Adjustable clamp on head bracket

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to ground working equipment, such as an agricultural implement, and, more particularly, to a system for attaching row units on an agricultural implement.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of an agricultural planter incorporating the invention in one form;

#FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an illustrative tool bar, C-shaped channel and head brackets suitable for use in FIG. 1;

#Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

#Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a portion of a planter 10 or similar agricultural implement which may be towed generally in the direction of arrow 12. The implement includes a tool bar 14 to which an elongated channel 16 of generally C-shaped cross-section is fixed as by welding along the closed edge of the “C”. As noted earlier, many planting implements are too wide for transport on highways, entry to farm fields through gates, or for barn storage. These may have a relatively fixed central portion with additional portions extending laterally as wings which may be pivoted and/or rotated to a stowed position for transport or storage. The tool bar 14 illustrated may either form part of such a central portion or part of a wing.

#A number of illustrative row units such as 18 and 20 are shown. The configuration illustrated would be for planting narrow spaced rows of crop, e.g., beans. The illustrated row units are conventional and are received in head brackets such as 22, 24 and 26 in a conventional manner. The current technology uses threaded U-Bolts to clamp around the main part of the tool bar 14 and attaches the head brackets like 22, 24 and 26 directly thereto with nuts. These head brackets are attached to the tool bar in an entirely different fashion in the present invention.