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US 8,074,730 B2Granted
Vertical tillage system
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorsMichael George Kovach, Tracey Duane Meiners, Dean Alan Knobloch, Gaylen James Kromminga, Gregory S. Smart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.
Claims18
An agricultural implement, comprising:
- a front row of fluted-concave disc blades coupled to a main frame and having a front right portion and a front left portion symmetrically disposed about a centerline of the agricultural implement;
- a rear row of fluted-concave disc blades coupled to the main frame and having a rear right portion and a rear left portion symmetrically disposed about the centerline of the agricultural implement, the rear right portion following behind the front right portion in a right path and the rear left portion following the front left portion in a left path when the agricultural implement is displaced through a field;
- a pair of wheels, each positioned forward of the main frame along a direction of travel, and proximate to a laterally outward end of the front row of fluted-concave disc blades, wherein the pair of wheels is configured to reduce motion of the main frame perpendicular to the direction of travel caused by the fluted-concave disc blades rotatably engaging the soil;
- at least one member providing downward pressure, the at least one member attached to the main frame at a position proximate to a rear end of the main frame relative to a position of the fluted-concave disc blades and exerting a downward pressure that reduces and dampens motion of the main frame caused by the fluted-concave disc blades rotatably engaging the soil;
- wherein the implement includes no ground engaging tool in the right path between the front right portion and the rear right portion, and no ground engaging tool in the left path between the front left portion and the rear left portion;
- wherein the front left portion and the front right portion, the rear left portion and the rear right portion, or a combination thereof, are positioned at an angle of about 18 degrees with respect to a line perpendicular to the centerline;
- and
- wherein all ground engaging tools disposed on the agricultural implement are configured to rotate in operation.
5 more elements
An agricultural implement comprising:
- a front row of fluted-concave disc blades coupled to a main frame and having a front right portion and a front left portion symmetrically disposed about a centerline of the agricultural implement;
- a rear row of fluted-concave disc blades coupled to the main frame and having a rear right portion and a rear left portion symmetrically disposed about the centerline of the agricultural implement, the rear right portion following behind the front right portion in a right path and the rear left portion following the front left portion in a left path when the agricultural implement is displaced through a field;
- a pair of wheels, each positioned forward of the main frame along a direction of travel, and proximate to a laterally outward end of the front row of fluted-concave disc blades, wherein the pair of wheels is configured to reduce motion of the main frame perpendicular to the direction of travel caused by the fluted-concave disc blades rotatably engaging the soil;
- an adjustable pressure assembly attached to a rear end of the main frame, and a rolling basket assembly connected to the adjustable pressure assembly, the rolling basket assembly extending downward toward a tilling path;
- wherein the rolling basket assembly includes a plurality of rolling baskets, each of the plurality of rolling baskets having a rotational axis and the rotational axes of at least two of the plurality of rolling baskets are not collinear;
- wherein the implement includes no ground engaging tool in the right path between the front right portion and the rear right portion, and no ground engaging tool in the left path between the front left portion and the rear left portion;
- wherein the front left portion and the front right portion are positioned at an angle of about 18 degrees with respect to a line perpendicular to the centerline;
- and
- wherein all ground engaging tools disposed on the agricultural implement are configured to rotate in operation.
6 more elements
An agricultural implement comprising:
- a front row of fluted-concave disc blades coupled to a main frame and having a front right portion and a front left portion symmetrically disposed about a centerline of the agricultural implement;
- a rear row of fluted-concave disc blades coupled to the main frame and having a rear right portion and a rear left portion symmetrically disposed about the centerline of the agricultural implement, the rear right portion following behind the front right portion in a right path and the rear left portion following the front left portion in a left path when the agricultural implement is displaced through a field;
- a pair of wheels, each positioned forward of the main frame along a direction of travel, and proximate to a laterally outward end of the front row of fluted-concave disc blades, wherein the pair of wheels is configured to reduce motion of the main frame perpendicular to the direction of travel caused by the fluted-concave disc blades rotatably engaging the soil;
- at least one member providing downward pressure, the at least one member attached to the main frame at a position proximate to a rear end of the main frame relative to a position of the fluted-concave disc blades and exerting a downward pressure that reduces and dampens motion of the main frame caused by the fluted-concave disc blades rotatably engaging the soil;
- wherein the implement includes no ground engaging tool in the right path between the front right portion and the rear right portion, and no ground engaging tool in the left path between the front left portion and the rear left portion;
- wherein the front left portion, the front right portion, the rear left portion and the rear right portion are positioned at an angle of about 18 degrees with respect to a line perpendicular to the centerline;
- and
- wherein all ground engaging tools disposed on the agricultural implement are configured to rotate in operation.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.