FIELD CULTIVATOR SWEEP
The field cultivating sweep includes a body with wings extending from a center line in opposite directions, and a conditioning element extending downwardly from the wing body. The conditioning element may be a blade extending vertically downwardly along the center line of the body and having a leading edge sloped rearedly from front to back. In alternative embodiments, the conditioning element may have a triangular or rectangular shape or may be in the form of a fluted coulter. The conditioning element acts to till the ground vertically and break up compacted soil as the sweep is drawn along the ground.
This application claims priority to previously filed provisional applications, U.S. Serial 62/305,339, filed on Mar. 8, 2016; U.S. Serial No. 62/339,592, filed May 20, 2016; U.S. Serial No. 62/383,945, filed on Sep. 7, 2016, and U.S. Serial No. 62/385,727, filed on Sep. 9, 2016, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a tool for improved soil tillage, and particularly to an agricultural field cultivator sweep having a soil conditioner for improved vertical tillage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField cultivator sweeps are well known in the agricultural industry. These sweeps are pulled through the ground to loosen the soil for seeding. These sweeps are also used to remove weeds which otherwise absorb nutrients and moisture from the soil.
Conventional filed cultivator sweeps have a V-shaped body formed by opposing wings, with a pointed nose on the body. The wings generally reside in a horizontal plane and have an upstanding neck which connects to a shank of the cultivator using bolts or other known attachment means, such as clamps, pins, screws, and welding. The sweeps are drawn through soil at a depth of a few inches below the surface.
In operation, the conventional cultivator sweeps do a reasonably good job of ripping weeds from the soil, while creating some loosened soil. However, the sweeps have a tendency to compress the soil beneath the sweep, which makes it difficult for the roots of the crop to grow into or below the compressed soil. As a result, the roots tend to grow horizontally along the compressed soil, rather than growing downwardly through the compressed soil.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved filed cultivator sweep which eliminates or minimizes compression of soil during use of the sweep.
Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a field cultivating sweep having a soil conditioning element to break up compressed soil and thereby promote plant root growth.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a field cultivator sweep having a body with opposing wings, and a downwardly extending blade to till the soil in a vertical direction.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a field cultivator sweep having a vertically oriented lower blade with a leading edge extending at an angle between 30°-60° so as to create a vertical slit in the soil without sideways displacement of the soil.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a method of cultivating soil by drawing a filed cultivating sweep with a vertical blade through the soil for vertical tillage.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved field cultivator sweep which minimizes noise and minimizes stress on the farming equipment during use.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a field cultivator sweep having a stabilizing rudder which minimizes vibrations, shock, and bounce as the sweep is drawn through the field, and thereby reduce material loss in the sweep and increase the life of the sweep.
Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved agricultural sweep which is economical to manufacture, easy to install, and durable in use.
These and other objectives have become apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe field cultivator sweep of the present invention includes opposite left and right wings which extend outwardly and rearedly from a center line so as to form a symmetrical body with a V-shaped leading edge. An upstanding neck is provided on the body for mounting to sweep to a shank of a cultivator. A soil conditioning element extends downwardly from the bottom of the body. In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning element is a flat blade with a rearwardly angled leading edge. The blade creates a vertical slit in the soil as the sweep is pulled through the ground, thereby minimizing soil compaction and enhancing plant root growth.
The cultivator sweep 200 of
In the preferred embodiment, a depth D of the blade below the wings should be approximately two inches or longer, preferably, in the range of two to three inches, as shown in
As shown in
The conditioning element 250, when in blade form as shown in
Applicant field tested the cultivator sweep 200 of
Thus, the soil and weather conditions for each sweep were substantially identical.
Applicant notes the inventive sweep 200 with any embodiment of the conditioning element may be used in various locations and for various purposes. For example, one embodiment may be used behind tractor wheels to reduce, if not eliminate, soil compaction which may be created by a tractor. In another application, the sweeps 200 may be offset from the tractor wheels and therefore may be used to break compacted soil which naturally occurs with conventional sweeps 100. Regardless, the presence of the conditioning element 250, especially in blade form, reduces wear and tear on any agricultural equipment it is attached to while at the same time, reducing if not eliminating soil compaction.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
Claims
1. A field cultivator sweep comprising:
- a wing body; and
- a conditioning element extending downwardly from the wing body.
2. The field cultivator sweep of claim 1, wherein the conditioning element is a blade.
3. The field cultivator sweep of claim 1, wherein the condition element extends in a vertical plane.
4. The field cultivator sweep of claim 1 wherein the conditioning element has a leading edge extending rearwardly.
5. The field cultivator sweep of claim 1 wherein the conditioning element slopes rearwardly between 30° and 60°.
6. The field cultivator sweep of claim 1 wherein the conditioning element extends below the wing body at least 2 inches.
7. The field cultivator sweep of claim 1 wherein the conditioning element is a planar blade.
8. The field cultivator sweep of claim 7 wherein the blade has a thickness of approximately ⅜ inches.
9. The field cultivator sweep of claim 8 wherein the blade has a constant thickness.
10. The field cultivator sweep of claim 1 wherein the wing body has a front nose and the conditioning element has a leading edge spaced rearwardly from the nose.
11. A method of cultivating soil, comprising pulling a sweep with a vertical blade through the soil to create a vertical slit in the soil.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the blade slices through the soil without displacing the soil sideways.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the sweep has a wing shaped body with a front nose to disrupt the soil as the sweep is pulled through the soil, and the lade has a leading edge offset rearwardly from the nose such that the slit is formed in the disrupted soil without further disruption of the soil.
14. A sweep for cultivating soil in a field, comprising:
- opposite left and right wings joined at a center line to form a symmetrical body with a V-shaped leading edge;
- a neck extending upwardly from the body for mounting the sweep to a cultivator; and
- a blade extending downwardly from the body to vertically till the soil when the sweep is pulled through the soil.
15. The sweep of claim 14 wherein the blade extends vertically.
16. The sweep of claim 14 wherein the blade extends from the center line.
17. The sweep of claim 14 further comprising a second blade extending downwardly from the body, with the blades being positioned on opposite sides of the center line.
18. The sweep of claim 14 wherein the body has a front nose and the blade is offset rearwardly from the nose.
19. The sweep of claim 14 wherein the blade has a leading edge which is angled rearwardly from top to bottom.
20. The sweep of claim 14 wherein the blade is flat.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 7, 2017
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2017
Inventor: Al Hemerson (Gilmore City, IA)
Application Number: 15/452,120