Tilling apparatus

A tilling apparatus for forming at least two spaced apart trenches on either side of a piece of land undisturbed by passage of the tilling apparatus over the piece of land, the tilling apparatus having a form that is towable by or connectable to a motorized farm vehicle to propel the tilling apparatus in response to movement of the motorized farm vehicle, the tilling apparatus including:

• a rotary shaft cooperative with the motorized farm vehicle to receive rotational power therefrom through a transmission for transmitting the rotational power,
• a framework arrangement and a cutting assembly, the framework arrangement comprising a front frame member, a top frame member and two side frame plates, the front frame member extending transversely of the tilling apparatus between the two side frame plates, the top frame member located rearwardly of the front frame member, the front frame member and the top frame member being in spaced apart substantially parallel relationship to each other, the top frame member forming a cover over the cutting assembly for shrouding the cutting assembly and separating the transmission from the cutting assembly, the side frame plates being located at the ends of the cutting assembly, the framework arrangement further comprising a shear member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the shear member being connected to the front frame member at a location forward of the cutting assembly and the second end of the shear member being connected to the tilling apparatus rearward of the cutting assembly, the shear member being located in front of the cutting assembly and extending from the front frame member below the cutting assembly, the cutting assembly being rotatable with respect to the top frame member, the cutting assembly including groups of cutters connected to the rotary shaft at spaced apart locations along the length of the rotary shaft, the individual cutters of one group of cutters being located at spaced apart locations around the rotary shaft for forming one trench upon rotation of the cutters,
• wherein the individual cutter comprises a first part fixedly connected to the rotary shaft for rotation in accordance with corresponding rotation of the rotary shaft and a second part for forming the trench, the second part being located distally of and extending outwardly from the first part,
• wherein the width of the trench formed by rotation of the second part of the cutter corresponds to the amount of extension outwardly of the second part of the cutter from the first part of the cutter, such that the soil removed from the trench by the rotation of the second part of the cutter in forming the trench is granulated by the rotation of the cutter and by the soil contacting the frame member overlying the cutter to form soil particles, and
• wherein an aerated layer of soil particles interspersed with voids is formed in the trench from a first part of the soil particles removed from the trench and a second part of the soil particles is deposited on at least one side edge of the trench.