Mounting bracket for agricultural row unit

• US 9,693,497 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Schaffert, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Troutman, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US14/202,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows

Abstract

A row unit for an agricultural planter is provided. The row unit may include a body operably coupled to the agricultural planter, a bracket secured to the body, and a chassis pivotably coupled to the bracket. The bracket may include a top wall and opposing sidewalls extending downwardly from the top wall. The chassis may be coupled to the bracket beneath the top wall of the bracket.

Claims

1. A row unit for an agricultural planter, comprising:

a fertilizer system operably coupled to the agricultural planter, the fertilizer system including;

a body operable to pivotably connect to said agricultural planter;

a fertilizer disc for creating a fertilizer furrow;

a bracket connected to the body, the bracket including a transversely-extending top wall and opposing sidewalls extending downwardly from the top wall; and

a chassis pivotably coupled to the bracket beneath the top wall of the bracket, wherein the fertilizer disc is mounted to the bracket at least in part by the chassis and the chassis is mounted to the body at least in part by the bracket.

2. The row unit of claim 1, wherein the chassis is pivotably coupled to the sidewalls of the bracket.

3. The row unit of claim 2, wherein the sidewalls of the bracket are substantially parallel to one another.

4. The row unit of claim 3, wherein the top wall of the bracket is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls of the bracket.

5. The row unit of claim 4, wherein the bracket comprises two substantially identical and separable halves.

6. The row unit of claim 5, wherein each half of the bracket includes one of the opposing sidewalls.

7. The row unit of claim 6, wherein each half of the bracket defines a part of the top wall.

8. The row unit of claim 7, wherein each half of the bracket includes an upturned flange.

9. The row unit of claim 8, wherein the upturned flange of one half of the bracket abuts the upturned flange of the other half of the bracket.

10. The row unit of claim 9, wherein the bracket includes diverging attachment ears.

11. The row unit of claim 10, wherein a portion of the body is positioned laterally between the attachment ears.

12. The row unit of claim 11, wherein the chassis includes a hub and a plurality of arms secured to the hub.

13. The row unit of claim 12, wherein the hub is positioned laterally between the opposing sidewalls of the bracket.

14. The row unit of claim 13, wherein the hub is pivotably coupled to the opposing sidewalls of the bracket.

15. The row unit of claim 14, wherein the hub is positioned beneath the top wall of the bracket.

16. The row unit of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of arms includes a free end configured to support a rotatable device.

17. The row unit of claim 12, wherein the plurality of arms comprises three arms.

18. The row unit of claim 15, further comprising at least two wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis.

19. The row unit of claim 18, wherein the bracket is positioned longitudinally along the chassis between the at least two wheels.

20. The row unit of claim 19, wherein the bracket is positioned substantially equidistant between the at least two wheels.