Earth working – Diverse tools – Including colter
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-07-10
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Diverse tools
Including colter
C172S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257344
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a cultivation equipment and methods, and in particular to a minimum tillage planting/renovation system configured to facilitate an enhanced seedbed in a variety of soil conditions, while maintaining nominal surface disturbance. The present invention may further be configured to provide intercrop planting, renovating, and/or fertilizing.
The system of the present invention contemplates a planter/fertilizer wherein there is provided a ripping point configured to penetrate a predetermined depth into the soil or sod, the ripping point designed to facilitate a splitting and lifting of the soil, forming a seed bed void, while cutting any organic ground cover, which might comprise, for example, sod, widening the ground cover, and lifting same to a prominent head, wherein first and second coulters, situated above and about said ripping point, are configured to independently engage and cut first and second sides of the lifted ground cover, trash and the like, respectively, then cutting the lifted ground cover, etc., as the coulters rotate, the coulters cooperatively grinding at least a portion of said lifted ground cover, forming tilth, and redepositing the tilth into the seedbed void, providing an enhanced seedbed region with nominal surface disturbance, and a clean furrow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The general concept of minimum tillage planter/renovators is not new, and many patents have issued over the years for various attempts at providing an enhanced seedbed, without the necessity of disturbing the ground surface, which might comprise, for example, sod or the like.
However, when conventional minimum tillage planters are utilized with soft or spongy ground, the furrow and seedbed is formed, only to have it shrink , with the furrow providing little open area on the ground cover for sunlight and passage of the seedlings therethrough.
Therefore, there exists a need for a minimum tillage planter/renovator system which is able to displace the ground cover during planting, while uplifting, displacing, and grinding the displaced soil and ground cover so that it allows the formation of a wider, finer, less dense seedbed with finer tilth, and does not shrink back to form a narrow furrow, while minimizing disturbance of the ground cover.
While none of the below cited patents are believed to teach the concepts embodied in the present invention, the following patents were deemed at least generally pertinent to the teachings minimum tillage planting or the like:
Patent Number
Inventor(s)
Date of Issue
5413056
Freed et al
05/09/1995
5375542
Schaffer
12/27/1994
5279236
Truax
01/18/1994
5255617
Williams
10/26/1993
4779684
Schultz
10/25/1988
4729435
Urich
03/08/1968
4537261
Hatzell
08/27/1985
4336844
Heibig et al
01/29/1982
4331204
White
05/25/1982
4245706
Dietrich, Sr.
01/20/1981
4127073
Blair
11/28/1978
4057112
Taylor
11/08/1977
3960220
Laitala
06/01/1976
U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,684 illustrates a scouring plow (31) situated at a generally forty-five degree arrangement relative to the shank, although there are obvious differences between this patent and the searched for invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,617 illustrates a scalloped coulter situated at some oblique angle relative to the planter, which coulter is also adjustable via the support member (56).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,236 teaches a seed planter wherein there is provided forward of the drill a plurality of trash discs comprising angled coulters, and is provided for general information.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,542 teaches a seed covering system utilizing a side mounted, angled coulter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,435 teaches a subsoil tilling implement wherein there is provided a coulter (30) is provided in front of the “ripper member” (22), the system further including a vertically adjustable wheel (24) adjacent to the ripper for varying the depth of the cut.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,220 teaches a subsoil plow which is spring supported, providing a vibratory pivotal oscillation during forward motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,112 teaches a “Subsoil Plow”, wherein there is provided a plurality of plow teeth having situated there before a coulter (27). The plow teeth are supported via shear bolt and are configured to pivot upon engaging an obstacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,073 teaches a “Subsoil Tillage Tooth” wherein there is provided a shank having a tip having a generally horizontal edge, and a cusp (54) in the medial area of the shank, as well as a winged trailing member (30), providing cutting blades for severing roots, “and to create a broken soil cap and moisture retaining blanket”.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,706 teaches the utilization of shank like members having a top including wing-like work surfaces situated at the generally frontal, tip portion of the shank.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,204 teaches a “Tillage Implement” wherein there is provided, as shown in
FIG. 3
, a shank member having a generally horizontal leading edge (78), and first and second opposing wing-like cutting members (82).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,844 issued 1982, teaches a chisel having a generally horizontal leading edge, the shank having mounted thereupon a lister (41), configured to form an enhanced bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,056 teaches a no-till planter utilizing angled coulters, although the configuration is noticeably different from the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,054 as relating to a coulter (13) situated adjacent to the shank, for “smoothing” the soil.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,707,132, 3,854,429, and Austrian 27361, for mole plow-like members rearwardly disposed of the shank.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,638,748 and 4,592,294 relating scouring plow-like members disposed to the rear of the shank.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,111 contemplating a curved surfaced coulter to provide an off-axis cut relative to the boot. Further included area soil spreaders (83, 81) adjacent to the boot, and a soil packer (89) following the boot.
FIG. 1
illustrates an example of a prior art planter, wherein there is provided a frame
1
having a front
2
and a rear
3
, the front of the frame having situated there below a leading slicing coulter
4
, the rear of the frame having situated below a ripping point
5
which generally would be in alignment with the coulter
4
, and a mole plow
6
following the coulter. The system may be motivated
7
utilizing a tractor, via a three point hitch, which may be associated with the front
2
of the frame.
A general problem with this prior art arrangement is that the leading slicing coulter requires far too much weight to penetrate hard ground, providing an inefficient and sometimes difficult means of establishing a leading slice. Further, in soft or spongy soil conditions, the coulter may not cut trash in its path, instead burying the trash beneath the coulter, and into the path of the ripping point
5
and/or into the seedbed
8
, disturbing the renovation/planting process.
In addition, in root bound and/or wet conditions sod, mostly roots, (since the roots have displaced the normal amount of soil) is springy or spongy, and will move out horizontally and not be cut away and ground up by the grinding action of the ripping point and rear mole plows. The consequence of this is that the sod/roots move back into near condition leaving a too narrow seed bed and furrow to allow sufficient plants and especially sufficient sunlight into the formed furrow for emerging plants' survival. To simply widen the point and mole plows to make the furrow wider causes the sod to explode outward and roll over giving ragged, uncontrollable, unacceptable furrows/seed beds and damages sod strip (or any ground cover) in between rows.
Thus, while the above contemplates various configurations of “no-till” planters and the like, none appear to teach or suggest a minimum tillage planter/renovator system which is able to displace the ground cover during planting, providing an open furrow without unduly disturbing the ground cover.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
Unlike the prior art, the present invention contemplates a minimum tillage planter/reno
Pezzuto Robert E.
Regard, ltd plc Joseph T.
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