the adjustable drawbars includes a first part that slides respectively with a second part, wherein the adjustable drawbars include a retracted position and an extended position; a first rank coupled to the towing assembly, the first rank including a first plurality of row units longitudinally spaced along a longitudinally extending support structure; a second rank coupled to the first rank, the second rank including a first section connected to a second plurality of row units, and a second section connected to a third plurality of row units, wherein the first section and second section, in a first configuration, are coupled together with a coupler located at adjacent ends of the first section and second section when the second rank is offset and spaced from the first rank, and wherein the first section and second section, in a second configuration, are spaced apart and longitudinally aligned with the longitudinally extending support structure of the first rank; and wherein the first set of drawbars is connected to the first rank and the second set of drawbars is coupled to the second rank.

2 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 1 wherein the adjustable drawbars include a towing end adapted to be connected to the agricultural vehicle and a tool end adapted to be connected to the one of the first rank or the second rank, wherein the towing end is closer to the agricultural vehicle than the tool end.

3 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 2 wherein the adjustable drawbars in a first position are coupled to the first rank and the second rank when the first rank is offset from and spaced from the second rank.

4 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 3 wherein the adjustable tow bars in a second position are coupled to the second rank and the towing assembly when the first section and second section are arranged in the second configuration.

5 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 4 wherein the adjustable tow bars in the second configuration are in the extended position.

6 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 1 wherein the coupler of the second rank includes a first part located at a first end of the first section and a second part located at a second end of the second section, wherein engagement of the first part and the second part couples the first section to the second section.

7 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 6 wherein the longitudinally extending support structure includes a first connector at one end of the support structure and a second connector at another end of the support structure wherein engagement of the first part with the first connector connects the first section to one end of the support structure and engagement of the second part with the second connector connects the second section to an another end of the support structure in the second configuration.

8 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 7 wherein the coupler includes an electrical coupler having a first electrical part and a second electrical part, the first electrical part located at the first end of the first section and the second electrical part located at the second end of the second section, wherein engagement of the first electrical part and the second electrical part electrically couples the first section to the second section.

9 . The convertible multiple rank agricultural implement of claim 8 wherein the longitudinally extending support structure includes a first electrical connector at the one end of the support structure and a second electrical connector at the another end of the support structure wherein engagement of the first electrical part with the first electrical connector and engagement of the second electrical part with the second electrical connector electrically connects the first section at the one end of the support structure and electrically connects the second section at the another end of the support structure in the second configuration.

10 . A method of converting an agricultural implement having a first tow bar and a second tow bar from a multiple rank agricultural implement to a single rank agricultural implement, the method comprising:
providing a first rank, the first rank including a first plurality of row units longitudinally spaced along a longitudinally extending support structure; providing a separable second rank having a first section and a second section, wherein each of the first section and the second section include respectively a second plurality of row units and a third plurality of row units; providing a mechanical coupler system having a first mechanical part and a second mechanical part, the mechanical coupler system located at adjacent ends of the first section and the second section; separating the separable second rank into the first section and the second section; adjusting a length of the first tow bar to enable connection of the first section to one end of the first rank; adjusting a length of the second tow bar to enable connection of the second section to another end of the first rank; moving the first section and the second section into longitudinal alignment with the first rank; connecting the first section to the one end of the first rank; and connecting the second section to the another end of the first rank; providing a controller operatively connected to the mechanical coupler system, wherein the mechanical coupler system includes electrical connections adapted to provide status information of the coupling of the first and second mechanical parts, wherein the controller identifies an updated location of the first section and the second section with respect to the first rank after the first section and second section are coupled to the first rank.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the controller, based on the updated location of each of the first section and second section with respect to the first rank, further identifies a location of each of a plurality of first row units of the first section, a location of each of a plurality of second row units of the second section, and a location of each of a plurality of first rank row units of the first rank, and further wherein the controller causes a display to display an updated location of each of the plurality of first row units, an updated location of each of a plurality of second row units, and an updated location of each of a plurality of first rank row units of the first rank.

12 . An agricultural system for cultivating crops comprising:
an agricultural work vehicle including a towing hitch; and
a towing assembly adapted to couple to the towing hitch, the towing assembly including a first set of drawbars and a second set of drawbars, wherein the second set of drawbars includes adjustable drawbars, wherein each of the adjustable drawbars includes a first part that slides respectively with a second part, wherein the adjustable drawbars include a retracted position and an extended position;
a first rank coupled to the first set of drawbars, the first rank including a first plurality of row units longitudinally spaced along a longitudinally extending support structure;
a second rank coupled to the second set of tow bars, the second rank including a first section connected to a sec

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• EKHE Sandeep
• Ayyalasomayajula Vijay Bhaskar Shashidhar

Classifications

• B60D1/52

  removably mounted · CPC title

• B60D1/173

  consisting of at least two bars which are not connected or articulated to each other · CPC title

• A01C7/08 Primary

  Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows · CPC title

• A01B71/00

  Construction or arrangement of setting or adjusting mechanisms, of implement or tool drive or of power take-off; Means for protecting parts against dust, or the like; Adapting machine elements to or for agricultural purposes · CPC title

• A01B73/00 Primary

  Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width (arrangements of lifting devices for soil working implements A01B63/00) · CPC title