SECTIONAL ARTICULATED AGRICULTURAL APPARATUS

• US 3,705,560 A
• Filed: 09/24/1971
• Issued: 12/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas E. Lappin
• Original Assignee: Douglas E. Lappin
• Inventors: Lappin, Douglas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagwill, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US05/183,476
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 111/1,6-7,52,60,62,85 56/228 172/44,240,248,456,310-311 280/415R
• US Class Current: 111/151
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/08 Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/927 Parallelogram mounting

Abstract

A seed planting apparatus consisting of a first section with one or more similar sections attached thereto. Each section has furrowing means, seed dropping means and press wheels. Optionally, tanks for holding water or liquid fertilizer are mounted on each section with pipes running to the rear of each furrowing means. Each section is supported on aster wheels at its front corners and centrally of its rear edge to form a generally triangular suspension. The wheels supporting the rear of the first section can be swiveled from a position for travel in one direction to a position for travel at 90* thereto with the wheels being releasably locked in each of the two positions. In the field, all sections in side by side relation are towed from a hitch on the first section. In transport position, all sections are towed in an end to end relationship by a hitch attached to the end of the side sections. In transport position, all of the caster wheels swivel freely except the rear set on the first section. In the field position, all of the rear wheels are releasably locked to keep them from swiveling about their caster axis while all of the forward wheels are permitted to swivel.

Claims

1. A planter for movement during planting in one direction and for transport movement in a second direction at right angles to the first direction comprising a generally rectangular horizontal frame, a front caster wheel unit secured to each front corner of said frame, a rear caster wheel unit secured to the rear portion of said frame intermediate the opposite sides of said frame with said front and rear caster wheel units forming a tripod support for said frame, means on said caster wheel unit cooperating with means on said frame for releasably locking said rear caster wheel unit with the wheels positioned for travel in one direction toward the front of said frame and for releasably locking said wheels for travel in a second direction at right angles to the first direction, a plurality of furrow opening planting units secured to said frame for movement from an extended planting position to an elevated travel position, hydraulically actuated means on said frame for lowering and raising said furrow opening planting units, means on sAid frame for dispensing seed, water and fertilizer to said planting units, drive means on said frame for actuating said dispensing means, a drive wheel connected to said drive means and swingably mounted on said frame for movement from an elevated non-driving position to a lowered driving position in engagement with one of said rear caster wheels, and hydraulic means on said frame for moving said drive wheel to and from drive position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, including a second generally rectangular horizontal frame positioned adjacent one side of said first frame, means connecting the adjacent front corners of said first and second frames for pivotal movement about a horizontal longitudinal axis and about a horizontal transverse axis, means connecting the adjacent rear corners of said first and second frames for respective vertical sliding movement and for pivotal movement about a horizontal longitudinal axis, a front caster wheel unit secured to the front corner of said second frame opposite said first frame, a rear caster wheel unit secured to the rear portion of said second frame intermediate the opposite sides thereof, means on said last-named rear caster wheel unit cooperating with means on said second frame for releasably locking said last-named unit for travel in a direction toward the front of said second frame, and planting units on said second frame identical to the planting units on said first frame.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, including a third generally rectangular horizontal frame positioned adjacent the other side of said first frame, means connecting the adjacent front corners of said first and third frames for pivotal movement about a horizontal longitudinal axis and about a horizontal transverse axis, means connecting the adjacent rear corners of said first and third frames for respective vertical sliding movement and for pivotal movement about a horizontal longitudinal axis, a front caster wheel unit secured to the front corner of said third frame opposite said first frame, a rear caster wheel unit secured to the rear portion of said third frame intermediate the opposite sides thereof, means on said last-named rear caster wheel unit cooperating with means on said third frame for releasably locking said last-named unit for travel in a direction toward the front of said third frame, and planting units on said third frame identical to the planting units on said first frame.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein means are provided on each of said caster wheel units for damping the castering action thereof to provide a steady support for said frames.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, including a V-shaped tongue pivotally secured to the front of said first-named frame for moving said planter through the field, and a tongue pivotally secured to the side of said second frame for moving said planter endwise during transport thereof.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said planting units include vertically spaced pairs of parallel links mounting said planting unit on said frame for substantial vertical movement from planting position to elevated travel position.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein means are provided on said planting unit for releasably holding said planting unit in planting position for release upon engagement of said planting unit with a stationary object.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for holding said planting unit in planting position includes a shearable shear pin.

9. A device as claimed in claim 3, including a plurality of furrow closing wheel units positioned at the rear of each of said frames, means mounting said furrow closing wheel units for swinging movement from a position engaging the ground for closing the furrows therein to a position elevated above the ground to permit transport of the planter, and means connecting the furrow closing mounting means with the hydraulically actuated means for lowering and raising said furrow opening planting units tO simultaneously raise the furrow closing wheel units when raising the furrow opening planting units and for lowering the furrow closing wheel units upon lowering of the furrow opening planting units.

10. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein resilient means are provided between said drive wheel and the hydraulic means of said frame for moving said drive wheel to resiliently maintain the engagement between said drive wheel and said one rear caster wheel with said drive wheel in drive position.

11. A device as claimed in claim 3, including a V-shaped tongue pivotally secured to the front of said first-named frame for moving said planter through the field, and a tongue pivotally secured to the side of said second frame for moving said planter endwise during transport thereof.

12. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein resilient means are provided between said drive wheel and the hydraulic means of said frame for moving said drive wheel to resiliently maintain the engagement between said drive wheel and said one rear caster wheel with said drive wheel in drive position.

13. A device as claimed in claim 2, including a V-shaped tongue pivotally secured to the front of said first-named frame for moving said planter through the field, and a tongue pivotally secured to the side of said second frame for moving said planter endwise during transport thereof.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein resilient means are provided between said drive wheel and the hydraulic means of said frame for moving said drive wheel to resiliently maintain the engagement between said drive wheel and said one rear caster wheel with said drive wheel in drive position.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said planting units include vertically spaced pairs of parallel links mounting said planting unit on said frame for substantial vertical movement from planting position to elevated travel position.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein means provided on said planting unit for releasably holding said planting unit in planting position for release upon engagement of said planting unit with a stationary object.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for holding said planting unit in planting position includes a shearable shear pin.