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. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the linkage assembly for urging the linkage assembly downwardly toward the soil, and an accumulator is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder for supplying pressurized gas to the hydraulic cylinder urging the linkage assembly upwardly away from the soil. A manifold is removably mounted to the hydraulic cylinder via a mounting interface, the manifold being selected from a group of different types of modular manifolds in which each manifold is removably mountable to the hydraulic cylinder, one at a time, via the same mounting interface, the manifold having two hydraulic-fluid ports including an inlet port and an outlet port.

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 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: A planter row unit has a pair of ground-engaging gauge wheels located in close proximity to opposite sides of a furrow opener of the unit. The depth of penetration of the furrow opener depends upon the vertical position of the gauge wheels relative to the furrow opener. Wheel arms that connect the gauge wheels to the frame of the row unit are operably coupled with a depth adjustment lever through a rigid link that transmits adjusting movement of the depth adjustment lever to the gauge wheels to raise or lower the same. The link is made adjustable in length to provide fine depth adjustment of the unit for calibration purposes or otherwise.

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: A seed tank arrangement is provided with improved access to seed tanks of an agricultural planter and the contents thereof, while simplifying the manufacturing of such tanks. The seed tank has a fill opening formed in the upper surface of the tank for loading and accessing seeds in the interior of the tank. Features of the tank are mirror images about a diagonal plane of the tank, which enables the same tank to be used for both the left and right sides of the planter. This is achieved by rotating the left tank 90 degrees with respect to the right tank. The design provides improved access to the interior of the tanks for filling and servicing the seed.

Abstract: An agricultural row-clearing unit for use with an agricultural row unit attached to a towing frame hitched to a tractor comprises an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a support element having a leading end pivotally connected to the attachment frame for vertical pivoting movement relative to the attachment frame, at least one agricultural tool mounted on the trailing end of the support element, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the attachment frame and the support element for pivoting the support element around the pivotal connection to the attachment frame.

Abstract: A combination fertilizer and seeding Implement includes a front section of disk type fertilizer openers and a rear section of frame mounted seed openers. The fertilizer openers are connected by drawbars to a rockshaft which is vertically adjustable to accommodate different ranges of operating depths of the frame mounted tools. Shank depth is set by frame height, and the vertical adjustability of the rockshaft facilitates a wide range of frame operating heights for different tool depths while maintaining optimum disk opener drawbar angles.

Abstract: A planter/fertilizer assembly that can be configured to facilitate either rapid seeding/fertilizing or transport and including an implement bar mounted on a wheel supported carrier frame for rotation between a transport position where the implement bar is parallel to a transport direction and an operating position where the implement bar is perpendicular to the transport direction, row units mounted to the implement bar on a side opposite the wheels and including central units adjacent the wheels and lateral units disposed laterally of the wheels, lateral coulter/fertilizer units mounted to the lateral row units, a coulter bar mounted to an underside of the carrier frame on a side opposite the support wheels and a separate coulter/fertilizer unit mounted to the coulter bar and aligned with each of the central row units.

Abstract: A planter apparatus includes a carrier frame including a curved track portion, and a mainframe rotatably attached to the carrier frame and rotatable along the curved track portion and about a pivot point, which is offset from a centerline of the carrier frame. The transverse center of gravity of the planter apparatus is substantially along the centerline when the mainframe is in a transportation position.

Abstract: A full truss tool bar is disclosed comprising an elongated main tool bar section having right and left tool bar wing sections positioned at the right and left ends of the main tool bar section. An elongated main truss member is positioned above the main tool bar section and is secured thereto. Right and left truss members are positioned above the right and left tool bar wing sections and are secured thereto. The main truss member is pivotally connected to the right and left truss members, about horizontal axes. In a modified version of the device, auxiliary tool bar sections are positioned outwardly of the right and left tool bar wing sections and have truss sections positioned thereabove and secured thereto. The trusses on the auxiliary tool bar sections are pivotally connected, about vertical axes, to the outer ends of the right and left tool bar wing sections.

Abstract: A support for a seed firming wheel of an agricultural planter. The support comprises a frame member, a link pivotally coupled to the frame member and a spring positioned between the link and frame member. The frame member is also provided with a pivot assembly to which the link is pivotally mounted. The seed firming wheel is rotatively mounted to the link. A lockup link is positioned between the frame member and the link for holding the seed firming wheel in a non-working position.

Abstract: A soil treatment apparatus is provided having a main frame to be drawn by a towing vehicle over subjacent soil, a subframe, a structure for mounting the subframe to the main frame for vertical movement relative thereto between first and second position, and structure for attaching a plurality of soil treating implements to the subframe to follow movement of the subframe between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An improved down pressure arrangement for an implement such as a multi-section grain drill having fixed-height section frames with corresponding gangs of opener assemblies. The opener assemblies of each gang are yieldingly biased downwardly by a spring and bracket structure operably connected to a rockshaft. One rockshaft per gang is provided, and each rockshaft is controlled by a single down pressure adjusting cylinder. The cylinders are connected in parallel and to a pressure regulator to provide adjustable and uniform average opener down pressure across the width of the drill for more contant opener depth in irregular ground conditions. Tension links connected to the bracket structure permit the opener assemblies to be raised from a ground-working position to a transport position.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for readily converting a conventional pull-type implement such as a chisel plow into an effective planter. The conversion assembly includes a furrow opener such as a narrow shoe located adjacent the lower end of the chisel shank, along with a trailing seed delivery tube and a pivotal furrow-closing press wheel or the like. A four-bar adjustable linkage assembly serves to operably couple the shank and press wheel so that the wheel is shifted downwardly in response to limited upward shifting of the shank, whereby the wheel is maintained in operative contact with the earth during use. The wheel also serves as a gauge stop for maintaining proper furrow depth, and the linkage adjustment permits selective setting of the wheel for different furrow depths. The conventional curvilinear chisel shank acts as one of the arms of the linkage assembly, together with the shank assembly bracket and a pair of links provided as a part of the conversion apparatus.

Abstract: A row unit with a mechanism which provides normal planting via a parallel bar linkage connection to the planter and which can be locked up in a raised, non-planting position when desired. The mechanism includes curved slotted openings in the lower bars of the linkage for frame mounted spacers as the frame pivots about the connection with the upper bars, and locking structure having detents to engage the spacers in the lowered working and raised non-working positions. The mechanism also prevents the release of the locking structure until the row unit weight is lifted therefrom.

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.

Abstract: A seed drill (FIG. 1 ) having a frame (1 ) with knife hoes (7 ) mounted thereon. The knife hoes are movable in a vertical plane and each has two laterally projecting wings (8 ) bent downwardly toward one another; the outer edges of the wings merge forwardly together to form a point. Each knife hoe has an upright strut (13 ) supporting the leading point of the knife. Further, each knife hoe is disposed on a shank (9 ) which is mounted on the frame with parallel guide means (10 ). The parallel guide means has at least one articulation (19 ) acting in a vertical plane, a stop (21 ) limiting forward swinging movement of the knife hoe about the articulation, and at least one resilient element (22 ) exerting a force on the knife hoe in the direction of the stop. The drill further includes a gauge wheel (16 ) for each knife hoe to limit the depth of penetration of the knife hoe into the soil.

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.

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.

Abstract: A cultivating implement or rotary harrow has two groups of soil working members mounted on upwardly extending shafts that extend transverse to the direction of operative travel. The groups of soil working members are adjustably linked to an elongated frame of the harrow and the front of the longer side of the frame has a coupling member for connection to the rear of a prime mover for soil working operation. One of the shorter sides has a second coupling member that can be coupled to the prime mover during transport. Pairs of ground wheels at the front and rear of the frame are employed to support the harrow both in operative and in transport positions. Each group of soil working members has a supporting rear roller and arms that extend from the front of the frame over the roller to support a tool bar to which seed drills, for instance, can be connected.

Abstract: A seed drill for a field left in stubble, comprising a plurality of pairs of discs wherein each pair includes a forward coulter disc tangentially engaging a rearward furrow opening disc held by clevis members to a wheel supported framework. Seeds are directed between the disc pairs to fall therebetween to a point of convergence between the two discs. Forward rotation of the discs cause the seeds to be separated and evenly spaced apart as the seed drill is moved along a forward path of travel. A hydraulic system is provided wherein the pairs of discs are forced downwardy by ram cylinders connected between each clevis member and the framework. The ram cylinders are connected in a parallel hudraulic circuit to a pressure supply source so an even amount of downward pressure is applied to each of the disc pairs.

Abstract: Seed and/or fertilizer or similar particulate material is fed by a seed cup assembly or the like from a hopper to a main conduit through which air is passing at a rate sufficient to ensure that the material is picked up by the air stream and transported thereby. A main distributor head receives the material and feeds it pneumatically to a plurality of secondary distributor heads. A plurality of feed conduits extends from each secondary distributing head one to each of the seed outlets provided adjacent the furrow openers of the assembly. Each distributor head is provided with tapered restrictors which concentrate the material centrally so that it strikes the curved upper end centrally and is thus spread evenly to all of the conduits extending from the manifold thus ensuring even distribution of the material.

Abstract: An agricultural row-clearing unit for use with an agricultural row unit attached to a towing frame hitched to a tractor comprises an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a support element having a leading end pivotally connected to the attachment frame for vertical pivoting movement relative to the attachment frame, at least one agricultural tool mounted on the trailing end of the support element, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the attachment frame and the support element for pivoting the support element around the pivotal connection to the attachment frame.