Granted Patent B2

US 12,593,743 · App. 18/341,964 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert (Indianola, NE); Kris Schaffert (Indianola, NE); Matthew Hornung (Dodge City, KS)

Assignee: SCHAFFERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.

A01C7/06A01C5/068A01C7/208

Abstract

Claims (56)

1 . A trailing arm assembly

for connection with a row unit of an agricultural planter, the trailing arm assembly comprising:

a planter frame;

a parallel linkage connected to the planter frame;

a walking arm assembly pivotally connected to the planter frame via the parallel linkage, the walking arm assembly including:

an articulating bracket connected to the parallel linkage at a walking pivot, the articulating bracket comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end;

a first closing wheel rotationally mounted toward the first end; and

a second closing wheel rotationally mounted toward the second end such that:

as the first closing wheel lifts, the second closing wheel drops and vice versa; and

the walking pivot is disposed between the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel.

2 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the walking pivot includes a torsion axle configured to resist a rotation of the articulating bracket about the walking pivot.

3 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a closer frame pivotally connected to the planter frame via the parallel linkage.

4 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 3 , wherein the walking assembly is pivotally connected to the closer frame via the walking pivot.

5 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the trailing arm assembly further comprises a closer frame configured for mounting one or more closing wheels thereto for rotation with respect to the closer frame and further comprising a connection portion; and

the parallel linkage configured to pivotably connect the closer frame to the planter frame via a first pivot and a second pivot on a first end of the parallel linkage and to pivotably connect with the closer frame via a third pivot and a fourth pivot on a second end of the parallel linkage.

6 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 5 , wherein:

the fourth pivot is disposed below the third pivot; and

the walking pivot is disposed at or near the fourth pivot.

7 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 6 , wherein the walking pivot is disposed below the fourth pivot.

8 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 5 , wherein the parallel linkage is connected between the closer frame and the planter frame such that the parallel linkage maintains a parallel orientation of the closer frame with respect to the planter frame.

9 . A trailing arm assembly for connection with a row unit of an agricultural planter, the trailing arm assembly comprising:

a planter frame;

a parallel linkage connected to the planter frame;

a closer frame pivotally connected to the planter frame via the parallel linkage such that the planter frame maintains a parallel orientation with respect to the closer frame;

a walking arm assembly pivotally connected to the closer frame, the walking arm assembly including an articulating bracket connected to the parallel linkage at pivot assembly, the pivot assembly including a torsion axle configured to resist a rotation of the articulating bracket about the pivot assembly.

10 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 9 , wherein the torsion axle comprises:

a housing:

an axle shaft disposed within the housing; and

one or more elastomeric biasing members disposed between the shaft and the housing.

11 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a square or rectangular tube.

12 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 11 , wherein the axle shaft comprises a square or rectangular tube rotated about 45-degrees relative to the housing at rest.

13 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 10 , wherein the one or more elastomeric biasing members comprises an elastomeric cord.

14 . The trailing arm assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:

a first closing wheel rotationally mounted toward a first end of the walking arm assembly; and

a second closing wheel rotationally mounted toward a second end of the walking arm assembly such that:

as the first closing wheel lifts, the second closing wheel drops and vice versa; and

the walking pivot is disposed between the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel.

15 . A walking arm assembly for connection to a row unit of an agricultural planter, the walking arm assembly comprising:

an articulating bracket pivotally connected to a frame of the row unit via a torsion axle assembly at a pivot assembly disposed between first and second opposing ends of the articulating bracket;

a first closing wheel rotationally mounted toward the first end; and

a second closing wheel rotationally mounted toward the second end;

wherein the torsion axle assembly comprises a biased axle configured to resist a rotation of the articulating bracket about the torsion axle assembly.

16 . The walking arm assembly of claim 15 , wherein the torsion axle assembly comprises:

a housing:

an axle shaft disposed within the housing and defining an aperture; and

an elastomeric biasing member disposed between the shaft and the housing.

17 . The walking arm assembly of claim 16 , wherein:

the housing comprises a rectangular or square tube;

the axle shaft comprises a rectangular or square shaft; and

the torsion axle assembly further comprises four elastomeric cords disposed between the axle shaft and the housing, the four elastomeric cords including the elastomeric biasing member.

18 . The walking arm assembly of claim 16 , wherein:

the housing defines a round aperture; and

the biasing member is round and disposed in the round aperture between the axle shaft and the housing.

19 . The walking arm assembly of claim 18 , wherein the biasing member comprises a rubber bushing pressed into the round aperture.

20 . The walking arm assembly of claim 19 , wherein the rubber bushing is oversized for the round aperture.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (288)