Abstract: A tilling apparatus and a method of tilling soils which includes the use of a rotational shaft having a number of cutter assemblies located at spaced apart locations on the shaft in which each cutter assembly has a multitude of blades which rotate as the rotary shaft rotates to form a plurality of spaced apart trenches having the same spacing as the spacing of the cutters, and a width caused by the width of the blades. As the blades dig the trench, the soil contacted by the blades is granulated and is tossed about by the spinning blades so that some soil falls back into the trench and some falls along the periphery of the trench to form rows of aerated granules which promote enhanced growth of plants or seeds in the trench and along the edge of the trench to improve the yield of pasture having the trenches. Various attachments can be provided on the tilling apparatus, either in front of or towards the rear of the spinning blades for different purposes, such as rippers, seeders, levellers, or similar.

Abstract: The slope angle of a blade on an earthmoving machine is automatically controlled based on measurements from a three-axis gyroscope, a blade slope angle tilt sensor, and a blade tip angle tilt sensor mounted on the blade. A three-axis gyroscope has high dynamic response and high resistance to mechanical disturbances but is subject to potentially unbounded errors. A tilt sensor has bounded errors but has a slow dynamic response and a high sensitivity to mechanical disturbances. The combination of a three-axis gyroscope and two tilt sensors provides an advantageous measurement system. Algorithms for performing proper fusion of the measurements account for the lack of synchronization between the three-axis gyroscope and the tilt sensors and also screen out invalid measurements from the tilt sensors. The blade slope angle is controlled based on a reference blade slope angle and an estimate of the blade slope angle computed from properly fused measurements.

Abstract: A soil opening implement comprising a frame (5) adapted to be moved across a ground surface to be opened, a soil opener (1) mounted on the frame for a repetitive cyclic movement to case the soil opener to penetrate the ground at a plurality of spaced positions to form a line of holes in the soil, and adjustment for varying the pitch of the holes, that is the spacing between adjacent holes in the direction of movement of the implement. The implement has the facility to deliver objects, such as seeds to fertilizer granules in the holes, either one object per hole or multiple objects per hole. The implement includes a hopper (11) for holding a supply of objects and for delivering the objects to the soil opener which is in the form of a substantially vertical hollow tube (11b) through which the objects are fed and delivered to the holes.

Abstract: A travelling rolling digger (1) for sequential hole drilling or for producing sequential cultivated spots in soil. The travelling rolling digger (1) includes at least one drilling shaft which is rotatable by a drive mechanism about a longitudinal shaft axis and has a rotating soil penetrating edge. The drilling shaft is mounted to roll about a horizontal shaft in a soil penetrating plane while the horizontal shaft moves in a direction of travel of the traveling rolling digger. The rotating drilling shaft enters the soil at an entry angle and digs into the soil while the horizontal shaft moves in the direction of travel and the drilling shaft continuously changes its angle relative to the soil from the entry angle to a vertical position. The traveling rolling digger further comprising at least one cleaning blade (6).

Abstract: A gardening/landscaping utility machine having a counter-rotating twin shaft system that can perform multiple types of work required for gardening/landscaping, including tilling, trench-edging, weeding, brush cutting, snow removal and lawn mowing. These processes can be accomplished by exchanging attachments from, or altering the orientation of, the counter-rotating twin shafts.

Abstract: A traveling rolling digger for sequential hole drilling or for producing sequential cultivated spots in soil. The traveling rolling digger includes at least one drilling shaft which is rotatable by a drive mechanism about a longitudinal shaft axis and has a rotating soil penetrating edge. The drilling shaft is mounted to roll about a horizontal shaft in a soil penetrating plane while the horizontal shaft moves in a direction of travel of the traveling rolling digger. The rotating drilling shaft enters the soil at an entry angle and digs into the soil while the horizontal shaft moves in the direction of travel and the drilling shaft continuously changes its angle relative to the soil from the entry angle to a vertical position.

Abstract: A front-rotary cultivator having a plurality of tillage tines provided at the front of a body and left and right driving wheels. The tillage tines include a plurality of forward-rotating tines arranged in the center of the body width and a plurality of reverse-rotating tines arranged transversely outward of the forward-rotating tines. The reverse-rotating tines are arranged in the same phase in a side view to simultaneously dig into the ground.

Abstract: A traveling rolling digger for sequential hole drilling or for producing sequential cultivated spots in soil. The traveling rolling digger includes at least one drilling shaft which is rotatable by a drive mechanism about a longitudinal shaft axis and has a rotating soil penetrating edge. The drilling shaft is mounted to roll about a horizontal shaft in a soil penetrating plane while the horizontal shaft moves in a direction of travel of the traveling rolling digger. The rotating drilling shaft enters the soil at an entry angle and digs into the soil while the horizontal shaft moves in the direction of travel and the drilling shaft continuously changes its angle relative to the soil from the entry angle to a vertical position.

Abstract: A tine assembly for a cultivator includes a first tine member having a plurality of radially extending non-planar tines. At least two tines on each tine member differ in shape from the remaining tines. The tine assembly may include a second tine member which is shaped like a mirror-image of the first tine member. When assembled on a shaft, the second tine member is off-set from the first tine member so that tines on alternating tine members contact the ground as the shaft rotates.

Abstract: A digger for facilitating the application of a material to a mushroom bed includes a feed system wherein a metering shaft is provided in the compartment or hopper for the material. The metering shaft contains sets of supply pockets which receives the material to be conveyed to distribution heads. The digger also includes a digging shaft connected to a drive shaft by improved structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a plurality of spaced apart cultivated spots in soil. A spot cultivator (1) is moved across the soil in a direction in which the spaced apart cultivated spots are to be formed. The spot cultivator (1) includes at least one tilling shaft (7) which is mounted to roll about a horizontal axis which moves with the spot cultivator (1) and which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of at least one tilling shaft (7). At least one tilling shaft (7) is rolled about said horizontal axis in a plane which intersects the soil. The at least one tilling shaft (7) has a length sufficient to contact and penetrate the soil at a controlled spacing during each rotation about the horizontal axis.

Abstract: A soil aerator comprising a planetary aeration system, a frame, an attachment mechanism and a drive unit to form aeration holes the soil aerator having an attachment mechanism to allow it to be attached to a conventional farm tractor, a friction drive pulley system to permit slippage to protect the drive train if the soil aerator hits an obstruction, an adjustment mechanism to set different angles of penetration of the aeration tools into the ground to allow use of the soil aerator on different soils such as loam, clay, soft dirt and the like and a spring system to absorb impact energy as the soil aeration tools penetrate the soil.

Abstract: A portable hand-held concrete, mortar and gypsum mixer comprises a small gasoline powered implement having a drive shaft extending generally downward from the handles to a gear box. A transverse shaft driven by the drive shaft extends to either side of the gear box. Mounted on the transverse shaft are a plurality of blades shaped to thoroughly agitate and mix a combination of water and the ingredients for concrete, mortar, gypsum or similar heavy, hard to mix materials. Surrounding the blades are thin rings attached to the blades to form a round circumferential surface about the blades and thereby prevent the blades from directly contacting the mixing trough or other means of containing the mix. In the alternative, the plurality of blades may be shaped at their peripheries to form substantially continuous circular circumferences.

Abstract: A minimum tillage farm implement capable of being used for plowing, cultivating, planting and insecticide and herbicide and fertilizer application, which includes a tool bar frame having three parallel spaced apart laterally positioned tool bars held together by detachable interconnecting frame members. Coulters, chisel plows and discing pairs are mounted in series to the front tool bar. Variable width rototillers are attached to the middle tool bar and planters are attached to the rear tool bar, both serially alligned with the discing pairs. The coulters, chisel plows, discs and rototillers prepare a fine seed bed, even in stalks and stubble, to allow beneficial planting of row crop seeds by the planters. In a second mode the front and rear tool bars are detached leaving only the middle tool bar with rototillers, which can be adjusted for width and position to perform as cultivators of the areas between adjacent seed beds.

Abstract: A garden tiller tine assembly for use with a tiller assembly which includes a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation includes a rotary blade aligned at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation. The planar body of the rotary blade is angled at a dihedral angle with respect to a plane normal to the axis of rotation. Upon rotation of the tine assembly about the axis of rotation, the rotary blade oscillates laterally from side to side along the axis of rotation to cut a wider path through the soil than conventional rotary blades.

Abstract: The ends opposite one another of adjacent bars (2, 3) of (4, 5) are sized, shaped, and positioned to cooperate with one another to push back hard objects which are found between two adjacent bars (2, 3) or (4, 5) during their approaching phase.

Abstract: In a machine for working soil, the oscillating arms 6, 7 of the opposite toothed bars 2, 3, 4, 5 on different rows 27, 28 are mounted at least approximately side-by-side in a direction crosswise to the direction of advance 24.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for clearing a field of crop residue after harvest is attached to the linkage of a tractor and serves to cut and shred stalks of plants planted in two parallel rows. It comprises two sheave-shaped rollers on a common axle serving to crush the stalks and to flatten them onto the ground, and two flail-type fast-rotating shredders whose cutter bars cut and shred the stalks pressed on the ground by the rollers, while slightly penetrating in to the soil surface and cutting the upper root portions as well. Each shredder consists of a drum with pivotally attached cutter bars; both shredders are mounted on a horizontal shaft which is driven by the tractor power-take-off through a gear. A casing collects the shredded particles and spreads them on the ground behind the implement.

Abstract: A minimum tillage farm implement capable of being used for plowing, cultivating, planting and insecticide and herbicide and fertilizer application, which includes a tool bar frame having three parallel spaced apart laterally positioned tool bars held together by detachable interconnecting frame members. Coulters, chisel plows and discing pairs are mounted in series to the front tool bar. Variable width rototillers are attached to the middle tool bar and planters are attached to the rear tool bar, both serially aligned with the discing pairs. The coulters, chisel plows, discs and rototillers prepare a fine seed bed, even in stalks and stubble, to allow beneficial planting of row crop seeds by the planters. In a second mode the front and rear tool bars are detached leaving only the middle tool bar with rototillers, which can be adjusted for width and position to perform as cultivators of the areas between adjacent seed beds.

Abstract: A modular hitch unit is attached to a lawn and garden tractor and then to a tiller. The hitch unit includes hitching mechanisms as well as hand-operable belt adjustment mechanisms for positioning and adjusting the tension of a drive belt. A lever is operated to pivot a countersprung idler pulley to allow the belt to be placed in its operating position. A knob is then turned to adjust the pivotable position of a second idler pulley to control the tension of the belt. The idler pulleys can be switched and the belt remounted to change the direction in which a set of tiller tines are driven.

Abstract: Liquid applications of materials such as herbicides usually are broadcast over the field and then incorporated by harrowing or the like. The present device utilizes a plurality of open based boxes having a rotary cultivator therein with a spray nozzle attached to a supply of liquid chemical under pressure thus restricting the application of the chemical to a band the width of the box and incorporating it at the same time. Rake teeth smooth out the soil behind each applicator and a seeding or planting machine may be hitched behind the incorporator followed by a packer so that the entire chemical treatment, incorporation thereof, planting and packing can be undertaken in one pass over the field.

Abstract: An upstanding housing is provided and mounted in trailing relation to a depending tool shank by generally horizontal upper and lower pivot links having their forward ends pivotally supported from the tool shank and their rear ends pivotally supported from the housing. A driven power shaft is journaled in the upper portion of the housing and an output shaft is journaled in the lower portion of the housing. A chain is trained about sprocket wheels mounted on the shafts and has a spring biased idler sprocket wheel is engaged with one reach thereof for tensioning the chain. A rod weeder shaft has one end supported from the output shaft and additional laterally spaced depending tool shanks include trailing journal structures mounted for limited vertical shifting relative thereto and the rod weeder shaft has longitudinally spaced portions thereof journaled by the journal structures.

Abstract: A frame carries two transverse digger shafts each having a plurality of diggers mounted thereon in spaced apart relationship such that the diggers form independent furrows. The frame is supported on wheels on a single axis between the two digger shafts and it tiltable on this axis substantially independently of the three point hitch by virtue of a pair of pivoted connections between the hitch and the frame. A longitudinal tilt arm extends from an elevated position over the frame and is connected near its forward end by a resilient member to the hitch or to a selected attachment point on a rigid telescoping member also extending between the tilt arm and hitch. The tilt of the frame is also biased by placement of the wheel frame axis slightly to the rear of the frame's center of gravity. The digger shafts are connected to the drive for opposite relative rotation with the rear shaft rotating rearwardly whereby its diggers apply a retarding force to the frame and stabilize the frame on the frame wheel axis.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement has a row of pivotable soil working members linked to a transverse beam of the frame and individual eccentrics are connected to the members to raise and lower soil engaging portions thereof. The portions are pivoted so that the rear parts thereof move through greater amplitudes than front parts of the portions. The frame can be supported by ground wheels which in transport position elevate the soil working members above the ground and this can be accomplished with hydraulic assemblies. The front of the frame can have a resilient coupling to a prime mover to reduce shocks induced by the eccentric drives. Dispensing mechanisms can be positioned to the rear of the soil working members to dispense and/or seed the worked ground.

Abstract: A rotatable flail-type agricultural implement is disclosed which includes a central axle and a plurality of radially and circumferentially spaced, flexible, hammer-supporting chains presenting a plurality of ground crop-engaging flails upon rotation of the axle. The axle is preferably composed of a pair of elongated, telescopically interfitted sections, at least one of which is shiftable, such that the effective width of the implement can be varied to accommodate different crop row spacings. In addition, the axle sections include complemental, spiral key and keyway structure for maintaining the flexible hammer chains in a substantially constant, spaced relationship to the central axle, irrespective of variances in the axle length.

Abstract: An improved cutter wheel that is useful in conjunction with tilling apparatus for sod seeding purposes. The wheel has a body fashioned from sheet metal. The periphery is characterized by smooth contours which define the teeth and gullets. The wheel is devoid of hooked sections or notches as well as abrupt gullets where stringy material such as Bermuda grass could become caught or hairpin to cause wrapping. Different teeth are offset in opposite directions from the plane of the body to increase the effective cutting width. Additionally, the symmetry of the cutter wheel is such that it can be mounted for rotation in either direction.

Abstract: The apparatuses comprise a horizontally extending rigid frame and a plurality of reel and shaft assemblies, those reel and shaft assemblies each comprising a pair of parallel axle shafts and a set of reels rotatably supported on each of said shafts; the peripheral edges of ground engaging blades on a first set of rotatable reels meet the ground in the treated path at a first angle to or parallel to the central longitudinal axis of a first shaft on the frame and the peripheral edges of the ground engaging blades on a second set of rotatable reels meet the ground to form cuts therein at an angle to the line of the edge of the blades of the first set of reels.

Abstract: A machine is provided for the root-pruning of plants growing in rows, such that the root system of the plants will be small in circumference but finely-branched. The machine has, for each plant row, a knife unit for forming a groove in the ground and root-pruning the plants. Each knife unit comprises a first and second knife, wherein the first knife is forward of the second knife and lies in a vertical plane parallel to the direction of travel of the machine. The second knife has a cutting blade comprising a substantially vertical blade portion and a substantially horizontal blade portion. The first and second knives are rigidly interconnected and arranged for reciprocatory movement in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the machine. A compactor is disposed behind the second knife for reclosing the groove made in the ground by the knife unit.

Abstract: A machine for cultivating the soil has a main transverse beam carrying a transverse tool shaft, and a gear box for driving the tool shaft. The beam has a frame for attaching the machine to the conventional three-point hydraulic system of a tractor, the tractor power take-off shaft then being connected to drive the tool shaft via the gear box. To enable the machine to be constructed in various widths and to facilitate its assembly and transportation, the main beam is in two half portions interconnected by the gear box housing. Likewise the tool shaft is in half shaft portions driven by a common, hollow gear box drive shaft. The gear box itself is formed in upper and lower portions, the upper portion of which is interchangeable with a different gear ratio portion to suit different tractor power take-off speeds. The gear box drive shaft has a rearwardly projecting drive shaft portion for driving further equipment to be used in combination with the machine.

Abstract: A cultivating machine has tines mounted on an elongated horizontal support that is driven to move the tines forwardly through the soil towards the normal direction of travel. The tines are in groups along the length of the support and each group has a number of pairs of opposing units. Each unit includes bracket portions having two rims and a tine is fastened to each rim. Opposing portions are bolted together to form a whole bracket that mounts four tines around the support. Each tine is a strip-shaped member that is hook-like in configuration with an inner straight portion and an outer soil working portion having a pointed tip. The inner portion has a series of holes along its length which can be releasably fastened to a respective rim in any one of a plurality of positions that change the working length of the tine. A front hood partially surrounds the tines and support and a rod grating is positioned at the rear of the tines. A rear hood is connected to the machine and located behind the grating.

Abstract: A power tillage device is provided having a passive rolling coulter as the prime mover for a power tillage blade which is carried in the lead of the coulter on a transfer case mounted as a radius arm on the counter shaft. The tillage blade rotates in the opposite direction from the coulter and is designed for optimum efficiency for shearing and lifting soil from a furrow.

Abstract: A rotary tiller tine assembly in which a main shift has an end key and a shaft extension has at one end an end socket coupled to the main shaft key and at its other end a socket which receives a plug key with which outboard tines are interlockingly engaged.

Abstract: A tillage apparatus for sod seeding usage includes a plurality of tillage unit assemblies having power driven blades receiving power from a tractor which tows the apparatus. An improved tillage blade is disclosed.

Abstract: A turf reconditioning apparatus adapted to aerate and relieve the compaction of the soil, and comprising a plurality of cutting discs disposed along a supporting drive shaft, and with each cutting disc comprising a plurality of curved blades defining a sharp point at the remote free end thereof. The speed of rotation of the discs is coordinated to the forward movement of the apparatus whereby the point of each blade enters the ground substantially vertically to thereby reduce the power consumption and minimize wear along the side edges of the blade. The curved nature of the blade further serves to lift some of the loosened soil from the slits formed in the ground to thereby provide a light top dressing of the removed soil. The curved blades may be efficiently cut from a rectangular plate by a process wherein no additional machining or finishing operations is required.

Abstract: A soil cultivator has at least one rotor mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and rows of rigid soil working tines are secured on the rotor to be driven through the soil in a direction opposite to the travel direction of the cultivator. The tines can be curved with their free ends oriented to the rear with respect to their direction of movement through the soil. Stationary tines can be affixed in front of the rotor so that the rotor tines are moved between the stationary tines. Two rotors can be mounted side-by-side on a common shaft or axis of rotation and the shaft journalled in side plates having edge rims. A row of rotatable disc-like supporting members is arranged zig zag on a beam and the beam has arms that are adjustably connected to the cultivator frame at the rear of the rotor. Projections on the bottoms of the members induce rotation thereof. The rotor or rotors can also be supported by an elongated roller having a helical rib.

Abstract: A rotary plough has one or more rotors rotatably mounted to be driven via a power take off about a horizontal axis that extends transverse to the direction of travel. Each rotor has a central support and axis of rotation and two spaced apart and oppositely positioned rotatable soil working members, each of which has a soil working support with two rows of tines. A driving connection is established between a P. T. O. and a shaft within the central support which turns each soil working member through a control mechanism. The control mechanism can be a pinion gear arrangement or a chain and sproket combination that turns the tine supports of the soil working members so that a transmission ratio is established to cause the tines to rotate more or less about their supports while also turning about the central support. Earth lumps are cut and lifted by the tines and then moved to an inverted position back to the dug out cavity.

Abstract: A rotary plough has a rotor that rotates about a horizontal axis defined by a central support. The rotor comprises three spaced apart groups of soil working tines and each group includes a row of tines mounted on arms that extend radially with respect to the support. Each row of tines is independently connected via a chain transmission to a toothed pinion on the central support so that as the entire rotor turns about the support, each row of tines is also revolved about a horizontal axis. The central support is rotated by a further sprocket and chain transmission connected to a gear box with a P.T.O connection. The central support is surrounded by a second rotatable support on which radial scrapers are mounted. The gear box is connected to rotate the entire rotor as a whole and the three groups of tines in the same direction so that the tines are moved through the soil rearwardly with respect to the normal direction of travel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tilling apparatus characterized by a regulating drive connection between the towing tractor drive axle and the tiller shaft, the tiller tines having a modified arcuate configuration which provide a pocketed, rather than a furrowed or channeled, tilling depth profile.