Plural Tools, Individually Spring Biased Down, Lifted As Unit Patents (Class 172/462)
  • Patent number: 11632894
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a toolbar that extends transverse to a tongue when in a field use configuration. The toolbar can be lifted and/or rotated relative to the tongue to transition between a field use and a transport use. A lifting assembly includes one or more actuators and linkage systems to lift the toolbar attached thereto in an arced manner in moving from a field use configuration to a transport configuration. A rotating mechanism can also include one or more actuators to rotate the toolbar about a pivot member. An anti-rotation link includes a member is connected to the toolbar and can be positioned at least partially within a groove to mitigate rotation of the toolbar, such as during the lifting of the toolbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Kinzenbaw, Robert Blackwell, Riley Lind
  • Patent number: 10470359
    Abstract: An agricultural machine (10) comprising a bearing frame (11) and a plurality of fertilizer distributor devices (20), comprising at least a fertilizer distributor (21) associated to a disc (22), where the distributor devices (20) are supported by a mounting (25) associated to the bearing frame (11) by a resilient organ (27), the resilient organ (27) being a bending bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: MATERMACC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Bedosti, Massimo Zubelli, Michele Trivillin, Andrea Drecogna
  • Patent number: 9943029
    Abstract: An automated depth control adjustment assembly for a seed planter includes an adjustable mechanism. Also included is a beam arrangement operatively coupled to the adjustable mechanism and adjustable upon manipulation of the adjustable mechanism. Further included is an electric motor operatively coupled to the adjustable mechanism to drive the adjustable mechanism, manipulation of the adjustable mechanism adjusting the beam arrangement to control seed planting depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matt R. Burk, Nicholas R. Alpers, David L. Westphal
  • Patent number: 7032527
    Abstract: A seed planting assembly is provided having a plurality of planting units supported by a tool bar, each of which being operable to form a seed trench in soil, plant seeds in the seed trench, and close the seed trench. Each planting assembly is supported by the tool bar via a mounting assembly that can be actuated by a vertical positioner to raise and lower individual planting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dick Friesen, Calvin Greenstein
  • Patent number: 6732812
    Abstract: A transverse rank particularly useful with implement split frame construction includes first and second transversely extending tubular members welded to the fore-and-aft tubes on first and second halves of the frame. The locations of the first and second tubular members on the respective fore-and-aft tubes are staggered. The members are sufficiently long so that they overlap and abut when the frame halves are assembled. The rear face of the forwardmost member abuts the forward face of the rearmost member, and the two tubular members are bolted together at the overlapping portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Anthony Scott Royer
  • Patent number: 6505688
    Abstract: A seed bed packer including a frame, a plurality of wheels connected to the frame, and a soil packing element. The packer also includes a spring shank for transferring weight from the frame to the soil packing element. The spring shank includes a first leg connected to the frame and a second leg connected to the soil packing element. When weight is transferred through the spring shank to the packing element, the first and second legs flex toward one another. The spring shanks are capable of distributing the weight of the frame between the wheels and the packing element, while concurrently providing sufficient flexibility to allow the packing element generally uniformly pack the soil, even over rough terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Summers Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Peter D. Almen
  • Patent number: 5590721
    Abstract: A conservation tillage tool, including a main frame and a rear frame pivotally mounted on the main frame disposed to support a number of soil working implements in sequence. The main frame is supported by ground wheels attached to the rear section of the main frame. The wheels are movable with respect to the main frame to move the latter between a raised transport position and a number of lowered working positions. A tongue and hitch unit connect the main frame to a prime mover, and a leveling mechanism operably interconnects the main frame, ground wheels and tongue for maintaining the main frame level at any of its positions. A spring-cushioned linkage operably interconnects one of the implements at the front of the main frame with one of the implements mounted on the rear frame for simultaneously raising and lowering those two implements between transport and working positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Van Mill
  • Patent number: 5555825
    Abstract: A direct drill seeding unit comprising a coulter wheel (5), a pair of depth control wheels (7) and a splitter (9) where the main components of the seeding unit are pivoted on an elongate arm (1) which is connected to a common or main frame (3). The pivotal movement of the unit allows a gang of the seeding units to follow undulating land in a very faithful manner. Furthermore the splitter (9) is capable of variable height and angle relative to the ground level according to the vertical position of the elongate arm such that as the arm moves up the splitter shall automatically compensate by lowering in order to maintain contact with the soil. The adjustment of the splitter is effected by the trapezoid configuration of the 4 pivoting points and the "L" shaped common linkages (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Ian Geddes
  • Patent number: 5181573
    Abstract: A drawbar packer having an adjustable bias assembly which transfers implement weight between the wheels and the coil packers. Tension on extension springs is adjustable so that sufficient weight is transferred from the wheels to the coil packers such that the wheels pack soil less than the coil packers. In this way, the implement packs soil uniformly in preparation of the seed bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Summers Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter D. Almen
  • Patent number: 5163518
    Abstract: A plurality of parallel arm type openers are mounted on a frame tube, and a rockshaft is supported directly below the tube. Adjacent each of the openers, a lever arm is fixed for rotation with the rockshaft and, upon rotation of the rockshaft in a first direction, the lever arm engages the parallel arms to lift the opener while the frame tube remains stationary in the vertical direction. A tension spring assembly connected between the parallel arms and the lever arm applies varying down force when the opener is lowered by rotating the rockshaft in the opposite direction. The amount of down pressure can be adjusted for varying conditions by rotation of the rockshaft, and adjustment can be made on-the-go from the tractor cab to compensate for changing ground conditions in a given field. Locking structure on the row units permits selective lock-up of row units with a single cycle of the hydraulic lift system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Daniel M. Foley
  • Patent number: 5042589
    Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a mechanism for adjusting the level, tine working depth, and tine working angle of a framework supporting a multiplicity of cultivator tines. The framework is cantilevered from and behind a boom drawn on wheels, and includes a pair of rock shafts that are:1) rotated together to adjust the working depth of the tines,2) rotated relative to one another to adjust the level of the working depth of the tines; the working angle of the tine is adjusted by mechanical rotation of frame tubes forming part of the framework and on which the tines are directly mounted.The invention disclosed also includes a novel hydraulic circuit for powered rotation of the transverse frame tubes and of the boom between a working position when the tines are engaged with the ground and a transport position when the tines are clear of the ground and the framework carried in a position facilitating transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Flexi-Coil Limited
    Inventors: David R. Hundeby, Brent G. Hergott
  • Patent number: 5007485
    Abstract: An earth crust breaker drawn by a tool bar on a tractor is provided and consists of an elongated U-shaped frame having an angularly upwardly extending front end attached to the bottom of a vertical member of the tool bar. A post extends vertically from each side of the frame to the free end of a horizontal member of the tool bar. A plurality of specifically placed knife blades extend from the bottom of the frame to penetrate the ground and make slices into the crust thereby chopping it up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: Robert J. Moss
  • Patent number: 4867247
    Abstract: A bedding plow providing a plurality of disks as plowing members each independently supported by a rearwardly located bearing supported by a trailing arm, which is supported, in turn, by a pivotal connection perpendicular to a fore to aft alignment of the plow. There is further disclosed for each independently supported disk, a gas-filled shock absorber and the top of the plow has a planar horizontal surface intended to allow the plow to slide without damage if it is caused to be overturned while in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Inventor: David W. Heckendorf
  • Patent number: 4865132
    Abstract: A tillage implement is provided which is of the type that has a plurality of working components that perform a multiple number of different soil treatment operations during a single trip across an agricultural field. One of these working components is a deep tillage component having a high draft requirement. The depth of operation of this deep tillage component is controlled independently of the depth of the other working components which are not significantly disrupted when the depth of operation of the deep tillage component is modified, which modification can be easily and quickly made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Allied Products Corporation
    Inventor: Fred P. Moore Jr.
  • Patent number: 4632192
    Abstract: A sod cutting unit supports a vibrating sod-cutting blade on a pivot under a platform and driving and control mechanism above the platform, while drawing the platform across a field on a support which allows the platform to pivot around a horizontal axis parallel to the direction of motion across the field. A multi-unit machine supports two or more units from the same draft suspension, an intermediate unit of three being additionally movable up-and-down relative to the outer units. Each unit pivots independent of all the others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hooks
  • Patent number: 4466364
    Abstract: The invention relates to agricultural implements for planting. Increased efficiency of planting in general and incorporating fertilizer in particular in no-till situations is achieved by frame, disk and knife assemblies (14, 15, 16) mounting a disk (44) immediately ahead of a knife (68) and depth-controlled by a spring (63).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Inventor: Dave Hassenfritz
  • Patent number: 4450779
    Abstract: A seed drill comprising a frame, a series of coulters mounted on the frame at positions which are spaced apart in a transverse direction relative to the direction of operative forward motion of the drill, and actuating means comprising a beam that extends in a transverse direction and is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis and about axes perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, thrust applying means connected between the frame and the beam so as to move the beam downwards, and thrust transmitting means connected between the beam and the coulters characterized in that said thrust applying means comprises two or more levers (20) pivotally mounted on the frame (1) so that they have a common pivot axis that extends in a transverse direction and is spaced from said beam, said beam (16) being rotatably supported at the ends of said levers with at least one lever located at an intermediate region in the length of the beam, and actuator means (21) being connected between the frame (1) and each lever (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Alfred J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4448259
    Abstract: A pre-stressed columnar rubber spring interposed between the pressure beam and pivoted draw bar tube of a no-till seed drill deflects under load in one direction only and the force causing increased spring deflection in the principle operational range increases to a desired maximum and then remains substantially constant or decreases slightly thereby relieving the machine of excess stresses caused by contact of coulters and openers with rocks and other field obstructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Lilliston Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Ford, Patrick Kuhn, William D. Long
  • Patent number: 4311104
    Abstract: A press grain drill includes a plurality of opener units mounted on an elongated tow tube and including a plurality of elongated, pivotably coupled elements forming a pair of parallelograms which support a self-penetrating shovel and a press wheel respectively. A first one of the parallelograms permits up and down movement of the shovel relative to the tow tube while maintaining the pitch of the shovel relative to the ground substantially constant. A second one of the parallelograms responds to each movement of the shovel to move the press wheel in the same direction and relative to the shovel so as to maintain the depth of the shovel within the ground substantially constant. Whenever the tow tube which is coupled by pairs of parallel links to an elongated main frame tool bar is raised relative to the tool bar for towing, a lift tube coupled to the links via bracket numbers engages the opener units to lift them relative to the tow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ronald M. Steilen, Lester D. Schreiner
  • Patent number: 4291638
    Abstract: The present invention provides in an agricultural ground treating device particularly but not exclusively a seed drill arranged to be towed over the ground and having a plurality of ground engaging implements, means for causing all of the implements to engage the ground with a substantially equal force.Preferably the means to equalizing the forces comprises a pivotal beam arrangement in which the implements are movably mounted on the chassis of the device and connected in pairs at each end of an associated balance beam, these balance beams are pivotally mounted at their mid points on respective ends of further balance beams which are mounted by their mid points at respective ends of yet further balance beams, and so on according to the number of implements on the device, the final balance beam or final pair of balance beams being connected to means on the chassis of the device for urging them, and the implements connected thereto towards the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: Craven Tasker (Andover) Limited
    Inventor: Peter J. Renwick
  • Patent number: 4275670
    Abstract: Seed drill (FIG. 1) having furrow openers 10 and accompanying press wheels 12 pivotally arranged on frame 1 by mounting means 3. A spring 18 is interposed between the frame and the furrow openers - press wheels. The bias of the spring can be adjusted by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 20, which can also be used to shift the furrow openers - press wheels between working position and the transport position. An adjusting means 14 is interposed between the frame and the furrow openers - press wheels. By operation of the adjusting means the level of a furrow openers relative to the level of the press wheels can be adjusted. The furrow openers - press wheels are arranged in transverse rows and the furrow openers - press wheels of each transverse row are ganged by shafts 22 so that only one of the mounting means in each transverse row need be outfitted with the spring 18 and hydraulic cylinder 20, and the adjusting means 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Amazonen-Werke
    Inventor: Heinz Dreyer
  • Patent number: 4155316
    Abstract: Seed drill has a row of coulters which are raised and lowered by a beam extending along and above the row of coulters and connected to the coulters by spring assemblies. The beam is raised and lowered relative to the frame of the drill by two rams to actuate the coulters. The mounting of the beam comprises an articulated joint, such as a ball joint, which permits the ends of the beam to rise and fall independently of each other relative to the frame thereby permitting improved contour following by the coulters and avoiding excessive loads on the beam in the event of failure of one of the rams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Alfred J. Bailey, Ronald S. Sargent
  • Patent number: 4149475
    Abstract: Seed drill has a row of coulters which are raised and lowered by a beam positioned above the coulters and connected to the coulters by spring assemblies. The beam is journalled for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis and the spring assemblies are connected to the beam so that some exert reaction forces on the beam having clockwise moments about the beam's pivot axis, and others anticlockwise moments, whereby changes in loading of the coulters can be distributed between the coulters by angular movement of the beam about its pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Alfred J. Bailey, Ronald S. Sargent
  • Patent number: 4131162
    Abstract: An earth working apparatus comprising a main frame having a hitch for detachably connecting the apparatus to a prime mover, a first ground working implement mounted on the main frame, a pair of support arms operatively connected at forwardly disposed ends thereof to the main frame for pivotal movement about a first transverse axis, ground engaging wheels mounted on the support arm, a lift arm operatively connected to each of the support arms for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis, a second earthworking implement mounted on the lift arms, chains interconnecting each of the lift arms and the main frame, a ground engaging wheel mounted on one of the frames and hydraulic cylinders operatively interconnecting each of the support arms and the main frame for angularly displacing the support arms relative to the main frame whereby upon actuation of the hydraulic cylinders when the ground engaging wheel is not in engagement with the ground, the working implements will be caused to move into and out of eng
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Inventor: James E. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 4083412
    Abstract: An agricultural seed-drill comprises a frame and pivotally mounted drag bar carrying a coulter disc. An ovoid rubber spring is located between the drag bar and a member, such as a moving beam or bell crank lever, associated with the frame to apply pressure to the coulter, or to enable the coulter to be raised so that the disc does not contact the soil. In order to relieve strain on the spring member when the coulter is raised, the said spring member and associated threaded studs, used to attach the spring member to the drag arm and the member associated with the frame, contain a continuous longitudinal axial passageway in which is located a cable the end portions of which extend through the studs and are terminated by nipples spaced apart from the end of the studs. By this means the weight of the drag arm is taken by the cable when the drag arm is in the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: P.B. Bettinson & Company Limited
    Inventor: Richard Alexander Stocks