Earth working – Rolling – rotating or orbitally moving tool – Tool has circumferentially spaced teeth – tines – blades or...
Patent
1988-12-20
1991-03-19
Reese, Randolph A.
Earth working
Rolling, rotating or orbitally moving tool
Tool has circumferentially spaced teeth, tines, blades or...
172612, 172753, A01B 2104, A01B 2302
Patent
active
050002708
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a ground working tool and to a tool element for such a ground working tool.
It is known in agriculture to provide a ground working tool in the form of a so-called prickle chain which consists of a chain with projecting metal fingers welded along the length of the chain, preferably with at least one finger on each chain link. The prickle chain is rotatably supported at its ends in such a manner as to allow the chain to rotate when it is dragged in a generally sideways direction across the ground. The rotating action of the chain works the ground for tilling, secondary cultivation, ground levelling, trash removal and/or other ground working operations.
A prickle chain has the disadvantage that it is awkward and time consuming to construct owing to the fact that the fingers have to be welded onto the chain links at a variety of angular positions along the length of the chain.
The present invention seeks to provide a novel and useful ground working tool which is similar in some respects to a prickle chain but which can be constructed in a convenient manner. The invention also seeks to provide a tool element for such a ground working tool.
In one form the invention resides in an elongated ground working tool adapted to be supported at each end to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof, said tool including a multitude of tool elements arranged in a plurality of groups in the longitudinal direction of the tool, each group of tool elements inter-engaging with the next adjacent group to form flexible connections between the groups that will permit tensioning of the tool in the longitudinal direction when supported for rotation, said tool elements being adapted so that when the groups of tool elements are inter-engaged and the tool longitudinally tensioned, each group of tool elements presents a plurality of prongs spaced about and projecting outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool.
Preferably, the prongs of one group of tool elements are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the tool from the prongs of the next adjacent group of tool elements.
Preferably, each tool element includes a portion extending generally in said longitudinal direction, one prong from each of two tool elements of one group extending through an opening or respective openings in said longitudinal portion of a tool element of the next adjacent group, each prong in each one group of tool elements extending through a respective longitudinal portion of a tool element of the next adjacent group of tool elements to provide the flexible connection between the groups of tool elements.
Preferably, each tool element comprises a loop portion and a pair of fingers projecting from the loop portion, the loop portion defining said longitudinal portion of the tool element and the fingers defining said prongs.
Preferably, there are two or three tool elements in each tool group.
Preferably, the loop portion of each tool element is substantially U-shaped having a pair of arms and a base bridging the arms.
Preferably, the arms of each loop occupy a common plane and the fingers extend in generally opposing directions to the same side of said plane.
Preferably, each finger is provided with an abutting portion adjacent the loop portion, the abutting portion being arranged to abut a similar portion of a finger of a further similar tool element in the same group of tool elements.
In another form, the invention resides in a tool element constructed as set forth in any one of the preceding paragraphs.
Each tool element may be formed from a length of metal which has been bent or otherwise deformed to form the loop portion and the two fingers. In another arrangement, the tool elements may be forged.
In still another form the invention resides in a ground working implement to be drawn or propelled over ground to be worked and including a rigid frame, an elongated ground working tool as defined in any one of the preceding paragraphs supported at each end by said frame for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the tool, sa
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patent: 3126865 (1964-03-01), Wiegardt, Jr.
patent: 3310122 (1967-03-01), Mack
patent: 4582142 (1986-04-01), Bridge
"Chain Diker", article, Agricultural Engineering, Jul./Aug. 1989, pp. 12-15.
Banhazi et al., Filed Implements, 1978.
Reese Randolph A.
Thompson Jeffery L.
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