Patent ID: 8235132

Claim:
A plow comprising: an elongated frame comprising a first cross bar and a second cross bar positioned behind the first cross bar in a parallel relationship; a plurality of support arms extending from the second cross bar; a plurality of shear assemblies affixed to the first cross bar in a spaced relationship along a length of the first cross bar, wherein each of the shear assemblies comprises (i) a shear support extending downwardly from the first cross bar, (ii) a shank portion extending at a lateral angle from a distal portion of the shear support, and (iii) a shearing blade attached at a swept back angle in a lateral direction to a distal end of the shank portion; a cylinder assembly rotatably affixed at both ends to the second cross bar and positioned parallel to the plurality of shear assemblies and configured to rotate as the plow is pulled through a field, the cylinder assembly comprising: a cylinder body defining a common axis; a plurality of cylinder blade assemblies laterally positioned along the common axis, each blade assembly positioned immediately behind a respective one of the plurality of shear assemblies and comprising a plurality of cylinder blades radially extending from the cylinder body; and one or more coulters positioned along the common axis and respectively attached to the cylinder body between adjacent cylinder blade assemblies; and a plurality of rowing devices, wherein each of the rowing devices is attached to a respective support arm behind the plurality of shear assemblies and the cylinder assembly and at a respective lateral position between adjacent shear assemblies, wherein, as the plow is pulled through the field, (i) the shear supports pass between adjacent rows of planted vegetation as the shearing blades operate below the surface of the soil to sever the roots of the planted vegetation, (ii) the plurality cylinder blade assemblies mulch the soil and press the severed vegetation into the soil, (iii) the one or more coulters sever vegetation between adjacent shear assemblies, and (iv) the plurality rowing devices reposition soil on top of the severed vegetation to form furrows and create a seedbed.