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US 2024/0180066 A1Published application
Devices, systems and methods for seed trench monitoring and closing
AssigneeAg Leader Technology
InventorsJoe Holoubek, Steven Brown, Roger Zielke, Cody Sobotka, Stuart Helming
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed devices, systems and methods relate to agricultural planters, particularly to a two-stage closing system for a planter row unit. In some implementations, the row unit includes a soil engaging member, where the soil engaging member engages at least one sidewall of a trench and displaces soil from the sidewall to cover the seed. In further implementations, the row unit includes a sensing system for sensing sidewall compaction and/or soil moisture.
Claims20
An agricultural row unit comprising:
- (a) one or more opening discs affixed to an agricultural row unit capable of forming a trench having sidewalls in soil;
- (b) a soil engaging member disposed on the row unit behind the one or more opening disc relative to a forward direction of travel, the soil engaging member shaped to penetrate one or more of the sidewalls;
- and
- (c) at least one strain gauge in communication with the soil engaging member configured to measure sidewall compaction.
1 more element
An agricultural row unit comprising:
- (a) a soil engaging member disposed on the row unit configured to penetrate a sidewall of a trench in which the soil engaging member is positioned;
- and
- (b) at least one strain gauge in communication with the soil engaging member configured to measure sidewall compaction,
- wherein the measured soil compaction is used to adjust a downforce of the row unit.
1 more element
An agricultural row unit comprising:
- (a) one or more opening discs affixed to the agricultural row unit capable of forming a trench having at least one sidewall in soil;
- (b) a soil engaging member constructed and arranged to penetrate the at least one sidewall and displace soil from the one or more sidewalls to cover a seed;
- and
- (c) a strain gauge in operative communication with the soil engaging member capable of measuring soil compaction of the at least one sidewall,
- wherein the measured soil compaction is used to adjust a downforce of the row unit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.