Closing wheel assembly

• US 7,975,629 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald S. Martin
• Original Assignee: Ronald S. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US12/480,656
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 111/52, 111/62, 111/85, 111/139, 111/140, 111/143, 111/144, 111/147, 111149-162, 111/163, 111190-196, 172/624.5, 172/604
• US Class Current: 111/52
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows

Abstract

A closing wheel assembly having a closing wheel frame and at least one closing wheel pivotally mounted to a lever allows the operator to change the angle at which the at least one closing wheel intersects the ground surface during use. The lever to which the closing wheel is mounted may be pivotally mounted to the closing wheel frame about a lever attachment. The lever may be formed with a lever handle on a first end thereof and a closing wheel mount on the second end thereof, wherein the lever attachment is positioned between the first and second ends of the lever. Accordingly, as the angle of the lever is manipulated about the lever attachment, the angle of the closing wheel pivotally mounted to that lever changes in the vertical and/or horizontal dimensions.

Claims

1. A closing wheel assembly comprising:

a. a closing wheel frame having first and second ends, wherein a plurality of lever notches are formed in said closing wheel frame;

b. a closing wheel frame pivot adjacent said closing wheel frame first end, wherein said closing wheel frame is pivotally connected to a planter row unit frame about said closing wheel frame pivot;

c. a closing wheel depth adjuster, wherein said closing wheel depth adjuster changes the vertical position of said closing wheel frame second end with respect to said closing wheel frame first end;

d. at least one lever pivotally mounted to said closing wheel frame, wherein a first end of said lever forms a lever handle, wherein a second end of said lever forms a closing wheel mount, wherein said lever is fashioned to engage one said lever notch, and wherein said lever is pivotally mounted to said closing wheel frame at a lever attachment positioned between said first and second ends of said lever; and

e. at least one closing wheel, wherein said at least one closing wheel is pivotally mounted to said closing wheel mount of said at least one lever.

2. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said closing wheel assembly is further defined as including one closing wheel.

3. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of lever notches is further defined as a first and second row of lever notches, wherein said first row is positioned on a first side of said closing wheel frame, and wherein said second row is positioned on a second side of said closing wheel frame.

4. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 3 wherein said closing wheel assembly is further defined as comprising a first and a second lever, wherein said first lever is pivotally mounted to a first side of said closing wheel frame about a first lever attachment, and wherein said second lever is pivotally mounted to a second side of said closing wheel frame about a second lever attachment.

5. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 4 wherein said closing wheel assembly is further defined as comprising a first and a second closing wheel, wherein said first closing wheel is pivotally mounted to a first closing wheel mount affixed to said first lever, and wherein said second closing wheel is pivotally mounted to a second closing wheel mount affixed to said second lever.

6. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 5 wherein each said row of lever notches is further defined as including three lever notches.

7. A closing wheel assembly comprising:

a. a closing wheel frame having first and second ends;

b. a lever notch bracket engaged with said closing wheel frame, wherein said lever notch bracket is formed with a plurality of lever notches;

c. a closing wheel frame pivot adjacent said closing wheel frame first end, wherein said closing wheel frame is pivotally connected to a planter row unit frame about said closing wheel frame pivot;

d. a closing wheel depth adjuster, wherein said closing wheel depth adjuster changes the vertical position of said closing wheel frame second end with respect to said closing wheel frame first end;

e. at least one lever pivotally mounted to said closing wheel frame, wherein a first end of said lever forms a lever handle, wherein a second end of said lever forms a closing wheel mount, wherein said lever is fashioned to engage one said lever notch, and wherein said lever is pivotally mounted to said closing wheel frame at a lever attachment positioned between said first and second ends of said lever; and

f. at least one closing wheel, wherein said at least one closing wheel is pivotally mounted to said closing wheel mount of said at least one lever.

8. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 7 wherein said closing wheel assembly is further defined as including one closing wheel.

9. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 8 wherein said lever notch bracket is further defined as being substantially planar in configuration.

10. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of lever notches is further defined as a first and second row of lever notches, wherein said first row is positioned on a first side of said lever notch bracket, and wherein said second row is positioned on a second side of said lever notch bracket.

11. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 10 wherein said closing wheel assembly is further defined as comprising a first and a second lever, wherein said first lever is pivotally mounted to a first side of said closing wheel frame about a first lever attachment, and wherein said second lever is pivotally mounted to a second side of said closing wheel frame about a second lever attachment.

12. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 11 wherein said closing wheel assembly is further defined as comprising a first and a second closing wheel, wherein said first closing wheel is pivotally mounted to a first closing wheel mount affixed to said first lever, and wherein said second closing wheel is pivotally mounted to a second closing wheel mount affixed to said second lever.

13. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 12 wherein each said row of lever notches is further defined as including three lever notches.

14. The closing wheel assembly according to claim 13 wherein said lever notch bracket is generally U-shaped.

15. A closing wheel assembly comprising:

a. a closing wheel frame having first and second ends, wherein a plurality of lever notches are formed in said closing wheel frame;

b. a closing wheel frame pivot adjacent said closing wheel frame first end, wherein said closing wheel frame is pivotally connected to a planter row unit frame about said closing wheel frame pivot;

c. a closing wheel depth adjuster, wherein said closing wheel depth adjuster changes the vertical position of said closing wheel frame second end with respect to said closing wheel frame first end;

d. a first lever having a first and a second end, wherein said first lever first end forms a lever handle, wherein said first lever second end includes a closing wheel mount, and wherein said first lever is pivotally mounted to a first side of said closing wheel frame about a first lever attachment;

e. a second lever having a first and a second end, wherein said second lever first end forms a lever handle, wherein said second lever second end includes a closing wheel mount, and wherein said second lever is pivotally mounted to a second side of said closing wheel frame about a second lever attachment;

f. a first closing wheel, wherein said first closing wheel is pivotally mounted to said first lever closing wheel mount; and

g. a second closing wheel, wherein said second closing wheel is pivotally mounted to said second lever closing wheel mount.