Abstract:
A field tillage system that reduces soil compaction, fuel consumption, and dust pollution includes a pair of wheeled support assemblies, a pair of booms connected to the wheeled support assemblies so that the booms can be moved up and down with respect to the wheeled support assemblies and in and out with respect to one another, a pair of carriages connected to the booms so that the carriages can be moved hack and forth along the booms, a set of implements connected to the carriages for tilling a field as the carriages move back and forth along the booms, and a drive system connected to the carriages for simultaneously moving the carriages and implements in opposite directions creating opposing forces thereby producing their own traction as they move along the booms.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority on U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/684,102, filed on Aug. 31, 2012 and entitled “Traction Plowing System.” The &#39;102 application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to tillage systems for farming. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a traction tillage system for farming. 
         [0003]    Tillage systems for farming are known in the art. These systems typically include a tractor pulling implements, such as plows, planters, disks, harrows, cultivators, and irrigation spray heads, hack and forth across a field. Conventional tillage systems, however, have several disadvantages. Tractors are heavy and compact soil as they move back and forth across a field. Compacted soil can reduce crop yield by 10-20 percent depending on the extent of the compaction. Conventional tillage systems also use large amounts of fuel because the tractor has to go back and forth across the field repeatedly in order to till the entire field. Finally, conventional tillage systems can create large amounts of dust as the tractor moves back and forth across the field. Accordingly, there is a need for a tillage system that does not suffer from these disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention addresses this need by providing a traction tillage system that reduces soil compaction, fuel consumption, and dust pollution. In one embodiment, the traction tillage system includes a pair of booms, a pair of wheeled support assemblies connected to, and providing support for, the booms, a pair of carriages connected to the booms so the carriages can move back and forth along the booms, a set of implements connected to the carriages for tilling a field as the carriages move back and forth along the booms, and a carriage drive system connected to the carriages and booms for simultaneously moving the carriages in opposite directions along the booms. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0005]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are top views showing one embodiment of the present invention, including exemplary embodiments of the booms, main wheels, carriages, and implements. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in the tilling configuration. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  with the implements in the raised position and the main wheels configured so the embodiment can be moved laterally across a field to begin a new pass across the field. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view showing the soil compaction created by the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a drawing showing the soil compaction created by a conventional tillage system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a motor equipped wheeled support assembly included with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a side view showing exemplary embodiments of the turn and lift sections of the booms, carriages, implements, and turn wheel mechanisms for turning the implements. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side view showing exemplary embodiments of a wheeled boom support, a permanent boom section with trailer wheels, the turn and lift sections of the booms, the turn wheel mechanism for turning the implements, and an end plate that houses return pulleys. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is an end view showing the wheeled boom support and exemplary embodiments of an end support beam, rolling boom supports, and suspended booms. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a top view showing bow the booms can be adjusted according to the number of implements being used. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged side view showing the trailer wheels in the stowed and travel Positions. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a cut-away, enlarged view showing the end support beam and rolling boom support brackets. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of one of the rolling boom support brackets shown in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a view of the rolling boons support bracket shown in  FIG. 13  rotated 180 degrees horizontally. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a side view showing the rolling boom support connected to the end support beam and a boom. 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a side view showing one embodiment of a F-shaped support frame included with the turn wheel mechanism. 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a top view of  FIG. 16  showing one embodiment of a turn wheel connected to the F-shaped support frame. 
           [0022]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged end view showing exemplary embodiments of the boom, carriage, carnage wheel track, carriage wheels, insert tubes included in the boom for receiving the F-shaped support frame, and turn wheel lift track. 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  is a side view showing a second F-shaped support frame included with the turn wheel mechanism. 
           [0024]      FIG. 20  is a top view of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 21  is a cut-away end view showing the F-shaped support frames of the turn wheel mechanism connected to the turn section of the boom using the insert tubes. 
           [0026]      FIG. 22  is a top view showing one of the turn wheels and a turn wheel bracket used to connect the turn wheel to the F-shaped support frame. 
           [0027]      FIG. 23  is a front view of  FIG. 22  showing one embodiment of a swivel arm included with the turn wheel mechanism. 
           [0028]      FIG. 24  is a side view of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 25   a  shows the carriage at a position just before it contacts the turn wheel and the swivel arm. 
           [0030]      FIG. 25   b  shows the swivel arm being lifted by the carriage. 
           [0031]      FIG. 25   c  shows the carriage right before it disengages with the swivel arm and turn wheel. 
           [0032]      FIG. 25   d  shows the swivel arm in a locked position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 26  shows a bottom view of one embodiment of a turntable included with the carriage. 
           [0034]      FIG. 27  is a top view showing one embodiment of the four track wheels included with the carriage. 
           [0035]      FIG. 28  is a side view of the carriage and the turntable shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 29  is a front view of the carriage and turntable shown in  FIG. 28 . 
           [0037]      FIGS. 30   a - 30   m  show how the turn wheel mechanism rotates the turntable included with the carriage. 
           [0038]      FIG. 31  is an enlarged side view of the end plate shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 32  is an end view of the end plate shown in  FIG. 31 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 33  is an end view of the end plate shown in  FIG. 32  with increased spacing between the booms. 
           [0041]      FIGS. 34-35  illustrate how power and hydraulics may be supplied by a conventional tractor in one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2 - 3 , one embodiment of the present invention of a traction tillage system  10  includes a pair of booms,  12  and  14 , a pair of wheeled support assemblies,  16  and  18 , connected to and providing support for the booms, a pair of carriages,  20  and  22 , connected to the booms so that the carriages can move back and forth along the booms, implements,  24  and  26 , connected to the carriages for tilling a field  30 , and a carriage drive system (or pulley drive system) connected to the carriages and the booms for simultaneously moving the carriages in opposite directions along the booms and causing the implements to work against themselves creating their own traction in the process of tiding a field. Implements  24  and  20  may be plows or any other type of equipment used to till a field. Carriage drive system may include a pair of cable spools,  32  and  34 , cables,  36 ,  38 , and  40 , a series of pulleys,  42  and  44  ( FIG. 6 ),  46  ( FIG. 7) and 48  (not shown),  50 ,  52 ,  56 , and  58  ( FIG. 32 ), and a motor or engine  60 . The motor/engine and cable spools may be mounted on wheeled support assembly  16  using a motor/engine support frame  35 , cable  36  may be connected to cable spool  32 , pulleys  44  and  48 , and one end of carriage  20 , cable  38  may be connected to an opposite end of carriage  20 , pulleys  50 ,  52 ,  56 , and  58 , and one end of carriage  22 . Cable  40  may be connected to an opposite end of carriage  22 , pulleys  46  and  42 , and cable spool  34 . 
         [0043]    Motor/engine  60  may be a QSF2.8 (Tier 4 Final/Stage IV) motor manufactured by Cummins, Inc. or any other motor or engine capable of moving the carriages back and forth along the booms. Detailed information regarding the QSF2.8 engine may be found at cummingsengines.com. 
         [0044]    Wheeled support assembly  16  may include a first support frame  62  connected to the booms and wheeled support assembly  18  may include a second support frame  64  connected to the booms. Wheeled support assembly  16  may include a first set of main wheels,  66  and  68 , and wheeled support assembly  18  may include a second set of main wheels,  70  and  72 . The main wheels may be positioned in a tilling position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or rotated 90 degrees and positioned in a moving position as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0045]    When the equipment is operating, the main wheels allow the system  10  to be moved from one position to the next position which is parallel to the last position tilled. The system  10  docs not move to a new position while the implements are in the ground or moving back and forth across the field. When the system is moved into place, the implements are pulled by the cables in opposite directions until they reach the ends of the booms where they travel up the lift sections and are pulled out of the ground. When the implements are out of the ground, system  10  can move in a parallel manner to the next position. 
         [0046]    When system  10  completes on pass and reaches the cud of the field, the main wheels,  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  turn 90 degrees and system  10  moves laterally across the field to the next tilling position. The system  10  may be moved so that the main wheels,  66  and  68 , line up with the tracks made by the second set of main wheels,  70  and  72 , when the system  10  is moved to the next position to reduce wheel tracks made by the system. 
         [0047]    The system  10  may include an end plate  74  connected to booms  12  and  14  and boom support cables,  76  and  78 , connected between the end plate  74  and wheeled support assembly  18  to provide additional support for booms  12  and  14 . 
         [0048]    Booms  12  and  14  may include main boom sections  80  and  82 , lift sections  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90 , and turn sections  92 ,  94 , 96 , and  98 . The lift and turn sections may be approximately equal in length and substantially shorter in length than the main boom sections. The main boom and turn sections may be substantially level and the lift sections may be sloped upward or inclined so that the implements move upward out of the ground as they travel up the lift sections. Booms  12  and  14  may also include wheeled boom support sections,  100  and  102  ( FIG. 9 ), which may be included as part of wheeled support assembly  18 . 
         [0049]    The booms may be constructed from pipes, steels beams, or other similar materials used to make conventional booms used in the construction industry. The distance between the booms may be increased or decreased in order to accommodate different sized implements and the booms may be raised and lowered with respect to the wheeled support assemblies. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate how the present invention can reduce soil compaction when compared to conventional field tillage systems. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the system of the present invention only creates two instances of soil compaction,  104  and  106 , as it moves across a field. A conventional tractor  108  having four rear wheels would create a significantly higher number of instances of soil compaction when tilling the same field because it would have to move back and forth across the field multiple times in order to completely till the field. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , wheeled support assembly  16  may include a rectangular main frame  110  having two vertical support members,  112  and  114 , and a rectangular hit frame  116  connected to the main frame  110 . Wheeled support assembly  16  may include conventional hydraulic pistons or electric motors (not shown) inside the two vertical support members to move the hit frame up and down with respect to the main frame. Vertical support members  112  and  114  may include John Bean Auto Life, Symmetric Two Post Mfr. Model 421500S16. Wheeled support assembly  16  may include four support arms,  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 , extending out from two slots,  126  and  128 , defined on the vertical support members under the lift frame. 
         [0052]    Main wheels,  66  and  68 , may be connected to the main frame  110  using hinges,  130  and  132 , that allow the main wheels to be positioned in the working position, where the wheels are parallel with the main frame  110 , and rotated 90 degrees to the moving position, where the wheels are perpendicular to the main frame  110 . Hydraulic motors, hydraulic pistons, or electric motors (not shown) may also be included in, or connected to, the main frame  110  for rotating the main wheels hack and forth between the tilling and moving positions. 
         [0053]    Lift frame  116  may include an upper lip  134 , which can be used to connect the booms  12  and  14  to the lift frame  116 , and a series of holes  136  defined in a lower portion  138  of the lift frame  116 , which can be used to connect pulleys,  42  and  44 , to the lift frame  116  at various different locations depending on the positions of the booms  12  and  14 . 
         [0054]    Wheeled support assembly  16  may include a pair of brackets,  140  and  142 , which can be used to connect the first support frame  62  to the main frame  110 , and a pair of coulter wheels,  144  and  146 , connected to the main frame  110  adjacent to the main wheels  66  and  68 . Hydraulic jacks,  148  ( FIG. 7) and 150  (not shown) may be connected to the main frame  110  for driving the coulter wheels down into the ground in order to prevent the system  10  from moving when the implements  24  and  26  encounter soil having different consistencies. 
         [0055]    First support frame  62  may include a first pair of support struts,  152  ( FIG. 1A) and 154  ( FIG. 7 ) connected on one end to the main frame  110  using the brackets,  140  and  142 , and on the opposite end to first support beam  156 . First support beam  156 , in turn, is connected to the booms  12  and  14  and, more specifically, to turn sections,  92  and  94 . Turn sections  92  and  94  may be connected to lift frame  116  using locking tabs,  158  and  160 . Wheeled support assembly  16  may include pulley support arms  162  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) and  164  (not shown) connected to lift frame  116 . Pulley support arms  162  and  164  may be connected to lift frame  116  so that they can be slid back and forth along the lift frame  116  and aligned with pulleys  42  and  44  when they are positioned in different locations along the lift frame  116 . 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , the system  10  may include carriage turning mechanisms  166  (not shown),  168 ,  170  (not shown), and  172 , for turning the carriages around after completing a pass across a field. Second support frame  64  ( FIG. 1B ) may include a second pair of support struts,  174  and  176  ( FIG. 10 ), a third pair of support struts,  178  and  180 , and a pair of second support beams,  182  and  184 . Support beam  182  may be connected to wheeled boom support sections,  100  and  102 , using hollow tubes  181  and  183 , and support beam  184  may be connected to an opposite end of wheeled boom support sections  100  and  102  using hollow tubes  185  and  187 . 
         [0057]    Wheeled support assembly  18  ( FIGS. 9-10 ) may include an I-shaped main frame  186 , a pair of rolling brackets,  188  and  190 , connected to the main frame  186  and the wheeled boom support sections,  100  and  102 , of the first and second booms. Main wheel  70  is connected to the main frame  186  using a first set of four hinged spacer arms,  192 ,  194 ,  196 , and  198  (not shown) and a first hinge  200  so that main wheel  70  can be rotated 90 degrees from a tilling position to a moving position. Main wheel  72  is connected to an opposite end of main frame  186  in a similar manner using a second set of four hinged spacer arms,  202 ,  204 ,  206 , and  208  (not shown) and a second hinge  210  so main wheel  72  can be rotated 90 degrees from a oiling position to a moving position. 
         [0058]    I-shaped main frame  186  may include two T-shaped members,  212  and  214 , connected together using a main support beam  216 , which is inserted inside the T-shaped members and secured using conventional nuts and bolts,  218 ,  220 ,  222 , and  224 . Main frame  186  may include a series of holes  226  that can be used to secure the rolling brackets,  188  and  190 , in place along the main frame  186 . 
         [0059]    Wheeled support assembly  18  may include hydraulic pistons,  228  and  230 , for raising and lowering the I-shaped main frame  186 . Piston  228  is connected between hinge  200  and t-shaped member  212  and piston  230  may be connected between hinge  210  and t-shaped member  214 . Wheeled support assembly  18  may also include hydraulic jacks,  232  and  234 , for driving coulter wheels,  236  and  238 , into the ground in order to prevent the system  10  from moving. 
         [0060]    Rolling brackets  188  and  190  may be moved back and forth along main name  186  using rollers  240  and  242 . 
         [0061]    Wheeled support assembly  18  may include highway wheels,  244  and  246  ( FIG. 11 ), connected to wheeled boom support section  100  using wheel support arms,  248  and  250 , and binges,  252  and  254 . These wheels can be rotated down into place when needed to move the wheeled support assembly  18  on a highway and then rotated back up so that they lay flat on top of wheeled boom support section  100  when not in use. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIGS. 12-15 , rolling bracket  188  may include two bracket pieces,  256  and  258 , which are connected to main frame  186  using two u-clips  260 , and conventional nuts and bolts,  262  and  264 . Rolling bracket  188  may be connected to the main frame  186  and wheeled boom support section  100  by placing the bracket pieces on opposite sides of the support beam  216  and support section  100 , holding the two bracket pieces together using the two u-clips  260 , and then securing the two bracket pieces to the support section  216  and support section  100  using conventional nuts and bolts,  262  and  264 . 
         [0063]    Carriage turning mechanism  168  ( FIGS. 16-24 ) may include turning frame pieces,  266  and  268 , return wheel  270  pivotally connected to frame piece  266  using a pivot arm  272 , a large turn wheel  274  rotatably connected directly to frame piece  268 , and small turn wheel  276  rotatably connected to frame piece  268  using L-shaped bracket  278  and support arm  280 . Pivot arm  272  may include stops,  282  and  284 , that prevent the pivot arm  272  from rotating in one direction, and a lift wheel  286  rotatably connected to the pivot arm  272  using bracket  288 . Carriage turning mechanisms  166 ,  170  and  172  are constructed in a similar manner. 
         [0064]    Frame pieces,  266  and  268 , may be connected to turn section  94  using hollow tubes,  290  and  292 , included as part of turn section  94 . Frame pieces (not shown) for carriage turning mechanisms  166 ,  170 , and  172  are connected to turn sections  92 ,  96 , and  98  in a similar manner. 
         [0065]    Carriage  20  may include a main body  294 , a turntable  296 , having a main turn arm  298  and secondary turn arm  299 , rotatably connected to the main body  294 , and brackets  300 , which can be used to connect implement  24  to carriage  20 . Carriage  20  may include four (4) rollers  304  (two of which are shown in  FIG. 18 ) connected to the main body  294  using roller brackets  306 . Booms  12  and  14 , including turn section  94 , may include roller tracks  308  that allow carriages  29  and  22  to rod back and forth along booms  12  and  14 . Carriage  20  is identical to carriage  22 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 25   a - d  illustrates the operation of the return wheel  270  as carriage  22  moves past the carriage turning mechanism  168 . As shown in these figures, return wheel  270  pivots up out of the way as the carriage  22  moves through the carriage turning mechanism  168  and then fails back down into place after the carriage  22  has moved past the mechanism  168 . 
         [0067]    Carriage  22  ( FIGS. 26-29 ) may include push wheels,  310  and  312 , and lift wheel tracks,  314  and  316 , connected on opposite sides of the main body  294 . When carriage  22  moves through the carriage turning mechanism  168  as shown in  FIGS. 25   a - d , lift wheel  286  rolls up and over push wheel  310  and along lift wheel track  314 . A cable spool  318  may be roiatably connected to the main body  294  and used to adjust the length of cable  38  when the distance between booms  12  and  14  is increased or decreased. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 30   a - m  illustrate how carriage turning mechanism  168  rotates turntable  296   180  degrees as the carriage  22  is pulled past the turning mechanism  168  in one direction and then pulled past the turning mechanism  168  in the opposite direction. As shown in the figures, large turn wheel  274  pushes on turn arm  298  and initiates the rotation of the turntable  296  ( FIGS. 30   a - d ). Small turn wheel  276  then engages with secondary turn arm  299  and continues rotating the turntable  296  until the turntable  296  has been rotated 90 degrees with respect to its initial position ( FIGS. 30   e - g ). This completes the movement of carriage  22  past the turning mechanism  168  in the first direction. When the carriage  22  is then pulled back in the opposite direction, return wheel  270 , which cannot pivot in this direction, engages with the turntable as shown in  FIG. 30   g  and rotates the turntable  296  90 more degrees ( FIGS. 30   b - m ). 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIGS. 31-33 , end plate  74  may include a first ladder-like structure  320  connected to a second ladder-like structure  334  using a main elongated support beam  348 . First ladder-like structure may include a first pair of vertical support beams,  322  and  324 , a first set of horizontal cross beams,  326 ,  328 , and  330 , connected at a top, middle, and lower portion of the first pair of vertical support beams, and a first hollow cross beam  332  connected to a bottom portion of the first pair of vertical support beams. Second ladder-like structure  334  may include a second pair of vertical support beams,  336  and  338 , a second set of horizontal cross beams,  340 ,  342 , and  344 , connected at a top, middle, and lower portion of the second pair of vertical support beams, and a second hollow cross beam  346  connected to a bottom portion of the second pair of vertical support beams. 
         [0070]    As shown in  FIGS. 34-35 , power and hydraulics may be supplied to the system  10  using a conventional tractor  350  and a lift platform  352 . The lift platform  352  may be raised and lowered using a hydraulic lift  354 . Tractor  350  Includes a motor (not shown), a clutch system (not shown), a power take-off (not shown) for driving the cable drums,  32  and  34 , and hydraulics (not shown) for raising and lowering the wheeled support assemblies and turning the wheels connected to the wheeled support assemblies. The lift platform  352  may be connected to lift frame  116  ( FIG. 6 ) and move up and down with the booms  12  and  14 . Cable spools,  32  and  34 , may be connected to a 3-point hitch (not shown) and the power take off included with the tractor  350 . Hydraulic hoses (not shown) included with the system  10  may be connected to hydraulic connectors (not shown) included with the tractor  350 . Electrical connectors (not shown) included with system  10  may be connected to electrical connectors (not shown) included with the tractor  350 . 
         [0071]    The above-described embodiments are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of this disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.