Load transfer device for seed distribution systems in seeders and fertilizer machines

• US 8,807,057 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
• Original Assignee: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
• Inventors: D'Amico, Juan Pablo, Tesouro, Mario Omar, Romito, Angel, Roba, Marcos Andres
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US13/441,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 111/927, 111 52- 69
• US Class Current: 111/63
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means

Abstract

The movement along the ground in seed and fertilizer distribution systems of seeder and fertilizer machines is improved by a load transfer device comprising a deformable parallelogram-shaped structure attached to the machine tool holder bar at one end and to the distribution system at the other end, and a transfer rack that articulates in one of the parallelogram vertexes acting as a rocker arm. The rocker arm is connected at one end to the parallelogram and at the other end to at least one spring through a lever arm that extends downwardly and divergently, generating a crossing angle between the parallelogram lower un upper sides, creating a torque that varies not only for the spring tension by also for the ratio of the effective lengths of the involved lever arms.

Claims

1. A load transfer device for seed and fertilizer distribution systems in seeder and fertilizer machines which improves the adaptation of the seed distribution systems to the different irregularities of the ground, such device comprising

a deformable parallelogram-shaped structure attached to the tool-holder bar of such seeder and fertilizer machine at one end and to the distribution system at the other end;

a transfer rack that articulates in one of the vertexes of the parallelogram acting as a rocker arm connected at one end to the aforementioned parallelogram and at the other end to at least one spring through a lever arm;

wherein such lever arm extends downwardly and divergently, generating a crossing angle between the lower and upper sides of the parallelogram which creates a torque that varies not only due to the spring tension but also to the ratio of the effective lengths of the lever arms involved.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the crossing angle is at least 35°

.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the crossing angle is at least 40°

.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the crossing angle is 45°

.

5. Seeder machine comprising at least one tool-holder bar and a seed or fertilizer distribution system connected by fastening means and a load transfer device according to claim 1, said machine comprising:

a deformable parallelogram-shaped structure attached to the tool-holder bar of such seeder and fertilizer machine at one end and to the distribution system at the other end;

a transfer rack that articulates in one of the vertexes of the parallelogram acting as a rocker arm connected at one end to the aforementioned parallelogram and at the other end to at least one spring through a lever arm;

wherein such lever arm extends downwardly and divergently, generating a crossing angle between the lower and upper sides of the parallelogram which creates a torque that varies not only due to the spring tension but also to the ratio of the effective lengths of the lever arms involved.

6. The seeder machine of claim 5, wherein the crossing angle is at least 35°

.

7. The seeder machine of claim 5, wherein the crossing angle is at least 40°

.

8. The seeder machine of claim 5, wherein the crossing angle is 45°

.