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EP-4312492-B1 - AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS COMPRISING ADJUSTABLE ROW UNIT BRACKETS WITH LOCKING MECHANISMS, AND RELATED METHODS

EP4312492B1EP 4312492 B1EP4312492 B1EP 4312492B1EP-4312492-B1

Inventors

  • CUNHA, Venicius Damo
  • MATTER, Jarlis Luiz

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220311

Claims (17)

  1. An agricultural implement (102), comprising: a toolbar (104); a plurality of stationary brackets (216) fixed to the toolbar, each stationary bracket comprising at least one lateral member (218) oriented parallel to the toolbar; a plurality of row units (106), each row unit coupled to a sliding bracket (220), wherein each sliding bracket is carried by and configured to slide along the at least one lateral member (118) of a corresponding stationary bracket; and a plurality of locking mechanisms (226; 302, 304; 402, 404; 502; 602; 702), wherein each locking mechanism is configured to fix a position of a corresponding one of the sliding brackets relative to the corresponding stationary bracket; characterized by a plurality of actuators (702), each configured to move a respective one of the sliding brackets (220) relative to the corresponding stationary bracket (216).
  2. The agricultural implement (102) of claim 1, wherein the at least one lateral member (218) comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a cylindrical rod, angle iron, an I-beam, and a square beam.
  3. The agricultural implement (102) of claim 2, wherein the at least one lateral member (218) comprises at least one cylindrical rod.
  4. The agricultural implement (102) of claim 1, wherein the at least one lateral member (218) comprises at least two parallel lateral members.
  5. The agricultural implement (102) of any one of claim 1 through claim 4, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plurality of spacer sleeves (226).
  6. The agricultural implement (102) of any one of claim 1 through claim 4, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plurality of locking plates (302) configured to be disposed within locking channels (304) defined by the at least one lateral member (218).
  7. The agricultural implement (102) of any one of claim 1 through claim 4, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plurality of locking pins (402) configured to be disposed within locking holes (404) defined by the at least one lateral member (218).
  8. The agricultural implement (102) of any one of claim 1 through claim 4, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plurality of jaw rings (502) configured to be disposed around the at least one lateral member (218).
  9. The agricultural implement (102) of any one of claim 1 through claim 4, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plurality of locking screws (602) configured to push the row unit (106) away from the at least one lateral member (218).
  10. The agricultural implement (102) of any one of claim 1 through claim 4, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises the plurality of actuators (702).
  11. A method of adjusting a spacing between row units (106) of an agricultural implement (102), the method comprising: disengaging a locking mechanism (226; 302, 304; 402, 404; 502; 602; 702) to enable a sliding bracket (220) carrying a row unit (106) to travel laterally along a stationary bracket (216) carried by a toolbar (104) of the agricultural implement; sliding the sliding bracket (220) laterally parallel to the toolbar (104) of the agricultural implement; and engaging the locking mechanism (226; 302, 304; 402, 404; 502; 602; 702) to fix a position of the sliding bracket relative to the stationary bracket; characterized in that the step of sliding the sliding bracket (220) laterally parallel to the toolbar (104) of the agricultural implement comprises operating an actuator (702) to move the sliding bracket (220).
  12. The method of claim 11, wherein engaging the locking mechanism (226; 302, 304; 402, 404; 502; 702) comprises providing an interfering object to limit movement of the sliding bracket.
  13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing an interfering object comprises providing a spacer sleeve (226) over a lateral member (218) of the stationary bracket (216).
  14. The method of claim 12, wherein providing an interfering object comprises disposing a locking plate (302) partially within a channel (304) defined by a lateral member (218) of the stationary bracket (216).
  15. The method of claim 11, wherein engaging the locking mechanism comprises threading a screw (602) into a hole in the sliding bracket.
  16. The method of any one of claim 11 through claim 15, further comprising removing a second sliding bracket (220) from a second stationary bracket (216), the second sliding bracket carrying a second row unit (106).
  17. The method of any one of claim 11 through claim 15, further comprising adjusting a height of the row unit (106) after engaging the locking mechanism (226; 302, 304; 402, 404; 502; 602; 702).

Description

FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to planters and other agricultural equipment, and in particular, row units that can be adjusted to be at different lateral positions along a toolbar. BACKGROUND Agricultural machines such as planters with a plurality of row units are used to plant seeds upon or in the ground. Planters may have a central portion pulled by a tractor, and may have wings extending from either side. The individual row units, mounted to the center section or to a wing, typically deliver seeds into separate rows. The row units may receive seed from a common central hopper, which may be used to limit the effect of excessive weight on the wings. That is, the center section may be supported by more wheels or larger wheels, and thus may be better able to support the weight of the filled central hopper without exerting excessive pressure on the ground. To increase speed with which fields can be planted, planters are becoming wider and the seed hoppers that feed the row units are becoming larger. Different crops may be planted with different spacing between rows (which may be referred to in the art as "row spacing" or "row width"). When changing from one crop to another with a different row spacing, row units are physically moved along a toolbar of a planter implement. Some row units are removed entirely from the implement for wider spacing, or added for narrower spacing. Moving row units can be a time-consuming process, and if not performed carefully, can cause damage to the implement and/or the row units, and can lead to spacing errors. DE 3005 997 B1 discloses a seed drill having coulters arranged in at least two cross rows located one behind the other and mounted in a staggered arrangement. Adjacent sowing coulters are arranged in pairs on a common holder laterally displaceable on a coulter support. EP 3 400 773 A1 discloses an agricultural implement have a plurality of row units each mounted to a tool bar by a laterally adjustable carrier. BRIEF SUMMARY Aspects of the invention are defined in the independent claims. Optional features are set out in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming what are regarded as embodiments of the present disclosure, various features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description of example embodiments of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a simplified top view of a tractor pulling an implement in accordance with one embodiment;FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of a portion of the implement shown in FIG. 1, including a toolbar, brackets, and a row unit;FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of brackets that may be used in the implement shown in FIG. 1;FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view of a spacer sleeve that may be used to lock the brackets of FIG. 3 in place;FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of the brackets of FIG. 3 with the spacer of FIG. 4 installed;FIG. 6 is a simplified top view of two stationary brackets and two corresponding sliding brackets;FIG. 7 is a simplified top view of the two stationary brackets and the two corresponding sliding brackets shown in FIG. 6, in which the sliding brackets are in a different position;FIG. 8 is a simplified perspective view of brackets that may be used in the implement shown in FIG. 1;FIG. 9 is a simplified perspective view of a locking plate and lateral member of the stationary bracket that may be used to lock the sliding bracket of FIG. 8 in place;FIG. 10 is a simplified perspective view of brackets that may be used in the implement shown in FIG. 1;FIG. 11 is a simplified perspective view of a locking pin and lateral member of the stationary bracket that may be used to lock the sliding bracket of FIG. 10 in place;FIG. 12 is a simplified perspective view of brackets that may be used in the implement shown in FIG. 1;FIG. 13 is a simplified perspective view of a jaw ring that may be used to lock the sliding bracket of FIG. 12 in place;FIG. 14 is a simplified perspective view of brackets that may be used in the implement shown in FIG. 1; andFIG. 15 is a simplified perspective view of brackets and an actuator that may be used in the implement shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any planter or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation. The following description provides specific details of embodiments. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without employing many such specific details. Indeed, the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with co