Automated spring force adjustment assembly for seed planter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016316610-A1
Application number	US-201615142630-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 30, 2015
Publication date	Nov 3, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automated spring force adjustment assembly for a seed planter includes a screw. Also included is a spring wound around an outer surface of the screw. Further included is a nut in threaded engagement with the outer surface of the screw and in contact with the spring. Yet further included is a motor operatively coupled to the screw to rotatably drive the screw, rotation of the screw translating the nut, translation of the screw adjusting the compression of the spring.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1 . An automated spring force adjustment assembly for a seed planter comprising:
a screw; a spring wound around an outer surface of the screw; a nut in threaded engagement with the outer surface of the screw and in contact with the spring; and a motor operatively coupled to the screw to rotatably drive the screw, rotation of the screw translating the nut, translation of the screw adjusting the compression of the spring.

2 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a gear arrangement operatively coupling the motor to the screw.

3 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 2 , wherein the gear arrangement comprises a worm operatively coupled to an output shaft of the motor and a worm wheel, the worm wheel operatively coupled to the screw.

4 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a housing assembly environmentally sealing a portion of the automated spring force adjustment assembly.

5 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 4 , wherein the housing assembly includes a gearbox housing that environmentally seals the gear arrangement.

6 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 4 , wherein the housing assembly includes a screw housing that environmentally seals the screw, the nut and the spring.

7 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a 3-phase, 12 Volt DC motor.

8 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a corrugated boot surrounding a portion of the screw.

9 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 4 , further comprising an air exchanging component operatively coupled to the housing assembly to ventilate an interior of the housing assembly.

10 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 9 , wherein the air exchanging component comprises a breathable fabric membrane.

11 . The automated spring force adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the screw is a ball screw and the nut is a ball nut.

12 . An automated spring force adjustment system for a seed planter comprising:
a controller unit; an electric motor in operative communication with the controller unit to receive a signal therefrom; a gear arrangement operatively coupled to an output shaft of the electric motor; a ball screw operatively coupled to the gear arrangement; a spring wound around the ball screw, the spring force controlling a seed planting depth; and a ball nut in threaded engagement with the outer surface of the ball screw and in contact with the spring.

13 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 12 , wherein the controller unit is fixed at an onboard location of a tractor configured to tow the seed planter.

14 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 12 , wherein the controller unit is a portable device.

15 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 12 , wherein the gear arrangement comprises a worm operatively coupled to the output shaft of the motor and a worm wheel, the worm wheel operatively coupled to the ball screw.

16 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 12 , further comprising a housing assembly environmentally sealing a portion of the automated spring force adjustment system, and the housing assembly includes a gearbox housing that environmentally seals the gear arrangement.

17 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 16 , wherein the housing assembly includes a screw housing that environmentally seals the ball screw, the ball nut and the spring.

18 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 12 , wherein the electric motor is a 3-phase, 12 Volt DC motor.

19 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 12 , further comprising a corrugated boot surrounding a portion of the ball screw.

20 . The automated spring force adjustment system of claim 12 , further comprising an air exchanging component operatively coupled to the housing assembly to ventilate an interior of the housing assembly, the air exchanging component comprising a breathable fabric membrane.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Burk Matt R
• Alpers Nicholas R
• Westphal David L

Classifications

• F16F1/121 Primary

  adjustable, e.g. to modify spring characteristics · CPC title

• A01B61/046 Primary

  the device including an energy accumulator for restoring the tool to its working position · CPC title

• A01C5/062

  Devices for making drills or furrows · CPC title

• A01B63/008

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

• A01C7/205

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title