Quick depth adjustment for parallel arm openers
First Claim
1. A seeding apparatus comprising:
- an implement frame mounted on wheels for travel over the ground in an operating travel direction;
a furrow opener assembly extending rearward from a lateral frame member of the implement frame and comprising;
a front link member fixed to the lateral frame member, and upper and lower parallel arm members pivotally attached at front ends thereof to the front link member about corresponding upper and lower front pivot axes oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and pivotally attached at rear ends thereof to a rear link member about corresponding upper and lower rear pivot axes oriented substantially parallel to the front pivot axes;
a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link member, and a furrow opener attached to a lower portion of the furrow opener bracket, the furrow opener operative to form a furrow when a bottom end thereof is engaged in the ground;
a packer wheel arm attached to the rear link member and a packer wheel rotatably attached to a rear end of the packer wheel arm;
where in operation the furrow opener and the packer wheel are in fixed positions with respect to the rear link member;
a bias element operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly;
a raising mechanism operative to move the furrow opener assembly between a lowered operating position and a raised transport position;
wherein a front pivot line connecting the upper and lower front pivot axes is substantially parallel to a rear pivot line connecting the upper and lower rear pivot axes, and the front and rear pivot lines are oriented at a pivot angle with respect to a vertical orientation; and
wherein the pivot angle is adjustable to vary a furrow depth of the furrow.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A parallel arm furrow opener assembly defines upper and lower front pivot axes and upper and lower rear pivot axes oriented horizontally and perpendicular to a travel direction. A furrow opener and a packer wheel are attached to a rear link of the assembly. In operation the furrow opener and the packer wheel are in fixed positions with respect to the rear link member, and a bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly. A front pivot line connecting the upper and lower front pivot axes is parallel to a rear pivot line connecting the upper and lower rear pivot axes, and the front and rear pivot lines are oriented at a pivot angle with respect to a vertical orientation, and the pivot angle is adjustable to vary a furrow depth of the furrow.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A seeding apparatus comprising:
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an implement frame mounted on wheels for travel over the ground in an operating travel direction; a furrow opener assembly extending rearward from a lateral frame member of the implement frame and comprising; a front link member fixed to the lateral frame member, and upper and lower parallel arm members pivotally attached at front ends thereof to the front link member about corresponding upper and lower front pivot axes oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and pivotally attached at rear ends thereof to a rear link member about corresponding upper and lower rear pivot axes oriented substantially parallel to the front pivot axes; a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link member, and a furrow opener attached to a lower portion of the furrow opener bracket, the furrow opener operative to form a furrow when a bottom end thereof is engaged in the ground; a packer wheel arm attached to the rear link member and a packer wheel rotatably attached to a rear end of the packer wheel arm; where in operation the furrow opener and the packer wheel are in fixed positions with respect to the rear link member; a bias element operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly; a raising mechanism operative to move the furrow opener assembly between a lowered operating position and a raised transport position; wherein a front pivot line connecting the upper and lower front pivot axes is substantially parallel to a rear pivot line connecting the upper and lower rear pivot axes, and the front and rear pivot lines are oriented at a pivot angle with respect to a vertical orientation; and wherein the pivot angle is adjustable to vary a furrow depth of the furrow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A seeding apparatus comprising:
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an implement frame mounted on wheels for travel over the ground in an operating travel direction; a rockshaft rotatably attached to a lateral frame member of the implement frame about a lateral rotation axis, and a lock mechanism operative to secure the rockshaft at a selected rotational position; a furrow opener assembly extending rearward from the lateral frame member and the rockshaft, the furrow opener assembly comprising; a frame parallel arm assembly comprising a front frame link member fixed to the lateral frame member and defining upper and lower front frame pivot axes, and a rear frame link member defining upper and lower rear frame pivot axes, wherein the frame pivot axes are arranged so that a front frame pivot line between the upper and lower front frame pivot axes and a rear frame pivot line between the upper and lower rear frame pivot axes are substantially parallel and of substantially equal length; a rockshaft parallel arm assembly comprising a front rockshaft link member fixed to the rockshaft and defining upper and lower front rockshaft pivot axes and a rear rockshaft link member defining upper and lower rear rockshaft pivot axes, wherein the rockshaft pivot axes are arranged so that a front rockshaft pivot line between the upper and lower front rockshaft pivot axes and a rear rockshaft pivot line between the upper and lower rear rockshaft pivot axes are substantially parallel and of substantially equal length; a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear rockshaft link member and connected during operation to the rear frame link member with a furrow opener attached to a lower portion of the furrow opener bracket, the furrow opener operative to form a furrow when a bottom end thereof is engaged in the ground; a packer wheel arm attached to the rear frame link member and the rear rockshaft link member and a packer wheel rotatably attached to a rear end of the packer wheel arm; a bias element operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly; a raising mechanism operative to move the furrow opener assembly between a lowered operating position and a raised transport position; wherein a furrow depth of the furrow is adjusted from a first depth to a second depth by rotating the rockshaft from a first rotational position to a second rotational position; and wherein a fore and aft presentation angle of the furrow opener with respect to the ground is maintained at a constant angle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification