Apparatus for adjusting tension and positioning of a harrowing chain

Abstract

The present disclosure generally provides systems for adjusting tension and positioning of a harrowing chain. Systems may include a tension adjustment assembly, and the tension adjustment assembly may include a pivot assembly and/or a cylinder hydraulic assembly. Modifications also may be made to the frame of an agricultural implement to address transport issues related to harrowing chains. Further modifications to exterior harrowing chains may be made to reduce the number of small ditches formed in a field due to digging by harrow disks of the chains.

1 . An apparatus for adjusting tension in a harrowing chain, the apparatus comprising:
 a tension adjustment assembly comprising a pivot assembly configured to rotate about a pivot support coupled to a frame;   a first spring configured to apply a spring force to the pivot assembly; and   a threaded rod receiving the first spring about the circumference of the threaded rod.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a compression member that cooperates with the threaded rod.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a spring preset bar having one end attached to the compression member.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the spring preset bar is attached by at least one fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the compression member further comprising:
 a lock tab to move the compression member in a horizontal direction.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tension adjustment assembly joins to an end of the harrowing chain. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the harrowing chain is an exterior harrowing chain. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the harrowing chain is an interior harrowing chain. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot support couples to an exterior frame portion of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot support couples to an interior frame portion of the frame. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for adjusting tension in a harrowing chain, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of harrowing chains, wherein at least one of the plurality of harrowing chains is an interior harrowing chain and at least one of the plurality of harrowing chains is an exterior harrowing chain; and   at least one tension adjustment assembly coupling to one or more of the plurality of harrowing chains, the at least one tension adjustment assembly comprising a pivot assembly configured to rotate about a pivot support coupled to a frame.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a threaded rod; and   a spring configured to apply a spring force to the pivot assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the exterior harrowing chain includes at least one lift arm. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one lift arm includes a threaded adjustment to adjust and control the height of a flap that holds the exterior harrowing chain. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein a saddle is affixed to the frame to receive at least one of the plurality of harrowing chains during transport. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for adjusting tension in a harrowing chain, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one interior harrowing chain having a first end;   a first tension adjustment assembly comprising a first pivot assembly having a first end coupled to the first end of the at least one interior harrowing chain, the first pivot assembly configured to rotate about a first pivot support coupled to a frame;   at least one exterior harrowing chain having a first end; and   a second tension adjustment assembly comprising a second pivot assembly having a first end coupled to the first end of the at least one exterior harrowing chain, the second pivot assembly configured to rotate about a second pivot support coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , the first tension adjustment assembly further comprising:
 a first spring configured to apply a spring force to the first pivot assembly; and   a threaded rod receiving the first spring about the circumference of the threaded rod.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one exterior harrowing chain includes at least one lift arm. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of the at least one exterior harrowing chains extends in the same diagonal direction. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of the at least one interior harrowing chains extends in a diagonal direction parallel to the at least one exterior harrowing chain.