Apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing down force for an agricultural implement
First Claim
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1. An agricultural implement, comprising:
- a toolbar; and
a row unit comprising a frame and a strut, the strut connected to the toolbar and several fluid components, the fluid components comprising at least a furrow opener;
substantially rigid components connected to the toolbar, the rigid components comprising at least a seed meter for planting seed, a seed tube for passing seed from the seed meter, and a closing wheel;
the strut having a housing generally fixed in position and connected to the seed meter, and a rod movable relative to the housing, the rod connected to the furrow opener;
wherein the strut provides a down force for the fluid components.
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Abstract
An agricultural planter includes systems, methods, and apparatuses for maintaining down force pressure at row units of the planter. The row units may include an electric linear actuator connected to linkages of the row units to maintain a down force pressure for the row unit. The linkage may also be removed and replaced with a strut or like mechanism to apply a direct down force pressure to components of the row unit. One or more sensors can be included to obtain information related to the ground to automatically adjust the amount of down force provided based upon a ground characteristic in order to maintain a substantially uniform furrow depth.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An agricultural implement, comprising:
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a toolbar; and a row unit comprising a frame and a strut, the strut connected to the toolbar and several fluid components, the fluid components comprising at least a furrow opener; substantially rigid components connected to the toolbar, the rigid components comprising at least a seed meter for planting seed, a seed tube for passing seed from the seed meter, and a closing wheel; the strut having a housing generally fixed in position and connected to the seed meter, and a rod movable relative to the housing, the rod connected to the furrow opener; wherein the strut provides a down force for the fluid components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A down force system for use with a row unit of an agricultural implement, comprising:
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a strut having a housing generally fixed in position and connected to a seed meter for planting seed; a rod movable relative to the housing, the rod connected to at least a furrow opener of a row unit; wherein the strut provides a down force for the furrow opener; and a substantially vertical slide member to control movement of the furrow opener in a substantially vertical direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing a down force to a row unit, the method comprising:
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connecting a row unit to a toolbar by a strut, the strut having a housing generally fixed in position and connected to a seed meter for planting seed; connecting a rod to at least a furrow opener of the row unit, the rod movable relative to the housing; wherein the strut provides a down force for the furrow opener; acquiring information, via a foresight sensor, related to a field condition; providing the down force for the furrow opener with the strut while the furrow opener opens a furrow, based upon said acquired information; and subsequently; passing seed with a seed tube from the seed meter to the furrow; and closing the furrow with a closing wheel once the seed is positioned in the furrow; wherein the strut does not provide down force seed meter, the seed tube, or the closing wheel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification