Quick release and storage system based on an eccentric rotating element

A disc coulter assembly including:

• a mounting bracket attached to a toolbar;
• a disc coulter rotatable attached to a strut;
• said strut being pivotally attached to said mounting bracket;
• said assembly further including a rotatable eccentric element mounted on a tab;
• said tab being fixedly attached to an upper portion of said mounting bracket;
• said assembly further including an extension spring;
• an upper end of said extension spring being connected to an eyebolt pivotally connected to said eccentric element;
• and
• a lower end of said extension spring being connected to said strut, such that in operation, when said eccentric element is rotated, a force generated by said resilient means can be removed from acting on said strut, such that said strut can easily be pivotally rotated upwardly and locked, such that said disc coulter is out of contact with the ground.

A disc coulter assembly including:

• a mounting bracket attached to a toolbar;
• a disc coulter rotatably attached to a strut;
• said strut being pivotally attached to said mounting bracket;
• said assembly further including a rotatable eccentric element mounted on a tab;
• said tab being fixedly attached to an upper portion of said mounting bracket;
• said assembly further including a resilient means;
• an upper end of said resilient means being connected to an attachment means pivotally connected to said eccentric element;
• and
• a lower end of said resilient means being connected to said strut, such that in operation, when said eccentric element is rotated, a force generated by said resilient means can be removed from acting on said strut, such that said strut can easily be pivotally rotated upwardly and locked, such that said disc coulter is out of contact with the ground.

A coulter disk assembly, adapted to be mounted on a horizontal frame element of a tool bar, and capable of being raised such that a coulter disk is out of contact with the ground;

• said assembly including:
• a vertically disposed mounting bracket pivotally attached to a strut on which said coulter disk is rotatably mounted;
• said assembly further including a tab bracket adapted to support an eccentric element, which is adapted to secure an upper end of an extension spring;
• a lower end of said spring being adapted in soil working operation to place tension on an outboard arm of said strut, thereby maintaining said coulter disk in a ground engaging position;
• said assembly further including a spacer block;
• wherein in operation, to raise said coulter disk, an operator rotates said eccentric element, thereby releasing tension from said spring and releasing said spring, raising said coulter disk and inserting said spacer block between said mounting bracket and said strut;
• thereafter reinserting said spring in an upper hole of said spacer block, and inserting said outboard arm in a lower hole of said spacer block;
• thereafter rotating said eccentric element to lock the assembly in an upward position.

A method of raising a coulter disk out of ground engagement comprising the steps of:

• (1) rotating an eccentric element to a lever up position;
• (2) releasing tension on a spring;
• (3) disconnecting a lower end of said spring from an outboard end of a strut on which said coulter disk is rotatably mounted;
• (4) raising said coulter disk from the ground;
• (5) inserting a spacer block between said strut and a mounting bracket;
• (6) reconnecting said lower end of said spring to an upper aperture in said spacer block;
• (7) reconnecting said outboard end of said strut in a lower aperture in said spacer block;
• (8) rotating said eccentric element to a lever down position, thereby locking said coulter disk in an upward position.

A method of raising a coulter disk out of the ground engagement comprising the steps of:

• (1) rotating an eccentric element to a lever up position;
• (2) releasing tension on a spring;
• (3) disconnecting a lower end of said spring from an outboard end of a strut on which said coulter disk is rotatably mounted;
• (4) raising said coulter disk from the ground;
• (5) engaging the strut against a stop to lock said strut in a position out of the ground;
• (6) re-connecting said spring to said strut and rotating said eccentric element to a lever down position, thereby locking said coulter disk in an upward position.