A gauge wheel (1) for use in controlling the depth of a furrow formed by at least one planting member of cultivation equipment includes a hub member (5) having a central hub and an outer peripheral portion (9); and a resilient coil member (3). The resilient coil member (3) includes a plurality of coil windings (17) which extend closely adjacent to the outer peripheral portion (9) of the hub member (5) and which define an outer periphery of the gauge wheel (1). The coil member (3) is connected at or adjacent one end thereof to the hub member (5). In use, the resilient coil member engages the soil on a side of the furrow and controls the depth by which the at least one planting member cuts into the soil to form the furrow. There is also provided a coulter gauge wheel which includes a coulter disc and at least one gauge wheel as described above.

The present invention provides a ground engaging device (10, 10.100, 10.110 and 10.120) which includes a frame assembly (12) having at least one first frame arm (14), and at least one second frame arm (16), in this case only one second frame arm (16). The at least one first frame arm (14) is located in a forward position relative to the at least one second frame arm (16) relative to the forward direction of operation of the device (10). There is also present at least one gauge wheel (18) being mounted to the at least one first frame arm (14) for rotation with respect thereto. The present invention also provides an improved parallelogram linkage, and a planter, fertiliser, cultivator or trasher with such improvements.

A sowing coulter arrangement comprises a suspension device for mounting the sowing coulter arrangement on a machine frame; a coulter frame connected to the suspension device for mounting components of the sowing coulter arrangement thereon; and a coulter disk. The arrangement further comprises a furrow closer pivotally mounted on the coulter frame; a metering device for dispensing the material to be distributed; a seed tube for transporting the material to be distributed from the metering device to a seed furrow; and a catching element for catching the material disposed downstream of the outlet of the seed tube. The metering device, the seed tube, and the catching element form a unit and are mounted on a carrier that is pivotably affixed to the coulter frame, whereby an arrangement of an outlet of a seed tube in relation to a catching element is at all times kept largely constant.

A sowing coulter arrangement comprises a suspension device for mounting the sowing coulter arrangement on a machine frame; a coulter frame connected to the suspension device for mounting components of the sowing coulter arrangement thereon; and a coulter disk. The arrangement further comprises a furrow closer pivotally mounted on the coulter frame; a metering device for dispensing the material to be distributed; a seed tube for transporting the material to be distributed from the metering device to a seed furrow; and a catching element for catching the material disposed downstream of the outlet of the seed tube. The metering device, the seed tube, and the catching element form a unit and are mounted on a carrier that is pivotably affixed to the coulter frame, whereby an arrangement of an outlet of a seed tube in relation to a catching element is at all times kept largely constant.

A method of manufacturing an agricultural tillage disk blade includes providing a substantially circular-shaped disk body with an outer peripheral edge and a central opening that defines a rotation axis, the outer body being disposed within a first plane. A plurality of waves is formed in a predetermined pattern in the outer peripheral edge of the disk body, and the outer peripheral edge is sharpened to form a plurality of teeth such that at least a portion of the sharpened outer peripheral edge is disposed within a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. The method also includes machining a plurality of relief portions in each of the plurality of waves at a location radially inward of the plurality of teeth, and heat treating the disk body after the sharpening and machining steps.

A method of manufacturing an agricultural tillage disk blade includes providing a substantially circular-shaped disk body with an outer peripheral edge and a central opening that defines a rotation axis, the outer body being disposed within a first plane. A plurality of waves is formed in a predetermined pattern in the outer peripheral edge of the disk body, and the outer peripheral edge is sharpened to form a plurality of teeth such that at least a portion of the sharpened outer peripheral edge is disposed within a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. The method also includes machining a plurality of relief portions in each of the plurality of waves at a location radially inward of the plurality of teeth, and heat treating the disk body after the sharpening and machining steps.

A method for detecting fraudulent communications receives gift card data associated with a gift card offered for sale by a customer. The method receives customer information about the customer associated with an identity document of the customer and associates the gift card data with the customer information. The method determines a balance of the gift card at an initial point in time based on the gift card data. The method determines the balance of the gift card at a subsequent point in time. The method compares the balance of the gift card at the initial point in time to the balance of the gift card at the subsequent point in time. The method associates a fraud alert with the customer information if the balance of the gift card at the initial point in time is different than the balance of the gift card at the subsequent point in time.

The active coulter system includes a pivotable support structure that vertically adjusts the position of an active coulter component to compensate for changes in the contour of a target field. In the preferred embodiment, a proximity sensor and an associated controller are in electronic communication with a linear actuator assembly. Based on data from the proximity sensor, the controller sends electronic instructions to the linear actuator assembly to automatically move the active coulter component vertically. The system also optionally includes a torque/speed sensor that can operate independently to control the torque and/or power supplied to the active coulter component, or the sensor can interface with the controller and anticipate changes in power needs and increase/decrease power before the operation of the active coulter component is affected.

The active coulter system includes a pivotable support structure that vertically adjusts the position of an active coulter component to compensate for changes in the contour of a target field. In the preferred embodiment, a proximity sensor and an associated controller are in electronic communication with a linear actuator assembly. Based on data from the proximity sensor, the controller sends electronic instructions to the linear actuator assembly to automatically move the active coulter component vertically. The system also optionally includes a torque/speed sensor that can operate independently to control the torque and/or power supplied to the active coulter component, or the sensor can interface with the controller and anticipate changes in power needs and increase/decrease power before the operation of the active coulter component is affected.

An extended highspeed rigid hub (EHRH) combined with a specific double roller taper bearing and tapered head bolt coupled with a coulter blade create a coulter blade assembly of great strength which functions to minimize flex at the circumference of the coulter blade. The EHRH maintains inner as well as outer bosses which support both inner and outer attachment points for the taper headed bolts to provide rigidity to the coulter blade. The double roller taper bearing adds to the rigidity equation by mitigating axial as well as radial forces exerted on the coulter blade. The coulter blade assembly, when coupled as one element to an implement, creates a rigid furrowing device capable of precise furrow construction in many challenging soil conditions.