Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The invention relates to agricultural equipment for field use. More
particularly, the invention discloses a track filler device which follows
behind a sprinkler wheel tire for the purpose of throwing dirt which ilas been
pushed by the sprinkler tires to form a track or rut in a manner which levels
the ground and reduces or eliminates the track formed by the tire. Adjustabil-
ity is provided, as well as the capability of motion in the reverse direction
without damage to the device or adversely affecting subsequent performance of
the device when forward motion is resumed.
C. H. Ihde, U.S. patent No. 2,224,051, issued December 3, 1940,
discloses a planter attachment for covering the tracks left by wheels of a
planter. An angular bar follows behind the wheel and holds a pair of diverging
axles on which are mounted a pair of rearwardly converging disks which may be
raised and lowered to operate at a desired depth in throwing the earth over
tracks left by the wheel. In U.S. patent No. 1,252,658, issued January 8,
1918, to W. P. Butler, a device is disclosed attachable to the frame of a corn
planter to form a ridge rearwardly of each of the planter supporting wheels.
E. Steffen, U.S. patent No. 2,533,150, issued December 5, 19~0, discloses a
wheel r;dge leveling device, operating thrugh action of a level blade adapted
to lever the ridge formed by the rim of the wheel. Other patents relating
generally to plow attachments and the like include the following: U.S. patent
No. 2,659,291, to W. H. Tanke, issued November 17, 1953, and U.S. patent No.
674,282, issued May 14, 1901, to W. C. Pope.
None of the devices for filling wheel tracks menticned above dis-
closes a pair of plowing implements with holding rods and adjusting collar for
adjustment to conform to track width, nor is a swiveling feature disclosed to
permit both forward and reverse movement of the wheel.
An object of the invention is to pro~ide a device for followingly
filling the track created by a wheeled vehicle, particularly a track formed by
repeated traverse of the same pathway by the wheels of the vehicle.
Ano~'ner object of the invention is to provide a plowing implement
L 3
for filling wheel tracks wilich is adjustable laterally to permit tracks of
diFferent width to be accommodated.
Still another object is to provide a swiveling feature to permit the
device to followingly fill a track in the forward direction, while also
allowing reverse movement of the wheel in a manner which avoids jamming as the
plowing implement is pushed ahead of the wheel.
Yet another object is to provide swiveling means to permit the
plowing device to follow the contour of ground being traversed behind the
wheel.
A further object is to provide a device of the class described
useful for filling soil of the type commonly encountered in dry climatic
regions where sprinkler-type irrigation is typically required for successful
growing of field crops.
Another further object is to provide a device useful in cultivated
fields of corn, cotton, soy beans, and the like, growing in regions requiring
irrigation which lasts the season, the device being particularly needed at the
conclusion of the growing season and prior to harvesting in order to permit a
relatively level field surface for traversal by combines, harvesters, and the
like.
Still anotner further object is to save in fuel consumption required
to level uneven soil in a separate operation from the motion of the
sprinkler wheels.
Figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear looking forwardly
to the device of the present invention toward a spr;nkler structure support
and an associated wheel.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure of Fig. 1,
looking toward the plowing device from the leftward direction.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device of the invention in use
when being pulled forwardly, showing (in phantom) the arrangement which
characterizes the device when moving in the reverse direction.
13
Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rear portion of
the plowing implement, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section
line 4--4 on Fig. 3.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the holding rod and
associated components, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section
line 5--5 on Fig. 3
It is often the case that in arid regions, artificial watering means,
such as sprinkler assemblies, are provided in order to furnish sufficient
moisture to allow such field crops as corn, cotton, soybeans, and the like, to
grow to maturity during the course of a single growing season. Typically,
such sprinkler assemblies include a plurality of support structures attached
to a wheel means, each support structure supporting a length of water pipe
with the lengths of sprinkler water pipe being arranged essentially linearly,
with one end of the line serving as the source of water, such as a well, tap,
or the like. Each wheeled supporting assembly then moves in a manner which
permits the entire string of pipe lengths to describe a circular motion cen-
tered about the water source. Typically, several days might be required for
a complete traverse of the circle of coverage represented by a single pipe
string. During the course of such revolution, each wheel assembly will
require a continuous source of power to undergo the motion necessary to
describe the path required. Accordingly, each wheel means is generally
provided with a source of power, such as an electric motor, to permit travel
in the forward direction until a circuit is completed. Repeated traversea of
the same pathway causes formation of a rut, whose depth tends to increase with
each successive traverse, ~mless the plowing implement of the present invention
is provided to follow behind the wheel means of the support assembly and to
throw upraised soil back in the rut formed by the wheel means, thereby level-
ling the field surface. Such levelling is particularly necessary, for example,
during the harvesting phase of irrigated cultivation, when combines, harvesters,
tractors, and the like, must traverse the field planted in the irrigated crop.
When the present invention smoothes or levels the field surface, such items of
heavy mechanical equipment can expeditiously traverse the cultivated surface
without experiencing bumps, equipment damage, or operator inconvenience or
possible injury. Also, such levelling eliminates a source of possible erosion
during times of heavy rain.
Accordingly, plowing device 10 is attached to followingly travel
behind wheel 12, which is moving away fron the observer in Fig. 1.
Device 10 is made up of a pair of disks 14, which are scalloped in
a mann~r well-known in the art to assist in drawing soil from ridge 18 upwardly
and inwardly so as to fill rut or trench 20, formed by wheel 12. ~ach of
disks 14 is held in place by mounting assembly 22, which is in turn attached
to and pulled by pulling and swiveling assembly 24.
Mounting assembly 22 is made up of disk axles 26, at the end of
which is journaled wheel bearing assembly 28, to which disks 14 are attached
in a conventional manner. Axles 26 are attached through weldment 30 to
L=shaped support beam 32, although other attaching means to perform the same
function can also be used. Support beam 32 is bolted with bolts 34 to mounting
collars 36, which are attached, such as through welding to pulling assembly 24
at channel bar 38. Alternative mounting collars 40 are situated rearwardly
20 of collars 36 and choice of collars 36 or 40 permits selection of the degree
of separation between disks 14, as well as the angular orientation of disks 14
with respect to the direction of travel. Support beam 32 also contains
mounting 41 for adjusting collar 42. Adjusting collar 42 is free to slide
longitudinally along holding rod 44, between forward stop 46 and rear stop 48.
Ordinarily, adjusting collar 42 will rest against rear stop 48 as wheel 12
moves in the forward direction and pulls plowing device 10 followingly behind.
However, in the event wheel 12 moves rearwardly in the reverse direction,
adjusting collar 42 is free to slide along holding rod 44 forwardly, as far as
front stop 46. This protective action, to be described in fur.her detail
hereinafter, occurs automatically whenever wheel 12 reverses direction, and
does not require personal attention of an operator to place into effect.
Pulling assembly or trailing arm 24 is made up of channel bar 38 and
swivel collar 50, which permits pivoting upwardly and downwardly of the
mounting assembly to permit mounting assembly Z2 to follow the contour of the
land as disks 14 are lifted or dropped in the course of their travel. Swivel
collar 50 is held in place on follower rod 52 by locking collars 54, which
restrict the sidewise motion of swivel collar 50. Follower rod 52 is attached
at the rearward end of channel-shaped pull bar 56. Pull bar 56 is provided
at its rearward end 58 wi~h locking plate 60, which serves the purpose of
facilitating attachment of follower rod 52. ~racket 62 attaches the forward
end of pull bar 56 to drive housing 64, which is supported by support structure
66 of the sprinkler assembly.
Locking collars 54 are secured to follower rod 52 by machine screws
70, or equivalent fastening means, such as set screws, or the like. Holding
rod 44 is attached at its downturned forward end 72 by washer 74 and cotter
pin 76. Further, rear stop 48 is attached to holding rod 44 by machine screw
76, and forward stop 46 is attached by machine screw 78 to holding rod 44.
Follower rod 52 is attached to pull bar 58 by conventional journaling means,
which can include appropriate bearings to permit free rotation of follower
rod, or alternatively, follower rod 52 can be attached in fixed relation to
pull bar 58.
As is apparent from Fig. 3, disks 14 can swivel forwardly to the
position shown in phantom, which swiveling will occur automatically whenever
the direction of rotation of wheel 12 is reversed, so as to push, rather than
pull, device 10. Although the device is not intended to be operated in the
reverse direction to perform the function of filling tracks, some degree of
heaping of soil will occur when disks 14' are in the position shown in phantom
in Fig. 3. Accordingly, the track or rut left behind wheel 12 will be somewhat
less in depth than would otherwise be the case. Accordingly, although the
device of the present invention is primarily intended for use when following
4~L3
or being pulled by a wheeled structure, it also has limited utility when
operated in the reverse direction. In any event, automatic adjustment by
swinging to the rearward position prevents jamming or blocking of rearward
travel of structure 66 in the event that such reverse movement is necessitated.
Such reverse movement is frequently necessary in practice, as in avoiding an
obstacle, or the like. As is best seen in Fig. 3, mounting assembly 22
performs its automatic adjustment function by backward swiveling when reverse
movement of wheel 12 occurs, adjusting collar 42 sliding forwardly on rod 44
to the position 42' and rod 44 sliding somewhat outwardly to the position 44'.
Forward sliding of the adjusting collar occurs until contact is made with
forward stop 46', to the position shown in phantom in Fig. 3. Disk 14' will
then turn in concert with the reverse direction of movement until such reverse
movement ceases, and forward movement against is resumed. At such time as
forward movement begins, the disks again resume their rearward position and
operation resumes in the usual fashion without the necessity for manual
attention by an operator.
Disk 14 can be adjusted for the tire width of wheel 12 by sliding
of bearing assembly 28 on axle 26. Alternatively, adjustment can be obtained
by choosing mounting collar 36 or 40, in concert with adjustment of the
position of rear stop 48, thereby adjusting both the outward extent of disk 14
and the angle formed with respect to the direction of motion.
It should be noted that commonly the supporting structure of a
sprinkler system, such as is illustrated in the drawings, includes wheel means
arranged with a pair of wheels 12, the two wheels being adapted to follow in
the same track. Accordingly, the plowing device 10 of the present invention
will in such an arrangement fill the rut left be two wheels whose alignment
could either be or become slightly askew. Accordingly, periodic adjustment
of the width of track could become required during normal use and operation of
the device. It should further be noted that a plurality of wheel pairs
typically is used to support lengths of sprinkler tubing, and accordingly,
each pair of wheels will ordinarily require a device 10 of the present
invention.
It is clear from the description of the invention hereinabove that
no external source of power is required for operation thereof, it being
apparent that the only source of power necessary for operation of the plowing
device is that required to pull the apparatus. Such a minimal increase in
power consumption is clearly less than that which would be required for pull-
ing a conventional tiller or other such device in a separate operation for
leveling of tracks left by wheels of a sprinkler system. Moreover, with the
present invention, the labor costs, as well as fuel costs, involved in
separately smoothing tracks left by sprinkler wheels is avoided.
It is further apparent from the structure and operation described
that adjustment of the position oE rear stop 48, as well as selection of
mounting collar 36 or 40 permits adjustment of the throw of dirt possible with
the plowing device oE the present invention. Further, the entire plow can
swivel up and down to match the terrain over which it is pulled. Further
adjustment occurs in the mounting of disks 14 on axles 26 to permit adjustable
mounting inwardly or outwardly on axle 26 to adjust to different tire widths.
By way of example, a device constructed according to the present
invention was tested with two disks set to oppose each other, pulling dirt
which had been pushed into a rut by sprinkler tires. After appropriate
adjustments as described in the preceding paragraph, the mounds of dirt pushed
into a pair of parallel ridges were thrown inwardly into the depression left
by the tires, thereby levelling the ground and avoiding problems otherwise
resulting from traverse by various farm equipment. ~len pushed in the reverse
direction, the disks automtically swiveled to the position for reverse motion
(shown in phantom in Fig. 3) without requiring manual attention by an operator.
