Abstract:
A row unit for an agricultural planter having features for releasably operably coupling a seed meter of the row unit to a seed deposition apparatus of the row unit such as a seed conveyor, seed tube or the like. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the seed deposition apparatus. Apparatus are provided for biasing the seed deposition apparatus into operative engagement with the seed meter. The row unit includes features such as latches for releasably operably coupling the row unit to crop input and vacuum supply lines. Apparatus are provided for tipping a seed meter of the hopper for disengagement from the crop input and vacuum supply lines. Systems are provided for supplying vacuum and crop inputs to the seed meter via the releasably engageable apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, growers of corn and other crops have come to recognize the importance of planting individual seeds at the appropriate spacing. Due to the time constraints caused by field conditions and weather, modern row units have been developed that include features which improve seed singulation and spacing even at higher speeds. However, the time required to set up these features for planting can delay planting operations, as can errors in planter setup which interfere with operation. Thus, there is a need for a row unit having improved setup features allowing for more efficient and effective configuration of the row unit prior to planting operations. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a left side elevation view of an embodiment of an agricultural row unit in an operating position. 
         FIG. 1B  is a left side elevation view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A  in a partially disassembled position. 
         FIG. 1C  is an enlarged partial left side elevation view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 2A  is a right side elevation view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A  in the operating position. 
         FIG. 2B  is a right side elevation view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 2A  in the partially disassembled position. 
         FIG. 2C  is an enlarged partial right side elevation view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 3A  is a rear perspective view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A  in the operating position. 
         FIG. 3B  is a rear perspective view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 3A  in the partially disassembled position. 
         FIG. 3C  is an enlarged partial rear perspective view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A  in the operating position. 
         FIG. 4B  is a front perspective view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 4A  in the partially disassembled position. 
         FIG. 4C  is an enlarged partial front perspective view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 4B . 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A  in the operating position. 
         FIG. 6A  is a left side elevation view showing a portion of an embodiment of a seed conveyor and an embodiment of a seed meter in a first partially disengaged position corresponding to a first partially disassembled position of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 6B  is a left side elevation view of the seed conveyor and seed meter of  FIG. 6A  in a second partially disengaged position corresponding to a second partially disassembled position of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 7A  is a right side elevation view of the seed conveyor and seed meter of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7B  is a right side elevation view of the seed conveyor and seed meter of  FIG. 6B . 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the seed conveyor and seed meter of  FIG. 6B . 
         FIG. 9  is an upward perspective view of the seed conveyor and seed meter of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 10A  is a view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A  along the section  10 - 10  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10B  is an enlarged detailed view of the circled portion of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11  schematically illustrates an embodiment of a planter  10 . 
         FIG. 12A  is a partial right side elevation view of another embodiment of an agricultural row unit including a seed tube. 
         FIG. 12B  is a left side elevation view of another embodiment of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 12C  is a partial right side elevation view the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 12A  in a partially disassembled position. 
         FIG. 13  schematically illustrates another embodiment of a planter  10  including a separable electrical connector. 
         FIG. 14  is a view of the agricultural row unit of  FIG. 1A  along the section  10 - 10  of  FIG. 5 , in which a spring is replaced with an embodiment of a spring mount. 
         FIG. 15A  is a side elevation view of the spring mount of  FIG. 14  in a deflected position. 
         FIG. 15B  is a side elevation view of another embodiment of a spring mount in a deflected position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1A  illustrates an agricultural implement, e.g., a planter, comprising a toolbar  8  to which multiple row units  100  are mounted in transversely spaced relation. Each row unit  100  is preferably mounted to the toolbar  8  by a parallel arm arrangement  14  including upper and lower parallel arm pairs  15 - 1 , 15 - 2 , respectively, such that the row unit is permitted to translate vertically with respect to the toolbar. The row unit  100  preferably includes a frame  120  including a forward mounting post  128  and a rearward mounting post  122 . The upper and lower parallel arm pairs  15 - 1 , 15 - 2  are preferably pivotally mounted at a rearward end to the forward mounting post  128 . The row unit  100  preferably includes an opening disc assembly  130  including two angled discs rollingly mounted to a shank  165  ( FIG. 10A ) of the frame  120  and disposed to open a v-shaped trench in the soil as the row unit traverses a field. A knife  170  ( FIG. 10A ) is preferably removably mounted to the shank  165 . The knife  170  is configured to compress and shape the bottom of the furrow opened by the opening disc assembly  130 . A guard  104  is preferably mounted to the row unit frame  120  via a guard support  102  mounted to the row unit frame. The guard  104  is preferably configured to prevent soil and debris from passing between the opening discs of the opening disc assembly  130 . The row unit  100  preferably includes a gauge wheel assembly  140  including two gauge wheels  142  ( FIG. 5 ) pivotally mounted to the frame  120  and disposed to roll along the surface of the soil, thus limiting the depth of the trench opened by the opening disc assembly  130 . A downforce actuator  12  is preferably pivotally mounted to the toolbar  8  at a first end and at a second end to the parallel arm arrangement  14 . The downforce actuator is preferably configured to impose a controlled downforce on the row unit  100  such that full trench depth is maintained. A closing wheel assembly  190  comprising two closing wheels is preferably pivotally coupled to the frame  120  and disposed to move displaced soil back into the trench. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1A , seeds are communicated from a hopper  110  to a seed meter  400  preferably configured to singulate the supplied seeds. The meter  400  is preferably a vacuum-type meter such as that disclosed in Applicant&#39;s co-pending international patent application no. PCT/US2012/030192 (Pub. No. WO/2012/129442), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. A vacuum is imposed within the meter  400  by movement of air through a vacuum line  420  in fluid communication with the meter. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A through 3C , the hopper  110  is preferably pivotally mounted to the frame  120 . The hopper  110  preferably includes a seed storage bin  112  and left and right attachment arms  114 - 1 , 114 - 2 , respectively. The left and right attachment arms  114 - 1 , 114 - 2  are preferably releasably pivotally coupled to left and right pivot  124 - 1 , 124 - 2 , respectively. The pivots  124  are preferably mounted to the rearward mounting post  122 . Each pivot  124  preferably includes a plastic cylinder partially engaged by a semi-circular surface of the associated attachment arm  114 . 
     The meter  400  is preferably removably mounted to the hopper  110 . In operation, the seed meter  400  preferably deposits the supplied seeds into a seed conveyor  500  such as that disclosed in Applicant&#39;s co-pending international patent application no. PCT/US2012/57327, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The seed conveyor  500  is preferably removably mounted to the frame  120  and preferably conveys seeds deposited by the meter  400  to a lower end of the conveyor and deposits the seeds into the trench. As discussed further herein with respect to  FIGS. 12A-12C , in some embodiments the seed conveyor  500  is replaced with a seed tube  800 . In such embodiments, seeds deposited by the meter  400  fall through the seed tube  800  into the trench. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10A , the seed conveyor  500  is preferably positioned in an opening between opposing sidewalls  123  of the row unit frame  120 . The seed conveyor  500  preferably includes left and right protrusions  515  which partially constrain the position of the seed conveyor  500  by contacting a bracket  167  mounted to the shank  165  at a forward end and extending rearward to partially enclose the seed conveyor. 
     As discussed in detail elsewhere herein, as the hopper  110  is rotated rearward (clockwise on the view of  FIG. 1B ) about the pivots  124 , the meter  400  rotates with the hopper  110  and disengages from the seed conveyor  500 . Likewise, as the hopper  110  is rotated forward (counter-clockwise on the view of  FIG. 1B ) about the pivots  124 , the meter  400  rotates with the hopper  110  and engages the seed conveyor  500 . 
     Supply Coupler Assembly 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3C and 4C , a supply coupler assembly  200  is preferably mounted to the frame  120 . The supply coupler assembly  200  preferably includes a coupler frame  230 , which is preferably mounted to an upper end of the forward mounting post  128 . Referring to  FIG. 4C , a vacuum conduit  210  and a seed supply conduit  220  are preferably mounted to a forward side of the coupler frame  230  such that the vacuum and seed supply conduits extend forward from the coupler frame. Referring to  FIG. 3C , a rearward opening in the vacuum conduit  210  is circumferentially surrounded by a seal  231 . Referring to  FIG. 4C , as the hopper  110  is rotated forward (clockwise on the view of  FIG. 2C ) about the pivots  124  to the operating position (i.e., that illustrated in  FIG. 2A ), a plate  118 - 1  mounted to the hopper  110  preferably contacts the seal  231 . The plate  118 - 1  preferably includes an aperture in fluid communication with the vacuum line  420 . Thus in the operating position, the plate  118 - 1  and the seal  231  cooperate to releasably place the vacuum conduit  210  in fluid communication with the vacuum line  420 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3C , a rearward opening in the seed supply conduit  220  is circumferentially surrounded by a seal  232 . Referring to  FIG. 4C , as the seed hopper  110  is rotated forward to the operating position, a plate  118 - 2  mounted to the hopper  110  preferably contacts the seal  232 . The plate  118 - 2  preferably includes an aperture in fluid communication with a seed storage bin  112  of the hopper  110 . Thus in the operating position, the plate  118 - 2  and the seal  232  cooperate to releasably place the seed supply conduit  220  in fluid communication with the interior or the seed storage bin  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4C , a latch  300  preferably releasably latches the hopper  110  to the coupler assembly  200 . The latch  300  is preferably a push-to-close latch such as model no. R4-20-20-501-10 available from Southco in Concordville, Pa. As the hopper  110  is rotated toward the operating position, a hook  116  preferably enters a slot  236  ( FIG. 3C ) formed in the coupler frame  230 . When the hopper  110  is in the operating position, the latch  300  preferably engages the hook  116  such that the hopper  110  is latched in the operating position. When the latch  300  is engaged, the seals  131 , 132  are preferably compressed between the plates  118 - 1 , 118 - 2 , respectively and the coupler frame  230 . When the latch  300  is released, e.g., by manipulation of lever  310  ( FIG. 5 ), the hopper  110  is allowed to tip rearwardly such that the seals  131 , 132  separate from the plates  118 - 1 , 118 - 2 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 11 , the supply coupler assembly  200  is illustrated schematically on a planter  10  having multiple row units  100  transversely spaced along the toolbar  8 . Each seed supply conduit  220  is preferably in fluid communication with a bulk seed hopper  730  via a seed supply line  712 . The bulk seed hopper  730  is preferably supported by the toolbar  8 . The bulk seed hopper  730  is preferably configured to pneumatically supply seed (e.g., using a blower and manifold as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,722) to each hopper  110 . Each vacuum conduit  210  is preferably in fluid communication with a vacuum source  720  (e.g., an impeller-driven vacuum pump) via a vacuum line  711 . 
     In some embodiments of the planter  10 , the bulk seed hopper  730  is omitted such that the individual hoppers  110  are refilled manually. Additionally, even when a bulk seed hopper  730  is included, the operator is preferably able to configure the system such that the bulk seed hopper is not used. In such embodiments and configurations, the seed supply conduit  220  is preferably configured to be selectively closed, e.g., with a removable cap  222  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Conveyor-Meter Engagement and Disengagement 
     Turning to  FIGS. 6A through 9 , as the hopper  110  is rotated forward into the operating position, the meter  400  preferably releasably engages the seed conveyor  500 . It should be appreciated that the position and orientation of the seed conveyor  500  relative to the meter  400  in the operating position is important in establishing successful communication of seeds from a seed disc  450  ( FIG. 7A ) of the meter to the seed conveyor; however, for ease of removal and installation, the meter and the seed conveyor are preferably engageable and disengageable by simple rotation of the hopper  110 . Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the meter  400  preferably includes a vacuum housing  415  and a seed housing  430  including a pocket  432  configured to receive seed from the hopper  110 . The vacuum housing  415  preferably includes a guide  424  having a guide surface  426 . The seed housing  430  preferably includes a guide  434  having a guide surface  436 . The seed conveyor  500  preferably includes a vertical alignment fin  510 . As the hopper  110  is rotated forward into the operating position, the guide surfaces  426 , 436  guide the fin  510  between the guides  424 , 434 . In the operating position, the guides  424 , 434  constrain the transverse position (the left-right position on the view of  FIG. 8 ) of the seed conveyor  500  relative to the meter  400  as well as the vertical orientation of the seed conveyor (along a plane normal to the page in  FIG. 8 ) such that seeds are effectively communicated from the seed conveyor to the meter. 
     Comparing  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6B  and  FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 7B , the meter  400  is illustrated in two positions as the hopper  110  is rotated forward, progressively engaging the meter with the seed conveyor  500 . Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the seed conveyor  500  preferably includes a protrusion  538  at an upper end, and the seed housing  430  of the meter  400  preferably includes a corresponding pocket  438  configured to receive the protrusion  538 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 4A , in the operating position the pocket  438  retains the fore-aft position (the left-right position on the view of  FIG. 7B ) of the seed conveyor  500  relative to the meter and limits the upward vertical movement of the seed conveyor relative to the meter. 
     In order to allow the seed conveyor  500  to be guided into the desired position by the meter  400 , the seed conveyor is preferably flexibly mounted to the row unit frame  120 . In order to maintain the seed conveyor  500  in the desired position relative to the meter  400 , the seed conveyor is preferably resiliently mounted and biased toward engagement with the meter  400 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the seed conveyor  500  is preferably supported by a spring  160 . The spring  160  is preferably pivotally supported by a post  121  within the row unit frame  120 . Counter-clockwise rotation of the spring  160  (on the view of  FIG. 10 ) is preferably limited by contact of a rearward end of the spring with the row unit frame  120 . The seed conveyor  500  preferably includes a mounting tab  560  which rests in an aperture in the spring  160 , fixing the position and orientation of the seed conveyor relative to the aperture. When the only other force acting on the seed conveyor  500  is gravity (acting vertically on the view of  FIG. 10 ), the spring  160  is preferably configured to resiliently retain the seed conveyor  500  in a natural position slightly above and slightly forward of the position in which the seed conveyor is fully engaged with the meter  400 . The spring  160  is preferably configured to impose an upward biasing force Fby on the seed conveyor  500  when the meter  400  imposes a downward force on the seed conveyor. The spring  160  is preferably configured to impose a rearward biasing force Fbx on the seed conveyor  500  when the meter  400  imposes a forward force on the seed conveyor. Such a forward force is imposed, e.g., by the guide  434  on a surface  514  of the seed conveyor adjacent to the guide fin  510  ( FIG. 8 ). Thus in the operating position, the spring  160  biases the seed conveyor  500  against the meter  400  such that the position of the seed conveyor relative to the meter is resiliently maintained. Moreover, as the hopper  110  is rotated rearward and the seed conveyor  500  returns to its natural position, the meter  400  disengages from the seed conveyor without the use of tools. 
     In the alternative embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 14-15B , the spring  160  is replaced with a spring mount  1400 . The spring mount  1400  preferably includes a rim  1420  sized to rest on the row unit frame and a center portion  1410  resiliently displaceable relative to the rim, to a downwardly deflected position such as that illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B . In the embodiment of  FIG. 15A , the center portion  1410  displaces with respect to the rim  1420  by bending of a joint  1430 ; the joint  1430  preferably biases the center portion toward a position parallel to the rim  1420  (illustrated in  FIG. 14 ). In the embodiment of spring mount  1400 ′ of  FIG. 15B , the center portion  1410  displaces with respect to the rim  1420  by deflection of a coil spring  1440 ; in this embodiment the center portion  1410  is pivotally mounted to the rim  1420  and the coil spring  1440  biases the center portion toward a position parallel to the rim  1420  (illustrated in  FIG. 14 ). The center portion  1410  preferably includes an opening  1416  sized allow a lower portion of the seed conveyor  500  to pass therethrough. The center portion  1410  preferably includes (or has mounted thereto) a downwardly extending hook  1412  configured to releasably engage the mounting tab  560  of the seed conveyor  500 . In an installation phase, the operator preferably places the spring mount  1400  on the row unit frame  120  above an opening formed by sidewalls  123 ; the operator then preferably slides the lower portion of the seed conveyor  500  downward through the opening  1416  until the hook  1412  engages the mounting tab  560 . Thus in operation, the spring mount  1400  supports the seed conveyor  500  and biases the seed conveyor vertically upward for resilient engagement with the seed meter. 
     Seed Tube Embodiments 
     Turning to  FIGS. 12A through 12C , a modified row unit  100 ′ having a seed tube  800  instead of a seed conveyor is illustrated. The row unit  100 ′ includes a modified hopper  110 ′ configured to releasably engage a coupler assembly  200 ′. When a latch  300 ′ is released, the hopper  110 ′ is removed by rearward rotation (counter-clockwise on the perspective of  FIG. 12A ) about pivots  124 ′. The row unit  100 ′ preferably includes a modified seed meter  400 ′ mounted to the hopper  110 ′. The meter  400 ′ is preferably in fluid communication with a vacuum source via a modified vacuum line  420 ′ and the coupling assembly  200 ′. The seed meter  400 ′ preferably includes an adapter funnel  490  configured to engage the seed tube  800  (e.g., enter an upper end of the seed tube  800 ) as the hopper  110 ′ is rotated into the operating position. The adapter funnel  490  thus establishes seed communication between the meter  400  and the seed tube  800 . In the operating position, seeds are delivered from the meter  400 ′ to the seed tube  800  via the adapter funnel  490 . The adapter funnel  490  is preferably configured to disengage from the seed tube  800  when the hopper  110 ′ is rotated rearward. 
     It should be appreciated that in some implementations, the user may prefer to use the same planter  10  to plant with seed tubes and seed conveyors. For example, the user may prefer to plant certain crops (e.g., corn) with a seed conveyor and other crops (e.g., smaller-seed crops) with a seed tube. Thus the same hopper  110  is preferably configured to operably support either the meter  400  or the modified meter  400 ′. Additionally, the same row unit frame  120  is preferably configured to support either the seed conveyor  500  or the seed tube  800 . 
     Alternative Coupler Assembly Embodiments 
     Turning to  FIG. 12 , a modified row unit  100 ″ is schematically illustrated having a separable electrical connector  290 . The connector  290  preferably comprises a plug  292  mounted to the hopper  110  and a socket  294  mounted to a modified coupler assembly  200 ″. The plug  292  is in electrical communication with a seed sensor  296  disposed to detect passage of seeds through the seed conveyor  500 . The socket  294  is preferably in electrical communication with a processor  298 . 
     The coupler assembly  200 ″ preferably includes a modified coupler frame  230 ″ having an opening permitting engagement of the plug  292  and the socket  294 . As the hopper  110  is rotated into the operating position, the plug  292  engages the socket  294  such that the plug is in electrical communication with the socket. Thus in the operating position, the processor  298  is in electrical communication with the seed sensor  296  via the connector  290 . When the hopper  110  is rotated rearward for removal of the hopper, the plug  292  separates from the socket  294 . In other embodiments, the coupler assembly  200 ″ includes further separable connectors  290  by which power is supplied to the seed conveyor  500  and the seed meter  400 . 
     The foregoing description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, and the general principles and features of the system and methods described herein will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Thus, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments of the apparatus, system and methods described above and illustrated in the drawing figures, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.