Land Leveler Implement with Bottom-Finned Working Blade

Abstract

A towable implement features a frame, a pull tongue extending longitudinally forward thereof for towed conveyance of the frame over underlying ground, and a working blade lying transversely of the longitudinal direction, said blade being operable to engaged the underlying ground to perform a working operation thereon. The blade is selectively tiltable about a roll axis to adjust an angular position of the blade relative to the underlying ground to enable performance of different working operations thereon. A series of rigid fins are distributed discretely along a width of the blade in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and each rigid fin protrudes downwardly beyond a reference plane occupied by the lower working edge of the blade. In the working state of the blade, at least one of said rigid fins engages said underlying ground in penetrating fashion to perform a rudder-like action helping maintain a straight travel direction of the implement.

Amended claims: 
     
         1 . A towable implement comprising:
 a frame supported for traveling movement over underlying ground;   a pull tongue connected to the frame and spanning forwardly thereof in a longitudinal direction of the implement for selective coupling to a tow vehicle for puling of said frame forwardly over said underlying ground;   a working blade carried on the frame in an orientation lying transversely of the longitudinal direction, said blade being operable in a working state in which a portion of a lower working edge of said working blade is engaged with said underlying ground to perform a working operation thereon;   wherein:
 said working blade is selectively tiltable about a roll axis that extends in the longitudinal direction to enable selecting raising and lowering of opposing ends of the blade relative to one another, thereby adjusting an angular position of the blade about said roll axis to vary an orientation thereof relative to the underlying ground to enable performance of different working operations thereon; and 
 said working blade has a series of rigid fins distributed discretely along a width of the blade in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and each rigid fin protrudes downwardly beyond a reference working plane occupied by the lower working edge of the blade, whereby in the working state of said working blade, at least one of said rigid fins engages said underlying ground in penetrating fashion to perform a rudder-like action helping maintain a straight travel direction of the implement. 
   
     
     
         2 . The towable implement of  claim 1  wherein the working blade comprises a curved blade wall curving upwardly away from the working edge of the working blade, and a mounting structure that resides in fixed relation to the curved blade wall at a position therebehind, and to which the rigid fins are mounted. 
     
     
         3 . The towable implement of  claim 2  wherein the mounting structure resides at equal or slightly greater elevation than the lower working edge of the working blade. 
     
     
         4 . The towable implement of  claim 2  wherein the mounting structure resides beneath the convex rear side of the curved blade wall. 
     
     
         5 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 2  wherein a mounting structure to which the rigid fins are mounted comprises a mounting surface to which each rigid fin is attached, and one or more backstops protruding from said mounting surface, each in a position behind at least one of said rigid fins. 
     
     
         6 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 5  wherein the lower mounting structure has predefined mounting points thereon at which the rigid fins and/or the one or more backstops are mounted. 
     
     
         7 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 6  wherein the predefined mounting points comprise, for each fin, a predefined a pair of fin-mounting holes spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and through said fin is fastened in place. 
     
     
         8 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 7  wherein the predefined mounting points, for each fin, further comprise a predefined backstop-mounting hole that resides behind said pair of fin-mounting holes and at which a respective backstop is mounted. 
     
     
         9 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 8  wherein said predefined backstop opening receives therein an upper portion of said respective backstop. 
     
     
         10 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 1  wherein each fin is a reversible. 
     
     
         11 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 1  wherein each fin has symmetrically configured leading and trailing edges. 
     
     
         12 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 1  wherein each fin tapers to a point at a leading edge thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The towable mounting implement of  claim 1  wherein each fin has a concave leading edge.