An agricultural implement system includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, and a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit. The agricultural implement system also includes a valve assembly in fluid communication with the down force cylinder and the depth control cylinder. The valve assembly is configured to automatically adjust the downward force by varying fluid pressure within the down force cylinder based on fluid pressure within the depth control cylinder.

An agricultural planter includes systems, methods, and apparatus for providing down force pressure at row units of the planter. The row units may include an electric linear actuator connected to linkages of the row units to provide and maintain a down force pressure for the row unit. The linkage may also be removed and replaced with a strut or like mechanism to apply a direct down force pressure to components of the row unit. One or more sensors can be included to obtain information related to the ground to automatically adjust the amount of down force provided based upon a ground characteristic in order to maintain a substantially uniform furrow depth.

Provided is a safety apparatus for a cultivator. A driving cylinder includes a body wherein a rod having a pressurizing plate at a front end of the rod is inserted into the body; a first inlet hole and a second outlet hole which are formed at one side of the body; a first inlet hole and a second outlet hole formed at a rear portion of the pressurizing plate when the rod extends from the body; a first outlet hole and a second inlet hole formed at the other side of the body; a relief valve at the first outlet hole; a first hydraulic line to connect the relief valve and the first inlet hole; a second hydraulic line to connect the second outlet hole and the second inlet hole; and a check valve at any of the second outlet hole, the second inlet hole and the second hydraulic line.

An agricultural row unit assembly includes an attachment frame, a swing-arm, an opener disk, a deflecting disk, a support, a gauge wheel, and a ground-hardness sensor. The opener disk is mounted to and offset from the distal end of the swing-arm for forming a furrow, and is configured to rotate about a first axis. The deflecting disk is mounted to the distal end of the swing-arm for deflecting debris from entering the furrow, and is configured to rotate about a second axis. The support has a first end pivotably mounted to the swing-arm and a second end movable relative to the opener disk. The gauge wheel is mounted to the second end of the support. The ground-hardness sensor is disposed within the swing-arm and is configured to detect movement of the gauge wheel relative to the opener disk.

An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame, and a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage, for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. An accumulator positioned adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder has a fluid chamber containing a diaphragm, with the portion of the chamber on one side of the diaphragm being connected to the hydraulic-fluid cavity in the hydraulic cylinder, and the portion of the chamber on the other side of the diaphragm containing a pressurized gas.

An agricultural implement includes at least one row unit having a plurality of support members, each of which is pivotably coupled to an attachment frame or another of the support members to permit vertical pivoting vertical movement of the support members, and a plurality of soil-engaging tools, each of which is coupled to at least one of the support members. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders are coupled to the support members for urging the support members downwardly toward the soil. A plurality of controllable pressure control valves are coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the cylinders. A plurality of sensors produce electrical signals corresponding to predetermined conditions, and a controller is coupled to the sensor and the controllable pressure control valves. The controller receives the electrical signals from the sensors and produces control signals for controlling the pressure control valves.

A device to protect a work tool of an agricultural machine, especially a device to protect a work tool of a soil cultivator against overload when hitting an obstacle. The device includes a swinging mounting arranged in connection between a load-bearing frame of the machine and a work tool. The work tool is attached to a tube in a cavity of which there is a shaft fixed in a load-bearing frame and, at the edges of the cavity, at least two resilient sealing rings are arranged in an anti-slip manner, and between the rings, inside the cavity of the tube, oil fill is arranged.

A system for identifying a failed shear pin of a ground-engaging system of an agricultural implement may include a ground-engaging system having an attachment structure coupled to a frame of an agricultural implement, a ground-engaging tool pivotably coupled to the attachment structure at a pivot joint, and a shear pin at least partially extending through the attachment structure and the ground-engaging tool to prevent pivoting of the ground-engaging tool about the pivot joint. The system may further include an operator notification member provided in association with the ground-engaging system and movable between a non-triggered position and a triggered position. Additionally, the system may include a linkage that, upon failure of the shear pin, allows the operator notification member to be moved from the non-triggered position to the triggered position.

A system for identifying broken shear pins on an agricultural implement includes a plurality of shank assemblies. Each shank assembly includes an attachment structure coupling the shank assembly to the frame of the agricultural implement. Each shank assembly also includes shank pivotably coupled to the attachment structure and a shear pin extending through the attachment structure and the shank to prevent pivoting of the shank. The system also includes a first sensor configured to generate data indicative of vibrations of the frame and a second sensor configured to generate data indicative of the soil condition aft of each shank. Additionally, the system includes a computing system configured to determine when the shear pin of at least one shank assembly has failed. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to identify a location of each shank assembly with a failed shear pin.

An agricultural implement system includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, and a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit. The agricultural implement system also includes a valve assembly in fluid communication with the down force cylinder and the depth control cylinder. The valve assembly is configured to automatically adjust the downward force by varying fluid pressure within the down force cylinder based on fluid pressure within the depth control cylinder.