Abstract: A land roller implement for chopping vegetation on the ground has one or more rollers including a drum body with mounting flanges protruding radially from the drum body onto which chopping blades can be fastened. The mounting flanges are fixed to the drum body with front weld beads that are spaced apart along the leading face of the mounting flanges. The blades are notched along the inner end to define recessed portions aligned with and receiving the front weld beads therein such that protruding portions at the inner end of the blades between the recessed portions are able to abut against the peripheral surface of the drum body without interference by the front weld beads. The bolts fastening the blades to the mounting flanges are thus isolated from shear forces by the abutting protruding portions while the mounting flanges remain secured against folding backward due to the presence of the front weld beads within the recessed portions.

Abstract: A ground working apparatus is supported on the toolbar of an agricultural implement for injecting liquid fertilizer into the ground. A disc arm is pivotally coupled to a mounting bracket on the toolbar to extend downwardly and rearwardly to a coulter disc rotatably supported on the lower end of the disc arm to cut the ground. An upright pivot assembly pivotally couples the upper end of the disc arm relative to the mounting bracket to pivot about an upright axis while preventing upward movement of the disc. A shank is pivotal on the disc arm to support a shovel trailing the disc to form an undercut trough connected to the ground cut formed by the coulter disc. A pressure mechanism prevents upward pivotal movement of the shovel relative to the disc arm until an upward pressure applied to the shovel exceeds a prescribed holding force of the pressure mechanism.

Abstract: An articulated towing apparatus pulls a rotary driven implement in a forward working direction across a ground surface behind a towing vehicle. The apparatus includes a longitudinal frame pivotally connected at a leading end to the towing vehicle by a coupling frame and pivotally connected at a trailing end to a wheeled frame that supports the implement thereon. The coupling frame defines lateral and vertical pivot axes between the longitudinal frame and the towing vehicle. A drive line, connected between a power take-off of the towing vehicle and the implement, includes (i) a longitudinal drive shaft extending at a downward slope, and (ii) an output for connection to the implement that is rotatably supported on the wheeled frame.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame towed in a forward working direction and toolbar assemblies supported on the main frame. Each assembly has an elongate toolbar member transverse to the forward working direction with tillage units spaced along the toolbar member for working the ground. A pivot supports each toolbar at an intermediate location on the toolbar for angular adjustment about an upright axis relative to the main frame. Followers at opposing ends of each toolbar member are received in respective guides at fixed locations on the main frame such that the followers are slidable within the guides in the forward working direction while restricting rotation of the toolbar member about a longitudinal axis of the toolbar member relative to the main frame. Angular position of each toolbar is controlled by an actuator with an attached mechanical indicator that can be read by an operator.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame towed in a forward working direction and toolbar assemblies supported on the main frame. Each assembly has an elongate toolbar member transverse to the forward working direction with tillage units spaced along the toolbar member for working the ground. A pivot supports each toolbar at an intermediate location on the toolbar for angular adjustment about an upright axis relative to the main frame. Followers at opposing ends of each toolbar member are received in respective guides at fixed locations on the main frame such that the followers are slidable within the guides in the forward working direction while restricting rotation of the toolbar member about a longitudinal axis of the toolbar member relative to the main frame. Angular position of each toolbar is controlled by an actuator with an attached mechanical indicator that can be read by an operator.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame towed in a forward working direction and toolbar assemblies supported on the main frame. Each assembly has an elongate toolbar member transverse to the forward working direction with tillage units spaced along the toolbar member for working the ground. A pivot supports each toolbar at an intermediate location on the toolbar for angular adjustment about an upright axis relative to the main frame. Followers at opposing ends of each toolbar member are received in respective guides at fixed locations on the main frame such that the followers are slidable within the guides in the forward working direction while restricting rotation of the toolbar member about a longitudinal axis of the toolbar member relative to the main frame. Angular position of each toolbar is controlled by an actuator with an attached mechanical indicator that can be read by an operator.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame towed in a forward working direction and toolbar assemblies supported on the main frame. Each assembly has an elongate toolbar member transverse to the forward working direction with tillage units spaced along the toolbar member for working the ground. A pivot supports each toolbar at an intermediate location on the toolbar for angular adjustment about an upright axis relative to the main frame. Followers at opposing ends of each toolbar member are received in respective guides at fixed locations on the main frame such that the followers are slidable within the guides in the forward working direction while restricting rotation of the toolbar member about a longitudinal axis of the toolbar member relative to the main frame. Angular position of each toolbar is controlled by an actuator with an attached mechanical indicator that can be read by an operator.

Abstract: A flexible cultivator implement frame includes a center section and two wing sections. The center section has a main portion and two side portions supported at opposing sides of the main portion for pivotal movement relative to the main portion about respective flexing axes. The flexing axes of the center section are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally outwardly relative to the forward working direction. Each wing section has an inner portion and an outer portion pivotally coupled to the inner portion about a respective flexing axis. The flexing axes of the wing sections are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally inwardly relative to the forward working direction so as to be oriented transversely to the flexing axes of the center section of the frame such that the flexible frame follows ground contours while minimizing undesirable stresses in and twisting of various pivots and frame members.

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.

Abstract: A flexible cultivator implement frame includes a center section and two wing sections. The center section has a main portion and two side portions supported at opposing sides of the main portion for pivotal movement relative to the main portion about respective flexing axes. The flexing axes of the center section are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally outwardly relative to the forward working direction. Each wing section has an inner portion and an outer portion pivotally coupled to the inner portion about a respective flexing axis. The flexing axes of the wing sections are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally inwardly relative to the forward working direction so as to be oriented transversely to the flexing axes of the center section of the frame such that the flexible frame follows ground contours while minimizing undesirable stresses in and twisting of various pivots and frame members.

Abstract: A land roller implement includes a main frame section, two intermediate frame sections extending laterally outward from opposing sides of the main frame section in a trailing relationship therewith in a working position, and a pair of outer frame sections extending laterally outward from respective intermediate frame sections in a leading relationship therewith in the working position. The outer frame sections are coupled to the intermediate frame sections by readily removable outer brace portions to reduce the transport width if required. Inner brace members are coupled between the main frame section and the intermediate frame sections by coupling to the outer brace portions at the outer ends and by pivoting on the main frame section about a floating axis which is coaxial with floating movement of the intermediate frame sections relative to the main frame section.

Abstract: A tillage implement includes a main frame with adjustable toolbar sections thereon which each support respective tillage units thereon for engaging the ground. Each toolbar section has a first end portion coupled to the main frame by a first mounting assembly and an opposing second end portion which is coupled to the main frame by a second mounting assembly. Each one of the first and second mounting assemblies comprises a track and each of the first and second end portions of each toolbar section comprise a follower in mating engagement with the corresponding tracks. The track of the first mounting assembly is oriented closer to the lateral direction than the track of the second mounting assembly such that each toolbar section is pivotal about a respective upright axis generally at the first end portion when the toolbar section is displaced in the forward working direction at the second end portion.

Abstract: In a winged agricultural implement having two wing frame sections pivotal relative to a center frame section between a laterally extending working position and a rearward trailing transport position, two brace members are pivotally supported on the center frame section to selectively retain and support the wing frame sections in the working position. A hydraulic actuator pivots each brace member between a latched position and a released position relative to the wing frame section. A biasing linkage is provided in series with each hydraulic actuator to provide positive pressure to retain the brace member in a latched position as the wing frame section pivotally floats relative to the center frame section during movement across an agricultural field in a forward working direction.

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.

Abstract: A tillage implement includes a main frame with adjustable toolbar sections thereon which each support respective tillage units thereon for engaging the ground. Each toolbar section has a first end portion coupled to the main frame by a first mounting assembly and an opposing second end portion which is coupled to the main frame by a second mounting assembly. Each one of the first and second mounting assemblies comprises a track and each of the first and second end portions of each toolbar section comprise a follower in mating engagement with the corresponding tracks. The track of the first mounting assembly is oriented closer to the lateral direction than the track of the second mounting assembly such that each toolbar section is pivotal about a respective upright axis generally at the first end portion when the toolbar section is displaced in the forward working direction at the second end portion.

Abstract: In a disc assembly for supporting a ground engaging disc on a respective support arm of a vertical tillage implement, the disc supporting hub has an annular body rotatably supported on a shaft. The outer end of the annular body is enclosed by a cap and the inner end of the annular body is enclosed by an end plate fixed on the shaft relative to which the annular body is rotated. First and second annular flanges on the inner end of the annular body receive a tongue portion of the end plate therein so as to define a sinuous, narrow clearance gap where the annular body of the hub and the end plate of the shaft are in a non-contacting, rotatable relationship with one another. The sinuous, narrow clearance gap minimizes penetration of soil and residue therethrough to the interior of the hub where bearings are located.

Abstract: In a winged agricultural implement having two wing frame sections pivotal relative to a center frame section between a laterally extending working position and a rearward trailing transport position, two brace members are pivotally supported on the center frame section to selectively retain and support the wing frame sections in the working position. A hydraulic actuator pivots each brace member between a latched position and a released position relative to the wing frame section. A biasing linkage is provided in series with each hydraulic actuator to provide positive pressure to retain the brace member in a latched position as the wing frame section pivotally floats relative to the center frame section during movement across an agricultural field in a forward working direction.

Abstract: In a disc assembly for supporting a ground engaging disc on a respective support arm of a vertical tillage implement, the disc supporting hub has an annular body rotatably supported on a shaft. The outer end of the annular body is enclosed by a cap and the inner end of the annular body is enclosed by an end plate fixed on the shaft relative to which the annular body is rotated. First and second annular flanges on the inner end of the annular body receive a tongue portion of the end plate therein so as to define a sinuous, narrow clearance gap where the annular body of the hub and the end plate of the shaft are in a non-contacting, rotatable relationship with one another. The sinuous, narrow clearance gap minimizes penetration of soil and residue therethrough to the interior of the hub where bearings are located.

Abstract: A tillage implement includes a main frame with adjustable toolbar sections thereon which each support respective tillage units thereon for engaging the ground. According to one aspect of the invention, the toolbar sections are angularly adjustable about a pivot head at one end thereof while also being slidable in a longitudinal direction of the toolbar section to maintain alignment of the tillage units. The pivot head is elongate in a direction transverse to the toolbar section to resist moments applied to the toolbar section by the tillage units engaging the ground while the toolbar section remains adjustable. In another aspect of the invention, the tillage units each comprise a trailing arm supporting the respective coulter disks thereon. The trailing arm is pivoted between two side plates fixed to the toolbar section and biased downward by a spring enclosed between the side plates to resist debris catching on the spring.

Abstract: A land roller implement includes a main frame section, two intermediate frame sections extending laterally outward from opposing sides of the main frame section in a trailing relationship therewith in a working position, and a pair of outer frame sections extending laterally outward from respective intermediate frame sections in a leading relationship therewith in the working position. The outer frame sections are coupled to the intermediate frame sections by readily removable outer brace portions to reduce the transport width if required. Inner brace members are coupled between the main frame section and the intermediate frame sections by coupling to the outer brace portions at the outer ends and by pivoting on the main frame section about a floating axis which is coaxial with floating movement of the intermediate frame sections relative to the main frame section.