Tool Independently Vertically Adjustable At Transversely Spaced Points Patents (Class 172/460)
  • Patent number: 11716917
    Abstract: In some implementations, an agricultural row unit assembly can include a pair of tine assemblies each having at least one tine mounted to a hub, said hub adapted to rotate about a first axis, where rotation of said pair of tine assemblies fractures soil and forms a pair of outer edges of a tilled row with a row width. In some embodiments, the device can include a rolling cultivator adapted to form a generally flat profile to said tilled row. In some embodiments, the device can include a seedbed cultivator adapted to work through said soil in the area defined by the row width. In some embodiments, the device can include a pair of gauge wheels fastened to each end of the shaft such that said gauge wheels are located outside said pair of outer edges of a tilled row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: William E. Preller, Eric C. Ragar, Michael J. Grossen
  • Patent number: 11284553
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor mounting assembly comprising a toolbar engaged with a first implement engaging a soil subsurface and also equipped with a carrying tool for engaging another implement. The carrying tool may include hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic charged accumulators which lift, suspend, and support implements behind a toolbar engaged to a tractor. The implement engaging the soil and the carrier tool may be engaged to the toolbar of the tractor mounting assembly which is engaged to the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Randal Tomich
  • Patent number: 10428478
    Abstract: Provided is a material handling assembly, such as a plow, that may contain additional features mounted thereon so as to increase the functionality of the assembly, and an apparatus and method for mounting such an assembly or other like structure onto a vehicle, such as a truck. A plow mounting apparatus may be used for automatically mounting and dismounting a plow blade to an end of an associated vehicle. The plow mounting apparatus includes a plow assembly comprising: an expandable plow blade; a lift frame; an auxiliary light mounting apparatus;h a height adjustment mechanism; and, a vertical pull structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Meyer Products, LLC
    Inventors: Denis Sankovic, Craig Kemmerling, Thomas Miller
  • Patent number: 9750171
    Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement includes a main frame section having a pull hitch tube extending in a travel direction, and a tool bar coupled with and extending transverse to the pull hitch tube. A shank frame is pivotally coupled with the tool bar. The shank frame is positioned in front of the tool bar when in an operating position, and foldable up and over the tool bar to a position rearward of the tool bar when in a transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Matthew R. Sudbrink, Dean A. Knobloch
  • Patent number: 9512592
    Abstract: An equipment for installing silt fencing includes a motive vehicle with an attached trencher to cut a trench having a predetermined depth and width. The trencher includes a cutting wheel and a trenching foot having a predetermined width for determining a width of a trench cut with the trenching assembly. The trencher is vertically positionable and a gauge is provided to the operator for controlling the depth of the trench as terrain and soil condition varies. The cutting wheel and trenching foot are also rotatable to control the orientation of the trench with respect to plumb. The equipment may also include a silt fence installation station including a power hammer on a positionable boom for another operator to use to drive the silt fence stakes into the ground. The equipment may also include a back filler on a side opposite the trencher for backfilling the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Lester O. Ranew, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9155239
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor seeks to simplify a shaft support structure in a lower portion side of an elevating hydraulic cylinder which is externally installed to a rear side of a transmission case. The agricultural tractor of the present invention is provided with a travel machine body to which an engine and the transmission case are mounted, a lift arm which is provided in a rear portion side of an upper surface of the transmission case so as to freely oscillate up and down, the elevating hydraulic cylinder which oscillates up and down the lift arm, and rear axle cases which protrude laterally outward from the transmission case. An upper portion side of the elevating hydraulic cylinder is connected to the lift arm, and a lower portion side of the elevating hydraulic cylinder is supported to the travel machine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Hatanaka, Koji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8960321
    Abstract: A towable soil pulverizer having a center section and foldable wings mounted by hinges on opposite sides of the center section to fold upwardly or downwardly about substantially longitudinal hinge axes. Each hinge has a spaced ball joint and guide roller in roller slot. A wing float axis for each wing extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal hinge axis in a transverse direction, each wing also being pivotal about the float axis. The hinge design with the float axis prevents weight transfer between the center section and wing sections when the pulverizer operates over uneven soil, providing uniform soil conditioning over the width of the pulverizer. The center section rollers are positioned ahead of, behind, or co-linear with the wing rollers. Lockout kits are provided for mounting in the roller guide slots for restricting motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Landoll Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Lee Tamm
  • Patent number: 8820428
    Abstract: A land roller implement includes a wheel aligned with the respective gap between the inner roller and the outer roller of each wing in which the wheel is pivotal between a packing position in the working position of the rollers and a transport position supporting the rollers in the transport position of the implement. The wings can also include a drive motor associated with each transport wheel to drive forward rotation of the wheel for displacing the wings from the transport position to the working position without displacing the implement in a rearward direction. A leveling beam attachment and a seeding attachment can also optionally be used on the land roller implement. Optional latchable brace members pivotally supported on the wings may provide additional support to the wings when using the leveling beam attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventors: David Gary McCrea, Thomas Edward McCrea
  • Patent number: 8820429
    Abstract: A fertilizer applicator of increased operating width, e.g., sixty (60) or sixty-five (65) feet, has a carrier frame and a pair of wing sections pivotally mounted to opposite ends of the carrier frame. The wing sections include an inner wing member and an outer wing member. Each wing section includes an actuator for folding/unfolding a respective outer wing member relative to a respective inner wing member. The inner wing member includes a frame member defining an elongated cavity, and the actuator is positioned within the elongated cavity. This allows the actuator to effectively fold/unfold the outer wing member relative to the inner wing member without the physical structure of the actuator impeding movement of the outer wing member thereby allowing the outer wing member to pivot upland to a position against the inner wing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Dean A. Knobloch, Michael C. Hatton, Matthew R. Sudbrink
  • Patent number: 8567517
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes a tool bar and a tool frame rotatably coupled to the tool bar. The agricultural implement also includes multiple row units coupled to the tool frame, and a frame actuator extending between the tool bar and the tool frame. The frame actuator is configured to rotate the tool frame between a lowered position that places each row unit in contact with soil and a transport position that raises each row unit above the soil. The frame actuator is also configured to transfer weight from the tool bar to the tool frame while the tool frame is in the lowered position. Each row unit includes a ground engaging tool configured to selectively engage and disengage the soil while the tool frame is in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance A. Friggstad, Nicholas George Alfred Ryder, Cory Adrian Yuen
  • Patent number: 8118110
    Abstract: A towable soil pulverizer having a longitudinal center section, and foldable wings mounted by hinges on opposite sides of the center section to fold upwardly or downwardly about substantially longitudinal hinge axes. The wings and center section have ground working rollers. Each hinge has a spaced ball joint and guide roller in roller slot. A wing float axis for each wing extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal hinge axis in a transverse direction, each wing also being pivotal about the float axis. The hinge design with the float axis prevents weight transfer between the center section and wing sections when the pulverizer operates over uneven soil, to provide uniform soil conditioning over the width of the pulverizer. The center section rollers are positioned ahead of (or behind or co-linear with) the wing rollers. Components of the ball joint and roller guide in slot are fixedly and non-rotationally attached to the center section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Landoll Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Tamm, Norman George Reichardt
  • Publication number: 20080006416
    Abstract: An ATV hitch attachment includes a first mounting point defined by a hitch coupling and two further mounting points defined by two brace arms inclined upwardly and outwardly to a respective connection location on the rear rack. A rigid connecting member has a pair of arms extending rearwardly for rigid connection by a sliding fit to a forward end of a pair of parallel frame members of an implement such that the rigid connection holds the implement in the operating position in a common horizontal plane with the arms. The implement can be lifted to a raised transport position by an electric actuator causing pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the rear hitch. Ground wheels which are spaced from the ground in operating position which can contact the ground when the implement is raised to limit squatting movement of the ATV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Darin Hubscher, Jon Close, Lyle Dueck
  • Patent number: 5934382
    Abstract: A plurality of sand fighter rotor units are mounted to a folding frame upon a tractor. Each rotor unit operates in the furrows between rows of crops in an agricultural field. Each rotor unit has a plurality of inboard spiders mounted on an axle between a pair of bearings, and a plurality of outboard spiders mounted on short collars attached to the axle outside the pair of bearings. The prongs of the outboard spiders are shorter than the prongs of the inboard spiders. The outboard spiders are adjustable so that they may be placed close to the growing crops without coming into direct contact with the plants. Attaching the rotor units to a frame such that individual sections of the frame may be folded so that the distal wings of the frame when folded are substantially parallel to a center section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Walter B. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 5577563
    Abstract: A floating wing apparatus for toolbars which allows each wing to ride smoothly over terraced or rolling terrain, thereby providing a continuous, even contact between the implements carried thereon and the ground. Upper and lower pivot arms extend from the central section of the toolbar to the inner end of each wing section to form a parallelogram linkage which maintains the wing sections in a substantially horizontal orientation at all times, whether in the raised or lowered position. The upper pivot arm is pivotally connected to a pivot post, which is in turn pivotally connected to the central section. When working the land, this pivot post allows the wing sections and their attached implements to float or ride over uneven, rolling terrain. When the implements must be raised above the ground as during turning at the end of a field or when the wings are raised to the retracted position, the pivot posts are locked to a vertical position by means of hydraulic cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Kurt Holen
  • Patent number: 5358055
    Abstract: A partial width seeding attachment includes electronically controlled solenoids which activate hydraulic flow control valves connected to the hydraulic cylinders on respective implement sections. Switches in the tractor cab control the rockshaft of one or more selected sections independently of the other sections to raise the openers on the selected section or sections from contact with the soil. An electronically activated flow reversing valve is connected between the source of hydraulic fluid under pressure and the lift cylinder for each of the sections. Activation of a selected valve after the selective control valve on the tractor is moved to the normal field working position pressurizes the side of the cylinder that raises the openers on the section. The remaining cylinders operate normally to maintain preselected down pressure on the other openers. A master raise switch provides implement lift independent of the position of the individual rockshaft control switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: John D. Long, Richard H. Clark
  • Patent number: 4537262
    Abstract: A soil cultivating machine comprises two transverse rows of fixed tines and three transversely extending rollers. The front roller has discs which cut parallel slits in the soil. The two following rollers have transversely extending releasable blades mounted on angle-irons which form shallow V's pointed in the direction of the rollers' rotation and which are twisted about 90.degree. from their outboard ends to their centers. The rollers are drivingly interconnected by a chain transmission so that the middle roller rotates slower than the other two and the rear roller rotates faster than it would if freely rotating on the ground. The tines are in rows between the rollers and their depth of soil penetration relative to the underlying soil is adjustable. The rollers are mounted on a generally horizontal framework which is adjustable, however, so it can be inclined slightly either forward or aft to increase or decrease the penetration of the front roller's discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Inventor: Cornelis van der Lely
  • Patent number: 4237985
    Abstract: A device that includes a bracket, a hydraulic cylinder having an end pivotally mounted on an axis of the bracket, a first link pivotally mounted on the bracket on one side of the cylinder and pivotally connected to the extension end of the cylinder, a support structure pivotally mounted on the axis and having a plurality of earth working tools, and a second link pivotally mounted on the support structure on the other side of the cylinder and pivotally connected to the extension end of the cylinder. The device, including the bracket, is particularly arranged and constructed to be mounted on a multi-hitch structure for a plurality of grain drills to remove a tractor track prior to planting. The cylinder rotates the device from a working position to a transport position that is substantially in excess of 90.degree. therefrom. Tool depth adjustment and levelling means are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: International Harvester Company
    Inventor: Heiner J. Hoefkes
  • Patent number: 4217962
    Abstract: A soil ripping tooth assembly is pivotally mounted for vertical movement within a horizontally disposed downwardly and forwardly open box frame having a drawbar and drawn by a prime mover having a hydraulic fluid supply system. A scraping blade is connected in depending relation with the rearward wall of the box frame for collecting soil within the confines of the box frame. A pair of wheels, journalled by stub axles, connected with a weight support frame in turn pivotally connected to the rearward side of the box frame, supports the box frame and ripper tooth assembly in combination with the drawbar. A plurality of hydraulic cylinders, mounted on the box frame and respectively connected with the drawbar, ripper tooth assembly and weight supporting frame, selectively tilt the ripper tooth assembly and respective sides and ends of the box frame toward and away from the surface of the earth in a soil collecting and distributing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1980
    Inventor: Michael J. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4055222
    Abstract: The implement includes a bucket having a lower scraping blade. A pair of laterally spaced ground-engaging wheels are pivotally supported on the rear of the bucket and may be swung upwardly and downwardly in unison to change the elevation of the bucket. One of the wheels may be shifted upwardly and downwardly relative to the other wheel to tilt the implement about a fore-and-aft extending axis and thereby enable the bucket to work at various inclinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1977
    Inventor: Donald J. Runte