Tillage apparatuses and related methods

An apparatus operable for supporting one or more agricultural tools, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame including:
• a transversely oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• a longitudinally oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• said longitudinally oriented open member having an opening through said web configured to receive said transversely oriented member there through;
• said upper flange of said transversely oriented member being fixedly connected to said web of said longitudinally oriented member.

An apparatus operable for supporting one or more agricultural tools, the apparatus comprising a frame, said frame comprising at least one frame section, said at least one frame section comprising:

• a first transversely oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• a second transversely oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• a first longitudinally oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• said first longitudinally oriented open member having a first opening through said web configured to receive said first transversely oriented member there through and a second opening through said web configured to receive said second transversely oriented member there through;
• a second longitudinally oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• said second longitudinally oriented open member having a first opening through said web configured to receive said first transversely oriented member there through and a second opening through said web configured to receive said second transversely oriented member there through;
• said lower flange of said first longitudinally oriented member being fixedly connected to said lower flange of said first transversely oriented member and being fixedly connected to said lower flange of said second transversely oriented member.

An apparatus operable for engaging a ground surface when moved in a direction of travel across the ground surface, the apparatus comprising a frame, said frame comprising:

• a first transversely oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• a second transversely oriented open member having an upper flange and a lower flange and a web interconnecting the upper flange and the lower flange;
• said first transversely oriented open member being transversely axially alignd with said second transversely oriented open member;
• a pivotal connector operable to provide a pivoting connection between said first transversely oriented open member and said second transversely oriented open member.

An apparatus comprising:

• a row of open members, each of said open members comprising at least one flange defining at least one open recess along a length of the open member;
• and
• one or more pivotal connectors, each of the one or more pivotal connectors coupled between an adjacent pair of open members in said row for facilitating a pivotal connection between the adjacent open members such that the adjacent open members are operable to pivot to orientations generally parallel to a contour of the surface when the apparatus is moved across the surface;
• at least one ground engager coupled to the at least one flange of each of the open members and configured to engage the surface when the apparatus is moved across the surface.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first row of transversely oriented open members, each of said open members in said first row comprising at least one flange defining at least one open recess along a length of the open member;
• a second row of transversely oriented open members, each of said open members in said second row comprising at least one flange defining at least one open recess along a length of the open member;
• a first pivotal connection device between an adjacent pair of open members in said first row for facilitating a pivotal connection between the adjacent open members of said first row such that the adjacent open members are operable to pivot about a first longitudinal axis;
• a second pivotal connection device between an adjacent pair of open members in said second row for facilitating a pivotal connection between the adjacent open members of said second row such that the adjacent open members are operable to pivot to orientations such that the adjacent open members are operable to pivot about a second longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to said first longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of ground engagers coupled to the at least one flange of each of the open members in the first and second rows and configured to engage the surface when the apparatus is moved across the surface.

A mounting apparatus for mounting a ground engager to a member, said member comprising first and second opposed flanges, the apparatus comprising:

• a first flange coupler configured to be coupled to the first flange of the open member, said first flange coupler comprising a first flange receiving guide having one or more flange securing surfaces that define a first narrowing flange securing recess for receiving the first flange;
• a second flange coupler configured to be coupled to the second flange of the open member, said second flange coupler comprising a second flange receiving guide having one or more flange securing surfaces that define a second narrowing flange securing recess for receiving the second flange;
• at least one mount tightening device interconnecting the first and second flange couplers, said at least one mount tightening device;
• said ground engager being connected to one of said first flange coupler and said second flange coupler;
• said mount tightening device being operable to be adjusted to move said first and second flange couplers towards each other so that said first narrowing flange securing recess of said first flange receiving guide is moved onto the first flange and the second narrowing flange securing recess of said second flange receiving guide is moved onto the second flange to secure said first and second flange couplers on respective first and second flanges.

A mounting apparatus for mounting a ground engager to a member, said member comprising first and second opposed flanges, the apparatus comprising:

• a first flange coupler comprising a first flange receiving guide having one or more flange securing surfaces that define a first narrowing flange securing recess for receiving the first flange and a second laterally spaced flange receiving guide having one or more flange securing surfaces that define a second narrowing flange securing recess for receiving the first flange;
• a second flange coupler comprising a third flange receiving guide having one or more flange securing surfaces that define a third narrowing flange securing recess for receiving the first flange and a fourth laterally spaced flange receiving guide having one or more flange securing surfaces that define fourth narrowing flange securing recess for receiving the first flange;
• a mount tightening apparatus interconnecting the first and second flange couplers.
• said ground engager being connected to one of said first flange coupler and said second flange coupler;
• said mount tightening being operable to be adjusted to move said first and second flange couplers towards each other so that said first narrowing flange securing recess of said first flange receiving guide is moved onto the first flange and the second narrowing flange securing recess of said second flange receiving guide is moved onto the second flange to secure said first and second flange couplers on respective first and second flanges.

An apparatus operable for engaging a ground surface when moved across the ground surface, the apparatus comprising a frame, said frame comprising at least one frame section, said at least one frame section comprising:

• a first transversely oriented member
• a second transversely oriented member
• a first longitudinally oriented member;
• a second longitudinally oriented member;
• said first and second transversely oriented members interconnected to said first and second longitudinally oriented member;
• said first transversely oriented member extending transversely further in a first direction than said second transversely oriented member to form a first transverse extension;
• said second transversely oriented member extending transversely further in a direction opposite to said first direction than said first transversely oriented member;
• a first set of ground engagers coupled to said first transversely oriented member and configured to engage the surface when the apparatus is moved across the surface;
• said first set of ground engagers oriented at a first angle to the longitudinal direction;
• a second set of ground engagers coupled to said first transversely oriented member and configured to engage the surface when the apparatus is moved across the surface;
• said second set of ground engagers oriented at a second angle to the longitudinal direction that is in an opposite angular direction to the first angle and which is directed inwardly in relation to the frame section.

An apparatus for releasing pressure on a ground engager when said ground engager is engaged with a ground surface, said apparatus comprising:

• a support;
• a longitudinally oriented spring;
• a rod located and extending lengthwise within said spring;
• said rod having a first distal end portion inter-connected to said ground engager;
• said rod have a second opposite end portion supported by said support;
• a rotator cuff device mounted to said support and said rotator cuff operable to support said rod proximate said second end;
• said rotator cuff operable to permit said second end portion of said rod to pivot when said spring is subjected to a force above a threshold level;
• a distal spring support mounted proximate said second end portion of said rod and interconnected to said ground engager;
• said rotator cuff device and said distal spring support operable to hold said spring in compression there between, such that said spring is operable to exert an axial force on said distal spring support and on said interconnected ground engager;
• wherein in operation, when an external force is imparted on said ground engager that creates a force on said spring that exceeds said threshold level, said rod, said spring and said rotator cuff will rotate causing said ground engager to rotated to effect a reduction in the force imparted on said ground engager.

An apparatus for releasing pressure on a ground engager when said ground engager is engaged with a ground surface, said apparatus comprising:

• a support;
• a spring device mounted on said support and operable for pivoting movement between an engagement position and a tripped position;
• said spring device operable for releasbly exerting a biasing force on said ground engager;
• wherein in operation, when an external force is imparted on said ground engager that creates a force on said spring that exceeds a threshold level, said rod, said spring device will pivot causing said ground engager to pivot to effect a reduction in the force imparted on said ground engager.

An apparatus comprising:

• a frame
• a front wheel assembly mounted to said frame, said front wheel assembly having a front wheel and a front leg support assembly;
• said front leg support assembly operable to provide variable height positioning of said front wheel relative to said frame;
• a rear wheel assembly mounted to said frame said rear wheel assembly having a rear wheel and a rear leg support assembly;
• said rear leg support assembly operable to provide variable height positioning of said rear wheel relative to said frame;
• a drive device connected to both said rear wheel assembly and said frame, said drive device operable to adjust and hold the height between rear wheel and said frame.

A method for correcting a direction of travel of a tillage apparatus moving across a ground surface, the tillage apparatus having a front row of ground engagers and a rear row of ground engagers engaging the ground surface, the front row of ground engagers being supported by a plurality of front wheeled support units each mounted for rotation, the method comprising:

• receiving at a controller, at least one rotation signal representing a rotation of one of the front wheeled support units;
• causing the controller to determine whether the rotation of the front wheeled support unit is indicative of a deviation in the direction of travel of the tillage apparatus with respect to a desired direction of travel;
• and
• in response to a determination by the controller that there is a deviation in the direction of travel, causing the controller to generate control signals to increase or decrease engagement of the front row of ground engagers with respect to the rear row of ground engagers to produce a side force operable to counteract the deviation in the direction of travel.

An apparatus for correcting a direction of travel of a tillage apparatus moving across a ground surface, the tillage apparatus having a front row of ground engagers and a rear row of ground engagers engaging the ground surface, the front row of ground engagers being supported by a plurality of front wheeled support units each mounted for rotation, the apparatus comprising:

• a controller;
• at least one rotation sensor operably configured to produce a rotation signal representing a rotation of one of the front wheeled support units;
• wherein the controller is operably configured to determine whether the rotation of the front wheeled support unit is indicative of a deviation in the direction of travel of the tillage apparatus with respect to a desired direction of travel;
• and
• wherein the controller is operably configured to, in response to a determination that there is a deviation in the direction of travel, generate control signals to increase or decrease engagement of the front row of ground engagers with respect to the rear row of ground engagers to produce a side force operable to counteract the deviation in the direction of travel.

A tillage apparatus comprising:

• a front row of ground engagers and a rear row of ground engagers for engaging the ground surface, the front and rear rows of ground engagers being supported on a frame;
• a frame height control system for controlling a height of the frame to control engagement of the front and rear rows of ground engagers;
• and
• a rear hitch for towing an accessory behind the tillage apparatus, the rear hitch being mounted on the frame and having a hitch point plate coupled to the frame via an actuator, the actuator being operable to cause a height of the hitch point plate to be raised or lowered in response to changes in height of the frame.