Agricultural seed trench closing systems, methods and apparatus

• US 9,848,524 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauder, Derek, Hodel, Jeremy, Muhlbauer, Cory
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US14/437,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 111190-196
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/027 with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/008 Vertical adjustment of tools A01B63/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/32 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means without automatic control
• 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 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means

Abstract

A closing wheel assembly is provided for a row unit agricultural planter. The planter is configured to open a trench in the soil and the closing wheel assembly is configured to close the trench. A resilient flap is provided for firming and leveling the soil returned to the trench by the closing wheel assembly. Pivotally mounted offset closing wheels are also provided.

Claims

1. An agricultural planter row unit configured to move in a forward direction along a soil surface, the planter row unit including a row unit frame supporting a trench opening assembly configured to open a seed trench in the soil surface into which seed is deposited, the row unit further comprising:

a closing wheel assembly disposed rearward of the opening assembly, said closing wheel assembly comprising a pivot arm supporting closing wheels disposed to roll along the soil surface and configured to close the open seed trench after the seed is deposited, said pivot arm having a forward end pivotally mounted to the row unit frame;

a primary actuator disposed to modify a primary downforce between said closing wheel assembly and said soil surface; and

a secondary trench closing device mounted to said pivot arm and disposed rearward of said closing wheel assembly, said secondary trench closing device disposed to resiliently contact said soil surface.

2. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 1, wherein a secondary actuator applies a variable secondary downforce to said secondary trench closing device.

3. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 2, wherein said secondary actuator comprises an elastic link.

4. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 2, wherein said variable secondary downforce is adjusted by an operator.

5. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 4, wherein said secondary actuator comprises an adjustable spring.

6. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 2, wherein said secondary trench closing device comprises an elastic flap, wherein said elastic flap is configured to firm soil into the trench.

7. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 1, wherein said secondary trench closing device comprises an elastic flap, wherein said elastic flap firms soil into the trench.

8. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 7, wherein said elastic flap includes a forward-angled portion, wherein said forward-angled portion is disposed to move soil transversely into the trench.

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

a fluid control system, said fluid control system setting a variable pressure in said primary actuator; and

a controller in data communication with said fluid control system, said controller prompting a user to enter a requested closing wheel criterion, said controller sending a command signal to said fluid control system, wherein in response to receiving said command signal, said fluid control system modifies said variable pressure until said requested closing wheel criterion is achieved.

10. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 9, wherein said closing wheel criterion comprises a value of said variable pressure.

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

a fluid control system, said fluid control system setting a variable pressure in said primary actuator;

a sensor mounted to said closing wheel assembly, said sensor detecting a closing system criterion; and

a controller in data communication with said fluid control system and said sensor, wherein said controller incrementally adjusts a command signal such that said closing system criterion approaches a desired value.

12. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 11, wherein said closing system criterion is related to the amount of soil returned to the trench.

13. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 11, wherein said closing system criterion is related to an operating characteristic of said secondary trench closing device.

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

a position sensor configured to detect an angular position of a component of said row unit, wherein said closing system criterion is related to said angular position.

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

a position sensor configured to detect an angular position of said secondary trench closing device, wherein said closing system criterion is related to said angular position.

16. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 1, wherein said closing wheel assembly comprises:

a walking arm, said walking arm configured to pivot in a longitudinal plane relative to the row unit;

a first closing wheel rollingly mounted to a forward end of said walking arm; and

a second closing wheel rollingly mounted to a rearward end of said walking arm.

17. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 16, wherein said walking arm is mounted to said row unit at a walking arm pivot, wherein said first closing wheel is mounted to said walking arm at a first closing wheel bearing, and wherein said second closing wheel is mounted to said walking arm at a second closing wheel bearing, and wherein said walking arm pivot, said first closing wheel bearing and said second closing wheel bearing are aligned along a horizontal plane when said walking arm is in a horizontal orientation.

18. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 1, wherein said secondary trench closing device comprises:

an elastic central portion, said elastic central portion firming soil into the trench;

a first elastic wing portion, said first elastic wing portion having a forward-swept orientation relative to said elastic central portion, said first elastic wing portion moving soil in a first transverse direction toward the trench; and

a second elastic wing portion, said second elastic wing portion having a forward-swept orientation relative to said elastic central portion, said second elastic wing portion moving soil in a second transverse direction toward the trench.

19. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 1, wherein a user-adjustable downforce is applied between said closing wheel assembly and said secondary trench closing device.

20. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 1, wherein a user-adjustable downforce is applied between said row unit frame and said secondary trench closing device.

21. The agricultural planter row unit of claim 1, wherein a user-adjustable downforce is applied to said secondary trench closing device, wherein said user-adjustable downforce is modified by the user using a controller mounted in the cab of a tractor.