Patent ID: 8590632
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: A01B,A01C

Abstract:
1. A tiller apparatus comprising: (a) a support frame; (b) a drive rotor rotatably mounted on said support frame to enable rotation about a transverse drive rotor axis, said drive rotor being rotated by ground contact during movement of said apparatus along the ground; (c) a tillage assembly pivotally connected to said support frame, said tillage assembly including a tillage rotor rotatably mounted thereon and having a tillage rotor axis oriented in substantially parallel relation to said drive rotor axis; (d) a drive mechanism engaged between said drive rotor and said tillage rotor and causing rotation of said tillage rotor in response to rotation of said drive rotor to thereby till soil contacted thereby during said movement of said apparatus along said ground; (e) a tillage rotor alignment mechanism engaged between said support frame and said tillage assembly to maintain a parallel relation of said tillage rotor axis with said drive rotor axis; (f) a biasing member engaged between said tillage rotor alignment mechanism and said tillage assembly and exerting a downward force on said tillage assembly to thereby maintain contact between said tillage rotor and the ground; (g) wherein said biasing member comprises an air shock capable of being adjusted by altering compressed air pressure within said biasing member; and (h) wherein said tillage assembly pivots against said support frame in order to maintain contact between said tillage rotor and the ground.