Planting unit lockup device for seeding machine

• US 6,588,351 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Meyer, Bradley John, Hall, Thomas LeRoy
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAMMEN, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/021,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20030110995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 172/310, 172/311, 172/452, 172/482, 111/52, 111/53, 111/59, 111/13, 111/18, 111/22, 111/200, 92/15, 92/23
• US Class Current: 111/59
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 73/02 Folding frames
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/042 using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/208 Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers

Abstract

A seeding machine comprises a main frame segment and two wing frame segments. The wing frame segments are provided with a rear rank of planting units that are mounted to the wing frame segments by pivot arms that extend downwardly and rearwardly from the wing frame segments. The pivot arms are pivotally mounted to the wing frame segments by a rock shaft having an actuator bell crank. The bell crank is coupled to a linear actuator for rotating the rock shaft relative to the wing frame segments. The pivot arms have a working position, wherein the planting units are in contact with the ground, an intermediate holding position, wherein the planting units are raised out of the ground, and a transport position, wherein the planting units have been pivoted on their noses into their substantially vertical transport position. To maintain the rear rank of planting units in the intermediate holding position, a U-shaped stop is placed over the linear actuator so that the linear actuator cannot retract.

Claims

1. A seeding machine comprising:

a frame;

a hopper mounted to the frame;

a pivot arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the pivot arm is pivotally mounted to the frame, the pivot arm having a working position, an intermediate non-working position and a transport position;

a planting unit is mounted to the second end of the pivot arm, when the pivot arm is in its working position the planting unit is in contact with the ground, when the pivot arm is in its intermediate non-working position the planting unit is not in contact with the ground, the planting unit comprises an auxiliary hopper, a seed meter and a furrow opener;

a flexible tube extends between the hopper and the auxiliary hopper of the planting unit;

a rock shaft is rotatably coupled to the frame, wherein the first end of the pivot arm is coupled to the rock shaft, the rock shaft is provided with a driving bell crank, the rock shaft defining a first pivot axis about which the pivot arm is pivoted;

a linear motor extends between the frame and the driving bell crank, the linear motor has a retracted position, an intermediate extended position and an extended position for rotating the rock shaft relative to the frame and thereby pivoting the pivot arm, the linear motor has a head end and a rod end; and

a detachable U-shaped stop engages the rod end of the linear motor to lock the linear motor in its intermediate extended position and prevent the linear motor from moving into its retracted position.

2. A seeding machine as defined by claim 1 wherein intermediate extended position of the linear motor corresponds to the intermediate non-working position of the pivot arm.

3. A seeding machine as defined by claim 2 wherein the linear motor is a hydraulic cylinder.

4. A seeding machine as defined by claim 3 wherein the planting unit is attached to the pivot arm by a parallel linkage that allows the planting unit to follow the ground independent of the pivot link when the pivot link is in its working position.