Patent ID: 8359988
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. An agricultural implement for tilling at least a strip of soil to be planted, comprising a tillage device for penetrating and tilling a strip of soil and displacing soil and residue upwardly, said tillage device including at least one coulter wheel mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation and positioned at least in part below the soil, when tilling said strip of soil, such that said coulter wheel is able to cut a slit in the soil; a depth control device laterally offset from the centerline of said strip of soil and mounted for rotation about a second axis of rotation located rearwardly of the trailing end of said tillage device, said depth control device being positioned to intercept soil and residue displaced upwardly by said tillage device, said depth control device having a soil-engaging surface for controlling the elevation of said implement such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are fixed relative to each other; and multiple tines made of a polymeric material, mounted on said depth control device, and extending laterally away from only one side of said depth control device toward said centerline to intercept a portion of the soil and residue displaced upwardly by said tillage device, said tines being attached to said depth control device only at one end of each tine with the attachment end of said tines located radially inwardly from said soil-engaging surface of said depth control device and the free ends of said tines terminating laterally short of said centerline and vertically between the elevations of the upper and lower edges of said depth control device, whereby said tines remain entirely above the soil engaged by said depth control device (i) as said depth control device rotates above the soil, and (ii) while said coulter wheel is positioned at least in part below the soil to cut a slit in the soil.