Tillage implement with preload assembly

A tillage machine comprising:

• a rolling frame configured to be pulled by a tow vehicle when tilling a field;
• and
• a plurality of tillage implements operatively coupled to the rolling frame and configured to contact and till the field as the rolling frame is being pulled by the tow vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of tillage implements includes:
• a mounting bracket configured to be removably coupled to the rolling frame,
• a shank pivotably mounted with respect to the rolling frame via a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including a rotation inhibiting assembly biasing the shank toward an unloaded position relative to the mounting bracket;
• a soil working tool operatively coupled to a distal end of the shank;
• and
• a preload assembly for moving the shank to a loaded position that is rotationally offset from the unloaded position,
• wherein the preload assembly comprises (i) a fastener that extends between the shank and the mounting bracket, and (ii) a hollow tube that surrounds a portion of the fastener,
• wherein the fastener is configured to be actuated to move the shank with respect to the mounting bracket and to impart a load on the rotation inhibiting assembly, wherein the tube is configured to act as a stop when actuating the fastener such that when a lower end of the tube is firmly seated against a bushing proximate a head of the fastener and an upper end of the tube is firmly seated against the mounting bracket, the rotation inhibiting assembly is loaded to an operating load,
• wherein when the rotation inhibiting assembly is loaded to the operating load, the shank is positioned in the loaded position.

A method comprising:

• (a) attaching a tillage implement to a rolling frame, the tillage implement comprising:
• a mounting bracket configured to removably couple to the rolling frame,
• a shank pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket via a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including a rotation inhibiting assembly biasing the shank toward an unloaded position relative to the mounting bracket,
• a soil working tool coupled to a distal end of the shank, and
• a preload assembly extending from the shank to the mounting bracket,
• wherein the preload assembly comprises (i) a fastener that extends from the shank to the mounting bracket, and (ii) a hollow tube that surrounds a portion of the fastener,
• wherein the fastener is configured to be actuated to move the shank with respect to the mounting bracket and to impart a load on the rotation inhibiting assembly, wherein the tube is configured to act as a stop when actuating the fastener such that when a lower end of the tube is firmly seated against a bushing proximate a head of the fastener and an upper end of the tube is firmly seated against the mounting bracket, the rotation inhibiting assembly is loaded to an operating load,
• wherein when the rotation inhibiting assembly is loaded to the operating load, the shank is positioned in a loaded position;
• (b) preloading the hinge assembly by actuating the fastener to move the shank to the loaded position that is rotationally offset from the unloaded position;
• and
• (c) contacting the soil with the soil working tool.