Abstract:
A folding furrow roller that facilitates planting operations and optimization of irrigation and drainage with efficient preparation, configuration, and planting of seed beds. A centrally located fixed drum roller supports a pair of hinged outboard drum roller wings that for maximum implement width are deployed in alignment with the main section during operation. The wings are hydraulically folded into a compact upright position for legal transport over public roads. The implement is constructed so as to provide strength and durability comparable to single-section furrow rollers.

Description:
[0001]     This invention claims priority from provisional application 60/492,548 filed Aug. 4, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Present Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to the field of agricultural implements used for field preparation and configuration, and more particularly to an improved folding furrow roller for seed bed preparation, configuration, and planting that may be selectively deployed between an extended state for seed bed preparation, configuration, and planting and a folded state for storage and legal transport over public roads.  
         [0004]     2. History of Related Art  
         [0005]     Agricultural implements for preparing fields and configuring seed beds are well known in the art. Many of these agricultural implements employ earth working tools which are mounted on horizontally disposed frames to permit the implements to work wide swaths of earth. One example of such an implement is a furrow roller which utilizes plowshares and heavy rollers connected to the frames to prepare and configure seed beds. As the furrow roller is drawn through the field, the plowshares dig irrigation furrows that produce raised earthen mounds between the furrows, and the rollers smooth and compact these raised earthen mounds so as to create uniform raised seed beds separated by uniform irrigation furrows.  
         [0006]     Working as wide a swath of earth as possible reduces the number of passes by the implement and the overall field preparation and configuration time. Consequently, the overall width of many of the agricultural implements has increased over time. The increased width, however, makes transport along public roads and highways difficult. In order to facilitate the transport and storage of these implements, the implement frames typically have been designed to utilize a main frame having one or more wing frames or members. These wing frames are typically connected to laterally opposite sides of the main frame so that the wing frames may be raised from positions that are substantially coplanar with the main frame (extended-working positions) to positions wherein the wing frames generally overlie or are generally perpendicular to the main frame (folded-transport or storage positions).  
         [0007]     While the utilization of wing frames facilitates both objectives of working wide swaths of earth and transporting the implement along public roads and highways, the increased width of the implement while in the extended-working position together with the weight of the applicable earth working tools imposes significant axial and torsional forces that negatively impact the operational functionality of the implement. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have an implement with wing frames that can support the applicable earth working tools and also manage the axial and torsional forces that are encountered when the wing frames are in the extended-working position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The structure and operation of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top frontal isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention depicting the plowshares and rollers with the foldable wing members deployed in the extended-working position for operation;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the wing members deployed in the extended-working position for operation;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top frontal isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the wing members in the folded-transport or storage position used for storage and transport;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a sectional elevation view from  FIG. 2  showing a gauge wheel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial isometric top view from  FIG. 3  showing a roller lock and a scraper plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial enlarged isometric view of a cylinder and a cylinder lock according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a cylinder lock from  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a seeder and showing the wing members in the folded-transport or storage position used for storage and transport. 
     
    
       [0017]     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed. On the contrary, the invention is limited only by the claim language.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates a folding furrow roller that has wing members that may be selectively deployed from a folded-transport or storage position to an extended-working position that increases the overall width of the furrow roller, and that is capable of managing the axial and torsional forces that are encountered when the wing members are in the extended-working position so as to permit the folding furrow roller to efficiently prepare, configure, and plant fields with the result being fields that have uniform furrows and elevated seed beds. Throughout the description and the drawings, elements which are the same will be accorded the same reference numerals.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top frontal isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Folding furrow roller  50  is designed to be towed by a suitable motorized vehicle, such as a farm tractor (not shown), over a field  52  for preparation and configuration for planting. Arrow  10  depicts the operational direction of folding furrow roller  50 . Folding furrow roller  50  includes a rigid center frame member  54  and one or more outboard, foldable wing members  56  and  57  that may be selectively rotated between the extended-working position illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a folded-transport or storage position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In a preferred embodiment, folding furrow roller  50  includes both foldable wing members  56  and  57 . Foldable wing members  56  and  57  may be selectively locked in either the extended-working position illustrated in  FIG. 1  or the folded-transport or storage position illustrated in  FIG. 3  for safety and stability. Center frame member  54  and foldable wing members  56  and  57  support and contain cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A, respectively.  
         [0020]     Folding wing members  56  and  57  are connected to center frame member  54  and controlled by arms  72 . In one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of angularly inclined arms  72  are disposed on opposite top ends of both the front and rear of center frame member  54  and pivotally extend at an acute angle toward wing members  56  and  57 . Each of arms  72  pivotally terminate on the front and rear edges of bordering ends of wing members  56  and  57 , respectively, and are configured to manipulate wing members  56  and  57  between the extended-working position and the folded-transport or storage position. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, arms  72  include hydraulic cylinders suitable for extending and folding wing members  56  and  57 . Hydraulic cylinders of this type are commonly available from various manufacturers. One suitable model of such cylinders is a 4 inch by 8 inch hydraulic cylinder manufactured by Monarch Industries of Winnipeg, Canada.  
         [0021]     Folding furrow roller  50  includes a plurality of downwardly projecting plowshares  59  that are moveably attached to rigid beams  58 A,  58 B, and  58 C. Rigid beams  58 B,  58 A, and  58 C are attached to the front of wing member  56 , the front of center frame member  54 , and the front of wing member  57 , respectively. As folding furrow roller  50  is drawn about field  52 , plowshares  59  engage the ground and dig irrigation furrows that produce raised earthen mounds between the furrows. Gauge wheel assemblies  62  are connected to rigid beams  58 A and  58 C and provide additional support for folding furrow roller  50  as it is towed through field  52 .  
         [0022]     The raised earthen mounds created by the soil pushed up from the furrows dug by plowshares  59  become the seed beds for the desired crops. Cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A smooth and compact the seed beds in a uniform manner. Because cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A are behind plowshares  59 , the irrigation furrows and the seed beds are not only created concurrently, but the seed beds are also concurrently smoothed and compacted in a uniform manner when folding furrow roller  50  is towed about field  52 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with wing members  56  and  57  deployed in the extended-working position for operation, and depicts each of the elements of folding furrow roller  50  shown in  FIG. 1 . Wing members  56  and  57  are not required to be the same length. Further, while center frame member  54  may be the same length as either of wing members  56  or  57 , center frame member  54  is not required to be the same length as either of wing members  56  or  57 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wing members  56  and  57  are the same length and center frame member  54  is longer than wing members  56  and  57 . In one embodiment of the present invention, wing members  56  and  57  are between 99 and 100 inches in length and center frame member  54  is 180 inches in length. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, wing members  56  and  57  are between 128 and 129 inches in length and center frame member  54  is between 228 and 229 inches in length.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a top frontal isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with wing members  56  and  57  depicted in a folded-transport or storage position that may be used for transport and storage of folding furrow roller  50 .  FIG. 3  depicts each of the elements of folding furrow roller  50  shown in  FIG. 1 . In the preferred embodiment of folding furrow roller  50 , center frame member  54  and wing members  56  and  57  are rigid rectangular welded tubular steel frames. In one embodiment of the preferred invention, the tubular steel frames from which center frame member  54  and wing members  56  and  57  are constructed are {fraction (5/16)} inch thick steel and have an outer dimension of 5 inches by 7 inches. It will be appreciated that cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A may be constructed of any material such as steel or rugged plastic suitable for rolling over and uniformly compressing the applicable seed beds and connected to center frame member  54  and wing members  56  and  57  by way of stub shafts commonly known to those with ordinary skill in the relevant art. In one embodiment of the present invention, cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A are constructed of steel pipe closed on the ends with welded steel discs. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, concentrically through each of cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A is an interior steel axle (not shown) having a diameter of 2.25 inches, both ends of which terminate in a pillow block  74 , a bearing support commonly understood by those with ordinary skill in the relevant art. In an alternative embodiment, center frame member  54  and wing members  56  and  57  may contain two or more cylindrical rollers.  
         [0025]     Hitch connectors  75 A,  75 B, and  75 C include suitable pin holes and are connected to the front side of center frame member  54  and rigid beam  58 B and permit folding furrow roller  50  to be connected by way of a standard three-point hitch, a connection device commonly known to those with ordinary skill in the farm implement industry, to a suitable motorized vehicle, such as a farm tractor (not shown). The typical distance from the pin hole of top hitch connector  75 C to the center of cylindrical roller  54 A (hereinafter, the “centerline measurement”) is 50 inches or more. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the centerline measurement is less than 50 inches so as to substantially improve the ability of the applicable motorized towing device to lift folding furrow roller  50  and disengage folding furrow roller  50  from the ground particularly when wing members  56  and  57  are in a deployed extended-working position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the centerline measurement is 34 inches.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a sectional elevation view from  FIG. 2  showing gauge wheel assembly  62  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, additional support for folding furrow roller  50  is provided by a pair of gauge wheel assemblies  62  disposed substantially at each end of wing members  56  and  57 . Adjusting means  61  permits variable vertical and angular positioning of each of plowshares  59 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, adjusting means  61  includes a beam  62  vertically slideable in a fixed sleeve  70  and a plate  71  angularly moveable on slideable beam  62 , both mechanisms commonly understood by those with ordinary skill in the relevant art. Gauge wheel assembly  62  may include a tire  64 , wheel  65 , and axle  66 , and is attached to wing member  56  with commonly understood struts that may include adjustable linkages  67 . In addition to support for wing members  56  and  57 , in a preferred embodiment, gauge wheel assembly  62  provides, in cooperation with the three-point hitch connection, a means of affecting and gauging the vertical displacement of center frame member  54  and wing members  56  and  57  (and thereby, each of the corresponding cylindrical rollers—with cylindrical roller  56 A and its corresponding pillow block  74  depicted here) when wing members  56  and  57  are parallel and locked to center frame member  54  in their deployed extended-working position. Although not shown, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more gauge wheel assemblies may also be connected to center frame member  54  so as to provide additional support for folding furrow roller  50 . In another embodiment of the present invention, gauge wheel assemblies are disposed substantially at each end of center frame member  54 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a partial isometric top view from  FIG. 3 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, scraper plate  63  is attached to center frame member  54  parallel and close enough to cylindrical roller  54 A so as to perform a cleaning function. As cylindrical roller  54 A rolls over the elevated seed beds created by plowshares  59  ( FIG. 1 ), soil frequently accumulates on the outer surface of cylindrical roller  54 A. Scraper plate  63  extends the entire length of cylindrical roller  54 A and is bolted in place through one or more slots  68  in center frame member  54  so as to provide adjustability in the proximity of scraper plate  63  to cylindrical roller  54 A, and thereby permit scraper plate  63  to be adjusted for a variety of soil adhesion conditions and to the optimum position for wiping soil or mud from cylindrical roller  54 A while folding furrow roller  50  is towed through a field. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, scraper plate  63  is constructed from 0.25 inch by 4.0 inch flat metal with a 0.5 inch by 1.5 inch hardened plow steel wear strip welded to the bottom of the flat metal. Although not shown, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing description with respect to scraper plate  63  may be applied to each of cylindrical rollers  56 A and  57 A as well as to cylindrical roller  54 A.  
         [0028]     At any convenient location, pivot mount  80  is attached so that L-shaped locking lug  81  may pivot and be capable of engaging a slot  82  in cylindrical roller  54 A configured to receive L-shaped locking lug  81 , and thereby, prevent rotation of cylindrical roller  54 A. Pivot mount  80  is particularly useful when folding furrow roller  50  is in a folded-transport or storage position for storage or transport. Locking lug  81  may be pinned or cabled or otherwise configured so as to be prevented from engaging slot  82  during operation of folding furrow roller  50 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pivot mount  80  is attached to hinge plate  54 E of center frame member  54 . Although not shown, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing description with respect to pivot mount  80 , locking lug  81 , and slot  82  may be applied to each of wing members  56  and  57  and each of cylindrical rollers  56 A and  57 A as well as to center frame member  54  and cylindrical roller  54 A.  
         [0029]     Wing members  56  and  57  are pivotally connected to center frame member  54  by way of hinge plates or other suitable connection devices. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pair of hinge plates  54 D and  54 E are located on opposite top ends of center frame member  54  (on each of the front and rear edges of these top ends of center frame member  54 ), and wing member  57  has a pair of hinge plates  57 D and  57 E on the top end of wing member  57  located adjacent to center frame member  54  configured so as to pivotally connect to center frame member  54 . Each pair of hinge plates  54 D and  54 E is configured to receive each corresponding pair of hinge plates  57 D and  57 E. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, hinge plates  54 D and  54 E are on the outside edges of hinge plates  57 D and  57 E, respectively. Each pair of hinge plates  54 D,  54 E,  57 D, and  57 E are configured to be pivotally connected to one another using stub shafts or other suitable connection means well known to those with ordinary skill in the relevant art. In one embodiment of the present invention, each pair of hinge plates  54 D,  54 E,  57 D, and  57 E is pivotally connected to each other by way of hinge pin  57 F which traverses the entire distance from hinge plate  54 D on the front edge of center frame member  54  to hinge plate  54 D on the rear edge of center frame member  54  so as to provide maximum resistance to axial and torsional forces that may be encountered by wing member  57 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, hinge pin  57 F is a solid steel shaft having a diameter of at least 2 inches. Also in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, arms  72  include hydraulic cylinders. With respect to the one of these hydraulic cylinders, one end is connected to hinge plate  57 D on the front edge of wing member  57  and the other end is connected to the front edge of center member  54 . With respect to another of these hydraulic cylinders, one end is connected to hinge plate  57 D on the rear edge of wing member  57  and the other end is connected to the rear edge of center member  54 . The connection of arms  72  to each of hinge plates  57 D provides the improved benefit of allowing arms  72  to pull from points close to the pivot points of wing frame  57 , and thereby, avoid the need for long connecting arms that are subject to torsional and potentially damaging bending forces. Although not shown, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing description with respect to the connection of wing member  57  to center frame member  54  and the connection of arms  72  to each of hinge plates  57 D may be applied to the pivotal connection of wing member  56  to the opposite end of center frame member  54 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a partial enlarged isometric view of arm  72  (which is depicted as hydraulic cylinder) connected to hinge plate  57 D and a cylinder lock  121  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cylinder lock  121  permits hydraulic cylinder  72  to be selectively locked after wing members  56  and  57  are rotated into their extended-working position or their folded-transport or storage position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of cylinder lock  121  from  FIG. 6 . Cylinder lock  121  is a U-shaped steel block having an open region  122  configured to receive an exposed ram of hydraulic cylinder  72  having a through-hole that lines up with a hole in each leg of the U-shaped-block of cylinder lock  121  so that a removable retainer pin  124 , normally held by a retainer cable  125  which is connected to cylinder lock  121  penetrates, through the exposed ram of hydraulic cylinder  72  and the opposing legs of lock  121  to lock hydraulic cylinder  72  in the desired position. Cylinder lock  121  may be used to lock wing members  56  and  57  in a deployed extended-working position. Further, cylinder lock  121  may be configured to lock wing members  56  and  57  in a folded transport or storage position. When not in use, cylinder lock  121  may be pinned to any convenient member of folding furrow roller  50  capable of fitting in open region  122  and having a hole capable of receiving pin  124 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention with wing members  56  and  57  in the folded-transport or storage position. Seeder bins  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C are selectively mounted above cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A, respectively, by way of mounting arms  91 A,  91 B, and  91 C, and are configured to hold seed. Feeder tubes  92  are connected to seeder bins  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C, respectively, and configured for lateral adjustment so as to be centered between each of plow shares  59 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, feeder tubes  92  are positioned so as to be substantially perpendicular to seeder bins  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C and substantially parallel to each of plow shares  59 . In one embodiment of the present invention, seeder bins  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C are configured so as to distribute their respective weight (particularly when loaded with seed) evenly and directly over cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A, and thereby aid with the smoothing and compaction of the seed beds. In another embodiment of the present invention seeder bins  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C are configured to be connected to the rear of center frame member  54  and foldable wing members  56  and  57 . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a single seeder bin may be connected to the rear of furrow roller  50 . As furrow roller  50  is drawn through the field, plowshares  59  dig irrigation furrows that produce raised earthen mounds between the furrows, seeds from seeder bins  90 A,  90 B, and  90 C flow through feeder tubes  92  are deposited into the raised earthen mounds produced by plowshares  59 , and cylindrical rollers  54 A,  56 A, and  57 A smooth and compact these raised earthen mounds so as to create uniform, raised, and planted seed beds separated by uniform irrigation furrows concurrently in one operation.  
         [0033]     It will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the relevant art having the benefit of this disclosure that the present invention provides a foldable furrow roller with deployable wing members that is highly stabilized when deployed, but capable of easy reconfiguration for stable use, and for easy and legal transport. It is understood that the forms of the invention shown and described in the detailed description and the drawings are to be taken merely as presently preferred examples and that the invention is limited only by the language of the claims. While the present invention has been described in terms of one preferred embodiment and a few variations thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that form and detail modifications may be made to those embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.