Strip-till no build-up berm builder blade for strip-till farm implement

• US 8,794,345 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Knobloch, Dean A., Schmidt, Rodney L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US13/242,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20130037285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 172/518, 172/540, 172531-535, 172/555, 172/576, 172/604, 172/567, 172/556, 111/59, 111/60, 111/66, 111/69, 111/200
• US Class Current: 172/604
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/062 Devices for making drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows

Abstract

A berm building disc is designed to reduce the amount of soil that builds up on the inner surface of the disc as the disc pushes soil for berm formation. The disc has a disc body having an outer radial edge, and defining an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface. Features are formed on the inner concave surface to reduce the surface area or soil adhesion properties of the inner concave surface.

Claims

1. A disc blade for a farming implement, comprising:

a concave body having a generally smooth inner surface, an outer surface, a radial outer edge, and a central opening formed therein, the central opening being adapted for receiving a mount for coupling the disc blade to a strip-till implement; and

a plurality of holes extending through the body between the inner surface and the outer surface at a location radially spaced from the radial outer edge of the body and in proximity to the central opening.

2. The disc blade of claim 1 wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a radial spaced arrangement around the central opening.

3. The disc blade of claim 2 wherein the plurality of holes includes six holes spaced on nine inch centers around the central opening.

4. The disc blade of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of holes has a diameter between 2.0-2.5 inches.

5. The disc blade of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of notches formed in the radial outer edge.

6. The disc blade of claim 1 wherein the inner surface has an inner radial portion and an outer radial portion, and wherein the plurality of holes is formed in the inner radial portion.

7. The disc blade of claim 1 wherein the inner surface is a concave surface and the outer surface is a convex surface.

8. A disc blade for a farming implement, comprising:

a body having a generally smooth inner surface, an outer surface, a radial outer edge and a central opening formed therein; and

means for reducing a surface area of the inner surface, the means for reducing the surface area including a plurality of holes extending through the body between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof at a location radially spaced from the radial outer edge of the body and in proximity to the central opening.

9. The disc blade of claim 8 wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a radial spaced arrangement around the central opening.

10. The disc blade of claim 9 wherein the plurality of holes includes six holes spaced on nine inch centers around the central opening.

11. The disc blade of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of holes has a diameter between 2.0-2.5 inches.

12. The disc blade of claim 8 wherein the inner surface is a concave surface and has an inner radial portion and an outer radial portion, and wherein the plurality of holes is formed in the inner radial portion.

13. The disc blade of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of notches formed in the radial outer edge.

14. The disc blade of claim 8 wherein the body has a thickness between one-tenth of an inch and four-tenths of an inch.

15. A working unit for a farming implement having a tool bar, comprising:

a coupler for mounting to the tool bar;

a bracket attached to the coupler; and

a disc rotatably attached to the bracket, the disc including a body having a generally smooth inner surface, an outer surface, a radial outer edge, a central mounting portion, and a plurality of holes extending through the body between the inner surface and the outer surface, the plurality of holes extending through the body at a location radially spaced from the radial outer edge of the body and in proximity to the central mounting portion.

16. The working unit of claim 15 wherein the central mounting portion of the body includes a central opening formed in the body and adapted for receiving a mount for coupling the disc blade to the bracket, and wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a radial spaced arrangement around the central opening.

17. The working unit of claim 16 wherein the plurality of holes includes six holes spaced on nine inch centers around the central opening.

18. The working unit of claim 15 wherein the inner surface is concave and the outer surface is convex.