CA2584736A1 - Controlled downward force on furrow packing element - Google Patents
Controlled downward force on furrow packing element Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2584736A1 CA2584736A1 CA 2584736 CA2584736A CA2584736A1 CA 2584736 A1 CA2584736 A1 CA 2584736A1 CA 2584736 CA2584736 CA 2584736 CA 2584736 A CA2584736 A CA 2584736A CA 2584736 A1 CA2584736 A1 CA 2584736A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- force
- wheel
- furrow
- operative
- arm
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
- A01C7/00—Sowing
- A01C7/20—Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
- A01C7/201—Mounting of the seeding tools
- A01C7/203—Mounting of the seeding tools comprising depth regulation means
Abstract
A furrow opener apparatus comprises a furrow opener and a packer wheel oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener. A bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the packer wheel, and a sensing mechanism determines a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel. A control mechanism allows the operator to adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range as soil conditions vary.
Description
CONTROLLED DOWNWARD FORCE ON FURROW PACKING ELEMENT
This invention is in the field of seeding implements used in agriculture, and in particular implements that utilize a packing element, most commonly a packer wheel, as a terraia following gauge wheel to control the operating depth of the furrow openers as well as pack the furrow.
BACKGROUND
Trailing arm terrain following fiuTow opener assemblies are well known in the agricultural implement industry. A typical example of such an assembly will have an arm pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the implement frame, and a packer wheel rotatably attached to the rear end of the artn. One or more furrow opener brackets extend downward from middle portions of the arm, and furrow openers are attached to the bottom of the brackets. The packer wheel is typically aligned with a furrow opener to paclc the furrow. A bias element, such as a spring, hydraulie cylinder, or pneumatie cylinder, exerts a downward force between the frame and the arm. The downward force forcies the furrow openers into the ground, and also forces the packer wheel against the ground.
, . , I . ,. .
As the implement moves along the ground in rolling terrain, the arm moves up and down with respect to the frame as the relative positions of the packer wheel and frame changes.
The packer wheel thus functions as a packing element by firming up the loosened soil araund and above the seed, and also acts as a depth gauge for the furrow openers mounted on the arm.
It is desirable to have a uniform and adequate packing force to achieve good seed to soil contact for germination. The advent of direct seeding or zero-till often includes the practice of shallow seeding and early seeding. With shallow seeding the importance of sut]Fi.cient packing is more critical since there is a higher potential of the soil around the see3 drying out if it is not firm. Conversely over-packing can make it difficult for the seeilling to emerge. While skid plates and track devices may also be used as the packing elernent, the wheel is most common, particularly with trailing arm furrow opener assemblies.
The downward bias force can usually be adjusted by mechanical, electrical or electronic means to change the force for different soil types and crop requirements. Some soils are harder and require considerably more force to push the furrow openers into the ground and keep them their, as well as exert sufficient force on the packer wheel to pack the soil over the furrow. Other soils are quite soft and require a much reduced bias force to maintain the furrow openers in the soil and pack the furrow.
~,~
W.here the bias force is provided by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, changing the supply pressure to the cylinder changes the force. Where the bias force is provided by a spring, increasing or decreasing the spring compression level, changes the force. Some planters include in-cab adjustment capabilities so that the operator can change the bias force from the cab to compensate for soil types, moisture conditions, ground speed, and residue effects.
Examples of such a ftirrow opener assembly are found in United States Patent Numbers 5,331,907 and 5,396,851 to 13eaujot. The Beaujot assemblies include separate seed and fertilizer openers mounted on an arm that includes a packingldepth-gauging wheel at the trailing end. A hydraulic cylinder that has an active oil supply is included on each opener. The operator can set the active oil pressure manually on the pressure-controlling valve or remotely thru an in-cab control to adjust the downward bias force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a traiWig arm furrow opener assembly that overcomes problems in the prior art.
~~~ ;
Trailing arm furrow openers that utilize the packer wheel as the openers depth gauge are built such that the furrow openers attached to the arm are vertically controlled by the packer wheel. Because of the interconnected construction the drag and penetrating forces on the ground engaging furrow opener elements directly affect the resulting vertical packing force on the packing element.
On such a furrow opener assembly the drag forces resulting from pulling the furrow opener through the soil, and the upward forces on the fiurow opener resulting from the force required to maintain the furrow opener engaged in the ground combine to exert an upward force on the trailing arm. The rolling resistance force reqLured to roll the packer wheel forward along the ground also exerts an upward force on the arm. These upward forces reduce the amount of the downward bias force that is available to force the packer wheel, toward the ground and provide packing force.
Soil conditions can vary considerably from field to field and also within a single field and so the packing force varies considerably with the result that in some areas of the field the furrows are over-packed while in other areas the furrows are not sufficiently packed. An operator is un-aware of the packing, performance a.s it varies over different portions of the field or from field to field. The furrow opener apparatus of the present invention det.emiines the packing force exerted on the furrow and allows the operator to adjust the bias force exerted on the packer wheel to maintain the packing force within a desired range as soil conditions vary.
In a first embodiment the present invention provides a furrow opener apparatus comprising a furrow opener and a packer wheel oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener. A bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the packer wheel, and a sensing mechanism is operative to deternune a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel. A control mechanism is operative to allow the operator to adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
In a second embodiment the present invention provides furrow opener apparatus adapt.ed for attachment to an agricultural seeding implement frame. The apparatus comprises a trailing arm adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to the frame about a substantially horizotital arm pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement. A bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the arm. A fz-rrow opener bracket extends downward from a middle portion of the arm, and a furrow opener is attached to a lower end of the furrow opener bracket. A packer wheel is configured to support a rear portion of the arm and oriente.d to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener, A sensing mechanism is operative to determine a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer , ~ . , .
wheel, and a control mechanism is operative to allow the operator to adja4t the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
nESCRIPTIqN OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjtmction with the aecompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. I is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the furrow opener apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of an alternate embodiment of the fttrrow opener ] 5 apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of the furrow opener apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the attachment of the packer wheel to the trailing arm in the embodiment of Fig. 3.
..
DETAILED DESCR[PTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Fig.l illustrate.s a schematic side view of an embodiment of a furrow opener apparatus 1 of the present invetttion. The furrow opener apparatus 1 comprises a furrow opener 3 and a packer wheel 5 oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener 3.
In the illustrated embodiment the furrow opener apparatus 1 includes a trailing arm 7 adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to an implement frame 9 about a substantially horizontal ann pivot axis APA oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction T of the impiement. The packer wheel 5 is configured to snpport a rear portion of the trailing arm 7 by attachment to a rear portion of the trailing aim 7 through a wheel bracket 11. The furrow opener 3 is attached by a furrow opener bracket 13 to a middle portion of the trailing arm 7 forward of the packer wheel 5.
A bias element, illustrated as a hydraulic cylinder 15 connected to an active hydraulic source, is operative to exert a downward bias force F5 on the trailing arm 7.
The active hydratilic source exerts a controllable pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 15, and the hydraulic cylinder 15 can extend and retract while exerting the bias force BF, which bias force BF can be varied by varying the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder. A
sensitig ntechanism 20 is operative to determine a downward packing force, equal to the illustrated upward packing force F4, exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel 5.
, ~~
In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the sensing mechanism 20 comprises the wheel bracket l 1 pivotally attached at a front end thereof to a rear portion of the trailing arm 7, with the packer wheel 5 in turn rotatably attached to the rear end of the wheel bracket 11. The sensing mechanism 20 also comprises a sensor link 21 connecting the trailing arm 7 and the wheel bracket 11 such that the position of the wheel bracket 11 with respect to the trailing arm 7 is substantially fixed. The packer wheel 5 on the wheel bracket 11 would be free to move up and down with respect to the arm 7, except that the sensor link locks the two together. The sensor link 21 includes a sensor 23 operative to determine the sensed force SF exerted on the wheel bracket 11 by the bias element 13 through the trailing arm 7, from which the packing force F4 can be determined. A nmeasure of the packing force is indicated to an operator on a display 25.
The hydraulic cylinder 15 thus applies a force F5 on to the trailing arm 7.
The force F5 is set by the operator by adjusting the pressure in hydraulic cylinder 15. The cylinder 15 creates a downward moment around the arm pivot axis APA 9 equal to F5 times the perpendicular distance D5 between the cylinder center and pivot axis APA.
During operation opposite upward moments are created as result of engaging the furrow opener 3 in the soil. For example the rearward force Fl is a result of the soil resisting travel of the furrow opener 3 through the soil. Upward force F2 is a result of the soil resisting dowriward penetration of the furrow opener 3 into the soil. Rearward force F3 is a result of rolling resistance of the soil to the rotation of the packer wheel 5. The difference between the upward moments (FIDI + F2D2 + F3D3) and the downward moment (F5D5) provided by the hydraulic cylinder 15 is what is left to provide the packing force F4, which creates a moment F4D4.
Since all distances are substantially fixed, and Fl, F2, and F3 vary with soil conditions, in order to maintain a uniform resultant vertical paclcing force F4, the pressure in hydraulic cylinder 15 must be varied so that F5 compensates for the varying soil forces to provide a packing force F4 that is within acceptable limits.
The actual packing force may not need to be determined in practice, where an operator will note the sensed force F and inspect the field behind the implement to judge if packing is satisfac-tory. The operator will then know which range of values of SF will provide a satisfactory packing force, and can maintain the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 15 accordingly.
Fig. 2 illustrates an alternate furrow opener apparatus 101 where the sensing mechanism 120 is provided by a strain gauge type sensor 123 which measures the bending forces on the trailing arm 107 caused by the bias force BF exerted by the hydraulic cylinder 115 forcinc, the packer wheel 105 against the ground, and thus allows determination of the packing force F4.
It is crnitemplated that the sensing mcchanism could be configured to more indirectly determine the downward packing force F4 exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel 5 by measuring the foroes Fl and F2 exerted on the furrow opener 103 by the soil. Thus instead of orienting the sensing mechanism to measure the bending forces in the trailing arm 107, the sensor conld be configured as illustrated by sensor 123A to measure the bending forces on the furrow opener bracket 113. The forces Fl and F2 on the furrow opener 103 vary with soil conditions, causing the packing force F4 to vary. It is contemplated that by measurirtg the changing bending forces on the furrow opener bracket 113, and ignoring the rolling resistance F3 which is not expected to vary significantly compared to the variance in the soil forces Fl, F2 on the furrow opener 103, an approximation of the packing force can be derived that will be satisfactory for the purposes of the apparatus 101.
Fig. 3 illustrates a further alternative fuFrow opener apparatus 201 with two furrow openeis, a fertilizer furrow opener 203A and a seed furrow opener 203B
mrninted on the bottom of corresponding furrow opener brackets 213A, 213B. There thus are three ground contacting elements the fertilizer furrow opener 203A, the seed furrow opener 203F1, and the packer wheel 205. The ground contacting elements are mounted on the rear portion end of the trailing ann 207. The trailing arm 207 is pivotally mounted to a hanging bracket 208 at arm pivot axis APA. The hanging bracket 208 also includes pivot mount for pivotally mounting active hydraulic cylinder 215.
Hydiaulic hose 212 is used as an oil return in the field working position and as the oil supply line when lifting the apparatus 201 off the ground. Hydraulic hose 214 supplies the active oil from the pressure-control valve 231 to cylinder 215. Valve 231 is pressure adjusted via contro1233. Hydraulic hose 216 supplies pressurized tractor hydraulic oil to valve 231. It is noted that, in contrast to the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, in the embodiment of Fig. 3 the hydraulic cylinder is located under the trailing arm 207 and thus excrts a bias force BF in the retracted direction rather than the extended direction to exert the required downward bias force BF on the trailing arm 207.
The undisturbed ground surface is indicated at 241, the soil surface loosened by the furrow openers is indicated at 243, and the final packed soil surface is indicated at 245.
The soil exerts drag soil reaction forces Ft and F2 and vertical soil penetrating reaction forces F3 and F4 on the furrow openers 203A, 203B, and exerts a rolling resi.stance soil reaction force F5 on the packer wheel 205. These forces as described above with re.spect to the embodiment of Fig. I combine to create an arm lifting moment around the arni pivot axis APA.
~ li=
The active hydraulic cylinder 215 applies a bias force F7 on to the trailing arm 207. The force F7 is set by the operator by adjusting the pressure in valve 231. The cylinder 215 creates an arm lowering moment around the arm pivot axis APA. F6 is the resultant soil vertical packing force acting on the packer wheel 205. The resulting force is equal to the opener lowering moments minus the opener lifting moments divided by the corresponding distances as described above. Again, since all distances are substantially fixed and Fl, F2, F3, F4, and F5 vary with soil conditions, in order to maintain a uniform resultant vertical packing force F6, the cylinder pressure mu.st be varied so that F7 compensates for the varying soil forces.
To provide the sensing mechanism 220 in the embodiment of Fig. 3, the packer wheel 205 is mounted to a wheel plate 251 that is pivotally attached to a rear portion of the trailing arm 207. A top view of the wheel plate 251 is shown in Fig. 4 and shows that there are two wheel plates 251 with the rear end of the trailing arm 207 between them.
The plates 251 are attached together and pivot up and down on pivot pin 253 extending through the plates 251 and the rear end of the tailing arm 207. The axle 255 of the packer wheel 205 is attached to the inner one of the wheel plates 251. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a sensor mount 257 is rigidly attached to the trailing arm 207 by bolts or pins through holes 259 which allow for adjustment of the vertical location of the packer wheel 205 with respect to the furrow openers 3A, 3B to adjust the depth of the furrows.
~j , A sensor link 221 connects the sensor mount 257 and the wheel plates 251 such that the position of the wheel plates 251 with respect to the sensor mount 257 is substantially fixed. The sensor link 221 includes a load sensor 223 operative to determine a force exerted on the plate 251 by the sensor mount 257 as a result of the bias force F7 exerted on the trailing arm 207 by the hydraulic cylinder 215.
By allowing plate 251 to pivot freely about pivot pin 253 and mounting the load sensor 223 between plates 251 and sensor mount 257, the load sensor 223 can continually determine the packing force F6. An indication of the sensed force is then sent via cable or hose 227 to a monitor 225 visible to the operator. The operator can manually or remotely adjust valve 231 until a satisfactory reading is achieved on the monitor 225.
Alternately a change in the sensed force can directly adjust the valve 231 via valve control 233 if the control mechanism is set to respond to the load sensor signal. Further in the alternative the sensed load results can be processed by an electronic processor 235 or the like, which in turn provides an adjustment signal to valve control 233 thus providing an automatic control mechanism operative to adjust the downward bias force F7 to maintain the packing force F6 within a desired range. Further again the processor 235 could calculate an average reading over a short time and adjust oontrol 233 based on the average, thereby smoothing and damping the operation of the valve 231. A
manual I
over-ride can be provided to allow the operator to over-ride or turn off the automatic adjustment and adjtkst the downward bias force manually.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the sensor mechanism 220 can be configured such that the pivot pin 253 about which the wheel plates 251 pivot is approximately the same vertical distance off the ground as the rotational axi4 259 of the packer wheel 205 so that the sensor 223 does not detect the rolling resistance force F5.
Thus the present invention provides a furrow opener apparatus that provides a packing force that can he maintained within a desired rwge, either by visual monitoring and manual adjustment by an operator, or by a system that automatically adjusts the bias force exeirted on the packer wheel. The illustrated embodiment show a bias element provided by a hydraulic cylinder, however it is contemplated that a compression spring could provide the required bias force if the compression of the spring, and thus the bias force exerted thereby, could be adjusted readily.
Trailing arm furrow opener assemblies are also known where the trailing arm includes a parallel link with upper and lower parallel arm members attached to a rear link that is maiutained in a substantially constant fore and aft angular orientation as it moves up and down. A sensing mechanism can be readily adapted to determine the packing force in these parallel link trailing arm furrow opener assemblies and allow the operator to maintain the packing force in a desired range as soil forces vary.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
This invention is in the field of seeding implements used in agriculture, and in particular implements that utilize a packing element, most commonly a packer wheel, as a terraia following gauge wheel to control the operating depth of the furrow openers as well as pack the furrow.
BACKGROUND
Trailing arm terrain following fiuTow opener assemblies are well known in the agricultural implement industry. A typical example of such an assembly will have an arm pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the implement frame, and a packer wheel rotatably attached to the rear end of the artn. One or more furrow opener brackets extend downward from middle portions of the arm, and furrow openers are attached to the bottom of the brackets. The packer wheel is typically aligned with a furrow opener to paclc the furrow. A bias element, such as a spring, hydraulie cylinder, or pneumatie cylinder, exerts a downward force between the frame and the arm. The downward force forcies the furrow openers into the ground, and also forces the packer wheel against the ground.
, . , I . ,. .
As the implement moves along the ground in rolling terrain, the arm moves up and down with respect to the frame as the relative positions of the packer wheel and frame changes.
The packer wheel thus functions as a packing element by firming up the loosened soil araund and above the seed, and also acts as a depth gauge for the furrow openers mounted on the arm.
It is desirable to have a uniform and adequate packing force to achieve good seed to soil contact for germination. The advent of direct seeding or zero-till often includes the practice of shallow seeding and early seeding. With shallow seeding the importance of sut]Fi.cient packing is more critical since there is a higher potential of the soil around the see3 drying out if it is not firm. Conversely over-packing can make it difficult for the seeilling to emerge. While skid plates and track devices may also be used as the packing elernent, the wheel is most common, particularly with trailing arm furrow opener assemblies.
The downward bias force can usually be adjusted by mechanical, electrical or electronic means to change the force for different soil types and crop requirements. Some soils are harder and require considerably more force to push the furrow openers into the ground and keep them their, as well as exert sufficient force on the packer wheel to pack the soil over the furrow. Other soils are quite soft and require a much reduced bias force to maintain the furrow openers in the soil and pack the furrow.
~,~
W.here the bias force is provided by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, changing the supply pressure to the cylinder changes the force. Where the bias force is provided by a spring, increasing or decreasing the spring compression level, changes the force. Some planters include in-cab adjustment capabilities so that the operator can change the bias force from the cab to compensate for soil types, moisture conditions, ground speed, and residue effects.
Examples of such a ftirrow opener assembly are found in United States Patent Numbers 5,331,907 and 5,396,851 to 13eaujot. The Beaujot assemblies include separate seed and fertilizer openers mounted on an arm that includes a packingldepth-gauging wheel at the trailing end. A hydraulic cylinder that has an active oil supply is included on each opener. The operator can set the active oil pressure manually on the pressure-controlling valve or remotely thru an in-cab control to adjust the downward bias force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a traiWig arm furrow opener assembly that overcomes problems in the prior art.
~~~ ;
Trailing arm furrow openers that utilize the packer wheel as the openers depth gauge are built such that the furrow openers attached to the arm are vertically controlled by the packer wheel. Because of the interconnected construction the drag and penetrating forces on the ground engaging furrow opener elements directly affect the resulting vertical packing force on the packing element.
On such a furrow opener assembly the drag forces resulting from pulling the furrow opener through the soil, and the upward forces on the fiurow opener resulting from the force required to maintain the furrow opener engaged in the ground combine to exert an upward force on the trailing arm. The rolling resistance force reqLured to roll the packer wheel forward along the ground also exerts an upward force on the arm. These upward forces reduce the amount of the downward bias force that is available to force the packer wheel, toward the ground and provide packing force.
Soil conditions can vary considerably from field to field and also within a single field and so the packing force varies considerably with the result that in some areas of the field the furrows are over-packed while in other areas the furrows are not sufficiently packed. An operator is un-aware of the packing, performance a.s it varies over different portions of the field or from field to field. The furrow opener apparatus of the present invention det.emiines the packing force exerted on the furrow and allows the operator to adjust the bias force exerted on the packer wheel to maintain the packing force within a desired range as soil conditions vary.
In a first embodiment the present invention provides a furrow opener apparatus comprising a furrow opener and a packer wheel oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener. A bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the packer wheel, and a sensing mechanism is operative to deternune a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel. A control mechanism is operative to allow the operator to adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
In a second embodiment the present invention provides furrow opener apparatus adapt.ed for attachment to an agricultural seeding implement frame. The apparatus comprises a trailing arm adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to the frame about a substantially horizotital arm pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement. A bias element is operative to exert a downward bias force on the arm. A fz-rrow opener bracket extends downward from a middle portion of the arm, and a furrow opener is attached to a lower end of the furrow opener bracket. A packer wheel is configured to support a rear portion of the arm and oriente.d to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener, A sensing mechanism is operative to determine a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer , ~ . , .
wheel, and a control mechanism is operative to allow the operator to adja4t the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
nESCRIPTIqN OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjtmction with the aecompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. I is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the furrow opener apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of an alternate embodiment of the fttrrow opener ] 5 apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of the furrow opener apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the attachment of the packer wheel to the trailing arm in the embodiment of Fig. 3.
..
DETAILED DESCR[PTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Fig.l illustrate.s a schematic side view of an embodiment of a furrow opener apparatus 1 of the present invetttion. The furrow opener apparatus 1 comprises a furrow opener 3 and a packer wheel 5 oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener 3.
In the illustrated embodiment the furrow opener apparatus 1 includes a trailing arm 7 adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to an implement frame 9 about a substantially horizontal ann pivot axis APA oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction T of the impiement. The packer wheel 5 is configured to snpport a rear portion of the trailing arm 7 by attachment to a rear portion of the trailing aim 7 through a wheel bracket 11. The furrow opener 3 is attached by a furrow opener bracket 13 to a middle portion of the trailing arm 7 forward of the packer wheel 5.
A bias element, illustrated as a hydraulic cylinder 15 connected to an active hydraulic source, is operative to exert a downward bias force F5 on the trailing arm 7.
The active hydratilic source exerts a controllable pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 15, and the hydraulic cylinder 15 can extend and retract while exerting the bias force BF, which bias force BF can be varied by varying the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder. A
sensitig ntechanism 20 is operative to determine a downward packing force, equal to the illustrated upward packing force F4, exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel 5.
, ~~
In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the sensing mechanism 20 comprises the wheel bracket l 1 pivotally attached at a front end thereof to a rear portion of the trailing arm 7, with the packer wheel 5 in turn rotatably attached to the rear end of the wheel bracket 11. The sensing mechanism 20 also comprises a sensor link 21 connecting the trailing arm 7 and the wheel bracket 11 such that the position of the wheel bracket 11 with respect to the trailing arm 7 is substantially fixed. The packer wheel 5 on the wheel bracket 11 would be free to move up and down with respect to the arm 7, except that the sensor link locks the two together. The sensor link 21 includes a sensor 23 operative to determine the sensed force SF exerted on the wheel bracket 11 by the bias element 13 through the trailing arm 7, from which the packing force F4 can be determined. A nmeasure of the packing force is indicated to an operator on a display 25.
The hydraulic cylinder 15 thus applies a force F5 on to the trailing arm 7.
The force F5 is set by the operator by adjusting the pressure in hydraulic cylinder 15. The cylinder 15 creates a downward moment around the arm pivot axis APA 9 equal to F5 times the perpendicular distance D5 between the cylinder center and pivot axis APA.
During operation opposite upward moments are created as result of engaging the furrow opener 3 in the soil. For example the rearward force Fl is a result of the soil resisting travel of the furrow opener 3 through the soil. Upward force F2 is a result of the soil resisting dowriward penetration of the furrow opener 3 into the soil. Rearward force F3 is a result of rolling resistance of the soil to the rotation of the packer wheel 5. The difference between the upward moments (FIDI + F2D2 + F3D3) and the downward moment (F5D5) provided by the hydraulic cylinder 15 is what is left to provide the packing force F4, which creates a moment F4D4.
Since all distances are substantially fixed, and Fl, F2, and F3 vary with soil conditions, in order to maintain a uniform resultant vertical paclcing force F4, the pressure in hydraulic cylinder 15 must be varied so that F5 compensates for the varying soil forces to provide a packing force F4 that is within acceptable limits.
The actual packing force may not need to be determined in practice, where an operator will note the sensed force F and inspect the field behind the implement to judge if packing is satisfac-tory. The operator will then know which range of values of SF will provide a satisfactory packing force, and can maintain the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 15 accordingly.
Fig. 2 illustrates an alternate furrow opener apparatus 101 where the sensing mechanism 120 is provided by a strain gauge type sensor 123 which measures the bending forces on the trailing arm 107 caused by the bias force BF exerted by the hydraulic cylinder 115 forcinc, the packer wheel 105 against the ground, and thus allows determination of the packing force F4.
It is crnitemplated that the sensing mcchanism could be configured to more indirectly determine the downward packing force F4 exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel 5 by measuring the foroes Fl and F2 exerted on the furrow opener 103 by the soil. Thus instead of orienting the sensing mechanism to measure the bending forces in the trailing arm 107, the sensor conld be configured as illustrated by sensor 123A to measure the bending forces on the furrow opener bracket 113. The forces Fl and F2 on the furrow opener 103 vary with soil conditions, causing the packing force F4 to vary. It is contemplated that by measurirtg the changing bending forces on the furrow opener bracket 113, and ignoring the rolling resistance F3 which is not expected to vary significantly compared to the variance in the soil forces Fl, F2 on the furrow opener 103, an approximation of the packing force can be derived that will be satisfactory for the purposes of the apparatus 101.
Fig. 3 illustrates a further alternative fuFrow opener apparatus 201 with two furrow openeis, a fertilizer furrow opener 203A and a seed furrow opener 203B
mrninted on the bottom of corresponding furrow opener brackets 213A, 213B. There thus are three ground contacting elements the fertilizer furrow opener 203A, the seed furrow opener 203F1, and the packer wheel 205. The ground contacting elements are mounted on the rear portion end of the trailing ann 207. The trailing arm 207 is pivotally mounted to a hanging bracket 208 at arm pivot axis APA. The hanging bracket 208 also includes pivot mount for pivotally mounting active hydraulic cylinder 215.
Hydiaulic hose 212 is used as an oil return in the field working position and as the oil supply line when lifting the apparatus 201 off the ground. Hydraulic hose 214 supplies the active oil from the pressure-control valve 231 to cylinder 215. Valve 231 is pressure adjusted via contro1233. Hydraulic hose 216 supplies pressurized tractor hydraulic oil to valve 231. It is noted that, in contrast to the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, in the embodiment of Fig. 3 the hydraulic cylinder is located under the trailing arm 207 and thus excrts a bias force BF in the retracted direction rather than the extended direction to exert the required downward bias force BF on the trailing arm 207.
The undisturbed ground surface is indicated at 241, the soil surface loosened by the furrow openers is indicated at 243, and the final packed soil surface is indicated at 245.
The soil exerts drag soil reaction forces Ft and F2 and vertical soil penetrating reaction forces F3 and F4 on the furrow openers 203A, 203B, and exerts a rolling resi.stance soil reaction force F5 on the packer wheel 205. These forces as described above with re.spect to the embodiment of Fig. I combine to create an arm lifting moment around the arni pivot axis APA.
~ li=
The active hydraulic cylinder 215 applies a bias force F7 on to the trailing arm 207. The force F7 is set by the operator by adjusting the pressure in valve 231. The cylinder 215 creates an arm lowering moment around the arm pivot axis APA. F6 is the resultant soil vertical packing force acting on the packer wheel 205. The resulting force is equal to the opener lowering moments minus the opener lifting moments divided by the corresponding distances as described above. Again, since all distances are substantially fixed and Fl, F2, F3, F4, and F5 vary with soil conditions, in order to maintain a uniform resultant vertical packing force F6, the cylinder pressure mu.st be varied so that F7 compensates for the varying soil forces.
To provide the sensing mechanism 220 in the embodiment of Fig. 3, the packer wheel 205 is mounted to a wheel plate 251 that is pivotally attached to a rear portion of the trailing arm 207. A top view of the wheel plate 251 is shown in Fig. 4 and shows that there are two wheel plates 251 with the rear end of the trailing arm 207 between them.
The plates 251 are attached together and pivot up and down on pivot pin 253 extending through the plates 251 and the rear end of the tailing arm 207. The axle 255 of the packer wheel 205 is attached to the inner one of the wheel plates 251. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a sensor mount 257 is rigidly attached to the trailing arm 207 by bolts or pins through holes 259 which allow for adjustment of the vertical location of the packer wheel 205 with respect to the furrow openers 3A, 3B to adjust the depth of the furrows.
~j , A sensor link 221 connects the sensor mount 257 and the wheel plates 251 such that the position of the wheel plates 251 with respect to the sensor mount 257 is substantially fixed. The sensor link 221 includes a load sensor 223 operative to determine a force exerted on the plate 251 by the sensor mount 257 as a result of the bias force F7 exerted on the trailing arm 207 by the hydraulic cylinder 215.
By allowing plate 251 to pivot freely about pivot pin 253 and mounting the load sensor 223 between plates 251 and sensor mount 257, the load sensor 223 can continually determine the packing force F6. An indication of the sensed force is then sent via cable or hose 227 to a monitor 225 visible to the operator. The operator can manually or remotely adjust valve 231 until a satisfactory reading is achieved on the monitor 225.
Alternately a change in the sensed force can directly adjust the valve 231 via valve control 233 if the control mechanism is set to respond to the load sensor signal. Further in the alternative the sensed load results can be processed by an electronic processor 235 or the like, which in turn provides an adjustment signal to valve control 233 thus providing an automatic control mechanism operative to adjust the downward bias force F7 to maintain the packing force F6 within a desired range. Further again the processor 235 could calculate an average reading over a short time and adjust oontrol 233 based on the average, thereby smoothing and damping the operation of the valve 231. A
manual I
over-ride can be provided to allow the operator to over-ride or turn off the automatic adjustment and adjtkst the downward bias force manually.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the sensor mechanism 220 can be configured such that the pivot pin 253 about which the wheel plates 251 pivot is approximately the same vertical distance off the ground as the rotational axi4 259 of the packer wheel 205 so that the sensor 223 does not detect the rolling resistance force F5.
Thus the present invention provides a furrow opener apparatus that provides a packing force that can he maintained within a desired rwge, either by visual monitoring and manual adjustment by an operator, or by a system that automatically adjusts the bias force exeirted on the packer wheel. The illustrated embodiment show a bias element provided by a hydraulic cylinder, however it is contemplated that a compression spring could provide the required bias force if the compression of the spring, and thus the bias force exerted thereby, could be adjusted readily.
Trailing arm furrow opener assemblies are also known where the trailing arm includes a parallel link with upper and lower parallel arm members attached to a rear link that is maiutained in a substantially constant fore and aft angular orientation as it moves up and down. A sensing mechanism can be readily adapted to determine the packing force in these parallel link trailing arm furrow opener assemblies and allow the operator to maintain the packing force in a desired range as soil forces vary.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Claims (13)
1. A furrow opener apparatus comprising:
a furrow opener, a packer wheel oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener;
a bias element operative to exert a downward bias force on the packer wheel;
a sensing mechanism operative to determine a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel;
a control mechanism operative to allow the operator to adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
a furrow opener, a packer wheel oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener;
a bias element operative to exert a downward bias force on the packer wheel;
a sensing mechanism operative to determine a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel;
a control mechanism operative to allow the operator to adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the sensing mechanism is operative to display the packing force to an operator.
3. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 and 2 comprising an automatic control mechanism operative to automatically adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
4. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 - 3 wherein the bias force is provided by an extendable cylinder operated by pressurized fluid, and wherein the bias force is adjusted by adjusting a pressure of the pressurized fluid.
5. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 - 4 further comprising a trailing arm adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to an implement frame about a substantially horizontal arm pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement, and wherein the packer wheel is configured to support a rear portion of the trailing arm and the furrow opener is located forward of the packer wheel, and wherein the bias element exerts a downward bias force on the trailing arm.
6. A furrow opener apparatus adapted for attachment to an agricultural seeding implement frame, the apparatus comprising:
a trailing arm adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to the frame about a substantially horizontal arm pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement;
a bias element operative to exert a downward bias force on the arm;
a furrow opener bracket extending downward from a middle portion of the arm, and a furrow opener attached to a lower end of the furrow opener bracket;
a packer wheel configured to support a rear portion of the arm and oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener;
a sensing mechanism operative to determine a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel; and a control mechanism operative to allow the operator to adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
a trailing arm adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to the frame about a substantially horizontal arm pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement;
a bias element operative to exert a downward bias force on the arm;
a furrow opener bracket extending downward from a middle portion of the arm, and a furrow opener attached to a lower end of the furrow opener bracket;
a packer wheel configured to support a rear portion of the arm and oriented to roll along a furrow made by the furrow opener;
a sensing mechanism operative to determine a downward packing force exerted on the furrow by the packer wheel; and a control mechanism operative to allow the operator to adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
7. The apparatus of Claim 6 wherein the sensing mechanism is operative to display the packing force to an operator.
8. The apparatus of any one of Claims 6 and 7 wherein the control mechanism is operative to automatically adjust the downward bias force to maintain the packing force within a desired range.
9. The apparatus of any one of Claims 6 - 8 wherein the bias force is provided by an extendable cylinder operated by pressurized fluid, and wherein the bias force is adjusted by adjusting a pressure of the pressurized fluid.
10. The apparatus of any one of Claims 6 - 9 wherein the sensing mechanism comprises:
a wheel bracket pivotally attached to a rear portion of the trailing arm, wherein the packer wheel is rotatably attached to the wheel bracket;
a sensor link connecting the trailing arm and the wheel bracket such that the position of the wheel bracket with respect to the trailing arm is substantially fixed, the sensor link comprising a sensor operative to determine a force exerted on the wheel bracket by the sensor mount.
a wheel bracket pivotally attached to a rear portion of the trailing arm, wherein the packer wheel is rotatably attached to the wheel bracket;
a sensor link connecting the trailing arm and the wheel bracket such that the position of the wheel bracket with respect to the trailing arm is substantially fixed, the sensor link comprising a sensor operative to determine a force exerted on the wheel bracket by the sensor mount.
11. The apparatus of any one of Claims 6 - 10 wherein the sensing mechanism comprises a sensor operative to determine bending forces on the arm.
12. The apparatus of any one of Claims 6 - 10 wherein the sensing mechanism comprises:
a wheel plate pivotally attached to a rear portion of the trailing arm, wherein the packer wheel is rotatably attached to the wheel plate;
a sensor mount rigidly attached to the arm;
a sensor link connecting the sensor mount and the wheel plate such that the position of the wheel plate with respect to the sensor mount is substantially fixed, the sensor link comprising a sensor operative to determine a force exerted on the plate by the sensor mount.
a wheel plate pivotally attached to a rear portion of the trailing arm, wherein the packer wheel is rotatably attached to the wheel plate;
a sensor mount rigidly attached to the arm;
a sensor link connecting the sensor mount and the wheel plate such that the position of the wheel plate with respect to the sensor mount is substantially fixed, the sensor link comprising a sensor operative to determine a force exerted on the plate by the sensor mount.
13. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the wheel plate is pivotally attached to the trailing arm at a plate pivot axis and wherein the plate pivot axis and a rotational axis of the packer wheel are substantially the same distance above ground level.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2584736 CA2584736A1 (en) | 2007-03-13 | 2007-04-12 | Controlled downward force on furrow packing element |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2581613 CA2581613A1 (en) | 2007-03-13 | 2007-03-13 | Packing for planters |
| CA2,581,613 | 2007-03-13 | ||
| CA 2584736 CA2584736A1 (en) | 2007-03-13 | 2007-04-12 | Controlled downward force on furrow packing element |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2584736A1 true CA2584736A1 (en) | 2008-09-13 |
Family
ID=39747216
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2581613 Abandoned CA2581613A1 (en) | 2007-03-13 | 2007-03-13 | Packing for planters |
| CA 2584736 Abandoned CA2584736A1 (en) | 2007-03-13 | 2007-04-12 | Controlled downward force on furrow packing element |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2581613 Abandoned CA2581613A1 (en) | 2007-03-13 | 2007-03-13 | Packing for planters |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA2581613A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109041678A (en) * | 2018-10-10 | 2018-12-21 | 田开林 | Rear digging machine |
| CN109041675A (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2018-12-21 | 田开林 | Front-end ditching machine and trench digging method |
| US11730077B2 (en) | 2011-06-03 | 2023-08-22 | Precision Planting Llc | Agricultural toolbar apparatus, systems and methods |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8910582B2 (en) | 2011-04-11 | 2014-12-16 | Deere & Company | Row unit for a seeding machine having active downforce control for the closing wheels |
-
2007
- 2007-03-13 CA CA 2581613 patent/CA2581613A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-04-12 CA CA 2584736 patent/CA2584736A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11730077B2 (en) | 2011-06-03 | 2023-08-22 | Precision Planting Llc | Agricultural toolbar apparatus, systems and methods |
| CN109041675A (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2018-12-21 | 田开林 | Front-end ditching machine and trench digging method |
| CN109041678A (en) * | 2018-10-10 | 2018-12-21 | 田开林 | Rear digging machine |
| CN109041678B (en) * | 2018-10-10 | 2024-02-09 | 霍邱县开林机械制造有限公司 | Rear-mounted ditching machine |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2581613A1 (en) | 2008-09-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 20130412 |