Self-propelled soil working machines

A self-propelled soil working machine comprising:

• a plurality of surface contact wheels carrying a chassis;
• a carrier assembly coupled with the chassis, the carrier assembly including a suspension coupled with the chassis and a soil working tool coupled with the suspension;
• a first adjustment mechanism coupled with the carrier assembly and configured to adjust the position of the tool intermediate at least two of the surface contacting wheels and to vary force applied to the tool at least in part based upon compression of the suspension;
• and
• a second adjustment mechanism coupled with the carrier assembly and configured to adjust the position of the tool;
• wherein the suspension comprises a first spring assembly coupled with and extending between the tool and the first adjustment mechanism, a second spring assembly coupled with and extending between the tool and the first adjustment mechanism, and a lifting member coupled with and extending between the tool and the first adjustment mechanism and structured to limit movement of the tool in a first direction relative to the first spring assembly and the second spring assembly, and
• the first adjustment mechanism is adjustable over a first range of motion to raise or lower the tool using the lifting member without varying compression force on the first spring assembly and the second spring assembly and is adjustable over a second range of motion to increase or decrease compression force on the first spring assembly and the second spring assembly effective to increase or decrease downward force on the tool, and the second adjustment mechanism is separately adjustable over a third range of motion to vary the pitch of the tool.

An apparatus comprising:

• a soil working machine comprising a plurality of support members configured to contact a ground surface under the machine, at least one of the ground contacting support members being a driven member configured to propel the machine, a tool linkage rotatably coupled with the machine and including a tool mount and at least one compressible member, a first actuator coupled with the tool linkage, and a second actuator coupled with the tool linkage;
• wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to adjustably position the tool mount in a plurality of positions intermediate the front and the back of machine and to vary a downward force vector component applied to the tool mount, and
• wherein the tool linkage comprises a lifting element connecting the tool mount and the soil working machine, the lifting element being configured to selectably raise and lower the tool mount and to limit movement of the tool relative to the compressible member, and
• wherein when the first actuator is moved from a first position to a second position the tool mount is lowered by the lifting element without varying compression force on the compressible member and when the first actuator is moved from the second position to a third position the compression force on the compressible member is increased, and when the second actuator is actuated the pitch of the tool mount is varied.