METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEED BED PREPARATION
First Claim
1. A method of preparing a seed bed on a field surface comprising:
- mounting an implement frame on wheels for travel over the field surface in an operating travel direction;
mounting to the implement frame a plurality of discs spaced side by side in a disc row along a width of a front of the implement frame wherein rotational axes of the discs are oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction such that the discs penetrate the field surface substantially vertically;
mounting to the implement frame a plurality of shank assemblies spaced side by side in shank rows behind the disc row along the width of the implement frame, each shank assembly comprising a shank and a shovel mounted on a bottom end of each shank;
wherein the shank assemblies are pivotally mounted to the implement frame such that each shank is pivotable rearward and upward with respect to the implement frame from a lowered working shank position to a raised tripped shank position;
mounting a hydraulic cylinder between each shank and the implement frame and directing hydraulic fluid into each hydraulic cylinder such that each hydraulic cylinder exerts a substantially constant selected trip bias force on the corresponding shank toward the working shank position;
mounting to the implement frame a plurality of harrow sections spaced side by side along the width of the implement frame rearward of the shank assemblies;
mounting to the implement frame a plurality of rolling basket sections spaced side by side along the width of the implement frame rearward of the harrow sections;
configuring the implement frame such that a total weight on the wheels when the discs, shovels, harrow sections, and rolling basket sections are in a raised transport position above the field surface is greater than about 850 pounds per foot of width of the implement frame; and
towing the implement frame to the field surface, moving the discs, shovels, harrow sections, and rolling basket sections downward to an operating position engaging the field surface and towing the implement frame along the field surface at a speed greater than about seven miles per hour.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implement for preparing a seed bed has a front row of vertical discs, followed by three rows of shanks, followed by harrows and then rolling baskets. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted between each shank and the implement frame and exerts a constant selected trip bias force on the shanks that is adjustable up to 1300 pounds. The implement frame is configured such that a total weight on the wheels when the ground engaging tools are in the raised transport position is greater than about 850 pounds per foot of width of the implement frame. The implement is towed at speeds of at least seven miles per hour with the shanks penetrating the soil to a depth of three inches or more. Residue is cut and buried and the field surface left firm and smooth.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of preparing a seed bed on a field surface comprising:
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mounting an implement frame on wheels for travel over the field surface in an operating travel direction; mounting to the implement frame a plurality of discs spaced side by side in a disc row along a width of a front of the implement frame wherein rotational axes of the discs are oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction such that the discs penetrate the field surface substantially vertically; mounting to the implement frame a plurality of shank assemblies spaced side by side in shank rows behind the disc row along the width of the implement frame, each shank assembly comprising a shank and a shovel mounted on a bottom end of each shank; wherein the shank assemblies are pivotally mounted to the implement frame such that each shank is pivotable rearward and upward with respect to the implement frame from a lowered working shank position to a raised tripped shank position; mounting a hydraulic cylinder between each shank and the implement frame and directing hydraulic fluid into each hydraulic cylinder such that each hydraulic cylinder exerts a substantially constant selected trip bias force on the corresponding shank toward the working shank position; mounting to the implement frame a plurality of harrow sections spaced side by side along the width of the implement frame rearward of the shank assemblies; mounting to the implement frame a plurality of rolling basket sections spaced side by side along the width of the implement frame rearward of the harrow sections; configuring the implement frame such that a total weight on the wheels when the discs, shovels, harrow sections, and rolling basket sections are in a raised transport position above the field surface is greater than about 850 pounds per foot of width of the implement frame; and towing the implement frame to the field surface, moving the discs, shovels, harrow sections, and rolling basket sections downward to an operating position engaging the field surface and towing the implement frame along the field surface at a speed greater than about seven miles per hour. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An implement apparatus for preparing a seed bed on a field surface, the apparatus comprising:
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an implement frame mounted on wheels for travel over the field surface in an operating travel direction; a plurality of discs mounted to the implement frame and spaced side by side in a disc row along a width of a front of the implement frame, wherein rotational axes of the discs are oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction such that the discs penetrate the field surface substantially vertically; and
wherein the discs are movable from a lowered operating position engaging the field surface to a raised transport position above the field surface;a plurality of shank assemblies mounted to the implement frame and spaced side by side in shank rows behind the disc row along the width of the implement frame, each shank assembly comprising a shank and a shovel mounted on a bottom end of each shank, and wherein the shanks are movable from a lowered operating position where the shovels engage the field surface to a raised transport position above the field surface; wherein the shank assemblies are pivotally mounted to the implement frame such that, when in the lowered operating position, each shank is pivotable rearward and upward with respect to the implement frame from a lowered working shank position to a raised tripped shank position; a hydraulic cylinder mounted between each shank and the implement frame and a hydraulic fluid control operative to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into each hydraulic cylinder such that each hydraulic cylinder exerts a substantially constant selected trip bias force on the corresponding shank toward the working shank position; a plurality of harrow sections mounted to the implement frame and spaced side by side along the width of the implement frame rearward of the shank assemblies, and wherein the harrow sections are movable from a lowered operating position engaging the field surface to a raised transport position above the field surface; a plurality of rolling basket sections mounted to the implement frame and spaced side by side along the width of the implement frame rearward of the harrow sections and wherein the rolling basket sections are movable from a lowered operating position engaging the field surface to a raised transport position above the field surface; and wherein the implement frame is configured such that a total weight on the wheels when the discs, shovels, harrow sections, and rolling basket sections are in the raised transport position above the field surface is greater than about 850 pounds per foot of width of the implement frame. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implement apparatus comprising:
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an implement frame mounted on wheels for travel over a field surface in an operating travel direction; a plurality of shank assemblies mounted to the implement frame and spaced side by side in shank rows along the width of the implement frame, each shank assembly comprising a shank and a shovel mounted on a bottom end of each shank, and wherein the shanks are movable from a lowered operating position where the shovels engage the field surface to a raised transport position above the field surface; wherein the shank assemblies are pivotally mounted to the implement frame such that, when in the lowered operating position, each shank is pivotable rearward and upward with respect to the implement frame from a lowered working shank position to a raised tripped shank position; a hydraulic cylinder mounted between each shank and the implement frame and a hydraulic fluid control operative in a working mode to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into each hydraulic cylinder such that each hydraulic cylinder exerts a substantially constant selected trip bias force on the corresponding shank toward the working shank position, and operative in a release mode to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into each hydraulic cylinder such that each hydraulic cylinder exerts a release force on the corresponding shank toward the tripped shank position.
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Specification