Patent ID: 7762345

Claim:
A minimum tillage apparatus, comprising: a frame having at least three transverse frame members disposed substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of said apparatus; a plurality of walking axles coupled to said frame, each walking axle comprising two wheels, at least a first one of said three transverse frame members being disposed forward of said walking axles in said direction of travel, and at least a second one of said three transverse frame members being disposed rearward of said walking axles in said direction of travel; a first plurality of mounting structures coupled to said first one of said three transverse members; a second plurality of mounting structures coupled to said second one of said three transverse members, each one of said second plurality of mounting structures being staggered in said direction of travel with respect to said first plurality of mounting structures; a third plurality of mounting structures coupled to a third one of said three transverse members, each one of said third plurality of mounting structures being staggered in said direction of travel with respect to said first plurality of mounting structures or with respect to said second plurality of mounting structures; each mounting structure being configured to be movably fixable to different locations on the corresponding transverse member, each mounting structure comprising (i) a hollow strut portion, (ii) a bracket portion configured to couple said hollow strut portion to the corresponding transverse member, (iii) a substantially horizontal slot configured to permit rotation of a corresponding upper shank about a vertical axis by plus or minus 30 degrees with respect to said direction of travel, (iv) at least one bushing disposed within said hollow strut portion and configured to support said corresponding upper shank, and (v) a support member configured to limit upward movement of said corresponding upper shank; a plurality of coil springs, each mounted to a corresponding mounting structure and comprising (i) an upper shank configured to fit within a corresponding hollow strut portion, (ii) a coil portion, and (iii) a lower shank portion angled away from said direction of travel with respect to the corresponding upper shank portion, each upper shank, coil portion, and lower shank being configured such that when said lower shank biases upward, the corresponding coil tightens, substantially half of the coil portions being wound in the clockwise direction, and substantially the other half of the coil portions being wound in the counter clockwise direction; a plurality of coulter wheels, each coupled to a corresponding one of said lower shanks, each mounting structure supporting a single coulter wheel; a plurality of tines mounted at a rear of said frame and configured to be staggered in said direction of travel with respect to at least one of the pluralities of mounting structures; and a plurality of rolling harrows coupled to said frame behind said plurality of tines in said direction of travel.