Abstract:
A coulter disc for use in an agricultural implement is divided into a plurality of segments each having an arcuate pattern of bolt holes offset by a radius r from a displaced center such that material removed in dividing said coulter is accounted for when the disc is reassembled on an implement. The coulter disc is provided with capture devices radially outwardly of the arcuate pattern that connect the edges of the segments to reduce distortion.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a segmented design for a coulter disc, a device commonly used in agricultural applications, having a capture device which allows the disc to be divided into individual sections and subsequently reassembled to create a stable mounting pattern. In another embodiment, a bolt hole pattern design for a coulter disc, commonly used in agricultural applications, utilizes multiple spacing patterns allowing the disc to be divided into individual sections and reassembled in a way that the bolt holes are spaced closer to the divided edge of the disc segment than through the main body of the disc segment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Currently, coulter discs have a concentric mounting pattern and remain in a single or unitary disc form. This style of coulter disc has a center aperture through which the mounting hub or axle on which the hub is secured must pass. Thus, the disc must be slid over the mounting hub from one end or the other of the axle on which the coulter is carried in an implement assembly. A coulter is often mounted on the outer portion of the assembly when used as individual discs. Other applications using multiple coulter discs, such as the ones in a disc harrow, have a common axle that runs through multiple discs. In such an arrangement, replacement of the innermost discs means that all of the discs between the disc to be replaced and the end of the axle must be disengaged or removed from the axle to gain access to the inner discs. In some applications it would be beneficial to be able to remove and/or replace inner discs in an assembly without having to first disengage or remove the outer discs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the rapid replacement of coulter discs on agricultural implements. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to enable the replacement of coulter discs without the need to disengage or replace any other part of the implement. These and other objects of the invention are implemented through the use of a segmented disc which can be secured to the axle or hub in a manner that provides substantially the same stability and effectiveness as a standard solid disc. The specifics of such discs are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is side elevation view of a coulter showing the eccentric offset of the pattern; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the bolt pattern on two coulter portions; and, 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of this embodiment of the coulters mounted on an axle. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention showing a capture device joining edges of the segments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an assembly using multiple coulters and mounting flanges. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 6   a  &amp;  b  are side elevation views of two variations of a capture device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view showing another embodiment of the capture device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of an exemplary capture device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    One or more of the above objects can be achieved, at least in part, by providing a bolt-hole design in the coulter discs such that the mounting pattern of a manufactured disc compensates for material loss during division of the disc by utilizing an eccentric mounting pattern as shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Note that  FIG. 1  is a unitary coulter disc  11 , with a unique mounting pattern on both sides A and B. The patterns are comprised of a set of holes  12  that are radially spaced by a specified angle θ, and are set a distance R, from the theoretical center of each set of holes. This theoretical center is offset from the centerline of the disc by a distance X. It is to be understood that the distance X is proportional to the amount of material removed from the disc when the disc is divided into segments. That is to say, if the disc  11  is mechanically divided into segments such as by a saw or laser cutting tool, then a volume of the disc along the centerline is removed by the saw. This volume will have a width dimension along the centerline such that if the disc is formed with bolt holes  12  spaced radially concentric with the geometric center of the disc, then divided into segments and rejoined by bolting onto a flange  14  welded to a support  16 , such as an axle, a gap will be left between the leading and trailing edges of the segments. By offsetting the center of the are formed by the holes  12  in each segment  21 ,  31  from the geometric center, then, when the disc is divided along the centerline, CL, the resulting coulter segments  21  and  31  can be rejoined in a manner so that the theoretical centers are aligned and form a concentric mounting pattern with minimal clearance along the divided edge. The resulting concentric pattern makes an otherwise arduous task of mounting coulter discs in the center of an assembly less time and energy consumptive. Repair of inner discs in one such assembly shown in  FIG. 3  would not be possible without this method of dividing coulter discs because the flanges shown at  4 , are welded in place and would have to be cut loose and re-welded each time an inner coulter disc requires replacing. 
         [0014]    The bolt-hole patterns currently available in coulter discs use a single pattern to space the bolt holes radially around the disc. Should the common disc be divided and reassembled, it will leave an unsupported area between the divided edge of the disc and the center of the nearest bolt hole. This unsupported area allows the disc edges to twist and deform while engaging the ground. By employing the method of multiple patterns, the spacing between the holes  12  through the body of the segmented disc can have one value and the distance between the edge of disc and the nearest hole can have a different value that may or may not be a multiple of the first value. Shown in  FIG. 1 , the spacing between the bolt holes  12  is θ and the angle between the divided edge of the coulter and the nearest hole  12  is α. It is evident from this figure that the divided edge of the coulter will be much closer to the first bolt hole because of the multiple pattern spacing, which will in turn provide more support to the coulter edges than if the constant spacing θ was maintained. 
         [0015]    It may be noted that the forces applied to the segments at the leading edges  21   a ,  31   a  and trailing edges  21   b ,  31   b  thereof when the coulter disc is in use may tend to displace the edges from each other transversely of the plane of the disc at the periphery of the disc. This is even more pronounced when the edges of the segments are not in close contact with each other. To combat displacement of the edges, we have devised capture elements  15  that will hold the edges of adjacent segments in close relation to each other. These capture elements may be thought of as securing or alignment devices as well. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , capture elements  15  are received in apertures  22  formed in the coulter disc at a distance Y along the dividing centerline such that the dividing centerline passes through the center of the aperture such that a notch, crescent or semi-circular section of adjacent segments is removed along its leading and trailing edges. The aperture may be formed in any shape, circular or non-circular, as long as it allows the capture device to engage both sides of both edges of adjacent segments, thus when a carriage bolt is used as a capture element, the aperture may be square. When the disc is reassembled using the bolt holes  12  and complimentary bolts to attach the segments to a flange  4 , a complete aperture  22  is reformed to receive the capture element. As shown in  FIG. 6   a  &amp;  b  the capture elements  15  may be a bolt  24  and nut  25  with washers  26  secured within the aperture when the disc segments are rejoined. Likewise a specialized spool shaped capture element  31  having a beveled periphery  33  may also be positioned in the two part aperture  22  when segments  21 ,  31  are secured to flange  14 . The device with the beveled periphery will be less disruptive to the soil adjacent the coulter and less likely to accumulate debris. In either form of the capture element, a connecting member passes through the aperture  22  and carries to two distended bearing surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the connecting member, with the bearing surfaces substantially abutting opposite sides of the coulter disc. The capture device  15  holds the adjacent edges of the segments together during the utilization of the coulter disc. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 &amp; 8  the capture device may also positively engage both segments as with a pair of link members extending across the division between the segments and connected to a pair of posts extending through apertures in each segment near the dividing line. One link extends on each side of the coulter such that the posts and link may resemble a chain linkage as shown in  FIG. 8 . Alternatively, a pair of nut and bolt combinations with an intermediate link may be used as well with the link or links connecting bolts secured in apertures in adjacent segments. 
         [0017]    While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been put forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.