DEBRIS ASSEMBLY FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ROW UNIT

• US 20140262381A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Schaffert, Paul E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/558
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 15/16 Discs bearings therefor A01B71/04; Scrapers for cleaning discs; Sharpening attachments sharpening in general B24
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/006 Minimum till seeding
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2

Abstract

A debris assembly for use with a mobile agricultural device is provided. The debris assembly may include a debris member and an attachment bracket. The debris member may substantially prevent debris from accumulating on the disc of the mobile agricultural device. The debris member may be adjustable as a single component relative to the disc to accommodate various soil conditions. The debris member may be removable from the attachment bracket.

Claims

1. A debris assembly for an agricultural row unit having a furrow opener, comprising:

a bracket attached to the agricultural row unit; and

a debris member having a base, the base removably and adjustably attached to the bracket for selective positioning of the debris member relative to the furrow opener.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base of the debris member is slidably attached to the bracket.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the base of the debris member includes a positioning element that slidably bears against a portion of the bracket.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the debris member includes an elongate element that is fixedly attached to the positioning element.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the elongate element defines an interior acute angle.

6. A row unit for an agricultural planter, comprising:

a chassis;

a disc rotatably coupled to the chassis and configured to create a furrow; and

a debris member having a base, the base operably coupled to the chassis and positioned laterally adjacent the disc, the base selectively movable relative to the disc to allow adjustment relative to the disc.

7. The row unit of claim 6, wherein:

the chassis includes cantilevered arm with a free end; and

the disc is rotatably coupled to the free end of the cantilevered arm.

8. The row unit of claim 7, wherein the free end of the cantilevered arm includes a plurality of vertically-spaced apertures.

9. The row unit of claim 6, further comprising a bracket interconnecting the base of the debris member and the chassis.

10. The row unit of claim 9, wherein the bracket includes a boss slidably received within a guide track formed in the free end of the cantilevered arm.

11. The row unit of claim 10, wherein the bracket is adjustably coupled to the chassis.

12. The row unit of claim 10, wherein the debris member is slidably coupled to the bracket.

13. The row unit of claim 12, wherein the debris member includes an elongate element forming an apex directed towards a rotation axis of the disc.

14. The row unit of claim 13, wherein the elongate element has a first end coupled to the bracket and a second free end directed away from the rotation axis of the disc.

15. A row unit for an agricultural planter, comprising:

a chassis;

a rotatable disc attached to the chassis and configured to create a furrow;

a bracket attached to the chassis; and

an elongate rod having a base movably attached to the bracket and laterally adjustable relative to the disc.

16. The row unit of claim 15, wherein the bracket is L-shaped and includes a leg portion that extends transverse to the disc.

17. The row unit of claim 16, further comprising a positioning element that slidably bears against the leg portion, and wherein the elongate rod is attached to the positioning element.

18. The row unit of claim 17, wherein:

a first slot is defined by the leg portion of the bracket;

a second slot is defined by the positioning element; and

a fastener extends through the first and second slots to secure the bracket and the positioning element together.

19. The row unit of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first slot or the second slot is oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the disc.

20. The row unit of claim 18, wherein:

one of the first slot or the second slot is oriented transverse to a direction of travel of the disc; and

the other of the first slot or the second slot is oriented in line to the direction of travel of the disc.