Agricultural systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016100517-A1
Application number	US-201514974087-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2015
Priority date	Sep 15, 2010
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural implement includes at least one row unit having a plurality of support members, each of which is pivotably coupled to an attachment frame or another of the support members to permit vertical pivoting vertical movement of the support members, and a plurality of soil-engaging tools, each of which is coupled to at least one of the support members. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders are coupled to the support members for urging the support members downwardly toward the soil. A plurality of controllable pressure control valves are coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the cylinders. A plurality of sensors produce electrical signals corresponding to predetermined conditions, and a controller is coupled to the sensor and the controllable pressure control valves. The controller receives the electrical signals from the sensors and produces control signals for controlling the pressure control valves.

First claim

1 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . An agricultural row unit comprising
a frame having a gauge wheel that engages the soil to control the elevation of the frame, a soil-engaging tool coupled to said frame to permit vertical movement of said tool relative to said frame, a hydraulic cylinder having a movable ram and containing a pressurized hydraulic fluid for applying at least one of down pressure and up pressure to said tool, an uplift energy storage device coupled to said hydraulic cylinder to permit upward movement of said tool in response to increased resistance by the soil to downward movement of said tool, while applying a force resisting said upward movement of said tool, and a down pressure energy storage device coupled to said hydraulic cylinder to permit downward movement of said tool in response to decreased resistance by the soil to downward movement of said tool, while applying a force resisting said downward movement of said tool.

23 . The agricultural row unit of claim 22 in which said hydraulic cylinder includes a double-acting ram to provide both up pressure and down pressure.

24 . The agricultural row unit of claim 22 in which said energy storage devices are accumulators.

25 . A method of controlling down pressure in an agricultural row unit that includes a frame having a gauge wheel that engages the soil to control the elevation of the frame, a soil-engaging tool coupled to said frame to permit vertical movement of said tool relative to said frame, and a hydraulic cylinder having a movable ram and containing a pressurized hydraulic fluid for applying at least one of down pressure and up pressure to said tool,
permitting upward movement of said tool in response to increased resistance by the soil to downward movement of said tool, while applying a force resisting said upward movement of said tool, and permitting downward movement of said tool in response to decreased resistance by the soil to downward movement of said tool, while applying a force resisting said downward movement of said tool.

26 . The method of claim 25 in which a double-acting ram in said hydraulic is used to provide both up pressure and down pressure.

27 . The method of claim 25 in which said forces resisting said upward and downward movements of said tool are energy storage devices.

28 . The method of claim 27 in which said energy storage devices are accumulators coupled to said hydraulic cylinder.

Assignees

• Dawn Equipment Company

Inventors

• Bassett Joseph D

Classifications

• A01C5/066

  Devices for covering drills or furrows · CPC title

• A01B63/1115

  using a mechanical ground contact sensor · CPC title

• A01C7/006

  Minimum till seeding · CPC title

• A01C7/205 Primary

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title