Novel gauge wheel for use with a conventional row planter assembly

• US 20080066662A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ron Hesla
• Original Assignee: Ron Hesla
• Inventors: Hesla, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/164
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means

Abstract

A row planter assembly comprising: a frame; an opening disk rotatably mounted to the frame; and a gauge wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed alongside, but spaced from, the opening disk so as to create a narrow gap therebetween; wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one opening in the side wall thereof so as to permit soil to pass from the gap located between the opening disk and the gauge wheel to the region outside of the gauge wheel.

Claims

1. A row planter assembly comprising:

a frame;

an opening disk rotatably mounted to the frame; and

a gauge wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed alongside, but spaced from, the opening disk so as to create a narrow gap therebetween;

wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one opening in the side wall thereof so as to permit soil to pass from the gap located between the opening disk and the gauge wheel to the region outside of the gauge wheel.

2. A row planter assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the at least one openings extends along at least 30% of the radius of the gauge wheel.

3. A row planter assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the at least one openings extends along at least 50 degrees of the circumference of the gauge wheel.

4. A row planter assembly according to claim 1 wherein the gauge wheel comprises two openings.

5. A row planter assembly according to claim 4 wherein the two openings are diametrically opposed from one another.

6. A row planter assembly according to claim 1 wherein the assembly further comprises a scraper disposed in the gap between the opening disk and the gauge wheel and configured to remove soil from at least one of the opening disk and the gauge wheel and direct the removed soil out the at least one opening.

7. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the scraper comprises a surface for removing soil from the opening disk.

8. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the scraper comprises a surface for removing soil from the gauge wheel.

9. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the scraper comprises a curved body for directing the removed soil out the at least one opening.

10. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the scraper comprises a first surface for removing soil from the opening disk, a second surface for removing soil from the gauge wheel, and a curved body for directing the removed soil out the at least one opening.

11. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the scraper is mounted to the frame.

12. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the opening disk is rotatably mounted to the frame via an axle, and further wherein the scraper is mounted to the opening disk axle.

13. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the gauge wheel is rotatably mounted to the frame via an axle, and further wherein the scraper is mounted to the gauge wheel axle.

14. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one wheel liner disposed adjacent to the at least one opening, wherein the wheel liner comprises an inner rim surface to facilitate the egress of soil out the at least one opening.

15. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one soil deflector disposed adjacent to the at least one opening, wherein the soil deflector is positioned along a trailing edge of the at least one opening so as to facilitate the egress of soil out the at least one opening.

16. A row planter assembly according to claim 6 wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one soil exit chute disposed adjacent to the at least one opening, wherein the soil exit chute comprises a floor and a side wall configured to move soil outboard as it emerges from the at least one opening.

17. A row planter assembly comprising:

a frame;

an opening disk rotatably mounted to the frame;

a gauge wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed alongside, but spaced from, the opening disk so as to create a narrow gap therebetween, wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one opening in the side wall thereof so as to permit soil to pass from the gap located between the opening disk and the gauge wheel to the region outside of the gauge wheel;

a scraper disposed in the gap between the opening disk and the gauge wheel and configured to remove soil from at least one of the opening disk and the gauge wheel and direct the removed soil out the at least one opening, and further wherein the scraper comprises a first surface for removing soil from the opening disk, a second surface for removing soil from the gauge wheel, and a curved body for directing the removed soil out the at least one opening in the gauge wheel;

at least one wheel liner disposed adjacent to the at least one opening in the gauge wheel, wherein the wheel liner comprises an inner rim surface to facilitate the egress of soil out the at least one opening;

at least one soil deflector disposed adjacent to the at least one opening in the gauge wheel, wherein the soil deflector is positioned along a trailing edge of the at least one opening so as to facilitate the egress of soil out the at least one opening; and

at least one soil exit chute disposed adjacent to the at least one opening in the gauge wheel, wherein the soil exit chute comprises a floor and a side wall configured to move soil outboard as it emerges from the at least one opening.