Disc opener assembly for a seed planter

• US 6,644,223 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Case, LLC (Chenega Corporation)
• Inventors: Mewes, Michael A., Prairie, Douglas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US10/045,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 111/149, 111/150, 111/157, 111/163, 111/167, 111/170, 111/174, 111/176, 111/190, 111/191, 111/194, 111/195, 111/62, 111/134-137, 172/538, 172/701, 172/566, 172/558, 172/547, 377/2, 377/6, 340/606, 340/674, 340/684
• US Class Current: 111/137
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 71/02 Setting or adjusting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means

Abstract

The present disc opener assembly for a seed planter is for a single disc opener arrangement and is embodied in several embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 1a illustrate two embodiments of the present disc opener assembly the specifics of each will be described below. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1a and 2, there is illustrated a disc opener assembly (10) mounted on a tool bar (7) connected to a work vehicle (5) for opening a seed trench (8) in the ground upon which the vehicle (5) moves. A main arm (12) is attached to the tool bar (7) with a disc (14) mounted for rotation on the main arm (12). A depth adjustment mechanism (40) is used to adjust the depth of the disc (14) in the seed trench (8) with a seed placement device (70) positioned in the seed trench (8) for depositing a seed (71) in the seed trench (8). The seed trench (8) having been opened by the disc (14) as the work vehicle (5) moves across the ground.

Claims

1. A disc opener assembly connected to a tool bar mounted on a work vehicle for movement over the ground for opening a seed trench therein, the disc opener assembly comprising:

a main arm attached to the tool bar;

a disc mounted for rotation on the main arm;

a depth adjustment mechanism operatively mounted on the main arm, the depth adjustment mechanism comprising;

a gauge wheel mounted for rotation on one end of a gauge wheel arm, with an opposite end of the gauge wheel arm attached to a gauge wheel pivot;

a depth gauge bracket having an arcuate, elongated slot;

a depth adjustment arm having a depth adjustment pin slidingly engaged in the elongated slot and the depth adjustment arm attached to the gauge wheel arm so that the pin maintains a constant arc about the gauge wheel pivot as the pin slides in the arcuate elongated slot; and

a depth adjustment handle mounted on the depth adjustment arm, wherein the depth adjustment handle is pivotally mounted on the depth adjustment arm, with the handle having slots corresponding to bracket teeth on the depth gauge bracket, with the bracket teeth engaging the slots of the handle as the handle is biased by a spring mounted between the handle and the depth adjustment arm; and

a seed placement device to position a seed in the seed trench opened by the disc.

2. A disc opener assembly connected to a tool bar mounted on a work vehicle for movement over the ground for opening a seed trench therein, the disc opener assembly comprising:

a main arm attached to the tool bar;

a disc mounted for rotation on the main arm;

a depth adjustment mechanism operatively mounted on the main arm, the depth adjustment mechanism comprising;

a gauge wheel mounted for rotation on one end of a gauge wheel arm, with an opposite end of the gauge wheel arm attached to a gauge wheel pivot;

a depth gauge bracket having an arcuate, elongated slot;

a depth adjustment arm having a depth adjustment pin slidingly engaged in the elongated slot and the depth adjustment arm attached to the gauge wheel arm so that the pin maintains a constant arc about the gauge wheel pivot as the pin slides in the arcuate elongated slot; and

a depth adjustment handle mounted on the depth adjustment arm, wherein the depth adjustment handle is mounted on the depth adjustment arm with the handle having a plurality of layers with each layer comprising a thin, high strength, low-alloy sheet metal which is stamped to a selected shape and the plurality of layers laminated together to form handle teeth, with the handle teeth engaging bracket teeth on the depth gauge bracket as the handle is biased by a spring; and

a seed placement device to position a seed in the seed trench opened by the disc.

3. A disc opener assembly connected to a tool bar mounted on a work vehicle for movement over the ground for opening a seed trench therein, the disc opener assembly comprising:

a main arm attached to the tool bar;

a disc mounted for rotation on the main arm;

a depth adjustment mechanism operatively mounted on the main arm;

a seed placement device to position a seed in the seed trench opened by the disc; and

a packer wheel rotatably mounted on an axle having a plurality of through bores, with the axle slidingly installed in a position tube having a position hole, the position tube attached to a packer wheel arm connected to the main arm, and a position pin engaging the position hole and an aligned through bore in the axle corresponding to a selected position of the packer wheel relative to the seed trench.

4. A work vehicle comprising:

a vehicle support structure;

a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the support structure;

an engine mounted on the support structure and coupled to at least two wheels;

an implement hitch coupled to the vehicle support structure;

a tool bar connected to the implement hitch; and

a disc opener assembly mounted on the tool bar for opening a seed trench, the disc opener assembly comprising;

a main arm attached to the tool bar;

a disc mounted for rotation on the main arm;

a depth adjustment mechanism operatively mounted on the main arm, wherein the depth adjustment mechanism comprises;

a gauge wheel mounted for rotation on one end of a gauge wheel arm, with an opposite end of the gauge wheel arm attached to a gauge wheel pivot;

a depth gauge bracket having an arcuate, elongated slot;

a depth adjustment arm having a depth adjustment pin slidingly engaged in the elongated slot and the depth adjustment arm attached to the gauge wheel arm so that the pin maintains a constant arc about the gauge wheel pivot as the pin slides in the arcuate elongated slot; and

a depth adjustment handle mounted on the depth adjustment arm, wherein the depth adjustment handle is pivotally mounted on the depth adjustment arm, with the handle having slots corresponding to bracket teeth on the depth gauge bracket, with the bracket teeth engaging the slots of the handle as the handle is biased by a spring mounted between the handle and the depth adjustment arm; and

a seed placement device to position a seed in the seed trench opened by the disc.

5. A work vehicle comprising:

a vehicle support structure;

a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the support structure;

an engine mounted on the support structure and coupled to at least two wheels;

an implement hitch coupled to the vehicle support structure;

a tool bar connected to the implement hitch; and

a disc opener assembly mounted on the tool bar for opening a seed trench, the disc opener assembly comprising;

a main arm attached to the tool bar;

a disc mounted for rotation on the main arm;

a depth adjustment mechanism operatively mounted on the main arm, wherein the depth adjustment mechanism comprises;

a gauge wheel mounted for rotation on one end of a gauge wheel arm, with an opposite end of the gauge wheel arm attached to a gauge wheel pivot;

a depth gauge bracket having an arcuate, elongated slot;

a depth adjustment arm having a depth adjustment pin slidingly engaged in the elongated slot and the depth adjustment arm attached to the gauge wheel arm so that the pin maintains a constant arc about the gauge wheel pivot as the pin slides in the arcuate elongated slot, and;

a depth adjustment handle mounted on the depth adjustment arm, wherein the depth adjustment handle is mounted on the depth adjustment arm with the handle having a plurality of layers with each layer comprising a thin, high strength, low-allow sheet metal which is stamped to a selected shape and the plurality of layers laminated together to form handle teeth, with the handle teeth engaging bracket teeth on the depth gauge bracket as the handle is biased by a spring; and

a seed placement device to position a seed in the seed trench opened by the disc.

6. A work vehicle comprising:

a vehicle support structure;

a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the support structure;

an engine mounted on the support structure and coupled to at least two wheels;

an implement hitch coupled to the vehicle support structure;

a tool bar connected to the implement hitch;

a disc opener assembly mounted on the tool bar for opening a seed trench, the disc opener assembly comprising;

a main arm attached to the tool bar;

a disc mounted for rotation on the main arm;

a depth adjustment mechanism operatively mounted on the main arm;

a seed placement device to position a seed in the seed trench opened by the disc; and

a packer wheel rotatably mounted on an axle having a plurality of through bores, with the axle slidingly installed in a position tube having a position hole, the position tube attached to a packer wheel arm connected to the main arm, and a position pin engaging the position hole and an aligned through bore in the axle corresponding to a selected position of the packer wheel relative to the seed trench.