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US 11,889,784 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for utilizing a lower parallel planting arm
AssigneeG.B.G.I., Inc.
InventorsWilliam Carrick, Peter T. Casamento
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lower planting arm of a row unit. The lower planting arm includes a first linkage arm. The lower planting arm also includes a second linkage arm parallel with the first linkage arm. The lower planting arm also includes a first bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm at a first position. The lower planting arm also includes a second bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage at a second position opposite to the first position. Each of the first bracket and the second bracket of the lower planting arm is adapted to operably engage with an actuating device of the row unit.
Claims26
A lower planting arm of a row unit, comprising:
- a first linkage arm;
- a second linkage arm parallel with the first linkage arm;
- a first bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm at a first position;
- a second bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm at a second position opposite to the first position;
- a first mount extending outwardly from the first bracket;
- and
- a second mount extending outwardly from the second bracket and directly facing the first mount;
- wherein each of the first mount and the second mount is adapted to operably engage with an actuating device of the row unit;
- and
- wherein the first linkage arm, the second linkage arm, the first bracket, and the second bracket collectively define a single, monolithic member.
7 more elements
A method, comprising steps of:
- introducing a lower planting arm vertically below a set of upper planting arms of a row unit;
- aligning at least one opening defined in at least one linkage arm of the lower planting arm with at least one aperture defined in a mounting plate of the row unit;
- aligning at least another opening defined in the at least one linkage arm of the lower planting arm with at least one through-hole defined in a head frame of the row unit;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the mounting plate with one another, via at least one attachment assembly, via the at least one opening and the at least one aperture;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the head frame with one another, via at least another attachment assembly, at the at least another opening and the at least one through-hole;
- and
- selectively engaging an actuating device with the lower planting arm via one of a first mount of a first bracket of the lower planting arm and a second mount of a second bracket of the lower planting arm;
- wherein the first bracket and the second bracket operably engages with the at least one linkage arm.
5 more elements
A lower planting arm of a row unit, comprising:
- a first linkage arm having a first opening defined at a first end of the first linkage arm and a second opening defined at a second end of the first linkage arm opposite to the first end of the first linkage arm;
- a second linkage arm parallel with the first linkage arm and having a first opening defined at a first end of the second linkage arm and a second opening defined at a second end of the second linkage arm opposite to the first end of the second linkage arm;
- a first bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm at a first position;
- a second bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage at a second position opposite to the first position;
- wherein each of the first bracket and the second bracket is adapted to operably engage with an actuating device of the row unit;
- a first pair of outer bushings operably engaged with the first linkage arm inside of the first opening of the first linkage arm and the second opening of the first linkage arm, wherein each outer bushing of the first pair of outer bushings defines a first material;
- a first pair of attachment assemblies operably engaging the first linkage arm with a mounting plate of the row unit and a head frame of the row unit;
- each attachment assembly of the first pair of attachment assemblies comprises:
- a connector;
- a washer operably engaged with the connector and defining a second material;
- and
- an inner bushing operably engaged with the connector and defining a third material;
- wherein the first material is harder than the second material and the third material.
10 more elements
A lower planting arm of a row unit, comprising:
- a first linkage arm having a first opening defined at a first end of the first linkage arm and a second opening defined at a second end of the first linkage arm opposite to the first end of the first linkage arm;
- a second linkage arm parallel with the first linkage arm and having a first opening defined at a first end of the second linkage arm and a second opening defined at a second end of the second linkage arm opposite to the first end of the second linkage arm;
- a first bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm at a first position;
- a second bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage at a second position opposite to the first position;
- wherein each of the first bracket and the second bracket is adapted to operably engage with an actuating device of the row unit;
- a first pair of outer bushings operably engaged with the first linkage arm inside of the first opening of the first linkage arm and the second opening of the first linkage arm, wherein each outer bushing of the first pair of outer bushings defines a first material;
- a first pair of attachment assemblies operably engaging the first linkage arm with a mounting plate of the row unit and a head frame of the row unit;
- each attachment assembly of the first pair of attachment assemblies comprises:
- a connector;
- a washer operably engaged with the connector and defining a second material;
- and
- an inner bushing operably engaged with the connector and defining a third material;
- a second pair of outer bushings operably engaged with the second linkage arm inside of the first opening of the second linkage arm and the second opening of the second linkage arm;
- wherein the first material is harder than the second material and the third material;
- wherein each outer bushing of the second pair of outer bushings defines a fourth material.
12 more elements
A lower planting arm of a row unit, comprising:
- a first linkage arm having a first opening defined at a first end of the first linkage arm and a second opening defined at a second end of the first linkage arm opposite to the first end of the first linkage arm;
- a second linkage arm parallel with the first linkage arm and having a first opening defined at a first end of the second linkage arm and a second opening defined at a second end of the second linkage arm opposite to the first end of the second linkage arm;
- a first bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm at a first position;
- a second bracket fixedly engaging with the first linkage arm and the second linkage at a second position opposite to the first position;
- wherein each of the first bracket and the second bracket is adapted to operably engage with an actuating device of the row unit;
- a first pair of outer bushings operably engaged with the first linkage arm inside of the first opening of the first linkage arm and the second opening of the first linkage arm, wherein each outer bushing of the first pair of outer bushings defines a first material;
- a first pair of attachment assemblies operably engaging the first linkage arm with a mounting plate of the row unit and a head frame of the row unit;
- each attachment assembly of the first pair of attachment assemblies comprises:
- a connector;
- a washer operably engaged with the connector and defining a second material;
- and
- an inner bushing operably engaged with the connector and defining a third material;
- a second pair of outer bushings operably engaged with the second linkage arm inside of the first opening of the second linkage arm and the second opening of the second linkage arm;
- a second pair of attachment assemblies operably engaging the second linkage arm with the mounting plate of the row unit and the head frame of the row unit;
- each attachment assembly of the second pair of attachment assemblies comprises:
- a connector;
- a washer operably engaged with the connector and defining a fifth material;
- and
- an inner bushing operably engaged with the connector and defining a sixth material;
- wherein the first material is harder than the second material and the third material;
- wherein each outer bushing of the second pair of outer bushings defines a fourth material;
- and
- wherein the fourth material is harder than the fifth material and the sixth material.
20 more elements
A method, comprising steps of:
- introducing a lower planting arm vertically below a set of upper planting arms of a row unit;
- aligning at least one opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one aperture defined in a mounting plate of the row unit;
- aligning at least another opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one through-hole defined in a head frame of the row unit;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the mounting plate with one another, via at least one attachment assembly, via the at least one opening and the at least one aperture;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the head frame with one another, via at least another attachment assembly, at the at least another opening and the at least one through-hole;
- selectively engaging an actuating device with the lower planting arm via one of a first mount of a first bracket of the lower planting arm and a second mount of a second bracket of the lower planting arm;
- wherein the first bracket and the second bracket operably engages with the at least one linkage arm;
- positioning a piston rod of the actuating device between a first extension of the first mount and a second extension of the first mount;
- introducing a retaining pin of the actuating device to a first hole defined in the first extension;
- introducing the retaining pin of the actuating device to a second hole defined in the second extension;
- and
- securing the piston rod with the first extension and the second extension via the retaining pin.
9 more elements
A method, comprising steps of:
- introducing a lower planting arm vertically below a set of upper planting arms of a row unit;
- aligning at least one opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one aperture defined in a mounting plate of the row unit;
- aligning at least another opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one through-hole defined in a head frame of the row unit;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the mounting plate with one another, via at least one attachment assembly, via the at least one opening and the at least one aperture;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the head frame with one another, via at least another attachment assembly, at the at least another opening and the at least one through-hole;
- selectively engaging an actuating device with the lower planting arm via one of a first mount of a first bracket of the lower planting arm and a second mount of a second bracket of the lower planting arm;
- wherein the first bracket and the second bracket operably engages with the at least one linkage arm;
- engaging a first end of the first bracket with a first linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a first position;
- engaging a second end of the first bracket with a second linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a second position;
- engaging a first end of the second bracket with the first linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a third position;
- and
- engaging a second end of the second bracket with the second linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a fourth position;
- wherein the first bracket, the second bracket, the first linkage arm, and the second linkage arm collectively define a single, monolithic member.
10 more elements
A method, comprising steps of:
- introducing a lower planting arm vertically below a set of upper planting arms of a row unit;
- aligning at least one opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one aperture defined in a mounting plate of the row unit;
- aligning at least another opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one through-hole defined in a head frame of the row unit;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the mounting plate with one another, via at least one attachment assembly, via the at least one opening and the at least one aperture;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the head frame with one another, via at least another attachment assembly, at the at least another opening and the at least one through-hole;
- selectively engaging an actuating device with the lower planting arm via one of a first mount of a first bracket of the lower planting arm and a second mount of a second bracket of the lower planting arm;
- wherein the first bracket and the second bracket operably engages with the at least one linkage arm;
- engaging a first end of the first bracket with a first linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a first position;
- engaging a second end of the first bracket with a second linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a second position;
- engaging a first end of the second bracket with the first linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a third position;
- and
- engaging a second end of the second bracket with the second linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a fourth position;
- engaging at least one outer bushing with a first material inside of the at least one opening of the lower planting arm;
- engaging at least one washer of the at least one attachment assembly having a second material with at least one connector of the at least one attachment assembly;
- engaging at least one inner bushing of the at least one attachment assembly having a third material with the at least one connector;
- and
- engaging the at least one inner bushing with the at least one outer bushing;
- wherein the first material is harder than the second material and the third material;
- wherein the first bracket, the second bracket, the first linkage arm, and the second linkage arm collectively define a single, monolithic member.
16 more elements
A method, comprising steps of:
- introducing a lower planting arm vertically below a set of upper planting arms of a row unit;
- aligning at least one opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one aperture defined in a mounting plate of the row unit;
- aligning at least another opening defined in the lower planting arm with at least one through-hole defined in a head frame of the row unit;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the mounting plate with one another, via at least one attachment assembly, via the at least one opening and the at least one aperture;
- pivotally engaging the lower planting arm and the head frame with one another, via at least another attachment assembly, at the at least another opening and the at least one through-hole;
- selectively engaging an actuating device with the lower planting arm via one of a first mount of a first bracket of the lower planting arm and a second mount of a second bracket of the lower planting arm;
- wherein the first bracket and the second bracket operably engages with the at least one linkage arm;
- engaging a first end of the first bracket with a first linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a first position;
- engaging a second end of the first bracket with a second linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a second position;
- engaging a first end of the second bracket with the first linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a third position;
- and
- engaging a second end of the second bracket with the second linkage arm of the lower planting arm at a fourth position;
- engaging at least one outer bushing with a first material inside of the at least one opening of the lower planting arm;
- engaging at least one washer of the at least one attachment assembly having a second material with at least one connector of the at least one attachment assembly;
- engaging at least one inner bushing of the at least one attachment assembly having a third material with the at least one connector;
- and
- engaging the at least one inner bushing with the at least one outer bushing;
- engaging at least another outer bushing with a fourth material inside of the at least another opening of the lower planting arm;
- engaging at least another washer of the at least another attachment assembly having a fifth material with at least another connector of the at least another attachment assembly;
- engaging at least another inner bushing of the at least another attachment assembly having a sixth material with the at least one connector;
- and
- engaging the at least another inner bushing with the at least another outer bushing;
- wherein the first material is harder than the second material and the third material;
- wherein the first bracket, the second bracket, the first linkage arm, and the second linkage arm collectively define a single, monolithic member;
- wherein the fourth material is harder than the fifth material and the sixth material.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.