Patent Publication Number: US-2013234496-A1

Title: Planter dual wheel mounting device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hub extension for attaching dual wheels to an agricultural planter and in particular to a hub extension for use on Bauer-John Deere and Case IH planters. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A planter is an agricultural farm implement towed behind a tractor, used for sowing crops through a field. The planter is connected to the tractor with a draw-bar, or a three-point hitch. Planters lay the seed down in precise manner along rows. Seeds are distributed through devices called row units. The row units are spaced evenly along the planter. Planters vary greatly in size, from 2 rows to 48, with the largest being the 48-row John Deere DB120. Prior art planters typically included one or more axles containing a single wheel at each end of the axle. When using the prior art planters, the single wheels commonly cause excessive soil compaction, lack traction during wet conditions and cause significant stress on the planter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises an auxiliary wheel adapter system with the mounting of an auxiliary wheel in coaxial alignment with the existing wheel and at a disposition closely spaced laterally of the existing planter wheel. The dual wheels of the present invention overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by improving the planter&#39;s traction and reducing soil compaction by decreasing the weight carried by each tire. 
     The present invention utilizes a substantially simple adaptor device, which includes a reinforced tubular frame, inboard and outboard external flange structures arranged respectively on opposite ends of the tubular frame. The coaxial mounting of the auxiliary wheel permits the wheel to readily be mounted adjacent to an existing planter wheel without modification to the planter&#39;s axle or structure. Also, the auxiliary wheel means of the invention may be formed to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the existing planter wheel and thus permit the auxiliary wheel to engage the supporting surface only at such times as when the planter is traversing soft or muddy terrain. 
     The auxiliary wheel also provides a greater width and, therefore, greater stability to the planter. The adaptor device of the present invention utilizes existing wheel fastening means in fastening the auxiliary wheel on the existing wheel structure of the planter and may readily be installed or removed from the existing wheel structure of the planter. The substantially simple and durable structure of the adapter device of the invention provides adaptor means which is strong and durable and an adapter device which may readily be economically fabricated and marketed. 
     These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the adapter device in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the adapter device illustrating the inboard and outboard flanges in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the inboard flange in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the adapter device in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the tubular frame, inboard flange, outboard flange and threaded shafts of the adapter device in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an agricultural planter with dual wheels in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in the following description. 
       FIGS. 1 through 6  show a device of the present invention which allows for attaching dual wheels to an agricultural planter. The adaptor means of the present invention is indicated by numeral  10  and will be described in conjunction with the auxiliary planter wheels  12  and the OEM planter wheels  14  supported on the planter axles  16 . The OEM planter wheels  14  include inboard steel rim structures  18  concentrically fitted respectively with surface engaging tire structures  20 . A plurality of bolt apertures  38  arranged in a circular pattern (not shown) to match the pattern of the wheel mounting studs  22 . The mounting studs  22  are inserted through the bolt apertures  38  of the OEM rim structure  18 . Wheel nuts  36  are threaded onto the mounting studs  22  to secure the OEM planter wheel  14  to the planter hub  24 . 
     Auxiliary wheel adaptor means  10  includes an adaptor device  26  adapted to coactingly engage existing OEM wheel  14  and wheel fastening means  22  of the planter. Adaptor device  26  consists of a tubular frame  28 ; inboard and outboard external flange structures  30 ,  32  arranged respectively on opposite end portions of the tubular frame  28 . The tubular frame  28  can be of varying lengths depending upon the planter model. 
     Adaptor device  26  is adapted to be fitted substantially within the interior of steel rim  18  of OEM tire wheel  14 . The inboard flange structure  30  of adaptor device  26  has a plurality of bolt apertures  34  arranged in a circular pattern having the same diameter as, and aligned with the apertures  38  in the OEM rim  18 . The wheel nuts  36  are removed from the mounting studs  22 . The mounting studs  22  are then inserted through the bolt apertures  34  of the adapter device  26 . Thereafter, wheel nuts  36  are threaded onto the studs  22 , in a conventional manner, and are tightened to secure the OEM wheel  14  and the adapter device  26  to the planter hub  24 . It will be understood that the number of bolt apertures  34  provided on the inboard flange  30  and the spacing thereof will be determined by the number and spacing of the wheel mounting studs  22  of the planter hub  24 . 
     At the opposite end of the tubular frame  28 , the outboard flange  32  is provided with a circular pattern of apertures  42 . Maintained within the apertures  42  are a plurality of externally threaded shafts  40  which project outwardly from the outboard flange  32  substantially parallel to the axis of the tubular frame  28  and spaced equally thereabout to mate with the mounting apertures  44  of the auxiliary wheel  12 . Obviously, the number and spacing of the threaded shafts  40  will be determined by the number and spacing of the mounting apertures  44  of the auxiliary wheel  12 . The threaded shafts  40  are inserted through the mounting apertures  44  of the auxiliary wheel  12 . Wheel nuts  36  are threaded onto the threaded shafts  40  to secure the auxiliary wheel  12  to the adapter device  26 . 
     To mount dual wheels on the planter hub  24 , using the adapter device  26 , the OEM wheel  14  is mounted inserting the wheel mounting studs  22  of the planter hub  24  through the mounting apertures  38  of the OEM wheel  14 , in a conventional manner. Next, the wheel mounting studs  22  of the planter hub  24  are inserted through the apertures  34  of the inboard flange  30  of the adapter device  26 . Thereafter, wheel nuts  36  are threaded onto the wheel mounting studs  22 , in a conventional manner, and are tightened to secure the OEM wheel  14  and adapter device  26  to the planter hub  24 . Next, the auxiliary wheel  12  is mounted by inserting the shafts  40  of the outboard flange  32  of the adapter device  26  through the mounting apertures  42  of the auxiliary planter wheel  12 . Thereafter, wheel nuts  36  are threaded onto the shafts  40  and tightened to secure the auxiliary planter wheel  12  to the outboard flange  32 . 
     Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. 
     Index of Elements for Planter Dual Wheel Mounting Device 
       
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 10. Adapter Means 
               
               
                   
                 12. Auxiliary Planter Wheel 
               
               
                   
                 14. OEM Planter Wheel 
               
               
                   
                 16. Planter Axle 
               
               
                   
                 18. OEM Rim 
               
               
                   
                 20. OEM Tire 
               
               
                   
                 22. Wheel Mounting Studs 
               
               
                   
                 24. Rotating Hub 
               
               
                   
                 26. Adapter Device 
               
               
                   
                 28. Tubular Frame 
               
               
                   
                 30. Inboard Flange 
               
               
                   
                 32. Outboard Flange 
               
               
                   
                 34. Inboard Flange Apertures 
               
               
                   
                 36. Nuts 
               
               
                   
                 38. OEM Rim Bolt Apertures 
               
               
                   
                 40. Externally Threaded Shafts 
               
               
                   
                 42. Outboard Flange Apertures 
               
               
                   
                 44. Auxiliary Wheel Apertures