With Actuator Patents (Class 172/418)
  • Patent number: 12193346
    Abstract: A turf aerator includes a frame, a tine shaft rotatably supported by the frame, a plurality of tines coupled to the tine shaft, a swing arm supporting the plurality of tines, and an input. The swing arm being rotatably supported by the frame and configured to rotate the plurality of tines between an operating position and a retracted position. Actuation of the input (i) actuates the swing arm to transition the plurality of tines from the retracted position to the operating position and (ii) activates the tine shaft to move the plurality of tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon King, William Coates
  • Patent number: 11778937
    Abstract: A modular agricultural toolbar comprising at least one retractable implement attachment member capable of accommodating various agricultural implementations, as well as a plurality of continuous track units for operational use and a plurality of wheels for transportation and storage use. The implement attachment members further capable of extending along a central axis, increasing the coverage areas of a given agricultural process while also being capable of folding horizontally alongside the core frame of the toolbar to enable ease of transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Dennis Anderson
  • Patent number: 11716916
    Abstract: A turf aerator includes a retracting tine assembly and an input mechanism. The tine assembly includes a plurality of tines, a pair of swing arms, and a linkage for selectively moving the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position. The pair of swing arms support the plurality of tines and are configured to rotate the plurality of tines between an operating position to a retracted position. The input is coupled to the linkage and the input is operable to active the linkage to move the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon King, William Coates
  • Patent number: 11272652
    Abstract: A turf aerator includes a tine assembly and an input mechanism. The tine assembly includes multiple tines, a retractor plate for positioning the plurality of tines, and a linkage for selectively moving the retractor plate and the plurality of tines between an operating position and a retracted position. The input mechanism coupled to the linkage, the input mechanism operable to activate the linkage to move the retractor plate and the plurality of tines between the operating position and the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon King, William Coates
  • Patent number: 9179587
    Abstract: A tillage apparatus includes a wheeled frame configured with a plurality of concave blades arranged in a plurality of longitudinally extending columns and transversely extending rows. The rows are longitudinally spaced apart by a progressively increasing distance. The blades of each column are transversely tilted alternately to the left and right. The blades of each column are transversely offset from one another to create a swath of tilled ground along the width of the column. In operation, soil is thrown left and right between successive blades of a column to till the soil across the width of the column and leave a substantially level soil surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Salford Group Inc.
    Inventors: Geof J. Gray, Jacobus A. Rozendaal, John Mark Averink, Simon Goveia
  • Patent number: 8336468
    Abstract: A furrow opener apparatus attachable to an implement has a trailing arm with a packer wheel at the rear end, and a furrow opener attached forward of the packer wheel. An actuator moves the trailing arm between a lowered operating position and a raised transport position. A latch mechanism engages the implement frame and the trailing arm when the actuator is operated to move the trailing arm to the transport position, preventing the trailing arm from moving downward. A release mechanism moves the latch mechanism to an unlatched position when the actuator is operated to move the trailing arm from the raised transport position to the lowered operating position, allowing the trailing arm to move down from the transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Devin Lung
  • Patent number: 6321850
    Abstract: A forwardly folding tillage implement carries a number of ground engaging tools on a tool gang frame disposed to the rear of a carrier frame. A rockshaft is disposed between the carrier frame and the tool gang frame and is movable between four rotated positions about two axes of rotation. A control mechanism controls the relative angular position of the rockshaft. A support mechanism is disposed rearwardly of the axes of rotation to support the rear of the tool gang frame above the ground in the field working position. An abutment member restrains the relative rotation between the rockshaft and the tool gang frame to fully support the tool gang frame on the rockshaft upon rotation of the rockshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Flexi-Coil Ltd.
    Inventor: Terrance A. Friggstad
  • Patent number: 4336760
    Abstract: An earthworking implement comprising a frame on which are supported front wheels, rear wheels and a rearmost dolly wheel. An aerator member with blades is rotatably secured to the frame between the front and rear wheels. The dolly wheel is mounted on the frame for rotation about a vertical axis at a location rearwards of the rear wheels. The front wheels and the dolly wheel represent endmost wheels on the frame. One of the endmost wheels is vertically movable with respect to the frame between raised and lowered positions, such that in the raised position the front wheels and dolly wheel define a common tangential plane which is at a level above the blades of the aerator member and below the rear wheels thereby establishing an operative aerating position whereas in the lowered position the front wheels and dolly wheel define a common tangential plane which is at a level below the aerator member and the rear wheels thereby establishing a transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Improved Lawn Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Sidney Cohen, Robert Schlemmer
  • Patent number: 4301872
    Abstract: An articulated plow is provided with a laterally swingable pull bar (31) and steerable intermediate support wheels (46, 47) which are controlled by a hydraulic system providing correlated movement through parallel connected hydraulic jacks (37, 66). A latch mechanism (86) for releasably securing the pull bar (31) in its plowing position of adjustment is operated by the pull bar control jack (37) through an operating lever (41) having a lost motion connection with a spring loaded latch pin (87). A locking plate (131) is provided to automatically lock the latch pin (87) in its retracted position when the pull bar (31) is moved to its transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventors: Dawson W. Hastings, Robert L. Wagner