Trash cleaning structure for a furrow opening device
First Claim
1. Cleaning structure for clearing trash from a narrow band of ground forwardly of an opener assembly that includes a vertically movable drawbar member having a leading end and a trailing end, the cleaning structure comprising link structure having a forward end connected to the leading end for rocking relative to the drawbar member, and an aft vertically movable end located forwardly of a furrow opening device;
- clearing disk structure rotatably mounted at the aft vertically movable end at an angle to the forward direction for movement vertically with the trailing end adjacent the furrow opening device, wherein the clearing disk structure includes a disk having a periphery with shallow rounded gullets and trash-penetrating teeth projecting from the gullets, the gullets pressing the trash downwardly as the angle of the disk moves the trash to one side, and wherein the link structure comprises a four bar linkage having a forward portion supported from the forward end of the drawbar member and an aft portion supporting the clearing disk structure, the forward end including at least one pivot located above the drawbar member to provide clearance for the trash below the drawbar member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shallow-toothed clearing disk pivotally supported from the upper end of the opener drawbar assembly. A four bar linkage is connected to the forward end of the drawbar by a bracket which includes at least one link and corresponding pivot structure located above the drawbar to increase trash clearance and reduce trash build-up. The shallow rounded gullets between pointed teeth provide good disk depth control and trash penetration while reducing soil penetration and soil disturbance. The gullets also hold and prevent sliding of trash away from the clearing influence of the angled disk. The disk effectively clears trash to the side of the opener opposite the gauge wheel to assure optimum depth gauging for the opener. The gear-type structure is capable of operating over a wide range of down pressures and loads while breaking any existing crust in the cleared path with little soil disturbance. The disk provides minimum tillage with little soil and trash throw to assure uniform planting depth, seed germination and plant growth without stimulation of weed growth, both in the row being cleared and in adjacent rows.
102 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Cleaning structure for clearing trash from a narrow band of ground forwardly of an opener assembly that includes a vertically movable drawbar member having a leading end and a trailing end, the cleaning structure comprising link structure having a forward end connected to the leading end for rocking relative to the drawbar member, and an aft vertically movable end located forwardly of a furrow opening device;
- clearing disk structure rotatably mounted at the aft vertically movable end at an angle to the forward direction for movement vertically with the trailing end adjacent the furrow opening device, wherein the clearing disk structure includes a disk having a periphery with shallow rounded gullets and trash-penetrating teeth projecting from the gullets, the gullets pressing the trash downwardly as the angle of the disk moves the trash to one side, and wherein the link structure comprises a four bar linkage having a forward portion supported from the forward end of the drawbar member and an aft portion supporting the clearing disk structure, the forward end including at least one pivot located above the drawbar member to provide clearance for the trash below the drawbar member.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Cleaning structure for clearing trash from a narrow band of ground forwardly of an opener assembly that includes a vertically movable drawbar member having a leading end and a trailing end, the cleaning structure comprising a linkage having a forward end connected to the leading end for rocking relative to the drawbar member, and an aft vertically movable end located forwardly of a furrow opening device;
- clearing disk structure rotatable mounted at the aft vertically movable end at an angle to the forward direction for movement vertically with the trailing end adjacent the furrow opening device, wherein the clearing disk structure includes a disk having a periphery with shallow rounded gullets and trash-penetrating teeth projecting from the gullets, the gullets pressing the trash downwardly as the angle of the disk moves the trash to one side, wherein the linkage structure comprises a bracket connected to the forward end of the drawbar member and movable therewith, and a fore-and-aft extending link pivotally connected at its forward end to the bracket and at its aft end to the clearing disk structure, wherein the link is located at least partially above the drawbar member so that trash clearance under the drawbar is maximized.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- 11. Cleaning structure for clearing trash from a narrow band of ground forwardly of and closely adjacent a fore-and-aft extending opener assembly including an opener arm supporting a furrow forming device, the cleaning structure comprising fore-and-aft extending linkage structure having a forward end pivotally connected at a forward pivot area to the opener assembly for vertical movement along side of the opener arm, an aft disk supporting member connected to the aft end of the linkage structure for vertical movement relative to the opener assembly, and a disk connected to the aft disk supporting member and movable vertically therewith, the disk angled with respect to the forward direction to move trash toward one side of the opener assembly, wherein the linkage structure includes an opener side lying closely adjacent the opener arm and an outward side, the linkage structure pivotable vertically along side the opener arm, the disk providing substantial side loads to the linkage as it moves trash to the one side, and a bearing extending outwardly from the outward side of the opener arm and providing transverse bearing surface to resist the side loads, and wherein the pivot area is located above the opener arm to provide clearance for the trash below the opener arm.
Specification