Row Unit For Agricultural Implement
An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame, and a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage, for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. An accumulator positioned adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder has a fluid chamber containing a diaphragm, with the portion of the chamber on one side of the diaphragm being connected to the hydraulic-fluid cavity in the hydraulic cylinder, and the portion of the chamber on the other side of the diaphragm containing a pressurized gas.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . An agricultural system, comprising:
a plurality of row units adapted to be coupled to a single tractor;
a fluid supply for supplying the plurality of row units with pressurized fluid;
a plurality of control valves coupled, respectively, to the plurality of row units, each control valve of the plurality of control valves receiving pressurized fluid from the fluid supply; and
a control system coupled to and controllably adjusting each control valve such that down pressure is adjustable on at least a portion of a respective row unit.
22 . The agricultural system of claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of feed lines coupling the fluid supply and the plurality of row units, each one of the plurality of control valves being coupled on a separate feed lines of the plurality of feed lines.
23 . The agricultural system of claim 21 , wherein the fluid supply includes a supply manifold for supplying the pressurized fluid to the plurality of row units.
24 . The agricultural system of claim 21 , further comprising a return manifold for receiving return fluid from the plurality of control valves.
25 . The agricultural system of claim 21 , wherein the controllably adjusting of each control valve includes turning off the supplying of pressurized fluid to at least one of the plurality of control valves but not to all of the plurality of control valves.
26 . The agricultural system of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of row units includes:
an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame hitched to the single tractor;
a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame;
a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame;
at least a furrow-forming device mounted on the row unit frame;
a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, the hydraulic cylinder including
a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and
a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, and
an accumulator positioned adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder and having a fluid chamber containing a diaphragm, the portion of the chamber on one side of the diaphragm being connected to the hydraulic-fluid cavity in the hydraulic cylinder, and the portion of the chamber on the other side of the diaphragm containing a pressurized gas.
27 . The agricultural system of claim 26 , wherein a single unitary housing forms the hydraulic cylinder and a cavity containing the accumulator.
28 . The agricultural system of claim 27 , wherein the single unitary housing forms a fluid passageway connecting the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator.
29 . The agricultural system of claim 26 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the attachment frame, and the ram is connected to the linkage.
30 . An agricultural system for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor, the system comprising:
a fluid supply for supplying pressurized fluid; and
a plurality of row units adapted to be coupled to a single tractor, each row unit of the plurality of row units including
an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame,
a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame,
a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame,
at least a furrow-forming device mounted on the row unit frame,
a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage for applying down pressure to the row unit frame, and
a control valve coupled to the fluid supply, the control valve being individually controllable to adjust the down pressure applied by the hydraulic cylinder.
31 . The agricultural system of claim 30 , further comprising a plurality of feed lines coupling the fluid supply and the plurality of row units, each one of the plurality of control valves being coupled on a separate feed lines of the plurality of feed lines.
32 . The agricultural system of claim 30 , wherein the fluid supply includes a supply manifold for supplying the pressurized fluid to the plurality of row units.
33 . The agricultural system of claim 30 , further comprising a return manifold for receiving return fluid from the plurality of control valves.