Patent classifications
A01B49/02
Ground opener with floating opener body
A ground-opening apparatus for an agricultural implement. The ground-opening apparatus comprises an opening disc for excavating a furrow in the ground, and a support assembly securing the opening disc to the agricultural implement. The support assembly comprises an upper bar, a lower bar, a forward bar, and a rearward bar. The upper bar and the lower bar extend generally in parallel relationship. The lower bar and the rearward bar are joined at a lower, rearward joint. A rotational axis of the opening disc extends through the lower, rearward joint of the support assembly.
Down-pressure control for agricultural trench closing systems
An agricultural row unit includes a soil-engaging tool supported from a pivot arm. A sensor generates an output signal relating to an orientation of the pivot arm relative to a frame member. An actuator is configured to applying a down pressure on the soil-engaging tool. A control system in signal communication with the sensor is responsive to the generated output signal to effect a change in applied down pressure on the soil-engaging tool by the actuator. The soil-engaging tool may be a closing wheel or a flap. One or more additional sensors may be provided on gauge wheel arms of the row unit with the control system being responsive to output signals of the additional sensors to effect the change in applied down pressure on the soil-engaging tool by the actuator.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS HAVING ROW UNITS WITH ROTATING SUPPORTS
An agricultural implement includes a frame carrying a toolbar, and row units coupled to the toolbar. Each row unit includes a tool support and a rotating support coupled to the tool support and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. Ground-engaging tools are carried by the rotating support and extending outward from the axis of rotation. Rotation of the rotating support about the axis of rotation moves the ground-engaging tools around the rotating support to change which of the ground-engaging tools interacts with the ground. A method of adjusting the agricultural implement includes disengaging the row units from a ground surface, rotating at least one rotating support about a corresponding axis of rotation to move the ground-engaging tools around the rotating support, and re-engaging the row units with the ground surface.
SEEDBED FLOOR CONDITIONER
A tilling implement includes a frame having a front and a rear. The tilling implement also includes a first row of disc blades coupled to the frame adjacent the front. The tilling implement further includes a rolling seedbed floor conditioner coupled to the frame adjacent the rear and behind the first row of disc blades, wherein the rolling seedbed floor conditioner includes a plurality of blades, the plurality of blades are indexed to the first row of disc blades, and the rolling seedbed floor conditioner is configured to till the soil between disc blades of the first row of disc blades to smooth a seedbed floor below a soil surface.
ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR SMOOTHING GRANULAR MEDIA
A roller assembly for smoothing an expanse of granular media such as golf bunker sand, snow, horse race track dirt, or other media. The assembly has one or more rollers having a longitudinal axis. Each roller includes wires spaced from the axis to define a roller surface. Each wire is resiliently flexible to distort inwardly in response to force of contact on, and to recover during release of force from, the granular media as the roller rotates about the axis on the granular media. A shaft extends along the axis of the roller assembly between the arms of a yoke with a handle extending therefrom. As the roller surface traverses the media, at least some of the media is flung outwardly of the roller, smoothing the expanse. The roller assembly may be manually operated or may be towed behind a towing apparatus.
Tillage implement
A tillage implement comprising a main frame, a front group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally, and a rear group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally. The tillage implement additionally comprises a set of wheels configured to support the main frame and positioned generally between the front and rear groups of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a group of harrow assemblies carried by the main frame and positioned rearward of the rear group of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a front group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the group of harrow assemblies. Furthermore, the tillage implement comprises a rear group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the front group of finishing reels.
Adjustable rolling basket assembly
An implement including a first frame member, a second frame member movable with respect to the first frame member, and a rolling basket rotatably coupled to the second frame member for rotation about a first axis of rotation. The implement also includes a biasing member configured to move the first axis of rotation toward a rest position, and where the rest position is adjustable relative to the first frame portion.
Residue monitoring and residue-based control
An agricultural machine includes a set of ground engaging elements that perform a ground engaging operation. The agricultural machine includes a rearward sensor mounted to the agricultural machine to sense an area of ground behind the agricultural machine and generate a rearward sensor signal. The agricultural machine includes rearward zone generator logic that determines a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone and the second zone represent portions of the area of ground behind the agricultural machine. The agricultural machine includes rearward residue generator logic configured to receive the rearward sensor signal and determine a first residue metric indicative of the amount of residue in the first zone. The agricultural machine includes control logic that controls one or more aspects of the ground engaging operation on the area of ground based on the first residue metric.
Ground openers with common depth-adjustment
A depth-adjustment assembly for ground openers of an agricultural implement. The ground openers each include an opening disc, a gauge wheel, and a support assembly securing the ground opener to the agricultural implement. The support assembly is configured to raise and lower the ground opener with respect to the ground and/or to adjust a down-pressure of the ground opener. The depth-adjustment assembly comprises for each of the ground openers, a linkage assembly and a depth-adjustment arm configured to adjust a relative position between the opening disc and the gauge wheel. At least a portion of the linkage extends in parallel relationship with the support assembly. The depth-adjustment assembly further comprises a laterally-extending common pivot bar. Each linkage assembly is secured to the common pivot bar, such that rotation of said common pivot bar is configured to simultaneously adjust the relative position between the opening disc and the gauge wheel of each of the ground openers.
TILLAGE IMPLEMENT
A tillage implement comprising a main frame, a front group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally, and a rear group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally. The tillage implement additionally comprises a set of wheels configured to support the main frame and positioned generally between the front and rear groups of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a group of harrow assemblies carried by the main frame and positioned rearward of the rear group of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a front group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the group of harrow assemblies. Furthermore, the tillage implement comprises a rear group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the front group of finishing reels.