# US 7,607,489 B2 · Disc harrow agricultural implement

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- Number: US 7,607,489 B2
- Document ID: US7607489B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/765,182
- Filed: 2007-06-19
- Published: 2008-12-25
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2007-06-19
- Inventors: Shane P. Kelly; Peter L. L. Kelly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607489B2

## CPC

- A01B 21/08: with disc-like tools
- A01B 23/06: Discs; Scrapers for cleaning discs; Sharpening attachments
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)

## Abstract

An agricultural implement includes first and second outer harrows positioned adjacent front and left sides and front and right sides of a frame, respectively, at generally opposite diagonal directions. Third and fourth harrows are similarly positioned adjacent rear and left sides and rear and right sides of the frame, respectively, at generally opposite diagonal directions. The implement may include inner harrows positioned to close gaps left by the outer harrows and positioned at generally opposite diagonal configurations. Each harrow includes a plurality of discs and a chain with a plurality of links that are rotatable about the longitudinal direction of the chain so as to affect multi-purpose actioning of the soil by being able to level the surface rather than dragging material while also breaking up or uprooting weeds or stubble. Left and right sides of the frame are foldable upwardly and inwardly for transport and storage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An agricultural implement, comprising:
a frame having a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, and a plurality of tires;
a plurality of harrow members; each said harrow member having a plurality of discs and a chain with a plurality of links; said discs being coupled to said links and extending generally outwardly therefrom;
wherein a first said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said front end and said left side, wherein said first harrow member extends in a diagonal direction;
wherein a second said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said front end and said right side, wherein said second harrow member extends in a diagonal direction;
wherein a third said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said left side and said rear end, wherein said third harrow member extends in a diagonal direction;
wherein a fourth said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said right side and said rear end, wherein said fourth harrow member extends in a diagonal direction;
wherein:
said first, second, third, and fourth harrow members are outer harrow members;
each said outer harrow member chain has an end coupled to a tensioning assembly; and
each said tensioning assembly has a generally vertical shaft passing through said frame and having upper and lower arms extending outwardly therefrom, said lower arm being coupled to a respective said chain end, said upper arm being coupled to said frame by a spring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein respective discs are coupled to approximately every second said link in each said chain.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein:
each said chain has a front end and a rear end, each said chain front end being relatively forward of said chain rear end; and
each said disc has a concave side facing a respective chain front end and a convex side facing a respective chain rear end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein:
said first and second harrow members are spaced apart adjacent said frame front end;
said third and fourth harrow members are spaced apart adjacent said frame rear end;
a fifth said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame and extends in a diagonal direction;
a sixth said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame and extends in a diagonal direction opposite said diagonal direction of said fifth harrow member; and
all ground surfaces passing underneath said frame contact at least two said harrow members extending in opposite diagonal directions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein:
two said tires are coupled to said frame in a generally central location and are generally coaxial; and
two said tires are coupled to said frame in a generally rearward location and have offset axes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein:
said frame has a first folding member that defines said frame left side;
said frame has a second folding member that defines said frame right side; and
each said folding member selectively folds upwardly relative to a remainder of said frame and inwardly relative to said remainder of said frame.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein:
said frame has a folding member that defines said frame rear end; and
said folding member selectively folds upwardly relative to a remainder of said frame.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein a bearing couples each said lower arm to each said chain end to allow rotation of said chain ends relative to said lower arms.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein each said chain link is movable relative to each other said chain link.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein:
at least one said chain link includes a hook portion and a loop portion;
said hook portion is configured to receive a respective loop portion of another said chain link; and
said loop potion is configured to receive a respective hook portion of another said chain link.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The agricultural implement as in claim 10, wherein at least one said hook portion and loop portion are selectively separable.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The agricultural implement as in claim 1, wherein at least one said link is a closed link.

### Claim 13

A harrow device, comprising:
a frame having a front end, a rear end, a left side, and a right side; and
a plurality of harrow members; each said harrow member having plurality a of discs and a chain with a plurality of links; said discs being coupled to said links and extending generally outwardly therefrom;
wherein a first said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said front end and said left side, whereby said first harrow member extends in a first diagonal direction;
wherein a second said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said front end and said right side, whereby said second harrow member extends in a second diagonal direction;
wherein a third said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said left side and said rear end, whereby said third harrow member extends generally in said second diagonal direction;
wherein a fourth said harrow member is operatively coupled to said frame generally adjacent said right side and said rear end, whereby said fourth harrow member extends generally in said first diagonal direction;
wherein:
said first, second, third, and fourth harrow members are outer harrow members;
each said outer harrow member chain has an end coupled to a tensioning assembly;
each said tensioning assembly has a generally vertical shaft passing through said frame and having upper and lower arms extending outwardly therefrom, said lower arm being coupled to a respective said chain end, said upper arm being coupled to said frame by a spring; and
a bearing couples each said lower arm to each said chain end to allow rotation of said chain ends relative to said lower arms.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The harrow device as in claim 13, wherein:
each said chain has a front end and a rear end, each said chain front end being relatively forward of said chain rear end; and
each said disc has a concave side facing a respective chain front end and a convex side facing a respective chain rear end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The harrow device as in claim 14, wherein:
at least one said chain link has a hook portion and a loop portion;
said hook portion is configured to receive a respective loop portion of another said chain link; and
said loop portion is configured to receive a respective hook portion of another said chain link.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The harrow device as in claim 13, wherein at least one said link is a closed link.