Tilling apparatus

Abstract

A tilling apparatus and a method of tilling soils which includes the use of a rotational shaft having a number of cutter assemblies located at spaced apart locations on the shaft in which each cutter assembly has a multitude of blades which rotate as the rotary shaft rotates to form a plurality of spaced apart trenches having the same spacing as the spacing of the cutters, and a width caused by the width of the blades. As the blades dig the trench, the soil contacted by the blades is granulated and is tossed about by the spinning blades so that some soil falls back into the trench and some falls along the periphery of the trench to form rows of aerated granules which promote enhanced growth of plants or seeds in the trench and along the edge of the trench to improve the yield of pasture having the trenches. Various attachments can be provided on the tilling apparatus, either in front of or towards the rear of the spinning blades for different purposes, such as rippers, seeders, levellers, or similar. The advantage of the tilling apparatus is that the soil is formed into granules which are used to form an aerated array of soil granules having enhanced growing properties for plants.

1 . A method of reducing compaction through at least one of tilling, cultivating or renovating of soil that has been exposed to passing farm machinery, the method comprising:
 placing a tilling apparatus in cooperation with the farm machinery such that the tilling apparatus engages the soil in a location aft of the farm machinery, the tilling apparatus comprising:
 a rotatable shaft that is responsive to rotational power provided thereto by the farm machinery; 
 a plurality of cutters secured to the rotatable shaft and spaced apart from one another along an axial dimension thereof, wherein each of the cutters defines a disc with a plurality of bladed tines secured on opposing surfaces and about the periphery thereof; and 
 a leveller disposed aft of the plurality of cutters; and 
   upon having the tilling apparatus traverse over the soil that is in the path of at least one ground wheel of the farm machinery, using the rotational interaction of the plurality of cutters to comminute the soil through rotational interaction therewith such that an entirety of the reducing compaction of the soil is achieved through the plurality of cutters while a plurality of rows of worked soil are formed in unworked soil at least a portion of which has been compacted by contact with the at least one ground wheel, wherein each of the plurality of rows of worked soil defines a trench comprising a first granulated soil part and a second granulated soil part such that the first granulated soil part comprises an aerated array of soil particles within each of the trenches while the second granulated soil part forms a deposited layer of aerated soil particles onto an apron of the unworked soil, wherein the height of the deposited layer is subsequently reduced upon contact with the leveller.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the leveller comprises a plurality of levellers each aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of rows of worked soil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein substantially reducing the height of the deposited layer comprises making the deposited layer substantially even over the area of at least one of the plurality of rows of worked soil by returning at least a portion of the second granulated soil part to the trench. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tilling apparatus further comprises a flap disposed aft of the plurality of cutters, the flap being movable between a raised position and a lowered position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the leveller is pivotably secured to the flap disposed to extend rearwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bladed tines defining an L-shaped construction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dispensing seeds from a seeder that is cooperative with the tilling apparatus such that upon such dispensing, at least a portion of the seeds are placed into the trenches prior to passage of the leveller. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the leveller comprises a plurality of spring-loaded levellers each aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of rows of worked soil, wherein each of the plurality of spring-loaded levellers within a particular one of the plurality of rows of worked soil operates independently of the plurality of levellers within other ones of the plurality of rows of worked soil. 
     
     
         9 . A tilling apparatus comprising:
 a rotatable shaft that is responsive to rotational power provided thereto by farm machinery;   a plurality of cutters secured to the rotatable shaft and spaced apart from one another along an axial dimension thereof, wherein each of the cutters defines a disc with a plurality of bladed tines secured on opposing surfaces and about the periphery thereof such that upon having the tilling apparatus traverse over soil that is in the path of at least one ground wheel of the farm machinery, the rotational interaction of the plurality of cutters comminutes the soil to create a plurality of rows of worked soil at least a portion of which has been compacted by contact with the at least one ground wheel, wherein each of the plurality of rows of worked soil defines a trench comprising a first granulated soil part and a second granulated soil part such that the first granulated soil part comprises an aerated array of soil particles within each of the trenches while the second granulated soil part forms a deposited layer of aerated soil particles onto an apron of the unworked soil;   at least one of:
 a plurality of independently movable levellers at least one of each is disposed aft of a corresponding one of the plurality of cutters and configured to contact the plurality of rows of worked soil to reduce a height of the deposited layer; or 
 a smudger disposed aft of the plurality of cutters and configured to contact the plurality of rows of worked soil; and 
   a seeder configured to dispense seeds into each of the trenches prior to passage of the at least one of the leveller or spreader thereover.   
     
     
         10 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a flap disposed aft of the plurality of cutters, the flap being movable between a raised position and a lowered position. 
     
     
         11 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the leveller is pivotably secured to the flap disposed to extend rearwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the seeder comprises:
 a hopper to contain seed; and   a plurality delivery hoses in fluid communication with the hopper, wherein a distal end of each of the plurality of delivery hoses is disposed aft of a corresponding one of the plurality of cutters such that a substantial entirety of seeds being dispensed from the distal end are placed in a corresponding one of the trenches.   
     
     
         13 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the seeder further comprises a valve for metering the distribution of the seed from the hopper to the plurality of delivery hoses. 
     
     
         14 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the valve comprises a pendulum valve. 
     
     
         15 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the valve comprises a deflector valve. 
     
     
         16 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a coulter cutter disposed fore of the plurality of cutters. 
     
     
         17 . The tilling apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a ripper disposed aft of the coulter cutter and fore of the plurality of cutters.