Abstract:
A tine assembly for a cultivator includes a first tine member having a plurality of radially extending non-planar tines. At least two tines on each tine member differ in shape from the remaining tines. The tine assembly may include a second tine member which is shaped like a mirror-image of the first tine member. When assembled on a shaft, the second tine member is off-set from the first tine member so that tines on alternating tine members contact the ground as the shaft rotates.

Description:
This application claims priority to a divisional U.S. Ser. No. 10/012,262, filed Dec. 4, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,618 B2, which is incorporated herein by reference, which claims priority from a utility application having U.S. Ser. No. 09/515,337, filed on Feb. 29, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,561 B1, which is incorporated herein by reference, which claims priority from a provisional application having U.S. Ser. No. 60/158,678, filed Oct. 8, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses for cultivators, tine assemblies for a cultivator, and tine members of a tine assembly, and more specifically to the construction and arrangement of tines on a tine member, the arrangement of tine members on one end of a rotatable cultivator shaft, and the arrangement of tine assemblies on first and second ends of a rotatable cultivator shaft. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,647 discloses a tined rotary blade for cultivators having a pair of disk-like members. Each of the disk-like members includes a plurality of tines, specifically ten, projecting radially outwardly from a central region. The plurality of tine encompass 3 first tines which are each characterized by a simple curve whose free end portion is directed toward a common plane between the disk-like members. The plurality of tines further includes 3 second tines which are each characterized by a compound curve wherein one portion of the tine is directed away from the common plane and another portion of the tine is directed toward the common plane. The plurality of tines further includes 3 third tines each characterized by a simple curve whose free end portion is directed away from the common plane. Lastly, the plurality of tines includes 1 fourth, planar tine which is oriented parallel to the common plane. Therefore, each disk-like member includes ten tines which are circumferentially displaced 36°. The tines on one disk-like member are offset from corresponding tines on the second disk-like member by 18°. 
     The addition of the fourth tine to the disk-like member is purportedly an improvement over other disk-like members known in the art which comprise nine tines having configurations similar to the first, second and third tines discussed above. 
     A rototiller with angularly disposed teeth is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,764. This rototiller has tines which include a first tooth fixed to one portion of the tine and a second tooth fixed to a second portion of the tine wherein the second portion is angularly disposed in relation to the first portion. 
     Other tine arrangements are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,421,176; 4,467,874; 4,658,910; and 4,133,390. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a tine member is provided for use on the rotatable shaft of an associated cultivator. 
     Also in accordance with the invention, a tine assembly including a pair of tine members is provided for use on the rotatable shaft of an associated cultivator. 
     Also in accordance with the invention, a cultivator using one to four tine members and any combination thereof is provided. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a tine member comprises a hub including a base having a central bore through which the rotatable shaft extends and a rim disposed about the base and lying in a first plane, P, and a plurality of tines, each of the tines projecting generally radially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the plurality of tines including a first tine characterized by a series of notches formed in the leading edge thereof. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the first tine is bent at a first angle, α 1 , relative to plane P. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tine member includes two of the first tines. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, one of the first tines is bent at a first angle, α 1 , relative to plane P, and the other first tine is bent generally at an equal and opposite angle, α 2 , relative to plane P. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of the first tines are circumferentially offset by substantially 180°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of tines further includes a second tine characterized by a generally planar shank portion lying in plane P and a bent end portion. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of tines further includes two second tines wherein the end portion of one of the second tines is bent at an angle β 1  relative to plane P, and the end portion of the other second tine is bent at a substantially equal and opposite angle β 2  relative to plane P. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tip of one of the second tines is circumferentially offset by substantially 90° relative to the tip of one of the first tines. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of the second tines are circumferentially offset by substantially 180°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of tines further includes a third tine characterized by a curved shank. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tine member includes first and second pairs of third tines wherein the shank of each of the first pair of third tines is generally curved in a first direction relative to plane P and the shank of each of the second pair of third tines is generally curved in an opposite direction relative to plane P. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of the first pair of third tines are circumferentially offset by substantially 90° and the tips of the second pair of third tines are circumferentially offset by substantially 90°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tip of one of the first pair of third tines is circumferentially offset from the tip of one of the second pair of third tines substantially 180°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of adjacent tines are circumferentially offset by substantially 45°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tines are disposed in the sequence of one of the first tines, one of the first pair of third tines, one of the second tines, the other one of the first pair of third tines, the other first tine, one of the second pair of third tines, the other second tine, and the other one of the second pair of third tines. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the base of the tine member is disposed in a plane parallel to and spaced from plane P. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, one of the first tines is bent at an angle toward the plane of the base and the other first tine is bent at an angle away from the plane of the base. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the bent end portion of one of the second tines is disposed toward the plane of the base and the bent end portion of the other second tine is disposed away from the plane of the base. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the shanks of each of the first pair of third tines is curved toward the plane of the base and the shanks of each of the second pair of third tines is curved away from the plane of the base. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a tine assembly is provided for mounting on the rotatable shaft of an associated cultivator. The tine assembly comprises a first tine member including a hub having a generally planar base having a central bore through which the associated shaft extends and a generally planar rim being associated with a first plane, P; and, a plurality of tines, each of the tines projecting generally radially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the plurality of tines including a first tine characterized by a series of notches formed in the leading edge thereof, a second tine member having a structure essentially similar to an image formed by reflection of the first tine member in a mirror placed parallel to the base whereby the second tine member includes a corresponding hub having a generally planar base having a central bore through which the associated shaft extends and a generally planar rim; and a plurality of corresponding tines projecting radially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the plurality of corresponding tines including a first tine characterized by a series of notches formed in a leading edge thereof; and, means for mounting the first and second tine members onto the shaft in a predetermined relative position. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of corresponding tines on the first and second tine members are circumferentially offset by at least 22.5°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the tips of corresponding tines on the first and second tine members are circumferentially offset by at least 90°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the mounting means comprises a first adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, and an axial flange extending from the first surface through the central bore of the first tine member; and, a second adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, an axial flange extending from the first surface through the central bore of the second tine member, and an axial spacer extending from the second surface through the axial opening of the first adapter. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the body of the first adapter is generally triangular and the body of the second adapter is generally triangular and the apices of the triangular body of the first adapter are offset from the apices of the triangular body of the second adapter by approximately 60°. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the mounting means further comprises first means for mounting the first adapter to the first tine member, the first means extending through the apices of the triangular body of the first adapter; and, second means for mounting the second adapter to the second tine member, the second means extending through the apices of the triangular body of the second adapter. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a cultivator is provided including powering means and transmission means for transferring power from the powering means to a rotatable shaft which rotates about an axis. The cultivator comprises: 
     a first tine assembly positioned at a first end of the shaft, the first tine assembly including a first tine member, a second tine member, and first means for mounting the first and second tine members to the shaft in a predetermined relative position wherein the first tine member comprises a hub including a generally planar base having a central bore through which the shaft extends and a generally planar rim being associated with a plane P and a plurality of tines, each of the tines projecting generally radially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tip, the plurality of tines including a first tine characterized by a series of notches formed in the leading edge thereof; and wherein the second tine member has a structure essentially similar to an image formed by reflection of the first tine member in a mirror place parallel to the base whereby the second tine member includes a hub having a generally planar base having a central bore through which the shaft extends and a generally planar rim, and a plurality of corresponding tines projecting generally radially outward from the rim, and wherein each tine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge and a tip, the plurality of corresponding tines including a first tine characterized by a series of notches form in the leading edge thereof; and, 
     a second tine assembly positioned at the second end of the shaft, the second tine assembly including a third tine member, a fourth tine member, and second means for mounting the third and fourth tine members to the shaft in a predetermined relative position wherein the third tine member is essentially identical in structure to the first tine member, and the fourth tine member is essentially identical in structure to the second tine member. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the positioning of first tine assembly on the first end of the shaft is offset by 180° as compared to the positioning of the second tine assembly on the second end of the shaft. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the first mounting means includes a first adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, and an axial flange extending from the first surface through the central bore of the first tine member; and, a second adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, an axial flange extending from the first surface through the central bore of the second tine member, and an axial spacer extending from the second surface through the axial opening of the first adapter; and, the second mounting means includes a third adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, an axial flange extending from the first surface through the central bore of the third tine member, and an axial spacer extending from the second surface; and, a fourth adapter having a body with an axial opening, a planar first surface, an opposite planar second surface, and, an axial flange extending from the first surface through the central bore of the fourth tine member, wherein the axial spacer of the third adapter extends through the axial opening of the fourth adapter. 
     One advantage of the present invention is the inclusion of the slasher-type tine on the tine member which provides improved root cutting. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the arrangement of tines on the tine member which provides improved soil break-up. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the unique mounting system which allows for eady conversion from the use of one, two, three, or four tine members on the rotating cultivator shaft. 
     Still other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading and understanding of the specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front partial view of a cultivator having a tine assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first tine member according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the tine member shown in FIG. 2 taken along the sight line of the arrow; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the tine member shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the tine member shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line  5 — 5 ; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the tine member shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line  6 — 6 ; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the tine member shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line  7 — 7 ; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second tine member according to the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a first end view of a shaft showing a first tine assembly according to the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a second end view of the shaft showing a second tine assembly according to the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a first end view of a first adapter; 
     FIG. 12 is a second end view of the first adapter; 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the first adapter shown in FIG. 11 and a second adapter; 
     FIG. 14 is a first end view of the second adapter; 
     FIG. 15 is a second end view of the second adapter; 
     FIG. 16 is a side view of the second adapter shown in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view of the first tine assembly; and, 
     FIG. 18 is a partial front view showing a further embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-18 are directed to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. With particular reference to FIG. 1, the present invention is provided for use with a cultivating implement referred to generally as cultivator  20 . The cultivator  20  employs powering means such as an engine, not shown, and transmission means  24  for transferring the power from the powering means to a rotatable shaft  28  in ways well known in the art. Shaft  28  rotates about an axis  30 . Located near a first end  32  of shaft  28  is a first tine assembly  38 . A second tine assembly  40  is located near a second end  42  of shaft  28 . The tine assemblies  38 ,  40  are fixedly secured to shaft  28  and rotatable therewith. In one preferred embodiment, the first tine assembly  38  includes a first tine member  48 , a second tine member  52 , first adapter  56  and second adapter  58 . The second tine assembly  40  also includes a first tine member  48 ′, a second tine member  52 ′, first adapter  56 ′ and second adapter  58 ′. The “prime” symbols are utilized because in the preferred embodiment, the corresponding parts are identical in appearance, but disposed in different relative positions on shaft  28 , as will be explained in further detail later in this disclosure. 
     A preferred embodiment of first tine member  48  will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2-7. First tine member  48  includes a cupped hub  60  including base  62  having a central bore  64  through which shaft  28  extends. When assembled, base  62  is disposed in a plane essentially perpendicular to the axis  30  of shaft  28 . Axially spaced from base  62  is rim  66  from which extends a plurality of radially disposed tines  70 . Rim  66  also lies in a plane, P, essentially perpendicular to axis  30 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, tines  70  encompass three different shapes. Slasher tines  72 ,  74  are identified by series of notches formed in the leading edge  76 . Bolo tines  80 ,  82  are identified by a sharply bent end  86 . Curved tines  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  are identified by a gradual curve along the length of each tine. In the preferred embodiment, there are eight tines  70  radially extending from rim  66  at approximately 45° intervals. In the preferred embodiment, slasher tines  72 ,  74  are generally disposed at 180° to each other. Likewise, bolo tines  80 ,  82  are generally disposed at 180° to each other and 90° to the slasher tines  72 ,  74 . Intermediate the slasher tines  72 ,  74  and the bolo tines  80 ,  82  are the curved tines  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94 . For example, in one embodiment, the order of tines  70  is slasher  72 , curved tine  94 , bolo tine  82 , curved tine  92 , slasher  74 , curved tine  90 , bolo tine  80 , and curved tine  88 , as best shown in FIG.  4 . 
     With particular reference to FIGS.  3  and  5 - 7 , a preferred configuration of tines is shown. None of the tines lies completely in the plane P that contains rim  66 . Some of the tines extend “upwardly”, away from base  62 , while other tines extend “downwardly”, toward base  62 . In the preferred embodiment, one slasher tine, for example slasher  72 , extends downwardly, while the other slasher tine, for example slasher  74 , extends upwardly. Further, in the preferred embodiment, one bolo tine, for example bolo  80 , extends upwardly, while the other bolo tine, for example bolo  82 , extends downwardly. Two of the curved tines, for example curved tines  92  and  94  extend upwardly, and the other two curved tines, for example  88  and  90  extend downwardly. As shown in the cross-sectional views (FIGS. 5-7) the “upwardly” and “downwardly” extending tines of a given shape are positioned at 180° to each other. There are two such pairs of curved tines, for example curved tine  90  extends downwardly and is oppositely positioned to curved tine  94 , which extends upwardly. Likewise, curved tine  88  extends downwardly and is oppositely positioned to curved tine  92  which extends upwardly. The description of a preferred order of the tines  70  can be modified as follows: slasher  72  (down), curved tine  94  (up), bolo tine  82  (down), curved tine  92  (up), slasher  74  (up), curved tine  90  (down), bolo tine  80  (up), and curved tine  88  (down). 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the slasher tines  72 ,  74  deviate from plane, P, at a slight angle preferably between ±5° and 15°, most preferably about ±10°. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the end  86  of each bolo tine  80 ,  82  deviates from plane P at an angle greater than the “slasher angle” and is preferably between ±45° and 60°, most preferably between ±50° and 55°. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, each of the curved tines  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94  are gradually curved along its length, L, until the tine forms an angle of preferably between ±20° to 45° with plane P, and most preferably between ±25° to 35°. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 8, second tine member  52  will be described. In the preferred embodiment, second tine member  52  is not identical to first tine member  48 , but is a mirror image thereof reflected in a mirror placed parallel to base  62 . For example, cupped hub  100  would appear to be oppositely oriented than hub  60  and the reflection of bolo  80  (first tine member  48 ) would be bolo  120  on second tine member  52 . Bolo  120  is therefore classified as extending “upwardly” away from base  102 . As best shown in FIG. 1, however, bolo  120  is oriented in an opposite direction to bolo  80  when assembled on shaft  28 , because the respective hubs  100  and  60  occupy reversed positions on shaft  28 . The preferred order of tines on the second tine member  52  is slasher  114  (down), curved tine  136  (up), bolo tine  124  (down), curved tine  134  (up), slasher  118  (up), curved tine  128  (down), bolo tine  120  (up), and curved tine  132  (down). 
     With reference to FIG. 9, an end view of first tine assembly  38  is shown. In the preferred embodiment, the relative positioning of first tine member  48  to second tine member  52  is fixed. The preferred arrangement, shown in FIG. 9, illustrates that second tine member  52  occupies a position found by rotation of the reflected image of the first tine member  48  through approximately 112.5° in a clockwise direction, which is approximately {fraction (5/16)} of a circle. Each of the tines of second tine member  52  are offset approximately 22.5° from the tines of the first tine member  48 . 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 10, the preferred arrangement of second tine assembly  40  will be described. Third tine member  48 ′ is identical in appearance to first tine member  48 . Likewise, fourth tine member  52 ′ is identical in appearance to second tine member  52 . The fixed positioning of fourth tine member  52 ′ relative to third tine member  48 ′ is likewise identical to the positioning of second tine member  52  to first tine member  48  in terms of a reflected mirror image being rotated 112.5°. However, on shaft  28 , the second tine assembly  40  is arranged so that third tine member  48 ′ is rotated 120° with respect to the first tine member  48  and fourth tine member  52 ′ is rotated 120° with respect to second tine member  52 . The arrangement of third adapter  56 ′ and fourth adapter  58 ′ will be described later in this disclosure. 
     An opposite end view showing second tine assembly  40  is given in FIG. 10 where members corresponding to like members of first tine assembly  38  are denoted by primed reference numerals. 
     The relative positioning of the tine members  48 ,  52 , with respect to each other and shaft  28  is provided by first adapter  56  and second adapter  58 . First adapter  56  is best seen in FIGS. 11-13. The preferred embodiment of first adapter  56  includes a triangular body  140  having an axial opening  142 . The opening  142  is generally circular but includes a flattened region  146 . A first side of the first adapter  56  includes a flange  148  extending from a generally planar surface  149 . In the preferred embodiment, a second side of the first adapter  56  comprises an essentially planar surface  150 . Near the apices of the triangular body  140 , means are provided for fixedly securing the first adapter  56  to first tine member  48  in a predetermined position. In a preferred embodiment, rivets or other fasteners (not shown in these views) extend through holes  152  in the triangular body  140  through corresponding holes in the first tine member  48 . Flange  148  extends though the central bore  64  in the first tine member  48 . As will be discussed later in this disclosure, the diameter of the generally circular opening  142  is greater than the diameter of first end  32  of shaft  28 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 14-16, second adapter  58  also includes a triangular body  154  with axial opening  156 . One side of body  154  includes flange  158  extending from a generally planar surface  160 . The axial opening  156  includes a flattened region  157  and is dimensioned to receive first end  32  of shaft  28 . The opposite side of body  154  includes a spacer  164  extending from a generally planar surface  168 . Spacer  164  is dimensioned to be received through axial opening  142  in first adapter  56 , as best illustrated in FIG. 13, including a flat surface  170  which mates with the flattened region  146  of opening  142 . Near the apices of body  154  means are provided for fixedly securing the second adapter  58  to second tine member  52  in a predetermined position in a manner similar to that described above with reference to first adapter  56  and first tine member  48 . 
     FIG. 17 shows a preferred arrangement of first tine assembly  38  on the first end  32  of shaft  28 . As illustrated, the dimension of shaft  28  is reduced at first end  32  due to a flattened surface  172  which mates with flattened region  157  in the axial opening  156  of spacer  164 . In a preferred embodiment, pin member  180  secures first tine assembly  38  to shaft  28 , although other fastening means can be employed within the scope of the present invention. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, adapter  56  is adjacent first tine member  48  which is located on the first outside end of cultivator  20 . At the second outside end a similar adapter  56 ′ is utilized to hold fourth tine member  52 ′ on second end  42  of shaft  28 . In this way, the adapters  58 ,  58 ′ with the spacers  164 ,  164 ′ are located axially inwardly of the adapters  56 ,  56 ′ on each end of shaft  28 . This design allows for the removal of one or two tine members during operation of the cultivator  20  without the need for changing the fastening means. FIG. 18 shows the second end  42  of the shaft  28  with only third tine member  48 ′. The cultivator can be operated with one, two, three or four tine members in place. The design of the shaft ends  32 ,  42 , and adapters  56 ,  56 ′,  58 ,  58 ′ prevent an operator from mis-placing the various parts on the shaft  28 . 
     With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 9, the first tine assembly  38  rotates in the direction of the arrow A. As shown, the ground will be contacted by tines on alternating tine members. For example, in this preferred embodiment, starting with slasher  72 , the order of contact would be: first tine member (ftm) slasher  72  (down), second tine member (stm) curved tine  128  (down), ftm curved tine  88  (down), stm  118  (up), ftm bolo tine  80  (up), stm curved tine  134  (up) ftm curved tine  90  (down), stm bolo tine  124  (down), ftm slasher  74  (up), stm curved tine  136  (up), ftm curved tine  92  (up), stm slasher  114  (down), ftm bolo tine  82  (down), stm curved tine  132  (down), ftm curved tine  94  (up), and stm bolo  120  (up). Because of the arrangement of the tine members  48 ,  52  on shaft  28 , when assembled, the term “up” means the tines of one tine member are angled away from the other tine member and the term “down” means that the tines of one tine member are angled toward the other tine member. As shaft  28  rotates, both tine assemblies  38 ,  40  rotate. In the preferred embodiment, bolo  80 ′ contacts the ground in sync with slasher  72 . The order of contact of the tines of second tine assembly  40  is readily apparent from FIG.  10 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alternations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.