Patent ID: 8408324

Claim:
An agricultural implement apparatus comprising: an implement frame mounted for movement along the ground in an operating travel direction; a shank extending downward from the implement frame, and a ground engaging tool mounted on a bottom end of the shank; a spoked wheel rotatably attached to the implement frame such that the spoked wheel rotates about a wheel axis oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the operating travel direction of the implement frame and forward of the shank, the spoked wheel rotated about the wheel axis by a drive; wherein the spoked wheel rotates about the wheel axis in a plane that is substantially vertical and aligned with, and forward of, a front face of the shank, and the spoked wheel is oriented such that ends of spokes of the spoked wheel pass above the ground forward of the shank, and such that the ends of the spokes of the spoked wheel pass adjacent to a front face of the shank.