With Interconnected Vertical Adjustment Patents (Class 172/138)
  • Publication number: 20120298386
    Abstract: A tillage support includes a tool free adjustable tension leveling harrow bar that allows for an operator to adjust the tension of a leveling bar tool free. The tillage support includes a tensioning link coupled to a tensioning device. The tensioning link includes a plurality of coupling points. The tillage support includes a leveling bar mount arm with at least one coupling point and capable of being independently rotated about an axis. The leveling bar mount arm can be coupled to the tensioning link by a coupling link, and the coupling link can be adjusted by an operator tool free. The coupling link can engage any of the at least one coupling point of the leveling bar mount arm and the coupling points of the tensioning link, and the tension can be adjusted by engaging different coupling points with the coupling link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC.
    Inventors: Tom STEFFAN, Mark RECKER, Steve HILVERS
  • Patent number: 7866270
    Abstract: A tillage shank assembly has one or more substance delivery tubes supported along the back edge of the generally upright shank of the assembly. A pair of side plates on opposite sides of the shank have rear margins that project rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the shank to define a protective gap within which the tubes are disposed. Laterally extending projections on the tubes are received within selected ones of a vertical series of holes in the side plates, depending upon the desired depth for the tubes. By temporarily removing a bolt that attaches the tops of the side plates to the shank, the side plates may be separated sufficiently to permit the projections of the tubes to be withdrawn from their current holes and reinserted into other holes to change their vertical locations. Replacing the bolt and tightening it down returns the side plates to their working positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Krause Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Ankenman
  • Publication number: 20100044062
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grading apparatus (10, 210) comprising an elongate support arm assembly (12, 212) having a mount (16, 216) at one end for attachment to a vehicle (100), and a grading blade (14, 214) attached to the opposing end of the support arm assembly. The grading blade can be positioned outwardly of the vehicle to grade a surface beside the vehicle as the vehicle moves forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: David William Challen, Wallace David Challen
  • Patent number: 6276462
    Abstract: A tillage apparatus performs shallow tillage with leading tillage discs followed by chisel plows with winged points performing primary tillage in strips of untilled soil left by the forward discs. The points lift the soil and roll it laterally. Levelers follow the plows to leave a smooth surface and reduce the soil preparation needed for planting the following season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5590721
    Abstract: A conservation tillage tool, including a main frame and a rear frame pivotally mounted on the main frame disposed to support a number of soil working implements in sequence. The main frame is supported by ground wheels attached to the rear section of the main frame. The wheels are movable with respect to the main frame to move the latter between a raised transport position and a number of lowered working positions. A tongue and hitch unit connect the main frame to a prime mover, and a leveling mechanism operably interconnects the main frame, ground wheels and tongue for maintaining the main frame level at any of its positions. A spring-cushioned linkage operably interconnects one of the implements at the front of the main frame with one of the implements mounted on the rear frame for simultaneously raising and lowering those two implements between transport and working positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Van Mill
  • Patent number: 5394945
    Abstract: The machine includes a frame adapted to move along spaced ridges planted with crop plants, frame support runners engaging the furrows between the ridges, a pair of transverse rows of weeding implements carried by the frame for movement along the ridges and furrows, the implements of one row disposed on one side of the plants and the implements of the other row disposed on the other side of the plants. Each row is transversely displaceable by a double acting hydraulic ram relative to the frame. The rams are controlled by an operator supported by the frame in a position to have a direct view of the weeding implements. Each implement is free to move up and down independently of the remaining implements in order to follow the ground contour. The implements of any one row can be raised together out of working position. These weeding implements can be earth working discs and/or thermal weeders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Robert Desmarais
  • Patent number: 5156216
    Abstract: A conservation tillage tool including a frame disposed to support a number of soil working implements in sequence. The frame is supported by ground wheels attached to the rear section of the frame. The wheels are movable with respect to the rear section of the frame to move the frame between a raised transport position and a number of lowered working positions. A hitch attached to a tractor supports the front section of the frame, and a pivotally attached tongue interconnects the front section and the hitch. A leveling mechanism interconnects the rear section, the front section and the pivotally attached tongue. The leveling mechanism is a four-bar linkage that applies a force at the pivotal connection of the tongue to the front section as the wheels move to raise or lower the rear section thereby maintaining the frame substantially level with respect to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Van Mill
  • Patent number: 4615396
    Abstract: A system for actuating a plurality of farm implements includes a frame adapted to be connected between a tractor and a first farm implement such as a drill. A tool frame, adapted to be connected to one or more additional farm implements, is pivotally suspended beneath the frame by front and rear support linkages. The rear support linkages are also connected with a linkage which raises and lowers the grain drills on the drill. An hydraulic actuator is connected to the front support linkage to move the tool frame and the drill between a transport position and a working position. Adjustment means are provided at the connection between the rear support linkage and the linkage to the drill for determining the transport height of the drill, the spring tension on the grain drills, and the height of the rear of the tool frame with respect to the front of the tool frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Loren G. Arnold
  • Patent number: 4454920
    Abstract: A tillage system includes forward and rear sets of widely spaced discs and a set of plow points. The discs in the forward set are mounted at spaced intervals so as to leave alternate strips of worked and unworked soil of substantially equal width. Each disc of the rear set is mounted in a strip of soil left unworked by the forward set to complete the working of the top soil. The plow points are located in the furrows of one of the sets of discs (preferably the rear set) to permit some deep plowing. The working depths of the points and discs are independently adjustable. The system is designed for operation at high speed to provide complete coverage of the soil with minimal double working by the discs. It permits deeper penetration by the discs and a controlled amount of deeper plowing by the points while leaving a finished contour which is substantially free of ridges and furrows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4141302
    Abstract: A new apparatus for opening furrows in soil is disclosed. Specifically, this apparatus consists of an opening mechanism, a closing mechanism, an automatic seed planting mechanism, an automatic seedling planting mechanism, a driving means, a towing means, and the salient component parts necessary to make them function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: John E. Morrison, Jr., Charlie F. Abrams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4131162
    Abstract: An earth working apparatus comprising a main frame having a hitch for detachably connecting the apparatus to a prime mover, a first ground working implement mounted on the main frame, a pair of support arms operatively connected at forwardly disposed ends thereof to the main frame for pivotal movement about a first transverse axis, ground engaging wheels mounted on the support arm, a lift arm operatively connected to each of the support arms for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis, a second earthworking implement mounted on the lift arms, chains interconnecting each of the lift arms and the main frame, a ground engaging wheel mounted on one of the frames and hydraulic cylinders operatively interconnecting each of the support arms and the main frame for angularly displacing the support arms relative to the main frame whereby upon actuation of the hydraulic cylinders when the ground engaging wheel is not in engagement with the ground, the working implements will be caused to move into and out of eng
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Inventor: James E. Schmitz