Abstract: A modular autonomous agricultural vehicle includes a drive module having a frame, a ground-engaging element rotatably coupled to the frame, a power source, and a drive motor receiving power from the power source and coupled to the ground-engaging element for rotating the ground engaging element. At least one toolbar module is detachably coupled to the frame for coupling the drive module to an agricultural implement or another modular toolbar segment. The modular toolbar preferably includes multiple toolbar modules coupled to each other in series to form the modular toolbar.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit includes a gauge wheel that engages the soil to control the elevation of the row unit; a soil-engaging tool mounted to permit vertical movement of the tool relative to the row unit; a hydraulic cylinder having a movable rod and containing a pressurized hydraulic fluid for applying a down force to the the tool to urge the tool into the soil; an uplift accumulator housed within the rod and exposed to the hydraulic fluid to permit upward movement of the tool in response to increased resistance by the soil to downward movement of the tool, while applying a force resisting upward movement of the tool; and a down pressure accumulator coupled to the hydraulic cylinder to permit downward movement of the tool in response to decreased resistance by the soil to downward movement of the tool, while applying a force resisting downward movement of the tool.

Abstract: A gauge wheel load sensor is provided for an agricultural planter having a row unit that includes a pivotably mounted gauge wheel and a down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure on at least a portion of the row unit. The load sensor includes a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the downward force applied to the row unit; a fluid-containing device containing a movable element coupled to the mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in response to the movement of the mechanical element; and a transducer coupled to the fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in the fluid pressure. An energy storage device, such as an accumulator, may be coupled to the fluid-containing device for receiving a limited amount of fluid in response to changes in the fluid pressure to damp pressure spikes in the output signal of the transducer.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for controlling the down force on an agricultural implement comprises a hydraulic cylinder containing a movable ram, a source of pressurized fluid coupled to the hydraulic cylinder on a first side of the ram by a first controllable valve, a fluid sump coupled to the hydraulic cylinder on the first side of the ram by a second controllable valve, and an electrical controller coupled to the valves for opening and closing the valves. The valves may be self-latching valves that remain in an open or closed position until moved to the other position in response to a signal from the controller.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a tow bar, a first row-cleaning device, and a second row-cleaning device. The first row-cleaning device is attached to the tow bar via a first frame and includes a first roller device in a trailing position relative to a first furrow-opener disk and configured to crush standing residual plant matter along a first path on a field. The second row-cleaning device is attached to the tow bar via a second frame and includes a second roller device in a trailing position relative to a second furrow-opener disk and configured to crush standing residual plant matter along a second path on the field. The second roller device is offset longitudinally from the first roller device.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes at least one row unit having a plurality of support members, each of which is pivotably coupled to an attachment frame or another of the support members to permit vertical pivoting vertical movement of the support members, and a plurality of soil-engaging tools, each of which is coupled to at least one of the support members. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders are coupled to the support members for urging the support members downwardly toward the soil. A plurality of controllable pressure control valves are coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the cylinders. A plurality of sensors produce electrical signals corresponding to predetermined conditions, and a controller is coupled to the sensor and the controllable pressure control valves. The controller receives the electrical signals from the sensors and produces control signals for controlling the pressure control valves.

Abstract: A forged agricultural wheel with a radial grain pattern includes a plurality of teeth projecting radially outwardly from a hub, with each tooth having a tooth root adjacent to the internal periphery of the hub. Each tooth further has a leading soil-contacting surface extending from the tooth root in a curved counterclockwise manner and having a variable width with a maximum tooth width. A trailing surface opposite the leading soil-contacting surface extends from the tooth root in a curved counterclockwise manner. A tooth end is angled counterclockwise away from a radius passing from a central axis through a central point of the tooth root. The tooth end connects the two surfaces and converges to a point on a maximum outside diameter of the wheel. An adjoining root valley connects each pair of adjacent teeth and has a thickness that is substantially thinner than the maximum tooth width.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit assembly includes an attachment frame, a swing-arm, an opener disk, a deflecting disk, a support, a gauge wheel, and a ground-hardness sensor. The opener disk is mounted to and offset from the distal end of the swing-arm for forming a furrow, and is configured to rotate about a first axis. The deflecting disk is mounted to the distal end of the swing-arm for deflecting debris from entering the furrow, and is configured to rotate about a second axis. The support has a first end pivotably mounted to the swing-arm and a second end movable relative to the opener disk. The gauge wheel is mounted to the second end of the support. The ground-hardness sensor is disposed within the swing-arm and is configured to detect movement of the gauge wheel relative to the opener disk.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a tow bar for attachment to a towing vehicle in a trailing position relative to a direction of movement along a field. The system includes a plurality of row-cleaning devices attached in parallel strip positions along the tow bar. Each row-cleaning device has a rigid frame, a leading coulter, one or more furrow-opener disks, and a pivotable row-cleaning linkage. The disks have a leading edge adjacent to a trailing edge of the coulter. The row-cleaning linkage is attached to the rigid frame, with the coulter and disks being coupled to the rigid frame via the row-cleaning linkage. The system further includes a roller device between two adjacent parallel strip positions and attached at each end to a respective rigid frame via a respective pivotable roller linkage. The roller linkage is independently movable relative to the row-cleaning linkage.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes at least one row unit having a plurality of support members, each of which is pivotably coupled to an attachment frame or another of the support members to permit vertical pivoting vertical movement of the support members, and a plurality of soil-engaging tools, each of which is coupled to at least one of the support members. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders are coupled to the support members for urging the support members downwardly toward the soil. A plurality of controllable pressure control valves are coupled to the hydraulic cylinders for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the cylinders. A plurality of sensors produce electrical signals corresponding to predetermined conditions, and a controller is coupled to the sensor and the controllable pressure control valves. The controller receives the electrical signals from the sensors and produces control signals for controlling the pressure control valves.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame, and a linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the linkage assembly relative to the attachment frame. The row unit further includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to the linkage assembly for urging the linkage assembly downwardly toward the soil, and a hose connection manifold mounted adjacent to the hydraulic actuator for circulating hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic source and the hydraulic actuator. The hose connection manifold has a modular port for accepting, one at a time, a removable control valve and a port plug.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame, and a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage, for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit assembly includes an attachment frame configured for attachment to a tow bar that is movable in a direction of travel. A proximal end of a swing-arm is coupled to the attachment frame, and an opener disk is mounted to and offset from a distal end of the swing-arm for forming a furrow. A deflecting disk is mounted to the distal end for deflecting debris from entering the furrow, and is mounted between the distal end of the swing-arm and the opener disk. The deflecting disk has a top peripheral edge spaced away from a top peripheral edge of the opener disk. A support bracket is attached as a cantilevered structure depending from the proximal end of the swing arm and extends in a space between the top peripheral edges. A tube is routed long the support bracket for dispensing a material into the furrow.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit assembly includes an attachment frame configured for attachment to a tow bar that is movable in a direction of travel. A proximal end of a swing-arm is coupled to the attachment frame, and an opener disk is mounted to and offset from a distal end of the swing-arm for forming a furrow. The opener disk is configured to rotate about a first axis relative to the direction of travel. A deflecting disk is mounted to the distal end for deflecting debris from entering the furrow, and is mounted between the distal end of the swing-arm and the opener disk. The deflecting disk is configured to rotate about a second axis, which is different than the first axis, relative to the direction of travel. A closing wheel is coupled to the attachment frame for closing the furrow.

Abstract: An agricultural furrow opening system having a hybrid single-disk, double-disk opener is disclosed including a swing-arm, a primary disk, and a deflecting disk. The primary disk is coupled to a distal end of the swing-arm and configured to rotate about a first axis. The primary disk is rolled about a direction of travel at a first oblique angle ?P and yawed about a vertical direction at a second oblique angle ?P. The deflecting disk is coupled to the distal end of the swing-arm and configured to rotate about a second axis. The deflecting disk is rolled about the direction of travel at a third oblique angle ?D and yawed about the vertical direction at a fourth oblique angle ?D. The first oblique angle ?P is between the vertical direction and the third oblique angle ?D.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame, and a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage, for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame. A support member is pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the support member relative to the attachment frame, and at least one furrow-closing device is mounted on the support member. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the support member for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. The hydraulic cylinder includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for urging the ram in a first direction that pivots the support member in a first vertical direction. An accumulator has a fluid chamber containing a pressurized gas for urging the ram in a second direction that pivots the support member in a second vertical direction.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame. A linkage assembly is pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the linkage assembly relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the linkage assembly for urging the linkage assembly downwardly toward the soil. A hose connection manifold is mounted adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder for circulating hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic source and the hydraulic cylinder. The hose connection manifold has a plurality of ports including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve port, the inlet port being adapted to receive an inlet hose, the outlet port being adapted to receive an outlet hose, and the valve port being adapted to receive an end of a hydraulic control valve.

Abstract: A modular autonomous agricultural vehicle includes a drive module having a frame, a ground-engaging element rotatably coupled to the frame, a power source, and a drive motor receiving power from the power source and coupled to the ground-engaging element for rotating the ground engaging element. At least one toolbar module is detachably coupled to the frame for coupling the drive module to an agricultural implement or another modular toolbar segment. The modular toolbar preferably includes multiple toolbar modules coupled to each other in series to form the modular toolbar.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a towing frame to which a planting row unit is attached. The planting row unit is movable in a forward direction on a field having soil of varying hardness conditions, including a soft soil and a hard soil. The planting row unit includes a planting bin positioned rearwardly of the towing frame for carrying at least one of a fertilizer and seeds to be deposited into the soil. The planting row unit further includes a linkage assembly for coupling the planting bin to the towing frame, and an opener device forward of the towing frame. The opener device prepares the soil and includes an opener blade and a soil-hardness sensor. The opener blade maintains the same soil-penetration depth Z in the soft soil and the hard soil based on soil-hardness changes detected by the soil-hardness sensor.