Independent closing system with adjustable down force
A furrow closing system for an agricultural seed planter provides soil closing and soil pressing that are controlled by independent adjustable down force or pressure systems that react to a common frame element or backbone. The adjustable down force systems may be manually controlled, electronically controlled and/or part of a closed loop system. A down stop, which may also be adjustable, may be used to limit the maximum force of the adjustable down pressure systems.
1. A method for closing a furrow with an agricultural seed planter including a frame element, first and second adjustable down-force assemblies coupled to the frame element, a closing assembly coupled to the first adjustable down-force assembly, the closing assembly including a closing arm pivotally coupled to the frame element and at least one closing disc, the closing assembly operable to contact a ground surface, a press assembly coupled to the second adjustable down-force assembly, and a down stop operable to limit the first adjustable down force, the method comprising:
(a) contacting a ground surface with the press assembly and closing assembly with the press assembly following the closing assembly;
(b) adjusting a first down force from the frame element to the closing assembly via the first adjustable down-force assembly without substantially affecting the press assembly;
(c) limiting the first down force via the down stop positioned on the closing arm, the down stop including a plurality of positions providing different limits of the closing arm; and
(d) adjusting a second down force from the frame element to the press assembly via the second adjustable down-force assembly without substantially affecting the closing assembly.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising the additional step of using an electronic controller to adjust at least one of the first and second adjustable down-force assemblies.
3. The method of claim 1 , comprising the additional step of adjusting the first and second adjustable down-force assemblies while the closing and press assemblies are moving along the ground surface.
4. A furrow closing system for an agricultural seed planter comprising:
a frame element;
a closing disc operable to contact a ground surface;
a closing arm pivotally coupled to the frame element and the closing disc;
a first adjustable down-force assembly pivotally coupled to the closing arm;
a press wheel;
a press arm pivotally coupled to the frame element and the press wheel;
a second adjustable down-force assembly pivotally coupled to the press arm; and
a down stop limiting a motion of the closing arm, the down stop positioned on the closing arm, the down stop adjustable among a plurality of positions providing different limits of the closing arm,
wherein the press wheel is operable to contact a ground surface following the closing disc, and
wherein the first adjustable down-force assembly is operable to provide a first adjustable down force from the frame element to the closing disc without substantially affecting the press wheel, and the second adjustable down-force assembly is operable to provide a second adjustable down force from the frame element to the press wheel without substantially affecting the closing disc.
5. The closing system of claim 4 , wherein the first adjustable down-force assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder and the second adjustable down-force assembly comprises a coil spring and a hydraulic cylinder.
6. The closing system of claim 4 , further including an electronic controller operable to adjust the first and second adjustable down-force assemblies while the closing disc and the press wheel are moving along the ground surface.