Soil Tilling and Planting Implement

• US 20100275827A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L & B Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: L & B Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: Van Buskirk, Loyd C., Meldahl, Brian R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,430,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/170
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 29/048 Bar cage rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/024 with disk-like tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/087 Lifting devices; Depth regulation devices; Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 35/16 with rotating or circulating non-propelled tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 61/048 the connection or the energy accumulator being active in two opposite directions, e.g. for reversible plows
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/10 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/111 regulating working depth of implements
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/32 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means without automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/006 Minimum till seeding
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/927 Parallelogram mounting

Abstract

The combination of a rolling basket tillage implement and a seed distribution implement is disclosed. A height-adjustable mounting system for a rolling basket soil tillage implement is also disclosed for use with a planter that enables such an implement to be raised above the soil as needed to avoid wet conditions.

Claims

1. A soil conditioning and planting implement comprising:

(a) a seed distribution implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor or other prime mover;

(b) a height-adjustable attachment mechanism for a soil conditioning implement comprising;

(1) a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to a seed planter or tow bar that is adapted to be drawn by a tractor;

(2) a pair of arms pivotally attached to the mounting plate in parallel, spaced relation flanking said soil conditioning implement, said arms extending away from the mounting plate;

(3) a rolling basket tillage implement journaled for rotation between the pair of arms; and

(4) an actuator device operatively coupled between the mounting plate and the pair of arms for selectively raising and lowering the rolling basket implement relative to the ground.

2. An implement as in claim 1 wherein said actuator device is operably attached to a common member connected between said pair of arms.

3. An implement as in claim 1 wherein said soil conditioning implement includes a plurality of spaced height adjustable attachment mechanisms.

4. An implement as in claim 1 wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic and pneumatic actuators.

5. An implement as in claim 4 wherein said actuator is selected from a pneumatic cylinder and a dual acting air bag.

6. An implement as in claim 5 wherein said actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.

7. An implement as in claim 4 wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

8. An implement as in claim 1 further including an arcuate shroud partially surrounding the rolling basket, said shroud being affixed to the pair of arms.

9. An implement as in claim 8 further including a pair of side plate members affixed to side edges of the mounting plate, said pair of arms pivotally attached to the pair of side plate members.

10. A soil conditioning and planting implement combination comprising:

(a) a plurality of soil conditioning mechanisms for said soil conditioning and planting implement, each said mechanism further comprising;

(1) a mounting plate adapted to be fixed to a planting implement that is adapted to be drawn by a tractor;

(2) a pair of arms pivotally attached to the mounting plate in parallel, spaced relation flanking said soil conditioning implement, said arms extending rearward from the mounting plate;

(3) a rolling basket tillage implement carried by and journaled for rotation between the pair of arms;

(4) a mechanical device operatively coupled between the mounting plate and the pair of arms for selectively raising and lowering the rolling basket tillage implement relative to the ground or providing a directional force on said tillage implement;

(b) a multi-row planting implement associated with said plurality of said conditioning implements.

11. An implement as in claim 10 wherein said mechanical device is selected from single and double acting hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, single and double acting air bag devices, compression and tension springs and shock absorbers or combinations thereof.

12. A soil conditioning and planting implement comprising in combination:

(a) a seed distribution implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor or other prime mover; and

(b) at least one rolling basket tillage implement attached to said seed distribution implement in a manner such that rolling basket tillage occurs just prior to seeding.

13. A soil conditioning and planting implement as in claim 12 further comprising a mechanized system to raise and lower said at least one rolling basket tillage implement independent of said seed distribution implement.

14. A soil conditioning and planting implement as in claim 13 further comprising a control system that enables the raising and lowering of said at least one rolling basket tillage implement and is operable from said prime mover.

15. A method of planting an agriculture field comprising the step of combining rolling basket tilling with seeding in the same pass over the field.