Abstract: A system for installing continuous elongated tubular material (e.g. fiber optic cable) in the ground is provided. The system utilizes an agricultural tractor, preferably having rubber tires or tracks, to draw a plow for creating a trench in the ground in which to install the tubular material. The system is equipped with one or more of a specialized plow mount, an infinitely variable speed transmission on the tractor, a “power beyond” valve on the tractor and global positioning systems on the tractor and plow to more effectively install the tubular material in the ground.

Abstract: In one aspect, a shank assembly for an agricultural implement may include a shank and a biasing element configured to exert a biasing force on the shank. The shank assembly may also include a reversible mounting plate defining a mounting aperture offset from a centerline of the reversible mounting plate such that a position of a second mounting location of the biasing element relative to a first mounting location of the biasing element differs depending on whether the reversible mounting plate is provided in a first orientation relative to the biasing element or a second orientation relative to the biasing element. The biasing element may exert a first biasing force on the shank when the reversible member is oriented in the first orientation and a second, different biasing force on the shank when the reversible member is oriented in the second orientation.

Abstract: A front attachment lift mechanism includes a front hitch weldment connectable to a lawn tractor frame and having a pair of side plates for supporting a front attachment. A hitch arm extends upwardly and rearwardly on each side of the frame. A rear weldment includes a pair of rear brackets connected by support bars to each other. Each rear bracket has an upper portion connectable to one of a pair of lift arms on a lawn tractor, and a forward end extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper portion. A wireform assembly is connected between each of the hitch arms and the forward end of one of the rear brackets.

Abstract: A plant stalk stomper assembly is operable to be mounted relative to a toolbar of a row crop header for advancement over the ground in a forward travel direction. The stomper assembly includes a frame and an elongated stomper skid plate operable to engage the ground as the stomper assembly is advanced in the forward travel direction. The skid plate presents an attachment section along which the skid plate is mounted relative to the frame. At least part of the skid plate includes a unitary plate element that depends below the attachment section to present a lowermost ground-engaging margin. The unitary plate element includes a deformation region located between the attachment section and the ground-engaging margin, with the unitary plate element operable to bend along the deformation region in response to relative movement between the attachment section and the ground-engaging margin.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement includes: a frame member; and a leveling blade assembly. The leveling blade assembly includes: a leveling blade; an arm coupling the frame member with the leveling blade; and a spring assembly including a spring and a spring guide assembly, the spring and the spring guide assembly being coupled with the arm and the frame member, the spring guide assembly including a sleeve which is slidably related to the spring and which is made of an ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) plastic.

Abstract: A tillage apparatus having a rotary harrow mounted thereon with mounting elements utilizes a cooperative combination of: a compressible material at the mounting element to permit relative motion between the harrow and the mounting element in response to a motion of the harrow; and, a hydraulic actuator operated under a first pressure to lower the rotary harrow and maintain engagement of the rotary harrow with the ground. A pressure relief element is utilized to reduce back pressure in response to the harrow striking a hard impediment on the ground during operation of the tillage apparatus in a field. The combination cooperates to reduce damage to the harrow and/or other parts of the tillage apparatus when the harrow strikes a hard impediment such as a rock.

Abstract: An automatic spring-reset shank for agricultural use has a high retaining force and an improved trip clearance. The field use position of the shank is defined by a saddle in the mount weldment. The raised position of the shank is defined by the upper edge of a slot in a vertical guide plate for the shank assembly, located in the mounting weldment. The shank assembly pivots about a location which is below and forward of the transverse frame member or toolbar to which it is mounted. The action line of the spring is located at an angle of approximately 65° above the horizontal, and it is inclined rearwardly and upwardly, never crossing the horizontal axis (i.e., center) of the main pivot.

Abstract: A spring trip standard for a tillage implement includes a coil spring freely and solely compressed between an upper spring-abutting surface on the mounting bracket and a lower spring-abutting surface on a casting which is connected by a transverse pivot to the mounting bracket. A tool supporting shank is bolted to the casting and biased downwardly into a ground working position by the spring. The casting includes an integral stop extending forwardly from the pivot. The stop contacts the bottom of the bracket when the shank is in the ground working position so that a tension link between the bracket and casting is eliminated. A spring guide through the coils is also obviated. A relatively high initial trip force prevents unwanted tripping of the shank and prevents looseness in the shank pivot so the lateral position of the tool is maintained. The spring-abutting surface on the casting includes a spring receiving projection to help maintain the spring position relative to the shank.

Abstract: A support for a seed firming wheel of an agricultural planter. The support comprises a forked frame, a C-shaped link pivotally coupled to the forked frame and a spring positioned between the link and forked frame. The forked frame has a seed tube guard portion, two rearwardly extending arms, and a cross member that form a seed tube opening for receiving a seed tube and maintaining it in the center of the seed planting furrow. The forked frame is also provided with a pivot assembly to which the C-shaped link is mounted. The seed firming wheel is rotatively mounted to the C-shaped link.

Abstract: A drawbar packer having an adjustable bias assembly which transfers implement weight between the wheels and the coil packers. Tension on extension springs is adjustable so that sufficient weight is transferred from the wheels to the coil packers such that the wheels pack soil less than the coil packers. In this way, the implement packs soil uniformly in preparation of the seed bed.

Abstract: A flexible strut device for supporting a pair of lifter wheels for a sugar beet harvester includes a mounting bracket secured to the tool bar of the sugar beet harvester. A fixed fulcrum plate is secured to the mounting bracket and is secured to a movable fulcrum plate by connector assemblies. A flexible strut having a pair of lifter wheels journaled thereon is secured to the movable fulcrum plate. The connector assemblies include horizontally disposed compression sleeves which yieldably urge the fixed and movable plate to a normal operating position and permit the movable fulcrum plate, the flexible strut and lifter wheels to be deflected upwardly or downwardly against the bias of the compression sleeves in response to the lifter wheels striking an object, such as a stone or the like.

Abstract: A parallel linkage arrangement for supporting a coulter disc and liquid fertilizer applicator on an agricultural tool bar such that the coulter disc and the fertilizer applicator maintain the same relative relationship to the ground regardless of vertical travel of the coulter disc or the applicator.

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 compact, leaf spring biased shank assembly with a shank bracket which clamps to a tube and leaves the upper portion of the tube relatively unobstructed to eliminate interference with the lift mechanism and/or implement frame. The shank bracket includes easily accessible down pressure and shank height pins for quick, effortless adjustments of the shank assembly. The leaf spring is C-shaped and is designed to approach a straightened condition as the shank moves.

Abstract: A seed drill which will allow seed to be planted at a substantially constant depth regardless of contours and irregularities in the ground surface. The said drill has a tyne pivotally mounted on a frame for angular movement about a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel. The lower end of the tyne being adapted to support a ground engaging tool with a seeding boot located rearwardly of the tool whereby the tool is arranged to form a furrow in the ground for seed discharging from the seeding boot. A spring biassing means acts between the tyne and frame for urging the tool into engagement with the ground. The spring biassing means is arranged to exert a biassing force on the tyne for counteracting the resistive force exerted on the tool as the tool traverses the soil whereby to maintain the tool at a substantially constant working depth in the soil.

Abstract: An agricultural implement such as a cultivator includes a support body and a ground treatment tool depending from the support body for pivotal movement forwardly to and rearwardly from a work position.Means is connected to the support body for biasing the tool to its work position. This biasing means and the ground treatment tool are pivotally coupled at spaced locations to a lever which slidably rests between such locations on a roller providing a fulcrum for the lever. As the tool retracts in response to a pre-determined resistance to its forward movement through or along the ground, it pulls the lever across and about the roller against the biasing means, resulting in relative movement of the fulcrum along the lever and consequent variation in the effective biasing force on the tool.

Abstract: A tillage implement for attachment to agricultural soil cultivation machinery. The tillage implement includes a knee having a knee body adapted to be attached to the agricultural machinery. A pivot arm is pivotably attached to the knee body and moves between down and up positions. A tillage blade is rotatably attached to the downward end of the pivot arm and is adapted to roll over and engage the soil being cultivated. A spring is adapted to apply pressure directly to the pivot arm to bias the downward end thereof toward its down position, the knee being adapted to contain and substantially enclose the spring to protect the spring from becoming fouled with foreign matter.

Abstract: A jump mechanism for a plough having a frame and at least one digging shank, the jump mechanism includes a main draw bar pivotally coupling the shank to the frame so that the shank can pivot about each end of the bar and a movement control bar also pivotally coupling the shank to the frame so as to govern pivoting of the shank about one end of the main bar relative to the pivoting of the main bar relative to the shank.

Abstract: A plough shank having a rounded leading edge portion with a leading surface, a trailing portion, a web connecting the trailing and leading portions, an attachment mechanism at the top of the shank to enable attachment of the shank to a plough frame so that the leading surface is inclined by 60.degree. to 80.degree. to the horizontal, and a construction at the bottom of the shank to enable the attaching of a digging point thereto. The attachment mechanism may comprise a lobe integral with the shank and received in a clamp for attachment to a tool bar. The clamp may include two pivotably connected portions with an interconnected spring or hydraulic system.

Abstract: A disc gang section comprising a plurality of rotatable disc blades which are pivotally mounted as a unit to the horizontal upper gang tube of the disc frame so as to travel in an arc toward the rear of the disc implement when one or more of the blades of the disc gang strikes a solid object. Ground pressure of the blades is controlled by a helical coil spring or springs located above the upper gang tube. The helical spring encircles a tension link which extends from a pivot pin which pivotally mounts the disc gang section to the upper gang tube of the disc frame. A spring abutment is rigidly mounted to the upper gang tube so as to divide the spring from the pivot pin and allow the disc gang section to pivot away from the upper gang tube upon hitting an obstruction and properly align the disc blades once the obstruction has been cleared by the blades and the spring biases the blades to the normal working position.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for pivotally connecting a soil working tool to an agricultural tool bar. The mounting apparatus comprises a support bracket fastened to the tool bar by a U-bolt, a tool holding member which wraps around the tool and is pivotally connected at a medial point therealong to a lower end of the support bracket, and a biasing means connected to an upper end of the support bracket and pivotally attached by a connector member to the tool holder member at a position spaced from the connection of the support bracket and tool holder member. The support bracket is a one-piece channel shaped structure and comprises a web, side flanges, an upper connector lug for fastening same to the biasing means, pivotal means for allowing the tool holder member to rotate relative thereto, and stop means for limiting maximum rotation of the tool holder member.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for pivotally attaching a cultivator tool to a frame member of mobile farm equipment comprising an upright support bracket, an extension spring, and a tool holder member which is pivoted with respect to the bracket. The tool holder member has a web portion and side flange portions. Near the shank receiving end of the tool holder member the flange portions are folded under the shank to form a shank receiving socket which snugly holds the shank and prevents transverse movement thereof relative to the holder member. The spring is also pivotally attached by a connector member to the holder member. The tool holder member includes a cutout portion in the web thereof such that a pair of rims are formed which extend inwardly from the flanges. The connector member includes a sleeve extending between the flanges and having a pair of external cylindrical surfaces near each end thereof which engage the rims of the tool holder member.

Abstract: A reversible mounting assembly for pivotally mounting a ground tool and a coulter disk from the tool bar of a soil tilling implement. The mounting assembly has a base plate that is reversibly attachable against the under surface of the tool bar in either of two positions, elongated frame members fixed to and extended longitudinally of the base plate such that in one base plate position, projected portions of the frame members are located to the front of the tool bar and in the other base plate position are located to the rear of the tool bar. A tool support member is pivotally connectible to the projected portions of the frame members and includes a first socket portion at one end to receive a shank member of the tool and a second socket portion at an opposite end to receive a shank section of the coulter disk. A yieldable pressure assembly acts on the tool support member to normally maintain the tool and the disk in operative positions therefor.

Abstract: A spring cushioning mounting for beet harvesting devices to permit upward movement of the harvester should the same engage a rock or the like including an attachment, L-shaped member mounted on the carrier for the harvester to engage a tool mounting bar and be received therearound and a pivot secured to the tool mounting bar with the upward leg of the L-shaped member pivotally received therein and spring loading elements connecting the other leg of the L-shaped member with the pivot member to normally bring the L-shaped member into position against the tool bar.

Abstract: The upper end of a shank of an earth-working tool is secured to a frame or tool bar by a spring-loaded clamping arrangement which includes replaceable pin and bushing components in the pivot connection between the shank and a clamping member secured to the tool bar. Spring loading is provided by a compression coil spring through which a connecting tension rod extends. A relatively hard plastic sleeve is pressed onto the tension rod and serves to keep the coils of the spring in alignment during earth-working operations. The bushing component of the pivot connection is axially split with circumferentially spaced surfaces separated sufficiently from one another to permit locking tabs to be disposed therebetween. The bushing fits in aligned bores in a rockable member secured to the upper end of the shank and the tabs extend from the rockable member into the area between the circumferentially spaced surfaces of the split bushing.

Abstract: A device for mounting an earth working tool to a tool bar for allowing the earth working tool to move upwardly and rearwardly when it encounters an object which it cannot penetrate, rather than placing an undesirably high force on the earth working tool itself. A tool holding rod is moveably mounted in a slot in a housing and is pivotally connected to a pair of levers which are, in turn, pivotally connected to the housing. Biasing structure is provided for urging the earth working tool to a proper working position.

Abstract: A cultivator or harrow has an elongated frame and a row of rotatable soil working members pivoted to the frame for independent displacement when an obstacle is contacted. Each soil working member can be tined support having an upwardly extending shaft drivenly connected to a common drive shaft or gear train. Pivotable connections between the frame and the upwardly extending shafts permit deflective movements of each member as a unit with respect to a hollow beam of the frame. The connections can be housings and/or spring biased tie parts with bearings or bracket-support pivot connections or cranks that enable the soil working members to move about at least one axis relative to the frame beam. Also, the upwardly extending shafts can be connected to the driving means by universal joints or resilient couplings. Each soil working member is biased by springs or normally assumes a central equilibrium position.

Abstract: A spring tooth chisel plow has its upper shank secured within a channel retainer pivotally mounted adjacent the rear edge of the retainer to a mounting bracket secured to a tool bar. The shank of the chisel plow is held within the channel retainer by a transverse clamping bar positioned radially from the main pivot, the forward end of the shank being fixed to the channel retainer. The upper surface of the retainer normally abuts a complementary surface on the mounting bracket, which supports an upwardly extending compression spring assembly. A tension bolt pivotally connects the forward end of the retainer to the upper end of the compression spring assembly, whereby force exerted on the chisel point of the plow is resisted by the compression spring assembly.

Abstract: A clamp shank device designed particularly for attaching a chisel type of plowshare, cultivator blade, or the like to the draft frame of an agricultural implement includes a resiliently-biased clamping arrangement confining a shank member against lateral tipping movement but permitting it to ride up and over obstructions. The shank member is rectangular in cross-section and has a forward, horizontal, attachment portion rigidly held flatwise against the upper face of a rocker plate whose rearward end is beveled downwardly and forwardly to provide an upper pivot edge across the width of the plate. Such pivot edge is received by and extends along the vertex of a forwardly and downwardly facing angle included between the steps of a bottom-stepped rear wall of a supporting frame that is adapted to be attached to and beneath a tool-carrying member of the implement draft frame.

Abstract: A hanger mechanism for the attachment of a soil engaging tool to a horizontal tool bar located at the forward end of an agricultural vehicle through a series of pivotally interconnected structures. The hanger mechanism includes an upper and lower arm structure which extend forward from the tool bar and are disposed one above the other. A vertical bar structure is pivotally connected to the forward ends of the upper and lower arm structures with the upper and lower arm structures parallel. An implement arm having an upper end adjacent and below the forward end of the lower arm structure extends rearward and downwardly to a lower end. The implement arm is pivotally attached between the upper and lower ends thereof to an extension of the vertical bar structure. A connecting link is pivotally attached at one end to the lower arm structure rearward from the forward end thereof, and pivotally attached at its other end to the upper end of the implement arm.