US-12616078-B2 - Agricultural implements and methods of planting

Abstract

An agricultural implement includes a row unit frame ( 202 ) coupled to a draw bar ( 204 ) by a height-adjustable mount, a set of opening discs ( 212 ) coupled to the row unit frame such that the opening discs are vertically fixed relative to the row unit frame, and a biasing member ( 210 ) configured to adjust a height of the row unit frame to maintain the opening discs in soil at a selected elevation relative to the draw bar. A method of planting may include determining a height of a draw bar relative to a surface of soil, and adjusting a height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar to apply a force to push a seed trench opening assembly into the soil and form a trench therein. The height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar may be independent of the hardness of the soil.

Inventors

• Jeremy Hodel
• Justin McMenamy
• Dale Koch
• Luke Stuber

Assignees

• PRECISION PLANTING LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20200617

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An agricultural implement, comprising: a row unit frame coupled to a draw bar by a height-adjustable mount; a set of opening discs coupled to the row unit frame such that the opening discs are vertically fixed relative to the row unit frame; an angle sensor configured to measure a rotation of a pivot arm relative to the draw bar, the pivot arm carrying a wheel configured to contact a soil surface; and a biasing member configured to adjust a height of the row unit frame to maintain the opening discs in soil at a selected elevation relative to the draw bar.
2. 2 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to adjust the biasing member.
3. 3 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , further comprising a set of firming wheels coupled to the row unit frame such that the firming wheels can travel vertically relative to the row unit frame.
4. 4 . The agricultural implement of claim 3 , wherein the firming wheels are arranged to close a trench formed by the opening discs in the soil surface.
5. 5 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a spring, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, and an electric actuator.
6. 6 . The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.
7. 7 . The agricultural implement claim 1 , wherein the set of opening discs is rotatably coupled to the row unit frame at a fixed point.
8. 8 . The agricultural implement claim 1 , further comprising a firming plate coupled to the row unit frame such that the firming plate can travel vertically relative to the row unit frame.
9. 9 . The agricultural implement claim 1 , wherein the row unit frame carries no gauge wheels.
10. 10 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the pivot arm is connected to the draw bar.
11. 11 . A method of planting, comprising: selecting a depth of a trench to be formed in soil; measuring a rotation of a pivot arm relative to a draw bar, the pivot arm carrying a wheel configured to contact a soil surface; determining a height of a row unit frame relative to the soil surface based on the measured rotation of the pivot arm, the row unit frame coupled to the draw bar by a vertically adjustable mount and carrying a seed trench opening assembly; and adjusting a height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar to apply a force to push the seed trench opening assembly into the soil and form a trench therein, wherein the height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar is independent of a hardness of the soil.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting a height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar comprises maintaining the seed trench opening assembly at a selected elevation relative to the draw bar.
13. 13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting a height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar comprises controlling a depth of the seed trench.
14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar comprises controlling the depth of the seed trench without using a gauge wheel.
15. 15 . An agricultural implement, comprising: a toolbar; a row unit pivotally coupled to the toolbar, the row unit comprising: a row unit frame; a seed trench opening assembly coupled to the row unit frame and configured to form a trench in a ground surface; a firming device disposed at a variable height relative to the row unit frame; and a seed delivery mechanism coupled to the row unit frame and configured to provide seeds to the trench; an angle sensor configured to measure a rotation of a pivot arm relative to the toolbar to determine a height of the toolbar relative to the ground surface, the pivot arm carrying a wheel configured to contact the ground surface; and an actuator configured to adjust a height of the row unit relative to the toolbar to control a penetration depth of the seed trench opening assembly in the ground surface.
16. 16 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein the seed trench opening assembly is disposed at a fixed height relative to the row unit frame.
17. 17 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein the firming device comprises a set of firming wheels.
18. 18 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , further comprising a biasing member connecting the firming device to the row unit frame.
19. 19 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein the pivot arm is connected to the toolbar.
20. 20 . An agricultural implement, comprising: a row unit frame coupled to a draw bar by a height-adjustable mount; a set of opening discs coupled to the row unit frame such that the opening discs are vertically fixed relative to the row unit frame; an angle sensor configured to measure a rotation of a pivot arm relative to the row unit frame, the pivot arm carrying a wheel configured to contact a soil surface; a non-contact depth sensor; and a biasing member configured to adjust a height of the row unit frame to maintain the opening discs in soil at a selected elevation relative to the draw bar.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/877,943, “Agricultural Implements and Methods of Planting,” filed Jul. 24, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to implements and methods of planting agricultural fields. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to controlling depth at which seeds are planted. BACKGROUND Crop yields are affected by a variety of factors, such as seed placement, soil quality, weather, irrigation, and nutrient applications. Seeds are typically planted in trenches formed by discs or other mechanisms of a planter row unit. Depth of seed placement is important because seeds planted at different depths emerge at different times, resulting in uneven crop growth. Trench depth can be affected by soil type, moisture level, row unit speed, and operation of the opening discs. It would be beneficial to have improved methods of controlling the depth of trenches so that seeds can be more precisely placed in a field. BRIEF SUMMARY In some embodiments, an agricultural implement includes a row unit frame coupled to a draw bar by a height-adjustable mount, a set of opening discs coupled to the row unit frame such that the opening discs are vertically fixed relative to the row unit frame, and a biasing member configured to adjust a height of the row unit frame to maintain the opening discs in soil at a selected elevation relative to the draw bar. An agricultural implement may include a toolbar, a row unit pivotally coupled to the toolbar, a sensor configured to measure a height of the toolbar relative to the ground surface, and an actuator configured to adjust a height of the row unit relative to the toolbar. The row unit includes a row unit frame, a seed trench opening assembly coupled to the row unit frame and configured to form a trench in a ground surface, a firming device disposed at a variable height relative to the row unit frame, and a seed delivery mechanism coupled to the row unit frame and configured to provide seeds to the trench. The actuator controls a penetration depth of the seed trench opening assembly in the ground surface. Methods of planting may include selecting a depth of a trench to be formed in soil, determining a height of a row unit frame relative to a surface of the soil, and adjusting a height of the row unit frame relative to a draw bar. The row unit frame is coupled to the draw bar by a vertically adjustable mount, and the row unit frame carries a seed trench opening assembly. The height of the row unit frame relative to the draw bar is independent of hardness of the soil. The methods may further include applying a force to push the seed trench opening assembly into the soil and form a trench therein. 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 when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a row unit for planting that may be operated as disclosed herein; FIG. 2 illustrates another row unit in accordance with one embodiment; FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of operating a row unit; FIG. 4 illustrates an example computer-readable storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to embody one or more of the methods of operating row units, such as the method illustrated in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 illustrates another row unit in accordance with one embodiment; FIG. 6 illustrates another row unit in accordance with another embodiment; FIG. 7A is a side view of another row unit in accordance with yet another embodiment; and FIG. 7B is a top view of a firming plate shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any planter or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations that are employed 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 of the present disclosure in order to provide a thorough description thereof. 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 conventional techniques employed in the industry. In addition, the description provided below does not include all elements to form a complete structure or assembly. Only those process acts and structures ne