IP Library Granted Patent US 11,284,552
Granted Patent B2
US 11,284,552 · App. 16/448,211 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Row unit for selectively dispensing a plurality of agricultural products and associated agricultural implements

Inventors: Anthony W. Steinke (Rensselaer, IN); Trevor Stanhope (Palos Hills, IL); Darian Landolt (Evanston, IL)
Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
A01B49/06A01C5/064A01C5/068A01C7/06A01C7/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,284,552
App. No.
16/448,211
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a row unit for use on an agricultural implement may include a furrow-forming tool coupled to a frame. The furrow-forming tool may be configured to form a furrow in soil present within the field as the row unit is moved across the field. The row unit may also include a first dispensing device configured to dispense a first agricultural product into the furrow. Furthermore, the row unit may include a cultivator coupled to the frame and positioned aft of the furrow-forming tool relative to a direction of travel of the row unit. The cultivator may, in turn, be configured to agitate a lateral swath of the soil. Additionally, the row unit may include a second dispensing device positioned aft of the first dispensing device relative to the direction of travel, with the second dispensing device configured to dispense a second agricultural product into the field.

Claims (37)

1. A row unit for use on an agricultural implement, the row unit comprising:

a frame;

a furrow-forming tool coupled to the frame, the furrow-forming tool configured to form a furrow in soil present within the field as the row unit is moved across the field;

a first dispensing device configured to dispense a first agricultural product into the furrow;

a cultivator coupled to the frame and positioned aft of the furrow-forming tool relative to a direction of travel of the row unit, the cultivator including a wheel and a plurality of ground-engaging tines extending linearly radially outward from the wheel such that the plurality of tines penetrates into the soil to agitate a lateral swath of the soil; and

a second dispensing device positioned aft of the first dispensing device relative to the direction of travel, the second dispensing device including a first tube configured to dispense a second agricultural product into the field forward of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel and a second tube configured to dispense the second agricultural product into the field aft of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel.

2. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein a depth of the furrow is greater than a penetration depth of the plurality of ground-engaging tines.

3. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a press wheel coupled to the frame and positioned aft of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel.

4. The row unit of claim 3 , further comprising:

a subframe removably coupled to the frame, wherein the cultivator and the press wheel are coupled to the subframe.

5. The row unit of claim 4 , further comprising:

a tank supported on the subframe, the tank configured to store the second agricultural product before delivery to the second dispensing device, wherein the second dispensing device comprises a metering device supported on the subframe, the metering device configured to control a rate at which the second agricultural product is delivered to the second dispensing device.

6. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fertilizer applicator positioned aft of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel and spaced apart from the furrow-forming tool in a lateral direction extending perpendicular to the direction of travel.

7. An agricultural implement, comprising:

a toolbar extending in a lateral direction between a first side and a second side; and

a plurality of row units mounted on the toolbar, the plurality of row units spaced apart from each other row unit in the lateral direction, wherein a first row unit of the plurality of row units comprises:

a frame;

a furrow-forming tool coupled to the frame, the furrow-forming tool configured to form a furrow in soil present within the field as the agricultural implement is moved across the field;

a first dispensing device configured to dispense a first agricultural product into the furrow;

a cultivator coupled to the frame and positioned aft of the furrow-forming tool relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural implement, the cultivator including a wheel and a plurality of ground-engaging tines extending linearly radially, outward from the wheel such that the plurality of tines penetrates into the soil to agitate a lateral swath of the soil; and

a second dispensing device positioned aft of the first dispensing device relative to the direction of travel, the second dispensing device including a first tube configured to dispense a second agricultural product into the field forward of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel and a second tube configured to dispense the second agricultural product into the field aft of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 7 , wherein a second row unit of the plurality of row units comprises:

a frame;

a furrow-forming tool coupled to the frame, the furrow-forming tool configured to form a furrow in soil within the field as the agricultural implement is moved across the field;

a seed-dispensing device configured to dispense the first agricultural product into the furrow; and

at least one furrow-closing tool configured to close the furrow.

9. The agricultural implement of claim 7 , wherein a depth of the furrow is greater than a penetration depth of the plurality of ground-engaging tines.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 7 , wherein the first row unit further comprises:

a press wheel coupled to the frame and positioned aft of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel.

11. The agricultural implement of claim 10 , wherein the first row unit further comprises:

a subframe coupled to the frame, and the cultivator and the press wheel are coupled to the subframe.

12. The agricultural implement of claim 11 , wherein the first row unit further comprises:

a tank supported on the subframe, the tank configured to store the second agricultural product before delivery to the second dispensing device, wherein the second dispensing device comprises a metering device supported on the subframe, the metering device configured to control a rate at which the second agricultural product is delivered to the second dispensing device.

13. The agricultural implement of claim 7 , wherein the first row unit further comprises:

a fertilizer applicator positioned aft of the cultivator relative to the direction of travel, the fertilizer applicator being further spaced apart from the furrow-forming tool in a lateral direction extending perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2022
From: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
To: INC., BLUE LEAF I
Reel/Frame 060328/0428 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2019
From: STEINKE, ANTHONY W.; STANHOPE, TREVOR; LANDOLT, DARIAN
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 049548/0140 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200396888A1 · Dec 24, 2020