Agricultural trench depth systems, methods, and apparatus
Systems, methods and apparatus for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit of an agricultural planter. The row unit includes a trench depth adjustment assembly configured to modify the furrow depth. A first depth adjustment sub-assembly is configured to select one of a plurality of pre-selected furrow depths. A second adjustment sub-assembly is configured to modify at least one of a plurality of the pre-selected furrow depths.
1. An agricultural row unit, comprising:
a row unit frame;
a furrow opening disc rotatably supported by said row unit frame for opening a furrow in a soil surface as the row unit frame advances in a forward direction of travel;
a gauge wheel disposed adjacent to said furrow opening disc and pivotably supported from said row unit frame by a gauge wheel arm such that said gauge wheel is displaceable with respect to said furrow opening disc;
a depth adjustment assembly, comprising:
a first depth adjustment sub-assembly defining pre-set positions in which a depth adjustment body is selectively positionable such that said depth adjustment body limits an amount of upward displacement of said gauge wheel with respect to said furrow opening disc;
a second depth adjustment sub-assembly operable to modify a position of said depth adjustment body from one of said pre-set positions set by said first depth adjustment sub-assembly so as to further adjust an amount of upward displacement of said gauge wheel with respect to said furrow opening disc.
2. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said first depth adjustment assembly remains fixed at said pre-selected furrow depth, and said second depth adjustment sub-assembly modifies an interaction of said first depth adjustment assembly with said gauge wheel arm.
3. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts a distance between said first depth adjustment assembly and a rocker.
4. The agricultural row unit of claim 3 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises an actuator disposed at a first end on said first depth adjustment assembly and at a second end on said rocker.
5. The agricultural row unit of claim 3 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.
6. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts an angle between a pivot and a rocker.
7. The agricultural row unit of claim 6 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises an actuator disposed at a first end on said first depth adjustment assembly and at a second end on said rocker.
8. The agricultural row unit of claim 6 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.
9. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts an angle between said first depth adjustment assembly and a rocker.
10. The agricultural row unit of claim 9 , wherein said rocker is attached to a cam, said cam pivoting about a pivot, said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprising a drive screw driving a drive member that pivots said cam about said pivot.
11. The agricultural row unit of claim 10 , wherein said drive member further comprises a cog that engages with teeth on said cam.
12. The agricultural row unit of claim 10 , wherein said cam further comprises a cog that engages with teeth on said drive member.
13. The agricultural row unit of claim 10 , wherein said cam further comprises a roller that engages with a sloped side on said drive member.
14. The agricultural row unit of claim 9 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.
15. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts a distance between a rocker and said gauge wheel arm.
16. The agricultural row unit of claim 15 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises a member pivotably connected to said gauge wheel arm and an actuator disposed on said gauge wheel arm, wherein said actuator moves said member to change a distance between said member and said gauge wheel arm.
17. The agricultural row unit of claim 15 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly comprises a depth adjustment member that is slidingly fixed to said gauge wheel arm and has a sloped surface that contacts said rocker, and wherein said depth adjustment member is driven by an actuator.
18. The agricultural row unit of claim 17 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises a first biasing member connected to said depth adjustment member and to a second plate, said actuator connected to said second plate and a first plate for adjusting a distance between said first plate and said second plate.
19. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , further comprising a second biasing member disposed between and connected to said first plate and said second plate.
20. The agricultural row unit of claim 15 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly further comprises an actuator to adjust a position of said first depth adjustment assembly.
21. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said second depth adjustment sub-assembly adjusts a shape of a rocker.