Earth working – Plural wheeled implements – Outrigged implement adjustable inwardly
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-18
2001-07-31
Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Plural wheeled implements
Outrigged implement adjustable inwardly
C172S776000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267184
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Art
This invention relates to the improvement of an agricultural ground-working cultivator. More specifically it relates to an improvement of the center frame of a cultivator and support for a pair of opposing wings on the said cultivator.
2. Description of Prior Art
The need to till and cultivate soil for the planting of crops has been accomplished since the earliest days of civilization. More recently, tillage devices have increased in complexity and size, depending on the type of crops, quantity and soil being tilled. There has also been an increased emphasis on conserving natural resources resulting in these concerns being integrated in modern tillage systems. These concerns have resulted in larger and more complex tillage systems that assist in achieving these goals. A larger tillage system allows a single operator to perform tillage operations on a greater area. More sophisticated tillage systems further allow for the accomplishment of low till and no till farming techniques. Low till and no till farming encourages tilling, planting and fertilizing in a single pass of the tillage device or cultivator through the field. By only disturbing the soil a single time, there is less soil compaction, less moisture loss, less pesticides and herbicides needed and less fertilizer required. However, these larger and more complex tillage systems create complexities that were previously unknown in the art.
Previously, an agricultural tractor could pull a relatively small tillage device or cultivator. As the tillage device or cultivator moved over hills and similar undulations in the terrain all the ground-working implements maintained contact with the soil. The width of the tillage device was sufficiently small such that it generally did not have problems maintaining ground contact. However, as the tillage devices were increased in width, so as to be able to till a greater area in a single pass, the undulations in the ground resulted in the ground-working tools failing to always contact the earth. Also, to transport the tillage device or cultivator for the farming operations it was also necessary for the device to be capable of being collapsed to a width sufficient to be moved. To accomplish these goals, a center section with a set of pivotable wings was designed. The wings could pivot horizontally relative to the center section allowing the tillage device to accommodate some undulations in the ground. The wings could also be folded into the center section allowing for easy transport before and after farming operations. Eventually, an outer set of wings was added increasing the width of the tillage device.
FIG. 1
illustrates the general configuration of a tillage device or cultivator. Specifically, there is a center section directly behind the tractor. There is a set of inner wings and outer wings respectively surrounding the center section. Some cultivators are folded into the transport position along an axis along the direction of travel; other cultivators are folded along a diagonal axis. In prior art cultivators, the wings can rotate on an axis in the direction of travel, the wings generally cannot rotate, flex or bend on an axis perpendicular to travel. Finally, the additional inner wings and outer wings create large additional draft forces on the frame of the cultivator. (Draft forces are the created when the ground-working tool is pulled through the soil.) These are complex problems to overcome, especially when considering the need for the tillage device to be a collapsed from its field operation mode to the compact transportation mode.
Consequently, the need exists for a linkage, which allows for the inner wings to move perpendicular relative to the center section of a tillage device. Also the need exists for a draft cable which helps distribute the draft load generated by the outer wings.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a differential connecting rod for the present invention.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a draft cable to support the outer wings.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a joint having 3 axes of freedom for connecting the wing sections to the center section about a transverse axis longitudinal to the drawbar in the field operating position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a differential connecting rod, which allows the wings to be moved into a transportation mode.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a draft cable, which can be moved to a stowed position during the transportation mode.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a differential connecting rod, which has a transport assembly, which is used to prevent wing movement when the tillage device is in transportation mode.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a differential connecting rod that can be adjusted.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a differential connecting rod that can be moved 90 degrees to allow for stowage during the transportation mode.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive means for providing draft support to the outer wings of the tillage device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. The invention controls the movement of the inner wings which surround the center section of a cultivator or tillage device. The invention also prevents damage to the universal joint that connects the inner wing frame to the center frame. The invention also consists of a folding draft support wire which transfers a portion of the draft force exerted on the outer wings to the center hitch frame of the cultivator.
The present invention is accomplished a differential control rod that is parallel to the center frame. The center frame is typically connected to the inner wing frame by a universal joint. The present invention is a modified universal joint that is attached to the center frame by a spherical bearing and pivot allowing for a 3
rd
axis of movement. The pivot is positioned inside a slot on a bracket. An ‘L’-shaped linkage controls the movement of the pivot within the slot. The linkage is pivotally attached to the center frame and differential bar. A spring assembly supports the center of the differential bar. The spring assembly biases the pivot in the slot to a center position. When the cultivator wings are moved to the side and rotated into the transportation position, the tongue in the transport assembly is inserted between the rods. This holds the rods and prevents damage to the slot and universal joint during transport.
The folding draft support wire is a means by which the draft force on the outer is wings is transferred to the center hitch frame. The wire is pivotally attached to the outer wing and wing hitch frame. Supporting the wire is a folding support arm. The arm has an outer arm pivotally attached to an inner arm. The inner arm is attached to the wing hitch frame. Controlling the outer arm is a chain that is attached to the wing hitch frame by a chain arm. The chain is also attached to an elongated plate on the outer arm. This design allows the support arm to be folded when the cultivator is in the transportation mode.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4660651 (1987-04-01), Pfenninger et al.
Flexi-Coil Ltd.
Miller Larry W.
Novosad Christopher J.
Stader John William
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