Including Subsoiler Patents (Class 172/196)
  • Patent number: 8684102
    Abstract: A seeding implement is provided that includes a depth adjustment mechanism configured to facilitate rapid reconfiguration of a ground engaging tool for varying penetration depths. In an exemplary embodiment, the seeding implement includes a ground engaging tool and a packer arm pivotally coupled to a packer support structure. The seeding implement also includes a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer arm, and configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil. The seeding implement further includes a depth adjustment assembly including a slot within the packer support structure, a corresponding slot within the packer arm, and a fastener disposed through the slots. In this configuration, the penetration depth of the ground engaging tool is varied by adjusting a position of the fastener within the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas George Alfred Ryder, Kevin Hall
  • Patent number: 8678102
    Abstract: A seeding implement is provided that includes a depth adjustment mechanism configured to facilitate rapid reconfiguration of a ground engaging tool for varying penetration depths. In an exemplary embodiment, the seeding implement includes a ground engaging tool and a packer arm pivotally coupled to a packer support structure. The seeding implement also includes a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer arm, and configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil. The seeding implement further includes a depth adjustment assembly including a slot within the packer support structure, a corresponding slot within the packer arm, and a fastener disposed through the slots. In this configuration, the penetration depth of the ground engaging tool is varied by adjusting a position of the fastener within the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas George Alfred Ryder, Kevin Hall
  • Patent number: 8657024
    Abstract: A tractor-based box blade is used to move and condition soil. The box blade has a plurality of rippers, which are forwardly- and downwardly-extending shanks terminating in relatively narrow teeth that extend into the ground. Each ripper is deployable to extend into the ground independent of the other rippers, and each ripper is stowable away from the ground independent of the other rippers. At least one scraping blade is disposed behind the rippers for smoothing soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: King Kutter, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Phillip Fraley, John W. Davis, III
  • Patent number: 8408324
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Dillon
  • Patent number: 8342258
    Abstract: A seeding implement is provided that includes a depth adjustment mechanism configured to facilitate rapid reconfiguration of a ground engaging tool for varying penetration depths. In an exemplary embodiment, the seeding implement includes a ground engaging tool and a packer arm pivotally coupled to a packer support structure. The seeding implement also includes a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer arm, and configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil. The seeding implement further includes a depth adjustment assembly including a slot within the packer support structure, a corresponding slot within the packer arm, and a fastener disposed through the slots. In this configuration, the penetration depth of the ground engaging tool is varied by adjusting a position of the fastener within the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas George Alfred Ryder, Kevin Hall
  • Patent number: 8220559
    Abstract: A plough assembly (10) to be fixed to a plough frame including a transverse beam (11). The assembly (10) includes a plough shank (13) with a leading surface (14) that is generally upwardly oriented. The lower end of the shank (13) is provided with a digging adapter (24) to which there is attached a digging blade (28). Located behind the adapter (24) is a fertilizer delivery tube (33), while behind the tube (33) is a seed delivery tube (42). A seed bed is formed by a tool (43) that is in front of the tube (42), while behind the tube (42) is a press wheel (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ausplow Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: John William Ryan
  • Publication number: 20110297405
    Abstract: A tractor-based box blade is used to move and condition soil. The box blade has a plurality of rippers, which are forwardly- and downwardly-extending shanks terminating in relatively narrow teeth that extend into the ground. Each ripper is deployable to extend into the ground independent of the other rippers, and each ripper is stowable away from the ground independent of the other rippers. At least one scraping blade is disposed behind the rippers for smoothing soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: J. Phillip Fraley, John W. Davis, III
  • Patent number: 8016044
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes at least a first row of ground engaging tools, each of the tools spaced a first distance apart from one another, and a second row of ground engaging tools disposed behind the first row of ground engaging tools, each of the second row of ground engaging tools spaced a second distance apart from one another. The implement also includes a row of soil shaping disks disposed behind the second row of ground engaging tools, wherein a spacing between each of the soil shaping disks is not uniform and corresponds to whether the spacing is behind the first row of ground engaging disks or behind the second row of ground engaging disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Gaylen J. Kromminga, Timothy R. Blunier, Michael C. Hatton, Scott Faust
  • Patent number: 7857072
    Abstract: The agricultural row units feature soil finishing assemblies. This configuration of the finishing assembly provides a simple adjustment of the height of the finishing assembly to enhance usability and flexibility of the row unit. The improved adjustment mechanism enhances user control over the vertical distance between the finishing wheels/discs and the ground opening assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, soil finishing assembly is pivotally coupled to the row unit frame via a height adjustment assembly. The height adjustment assembly may feature a biasing member and other components to allow adjustment of one end of the pivotal coupling of the adjustment assembly within the row unit assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Kovach, James L. Tetrick, Greg S. Smart, Scott G. Ireland
  • Patent number: 7784559
    Abstract: A subsoil ripper for subsoil tillage, where a spur is operatively connected to the shank of the subsoil ripper; for example, operatively connected to the posterior of the shank of the subsoil ripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Randy L. Raper, Eric B. Schwab
  • Publication number: 20080314604
    Abstract: An improved moldboard plow having a soil engaging shank mounted behind the moldboard plow bottoms. The soil engaging shank is extendable to a depth of six to eight or more inches below the point reached by the moldboard plow bottoms. Both the moldboard and the shank are fitted with trip mechanisms to raise them up when either or both encounter a hard buried object. Preferably the shank includes a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the shank as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Keith Fluth
  • Patent number: 6880644
    Abstract: A tillage tool includes a relatively narrow shank that slices through the soil while a ripper point at its lower end fractures and lifts the subsoil. Minimum surface disturbance adjacent the opposite sides of the shank is assured through the provision of a pair of independently mounted down-pressure wheels on opposite sides of the shank that engage and apply constant downward pressure against soil tending to erupt at the top surface. Each down pressure wheel is mounted to the shank assembly by its own leaf spring so that the two wheels react to ground changes independently of one another and without adversely affecting each other. A guide plate associated with each leaf spring prevents twisting of the spring as it flexes and provides stops for limiting the opposite extremes of up and down flexing of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Krause Plow Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Weast, Rodney L. Hagman
  • Patent number: 6578642
    Abstract: A trailing attachment for a deep tillage implement is supported from the implement frame by transversely spaced four-bar linkages extending rearwardly from the frame. Single acting hydraulic cylinders are pressurized to lift and adjust the attachment. A breather plug and a U-shaped hose allow air to be pushed from the rod end as each cylinder extends. To lower the trailing attachment, an SCV is moved to open the base ends of the cylinders to the return line of the hydraulic system, and the weight of the attachment moves the tools into ground engagement. If vertical lifting force exceeds attachment weight during operation, air is pushed out through the breather plug and a vacuum is drawn in the base ends so the attachment can lift to avoid excessive forces, even if the SCV is in neutral and blocking fluid flow into the base ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Philip David Cox, Matthew Bryant Jones, James Franklin Bierl
  • Patent number: 6557646
    Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement employing a series of apparatus to perform one-pass primary tillage is disclosed. A cutting disk is the first apparatus that works the field. These disks cut the residue laterally (across the machine) and mix the majority of the residue throughout the disk tillage profile. Additional conditioning occurs by knocking residue/stalks over into a prone position with large cast spools between each disk for quicker decay. Next, chisel plow units work the soil to fracture and loosen the soil, providing proper soil aggregate size and air pore space relationship throughout the shank tillage profile. The last apparatus to work the field is a set of leveling disks, or a combination of leveling disks and a rotary reel/drag harrow. The function of these will provide is to reduce clod size and leave the soil level and smooth enough to allow one-pass secondary tillage in the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Case, LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Hurtis, Joseph M. Keeler, Timothy R. Blunier, Marvin D. Kuebler
  • Patent number: 6502644
    Abstract: A leveling wheel assembly for a deep tillage ripper tool includes a support bracket fixed to the upper end of the ripper shank and a wheel support arm pivotally connected to the aft end of the bracket. Wheel support structure rotatably mounts a pair of leveling wheels offset several feet behind the ripper point. An adjustable downpressure spring provides an effective moment arm that decreases with spring compression to provide a generally constant downpressure as the wheels move vertically with respect to the shank over a substantial range of ripper depth changes and when large obstacles are encountered. The wheel support structure includes slots for adjusting the spacing of the leveling wheels and the angle of the wheels relative to the forward direction depending on soil conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David Lee Steinlage, Brian E. Myers
  • Publication number: 20020144830
    Abstract: A leveling wheel assembly for a deep tillage ripper tool includes a support bracket fixed to the upper end of the ripper shank and a wheel support arm pivotally connected to the aft end of the bracket. Wheel support structure rotatably mounts a pair of leveling wheels offset several feet behind the ripper point. An adjustable downpressure spring provides an effective moment arm that decreases with spring compression to provide a generally constant downpressure as the wheels move vertically with respect to the shank over a substantial range of ripper depth changes and when large obstacles are encountered. The wheel support structure includes slots for adjusting the spacing of the leveling wheels and the angle of the wheels relative to the forward direction depending on soil conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: David Lee Steinlage, Brian E. Myers
  • Patent number: 6382115
    Abstract: Plowshare particularly for seeding and eventual manuring in soil in a continuous line of the type involving two equal and symmetrical opposite convergent wings with an apex having a substantial “V” shaped plan (31). Their ends are turned upwards (32) so that the plowshare may be pulled so as to penetrate at a certain depth into the soil; cut the soil at the depth and make it slide above the wings (31). The flaps (32) force the soil to pour back in the obtained furrow covering it, applying at least one seed distribution device in the free area of the “V” shaped inside apex being possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Mauro Collovati
  • Patent number: 6360827
    Abstract: An apparatus and method transporting an attachment, such as a box blade assembly, which is secured to a land based vehicle has a box blade and a transporting mechanism. The box blade is made up of two opposing side walls, an open top and bottom, and front and rear sides. The walls are connected using frame members and a cutting surface extends between the side walls and below the bottom edge of the side walls. The transporting mechanism is comprised of a movable frame member rotatably secured to the rear of the box blade at one end and operatively secured to one or more wheels at the other end. A lifting member, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or hand crank, is operatively secured to the movable frame member and to the top of the box blade. Using a single point of attachment hitch, such as a ball type hitch, the box blade may still be lifted from the work surface for easy transport, and then easily lowered for use on a work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Clary Investment, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Clary
  • Patent number: 6068061
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tilling a seedbed with a soil manipulation device comprising a tilling shank for forming a groove in the soil followed a pair of coulter blades for closing the groove and a rear finishing device such as a rolling basket for further tilling and firming of the soil with improved coulter downward pressure and shank head. Downward pressure on the coulter blades is provided by a coulter spring attached to a lever arm pivotally attached to the framework which applies downward pressure to the framework supporting the coulter blades. The rear finishing device is connected to the same coulter support framework by a pivotal rear arm and a rear arm spring such that when the rear finishing device is displaced upward by changing field conditions, an upward force is imparted to the coulter support framework thus raising the coulter blades in response to changing field conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Smith, William C. Maenle
  • Patent number: 6012534
    Abstract: An agricultural chisel plow row unit designed for minimum soil displacement has a pair of spring-biased firming wheels mounted to either side of and behind the plow shank to firm the surface of the berm formed by the breaking point without affecting the operating depth of the point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Kovach, William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6000476
    Abstract: The present invention provides a combined rock puller and land leveler implement for alternatively pulling rocks from the ground or leveling the ground, and for pulling rocks from the ground and leveling the ground in one pass of the implement. The combined rock puller and land leveler comprises a frame having three individually articulated sections, a hitch attached to the front section, a rock pulling hook mounted on the front section behind the hitch, a land leveling blade mounted on the second section and ground wheels on a third section, and hydraulic cylinders for repositioning the frame sections into a plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ronald A. Carson
    Inventor: Brian R. Gall
  • Patent number: 5881820
    Abstract: An improved disc-type ground tillage implement for tilling ground. The implement has a frame connectable to a towing machine and having multiple pairs of gangs of blades connected to the frame. The frame is supported by a plurality of wheels which may be used to raise and lower the implement in relation to the ground. Each of the pairs of blade gangs includes a front and a rear gang, there being a pair of outer right blade gangs, at least one pair of center blade gangs and a pair of outer left blade gangs. The front and the rear gangs of the outer right and the outer left gang pairs converge as they extend out away from the left-right center of the frame and the outer left and outer right gangs are non-continuous with a center gang pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Robert S. Baker
  • Patent number: 5797460
    Abstract: A tillage implement includes straight bar ripper structure with a main forward toolbar supporting subsoiler shanks from special brackets which can also support coulters ahead of the shanks independently of additional toolbar structure. An optional rear or secondary toolbar is attached by four-bar linkages to the main toolbar. The four-bar linkages allow the operator to adjust the height of the secondary toolbar relative to the main toolbar to accommodate changes in the operating depth of the rippers. The linkages may also be released to allow the secondary toolbar to float relative to the main toolbar. The secondary toolbar accommodates different attachments behind the rippers, such as disk bedders, lister bedders and strip till rigs which can operate at optimum attack angles and penetration regardless of the operating depth of the ripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Paul David Parker, Jason Daniel Wattonville
  • Patent number: 5794714
    Abstract: This invention relates to a dirt leveling device adapted for towing by a tractor which is characterized by one or more chisels attached to a transverse shaft on the front of the dirt leveling device having a rotatable relationship thereto, and a dirt leveling blade rotatably attached to the frame and controlled by a second hydraulically actuated ylinder. The hydraulically actuated cylinder for the chisels and the hydraulically actuated cylinder for the blade may be controlled by extensions to the vicinity of the driver of the towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Dennis Brown
  • Patent number: 5782307
    Abstract: A furrow closer for mounting to an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer applicator knife. The furrow closer has a base plate which can be selectively mounted to a mounting bracket fixed to the shank of the applicator knife. A pair of offset fluted disks lie in intersecting planes with the leading edges of the disks spiced further apart than the trailing edges. The disks are suspended of an axle which is pivotable on an axis perpendicular to the line of travel of the applicator knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel L. Forsyth
  • Patent number: 5765649
    Abstract: An implement includes a toolbar fixed to a three-point hitch of an agricultural tractor. At least two working assemblies are carried by the toolbar, each including a support having two C-shaped claws that are connected at their upper parts to the support, and are joined together at their active lower parts, which are structured to penetrate the soil. A rotary structure is provided for chopping through mulch that accumulates in front of and in the claws. The rotary structure is arranged behind the claws, in their longitudinal mid-plane, so as to describe, about a horizontal transverse shaft, a circular path intersecting a curvature of each claw and, in the working position, extending substantially to ground level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: LM Technologie
    Inventor: Rene Le Maigat
  • Patent number: 5649601
    Abstract: A plow assembly is provided with a row of colters which cut the stalks when the plow is towed by a tractor over a prescribed area of ground. The plow has additional parallel tool bars which carry staggered plow times or shanks which carry plow shares, the plow shares protruding forwardly so as to cut parallel furrows along the ground. The shanks receive brackets, each of which includes a central tongue straddled by forwardly protruding arms of a bracket which is mounted on the central portion of a V-shaped flat sweep. A bolt or pivot pin passing through the bracket arms and the tongue permit each sweep to pivot about 180.degree. about a horizontal axis of the pivot pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Inventor: Willis O. Nash
  • Patent number: 5623997
    Abstract: A soil manipulation device is provided for closing a groove in soil formed by a soil tiller shank. The device includes a frame connected to a rear portion of the tiller shank and a pair of rotatable coulter blades mounted on the frame for engaging soil behind the tiller shank. The coulter blades are positioned on opposite sides of the groove so as to close the groove in the soil behind the tiller shank. The coulter blades are selectively movable and positionable in directions toward and away from each other so as to vary the distance between the coulter blades. The coulter blades also are selectively movable and positionable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the frame, so as to permit variation in depth of coulter blade penetration into the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Rawson, William C. Maenle, David R. Smith
  • Patent number: 5540288
    Abstract: A conservation tillage unit for use in primary tillage includes a rolling coulter followed by a chisel plow having a narrow shank and a soil working unit mounted to the bottom of the shank. The working unit includes a point and a delta wing mounted behind and above the point, and forward of the shank. The working unit fractures the soil beneath the surface without throwing the surface soil and residue to the side and while leaving only a narrow furrow behind the shank even at ground speeds up to five to seven miles per hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • 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: 5437337
    Abstract: A conservation tillage unit includes a coulter and a plow having a shank, a point and a pair of wings mounted slightly forwardly of the shank. The unit fractures the soil at ground speeds up to seven miles per hour without throwing the surface soil and residue to the side and while leaving a reduced furrow behind the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5437336
    Abstract: A soilbed having a topsoil stratum and a subsurface hardpan stratum is fractured by a subsoiling tine to form a trench-like path which extends in depth at least partially into the hardpan stratum. One or more pairs of rotatable blades are operated thereafter which lift up, invert, and mound nutrient-rich topsoil from the topsoil stratum on either side of the trench-like path into the trench-like path. The mounded topsoil provides an unusually hospitable environment for plant growth, especially for the root systems of plants. Additional features, such as blade attachments, coulter disks, and a bulldozer blade may be provided to enable efficient operation with consistently beneficial results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Inventor: Darrell C. Symonds
  • Patent number: 5409068
    Abstract: An agricultural plow implement includes a number of upright supports, with each support supporting a shallow tillage V-shaped sweep blade. A mounting plate is attached to the rear of each upright support and a specially adapted ripper shank, with an attached deep penetrating ripper blade, is attachable to each plate via a pair of bolts which extend through respective mounting bores in the plate. One of the bolts in each pair is a pivot bolt which provides a pivot point about which the ripper shank can swing. The other bolt is a shear pin which is designed to shear off should the ripper blade encounter an obstruction which might otherwise bend or break the ripper blade and/or the ripper shank. The ripper shank is adjustable vertically relative to the sweep blade and the ripper shank can also be pivoted 180 degrees between operative and non-operative positions when it is desired to do a sweep operation without soil ripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Kent Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hake, Rodney D. Hake, Mark A. Eilert
  • 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: 5390745
    Abstract: A 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 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 cultivator. The sweep assembly includes wings which extend outwardly of a centerline extending in the direction of operation of the cultivator in a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the chisel member. A sifting assembly is coupled to the sweep assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Brown Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Jerrell W. Harden
  • Patent number: 5333694
    Abstract: Seed bed preparation apparatus for the no-till preparation of longitudinal strips of soil for the planting of seeds in longitudinal rows including plurality of laterally spaced apart gang assemblies which are individually mounted on a draft vehicle such as a tractor or the like. Each gang assembly includes a main frame, adapted to the coupled to the draft vehicle, swingably mounting a chassis which follows the contour of the land via rotatable depth wheels which mount a forward, surface soil cutting disk for cutting a slot in the surface soil. A vertical tillage blade is received in the slot cut by the cutting wheel and includes an under surface soil lifting tillage point for lifting and partially breaking up strip of soil as the apparatus forwardly moves. A pair of rotatable soil crumbling disks are mounted on the chassis, parallel to the tillage blade, on opposite side of the blade for containing and further crumbling the portion of the lifted strip of soil between the disks and the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventors: David C. Roggenbuck, Paul Roggenbuck, Vincent Roggenbuck
  • Patent number: 5249633
    Abstract: A field breaking or tilling implement. The implement is mounted or located at a lower end of a shank which is adapted to be drawn behind a tractor. At the lower forward end of the shank is located a chisel point adapted to be pulled through the soil at a position just below a sub-surface hard pan soil layer. Extending rearwardly from the shank is a plow extension which mounts a plow member in spaced relation from the shank. The plow member is located directly behind the chisel, and serves to lift and break the soil. A method of tilling is also disclosed in which a plow member is pulled through the soil directly behind a chisel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: Robert R. Biesemeyer
  • Patent number: 5082064
    Abstract: A tillage implement which has both deep tillage subsoil shanks at the rear of the machine and relatively shallow running, residue cutting and topsoil mixing discs at the front of the machine provides for expeditious depth adjustment of the discs through spacer blocks that may be inserted between the underside of the frame of the implement and the tops of the gang beams. The blocks are designed to be clamped in position beside pivot bolts and angle retaining bolts of the gangs such that the blocks may be inserted or removed by merely loosening the bolts instead of completely removing the same and without interfering with the ability of the gangs to be angle adjusted fore-and-aft. The configuration of the blocks is such that they may be stacked one upon the other to provide an increased range of depth adjustment without sacrificing rigidity of construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Landoll Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Landoll, Robert D. Harlan, Wayne L. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5080178
    Abstract: A primary tillage implement having a plurality of chisel plows mounted in lateral spacing on a forward bar, also has a plurality of disc levelers mounted on a rear bar. Each disc leveler assembly is laterally spaced from and centered between the paths of adjacent, leading chisel plow shanks and includes a pair of discs angled outwardly to move some of the soil from the ridge formed by adjacent chisel plows to the furrow formed by an associated chisel plow. The discs of a pair are staggered and spaced laterally apart to leave a narrow band of loose soil in the ridge between the discs which falls into the shallow grooves formed by the discs after they pass. Soil is thus laterally displaced from the ridge to adjacent grooves to level the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5074061
    Abstract: An earth moving machine is adapted to be pulled behind a tractor or other powered vehicle. The earth moving machine comprises a hitch at a forward end thereof adapted to be connected to the tractor and an axle assembly at a rearward end thereof. A trough-shaped scoop is pivoted on a frame of the earth moving machine at a point intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof. A first hydraulic cylinder assembly is operable to control the height of the axle assembly relative to the frame, while a second hydraulic cylinder assembly is operable to pivot the trough-shaped scoop relative to the frame. By controlling the fluid pressure supplied to the first and second hydraulic cylinder assemblies, the scoop on the earth moving machine can be used to effect scraping, levelling, digging, carrying, and dumping of dirt. When the scoop is pivoted to its scraping position, a blade provided on the scoop for selectively cutting into the ground surface is located at a position rearward of the pivot point of the scoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: Warren H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5046346
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural machine for soil-cultivation, comprising, in the direction (F) of travel of the machine, a first row of cutting wheels arranged at right-angles to the said direction of travel and having substantially horizontal axes, in front of which is arranged a cylindrical roller with the aid of which weeds and/or the remains of past cultivation, such as stalks, stubble, and the like may be broken up. A subsequent row of ripping elements, with blades preferably running out to a point, rips up and loosens the soil, without ploughing it in, and is associated with plough-mould-boards which partially plough in the loosened soil. A transverse row of rotor-tools, with substantially horizontal axes, acts as a harrow and is used for final ploughing through 180.degree. and for crumbling the soil. The cutting wheels and the rotor-tools are arranged with their axes at an angle to the perpendiculars to the direction of travel (F) of the machines, preferably at an angle of between 5.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: Vittorio Pegoraro
  • Patent number: 4974681
    Abstract: A method for fracturing below ground hardpan which includes entering a sub-soil tine beneath the lower surface of a layer of hardpan, with the upper surface angle of the tine in range of orientation which provides an improved fracturing width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventor: Darrell C. Symonds
  • Patent number: 4909335
    Abstract: An agricultural earth working system including a vertically adjustable deep tillage tool in tandem with a V-shaped sweep blade tool, the system being mounted on a field traversable frame and adapted to be drawn through the field by a conventional farming tractor. A disk is positioned in front of a shank for the sweep blade tool. The system cuts roots of weeds with the sweep blade and at the same time deep shatters or cultivates the soil with the deep tillage tool in such a manner that very little of the field surface is disturbed, so as to retain stubble cover and prevent erosion, yet destroying the weeds and sufficiently working the ground beneath the surface, especially with the deep tillage tool to enhance water absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Inventor: Ted Walt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4865132
    Abstract: A tillage implement is provided which is of the type that has a plurality of working components that perform a multiple number of different soil treatment operations during a single trip across an agricultural field. One of these working components is a deep tillage component having a high draft requirement. The depth of operation of this deep tillage component is controlled independently of the depth of the other working components which are not significantly disrupted when the depth of operation of the deep tillage component is modified, which modification can be easily and quickly made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Allied Products Corporation
    Inventor: Fred P. Moore Jr.
  • Patent number: 4798151
    Abstract: A furrow opening point 40 is described for attachment directly to the seed boot of a hoe type seed drill between the split packer wheels. The furrow opening point 40 has an elongated body 50 that extends from an upper fertilizer receiving portion 56 to a bottom edge 54 of the soil engaging portion 52. The soil engaging portion has an upper section 61 and a lower section 62 for forming a two-tier furrow. A liquid fertilizer passageway 90 extends downward through the elongated body to the bottom edge 54 for dispensing liquid fertilizer at the base of the furrow. A dry granular fertilizer passageway 96 extends downward through the elongated body to a bottom surface 84 for dispensing dry granular fertilizer down a vertical channel formed along the trailing face 80 to the base of the furrow. A leveling section 100 forward of the seed opening 30 levels and firms the soil in the upper portion of the two-tier furrow to form a good seed bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: R & R Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Rodrigues, Jr., Gale Rettkowski
  • Patent number: 4793733
    Abstract: A scarifier suspended beneath the body of an automotive vehicle such that it is vertically movable by means of cylinders. It comprises a suspending frame provided on a main frame vertically movable by means of the cylinders so that it may be freely slidable in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body, a plurality of supporting bars horizontally disposed within the suspending frame so that they may extend in the longitudinal direction of the suspending frame and so that any two adjacent bars may be connected in series to each other by means of a pin, said supporting bars being each connected to a cylinder vertically provided on the suspending frame so that each bar may be inclined in the longitudinal direction, and a multiplicity of claws provided, at prescribed intervals, on the supporting bars by way of pins in such a manner that they extend downwards from the pins and that they are swingable about the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Taisei Road Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Chiba, Ken-ichi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 4762181
    Abstract: A pull type minimum tillage implement includes a closed rectangular frame having a forward tool bar, intermediate tool bar and rear tool bar. The ground-working tools travel directly over each previous crop row and include a forward coulter mounted on the forward tool bar followed by a subshank and disk hiller mounted on the intermediate tool bar. A mounted planter may be connected to the rear tool bar while a drawn planter is connected under the rear tool bar to the intermediate tool bar. A pair of depth gauge and support wheel assemblies are provided directly over a pair of rows and include spaced apart frame members extending between the three tool bars with a ground wheel pivot arm positioned therebetween and pivotally connected to a bracket mounted on the front tool bar. A hydraulic cylinder pivots the frame about an axis through the forward end of the implement frame tongue thereby raising the rear end of the implement frame carrying with it the ground-working tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Cox, Inc.
    Inventor: Randal A. Cox
  • Patent number: 4729435
    Abstract: An agricultural tilling implement is described which is adapted to be connected to the rear of a tractor having a three-point hitch. The implement comprises an elongated tool bar which preferably has two attachments thereon, spaced from each other, for connection to the three-point hitch of the tractor. A plurality of tilling units are carried by the tool bar. Each tilling unit comprises a downwardly depending ripper member and two rotatable wheels adjacent the ripper member. The wheels are vertically adjustable and, preferably, are also adjustable inwardly and outwardly as well as forwardly and rearwardly. The wheels are adaptable to hold the soil firmly in the rows so that the ripper member does not disturb or injure the roots of growing row crops. Preferably the tilling units are also adapted to tow a secondary tiller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Krause Plow Corporation
    Inventor: Oren D. Urich
  • Patent number: 4625809
    Abstract: A plow and disc combination machine which utilizes a bridge hitch type frame which is built in the same order as a highway bridge which enables the plow to have clearance so that a disc gang mounted under it and movable by hydraulics can be raised or lowered on the move. The fact that a bridge truss structure is utilized in the frame allows the discs to be movable over a wide vertical range and allows the subsoiler plow shanks to be used in the ground at maximum depth without the usage of the disc blades. The discs can also be lowered to cut material such as corn stalks as the plow is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventor: Gary Moynihan
  • Patent number: 4601248
    Abstract: A minimum tillage planting apparatus includes a soil conditioning device comprising a coulter for cutting through surface residue and slicing into the soil, a plow element behind and in alignment with the coulter for penetrating and lifting the soil, and a pair of spaced-apart pressure wheels located above the point of the plow element for exerting a downward pressure on the soil and, in cooperation with the plow element, creating a crushing, shearing action on the soil. A pair of filler wheels are provided rearwardly of the plow element to fill the furrow formed by the plow element and to level the row zone for a furrow opening means, seed depositing means for depositing seeds in the opened furrow and seed covering and soil firming or compacting means, all of which follow the pair of filler wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventor: Eustace O. Beasley