Planter with post seed tube mounted row cleaner and depth control tool

• US 9,497,900 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Darren J., Wollenhaupt, Nyle C., Barnes, Erik L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US15/022,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20160227701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 111/62, 111134-137, 111/69, 111/81, 111139-143, 111/157, 111163-169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/206 Seed pipes

Abstract

A planter unit for planting seeds as it traverses a field in a direction of travel includes a seed delivery tube and a furrow opener configured to open a furrow in the soil for receiving seeds dropped through the delivery tube. A gauge wheel assembly controls the depth of penetration of the furrow opener. The planter unit also has a furrow closing tool that closes the furrow, the furrow closing tool positioned after the delivery tube in the direction of travel. The planter unit also has a row cleaning and depth control tool positioned after the furrow closing tool. The row cleaning and depth control tool has first and second row whippers that push excess soil out away from above where seeds were dropped in the furrow, wherein vertical position of first and second row whippers is selectively adjustable relative the vertical position of the furrow opener.

Claims

1. A planter unit for planting seeds as it traverses a field in a direction of travel, the planter unit comprising:

a seed delivery tube;

a furrow opener configured to open a furrow in the soil for receiving seeds dropped through the delivery tube;

a gauge wheel assembly configured to control the depth of penetration of the furrow opener;

a furrow closing tool that closes the furrow, the furrow closing tool positioned after the delivery tube in the direction of travel; and

a row cleaning and depth control tool positioned after the furrow closing tool, the row cleaning and depth control tool comprising first and second row whippers that remove excess soil from above where seeds were dropped in the furrow, wherein the first and second row whippers are rotatably mounted on the planter unit in a forwardly converging manner so as to push soil outwardly to adjust a vertical position of the depth of the seeds relative a surface of the field as the planter unit traverses the field in the direction of travel.

2. The planter unit of claim 1 wherein the furrow opener has at least one disc rotatably mounted on a frame of the planter unit.

3. The planter unit of claim 1 wherein the furrow opener is configured to form a v-shaped furrow as the planter unit proceeds through the field.

4. The planter unit of claim 1 wherein the gauge wheel assembly consists of a single gauge wheel disposed on one side of the furrow opener.

5. The planter unit of claim 1 wherein the furrow closing tool consists of a single rotatable closer.

6. The planter unit of claim 5 wherein the single rotatable closer has a shark-tooth periphery.

7. The planter unit of claim 5 wherein the single rotatable closer is attached to a frame of the planter unit on a site opposite a single gauge wheel.

8. The planter unit of claim 1 further comprising a press wheel for packing the soil above the furrow after the row cleaning and depth control tool.