Patent ID: 6701857
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: A01B,A01C,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A planting implement which is connectable to a vehicle for towing comprising:(a) a frame having tires attached thereto for movement along a ground surface; (b) a ground working implement having a proximal end connected to said frame and a distal end, said ground working implement further comprising: (i) a seed channel opener having a center axis and affixed to said distal end of said ground working implement, said seed channel opener adapted to be driven into said ground surface to form a seed channel to a first depth; (ii) a depth control wheel having a center axis, said depth control wheel adapted to be in light contact with said ground surface; (iii) a support and adjustment mechanism secured between said seed channel opener and said depth control wheel, said support and adjustment mechanism adapted to support said depth control wheel at a relative position to said seed channel opener, and (iv) a depth adjusting mechanism connected to said support and adjustment mechanism; (c) an actuating device secured between said frame and said ground working implement, said actuating device adapted to exert and adjust a down pressure on said seed channel opener; (d) a depth control device adapted to measure the load on said depth control wheel in order to determine a sensed load on said depth control wheel and electronically transmit a sensed load output; (i) an electronic control unit capable of receiving, monitoring and analyzing the sensed load output transmitted by said depth control device, and (j) a regulating valve in communication with said electronic control unit and in communication with said actuating device, wherein, when said electronic control unit determines a change in the sensed load output received by said depth control device, said electronic control unit transmits a signal to said regulating valve which causes said actuating device to adjust the down pressure on said seed channel opener, thereby maintaining said seed channel opener at said first depth.