US3840076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implement guiding system for row crops
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-09
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1992-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A first implement establishes and fixes the position and direction of row crops in a field by trenching, hilling, seeding or the like. That same implement cuts a fairly deep narrow slit in the soil in precisely spaced parallel relation to the rows. Processing implements to be used later, such as planters, cultivators, choppers, harvesters, or the like are each provided with a rotatable lenticular disc held, by the weight of the implement, in the slit formed by the first implement to force such processing implement to precisely follow the rows. In some cases the implement may be a tractor itself, carrying row establishing or processing means.
Inventors
- 👤 P Capehart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:38
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01B; A01B69/00; A01B69/003; A01B69/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
The method of establishing and processing row crops comprising the steps of: moving a first implement over a field to establish a plurality of parallel crop rows; causing said implement to form a continuous narrow weather resistant slit of greater depth than width and of a depth of the order of 8 to 10 inches in the soil of said field in precisely fixed predetermined laterally spaced relation between two adjacent crop rows established by said implement and simultaneously with the establishment of said rows; causing a sharp edged lenticular disc to laterally engage the generally upright sides of said slit to laterally compact same; and thereafter directing a bodily laterally movable implement over said field generally along said slit for processing said row crops and causing a sharp edged lenticular disc on said other implement to enter simultaneously engage the opposite compacted sides of said slit, and follow said slit and support a substantial portion of the weight of said other implement to thereby bodily and directly move said other implement laterally in response to changes in direction of said slit whereby said other implement precisely follows the direction and all Undulations of the crop rows established by said first implement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
The method of establishing and processing row crops comprising the steps of: moving a first implement over a field to establish a plurality of parallel crop rows; causing said implement to form a continuous narrow weather resistant slit of greater depth than width and of a depth of the order of 8 to 10 inches in the soil of said field in precisely fixed predetermined laterally spaced relation between two adjacent crop rows established by said implement and simultaneously with the establishment of said rows; causing a sharp edged lenticular disc to laterally engage the generally upright sides of said slit to laterally compact same; and thereafter directing a bodily laterally movable implement over said field generally along said slit for processing said row crops and causing a sharp edged lenticular disc on said other implement to enter simultaneously engage the opposite compacted sides of said slit, and follow said slit and support a substantial portion of the weight of said other implement to thereby bodily and directly move said other implement laterally in response to changes in direction of said slit whereby said other implement precisely follows the direction and all Undulations of the crop rows established by said first implement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
202 words
An implement having means for processing row crops in a field having spaced parallel rows of crops thereacross and a narrow slit in the soil between certain rows and precisely parallel to and spaced from said certain rows; and a sharp edged lenticular disc rotatably mounted on said implement in fixed relation to said processing means and in position to rotate in a generally vertical fore-and-aft plane, said disc being positioned to support a substantial portion of the weight of said implement and to enter, simultaneously enage the opposite sides of, and be guided by said slit to thereby precisely and bodily move said implement laterally in response to changes in direction of said slit and thereby maintain said processing means in predetermined relationahip to their respective rows, said implement being a wheeled tractor having steerable front wheels, said disc being mounted of said tractor adjacent the front end thereof on a bracket structure separate from said steerable front wheels, and control means for forcibly raising and lowering said disc relative to said tractor whereby said disc may be pushed downardly into said slit with sufficient force to relieve said front wheels of a substantial portion of the tractor weight normally thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
202 words
An implement having means for processing row crops in a field having spaced parallel rows of crops thereacross and a narrow slit in the soil between certain rows and precisely parallel to and spaced from said certain rows; and a sharp edged lenticular disc rotatably mounted on said implement in fixed relation to said processing means and in position to rotate in a generally vertical fore-and-aft plane, said disc being positioned to support a substantial portion of the weight of said implement and to enter, simultaneously enage the opposite sides of, and be guided by said slit to thereby precisely and bodily move said implement laterally in response to changes in direction of said slit and thereby maintain said processing means in predetermined relationahip to their respective rows, said implement being a wheeled tractor having steerable front wheels, said disc being mounted of said tractor adjacent the front end thereof on a bracket structure separate from said steerable front wheels, and control means for forcibly raising and lowering said disc relative to said tractor whereby said disc may be pushed downardly into said slit with sufficient force to relieve said front wheels of a substantial portion of the tractor weight normally thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implement as defined in claim 2 wherein said control means comprises a hydraulic motor on said tractor.
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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) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |