Convertible till to no-till seed planter

A seed planter, comprising:

• a frame, including a main frame section and a furrowing disk frame section;
• a plurality of planter assemblies connected to the main frame section;
• a plurality of furrowing disks connected to the furrowing disk frame section;
• at least one linkage connecting the main frame section and the furrowing disk frame section;
• at least one motor configured to move the furrowing disk frame section with respect to the main frame section, wherein the at least one linkage permits the furrowing disk frame section to move to a low position for no-till planting and move to a high position for prepared seedbeds or conventional planting;
• and
• at least one fixed length support member connected, via ball joints, between the main frame section and the furrowing disk frame section to promote stability,
• wherein the at least one linkage includes a first connection point to the main frame section and a second connection point to the furrowing disk frame section, and the ball joints for the support member and the first and second connection points lie within a single plane.

A seed planter, comprising:

• a frame, including a main frame section and a furrowing disk frame section;
• a plurality of planter assemblies connected to the main frame section;
• a plurality of furrowing disks connected to the furrowing disk frame section;
• at least one linkage connecting the main frame section and the furrowing disk frame section;
• at least one motor configured to move the furrowing disk frame section with respect to the main frame section, wherein the at least one linkage permits the furrowing disk frame section to move to a low position for no-till planting and move to a high position for prepared seedbeds or conventional planting;
• a rock shaft horizontally traversing the main frame section, wherein the rock shaft has a generally square cross section with four sides;
• a plurality of torsion joints, of a generally square cross section with four corners, operably positioned about the rock shaft;
• a torsion spring element in each of the four corners of each torsion joint and in contact with the sides of the rock shaft, and wherein rotation of one of the torsion joints from a neutral position cause the torsion spring elements within the torsion joint to deflect and induce a force to return the torsion join to the neutral position;
• a plurality of stop plates, each stop plate having an edge profile configured to provide a symmetrical or generally symmetrical open jaw to receive the rock shaft, wherein the stop plate includes:
• a first set of surfaces configured to engage the rock shaft to provide a first limit for rotational motion of the stop plate in a first direction with respect to the rock shaft;
• a second set of surface configured to engage the rock shaft to provide a second limit for rotational motion of the stop plate in a second direction with respect to the rock shaft, wherein the neutral position of the torsion joint is between the first and second limits to allow generally equal but opposite rotational motion in both the first and second rotational directions up to the first and second limits;
• and
• wherein each planter assembly is connected, via a yoke, to one of the stop plates.