US 9,814,172 B2 · Apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing down force for an agricultural implement

Abstract

An agricultural planter includes systems, methods, and apparatus for providing down force pressure at row units of the planter. The row units may include an electric linear actuator connected to linkages of the row units to provide and maintain a down force pressure for the row unit. The linkage may also be removed and replaced with a strut or like mechanism to apply a direct down force pressure to components of the row unit. One or more sensors can be included to obtain information related to the ground to automatically adjust the amount of down force provided based upon a ground characteristic in order to maintain a substantially uniform furrow depth.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An agricultural implement, comprising:

a toolbar;
a row unit coupled to the toolbar by a linkage, wherein the linkage includes a first arm and a second arm, and wherein each of the first arm and the second arm includes a first end coupled to the toolbar and a second end coupled to the row unit;
an opening device for creating a furrow;
an electric linear actuator operatively connected to the toolbar and linkage to provide a down force for the row unit to provide a substantially uniform furrow depth;
and
a vision sensor positioned to read an area of ground in front of the row unit to provide information to prepare the down force provided by the electric linear actuator.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/665,724Filed 23 Mar 2015 · us provisional application

Priority

21 Mar 2014

Published

US 2015/0264857 A124 Sep 2015

Granted

14 Nov 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A01B 63/32
Tools or tool-holders adjustable relatively to the frame: operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means without automatic control
A01C 7/205
Mounting of the seeding tools: comprising pressure regulation means
A01B 49/06
Combinations of soil-working tools with non-soil-working tools, e.g. planting tools: for sowing or fertilising
A01B 61/044
Of the connection between tools and carrier beam or frame: the connection enabling a yielding pivoting movement around a substantially horizontal…

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing down force for an agricultural implement

Life of this patent

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing down force for an agricultural implement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12