Agricultural apparatus

An agricultural apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a three-point hitch frame with a front end and a rear end, said hitch frame including means for attaching to a vehicle and means for removably retaining a tool bar assembly, said means for retaining a tool bar assembly including a plurality of L-shaped retaining members;
• and
• b) a removable tool bar assembly structurally independent of said three-point hitch frame, said tool bar assembly including front and rear tool bar members connected by cross support members, said front and rear tool bar members configured to engage said L-shaped retaining members and be retained whereby said hitch frame can be disengaged from said tool bar assembly and other tool bar assemblies carrying varying configurations of tools can be engaged;
• and
• c) a metering hopper system mounted on said hitch frame and further wherein said tool bar assembly includes a ground contact drive wheel assembly mounted thereon for controlling the rate of agricultural particulate dispensed by said metering hopper system.

An agricultural apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a three-point hitch frame with a front end and a rear end, said hitch frame including means for attaching to a vehicle and means for removably retaining a tool bar assembly, said means for retaining a tool bar assembly including a plurality of L-shaped retaining members;
• and
• b) a removable tool bar assembly structurally independent of said three-point hitch frame, said tool bar assembly including front and rear tool bar members connected by cross support members, said front and rear tool bar members configured to engage said L-shaped retaining members and be retained whereby said hitch frame can be disengaged from said tool bar assembly and other tool bar assemblies carrying varying configurations of tools can be engaged;
• and
• c) a safety and transport stand assembly, said stand assembly including first and second stand ends for mating with said tool bar assembly, and further including a separate base portion, said stand ends and said base portion including mating means for maintaining engagement thereof and being sufficiently spaced when assembled so as to provide a protective structure about the tool bar assembly.

An agricultural apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a hitch frame with an upper side and a lower side, said hitch frame including means for attaching to a vehicle and means for retaining a tool bar assembly;
• b) a metering hopper system attached to the upper side of said hitch frame, said metering hopper system including means for conveying agricultural particulate to a particulate outlet device;
• c) a removable tool bar assembly adapted to be retained on the lower side of said hitch frame by said means for retaining, said tool bar assembly supporting a ground contact metering drive wheel assembly for controlling the rate of agricultural particulate dispensed by said metering hopper system;
• and
• d) at least one particulate outlet device supported on said tool bar assembly and adapted to apply the particulate to the ground, whereby said hitch frame can be disengaged from said tool bar assembly and engaged with other tool bar assemblies carrying different configurations of particulate outlet devices without removal of the metering hopper system.

A ground contact drive wheel assembly for a metering hopper system with a metering drive shaft, said drive wheel assembly comprising:

• a) a ground contact wheel;
• b) means for supporting said ground contact wheel on a tool bar, wherein said means for supporting said ground contact wheel on a tool bar includes a support bracket connected to said tool bar;
• c) means for adjusting the vertical height of said ground contact wheel with respect to said tool bar, wherein said means for adjusting the vertical height of said ground contact wheel includes a screwjack connected between said support bracket and said means for preventing the ground contact wheel from losing contact with the ground;
• d) means for transmitting the rotation of said ground contact wheel to rotate said metering drive shaft;
• and
• e) means for preventing said ground contact wheel from losing contact with the ground when traversing uneven terrain.

A ground contact drive wheel assembly for a metering hopper system with a metering drive shaft, said drive wheel assembly comprising:

• a) a ground contact wheel;
• b) means for supporting said ground contact wheel on a tool bar, wherein said means for supporting said ground contact wheel on a tool bar includes a support bracket connected to said tool bar, said support bracket forming a sleeve therethrough;
• c) means for adjusting the vertical height of said ground contact wheel with respect to said tool bar;
• d) means for transmitting the rotation of said ground contact wheel to rotate said metering drive shaft;
• and
• e) means for preventing said ground contact wheel from losing contact with the ground when traversing uneven terrain, wherein said means for preventing said ground contact wheel from losing contact with the ground includes an L-shaped wheel support member including a first and second leg, said first leg being connected to said ground contact wheel and said second leg extending through said support bracket sleeve for vertical movement therethrough, and a compression spring located between said support bracket and said first leg for biasing said wheel against the ground to prevent it from losing contact with the ground on uneven terrain.

A ground contact drive wheel assembly for a metering hopper system with a metering drive shaft, said drive wheel assembly comprising:

• a) a ground contact wheel;
• b) means for supporting said ground contact wheel on a tool bar, wherein said means for supporting said ground contact wheel on a tool bar includes a support bracket mounted to the tool bar;
• c) means for adjusting the vertical height of said ground contact wheel with respect to said tool bar;
• d) means for transmitting the rotation of said ground contact wheel to rotate said metering drive shaft;
• and
• e) means for preventing said ground contact wheel from losing contact with the ground when traversing uneven terrain, wherein said means for preventing said ground contact wheel from losing contact with the ground includes an L-shaped wheel support member including a first leg and a second leg, said first leg being connected to said ground contact wheel and said second leg being pivotally connected to said support bracket, and further including a first linkage member pivotally connected to said first leg on one end and pivotally connected to the means for adjusting the vertical height on the other end whereby said ground wheel can pivot down to compensate for uneven terrain if the ground causes the tool bar to be lifted.