Following Same Path Patents (Class 172/175)
  • Patent number: 10349586
    Abstract: A stump pulling apparatus comprises a frame, a pair of arms, a pair of stump-engaging wheels, and a drawbar. The pair of arms are pivotally mounted to the frame. The pair of stump-engaging wheels are each rotatably mounted on the pair of arms at a rear end of the corresponding one of the pair of arms. The drawbar includes a front segment, configured to engage the vehicle for towing the stump pulling apparatus and slidably coupled to the rear segment, a rear segment coupled to each of the pair of arms, and a displacement cylinder coupled to and intermediately disposed between the front segment and the rear segment. When the front segment of the drawbar is pulled forward, the displacement cylinder provides a forwardly-acting force on the rear segment, which pivots the pair of arms toward each other, thereby forcibly bringing the stump-engaging wheels together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Savannah Global Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Sauer
  • Patent number: 9345018
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring a user equipment configured for multi-carrier operation from a first downlink control information set to a second downlink control information set while carrier aggregation is being used, including receiving a physical downlink control channel with downlink control information formats containing a carrier indicator field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Earnshaw, Youn Hyoung Heo, Zhijun Cai, Mo-Han Fong, Hua Xu
  • Patent number: 8887824
    Abstract: A tilling cultivator and associated method is disclosed for strip tilling cover crop in preparation for primary crop planting. The tiller includes a pressing drum having a band coulter for cutting surface and subsurface cover crop residue roots and compressing the cover crop into the soil. A trailing shank just behind and aligned with the coulter clears debris from the planting furrow, and a pair of staggered wavy coulters behind the shank closes any shank voids. A rolling basket or other optional soil conditioners trail behind the planting furrow to create a suitable seedbed for primary crop planting. The apparatus and an associated method of use aids in cover crop decomposition and pre-plant field preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Myron Quinton Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140090585
    Abstract: An agricultural row unit apparatus, systems, methods for effectively creating a trench having an improved configuration and for improved product placement in or near the trench wherein the trench has a vertical sidewall and an angled sidewall. In some embodiments, a cavity is created adjacent the bottom of the trench. In some embodiments, the depth of the trench is maintained by a gauge wheel compacting soil adjacent to the angled sidewall. In some embodiments, fertilizer or other liquid or crop input is placed in the soil on the side of the trench opposite the gauge wheel. In some embodiments, two trenches each having a vertical sidewall and an angled sidewall are created by a single row unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: PRECISION PLANTING LLC
    Inventors: Derek A. Sauder, Timothy A. Sauder
  • Patent number: 8176991
    Abstract: The powered rolling and crimping device is used to terminate cover crops in a minimum tillage soil conservation system. The device includes a powered crimping mechanism in combination with a crop roller. Power is transferred from a tractor power takeoff to a plurality of cam mechanisms via mechanical gearbox. The cam mechanisms raise and lower a crimping bar. As an operator directs a walk-behind tractor across a field of cover crops, a crop roller first flattens the crops and the powered crimping bar crimps the crops, thereby terminating the cover crops without severing the crop stalks disturbing the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Ted S. Kornecki
  • Patent number: 7604067
    Abstract: A cover crop termination system includes a smooth drum and a crimping arm assembly operatively connected to the drum through a cam mechanism including a cam follower. The crimping arm assembly includes a plurality of crimping assemblies having crimping bars which crimp the cover crop after it has been rolled in order to prevent resprouting of the crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Ted Stanley Kornecki, Randy L. Raper
  • Patent number: 7549481
    Abstract: A trailing arm furrow opener apparatus includes a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link of a parallel link assembly such that the furrow opener bracket and furrow opener attached thereto is maintained in a constant fore and aft angular orientation as the assembly moves up and down. A pucker wheel arm is fixed to one of the upper and lower parallel arm members of the parallel link assembly, and extends rearward from the rear link, and a packer wheel is mounted to the packer wheel arm. A bias device exerts a downward force on the assembly. The presentation angle of the furrow opener with respect to the ground is maintained constant while the assembly moves up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Devin Lung, Mark Cresswell
  • Publication number: 20030000713
    Abstract: A ground surface treatment apparatus including a frame adapted to be operatively received by a ground ripping attachment of a self propelled vehicle, and a ground engaging implement carried by the frame for treating the ground surface is provided. The apparatus further includes a resiliently responsive linkage interposed between a portion of the frame and a portion of the ground ripping attachment such that the frame is resiliently responsive to ground ripping tool manipulations and ground surface contours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Reinhold P. Mathiowetz
  • Patent number: 6499542
    Abstract: A roller vehicle for ground compaction has a ground compacting device operative for compacting ground; and a levelling device for levelling the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Rammax Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann Greschner
  • Patent number: 6381879
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a relatively shallow drainage ditch diagonally across crop rows, the apparatus, drawn or fitted to a tractor, incorporates a rotating cutting disk set semi-vertical and at obtuse angles to the direction of travel. The disk is adjustable in two planes and is driven either by direct drive from the tractor's PTO or by hydraulic motor. The replaceable disk is fitted with slinger plates to insure proper removal of the excavated earth. An adjustable cutting tooth is provided in front of the disk for breaking the soil prior to being cut by the rotating disk. A trailing wheel or foot skid, in conjunction with a flexible upper connection of the three point hitch, is provided to control the cutting depth of the tooth and cutting disk, thereby allowing the tooth and cutting disk to follow the contour of the earth. The apparatus is also mountable to the front of a tractor, if desired, when the disk is driven hydraulically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Gerald Bollich
  • Patent number: 6382873
    Abstract: The invention concerns a levelling device (10) for an impact roller of the type having at least one out-of-round compactor mass which, when caused to traverse a soil surface, applies periodic compacting blows to that surface. The levelling device of the invention is coupled to the impact roller so as to trail behind the impact roller. It includes a support frame (36) and, for each compactor mass of the impact roller, a ground-engaging levelling blade (52) fast with the support frame. The levelling blade is arranged to cut soil which has been traversed by the compactor mass and thereby to perform a soil levelling action. A ground-engaging shoe (58), one for each levelling blade, is connected to the support frame for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the impact roller The shoe serves to control the depth of cut achieved by the levelling blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Compaction Technology (Soil) Limited
    Inventors: David Alfred Mulders, Gideon Slyper, Stephen Van Dyk, Eric Cook
  • Patent number: 6119792
    Abstract: A land smoother and packer system for smoothing and packing irregularities in a ground surface. The inventive device includes a frame, a plurality of wheels, a right blade pivotally attached to the frame, a center blade attached to the frame, a left blade pivotally attached to the frame, and a plurality of rollers rotatably attached to the frame behind the blades. The frame has a center portion, a left wing and a right wing that fold upon the center portion for travel. A pair of hydraulic cylinders are attached to the right blade and the left blade for controlling the rotational position of the respective blades. The plurality of rollers are preferably comprised of a center roller, a right roller, a left roller, a right rear roller, and a left rear roller. In operation, the blades are lowered to the desired level for leveling the ground surface of dirt mounds. The rollers follow behind the blades thereby packing the ground surface and forcing any rocks into the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Alvin D. Almer
  • Patent number: 5809915
    Abstract: A seed drill particularly adapted for contouring uneven ground and accommodating rocks, especially where depth of furrow and placement of seed against wet soil is critical, as in dry land farming. Each drill in a set of drills is a separate unit which is mounted on a vehicle. Each unit includes a split press wheel with an opener mounted within the wheel. The units can easily be individually mounted or adjusted on the vehicle for spacing and height. The opener has an articulating adjusting arm which allows easy adjustment to all preferred positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: JK Industries, LLC
    Inventors: James L. Jess, Kevin Prather
  • Patent number: 5531171
    Abstract: A plurality of digging devices are mounted side by side on the same beam which is coupled to a clamping system of a vehicle or of a tank containing the liquid to be buried. Each device comprises, mounted on the same chassis, at least a disk for forming and opening a furrow on the ground surface. The liquid to be buried is injected into the opened furrow and then it is covered after the injection. The disk (15) has at least one convex face. The disk (15) is mounted to stand almost vertical with its axis of rotation, in an almost horizontal location which is perpendicular to the forward moving direction of the device. The clamping system is designed to exert a vertical downward force on the disk (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Etablissements Mauguin SA
    Inventors: J. Warren Whitesel, Gabriel Desbois
  • Patent number: 5524711
    Abstract: The present invention entails an agricultural implement for forming planting rows with a minimum of tillage. The implement of the present invention is designed to form a multiplicity of rows and accordingly includes a series of side-by-side row units. Each row unit includes a front colter, a ripper which follows the colter, a rotor tiller assembly disposed behind the ripper, a pair of laterally spaced soil confining panels extending between the ripper and the rotor tiller assembly, and a final following soil packer. Once the agricultural implement has traversed a certain area of the land, there is formed a multiplicity of planting rows with the area between the formed planting rows being untilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Tom J. Harris
  • Patent number: 5487429
    Abstract: A spring tooth harrow packer comprising a transversely extending draw bar which is wheel supported and which has a hitch extending forwardly therefrom for attachment to a tractor. A plurality of harrow sections are secured to the draw bar and are positioned rearwardly thereof which each of the harrow sections including a plurality of ground engaging spring teeth. A packer is mounted on the rearward end of each of the harrow sections and is pivotally secured thereto for selectively controlling the penetration depth of the teeth of the associated harrow section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Inventor: Michael B. Gates
  • Patent number: 5474135
    Abstract: A tillage implement for preparing seed beds for planting seeds for row crops. The implement includes deep tillage units for loosening soil behind the wheels of a tractor, additional deep tillage units for loosening soil in the areas where seed beds are located, seed bed shaping units, and ribbed wheels for providing guide tracks in the soil for use in aligning a planter with the seed beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Schlagel Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Schlagel
  • Patent number: 5398770
    Abstract: A chisel cultivator for post-planting cultivation. The cultivator includes a main frame. A chisel member has one end portion coupled to the frame and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion along a longitudinal axis of the chisel member for cultivating sub-surface soil during operation of the cultivator. A heave limiter is coupled to the frame ahead of the chisel member relative to the direction of operation of the chisel cultivator. The chisel member is adjustable relative to the frame to adjust the distance of the second end portion of the chisel member from the frame. A sweep assembly is coupled to the frame behind the chisel member relative to the direction of operation of the chisel cultivator. The sweep assembly includes wings which extend outwardly of a centerline extending in the direction of operation of the chisel cultivator in a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the chisel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Brown Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Jerrell W. Harden
  • Patent number: 5052495
    Abstract: A hitch for connecting a first implement to a second implement pulled behind a tractor is disclosed which has a first parallel linkage assembly with two upright members with upper and lower portions, the upper portions of the upright members being connected by an upper follower arm and the lower portions of the upright members being pivotally connected by a lower follower arm. One upright member is adapted to rigidly connect to the second implement. A central horizontal member has two opposed ends and front and rear sides. An upright member of the first parallel linkage is rigidly connected to the front side of the horizontal member. Ground engaging caster wheels are pivotally mounted on each end of the horizontal member. A second parallel linkage has two upright members with upper and lower portions. The upper portions of the upright members are pivotally connected by an upper lifting arm and the lower portions of the upright members are pivotally connected by a lower lifting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: McFarlane Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. McFarlane, James E. McFarlane
  • Patent number: 4813489
    Abstract: An agricultural implement useful to prepare the ground before or after a seeding operation includes a number of soil packer units which are directly coupled to transversely extending tool bars or frame members ahead of respective, trailing harrow sections. The packer units are connected to the frame members by relatively short links for free up and down shifting movement during advancement of the implement across the field in substantial independence of vertical movement of the harrow sections. The frame members are pivotal about a parallel, horizontal axis to raise the harrow sections and the packer units to an upright orientation for transport, at which time a portion of the links supporting the packer units comes into firm, resting contact with a stop for precluding further movement of the packer units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Morris Rod-Weeder Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Murray K. Just, Lawrence S. Grodecki, James W. Henry, Glenn M. Hantke
  • Patent number: 4687065
    Abstract: A cultivator comprises an array of laterally-spaced soil-inversion discs having their centers arranged in a substantially horizontal line lying at not more than 30.degree. to a transverse plane of the cultivator and being mounted for rotation about individual axes which are equally inclined to the vertical and, when viewed in plan, also to the longitudinal plane of the cultivator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Cope, Hugh G. Stirling
  • Patent number: 4408551
    Abstract: A row planter having an improved opening means preferably used in combination with a furrow forming shoe. The opening means includes an unitary, disc means mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and the shoe is mounted so that a peripheral portion thereof overlaps and substantially abuts a peripheral portion of the disc means. The overlapping peripheral portion of the shoe serves to clean the peripheral portion of the disc means and will continue to do so even as the disc means wears down and its diameter begins to diminish. In the preferred embodiment, the overlapping peripheral portion of the shoe is proportioned and mounted so that its profile when viewed from ahead of the row planter falls within the profile of the disc means. In this manner, there is a smooth transition between the furrow opening disc means and the furrow forming shoe. Outwardly of the disc means are positioned depth gauge wheels which are eccentrically mounted relative to the horizontal axis of the disc means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Heath Farm Equipment
    Inventors: Phillip D. Keller, Oren D. Urich, Deroy E. Mahagan
  • Patent number: 4323126
    Abstract: A method for preparing a field which has crop residue rows for subsequent row crop planting comprises cutting a plurality of furrows between crop residue rows and lifting and turning over the soil from the furrows into ridges, and simultaneously scraping over a plurality of crop residue rows and transferring the residue into the furrows which are being simultaneously cut, and wherein the former step forms the ridges on surfaces that are simultaneously being cleared by the latter step. The method is accomplished by tillage apparatus including a horizontal frame, a plurality of furrow cutting moldboards affixed to the frame and being curved to lift and turn over the soil cut from the furrows into ridges, and a plurality of trash boards affixed to the frame diagonally to the crop rows and in alternate relation to the moldboards and being curved to transfer the crop residue removed thereby into the furrows being simultaneously cut by the moldboards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventors: Larry F. Stikeleather, David S. Totten
  • Patent number: 4278368
    Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/00495 Sec. 371 Date July 11, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date July 11, 1979 PCT Filed July 11, 1979A compacting apparatus (10) has an impact apparatus (17) and a compactor (19). The impact apparatus (17), such as, for example, a rock breaker, provides impacting forces on the compactor (19). The compacting apparatus (10) is positioned on, for example, a work structure (12,14,15) of a work vehicle (16). It is necessary to compact material in order to provide, for example, proper filling of a trench (74) after a pipe has been placed in the trench. Compaction, as done by the compacting apparatus (10), is provided by simultaneously compacting the material and applying a compressive force to the material and remolding the material. Therefore, satisfactory compaction can be provided in the trench (74) by the work vehicle (16) which is also usable to excavate and refill the trench (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Richard E. Livesay
  • Patent number: 4098344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an earthworking implement or attachment adapted to be connected to and powered by a prime mover such as a tractor, front-end loader, or the like. More particularly, the earthworking implement of the present invention is designed to spread and level dirt and soil material in one operation, and thereafter to appropriately generally tamp, pack or compress the dirt or material to a desired density which may customarily be done in layers. Structurally, the earthworking implement or attachment of the present invention comprises a frame structure having a ground engaging roller, sometimes referred to as a tamping roller, rotatively mounted therein, with the frame structure having a blade disposed forwardly thereacross. A driven counterweight assembly is also on the frame structure and when driven the counterweight assembly imparts a vibratory-massaging action causing the roller to tamp, compress, or massage the dirt or soil being passed thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Inventor: Victor Ray Johnson
  • Patent number: 4090571
    Abstract: An implement preferably has elongated, stationary beams that extend horizontally transverse to the normal direction of travel. Staggered soil cultivating rotors are fastened to the beams at spaced apart locations and are ground driven to work closely adjacent strips of soil or a single broad path. Each rotor is freely rotatable about an upwardly extending shaft and has downwardly extending soil working members, such as tines, with lower active portions. Each active portion can have a lower outwardly directed part that, during rotation, describes a circle having a radius about equal to or less than the length of the active portion. The outwardly directed tine part increases ground contact and improves rotation. The rotors can be mounted in pairs; the rotors of each pair being angled from the vertical so that they rotate in opposite directions from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Inventor: Cornelis van der Lely
  • Patent number: 4088196
    Abstract: A cultivator implement has a row of freely rotatable soil working members connected to a transverse frame beam by brackets. The members each have a stub shaft secured to an inclined web of a corresponding bracket so that the axis of rotation of each member is inclined to the vertical. Pairs of downwardly extending tines on support plates contact the ground and rotate the members. Between adjacent rotatable members, a cultivator tine is deflectably secured to the beam via an integral spring coil assembly. The cultivator tine is located non-centrally between rotary members and each tine is curved so that its lower tip extends forwardly. A soil working roller is positioned to the rear of the rotary members and is vertically adjustable on arms connected to the ends of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Inventor: Cornelis van der Lely
  • Patent number: 3963079
    Abstract: A cultivator for conditioning the earth surface along row crops, the cultivator having a frame adapted for earth traversing movement along rows of such crops; scraper blade assemblies mounted on the frame for floating action; and earth surface engaging, blade depth control skis affixed on the assemblies and forwardly extended therefrom elevationally controlling the scraper blade assemblies in response to the earth traversed thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Inventor: James J. Carlucci