A cultivating implement has a row of soil working members journalled along the length of an elongated frame portion. The frame portion extends transverse to the direction of implement travel and a support beam with further soil working members is positioned at the rear of the frame portion. The support beam is interconnected to the frame portion by arms and at least one, preferably two, pivot points on each arm enable adjustments of the level of the support beam with the further soil working members to be effected. One pivot point is at the rear portion of each arm and includes locking and pivot bolts. A second pivot point, again including locking and pivot bolts, connects the forward portion of each arm to the frame portion.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the soil cultivating implement or 
cultivator which is illustrated is in the form of a rotary harrow having a 
frame which includes a frame portion in the form of a hollow box-shaped 
beam 1 that extends substantially horizontally transverse, and normally 
substantially perpendicular, to the intended direction of operative travel 
of the rotary harrow, which is indicated by an arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 2 of 
the drawings. A plurality, such as 12, of vertical or substantially 
vertical shafts 2 are rotatably journalled in the hollow beam 1 in lower 
bearings 4 and aligned upper bearings carried by the top of the frame 
portion 1. The shafts 2 are arranged in a single row and are spaced apart 
from one another by equal distances that are preferably substantially 25 
centimeters. The lowermost end of each shaft 2 that projects from beneath 
the corresponding lower bearing 4, that is fastened to the bottom of the 
hollow beam 1, carries a corresponding soil working member or rotor that 
is generally indicated by the reference 3. 
Each of the soil working members or rotors 3 comprises a substantially 
horizontally disposed tine support 5 rigidly secured at its midpoint to 
the lowermost end of the corresponding shaft 2, said support 5 carrying, 
at its opposite ends, substantially vertically disposed sleevelike tine 
holders 7. Each of the tine holders 7 is constructed and arranged to 
receive the fastening portion 8 of a corresponding rigid soil working tine 
6, but when the rotary harrow is arranged for operation in the manner 
illustrated in the drawings, only every third one of said members or 
rotors 3 along the single row thereof is provided with tines 6, the other 
members or rotors 3 being left without tines. As viewed from behind in the 
direction A, the extreme right-hand soil working member or rotor 3 has 
tines 6 so that, with the 12 members or rotors 3 that are provided in the 
embodiment that is being described by way of example, four of those 
members or rotors 3 have tines 6 while the remaining eight do not. 
The fastening portions 8 of the tines 6 provided, at their uppermost ends, 
with screw-threaded parts that receive co-operating fastening nuts 11A, 
said fastening nuts 11A preferably incorporating inserts (not visible in 
the drawings) arranged co-operate frictionally with the screw-threads of 
the fastening portions 8 to prevent vibration during operation from 
working the nuts loose. The lowermost ends of the nuts 11A are preferably 
also of frusto-conical configuration to co-operate with matchingly shaped 
surfaces at the upper internal ends of the tine holders 7 for supporting 
and centering purposes. The fastening portions 8 carry diametrically 
opposed lugs 10 near their lower ends and those lugs are arranged for 
reception in matchingly shaped notches or recesses formed at the lowermost 
ends of the holders 7 so that, when the tines 6 are secured in their 
operative positions, they cannot turn about the axes of their fastening 
portions 8 in the holders 7. The lowermost ends of the fastening portions 
8 merge integrally into active or soil working portions 9 of the tines 6, 
said active or soil working portions 9 making integral junctions with the 
fastening portions 8 but said junctions being of an angular formation 
which is such that the longitudinal axes of the two straight portions 8 
and 9 are inclined to one another, at the corresponding junction, by an 
angle of substantially 8.degree. . The length of each active or soil 
working portion 9 conveniently has a magnitude of substantially 32 
centimeters and it will be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 of the 
drawings that each such portion 9 is progressively flattened towards its 
lowermost free end or tip in such a way that the flat surfaces which are 
formed at opposite sides of each portion 9 (one such surface being visible 
in elevation in FIG. 3 of the drawings) both extend substantially 
tangentially with respect to circles centered upon the axis of rotation of 
the corresponding member or rotor 3. As will be evident from FIG. 2 of the 
drawings, the flat surfaces which have just been mentioned converge in a 
direction towards the lowermost free end or tip of each active or soil 
working portion 9. 
Each of the four working members or rotors 3 that has tines 6 is partially 
surrounded by a corresponding screen 11, each screen 11 being rigidly, but 
releasably, secured to the overlying hollow beam 1 by a pair of supports. 
The lower ends of the supports 12 are fastened to corresponding vertically 
or substantially vertically disposed side parts 13 of each screen 11, said 
side parts 13 extending substantially parallel to the direction A. The 
leading end of each side part 13 with respect to the direction A 
terminates in a corresponding inclined portion 14. It will be seen from 
FIG. 1 of the drawings that the two inclined portions 14 that correspond 
to each screen 11 have their substantially vertically disposed general 
planes oppositely inclinded to the direction A so as to converge 
rearwardly with reference to that direction and from FIGS. 2 and 3 of the 
drawings that each portion 14 is of generally triangular configuration 
with the leading edge thereof (again with reference to the direction A) 
inclined rearwardly from top to bottom. The rearmost ends of the two side 
parts 13 of each screen 11 are interconnected by a corresponding rear part 
15 that is substantially vertically disposed so as to lie transverse, and 
normally substantially perpendicular, to the direction A. The rear parts 
15 have bent-over rims which are formed with a row of vertially spaced 
apart holes 17 arranged for alignment with similarly disposed holes at the 
rearmost ends of the side parts 13, small horizontal bolts 16 being 
provided for entry through selected registering holes to secure the rear 
parts 15 in corresponding height settings relative to the side parts 13. 
Each of the side parts 13 and rear part 15 preferably has a vertical 
extent of substantially 18.5 centimeters, it being noted that this 
dimension is equal to substantially two-thirds of the preferred length of 
one of the active or soil working tine portions 9. Each side part 13 has a 
length in the direction A of substantially 43 centimeters and the 
perpendicular distance between the two parallel side parts 13 of each 
screen 11 is preferably not less than substantially 30 centimeters. 
Each of the opposite lateral sides or ends of the hollow beam 1 is closed 
by a corresponding substantially vertically disposed sector plate 20 that 
extends substantially parallel to the direction A. Substantially 
horizontally aligned pivots 19 that are disposed at the top and front of 
the beam 1 and sector plates 20 with respect to the direction A define a 
common axis that is substantially perpendicular to said direction and arms 
18 are turnable upwardly and downwardly about that axis alongside the two 
sector plates 20. Each plate 20 is formed near its rearmost edge with 
respect to the direction A with a row of holes 21 that are all equidistant 
from the common substantially horizontal axis defined by the pivots 19. 
The arms 18 are formed with single holes at the same distance from the 
axis which has just been mentioned and horizontal locking bolts 22 or 
other locking members are provided for entry through the single holes in 
the arms 18 and through chosen holes 21 to retain the arms 18 in 
corresponding angular settings about the axis defined by the pivots 19. A 
support beam 23 that preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, 
is of hollow formation and square cross-section, extends between the 
rearmost ends of the arms 18 in a horizontal direction that is transverse, 
and normally substantially perpendicular, to the direction A. The opposite 
ends of the support beam 23 carry short forwardly directed strips 24 which 
are connected to the rearmost ends of the arms 18 by corresponding pairs 
of bolts 25 and 26. As can be seen from FIG. 4 of the drawings, the rear 
bolts 26 are pivot bolts entered through single holes in the arms 18 and 
strips 24 whereas the leading bolts 25 are locking bolts entered through 
single holes in the arms 18 but through arcuately curved slots 27A in the 
strips 24, the centers of curvature of said slots 27A coinciding with the 
common axis defined by the two pivot bolts 26. It will be evident that the 
support beam 23 can be retained in a chosen angular setting about the axis 
defined by the bolts 26 by appropriate adjustment and tightening of the 
bolts 25 and 26. 
The support beam 23 carries a number of ridging bodies 27 that is equal to 
the number of members or rotors 3 having tines 6 so that, in the 
embodiment which is being described, there are four of the ridging bodies 
27 spaced apart from one another at equal distances along the support beam 
23 and each holder 29 comprises a set bolt by which a corresponding 
upright support bracket 28 can be maintained in a chosen setting of 
vertical adjustment relative thereto. The four upright support brackets 28 
have the four ridging bodies 27 fixedly secured to their lowermost ends 
and thearrangement is such that, as can be seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, 
each ridging body 27 is located to the rear of the corresponding 
tine-carrying soil working member or rotor 3 with respect to the direction 
A in longitudinal alignment with that member or rotor 3 considered in said 
direction. The ridging members 27 are upwardly and downwardly adjustable 
with the aid of the support brackets 28 and holders 29 and are angularly 
tiltable about the axis defined by the bolts 26 employing those bolts and 
the bolts 25, in the manner described above. 
The top of the hollow beam 1 has arms 30 rigidly secured to it in such a 
way that both arms 30 extend substantially horizontally with their leading 
ends projecting forwardly in front of the beam 1 with respect to the 
direction A. It will be noted from FIG. 1 of the drawings that, as seen in 
plan view, both arms 30 are similarly inclined to the direction A. The 
leading ends of the arms 30 carry substantially vertically disposed 
sleevelike holders 31 which are provided with set bolts and which receive 
upwardly and downwardly displaceable supports 32 whose lowermost ends 
carry axles around which corresponding ground wheels 33 are rotatable. The 
arrangement is such that, as can be seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the 
planes of rotation of the two ground wheels 33 are in longitudinal 
register in the direction A with the outermost two of the four 
tine-carrying members or rotors 3 and the outermost two of the four 
ridging bodies 27. 
One of the center pair of shafts 2 of the single row thereof has an upward 
extension into a gear box 34 mounted on top of the hollow beam 1. A rotary 
input shaft 35 projects forwardly with respect to the direction A from the 
front of the gear box 34 and is splined or otherwise key in such a way as 
to enable it to be placed in driven connection with the power take-off 
shafts of an operating agricultural tractor or other vehicle by way of an 
intermediate telescopic transmission shaft 36, that is of a construction 
which is known per se, having universal joints at its opposite ends. Each 
of the 12 shafts 2 is provided, inside the hollow beam 1, with a 
corresponding straight- or spur-toothed pinion 37 and it will be seen from 
the drawings that the teeth of each pinion 37 are in mesh with those of 
its neighbour, or each of its neighbors, in the single row thereof. Shafts 
and pinions within the gear box 34 transmit rotary drive from the input 
shaft 35 thereof to the shafts 2 and the transmission includes a 
change-speed gear 38 mounted at the rear of the gear box 34. It is not 
necessary to describe the construction of the change-speed gear 38 in 
detail but, briefly, it comprises interchageable and/or exchangeable 
pinions and will provide a different transmission ratio between the input 
shaft 35 and that shaft 2 in dependence upon the chosen pinions and/or the 
chosen arragement thereof. The result is that different speeds of rotation 
of the shafts 2 can be attained without changing the input speed of 
rotation applied to the shaft 35. The front of the hollow beam 1 with 
respect to the direction A carries a coupling member or trestle 39 of 
generally triangular configuration that is constructed and arranged to 
enable the rotary harrow to be connected to the three-point lifting device 
or hitch at the rear of an operating agricultural tractor or other vehicle 
in the manner which is illustrated in outline in FIG. 1 of the drawings. 
In the use of the rotary harrow that has been described, its coupling 
member or trestle 39 is connected to the three-point lifting device or 
hitch at the rear of an agricultural tractor or other operating vehicle 
and the input shaft 35 of the gear box 34 is placed in driven connection 
with the power take-off shaft of the same tractor or other vehicle by way 
of the intermediate telescopic transmission shaft 36. Upon moving the 
harrow in the direction A over soil that is to be worked, the tines 6 of 
the members or rotors 3 work soil very intensively within the screens 11. 
Each shaft 2 rotates in a direction opposite to its neighbor, or each of 
its neighbors, and the four shafts 2 that correspond to the tine-carrying 
members or rotors 3 rotate in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 
of the drawings. The speed of rotation thereof is preferably substantially 
420 revolutions per minute but, as discussed above, that speed can be 
increased or decreased by an appropriate adjustment of the change-speed 
gear 38 when required to deal with varying soil consistencies and 
operating conditions. The tines 6 project downwardly beneath the screen 11 
by substantially 13 cenitmeters and crumble earth received within the 
screens 11 very intensively. The flattened sides of the portions 9 of the 
tines 6 co-operate with the various parts of the screens 11 in producing a 
very finely divided stock of soil within the screens 11 and this finely 
divided soil progressively escapes from beneath the rear parts 15 of the 
screens 11 where it is left in line with the following ridging bodies 27. 
The ridging bodies 27 form the finely divided soil into ridges or build up 
any existing ridges with growing plants that there may already be. 
The rear parts 15 of the screens 11 can be set at levels relative to the 
side parts 13 thereof which are appropriate to the nature of the soil 
being worked and to the operating conditions generally by engaging the 
bolts 16 in corresponding holes 17. The controlled release of finely 
divided earth from the screens 11 to the ridging bodies 27 ensures a 
substantially uninterrupted supply to those ridging members so that they 
form or augment ridges in a very uniform manner. Clearly, the rate of 
supply of finely divided soil to the ridging members 27 will be greater 
when the rear parts 15 of the screens 11 are located at higher levels than 
is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings in respect of one of them. 
Supply in greater volume per unit time is important when ridges are being 
initially formed rather than when an operation is being undertaken to 
augment already existing ridges. When work is being carried out between 
the existing ridges in which plants such, purely for example, as potatoes, 
are growing, then it is preferred that the tines 6 should be placed in the 
positions indicated by broken lines for the lowermost ends of their active 
or soil working portions 9 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. This is 
achieved merely by loosening the nuts 11A, turning the fastening portion 8 
through 180.degree. in the holders 7 to interchange the lugs 10 and their 
co-operating notches or recesses and finally retightening the nuts 11A. 
The active or soil working portions 9 of the tines 6 then converge, rather 
than diverge, in a downward direction so that the working width of each 
tine-carrying member or rotor 3 is reduced and the danger of damage to 
potatoes or other sub-surface crops growing in the existing ridges is 
minimized. As previously mentioned, the straight active or soil working 
portions 9 of the tines 6 preferably have length of substantially 32 
centimeters and it is preferred that they should not be less than 30 
centimeters in length. 
The supports 12 and arms 30 are readily detachable from the hollow beam 1 
and the support beam 23 carrying the ridging bodies 27 can be readily 
replaced by a ground roller or other supporting member. Upon taking these 
steps and providing the empty tine holders 7 with soil working tines, the 
rotary harrow can quite quickly and easily be brought to a condition in 
which it can be employed for the formation of a seed bed without 
performing any ridge construction. 
Although various features of the soil cultivating implement or cultivator 
that has been described and/or that is illustrated in the accompanying 
drawings will be set forth in the following claims as inventive features, 
it is emphasized that the invention is not necessarily limited to those 
features and that is includes within its scope each of the parts of the 
soil cultivating implement or cultivator that has been described and/or 
that is illustrated in the accompanying drawings both individually and in 
various combinations.