Abstract:
A coulter blade includes a plurality of teeth extending radially from a blade body. The teeth are shaped to efficiently cut crop stubble and aerate the soil. The teeth made include a flat side and a sabre-shaped side. The flat side and sabre-shaped side can be alternated on adjacent teeth. Inserts may be included on the blade to improve the function of the blade. Sets of blades having different teeth shapes and insert locations may be provided to permit a user to customize an implement depending on soil and stubble type.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)( 1 ) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/756,481, filed Jan. 25, 2013, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to agriculture tillage equipment. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an efficient device for cutting surface stubble while simultaneously aerating the soil. 
       BACKGROUND THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditional agriculture requires turning of the soil to bury desirable stubble effectively to create needed composted material. With the advent of reduced tillage and minimum tillage farming techniques, coulter blades may be used to cut and reduce the stubble to a manageable size. 
         [0004]    Soil compression is an undesirable effect of tillage equipment interaction with the soil. Vehicle wheels and traditional coulter blades may compress the soil with which they interact. Soil compression over time may lead to less root enhancement, less root travel, and a lesser amount of air in the soil. These effects result in an eventual reduction of product available to an operator. 
         [0005]    A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) stubble may be more substantial than traditional cellulose or stubble. Such GMO stubble is difficult for existing tillage devices to cut. A desired outcome of tillage equipment is GMO stubble cut into smaller segments for ease of compost and eventual GMO breakdown. 
         [0006]    Traditional coulter blades may be unable to effectively cut GMO stubble and create a “wave” of stubble in front of the blade causing an eventual plug. This plug requires the operator to stop work and physically remove the plug before continuing operation. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a need exists for a blade designed to effectively cut GMO stubble while aerating the soil with a minimum amount of contact with the least amount of time. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a plurality of blades representative of a plurality of embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a 32 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths and insert soil impact at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths and insert soil impact at various depths in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an exemplary blade travel at a speed of six mites per hour and associated snapshots every 1/10th second in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of a blade with associated 28 teeth and 28 inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of a blade with associated 28 teeth and 28 inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of alternately oppositely sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of oppositely sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of oppositely sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a side view of alternately sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0024]    The following description presents certain specific embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout. 
         [0025]    One goal of the present invention may include a device capable of cutting the soil with a minimum required Downward Pressure (DP). DP on tillage equipment may be directly proportional to force required to pull the tillage equipment through the field. A reduction in DP equals a corresponding reduction in force and thus, reduced fuel used to pull the equipment, 
       Blade Size and Shape 
       [0026]    An additional goal of the invention includes a blade able to cut and aerate the soil without a lateral pressure on the soil as the blade interacts with the soil. This undesirable lateral pressure or sidewalk push (a lateral force on the soil as the blade interacts) causes a smearing or trowelling action creating a compacted soil barrier impenetrable by a future root system. Each tooth on the variable tooth coulter blade is sharpened only on one side, while the next tooth is sharpened on the opposite side. This alternate sharpening eliminates overall blade sidewall push by opposite and counteracting lateral pressure of each tooth as the tooth interacts with the soil. 
         [0027]    An additional goal of the present invention includes a minimum amount of friction along the sidewall of the blade. Any amount of friction along the sidewall of the blade causes an increase amount of force required to pull the blade through the soil. As an object enters the soil, the surrounding soil tends to grip or hold on to the object. Soils with a higher Cation-Exchange Capacity (CEC) have a greater ability to grasp the object. Embodiments of the present invention create a contact area limited to the portion of the blade more distal from the hub where the sidewall of the blade closer to the hub remains free from soil contact. 
         [0028]    Alternatively, a blade of the present invention may be shaped in a concave design to enable side movement of soil as well as cutting of stubble on the surface. For example, a plurality of concave blades may act to cut the stubble on the surface of the field as well as slightly move the soil, laterally after soil aeration. 
         [0029]    Further, it is contemplated embodiments of the present invention may include a blade for interacting with the side walls of a trench to back fill the void above the trench contents. For example, a trench dug for tile requires backfill after the tile has been laid. Embodiments of the present invention interact with the soil on the sides of the trench as a closing wheel to fill the void above the tile. This backfill creates the archway above the tile preventing the tile from being crushed from additional weight. 
         [0000]    Inserts (0029) Inserts regularly placed proximal to the teeth of the blade form the contact with the soil to allow the blade sidewall to remain free from soil contact. As the blade rotates, each tooth cuts into the soil and each insert enters the soil. As the blade rotates, the insert also rotates about the axis of the blade and penetrates the soil. This insert rotation causes the soil with which the insert is in contact to become fractured and moved. As the blade hub translates in a forward direction, the teeth and inserts rotate about the hub causing the inserts to lift soil to the surface. Depending on the depth of the blade, the insert rotational contact with the soil may be increased (greater depth) or decreased (lesser depth). 
         [0030]    An additional goal of the present invention includes aeration of the soil with which it contacts. Variable size, angle, and number of inserts aerate the soil with which the blade comes into contact. The inserts dig as low as the operator desires and aerate the sub compacted soil sufficiently to allow for follow on root penetration. As each insert interacts with the soil, the insert will affect soil adjacent to the soil directly touched by the insert. This adjacent aeration effect allows for the operator to affect desired tillage by manipulation of the speed of the vehicle and depth of the blade. The greater the speed of the vehicle, the greater the adjacent aeration effect. Preferably a minimum speed may be in the range of two to five miles per hour while a maximum speed may be in the range of eight to ten miles per hour. It is contemplated, speeds less than two or greater than ten miles per hour may be optimal for blades configured within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0031]    An additional goal of the present invention includes leveling of the soil surface for optimal planting of a crop. In embodiments, the variable tooth coulter blade may interact with the soil where tire tracks have compacted the soil. The inserts interact with, aerate and loosen the compacted soil. 
         [0032]    A further goal of the present invention is to aerate the soil without removing large quantities of subsoil to the surface. For example, a coulter blade which removes large clods or clumps of soil to the surface may cause an unrecoverable moisture loss as well as undesirable large cavities below the surface. In addition, large clumps or clods of soil may remain unusable for over one growing season. Embodiments of the present invention may be configured to sufficiently aerate the soil with minimum void creation while leaving soil and root systems intact. 
         [0033]    An additional goal of the present invention is tillage and aeration of the soil without removal of a previous root system. A previous root system may allow for organisms to breakdown and deposit the remnants usable for the next crop. Embodiments of the present invention may cut the root system without removing the root system from below the surface. This clean cut may allow for temperature movement, for water movement and increased aerobic flow to allow for organic organisms to thrive. 
       Insert Angle 
       [0034]    With an alteration of the angle of the insert, the operation of the insert in contact with the soil is altered. For example, an insert angled to slice into the soil at a 90 degree angle of penetration may aerate differently than an insert placed to enter the soil at a 45 degree angle of penetration. A slight change in insert angle may greatly influence the amount of soil brought to the surface after blade interaction. In embodiments, an insert may penetrate the surface of the soil, at a relatively flat 0 degrees from horizontal and exit the surface of the soil after approximately 135 degrees of rotation. 
         [0035]    For example, an operator with a CEC of 20 may have a large amount of surface stubble where the operator desires more dark soil on the surface located in a northern climate. In this case, the angle of the insert may be optimally positioned for greater soil movement to the surface. It may or may not be necessary to alter the size of the insert as the angle change of the insert may be sufficient to transfer the desired amount of soil to the surface. 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, the operator in heavy gumbo with tight soil may desire simply more tillage. In this case, the insert may be widened to create more surface area for the insert to interact with the soil. 
         [0037]    It is contemplated herein, a prescription insert designed for a specific type of soil may enable an operator the flexibility to attain the desired tilt and aeration. A first operator tilling a first specific type of soil may desire a first size and angle of insert white a second operator tilting a second specific type of soil may desire a second size and angle of insert. 
       Insert Width 
       [0038]    The width of the insert may determine an amount of soil desired to be altered. For example, a larger insert may contact a greater amount of soil causing the greater amount of soil to be aerated. 
       Insert Size and Shape 
       [0039]    The shape and size of the insert may determine the amount of aeration of the soil as welt as resistance to breakage in certain types of soil. For example, in rocky soil, a more robust insert resists breakage as a result of impact with a rock. 
         [0040]    For example, in heavy soil, an insert of square shape may optimally interact with the heavy soil. In light soil, an insert of tapered or swept shape may allow for Less contact with the soil while optimally aerating the soil. 
       Insert Location 
       [0041]    It is further contemplated herein, variable insert location may offer desired tillage and aeration qualities capable of the variable tooth coulter blade. An insert positioned more distally from the hub of the blade may provide a greater tillage effect for creating a void capable of receiving an additional element, for example, a planting device placing seeds into the void and a fertilizing device filling the void with a fertilizer. 
       Tooth Size and Shape 
       [0042]    It is contemplated herein, the size and shape of each tooth may be altered for optimal performance for a particular type of soil. For example, in rocky soil, an operator may desire a shorter tooth enabling the teeth to withstand a rock impact whereas in sandy soil, an operator may prefer a Longer tooth to enable greater stubble cutting while offering optimal soil aeration. 
         [0043]    It is further contemplated herein, tooth size and shape may be optimally configured for each of a plurality of soil types encountered by an operator. For example, a blade for rocky soil may possess a specific size and shape of tooth, a blade for non-rocky soil will possess a variant of the size and shape of tooth. While a blade for peat type soil may be optimally sized for penetration, a tooth for red clay or gumbo may be sized differently. Similarly, a blade designed for wet or dry soil may be optimally sized for proper aeration of the specific type of soil. 
         [0044]    In embodiments, the number of teeth and the Length of each tooth blade are sufficient to ensure a cutting blade impacts the soil without leaving surface stubble untouched. More specifically, each tooth blade begins cutting where the previous tooth blade stopped cutting. 
         [0045]    A curved cutting surface on each tooth may allow efficient cut of GMO refuse stubble material. Preferably, each tooth is sized to maintain a cutting surface proximal to the cutting surface of the adjacent tooth. More specifically, a first tooth may cut a two inch surface of the soil while the adjacent tooth will cut the next two inches of soil with no gap in cut surface of the soil. 
         [0046]    The unsharpened side of the tooth is shaped to pull the blade into the soil and maintain the rotation of the blade. Much Like a water wheel, the teeth provide the force for the blade to rotate and minimize blade slippage. 
         [0047]    In embodiments, the cutting blade of each tooth may remain unsharpened for optimal performance in specific types of soil. 
         [0048]    Alternatively, a blade designed for minimum till in heavy soil may be configured with teeth optimally shaped for desired tillage and aeration. Additionally, a blade designed for low CEC soil and medium tillage may be optimally configured with teeth shaped for the desired tillage. Additionally, a blade designed for full till/void creation for fertilizer injection may possess tooth qualities for optimal performance. 
         [0049]    In embodiments, a blade edge of a sharpened tooth may possess a concave or hollow grind cutting surface as each tooth is sharpened. In embodiments, a tooth may be sharpened in an optimal configuration for the anticipated type of stubble. Additionally, the cutting surface of each may be optimally shaped in a sabre or curved shape creating a friction cut as opposed to a pressure cut. 
         [0050]    In embodiments, the angle of tooth cutting surface may be altered for specific types of soil. For example, in rocky soil, the blade edge of each tooth may be lengthened to enable a pushing action as the blade edge of the tooth impacts the rock. 
         [0051]    In embodiments, a longer tooth may efficiently cut GMO stubble more effectively than a shorter tooth. A tooth measuring approximately three inches in length may allow for an efficient cut. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a diagram of a plurality of blades representative of a plurality of embodiments of the present invention is shown. It is contemplated a plurality of designs of blades having a variety of number of teeth may be incorporated within the scope of the present invention. Without limitation, each embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  may be one example of many contemplated herein. The left column of three blades shows an exemplary  16  tooth design, each tooth having a an optimum length to cover the circumference of the blade. Each successive column shows exemplary blades of 20, 24, 28 and 32 teeth designs. Also, inserts placed within the variety of tooth designs may of variable size and variable angle with respect to travel of the blade, in embodiments, the blades travel is from right to Left in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a diagram of a 32 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Of note in  FIG. 2 , inserts are exemplarily placed at every other tooth allowing for 32 teeth and 16 inserts. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Of note in  FIG. 3  there are inserts placed at two separate depths. A first depth is proximal to the hub of the blade while a second depth is more distal from the hub. For example, at a depth of 6.75 inches, both the proximal insert and the distal insert are interacting with the soil. However, if an operator were to reduce the depth to 3.25 inches, the entirety of the distal insert impacts the soil while only a portion of the proximal insert impacts the soil. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The angle of soil entry of each insert may be affected by the depth at which the blade is operated. For example, at a depth of 3.25 inches, an insert may enter the soil at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from horizontal and exit the soil after approximately 90 degrees of travel. Conversely, at a depth of 6.75 inches, an insert may impact the soil at approximately 0 degrees from horizontal and exit the soil after 135 degrees of rotation. This difference may allow an operator to accurately determine an amount of soil to impact and bring to the surface. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths and insert soil impact at various depths in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Shaded areas indicate distal insert and proximal insert interaction with the soil. Darkly shaded areas indicate no insert rotational interaction with the soil. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a diagram of a 28 tooth embodiment showing tooth and insert angle of surface entry at various depths and insert soil impact at various depths in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. Shaded areas indicate insert rotational, interaction with the soil white darkly shaded areas indicate no rotational interaction with the soil. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a diagram of an exemplary blade travel, at a speed of six mites per hour and associated snapshots every 1/10th second in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Indicated rotation of the blade is preferably from right to left with the sabre shape of the blade impacting and cutting the stubble on the surface of the soil. As inserts enter the soil, the rotational action of the inserts may fracture and bring to the surface an amount of soil with which the insert may interact. Additionally, soil proximal to the insert may also be fractured and brought to the surface sue to energy transferred from the insert to the adjacent soil. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a diagram of a blade with associated 28 teeth and 28 inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Travel, may be from left to right where the curved sabre side of each tooth is able to cut surface stubble. At a depth of 6.75 inches, inserts may preferably enter the soil at approximately 0 degrees from horizontal and exit after approximately 135 degrees of rotation. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a diagram of a blade with associated 28 teeth and 28 inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Preferably, alternate sides of the teeth are sharpened to eliminate sidewall, force as the teeth interact with the soil. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a top view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Shaped inserts may be seen protruding from opposite sides of the blade. Preferably, tapered inserts of variable size may be incorporated to manipulate a desired amount of soil. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , a perspective view of alternately oppositely sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Alternate sharpening may be indicated as well as the preferable tapered shape of the inserts. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a perspective view of oppositely sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a perspective view of oppositely sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Inserts may be of variable size and shape. Further, inserts may be placed at a plurality of locations within the blade to optimally impact the type of soil anticipated. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , a side view of alternately sharpened teeth and shaped inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The angle of the insert placement may also be manipulated for optimal performance. As exemplarity indicated, inserts are angled slightly for optimal interaction with the soil. 
         [0066]    It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages wilt be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory.