Patent · US Expired

Down force adjustment and lift for an opener supported from a frame by lift arms

US5163518A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
7References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 21, 1991
Grant dateNov 17, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 21, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA01C7/205
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A plurality of parallel arm type openers are mounted on a frame tube, and a rockshaft is supported directly below the tube. Adjacent each of the openers, a lever arm is fixed for rotation with the rockshaft and, upon rotation of the rockshaft in a first direction, the lever arm engages the parallel arms to lift the opener while the frame tube remains stationary in the vertical direction. A tension spring assembly connected between the parallel arms and the lever arm applies varying down force when the opener is lowered by rotating the rockshaft in the opposite direction. The amount of down pressure can be adjusted for varying conditions by rotation of the rockshaft, and adjustment can be made on-the-go from the tractor cab to compensate for changing ground conditions in a given field. Locking structure on the row units permits selective lock-up of row units with a single cycle of the hydraulic lift system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.