Ground following opener apparatus
First Claim
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1. A ground following opener comprising:
- a support frame;
a parallelogram means including a plurality of pivotally connected arms defining four corners and pivotally attached to said support frame at a first corner by a first pivot means;
a tyne shank having a free end and supported by said parallelogram means, wherein one of said arms of said parallelogram means supports said tyne shank;
an opener means supported at a free end of said tyne shank, wherein the pivotal attachment at the first corner of said parallelogram means allows rotational movement of said parallelogram means independent of said support frame movement such that said opener means passes over the surface of an obstacle in the ground;
a ground following means attached to one arm of said parallelogram means supporting said tyne shank operative to move said parallelogram means as it follows the ground; and
a single bias means pivotally attached at one of its ends to said support frame and also pivotally attached at its other end to one of said arms of said parallelogram means, such that said single bias means urges said opener means into the ground as well as biasing a return of said parallelogram means, tyne shank, ground following means and opener means to the ground following operation after being rotated independent of said frame when said opener means passes over the surface of an obstacle on the ground.
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Abstract
A ground following opener is provided which includes a support frame, a parallelogram arrangement pivotably attached to the support frame, a tyne shank supported by the parallelogram arrangement and an opener supported at a free end of the tyne shank.
16 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A ground following opener comprising:
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a support frame; a parallelogram means including a plurality of pivotally connected arms defining four corners and pivotally attached to said support frame at a first corner by a first pivot means; a tyne shank having a free end and supported by said parallelogram means, wherein one of said arms of said parallelogram means supports said tyne shank;
an opener means supported at a free end of said tyne shank, wherein the pivotal attachment at the first corner of said parallelogram means allows rotational movement of said parallelogram means independent of said support frame movement such that said opener means passes over the surface of an obstacle in the ground;a ground following means attached to one arm of said parallelogram means supporting said tyne shank operative to move said parallelogram means as it follows the ground; and a single bias means pivotally attached at one of its ends to said support frame and also pivotally attached at its other end to one of said arms of said parallelogram means, such that said single bias means urges said opener means into the ground as well as biasing a return of said parallelogram means, tyne shank, ground following means and opener means to the ground following operation after being rotated independent of said frame when said opener means passes over the surface of an obstacle on the ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A ground following opener comprising:
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a support frame; a parallelogram means includes a plurality of pivotally connected arms defining four corners and pivotally attached to said support frame at a first corner by a first pivot means; a tyne shank having a free end and supported by said parallelogram means, wherein one of said arms of said parallelogram means supports said tyne shank;
an opener means supported at a free end of said tyne shank, wherein the pivotal attachment at the first corner of said parallelogram means allows rotational movement of said parallelogram means independent of said support frame such that said opener means passes over the surface of an obstacle in the ground;a ground following means attached to the arm of said parallelogram means supporting said tyne shank operative to move said parallelogram means as it follows the ground; and a single bias means pivotally attached at one of its ends to said support frame and also pivotally attached at its other end to one of said arms of said parallelogram means, such that said single bias means urges said opener means into the ground as well as biasing a return of said parallelogram means, tyne shank, ground following means and opener means to the ground following operation after being rotated independent of said frame when said opener means passes over the surface of an obstacle on the ground wherein said single bias means is arranged to load the tyne shank such that an effective loading at a tip of the opener means does not increase beyond a predetermined break out load such that the tyne shank and opener means are constructed so as to withstand loading greater than that required to achieve tripping. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification