Adjustable packer wheel seeding system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9433137-B2
Application number	US-201414270910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2014
Priority date	May 27, 2009
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, a seeding implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a parallel linkage coupled to the frame, and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the parallel linkage. The implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a position of the ground engaging tool, wherein the packer wheel is positioned directly behind the ground engaging tool when the ground engaging tool is engaging a soil region. Further, the implement includes an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel rearwardly upon the ground engaging tool encountering an obstruction and to shift the packer wheel forwardly after the obstruction has been passed by the ground engaging tool.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a packer wheel assembly configured to be disposed rearward of a hoe opener assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises a packer wheel mounted to a bracket, the packer wheel assembly controls a depth of a valley formed by a hoe opener of the hoe opener assembly while the hoe opener is in a ground engaging position, and the bracket is coupled to a packer wheel arm extending between the bracket and a linkage assembly; and
an adjustment mechanism that shifts the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket from a first position to a second position rearward of the first position when the hoe opener moves in a rearward direction toward a disengaged position;
wherein the adjustment mechanism does not permit the packer wheel to move vertically.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel horizontally via a linkage member extending between the packer wheel assembly and a shank coupled to the hoe opener.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel horizontally from the second position to the first position as the hoe opener transitions to the ground engaging position.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel in the rearward direction such that the packer wheel does not contact the hoe opener as the hoe opener moves in the rearward direction toward the disengaged position.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel horizontally along the rearward direction about 8 to 12 inches.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises an axle rotationally supporting the packer wheel on the bracket via a coupling of the axle and a slot in the bracket, and a biasing member coupled to the axle for urging the packer wheel in a forward direction within the slot.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a biasing member that urges the packer wheel in a forward direction.

8. A system, comprising:
a packer wheel assembly configured to be disposed rearward of a hoe opener assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises a packer wheel mounted to a bracket, the packer wheel assembly is configured to control a depth of a valley formed by a hoe opener of the hoe opener assembly while the hoe opener is in a ground engaging position, and the bracket is coupled to a packer wheel arm extending between the bracket and a linkage assembly; and
an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket from a first position to a second position rearward of the first position when the hoe opener moves in a rearward direction toward a disengaged position.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally via a linkage member extending between the packer wheel assembly and a shank coupled to the hoe opener, and the adjustment mechanism is configured to block vertical movement of the packer wheel.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally from the second position to the first position as the hoe opener transitions to the ground engaging position.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel in the rearward direction such that the packer wheel does not contact the hoe opener as the hoe opener moves in the rearward direction toward the disengaged position.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally along the rearward direction about 8 to 12 inches.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises an axle rotationally supporting the packer wheel on the bracket via a coupling of the axle and a slot in the bracket, and the adjustment mechanism comprises a biasing member coupled to the axle configured to urge the packer wheel in a forward direction within the slot.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the packer wheel arm from the first position to the second position.

15. A system, comprising:
a packer wheel assembly configured to be disposed rearward of a hoe opener assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises a packer wheel mounted to a bracket, the packer wheel assembly is configured to control a depth of a valley formed by a hoe opener of the hoe opener assembly while the hoe opener is in a ground engaging position, and the bracket is coupled to a packer wheel arm extending between the bracket and a linkage assembly; and
an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel arm from a first position to a second position rearward of the first position when the hoe opener moves in a rearward direction toward a disengaged position;
wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises an axle rotationally supporting the packer wheel on the bracket via a coupling of the axle and a slot in the bracket, and the adjustment mechanism comprises a biasing member coupled to the axle configured to urge the packer wheel in a forward direction within the slot.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally via a linkage member extending between the packer wheel assembly and a shank coupled to the hoe opener, and the adjustment mechanism is configured to block vertical movement of the packer wheel.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel in the rearward direction such that the packer wheel does not contact the hoe opener as the hoe opener moves in the rearward direction toward the disengaged position, and the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally from the second position to the first position as the hoe opener transitions to the ground engaging position.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally along the rearward direction about 8 to 12 inches.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket and relative to the packer wheel arm from the first position to the second position.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket from the first position to the second position.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Henry Jim
• Ryder Nicholas George Alfred

Classifications

• A01B49/027 Primary

  with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller · CPC title

• A01C5/068

  Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels · CPC title

• Y10S111/90

  Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions · CPC title

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01B61/046 Primary

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