Agricultural row unit apparatus, systems and methods

• US 9,408,337 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauder, Derek A., Sauder, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US14/122,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/027 with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 5/04 drawn by tractors
• 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 7/201 Mounting of the seeding tools

Abstract

An agricultural row unit apparatus, systems, methods for effectively creating a trench having an improved configuration and for improved product placement in or near the trench wherein the trench has a vertical sidewall and an angled sidewall. In some embodiments, a cavity is created adjacent the bottom of the trench. In some embodiments, the depth of the trench is maintained by a gauge wheel compacting soil adjacent to the angled sidewall. In some embodiments, fertilizer or other liquid or crop input is placed in the soil on the side of the trench opposite the gauge wheel. In some embodiments, two trenches each having a vertical sidewall and an angled sidewall are created by a single row unit.

Claims

1. An agricultural row unit, said row unit comprising:

a first opener disc, said first opener disc being substantially vertically oriented, said first opener disc having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and

a second opener disc disposed to contact a perimeter of said first opener disc, said second opener disc disposed at an offset angle from said first opener disc, wherein the agricultural row unit is configured to travel along a travel direction, wherein said leading edge of said first opener disc lies in a vertical plane substantially parallel to said travel direction, and wherein said trailing edge of said first opener disc lies in said vertical plane.

2. The agricultural row unit of claim 1, wherein said first opener disc includes a bevel at a perimeter of said first opener disc, said bevel oriented toward said second opener disc.

3. The agricultural row unit of claim 1, further including:

a third opener disc, said third opener disc being substantially vertical; and

a fourth opener disc disposed to contact a perimeter of said third opener disc, said fourth opener disc disposed at an offset angle from said third opener disc.

4. The agricultural row unit of claim 3, wherein said third opener disc includes a bevel at a perimeter of said first opener disc, said bevel oriented toward said fourth opener disc.

5. The agricultural row unit of claim 4, wherein said third opener disc includes a bevel at a perimeter of said third opener disc, said bevel oriented toward said fourth opener disc.

6. The agricultural row unit of claim 1, further including:

a seed meter configured to dispense seeds; and

a seed tube disposed beneath said seed meter and disposed to receive seeds from said seed meter, said seed tube disposed between said first opener disc and said second opener disc.

7. The agricultural row unit of claim 1, wherein said first opener disc contacts said second opener disc at a contact area, said contact area being forward of a center of said first opener disc.

8. The agricultural row unit of claim 1, further including:

a first gauge wheel disposed adjacent to said second opener disc opposite said first opener disc.

9. The agricultural row unit of claim 8, further including:

a third opener disc, said third opener disc being substantially vertical;

a fourth opener disc disposed to contact a perimeter of said third opener disc, said fourth opener disc disposed at an offset angle from said third opener disc;

a second gauge wheel disposed adjacent to said fourth opener disc opposite said third opener disc;

a first gauge wheel arm supporting said first gauge wheel, said first gauge wheel arm being pivotally mounted to the row unit;

a second gauge wheel arm supporting said second gauge wheel, said second gauge wheel arm being pivotally mounted to the row unit; and

a rocker pivotally mounted to the row unit and disposed to limit a path of travel of said first gauge wheel arm and said second gauge wheel arm.

10. The agricultural row unit of claim 8, further including:

a closing wheel disposed behind said first gauge wheel and disposed to move soil behind said first gauge wheel toward said first opener disc.

11. The agricultural row unit of claim 1, further including:

a knife disposed adjacent the perimeter of said first opener disc, said knife extending downward and away from said second opener disc.

12. A method of forming a trench in soil, said method comprising:

drawing a first opener disc and a second opener disc through the soil along a travel direction;

creating a vertical sidewall in the soil with a first opener disc; and

cutting an angled sidewall in the soil adjacent to said vertical sidewall with a second opener disc, said vertical sidewall and said angled sidewall defining a trench, said trench having a trough located at an intersection of said vertical sidewall and said angled sidewall, said trough defining a vertical plane parallel to said travel direction, said trench lying substantially between said vertical plane and said angled sidewall.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said vertical sidewall and said angled sidewall intercept a trough of the trench.

14. The method of claim 12, further including:

setting a depth of the trench by pressing a gauge wheel into soil adjacent said angled sidewall and opposite said vertical sidewall.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

moving soil located behind said gauge wheel into the trench.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said first opener disc includes a bevel at a perimeter of said first opener disc, said bevel facing toward said second opener disc.

17. The method of claim 12, further including:

drawing a third opener disc and a fourth opener disc through the soil;

creating a second vertical sidewall in the soil with said third opener disc; and

cutting a second angled sidewall in the soil adjacent to said second vertical sidewall with said fourth opener disc.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first opener disc includes a bevel at a perimeter of said first opener disc, said bevel facing said second opener disc, and wherein said third opener disc includes a bevel at a perimeter of said third opener disc, said bevel facing said fourth opener disc.

19. The method of claim 12, further including:

depositing a seed in the trench.

20. The method of claim 12, further including:

cutting a cavity in the soil adjacent to a trough of said trench adjacent to said vertical sidewall, said cavity extending downward and away from said angled sidewall; and

depositing a liquid near said cavity.