Row unit down pressure assembly

A row unit for incorporation into an agricultural implement to be pulled by a tractor, the row unit assembly comprising:

• at least two wheels for traveling along the ground having a tool between the two wheels for engaging the ground;
• an attachment frame comprising of a first mounting bracket for attachment to a trailing sub-bar and having four straight members extending laterally rearward from said trailing planter sub-bar and are spaced apart to four corners on said mounting bracket to define a rectilinear space in between,
• said attachment frame for attachment between the agricultural implement and the least two wheels for traveling along the ground;
• a second mounting bracket is mounted on said first mounting bracket and has two flanges extending rearward.
• a shaft is carried by the flanges and is rotatable in journals formed by the flanges.
• a cam with an integrally formed retaining cam post is fixed near one end of the shaft to rotate with the shaft,
• the cam post bears on one end of a torsion element,
• the opposing end of the torsion element is retained by a web attached to a down pressure bar and a radial arm,
• an adjustment mechanism for varying the torsion of the spring mounted at the opposite end of shaft;
• and
• said down pressure bar operated by the torsion spring to apply a downward force to the attachment frame.

A method for use with an agricultural implement to be pulled by a tractor, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an attachment frame comprising of a first mounting brackets for attachment to a trailing planter sub-bar and having four straight members extedning laterally rearward from said trailing planter sub-bar and are spaced apart to four corners on said mounting bracket to define a rectilinear space in between,
• providing said attachment frame for attachment between a front portion of the agricultural implement and at least two wheels of a row unit for traveling along the ground, the row unit also having a tool disposed between the two wheels for engaging the ground;
• providing a second mounting bracket to be mounted on said first mounting bracket and has two flanges extending rearward,
• providing a shaft carried by said flanges and is rotatable in journals formed by the flanges,
• providing a cam with an integrally formed reaming cam post fixed near one end of the shaft to rotate with the shaft,
• providing the cam post to bear on one end of a torsion element,
• providing the opposing end of the trosion element to be retained by a web attached to a down pressure bar and a radial arm,
• linking an adjustment mechanism for varying the torsion of the torsion element at the opposite end of the shaft;
• and
• linking a down pressure bar to the torsion element to receive a downward force from the attachment frame.

A down pressure assembly for incorporation into an agricultural implement to be pulled by a tractor, the down pressure assembly comprising:

• an attachment frame for attachment between a front portion of the agricultural implement and at least two wheels of a row unit for traveling along the ground, the row unit also having a tool disposed between the two wheels for engaging the ground;
• at least one torsion element disposed on the attachment frame, said torsion element having one fixed mounting to the attachment frame and one adjustable mounting to the attachment frame;
• an adjustment mechanism for varying the torsion of the torsion element at the adjustable mounting;
• and
• a down pressure bar receiving a force from the torsion element to apply a downward force to the attachment frame;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a flange with detents, the flange being mounted to the attachment frame, a lever pivotably mounted to the flange and pins for holding the lever in a selected one of the detents.

A row unit for incorporation into an agricultural implement to be pulled by a tractor, the row unit assembly comprising:

• at least two wheels for traveling along the ground having a tool between the two wheels for engaging the ground;
• an attachment frame for attachment between the agricultural implement and the least two wheels for traveling along the ground;
• at least one torsion spring disposed on the attachment frame, said spring having one fixed mounting to the attachment frame and one adjustable mounting to the attachment frame;
• an adjustment mechanism for varying the torsion of the spring at the adjustable mounting;
• and
• a down pressure bar operated by the torsion spring to apply a downward force to the attachment frame;
• wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a flange with detents, the flange being mounted to the attachment frame, a lever pivotably mounted to the flange and pins for holding the lever in a selected one of the detents.

A method for use with an agricultural implement to be pulled by a tractor, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an attachment frame for attachment between a front portion of the agricultural implement and at least two wheels of a row unit for traveling along the ground, the row unit also having a tool disposed between the two wheels for engaging the ground;
• linking a fixed mounting of a torsion element to the attachment frame and an adjustable mounting of the torsion element to the attachment frame;
• linking an adjustment mechanism for varying the torsion of the torsion element at the adjustable mounting;
• and
• linking a down pressure bar to the torsion element to receive a downward force from the attachment frame, wherein the step of linking an adjustment mechanism includes linking a mechanism including a flange with detents, the flange being mounted to the attachment frame, a lever pivotally mounted to the flange and pins for holding the lever in a selected one of the detents.