Row crop cultivator having a fixed depth of penetration

• US 5,785,129 A
• Filed: 02/05/1997
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Russell J. Keller, Steven D. Keller
• Original Assignee: Russell J. Keller, Steven D. Keller
• Inventors: Keller, Russell J., Keller, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US08/796,656
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 172/536, 172/539, 172/624.5, 172/551, 172/510, 172/515, 172/516, 172/566, 172/239, 172/572-576, 111/35, 111/88
• US Class Current: 172/536
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 23/06 Discs A01B15/16 takes precedence; bearings therefor A01B71/04; Scrapers for cleaning discs; Sharpening attachments; Lubrication of bearingssharpening in general B24
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 39/08 with rotating tools such as weeding machines

Abstract

A row crop cultivator has a plurality of domed discs suspended in pairs from a suspension system in which the discs are firmly restrained against lateral movement relative to the crop row being cultivated but are free to move vertically to adjust to uneven conditions or obstacles of the ground. A generally cylindrical band is fixed to one side of each disc and has a smaller diameter than the disc diameter defining a cylindrical surface which rides on the surface of the ground and permits the disc to penetrate the soil only to a predetermined depth. The cylindrical surface if of sufficient width that it supports the disc in a floating manner over the ground and a uniform depth of cultivation is achieved, whereby damage to crops from excessive disc penetration is avoided.

Claims

1. A row crop cultivator of the type used to unearth weeds on opposite sides of rows of field crops comprising:

a generally elongate draw bar configured to be drawn above multiple rows of crop plants with said draw bar oriented transversely to said rows;

a plurality of disc suspension systems operatively connected to said draw bar at spaced intervals;

a pair of generally circular discs journalled for rotation on each of said disc suspension systems;

said disc suspension systems being configured to restrain said discs against lateral movement relative to said rows when said draw bar is dawn lengthwise of said rows while allowing limited vertical movement of said discs to permit said discs to adjust vertically to irregular conditions of a field; and

a generally cylindrical band fixed to at least one side of each disc and having a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of said disc, said band being disposed concentrically about the axis of rotation of said disc and having a generally cylindrical surface oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the field, said band further being an integrally formed sheet metal member with said cylindrical surface connected by a conical portion to a central mounting flange portion;

wherein said cylindrical surface is of sufficient width to ride along the surface of the field and limit the depth of penetration of the disc into the field to a maximum depth equal to the difference between the radius of the disc and the radius of the band.

2. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein said maximum depth of penetration is approximately two inches.

3. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein said disc has a diameter of approximately twelve inches and said band has a diameter of approximately eight inches.

4. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein said suspension systems include scraper blades configured to simultaneously dislodge accumulation of mud or dirt from said discs and bands.

5. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical surface of said band has a width of approximately two inches.