CLOSING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT

• US 20150000940A1
• Filed: 12/26/2012
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Patwardhan, Ranjit, Rans, Monte
• Granted Patent: US 9,402,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows

Abstract

A planter may be disclosed, the planter may comprise a handle, a first shaft, a second shaft, and a link. The first shaft may be operatively connected to the handle, link, or second shaft. The link may be arranged to translate rotational motion of the first shaft to the second shaft.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a first closing wheel and a second closing of an agricultural implement, the apparatus comprising:

a handle;

a first shaft operatively connected to the handle, the first shaft having the first closing wheels attached thereto;

a second shaft having the second closing wheel attached thereto; and

a link arranged to translate rotational motion of the first shaft to the second shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first shaft being operatively connected to the handle comprises the handle being connected to the link such that when the handle is repositioned the link will reposition the first shaft and the second shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each comprise a beveled surface at opposite ends of the first shaft and the second shaft, an angle of each of the beveled surfaces relative to a ground surface changing relative to a change of a position of the handle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each comprise a pair of spindle receivers, one spindle receiver connected to each of the beveled surfaces.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first position of the link is configured to cause a pair of closing wheels to be aligned at a first angle relative to one another and a ground surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a second position of the link is configured to cause the pair of closing wheels to be aligned at a second angle relative to one another and the ground surface, the first angle being different than the second angle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a movement of the link is configured to cause a camber of a pair of closing wheels to change.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a movement of the link is configured to cause a toe angle of a pair of closing wheels to change.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a position a position of the handle is configured to be changeable in substantial real time.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a planter comprising;

a handle;

a first shaft operatively connected to the handle;

a second shaft; and

a link arranged to translate rotational motion of the first shaft to the second shaft.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first shaft being operatively connected to the handle comprises the handle being connected to the link such that when the handle is repositioned the link will reposition the first shaft and the second shaft.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each comprise a beveled surface at opposite ends of the first shaft and the second shaft, an angle of each of the beveled surfaces relative to a ground surface changing relative to a change in a position of the handle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft each comprise a pair of spindle receivers, one spindle receiver connected to each of the beveled surfaces.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a first position of the link is configured to cause a pair of closing wheels to be aligned at a first angle relative to one another and a ground surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a second position of the link is configured to cause the pair of closing wheels to be aligned at a second angle relative to one another and the ground surface, the first angle being different than the second angle.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a movement of the link is configured to cause a camber of a pair of closing wheels to change.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a movement of the link is configured to cause a toe angle of a pair of closing wheels to change.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a position a position of the handle is configured to be changeable in substantial real time.

19. A method comprising:

connecting a first shaft to a second shaft with a link, each shaft operatively connected to at least one closing wheel; and

operatively connecting a handle the first shaft such that repositioning of handle causes a change of an angle of each closing wheel relative to each other.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein operatively connecting the first shaft to the handle comprises operatively connecting the handle to the link such that when the handle is repositioned the link will reposition the first shaft and the second shaft.