Abstract: The seed meter includes the combination of a vacuum housing and a seed disc coupled together in a sealed manner to form a vacuum chamber. Disposed within the vacuum chamber is a generally flat finger wheel having plural radially extending resilient fingers. Also disposed in the vacuum chamber is a fixed arm. A seed hopper is disposed adjacent the seed disc for providing seeds to an outer surface of the seed disc, with the seeds adhering to the plural spaced apertures on the seed disc's periphery with vacuum applied to the disc's inner surface. A rotary drive spindle rotates the vacuum housing, seed disc and finger wheel combination, with each resilient finger sequentially deflected by the fixed arm to sequentially engage each disc aperture, interrupting vacuum communication with each aperture, for sequentially releasing the seeds.

Abstract: A seed delivery device including a frame defining at least one seed chamber. The frame includes a sidewall and an air permeable floor. Seed can be received and deposited on the air permeable floor through an input port. An air input channel is utilized to introduce an air stream into the seed chamber and direct it through the air permeable floor such that seed is lifted from the air permeable floor to an outlet port. An air bypass channel is configured to separate the air stream into a first stream that is directed through the air permeable floor and a second stream that is directed through the bypass channel and recombined with the first stream, at a point prior to the output port, to prevent excess accumulation of seed in the seed chamber.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, such as a planter, having a telescoping tongue for placing the implement in either a transport or field use configuration, includes an hydraulic pump located on the planter frame, preferably toward the rear, for powering the planting functions. A mechanical drive line from the PTO of the tractor to the remote hydraulic pump is disengaged as the planter frame begins to move from the planting position. The drive line permits the tractor to make full 90° turns in the field.

Abstract: A pneumatically powered seed delivery system for an agricultural planter includes an air lock between a main seed hopper and the forced air delivery system. The air lock accurately meters the seed and isolates the interior of the seed hopper from the forced air delivery system. Seed is delivered to individual planter row units, each including an air horn having a buffer reservoir for storing and feeding seed to the associated seed meter under controlled conditions, and a seed routing conduit for carrying seed not deposited in a given seed meter to the other row units downline.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, such as a planter, having a telescoping tongue for placing the implement in either a transport or field use configuration, includes an hydraulic pump located on the planter frame, preferably toward the rear, for powering the planting functions. A mechanical drive line from the PTO of the tractor to the remote hydraulic pump is disengaged as the planter frame begins to move from the planting position. The drive line permits the tractor to make full 90° turns in the field.

Abstract: A foldable implement frame and hitch having a front end for attachment to a draft vehicle having dedicated transport wheels movable between a stored position wherein the transport wheels are out of contact with the ground and a transport position wherein the dedicated transport wheels engage the ground and support the implement frame. The dedicated transport wheels are longitudinally movable along one of the telescoping main frame members toward and away from the draft vehicle to change the center of gravity of said foldable implement frame. Additional pivots in the wings provide greater contouring following capabilities.

Abstract: An agricultural implement with an elongated bar having a front side nearer in use to a drive vehicle and a rear side. A first plurality of row units are laterally spaced apart along the bar and extend rearwardly thereof connected through parallel linkage to the front side of the elongated bar. A second plurality of row units are laterally spaced apart along the bar and extend rearwardly thereof interleaved with the first plurality of row units and connected through parallel linkage to the rear side of the bar. Parallel linkage for both the first and second plurality of row units is directly mounted to and extends rearwardly of and below the bar to position all row units to the rear of the bar, allowing both field crops or row crops to be planted.

Abstract: An agricultural implement with an elongated bar having a front side nearer in use to a drive vehicle and a rear side. A first plurality of row units are laterally spaced apart along the bar and extend rearwardly thereof connected through parallel linkage to the front side of the elongated bar. A second plurality of row units are laterally spaced apart along the bar and extend rearwardly thereof interleaved with the first plurality of row units and connected through parallel linkage to the rear side of the bar. Parallel linkage for both the first and second plurality of row units is directly mounted to and extends rearwardly of and below the bar to position all row units to the rear of the bar, allowing both field crops or row crops to be planted.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a frame carried by an elongated and laterally extending bar and having mounted thereon a first pair of rotatable trash wheels and a second pair of rotatable trash wheels longitudinally spaced behind the first pair of rotatable trash wheels and forward of a furrow opener. The first pair of rotatable trash wheels is angularly disposed toward each other forming a first angle therebetween and staggered such that one rotatable trash wheel contacts soil forward of the other rotatable trash wheel. The second pair of rotatable trash wheels is angularly disposed toward each other forming a second angle therebetween greater than the first angle. The apparatus cuts and clears trash from minimally and untilled soil.

Abstract: A foldable implement frame and hitch having a front end for attachment to a draft vehicle having dedicated transport wheels movable between a stored position wherein the transport wheels are out of contact with the ground and a transport position wherein the dedicated transport wheels engage the ground and support the implement frame. The dedicated transport wheels are longitudinally movable along one of the telescoping main frame members toward and away from the draft vehicle to change the center of gravity of said foldable implement frame. Additional pivots in the wings provide greater contouring following capabilities.

Abstract: A foldable implement frame and hitch for attachment to a draft vehicle with a three-point hitch, including a support frame carrying field wheels and dedicated transport wheels, motors for moving the transport support wheels between a stored position and a transport position, a main frame having two telescoping frame members, the outer one of the frame members being supported upon the support frame and the inner one of the frame members carrying on the other end thereof a hitch for connection to the three-point hitch. Two wing frames are pivotally mounted on the support frame with two wing motors connected between the support frame and the wing frames for assisting in moving the wing frames between the extended working positions. Wing wheel assemblies mounted on the outer ends of the wing frames and each including a support wheel, wing wheel lift motors mounted on the wing frame and connected to a wing support wheel for moving it between a working position and a transport position.

Abstract: Apparatus for maintaining a tool bar in a controlled position behind a tractor having a conventional three-point hitch arrangement including an upper arm and a pair of lower lift arms. The apparatus has a tool bar positioned near the tractor extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a line of travel of the tractor and at least two upper mounts laterally spaced apart and fixedly connected to the tool bar for pivotal connection to the upper arm of the conventional three-point hitch. Each of the upper mounts has at least one apertured plate, and multiple spaced apart lower mounts laterally spaced apart and fixedly connected to the tool bar are associated with each upper mount for pivotal connection to the lower lift arms of the conventional three-point hitch.

Abstract: An agricultural planting machine having a frame, a pair of opposite furrow forming disks rotatably mounted on the frame on intersecting axes and a pair of gauge wheel assemblies mounted on the frame respectively adjacent the opposite sides of the pair of furrow forming disks. An improved mechanism for adjustably mounting the other end of each gauge wheel arm which has an internally threaded bore to the frame includes an internally threaded cylindrical shaft mounted on the frame. An externally threaded bushing is rotatably mounted on the shaft for engagement with the internally threaded bore in the gauge wheel arm such that rotation of the bushing with respect to the gauge wheel arm moves the gauge wheel arm axially of the internally threaded cylindrical shaft to adjust the lateral spacing of the gauge wheel from the adjacent disk. A locking member locks the externally threaded bushing to the other end of the gauge wheel arm to cause rotation of the bushing and the arm as a unit.

Abstract: An agricultural device for transporting planting units which has a first stationary toolbar and a pair of toolbars spaced away and separate from the stationary toolbar and carrying a plurality of planting units thereon at fixed intervals. The pair of toolbars are moved between a first position where the fixed toolbar and the pair of toolbars are positioned with their longitudinal axes generally colinear and a second position where the pair of toolbars are spaced from the fixed toolbar and the longitudinal axes of the fixed toolbar and the pair of toolbars are parallel. The agricultural device is incapable of positioning the planting units carried thereby in at least two different spacings depending upon whether the pair of toolbars are in the first or the second positions thereof.

Abstract: A bearing puller for removing from a shaft a bearing having a tapered eccentric flange on its inner race includes a cylindrical tube disposed within an outer cylindrical housing. The puller tube is capable of sliding displacement within and along a portion of the length of the outer housing and includes a first end having outer threads for engaging and maintaining a puller nut on a first end of the housing. The puller nut includes a threaded aperture on an end thereof for receiving a draw bolt which is inserted in the housing and extends to a second opposed end thereof. A second end of the sliding puller tube includes a peripheral flange for engaging first and second paired split jaw members each having a respective inner tapered flange on a distal end thereof for engaging the tapered flange on the bearing's inner race.

Abstract: A scraper is disposed aft of and in closely spaced relation to a gauge wheel such as attached to an agricultural implement as in a planter row unit to remove soil from the wheel as the implement traverses a field. Maintaining the gauge wheel free of soil ensures proper height of the implement relative to the soil surface. The scraper includes a flat plate adjustably attached to a mounting assembly which allows for spacing between the plate and periphery of the gauge wheel to be adjusted as the plate wears with use. A leading edge of the plate disposed immediately adjacent the gauge wheel is contoured to closely match the gauge wheel contour for efficient soil removal. The mounting assembly includes a gauge wheel arm and a scraper arm rigidly coupled together at respective ends thereof and pivotally mounted to the implement where the two arms are connected together.

Abstract: A farm implement having a frame and a plurality of row units mounted on the frame with each row unit including a tool. Each row unit has at least one gauge wheel associated therewith with a spring urging each gauge wheel into contact with the soil to be worked by the tools. A single trash blade rotatably is mounted on an arm pivotally mounted on the frame associated with each gauge wheel ahead of the associated tool. A spring continually urges each trash blade toward contact with the soil ahead of the associated tool, with the plane of each trash blade being angularly displaced from the direction of travel of the associated gauge wheel in the range of from about 22.degree. to about 30.degree. and being angularly displaced to the vertical in the range of from about 20.degree. to about 30.degree. to move trash from ahead of the tool to form a row of trash between adjacent row units.

Abstract: A quick connect/disconnect coupler for dry cell batteries including a flexible metal strap of copper, silver or alloys thereof having quick connect/disconnect clamps at each end. Each of the clamps has a base plate with a first aperture defining an inner surface complementary in shape to an electrode post of a dry cell battery and a second aperture intersecting the first aperture. A cylindrical stub shaft having a flat area thereon is rotatably mounted with respect to the base plate and extends into the second aperture. When the flat area of the stub shaft is aligned with the inner surface of the first aperture, the clamp may be easily slipped onto or off of an electrode post of the associated dry cell battery, but when the stub shaft flat is out of alignment with the inner surface of said first aperture the stub shaft contacts the electrode post and forces same into contact with the inner surface of the first aperture to establish good electrical contact between the clamp and the associated electrode.

Abstract: A foldable implement frame and hitch for attachment to a draft vehicle with a three-point hitch, including a support frame carrying a support wheel, a support wheel motor for moving the support wheel between a working position and a transport position, a main frame having two telescoping frame members, the outer one of the frame members being supported upon the support frame and the inner one of the frame members carrying on the other end thereof a hitch for connection to the three-point hitch, two wing frames pivotally mounted on the support frame, two wing motors connected between the support frame and the wing frames for assisting in moving the wing frames between the extended working positions and retracted transport positions, two wing wheel assemblies mounted on the outer ends of the wing frames and each including a support wheel, two wing wheel lift motors mounted on the wing frame and connected to a wing support wheel for moving it between a working position and a transport position, the controls for

Abstract: A farm implement for attachment to a draft vehicle including an elongated frame, a set of wheels mounted on the frame at one end for rotation about axes normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame, hydraulic motors for moving the wheels between an upper field position and a lower transport position, a tongue pivotally connected to the frame adjacent to the other end thereof and having draft and connecting sections disposed at a 50.degree. angle to each other, the tongue in the field position having the draft connection disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame at the midpoint thereof and in the transport position being disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame midway between the wheels, a link interconnecting the tongue and the frame to hold the tongue in the field position and latch mechanism engaging the tongue to hold it in the transport position.