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US 2016/0108594 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for real-time adjustment of the size and drainage tile capacity of drainage tile spools and for utilizing the same
AssigneeHeavy Metals, Inc.
InventorMark Hamling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drainage tile stringer system which includes a spool which has an automated hat, which translates along the stinger or shaft of the spool so that the vertical size of the spool is adjustable to accommodate differences in coils of drainage tiles. The system is automated so that a single controller can be utilized to perform all of the hydraulic functions required to load a coil onto the drainage tile stringer system and to adjust the vertical spool dimension.
Claims15
A method of adjusting a spoil size for a coil of drainage tile on a drainage tile stringing implement attachment comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a coil of an elongated drainage tile, said coil having a first height characteristic;
- b. providing a spool shaft 111 oriented in a first direction and said coil being disposed about said spool shaft 111;
- c. providing a first spool end drainage tile retaining member 112, coupled to said spool shaft 111;
- d. providing a second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113;
- e. providing a spool shaft receiving member 114 coupled to said second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113;
- f. providing a reaching support arm 120 coupled to said second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113;
- g. providing an upstanding frame member bottom portion 150;
- h. providing an upstanding frame member top portion 152, which is operatively coupled between said upstanding frame member bottom portion 150 and reaching support arm 120;
- i. translating said one of said upstanding frame member bottom portion 150 and upstanding frame member top portion 152 with respect to the other and in a second direction, which is substantially parallel with said first direction;
- and
- j. stopping said step of translating based, in part, upon one of said height characteristic and a proximity of said second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113 with respect to said coil of drainage tile.
8 more elements
A system for stringing drainage tile comprising:
- a. a coil of drainage tile;
- having a first height characteristic;
- b. a spool shaft 111 oriented in a first direction and said coil being disposed about said spool shaft;
- c. a first spool end drainage tile retaining member 112, coupled to said spool shaft;
- d. a second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113;
- e. a spool shaft receiving member 114 coupled to said second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113;
- f. a reaching support arm 120 coupled to said second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113;
- g. an upstanding frame member bottom portion 150;
- h. an upstanding frame member top portion 152, which is operatively coupled between said upstanding frame member bottom portion 150 and reaching support arm 120;
- i. means for translating said one of said upstanding frame member bottom portion 150 and upstanding frame member top portion 152 with respect to the other and in a second direction which is substantially parallel with said first direction;
- and
- j. said means for translating further configured for stopping translating based, in part, upon one of said height characteristic and a proximity of said second spool end drainage tile retaining member 113 with respect to said coil of drainage tile.
9 more elements
A drainage tile stringing implement comprising:
- a. a substantially upright member;
- b. first spool end drainage tile retaining member sized and configured to retain agricultural drainage tile;
- c. a spool shaft, having a shaft longitudinal axis, coupled to said first spool end drainage tile retaining member;
- d. said spool shaft pivotally coupled to said substantially upright member, so that said shaft longitudinal axis can pivot from a substantially vertical direction to a substantially horizontal direction;
- e. a powered pivoting actuator coupled so as to lift said spool shaft and change said spool shaft longitudinal axis from said substantially horizontal direction to said substantially vertical direction;
- f. a detachable second spool end drainage tile retaining member, sized and configured to retain agricultural drainage tile;
- g. a spool shaft receiving member coupled to said detachable second spool end drainage tile retaining member;
- which is sized and configured to translate, along said spool shaft longitudinal axis, and over a top portion of said spool shaft and along an intermediate substantially cylindrical portion of said spool shaft;
- and
- h. a linear actuator configured to move said spool shaft receiving member along said spool shaft longitudinal axis.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.