Abstract: The farm implement of this invention is movable across ground along a direction of travel for tillage. The farm implement includes at least a frame and a disc/drive unit. The disc/drive unit includes first and second pluralities of discs, each having a ground-engaging outer periphery defining a plane angled acutely relative to the direction of travel. The first discs are angled to an opposite side of the direction of travel than the second discs. Positioned in front of the first discs is a ground-engaging driver rotatably coupled to the frame for rotating as the driver engages and is moved across the ground along the direction of travel. A driven flow controller is rotatably coupled and situated between the plurality of first discs and the plurality of second discs. The ground-engaging driver is operatively controlling and preferably accelerating the rotational speed of the driven flow controller.

Abstract: An attachment for use with an agricultural implement to protect a row of emergent plants growing in a field. The device includes a shield which protects the plants from accumulations of soil, trash, and other debris. The shield is mounted between one or more claws of the implement, on one hand, and the row of plants to be protected on the other hand. Means, such as a motor, are provided to drive the shield in a plane generally parallel to the row of plants. As the shield is positively rotated, a periphery of the shield passes closely proximate the surface of the ground in which the row of plants is located. Such driving of the shield is in a direction in which the shield would rotate if it were allowed to freewheel and were made to rotate as a result of its engagement with the ground.

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.

Abstract: A tilling apparatus for preparing a ridge and furrowed field between cropping. The apparatus comprises a frame adapted to be engaged with and drawn by the three point linkage of a conventional tractor. Rotating hoeing blades which are spaced apart to coincide with ridges in the field are mounted to the frame and driven from the power take-off of the tractor in a sense opposing the drawing direction. The axis of rotation of the hoeing blades is normal to the drawing direction a plurality of L-shaped blades spaced around and direction radially outwardly from a hub. Soil displaced from the ridges into the furrows is used to reform the peaks of the ridges by listers mounted with the frame aft of the hoeing blades and spaced apart to coincide with a furrow separating adjacent ridges. Each lister comprises a corn point oriented in the drawing direction and a pair of plough discs mounted for rotation aft of the corn point.

Abstract: A cultivating machine has groups of soil working tines that are mounted on an elongated support that is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis. The tines are mounted in spaced apart groups and guide members converge at the rear of the groups to form ridges of worked soil. Each group includes tine units that are formed by opposing bracket portions clamped to the support. Strikers can be mounted on the support between groups of tines and the strikers are pivotable about respective horizontal axes spaced from the support's axis of rotation. The strikers are positioned to excise crop leaves or emerged growth on the ridges. Hoods and a grating ensure that the top layer of worked soil is free of debris. Screening plates having obliquely upwardly and inwardly inclined inner edges are located at the lower, front, outer corners of the hood to prevent the rearwardly adjacent time groups from displacing soil too far laterally.