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US 12,713,993 B2Granted
Harrow implement
AssigneeGreat Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Ohnsat, Tanner Peroutek, Steve Ahlvers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Linkage assemblies for harrow implements are provided that facilitate the consistent positioning of all teeth of the harrow implements in an appropriate orientation (i.e., the appropriate attack angle) during operation. Beneficially, due to the configuration of the linkage assemblies within the harrow implements, the linkage assemblies are configured to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation during operation. As such, each of the linking elements of the linkage assemblies will have their orientations aligned, such that a horizontal plane will encompass all of the linking elements of a given harrow implement. This allows for all of the teeth of the harrow implement to be positioned at the desired and appropriate orientation.
Claims14
A harrow implement configured to be pulled by a tractor, the harrow implement comprising:
- a plurality of support bars extending laterally across a width of the harrow implement, wherein the support bars are spaced apart from one another, and wherein the support bars include a plurality of teeth extending in a generally downward direction from the support bars;
- and
- a plurality of linkage assemblies connecting adjacent support bars, wherein the linkage assemblies are configured to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation as the tractor pulls the harrow implement,
- wherein each linkage assembly of the plurality of linkage assemblies comprises a base element and a linking element, wherein the base element presents a laterally-extending through-hole through which a respective support bar of the plurality of support bars extends, and wherein the base element further comprises a longitudinally extending slot,
- wherein each of the support bars of the plurality of support bars includes a guide pin extending through a slot of a base of a respective linkage assembly of the plurality of linkage assemblies,
- wherein the guide pins of the support bars are configured to actuate within respective slots, thereby allowing the support bars to rotate such that the plurality of teeth can be (i) oriented at a shallow angle of attack when the harrow implement is pulled from a first end, and (ii) oriented at a steep angle of attack when the harrow implement is pulled from an opposite, second end.
3 more elements
A method of using an agricultural harrow implement, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) coupling the harrow implement to a tractor, wherein the harrow implement comprises a plurality of support bars extending laterally across a width of the harrow implement, wherein the support bars are held spaced apart from one another by a plurality of linkage assemblies connecting adjacent support bars, and wherein the support bars include a plurality of teeth extending in a generally downward direction from the support bars,
- wherein each linkage assembly of the plurality of linkage assemblies comprises a base element that includes a laterally-extending through-hole through which a respective support bar of the plurality of support bars extends, and wherein the base element further comprises a longitudinally extending slot,
- wherein each of the support bars of the plurality of support bars includes a guide pin extending through a slot of a base of a respective linkage assembly of the plurality of linkage assemblies;
- (b) pulling the harrow implement, via a first end of the harrow implement, through a field, wherein during the pulling of step (b), the linkage assemblies are maintained in a generally horizontal orientation, and the guide pins of the support bars are actuated within respective slots such that the support bars rotate and the plurality of teeth are oriented at a shallow angle of attack;
- and
- (c) pulling the harrow implement, via an opposite, second end of the harrow implement, through the field, wherein during the pulling of step (c), the linkage assemblies are maintained in a generally horizontal orientation, and the guide pins of the support bars are actuated within respective slots such that the support bars rotate and the plurality of teeth are oriented at a steep angle of attack.
3 more elements
A method of using an agricultural harrow implement, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) coupling the harrow implement to a tractor, wherein the harrow implement comprises a plurality of support bars extending laterally across a width of the harrow implement, wherein the support bars are held spaced apart from one another by a plurality of linkage assemblies connecting adjacent support bars, and wherein the support bars include a plurality of teeth extending in a generally downward direction from the support bars,
- wherein each linkage assembly of the plurality of linkage assemblies comprises a base element that includes a laterally-extending through-hole through which a respective support bar of the plurality of support bars extends, and wherein the base element further comprises a longitudinally extending slot,
- wherein each of the support bars of the plurality of support bars includes a guide pin extending through a slot of a base of a respective linkage assembly of the plurality of linkage assemblies;
- (b) pulling the harrow implement, via the tractor, from a front end of the harrow implement, wherein during the pulling of step (b) the guide pins of the support bars are actuated within respective slots such that the support bars rotate and the teeth are oriented at a first angle of attack;
- and
- (c) pulling the harrow implement, via the tractor, from a rear end of the harrow implement, wherein during said pulling of step (c) the guide pins of the support bars are actuated within respective slots such that the support bars rotate and the teeth are oriented at a second angle of attack, wherein the second angle of attack is different from the first angle of attack, wherein during said pulling of steps (b) and (c), the linkage assemblies are maintained in a generally horizontal orientation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.