Abstract:
An illustrative embodiment of a vertical floating row cleaner may include a mounting bracket configured to engage a row unit frame, which mounting bracket may have a receiver engaged therewith. An extension member may have first and second ends, with one end configured as an adjustor interface and the opposite end configured to pivotally engage at least one row cleaner wheel. An adjustor may engage the extension member at the adjustor interface such that the adjustor prevents the extension member from moving with respect to the receiver past a certain point in at least one direction.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims priority from U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/636,473 filed on Apr. 20, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The methods and apparatuses described herein are generally applicable to the field of agricultural equipment. The embodiments shown and described herein are more particularly for improved row cleaning for delivery of seed or fertilizer. Although in no way limiting, the present disclosure is particularly suited for minimum or no-till conditions. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R. §1.171 (d) 
       [0005]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright and trademark protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,890 issued to Martin for “Ground-Driven Rotary Row Cleaner” illustrates prior art that may be relevant to the present disclosure, but that fails to teach the improvement disclosed and claimed herein. U.S. patents on several exemplary models of row cleaning wheels (U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,890) and closing wheels (U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,717) are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The operation of row planter units of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,009,668 and 6,148,747, both of which are incorporated by reference herein, is well known to those skilled in the art and not discussed in detail herein. 
         [0007]    No-till and minimum-till agricultural practices have become more widespread in recent years. Accordingly, the market for no-till and minimum-till grain drills has grown. One such grain drill is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,806 issued to Bigbee et al. for “Conservation Opener,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Various styles and types of row cleaning wheels exist for use with row cleaners mounted on either planter row units or grain drills. The proliferation of no-till planting has lead to other products related to row cleaners, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,351 issued to Martin for “Cleaner for Tined Wheels,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
         [0008]    One popular grain drill employing depth regulating and furrow closing assemblies with vertical relations that may be adjusted independently from one another is manufactured by Deere and Company, of Moline, Ill., and sold as the John Deere model no. 750 and its derivatives, the 752, 1850, 1860, and 1560. The 750-style opener unit has closing wheels inclined at twenty to twenty four degrees from the vertical and approximately eight degrees from the direction of travel. 
         [0009]    The narrow spacing between the opener units and the “boxed in” configuration of the frame of the John Deere 750 drill have to date made it difficult to attach a suitable row cleaner thereto. For optimal performance, typically the row cleaner should be compact, adjustable, easily attached, aggressive enough to remove heavy residue for improved row clearing while not plugging adjacent or trailing opener units. The row cleaner design should inhibit or resist residue winding or wrapping between the deflector and the row cleaner wheel. Additionally, the row cleaner should allow for significant and/or adjustable down pressure to provide adequate clearing while floating (i.e., following the contour of the ground surface) if it meets with an obstacle. Finally, the row cleaner should allow adequate ground clearance when the frame of the grain drill is raised for transport. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0010]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limited of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner engaged with a prior art row unit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  provides a side view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner engaged with a prior art row unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  provides a side view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner engaged with a prior art row unit, wherein the boots have been removed from the vertical floating row cleaner for clarity. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  provides a front view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner engaged with a prior art row unit. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  provides a front view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner engaged with a prior art row unit, wherein are removed from the vertical floating row cleaner for clarity. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  provides a top view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner engaged with a prior art row unit. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  provides an exploded perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner. 
       
    
    
       [0019]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DETAILED DESCRIPTION - LISTING OF ELEMENTS 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Element Description 
                 Element Number 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Row cleaner 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Toolbar 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 Row unit 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 Row unit frame 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 Opener assembly 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 Closing assembly 
                 18 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting bracket 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Aperture 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                 Receiver 
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 Receiver brace 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 Boot 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 Extension member 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 Adjustor interface 
                 31 
               
               
                   
                 Wheel hub 
                 32 
               
               
                   
                 Row cleaner wheel 
                 34 
               
               
                   
                 Adjustor 
                 36 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0020]    Before the various embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, and the like) are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a prior art row unit  14  with which the illustrative embodiment of a vertical floating row cleaner  10  may be engaged, and  FIG. 2  provides a side view thereof. The row unit  14  shown herein may be coupled to a toolbar  12  via parallel linkage. The row unit frame  15  may carry an opener assembly  16  for opening a furrow in the ground and/or depositing material therein and a closing assembly  18  for closing the furrow. The general use and structure of such row units  10  is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described further herein for the purpose of clarity. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , which provides a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10 , a mounting bracket  20  with a plurality of apertures  21  formed therein may be used to engage the row unit frame  15 . The mounting bracket  20  may also include a receiver  22  oriented with a longitudinal axis generally in the vertical dimension. Receiver braces  24  may be positioned on either side of the receiver  22  to add structural rigidity and robustness to the vertical floating row cleaner  10  and/or provide additional attachment points between the mounting bracket  20  and the receiver  22 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , which provides an exploded view of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10 , an extension member  30  may engage the mounting bracket  20  via the receiver  22  in a concentric manner, such that the longitudinal axis of the receiver  22  and extension member  30  are generally parallel with one another and collinear. At least one wheel hub  32  (or row cleaner wheel  34 ) may be rotatably secured to a first end of the extension member  30 , and the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaning  10  includes two wheel hubs  32 . One row cleaner wheel  34  may be engaged with each wheel hub  32 , as shown in the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10 . The terminal end of the extension member  30  opposite the wheel hubs  32  may be formed as an adjustor interface  31 . It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the row cleaner wheel(s)  34  may be directly pivotally mounted to the extension member  30 , while in other embodiments thereof the wheel hub(s)  32  may be fixedly mounted to the extension member  30  and the row cleaner wheel(s) may be pivotally mounted to the wheel hub(s)  32 . Accordingly, the specific mounting structure and/or method of allowing the row cleaner wheel(s)  34  to pivot with respect to the row cleaner  10  in no way limits the scope thereof. 
         [0024]    The vertical floating row cleaner  10  may be secured to a front portion of the row unit frame  15  ahead of the opener assembly  16 .  FIGS. 4A &amp; 4B  provide front views of the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10  mounted to a row unit frame  10  with the boots  26  removed in  FIG. 4B  for clarity.  FIG. 5  provides a top view of the same configuration wherein the direction of travel during operation of the row unit  14  is to the right of the figure. 
         [0025]    Referring now again to  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7 , the extension member  30  may be configured to slideably engage the receiver  22  secured to the mounting bracket  20 . An adjustor  36  may be engaged with the adjustor interface  31  on the extension member  30  to limit the vertical travel of the extension member  30  with respect to the receiver  22  (and consequently, with respect to the mounting bracket  20  and the row unit frame  15 ). In the illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10 , the adjustor  36  is formed substantially as a diamond-shaped ring (which mimics the peripheral shape of the extension member  30  and receiver  22 , as best shown in  FIG. 14 ). The receiver  22 , extension member  30 , and adjustor  36  may be configured so that the extension member  30  may pass through the interior of the adjustor  36 , but the adjustor  36  may not pass through the receiver  22 . Other cross-sectional shapes and/or configurations may be used without limitation. The adjustor  36  may be configured so that it may be secured to the extension member  30  at different positions along the length thereof. The illustrative embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10  may provide this functionality with a set screw that when tightened presses against the exterior of the extension member  30 . Accordingly, an operator may allow the vertical floating row cleaner  10  to reach a maximum depth with respect to the row unit  14  by securing the adjustor  36  to the extension member  30  at the extreme distal end thereof opposite the wheel hubs  32 . 
         [0026]    A boot  26  may be placed between the adjustor  36  and the top end of the receiver  22  to prevent debris (e.g., dirt, organic material, etc.) from interfering with the movement of the extension member  30  with respect to the receiver  22  and to retain lubricant between the extension member  30  and receiver  22 . A corresponding boot  26  may be placed between the wheel hubs  32  and bottom end of the receiver  22  for the same reasons. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10  not shown herein, the extension member  30  may be biased in a direction toward the ground surface through a biasing member (not shown). The biasing member may be formed as a spring, actuator, or any other structure that serves to bias the extension member  30  in the vertical dimension with respect to the row unit frame  15 . In another embodiment of the vertical floating row cleaner  10 , the extension member  30  may be cooperatively engaged with a connector or biasing member for use with an adjustable row cleaner. 
         [0028]    It is contemplated that the various elements of the vertical floating row cleaner  10  disclosed herein may be constructed of any suitable material known to those skilled in the art. For example, the mounting bracket  20  and extension member  30  may be constructed of, but is not limited to steel, iron, a high-resistance iron alloy, metallic alloys, and/or combinations thereof. 
         [0029]    As is obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, the row cleaner  10  may be configured for use and operation adjacent a plurality of row cleaners  10  attached to a plurality of corresponding row units  14  attached to a tool bar  12  to form a contiguous planter unit (not shown). To modify the amount of organic material cleared from each row, the row cleaner wheels  34  may be angled or positioned differently. For example, if the row cleaner wheels  34  are configured to intersectedly engage one another during use the row cleaner wheels  34  will remove relatively large amount of organic material. The row cleaner wheels  34  may also be configured to non-intersectedly engage one another for relatively less trash clearing. 
         [0030]    It should be noted that the row cleaner  10  is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similar apparatuses for adjusting the penetration depth of ground engaging implements, such as row cleaner wheels  34 . Accordingly, modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the row cleaner  10 . 
         [0031]    It should be noted that the single vertical floating row cleaner  10  is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similar methods and apparatuses for ground surface penetration and/or row cleaning during operation of planter, seeder, or grain drills. Accordingly, modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the vertical floating row cleaner  10 . Having described several embodiments, other features of the vertical floating row cleaner  10  will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as will numerous modifications and alterations in the embodiments as illustrated herein, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the vertical floating row cleaner  10 .