Reducing build up of crop residue on shanks

Abstract

A residue clearing apparatus for a shank of an agricultural implement includes a spoked wheel adapted for attachment to the implement such that the spoked wheel rotates about a wheel axis oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement and forward of the shank. The spoked wheel is oriented such that ends of spokes of the spoked wheel are above the ground forward of the shank, and such that the ends of the spokes of the spoked wheel are located adjacent to a front face of the shank. A drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel.

1 . A residue clearing apparatus for a shank of an agricultural implement, the apparatus comprising:
 a spoked wheel adapted for attachment to the implement such that the spoked wheel rotates about a wheel axis oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the implement and forward of the shank;   wherein the spoked wheel is oriented such that ends of spokes of the spoked wheel are above the ground forward of the shank, and such that the ends of the spokes of the spoked wheel are located adjacent to a front face of the shank; and   a drive operative to rotate the spoked wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spokes are resiliently mounted to the spoked wheel such that the spokes can flex with respect to the spoked wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel in a forward direction such that the ends of the spokes move downward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved downward and forward off the shank. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shank is mounted to the implement by a bracket extending laterally from an upper portion of the shank, and wherein the drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel in a rearward direction such that the ends of the spokes move upward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved upward and rearward over a top end of the shank. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive comprises one of a ground drive and a hydraulic motor drive. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spoked wheel comprises a plurality of spring teeth extending from a central wheel portion. 
     
     
         7 . An agricultural implement apparatus comprising:
 an implement frame mounted for movement along the ground in an operating travel direction;   a shank extending downward from the implement frame, and a ground engaging tool mounted on a bottom end of the shank;   a spoked wheel rotatably attached to the implement frame such that the spoked wheel rotates about a wheel axis oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the operating travel direction of the implement frame and forward of the shank;   wherein the spoked wheel is oriented such that ends of spokes of the spoked wheel are above the ground forward of the shank, and such that the ends of the spokes of the spoked wheel are located adjacent to a front face of the shank; and   a drive operative to rotate the spoked wheel.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the spokes are resiliently mounted to the spoked wheel such that the spokes can flex with respect to the spoked wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  comprising a drive shaft mounted to the implement frame and rotatable about a shaft axis oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, the drive shaft connected to drive the spoked wheel, and wherein the drive is operative to rotate the drive shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the shaft axis coincides with the wheel axis and the spoked wheel is fixed to the drive shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  comprising:
 a trailing arm connected at a front end thereof to the drive shaft by at least one bearing such that the trailing arm can pivot up and down with respect to the drive shaft;   a packer wheel rotatably mounted to the trailing arm at a rear portion thereof; and   a bias element connected to the implement frame and operative to exert a downward bias force on the trailing arm;   wherein the shank extends downward from the trailing arm forward of the packer wheel.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the wherein the shank is mounted to the trailing arm by a bracket extending laterally from an upper portion of the shank to the trailing arm, and wherein the drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel in a rearward direction such that the ends of the spokes move upward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved upward and rearward over a top end of the shank. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the shank is oriented to slope rearward and upward from the ground engaging tool. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel in a forward direction such that the ends of the spokes move downward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved downward and forward off the shank. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the shank is mounted to the implement frame by a bracket extending laterally from an upper portion of the shank, and wherein the drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel in a rearward direction such that the ends of the spokes move upward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved upward and rearward over a top end of the shank. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7  herein the drive is operative to rotate the spoked wheel in a forward direction such that the ends of the spokes move downward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved downward and forward off the shank. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing buildup of crop residue on a shank of an agricultural implement comprising an implement frame mounted for movement along the ground in an operating travel direction, a shank extending downward from the implement frame, and a ground engaging tool mounted on a bottom end of the shank, the method comprising
 rotatably attaching a spoked wheel to the implement frame such that the spoked wheel rotates about a wheel axis oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the operating travel direction of the implement frame and forward of the shank;   rotating the spoked wheel such that ends of spokes of the spoked wheel pass above the ground forward of the shank, and such that the ends of the spokes of the spoked wheel pass along and adjacent to a front face of the shank.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the spokes are resiliently mounted to the spoked wheel such that the spokes can flex with respect to the spoked wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the spoked wheel is rotated in a forward direction such that the ends of the spokes move downward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved downward and forward off the shank. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  comprising mounting the shank to the implement frame by a bracket extending laterally from an upper portion of the shank, and rotating the spoked wheel in a rearward direction such that the ends of the spokes move upward adjacent to the front face of the shank and such that residue dragging on the shank and contacted by the spokes is moved upward and rearward over a top end of the shank. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the shank is oriented to slope rearward and upward from the ground engaging tool.