Patent ID: 6182770
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
A crop thinning device configured for mounting on a frame for pulling behind a vehicle in a field of crops oriented in rows, said frame having a forward portion, a rearward portion, support wheels for supporting said frame upon the ground, and a hitch disposed on said forward portion for connecting to said vehicle, said crop thinning device comprising:a rotatable hub configured to rotate in a generally upright plane;a pivot connector for connecting said hub to said frame, such that the angular orientation of said hub may be adjusted so as to allow selective orientation of the plane of rotation of said hub relative to the motion of said frame;a plurality of adjustable elongate sweeps extending radially from said hub, said sweeps having an elongate axis and a substantially planar end blade configured for contact with the ground, each of said plurality of sweeps and said substantially planar end blades being rotationally adjustable about said elongate axis; andlocking means coupled to the pivot connector, configured for securing said selective angular orientation of the hub in a fixed position such that the hub will be caused to rotate as said frame is pulled across the ground to cause said end blades to pass transversely through a row of crops as said hub rotates due to the motion of the frame.