Deep tillage ripper with independent, spring-mounted closing wheels

• US 6,880,644 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kuhn Krause, Inc. (Bucher Industries AG)
• Original Assignee: Krause PLOW Corporation
• Inventors: Weast, David H., Hagman, Rodney L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pechhold, Alexandra K.
• Application Number:
  US10/440,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 172/196, 172/140, 172/174, 172/462, 172/518, 172571-573, 172/570, 111/52, 111/149, 111/120, 111/155
• US Class Current: 172/196
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 13/08 for working subsoil
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/027 with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/26 by man-power

Abstract

A tillage tool includes a relatively narrow shank that slices through the soil while a ripper point at its lower end fractures and lifts the subsoil. Minimum surface disturbance adjacent the opposite sides of the shank is assured through the provision of a pair of independently mounted down-pressure wheels on opposite sides of the shank that engage and apply constant downward pressure against soil tending to erupt at the top surface. Each down pressure wheel is mounted to the shank assembly by its own leaf spring so that the two wheels react to ground changes independently of one another and without adversely affecting each other. A guide plate associated with each leaf spring prevents twisting of the spring as it flexes and provides stops for limiting the opposite extremes of up and down flexing of the spring.

Claims

1. A tillage tool comprising:

a transverse tool bar adapted to be positioned at a predetermined height above the ground as the tool is advanced along a path of travel;

a shank assembly attached to said tool bar and including a generally upright shank having a tillage point at its lower end for lifting and fracturing the subsoil as the shank is advanced;

a pair of ground-engaging wheels located on opposite lateral sides of the shank above and behind the point; and

a pair of springs on opposite lateral sides of the shank independently mounting the corresponding ground wheels to the shank assembly for individual up and down movement of the wheels under the resistance of the respective springs as the wheels ride along and firm up soil tending to erupt on opposite sides of the shank,

each of said springs comprising a leaf spring,

each of said leaf springs being provided with anti-twist structure operable to prevent the leaf spring from twisting as it flexes during up and down movement,

said anti-twist structure for each leaf spring including an upright, stationary guide secured to the shank assembly and a follower secured to said leaf spring for movement therewith in engagement with said guide.

2. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 1,

each of said springs being provided with a stop disposed in the path of flexing movement of the spring for limiting downward travel thereof.

3. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 1,

said guide comprising an upright plate,

said follower comprising a pair of members depending from the leaf spring and positioned on opposite lateral sides of said plate.

4. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 3,

said plate having a straight, generally upright guide edge,

said depending members having a transverse bar movable with the members along said straight guide edge of the plate during flexing of the leaf spring.

5. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 4,

said plate having a shoulder at an upper end thereof in the path of upward movement of said bar for limiting upward movement of the leaf spring.

6. A tillage tool comprising:

a transverse tool bar adapted to be positioned at a predetermined height above the ground as the tool is advanced along a path of travel;

a shank assembly attached to said tool bar and including a generally upright shank having a tillage point at its lower end for lifting and fracturing the subsoil as the shank is advanced;

a pair of ground-engaging wheels located on opposite lateral sides of the shank above and behind the point; and

a pair of springs on opposite lateral sides of the shank independently mounting the corresponding ground wheels to the shank assembly for individual up and down movement of the wheels under the resistance of the respective springs as the wheels ride along and firm up soil tending to erupt on opposite sides of the shank,

each of said springs comprising a leaf spring,

each of said leaf springs being generally J-shaped and horizontally disposed, presenting a long horizontal upper leg, a short horizontal lower leg spaced below the upper leg, and a generally upright, arcuate bight integrally interconnecting said legs adjacent a forward end thereof,

said lower leg being attached to the shank assembly adjacent a free end of the lower leg, and said long leg having one of the wheels secured thereto adjacent a free end of the long leg.

7. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 6,

further comprising an upright guide plate for each leaf spring secured to the shank assembly,

said free end of the lower leg of each leaf spring being secured to a bottom edge of said guide plate, and said bight of the leaf spring being looped around the plate to dispose the upper leg of the leaf spring in overlying relationship to an upper edge of the guide plate,

said upper edge of the guide plate serving as a stop to limit downward flexing of the upper leg.

8. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 7,

said guide plate being secured to the shank assembly in a manner to permit selective up and down positional adjustment of the guide plate relative to the shank assembly for adjusting the vertical position of the corresponding wheel relative to the shank assembly.

9. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 7,

each leaf spring having a pair of members depending from the upper leg thereof and trapping said guide plate therebetween for precluding twisting of the upper leg during flexing thereof.

10. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 9,

said guide plate having a straight rear edge,

said members having a transverse guide bar extending therebetween and movable along said rear edge of the guide plate during flexing of the upper leg of the leaf spring.

11. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 10,

said guide plate having a shoulder on said rear edge disposed in the path of travel of the guide bar for limiting upward flexing of the upper leg of the leaf spring.

12. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 11,

said guide plate being secured to the shank assembly in a manner to permit selective up and down positional adjustment of the guide plate relative to the shank assembly for adjusting the vertical position of the corresponding wheel relative to the shank assembly.

13. A tillage tool as claimed in claim 6,

each of said springs being provided with a stop disposed in the path of flexing movement of the spring for limiting downward travel thereof.