Earth working – Rolling – rotating or orbitally moving tool – With disk cleaning means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-05-29
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Rolling, rotating or orbitally moving tool
With disk cleaning means
C172S558000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237697
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to agricultural implements and more particularly to cultivating implements employing coulter disk assemblies mounted on a tool bar.
BACKGROUND
Disk coulters are used in a multitude of farm applications. One such application is to use disk coulters as part of an assembly, to cut a slot in the soil to provide an area within which seed or fertilizer can be deposited.
A coulter assembly has a number of wearing parts which gradually deteriorate in direct proportion to the number of acres of ground engagement. These generally include all the parts which contact the soil plus any bearings, bushings or pins located in any and all pivot points. The disk coulters also require significant force to pull them through the ground and create soil disturbance. Since the same implement can be used to seed different crops, it is not always necessary to have all of the disk coulters which are mounted on the tool bar frame of an implement, to engage the ground at all times. For example, if a tool bar is equipped with separate disk coulters for seed and fertilizer and the farmer wishes to seed a crop which does not require fertilizer, it is advantageous to disable the fertilizer disk coulters and remove them from contacting the ground.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to have a coulter assembly which can be disengaged and lifted from contact with the ground and similarly to be restored to ground engagement for other applications.
It is also an object of the present invention to create a device by which an operator can quickly and easily disengage the coulter from the ground while in a field setting, without requiring undoing nuts and bolts and using other special tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Very briefly, the present invention provides a quick release and lock up system for taking a coulter type assembly out of contact with the ground and locking it securely in a disabled or raised position. The principle upon which the quick release and lockup system functions is by releasing the spring load which normally forces the disk coulter into the ground. The spring is then detached and the coulter disk pivotally raised out of contact with the ground by the operator. Thereafter a block is inserted by the operator, to prevent the disk coulter from falling back onto the ground. The spring is then reattached to apply force to keep the system locked together and in place.
The system includes an eccentric type of rotating element assembly with a stub torque arm into which a lever may be inserted. The stub torque arm projects radially outward of the two disks. A pivoting attachment receptacle which is connected to a threaded eye-bolt is used. A combination spacer and extension block effectively extends the reach of the spring for reattachment after the disk coulter has been raised and the spacer block inserted.
As previously mentioned, the basis of the invention is that of using an eccentric type of rotating element for extending or releasing the spring so that the disk coulter can be pivoted upward and removed from contact to the ground. In the working position, the eccentric rotating element brings the spring attachment pivot point passed the geometric centre of the rotating element, to bias the element such that it tries to rotate the radially extending stub torque arm against the stop bracket. In this case the stop bracket is used to prevent the rotation from continuing in the biased direction and also used to guide the spring element eye-bolt and serve as a pivot platform for the eccentric rotating element. A lever, which attaches to the radially extending torque arm on the eccentric rotating element, is used by an operator to rotate the eccentrically rotating element to stretch or release the spring as required.
To secure the disk coulter assembly in the raised position, the combination spacer block and spring extension bracket is inserted into the assembly and the spring is restretched with the spring force securing everything into its proper place.
In an alternative embodiment a simple pin or other solid element can be used to hold the coulter in a raised position, when the eccentric element produces more linear travel a pin is inserted through a hole in the mounting bracket. There is a matching hole in the strut. The extension is then not required. When the eccentric element is in a lever down position the strut is biased and held securely against the mounting bracket by the pin.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4333535 (1982-06-01), Hentrich, Sr.
patent: 4574715 (1986-03-01), Dietrich, Sr. et al.
patent: 4883126 (1989-11-01), Leland
patent: 5234060 (1993-08-01), Carter
patent: 6024179 (2000-02-01), Bourgault
Bourgault Gerard F. J.
Butterfield Robert
Bourgault Industries Ltd.
Michael & Best & Friedrich LLP
Pezzuto Robert E.
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