Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for adjusting fore/aft level trim of the frame of a towed agricultural tillage implement utilize an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, and automatically computes a desired for/aft trim angle as a function of the desired depth input, and then adjusts the fore/aft trim of the implement frame by titling the frame toward the front or rear of the frame in accordance with the desired fore/aft trim angle computed from the desired depth input signal.

Abstract: A drawbar apparatus for coupling an earth-working tool to a frame of an agricultural implement. The drawbar apparatus comprises a drawbar. The drawbar is pivotally coupled to the frame. A first bracket comprises a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is pivotally coupled to the drawbar. A second bracket comprises a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is pivotally coupled to the drawbar. A tool support is coupled to the first portion of the first bracket and the first portion of the second bracket. The tool support is configured to fold relative to the drawbar.

Abstract: The invention refers to a soil cultivation implement with two tool rows of hollow discs of a first hollow discs row and of a second hollow discs row. One hollow disc in the first hollow discs row is positioned slightly offset to the rear. In the second hollow discs row there is a hollow disc in a position offset to the front. In order to prevent lateral pull with a soil cultivation implement of this type the hollow discs rows were positioned relatively symmetrically and were offset where the hollow discs point towards each other with their convex sides or with their concave sides. This offset has the effect of optimising the soil flow and prevents components colliding with each other. This ensures even cultivation over the whole working width of the implement, including in the area of greater working depths with hollow discs that have a larger diameter.

Abstract: A low till agricultural implement has a frame with a hitch for attachment to a tractor. An shallow-angled blade gang composed of an array of parallel ultra-shallow inclined disk blades is mounted to the front of the frame, and is followed by at least one wheel, spiral reel, and spike tooth harrow. The ultra-shallow inclined disk blades are mounted perpendicular to rotating shafts, and slice through field residue and soil with minimal lateral movement of material. The blades of the following reel then make cuts nearly perpendicular to those made by the circular blades. A trailing rolling basket or other finishing implement follows the spiral reel. The implement aids in drying the soil surface layer. Also, by cutting up residue and evenly spreading debris and topsoil, the implement helps to warm up the soil.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes at least a first row of ground engaging tools, each of the tools spaced a first distance apart from one another, and a second row of ground engaging tools disposed behind the first row of ground engaging tools, each of the second row of ground engaging tools spaced a second distance apart from one another. The implement also includes a row of soil shaping disks disposed behind the second row of ground engaging tools, wherein a spacing between each of the soil shaping disks is not uniform and corresponds to whether the spacing is behind the first row of ground engaging disks or behind the second row of ground engaging disks.

Abstract: A multisection tandem disk harrow has a frame, a first disk gang, and a second disk gang. The concave sides of the disk blades in the first disk gang face one side of the disk harrow, and the concave sides of the disk blades in the second disk gang face the other side of the disk harrow. The disk blades in the first disk gang are mounted for rotation about a common axis that extends through a center of the disk blades. The disk blades in the second disk gang are mounted for rotation about respective individual axes that are substantially parallel with and spaced apart from each other. The first and second disk gangs are arranged so that the common axis of the first disk gang is nonparallel with the individual axes of the second disk gang. Various frame, support wheels, disk gang, and hitch configurations are also disclosed.

Abstract: An agricultural implement consisting primarily of a towed frame supported on retractable wheels, the frame having a plurality of independently adjustable spindles for setting height and angle of attack for various size rotatable discs. Each disc is staggered to reduce resistance and clogging. Each group of discs further includes descending diameter discs at each end with the angle of attack increasing with each decrease in diameter while spacing between the discs decreases as the diameters are reduced. The implement further including harrow teeth or picks located at strategic points adjacent the discs to ensure uniform soil disruption, the disc assembly being convertible from single gang to double gang assembly and may include conventional harrow teeth sets and or unique soil leveler attachments.

Abstract: A one-pass primary tillage machine provides a combination of shallow and deep tillage, residue cutting and mixing, and clod size reduction and leveling of the field to prepare the field for the next planting season. A front group of flat coulters slice through the residue to reduce its size, followed by deep shanks that improve the tilth of the soil to a point below the intended planting depth. Following the shanks, a group of concavo-convex conditioning discs mix the residue with the soil, reduce clod size, and level the field.

Abstract: A gang blade assembly which controls the trajectory of detritus from a ball grid array substrate dicing operation is described. The assembly includes a cover which partially encases a hub with a plurality of blades. A brush is mounted on the cover to disrupt an air flow created by rotation of the hub and blades. The brush extends beneath the cover and has bristles which contact the hub. The bristles also serve to clear the hub of any detritus produced during dicing. More than one brush may be mounted on the cover.

Abstract: A soil cultivating apparatus 10 comprises a chassis 14 having an elongate spine 16 carrying support outriggers 18, 20. The support outriggers 18 carry a first disc gang 30. The support outriggers 20 are arranged rearwardly of the support outriggers 18 and carry a second disc gang 40. A soil consolidating roller 38 or a soil consolidating press cultivator 42 is arranged between the first and second disc gangs. In one aspect ground-engaging tines 34 are arranged between the first disc gang and the soil consolidating roller or press cultivator.

Abstract: A disc gang is provided that is suitable for use as part of a multifunctional seedbed preparation implement or in a standalone disc harrow. The disc gang is configured to permit a gang angle of the disc gang to be adjusted to accommodate differing soil conditions and/or to obtain different tillage characteristics. The disc gang may include a frame mounted on a mainframe of a primary tillage implement such as a cultivator. The frame includes a main beam mounted on the implement's mainframe and a disc support beam connected to the main beam and supporting a plurality of rotating discs. The gang angle can be infinitely adjusted through a designated range by pivoting one end of the disc gang about a vertical pivot axis while permitting another end portion of the disc gang to slide along a support surface for that end.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention prepares agricultural ground for planting by performing multiple functions in a single pass over the field. The apparatus includes rolling choppers and coulters for cutting crop residue, and disks and rippers for tilling the soil. The apparatus also includes a harrow for further mixing the soil and crop residue, and spreading the mixture evenly over the field. The coulters, disks, and rippers are mounted in sets on independent arms which float freely upwardly and downwardly to accommodate variations in the ground surface.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement employing a series of apparatus to perform one-pass primary tillage is disclosed. A cutting disk is the first apparatus that works the field. These disks cut the residue laterally (across the machine) and mix the majority of the residue throughout the disk tillage profile. Additional conditioning occurs by knocking residue/stalks over into a prone position with large cast spools between each disk for quicker decay. Next, chisel plow units work the soil to fracture and loosen the soil, providing proper soil aggregate size and air pore space relationship throughout the shank tillage profile. The last apparatus to work the field is a set of leveling disks, or a combination of leveling disks and a rotary reel/drag harrow. The function of these will provide is to reduce clod size and leave the soil level and smooth enough to allow one-pass secondary tillage in the spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tilling implement of the type comprising at the front at least two gangs of disks (1, 2) whose mutually-parallel axes are inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to the direction of advance (F) of the tilling implement, and at the rear at least one gang of disks on an axis which is inclined in the opposite direction to that of the front gangs (1, 2). The disks (3) of the front gangs are multi-lobed disks, the disks of the rear gang(s) being multi-lobed disks or multi-blade or multi-flail disks. The disks in any one gang are equidistant and the disks in a given gang are situated, when seen in the advance direction of the implement, between the disks of the preceding gang so as to pass between their tracks.

Abstract: A tillage apparatus performs shallow tillage with leading tillage discs followed by chisel plows with winged points performing primary tillage in strips of untilled soil left by the forward discs. The points lift the soil and roll it laterally. Levelers follow the plows to leave a smooth surface and reduce the soil preparation needed for planting the following season.

Abstract: A pulse generator provides a continuous train of electrical pulses of variable frequency, duration and amplitude. The pulse generator includes an adjustable frequency astable oscillator coupled to a monostable pulse generator. An isolation circuit isolates the output of the monostable pulse generator from loading effects to minimize output waveform jitter. A power amplifier receives the isolated pulse signal from the monostable pulse generator and provides output pulses of sufficient energy to simultaneously power continuous and capacitive electrical loads with minimal effect on the pulse generator output pulse waveshape.

Abstract: A road resurfacing device has a frame on which is mounted a ripper bar for ripping the road surface, to a controlled depth, and behind it a separator for separating coarse and fine material in the road surface such the coarse material is deposited on fine material. The frame is supported by rollers extending across the frame. The ripper bar has depending teeth in rows on both sides of the ripper bar and is rotatable so that either sets of teeth, which may be at different heights, rip the road surface. The separator is formed of ground turning discs mounted on angled shafts to direct material first to one side and then to the other. The ground turning discs rotate counter to the direction of movement of the frame. A method of resurfacing a gravel road includes ripping the surface of the gravel road to break up fine and coarse material near the surface of the gravel road; and separating coarse material from fine material such that coarse material is deposited on top of the fine material.

Abstract: A conservation tillage tool, including a main frame and a rear frame pivotally mounted on the main frame disposed to support a number of soil working implements in sequence. The main frame is supported by ground wheels attached to the rear section of the main frame. The wheels are movable with respect to the main frame to move the latter between a raised transport position and a number of lowered working positions. A tongue and hitch unit connect the main frame to a prime mover, and a leveling mechanism operably interconnects the main frame, ground wheels and tongue for maintaining the main frame level at any of its positions. A spring-cushioned linkage operably interconnects one of the implements at the front of the main frame with one of the implements mounted on the rear frame for simultaneously raising and lowering those two implements between transport and working positions.

Abstract: A dual disc cultivator cutaway (10) is disclosed including a frame (30) pivotally mounted to a cultivator tool bar (14) through a bar mount (22). A spindle (38) is pivotally mounted to the opposite end of the frame (30) and slideably mounts first and second arms (40) which in turn rotatably mount the disc blades (44). An adjustment slide (46) is removably pivotally mounted to the upper arm (26) of the cultivator gang assembly and is adjustably, slideably fixed on a bar (45) extending from the spindle (38). Thus, movement of the frame (30) is in a fixed positional relationship with the gang assembly in the cutting and transport positions and pivots with the gang assembly relative to the tool bar (14). When the slide (46) is not attached to the upper arm (26), the frame (30) can be held in an inoperative position relative to the tool bar (14) by a latch (54) pivotally mounted to the tool bar ( 14) through the bar mount (22) which hooks on a pin (56) attached to the frame (30).

Abstract: An agricultural apparatus having a combination of ground engaging tools thereon. The agricultural apparatus includes a plurality of ground engaging cultivator tools mounted on a frame assembly which is specifically configured to promote accurate lateral spacing of the cultivator tools thereon. The agricultural apparatus further includes a pair of disc gang assemblies arranged on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal centerline of the implement and a lift mechanism for conjointly elevating and positioning the disc gang assemblies relative to the frame assembly. The frame assembly is comprised of a series of interconnected frame members including laterally extending tool bars. Each cultivator tool is adjustably secured to a respective tool bar by a resiliently biased bracket assembly. To facilitate lateral adjustment of the cultivating tools, the tool bars are fixedly connected in spaced relation to other frame members.

Abstract: In combination with a wheeled first cultivator which is pulled by a prime mover and which has a frame assembly to which ground engaging members are attached, an improved implement comprising a frame, a mounting unit for attaching the frame to the rear of the first cultivator, one or more second cultivators attached to the frame, a drawbar unit pivotally connected at its front end to the implement frame and having a ground engaging caster wheel unit at its rear end, and a hydraulically operated device interconnected between the frame and the drawbar unit to transfer weight forwardly to the first cultivator rear end, such that as weight is applied downwardly on the implement frame, a positive upward pressure is applied to the rear end of the first cultivator; with attendant advantages in adjusting the down pressure and carrying height of the implement frame.

Abstract: A conservation tillage tool including a frame disposed to support a number of soil working implements in sequence. The frame is supported by ground wheels attached to the rear section of the frame. The wheels are movable with respect to the rear section of the frame to move the frame between a raised transport position and a number of lowered working positions. A hitch attached to a tractor supports the front section of the frame, and a pivotally attached tongue interconnects the front section and the hitch. A leveling mechanism interconnects the rear section, the front section and the pivotally attached tongue. The leveling mechanism is a four-bar linkage that applies a force at the pivotal connection of the tongue to the front section as the wheels move to raise or lower the rear section thereby maintaining the frame substantially level with respect to the ground.

Abstract: A tillage implement which has both deep tillage subsoil shanks at the rear of the machine and relatively shallow running, residue cutting and topsoil mixing discs at the front of the machine provides for expeditious depth adjustment of the discs through spacer blocks that may be inserted between the underside of the frame of the implement and the tops of the gang beams. The blocks are designed to be clamped in position beside pivot bolts and angle retaining bolts of the gangs such that the blocks may be inserted or removed by merely loosening the bolts instead of completely removing the same and without interfering with the ability of the gangs to be angle adjusted fore-and-aft. The configuration of the blocks is such that they may be stacked one upon the other to provide an increased range of depth adjustment without sacrificing rigidity of construction.

Abstract: A coulter chisel tillage tool includes a mounting apparatus for attaching a disc gang to a rockshaft. A bracket extends radially from the rockshaft and is connected to one end of a spring having its other end positioned in a retainer cup. The retainer cup is attached to one end of a rod which extends longitudinally through the spring and through an aperture formed in the mounting bracket with the other end of the rod rotatably attached to a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly includes a pair of bearing caps which rotatably engage the rockshaft and are positioned between a pair of plates which are maintained together by bolts. One of the bolts also extends through a yoke of a disc gang for rotatably mounting the disc gang for rotation about a generally vertical axis. The spring and bracket assembly permits the disc gang to rotate about the rockshaft when an obstacle is struck during normal operation.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is equipped with a plurality of earthworking tools spaced from one another in the fore and aft direction. One of the tools is adjustable between working and nonworking positions on a main frame by a hydraulic actuator connected to the main frame by a resiliently cushioned support which includes a spring loaded link. The one tool includes a coulter gang supported on a subframe by a pair of U-shaped springs. The deflection of the U-shaped springs and the spring loaded link allows the coulter gang to pass over relatively large boulders or the like without raising the implement frame to a significant extent and without causing the relief valve in the actuator hydraulic system to open.

Abstract: An improved farm implement includes a frame having a forwad hitch which is maintained at a fixed position relative to the remainder of the implement during all stages of operation. The rear end of the frame includes running gear which may be raised and lowered to raise and lower an array of discs and chisel plows in order to cultivate a field, particularly a field which may includes a great amount of field stubble.

Abstract: An auxiliary mounting device for use with a tractor having a one-point tractor hitch. The auxiliary mounting device includes a body having a forward end and a rearward end with the longitudinal axis of the body extending therebetween. Means are provided for attaching the body to the tractor hitch. The auxiliary mounting device includes a primary tool mount on which a primary cultivating tool may be mounted in fixed relation to the body. A secondary tool mount is located rearwardly of the primary tool mount. A secondary cultivating tool may be mounting thereon. Wheels are attached to the body in rotating relation and are located at a selected point between the primary and secondary tool mounts. Means are provided for moving the wheels between a first position, wherein the wheels support and elevate the body and the primary and secondary cultivating tools are held above the ground, and a second position, wherein the body is lowered and the primary and secondary cultivating tools are engaged with the ground.

Abstract: A plow and disc combination machine which utilizes a bridge hitch type frame which is built in the same order as a highway bridge which enables the plow to have clearance so that a disc gang mounted under it and movable by hydraulics can be raised or lowered on the move. The fact that a bridge truss structure is utilized in the frame allows the discs to be movable over a wide vertical range and allows the subsoiler plow shanks to be used in the ground at maximum depth without the usage of the disc blades. The discs can also be lowered to cut material such as corn stalks as the plow is used.

Abstract: A drag attachment for a disk or cultivating implement which includes a linkage system mounted in cooperation with a fluid cylinder apparatus for raising and lowering the disk transport wheels, which linkage system includes a pair of drive arms connected to the rotatably-mounted wheel shaft carrying the transport wheels, a pair of double pivoted links connecting each drive arm to a separate, adjustable connecting rod, which connecting rod is in turn pivotally attached to a pivot arm rotatably mounted on the frame of the disk. A pair of rearwardly and downwardly extending frame arms mounted on the pivot arm and spaced by an arm brace serve to support a drag pipe, harrow or other cultivating implement in a desired attitude. The drag attachment can be manipulated to raise or lower the drag pipe, harrow or other cultivating implement by operation of the conventional fluid cylinder apparatus provided on the disk.

Abstract: A mulch tiller or similar implement having a rigid frame supporting a plurality of forward trash-sizing gang assemblies and rearward plow tools. Spring brackets rockably support the gang asemblies for independent vertical movement with respect to the frame and maintain a generally constant down pressure of the gangs against the soil. The frame includes diagonal beam structure and a lower subframe assembly for compact shipping, good draft load distribution and underframe clearance. Common depth control, main frame and hitch components are utilized for implements of varying widths to reduce cost.

Abstract: A tillage system includes forward and rear sets of widely spaced discs and a set of plow points. The discs in the forward set are mounted at spaced intervals so as to leave alternate strips of worked and unworked soil of substantially equal width. Each disc of the rear set is mounted in a strip of soil left unworked by the forward set to complete the working of the top soil. The plow points are located in the furrows of one of the sets of discs (preferably the rear set) to permit some deep plowing. The working depths of the points and discs are independently adjustable. The system is designed for operation at high speed to provide complete coverage of the soil with minimal double working by the discs. It permits deeper penetration by the discs and a controlled amount of deeper plowing by the points while leaving a finished contour which is substantially free of ridges and furrows.

Abstract: An agricultural implement having a primary frame on which is mounted an adjustable secondary support frame through connecting links and depth control screws enabling adjustment of the secondary support frame relative to the primary frame while maintaining the secondary support frame in generally parallel relation to the plane of the primary frame. First tools such as disk gangs are carried by the secondary support frame, while different type tools such as shank mounted earth working points and contiguous moldboards are mounted on the primary frame spaced from the first tools. Wheels mounted on the primary frame enable raising of the primary and secondary frames and associated tools for transport, and are adjustable to serve as gauge wheels for the earth working points and moldboards.

Abstract: The device comprises a transverse frame member having depending border disc mounts. The transverse frame member also has a hitch extending forwardly therefrom for attachment to a three point hitch on a tractor. The water stop attachment has a ladder type framework with one side of the ladder frame pivotally attached to the border disc transverse frame member. A spaced parallel frame member of the ladder frame is attached to a plurality of stop plates which are located directly behind the depending border disc mounts. A single hydraulic cylinder extends between a raised portion of the three point hitch and a central member of the ladder frame for raising and lowering the stop mechanism upon actuation of a hydraulic switch or valve located in the cab of the tow vehicle.

Abstract: A farm implement has a mobile frame from which is suspended a number of chisel plow shanks and a row of rolling coulters ahead of the plows for cutting crop residue to prevent trash buildup and plugging at the plows. A transverse rock shaft on the frame is provided with swingable wheel arms and cranks to which hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies are connected for raising and lowering the frame, and therefore, the plows and the coulters in unison. The coulters are swingably mounted on the frame for up and down movement relative to the frame as well as fore and aft movement toward and away from the plows. Turnbuckles pivotally interconnecting the coulter supports and the wheel arms impart swinging movement to the coulters during up and down movement of the frame. Accordingly, adequate slicing heights for the cutters are automatically maintained even at shallow plowing depths.

Abstract: A soil cultivating machine has a pair of frame units inclined rearwardly divergently to each other, each frame unit having a respective tool-holding shaft. Each shaft is associated with two tool-holding bars, one in front of the shaft and one behind it. The bars carry deep-tilling implements, while the shafts carry disc-like tools. There is a prescribed numerical relationship between the depth of tilling by these implements and the distance, measured in a direction parallel with the direction of advance of the machine, between a given implement and the associated disc-like tool. There is a further prescribed numeral relationship between this distance and the velocity of advance of the machine.

Abstract: An attachment for an earth working apparatus having a mobile frame with central and wing sections, each with forward and rear frame members and a plurality of earth working members thereon. The attachment includes a plurality of reach arms for each section and having a forward end portion thereof connected to the forward and rear frame members of the respective frame section. A vertically adjustable hanger unit is swingably mounted on each reach arm and has a tool bar carrying support member swingably mounted thereon. Each hanger unit is constructed so as to permit an elongated, adjustable drag tension spring to have unusually great length such as by allowing a lower end portion to be connected to the respective support member rearwardly of the hanger unit and an upper end portion to be connected to the respective reach arm forwardly of the hanger unit.

Abstract: A lift device is mounted on a wheeled implement such as a disc harrow which has retractable wheels for transport. The lift device includes a pair of arms mounted on a horizontal pivot bar which is rotated by activation of the mechanism for lowering the wheels of the disc harrow. The arms hold a drawbar for a drag harrow when the drag harrow is to be transported and allow the drag harrow to hang vertically behind the disc harrow. In the suspended position, pivots in the arms allow the drag harrow considerable lateral freedom. When the arms are lowered, the drag harrow is released from the arms and dragged by pull lines. Hinges in the arms permit the arms to be folded up onto the disc harrow.

Abstract: An implement to remove levees and the like from the earth's surface includes a frame means with longitudinal and lateral members connected to form a frame having sides, a front and a rear end. A pair of ganged disc harrows is supported on the frame and depends therefrom. Each of said pair of said ganged disc harrows extends inwardly from a side of the frame and towards the rear end of the frame to form a generally V-shape with the apex of the V-shape being disposed adjacent the center longitudinal axis of the frame. Dozer blade means comprised of a pair of dozer blades. Each of the dozer blades extend from a side of the frame and inwardly towards the front end of the frame to form a generally V-shape with the apex of the V formed by the dozer blades being disposed adjacent but rearwardly of the apex of the V formed by the ganged disc harrows. The dozer blades cooperate with the ganged disc harrows to level the earth as the implement is moved thereover.