Seed boot mounting

• US 9,686,908 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaderstad LLC
• Original Assignee: Agco-Amity Jv, LLC (Vaderstad holding ab)
• Inventors: Mead, Leonard Carl, Schrapp, Nicholas W., Miller, Collin David
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US14/655,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 172558, 172566, 16243, 16244, 16235, 16256, 111157, 111163
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/201 Mounting of the seeding tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/206 Seed pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/04 Pivotal connections hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D

Abstract

An apparatus includes a hinge mount top plate, a hinge mount bottom plate, and a pin connecting the top plate and bottom plate. A cam adjuster element includes a top aperture, a middle aperture, and a bottom aperture. A first fastener passes through the top aperture to connect the cam adjuster element to the hinge mount top plate. The first fastener may be disposed in different positions in the top aperture. A second fastener passes through the middle aperture to connect the cam adjuster element to the hinge mount top plate. The cam adjuster element may pivot about a longitudinal axis of the second fastener. The pin is retained in the bottom aperture. An assembly includes a disc, a seed boot, and a mounting mechanism that allows for movement between the seed boot and the disc about first pivot axis and second pivot axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting a disc and a seed boot, the seed boot comprising a seed tube and a scraper, the apparatus characterized by:

allowing for movement between the seed boot and the disc about first and second pivot axes, the apparatus comprising;

a hinge mount top plate configured for connection to the disc;

a hinge mount bottom plate configured for connection to the seed boot; and

a pin connecting the hinge mount top plate and the hinge mount bottom plate, the pin having opposite first and second ends;

wherein the first pivot axis is along a longitudinal axis of the pin; and

wherein the first end of the pin has a fixed position relative to the hinge mount top plate, and wherein the second end of the pin has a movable position relative to the hinge mount top plate, wherein the second end of the pin is movable about the second pivot axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seed boot comprises a back surface that is aligned with and positioned against a face of the disc.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a swing stop to limit movement about the first pivot axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spindle arm on which the disc is mounted, wherein the seed boot is connected to the spindle arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a biasing device that biases the hinge mount bottom plate relative to the hinge mount top plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the biasing device is a spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the spring is a helical coil spring, and wherein the pin passes through a coil of the spring.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the helical coil spring comprises first and second end arms, wherein the first end arm is positioned against the hinge mount top plate and wherein the second end arm is positioned against the hinge mount bottom plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a cam adjuster element comprising a top aperture, a middle aperture, and a bottom aperture;

a first fastener passing through the top aperture to connect the cam adjuster element to the hinge mount top plate, wherein the first fastener may be disposed in different positions in the top aperture;

a second fastener passing through the middle aperture to connect the cam adjuster element to the hinge mount top plate, wherein the cam adjuster element may pivot about a longitudinal axis of the second fastener, and wherein the second pivot axis is along the longitudinal axis of the second fastener; and

wherein the second end of the pin is retained in the bottom aperture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a pin retainer that retains the second end of the pin in the bottom aperture.

11. An apparatus for connecting a disc and a seed boot, the seed boot comprising a seed tube and a scraper, the apparatus characterized by:

allowing for movement between the seed boot and the disc about first and second pivot axes, the apparatus comprising;

a hinge mount top plate configured for connection to the disc;

a hinge mount bottom plate configured for connection to the seed boot;

a pin connecting the hinge mount top plate and the hinge mount bottom plate, wherein the first pivot axis is along a longitudinal axis of the pin;

a cam adjuster element comprising a top aperture, a middle aperture, and a bottom aperture;

a first fastener passing through the top aperture to connect the cam adjuster element to the hinge mount top plate, wherein the first fastener may be disposed in different positions in the top aperture;

a second fastener passing through the middle aperture to connect the cam adjuster element to the hinge mount top plate, wherein the cam adjuster element may pivot about a longitudinal axis of the second fastener, and wherein the second pivot axis is along the longitudinal axis of the second fastener; and

wherein the pin is retained in the bottom aperture.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a pin retainer that retains a head of the pin in the bottom aperture.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pin retainer comprises:

a first aperture through which the first fastener passes; and

a second aperture through which the second fastener passes.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the seed boot comprises a back surface that is aligned with and positioned against a face of the disc.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a swing stop to limit movement about the first pivot axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a spindle arm on which the disc is mounted, wherein the seed boot is connected to the spindle arm.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a biasing device that biases the hinge mount bottom plate relative to the hinge mount top plate.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the biasing device is a spring.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spring is a helical coil spring, and wherein the pin passes through a coil of the spring.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the helical coil spring comprises first and second end arms, wherein the first end arm is positioned against the hinge mount top plate and wherein the second end arm is positioned against the hinge mount bottom plate.