Earth working – Rolling – rotating or orbitally moving tool – Plural disks with individual mount or axis
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-27
2001-08-28
Batson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Rolling, rotating or orbitally moving tool
Plural disks with individual mount or axis
C111S140000, C111S165000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279666
ABSTRACT:
The present invention generally relates to debris clearing apparatus and more particularly relates to row crop debris clearing apparatus for agricultural usage.
The increased use of low-till and no-till farming techniques has produced a need for apparatus that can be attached to farm implements for clearing debris such as mulch., plant stalks, and the like from the ground, particularly during planting of a row crop such as corn. It is well known that the optimum emergence of corn plants is a function of the precision with which the corn seeds are planted. It is very important for desired emergence that the seed be planted at a precise depth and spacing during the planting operation. Since the depth of planting of the seed is controlled by rubber wheels of the planter unit, the presence of corn stalks or other mulch or debris in the row line during the planting operation can change the elevation of the wheels and therefore the planter itself. This then affects the depth of planting of the seeds which usually results in poor emergence of the crop.
It is also important that debris be cleared from the row line if herbicides are to be applied to the field during planting. It is well known that the herbicide will be less effective if it merely contacts the debris rather than the soil itself. For these reasons, there has been considerable activity in the development of debris clearing apparatus that can be attached to a planter or other implement, which operates to move the mulch and debris out of the path of the planter so that accurate planting can be carried out and effective use of herbicides is achieved.
Among the designs that exist are those disclosed in such patents as Williams et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,973, and Martin U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,890, among others. The Martin patent discloses flat, sharply toothed wheels that are arranged in a true “V” to spread the debris that is engaged and move it out of the way of the planting unit in which it precedes. The Williams et al. patent discloses a similar V-shaped orientation for a pair of concave, shallow notched disks. While these designs are effective to a degree, they both exhibit a less than optimum clearing result in that they often exhibit a problem of the engaged debris not being effectively released from the wheels or disks because it tends to wrap on the disk and often ultimately fouls it. This requires the operator to stop his farming operation and remove the debris from the apparatus.
Another problem with prior art designs is that the clearing disks interfere with one another. If two clearing disks each contact a single item of debris at the same time, both disks pull the debris in opposite directions. Frequently, this results in the debris plugging up the apparatus or not being removed from the path.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved debris clearing apparatus for use in agricultural applications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an improved apparatus having a clean and uncomplicated design, which enables it to be manufactured with a relatively few number of parts, but which provides superior operation in clearing debris along a path without fouling.
It is another object of the present invention lies in the provision for a unique notch design for clearing disks, which by virtue of the angular orientation of the forward and rearward edges of the notch edges, uniquely utilizes the inertia of the debris as well as gravitational force to optimize the clearing operation and prevent the debris from wrapping on the disks.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved apparatus having a first clearing blade spaced apart from a second clearing disk along a longitudinal cleaning direction of a row path such that the two clearing disks do not interfere with one another by both contacting a common piece of debris.
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DAWN 1994 Catalog, “How to Choose a Trash Management System”, Jan. 1994, pp. 1-11.
Nikkel Lee F.
Schmidt Eugene H.
A.I.L. Inc.
Batson Victor
Greer Burns & Crain Ltd.
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