Equalizing gauge wheel mechanism for row crop planter unit

• US 6,148,747 A
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Rodgers, Steven D., Barry, Alan F., Deckler, Harry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US09/234,631
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 111/137, 111/136, 111/135, 111/134, 111/190, 111/191, 111/192, 111/193, 111/194, 111/195, 111/196, 111/164, 172/538, 172/539, 172/520, 172/519, 172/239, 172/395, 172/421, 172/397, 403/70, 403/67
• US Class Current: 111/137
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 71/02 Setting or adjusting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means

Abstract

The wheel arms of a planter row unit are mounted to the row unit frame for independent pivotal motion. The ends of a saddle link are received in sockets formed on gauge wheel arms; and a yoke (or ring-shaped link) pivotally mounted to the frame engages a central saddle bearing surface on the saddle link. The wheel arms, saddle link and yoke are constructed and arranged such that when one gauge wheel raises when it encounters an obstruction, the other lowers and the frame raises by about one-half the distance which the first gauge wheel is raised.

Claims

1. In a row unit adapted to be mounted to an agricultural implement frame, the combination comprising:

a row unit frame;

a ground-engaging tool carried on said row unit frame for engaging the soil in use;

first and second gauge wheels;

first and second gauge wheel arms carrying said first and second gauge wheels respectively and independently pivotally mounted on said row unit frame to set an operating depth of said tool;

a first link elongated in a direction transverse of a direction of travel of said row unit and having first and second ends rotationally coupled respectively to said first and second gauge wheel arms, said first link defining a first bearing surface at an intermediate location;

a second link mounted to said row unit frame and defining a second bearing surface engaging said first bearing surface such that said second link restrains translational movement of a central portion of said first link in one direction while permitting free rotational movement between the ends of said first link and their associated wheel arms about an axis extending in said direction of elongation of said first link.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 characterized in that said first and second bearing surfaces are in rocking engagement when said row unit is in a use position with said tool engaging the soil and said first and second bearing surfaces are not otherwise directly connected.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first bearing surface has a convex curvature in the vertical direction when said gauge wheels are on level ground and a concave curvature in a lateral direction to define a saddle bearing surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second link is a curved member defining a closed loop and having an inner surface and a central opening, said first link extending through said central opening of said second link and said first bearing surface engaging the inner surface of said closed loop of said second link in said rocking engagement.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said saddle bearing surface is shaped to include first and second projecting ears spaced to straddle said second link and to guide said second link into reseating engagement with said first link in the event said first and second links disengage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for mounting said second link for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse of the direction of travel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment handle pivotally mounted to said row unit frame for movement in a direction;

means for securing said handle to said frame at an adjusted position;

means for pivotally mounting said second link to said handle, said gauge wheel arms each being pivotally mounted to said row unit frame for rotation about a common axis; and

wherein said gauge wheel arms include extensions defining sockets for receiving respectively associated ends of said first link and permitting rotation of said first link.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first link is elongated and said first and second ends of said first link are located on a common axis and are rounded and received in said respective sockets of said extensions of said wheel arms for rotational movement in said sockets, said rounded ends of said first link being oblong in cross section;

and said sockets being generally rectangular to receive respectively said rounded ends of said first link to define limits to the rotation of said first link about said common axis of said rounded ends thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said adjustment handle includes a forked member pivotally mounted at one end to said row unit frame and including a projection at an other end, and wherein said handle is telescopically received on said projection;

said handle further including a spring for urging said handle upward and away from said forked member, said second link being pivotally mounted to said forked member, said row unit frame including a cover providing a slotted rack receiving said handle, said handle including projections adapted to be received in said slotted rack for securing said handle in an adjusted position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said row unit is a planter row unit and said ground-engaging tool is a disc furrow opener carried by said row unit frame.

11. In a planter row unit, the combination comprising:

a row unit frame;

a furrow opener carried by said row unit frame;

first and second wheel arms, each wheel arm pivotally mounted to said row unit frame;

a gauge wheel mounted to each wheel arm for running ground engagement;

a saddle link having first and second ends engaging respectively said first and second wheel arms, said saddle link defining an intermediate bearing surface; and

a second link mounted to said frame and defining a second bearing surface in rocking engagement with said intermediate bearing surface of said saddle link, characterized in that said saddle link and said second link are not directly connected;

said wheel arms, saddle link and second link being constructed and arranged such that when one of said wheel arms is raised as its associated wheel encounters an obstruction, the other wheel arm counterrotates, and its associated wheel is lowered relative to said frame whereby said opener is raised an amount approximately one-half the amount by which said wheel carried by said one wheel arm is raised.