Row cleaner suspension
First Claim
1. A suspension arrangement for adjustably supporting an agricultural row cleaner adjacent row unit structure which is movable vertically by an implement lift system, the suspension comprising:
- a row cleaner support linkage having first and second ends;
mounting structure pivotally supporting the first end of the support linkage for vertical movement relative to the row unit;
connecting structure connecting the second end of the support linkage to the row cleaner;
an operable motor connected to the linkage for pivoting the linkage to raise and lower the row cleaner relative to the ground and to bias the row cleaner into ground engagement; and
a control connected to the motor and including a down pressure adjustment for operating the motor to automatically maintain a preselected bias of the row cleaner relative to the ground.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A row cleaner device for a furrow forming row unit includes a support arrangement with a parallel linkage having a single acting hydraulic cylinder connected between upper and lower links. The cylinder extension is controlled by a hydraulic circuit to provide adjustable down pressure to maintain consistent operation of the cleaner devices in varying ground conditions. A tensioning device such as a spring extending generally parallel to the cylinder acts to retract the cylinder. A blocking valve can be closed to maintain the cleaner device in the raised position and can lock the cylinder in any desired extended position. An energy storage device such as a spring compressed between the cylinder and one of the links permits limited vertical movement of the linkage without change of cylinder extension to protect the device and accommodate obstacles and ground surface irregularities in the path when the cylinder is locked in position. The cylinder can be controlled as a function of the position of the opener, and, can be controlled to raise the cleaner device automatically with raising of the row units. The row cleaner can be supported in various positions and can be controlled remotely. The cleaner can be conveniently raised to the non-operating position to avoid undesirable ground contact.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A suspension arrangement for adjustably supporting an agricultural row cleaner adjacent row unit structure which is movable vertically by an implement lift system, the suspension comprising:
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a row cleaner support linkage having first and second ends;
mounting structure pivotally supporting the first end of the support linkage for vertical movement relative to the row unit;
connecting structure connecting the second end of the support linkage to the row cleaner;
an operable motor connected to the linkage for pivoting the linkage to raise and lower the row cleaner relative to the ground and to bias the row cleaner into ground engagement; and
a control connected to the motor and including a down pressure adjustment for operating the motor to automatically maintain a preselected bias of the row cleaner relative to the ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification