Planter with equalizer between gauge wheels

• US 5,235,922 A
• Filed: 01/15/1979
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Borg-Warner Acceptance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Allied Products Corporation
• Inventors: Deckler, Harry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US06/003,263
• Time in Patent Office: 5,328 Days
• Field of Search: 111/59, 111/61-66, 111/84, 111/85, 111/81, 111/88, 111/86, 111/83, 172/538, 172/156, 172/397, 172/239, 172/669, 172/395, 172/743
• US Class Current: 111/137
• 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

For multi-row planting a seed planter having furrow-opening discs and associated gauge wheels the independent support arms of which are operatively interconnected by an equalizer arm whereby the combined load carried by the gauge wheels is distributed substantially equally therebetween so as to compensate for ground surface irregularities encountered by the gauge wheels. The distance a planter rises when a gauge wheel rolls over a stone is cut in half thereby reducing shock and minimizing interference with seed metering and dispensing. The equalizer arm may be mounted on adjustable support linkage whereby the gauge wheels may be positioned at different heights for different depth furrows.

Claims

1. In a seed planter having frame means, furrow-opening means mounted on said frame means comprising a pair of opposed discs rotatable on intersecting axes whereby the discs diverge upwardly and rearwardly from juxtaposed soil cutting edges forwardly of their axes, a pair of gauge wheels rotatably mounted on the lower ends of support arms which are pivotally mounted on said frame means, seed dispensing means mounted on said frame means and including a seed chute extending downwardly between said discs, and furrow-closing means mounted on said frame means rearwardly of said discs and gauge wheels, the improvement which comprises, an equalizer arm operatively interconnecting said gauge wheel support arms whereby the combined load carried by said gauge wheels remains at least approximately equally divided as the gauge wheels individually encounter irregularities and obstacles in their path of travel, said equalizer arm extending between said support arms and generally transversely to the fore-and-aft longitudinal axis of said planter and being pivotally mounted intermediate its opposite ends on one end of support linkage attached to said frame means for tilting in a generally transverse plane, said gauge wheel support arms being pivotally mounted intermediate their lower and upper ends on said frame means, and the opposite ends of said equalizer arm being pivotally connected to the upper ends of said support arms.

2. In a seed planter as called for in claim 1, said support linkage having a second end which is opposite said one end and said second end being pivotally connected to said frame means.

3. In a seed planter as called for in claim 2, the upper ends of said support arms having socket formations, the opposite ends of said equalizer arm having ball formations fitting within said socket formations, and the central portion of said equalizer arm having an opening permitting universal pivoting on said support linkage.

4. In a seed planter having frame means, furrow-opening means mounted on said frame means comprising a pair of opposed discs rotatable on intersecting axes whereby the discs diverge upwardly and rearwardly from juxtaposed soil cutting edges forwardly of their axes, a pair of gauge wheels rotatably mounted on the lower ends of support arms which are pivotally mounted on said frame means, seed dispensing means mounted on said frame means and including a seed chute extending downwardly between said discs, and furrow-closing means mounted on said frame means rearwardly of said discs and gauge wheels, the improvement which comprises, an equalizer arm operatively interconnecting said gauge wheel support arms whereby the combined load carried by said gauge wheels remains at least approximately equally divided as the gauge wheels individually encounter irregularities and obstacles in their path of travel, said equalizer arm extending between said support arms and generally transversely to the fore-and-aft longitudinal axis of said planter and being pivotally mounted intermediate its opposite ends on one end of support linkage attached to said frame means for tilting in a generally transverse plane, said gauge wheel support arms being pivotally mounted adjacent their upper ends to said frame means and the opposite ends of said equalizer arm riding on the upper sides of said support arms, and said support linkage comprising a lever pivotally connected intermediate its opposite ends to said frame means.

5. In a seed planter as called for in claim 4, said support linkage having a second end which is opposite said one end, and shifting means slidably mounted on said frame means and pivotally connected to said second end of said lever for positioning said lever in different angular positions to thereby regulate furrow depth.