U.S. patent application number 11/856349 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for disk blade scrapers for tillage apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to CNH AMERICA LLC. Invention is credited to Troy L. Cooper, Rickey L. Gerber, Marvin D. Kuebler.
Application Number | 20080000657 11/856349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34887036 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000657 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cooper; Troy L. ; et
al. |
January 3, 2008 |
Disk Blade Scrapers for Tillage Apparatus
Abstract
A disk blade scraper is used with a tillage implement having
rotating disk blades separated by hub spools. In one form, the disk
blade scraper has a wide tapered scraper blade positioned very
close to the transition of the hub spool and the disk blade. In
another form, the disk blade scraper incorporates a round disk
having an edge that runs in the transition joint of the disk blade
and the hub spool. In yet another form, the disk blade scraper
incorporates a round and or square bar that is positioned in such a
way that the bar end rubs against this transition joint. In still
another form, the disk blade scraper incorporates a flat scraper
blade shaped to fit the contour of the backside of the disk blade.
The corner of this scraper is positioned very close to the
transition joint of the disk blade and the hub spool.
Inventors: |
Cooper; Troy L.; (Goodfield,
IL) ; Kuebler; Marvin D.; (Goodfield, IL) ;
Gerber; Rickey L.; (Roanoke, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CNH AMERICA LLC
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW DEPARTMENT
700 STATE STREET
RACINE
WI
53404
US
|
Assignee: |
CNH AMERICA LLC
700 State Street
Racine
WI
53404
|
Family ID: |
34887036 |
Appl. No.: |
11/856349 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10788624 |
Feb 27, 2004 |
7290620 |
|
|
11856349 |
Sep 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
172/565 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01B 15/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
172/565 |
International
Class: |
A01B 15/16 20060101
A01B015/16 |
Claims
1. A disk blade scraper for a tillage implement having a frame, a
horizontal shaft suspended from the frame, a plurality of rotating
disk blades arranged in laterally spaced relationship on the shaft,
a hub spool surrounding the shaft between at least a pair of
adjacent disk blades wherein a first end of the hub spool contacts
one of the pair of adjacent disk blades thereby creating a
transition joint between the first end of the hub spool and a
surface of the one of the pair of adjacent disk blades, the scraper
comprising: a bracket connected to the frame; and an elongated bar
mounted to the bracket, the bar having a longitudinal axis and a
scraping surface at an end of the bar farthest from the bracket,
wherein the bracket is connected to the frame and the bar is
mounted to the bracket such that the scraping surface is adjacent
the transition joint and an imaginary straight line including the
longitudinal axis intersects the hub spool if the imaginary
straight line is extended beyond the end of the bar.
2. The scraper of claim 1 wherein: the scraping surface contacts
the transition joint.
3. The scraper of claim 1 wherein: the scraping surface is 0.4
inches or less from the transition joint.
4. The scraper of claim 1 wherein: the scraping surface is 0.03 to
0.13 inches from the transition joint.
5. The scraper of claim 1 wherein: the scraping surface has at
least a portion at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis
of the bar.
6. The scraper of claim 1 wherein: the bar has a circular
cross-section.
7. The scraper of claim 1 wherein: the bar has a square
cross-section.
8. The scraper of claim 1 wherein: the surface of the one of the
pair of adjacent disk blades is concave, an annular depression is
formed in a region of the surface surrounding the transition joint,
and the scraping surface is located within the depression.
9. The scraper of claim 1 further comprising: a second elongated
bar mounted to the bracket, the second bar having a scraping
surface at an end of the second bar farthest from the bracket,
wherein a second transition joint is formed between a second end of
the hub spool and a surface of the other of the pair of adjacent
disk blades, and wherein the bracket is connected to the frame and
the second bar is mounted to the bracket such that the scraping
surface of the second bar is adjacent the second transition
joint.
10. The scraper of claim 9 wherein: the scraping surface of the
second bar contacts the second transition joint.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Patent Application is a Divisional of co-pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/788,624, filed on Feb. 27, 2004
entitled, "Disk Blade Scrapers for Tillage Apparatus" and having
Troy L. Cooper, Marvin D. Kuebler and Rickey L. Gerber as the
Applicants.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to an agricultural tillage
apparatus including disk blades. More particularly, the invention
pertains to disk blade cleaners and techniques of keeping disk
blades and hub spools clean of dirt/residue buildup on both sides
of the disk blade.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Agricultural tillage systems including disk blades are
widely used. One form of disk blade that is used in tillage systems
takes the shape of a dish or bowl. It is used both for cutting
trash and for throwing some of the top soil to the side. Typically,
a plurality of disk blades are arranged at a relatively close
spacing, and they may be mounted on a common shaft with hub spools
between adjacent disk blades. When a gang of disk blades is pulled
across a field, the soil is tilled, the trash is cut up, mixed with
the top soil and some trash is buried. In these devices, to reduce
the effect of lateral soil displacement due to complete workage, a
second line or gang of disks, facing the other direction, may be
placed behind a first line. Other implements also use disk blades,
such as listers and bedders.
[0007] It is known to use disk blade scrapers to keep the disk
blade and hub spools clean of dirt/residue buildup on both sides of
disk blade. Current disk blade scrapers only scrape a small area of
the concavity of the disk blade and are unable to provide superior
blade cleaning performance in all or any one-soil condition.
Current scrapers clean the side of the blade; however, under wet
sandy loam soils, dirt starts at hub spool/blade transition joint
and builds in the corner and continues to build up until dirt fills
the total area except where the scraper is located. This may cause
the disk blade to ride out of soil.
[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a disk blade scraper that
provides superior blade cleaning capabilities during field tillage
operation in any type of soil conditions. In particular, there is a
need for a disk blade scraper that keeps the disk blade and hub
spool area from building up with diruresidue such that the disk
blade is kept clean from the disk blade and hub spool area on out
to the cutting edge of the disk blade.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The foregoing needs are met by a disk blade scraper
according to the invention. The disk blade scraper is used with a
tillage implement having a frame, a horizontal shaft suspended from
the frame, and a plurality of rotating disk blades arranged in
laterally spaced relationship on the shaft. In the tillage
implement, a hub spool surrounds the horizontal shaft between at
least a pair of adjacent disk blades. A first end of the hub spool
contacts one of the pair of adjacent disk blades thereby creating a
transition joint between the first end of the hub spool and a
surface of the one of the pair of adjacent disk blades. In one
version of the tillage implement, one of the surfaces of each disk
blade is concave and the other surface is convex, and an annular
depression is formed in a region of the concave surface surrounding
the transition joint.
[0010] In one form, the disk blade scraper includes a bracket
connected to the tillage implement frame, and a rotating disk
mounted to the bracket. The rotating disk has an axis of rotation
and a circumferential edge parallel to the axis of rotation. The
bracket is connected to the frame and the rotating disk is mounted
to the bracket such that the circumferential edge of the rotating
disk is adjacent the transition joint between the first end of the
hub spool and a surface of the one of the pair of adjacent disk
blades. By way of the rotating disk, the disk blade is kept clean
from the disk blade and hub spool area on out to the cutting edge
of the disk blade. The circumferential edge of the rotating disk
may contact the transition joint or may be spaced 0.4 inches or
less from the transition joint. Preferably, an uppermost edge of
the rotating disk does not extend above an uppermost edge of an
adjacent disk blade, and an outermost edge of the rotating disk
does not extend beyond an outermost edge of an adjacent disk blade.
In a disk blade with an annular depression in the region of the
concave surface surrounding the transition joint, the
circumferential edge of the rotating disk may be located within the
depression.
[0011] In another form, the disk blade scraper includes a bracket
connected to the tillage implement frame, and an elongated bar
mounted to the bracket. The bar has a longitudinal axis and a
scraping surface at an end of the bar farthest from the bracket.
The bracket is connected to the frame and the bar is mounted to the
bracket such that the scraping surface is adjacent the transition
joint between the first end of the hub spool and a surface of the
one of the pair of adjacent disk blades. When the bar is mounted to
the bracket, an imaginary straight line including the longitudinal
axis of the bar would intersect the hub spool if the imaginary
straight line were extended beyond the end of the bar. The scraping
surface may contact the transition joint, or may be 0.4 inches or
less from the transition joint. By way of the bar, the disk blade
is kept clean from the disk blade and hub spool area on out to the
cutting edge of the disk blade. The bar may have various
cross-sectional shapes including, without limitation, a circular
cross-section and a square cross-section. The scraping surface of
the bar has at least a portion at an angle with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the bar. In one configuration, the scraping
surface is a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the bar. In another configuration, the scraping surface is a domed
surface. In a disk blade with an annular depression in the region
of the concave surface surrounding the transition joint, the
scraping surface of the bar may be located within the depression. A
second elongated bar may be mounted to the bracket. The second bar
has a scraping surface at an end of the second bar farthest from
the bracket. A second transition joint is formed between a second
end of the hub spool and a surface of the other of the pair of
adjacent disk blades, and the bracket is connected to the frame and
the second bar is mounted to the bracket such that the scraping
surface of the second bar is adjacent to or contacts the second
transition joint.
[0012] In yet another form, the disk blade scraper includes a
bracket connected to the frame, and an integral scraper blade
mounted to the bracket. The scraper blade has a first end adjacent
the mounting bracket, and a first side and a second opposed side
extending downwardly from the first end. The first side is shorter
than the second side. There is an opposite scraping end extending
between the first side and the second side, and the scraping end
and the second side of the scraper blade meet at a junction point.
The bracket is connected to the frame and the scraper blade is
mounted to the bracket such that the shorter first side of the
scraper blade is further from the hub spool than the second side of
the scraper blade, and the junction point is adjacent the
transition joint. By way of the scraper blade, the disk blade is
kept clean from the disk blade and hub spool area on out to the
cutting edge of the disk blade. Preferably, the scraping end of the
scraper blade has a thickness in a direction normal to an outer
surface of the scraper blade not exceeding a cross-sectional
thickness of the first end in the same direction. The scraper blade
maybe flat and the scraping end of the scraper blade may have a
tapered or curved edge. The junction point of the scraper blade may
contact the transition joint, or may be 0.4 inches or less from the
transition joint. The scraping end of the scraper blade contacts
the surface of the one of the pair of adjacent disk blades, or may
be 0.4 inches or less from one of the pair of adjacent disk blades.
In a disk blade with an annular depression in the concave surface,
the scraping end of the scraper blade may be located within the
depression.
[0013] In still another form, the disk blade scraper includes a
bracket connected to the tillage implement frame, and a scraper
blade mounted to the bracket. The scraper blade has a first end, a
second end opposite the first end, and a first side and a second
opposed side extending downwardly from the first end. The second
side includes a scraping surface, and the second side meets the
second end at a junction point of the scraper blade. This form of
the disk blade scraper is used on a convex disk blade surface. The
scraper blade may be flat and rectangular. The bracket is connected
to the frame and the scraper blade is mounted to the bracket such
that all of the scraper blade is positioned above the hub spool,
the scraping surface is positioned adjacent the convex surface, and
the junction point is adjacent the transition joint between the hub
spool and the convex disk blade surface. By way of the scraper
blade, the disk blade is kept clean from the disk blade and hub
spool area on out to the cutting edge of the disk blade.
Preferably, the scraper blade is positioned on both sides of a
vertical normal line to a center axis of the hub spool. The
scraping surface is typically positioned behind the center axis of
the hub spool in relation to a direction of movement of the tillage
implement. The scraping surface contacts the convex surface. The
junction point of the scraper blade is typically 0.4 inches or less
from the transition joint between the hub spool and the convex disk
blade surface.
[0014] In yet another form, the disk blade scraper includes a
bracket connected to the frame, and a scraper blade mounted to the
bracket. The scraper blade has a first end, a second bottom end
opposite the first end, and a first side and a second opposed side
extending downwardly from the first end. The second side includes a
scraping surface, and the second side meets the second end at a
junction point. In this form of the disk blade scraper, the surface
of the one of the pair of adjacent disk blades is convex, and the
bracket is connected to the frame and the scraper blade is mounted
to the bracket such that scraping surface is positioned in contact
with the convex surface, and the junction point is adjacent the
transition joint. The scraping surface has an inwardly curved edge
that contacts the convex surface. Preferably, the scraping surface
has a second inwardly curved edge that contacts a crimp on the
convex surface adjacent the transition joint. Preferably, at least
a portion of the scraping surface is positioned behind the center
axis of the hub spool in relation to a direction of movement of the
tillage implement.
[0015] It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to
provide a disk blade scraper that provides superior blade cleaning
capabilities during field tillage operation in any type of soil
conditions.
[0016] It is another advantage of the present invention to provide
a disk blade scraper that keeps the disk blade and hub spool area
from building up with dirt/residue such that the disk blade is kept
clean from the disk blade and hub spool area on out to the cutting
edge of the disk blade.
[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood upon consideration
of the following detailed description, drawings, and appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a known tillage device.
[0019] FIG. 2 is an upper right rear perspective view of a blade
disk assembly including a disk blade scraper according to a first
embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is an upper right rear perspective view of a blade
disk assembly including a disk blade scraper according to a second
embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is an upper left rear perspective view of a blade
disk assembly including a disk blade scraper according to a third
embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is an upper left front perspective view of a blade
disk assembly including a disk blade scraper according to a fourth
embodiment of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is an upper left front perspective view of a blade
disk assembly including a disk blade scraper according to a fifth
embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 6A is a top view of the scraper blade of the fifth
embodiment of the invention.
[0025] Like reference numerals are used to depict like parts
throughout the Figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The present invention is directed to a disk blade scraper.
However, in order to provide background for the present invention,
reference will first be made to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, there is shown
an example tillage implement 10 in which the disk blade scraper of
the present invention may be employed. It should be appreciated
that the disk blade scraper of the present invention may be
employed in any tillage implement having disk blades and that the
tillage implement 10 of FIG. 1 is merely described to provide
context for the present invention. The tillage implement 10
includes a rigid main frame generally designated 11 that is adapted
to be attached at its front to the rear of an agricultural tractor
by means of a conventional hitch 12. The main frame 11 includes
first and second elongated inside frame members 16, 16A and first
and second outside frame members 17, 17A. These inside and outside
frame members are affixed to front and rear transverse support
members 19, 19A. A third transverse support member 20 is
interconnected to the forward ends of inside frame members 16, 16A.
Frame 11 is supported for movement across a field or along a road
by wheels 24.
[0027] As seen in FIG. 1, there are two disk blade gangs 25, 26 at
the rear end of the implement. Rigid front gang tubes 27, 28 are
connected to the frame 11. In the disk blade gangs 25, 26, disk
blades are mounted on an elongated horizontal shaft, bolted at each
end, and separated by hub spools in known manner. The disk blades
can cut and mix soil and residue, or level the soil.
[0028] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a portion of disk
blade gang 25 (which is shown generally in FIG. 1). The disk blade
gang 25 includes a first embodiment of a disk blade scraper 50
according to the present invention. The disk blade gang 25 includes
horizontal gang tube 27 from which is suspended hanger 31. Hanger
31 supports a rotatable horizontal shaft (not shown) in a known
manner. Disk blades 34 are laterally spaced on the horizontal
shaft. The disk blades 34 include a concave surface 35, an opposite
convex surface 36 and a cutting edge 37 for cutting and mixing soil
when the tillage implement 10 is pulled through a field. Adjacent
disk blades 34 are laterally spaced on the horizontal shaft by way
of hub spools 38 in a known manner. The hub spools 38 form a
circular transition joint 39 with the concave surface 35 on one
disk blade 34 and another circular transition joint with the convex
surface 36 of the adjacent disk blade. In an optional form of the
disk blades 34, there is provided an annular depression 41 that is
formed in a circular region of the concave surface 35 surrounding
the transition joint 39. The disk blades 34 are typically formed of
hardened steel as is well known in the art.
[0029] Still referring to FIG. 2, a blade scraper mounting frame 44
is connected rearwardly of the gang tube 27 by way of mounting
element 45 and associated fasteners 46, such as nuts and bolts. In
the first embodiment of the blade scraper as shown in FIG. 2, the
blade scraper 50 includes a bracket 52 connected to the blade
scraper mounting frame 44, and a separate integral (one piece)
scraper blade 54 mounted to the bracket 52 by suitable fasteners 55
(for example, rivets, screws, bolts, spot welds or any other
suitable fastening means). The scraper blade 54 is typically formed
from hardened steel.
[0030] The scraper blade 54 has a first end 57 adjacent the bracket
52, a first side 58 and a second opposed side 59 extending
downwardly from the first end 57. The first side 58 is shorter than
the second side 59 in the embodiment shown. A scraping end 61
extends between the first side 58 and the second side 59, and the
scraping end 61 and the second side 59 of the scraper blade 54 meet
at a junction point 63. The scraper blade 54 has a thickness in a
direction normal to an outer surface 64 of the scraper 54 blade not
exceeding a cross-sectional thickness of the first end 57 in the
direction normal to an outer surface 64. When the bracket 52 is
connected to the blade scraper mounting frame 44 and the scraper
blade 54 is mounted to the bracket 52, the first side 57 of the
scraper blade 54 is further from the hub spool 38 than the second
side 59 of the scraper blade 54, and the junction point 63 is
adjacent the transition joint 39 between the hub spool 38 and the
concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34. When the tillage implement
10 is pulled through a field, the concave surface 35 of the disk
blade 34 is kept clean from the hub spool 38 on out to the cutting
edge 37 of the disk blade 34 by way of the scraper blade 54.
[0031] The scraper blade 54 may be positioned in various
relationships with respect to the transition joint 39 between the
hub spool 38 and the concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34. The
junction point 63 of the scraper blade 54 may be located within the
annular depression 41 that is formed in a circular region of the
concave surface 35 surrounding the transition joint 39. The
junction point 63 of the scraper blade 54 may contact the
transition joint 39. The junction point 63 of the scraper blade 54
may be 0.4 inches or less from the transition joint 39. The
junction point 63 of the scraper blade 54 may be 0.03 to 0.13
inches from the transition joint 39.
[0032] The scraping end 61 of the scraper blade 54 may have a
curved edge contoured in a complementary fashion with the concave
surface 35 of the disk blade 34. The scraping end 61 of the scraper
blade 54 may be positioned in various relationships with respect to
the concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34. The scraping end 61 of
the scraper blade 54 may contact the concave surface 35 of the disk
blade 34. The scraping end 61 of the scraper blade 54 may be 0.4
inches or less from the concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34.
The scraping end 61 of the scraper blade 54 may be 0.03 to 0.13
inches from the concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34. Thus, the
blade scraper 50 of FIG. 2 provides a blade scraper design with a
wider and tapered scraper toward the transition of the hub spool
and the disk blade and the scraper point positioned very close to
this transition joint.
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown a portion of an
alternative disk blade gang 25 (which is shown generally in FIG.
1). The disk blade gang 25 of FIG. 3 includes a second embodiment
of a disk blade scraper 70 according to the present invention.
(FIG. 3 also shows the first embodiment of a disk blade scraper 50
according to the present invention mounted to the blade scraper
mounting frame 44 in order to illustrate that any combination of
the disk blade scrapers of the present invention may be used in s
disk blade assembly.) FIG. 3 shows the horizontal gang tube 27,
disk blades 34, the hub spools 38, the circular transition joint
39, the annular depression 41, the blade scraper mounting frame 44,
the mounting element 45 and associated fasteners 46 as shown in
FIG. 2; therefore, reference can be made to the description of FIG.
2 for an explanation of these elements.
[0034] The blade scraper 70 of FIG. 3 includes a bracket 72
connected to the blade scraper mounting frame 44, and a separate
integral (one piece) flat scraper blade 73 mounted to the bracket
72 by suitable fasteners 74 (for example, rivets or bolts, or any
other suitable fastening means). The scraper blade 73 is in the
form of a rotating disk having an axis of rotation (typically the
same as the longitudinal axis of the fasteners 74) and a
circumferential edge 76 parallel to the axis of rotation. The
rotating disk 73 is typically formed from hardened steel.
[0035] When the bracket 72 is connected to the blade scraper
mounting frame 44 and the rotating disk 73 is mounted to the
bracket 72, the circumferential edge 76 of the rotating disk 73 is
adjacent the transition joint 39 between the hub spool 38 and the
concave surface 35 of the disk blade. An uppermost edge of the
rotating disk 73 does not extend above an uppermost edge of the
disk blade 34. Also, an outermost edge of the rotating disk 73 does
not extend beyond an outermost edge of the disk blade 34. This
arrangement improves cleaning performance. When the tillage
implement 10 is pulled through a field, the concave surface 35 of
the disk blade 34 is kept clean from the hub spool 38 on out to the
cutting edge 37 of the disk blade 34 by way of rotation of the
rotating disk 73.
[0036] The rotating disk 73 may be positioned in various
relationships with respect to the transition joint 39 between the
hub spool 38 and the concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34. The
circumferential edge 76 of the rotating disk 73 may be located
within the annular depression 41 that is formed in a circular
region of the concave surface 35 surrounding the transition joint
39. The circumferential edge 76 of the rotating disk 73 may contact
the transition joint 39. The circumferential edge 76 of the
rotating disk 73 may be 0.4 inches or less from the transition
joint 39. The circumferential edge 76 of the rotating disk 73 may
be 0.03 to 0.13 inches from the transition joint 39. Thus, the
blade scraper 70 of FIG. 3 provides a design incorporating a round
disk cleaner. This disk cleaner is affixed to the bracket and
positioned from the gang tube in such a way as to run the edge of
this disk cleaner in the transition joint of the disk blade and the
hub spool. The round disk cleaner rotates as disk gang turns and
thus becomes self cleaning.
[0037] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a portion of a disk
blade gang 26 (which is shown generally in FIG. 1). The disk blade
gang 26 of FIG. 4 includes a third embodiment of a disk blade
scraper 80 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a
horizontal gang tube 28, disk blades 34, hub spools 38, the
circular transition joint 39, the annular depression 41, the blade
scraper mounting frame 44, the mounting element 45 and associated
fasteners 46 as in FIG. 2; therefore, reference can be made to the
description of FIG. 2 for an explanation of these elements.
[0038] The blade scraper 80 of FIG. 4 includes a bracket 82
connected to the blade scraper mounting frame 44, and a first
separate integral (one piece) elongated bar 83 and a second
separate integral (one piece) elongated bar 88 mounted to the
bracket 82 by suitable fasteners. The elongated bars 83, 88 are
shown in the form of elongated cylindrical rods. However, the bars
83, 88 may have various cross-sectional shapes including, without
limitation, a circular cross-section (as shown) and a square
cross-section. The bars 83, 88 each have a longitudinal axis, and
the bars 83, 88 each have a scraping surface 84, 89 respectively at
an end of the bar farthest from the bracket 82. The scraping
surfaces 84, 89 of the bars 83, 88 have at least a portion at an
angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bar. In one
configuration, the scraping surface is a flat surface perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the bar. In another configuration, the
scraping surface is a domed surface. The elongated bars 83, 88 are
typically formed from hardened steel.
[0039] When the bracket 82 is connected to the blade scraper
mounting frame 44 and each bar 83, 88 is mounted to the bracket 82,
the scraping surface 84 of the bar 83 is adjacent the transition
joint 39 between the hub spool 38 and the concave surface 35 of the
disk blade 34, and the scraping surface 89 of the bar 88 is
adjacent the transition joint 39 between the hub spool 38 and the
convex surface 36 of the disk blade 34a. Also, when the bracket 82
is connected to the blade scraper mounting frame 44 and each bar
83, 88 is mounted to the bracket 82, and an imaginary straight line
including the longitudinal axis of each bar 83, 88 intersects the
hub spool 38 if the imaginary straight line is extended beyond the
end of the bar 83, 88. This arrangement improves cleaning
performance. When the tillage implement 10 is pulled through a
field, the concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34 and the convex
surface 36 of the disk blade 34a are kept clean from the hub spool
38 on out to the cutting edge 37 of the disk blade by way of bars
83, 88.
[0040] The bars 83, 88 may be positioned in various relationships
with respect to the transition joint 39 between the hub spool 38
and the concave surface 35 of the disk blade 34 and the convex
surface 36 of the disk blade 34a. The scraping surface 84 of the
bar 83 may be located within the annular depression 41 that is
formed in a circular region of the concave surface 35 surrounding
the transition joint 39. The scraping surface 84 of the bar 83 and
the scraping surface 89 of the bar 88 may contact the transition
joint 39. The scraping surface 84 of the bar 83 and the scraping
surface 89 of the bar 88 may be 0.4 inches or less from the
transition joint 39. The scraping surface 84 of the bar 83 and the
scraping surface 89 of the bar 88 may be 0.03 to 0.13 inches from
the transition joint 39. Thus, the blade scraper 80 of FIG. 4
provides a design incorporating a round and or square bar shank.
These bars are affixed to the bracket from the gang tube on either
the front or backside or both sides of the disk blade. These rods
are positioned in such a way that the rod ends are perpendicular to
the hub spool center line and disk blade transition joint and the
rod ends rub against this transition joint.
[0041] Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a portion of disk
blade gang 26 (which is shown generally in FIG. 1). The disk blade
gang 26 includes a fourth embodiment of a disk blade scraper 90
according to the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a horizontal gang
tube 28, disk blades 34, hub spools 38, the circular transition
joint 39, the blade scraper mounting frame 44, the mounting element
45 and associated fasteners 46 as in FIG. 2; therefore, reference
can be made to the description of FIG. 2 for an explanation of
these elements. In FIG. 4, the blade scraper mounting frame 44 is
mounted forwardly of the gang tube 28.
[0042] The fourth embodiment of the blade scraper 90 includes a
bracket 92 connected to the blade scraper mounting frame 44, and a
separate integral rectangular (one piece) scraper blade 94 mounted
to the bracket 92 by suitable fasteners 95 (for example, rivets,
screws, bolts, spot welds or any other suitable fastening means).
The scraper blade 94 is typically formed from hardened steel.
[0043] The scraper blade 94 has a first end 97 adjacent the bracket
92, a first side 98 and a second opposed side 99 extending
downwardly from the first end 97. The first side 98 is
approximately equal in length to the second side 99 in the
embodiment shown. A scraping surface 91 is provided at the second
side 99, and a bottom end 101 and the second side 99 of the scraper
blade 94 meet at a junction point 93. When the bracket 92 is
connected to the blade scraper mounting frame 44 and the scraper
blade 94 is mounted to the bracket 92, all of the scraper blade 94
is positioned above the hub spool 38, the scraping surface 91 is
positioned in contact with the convex surface 36 of the disk blade
34, and the junction point 93 is adjacent the transition joint 39
between the hub spool 38 and the convex surface 36 of the disk
blade 34. When the tillage implement 10 is pulled through a field,
the convex surface 36 of the disk blade 34 is kept clean from the
hub spool 38 on out to the cutting edge 37 of the disk blade 34 by
way of the scraper blade 94.
[0044] The scraper blade 94 may be positioned in various
relationships with respect to the hub spool 38. The scraper blade
94 may be positioned on both sides of a vertical normal line to a
center axis of the hub spool 38. The scraping surface 91 may be
positioned behind the center axis of the hub spool 38 in relation
to a direction of movement of the tillage implement 10.
[0045] The scraper blade 94 may be positioned in various
relationships with respect to the transition joint 39 between the
hub spool 38 and the convex surface 36 of the disk blade 34. The
junction point 93 of the scraper blade 94 may be located adjacent
an annular crimped raised area 41a that is formed in a circular
region of the concave surface 35 surrounding the transition joint
39. The junction point 93 of the scraper blade 94 may contact the
transition joint 39. The junction point 93 of the scraper blade 94
may be 0.4 inches or less from the transition joint 39. The
junction point 93 of the scraper blade 94 may be 0.03 to 0.13
inches from the transition joint 39.
[0046] The scraping surface 91 of the scraper blade 94 may be
positioned in various relationships with respect to the convex
surface 36 of the disk blade 34. The scraping surface 91 of the
scraper blade 94 may contact the convex surface 36 of the disk
blade 34. The scraping surface 91 of the scraper blade 94 may be
0.4 inches or less from the convex surface 36 of the disk blade 34.
The scraping surface 91 of the scraper blade 94 may be 0.03 to 0.13
inches from the convex surface 36 of the disk blade 34. Thus, the
blade scraper 90 of FIG. 5 provides a design incorporating a flat
scraper blade shaped to fit the contour of the convex backside of
the disk blade and clean this side. These backside disk blade
scrapers are affixed to the bracket from the gang tube from the
front side of the gang tube. This backside disk scraper is
positioned vertically and contacts the disk blade behind the hub
spool centerline. The corner of this scraper is positioned very
close to the transition joint of the disk blade and the hub
spool.
[0047] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 6A, there is shown a fifth
embodiment of a disk blade scraper 110 according to the present
invention. The fifth embodiment of the invention is similar to the
fourth embodiment of the blade scraper 90 shown in FIG. 5 albeit
with a different scraper blade. In the disk blade scraper of FIGS.
6 and 6A, the scraper blade 194 has a first end 197 adjacent the
bracket 152, a first side 198 and a second opposed side 199
extending downwardly from the first end 197. The first side 198 of
the scraper blade 194 is shorter in length compared to the first
side 98 in the embodiment of FIG. 5. A scraping surface 191 is
provided at the second side 199 of the scraper blade 194, and a
bottom end 201 and the second side 199 of the scraper blade 194
meet at a junction point 193. In the disk blade scraper 110 of
FIGS. 6 and 6A, the scraping surface 191 has an inwardly curved
edge 155 that may be a radius and that contacts the convex surface
36 of the disk blade 34. Also, the scraping surface 191 has a
second inwardly curved edge 157 that may be a radius and that
contacts the crimp 41a on the convex surface 36 of the disk blade
36. The edges 155, 157 provide for improved cleaning performance.
The scraper blade 94 of FIG. 5 may also include an inwardly curved
edge and a second inwardly curved edge as in the blade scraper 194
of FIGS. 6 and 6A.
[0048] Therefore, the present invention provides a disk blade
scraper that provides superior blade cleaning capabilities during
field tillage operation in any type of soil conditions. The disk
blade scraper keeps the disk blade and hub spool area from building
up with dirt/residue such that the disk blade is kept clean from
the disk blade and hub spool area on out to the cutting edge of the
disk blade.
[0049] Although the present invention has been described in detail
with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will
appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other
than the described embodiments, which have been presented for
purposes of illustration and not of limitation. For example, any
number of the same disk blade scrapers or combination of different
disk blade scrapers can be used with each disk blade gang.
Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited
to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
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