Adjustable row unit structure
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsRobert T. Casper, Timothy A. Deutsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact row unit positioning structure includes a gear and mating toothed surface to positively position agricultural row units on an implement. An electric or hydraulic motor may be used to drive the gear and move row units individually or in groups to change row spacings, follow rows or move row units to a maintenance position. In one embodiment, position sensing structure such a row finder or GPS device connected to a controller operates the positioning structure. Automatic on-the-go row alignment may be implemented, and various row spacings, skip-row patterns or repair access positions may be provided either manually or automatically.
Claims20
An agricultural implement having a row unit for aligning with a row area in a field, adjustment structure comprising:
- a transversely extending unit support frame;
- an upright row unit hanger connected to the row unit and depending from the support frame;
- a mating gearset connected to the row unit and to the support frame and including an elongated gear member and a gear engaging the elongated gear member;
- and
- a drive operably connected to the gear for rotating the gear and moving the row unit transversely relative to support frame, wherein the drive is connected to the row unit hanger and is offset vertically from the unit support frame.
A harvester having a row unit for aligning with a row of plants in a field and removing crop from the plants, adjustment structure comprising:
- a transversely extending unit support frame;
- hanger structure supporting the row units from the support frame for transverse movement relative to the support frame;
- an elongated gear-receiving member connected to the support frame and a gear drive connected to the row unit and meshing with the gear-receiving member;
- a drive operably connected to the drive gear for rotating the drive gear and moving the row unit relative to the support frame into alignment with the row of plants;
- and
- wherein the drive sheave includes a tapered roller opening vertically over the rail and a gear tooth member located within the tapered roller, and wherein the rail includes a vertically directed toothed portion positively engaged by the drive sheave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.