Row-clearing unit for agricultural implement

An agricultural implement for use with a towing frame adapted to be hitched to a tractor, said implement comprising

• an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to said towing frame,
• a support element having a leading end pivotally connected to said attachment frame at a pivotal connection for vertical pivoting movement relative to said attachment frame,
• at least one agricultural tool mounted on the trailing end of said support element,
• a hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected between said attachment frame and said support element for pivoting said support element around said pivotal connection to said attachment frame, said hydraulic cylinder including
• a movable rod coupling said cylinder to said support element,
• a cavity within said cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing said rod in a direction that pivots said support element downwardly toward the soil, and
• an energy storage device coupled to said rod and said cylinder to apply a retracting force to said rod to pivotally bias said support element in a direction that urges said at least one agricultural tool upwardly away from the soil.

An agricultural implement for use with a towing frame adapted to be hitched to a tractor, said implement comprising

• a planting row unit having
• a frame element rigidly adapted to be rigidly attached to said towing frame, and
• a planting assembly pivotally connected to said frame element, and
• a row-clearing unit having
• a frame element adapted to be rigidly connected to said towing frame,
• a support element having a leading end pivotally connected to said frame element of said row-clearing unit at a pivotal connection for vertical pivoting movement of said support element,
• at least one clearing wheel mounted on the trailing end of said support element,
• a hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected between said frame element of said row-clearing unit and said support element for pivoting said support element around said pivotal connection, said hydraulic cylinder including
• a movable rod coupling said cylinder to said support element,
• a cavity within said cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing said rod in a direction that pivots said support element downwardly, and
• an energy storage device coupled to said rod and said cylinder to apply a retracting force to said rod to pivotally bias said support element in a direction that urges said at least one clearing wheel upwardly away from the soil to be cleared.