BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the art of agricultural machinery and more particularly to a new and improved apparatus for preparing a field for the planting of seed. In preparing soil for agricultural purposes, it is customary to first turn over the soil with a plow, then break up the soil particles with a disk harrow, and finally, condition the soil for planting with a drag harrow. The present invention in many instances, depending upon the soil conditions, can eliminate all of the above steps in that the device itself will permit the soil to be worked to a selected planting depth and leveled so that as the invention is pulled over the soil behind a tractor, a seed planting planter, commonly referred to as a drill, may be attached to the rear of the device and the entire soil preparation and seed planting operation can take place in one pass over the field. Additionally, fertilizers and pesticides may be incorporated into the soil in conjunction with the operation of this invention at the same time that the seeds are planted.

The pertinent prior art with which applicant is familiar are the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,607,176, McVickar; 3,054,462, Anderson; 3,006,422, Mighell; 4,180,005, Zumbahlen; and 4,227,581, Klotzbach. However, none of these show the unique combination of elements which derive the benefits that come from applicant's invention. These are a combination of S tines which may be moved vertically followed by packer wheels which will complete the process of breaking up the soil and leveling and so constructed with winged portions so that the device may be transported on the road and yet when operated spread out to its full 30 foot width.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved ground preparing apparatus for minimum-till planting.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved ground preparing apparatus utilizing S tines which may be raised or lowered vertically thus maintaining a constant angle of attack with respect to the soil so as to operate at maximum efficiency.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide such a device in combination with packer wheels which complete the soil preparation following initial contact between the S tines and the soil.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide such a ground preparing apparatus which in operable position will have an operating width of approximately 30 feet and yet will be capable of being folded up for road transport.

This, together with other objects and advantages of the invention, should become apparent in the details of construction and operation as more fully described hereinafter and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ground working apparatus with the support wheels on the ground and the device raised above the ground but with the two wing portions fully extended.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device with the support wheels fully retracted.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the center section with portions of the device shown in phantom outline.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the device with the wings in road transport position.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the ground working implement with the wings raised for road transportation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the invention comprises three separate oblong frames 10--10 each of which is provided with a separate frame 11 from which depend a plurality of S tines 12--12. The outer two frames 10--10 are referred to as wing frames. Preferably there are four rows of S tines attached to bars 13--13 which are mounted transversely and fixedly attached to frame 11. Frame 11 in turn is supported by four bell cranks 14--14, each of which have one arm pivotally connected to frame 11 at pivot points 15--15. The bell cranks 14--14 are pivotally mounted at pivot points 16--16 on members 17--17 depending from frames 10--10. The other arms of bell cranks 14--14 are pivotally connected in pairs on either side of frames 10--10 by means of bars 18--18. Bars 18--18 in turn are pivotally connected to bars 19--19 which in turn are pivotally connected to arms 20--20 which are fixedly attached to shaft 21 which in turn is rotatable by means of a selectively reciprocal power source such as a hydraulic cylinder which is shown more clearly in FIG. 3. Shaft 21 is journaled in supports 22--22 which depend from frames 10--10. Fixedly attached to the rear of each frame 10 is a cross beam 23 from which depend struts 24--24 which in turn are journaled to receive the shaft 25 of packer wheel 26.

Each of the frames 10--10 are provided with these members, although, because of the viewing angle in FIG. 1, the detail can only readily be seen with respect to the frame 10 in the foreground of FIG. 1.

The outer wing frames 10--10 are provided with support wheels 27--27 which are attached to shafts 28--28 and are adjustable attached to the wing frames 10--10 by clamps 29--29. The support wheels 27--27 merely provide a leveling function at the outer edges of the wing frames 10--10. Each of the outer wing frames 10--10 are hingedly connected to the center frame 10 at hinges 30--30. Selectively reciprocal power sources 31--31, such as hydraulic cylinders, are attached to the wing frames 10--10 so as to enable the wing frames 10--10 to be folded over on top of the center frame 10 which is more than twice as wide as the wing frames 10--10, so as to enable the device to be transported on the road. An appropriate tongue 32 for attachment to a tractor is provided and its height may be adjusted by means of threaded member 33. The tongue 32 is connected to the center frame 10 by means of girders 34--34.

The device is transported on wheels 35--35 and may be raised completely out of contact with the ground by means of the hydraulic cylinder which is shown in FIG. 3. This cylinder also controls the depth of vertical movement and soil penetration of the S tines 12--12 in relationship to the packer wheels 26--26.

In FIG. 1 the transport wheels 35--35 are in ground transport position and tines 12--12, support wheels 27--27 and packer wheels 26--26 are out of contact with the ground and are about ten to 12 inches above the ground surface. The two outer wing frames 10--10 have not yet been folded up for road transport.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, a side elevation view of the subject invention is shown. In this view the transport wheels 35--35 have been raised to their highest position and the S tines 12--12 are in their lowest position, which places the tips of the S tines 12--12 approximately six inches below the ground surface. The support wheels 27--27 are in proper position to support the outer edges of the two wing frames 10--10. It will be noted that the two wing frames 10--10 are positioned slightly ahead of the center wing frame 10 and that the packer wheels 26--26 of the wing frames 10--10 are slanted forwardly from the cross beam 23 while the packer wheel 26 associated with the center frame 10 is slanted rearwardly. The four rows of S tines 12--12 in the center frame 10 are positioned slightly behind the respective rows of S tines 12--12 in the wing frames 10--10.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, which is a side elevation view of the center frame and attachments thereto, it will be noted that the transport wheels 35--35 are still in their fully raised position and the S tines 12--12 are in their lower most position. Shown in phantom outline is selectively reciprocal power source 36, such as a hydraulic cylinder, which is pivotally connected at its rear end to arm 37 which is also shown in partial phantom view and which is fixedly attached to shaft 38. Selectively reciprocal power source 36 is positioned approximately midway between sets of transport wheels 35--35. Transport wheels 35--35 are journaled in struts 39--39, also shown in phantom, which struts 39--39 in turn are fixedly attached to shaft 38. Arm 20a is connected to bar 19 which in turn is connected to bar 18 and is used to vertically raise or lower the S tines 12--12 in the center frame 10. Arm 20b is connected to L-shaped member 40 also partially shown in phantom. However, L-shaped member 40 is positioned in front of the center frame 10 and actually is connected to member 20 which in turn is connected to shaft 21 of the outer wing frame 10. Threaded member 41 permits the tines 12--12 on frame 10 to be raised or lowered by means of cylinder 36 since it forms a rigid connection between shaft 38 and shaft 21 yet also permits wing frames 10--10 to be rotated around hinge 30 for road transport, and thus constitutes an articulated adjustable connection. Threaded member 41 may be disconnected from arm 20a and rotated on its threaded connections to effect adjustment between shaft 38 and shaft 21. This arrangement will be better understood by reference to FIG. 4.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, the invention is shown in side elevation view with the wing frames 10--10 in transport position with wheels 35--35 in their lower position and S tines 12--12 and packer wheels 26--26 raised above the ground surface. In this view the relationship between rotatable shaft 38, arms 20a and 20b, connecting member 41, L-shaped member 40, and arm 20 are more clearly seen.

With the wing frames 10--10 rotated around hinges 30--30 and down in operable position, retraction of the selectively reciprocal power source 36 causes retraction of transport wheels 35--35 and rotation of arm 20b in a counterclockwise direction thus causing S tines 12--12 in center frame 10 to move downwardly. It will be noted that consequent counterclockwise rotation of arm 20a and movement of L-shaped member 40 will cause rotation of shaft 21 and thus through linkage 20, 19, and 18, a lowering of tines 12--12 located in the wing frames 10--10.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 5, there is shown a rear view of the invention in transport position with the transport wheels 35--35 lowered. The wing frames 10--10 have been rotated around hinges 30--30 by means of selectively rotatable power sources 31--31 a full 180.degree. for road transport. Also shown are scrapers 42--42 which prevent the accumulation of any undesired soil in packer wheels 26--26.

In operation, the invention is transported to the field to be cultivated in the transport position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The device is then placed in operating position by actuating the selectively reciprocal power sources 31--31 so as to place the wing frames 10--10 in position so that the packer wheels 26--26 and the Danish tines 12--12 may engage the ground.

Selectively reciprocal power source 36 is then actuated to raise the transport wheels 35--35. One or more seed drills may be attached to the rear of the roller tine apparatus with the tractor attached to the tongue 32, the height adjusted by means of threaded member 33 and with the support wheels 27--27 adjusted to the appropriate position, the device is ready for operation. Thus the soil may be prepared for planting and planting actually occurs in one pass over the field with this device.

While this invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is appreciated that variations thereon may be made without departing from the proper scope and spirit of the invention.