Multi-function tillage apparatus and method

• US 5,984,017 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lester M. Packham
• Original Assignee: Lester M. Packham
• Inventors: Packham, Lester M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/170,272
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 172/754, 172/758, 172/759, 172/133, 172/195, 172/201, 172/202, 172/203, 172/1, 172/686
• US Class Current: 172/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 13/02 for making or working ridges, e.g. with symmetrically arranged mouldboards , e.g. ridging plough
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/02 with two or more soil-working tools of different kind

Abstract

In a tillage device having first and second plow assemblies mounted in parallel relation on a main frame to thereby cut furrows in the soil creating soil strips in so doing and depositing the soil strips on a berm between the furrows created by the plow assemblies and having a rearwardly located plow assembly for moving the soil under the berm outwardly into the first and second furrows thereby creating a middle furrow and allowing the soil on the berm to fall into the middle furrow.

Claims

1. A multi-function tillage apparatus for creating furrows in the soil and shifting soil strips removed from the furrows during tillage thereof, said apparatus comprising:

a) a main frame;

b) first and second plow assemblies on said main frame on opposite sides thereof for creating first and second furrows by removing first and second soil strips therefrom and depositing same over a berm area there between; and

c) a rearwardly located plow assembly for moving the soil under the berm outwardly into the first and second furrows thereby creating a middle furrow and allowing the soil on the berm to fall into the middle furrow.

2. The multi-function tillage apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said rearwardly located plow assembly is disposed equidistant between said first and second plow assemblies for moving the soil strips outwardly.

3. The multi-function tillage apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the rearwardly located plow assembly are shaped and oriented to effectively loosen the soil in the area between the first and second furrows, thereby effectively creating third and fourth furrows, said third and fourth furrows comprising one of the furrows and pushing the soil from the third and fourth furrows into the first and second furrows.

4. The multi-function tillage apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the first and second soil strips are allowed to fall into the third and fourth furrows as the rearwardly located plow assembly pushes the soil from the third and fourth furrows into the first and second furrows respectively.

5. The multi-function tillage apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the first and second plow assemblies are moldboard plow assemblies.

6. The multi-function tillage apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that the first and second plow assemblies have a surface contour and orientation which causes an inversion of the first and second soil strips when depositing over the berm area so that any stubble therein is buried in the berm.

7. Apparatus comprising, in combination:

a) a first plow;

said first plow adapted to cut a first furrow in the ground as the apparatus is moved forward, and forming a first soil strip from said first furrow, said first plow constructed to cause said first soil strip to be reoriented and deposited on the ground in proximity to said first furrow; and

b) a second plow;

said second plow adapted to cut a second furrow in the ground beneath said reoriented first soil strip, said second plow being constructed to cause said second soil strip to be reoriented and deposited in said first furrow, thereby causing said first soil strip to fall into said second furrow.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the said second plow is spaced rearwardly of the first plow on the apparatus with respect to the forward movement of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that the said second plow is also offset to the said side of the first plow with respect to the forward movement of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises:

a) a pair of laterally spaced apart first plows for forming a pair of first soil sections and a corresponding pair of first furrows; and

b) a pair of laterally arranged second plows for shifting a pair of second soil sections into the respective pair of first furrows and allowing the first soil sections to fall into the areas previously occupied by the second soil sections.

11. A method of tilling soil by creating furrows in the soil and shifting soil strips removed therefrom during tillage, said method comprising:

a) removing a pair of spaced-apart soil strips from a ground surface to thereby simultaneously form first and second furrows therein;

b) depositing first and second soil strips removed from the first and second furrows on a berm;

c) cutting at least one furrow beneath said berm and causing the at least one of said first and second soil strips to be deposited in said first and second furrows; and

d) causing said first and second soil strips deposited on said berm to fall into at least one of said first and second said furrows cut there beneath.

12. The method of claim 11 further characterized in that the first and second furrows are formed by a pair of first plow assemblies, and that the soil underneath the berm is shifted by a second plow assembly.

13. The method of claim 11 further characterized in that the method inverts the first and second soil strips when depositing on the berm so that any stubble therein is buried in the berm.

14. A method of plowing soil and criss-crossing soil sections, such that a first soil section is introduced in a position previously occupied by a second soil section and where the second soil section is introduced into a position previously occupied by the first soil section, said method comprising:

a) removing a soil section from the ground and forming a furrow therein;

b) reorienting the first soil section and depositing the same on the ground in a position on top of a second soil section;

c) shifting the second soil section into the furrow; and

d) allowing the first soil section to fall into the area previously occupied by the second soil section.

15. The method of claim 14 further characterized in that the furrow is formed by a first plow and the shifting of the second soil section is performed by a second plow located rearwardly with respect to the first plow.

16. The method of claim 14 further characterized in that the method comprises the removal of a first pair of first soil sections and a corresponding pair of first furrows, the method further comprises shifting the said first soil sections between the pair of first furrows and allowing the said first soil sections to fall into the area previously occupied by the said second soil section.