Abstract:
A seeding machine is provided with banks of individual seed hoppers for directing seed to auxiliary seed hoppers located on individual planting units. The individual seed hoppers of each bank are provided with adjoining walls. The adjoining walls have notches so that seed in one individual seed hopper can flow into an adjoining individual seed hopper. A portion of the planting units can be disabled by placing them in a non-working position. The individual seed hoppers supplying seed to the disabled planting units are provided with removable baffles. Each removable baffle is provided with a downwardly extending leg that cooperates with the notches to prevent seed in an active individual hopper from entering an inactive individual hopper.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is directed to a bank of individual seed hoppers having notches between adjoining walls to permit the flow of seed between the individual hoppers and removable baffles to prevent the flow between the individual hoppers.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Agricultural implements, like seeding machines, have a wide transverse working configuration so that the machine covers as much ground as possible in a single pass. Typically, the seeding machine can be folded from its working configuration into a more manageable transport configuration.  
           [0003]    Some seeding machines are provided with a frame having a central main frame segment and two wing frame segments. The central main frame segment is provided with a forwardly extending tow bar for coupling the machine to a tractor. The wing frame segments are pivotally coupled to the main frame by fore/aft extending axes so that the wings can flex relative to the main frame to allow the wing frames to more closely follow the contour of the ground. Individual planting units are mounted to the frame segments by parallelogram linkages so that the planting units can move a limited amount up and down relative to the respective frame segment. One method of folding the frame of the seeding machine described above is to forwardly fold the wings along the tow bar.  
           [0004]    Typically grain drills and air seeders are used to plant closely spaced crops. These seeding machines are provided with bulk hoppers, which transmits the seed directly to seed meters for metering the flow of seed to the planting furrow. Typical row crop planters have been used to plant crops having wider row spacings. Row crop planters have a series of planting units. Each planting unit is provided with an individual seed hopper, a seed meter and a furrow opener. It is also known to direct seed from a bulk hopper towed behind the seeding machine to the individual hoppers of the planting units by a pneumatic supply system.  
           [0005]    To plant on more closely spaced rows it is known to interleave the planting units. All of the planting units can be used to plant a narrow row crop or selective planting units can be raised to planter a wider row crop.  
           [0006]    It is also known to pivot planting units on their noses from a horizontal planting position to a more vertical non-planting position.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A seeding machine comprises a main frame segment and two wing frame segments. In its working configuration the seeding machine extends transversely. In its transport configuration the wing frame segments are folded forwardly. All three frame segments are provided with interleaved planting units forming a front rank of planting units and a rear rank of planting units. The rear ranks of planting units are mounted to the wing frame segments by pivot arms that extend downwardly and rearwardly from the wing frame segments. The pivot arms are pivotally mounted to the wing frame segments by a rockshaft. The rockshaft is provided with an actuator bell crank that is coupled to a linear actuator for rotating the rockshaft relative to the wing frame segments. The pivot arms have a working position, wherein the planting units are in their working position, and a transport position, wherein the planting units have been pivoted on their noses into their substantially vertical transport position. By rotated the planting units on the wing frame segments on their noses, the transport width of the seeding machine is reduced, when the wing frame segments are forwardly folded.  
           [0008]    The frame segments are provided with banks of individual seed hoppers. Each of the planting units is provided with an auxiliary seed hopper. The individual seed hoppers feed seed to the auxiliary seed hoppers through flexible tubes. One tube extends between one auxiliary seed hopper and one individual seed hopper. The individual seed hoppers of each bank are provided with adjoining walls. The adjoining walls have notches so that the individual hoppers communicate with one another. In this way, the bank of seed hoppers can be filled in a bulk fill method similar to grain drills.  
           [0009]    The rear rank of planting units can be disabled by placing them in a non-working position. As such, the seeding machine can plant seed in two different row width conditions. When the rear rank of planting units are disabled, the banks of seed hoppers are provided with removable baffles. Each removable baffle is provided with a leg that cooperates with the notches to prevent seed in an active individual hopper from entering an inactive individual hopper. When the removable baffles are inserted into the bank of individual seed hoppers, the individual seed hoppers are filled in the same manner as row crop planters, that is one at a time. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of a seeding machine of the present invention in its working configuration.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a seeding machine of the present invention in its working configuration with the planting units raised.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a seeding machine of the present invention in its transport configuration.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a left side view of a wing frame segment of the seeding machine illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a left side view of a wing frame segment of the seeding machine illustrated in FIG. 3.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a right side view of a wing frame segment of the seeding machine of the present invention wherein the rear ranks of planting units are in their intermediate holding position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bank of seed hoppers of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the bank of seed hopper in FIG. 8 with the detachable lid.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional perspective view of the bank of seed hopper. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a side view of a towed agricultural implement in the form of a seeding machine  10 . The seeding machine  10  is coupled to a tractor by a tow bar  12  having a hitch  14 . The tow bar  12  extends forwardly from a frame  16 . The frame comprises three frame segments, a main frame  18 , and left and right wing frames  19  and  20 . The wing frames  19  and  20  can be pivoted relative to the main frame  18  about left and right fore/aft extending pivots  21 . These fore/aft extending pivots  21  permit the wing frames  19  and  20  to better follow the contour of the ground as the seeding machine  10  is being pulled through the field. The wing frames  19  and  20  can also be folded in a forward manner about vertically extending pivots, so that the seeding machine  10  assumes the transport configuration illustrated in FIG. 3.  
         [0021]    Each of the frame segments  18 ,  19  and  20  are provided with banks of seed hoppers  22 . The banks of seed hoppers  22  direct seed to individual planting units  24  by means of flexible tubes  26 . In the illustrated embodiment, each planting unit  24  comprises an auxiliary hopper  28 , a seed meter  30 , a furrow opener  32 , depth gauging wheels  34  and furrow closing wheels  36 . Seed is directed into the auxiliary hopper  28  by flexible tube  26 . Seed is then metered by the seed meter  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the seed meter  30  is a vacuum seed meter coupled to a vacuum line  31 . The metered seed is then directed to a seed tube, not shown, which directs the seed into the planting furrow formed by the furrow opener  32 . The planting furrow is then closed by the furrow closing wheels  36 , sealing the seed in the closed planting furrow.  
         [0022]    The planting units  24  are arranged in a front rank  38  and a rear rank  40  on each frame segment  18 ,  19  and  20 . The front ranks  38  of planting units  24  are mounted directly to the frame segments  18 ,  19  and  20 , so the front ranks  38  move with the respective frame segment. Similarly, the rear rank  40  of main frame planting units is mounted to the main frame segment  18 , so they move with the main frame segment  18 . The rear ranks  40  of planting units  24  mounted on the wing frame segments  19  and  20  are mounted to pivot arms  42  that extend downwardly and rearwardly from a rock shaft  44 . The rockshaft  44  is rotatably coupled to the wing frame segment  20  by bearings  46 . An actuator bell crank  48  that is driven by linear motor  50  rotates the rockshaft  44 . In the illustrated embodiment, the linear motor  50  is a double acting hydraulic cylinder. The front rank  38  and the rear rank  40  of planting units  24  are interleaved with one another.  
         [0023]    The pivot arms  42  can be rotated from their working position, illustrated in FIG. 1, to their transport position, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, by the linear motors  50  driving the respective actuator bell cranks  48  of the rock shaft  44 . In this way when the wing frame sections  19  and  20  are rotated forwardly, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rear ranks  40  of planting units  24  are rotated into their substantially vertical transport position, providing the seeding machine  10  with a more narrow transport width. The rockshaft  44  is provided with driven bell cranks  45  having lift links  47 .  
         [0024]    The frame segments  18 ,  19  and  20  are provided with ground support wheels  52 . The ground support wheels  52  contact the ground when the seeding machine  10  is in its working configuration. Downpressure to each planting unit  24  is applied by a pneumatic downpressure cylinder  54 . The pneumatic downpressure cylinder  54  extends between the main and wing frame segments  18 ,  19  and  20  and the front rank  38  of planting units  24  and main frame segment  18  and the rear rank  40  of planting units  24 . For the rear rank  40  of planting units  24  on the wing frame segments  19  and  20 , the pneumatic downpressure cylinder  54  extends between the pivot arm  42  and the planting units  24 . The pneumatic downpressure cylinders  54  engage a parallelogram linkage  56  joining the planting units to the respective frame segments  18  and  20  and pivot arms  42 . The parallelogram linkage  56  allows the planting units  24  to follow the ground relative to the frame segments  18 ,  19  and  20  and pivot arms  42 .  
         [0025]    As the seeding machine is moved from its working configuration to its transport configuration, the main frame segment  18  ground support wheels  52  are extended by hydraulic cylinders  58  raising the frame  16 . The wing frame segments  19  and  20  are pivoted forwardly until they engage the tow bar  12  with catches  53 . The linear motors  50  are extended pivoting the rockshafts  44  by means of the actuator bell cranks  48 . In this way, the pivot arms  42  and attached planting units  24  are rotated from their working position to their transport position.  
         [0026]    The seed hoppers  22  are provided with access lids  58  for accessing the interior of the seed hoppers  22 . To fill the seed hoppers  22  the operator mounts steps  59  onto operator walkway  60  and opens the access lids  58 . The walkway  60  is located above the row units  24  when they are in their working position. The walkway  60  comprises a footboard  61  and a walkway frame  62 . The walkway frame  62  is provided with railings  64  and warning lights  66 . The footboard  61  on each of the wing frame segments  20  is pivotally coupled to a walkway frame  62  by footboard pin  65 . The walkway frame  62  is pivotally coupled to the wing frame segments  19  and  20  by a walkway frame pin  66 . The walkway frame pin  66  defines a second pivot axis that is parallel to the first pivot axis defined by the rockshaft  44 . Similarly, the footboard pin  65  defines a third pivot axis that is parallel to the first and second pivot axes.  
         [0027]    As linear motor  50  is extended, it rotates the rockshaft  44  by rotating driven bell crank  45  and moving lift link  47 . The lift link  47  is coupled to the walkway frame  62  by lift link pin  68 . The lift link  47  is provided with a lost motion slot  49 . The lost motion slot  49  permits the pivot arms  42  to be raised a limited amount before the walkway frame  62  is pivoted relative to the wing frame segments  19  and  20 . As the lift link  47  engages the walkway frame  62 , the walkway frame  62  and the footboard  61  are pivoted about the walkway frame axis (second pivot axis) defined by walkway frame pin  66 . Further rotation of the rockshaft  44  causes the rear ranks  40  of planting units  24  for the wing frame segments  19  and  20  to butt up against the footboard  61 . Bumpers  70  mounted to the planting units  24  engage the underside of the footboard  61 . The bumpers  70  automatically pivot the footboard  61  about the footboard pivot axis (third pivot axis) defined by footboard pin  65  relative to the walkway frame  62 . In its final transport position the footboards  61  are sandwiched between the seed hoppers  22  and the rear ranks  40  of planting units  24  for the wing frame segments  19  and  20 .  
         [0028]    Transversely extending tube supports  72  are pivotally attached to the wing frame segments  19  and  20  by links  74 . The tube supports  72  are located below the operator walkways  60  and support the flexible tubes  26  for the rear ranks  40  of planting units  24 . The tube supports  72  rest on the rockshaft  44  when the seeding machine is in its working configuration. As the pivot arms  42  are pivoted to their transport position, the pivot arms  42  contact the tube support  72  raising the tube supports  72  with the pivot arms  42 . The tube supports  72  lift the flexible tubes  26  preventing them from kinking when the planting units  24  are raised into their transport positions.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 6, the seeding machine  10  has a second working configuration wherein the front ranks  38  of planting units  24  are used for planting and the second rank of planting units are pivoted upwardly by the pivot arms  42  into an intermediate holding position. In the intermediate holding position the rear ranks  40  of planting units  24  are no longer in contact with the ground and only the front rank  38  of planting units are planting seed. In this way, the front ranks  38  of planting units  24  can be used to plant at a wider row spacing then when the rear ranks  40  of planting units  24  are employed. For example, when the rear ranks  40  are in their intermediate holding position, the front ranks  38  of the planting units  24  can be used to plant corn in thirty-inch rows. When the rear ranks  40  of planting units  24  are lowered the seeding machine  10  can be used to plant soybeans in fifteen-inch rows. To maintain the rear ranks  40  of planter units  24  in the intermediate holding position, a U-shaped stop  76  is provided which fits over the linear actuator  50  and blocks the retraction of the hydraulic cylinder.  
         [0030]    A bank of seed hoppers  22  is best illustrated in FIGS.  8 - 10 . The bank of seed hoppers  22  comprises a series of individual plastic hoppers  80  having adjoining walls  82 . The adjoining walls  82  are provided with notches  84  so that seed can flow from one individual hopper  80  to another when both the front and rear ranks  38  and  40  of planting units  24  are in their working configuration. The notches  84  are outlined by a seal  86  that overlies the adjoining walls  82  of the individual hoppers  80 . When the rear ranks are raised into their intermediate holding position only half the planting units  24  are being used, so that alternating individual hoppers  80  feed non-working planting units  24 . As such, the bank of seed hoppers  22  is provided with removable baffles  88  having downwardly extending legs  90  that engage the adjoining walls  82  of the individual hoppers  80 . The downwardly extending legs  90  cooperate with the notches  84  to seal a working individual hopper  80  from the adjoining non-working individual hopper  80 . The legs are provided with a horizontal cover  94  that prevent seed from being deposited into the non-working hopper. Please note there are two types of baffles  88 , the rightmost baffle  88  in FIGS.  8 - 10  seals an end hopper  80  and the other two illustrated baffles  88  seal non-working hoppers  80  located between working hoppers  80 . The baffle for the end hopper is provided with one downwardly extending leg  90 , whereas the other two baffles  88  are provided with two downwardly extending legs. The covers  94  of the baffles  88  are provided with upwardly extending lips  96 . The upwardly extending lips  96  engage the recessed underside of access lid  58  to better fix the position of the baffles  88  relative to the individual hoppers  80 . The access lid  58  is pivotally secured to the frame segments  18 ,  19  and  20  by hinge arms  98 .  
         [0031]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a mechanical seed meter or a positive pressure pneumatic seed meter may be used in place of the vacuum seed meter disclosed in the specification above. Similarly, the seed can be directed to the individual unit hoppers by a pneumatic seed on demand system from a central hopper, instead of a using the gravity delivery system disclosed in the specification above. Therefore the present invention should be limited solely by the claims that follow.