Independent closing system with adjustable down force

• US 10,219,427 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Brian, Dienst, Johnathon, Raetzman, Ryan, Prickel, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US15/623,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means

Abstract

A furrow closing system for an agricultural seed planter provides soil closing and soil pressing that are controlled by independent adjustable down force or pressure systems that react to a common frame element or backbone. The adjustable down force systems may be manually controlled, electronically controlled and/or part of a closed loop system. A down stop, which may also be adjustable, may be used to limit the maximum force of the adjustable down pressure systems.

Claims

1. A method for closing a furrow with an agricultural seed planter including a frame element, first and second adjustable down-force assemblies coupled to the frame element, a closing assembly coupled to the first adjustable down-force assembly, the closing assembly including a closing arm pivotally coupled to the frame element and at least one closing disc, the closing assembly operable to contact a ground surface, a press assembly coupled to the second adjustable down-force assembly, and a down stop operable to limit the first adjustable down force, the method comprising:

(a) contacting a ground surface with the press assembly and closing assembly with the press assembly following the closing assembly;

(b) adjusting a first down force from the frame element to the closing assembly via the first adjustable down-force assembly without substantially affecting the press assembly;

(c) limiting the first down force via the down stop positioned on the closing arm, the down stop including a plurality of positions providing different limits of the closing arm; and

(d) adjusting a second down force from the frame element to the press assembly via the second adjustable down-force assembly without substantially affecting the closing assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of using an electronic controller to adjust at least one of the first and second adjustable down-force assemblies.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of adjusting the first and second adjustable down-force assemblies while the closing and press assemblies are moving along the ground surface.

4. A furrow closing system for an agricultural seed planter comprising:

a frame element;

a closing disc operable to contact a ground surface;

a closing arm pivotally coupled to the frame element and the closing disc;

a first adjustable down-force assembly pivotally coupled to the closing arm;

a press wheel;

a press arm pivotally coupled to the frame element and the press wheel;

a second adjustable down-force assembly pivotally coupled to the press arm; and

a down stop limiting a motion of the closing arm, the down stop positioned on the closing arm, the down stop adjustable among a plurality of positions providing different limits of the closing arm,

wherein the press wheel is operable to contact a ground surface following the closing disc, and

wherein the first adjustable down-force assembly is operable to provide a first adjustable down force from the frame element to the closing disc without substantially affecting the press wheel, and the second adjustable down-force assembly is operable to provide a second adjustable down force from the frame element to the press wheel without substantially affecting the closing disc.

5. The closing system of claim 4, wherein the first adjustable down-force assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder and the second adjustable down-force assembly comprises a coil spring and a hydraulic cylinder.

6. The closing system of claim 4, further including an electronic controller operable to adjust the first and second adjustable down-force assemblies while the closing disc and the press wheel are moving along the ground surface.