Earthworking implement with open center frame section

An earthworking implement mounted on a three point hitch of a tractor for tilling compacted soil behind the drive wheels of the tractor. The implement has a transverse main frame including an inverted U-shaped central section carrying outwardly extended beams. Tool bars are adjustably mounted on the beams and carry earthworking tools that till the packed soil in the tracks made by the tractor wheels. The center portion of the frame is open to allow a forwardly directed tongue of a second implement, as a seed drill, to be connected to the draw bar of the tractor.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
Agricultural tractors have a plurality of heavy drive wheels. The drive 
wheels are filled with ballast to increase the traction and the weight of 
the wheels. These heavy wheels, when driven on a seed bed, will compact 
the soil into tracks. Under some soil conditions the packed soil is 
relatively hard and is not readily penetrated by the conventional furrow 
openers or discs of a seed drill. The seed drill will then deposit the 
seed grain on top of the soil with very little coverage of the grain by 
the soil. The compact soil also becomes hard and baked, thereby further 
inhibiting the germination of the seed grain. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
The invention is directed to an earthworking implement used with a draft 
vehicle for working the soil behind the drive wheels of the vehicle. The 
earthworking implement has a frame structure adapted to be releasably 
mounted on the hitch of the vehicle and shaped to permit the connection of 
a tongue of a grain drill or other implement to the conventional draw bar 
of the tractor. The frame structure has an inverted U-shaped mid-section 
that has sufficient clearance which permits the turning of the tractor 
without disconnecting the tongue of a second towing implement or raising 
the earthworking implement. 
The earthworking implement is specifically provided with a main frame 
having a generally inverted U-shaped central portion carrying laterally 
outwardly directed main beams. First tool bar means are located below one 
of the beams. Adjustable connectors are used to mount the tool bar means 
to one of the main beams in a manner which permits lateral adjustment to 
the tool bar means relative to the beam. A second tool bar means is 
located between the other main beam. A second adjustable mounting means 
connects the second tool bar means to the other beam. Each of the 
earthworking tool bar means carries a plurality of spring biased 
earthworking tools. The tools are arranged relative to each other to work 
the soil in the compacted tracks made by the tractor. 
The earthworking implement is readily connected and disconnected from the 
conventional and three point hitch of the tractor. It can be adjusted to 
accommodate different wheel widths and track patterns. The tool 
facilitates the connection of the tongue of an implement, such as a grain 
drill, without making alterations to the implement. The tractor and 
earthworking implement can be turned without disconnecting the grain drill 
or raising the implement out of the soil. The earthworking implement is 
economical and sturdy in construction and reliable and versatile in use. 
When used with a grain drill, the earthworking tool tills the compacted 
soil left by the tractor so that the grain drill will function to evenly 
plant the seeds in the seed bed. This facilitates a maximum and even 
germination of the seed grains. These and other advantages of the 
earthworking implement are set out in the following detailed description 
thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an agricultural tractor indicated 
generally at 10 having an engine 11 located forwardly of a driver's cab 
12. Two pairs of rear drive wheels 13 and 14 are drivably connected to the 
transmission of the tractor. The front of the tractor is supported by a 
pair of front steering wheels 16 and 17. A conventional three point hitch 
18 is located between the rear drive wheels 13 and 14. Hitch 18 comprises 
a pair of rearwardly directed draft links 19 and 21 and an upper central 
control link 22. Control link 22 is foreshortened in FIG. 1 to show the 
connection of the tongue 37 to tractor draw bar 23. Links 19, 21, and 22 
are connected in the conventional manner with pivot pins to the 
transmission casing of the tractor. Tractor 10 also has a lower draw bar 
23 located generally along the central longitudinal axis of the tractor. 
Bar 23 is located below the control link 22, as shown in FIG. 3. 
Returning to FIG. 1, an earthworking implement indicated generally at 24 is 
mounted on the three point hitch 18. Implement 24 functions to work the 
soil in the packed tracks 26 and 27 made by the tractor drive wheels 13 
and 14. The drive wheels 13 and 14 are large diameter pneumatic tires. 
These tires are often filled with a liquid ballast to increase the weight 
and traction of the tires. The weight of the tractor, combined with the 
ballast, compresses and compacts the soil under the tires during movement 
of the tractor over the soil. The packed tracks 26 and 27 do not provide 
the optimum seed bed conditions for seeding or drilling grain into the 
soil. If the packed tracks 26 and 27 were not tilled, the seed would lie 
on top of the soil. This results in reduced germination and an uneven 
stand of grain with the ultimate result of a reduced yield. 
A conventional seed drill 28 is located behind the earthworking implement 
24. Seed drill 28 has a horizontal frame 29 carrying a transverse 
fertilizer hopper 31 and a pair of grain hoppers 32 and 33. A series of 
packer wheels 34 are located below and rearwardly of hoppers 32 and 33. 
Boggey support wheels 36 connected to frame 29 support frame 29 and 
hoppers 31, 32 and 33 on the seed bed. A forwardly directed tongue 37 is 
connected to the center portion of frame 29. Tongue 37 has a forward 
clevis end accommodating a pin 38 used to connect the tongue 37 to the 
draw bar 23 of the tractor. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, earthworking implement 24 has a transverse rigid 
main frame indicated generally at 39. Frame 39 has an open center section 
having an open bottom. Center section can be an inverted U or V. Center 
section comprises a pair of vertical members or posts 41 and 42. The upper 
ends of posts 41 and 42 are joined to a top horizontal cross member 43. 
Gusset plates 44 and 46 are secured to the inside corners of both members 
41 and 43 and 42 and 43. The open center section of the main frame 39 
permits earthworking implement 24 to be raised and lowered without 
disconnecting tongue 37 of grain drill 28 from draw bar 23. Implement 24 
can ride up and down in the soil without contacting frame 39. Also, a 
limited amount of turning of the tractor can be achieved, since the space 
52 between posts 41 and 42 permits angular movement of tongue 37 relative 
to implement 24. 
A first horizontal beam 47 extends outwardly from the mid-section of post 
42. The inner end of beam 47 is secured by welds or the like to post 42. A 
top angled brace 48 is secured at one end to the upper end of post 42. The 
outer end of brace 48 is secured to the approximate mid-section of beam 
47. 
A second horizontal beam 49 is secured to the mid-section of post 41. Beam 
49 is in general horizontal alignment with first beam 47. The inner end of 
beam 49 is secured by welds or the like to the center portion of post 41. 
A top angled brace 51 has an inner end secured to the top of post 41. The 
outer end of brace 51 is secured to the approximate mid-section of second 
beam 49. 
Referring to FIG. 2, a plate 53 is secured to the lower end of vertical 
post 41. Plate 52 carries a forwardly directed support 54. An outwardly 
directed lateral pin 56 is mounted on support 54. Pin 56 is accommodated 
by the hook portion of draft link 19 to connect the draft link to the 
earthworking implement. A second plate 57 is secured to the lower end of 
vertical member 42. A forwardly directed support 58 carrying a laterally 
directed pin 59 is secured to plate 57. The second draft link 21 has a 
hooked outer rear end accommodating the pin 59. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, 
control link 22 is connected to the mid-section of the lower part of 
horizontal member 43. A pair of laterally spaced downwardly directed ears 
61 are secured to the bottom side of member 43. Ears 61 have transversely 
aligned holes to accommodate a connecting pin 62 used to pivotally connect 
the control link 22 to ears 61. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first tool bar means 63 is located below and 
extends parallel to the first beam 47. A plurality of earthworking tools 
64 are mounted on the tool bar means 63 to work the soil behind wheels 13 
of the tractor. A pair of mounts 66 and 67 secure the first tool bar means 
63 to first beam 47. 
The second tool bar means 68 is located below and extends parallel with the 
second beam 49. A plurality of earthworking tools 69 are mounted on the 
second tool bar means 68 and function to work the soil behind wheels 14 of 
tractor 10. A pair of mounts 71 and 72 connect second tool bar means 68 to 
beam 49. The first and second tool bar means 63 and 68 and their 
earthworking tools mounted thereon and the mounts that connect the tool 
bar means to their respective means are identical in construction. The 
following description is limited to the second tool bar means 68 as 
illustrated in detail in FIG. 4. 
Second tool bar means 68 has a pair of transverse tool bars 73 and 74. Bars 
73 and 74 are square tubular members of structural metal. Mount 71 is a 
channel member having a bottom flange 76 secured by welds or the like to 
the top of tool bars 73 and 74. Mount 71 also has a top flange 77 located 
in engagement with the bottom side of beam 49. A pair of nut and bolt 
assemblies 78 and 79 cooperate with a channel member 81 to clamp the mount 
71 to the beam 49. Nut and bolt assemblies 78 and 79 can be released so 
that the mount, along with the tool bars 73 and 74, can be laterally 
adjusted on the beam 49. Mount 72 is identical with mount 71 and is 
adjustably mounted to the beam 49 with a pair of nut and bolt assemblies 
and a channel member 82. Mount 72 is secured by welds to the inner ends of 
the tool bars 73 and 74. This permits the operator to laterally adjust the 
position of tools 69. 
Tool bar means 63 also has a pair of tool bars secured by welds or the like 
to the mount 66 and 67. Nut and bolt assemblies acting on channel members 
83 and 84 adjustably connect mounts 66 and 67 to the beams 47 and permit 
the lateral adjustment of the mounts 66 and 67 and tool bar means 63 
relative to the beam 47. This permits the operator to laterally adjust the 
position of tools 64. 
The earthworking tools 69 are best shown in FIG. 4. Each tool 69 has a 
reversed curved spring standard 86 having a downwardly and forwardly 
curved end carrying a removable tool or shovel 87. A bolt 88 releasably 
connects the shovel to the standard 86. The upper end of standard 86 has a 
rearwardly turned loop 89 that extends over the top of the tool bar 73. 
Loop 89 terminates in a forwardly directed end 91. End 91 is mounted on 
tool bar 73 with a clamp indicated generally at 92. The clamp 92 permits 
the standard 87 to be adjustably mounted along the length of the tool bar 
73. Clamp 92 comprises a right angle member 93 located in engagement with 
the top and rear side of tool bar 73. The lower portion of member 93 has a 
transverse slot 94 accommodating end 91. A nut and bolt assembly 96 
secures the opposite end of right angle member to the end of end 91 and 
thereby clamps the standard 86 to tool bar 73. The forward tool has the 
same structure designated the same reference numbers with the suffix A. An 
example of this clamp structure is shown by Howes in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,896,883. Other types of clamps and harrowing teeth can be mounted on 
tool bars 73 and 74. Examples of suitable harrow teeth structure are shown 
by Andersen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,806,336 and 3,279,869. 
Returning to FIG. 1, three spring harrows are used to cultivate the soil in 
each of the packed tracks made by the dual wheels 13 and 14. Two standards 
86 can be mounted on the rear tool bars 73. One standard is mounted on the 
forward tool bar 77 for each track. Alternatively, the two standards can 
be mounted on the forward tool bar 74 and one standard mounted on the rear 
tool bar 73. The standards 86, being transversely adjustable along the 
tool bars 73 and 74 by virtue of the clamps 73, can be adjusted relative 
to the tracks of the vehicle to provide for the maximum tillage of the 
compacted soil in the tire tracks. 
The open center section of the main frame 39 can have an inverted V-shape 
comprising two side members or posts that converge upwardly. The side 
members can be secured to a short base or top member. The inclined side 
members allow the tongue 22 to ride up when making a short turn. 
While there has been shown and described a preferred earthworking implement 
with a spring tool harrow, it is understood that changes in the structure 
and harrowing tools can be made by those skilled in the art without 
departing from the invention. The invention is defined in the following 
claims.