Multi diameter gauge wheel

• US 20080083357A1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howard Martin
• Original Assignee: Howard Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Howard D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/139
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 29/02 with smooth surface
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means

Abstract

An improved depth regulating means comprising: a first portion, said first portion positioned adjacent a furrow forming means for engagement with ground surface adjacent a furrow; and a second portion, said second portion positioned adjacent said first portion opposite the surface of said first portion adjacent said furrow forming means, wherein said second portion engages and drives residue through the area between adjacent furrow forming means opposite the direction of travel of the furrow forming means.

Claims

1. A seed planting assembly comprising:

a. a laterally extending support member;

b. a planting unit including a planting frame supported by said support member, wherein said planting unit frame carries;

i. a furrow opening assembly operable to create a furrow in a ground surface;

ii. a seed delivery assembly for delivery of seeds into said furrow;

iii. a furrow closing assembly operable to close said furrow;

iv. a depth regulating member having a vertical position relative to said furrow opening assembly, wherein said depth regulating member responds to forces upon said planting unit to control ground surface engagement;

v. an arm assembly connecting said depth regulating member to said planting unit frame;

vi. a stop means mechanically engaging a portion of said arm assembly for defining a limit for vertical motion of said depth regulating member in the direction substantially opposite said ground surface; and

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vii. a residue driving means cooperatively engaged with said depth regulating member wherein said residue driving means drives residue opposite the direction of travel of said seed planting assembly.

2. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said depth regulating means is further defined as a gauge wheel.

3. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said residue driving means is affixed to said depth regulating means via affixing means.

4. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said residue driving means is further defined as a tire having a diameter from 5 percent to 40 percent less than the diameter of said gauge wheel and wherein said tire has a width from 100 percent to 300 percent greater than the width of said gauge wheel.

5. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said residue driving means is further defined as an adjustable diameter wheel.

6. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gauge wheel incorporates both a first and second diameter, wherein said gauge wheel functions both as a depth regulating means and a residue driving means.

7. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said gauge wheel incorporates a plurality of diameters to regulate the depth of said furrow opening assembly and functions as both a depth regulating means and a residue driving means.

8. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a row cleaning means is positioned anteriorly of said seed planting assembly.

9. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein a row cleaning means is positioned anteriorly of said planting unit and said gauge wheel.

10. The seed planting assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said residue driving means and said depth regulating members are cooperatively arranged in pairs on adjacent planting units and wherein said total width of said pairs is less than the row width spacing defined by said adjacent pairs of planting units.

11. An improved gauge wheel comprising:

a. a first portion, wherein said first portion is a gauge wheel of fixed diameter and width for engagement with a ground surface and wherein said first portion is located adjacent a furrow forming means; and

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b. a second portion wherein said second portion is of a fixed diameter and width and wherein the diameters of said second portion and said first portion are unequal.

12. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first portion and said second portion are integral and continuous.

13. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein the diameter of said first portion is greater than the diameter of said second portion.

14. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first portion and said second portion are integral and continuous.

15. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first portion is not filled with a compressed fluid.

16. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second portion is not filled with a compressed fluid.

17. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second portion is filled with a compressed fluid.

18. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first portion is filled with a compressed fluid.

19. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said gauge wheel incorporates both a first and second diameter within said gauge wheel to function both as a depth regulating means and a residue driving means.

20. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 13 wherein said gauge wheel incorporates both a first and second diameter within said gauge wheel to function both as a depth regulating means and a residue driving means.

21. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 19 wherein said gauge wheel incorporates a plurality of diameters to function both as a depth regulating means and a residue driving means.

22. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 11 wherein said residue driving means and said depth regulating members are cooperatively arranged in pairs on adjacent planting units and wherein said total width of said pairs is less than the row width spacing defined by said adjacent pairs of planting units.

23. The improved gauge wheel as set forth in claim 13 wherein said residue driving means and said depth regulating members are cooperatively arranged in pairs on adjacent planting units and wherein said total width of said pairs is less than the row width spacing defined by said adjacent pairs of planting units.

24. An improved depth regulating means comprising:

a. a first portion, said first portion positioned adjacent a furrow forming means for engagement with ground surface adjacent a furrow; and

,

b. a second portion, said second portion positioned adjacent said first portion opposite the surface of said first portion adjacent said furrow forming means, wherein said second portion is affixed to said first portion via affixing means and wherein said second portion engages and drives residue through the area between adjacent said furrow forming means opposite the direction of travel of said furrow forming means.

25. The improved depth regulating means as set forth in claim 24 wherein said first portion is further defined as a gauge wheel.

26. The improved depth regulating means as set forth in claim 25 wherein said second portion is further defined as a tire affixed to said gauge wheel.

27. The improved depth regulating means as set forth in claim 26 wherein said tire is further defined as having a diameter from 5 percent to 40 percent less than the diameter of said gauge wheel and wherein the width of said tire is from 100 percent to 300 percent greater than the width of said gauge wheel.

28. The improved depth regulating means as set forth in 27 wherein said second portion is further defined as an adjustable diameter wheel.

29. The improved depth regulating means as set forth in 27 wherein the width of said second portion and said first portion are unequal.

30. The improved depth regulating means as set forth in 27 wherein the width of said second portion and said first portion are equal.

31. An improved planter row unit comprising:

a. a frame means;

b. a furrow forming means for penetrating a ground surface and forming a furrow therein, said furrow forming means being cooperatively engaged with said frame means;

c. a depth regulation means for engaging said ground surface when said furrow forming means has penetrated said ground surface to a selected depth, said depth regulation means being cooperatively engaged with said frame means;

d. an adjustable down pressure means for controlling down pressure applied to said depth regulation means;

e. a seed delivery means cooperatively engaged with said planter frame to transport and deliver seeds to said furrow;

f. a furrow closing means for closing said furrow formed by said furrow forming means, wherein said furrow closing means is cooperatively engaged with said planter frame;

g. a stop means engaging said depth regulation means to restrict said furrow forming means from over penetrating into said ground surface; and

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h. a residue driving means cooperatively engaged with said depth regulating means wherein said residue driving means drives residue through the area between two adjacent said furrow forming means in the direction opposite the direction of travel of said planter row unit.