IMPROVED PLANTER BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING APPURTENANCES IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE SEED TUBE

• US 20050241554A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
• Inventors: Plattner, Chad, Sauder, Derek A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/188
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus

Abstract

A bracket assembly for supporting seed planting appurtenances in substantial alignment with respect to a seed tube of an agricultural planter. The bracket assembly includes a shaft mount and a shank mount.

Claims

1. A bracket assembly for supporting seed planting appurtenances in substantial alignment with respect to a seed tube of an agricultural planter, wherein the planter includes a shank portion supporting an opening disc shaft, the seed tube disposed rearwardly of the shaft, said bracket assembly comprising:

a shaft mount;

a shank mount;

a housing having sides spaced to receive a portion of the seed tube therebetween, said housing further including walls defining a cavity in substantial alignment with respect to the seed tube for receiving a resilient tool such that an upper end of said resilient tool is receivably supported in said cavity and wherein a lower end of said resilient tool is disposed rearwardly and in substantial alignment with respect to the seed tube, and wherein said walls further define a passageway through at least a portion of said housing for receiving a liquid conduit.

2. The bracket assembly of claim 1 further including a support arm having first and second ends, said first end operably supported by said housing, said second end extending rearwardly of said first end and in substantial alignment with the seed tube, said second end having a fitting to support one end of a conduit.

3. The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein said shaft mount includes a pair of metal ears between which the seed tube is receivable, each of said metal ears having an opening sufficient to receive the opening disc shaft.

4. The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein said shank mount engages a forward edge of the shank.

5. The bracket assembly of claim 4 wherein said forward shank-engaging mount includes arm members that extended forwardly along each side of the shank and are operably joined at a distal end forward of said forward edge of the shank.

6. The bracket assembly of claim 5 wherein said forward shank-engaging mount further includes forward shims, adjustably moveable with respect to said forwardly extending arms, said forward shims engaging said forward edge of the shank.

7. The bracket assembly of claim 6 wherein said forward shims are selectively lockably engageable with said joined distal end of said forwardly extending arm.

8. The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein said shank mount engages a portion of the shank disposed rearwardly of the seed tube and in substantial alignment therewith.

9. A bracket assembly for supporting seed planting appurtenances in substantial alignment with respect to a seed tube of an agricultural planter, wherein the planter includes a shank portion supporting an opening disc shaft, the seed tube disposed rearwardly of the shaft, said bracket assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to support a planting appurtenance;

a shaft mount engaging the shaft;

a shank mount that engages a forward edge of the shank;

whereby said shaft mount and said shank mount cooperate to support the housing such that the planting appurtenances supported thereby are disposed in substantial alignment with the seed tube.

10. The bracket assembly of claim 9 wherein said planting appurtenance includes a resilient tool.

11. The bracket assembly of claim 10 wherein one end of said resilient tool is operably supported by said housing, and wherein another end of said resilient tool is in substantial alignment with the seed tube.

12. The bracket assembly of claim 9 wherein said planting appurtenance includes a liquid conduit.

13. The bracket assembly of claim 12 wherein housing includes a passageway extending through at least a portion thereof for receiving said liquid conduit.

14. The bracket assembly of claim 13 further including a resilient tool operably supported at one end by said housing, and wherein another end of said resilient tool is in substantial alignment with the seed tube.

15. The bracket assembly of claim 14 wherein said liquid conduit is supported along a length of said resilient tool.

16. The bracket assembly of claim 9 wherein said planting appurtenance includes a support arm adapted to support a conduit.

17. The bracket assembly of claim 14 wherein said housing further supports a support arm adapted to support a conduit.

18. The bracket assembly of claim 15 wherein said housing further supports a support arm adapted to support a conduit.

19. The bracket assembly of claim 9 wherein said forward shank-engaging mount includes arm members that extended forwardly along each side of the shank and wherein said arm members are operably joined at a distal end thereof forward of said forward edge of the shank.

20. The bracket assembly of claim 19 wherein said forward shank-engaging mount further includes forward shims, adjustably moveable with respect to said forwardly extending arms, said forward shims engaging said forward edge of the shank.

21. The bracket assembly of claim 20 wherein said forward shims are selectively lockably engageable with said joined distal end of said forwardly extending arms.

22. The bracket assembly of claim 9 further including a stop operably engaging a rearward edge of the shank.

23. A bracket assembly for supporting seed planting appurtenances in substantial alignment with respect to a seed tube of an agricultural planter, wherein the planter includes a shank portion supporting an opening disc shaft, the seed tube disposed rearwardly of the shaft, said bracket assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to support a planting appurtenance;

a shaft mount engaging the shaft;

a shank mount that engages a portion of the shank disposed rearwardly of the seed tube and in substantial alignment therewith;

whereby said shaft mount and said shank mount cooperate to support the housing such that the planting appurtenances supported thereby are disposed in substantial alignment with the seed tube.

24. The bracket assembly of claim 23 wherein said planting appurtenance includes a resilient tool.

25. The bracket assembly of claim 24 wherein one end of said resilient tool is operably supported by said housing, and wherein another end of said resilient tool is in substantial alignment with the seed tube.

26. The bracket assembly of claim 23 wherein said planting appurtenance includes a liquid conduit.

27. The bracket assembly of claim 26 wherein said housing includes a passageway extending through at least a portion thereof for receiving said liquid conduit.

28. The bracket assembly of claim 27 further including a resilient tool operably supported at one end by said housing, and wherein another end of said resilient tool is in substantial alignment with the seed tube.

29. The bracket assembly of claim 28 wherein said liquid conduit is supported along a length of said resilient tool.

30. The bracket assembly of claim 23 wherein said planting appurtenance includes a support arm adapted to support a conduit.

31. The bracket assembly of claim 28 wherein said housing further supports a support arm adapted to support a conduit.

32. The bracket assembly of claim 29 wherein said housing further supports a support arm adapted to support a conduit.