Downforce control system for a seeding implement
AssigneeCNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
InventorNicholas George Alfred Ryder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A row unit system for a seeder includes a frame, a parallel linkage configured to couple the frame to a mount associated with a toolbar of the seeder, an opener disc rotatably coupled to the frame, and a packer wheel assembly. The packer wheel assembly includes a packer wheel arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer wheel arm, and a packer wheel actuator pivotally coupled to the packer wheel arm and the frame, wherein the packer wheel actuator is configured to control a downforce applied by the packer wheel to soil.
Claims20
A row unit system for a seeder, comprising:
- a frame;
- a parallel linkage configured to couple the frame to a mount associated with a toolbar of the seeder;
- an opener disc rotatably coupled to the frame;
- and
- a packer wheel assembly, comprising:
- a packer wheel arm pivotally coupled to the frame;
- a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer wheel arm;
- and
- a packer wheel actuator pivotally coupled to the packer wheel arm and the frame, wherein the packer wheel actuator is configured to control a downforce applied by the packer wheel to soil.
A row unit system for a seeder, comprising:
- a frame;
- a parallel linkage configured to couple the frame to a mount associated with a toolbar of the seeder;
- an opener disc rotatably coupled to the frame;
- a packer wheel assembly, comprising:
- a rigid packer wheel arm pivotally coupled to the frame;
- a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the rigid packer wheel arm;
- and
- a packer wheel actuator pivotally coupled to the rigid packer wheel arm and the frame;
- and
- a controller configured to control a valve assembly to control a downforce applied by the packer wheel to soil.
A method of operating a row unit system for a seeder, the method comprising:
- linking, via a parallel linkage, a frame of a row unit to a mount associated with a toolbar of the seeder;
- positioning an opener disc in contact with soil in a field, wherein the opener disc is rotatably coupled to the frame;
- positioning a packer wheel in contact with the soil in the field, wherein the packer wheel is rotatably coupled to a rigid packer wheel arm, and the rigid packer wheel arm is pivotally coupled to the frame;
- and
- controlling a valve assembly to increase a fluid pressure at a packer wheel actuator that is coupled to the rigid packer wheel arm to thereby decrease a downforce applied by the packer wheel to the soil in the field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.