Abstract: This invention discloses a method for treating sand or sandy soil in desert or desertified land, comprising spreading water and a solid organic substance in any order or by directly spreading an adhesive and cohesive solution containing the solid organic substance onto the surface of desert or desertified land, and then stirring the solution containing the solid organic substance or mixing water and the solid organic substance with sand on the surface of desert or desertified land in a uniform way by a stirring device to finally form a modified sand material. This sand treatment method can be directly implemented on the surface of desert or desertified land without transporting and discharging the mixture onto the surface of desert or desertified land, and thus saving cost and time.

Abstract: Windrow diverting apparatus and method of controlling same proximate a roll baler pick-up which laterally shifts the windrow relative to the roll bale pick-up during baling.

Abstract: A ceramic component retention system includes a metallic component, a ceramic component, and at least one spring element arranged between the metallic component and the ceramic component. The metallic component has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and the ceramic component has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The at least one spring element is configured to mechanically couple the ceramic component to the metallic component.

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, levelers, or similar.

Abstract: The rotary cultivator enables an operator to cultivate an area immediately adjacent to (for example) perennial plants. The cultivator is a tractor-mounted tool with an articulated boom. A rotary cultivator head is disposed at a distal end of the boom so that a tractor operator can manipulate the boom and attached cultivator head through a full range of motions. The cultivator head includes a rotary disk with two essentially identical blade assemblies. Each blade assembly has a short blade that rotates within the periphery of the disk, and a long blade that extends beyond the periphery of the disk. The long blade has an extended segment that is flexible and elastic so that when the long blade extended segment contacts the stalk/trunk of a perennial plant, the extended segment elastically deforms so that the stalk/trunk is not damaged.

Abstract: A residue clearing apparatus for a shank of an agricultural implement includes a spoked wheel adapted for attachment to the implement such that the spoked wheel rotates about a wheel axis oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement and forward of the shank. A drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel. The spoked wheel is oriented such that ends of spokes of the spoked wheel pass above the ground forward of the shank, and such that the ends of the spokes of the spoked wheel pass adjacent to a front face of the shank. The spokes may be resiliently or pivotally mounted to the wheel.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, the invention comprises harrow apparatus for dethatchers. The harrow apparatus each has a plurality of pairs of harrow teeth formed of single steel rod with the ends of the rod forming a pair of teeth and with a pair coiled portion between the teeth and a projecting portion projecting away from the coiled portion and teeth with the teeth acting to engage the ground for cutting into the ground. A dampening coil also formed of a single steel rod has a pair of hooked ends and a pair of coiled portions intermediate the hooked ends and with a projecting portion projecting away from the coiled portions and the pair of hooked ends. The invention also includes a power drum for supporting and power rotating the pairs of harrow teeth and coiled portions. The power drum has a center tube with a plurality of slots for receiving the projecting intermediate portions of the pair of teeth and of the dampening coil.

Abstract: An elongate cultivating tool adapted to be supported at each end so as to be able in use to rotate about a longitudinal axis. The cultivating tool comprises an elongate cylindrical support which may be a helical coil spring, a plurality of cultivating elements on a peripheral cylindrical surface of the cylindrical support, each cultivating element linking up with four other like cultivating elements on the peripheral cylindrical surface and one and preferably two tines extending from each cultivating element. There may be two banks of cultivating elements on the tool to give a greater number of tines on the tool. The axle to support the cylindrical support for rotation may be telescopic to provide tension to maintain the position of the cultivating elements. The cultivating elements are formed from metal rod and in one form comprise a U-shaped body with each leg of the U-shaped body including a bend out of the plane of the body with each portion beyond the bend comprising a tine.

Abstract: An active rotary harrow is towed with its longitudinal horizontal axis at an acute angle relative to a line perpendicular to the direction of travel. A plurality of unitary tines are mounted by bolts or rivets on mounting plates which are secured to a shaft aligned along the horizontal axis. Each tine is made from spring steel which is flattened on one end, the flattened portion being mounted directly on the mounting plate by two or more fasteners. The tines are curved such that the outer end of the tine, being rounded in shape, is directed towards the trailing end of the harrow when in operation. The tines, and to a lesser extent, the mounting plates, are resilient in nature and can be deflected towards the trailing end of the harrow, when obstacles such as rocks are encountered. The tines are also capable of some pivotal deflection, to a lesser extent.

Abstract: A trash clearing brush unit for use ahead of a planter unit including a pair of circular brushes rotatably mounted to a vertical support bar and angularly inclined toward one another. The support bar is attachable to a planter unit and vertically adjustable with respect thereto.

Abstract: A finger wheel for use in an agricultural implement having a substantially circular unitary backing plate with a plurality of bosses disposed in a circle concentric to the backing plate adjacent to the periphery thereof and projecting axially therefrom and with a plurality of anchors disposed in a circle concentric to the backing plate centrally of the bosses and spaced between alternate pairs of bosses; a plurality of bifurcated substantially identical finger elements each of continuous wire material individually related to the anchors, each having a pair of helical coils individually slidably fitted in circumscribing relation to the bosses adjacent to their respective anchor, a return bend connecting the pair of coils, and a pair of fingers individually extending from the coils radially outwardly from the backing plate; and arcuate clamping plates releasably mounted on the backing plate overlaying the bosses and the anchors and capturing the finger elements thereon.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement with a row of soil working members extending transverse to the direction of travel is constructed to work a broad path of soil but with less than normal power input. Each soil working member has a support with a tine holder at each side of its axis of rotation. Rigid tines extend downwardly from the holders to work the subsoil and further tines are mounted on each holder to work only the top soil, above the rigid tines. The rigid tines are positioned closer to the axis of rotation than are the further tines and only the latter of adjacent soil working members work overlapping paths. The further tines can be of resilient, circular construction and connected to a holder by respective integral spring coils that are interconnected by a tie portion. The further tines and their coils are located at the upper and lower ends of the holder and secured to the holder by the same fastening that secures the rigid tine in that holder. The fastening can be a clamping plate and protective screen.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has side-by-side soil working members journalled in a hollow frame portion. Each member includes a support with hub that is connected to the lower end of a corresponding shaft. The shafts of the soil working members have meshed pinions on their upper ends that are housed in an upper chamber of the frame portion. The support and hub are housed substantially in their entireties within the frame portion and the lower side of each hub has apertured tags with pins that comprise quick release fastenings for downwardly extending tines.

Abstract: A cultivator for pedestrian operation which has rotatable soil working members mounted on upright shafts and a rear supporting member with driving means that both rotates the soil working members as well as the rear supporting member to operate and propel the implement. A forward supporting member is pivoted to the frame and can be adjusted about a horizontal axis to regulate soil working depths and for transport. Preferably, the rear and forward supporting members are each rotatable and pivoted to the frame to turn about a common axis. These members are articulated by arms to an upright spindle that can be turned to simultaneously move the supporting members vertically. The rear supporting member has elongated rods with bends intermediate their ends to form a soil smoothing member.