Devices, Systems, and Methods for Seed Trench Protection

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various devices, systems, and methods for protecting open seed trenches form ingress of foreign material, such as plant residue. The preventing foreign material from entering the open seed trench during planting increases crop yield by minimizing delayed germination and late plant emergence. Various implementations of adjustable row cleaners may be used to prevent ingress of foreign material. Also, various shields may be disposed on the row units of a planter to prevent ingress of foreign material.

1 . An agricultural planter comprising:
 a. a plurality of row units, each row unit comprising:
 i. one or more opening discs; 
 ii. one or more gauge wheels; 
 iii. one or more closing discs; 
   b. a trench protection system comprising at least one of an adjustable row cleaner and/or a shield,   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one row cleaner actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one adjustable row cleaner, wherein the row cleaner is adjustable via the at least one actuator to adjust at least one of tilt angle, pitch angle, and wheel depth. 
     
     
         4 . The planter of  claim 1 , comprising a flexible shield, wherein the shield is disposed between the gauge wheels and the closing discs to block residue from entering an open seed trench. 
     
     
         5 . The planter of  claim 1 , comprising a shield, wherein the shield is attached to a seed firmer. 
     
     
         6 . The planter of  claim 5 , wherein the shield further comprises a cover disposed on the seed firmer. 
     
     
         7 . The planter of  claim 1 , comprising a shield, wherein the shield is angled away from the one or more closing discs. 
     
     
         8 . The planter of  claim 1 , comprising a selectively detachable shield. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a shield, wherein the shield is constructed and arranged to roll along a ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a shield, wherein the shield moves independently of a seed firmer. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A seed trench protecting system for a row unit comprising:
 a. at least one closing disc;   b. at least one gauge wheel; and   c. a trench protection system comprising:
 i. a row cleaner comprising a row cleaner row unit; and 
 ii. a shield disposed between the at least one gauge wheel and the at least one closing disc, 
   wherein the shield prevents ingress of foreign material into an open seed trench.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least two row cleaner wheels. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the row cleaner wheels further comprise tines and the length of the tines is automatically adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the tine length increases as planting speed increases. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the row tilt angle, pitch angle, and depth of the row cleaner wheels is automatically adjustable. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A seed trench protecting system for a row unit comprising at least one closing disc and at least one gauge wheel, the trench protection system comprising an adjustable row cleaner. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a. the adjustable row cleaner comprises at least two row cleaner wheels, and   b. at least one of the row tilt angle, pitch angle, and depth of the row cleaner wheels is automatically adjustable.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the row cleaner wheel pitch angle decreases as planting speed increases. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a. the adjustable row cleaner comprises at least two row cleaner wheels, and   b. the row cleaner wheels further comprise tines and the length of the tines is automatically adjustable.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the tine length increases as planting speed increases. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)