Patent US3828859A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3828859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for processing soil for planting
Assignee: Gee-Dee International Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-27
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1992-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus which in one single pass can take cleared acreage whether or not previously farmed, and leave the soil with improved texture, substantially free of all harmful weed seeds, insects, insect eggs and larvae and other harmful living matter, and in condition for planting. This is accomplished without the use of herbicides, insecticides or the like. A layer of topsoil of predetermined depth is peeled from the surface and vigorously worked by milling, crushing and other means. Liquid or solid fertilizer may, if desired, be blended into the soil. Seeds may be planted, and the treated soil redistributed to cover them to a preselected depth, all in the one pass.
Inventors
- 👤 G Alvarez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:14
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01B; A01B77/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
An apparatus for processing soil along a swath in a continuous mechanical operation comprising: a. a housing having a cover plate, substantially parallel sidewalls, and a bottom portion, said bottom portion comprising a scoop, said scoop having a forward lip constituting a cutting edge substantially parallel to the surface of the soil to be processed, but adjustable to a preselected depth beneath said surface by controlled adjustment of movable support members linking the housing with a driving vehicle; b. said driving vehicle attached to the housing urging the forward lip of the scoop through the soil, whereby a layer of earth is continuously peeled and enters the scoop; c. a multiplicity of free swinging hammer means pivotally extending from a first power-driven shaft journaled in the sidewalls of the housing, comprising a rotating hammer means assembly, said hammer means being spaced from said bottom portion of the housing, adapted to serve as a cooperating anvil surface, said hammer means rotatable in a direction to strike the earth urged into the scoop, momentarily compress and mill it in the space between the hammer means and the anvil surface of the bottom portion of the housing and drive it upwardly and backwardly toward the rear of the housing; d. at least one additional rotating assembly similarly spaced, comprising a multiplicity of free-swinging hammer means pivotally extending from a second power-driven shaft, journaled in the sidewalls of the housing behind and parallel to the first; e. means mounted on said housing for transporting the soil from the first rotating assembly to the second rotating assembly; and f. means mounted on said housing for distributing the processed soil to the swath from which it was removed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
282 words
An apparatus for processing soil along a swath in a continuous mechanical operation comprising: a. a housing having a cover plate, substantially parallel sidewalls, and a bottom portion, said bottom portion comprising a scoop, said scoop having a forward lip constituting a cutting edge substantially parallel to the surface of the soil to be processed, but adjustable to a preselected depth beneath said surface by controlled adjustment of movable support members linking the housing with a driving vehicle; b. said driving vehicle attached to the housing urging the forward lip of the scoop through the soil, whereby a layer of earth is continuously peeled and enters the scoop; c. a multiplicity of free swinging hammer means pivotally extending from a first power-driven shaft journaled in the sidewalls of the housing, comprising a rotating hammer means assembly, said hammer means being spaced from said bottom portion of the housing, adapted to serve as a cooperating anvil surface, said hammer means rotatable in a direction to strike the earth urged into the scoop, momentarily compress and mill it in the space between the hammer means and the anvil surface of the bottom portion of the housing and drive it upwardly and backwardly toward the rear of the housing; d. at least one additional rotating assembly similarly spaced, comprising a multiplicity of free-swinging hammer means pivotally extending from a second power-driven shaft, journaled in the sidewalls of the housing behind and parallel to the first; e. means mounted on said housing for transporting the soil from the first rotating assembly to the second rotating assembly; and f. means mounted on said housing for distributing the processed soil to the swath from which it was removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is pushed by the driving vehicle, and power for the rotating assemblies is transmitted mechanically thereto from the driving vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is pulled by the driving vehicle, and power for the rotating assemblies is transmitted mechanically thereto from the driving vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driving vehicle for urging the scoop forward and moving the housing is a tractor or earth mover with which the housing is integrated, said housing being adjustable with respect to the tractor, for urging the cutting edge of the scoop through the soil at a preselected depth beneath its surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a forward-extending plow mounted on a forward portion of the housing which remains at all times at a distance of less than about 6 inches above the surface of the soil, whereby the rotating assemblies within the housing are protected from large stones and other surface objects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plow is positioned so as to present a straight leading edge in front of the scoop, and adjusting means attached to the forward part of the housing are included to adjust the position of the plow with respect to its elevation above the surface of the ground and its angle with respect to the line of travel of the apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting edge is equipped with teeth to facilitate the movement of the cutting edge through the soil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of parallel blades are positioned on a forward portion of the housing, and forward of said hammer means, to cut the peeled soil into parallel strips as it is forced between them, said blades being angled backwardly from the cutting edge, whereby stones and other objects too large to pass between them will be forced upward, the blades acting as rails for their upward travel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a receptacle is hingedly mounted on the housing at a position above said blades, for receiving stones and other objects forced upwardly on the parallel blades, and means on the driving vehicle for powering said receptacle for forward movement, are included whereby objects received and retained within the receptacle may be discharged when desired.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting edge of the scoop is adjustable for distances up to and including about 10 inches beneath the surface of the earth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein adjustable mechanical means link the housing supports and the driving vehicle whereby the depth of the cutting edge beneath the surface of the soil can be adjusted and maintained.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the adjustable mechanical means linking the housing supports and driving vehicle are hydraulic cylinders, whereby the depth of the cutting edge beneath the surface of the soil can be adjusted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of hammer means pivotally attached to the rotatable shafts are arranged to cooperate with anvil surfaces on the upper surface of the scoop, said shafts being journaled in substantially vertical elongated openings in the sidewalls of the housing, and adjustable for maintenance in any selected horizontal position within the elongated openings, whereby the free swinging hammer means may be set to clear the anvil surfaces by distances ranging from about 1/32 inch to 3 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shafts are rotatable in bearings, slidably fitted into the elongated openings in the parallel sidewalls, and are maintained in any selected position within the limits of the elongaged openings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 14 including means strongly biasing the shafts journaled in the elongated openings downwardly toward the anvil surfaces, said means being adjustable to thereby maintain the rotatable shafts in any selected position, while providing sufficient resilience upwardly against the bias to allow the hammer means to pass large resistant objects without damage to the apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the hammers have at least one swivel joint in addition to that at the point of attachment to the rotating shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means for transporting soil from the first rotating assembly to the second rotating assembly, when the two assemblies are substantially adjacent, is provided by the first rotary assembly itself, by virtue of its high rotary velocity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
160 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for crushing and compressing comprise at least two driven, rotatable rollers which cooperate to compress and pass soil between them, are adjustable with respect to the distance between them and are strongly biased toward the point of adjustment, said rollers being journaled in the parallel sidewalls of the housing, with at least one roller being a movable or floating roller, journaled in elongated openings in the sidewall, said elongated openings extending substantially in a line with the journals of the cooperating roller, said floating roller being maintained at a preselected position between the elongated openings, by adjusting means, attached to the sidewalls of the housing adjacent to the journals, said floating rollers being biased toward the cooperating roller to said point of adjustment, whereby an extraordinary force applied to separate the rollers by a crush resistant object passing between them opposes the bias to override the adjustment position and protect the apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the adjusting means are mechanical, and the bias is supplied by springs mounted on said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein both the adjusting means and the bias are supplied by hydraulic cylinders.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the surfaces of the rollers are uneven.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the speed of rotation of one roller exceeds that of the other to thereby provide a shearing action at the nip.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the surface of the rollers have undulations or corrugations parallel to their axes, and scrapers attached to the housing which are spring biased in contact with the rollers to thereby cause them to follow the undulations and keep them free of adhering accumulations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for milling comprises at least three rotating assemblies with freeswinging hammer means, at least one of which rotates in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of at least two others.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 18 including a conveyor mounted within said housing to transport the milled soil to the rotatable rollers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 4 including at least one powered helical flight conveyor mounted on the side of said driving vehicle to convey processed soil from the housing to a location at the rear of the driving vehicle, for further processing and distribution.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of claim 26 in which said helical flight conveyors are two in number, mounted on opposite sides of the driving vehicle, said apparatus including a powered bidirectional helical flight axially rotatable for outward transport from substantially its midpoint and mounted to the rear of the housing, positioned to communicate with said helical flight conveyors whereby processed soil in the housing entering the first bidirectional flight conveyor is distributed to the two helical flight conveyors and thence to the rear of the driving vehicle for further processing, and distribution to the swath.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 27 including an additional powered bidirectional helical flight conveyor mounted adjacent to the discharge end of the helical flight conveyors, said bidirectional flight being axially rotatable, for inward material transport toward its midpoint, whereby processed soil collected from the two helical conveyors is delivered to the upper surface of a spinning disc positioned at the rear of the driving vehicle for distribution to the swath.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein at least two of the helical flights are interrupted flights.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said spinning disc is supported by a rotating shaft on the driving vehicle powered for turning the spinning disc said shaft having attached thereto a helical screw to aid in delivering the processed soil to the upper surface of the disc.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the spinning disc is covered by a second housing mounted at the rear of the driving vehicle, and having a throat for the passage of the processed soil to the disc, said housing being partially open at the bottom to provide an annular space around the disc for distribution of processed soil.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the annular space surrounding the disc is sufficiently elongated in the direction of travel of the apparatus to substantially equalize the distribution of the soil.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claiM 28 wherein the surface of the spinning disc has raised ribs radiating outwardly from the upper surface thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the second housing is arranged for limited vertical motion, with the lower limit being just above but not touching the spinning disc, whereby the housing will press the soil on the disc by virtue of its weight, to thereby increase the working of the soil.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the disc is foraminous.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein slats, adjustable in number, width, and arrangement are positioned at the bottom of said second housing beneath the annular space, said slats being readily attachable or removable to transverse supports mounted on the second housing, in any desired arrangement parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle, the effective width of the slats being varied as desired by butting or overlapping, to thereby allow the deposition of the distributed soil to the swath in furrows of predetermined number, depth and width.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which a plurality of the rotating shafts are rotated by hydraulic, positive acting, rotary vane motors, by fluid pumped through hydraulic fluid lines, by one or more master, positive acting rotary vane pumps, powered in turn by the driving vehicle, said rotary hydraulic motors being controlled by at least one valve-controlled hydraulic by-pass line.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein relief valves are positioned in the hydraulic fluid lines to the driven hydraulic motors for discharge of hydraulic fluid into lines by-passing the motors, when said relief valves are subjected to excessive pressure, whereby the rotating shafts are protected from excessive strain.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the hydraulic fluid lines comprise in part, flexible pressure tubing whereby the driven hydraulic motors can be used on adjustable rotary shafts.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a centrifugally operated electric switch is positioned on at least one rotating shaft, and connected in a circuit with a signal device whereby the operator is alerted if the rotation of the shaft is stopped.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
266 words
An apparatus adapted for processing earth along a swath in one pass, and in a continuous mechanical operation comprising: a. a housing, the bottom portion of which comprises a scoop having a forward lip constituting a leading cutting edge substantially parallel to the surface of the earth to be processed, said housing being adjustable so as to maintain the leading cutting edge at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the earth to be processed by controlled adjustment of movable support members connecting the housing with a power driven vehicle for urging the scoop and leading edge forward; b. a first power-driven hammer means pivotally mounted so as to be free swinging, extending outwardly from a first shaft, said shaft being journaled horizontally in sidewalls of the housing transversely of the direction of travel of the apparatus, said hammer means being capable of crushing, compressing and milling the earth entering the scoop and passing beneath the rotating hammer means in the direction of their rotation in the space between the hammer means and the bottom of the housing adapted to serve as a cooperating anvil surface; c. at least one additional driven shaft parallel to, but behind the first, journaled horizontally in the sidewalls of the housing transversely of the direction of travel of the apparatus, said shaft similarly carrying additional pivotally mounted free swinging hammer means for further processing the earth passing the first free swinging hammer means; and d. an opening in the rear of the housing for the exit and distribution of the processed earth to the swath from which it was removed.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
266 words
An apparatus adapted for processing earth along a swath in one pass, and in a continuous mechanical operation comprising: a. a housing, the bottom portion of which comprises a scoop having a forward lip constituting a leading cutting edge substantially parallel to the surface of the earth to be processed, said housing being adjustable so as to maintain the leading cutting edge at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the earth to be processed by controlled adjustment of movable support members connecting the housing with a power driven vehicle for urging the scoop and leading edge forward; b. a first power-driven hammer means pivotally mounted so as to be free swinging, extending outwardly from a first shaft, said shaft being journaled horizontally in sidewalls of the housing transversely of the direction of travel of the apparatus, said hammer means being capable of crushing, compressing and milling the earth entering the scoop and passing beneath the rotating hammer means in the direction of their rotation in the space between the hammer means and the bottom of the housing adapted to serve as a cooperating anvil surface; c. at least one additional driven shaft parallel to, but behind the first, journaled horizontally in the sidewalls of the housing transversely of the direction of travel of the apparatus, said shaft similarly carrying additional pivotally mounted free swinging hammer means for further processing the earth passing the first free swinging hammer means; and d. an opening in the rear of the housing for the exit and distribution of the processed earth to the swath from which it was removed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |