Soil conditioning and seed bed preparing apparatus

Claim 2

Soil preparing and conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame, soil loosening means coupled to the main frame for cutting and loosening compacted soil along a relatively narrow track, including: a rotatable cutting member, cutter mounting means for mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutting member toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center of curvature lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from said main frame; subsoiler means coupled to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said soil loosening means for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface of the ground; slot filler means coupled to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said subsoiler means for filling a slot in the soil left by the forward motion of said subsoiler means therethrough; and seed bed preparation means coupled to said main frame behind said slot filler means for pulverizing the soil in and adjacent the region of the filled in slot behind the slot filler means, said seed bed preparation means including: soil chopping means, and means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame for substantially universal axial, angular and lateral adjustment relative to said filled in slot.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame includes: first and second linkage members independently pivotably connected at one end to said main frame and independently pivotably connected to said cutter mounting means at their axially opposite ends.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said first linkage member is less than the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said second linkage member; and the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the main frame is greater than the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the cutter mounting means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of the subsoiler means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said soil loosening means further comprises: depth adjustment means for adjusting the maximum permissible amount of downward vertical travel of the rotatable cutting member, including a threaded shaft pivotably coupled at one end to the main frame, and further means coupling said threaded shaft to said second linkage member for axial and pivotal relative movement therebetween.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said soil loosening means further comprises: tension adjustment means comprising spring means located coaxially around said threaded shaft and coacting between said shaft and said further coupling means for biasing said rotatable cutting member in a generally downward direction.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said subsoiler means includes: a downwardly extending shank fastened at its proximal end portion to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said rotatable cutting member; said shank having a blade at its distal end portion, said blade being so shaped to break up the hard pan and force loosened soil upward behind the front portion of the cutting member and against the rear portion of the cutting member.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said shank.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies between 0 and 4 inches forward of the front edge of said blade in a horizontal direction.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies approximately 1 inch forward of the front edge of said blade.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said slot filler means includes: an elongated arm pivotably coupled at one end to said subsoiler shank; and a rotatable slot filler member mounted to the other end of said elongated arm behind and substantially axially aligned with said subsoiler shank, said rotatable slot filler member having means for tearing soil from the walls of the slot formed by the subsoiler shank and for urging the torn soil downwardly toward the bottom of the slot so formed to substantially reduce air pockets or channels in the bottom portion of the slot.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said rotatable slot filler member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler shank.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: an adjustable stop means coupled to said slot filler means for adjusting the maximum permissible upward travel of the rotatable slot filler member, including: a slotted plate fixed to said elongated arm, a cylindrical member having an eccentric bore therein, and means for adjustably securing the cylindrical member to the arm through the slotted plate such that a first peripheral portion of the cylindrical member rests against an edge portion of the arm and a second peripheral portion of the cylindrical member is engageable with said frame.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slot filler means includes: an elongated arm pivotably coupled at one end to said subsoiler shank; and a rotatable slot filler member mounted to the other end of said elongated arm behind and substantially axially aligned with said subsoiler shank, said rotatable slot filler member having means for tearing soil from the walls of the slot formed by the subsoiler shank and for urging the torn soil downwardly toward the bottom of the slot so formed to substantially reduce air pockets or channels in the bottom portion of the slot.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said rotatable slot filler member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler shank.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: adjustable stop means coupled to said slot filler means for adjusting the maximum permissible upward travel of the rotatable slot filler member.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said adjustable stop means comprises: a slotted plate fixed to said elongated arm; a cylindrical member having an eccentric bore therein; and means for adjustably securing the cylindrical member to the arm through the slotted plate such that a first peripheral portion of the cylindrical member rests against an edge portion of the arm and a second peripheral portion of the cylindrical member is engageable with said main frame.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seed bed preparation means further comprises: a rearwardly axially extending flex member flexibly mounted to said main frame; an assembly mounting shaft mounted to said flex member for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flex member; means for adjustably securing the assembly mounting shaft against rotational movement relative to said flex member; a tool bar coupled to said assembly mounting shaft for rotational movement therewith and for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said assembly mounting shaft; an implement mounting shaft; means mounting said implement mounting shaft to said tool bar for adjustable axial movement therealong and for rotational movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the tool bar; and means mounting said soil chopping means to said implement mounting shaft for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said implement mounting shaft, said soil chopping means including: a fluted coulter, a spider mounted on a common axle with said fluted coulter and having a diameter less than the diameter of the fluted coulter, the fingers of the spider being arranged to positively contact the soil to thereby impart a rotational motion to the coulter when the apparatus is moving in a forward direction, the peripheral rotational speed of the coulter being greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means, whereby said coulter substantially pulverizes the soil in the region of the seed bed behind the slot filler means.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said soil chopping means further includes: first and second rotatable members mounted adjacent each other on a common axis, said first member having a smaller diameter than said second member for driving said second member at a peripheral rotational speed greater than the forward speed of the soil chopping means relative to the ground.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein: one of said first and second rotatable members comprises a fluted coulter and the other of said first and second rotatable members comprises a spider mounted on a common axle with the coulter and having a diameter less than the diameter of the fluted coulter, the fingers of the spider being arranged to positively contact the soil to thereby impart a rotational motion to the coulter when the apparatus is moving in a forward direction, the peripheral rotational speed of the coulter being greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means, whereby said coulter substantially pulverizes the soil in the region of the seed bed behind the slot filler means.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said soil chopping means is provided in duplicate on opposite lateral sides of said flexible member for straddling the slot behind the slot filler means.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seed bed preparation mqans is provided in duplicate behind and on opposite lateral sides of said slot filler means for substantially universal adjustment relative to said filled in slot.

Claim 24

Soil conditioning apparatus comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means for cutting and loosening compacted soil ahead of the frame, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from said main frame; subsoiler means coupled to said main frame for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface of the ground; and seed bed preparation means for pulverizing the soil in and adjacent the region behind the subsoiler means, including: soil chopping means, and means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame for substantially universal adjustment axially, angularly and laterally relative to the soil region behind the subsoiler means.

Claim 25

Soil conditioning apparatus comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means for cutting and loosening compacted soil ahead of the frame, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from said main frame; subsoiler means coupled to said main frame for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface of the ground; and seed bed preparation means for pulverizing the soil in and adjacent the region behind the subsoiler means, including: soil chopping means, and means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame for substantially universal adjustment axially, angularly and laterally relative to the soil region behind the subsoiler means.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame includes: first and second linkage members independently pivotably connected at one end to said main frame and independently pivotably connected to said cutter mounting means at their axially opposite ends.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein: the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said first linkage member is less than the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said second linkage member; and the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the main frame is greater than the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the cutter mounting means.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler means.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said subsoiler means includes: a downwardly extending shank fastened at its proximal end portion to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said rotatable cutting member; said shank having a blade at its distal end portion, said blade being so shaped to break up the hard pan and force loosened soil upward behind the front portion of the cutting member and against the rear portion of the cutting member.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said shank.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies between 0 to 4 inches forward of the front edge of said blade in a horizontal direction.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies approximately 1 inch forward of the front edge of said blade.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said soil chopping means comprises: at least one rotatable chopping member; and means for rotating said at least one rotatable chopping member at a greater peripheral angular velocity than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means relative to the ground.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said soil chopping means comprises: first and second rotatable members mounted adjacent each other on a common axis, said first member having a smaller diameter than said second member for driving said second member at a peripheral rotational speed greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means relative to the ground.

Claim 35

Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein: one of said first and second rotatable members comprises a fluted coulter and the other of said first and second rotatable members comprises a spider mounted on a common axle with the coulter and having a diameter less than the diameter of the fluted coulter, the fingers of the spider being arranged to positively contact the soil to thereby impart a rotational motion to the coulter when the apparatus is moving in a forward direction, the peripheral rotational speed of the coulter being greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means, whereby said coulter substantially pulverizes the soil in the region of the seed bed behind the slot filler means.

Claim 36

Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said seed bed preparation means is provided in duplicate behind and on opposite lateral sides of said subsoiler means for substantially universal adjustment relative to the soil region behind the subsoiler means.

Claim 37

Soil conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means coupled to said main frame for cutting and loosening compacted soil along a relatively narrow track, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center of curvature lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from the main frame; subsoiler means coupled to said main frame for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface; and slot filler means coupled to said main frame for filling a slot in the soil left by the forward motion of said subsoiler means therethrough.

Claim 38

Soil conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means coupled to said main frame for cutting and loosening compacted soil along a relatively narrow track, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center of curvature lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from the main frame; subsoiler means coupled to said main frame for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface; and slot filler means coupled to said main frame for filling a slot in the soil left by the forward motion of said subsoiler means therethrough.

Claim 39

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame includes: first and second linkage members independently pivotably connected at one end to said main frame and independently pivotably connected to said cutter mounting means at their axially opposite ends.

Claim 40

Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein: the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said first linkage member is less than the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said second linkage member; and the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the main frame is greater than the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the cutter mounting means.

Claim 41

Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler means.

Claim 42

Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said soil loosening means further comprises: depth adjustment means for adjusting the maximum permissible amount of downward vertical travel of the rotatable cutting member, including a threaded shaft pivotably coupled at one end to the main frame, and further means coupling said threaded shaft to said second linkage member for axial and pivotal relative movement therebetween.

Claim 43

Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said soil loosening means further comprises: tension adjustment means comprising spring means located coaxially around said threaded shaft and coacting between said shaft and said further coupling means for biasing said rotatable cutting member in a generally downward direction.

Claim 44

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said subsoiler means includes: a downwardly extending shank fastened at its proximal end portion to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said rotatable cutting member; said shank having a blade at its distal end portion, said blade being so shaped to break up the hard pan and force loosened soil upward behind the front portion of the cutting member and against the rear portion of the cutting member.

Claim 45

Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said shank.

Claim 46

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies between 0 and 4 inches forward of the front edge of said blade in a horizontal direction.

Claim 47

Apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies approximately 1 inch forward of the front edge of said blade.

Claim 48

Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said slot filler means includes: an elongated arm pivotally coupled at one end to said subsoiler shank; and a rotatable slot filler member mounted to the other end of said elongated arm behind and substantially axially aligned with said subsoiler shank, said rotatable slot filler member having means for tearing soil from the walls of the slot formed by the subsoiler shank and for urging the torn soil downwardly toward the bottom of the slot so formed to substantially reduce air pockets or channels in the bottom portion of the slot.

Claim 49

Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said rotatable slot filler member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler shank.

Claim 50

Apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising: an adjustable stop means coupled to aid slot filler means for adjusting the maximum permissible upward travel of the rotatable slot filler member, including: a sloted plate fixed to said elongated arm, a cylindrical member having an eccentric bore therein, and means for adjustably securing the cylindrical member to the arm through the slotted plate such that a first peripheral portion of the cylindrical member rests against an edge portion of the arm and a second peripheral portion of the cylindrical member is engageable with said frame.

Claim 51

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said slot filler means includes: an elongated arm pivotally coupled at one end to said subsoiler shank; and a rotatable slot filler member mounted to the other end of said elongated arm behind and substantially axially aligned with said subsoiler shank, said rotatable slot filler member having means for tearing soil from the walls of the slot formed by the subsoiler shank and for urging the torn soil downwardly toward the bottom of the slot so formed to substantially reduce air pockets or channels in the bottom portion of the slot.

Claim 52

Apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said rotatable slot filler member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler shank.

Claim 53

Apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising: adjustable stop means coupled to said slot filler means for adjusting the maximum permissible upward travel of the rotatable slot filler member.

Claim 54

Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said adjustable stop means comprises: a slotted plate fixed to said elongated arm; a cylindrical member having an eccentric bore therein; and means for adjustably securing the cylindrical member to the arm through the slotted plate such that a first peripheral portion of the cylindrical member rests against an edge portion of the arm and a second peripheral portion of the cylindrical member is engageable with said main frame.

Claim 55

Soil conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means coupled to said main frame for cutting and loosening compacted soil along a relatively narrow track, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center of curvature lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from the main frame; and subsoiler means for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface.

Claim 56

Soil conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means coupled to said main frame for cutting and loosening compacted soil along a relatively narrow track, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center of curvature lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from the main frame; and subsoiler means for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface.

Claim 57

Apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame includes: first and second linkage members independently pivotably connected at one end to said main frame and independently pivotably connected to said cutter mounting means at their axially opposite ends.

Claim 58

Apparatus according to claim 53, wherein: the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said first linkage member is less than the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said second linkage member; and the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the main frame is greater than the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the cutter mounting means.

Claim 59

Apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler means.

Claim 60

Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said soil loosening means further comprises: depth adjustment means for adjusting the maximum permissible amount of downward vertical travel of the rotatable cutting member, including a threaded shaft pivotally coupled at one end to the main frame, and further means coupling said threaded shaft to said second linkage member for axial and pivotal relative movement therebetween.

Claim 61

Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said soil loosening means further comprises: tension adjustment means comprising spring means located coaxially around said threaded shaft and coacting between said shaft and said further coupling means for biasing said rotatable cutting member in a generally downward direction.

Claim 62

Apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said subsoiler means includes: a downwardly extending shank fastened at its proximal end portion to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said rotatable cutting member; said shank having a blade at its distal end portion, said blade being so shaped to break up the hard pan and force loosened soil upward behind the front portion of the cutting member and against the rear portion of the cutting member.

Claim 63

Apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies between 0 and 4 inches forward of the front edge of said blade in a horizontal direction.

Claim 64

Apparatus according to claim 59, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies approximately 1 inch forward of the front edge of said blade.

Claim 65

Soil conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means for cutting and loosening compacted soil ahead of the apparatus, including: a rotatable cutting member, a mounting member for mounting the rotatable cutting member for pivotal movement about a generally upright axis, first and second linkage members independently pivotably connected at one end to said main frame and independently pivotably connected to said mounting member at their axially opposite ends, wherein the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said first linkage member is less than the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said second linkage member, and wherein the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the main frame is greater than the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the mounting member; subsoiler means for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface, including: a downward extending shank fastened to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said rotatable cutting member, said shank having a blade so shaped to break up the hard pan and force loosened soil upward behind the front portion of the rotatable cutting member; slot filler means for filling a slot in the soil left by the forward motion of said subsoiler means therethrough, said slot filler means including: an elongated arm pivotably coupled at one end to said subsoiler shank, and a rotatable slot filler member mounted to the other end of said elongated arm behind and substantially axially aligned with said subsoiler shank, said rotatable slot filler member having means for tearing soil from the walls of the slot formed by the subsoiler shank and for urging the torn soil downward toward the bottom of the slot to substantially reduce air pockets or channels on the bottom portion of the slot; and seed bed preparation means for pulverizing the soil in and adjacent the region of the filled in slot behind the slot filler means, including: soil chopping means comprising first and second rotatable soil chopping members mounted adjacent each other on a common axle, said first soil chopping member having a smaller diameter than said second soil chopping member for driving said second soil chopping member at a peripheral rotational speed greater than the forward speed of said apparatus relative to the ground, and means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame for substantially universal adjustment axially, angularly and laterally relative to the filled in slot behind said slot filler means.

Claim 66

Soil conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means for cutting and loosening compacted soil ahead of the apparatus, including: a rotatable cutting member, a mounting member for mounting the rotatable cutting member for pivotal movement about a generally upright axis, first and second linkage members independently pivotably connected at one end to said main frame and independently pivotably connected to said mounting member at their axially opposite ends, wherein the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said first linkage member is less than the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said second linkage member, and wherein the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the main frame is greater than the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the mounting member; subsoiler means for breaking and shattering hard pan beneath the surface, including: a downward extending shank fastened to said main frame behind and in substantial axial alignment with said rotatable cutting member, said shank having a blade so shaped to break up the hard pan and force loosened soil upward behind the front portion of the rotatable cutting member; slot filler means for filling a slot in the soil left by the forward motion of said subsoiler means therethrough, said slot filler means including: an elongated arm pivotably coupled at one end to said subsoiler shank, and a rotatable slot filler member mounted to the other end of said elongated arm behind and substantially axially aligned with said subsoiler shank, said rotatable slot filler member having means for tearing soil from the walls of the slot formed by the subsoiler shank and for urging the torn soil downward toward the bottom of the slot to substantially reduce air pockets or channels on the bottom portion of the slot; and seed bed preparation means for pulverizing the soil in and adjacent the region of the filled in slot behind the slot filler means, including: soil chopping means comprising first and second rotatable soil chopping members mounted adjacent each other on a common axle, said first soil chopping member having a smaller diameter than said second soil chopping member for driving said second soil chopping member at a peripheral rotational speed greater than the forward speed of said apparatus relative to the ground, and means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame for substantially universal adjustment axially, angularly and laterally relative to the filled in slot behind said slot filler means.

Claim 67

Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said shank.

Claim 68

Apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies between 0 and 4 inches forward of the front edge of said blade in a horizontal direction.

Claim 69

Apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the rotational axis of said coulter lies approximately 1 inch forward of the front edge of said blade.

Claim 70

Apparatus according to claim 62, wherein said rotatable slot filler member comprises a fluted coulter having a width equal to or greater than the width of said subsoiler shank.

Claim 71

Apparatus according to claim 61, further comprising: adjustable stop means coupled to said slot filler means for adjusting the maximum permissible upward travel of the rotatable slot filler member.

Claim 72

Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein: one of said first and second rotatable members comprises a fluted coulter and the other of said first and second rotatable members comprises a spider mounted on a common axle with the coulter and having a diameter less than the diameter of the fluted coulter, the fingers of the spider being arranged to positively contact the soil to thereby impart a rotational motion to the coulter when the apparatus is moving in a forward direction, the peripheral rotational speed of the coulter being greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means, whereby said coulter substantially pulverizes the soil in the region of the seed bed behind the slot filler means.

Claim 73

Apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said seed bed preparation means is provided in duplicate behind and on opposite lateral sides of said slot filler means for substantially universal adjustment relative to said filled in slot.

Claim 74

Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said seed bed preparation means further comprises: a rearwardly axially extending flex member flexibly mounted to said main frame; an assembly mounting shaft mounted to said flex member for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flex member; means for adjustably securing the assembly mounting shaft against rotational movement relative to said flex member; a tool bar coupled to said assembly mounting shaft for rotational movement therewith and for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said assembly mounting shaft; an implement mounting shaft; means mounting said implement mounting shaft to said tool bar for adjustable axial movement therealong and for rotational movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the tool bar; and axle means mounted to said implement mounting shaft for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said implement mounting shaft; wherein: said second rotatable soil chopping member comprises a fluted coulter mounted to said axle means; and said first rotatable soil chopping member comprises a spider mounted on said axle means with said fluted coulter, the fingers of the spider being arranged to positively contact the soil to thereby impart a rotational motion to the coulter when the apparatus is moving in a forward direction, the peripheral rotational speed of the coulter being greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means, whereby said coulter substantially pulverizes the soil in the region of the seed bed behind the slot filler means.

Claim 75

Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said soil chopping means is provided in duplicate on opposite lateral sides of said means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame.

Claim 76

Soil preparing and conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means coupled to said main frame for cutting and loosening compacted soil along a relatively narrow track, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center of curvature lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from said main frame; and seed bed preparation means coupled to said main frame behind said soil breaking means for pulverizing the soil in and adjacent the region of the track of loosened soil behind the soil loosening means, said seed bed preparation means including: soil chopping means, and means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame for substantially universal axial, angular and lateral adjustment relative to the ground plane in the region of the track of loosened soil.

Claim 77

Soil preparing and conditioning apparatus, comprising: a main frame; soil loosening means coupled to said main frame for cutting and loosening compacted soil along a relatively narrow track, including: a rotatable cutting member, means mounting said rotatable cutting member to said frame for pivotable movement of said cutting member about a generally upright axis relative to the ground plane, and means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame for pivotal movement of said cutter mounting means and said rotatable cutter means toward and away from the ground through an arc whose center of curvature lies forward of said mounting means in a direction away from said main frame; and seed bed preparation means coupled to said main frame behind said soil breaking means for pulverizing the soil in and adjacent the region of the track of loosened soil behind the soil loosening means, said seed bed preparation means including: soil chopping means, and means mounting said soil chopping means to said main frame for substantially universal axial, angular and lateral adjustment relative to the ground plane in the region of the track of loosened soil.

Claim 78

Apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said means coupling said cutter mounting means to said main frame includes: first and second linkage members independently pivotably connected at tone end to said main frame and independently pivotably connected to said cutter mounting means at their axially opposite ends.

Claim 79

Apparatus according to claim 72, wherein: the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said first linkage member is less than the distance between the axially opposite pivot points of said second linkage member; and the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the main frame is greater than the distance between the pivot points connecting the first and second linkage members to the cutter mounting means.

Claim 80

Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein said rotatable cutting member comprises a fluted coulter.

Claim 81

Apparatus according to claim 71, wherein said soil chopping means comprises: at least one rotatable chopping member; and means for rotating said at least one rotatable chopping member at a greater peripheral angular velocity than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means relative to the ground.

Claim 82

Apparatus according to claim 71, wherein said soil chopping means comprises: first and second rotatable members mounted adjacent each other on a common axis, said first member having a smaller diameter than said second member for driving said second member at a peripheral rotational speed greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means relative to the ground.

Claim 83

Apparatus according to claim 76, wherein: one of said first and second rotatable members comprises a fluted coulter and the other of said first and second rotatable members comprises a spider mounted on a common axle with the coulter and having a diameter less than the diameter of the fluted coulter, the fingers of the spider being arranged to positively contact the soil to thereby impart a rotational motion to the coulter when the apparatus is moving in a forward direction, the peripheral rotational speed of the coulter being greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means, whereby said coulter substantially pulverizes the soil in the region of the seed bed behind the slot filler means.

Claim 84

Apparatus according to claim 77, wherein said seed bed preparation means is provided in duplicate behind and on opposite lateral aides of said soil loosening means for substantially universal adjustment relative to the ground plane in the region of the tract of loosened soil.

Claim 85

Apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said seed bed preparation means further comprises: a rearwardly axially extending flex member flexibly mounted to said main frame; an assembly mounting shaft mounted to said flex member for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flex member; means for adjustably securing the assembly mounting shaft against rotational movement relative to said flex member; a tool bar coupled to said assembly mounting shaft for rotational movement therewith and for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said assembly mounting shaft; an implement mounting shaft; means mounting said implement mounting shaft to said tool bar for adjustable axial movement therealong and for rotational movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the tool bar; and axle means mounted to said implement mounting shaft for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of said implement mounting shaft; wherein: said second rotatable soil chopping member comprises a fluted coulter mounted to said axle means; and said first rotatable soil chopping member comprises a spider mounted on said axle means with said fluted coulter, the fingers of the spider being arranged to positively contact the soil to thereby impart a rotational motion to the coulter when the apparatus is moving in a forward direction, the peripheral rotational speed of the coulter being greater than the forward speed of the seed bed preparation means, whereby said coulter substantially pulverizes the soil in the region of the seed bed behind the slot filler means.

Claim 86

Apparatus according to claim 71, wherein said soil chopping means comprises first and second rotatable members having diameters in a ratio range between about 1:1 and 1:1.5.

Claim 87

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said soil chopping means comprises first and second rotatable members having diameters in a ratio range between about 1:1 and 1:1.5.

Claim 88

Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said soil chopping means comprises first and second rotatable members having diameters in a ratio range between about 1:1 and 1:1.5.

Claim 89

Apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said soil chopping means comprises first and second rotatable members having diameters in a ratio range between about 1:1 and 1:1.5.