US4384618A — Automatically retracting tiller for mounting on o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 190 words

An automatically retracting tiller for installation at one side of a tractor, including in combination: a stationary frame adapted to be secured to a side frame attachment of a tractor, a gimbal having a gimbal frame pivoted to said stationary frame by a stationary horizontal pivot rod and having first and second vertical pivot rods, first power means for tilting said gimbal frame about said horizontal pivot rod, a tiller frame pivoted to said first vertical pivot rod and carrying tilling apparatus, second power means for swinging said tiller frame about said first vertical pivot bar, control means for said second power means having a control lever, a cam mounted on said second vertical pivot rod in contact with said control lever for operation of said control means, and a sensor arm connected to said second vertical pivot rod extending horizontally out from said gimbal frame, so that when it engages a vine trunk, tree, fence post, or grapestake, it rotates said cam and thereby actuates said control means to energize said second power means to retract said tiller frame and thereby protect the vine trunk from said tilling apparatus.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 190 words

An automatically retracting tiller for installation at one side of a tractor, including in combination: a stationary frame adapted to be secured to a side frame attachment of a tractor, a gimbal having a gimbal frame pivoted to said stationary frame by a stationary horizontal pivot rod and having first and second vertical pivot rods, first power means for tilting said gimbal frame about said horizontal pivot rod, a tiller frame pivoted to said first vertical pivot rod and carrying tilling apparatus, second power means for swinging said tiller frame about said first vertical pivot bar, control means for said second power means having a control lever, a cam mounted on said second vertical pivot rod in contact with said control lever for operation of said control means, and a sensor arm connected to said second vertical pivot rod extending horizontally out from said gimbal frame, so that when it engages a vine trunk, tree, fence post, or grapestake, it rotates said cam and thereby actuates said control means to energize said second power means to retract said tiller frame and thereby protect the vine trunk from said tilling apparatus.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The tiller of claim 1 having yieldable spring means urging said sensor arm to a position normal to the direction of movement of the tiller.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The tiller of claim 2 having a resilient bumper stop supported by said gimbal frame for engaging said sensor arm at the end of its spring return.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The tiller of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a fiberglass rod.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The tiller of claim 1 having a springy weed suppressor mounted to said gimbal frame parallel to the normal unretracted position of the sensor arm and preceeding it.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The tiller of claim 1 wherein said tiller apparatus comprises a rotary tilling head with dependent tines.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The tiller of claim 6 wherein said tines are set at 3° off vertical with the lower end trailing the upper end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 11 words

The tiller of claim 7 having at least five said tines.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 233 words

An automatically retracting tiller for installation at one side of a tractor, including in combination: a stationary frame adapted to be secured to a side frame attachment of a tractor, a gimbal having a gimbal frame pivoted to said stationary frame by a stationary horizontal pivot rod and having first and second vertical pivot rods, a double-acting vertical hydraulic apparatus having a cylinder secured to said stationary frame and a piston rod secured to said gimbal frame, for tilting said gimbal frame about said horizontal pivot rod, a tiller frame pivoted to said first vertical pivot rod and carrying tilling apparatus, a double-acting horizontal hydraulic apparatus having a cylinder secured to said stationary frame and a piston rod secured to said tiller frame for swinging said tiller frame about said first vertical pivot bar, a control valve for said horizontal hydraulic apparatus mounted on said tiller frame and having a control lever, a cam mounted on said second vertical pivot rod in contact with said control lever for operation of said valve, a sensor arm connected to said second vertical pivot rod and extending out horizontally from said gimbal frame so that when it engages a vine trunk, tree trunk, fence post, or grapestake, it rotates said cam and actuates said valve to cause said horizontal hydraulic apparatus to retract said tiller frame and thereby protect the vine trunk from said tilling apparatus.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 233 words

An automatically retracting tiller for installation at one side of a tractor, including in combination: a stationary frame adapted to be secured to a side frame attachment of a tractor, a gimbal having a gimbal frame pivoted to said stationary frame by a stationary horizontal pivot rod and having first and second vertical pivot rods, a double-acting vertical hydraulic apparatus having a cylinder secured to said stationary frame and a piston rod secured to said gimbal frame, for tilting said gimbal frame about said horizontal pivot rod, a tiller frame pivoted to said first vertical pivot rod and carrying tilling apparatus, a double-acting horizontal hydraulic apparatus having a cylinder secured to said stationary frame and a piston rod secured to said tiller frame for swinging said tiller frame about said first vertical pivot bar, a control valve for said horizontal hydraulic apparatus mounted on said tiller frame and having a control lever, a cam mounted on said second vertical pivot rod in contact with said control lever for operation of said valve, a sensor arm connected to said second vertical pivot rod and extending out horizontally from said gimbal frame so that when it engages a vine trunk, tree trunk, fence post, or grapestake, it rotates said cam and actuates said valve to cause said horizontal hydraulic apparatus to retract said tiller frame and thereby protect the vine trunk from said tilling apparatus.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The tiller of claim 9 wherein said tilling apparatus comprises a tiller head mounted for rotation normally in a horizontal plane and having depending tines.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The tiller of claim 10 wherein there are at least five said tines set at 3° off vertical so that their lower end trails the upper end during rotation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The tiller of claim 10 having hydraulic motor means for rotating said tiller head at a speed of about 150-300 r.p.m.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The tiller of claim 9 having yieldable spring means for urging said sensor to its usual position normal to the direction of travel of said tiller.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

The tiller of claim 13 wherein said cam is shaped so that once it actuates the control lever, further movement of said sensor does not affect that actuation until said spring means restore said sensor to its usual position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 181 words

A tilling device, comprising a self powered retractor having at least one side frame attachment, a stationary frame secured to said side frame attachment, a gimbal having a gimbal frame pivoted to said stationary frame by a stationary horizontal pivot rod and having first and second vertical pivot rods, first power means for tilting said gimbal frame about said horizontal pivot rod, a tiller frame pivoted to said first vertical pivot rod and carrying tilling apparatus, second power means for swinging said tiller frame about said first vertical pivot bar, control means for said second power means having a control lever, a cam mounted on said second vertical pivot rod in contact with said control lever for operation of said control means, and a sensor arm connected to said second vertical pivot rod extending horizontally out from said gimbal frame, so that when it engages a vine trunk or grapestake, it rotates said cam and thereby actuates said control means to energize said second power means to retract said tiller frame and thereby protect the vine trunk from said tilling apparatus.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 181 words

A tilling device, comprising a self powered retractor having at least one side frame attachment, a stationary frame secured to said side frame attachment, a gimbal having a gimbal frame pivoted to said stationary frame by a stationary horizontal pivot rod and having first and second vertical pivot rods, first power means for tilting said gimbal frame about said horizontal pivot rod, a tiller frame pivoted to said first vertical pivot rod and carrying tilling apparatus, second power means for swinging said tiller frame about said first vertical pivot bar, control means for said second power means having a control lever, a cam mounted on said second vertical pivot rod in contact with said control lever for operation of said control means, and a sensor arm connected to said second vertical pivot rod extending horizontally out from said gimbal frame, so that when it engages a vine trunk or grapestake, it rotates said cam and thereby actuates said control means to energize said second power means to retract said tiller frame and thereby protect the vine trunk from said tilling apparatus.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 72 words

The tilling device of claim 15 having two said side-frame attachments, one of said attachments mountable on each side of a tractor and two said stationary frames, one secured to each said side frame attachment, each said side frame having an assembly comprising a said gimbal, first power means, tiller frame, second power means, control means, cam and sensor arm, each said assembly being independent of the other for separately actuated retraction.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

The tiller of either claim 15 or 16 having yieldable spring means for each said sensor arm, urging its said sensor arm to a position normal to the direction of movement of the tiller.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 27 words

The tiller of claim 17 having a resilient bumper stop supported by said gimbal frame for engaging said sensor arm at the end of its spring return.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The tiller of either claim 15 or 16 having a springy weed suppressor mounted to said gimbal frame parallel to the normal unretracted position of the sensor arm and preceeding it.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The tilling device of either claim 15 or 16 wherein said tiller apparatus comprises a rotary tilling head with at least five dependent tines.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The tilling device of claim 20 wherein said tines are set at 3° off vertical with the lower end trailing the upper end.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-05-23	1986-11-22	1987-05-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-05-23	1990-11-22	1991-05-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-05-23	1994-11-22	1995-05-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatically retracting tiller for mounting on one side of a tractor

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