US 11,707,007 B2
Agricultural trench depth systems, methods, and apparatus
Dillon Sloneker, Danvers, IL (US); Todd Swanson, Morton, IL (US); and Dale Koch, Tremont, IL (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed by Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/889,153.
Application 16/889,153 is a continuation of application No. 15/999,390, filed on Aug. 20, 2018, granted, now 10,743,455.
Application 15/999,390 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/018274, filed on Feb. 17, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/417,144, filed on Nov. 3, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/366,405, filed on Jul. 25, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/322,314, filed on Apr. 14, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/297,535, filed on Feb. 19, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0296877 A1, Sep. 24, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01B 63/00 (2006.01); A01C 7/20 (2006.01); A01B 63/20 (2006.01); A01C 5/06 (2006.01); F16H 1/16 (2006.01); F16H 19/04 (2006.01); F16H 25/20 (2006.01); A01B 63/04 (2006.01); A01B 71/02 (2006.01); A01C 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC A01B 63/008 (2013.01) [A01B 63/045 (2013.01); A01B 63/20 (2013.01); A01B 71/02 (2013.01); A01C 5/064 (2013.01); A01C 7/203 (2013.01); F16H 1/16 (2013.01); F16H 19/04 (2013.01); F16H 25/20 (2013.01); A01C 7/044 (2013.01); F16H 2025/2043 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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 arm pivotally supported at a proximal end from said row unit frame;
a gauge wheel rotatably supported on a distal end of said gauge wheel arm, said gauge wheel disposed adjacent to said furrow opening disc such that said gauge wheel is displaceable with respect to said furrow opening disc;
a gear rack disposed on an upper surface of said row unit frame, said gear rack having rack teeth;
a depth adjustment assembly, comprising:
a depth adjustment body pivotally connected via a pivot to said row unit frame said depth adjustment body having an upper end extending upward through said gear rack and a lower end engaging with said gauge wheel arm so as to limit pivotal movement of said gauge wheel arm in an upward direction away from the soil surface;
gear wheels operably connected with said depth adjustment body, said gear wheels engaging with said rack teeth;
an actuator configured to rotatably drive said gear wheels, whereby rotation of said gear wheels causes movement of said depth adjustment body about said pivot to limit pivotal movement of said gauge wheel arm in the upward direction away from the soil surface, thereby controlling a depth of the furrow opened by the furrow opening disc by limiting an amount of upward displacement of said gauge wheel with respect to said furrow opening disc.