US3779320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Agricultural machine for tilling the soil
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-10-29
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1990-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A main frame is supported, adjacent its rear end, by a pair of wheels, and the front end of the main frame is arranged for connection to the coupling pin of either a conventional tractor, preferably having a power take-off, or of a separate traction and steering assembly. An independent motor on the main frame drives rotatable ground-engaging agricultural implements supported on the main frame. These implements, when rotated by the independent motor on the main frame, are operable to work the soil, and develop with the soil, a thrust force tending to drive the main frame at a first speed determined by the reaction of the soil. The independent motor on the main frame is more powerful than the power take-off of the associated tractor or of the motor driving the separate traction and steering assembly. The connection of the main frame to the coupling pin serves to transmit a reaction force between the main frame and the steering and control mechanism. The motor of the tractor or control and steering assembly is independent of the motor on the main frame, and constitutes the sole driving means for the wheels of the tractor or the steering and control mechanism, and tends to drive the tractor or steering and control mechanism at a second speed. The relative speed due to the first and second motors causes a reaction force to be transmitted through the connection coupling the main frame to the tractor or steering and control mechanism, to counteract increases and decreases in the thrust force exerted by the rotating agricultural implements. The main agricultural implement is a rotary hoe carrying laterally projecting tines, and divided into two sections which may be swung to a horizontal position, to extend to either side of the main frame, or to a vertical position, for compactness during transport along a highway or road. Other agricultural components on the main frame may include tanks containing soil treating materials, distributing means connected to these tanks, and other ground working implements.
Inventors
- 👤 N Cantone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:07
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01B; A01B33/00; A01B33/02; A01B33/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A machine for tilling the soil comprising, in combination, a main frame, means supporting said main frame for translational movement over the ground; an operative assembly, including rotatable implements, operable to work the soil and developing, with the soil, a thrust force tending to drive said main frame at a first speed determined by the reaction of the soil, mounted on said main frame for elevational displacement relative to said main frame; a mechanism supported on wheels and operable to steer and control the translational movement of said main frame; means connecting said mechanism to said main frame for transmitting a reaction force therebetween: first independent motor means on said main frame drivingly connected to said operative assembly to rotate said rotatable implements at a fixed speed in a direction to provide said thrust force tending to drive said main frame, said first independent power means constituting the sole driving means for said operative assembly; and second motor means, independent of said first motor means, and in power ratio thereto not greater than one-half, on said steering and control mechanism constituting the sole driving means for said wheels thereof and tending to drive said steering and control mechanism at a second speed, the relative speed due to said first and second motor means causing a reaction force to be transmitted through said connecting means to counteract increases and decreases in said thrust force; the ratio of the weight of said mechanism to that of said main frame and parts carried thereby being less than 1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A machine for tilling the soil comprising, in combination, a main frame, means supporting said main frame for translational movement over the ground; an operative assembly, including rotatable implements, operable to work the soil and developing, with the soil, a thrust force tending to drive said main frame at a first speed determined by the reaction of the soil, mounted on said main frame for elevational displacement relative to said main frame; a mechanism supported on wheels and operable to steer and control the translational movement of said main frame; means connecting said mechanism to said main frame for transmitting a reaction force therebetween: first independent motor means on said main frame drivingly connected to said operative assembly to rotate said rotatable implements at a fixed speed in a direction to provide said thrust force tending to drive said main frame, said first independent power means constituting the sole driving means for said operative assembly; and second motor means, independent of said first motor means, and in power ratio thereto not greater than one-half, on said steering and control mechanism constituting the sole driving means for said wheels thereof and tending to drive said steering and control mechanism at a second speed, the relative speed due to said first and second motor means causing a reaction force to be transmitted through said connecting means to counteract increases and decreases in said thrust force; the ratio of the weight of said mechanism to that of said main frame and parts carried thereby being less than 1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
220 words
A machine for tilling the soil comprising, in combination, a main frame; means supporting said main frame for translational movement over the ground; an operative assembly, including rotatable implements operable to work the soil and developing, with the soil, a thrust force tending to drive said main frame at a first speed determined by the reaction of the soil, mounted on said main frame for elevational displacement relative to said main frame; a mechanism supported on wheels and operable to steer and control the translational movement of said main frame: means connecting said mechanism to said main frame for transmitting a reaction force therebetween; first independent power means on said main frame drivingly connected to said operative assembly to rotate said rotatable implements in a direction to provide said thrust force tending to drive said main frame, said first independent power means constituting the sole driving means for said operative assembly; and second power means, independent of said first power means, on said steering and control mechanism constituting the sole driving means for said wheels thereof and tending to drive said steering and control mechanism at a second speed; the relative speed due to said first and second power means causing a reaction force to be transmitted through said connecting means to counteract increases and decreases in said thrust force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
A machine for tilling the soil comprising, in combination, a main frame; means supporting said main frame for translational movement over the ground; an operative assembly, including rotatable implements operable to work the soil and developing, with the soil, a thrust force tending to drive said main frame at a first speed determined by the reaction of the soil, mounted on said main frame for elevational displacement relative to said main frame; a mechanism supported on wheels and operable to steer and control the translational movement of said main frame: means connecting said mechanism to said main frame for transmitting a reaction force therebetween; first independent power means on said main frame drivingly connected to said operative assembly to rotate said rotatable implements in a direction to provide said thrust force tending to drive said main frame, said first independent power means constituting the sole driving means for said operative assembly; and second power means, independent of said first power means, on said steering and control mechanism constituting the sole driving means for said wheels thereof and tending to drive said steering and control mechanism at a second speed; the relative speed due to said first and second power means causing a reaction force to be transmitted through said connecting means to counteract increases and decreases in said thrust force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Machine according to claim 2, wherein said steering and control mechanism comprises a tractor operatively connected to said main frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Machine according to claim 2, wherein said steering and control mechanism comprises a steering fore train coupled to said main frame in front thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
Machine according to claim 2, in which said operative assembly is a hoe assembly including a plurality of rotatable implements each comprising a rotatable support member and a plurality of tines mounted peripherally on the associated support member and extending laterally out of the plane of rotation of the associated support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
Machine according to claim 2, comprising non-powered plow members mounted to extend laterally and forwardly beyond the rotatable implements, to cut grooves in the ground during translational motion of the main frame and to create a resistance to said motion, the grooves being located at the sides of the strip of ground worked by said rotatable elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Machine according to claim 2, wherein means are provided to condition the rotatable implements of said operative assembly to engage and mechanically process the soil to a depth of up to 45 centimeters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Machine according to claim 2, comprising means limiting the downward displacement of said operative assembly and blocking said displacement against the weight of said assembly, at a predeterminable maximum negative elevation with respect to the surface of the ground.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Machine according to claim 2, comprising means biasing said operative assembly downwardly against the reaction of the ground, to a predetermined maximum negative elevation with respect to the surface of the ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
Machine according to claim 2, in which said means supporting said main frame comprises at least two bearing wheels connected to said main frame; and means selectively operable to connect said bearing wheels to the power means of said steering and control mechanism to drive said bearing wheels to act as traction wheels for said main frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
Machine according to claim 2, wherein the operative assembly is positioned rearwardly, with respect to the direction of translation of the main frame when in operation, of the points at which said main frame bears on the ground, and means for displacing said operative assembly from an elevated inoperative position to operative positions wherein the rotatable implements of said operative assembly penetrate into the ground.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
Machine according to claim 11, in which the rotatable implements of said operative assembly are divided into at least two sub-assemblies; and means hingedly supporting said sub-assemblies for displacement between an operative position in which they extend transversely of the direction of translational movement of said main frame and in end-to-end coaxial relation with each other, to a retracted position in which said sub-assemblies extend upwardly in juxtaposed relation with each other and on either side of a vertical plane which is parallel to the direction of translational movement of said main frame, whereby to reduce the horizontal dimension of said operative assembly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of translational movement of said main frame.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |