Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to the field of agricultural machinery and relates to preplanting tillage implements generally used in combination with a seed planting device, or other multi-row implement. Specifically, the disclosure relates to row treating units incorporating a row clearance arrangement or a combination of tools that includes a row cleaning device and a soil penetrating coulter device. The units are designed to be attached to the front of a multi-row implement. The deployment of and down force exerted by the row cleaner is independently adjustable and controlled using pneumatic air bag operators.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    I. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention is directed generally to the field of agriculture machinery, and more particularly, it relates to a preplanting tillage implements generally used in combination with a seed planting device. Specifically, the invention relates to row treating units incorporating a combination of tools including row cleaning devices, also known as residue managers or trash whipping devices, and soil penetrating coulter devices. The units are designed to be attached to the front of a variety of implements including seed planting implements, fertilizer applicators and other soil treating applicators. The deployment and/or down force exerted by the row cleaner is independently adjustable and controlled using pneumatic operators. 
         [0004]    II. Related Art 
         [0005]    In the spring, prior to planting, farmers must prepare their fields for accepting seed. Many tillage implements have been designed and are used to condition the soil in preparation for planting. Traditional farming includes both primary and secondary tillage tasks to prepare the soil such as plowing, disking, field cultivating and harrowing. Disking is an example of a method of primary tillage and harrowing is an example of a method of secondary tillage. 
         [0006]    Primary tillage is a first pass over the soil using a soil conditioning implement attached to the rear of a tractor which works deep into the soil. The soil is usually worked several inches deep to break up clods of soil, remove air pockets, and destroy weeds deep in the earth. Secondary tillage involves another pass over the same soil, at a more shallow depth, using implements which are generally attached to the rear of the primary tillage unit or to the front of a planter such that the secondary tillage unit follows the primary tillage unit. The secondary tillage unit generally may work the soil to a depth of a few inches or more usually not to exceed the desired seed planting depth. 
         [0007]    A secondary tillage unit is usually a final conditioning tool to prepare the soil for planting. Various units may chop up crop residues, or move them out of the way to clean rows to be planted, break up soil clods and break up any crust on the top of the soil, provide seed furrows, weed control, incorporate chemicals into the soil, and stir and firm the soil closer to the surface. 
         [0008]    Row cleaners and coulter devices are important types of secondary soil conditioning implements. Row cleaners include a pair of angled, converging multi-bladed trash wheels that could include optional floater wheels. These cleaners are primarily used to remove debris including residue, rocks, soil clods, etc., by pushing it to the side out of the way before seeding/planting. This also helps to eliminate “row unit bounce” that occurs when residue, rocks, clods, are encountered by agriculture machinery. Coulters include a sharp rotating blade or wedge wheel which is generally wavy or rippled about its circumference which is used to improve planting conditions by cutting through and loosening the soil before opening disks of the planter open the soil to place seeds. Typically coulters are set to cut through the soil to the same or slightly less depth than the opening disks of the planter and are particularly useful in harder soils where cutting and loosening the soil is important. Coulters may also be useful in fields containing a high volume of residue or trash from a previous crop, as they can cut through the trash making it easier to be pushed out of the way by row cleaners. In addition, coulters help eliminate side wall compaction created by planting/seeding implements. 
         [0009]    Farmers obtain great benefit from using both coulters and row cleaners as a means of secondary tillage to prepare soil for planting. The ability to remove debris and break up soil may lead to more even plant emergence and increased planting population which, in turn, lead to better crop yields at harvest. Row cleaning, trash moving or trash whipping devices, then, represent a type of equipment which can be advantageously added to a row crop planter to handle amounts of crop residue often present on a field to be replanted, particularly if no till farming is being employed. Minimal till or no till farming, of course, leaves an amount of crop residue on a field which may interfere with subsequent seeding operations and so needs to be moved aside from planted/seeded rows. As indicated, row cleaners normally include pairs of angled disks with radially directed teeth or spikes which move crop residue out of the way in advance of planting/seeding. They are normally assembled so that the angled disks form a V-shape and they may or may not overlap. 
         [0010]    One problem associated with the operation of row cleaners is controlling the depth of operation of the disk spikes in the field. Some of the present devices are mounted at a fixed vertical distance from a tool bar on a planter. The height is adjustable between a series of fixed vertical location settings only using movable bolts or pins. There is no independent control over the force exerted by the implement. The fixed location does not allow for row cleaners to follow ground terrain to perform at the setting desired. The pins may be used to adjust and limit the bottom or fixed maximum depth of the wheels with the weight of the trash wheels alone providing down force to the device. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, it would be beneficial if the deployment and downward force exerted by the row cleaner could be varied and remotely controlled. Thus, if the lift force or down pressure force on the trash whipping device could be controlled and adjusted, as needed, it would present a distinct advantage. Down force adjustment allows adjustment for changing field conditions and terrain. Up force adjustment allows for adjustment to create ride and ability to raise quickly. 
         [0012]    It would also be beneficial if a row unit including a trash whipping-type device with its pair of spiked disks mounted on a triangular mount to move debris out of the way were combined with the sharp steel blade of a coulter to cut the soil vertically and provide a shallow furrow through the soil just prior to planting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present concept is related to a row unit combining soil conditioning implements in the form of coulter and row cleaning devices to accomplish multiple tasks just prior to seeding in a single pass. An aspect of the present concept relates to mounting the row unit on planting equipment. 
         [0014]    The row treating unit of the invention is designed to attach to other farm implements. In one preferred combination, the row treating units are attached to the front of planting/seeding equipment. Such units can be attached along a multi-row planter to treat each of the rows addressed by the planter. 
         [0015]    The row treating unit of the invention is assembled with respect to and carried by a main unit mounting plate to which a row clearing assembly arrangement and a coulter blade mounting arrangement are fixed. The coulter blade mounting arrangement includes a substantially vertical coulter mounting plate having a series of spaced attachment locations for attaching a coulter mounting arm at various heights. The coulter mounting plate is attached to the unit mounting plate and at least one reinforcing gusset is attached between the unit mounting plate and said coulter mounting plate. 
         [0016]    The row cleaning arrangement includes a pair of spaced row clearance wheel support arms having fixed ends pivotally mounted between pairs of spaced lugs fixed to the unit mounting plate and feature pneumatic actuating devices to produce and control lift and downward forces on the pivoting clearance wheel support arms. The pneumatic actuating devices or operators are preferably air bags mounted between spaced pads connected between the lift arms and the unit mounting plate using a swiveling pad attached to the unit mounting plate and a fixed pad attached to a lift arm for each operator. The lift arms have free ends that are connected together and have converging portions for attaching row clearance wheels in a triangular arrangement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts: 
           [0018]      FIGS. 1A-1D  depict front elevation, right side elevation, left side elevation and perspective views of an assembled row unit in accordance with the invention shown with the row clearance arrangement in the raised or stowed position; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2A-2D  are similar views to  FIGS. 1A-1D  with the assembled unit shown with the row clearance arrangement in the down or deployed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged front elevational perspective view of a mounting plate arrangement for the row unit; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are rear and front perspective views of a row clearance wheel support arm arrangement; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are left and right side front perspective views of assembled mounting plate and a row clearance wheel support arm arrangement; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are enlarged left and right side perspective views of a coulter blade assembly including an attachment arm; and 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are enlarged left and right side perspective views of row clearance wheel assemblies; and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 8A-8C  depict opposite side elevational views ( 8 A and  8 B) and a perspective view ( 8 C) of a row treating unit in accordance with the invention attached to the front of a seeding device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    The detailed description of the preferred embodiments is intended to illustrate representative examples of inventive concepts and is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the concepts. The examples are to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom”, “left” and “right” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “join” and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece, unless expressively described otherwise. 
         [0027]    In  FIGS. 1A-1D  and  2 A- 2 D there is shown an assembled row unit, generally at  10 , in accordance with the invention which includes a mounting plate arrangement  12  (shown in greater detail in  FIG. 3 ) designed to mount or attach the row unit to the front of a conventional multi-row planter assembly as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . The unit further includes several additional sub-assemblies including a pivotally mounted row clearance wheel support arm arrangement  14  (shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ), a coulter blade mounting arrangement with coulter blade  16  and row clearance wheel assemblies including trash wheels  18  and  20 . As viewed from the front of the row unit device, left and right side lifting air bags are shown at  22  and  24 , respectively, and a down force air bag is shown at  26 . The row clearance wheel support arm assembly includes left and right side arm members  28  and  30  which are pivotally mounted at  32  and  34 , respectively. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts an enlarged perspective detail view of a mounting plate arrangement  12  for the row unit and includes a heavy gauge base plate or row unit mounting plate member  50 . A coulter arm mounting plate  52  is attached to the unit mounting plate, reinforced by upper and lower triangular gussets  54  and  56 , and containing a series of coulter arm height adjusting openings  58 . Pairs of row clearance wheel arm mounting plates or lugs are shown at  60  and  62  and pairs of spaced lugs for up force air bag swivel pads and shafts or spindles are shown at  64  and  66  and for down force bag swivel pads and spindles at  68 . Mounting holes for the unit to be mounted to a planter are shown at  70 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are enlarged detail drawings showing left and right side perspective views of assembled row clearance wheel support arrangement  14 . Shaped arm members  34  and  36  are provided with pivot limiting stops as at  80  and  82 , respectively, which limit both upward and downward pivoting of the arms. The arms  34  and  36  have converging front aspects at  84  and  86  for mounting the row clearance wheel arrangements in a triangle or converging posture. Pads fixed to the structure for connecting the assembly with corresponding air bags are shown at  88 ,  90  and  92 . The arm members are connected together toward the free ends by additional members including a shaped strap member  94  and plate member  96 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict the mounting plate and row clearance wheel support arrangements assembled together with the air bags removed. The assembled arrangement  100  is carried by heavy plate member  50  and includes swiveling pads  102 ,  104  and  106  spaced from and associated with corresponding fixed pads  88 ,  90  and  92 . The swivel pads are carried by the spaced pairs of lug members  64 ,  66  and  68  on spindles or shafts  108 ,  110  and  112  journaled in the pairs of corresponding spaced lug members which are attached to mounting plate member  50 . Arm members  28  and  30  are pivotally mounted on shafts as at  114  and  116  journaled between corresponding spaced lug members  60  and  62  fixed to plate member  50 . 
         [0031]    In the enlarged views of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a coulter disc or wedge member  16  is shown mounted and journaled to rotate relative to a connected mounting arm  120  on a shaft  122 . A plurality of spaced mounting holes  124  are provided which are designed to align with holes  58  in member  52  when the coulter is mounted to the unit such that the coulter can be mounted in any one of several fixed height positions which, in turn, determine the depth that the coulter blade or wedge will penetrate the soil as deployed. Bolts  126  ( FIGS. 1D and 2D ) are inserted through corresponding openings  124  in mounting arm  120  and  58  in member  52  to fix the coulter at a desired depth which can be manually adjusted as needed. A hub is shown at  128 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict enlarged views of trash wheel assemblies including trash wheels  18  and  20 . The large spaced teeth of the wheels are shown at  130  and these may have specially heat treated or hardened tips as at  132 . The wheels include hubs  134  with mounting bolts  136  and wheel scraper devices for the wheels are shown at  138  and  140 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 8A-8C  depict opposite side elevational views and a perspective view of a row treating unit in accordance with the invention attached to the front of a seeding device, shown schematically at  150 . A frame  152  is attached to the planter and to a common tube  154  which extends along the length of the planter and is, in turn, connected to a tractor or the like in a known manner for pulling the entire system along to treat a field. 
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that the use of both down force and up force or lifting pneumatic operators, preferably air bags, enables more variation and control of the force exerted by the row clearance assembly and represents a distinct advantage over gravity dependant systems with adjustable, but fixed position wheels using pins or bolts and spaced holes to attach the wheels to the support arms. The pneumatic operators can be adapted to operate using any compatible source of pressurized air. Such systems generally include a compressor, accumulator tank and associated control valves with input and vent connections, and are well known and need not be explained in detail. The pressure in the air bags is infinitely variable and so the force exerted on the system may be modulated and controlled using both electronic and/or manual regulators and adjustments may be made as needed during use of the equipment. 
         [0035]    In one preferred embodiment, an air solenoid or similar pneumatic valve may be used to connect fill and exhaust ports to the air bags such that when the lift air bags are inflated, the down force bag may deflate through an exhaust port and when the down force air bag is connected to receive pressurized air, the lift air bags may be connected to an exhaust port. Generally, however, high pressure air will be fed to both lift and down force air bags at the same time with the relative force controlled. Minimal lifting force is applied to lift the support arms and the wheels to the top of their travel. Then down force is applied to overcome the lifting force pushing the support arms and trash wheels to the ground. This creates a floating action as the unit travels through a field. The pressure in the down force air bag can be adjusted to and controlled at any level to meet changes in soil conditions as they are encountered. When the unit is not processing residue or other material the lift air bag can be used to raise the row clearance wheels to a stowed disposition while exhausting the down force air bag. Manual and automated controls located in the cab of a prime mover such as a farm tractor adapted for pulling a multi-row planter to which a plurality of row units are attached can be used to control the air bags associated with each row unit in accordance with the invention. 
         [0036]    In use, a plurality of row units in accordance with the invention are attached in spaced relation along the front of a multi-row planter pulled by a tractor. The row treating units are spaced in accordance with the desired crop row spacing. The row treating units combine the soil cutting and loosening action of the coulter with the action of the row clearing wheels to move crop residue from a previous crop to the side leaving a clear path for the opening discs of the planter and subsequent seeding. The associated coulter is normally set to penetrate the soil to a depth comparable to or slightly less than the depth of opening discs on the planter. 
         [0037]    This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the example as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself. 
         [0038]    For example, while air bag pneumatic operating devices may be preferred, it is contemplated that pneumatic cylinders or hydraulic cylinders, or the like, could be adapted to be used to control the deployment of and down force exerted by the row clearance device so long as the net force exerted on the row clearance device can be properly controlled. This has been found to be readily accomplished using air bags.