Abstract:
An apparatus for soil preparation where residual crop matter is present in the field comprising a machine having a set of discs followed by a plurality of harrow modules, the harrow module utilizing a plurality of groups of tines arranged on a longitudinal axis for rotation around the center of a shaft designed for ground working and a spring in the center of the longitudinal shaft is designed to keep constant tension on the tines for minimal wear while biased toward the soil by a pivot mechanism is designed to reduce bounce.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an Agricultural Machine. This is a machine that falls into the classification of Vertical Tillage. It is designed for shallow tillage with minimal soil compaction. The present invention relates to soil tillage and more particularly relates to a machine to be used to reduce the residue from previous crops in a field either prior to spring or fall land operations. In even greater particularity components of the machine relate to utilization of a unique tine mounting system for a harrow module. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The machine is excellent in running in high residue conditions to prepare a field for planting where there is too much residue for a field cultivator. Using the machine, residue is left on top of soil for better decomposition. Disk harrows, which have been commonly used, bury much of the residue and thus slow down decomposition. Leaving residue on the soil surface helps to reduce wind and water soil erosion which is especially helpful in areas where soil conservation is important. 
         [0003]    The current machine is excellent for residue management in the fall after harvest when farmers can use this machine to incorporate a cover crop and also in spring when they can use the machine for field preparation. The present invention is an improvement over the utilization of the harrow tines presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,270 to Phillips and U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,623 to Hake et al. This machine is more aggressive than the Phillips Harrow and can run in heavier residue or grassy conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A general object of the invention is reduce the work load in preparing a field for replanting by controlling the utilization of the residue from the previous growth cycle. Discs on the front of the machine move some residue and soil away from the center of the machine and the mounting of the harrow modules allows for small amounts of residue and soil to be moved back towards the center. This allows for some leveling to take place, such as covering ruts, etc. These modules do a superior job of mixing crop seed (cover crop) and chemicals in heavy residue and in finished soil. The harrow tooling does not create soil compaction as disc harrows do. The harrow tooling brings residue to the surface for better decomposition. This is also advantageous in areas where soil conservation is important because having residue on the surface helps to reduce wind and water soil erosion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the overall tillage machine; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the tillage machine; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a elevation view of the harrow module; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a detail exploded view of the harrow module components. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the spring end of the harrow module. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the opposite end of the harrow module. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for an overall view of the machine in which the harrow module is used, note that the machine is intended for tractor drawn usage and comprises a generally open frame assembly  101  mounted on ground engaging tires  102  and adapted for connection to the tractor or other prime mover, not shown, by tongue  103 . Disc gangs  105  are affixed to the frame  101  in a forward position. Knock down bars  107  in front of disc gangs  105  lay over standing residue (corn stalks, wheat, rye, etc) so that the disc gangs  105  can cut and size the residue. Disc gangs  105  are adjustable for varying degrees of aggressiveness. They can be adjusted at to the following angles 6°, 10°, 14°, 18°. The shallower angles are preferred if the soil conditions are soft enough to allow the trailing Harrow Modules  111  to penetrate. In harder soils a more aggressive (larger) disc angle will tear up and shatter most soils to allow the Harrow Modules  111  to be more effective. The Soil Razor™ discs stay sharp throughout the life of the disc. A soil deflector shield  109  is mounted behind the disc gangs  105  and helps to prevent horizontal movement of soil and residue and helps reduce ridging on sides of machine. 
         [0013]    Each Harrow Module  111  includes a ground working tool composed of a plurality of groups of tines  11  arranged on a longitudinal axis for rotation around the center of a shaft  13 . These tines are similar to the tines disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,270. Each ground working tool comprises a plurality of tool elements  51  arranged in a series of groups  53 , there being two tool elements in each group in this embodiment. Each group of tool elements inter-engages with the next adjacent group to form flexible connections between the groups that will permit tensioning of the tool in the longitudinal direction when supported for rotation by the shaft  13  and module frame  19 . 
         [0014]    Each tool element  51  comprises a loop portion  55  and a pair of fingers  11 . When the groups of tool elements are inter-engaged and the tool longitudinally tensioned, the fingers  11  define tines which are spaced about and project outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool. 
         [0015]    The loop portion  55  of each tool element is substantially U-shaped having two spaced arms  59  and a base  61  which bridges the arms. The tines  11  extend one from the free end of each arm  59  of the loop portion. The two arms  59  of each loop portion occupy a common plane and the tines  11  deviate from that plane to one side thereof. 
         [0016]    As mentioned hereinbefore, the tool elements are connected together in a series of groups, with each group having two tool elements. In this way, each group provides four projecting tines. The loop portion  55  of each tool element  51  receives one pair of fingers from a neighboring tool group, with the fingers being held captive between the arms of the loop and the base. The arrangement is such that the inner ends of the fingers are received in the loop portion, the fingers being inserted into the loop portion through the open end of the U. 
         [0017]    A spring  15  in the center of the longitudinal shaft  13  is designed to keep constant tension on the elements for minimal wear. The pivot mechanism  17  on the module frame  19  is designed to reduce bounce. Additional features of harrow module are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7  to  9 . Module frame  19  is a rectangular tube  20  with welded side plates  21 ,  23  to support the bearings  25 . These side plates  21 ,  23  are ribbed to prevent deflection and bending. Center shaft  13  is a solid shaft that keeps even pressure on the tines  11  as they engage with the ground. Shaft stop  29  is an additional mechanism to help prevent shaft slippage in a longitudinal direction. This is in addition to the locking collars  27  already on the bearings. Module cushion hose  31  is a thin wall rubber hose that slides over the length of the shaft  13 . This fills in the gap between the center shaft  13  and the tool elements  51 , prevents looseness and thus helps to prevent wear on the connecting parts of the tooling. It also acts as a cushion for the tines and helps to take any shock loading. Bearing shield  33  on trailing edge of harrow module  11  helps protect the bearing and helps prevent fine threadlike components of residue from working under the triple lip seals of the bearings. 
         [0018]    Spring tension on harrow tooling is the most distinctive feature of this assembly. An axial bore  34  is drilled in one end of the solid shaft  13 . 
         [0019]    Lateral slots  39  are formed in the shaft  13  along the bore  34  and a slider tube  35  is movably mounted onto the shaft  13  overlying the slots  39 . A compression spring  15  is seated within the bore  34 . Slider tube  35  carries a bolt  37  which passes through lateral slots  39  and bore  34  at the end of the spring  15  such that the bolt can be urged against the spring. Captured on the bolt, externally of the slider tube  35 , are a pair of clips  38  that secure the loops  55  of two terminal tool elements  51  in the harrow tooling. On the other end of the shaft  13 , a module tension weldment  45  is affixed to the shaft by a bolt  46  passing through one of two transverse apertures  54  in shaft  13 . Locknuts  41  are tightened on U-bolts  43  which pass through the weldment and engage the opposite terminal tool elements and urge the tool elements into tension, thereby compressing the spring  15  within axial bore  34 . The spring  15  bearing against bolt  37  keeps constant tension on the harrow tooling and thus helps reduce wear significantly on the interconnecting elements  51 . Tension weldment ( 45 ) allows for extra tightening of the harrow tooling if wear occurs to the point that the spring  15  no longer puts tension on the elements  51  by securing module tension weldment ( 45 ) using the next transverse aperture  54  in the shaft  13 . This will re-tension the spring. 
         [0020]    As may be seen, in  FIG. 4  the harrow module assembly is preferably mounted onto pivot brackets  17  attached to main frame  101 . These pivot brackets have springs  18  that keep constant down pressure on the Harrow Module as it runs in the field. Harrow modules are attached to the Resi-Till Machine frame at a 40° (50° from a line in the direction of travel) angle. This has proved to be an optimal running angle although other angles may prove suitable. Harrow modules are mounted opposed to each other from the center line of the machine, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It should be noted that the harrow modules may be mounted to the frame in a fixed rather than pivotable manner such that the springs  18  are eliminated. 
         [0021]    The harrow tines on the Harrow Module do a superb job of bringing residue to the surface or tearing up weeds and grass. They are also excellent in leveling and incorporating seed and/or chemicals. They are designed to pivot and float over obstacles and terrain but use spring down pressure to prevent bounce. The solid shaft in the center of the tines keeps pressure on entire length of module for increased aggressiveness. The extra weight of solid shaft also helps with aggressiveness. Rolling baskets  121  on the rear of frame  101  help to lay over any standing residue, help to pin residue into soil, help to break up clods and mix soil. 
         [0022]    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.