Equine footing conditioning tools
Am equine footing conditioning tool includes a chassis, a tow hitch a first ground-conditioning basket rotatably coupled with the chassis, a second ground-conditioning basket rotatably coupled with the chassis A first tool adjustment and a second tool adjustment assembly are adjustably coupled with the chassis. A tow hitch assembly coupled with the chassis and configured to couple the equine footing conditioning tool with a vehicle.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a chassis extending along a width in an X-axis direction, a length in a Y-axis direction, and a height in a Z-axis direction;
a first ground-conditioning basket rotatably coupled with the chassis and extending downward in the Z-axis direction to support the chassis on an underlying ground surface;
a second ground-conditioning basket rotatably coupled with the chassis and extending downward in the Z-axis direction to support the chassis on the underlying ground surface;
a first tool adjustment assembly comprising a first axle rotatably coupled with the chassis and comprising a first axis of rotation extending in the X-axis direction, a first actuator coupled with the first axle and the chassis, a first transfer bar coupled with the first axle, a first tool carrier bar coupled with the first transfer bar, a first ground engaging tool coupled with the first tool carrier bar, and a first guide bar coupled with the first tool carrier bar extending in the Z-axis direction through a first guide aperture coupled with the chassis, the first actuator being adjustable to rotate the first axle to raise and lower the first tool carrier bar and first guide bar in the Z-axis direction; a second tool adjustment assembly comprising a second axle rotatably coupled with the chassis and comprising a second axis of rotation extending in the X-axis direction, a second actuator coupled with the second axle and the chassis, a second transfer bar coupled with the second axle, a second tool carrier bar coupled with the second transfer bar, a second ground engaging tool coupled with the second tool carrier bar, and a second guide bar coupled with the second tool carrier bar extending in the Z-axis direction through a second guide aperture coupled with the chassis, the second actuator being adjustable to rotate the second axle to raise and lower the second tool carrier bar and second guide bar in the Z-axis direction; and
a tow hitch assembly coupled with the chassis.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises an electronically controllable hydraulic piston.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , comprising:
a receiver operatively coupled with the chassis and configured and operable to detect a wireless signal; and
an electronic controller in operative communication with the receiver and the first actuator, the electronic controller being configured and operable to control the first actuator in response to a wireless signal detected by the receiver to adjust the electronically controllable hydraulic piston to raise and lower the first tool carrier bar in the Z-axis direction.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the receiver is coupled with a pole and the pole is coupled with the first tool carrier bar.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator comprises a mechanically actuatable top link.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first ground engaging tool comprises a plurality of scarifying shanks coupled with the first tool carrier bar.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of scarifying shanks comprise a first row of scarifying shanks and a second row of scarifying shanks spaced rearward of the first row of scarifying shanks in the Y-axis direction.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of scarifying shanks are adjustably coupled with adjustable to a plurality of Z-axis positions relative to the first tool carrier bar.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second ground engaging tool comprises a plurality of ground engaging spring tines coupled with the first second tool carrier bar.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ground engaging spring tines comprise a first row of ground engaging spring tines and a second row of ground engaging spring tines spaced rearward of the first row of ground engaging spring tines in the Y-axis direction.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a third tool adjustment assembly comprising a leveling bar extending in the X-axis direction, and a carrier bar extending in the Z axis direction through a third guide aperture coupled with the chassis, the carrier bar being adjustable to raise and lower the leveling bar in the Z-axis direction.
12 . An apparatus comprising:
a chassis extending along a width in an X-axis direction, a length in a Y-axis direction, and a height in a Z-axis direction;
a first ground-conditioning basket rotatably coupled with the chassis and extending downward in the Z-axis direction to support the chassis on an underlying ground surface;
a second ground-conditioning basket rotatably coupled with the chassis and extending downward in the Z-axis direction to support the chassis on the underlying ground surface;
a tool adjustment assembly operatively coupled with the chassis and comprising a first lever arm coupled with a first axle, the first axle being rotatably coupled with the chassis, a first plurality of ground engaging projections coupled with and extending outward from the first axle, a link rotatably coupled with the first lever arm, a second lever arm rotatably coupled with the link, a second axle coupled with the second lever arm, the second axle being rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a second plurality of ground engaging projections coupled with and extending outward from the second axle, wherein the first lever arm is adjustable to a plurality of positions to raise and lower the first plurality of ground engaging projections and the second plurality of ground engaging projections relative to the underlying ground surface; and
a tow hitch assembly coupled with the chassis.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tool adjustment assembly comprises a third lever arm coupled with the first axle, a second link rotatably coupled with the third lever arm, and a fourth lever arm rotatably coupled with the second link and the second axle, the third lever arm, the second link, and the fourth lever arm being laterally spaced apart from the first lever arm, the first link, and the second lever arm in a direction along the length of the first axle and the second axle.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of ground engaging projections comprise a first plurality of spring arms and a first plurality of teeth coupled with respective ones of the plurality of spring arms and the second plurality of ground engaging projections comprise a second plurality of spring arms and a second plurality of teeth coupled with respective ones of the second plurality of spring arms.
15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , comprising: a rearward tool adjustment assembly operatively coupled with the chassis at a location rearward of the tool adjustment assembly and comprising a rearward first lever arm coupled with a rearward first axle, the rearward first axle being rotatably coupled with the chassis, a rearward first plurality of ground engaging projections coupled with and extending outward from the rearward first axle, a rearward link rotatably coupled with the rearward first lever arm, a rearward second lever arm rotatably coupled with the rearward link, a rearward second axle coupled with the rearward second lever arm, the rearward second axle being rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a rearward second plurality of ground engaging projections coupled with and extending outward from the rearward second axle, wherein the rearward first lever arm is adjustable to a plurality of positions to raise and lower the rearward first plurality of ground engaging projections and the rearward second plurality of ground engaging projections relative to the underlying ground surface.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the rearward tool adjustment assembly comprises a rearward third lever arm coupled with the rearward first axle, a rearward second link rotatably coupled with the rearward third lever arm, and a rearward fourth lever arm rotatably coupled with the rearward second link and the rearward second axle, the rearward third lever arm, the rearward second link, and the rearward fourth lever arm being laterally spaced apart from the rearward first lever arm, the rearward first link, and the rearward second lever arm in a direction along the length of the rearward first axle and the rearward second axle.
17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the rearward first plurality of ground engaging projections comprise a first plurality of ground engaging spring tines and the rearward second plurality of ground engaging projections comprise a second plurality of ground engaging spring tines.
18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the rearward first axle and the rearward second axle is provided in the form of a shaft with a rectangular cross section.