Tool Has Circumferentially Spaced Teeth, Tines, Blades Or The Like Patents (Class 172/540)
  • Patent number: 10787785
    Abstract: A base for forming a tooth for a wheel of a landfill compactor vehicle. The tooth comprises said base and a cap of a cast metal material formed on said base. The base comprises a block, a core and a lip. The block is adapted to be mounted on said landfill compactor vehicle wheel. The core, which is disposed on a cap-facing side of the base, is for receiving molten metal material during a casting operation and remains embedded in the cap. The lip is disposed around a periphery of the base and is also for receiving said molten metal material, in cooperation with the core. The lip at least partially surrounds the cap-facing side and the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bernard McCartney Limited
    Inventor: Neil McCartney
  • Patent number: 10731310
    Abstract: A base for forming a tooth for a wheel of a landfill compactor vehicle. The tooth comprises said base and a cap of a cast metal material formed on said base. The base comprises a block, a core and a lip. The block is adapted to be mounted on said landfill compactor vehicle wheel. The core, which is disposed on a cap-facing side of the base, is for receiving molten metal material during a casting operation and remains embedded in the cap. The lip is disposed around a periphery of the base and is also for receiving said molten metal material, in cooperation with the core. The lip at least partially surrounds the cap-facing side and the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bernard McCartney Limited
    Inventor: Neil McCartney
  • Patent number: 10645862
    Abstract: A finger wheel for a row cleaner has multiple, spaced, radially extending fingers. Each finger has a concave forward edge with inner and outer sections, and a convex rearward edge with inner and outer sections. The outer sections of the forward and rearward edges converge to a point. A curved connecting section connects the forward edge of one finger to the rearward edge of the next finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventors: Allan E. Winick, Jerry L. Groff
  • Patent number: 10555452
    Abstract: An improved row cleaning/closing wheel having improved debris removing and/or furrow closing performance with complimentary left and right cleaning/closing wheel pairs having complimentary teeth configurations to provide spatial, angular and rotational intermeshed cleaning and/or closing operation during row planting. The improved row cleaning wheel for use with a floating row cleaner and/or closing arm assemblies attached to a row planter during planting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventors: Ronald Steve Martin, Asghar Rezasoltani
  • Patent number: 10159175
    Abstract: A floating row cleaner assembly comprising a tool arm row cleaner mount, a row cleaner frame mounting plate, a row cleaner frame pivotally attached to the tool arm row cleaner mount and the row cleaner frame mounting plate. The periphery of the u-shaped row cleaner frame is composed of a combination of angled and curved portions to reduce the length and width of the frame to allow row cleaners to be used in combination with a coulter, or other tillage tool, and planter row unit spacing below 30 inches, while allowing necessary clearance between the row cleaner(s) and the coulter for terrain responsive operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: Ronald S. Martin
  • Patent number: 9949432
    Abstract: A vegetation chopping roller for an agricultural land roller implement including a drum body having an outer periphery which is generally cylindrical about a drum axis of rotation and a plurality of protruding mounting flanges upon which chopping blades are mounted using threaded fasteners. A seating surface is fixedly supported in relation to the drum body in association with each blade which receives the inner edge of the associated blade abutted thereon such that the threaded fasteners are substantially isolated from shear forces by the abutment of the blades with the seating surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Johan Redekop
  • Patent number: 9877421
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tilling ground material are provided. According to one embodiment, a tiller system is provided comprising two coiled conical blades that penetrate ground material to provide both forward propulsion and tillage of the ground material. An operator of the tiller system can adjust the angle at which the coiled conical blades penetrate the ground material to achieve an optimal balance of forward propulsion, stability, and tillage of the ground material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Green Heron Tools, LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth Brensinger, Ann Adams, Robert L. Wrye, Aaron M. Yoder, H. J. Sommer
  • Publication number: 20150096773
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that attaches to a harvester or other farm implements, and when pulled across a harvested field, such as a corn field, the apparatus crushes the stalks left after harvesting. The apparatus has attachment elements, upper and lower, with a spring tensioning therebetween, drag arms within which is a rotatable drum with stalk crushing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: RICKY ALAN MILLER, Hoath Frost Johnson
  • Patent number: 8875640
    Abstract: A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member displaces soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: VTI, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Phillip E. Reed
  • Patent number: 8826836
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to the field of agricultural machinery and relates to preplanting tillage implements generally used in combination with a seed planting device, or other multi-row implement. Specifically, the disclosure relates to row treating units incorporating a row clearance arrangement or a combination of tools that includes a row cleaning device and a soil penetrating coulter device. The units are designed to be attached to the front of a multi-row implement. The deployment of and down force exerted by the row cleaner is independently adjustable and controlled using pneumatic air bag operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: L & B Manufacturing, Inc., Yetter Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Loyd C. Van Buskirk, Dylan C. Van Buskirk, Derek W. Allensworth
  • Patent number: 8813662
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a vertical floating row cleaner may include a mounting bracket configured to engage a row unit frame, which mounting bracket may have a receiver engaged therewith. An extension member may have first and second ends, with one end configured as an adjustor interface and the opposite end configured to pivotally engage at least one row cleaner wheel. An adjustor may engage the extension member at the adjustor interface such that the adjustor prevents the extension member from moving with respect to the receiver past a certain point in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Howard D. Martin
  • Publication number: 20140166320
    Abstract: A tilling apparatus and a method of tilling soils which includes the use of a rotational shaft having a number of cutter assemblies located at spaced apart locations on the shaft in which each cutter assembly has a multitude of blades which rotate as the rotary shaft rotates to form a plurality of spaced apart trenches having the same spacing as the spacing of the cutters, and a width caused by the width of the blades. As the blades dig the trench, the soil contacted by the blades is granulated and is tossed about by the spinning blades so that some soil falls back into the trench and some falls along the periphery of the trench to form rows of aerated granules which promote enhanced growth of plants or seeds in the trench and along the edge of the trench to improve the yield of pasture having the trenches. Various attachments can be provided on the tilling apparatus, either in front of or towards the rear of the spinning blades for different purposes, such as rippers, seeders, levellers, or similar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Niels Peter Olsen
  • Patent number: 8631879
    Abstract: A floating row cleaner assembly comprising a tool arm row cleaner mount, a row cleaner frame mounting plate, a row cleaner frame pivotally attached to the tool arm row cleaner mount and the row cleaner frame mounting plate. The periphery of the u-shaped row cleaner frame is composed of a combination of angled and curved portions to reduce the length and width of the frame to allow row cleaners to be used in combination with a coulter, or other tillage tool, and planter row unit spacing below 30 inches, while allowing necessary clearance between the row cleaner(s) and the coulter for terrain responsive operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald S. Martin
  • Patent number: 8596375
    Abstract: A row cleaner includes a wheel mount, a pair of hubs on the wheel mount and a finger wheel on each hub. The hubs are offset relative to each other in the direction of travel, and angled downwardly and inwardly. The finger wheels are concave and have equally spaced fingers. Each finger has three straight edges at selected angles to provide tapering fingers with a specific shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Alan E. Winick, Jerry L. Groff
  • Patent number: 8550019
    Abstract: A method is provided for depositing slurry into a ground surface for plant nutrition. A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member acts by displacing soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil. The rotating member may be a coulter blade that has a plurality of flutes formed on a first and a second side of the blade. The flutes have a leading edge that enters the ground substantially perpendicular with respect to the ground and exits at an angle to eject soil upward and outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: VTI, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Phillip E. Reed
  • Patent number: 8550745
    Abstract: An apparatus for compacting and conditioning a tract of ground generally consisting of a machine; means mounted on the machine for maneuvering an implement mounted thereon along and in contact with the tract of ground; and an implement mounted on the maneuvering means of the machine movable along and in contact with the tract of ground including a frame attachable to the maneuvering means of the machine, a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and a plurality of segments comprised of loosely connected components disposed transversely and spaced circumferentially on the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Rockland, Inc.
    Inventor: Calvin Thompson
  • Patent number: 8408149
    Abstract: A ground working machine having a frame, a ground engaging wheel mounted to the frame and movable between a raised position not engaging the ground and a working position engaging the ground. The ground engaging wheel, when in the working position, rotating about a wheel axis as the machine is moved over the ground. An actuator raises and lowers the ground engaging wheels. A control system includes a sensor to detect rotation of the ground engaging wheel and a controller that receives an input from the sensor. The controller commands the actuator to raise the ground engaging wheel when the sensor detects that the ground engaging wheel is not rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: David J. Rylander
  • Publication number: 20130062084
    Abstract: A rolling basket support for coupling a rolling basket to an agricultural implement is disclosed. The rolling basket support includes a center portion having a bearing mount. A periphery extends radially around the bearing mount. The periphery has a radially inner notch for coupling to ground-engaging bars of a first cross-section and a radially outer notch for coupling to ground-engaging bars of a second cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: ROBERT T. CASPER, SHAWN J. BECKER, RICHARD J. CONNELL
  • Patent number: 8333249
    Abstract: A roller device having an elongated tank and a tank frame for supporting the tank. A center axle traverses the tank. The first end of the center axle engages the third side portion of the tank frame and the second end of the center axle engages the fourth side portion of the tank frame. The tank can roll about the center axle. The device also features two retractable wheels, which are attached to the frame via wheel braces. The wheel braces are each operatively connected to hydraulic arms. The hydraulic arms function to retract and extend the wheels with respect to the frame, raising and lowering the tank away from and onto the ground surface. A first tow is disposed on the third side portion of the tank frame and a second tow is disposed on the first side portion of the tank frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventors: Herman E. Minton, William Jeffrey Minton
  • Patent number: 8297372
    Abstract: An agricultural implement for towing over fields, for incorporating crop residues into soil, possessing a pair of juxtaposed, substantially parallel, spaced-apart, rotatable shafts, comprising a first forwardly-mounted shaft and a second rearwardly-mounted shaft, each mounted on a frame transversely to a direction of travel of said implement. A plurality of protruding tine members, extending substantially radially outwardly from each of said pair of shafts and longitudinally spaced along each of said pair of shafts, each tine member adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of a respective shaft, a tip of each of said tine members when rotating about said respective shaft creating a circular arc, are further provided. The circular arcs of the tine members on one of said pair of shafts interdigitate with a corresponding plurality of circular arcs of said tine members on said other of said pair of shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND Canada Limited
    Inventors: Allan Buckrell, Wayne Graham
  • Patent number: 8291998
    Abstract: A furrow closing wheel assembly includes a closed loop that has an inner surface, an outer surface, a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface. Each of the first and second lateral surfaces has a channel therein. Flanges positioned on a hub are extendable into the channels to couple the hub to the loop. A plurality of teeth extends upwardly from the outer surface. Each of the teeth has a front face, a rear face, a first side, a second side and an apex positioned distal to the loop. Each the front faces is faceted such that the front faces are absent of a substantial planar surface lying in a plane that is orientated parallel to an axis of rotation of the loop. The front face of each of the teeth is a leading face of the teeth extending into soil when the loop is positioned on the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin J. Berg, David Terveen
  • Publication number: 20120199055
    Abstract: A single pass ground driven tiller and seeder apparatus includes a support frame, an elongated drive rotor journaled transversely on the frame, a tillage assembly pivotally connected to the frame and formed by a pair of rearwardly extending bearing plates and having an elongated tillage rotor journaled thereto and extending transversely therebetween, and a firming roller journaled between mounting plates pivotally connected to the bearing plates. The drive rotor is rotated by ground contact as the apparatus is drawn along by a tractor. The drive rotor is drivingly engaged with the tillage rotor so that the tillage rotor rotates at a faster speed than the drive rotor. A seed metering mechanism is supported on the frame and deposits seed in front of the drive rotor. The tillage rotor breaks the soil and incorporates the seed into the soil, after which the firming roller firms the seed bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Brent P. Berglund
  • Patent number: 8186450
    Abstract: A zone tillage tool comprises a tool frame connected by a parallel lift linkage to a tool bar. A fall tillage coulter or dual spring tillage coulters can be carried on the tool frame in advance of a pair of containment coulters. The fall tillage coulter tills soil in a zone that is approximately 7 to 9 inches deep while the spring tillage coulters till 2 to 3 inches deep. The fall tillage coulter includes a plurality of shovel bits located around the circumference thereof at a forward rake angle. The tip of each shovel bit has a generally vertical entry position into the ground due to the forward rake angle. As the fall tillage coulter rotates, the shovel bits rotate around and exit the soil in a generally horizontal position, thereby lifting and loosening the soil without compacting the soil through a series of rearwardly and upwardly directed soil scooping actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Enviromental Tillage Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20120111588
    Abstract: An exemplary best mode embodiment and various alternative embodiments are shown for combining horizontal and vertical tillage to solve both weed control and penetration of compaction layer. In one exemplary embodiment a large colter or tine is disposed behind a plow, sweep, concave disc, or other horizontal tillage implement to slice the soil to penetrate any compaction created by the implement. In another exemplary embodiment, a colter with lateral blades penetrates a surface compaction layer, chops crop residue and hoes and levels the soil all in one pass with one implement. We have discovered that a deeper-penetrating tailing ground slicing implement behind a horizontal tillage device results in full root depth for a stronger crop and better yields with normally deep-rooted crops such as corn and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: TRAVIS R. SMITH, LEONARD R. SMITH
  • Patent number: 8037943
    Abstract: Fastening device for coupling of blades in agricultural cultivation machines, in particular, tilling machines such as rotary tillers, including an intermediate fastening element, formed by a solid body, which joins the blade to the rotary plate; the intermediate fastening element being equipped with a fastening arrangement for linking the fastening arrangement to the rotary plate; a guiding arrangement for insertion of the blade into the intermediate fastening element; and at least one through hole, extending transversely with respect to the direction of the guiding arrangement and intended for insertion of a retractable pin which, when the pin is inserted, acts as a retaining element for the blade with respect to the intermediate fastening element such that the arrangement enables the user/operator to manually replace and/or reset the tilling blade, avoiding any need for accessory tools commonly used for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Digger Tools, S.L.
    Inventor: Carles Arnabat Castellvi
  • Publication number: 20110155401
    Abstract: This tillage machine disclosure utilizes the original Huxley (1983) patented aerator tine geometry with special features which are different from those patented by Martindale (U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,525). These features are disclosed here in a series of different arrangements within machine frame designs. There are two different embodiments of the enhanced tine design. The frame designs disclosed protect the farmer from maintenance neglect and unintentional misuse or oversight of the tine technology limitations which have led to inconsistent performance in previous framing presentations. These designs result in greatly reduced machine lifetime costs of soil-engaging tines. A wide range of power requirements and concomitant amounts of soil fracturing in relation to the number of tine perforations is achieved to effectively reduce soil erosion potential as a result of the tillage operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: James R. Martindale, Daniel R. Martindale
  • Publication number: 20110139470
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for forming a plurality of impressions (100) in a target surface (101). The method includes the steps of urging a roller element (110) arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis (L) in a direction of advancement (A) over a target surface, an angle between the direction of advancement and the longitudinal axis is between 89° and 30°. The method also includes the step of as the roller element rotates, forming successive impressions in the target surface via at least one tooth element (113) extending outwardly at a respective region of an outer surface (112) of the roller element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Aquagronomy Limited
    Inventor: Charles Henry Creyke
  • Patent number: 7959375
    Abstract: A compactor cleat for reducing the amount of refuse build-up on the compactor wheel is disclosed. The compactor cleat includes a first tooth angled upward away from the compactor wheel in a first direction and a second tooth positioned adjacent the first tooth and being angled upward away from the compactor wheel in a second direction opposite from the first direction. The first tooth and the second tooth are formed such that an inner edge of the first tooth intersects an inner edge of the second tooth to form a scissor-shaped junction between the first tooth and the second tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Terra Compactor Wheel Corp.
    Inventor: Robert John Brockway
  • Patent number: 7942210
    Abstract: In lieu of rigid bars, a tillage reel utilizes a number of elongated flexible elements such as lengths of link chain that are spaced circumferentially around the reel and extend axially thereof. The flexible elements bow outwardly by centrifugal force as the reel rolls along the ground during tillage operations to impact and fracture clods encountered at the lower front extremity of the reel. When the reel is used in connection with strip till operations, the flexible elements bow upwardly and inwardly along the lower periphery of the reel as they engage and conform to the transverse cross-section of the strip till berm, thereby avoiding destruction of the berm notwithstanding the clod-pulverizing action provided by the flexible elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Krause Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Ankenman
  • Patent number: 7926582
    Abstract: A soil aeration apparatus may include aeration tines that are actuated by a relatively compact gear system that reduces the size and weight of the apparatus. In addition, a soil aeration apparatus may operate without a centrally disposed support shaft, thus enabling the tine-holder shafts to be positioned closer to one another and reducing the size of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: PlanetAir Turf Products, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Maas, Scott W. Bjorge
  • Patent number: 7802631
    Abstract: An agricultural implement has gangs of soil aerator tools. Each gang includes a set of integral multi-tine units mounted on a frame for rotation in unison. Each tine unit has a hub with tines. The hub has a first surface defining a first set of indexing receivers and a second surface defining a second set of indexing receivers. At least one indexing spacer separates each tine unit from the next tine unit. Keys of the indexing spacers assemble with selected ones of the first set of indexing receivers or the second set of indexing receivers to establish and maintain a predetermined pattern of rotational index positions among tine units in a group and groups in a gang. A method of rotationally indexing agricultural tools in an assembly. One method includes providing a shaft, tine units, and indexing spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Genesis Tillage, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. McKinley, Gary Bailey
  • Patent number: 7665539
    Abstract: An agricultural implement for clearing and tilling soil to be planted includes a residue-clearing sub-assembly including a first rotatable coulter wheel and at least one toothed wheel mounted for rotation about an axis located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the first coulter wheel of forward portion of the toothed wheel overlaps a rear portion of the first coulter wheel. A tillage sub-assembly includes second and third coulter wheels that are offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft, and are mounted for rotation about axes of rotation that are located rearwardly of the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels. A depth control device is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the rearmost of the second and third coulter wheels. A common frame carries the residue-clearing sub-assembly, the tillage sub-assembly, and the depth control device so that all of the axes of rotation are fixed relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Dawn Equipment Company
    Inventors: James H. Bassett, Joseph D. Bassett
  • Patent number: 7604066
    Abstract: A multipurpose rear grooming assembly for a lawn garden vehicle, and more specifically, to a rear grooming assembly capable of use as a spike aerator, a plug aerator, a dethatcher, or even a roller where the grooming assembly also serves as storage for two or more implements. The grooming assembly includes a universal frame with implements when in the operating position and to accommodate more than one of the plurality of lawn-grooming implements, much like a protective rack, when the universal frame is oriented vertically in a storage configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Agri-Fab, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Joe Hickenbottom
  • Patent number: 7594546
    Abstract: In lieu of rigid bars, a tillage reel utilizes a number of elongated flexible elements such as lengths of link chain that are spaced circumferentially around the reel and extend axially thereof. The flexible elements bow outwardly by centrifugal force as the reel rolls along the ground during tillage operations to impact and fracture clods encountered at the lower front extremity of the reel. When the reel is used in connection with strip till operations, the flexible elements bow upwardly and inwardly along the lower periphery of the reel as they engage and conform to the transverse cross-section of the strip till berm, thereby avoiding destruction of the berm notwithstanding the clod-pulverizing action provided by the flexible elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Krause Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Ankenman
  • Patent number: 7581503
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a tool bar and at least one opener/closer arrangement carried by the tool bar for opening a trench in soil. Each opener/closer arrangement includes an opener disc positioned at an angle relative to a working direction and defining a trench profile. The opener disc has an axis of rotation, a leading edge, and a trailing edge positioned adjacent one side of the trench profile. A gauge wheel is positioned generally inline with the opener disc adjacent to the trailing edge of the opener disc. The gauge wheel has a leading edge positioned between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the opener disc. A first closing wheel is positioned on a side of the trench profile opposite to the gauge wheel. The first closing wheel has a leading edge positioned between the axis of rotation and the trailing edge of the opener disc. A second closing wheel is positioned on a same side of the trench profile as the gauge wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Martin, James R. Peterson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7578080
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting tooth for a ground working implement, particularly for a cutting wheel of a trench wall cutter, with a dedendum for reception in a holder of the ground working implement and at least one main cutting element for working the soil located at the top on the dedendum. For widening the working cross-section of the main cutting element at least one further reaming element is provided at the top on the dedendum and which, compared with the main cutting element, has a different cutting edge design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Bauer Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Stoetzer, Wilhelm Ruby
  • Patent number: 7575066
    Abstract: A zone tillage tool comprises a tool frame connected by a parallel lift linkage to a tool bar. A fall tillage coulter or dual spring tillage coulters can be carried on the tool frame in advance of a pair of containment coulters. The fall tillage coulter tills soil in a zone that is approximately 7 to 9 inches deep while the spring tillage coulters till 2 to 3 inches deep. The fall tillage coulter includes a plurality of shovel bits located around the circumference thereof at a forward rake angle. The tip of each shovel bit has a generally vertical entry position into the ground due to the forward rake angle. As the fall tillage coulter rotates, the shovel bits rotate around and exit the soil in a generally horizontal position, thereby lifting and loosening the soil without compacting the soil through a series of rearwardly and upwardly directed soil scooping actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Environmental Tillage Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20090200049
    Abstract: The instant invention is of a soil conditioning device having a series of peripheral ridge members having a leading and trailing prow shaped surface circumscribing a disc, wheel or drum. Optionally the prow shaped peripheral ridge members are joined by sub-ridge members forming a single ridge of varying heights circumscribing the disc, wheel or drum. The invention is also of a method for creating a permeable soil surface using the apparatus herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Charles Stephen Carr, Keith Ward
  • Patent number: 7484568
    Abstract: A tine for mounting on a rotatable shaft of soil aeration and cultivation equipment, comprising: mounting means at an attachment end of the tine; a tip at a ground-engaging end of the tine opposite the attachment end; leading and trailing convex curvilinear edges disposed opposite each other and converging toward the attachment end and the tip; and bevelled sections on each of the leading and trailing convex curvilinear edges. The unique shape of the tine has been found to create a wider range of soil disturbance than is the case with conventional straight-edge tines, requires less material to manufacture, and penetrates the ground surface more easily than conventional straight-edge tines due to the convex leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Holland Equipment Limited
    Inventor: Constantin Vasilescu
  • Publication number: 20080230242
    Abstract: In lieu of rigid bars, a tillage reel utilizes a number of elongated flexible elements such as lengths of link chain that are spaced circumferentially around the reel and extend axially thereof. The flexible elements bow outwardly by centrifugal force as the reel rolls along the ground during tillage operations to impact and fracture clods encountered at the lower front extremity of the reel. When the reel is used in connection with strip till operations, the flexible elements bow upwardly and inwardly along the lower periphery of the reel as they engage and conform to the transverse cross-section of the strip till berm, thereby avoiding destruction of the berm notwithstanding the clod-pulverizing action provided by the flexible elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: KRAUSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas W. Ankenman
  • Patent number: 7392853
    Abstract: The invention features an elongated blade having at least one first tooth near a first end extending in one direction and at least one second tooth near a second end extending in the opposite direction. The body of the blade can be a generally rectangular plate. There can be at least two first and second teeth. The blade can include four corners, wherein at the first end the first teeth are formed in the first edge and at the second end the second teeth are formed in the second edge. Edges of the blade can be formed without teeth near two corners and can be sharpened or not. The teeth may extend different distances from the blade. The blade cuts into a surface. In one application, the blade is used for edging or trenching and is rotated generally vertically so as to penetrate the ground and any material on or in the ground such as grass, sod, turf, leaves, thatch and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventor: Gregory Baran
  • Patent number: 7290619
    Abstract: A soil aeration apparatus may include aeration tines that are actuated by a relatively compact gear system that reduces the size and weight of the apparatus. In addition, a soil aeration apparatus may operate without a centrally disposed support shaft, thus enabling the tine-holder shafts to be positioned closer to one another and reducing the size of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: PlanetAir Turf Products, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Maas, Scott W. Bjorge
  • Patent number: 7172032
    Abstract: An agricultural implement has gangs of soil aerator tools. Each gang includes a set of integral multi-tine units mounted on a frame for rotation in unison. Each tine unit has a hub with tines. The hub has a first surface defining a first set of indexing receivers and a second surface defining a second set of indexing receivers. At least one indexing spacer separates each tine unit from the next tine unit. Keys of the indexing spacers assemble with selected ones of the first set of indexing receivers or the second set of indexing receivers to establish and maintain a predetermined pattern of rotational index positions among tine units in a group and groups in a gang. A method of rotationally indexing agricultural tools in an assembly. One method includes providing a shaft, tine units, and indexing spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Genesis Tillage, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. McKinley, Gary Bailey
  • Patent number: 7163067
    Abstract: A ground maintenance apparatus which may be used for slicing, scarifying, dethatching and mowing of grass or turf is disclosed. The apparatus may also be used for sweeping and vacuuming of turf, and is particularly directed at ground or turf aeration apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Wayne Sinclair Job
  • Patent number: 7156186
    Abstract: These and other objects and objectives are attained by providing an soil conditioning rotary reel for a strip-till primary tillage system, the rotary reel having a particular cross-sectional profile that forms the soil into a uniform raised berm ideally suited for planting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Dean Knobloch, Daryl T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7143837
    Abstract: A soil conditioning rotary reel for secondary agricultural tillage implements is disclosed. The reel incorporates formed bars slightly spiraled along the length thereof that increase the overall strength of the reel and, because of the shape of the formed bars, support plates and end plates, efficiently break up clods while avoiding plugging of the reel, even in moist conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7143836
    Abstract: A soil conditioning rotary reel for primary agricultural tillage implements is disclosed. The reel incorporates formed bars slightly spiraled along the length thereof that increase the overall strength of the reel and, because of the shape of the formed bars, support plates and end plates, efficiently break up clods while avoiding plugging of the reel, even in moist conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6923267
    Abstract: A linear aeration apparatus is operable to form parallel linear aeration trenches into the surface of the ground. Aeration of highly compacted turf areas can be accomplished by first spreading a top dressing material over the surface of the field and then forming linear aeration trenches into the surface of the ground mixing the soil removed from the trenches with the top dressing material. A reciprocating finishing apparatus brushes the mixed soil back into the aeration trenches to stabilize the surface of the ground. A rotary member has radially projecting blades that, upon rotation, form the continuous linear trenches defining unstable islands of earth therebetween. The finishing device includes rearwardly projecting fingers that reciprocate transversely to brush the mixed soil and top dressing material back into the formed aeration trenches to stabilize the islands of earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: ABC Groff, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Bentley
  • Patent number: 6881001
    Abstract: Devices and methods for softening the infill layer of artificial turf. Multiple prongs extend from a rake or a rotating drum or wheel that is pushed or pulled across the artificial turf. In one embodiment, the prongs eject pressurized gas or liquid into the base of the infill. In another embodiment, the prongs vibrate within the base of the infill. Ideally, both methods are employed. The forced gas and/and or fluid, and the vibration, serve to loosen the rubber and sand particulate that make up the infill and thereby soften the artificial field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas H. McCamy
  • Patent number: 6854525
    Abstract: A tine assembly comprising a plurality of individual tines, each tine with an arcuate shaped base section and a blade section. Each tine is mountable between a pair of hubs suds that each blade extends radially outward therefrom. The base portions are clamped, secured, or otherwise engaged between the hub assemblies. The blades may be positioned to be twisted in various angles about a line extending substantially radially outwards, by the use of wedge-shaped, arcuate blocks. The blocks and individual tines may be positioned in a multitude of different configurations to providing desired rotational positioning of the tine blade sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Inventor: James Martindale