Depth-limited furrow closing arrangement and method for no-till agricultural seeders
First Claim
1. An opener unit for an agricultural seeder, comprising:
- an opener subframe;
a furrow opener mounted to said opener subframe for making an open furrow in soil;
a seed directing device for directing seeds into the open furrow;
a firming assembly having a support member attached to said opener subframe, and a firming device mounted to said support member and arranged to move along a bottom of the open furrow behind said seed directing device, said support member and said firming device being movable vertically relative to said opener subframe; and
at least one closing wheel assembly having a closing wheel arm attached directly to said support member, and a closing wheel rotatably mounted to said closing wheel arm and arranged to close the open furrow behind said firming device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seed firming and furrow closing system for no-till agricultural seeders has a smooth in-furrow firming device that gauges the depth and limits penetration of the closing wheel(s). The firming device is mounted behind a seed furrow opener, and one or more spoked closing wheels are rotatably mounted behind the firming device. Each closing wheel is mounted to a support member for the firming device. An adjustable stop is provided to control the operating depth of the closing wheel relative to the firming device. During operation, the firming device moves along the bottom of the furrow to firm the seeds, and the adjustable stop maintains a selected depth of the closing wheel relative to the firming device and the bottom of the furrow. A swivel assembly allows the firming device and closing wheels to swivel from side-to-side to better track the furrow when planting around a curve.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An opener unit for an agricultural seeder, comprising:
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an opener subframe;
a furrow opener mounted to said opener subframe for making an open furrow in soil;
a seed directing device for directing seeds into the open furrow;
a firming assembly having a support member attached to said opener subframe, and a firming device mounted to said support member and arranged to move along a bottom of the open furrow behind said seed directing device, said support member and said firming device being movable vertically relative to said opener subframe; and
at least one closing wheel assembly having a closing wheel arm attached directly to said support member, and a closing wheel rotatably mounted to said closing wheel arm and arranged to close the open furrow behind said firming device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A seed firming and furrow closing system for agricultural seeders, comprising:
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a firming assembly support member adapted to be attached to an opener subframe;
a firming device mounted to said support member and arranged to move along a bottom of an open furrow behind a seed directing device;
a first closing wheel arm attached to said support member; and
a first closing wheel rotatably mounted to said first closing wheel arm and arranged to close an open furrow behind the firming device, said first closing wheel arm being attached to said firming assembly support member such that an operating depth of the first closing wheel is dependent upon a depth at which the firming device is operating. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of seeding an agricultural crop, comprising the steps of:
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creating an open furrow in soil;
placing seeds into said furrow;
moving a firming device along a bottom of the furrow; and
closing the furrow using a spoked closing wheel mounted behind the firming device, the closing wheel being connected to the firming device such that an operating depth of the closing wheel is dependent upon an operating depth of the firming device in the furrow. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification