Tile plow

Abstract

A tile plow disclosed herein includes a horizontal beam, a shoe extending downwardly from the beam, a front portion including a first pair of hydraulic cylinders each pivotally coupled to a first portion of the beam, a rear portion including a second pair of hydraulic cylinders each pivotally coupled to a second portion of the beam, a leading sensor adjacent the front portion that receives a signal from a position control system and controls operation of the first pair of hydraulic cylinders to position the front portion to an intended grade path, and a trailing sensor adjacent the rear portion that controls operation of the second pair of hydraulic cylinders to position the rear portion to follow the intended grade path. The shoe may have a cutting edge that is curved from a leading edge to a trailing edge thereof.

1 . A tile plow comprising:
 a horizontal beam;   a shoe extending downwardly from the beam;   a front portion including a first pair of hydraulic cylinders each pivotally coupled to a first portion of the beam;   a rear portion including a second pair of hydraulic cylinders each pivotally coupled to a second portion of the beam;   a leading sensor adjacent the front portion that receives a signal from a position control system and controls operation of the first pair of hydraulic cylinders to position the front portion to an intended grade path; and   a trailing sensor adjacent the rear portion that controls operation of the second pair of hydraulic cylinders to position the rear portion to follow the intended grade path.   
     
     
         2 . The tile plow of  claim 1 , wherein the position control system comprises a global positioning system (GPS). 
     
     
         3 . The tile plow of  claim 1 , wherein the position control system comprises a laser level system. 
     
     
         4 . The tile plow of  claim 1 , wherein grade errors from the intended grade path are detected by the trailing sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The tile plow of  claim 4 , wherein the trailing sensor is programmed to make adjustments to the intended grade path upon detection of a grade error so that the leading sensor and the trailing sensor both follow an adjusted grade path. 
     
     
         6 . The tile plow of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion comprises a rear wheel assembly supporting the beam. 
     
     
         7 . The tile plow of  claim 6 , wherein the rear wheel assembly is positioned behind the shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The tile plow of  claim 6 , further comprising covering blade assemblies attached to each side of the rear wheel assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The tile plow of  claim 8 , wherein the covering blade assemblies each comprise rigid structures that angle outward from the rear portion toward the front portion of the tile plow. 
     
     
         10 . A tile plow comprising:
 a horizontal beam;   a shoe extending downwardly from the beam, the shoe having a cutting edge that is curved from a leading edge of the shoe to a trailing edge of the shoe; and   a support assembly coupled to the beam and configured to support the beam and raise and lower the beam and the shoe between a raised transport position and a lowered plowing position.   
     
     
         11 . The tile plow of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting edge of the shoe is curved with a radius of curvature greater than 100 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The tile plow of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting edge is inclined at an angle of less than 15 degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         13 . The tile plow of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting edge of the shoe is formed from a first plate assembly, and the shoe further comprises plates on opposite sides of the cutting edge that create surfaces upon which soil travels during operation of the tile plow, the plates being inclined at an angle with respect to horizontal that is greater than an angle at which the cutting edge is inclined with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         14 . The tile plow of  claim 13 , wherein the first plate assembly comprises first and second shoe plates rolled into curves and welded together through apertures in the first shoe plate. 
     
     
         15 . The tile plow of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting edge of the shoe has a narrow lead portion and a wider portion opposite the lead portion. 
     
     
         16 . The tile plow of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting edge of the shoe has a generally triangular profile.