Precision hoe opener with draft force compensation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An agricultural system comprising:
- an opener assembly, said opener assembly having a support structure;
said support structure coupled to a frame comprising a parallel linkage assembly;
said parallel link assembly includes a forward bracket attached to said frame and a rear bracket;
wherein said forward and said rear bracket connected by a first link member and a second link member substantially equal in length;
a ground engaging assembly extending from said rear bracket wherein said ground engaging assembly contacts a terrain for depositing a plurality of product;
a packer wheel assembly extending from said rear bracket of the support structure aft of the ground engaging assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly are vertically moveable relative to said frame as the agricultural system moves across said terrain;
wherein said vertical movement of said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly occurs within a working range of said support structure; and
a biasing member coupled between said front and rear brackets of said parallel linkage assembly;
wherein said biasing member is separate from said parallel linkage assembly;
wherein the orientation of said biasing member relative to said first and second link member is configured to exert an upward force on said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly when said opener assembly is in upper portion of said working range;
wherein the orientation of said biasing member relative to said first and second link member is configured to exert a downward force on said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly when said opener assembly is in lower portion of said working range;
wherein said upward force and downward force exerted on said packer wheel assembly by said support structure corresponds to position of said parallel link assembly, said biasing member and said support structure relative to said terrain;
wherein an angle between the biasing member and the parallel linkage assembly is variable as the distance between the frame and the terrain changes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly includes a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a swing link, a ground engaging tool, and a packer wheel. The design provides improved seeding accuracy, by compensating for changes in draft force caused by changes in terrain elevation. The swing link allows the cylinder to compensate for the forces applied to the ground engaging tool, thereby providing a substantially constant packing force to the soil beneath the packing wheel.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An agricultural system comprising:
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an opener assembly, said opener assembly having a support structure; said support structure coupled to a frame comprising a parallel linkage assembly; said parallel link assembly includes a forward bracket attached to said frame and a rear bracket;
wherein said forward and said rear bracket connected by a first link member and a second link member substantially equal in length;a ground engaging assembly extending from said rear bracket wherein said ground engaging assembly contacts a terrain for depositing a plurality of product; a packer wheel assembly extending from said rear bracket of the support structure aft of the ground engaging assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly are vertically moveable relative to said frame as the agricultural system moves across said terrain;
wherein said vertical movement of said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly occurs within a working range of said support structure; anda biasing member coupled between said front and rear brackets of said parallel linkage assembly;
wherein said biasing member is separate from said parallel linkage assembly;
wherein the orientation of said biasing member relative to said first and second link member is configured to exert an upward force on said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly when said opener assembly is in upper portion of said working range;
wherein the orientation of said biasing member relative to said first and second link member is configured to exert a downward force on said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly when said opener assembly is in lower portion of said working range;
wherein said upward force and downward force exerted on said packer wheel assembly by said support structure corresponds to position of said parallel link assembly, said biasing member and said support structure relative to said terrain;wherein an angle between the biasing member and the parallel linkage assembly is variable as the distance between the frame and the terrain changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacturing an agricultural system, the method comprising:
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providing an opener assembly, said opener assembly having a support structure; coupling said support structure to a frame, wherein the support structure includes a 4-bar linkage;
wherein said 4-bar linkage includes a forward bracket attached to said frame and a rear bracket;
wherein said forward and said rear bracket connected by a first link member and a second link member substantially equal in length;mounting a ground engaging assembly to extend from said rear bracket;
wherein said ground engaging assembly contacts a terrain for depositing a plurality of product;mounting an packer wheel assembly to extend from said rear bracket of the support structure aft of ground engaging assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly are vertically moveable relative to said frame as the agricultural system moves across said terrain;
wherein said vertical movement of said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly occurs within a working range of said support structure; andcoupling a biasing member between said front and rear brackets of said 4-bar linkage;
wherein said biasing member is separate from said 4-bar linkage assembly;
wherein the orientation of said biasing member relative to said first and second link member is configured to exert an upward force on said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly when said opener assembly is in upper portion of said working range;
wherein the orientation of said biasing member relative to said first and second link member is configured to exert a downward force on said rear bracket, packer wheel assembly and ground engaging assembly when said opener assembly is in lower portion of said working range;wherein said upward force and downward force exerted on said packer wheel assembly by said support structure corresponds to position of said parallel link assembly, said biasing member and said support structure relative to said terrain; wherein an angle between the biasing member and the parallel linkage assembly is variable as the distance between the frame and the terrain changes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification