Crust fracturing implement

• US 7,624,814 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trygve Skolness
• Original Assignee: Trygve Skolness
• Inventors: Skolness, Trygve
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US11/343,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 172/547, 172/546, 172/540, 172/609, 172/607, 172/606, 172/573, 172/572, 172/551, 172/627, 172/643, 172/520, 172/569, 172/624
• US Class Current: 172/551
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 35/16 with rotating or circulating non-propelled tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 39/08 with rotating tools such as weeding machines

Abstract

An apparatus for fracturing a crust on an agricultural field includes a tool bar and a support attached to the tool bar. A plurality of discs are non-rotatably attached to an axle that is rotatably supported by the support. Each of the plurality of discs include a plurality of spaced apart teeth about the perimeter of each disc. The teeth comprise convex surfaces and concave surfaces that converge at distal ends where the plurality of discs rotate about the support such that the convex surfaces penetrate and fracture the crust and that any debris or trash picked up by the teeth is ejected by the angles of the teeth and angles of the support brackets preventing plugging and destruction of the rowed crop.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fracturing a crust on an agricultural field comprising:

a tool bar;

a support for attaching to the tool bar;

a coil spring engaging the support wherein the coil spring urges the support downward;

an axle rotatably supported by the support proximate a distal end thereof; and

a plurality of discs non-rotatably attached to the axle and wherein each disc comprises a plurality of spaced apart teeth about a perimeter of each disc and wherein the teeth comprise convex surfaces and concave surfaces that converge to distal ends and wherein as the plurality of discs rotate about the support, the convex surfaces penetrate and fracture the crust.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the support comprises a plurality of arms having distal ends wherein each of the distal ends rotatably support the axle and wherein each of the arms of the plurality of arms are positioned between each of the adjacent discs of the plurality of discs.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein each plurality of arms comprise an upper convex surface having an apex that is positioned below the distal ends of the teeth.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the coil spring engages the support and urges the plurality of discs into the crust.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the axle comprises at least one flat surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and wherein each of the plurality of discs comprises a substantially centrally located aperture having a perimeter with at least one flat surface that engages the flat surface of the axle to prevent the plurality of discs from rotating on the axle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the axle comprises a plurality of flat surfaces.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and wherein each of the plurality of discs comprises a substantially centrally located aperture having a perimeter with a plurality of flat surfaces that engage the plurality of flat surfaces on the axle to prevent the plurality of discs from rotating on the axle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of discs are attached to the axle such that only one tooth penetrates the crust at a time.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of discs comprises more than four discs.

11. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the teeth comprise convex surfaces and concave surfaces that converge to distal ends comprising a flat surface and wherein as the plurality of discs rotate about the support, the convex surfaces penetrate and fracture the crust.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the support comprises a plurality of arms having distal ends wherein each of the distal ends rotatably support the axle and where the plurality of arms are positioned in a space between each of the adjacent discs of the plurality of discs.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 and wherein each plurality of arms comprise an upper convex surface having an apex that is positioned below the distal ends of the teeth.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the axle comprises at least one flat surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 and wherein each of the plurality of discs comprises a substantially centrally located aperture having a perimeter with at least one flat surface that engages the flat surface of the axle to prevent the plurality of discs from rotating on the axle.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the plurality of discs are attached to the axle such that only one tooth penetrates the crust at a time.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the plurality of discs comprises more than four discs.