Flotation for Agricultural Implements

Abstract

An agricultural implement has front flotation wheels with a significantly increased diameter, increasing flotation and improving rolling characteristics, especially in soft soil conditions. The implement has a frame supported on front and rear wheels. Front flotation wheels are pivotally mounted to the frame about vertical axes. A hitch tongue is pivotally attached to the frame about a vertical hitch pivot axis. A wheel control mechanism connects the front flotation wheels to the hitch tongue, and is configured such that when the hitch tongue is in a neutral position the front flotation wheels roll in the operating direction, and pivoting the hitch tongue causes the front flotation wheels to pivot in the same direction.

Description

PRIORITY[0001]This application claims priority to Canadian Application Ser. No. 2,772, 865, filed Mar. 30, 2012, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]This disclosure relates to the field of agricultural implements and in particular such implements with increased flotation and resistance to sinking into soft soil.[0003]A common problem that farmers can experience at seeding time is the inability to seed their crops because excessive soil moisture makes the fields unable to support the seeding equipment, typically due to excessive or untimely rainfall. Sometimes as well heavy snow cover produces a lot of moisture which must either run off the fields, be absorbed by the soil or evaporate. A late, cool spring can slow the soil drying process considerably. Unfortunately, for maximizing crop yields and crop quality and also minimizing the chances of crop damage or complete crop losses for spring seeded crops, it is necessary for farmers to seed their crops with...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about an improved air seeder for farming that can work in soft soil conditions where previous versions could not. It also allows the seeder to operate for longer periods of time in wet conditions. The front wheels of the seeder can have larger diameters, which improves its ability to move through soil and makes it easier to control. The control mechanism for the front wheels also reduces the size of the clear envelope required for movement, which saves money. The patent also addresses the issue of the seeder becoming stuck in wet and castering conditions by introducing a pivot restraint mechanism and reducing the spinning action of tractor tires. Overall, the improvements make the seeder more efficient and effective for farming.

Problems solved by technology

The pivoting range of the front wheels could be limited to something less than 360 degrees by providing stops to restrict the rolling orientation of the castering wheels to a lesser angle, such as that required to turn a corner, however it would not then be possible to move the implement in reverse.

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