Operator controlled pressure applicator for the furrow forming mechanism of a seed planter

A furrow-forming apparatus arranged in combination with a row unit on an agricultural implement and having a frame adapted to be attached to a tool bar, a furrow forming mechanism mounted on said frame, and a mounting assembly for mounting said frame and said furrow forming mechanism to said tool bar, said mounting mechanism comprising:

• a linkage assembly including a pair of longitudinally extending links pivotally attached at opposite ends to said tool bar and said frame, said links defining a pair of transversely spaced generally parallel longitudinally extending support surfaces;
• and
• a pressure applicator carried by said linkage assembly for applying pressure to said furrow forming mechanism, said pressure applicator including a support transversely disposed between said links of said linkage assembly, a locking mechanism for selectively securing said support to and between opposite ends of said links, a spring mechanism including one or more springs connected to and depending from said support for applying a spring loaded force to said linkage assembly and thereby to said furrow forming mechanism, and wherein said support includes a sash structure for guiding longitudinal sliding movements of the support along a predetermined path of supported travel defined by said support surfaces after the locking mechanism has been released to allow for longitudinal adjustment of the support and to promote reengagement of the locking mechanism.

A furrow-forming apparatus for a row unit of an agricultural implement, said apparatus having a frame adapted to be attached to a tool bar, a furrow forming mechanism mounted on said frame, and a mounting assembly for mounting said frame and said furrow forming mechanism to said tool bar, said mounting mechanism comprising:

• a linkage assembly including a pair of longitudinally extending links pivotally attached at opposite ends to said tool bar and said seed planter frame;
• and
• a pressure applicator carried by said linkage assembly for applying pressure to said furrow forming mechanism, said pressure applicator comprises a movable support transversely disposed between said links of said linkage assembly, a spring mechanism including a pair of springs for applying a spring force to said links, a tie bar extending generally parallel to and in spaced relation from said support and to which one end of each spring of the spring mechanism is connected, said tie bar being movable with said support for effecting adjustment of the spring in a first manner and an operator controlled adjustment assembly for selectively controlling the spaced relationship between said tie bar and said support thereby adjusting the spring force applied by both springs of the spring mechanism to the frame and furrow forming mechanism in a second manner through the adjustment assembly without requiring the use of tools.

In a furrow-forming apparatus for a seed planter having a frame adapted to be attached to a tool bar, a furrow forming mechanism mounted on said frame, and a mounting assembly for mounting said frame and said furrow forming mechanism to said tool bar, said mounting mechanism comprising:

• a parallelogram-type linkage assembly including a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending upper links pivotally secured at opposite ends to said tool bar and to said seed planter frame, and a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending lower links pivotally secured at opposite ends to said tool bar and to said seed planter frame;
• and
• a pressure applicator carried by said linkage assembly for applying pressure to said furrow forming mechanism, said pressure applicator comprising a support transversely disposed between the upper links of said linkage assembly, a locking mechanism for selectively securing said support to and between opposite ends of said upper links, a spring assembly including one or more springs is connected to and depends from said support for applying a spring loaded force to said linkage mechanism and thereby to said furrow forming mechanism, sash structure pivotally attached to opposite ends of said support for promoting sliding movements of the support along a predetermined path of travel after the locking mechanism has been released and for enhancing reengagement of the locking mechanism to secure the support in an adjusted position disposed between opposite ends of said upper links.

In a furrow-forming apparatus for a seed planter having a frame adapted to be attached to a tool bar, a furrow forming mechanism including a pair of ground engaging disks rotatably mounted on said frame, and an assembly for mounting said frame and said furrow forming mechanism to said tool bar for generally vertical movements, said mounting mechanism comprising:

• a parallelogram-type linkage assembly including a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending upper links pivotally secured at opposite ends to said tool bar and to said seed planter frame, and a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending lower links pivotally secured at opposite ends to said tool bar and to said seed planter frame;
• and
• a pressure applicator carried by said linkage assembly for applying pressure to said furrow forming mechanism, said pressure applicator comprising a support transversely disposed between the upper links of said linkage assembly, a locking mechanism for selectively securing said support to and between opposite ends of said upper links, a spring mechanism including a pair of transversely spaced springs connected to and depending from said support for applying a spring loaded force to said linkage mechanism and thereby to said furrow forming mechanism, sash structure pivotally attached to opposite ends of said support for promoting sliding movements of the support along a predetermined path of travel after the locking mechanism has been released and for enhancing reengagement of the locking mechanism to secure the support in an adjusted position disposed between opposite ends of said upper links, and a single operator controlled adjusting member carded by said support and operator accessible for conjointly adjusting the spring force applied by both of said springs thereby regulating the pressure applied to said furrow forming mechanism.