Patent ID: 7549481
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
1. A furrow opener apparatus adapted for attachment to a lateral frame member of an implement for travel over the ground in an operating travel direction, the apparatus comprising: a parallel link assembly comprising a front link adapted for substantially fixed attachment to the lateral frame member, a rear link, and upper and lower parallel arm members pivotally attached to the front and rear links such that, in a working mode, the rear link is maintained in a substantially constant fore and aft angular orientation as the upper and lower arm members pivot up and down about the front link; a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link, and a furrow opener attached to a lower portion of the furrow opener bracket, the furrow opener operative to form a furrow when a bottom end thereof is engaged in the ground; a packer wheel arm fixed to one of the upper and lower parallel arm members and extending rearward from the rear link, and a packer wheel rotatably mounted to a rear portion of the packer wheel arm such that the packer wheel is substantially aligned with the furrow opener; a bias device operative to exert a downward bias force on the parallel link assembly when in the working mode; wherein the furrow opener is maintained in substantially rigid orientation with respect to the rear link when in the working mode.