System for applying down pressure in a coulter assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018199501-A1
Application number	US-201815920085-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 15, 2011
Publication date	Jul 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A coulter assembly for an agricultural implement. The coulter assembly includes a support structure and a disc blade rotatably mounted to the support structure. The coulter assembly also includes a spring assembly coupled to the support structure and configured to urge the disc blade into soil. The spring assembly includes a variable rate spring.

First claim

1 . A coulter assembly for an agricultural implement comprising:
a support structure; a disc blade rotatably mounted to the support structure; a spring assembly having a first end coupled to the support structure and a second end configured to mount to a rockshaft, wherein the spring assembly is configured to urge the disc blade into soil, the spring assembly comprises a variable rate spring having multiple spring constants, and the spring rate of the variable rate spring is configured to vary in response to compression of the variable rate spring; and an actuator configured to adjust a position of the support structure relative to the soil.

2 . The coulter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to extend to compress the variable rate spring, and to retract to decompress the variable rate spring.

3 . The coulter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to retract to raise the disc blade above the soil.

4 . The coulter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a first portion having a first spring constant of the multiple spring constants, and a second portion having a second spring constant of the multiple spring constants, and wherein the first spring constant is at least 20 percent greater than the second spring constant.

5 . The coulter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly comprises a rod extending between a first trunnion and a second trunnion, the first trunnion is configured to mount to the rockshaft, the second trunnion is mounted to the support structure, and the variable rate spring is disposed about the rod.

6 . The coulter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a coil spring having at least two different pitches.

7 . The coulter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a coil spring including a first portion having a first pitch, and a second portion having a second pitch, and wherein the second pitch is approximately 20 to 40 percent of the first pitch.

8 . A coulter assembly for an agricultural implement comprising:
a support structure; a disc blade rotatably mounted to the support structure; a rockshaft; a spring assembly having a first end coupled to the support structure and a second end coupled to the rockshaft, wherein the spring assembly is configured to urge the disc blade into soil, the spring assembly comprises a variable rate spring having multiple spring constants, and the spring rate of the variable rate spring is configured to vary in response to compression of the variable rate spring; and an actuator coupled to the rockshaft, wherein the actuator is configured to drive the rockshaft to rotate to adjust a position of the support structure relative to the soil.

9 . The coulter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is configured to extend to compress the variable rate spring, and to retract to decompress the variable rate spring.

10 . The coulter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is configured to retract to raise the disc blade above the soil.

11 . The coulter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a first portion having a first spring constant of the multiple spring constants, and a second portion having a second spring constant of the multiple spring constants, and wherein the first spring constant is at least 20 percent greater than the second spring constant.

12 . The coulter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the spring assembly comprises a rod extending between a first trunnion and a second trunnion, the first trunnion is coupled to the rockshaft, the second trunnion is coupled to the support structure, and the variable rate spring is disposed about the rod.

13 . The coulter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a coil spring having at least two different pitches.

14 . The coulter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a coil spring including a first portion having a first pitch, and a second portion having a second pitch, and wherein the second pitch is approximately 20 to 40 percent of the first pitch.

15 . A coulter assembly for an agricultural implement comprising:
a support structure configured to support a disc blade; a spring assembly having a first end coupled to the support structure and a second end configured to mount to a rockshaft, wherein the spring assembly is configured to urge the disc blade into soil, the spring assembly comprises a variable rate spring having multiple spring constants, and the spring rate of the variable rate spring is configured to vary in response to compression of the variable rate spring.

16 . The coulter assembly of claim 15 , wherein the actuator is configured to extend to compress the variable rate spring, and to retract to decompress the variable rate spring.

17 . The coulter assembly of claim 15 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a first portion having a first spring constant of the multiple spring constants, and a second portion having a second spring constant of the multiple spring constants, and wherein the first spring constant is at least 20 percent greater than the second spring constant.

18 . The coulter assembly of claim 15 , wherein the spring assembly comprises a rod extending between a first trunnion and a second trunnion, the first trunnion is configured to mount to the rockshaft, the second trunnion is mounted to the support structure, and the variable rate spring is disposed about the rod.

19 . The coulter assembly of claim 15 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a coil spring having at least two different pitches.

20 . The coulter assembly of claim 15 , wherein the variable rate spring comprises a coil spring including a first portion having a first pitch, and a second portion having a second pitch, and wherein the second pitch is approximately 20 to 40 percent of the first pitch.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Gadzella Gerard James
• Schilling Robin Bruno

Classifications

• A01B63/24

  Tools or tool-holders adjustable relatively to the frame · CPC title

• A01C7/205 Primary

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title

• A01B15/18

  Coulters · CPC title

• A01B61/046 Primary

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

• A01B63/008

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