Abstract: An inductor apparatus includes an inductor assembly mounted under a seed container such that seeds flow into a reservoir. An air conduit carrying pressurized air extends along the reservoir. Seed channels extend from an inlet located above a pickup air opening in the air conduit to an outlet, and a bypass channel extends downward from each seed channel through an upper wall of the air conduit. A pickup air stream flowing out the pickup air opening forms a seed air stream entrained with seeds flowing into each seed channel inlet and a bypass air stream flows from the air conduit through each bypass channel into each seed channel and the combined seed and bypass air streams flow out the seed channel outlets. The seed channel outlets can be arranged along each side of the inductor assembly, and the rate of flow of the bypass air stream can be adjusted.

Abstract: A seed supply system includes a singulating meter with a seed reservoir pressurized to a meter pressure that is in a desired pressure range. A seed supply air stream carries seeds dispensed from a nurse tank to an air release assembly located above the singulating meter. As seeds are metered from the seed reservoir at a rate less than the rate seeds are dispensed from the nurse tank seeds accumulate in the air release assembly. The pressure of the seed supply air stream at the top of the seed column fluctuates and a barrier is operative to resist air flow between the air release assembly and the seed reservoir sufficiently to maintain the meter pressure in the desired meter pressure range. The barrier can be provided for example by an airlock or a column of seed in a drop tube between the air release assembly and the seed reservoir.

Abstract: An air distribution apparatus including a manifold body having ports with a delivery conduit connected to each port. A port valve is configured to communicate an interior of the manifold body with the delivery conduit associated with each port. A supply conduit is connected at an output end thereof to the interior of the manifold body and connected at an input end thereof to receive a product air stream with entrained agricultural products. An exhaust orifice is defined in the supply conduit and an exhaust valve configured to control a flow of pressurized air from an interior of the supply conduit through the exhaust orifice. The port valve and exhaust valve are controlled to operate oppositely to each other between their open and closed positions. The port and exhaust valves are also adjustable to intermediate positions between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A seeding apparatus has a frame and a plurality of furrow openers spaced laterally along the implement frame. A like plurality of singulating meters is provided, each mounted on the frame close to a corresponding furrow opener, and seed tubes are configured to receive singulated seeds from a corresponding singulating meter and deposit the seeds in the furrow created by the corresponding furrow opener. A pressurized air stream conveys seeds through each seed tube and a seed supply supplies seeds to each singulating meter. A meter control operates each singulating meter to provide a variable seeding rate that is independent of the seeding rates of the other singulating meters. A seed catching member follows each furrow opener and catches the seeds exiting the seed tubes to maintain a consistent seed spacing in the furrow.

Abstract: A parallel arm furrow opener assembly defines upper and lower front pivot axes and upper and lower rear pivot axes oriented horizontally and perpendicular to a travel direction. A furrow opener and a packer wheel are attached to a rear link of the assembly. In operation the furrow opener and the packer wheel are in fixed positions with respect to the rear link member, and a bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly. A front pivot line connecting the upper and lower front pivot axes is parallel to a rear pivot line connecting the upper and lower rear pivot axes, and the front and rear pivot lines are oriented at a pivot angle with respect to a vertical orientation, and the pivot angle is adjustable to vary a furrow depth of the furrow.

Abstract: A towed vehicle hitch tongue includes movably connected front and rear tongue members, and a fully exposed master cylinder connected at opposite ends thereof to the tongue members such that a rearward force urging the front tongue member toward the rear tongue member forces pressurized braking fluid out of a port thereof into a braking circuit configured to exert a braking force. The braking circuit prevents braking until the rearward force warrants braking, provides dampening of the brake action, allows the towed vehicle to reverse, and can provide emergency stopping and dampening of movement of the hitch tongue. Instead of using movable front and rear tongue members, sensors can detect what the towed vehicle is doing, and apply appropriate braking force in response.

Abstract: A towed vehicle hitch tongue includes movably connected front and rear tongue members, and a fully exposed master cylinder connected at opposite ends thereof to the tongue members such that a rearward force urging the front tongue member toward the rear tongue member forces pressurized braking fluid out of a port thereof into a braking circuit configured to exert a braking force. The braking circuit prevents braking until the rearward force warrants braking, provides dampening of the brake action, allows the towed vehicle to reverse, and can provide emergency stopping and dampening of movement of the hitch tongue. Instead of using movable front and rear tongue members, sensors can detect what the towed vehicle is doing, and apply appropriate braking force in response.

Abstract: A parallel arm furrow opener assembly defines upper and lower front pivot axes and upper and lower rear pivot axes oriented horizontally and perpendicular to a travel direction. A furrow opener and a packer wheel are attached to a rear link of the assembly. In operation the furrow opener and the packer wheel are in fixed positions with respect to the rear link member, and a bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly. A front pivot line connecting the upper and lower front pivot axes is parallel to a rear pivot line connecting the upper and lower rear pivot axes, and the front and rear pivot lines are oriented at a pivot angle with respect to a vertical orientation, and the pivot angle is adjustable to vary a furrow depth of the furrow.

Abstract: A seeding apparatus has a frame and a plurality of furrow openers spaced laterally along the implement frame. A like plurality of singulating meters is provided, each mounted on the frame close to a corresponding furrow opener, and seed tubes are configured to receive singulated seeds from a corresponding singulating meter and deposit the seeds in the furrow created by the corresponding furrow opener. A pressurized air stream conveys seeds through each seed tube and a seed supply supplies seeds to each singulating meter. A meter control operates each singulating meter to provide a variable seeding rate that is independent of the seeding rates of the other singulating meters. A seed catching member follows each furrow opener and catches the seeds exiting the seed tubes to maintain a consistent seed spacing in the furrow.

Abstract: A towed vehicle hitch tongue includes movably connected front and rear tongue members, and a fully exposed master cylinder connected at opposite ends thereof to the tongue members such that a rearward force urging the front tongue member toward the rear tongue member forces pressurized braking fluid out of a port thereof into a braking circuit configured to exert a braking force. The braking circuit prevents braking until the rearward force warrants braking, provides dampening of the brake action, allows the towed vehicle to reverse, and can provide emergency stopping and dampening of movement of the hitch tongue. Instead of using movable front and rear tongue members, sensors can detect what the towed vehicle is doing, and apply appropriate braking force in response.

Abstract: An air seeder distribution apparatus has a manifold and a plurality of delivery conduit connected to ports of the manifold. A supply conduit carries a product air stream and is connected the manifold interior. A port valve when open connects a delivery conduit to the manifold interior through the port and disconnects same when closed. A purging conduit connects the supply conduit, at a clean air location configured to receive from the supply conduit a clean air stream with no agricultural products entrained therein, to the delivery conduit such that the clean air stream has an open path from the supply conduit to the delivery conduit. When the port valve is open the clean air stream flows through the purging conduit at a low first flow rate, and when the port valve is closed the clean air stream flows through the purging conduit at a second significantly greater flow rate.

Abstract: A parallel arm furrow opener assembly defines upper and lower front pivot axes and upper and lower rear pivot axes oriented horizontally and perpendicular to a travel direction. A furrow opener and a packer wheel are attached to a rear link of the assembly. In operation the furrow opener and the packer wheel are in fixed positions with respect to the rear link member, and a bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly. A front pivot line connecting the upper and lower front pivot axes is parallel to a rear pivot line connecting the upper and lower rear pivot axes, and the front and rear pivot lines are oriented at a pivot angle with respect to a vertical orientation, and the pivot angle is adjustable to vary a furrow depth of the furrow.

Abstract: A parallel arm furrow opener assembly defines upper and lower front pivot axes and upper and lower rear pivot axes oriented horizontally and perpendicular to a travel direction. A furrow opener and a packer wheel are attached to a rear link of the assembly. In operation the furrow opener and the packer wheel are in fixed positions with respect to the rear link member, and a bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the furrow opener assembly. A front pivot line connecting the upper and lower front pivot axes is parallel to a rear pivot line connecting the upper and lower rear pivot axes, and the front and rear pivot lines are oriented at a pivot angle with respect to a vertical orientation, and the pivot angle is adjustable to vary a furrow depth of the furrow.

Abstract: A seeding apparatus has a frame and a plurality of furrow openers spaced laterally along the implement frame. A like plurality of singulating meters is provided, each mounted on the frame close to a corresponding furrow opener, and seed tubes are configured to receive singulated seeds from a corresponding singulating meter and deposit the seeds in the furrow created by the corresponding furrow opener. A pressurized air stream conveys seeds through each seed tube and a seed supply supplies seeds to each singulating meter. A meter control operates each singulating meter to provide a variable seeding rate that is independent of the seeding rates of the other singulating meters. A seed catching member follows each furrow opener and catches the seeds exiting the seed tubes to maintain a consistent seed spacing in the furrow.

Abstract: An air seeder distribution apparatus has a manifold and a plurality of delivery conduit connected to ports of the manifold. A supply conduit carries a product air stream and is connected the manifold interior. A port valve when open connects a delivery conduit to the manifold interior through the port and disconnects same when closed. A purging conduit connects the supply conduit, at a clean air location configured to receive from the supply conduit a clean air stream with no agricultural products entrained therein, to the delivery conduit such that the clean air stream has an open path from the supply conduit to the delivery conduit. When the port valve is open the clean air stream flows through the purging conduit at a low first flow rate, and when the port valve is closed the clean air stream flows through the purging conduit at a second significantly greater flow rate.

Abstract: A system for reducing implement wheel forces on a field surface has an agricultural implement with a frame mounted on frame wheels and ground engaging tools mounted on the frame. When the ground engaging tools move down to penetrate the field surface they exert an upward tool force on the frame. Support arms are movably connected to the implement frame and a support wheel is rotatably mounted to each support arm. A support bias element exerts a support bias force on each support arm to force the support wheel against the field surface and to correspondingly force the implement frame upward, transferring a supported frame weight from the implement frame to the support wheels, such that an unsupported frame weight is carried on the frame wheels. A bias control varies the support bias forces to maintain the unsupported frame weight at a level greater than the upward tool force.

Abstract: An air distribution apparatus including a manifold body and a plurality of ports defined through a wall of the manifold body. The apparatus also includes a delivery conduit connected to each one of the plurality of ports. On at least one of the plurality of ports, a port valve configured to communicate an interior of the manifold body with the delivery conduit associated with the at least one of the plurality of ports. The apparatus also includes a supply conduit connected at an output end thereof to the interior of the manifold body and connected at an input end thereof to receive a product air stream with agricultural products entrained therein. The apparatus also includes an exhaust orifice defined in the supply conduit and an exhaust valve configured to control a flow of pressurized air from an interior of the supply conduit through the exhaust orifice.

Abstract: An air seeder apparatus has a frame and a plurality of furrow opener assemblies spaced across a width of the frame at a narrow row spacing, and a plurality of bulk product containers and a bulk meter mounted on each, one of which dispenses seeds through a distribution network to a seed tube on each furrow opener assembly. A plurality of singulating meter is provided, each dispensing singulated seeds to the furrow opener on one of the furrow opener assemblies. During singulating operation seeds are delivered to the singulating furrow opener assemblies only by the singulating seed meter, and during conventional operation seeds are delivered to the singulating furrow opener assemblies only by the bulk meter. A lift system, when in a singulating mode, maintains idle conventional furrow opener assemblies in the transport position while moving singulating furrow opener assemblies between the operating position and the transport position.

Abstract: An air seeder apparatus has a frame and a plurality of furrow opener assemblies spaced across a width of the frame at a narrow row spacing, and a plurality of bulk product containers and a bulk meter mounted on each, one of which dispenses seeds through a distribution network to a seed tube on each furrow opener assembly. A plurality of singulating meter is provided, each dispensing singulated seeds to the furrow opener on one of the furrow opener assemblies. During singulating operation seeds are delivered to the singulating furrow opener assemblies only by the singulating seed meter, and during conventional operation seeds are delivered to the singulating furrow opener assemblies only by the bulk meter. A lift system, when in a singulating mode, maintains idle conventional furrow opener assemblies in the transport position while moving singulating furrow opener assemblies between the operating position and the transport position.

Abstract: A towed vehicle hitch tongue includes movably connected front and rear tongue members, and a fully exposed master cylinder connected at opposite ends thereof to the tongue members such that a rearward force urging the front tongue member toward the rear tongue member forces pressurized braking fluid out of a port thereof into a braking circuit configured to exert a braking force. The braking circuit prevents braking until the rearward force warrants braking, provides dampening of the brake action, allows the towed vehicle to reverse, and can provide emergency stopping and dampening of movement of the hitch tongue. Instead of using movable front and rear tongue members, sensors can detect what the towed vehicle is doing, and apply appropriate braking force in response.