Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement including a carriage frame assembly and pull hitch towed by a tractor and forward and aft secondary frames supported by the carriage frame assembly. The forward and aft secondary frames mount gangs of disk blades for tilling the soil. The secondary frames establish a plane and the aft secondary frame is connected to the carriage frame assembly at a greater distance from the plane than the forward secondary frame so that the depth of penetration of the disk blades is uniform during field operation. The tillage implement has outboard wing sections pivotally connected to the secondary frames and annular shims are provided to establish the wing sections and secondary frames in common plane during field operation, the annular shim being rotatable about central axis to present a common surface to the implements irrespective of the orientation of the shims.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame provided with ground-engaging wheels that support the main frame at a selected height above the ground. Tillage shanks may be provided on the main frame and, if so, have their depth of penetration into the ground determined by the selected height of the main frame. Gangs of freely rotatable circular blades are carried on the main frame for both fore-and-aft angle adjustment relative to the main frame about respective upright pivot axes and up-and-down depth adjustment relative to the main frame about respective horizontal pivot axes. Such angle and/or depth adjustments can be carried out on-the-go from the tractor seat and without raising or lowering the main frame such that if tillage shanks are provided on the main frame, the working depth of the tillage shanks can remain unchanged as the gangs are adjusted.

Abstract: A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member displaces soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame, and a linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the linkage assembly relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the linkage assembly for urging the linkage assembly downwardly toward the soil, and an accumulator is mounted to the hydraulic cylinder for supplying pressurized gas to the hydraulic cylinder urging the linkage assembly upwardly away from the soil. A manifold is removably mounted to the hydraulic cylinder via a mounting interface, the manifold being selected from a group of different types of modular manifolds in which each manifold is removably mountable to the hydraulic cylinder, one at a time, via the same mounting interface, the manifold having two hydraulic-fluid ports including an inlet port and an outlet port.

Abstract: A method is provided for depositing slurry into a ground surface for plant nutrition. A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member acts by displacing soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil. The rotating member may be a coulter blade that has a plurality of flutes formed on a first and a second side of the blade. The flutes have a leading edge that enters the ground substantially perpendicular with respect to the ground and exits at an angle to eject soil upward and outward.

Abstract: An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a linkage pivotably coupled to the attachment frame, and a row unit frame having a leading end pivotably coupled to the linkage to permit vertical pivoting movement of the row unit frame relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the attachment frame and the linkage, for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil, includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the ram in a direction that pivots the linkage and the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame. A support member is pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the support member relative to the attachment frame, and at least one furrow-closing device is mounted on the support member. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the support member for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. The hydraulic cylinder includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for urging the ram in a first direction that pivots the support member in a first vertical direction. An accumulator has a fluid chamber containing a pressurized gas for urging the ram in a second direction that pivots the support member in a second vertical direction.

Abstract: A disc gang for use with an agricultural implement includes a pair of front and a pair of rear disc openers mounted to a carrier boom by a mounting arm that can be independently raised and lowered as desired. The front and rear disc openers are mounted such that the openers can oscillate in response to surface undulations independently of one another. Moreover, the disc openers of each pair are free to oscillate in response to surface contours independently of one another.

Abstract: A seed planting assembly is provided having a plurality of planting units supported by a tool bar, each of which being operable to form a seed trench in soil, plant seeds in the seed trench, and close the seed trench. Each planting assembly is supported by the tool bar via a mounting assembly that can be actuated by a vertical positioner to raise and lower individual planting units. The vertical positioner is prevented from becoming unintentionally locked during use.

Abstract: A disk opener and packer wheel system for maintaining a constant disk opener depth and for maintaining a constant packing of the soil by the packer wheel when planting upon uneven surfaces. The inventive device includes a frame having a bracket for attaching to the drill, a pair of support arms pivotally attached to the frame, a compression spring positioned between the support arm and the frame, a first member pivotally attached between the pair of support arms, a second member pivotally attached between the pair of support arms, a disk opener attached to the lower end of the first member, a packer wheel attached to the lower end of the second member, and an adjusting shaft adjustably positioned between the upper ends of the first member and the second member. In use, when the disk opener engages a hard object, such as a rock, the disk opener and the support arm are elevated while the packer wheel is forced downwardly to compensate for the elevated support arm.

Abstract: The working depth of obliquely angled disc gangs on the implement can be readily adjusted from the tractor seat with a single hydraulic cylinder through the use of mechanical linkage that couples the hydraulic cylinder with all of the disc gangs for simultaneous movement. Special pivots that join the gangs to the main frame permit the gangs to be manually angled adjusted without affecting depth, and vice-versa, while quick-release locks securely hold the gangs in their selected angular positions yet permit rapid adjustment.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for independent adjustment of the gauge wheel, disc hillers, stabilizer disc and, if desired, the rear, central sweep for an agricultural cultivator unit. The adjusting mechanism includes a screw jack which is easily accessible from the top of the cultivator for setting the adjustment of vertically telescoping inner and outer tubular sections, and a clamp for maintaining the setting once the adjustment is made. Improvements in the disc hiller structure itself include an indicator plate located at the top of the shank on which the disc is mounted for indicating the angular adjustment of the working angle of the disc, and a forged shank having a circular cross-section at the top, and a flattened portion at the bottom to provide strength but flexibility.

Abstract: An agricultural apparatus having a combination of ground engaging tools thereon. The agricultural apparatus includes a plurality of ground engaging cultivator tools mounted on a frame assembly which is specifically configured to promote accurate lateral spacing of the cultivator tools thereon. The agricultural apparatus further includes a pair of disc gang assemblies arranged on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal centerline of the implement and a lift mechanism for conjointly elevating and positioning the disc gang assemblies relative to the frame assembly. The frame assembly is comprised of a series of interconnected frame members including laterally extending tool bars. Each cultivator tool is adjustably secured to a respective tool bar by a resiliently biased bracket assembly. To facilitate lateral adjustment of the cultivating tools, the tool bars are fixedly connected in spaced relation to other frame members.

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.

Abstract: A combination tillage apparatus for towing behind a tractor comprises an extended frame having a trunk member oriented along the direction of travel of the apparatus and at least one pair of parallel and spaced apart branch members oriented perpendicularly to the trunk member. Each one of a pluralilty of implements is mounted in a mounting mechanism and a stabilizing mechanism which provide independent angular, translational, and vertical adjustment of each of the implements relative to the frame. A first modified embodiment of the combination tillage apparatus allows angular adjustment of the implement relative to the stabilizing mechanism independently from the angular adjustment of the stabilizing mechanism relative to the frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to a planter guide attachment designed to hold and align conventional corn, soybean planters, or other units on the upper area of a ridge of soil formed by previous cultivation-ridging processes as known in Ridge-Till farming. The unit provides a mounting shaft having a pair of coned blades mounted thereon to allow the tapered faces of the disc blades to hug the sides of the ridges for proper planter alignment. The shaft blade construction is hingedly attached to a mounting bar which is vertically adjustably attached to a tool bar extending transversely of the rear of a towing vehicle for mounting a plurality of guide units thereon. A knee spring-action mechanism is provided to load the shaft, disc structure to maintain the same in ground contacting position, and allow the same to override obstacles that may be in the ridge, and thereafter return the same into ground-contacting position along the sides of the ridge.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn levee plow having a telescoping frame pivotally supporting a pair of harrow-gangs arranged to move soil laterally toward each other to a center-line to form the levee, the frame also pivotally supporting a pair of hydraulic cylinders powered by the tractor and connected in fluid-power series, one each of which is pivotally connected to the outer end portion of one of the gangs and each of which is utilized in practicing a new method involving forcibly holding the outer portion of its gang in elevated and/or depressed relation to its inner end portion while in ground-engaging position to thereby most effectively and efficiently construct a levee.

Abstract: A discing tool is provided which includes a plurality of disc gangs connected to a movable elongated frame. The frame is supported on a number of rotatable wheel assemblies so that the disc gangs can be moved in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame as well as in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame. A pair of outer disc gangs are pivotally connected at their first ends to the center portion of the frame. The second ends of the outer disc gangs extend in opposite directions and the outer disc gangs can be positioned at various predetermined angles relative to the frame. A center disc gang is connected to the center portion of the frame and is vertically pivotal. When the discing tool is used to work the soil, the center disc gang disc harrows the section of soil between the first ends of the outer disc gangs.

Abstract: A narrow-base terracing plow comprising a tractor-borne transverse frame supporting a pair of transversely spaced rearwardly and outwardly extending gangs of inwardly directed disc harrows, each gang being pivotally mounted on a mounting bracket for vertical swinging movement relative thereto and the mounting bracket being mounted on said frame for swinging movement about a vertical axis, each gang having a rigid link pivotally connected thereto and to the frame and having a hydraulic cylinder extending between its mounting bracket and the medial portions of the gang by means of which the outer end portion of the gang can be forced downwardly into the soil to a greater extent than its innermore portions, thereby causing the soil through which it passes to be moved laterally toward the centerline until a terrace is formed between the gangs and peaks thereat.

Abstract: An agricultural implement having a primary frame on which is mounted an adjustable secondary support frame through connecting links and depth control screws enabling adjustment of the secondary support frame relative to the primary frame while maintaining the secondary support frame in generally parallel relation to the plane of the primary frame. First tools such as disk gangs are carried by the secondary support frame, while different type tools such as shank mounted earth working points and contiguous moldboards are mounted on the primary frame spaced from the first tools. Wheels mounted on the primary frame enable raising of the primary and secondary frames and associated tools for transport, and are adjustable to serve as gauge wheels for the earth working points and moldboards.

Abstract: A disc apparatus for forming levees used in rice farming and the like. The disc apparatus includes a longitudinal frame member onto which a pair of cross frame members are pivotally attached. A set of disc blades consisting of a plurality of disc blade members are attached to the opposite ends of each cross frame member. Each disc blade member of a set are of varying outside diameters with the disc blade member having the largest outside diameter located closest to the longitudinal frame member and with the size of each adjacent disc blade member uniformly decreasing so that the disc blade member having the smallest outside diameter will be located farthest from the longitudinal frame member. Each set of disc blade members can be adjusted so that the lowermost portion of each blade member thereof is level with the lowermost portion of each of the other blade members of that set.

Abstract: A folding implement has a pair of oppositely, laterally projecting tool beams which pivot about vertical axes between wide-spread, working positions and fold-back, transport positions in which the beams are substantially parallel to the path of travel of the implement. A secondary tool assembly situated behind the primary tool beams can swing about a transverse horizontal axis between a fully raised position for transport and a fully lowered position for working the ground. Push rod structure interconnects the secondary assembly with the primary beams so that as the primary beams are swung back to their transport positions, the secondary assembly is raised to its upper position, and conversely, as the primary beams are swung forwardly into their working positions, the secondary assembly is lowered into its ground-engaging position.

Abstract: The invention provides a folding wing disc harrow wherein a hydraulic operating mechanism is provided for folding and unfolding the wings through an arc of more than 180.degree. through the positive bidirectional linear movement of the plunger of a double acting hydraulic cylinder cooperating with the wing to which it is connected, for said folding and unfolding operations, and which mechanism allows a limited angular free floating motion of the wing above and below the horizontal "unfolded" or "working" position when the hydraulic control valve is set accordingly. The connection of the hydraulic piston rod with the wing is so organized that the straight line motion of the piston rod is enabled to fold and unfold the wing through an arc well in excess of 180.degree. and is organized to allow a limited free floating action of the wing for following the soil surface variations.The ability of the present invention to swing the wing through 180.degree.

Abstract: Power operated mechanisms are provided to operate a foldup implement which includes a double-acting hydraulic jack interconnected between a foldup wing section and a main section. The jack has a lost motion connection with the main section permitting the wing section to float up and down about its longitudinal pivot connection to the main section during field operations. An elongated slot of the lost motion connection is so disposed as to minimize any tendency for the end of the jack associated with the slot to move from its position at the laterally outer end of the slot as the wing section is raised to its transport position. To further insure that the end of the jack will not shift from its position at the laterally outer end of the slot as the wing section is raised to a transport position, an abutment member is disposed above a part of the slot so as to abut the end of the jack in the slot should the latter tend to shift laterally inwardly while the wing section is in its raised transport position.