Air seeder press wheel and closing wheel force control

Abstract

Air seeders that have force actuators acting on the firming implement and/or the closing wheel to adjust the downforce. In one example, the seeding implement includes a support arm having first and second portions. A finning implement support arm is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first pivot at a first end of the finning implement support arm. A firming implement force actuator is pivotally connected to the support arm second portion at a first end of the firming implement force actuator and connected to the firming implement support arm at the second end of the firming implement force actuator.

1 . A row unit of a seeder comprising:
 a frame configured to be coupled to a toolbar of the seeder;   a single opener disc rotatably coupled to the frame;   a closing system, comprising:
 a closing disc arm pivotally coupled to the frame; 
 a closing disc rotatably coupled to the closing disc arm, wherein the closing disc arm positions a rotational axis of the closing disc rearward of a rotational axis of the single opener disc relative to a direction of travel of the row unit; 
 a closing disc actuator coupled to the closing disc arm, wherein the closing disc actuator is configured to control a first downforce applied by the closing disc to soil; 
 a packer wheel arm pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the packer wheel arm and the closing disc arm are configured to rotate independently of one another relative to the frame; 
 a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer wheel arm, wherein the packer wheel arm positions a rotational axis of the packer wheel rearward of the rotational axis of the closing disc relative to the direction of travel of the row unit; and 
 a packer wheel actuator coupled to the frame and to the packer wheel arm, wherein the packer wheel actuator is configured to control a second downforce applied by the packer wheel to the soil; 
   wherein an agricultural product storage compartment is not non-movably coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The row unit of  claim 1 , wherein the closing system comprises a controller configured to output a first output signal indicative of instructions to control the closing disc actuator and to output a second signal indicative of instructions to control the packer wheel actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The row unit of  claim 2 , wherein the closing disc actuator comprises a first fluid actuator, and the packer wheel actuator comprises a second fluid actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The row unit of  claim 3 , wherein the closing system comprises:
 a first valve assembly communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to control fluid pressure within the first fluid actuator; and   a second valve assembly communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to control fluid pressure within the second fluid actuator;   wherein the controller is configured to output the first output signal to the first valve assembly and to output the second output signal to the second valve assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The row unit of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the instructions to control the closing disc actuator based at least in part on a first determined contact force between the closing disc and the soil, the controller is configured to determine the instructions to control the packer wheel actuator based at least in part on a second determined contact force between the packer wheel and the soil, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The row unit of  claim 5 , wherein the closing system comprises:
 a first downforce sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to output a first input signal indicative of the first determined contact force; and   a second downforce sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to output a second input signal indicative of the second determined contact force.   
     
     
         7 . The row unit of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the instructions to control the closing disc actuator, to determine the instructions to control the packer wheel actuator, or a combination thereof, based at least in part on a measured soil condition. 
     
     
         8 . The row unit of  claim 7 , wherein the closing system comprises a soil sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to output a third input signal indicative of the measured soil condition. 
     
     
         9 . A row unit of a seeder comprising:
 a frame configured to be coupled to a toolbar of the seeder;   a single opener disc rotatably coupled to the frame;   a closing system, comprising:
 a closing disc arm pivotally coupled to the frame; 
 a closing disc rotatably coupled to the closing disc arm; 
 a closing disc actuator coupled to the closing disc arm, wherein the closing disc actuator is configured to control a first downforce applied by the closing disc to soil; 
 a packer wheel arm pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the packer wheel arm and the closing disc arm are configured to rotate independently of one another relative to the frame; 
 a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer wheel arm; 
 a packer wheel actuator coupled to the frame and to the packer wheel arm, wherein the packer wheel actuator is configured to control a second downforce applied by the packer wheel to the soil; and 
 a controller configured to output a first output signal indicative of instructions to control the closing disc actuator and to output a second output signal indicative of instructions to control the packer wheel actuator; 
   wherein an agricultural product storage compartment is not non-movably coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         10 . The row unit of  claim 9 , wherein the closing disc actuator comprises a first fluid actuator, and the packer wheel actuator comprises a second fluid actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The row unit of  claim 10 , wherein the closing system comprises:
 a first valve assembly communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to control fluid pressure within the first fluid actuator; and   a second valve assembly communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to control fluid pressure within the second fluid actuator;   wherein the controller is configured to output the first output signal to the first valve assembly and to output the second output signal to the second valve assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The row unit of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the instructions to control the closing disc actuator based at least in part on a first determined contact force between the closing disc and the soil, the controller is configured to determine the instructions to control the packer wheel actuator based at least in part on a second determined contact force between the packer wheel and the soil, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The row unit of  claim 12 , wherein the closing system comprises:
 a first downforce sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to output a first input signal indicative of the first determined contact force; and   a second downforce sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to output a second input signal indicative of the second determined contact force.   
     
     
         14 . The row unit of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the instructions to control the closing disc actuator, to determine the instructions to control the packer wheel actuator, or a combination thereof, based at least in part on a measured soil condition. 
     
     
         15 . The row unit of  claim 14 , wherein the closing system comprises a soil sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to output a third input signal indicative of the measured soil condition.