Abstract:
The present invention provides a novel configuration for agricultural row units that feature soil finishing assemblies. This configuration of the finishing assembly provides a simple adjustment of the height of the finishing assembly to enhance usability and flexibility of the row unit. The improved adjustment mechanism enhances user control over the vertical distance between the finishing wheels/discs and the ground opening assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, soil finishing assembly is pivotally coupled to the row unit frame via a height adjustment assembly. The height adjustment assembly may feature a biasing member and other components to allow adjustment of one end of the pivotal coupling of the adjustment assembly within the row unit assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to agricultural tillage implements, such as plows and ground penetrating row units, used in farming operations. More particularly, the invention relates to a ground penetrating assembly and a ground finishing assembly. 
         [0002]    The ground penetrating assembly is used to break up the ground to enable seed deposition. A ground finishing assembly typically follows the ground opener assembly to create a soil finish that is desirable for planting. The ground finishing assembly or apparatus may contain firming wheels, blades or other tools to achieve the desired finish. The finishing apparatus may be utilized to create mounded berms or a flat undisturbed surface finish. The particular finish desired may depend on several conditions and may be necessary for optimum plant germination. Therefore, farmers may till their fields at various depths depending upon soil conditions. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel configuration for agricultural row units that feature soil finishing assemblies. This configuration of the finishing assembly provides a simple adjustment of the height of the finishing assembly to enhance usability and flexibility of the row unit. The improved and simplified adjustment mechanism enhances user control over the vertical distance between the finishing wheels/discs and the ground opening assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the soil finishing assembly is pivotally coupled to the row unit frame via a height adjustment assembly. The height adjustment assembly may feature a biasing member and other components to enable a quick adjustment of one end of the pivotal coupling of the adjustment assembly within the row unit assembly. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a row unit assembly, including a ground penetrating assembly, finishing wheels, and a height adjustment assembly; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the row unit assembly shown in  FIG. 1  with certain components removed for clarity; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the row unit assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , including the ground finishing wheels and the height adjustment assembly; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the height adjustment assembly shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the row unit assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , further illustrating the placement of the finishing wheels relative to the ground opening tool and the soil profile; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a row unit assembly, including a ground penetrating assembly, berm building blades, and the height adjustment assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0012]    As discussed in detail below, various configurations of agricultural implement ground finishing assemblies may be employed to simplify finishing height of a terrain for an operator. In particular, an embodiment includes a simple pin adjustment, that can enable height adjustment without tools or adjustment of other implement components. This arrangement simplifies height adjustment for an operator, enabling the operator to quickly change the height of the finishing assembly. Moreover, the embodiment enables height adjustment of the finishing assembly that is used to control the firming of the soil. 
         [0013]    Turning now to the drawings and referring first to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a tillage assembly in the form of a plow assembly is illustrated and designated generally by reference numeral  10 . As discussed in detail below, the assembly  10  includes a unique height adjustment assembly  12  to enable quick and easy adjustments of finishing equipment. In the present context, the planter assembly may also be referred to as a plow assembly, a ground opening/penetrating assembly or an opener assembly. Plow assembly  10  is a type of row unit, a plurality of which may be placed on an agricultural implement to be towed by a tractor in order to prepare for planting of crops. 
         [0014]    Plow assembly  10  includes the height adjustment assembly  12 , which is pivotally coupled to upper bracket  14  via pivot pin  16 . Pivot pin  16  is located on a first end of height adjustment assembly  12  and is configured to be inserted in height adjustment holes  17 . A second end of height adjustment assembly  12  is pivotally mounted to mounting bracket  18  via holes and lower boss  20 . Lower holes and lower boss  20  may include bolts, nuts, and/or pins to pivotally couple mounting bracket  18  to the height adjustment assembly  12 . Included in mounting bracket  18  are horizontal plates  22 , which are arranged to allow simple adjustments and mounting of finishing wheels or other tools. Mounting bracket  18  and horizontal plates  22  are coupled via fasteners to finishing wheel arms  24 , which in turn are coupled to finishing wheel mounting assemblies  26 . Finishing wheel arms  24  and finishing wheel mounting assemblies  26  may feature bearings, hubs, or any suitable joints to facilitate rotation. In an embodiment, finishing wheel mounting assembly  26  includes holes and fasteners, such as bolts, to allow the mounting of finishing wheels  28 . Finishing wheels  28  may include steel or aluminum wheel and rubber tires. In an embodiment, the finishing wheels  28  may be composed of one or more wheels to contact the ground and shape the soil to a desire surface finish. As will be discussed later, finishing wheels  28  may be removed from finishing wheel mounting assembly  26  and replaced with disks or other suitable tools to shape and finish the soil. 
         [0015]    Plow assembly  10  also includes is main bracket  30 , which may be configured to couple the plow assembly  10  to a tool bar located on the tillage assembly via holes  32  and a fastener mechanism. As previously mentioned, multiple plow assemblies  10  may be coupled to a tool bar to comprise an agricultural implement. For example, an agricultural implement may include 6, 12, 18, or more plow assemblies. Components of plow assembly  10 , such as main bracket  30 , may be formed from any suitable strong material, such as steel. Main bracket  30  provides support to mounting bracket  18  via pivotal coupling  34 , which may include a bolt and nut to allow movement of the finishing wheels  28 . Also supported by main bracket  30  is upper bracket  14 , which may be rigidly coupled to main bracket  30  via bolts  36 . Further, plow assembly  10  includes a shank  38 , which is rigidly coupled to both support bracket  30  and ground penetrating assembly  40 . Ground penetrating assembly  40  may include an opener, a chisel plow, a knife, or a Minimum Soil Displacement chisel plow. As illustrated, finishing wheels  28  contact and shape the soil aft of ground penetrating assembly  40 . 
         [0016]    In the present context, finishing wheel arms  24 , finishing wheel mounting assemblies  26 , and finishing wheels  28  may collectively be referred to as a finishing assembly or finishing wheel assembly. In an embodiment, the arrangement of the upper bracket  14 , the finishing assembly, and the height adjustment assembly  12  facilitate a simple height adjustment of the finishing wheels  28  relative to the ground penetrating tool  40 . Further, in certain embodiments, the adjustment assembly is configured to change height, relative to the tool  40 , by removal and insertion of pivot pin  16  in upper bracket  14 . For example, the pivot pin  16  may be removed from one set of holes and reinserted into another set of holes to adjust the position of wheels  28 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the plow assembly  10  with certain components removed to enhance clarity. Specifically, a side plate of upper bracket  14  and a side plate of mounting bracket  18  has been removed to show height adjustment assembly  12  in greater detail. As depicted, guide plate  19  runs alongside adjustment holes  17 , thereby preventing pin  16  and pin tube  41  from falling outside upper bracket  14  during a height adjustment process. Guide plate  19  may be mounted on the inside of either side of upper bracket  14  alongside holes  17  to enable an easy height adjustment for an operator. In an embodiment, height adjustment assembly  12  includes compression spring  42 , lower spring seat  44  and upper spring seat  46 . A first end of the compression spring  42  may couple to upper spring seat  46  and a second end of compression spring  42  may couple to lower spring seat  44 . Upper and lower spring seats  46  and  44  may be disposed in substantially parallel planes to one another. Further, pivot pin  16  is coupled to upper spring seat  16  and lower pivot pin  20  is coupled to lower spring seat  44 . 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, mounting holes  17  are shown in one side plate of upper bracket  14  to facilitate a height adjustment of the finishing assembly via pivot pin  16 . For example, the mounting holes  17  may be spaced apart at about 2 inches, thereby enabling a total height adjustment from the top mounting hole to the bottom mounting hole of around 16 inches. Further, the illustration shows that a simple height adjustment may be made by moving pivot pin  16  within mounting holes  17  to adjust the height of the finishing assembly. As discussed below, placement of pivot pin  16  in the uppermost hole  17  will cause pivotal movement of mounting bracket  18  about pivotal coupling  34 , thereby raising the height of finishing wheels  28 , and will also lessen the soil firming of ground penetrating assembly  40  and finishing wheels  28 . As pivot pin  16  is moved into lower holes  17 , the height of finishing wheels  28  is lowered, increasing the firming of the soil. 
         [0019]    A top view of the plow assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The figure shows finishing wheels  28 , lower spring seat  44 , upper spring seat  46 , height adjustment assembly  12 , and pivot pin  16 . The diagram shows that pivot pin  16  is coupled to upper spring seat  46  via a fastener assembly and is inserted in upper bracket  14 . The illustration also shows that horizontal mounting plates  22  may feature holes  27  and fasteners to enable an operator to control the spacing of the finishing wheels  28 . For example, the space between finishing wheels  28  may be used to control the width of the berm being shaped by the finishing assembly and the movement of finishing wheels  28 , shown by arrows  29 . Further, finishing wheel arms  24  are also adjustable to be slanted fore and aft, to control the amount of soil moved by finishing wheels  28 . This is accomplished by assembling the left finishing wheel arm  24  on the right-hand side and vice-versa. This modified arrangement causes the blades  58  to be closer or further rearward of  40 , thereby creating a larger mound. For example, the bolts mounting finishing wheels  28  to plates  22  may be removed and each of the finishing wheels  28  may be rotated 180° about a vertical axis and remounted. At this position, finishing wheels  28  are located on the outside of finishing wheel arms  24 , thus creating and firming a larger mound of soil. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of height adjustment assembly  12  and its components. Included in the assembly is tension member  48 , which is surrounded by compression spring  42 . In an embodiment, tension member  48  may be coupled to and run through upper spring seat  46  and lower spring seat  44  via any suitable fastener, such as by the threaded portion of member  48  and nut  43 . As discussed above, coupled to the ends of height adjustment assembly  12  are pivot tube  41  and boss member  20  which, in turn, are coupled to upper bracket  14  and mounting bracket  18 . The arrangement of height adjustment assembly  12  enables some compression of spring  42  as finishing wheels  28  ride over changes in elevation of the soil, such as large soil clods, thereby temporarily increasing the distance between ground penetrating tool  40  and finishing wheels  28 . 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, the lower end of tension member  48  may be permitted to travel through an opening  49  in lower boss member  20  as the finishing wheels  28  move upward, allowing the compression of spring  42 . The other end of tension member  48  is rigidly coupled to pivot tube  41  and may be referred to a T bolt. In the example, the finishing wheels  28  may be moved upward by passing over elevated terrain, thereby compressing the spring  42 , decreasing the distance between spring seats  46  and  44 , while tension member  48  protrudes through the opening  49  in the lower spring seat  44 . Further, when the finishing wheels return to a neutral position (e.g., a generally flat terrain), a nut attached to the lower end of tension member  48  serves as a stop, thereby pressing against the outer portion of boss member  20  to maintain the maximum fixed distance between the spring seats  44  and  46 . The maximum fixed distance between the spring seats  44  and  46  is directly related to, and thereby controls, the minimum vertical distance, or firming height, between tool  40  and finishing wheels  28 . This will be shown in detail in the  FIG. 5 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of plow assembly  10  in operation. The plow assembly  10  is shown performing a ground opening or tilling operation, wherein reference numeral  50  represents pre-tillage soil and numeral  52  represents raised or tilled soil that has been loosened by ground penetrating tool  40 . In an embodiment, finishing wheel  28  contacts the loosened soil  52 , thereby shaping and firming the soil as indicated by numeral  54 . Height adjustment assembly  12  and firming wheel  28  are configured to achieve a firming height  56  (e.g., vertical distance between tool  40  and wheels  28 ) that will result in the desired soil height and/or soil finish. In the case of berm building blades instead of firming wheels, height  56  may control a finished berm height. As discussed above, the height adjustment assembly  12  enables the operator to easily set a minimum firming height  56  for the finishing wheels  28 . Soil finishing assembly  51 , including finishing wheels  28  and height adjustment assembly  12 , may be utilized to firm the soil into a berm, fill the furrow behind the ground opening tool  40  and/or level the berm. The soil finishing assembly  51  may reduce the tendency of loosened top soil to be moved laterally by weather or other forces, such as wind or rain. Thus, the arrangement of the plow assembly  10  and finishing assembly  51  provide a field that is more ready for planting without a need for further tillage or harrowing. Further, the simple height adjustment assembly  12  of the plow system  10  enables the operator to optimize firming height  56  to achieve optimal farming conditions. 
         [0023]    As illustrated, height adjustment assembly  12  enables an adjustment of pivot pin  16  in direction  57 , thereby changing the position of finishing wheels  28 , shown by arrow  59 . As finishing wheels  28  move in direction  59 , mounting bracket  18  rotates about pivotal coupling  34 , shown by arrow  61 . Arrow  59  indicates that finishing wheels  28  may move in a curved path, that results in a horizontal and vertical movement. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates and embodiment of plow assembly  10  wherein the finishing wheels  28  have been replaced by berm building disk blades  58  mounted to finishing wheel mounting assembly  26 . Disk blades  58  shape the soil, whereas finishing wheels  28  firm the soil as the plow assembly passes over the terrain. The fasteners on mounting assemblies  26  may be removed to enable an operator easily to change from firming wheels to disk blades or other suitable finishing tools. In an embodiment, the ground penetrating tool  40  may be changed along with finishing wheels  28  or berm building disk blades  58  to accommodate changes in soil or other conditions. Further, the finishing wheels  28  or berm building disk blades  58  may be mounted with the right and left wheel arms  24  reversed (instead of as shown) to control the amount of soil caught by the blades or tires. In the case of the berm building disk blades  58 , they can be mounted with the concave side facing inward, which builds a loose soil mound, or with the concave side facing outward, which builds a compressed mound. As previously discussed, finishing wheels  28  may be adjusted in a similar manner to control the size of the soil mound that is firmed. These positional adjustments to the angles and locations of finishing wheels  28  and disk blades  58  may be enabled by unbolting finishing wheel arms  24  from the holes on horizontal plates  22  and remounting the arms  24  where the wheels  28  or blades  58  are located outside the arms  24 . 
         [0025]    While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.