Earth working – With earth marker
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-26
2001-07-10
Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
With earth marker
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257343
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements, and more particularly to a folding row marker having an extended working position and a retracted transport position.
BACKGROUND AND RELATED PRIOR ART
It is generally known to mount a marker to an outside edge of an agricultural implement for forming a marked line in the ground, which is parallel to the direction of the implement's travel. The marked line then serves as references for a subsequent pass of the implement. For example, in a tractor-drawn planter that is planting a number of rows across a field, a marker attached on a structure that extends laterally outward from the side edge of the planter makes a furrow or a mark in the field that is parallel to the direction of the planter's travel and is laterally spaced from the planter. The length of the lateral spacing of the marker is related to the width of the planter so that the marker serves as a guide for alignment of the tractor on the next pass of the planter across the field to allow the planted rows to remain continuous and properly spaced to avoid overlap or other misalignment of the planted rows. Because the tractor-drawn planter can turn either to the left or to the right for the next succeeding pass across the field, markers are generally provided on both sides of the planter implement, and some sort of retraction means, preferably automatic or power-operated, is needed so that the marker on one side of the implement can be lifted or retracted while the marker on the other side is making the mark that guides the next pass.
Retraction is also necessary when transporting the agricultural implement to and from the field. In particular, folding and storing the marker assembly protects the marker from harmful, inadvertent contact with objects in the field. Toward this purpose, it is desirable that the marker assembly folds to store completely within the bounds of the agricultural implement.
With very wide planters that have foldable “wings” or outer sections, the marker must fold into a sufficiently compact form to avoid interfering with either the folding movement of the planter or the companion marker on the opposite side of the planter. This is even more important in the case of very wide implements having doubly articulated outboard sections, where first the outboard sections and then adjacent inboard sections fold up to bring the outboard sections to storage positions inboard and over the main part of the implement. Accordingly, markers intended for use on such implements must fold to a sufficiently compact position as to not interfere with the double folding action.
The folding marker assembly also must be strong enough and properly supported so as to prevent undue strain or tipping force on the outer edge of the planter during use or folding operations. In particular, the folding marker assembly cannot have too much force at the point of attachment at the outside edge of the planter. This is particularly true in the case of very wide agricultural implements that require correspondingly long markers. To address this problem, several known folding marker assemblies use a caster or support wheel partway out on the marker beam, but these elements prevent the marker assemblies from folding compactly. Accordingly, a need presently exists for a folding marker assembly that has a stable, strong structure that can fold into a compact space completely within the bounds of the agricultural implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to these and other needs, the present invention provides a folding row marker assembly for use with an agricultural implement. In one embodiment, the folding row marker assembly comprises an inner link assembly with at least one inner link member and a mounting plate adapted to attach to the agricultural implement. The folding row marker assembly further comprises a plurality of parallel inner arm members. Each of the inner arm members has a proximal and a distal end. The proximal end hingedly connects to the inner link assembly, and the distal end hingedly connects to an outer link assembly having at least one outer link member. The folding row marker assembly further comprises at least one outer arm member that has a proximal and a distal end. The proximal end of each outer arm member hingedly connects to the outer link assembly, and the distal end connects to a marker, preferably through a shear bolt. In the folding row marker assembly, a radial motion of the inner arm members around the inner link assembly causes the outer arm member to move in a controlled radial motion around the outer link assembly, relative to the inner arm members. The radial motion of the inner arm members around the inner link assembly is caused by an actuating mechanism, such as a hydraulic cylinder, that connects to an inner link member and to one of the inner arm members. As a result, the row marker assembly moves between a folded storage position and an extended, generally horizontal use position in which the marker engages the ground.
In an alternative three-section embodiment of the folding row marker, the outer link assembly further comprises a plurality of outer link members that combine to form a middle link assembly that connects to the inner arm members, an outboard link assembly that connects to the outer arm members, and a plurality of middle arm members that connect at a proximal end to the middle link assembly and at a distal end to the outboard link assembly.
Accordingly, the present invention offers a folding row marker with a sturdy structure that can fold into a small volume of space on the tillage implement or planter to which it is attached. This aspect enables farm equipment that can be transported at narrower widths and shorter heights, thereby increasing the maneuverability of the equipment and reducing the hazards associated with transport.
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Hilvers Michael J.
Maenle William C.
Smith David R.
Novosad Christopher J.
Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck
Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
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