Patent ID: 8275525
Filing Date: 2012-09-25
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
1. A disc opener assembly for a farm implement, comprising: a set of discs ganged together and configured to cut a set of elongated trenches into a ground surface; a depth setting device associated with each disc and operable to set a cutting depth for the disc; a down pressure mechanism operable to apply an adjustable down pressure onto the set of discs, the down pressure exerted by the down pressure mechanism being settable; and a load sensor operatively connected to the down pressure mechanism and at least one of the depth setting devices, the load sensor sensing a load placed on at least one of the depth setting devices and providing feedback to the down pressure mechanism corresponding to the load sensed; wherein the down pressure mechanism automatically adjusts the down pressure placed onto the set of discs in accordance with the set down pressure to maintain the depth of the trenches relatively constant at the cutting depth as the discs penetrate the ground surface and to prevent excessive down pressure.