Seedbed preparation implement having rotary disc with adjustable gang angle

Abstract

A disc gang is provided that is suitable for use as part of a multifunctional seedbed preparation implement or in a standalone disc harrow. The disc gang is configured to permit a gang angle of the disc gang to be adjusted to accommodate differing soil conditions and/or to obtain different tillage characteristics. The disc gang may include a frame mounted on a mainframe of a primary tillage implement such as a cultivator. The frame includes a main beam mounted on the implement's mainframe and a disc support beam connected to the main beam and supporting a plurality of rotating discs. The gang angle can be infinitely adjusted through a designated range by pivoting one end of the disc gang about a vertical pivot axis while permitting another end portion of the disc gang to slide along a support surface for that end. The disc support beam may also be configured to be raised and lowered relative to the main beam so as to permit the cutting depth of the discs to be adjusted independently of the working depth of the remainder of the implement. The disc gang preferably is modular so as to negate the need for complex mechanical and hydraulic connections between the disc gang and the remainder of the implement.

1 . A disc gang assembly configured for attachment to a mainframe of a seedbed preparation implement that is configured to be pulled in a draft direction, said disc gang assembly comprising: 
 (A) a frame connected to the mainframe and that comprises 1) a main beam which is mountable on the mainframe and angularly offset with respect to said draft direction, and 2) a disc support beam which is located in front of said main beam and which is directly connected to said main beam by at least one support arm; and    (B) a disc gang comprising a plurality of ground engaging rotary discs which are supported on said support beam and which are configured to rotate about an axis that extends at a gang angle relative to a perpendicular to said draft direction, wherein said discs are directly connected to said disc support beam and connected to said main beam via said at least one support arm, wherein said frame includes hardware configured to connect said frame relative to the implement mainframe so as to permit said frame be movable relative to the mainframe,    wherein the disc gang is disposed forward of said mainframe with respect to said draft direction.    
   
   
       2 . The disc gang as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said mainframe is directly supported by ground-engaging wheels.  
   
   
       3 . The disc gang as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said mainframe is connected between a front disc harrow and a rear disc harrow, the front disc harrow comprising the disc gang.  
   
   
       4 . A disc gang assembly configured for attachment to a mainframe of a seedbed preparation implement that is configured to be pulled in a draft direction, said disc gang assembly comprising: 
 a pair of adjacent disc gangs supported on a corresponding pair of frames, each disc gang carrying ground engaging rotary discs which are configured to rotate about an axis that extends at a gang angle relative to a perpendicular to said draft direction, wherein each disc gang is pivotally connected to the implement mainframe at a location adjacent the other disc gang so as to permit said gang angle of each disc gang to be infinitely adjusted through a range of at least 3° while maintaining substantial linear alignment with the other disc gang, wherein each disc gang is disposed forward of said mainframe with respect to said draft direction.