TILLAGE TOOL WITH AUTO-RESET LINKAGE AND METHOD OF USE
A tillage with an auto-reset mechanism and system adapted for tripping when a tool encounters an obstacle in the field, and automatically resetting when the obstacle is cleared. The mechanism is adapted for mounting various ground-working tools, such as shank-mounted chisels, which typically operate slightly below the ground surface and are thus susceptible to damage from submerged obstacles, such as rocks, buried timber and tree roots.
1 . A tillage tool, which includes:
a toolbar adapted for connection to a vehicle;
a tool arm assembly comprising a tool arm including a proximate section with a generally vertical working position and a distal section with a generally horizontal working position;
a mounting bracket mounted on said toolbar and including a pivotal connection to said tool arm proximate section;
a reset spring assembly comprising a pair of coil springs each mounted on a respective torsion rod located on a respective side of said tool arm proximal section; and
said torsion rods pivotally connected to said mounting bracket and joining said mounting bracket to said tool arm.
2 . The tillage tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
said tool arm forming an elbow at a connection of said proximate and distal sections.
3 . The tillage tool of claim 2 , further comprising:
a knife mounted on a shank extending through a shank receiver affixed to the distal section of said tool arm;
a depth gauge wheel extending forwardly and downwardly from a wheel mounting plate affixed to said elbow; and
a row cleaner mounted to said tool arm between said depth gauge wheel and said shank.
4 . The tillage tool of claim 3 , further comprising a coulter disk mounted to said wheel mounting plate.
5 . The tillage tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
said mounting bracket further comprising a pair of bracket mount plates; and
each of said pair of bracket mount plates including a notch configured to receive said toolbar.
6 . The tillage tool of claim 5 , further comprising:
an upper linkage arm subassembly including a pair of linkage arms each pivotally connected at a first end to a respective said bracket mount plate by a first pivot bolt;
said pair of linkage arms each pivotally connected at a second end to the proximate section of said tool arm by a second pivot bolt; and
wherein said tool arm is configured to pivot about a pivotal axis through said second pivot bolt.
7 . The tillage tool of claim 5 , further comprising a pair of U-bolts removably mounting said mounting bracket to said toolbar.
8 . The tillage tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
said reset spring assembly including a spring mounting bracket pivotally attached to said proximate section of said tool arm by a bolt retainer.
9 . The tillage tool of claim 8 , further comprising:
said torsion rods extending through respective spring guides which threadably receive nuts configured to adjust tension within a respective coil springs.
10 . The tillage tool of claim 1 , further comprising at least one working tool selected from the list comprising:
knife, depth gauge wheel, coulter disk, row cleaner, and shank.
11 . A method of operating a tillage tool comprising the steps:
drawing a tillage tool through a field with a vehicle, said tillage tool comprising a tool bar removably connected to said vehicle, said tillage tool further comprising at least one tool arm assembly;
each said tool arm assembly including a tool arm comprising a proximate section with a generally vertical working position and a distal section with a generally horizontal working position, said proximal and distal sections joining at an elbow;
said tool arm assembly pivotally mounted to said toolbar by a mounting bracket and a reset spring assembly comprising a pair of coil springs each mounted on a respective torsion rod located on a respective side of said tool arm proximal section;
working said field with a working tool comprising at least a knife mounted on a shank extending through a shank receiver affixed to the distal section of said tool arm;
contacting a subterranean obstacle with said working tool;
rotating said tool arm assembly about said toolbar from a first position to a second position due to contact with said subterranean obstacle, thereby compressing said coil springs; and
resetting said tool arm assembly from said second position to said first position by extending said coil springs.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the tillage tool further comprises:
a knife mounted on a shank extending through a shank receiver affixed to the distal section of said tool arm;
a depth gauge wheel extending forwardly and downwardly from a wheel mounting plate affixed to said elbow; and
a row cleaner mounted to said tool arm between said depth gauge wheel and said shank.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the tillage tool further comprises a coulter disk mounted to said wheel mounting plate.
14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the tillage tool further comprises:
said mounting bracket further comprising a pair of bracket mount plates; and
each of said pair of bracket mount plates including a notch configured to receive said toolbar.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the tillage tool further comprises:
an upper linkage arm subassembly including a pair of linkage arms each pivotally connected at a first end to a respective said bracket mount plate by a first pivot bolt;
said pair of linkage arms each pivotally connected at a second end to the proximate section of said tool arm by a second pivot bolt; and
wherein said tool arm is configured to pivot about a pivotal axis through said second pivot bolt.
16 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising the step:
removably mounting said mounting bracket to said toolbar with a pair of U-bolts.
17 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the tillage tool further comprises:
said reset spring assembly including a spring mounting bracket pivotally attached to said proximate section of said tool arm by a bolt retainer.
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the tillage tool further comprises:
said torsion rods extending through respective spring guides which threadably receive nuts configured to adjust tension within a respective coil springs.