Tractor-mounted wheel track closing device

• US 5,845,717 A
• Filed: 12/26/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daniel Gillespie
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gillespie
• Inventors: Gillespie, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US08/772,555
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 172/834, 172/333, 172/273, 172/272, 172/291, 172/253, 172/254, 172/297, 172/298-305, 172/518, 172/577, 172/585, 172/580, 172/595, 172/599, 172/601, 172/624
• US Class Current: 172/833
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 37/00 Devices for loosening soil compacted by wheels or the like

Abstract

A wheel track closing device is mounted on a tractor for closing the wheel tracks formed by self-propelled irrigation systems. A first soil mover is positioned at the front of the tractor and moves soil laterally to the wheel track from one side thereof, with the soil being moved thereinto being compacted by the right front wheel of the tractor. A second soil mover is mounted at the right side of the tractor between the right front wheel and the right rear wheel and moves soil, from the other side of the wheel track, into the track with the soil that has been moved into the wheel track being compacted by the right rear wheel of the tractor.

Claims

1. A wheel track closing device mounted on a tractor for closing the wheel track formed by a mobile irrigation system, said tractor having a forward end, a rearward end, a right side and a left side, right and left front wheels, and right and left rear wheels, comprising:

a first support means operatively mounted on said tractor at the forward end thereof,

a first soil mover means mounted on said first support means positioned in front of said right front wheel of said tractor for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right front wheel of said tractor will compact the soil moved into the wheel track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

a second support means mounted on said tractor between said right front wheel and said right rear wheel;

and a second soil mover means mounted on said second support means positioned in front of said right rear wheel for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right rear wheel will compact the soil moved into the track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track.

2. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein said first soil mover means comprises a first disk means.

3. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein said second soil mover means comprises a second disk means.

4. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second soil mover means comprises a disk means.

5. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein said first soil mover means is positioned between said right and left front wheels and moves soil laterally outwardly, with respect to said tractor, towards said wheel track.

6. The wheel track closing device of claim 5 wherein said second soil mover means moves soil laterally inwardly, with respect to said tractor, towards said wheel track.

7. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein means is connected to said first soil mover means for selectively raising said first soil mover means with respect to the ground.

8. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein means is connected to said second soil mover means for selectively raising said second soil mover means with respect to the ground.

9. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein said first soil mover means includes a selectively vertically adjustable gauge wheel means.

10. The wheel track closing device of claim 1 wherein said first soil mover means moves soil outwardly and forwardly with respect to said tractor.

11. The wheel track closing device of claim 10 wherein said second soil mover means moves soil inwardly and forwardly with respect to said tractor.

12. A wheel track closing device mounted on a tractor for closing a wheel track formed by a mobile irrigation system, said tractor having a forward end, a rearward end, a right side and a left side, right and left front wheels, and right and left rear wheels, comprising:

a first support means operatively mounted on said tractor at the forward end thereof;

a first soil mover means mounted on said first support means positioned in front of said right front wheel of said tractor for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right front wheel of said tractor will compact the soil moved into the wheel track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

a second support means mounted on said tractor between said right front wheel and said right rear wheel;

and a second soil mover means mounted on said second support means positioned in front of said right rear wheel for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right rear wheel will compact the soil moved into the track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

said first soil mover means comprising a first disk means;

said first disk means comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart disk members;

at least one of said disk members of said first disk means having a greater diameter than the other disk members of said first disk means.

13. A wheel track closing device mounted on a tractor for closing a wheel track formed by a mobile irrigation system, said tractor having a forward end, a rearward end, a right side and a left side, right and left front wheels, and right and left rear wheels, comprising:

a first support means operatively mounted on said tractor at the forward end thereof;

a first soil mover means mounted on said first support means positioned in front of said right front wheel of said tractor for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right front wheel of said tractor will compact the soil moved into the wheel track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

a second support means mounted on said tractor between said right front wheel and said right rear wheel;

and a second soil mover means mounted on said second support means positioned in front of said right rear wheel for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right rear wheel will compact the soil moved into the track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

said second soil mover means comprising a second disk means;

said second disk means comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart disk members;

at least one of said disk members of said second disk means having a greater diameter than the other disk members of said second disk means.

14. A wheel track closing device mounted on a tractor for closing a wheel track formed by a mobile irrigation system, said tractor having a forward end, a rearward end, a right side and a left side, right and left front wheels, and right and left rear wheels, comprising:

a first support means operatively mounted on said tractor at the forward end thereof;

a first soil mover means mounted on said first support means positioned in front of said right front wheel of said tractor for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right front wheel of said tractor will compact the soil moved into the wheel track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

a second support means mounted on said tractor between said right front wheel and said right rear wheel;

and a second soil mover means mounted on said second support means positioned in front of said right rear wheel for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right rear wheel will compact the soil moved into the track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

said first soil mover means comprising a first disk means;

said second soil mover means comprising a second disk means;

said first disk means comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart disk members;

said second disk means comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart disk members;

at least one of said disk members of said first disk means having a greater diameter than the other disk members of said first disk means;

at least one of said disk members of said second disk means having a greater diameter than the other disk members of said second disk means.

15. A wheel track closing device mounted on a tractor for closing a wheel track formed by a mobile irrigation system, said tractor having a forward end, a rearward end, a right side and a left side, right and left front wheels, and right and left rear wheels, comprising:

a first support means operatively mounted on said tractor at the forward end thereof;

a first soil mover means mounted on said first support means positioned in front of said right front wheel of said tractor for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right front wheel of said tractor will compact the soil moved into the wheel track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

a second support means mounted on said tractor between said right front wheel and said right rear wheel;

and a second soil mover means mounted on said second support means positioned in front of said right rear wheel for laterally moving soil into the wheel track so that said right rear wheel will compact the soil moved into the track, as said tractor travels the length of the wheel track;

said first soil mover means including a selectively vertically adjustable gauge wheel means;

said gauge wheel means including a gauge wheel;

said gauge wheel being positioned on said first soil mover means so that said gauge wheel may be positioned in the wheel track.