The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 28, 2000
Douglas S. Prairie, Fargo, ND (US);
David J. Keats, Brantford, CA;
Einar M. Skolseg, Guelph, CA;
William J. Dietrich, Sr., Goodfield, IL (US);
Case Corporation, Racine, WI (US);
Abstract
An agricultural implement includes a frame, a grow medium manipulation surface configured to manipulate and move a growing medium and at least one elastomeric torsion element coupled to the surface. The growing medium manipulation surface moves between a first growing medium engagement position in which the surface manipulates and moves the growing medium and a second growing medium non-engagement position. The elastomeric torsion element resiliently biases the surface towards the first growing medium engagement position. In one exemplary embodiment, the growing medium engagement surface comprises the surface of a furrow opening device on an agricultural implement. In one exemplary embodiment, the implement additionally includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the elastomeric torsion element. The adjustment mechanism moves between a first adjustment position in which the torsion element biases the surface towards the first engagement position with a first force and a second adjustment position in which the element biases the surface towards the first engagement position with a second force. In another exemplary embodiment, the adjustment mechanism also enables the elastomeric torsion element to apply a reverse force biasing the surface away from the first growing medium engagement position.