Soil tilling and planting implement

• US 8,820,251 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L & B Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: L.W. Manufacturing, LLC
• Inventors: Van Buskirk, Loyd C., Meldahl, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US13/249,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20120017813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 111/135, 111139-143, 111/157, 111163-169, 111190-196, 111/200, 111/900, 111/927, 111/963, 172/4, 172/2, 172/413, 701/50
• US Class Current: 111/139
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 29/048 Bar cage rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/024 with disk-like tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/087 Lifting devices; Depth regulation devices; Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 35/16 with rotating or circulating non-propelled tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 61/048 the connection or the energy accumulator being active in two opposite directions, e.g. for reversible plows
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/10 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/111 regulating working depth of implements
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/32 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means without automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/006 Minimum till seeding
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/927 Parallelogram mounting

Abstract

A mount for carrying a plurality of field-conditioning implements selected from trash whipping implements, rolling baskets and coulters for connection to a planter is disclosed. A height and force adjustable mounting system is also disclosed for use with a planter that enables the force of such an implement on the soil to be modulated as desired.

Claims

1. A mounting system for a row unit for carrying a plurality of field-conditioning implements in combination comprising:

(a) a mounting structure adapted to carry and selectively deploy a plurality of field-conditioning implements;

(b) a connecting structure designed to fix the mounting structure to a prime agricultural implement; and

(c) a pneumatic actuator arrangement associated with said mounting structure including a plurality of pneumatic devices disposed to operate mounting structure assemblies adapted to selectively deploy and retract each of said plurality of field-conditioning implements.

2. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein said pneumatic devices are airbags.

3. A mounting system as in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of field-conditioning implements is deployed using a down force airbag and retracted using a lifting airbag.

4. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein said prime agriculture implement is a seed planter or tow bar adapted to be drawn by a tractor.

5. A mounting system as in claim 1 further comprising a dual airbag system disposed to operate each mounting structure assembly.

6. A mounting system as in claim 5 wherein each said dual airbag system comprises both a down force and a lifting airbag.

7. A mounting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of field-conditioning implements are combinations selected from the group consisting of trash whipping devices, roiling baskets and coulter devices.

8. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of field-conditioning implement is carried by a separate mounting structure.

9. A mounting system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plurality of field-conditioning implements are combinations selected from the group consisting of trash whipping devices, rolling baskets and coulter devices.

10. A mounting system as in claim 1 wherein said connecting structure includes one or more connecting members.

11. A mounting system for carrying combinations of field-conditioning implements comprising:

(a) a mounting arrangement adapted to carry and selectively deploy a plurality of field-conditioning implements;

(b) a connecting structure designed to fix the mounting structure in spaced relation to a self-propelled prime agriculture implement;

(c) a pneumatic actuator arrangement associated with said mounting structure including a plurality of airbag devices disposed to operate mounting structure assemblies adapted to selectively deploy and retract each of said plurality of field-conditioning implements; and

(d) wherein the plurality of field-conditioning implements are combinations selected from the group consisting of trash whipping devices, rolling baskets and coulter devices.

12. A mounting system as in claim 11 further comprising a dual airbag system disposed to operate each mounting structure assembly.

13. A mounting system as in claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of field-conditioning implement is carried by a separate mounting structure.