Abstract: A marker assembly for use with an agricultural implement includes a marker wheel that may caster as needed to reduce loading of the marker assembly during deployment of the marker assembly, in response to variations in surface contour, and in response to changes in travel direction of the agricultural implement.

Abstract: A ground opener unit for a seeding or planting unit includes an accessory mount attachable to an implement frame and a disc rotatably mounted to the accessory mount for forming a furrow in the ground. A scraper assembly includes a scraper plate defining a scraper edge for contacting and scraping a surface of the disc. The scraper plate is mounted to the arm by a pivot pin whose length defines a pivot axis about which the scraper plate may pivot in response to deflection of the disc. A spring is generally held in compression to bias the scraper plate against the disc.

Abstract: A power take off (PTO) driveline shaft of an agricultural implement may be securely stowed when not in use using a PTO driveline storage device. The storage device is pivotably mounted to the frame of the agricultural implement, such as the hitch, and may be rotated from its own stowed position to a position to provide support for the PTO driveline shaft when the PTO driveline shaft is not connected to the PTO of a tractor or other machine having a PTO output. The storage device includes an arm having a first end that is mounted to the hitch and has a second end that is adapted to fit against the PTO driveline shaft when the device is being used to stow the PTO driveline shaft. When not in use, the storage device may be rotated clear of the PTO driveline shaft and pivoted to a position where it may be securely stowed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a parallel linkage coupled to the frame and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, where the shank is coupled to the parallel linkage. The agricultural implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a depth of a valley opened in a soil region by the ground engaging tool and is configured to pack the soil region as the implement is towed through a field and a soil shaping assembly disposed between the ground engaging tool and the packer wheel, wherein the soil shaping assembly is configured to close the valley prior to packing by the packer wheel.

Abstract: A fill level sensor is magnetically coupled to a hopper of an agricultural implement to provide a signal indicative of product fill level in the hopper relative to a fill line. The sensor can be positioned at various heights to provide variability in the height of the sensed fill line. The fill level sensing components are contained within a sensor housing. A magnet for magnetically mounting the sensor may be coupled to an exterior surface of the sensor housing or enclosed within the sensor housing.

Abstract: The invention provides an innovative yet straightforward approach to driving the seed distribution system in planters which feature hinged winged extensions. The flexibility of the hinged winged extensions may allow the planter to adjust to the contours of a field and to fold to facilitate transport of the planter. In one embodiment, for example, the invention may provide a mechanical coupling between several sections of a seed drive shaft which may support and be driven by a hydraulic motor for each of the winged sections. The seed drive system may also be coupled to row units to synchronize and power the distribution of seeds by the planter.

Abstract: A splitter divides an air/product mixture flow, delivered thereto in an air-powered distribution line, between a primary and a secondary distribution channel, which may be flow-coupled to a product hopper or a hose flow-coupled to another product hopper or another splitter. The air/product mixture enters the inlet of the splitter along an angled downward flow path and exits a primary outlet, flow-coupled to the primary distribution channel, along a vertical downward flow path. Air/product flow is exhausted by a secondary outlet, which is flow-coupled to the secondary distribution channel, at an angled upward flow path. The velocity flow vector along which the air/product mixture is exhausted from the secondary outlet is at an acute angle relative to the velocity flow vector along which the air/product mixture is received by the inlet of the splitter.

Abstract: A ground opener that is allowed to caster in one direction is associated with a pair of arms connected by a pivot connection that allows one arm to move relative to the other arm. The movable arm is forced against the stationary arm when the ground opener impacts the soil as the ground opener is pulled along a relatively straight travel path. When the ground opener is turned radially from the straight travel path, the movable arm may cast away from the stationary arm. The disc opener is coupled to the movable arm through a central hub and, as such, the trailing edge of the disc opener will move away from the stationary arm as the disc opener is turned. When the disc opener has completed the turn, the torque on the disc opener will lessen thereby allowing the movable arm to move back toward the stationary arm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a seeding implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a parallel linkage coupled to the frame, and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the parallel linkage. The implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a position of the ground engaging tool, wherein the packer wheel is positioned directly behind the ground engaging tool when the ground engaging tool is engaging a soil region. Further, the implement includes an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel rearwardly upon the ground engaging tool encountering an obstruction and to shift the packer wheel forwardly after the obstruction has been passed by the ground engaging tool.

Abstract: An agricultural implement arrangement is disclosed that may provide wheel assemblies that are stored in front of wing assemblies and row units mounted thereon. The arrangement may include actuators to extend the wheel assemblies in order to lift the row units off the ground to move to a transport position. When in a fully-folded position, the wing wheel assemblies may interleave. The arrangement may also shift the weight of the wing assemblies while in transport position to the hitch of the tractor and center the rearward weight over the central wheel assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to improve seed distribution to a plurality of seed or row units of an agricultural planter. Each row unit is fitted with a seed box having an air/seed inlet and an air outlet through which air is allowed to escape. The present invention effectively closes off or substantially reduces the flow of air out of one or more of the seed boxes to reduce the amount of seed that is fed to the seed boxes. Through the use of restrictor plates, which may be vented to allow some air flow or solid to prevent air flow, the delivery of seed to the seed boxes can be equalized to provide more uniform seed distribution to the row units.

Abstract: A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly includes a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a lost motion linkage, a hoe opener, and a packer wheel. The design provides improved seeding accuracy, by adjusting assembly components to and compensating for changes in terrain elevation.

Abstract: The agricultural row units feature soil finishing assemblies. This configuration of the finishing assembly provides a simple adjustment of the height of the finishing assembly to enhance usability and flexibility of the row unit. The improved adjustment mechanism enhances user control over the vertical distance between the finishing wheels/discs and the ground opening assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, soil finishing assembly is pivotally coupled to the row unit frame via a height adjustment assembly. The height adjustment assembly may feature a biasing member and other components to allow adjustment of one end of the pivotal coupling of the adjustment assembly within the row unit assembly.

Abstract: A marker assembly mountable to an agricultural implement includes a set of interconnected frame sections that can be pivoted with respect to one another to retract the marker assembly for transport and/or storage. The marker assembly has a support wheel that supports the marker assembly above the ground as the marker assembly is being deployed and when in an extended working position. The point at which the support wheel engages the ground is controlled by a rigid link and cam assembly. The rigid link has a first end connected to a first frame section and a second end connected to a lever arm that is connected to a link of a second frame section. The rigid link is operative to pull down on the lever arm when the marker assembly is being deployed so as to force the second frame section away from the first frame section. The amount the second frame section pulls away from the first frame section is determined by the cam assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a hitch boom to which a pair of wing booms is pivotably connected. The wing booms are designed to fold forward from an extended position to a transport position. The wing booms are supported above a surface by wheels that provide the aforementioned support when the wing booms are in an extended position as well as the transport position. Maintaining surface contact of the wheels in both positions reduces the load placed on the hitch to which the hitch boom is coupled as well as the hitch boom itself. Multi-link draft links are connected between the hitch boom and the wing booms to provide support for the wing booms when the wing booms are in the extended position. The relative length of the draft links dictates how far the hitch telescopes when the wing booms are folded to the stowed or transport position.

Abstract: A seed meter includes an input port configured to receive a supply of seeds and an output port configured to deliver the supply of seeds for dispensing to a planting area and a seed disk configured to receive the supply of seeds from the input port and deliver the supply of seeds to the output port at a substantially uniform rate. The seed disk has a seed side where seeds flow from the input port, and a vacuum side opposite the seed side. The seed meter further includes a first housing portion surrounding a first portion of the seed disk in a fixed relationship to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second housing portion.