INDEXED SEEDBED TILLAGE ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

An agricultural tillage implement, comprising at least one section including a plurality of attachment bars; and a plurality of indexed seedbed tillage arrangements distributed on the at least one section, each indexed seedbed tillage arrangement including a first horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a first attachment bar; a second horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a second attachment bar and offset in the travel direction from the first horizontal tillage apparatus; and a vertical tillage apparatus coupled to a third bar of the plurality of bars and offset in the travel direction from the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses, positioned such that it processes soil not disturbed by the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses.

Claims

1. An agricultural tillage implement, comprising: at least one section including a plurality of attachment bars; and a plurality of indexed seedbed tillage arrangements distributed on the at least one section, each indexed seedbed tillage arrangement including: a first horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a first attachment bar; a second horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a second attachment bar and offset in the travel direction from the first horizontal tillage apparatus; and a vertical tillage apparatus coupled to a third bar of the plurality of bars and offset in the travel direction from the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses, positioned such that it processes soil not disturbed by the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses.

2. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1, wherein the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses are sweeps.

3. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1, wherein the vertical tillage apparatus is at least one colter.

4. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1, wherein the vertical tillage apparatus is at least one spider wheel.

5. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1, further comprising: a third horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a third bar and offset in the travel direction from the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses, wherein the vertical tillage apparatus is offset in the travel direction from the first, second, and third horizontal tillage apparatuses.

6. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1, wherein the at least one section is a foldable wing section.

7. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1, wherein a distance measured perpendicular to the travel direction between adjacent vertical tillage apparatuses is 30 inches.

8. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1, wherein the offset is 10 inches.

9. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 5, wherein the offset is 7.5 inches.

10. An indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of an agricultural tillage implement, the implement including at least one section including a plurality of attachment bars; the indexed seedbed tillage arrangement including: a first horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a first attachment bar; a second horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a second attachment bar and offset in the travel direction from the first horizontal tillage apparatus; and a vertical tillage apparatus coupled to a third bar of the plurality of bars and offset in the travel direction from the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses, positioned such that it processes soil not disturbed by the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses.

11. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 10, wherein the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses are sweeps.

12. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 10, wherein the vertical tillage apparatus is at least one colter.

13. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 10, wherein the vertical tillage apparatus is at least one spider wheel.

14. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 10, further comprising: a third horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a third bar and offset in the travel direction from the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses, wherein the vertical tillage apparatus is offset in the travel direction from the first, second, and third horizontal tillage apparatuses.

15. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 10, wherein the at least one section is a foldable wing section.

16. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 10, wherein a distance measured perpendicular to the travel direction between adjacent vertical tillage apparatuses is 30 inches.

17. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 10, wherein the offset is 10 inches.

18. The indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of claim 14, wherein the offset is 7.5 inches.

19. A method of tilling an agricultural field to prepare a seedbed, the method comprising: providing a plurality of indexed seedbed tillage arrangements of an agricultural tillage implement, the implement including at least one section including a plurality of attachment bars, each indexed seedbed tillage arrangement including: a first horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a first attachment bar; a second horizontal tillage apparatus coupled to a second attachment bar and offset in the travel direction from the first horizontal tillage apparatus; and a vertical tillage apparatus coupled to a third bar of the plurality of bars and offset in the travel direction from the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses, positioned such that it processes soil not disturbed by the first and second horizontal tillage apparatuses; and operating the agricultural tillage implement along at least one path of the agricultural field.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein a distance measured perpendicular to the travel direction between adjacent vertical tillage apparatuses is 30 inches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a prior art example of a horizontal tillage implement in the form of a sweep;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a prior art example of a vertical tillage implement in the form of a fluted colter;

[0021] FIG. 3 is an overhead view of a prior art example of a seedbed tillage arrangement on an agricultural tillage implement;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a an overhead view of a an agricultural tillage implement which includes an embodiment of an indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a detail of the agricultural tillage implement of FIG. 4 which illustrates two adjacent indexed seedbed tillage arrangements; and

[0024] FIG. 6 is a detail illustrating two adjacent indexed seedbed tillage arrangements of an alternate embodiment of an indexed seedbed tillage arrangement of the present invention.

[0025] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a prior art example of a horizontal tillage implement in the form of a sweep 10. Sweeps are well-known in the art of horizontal agricultural tillage, and are typically used to eliminate weeds and other undesirable vegetation in order to prepare a seedbed. Sweeps cut vegetation at or below the root level, turn over soil, and assist in herbicide incorporation.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a prior art example of a vertical tillage implement in the form of a fluted colter 12. Colters (also spelled coulters) are well-known in the art of vertical agricultural tillage, and are typically used to break through and turn over soil. Colters come in a variety of configurations; including plain, wavy, fluted, notched, etc.

[0028] Although sweeps are illustrated as examples of horizontal tillage implements and colters are illustrated as vertical tillage implements, such illustrations are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Other types of vertical and horizontal tillage implements can be placed in the inventive indexed arrangement as described below and still fall within the scope of the invention.

[0029] Now referring to FIG. 3, a prior art example of a an agricultural tillage implement 14 is illustrated. Prior art agricultural tillage implement 14 includes seedbed tillage arrangement 16, main section 18, tow hitch 20, wheels 22, wing sections 24, and harrows 26. Additionally, and not illustrated, agricultural tillage implement 14 may be configured with a crumbler, rolling basket, or other implements in addition to or in lieu of the harrows 26.

[0030] Prior art seedbed tillage arrangement 16 can include ground-engaging sweeps 28 distributed throughout main section 18 and wing sections 24. As seen in FIG. 3, the sweeps 28 are arranged in a staggered manner so that when agricultural tillage implement 14 is pulled in a travel direction T, the soil in the path along the entire width W is disturbed by the sweeps 28. Harrows 26 then further disturb the soil, smoothing the surface to make it uniform and amenable to planting.

[0031] Now referring to FIG. 4, agricultural tillage implement 30 is illustrated according to the present invention. Agricultural tillage implement 30 includes indexed seedbed tillage arrangements 32, main section 34, tow hitch 36, wheels 38, and wing sections 40. Main section 34 and wing sections 40 include bars 46. Additionally, and not illustrated, agricultural tillage implement 30 may be configured with a harrow, crumbler, rolling basket, or other agricultural implements in any combination.

[0032] Now referring to FIG. 5 with continued referral to FIG. 4, the inventive indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 is illustrated by detailing two adjacent arrangements, although any number of indexed seedbed tillage arrangements 32 can be provided in accordance with the invention.

[0033] Indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 can include horizontal tillage implements 42 and vertical tillage implements 44 removably coupled to attachment bars 46. Attachment bars 46 may be continuous, as illustrated, or of varying lengths. Horizontal tillage implements 42 are removably coupled on separate attachment bars 46 at a distance A1, the distance measure perpendicular to the travel direction T. In turn, vertical tillage implements 44 are removably coupled to attachment bars 46 at a distance A2 from the nearest horizontal tillage implement 42, the distance measure perpendicular to the travel direction T. The distance A1 is equal to the distance A2.

[0034] For two indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 adjacent to each other as illustrated in FIG. 5, the distance A3 measured perpendicularly to the travel direction T between the vertical tillage implement 44 of the first indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 and the nearest horizontal tillage implement 42 of the adjacent indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 is equal to A1 and therefore also equal to A2.

[0035] As a result of the advantageous distribution of horizontal and vertical tillage implements described herein, each indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 produces rows of horizontally-tilled soil 48 of widths F1 and F2, and a row of vertically-tilled soil 50 of width F3. It can therefore be seen that the vertical tillage implement 44 of each indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 operates in soil that has not been disturbed by any horizontal tillage implements 42, thereby providing advantages previously disclosed herein.

[0036] In an advantageous arrangement, A1=A2=A3=F1=F2=F3=10 inches, which results in the vertical tillage implements 44 being 30 inches from one another in adjacent indexed seedbed tillage arrangements 32. Therefore, the prepared seedbed rows are 30 inches away from each other, shown as distance D in FIG. 5.

[0037] Now referring to FIG. 6 with continued referral to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of an inventive indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 52 is illustrated by detailing two adjacent arrangements, although any number of indexed seedbed tillage arrangements 52 can be provided in accordance with the invention.

[0038] Indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 52 can include horizontal tillage implements 54 and vertical tillage implements 56 removably coupled to attachment bars 58. Attachment bars 58 may be continuous, as illustrated, or of varying lengths. Horizontal tillage implements 54 are removably coupled on separate attachment bars 58 at a distance B1 and B2 from each other, the distance measure perpendicular to the travel direction T. In turn, vertical tillage implements 56 are removably coupled to attachment bars 58 at a distance B3 from the nearest horizontal tillage implement 54, the distance measure perpendicular to the travel direction T. The distance B1 is equal to the distance B2, and the distance B2 is equal to the distance B3.

[0039] For two indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 32 adjacent to each other as illustrated in FIG. 5, the distance B4 measured perpendicularly to the travel direction T between the vertical tillage implement 56 of the first indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 52 and the nearest horizontal tillage implement 54 of the adjacent indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 52 is equal to B1 and therefore also equal to B2 and B3.

[0040] As a result of the advantageous distribution of horizontal and vertical tillage implements described herein, each indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 52 produces rows of horizontally-tilled soil 60 of widths G1 and G2 and G3, and a row of vertically-tilled soil 62 of width G4. It can therefore be seen that the vertical tillage implement 56 of each indexed seedbed tillage arrangement 52 operates in soil that has not been disturbed by any horizontal tillage implements 54, thereby providing advantages previously disclosed herein.

[0041] In an advantageous arrangement, B1=B2=B3=B4=G1=G2=G3=G4=7.5 inches, which results in the vertical tillage implements 56 being 30 inches from one another in adjacent indexed seedbed tillage arrangements 52. Therefore, the prepared seedbed rows are 30 inches away from each other, shown as distance E in FIG. 6.

[0042] Although the distance between prepared seedbed rows of 30 inches is used in the inventive embodiments, it is to be understood that any other distances between seedbed rows may be used and remain in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0043] It is to be understood that various configurations can be used to obtain the inventive result of indexed horizontal and vertical tillage implements, yet fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the implements may be arranged in a different manner yet still result in a seedbed row processed only by a vertical tillage implement, with the soil between the seedbed rows processed by horizontal tillage implements. Another example falling within the scope of the invention, but not illustrated, is a single vertical tillage implement ahead of and in line with a trailing vertical tillage implement.

[0044] While improved agricultural tillage tools have been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.