GB2174582A - Cultivator tine - Google Patents

Abstract

Reversible double-ended point tine for a tillage implement has a threaded mounting stud (15) welded or otherwise integrally fixed to the tine body (10) to facilitate reversal and assembly in service. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cultivator tine This invention relates to double-ended point tines for agricultural cultivators and other tillage implements and has as its object the provision of point tines which are economical and efficient in use and which enable substantial savings in maintenance time and cost in the field.

According to the invention a double-ended point tine for tillage implement comprises an elongate body portion having an earth working tip or point at each of its opposite ends whereby when one point or tip is worn the tine can be inverted to bring the remaining point or tip into use, wherein the improvement comprises a threaded mounting stud fixed integrally as by welding to a central region of the body portion.

An embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cultivator tine and mounting bolt of known kind, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cultivator tine embodying the invention.

Reference is first made to the prior art double-ended point cultivator tine shown in Fig. 1.

A tine body 10 is an elongate steel curved angle section having chamfered ends each forming a respective earth working tip or point ila, lib.

In use the tine is mounted on a respective downwardly depending support stem of a cultivator or other tillage implement so that the lower point (1 lea in the drawing) works the soil. When point 1 lea is worn or damaged the tine can be given a second lease of life by inverting it and remounting it on the support stem with point 1 ib downwards.

The known arrangement for mounting the tine on the stem comprises a countersunk headed coach bolt 12 which is received loosely in a partly countersunk square aperture 13 in the central ridge or spine of the tine at an intermediate position therealong, bolt 12 being secured by a nut 14.

In practice the nut and bolt are subjected to substantial wear and corrosion, in particular the exposed part of the head of bolt 12 tends to be worn away by contact with the soil, and usually by the time the first point of the tine is worn so that the tine is due for reversal it is extremely difficult if not impossible to undo the bolt without the head turning in aperture 13.

The angle sections of the tine body means that there is minimal engagement between the walls of the square part of aperture 13 and the squared part of the head of bolt 12 and as the head is often a poor fit in the paerture the engagement of the bolt is often not sufficient to prevent it turning when any substantial force is applied to nut 14, e.g. if it has become corroded in place. Once the bolt turns in the tine body it is very difficult to get any effective grip on it with any other tool and often the bolt has to be cut and discarded necessitating the provision of a fresh bolt when the tine is to be reversed.

Moreover the changing round of all the tines, even on a small cultivator, becomes a time consuming process necessitating the implement being out of action for a substantial period, possibly at a busy time, and involving substantial labour costs and the need to ensure that a spare supply of bolts is available.

A cultivator tine embodying the invention is shown in Fig. 2. The body 10 of the tine is generally as described with reference to Fig. 1 except that no squared central aperture 13 is provided, nor is there a separate or loose bolt 12. Instead a length of threaded stud 15 has one end welded into an aperture 16 centrally of body 10 so that the stud is integral with the body.

Preferably the length of stud 15 is somewhat greater than the length of bolt 12 normally employed, thus when the stud is mounted on the cultivator stem and the tine is to be reversed, the associated nut 14 need only be slacked sufficiently for the tine to be turned round without removing it from the stem completely, then the nut is retightened.

Thus complete dis-assembly is not necessary.

As the stud will not turn relative to the body 10 nut 14 can be loosened without difficulty, even if corrosion has taken place thus resulting in considerable saving in time and trouble and avoiding the need to provide replacement bolts. The welding at the end of stud 15 will usually be somewhat harder than the steel forming body 10, thus there will be little or no wear in area 16 and in any event the area of positive engagement or bonding between the stud and body 10 is much greater than that afforded by the squared head of bolt 12, even if it was a perfect fit in aperture 13.

It is contemplatecd that the cost of a tine formed according to the invention will be little different from providing a tine with a separate bolt and in any event there will be considerable savings in cost when the economies of time and labour in changing over the tines and the economy in not having to provide separate replacement bolts is taken into account.

1. A double-ended point tine for a tillage implement comprising an elongate body portion having an earth working tip or point at each of its opposite ends whereby when one point or tip is worn the tine can be inverted to bring the remaining point or tip into use, wherein the improvement comprises a threaded mounting stud fixed integrally to a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cultivator tine This invention relates to double-ended point tines for agricultural cultivators and other tillage implements and has as its object the provision of point tines which are economical and efficient in use and which enable substantial savings in maintenance time and cost in the field. According to the invention a double-ended point tine for tillage implement comprises an elongate body portion having an earth working tip or point at each of its opposite ends whereby when one point or tip is worn the tine can be inverted to bring the remaining point or tip into use, wherein the improvement comprises a threaded mounting stud fixed integrally as by welding to a central region of the body portion. An embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cultivator tine and mounting bolt of known kind, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cultivator tine embodying the invention. Reference is first made to the prior art double-ended point cultivator tine shown in Fig. 1. A tine body 10 is an elongate steel curved angle section having chamfered ends each forming a respective earth working tip or point ila, lib. In use the tine is mounted on a respective downwardly depending support stem of a cultivator or other tillage implement so that the lower point (1 lea in the drawing) works the soil. When point 1 lea is worn or damaged the tine can be given a second lease of life by inverting it and remounting it on the support stem with point 1 ib downwards. The known arrangement for mounting the tine on the stem comprises a countersunk headed coach bolt 12 which is received loosely in a partly countersunk square aperture 13 in the central ridge or spine of the tine at an intermediate position therealong, bolt 12 being secured by a nut 14. In practice the nut and bolt are subjected to substantial wear and corrosion, in particular the exposed part of the head of bolt 12 tends to be worn away by contact with the soil, and usually by the time the first point of the tine is worn so that the tine is due for reversal it is extremely difficult if not impossible to undo the bolt without the head turning in aperture 13. The angle sections of the tine body means that there is minimal engagement between the walls of the square part of aperture 13 and the squared part of the head of bolt 12 and as the head is often a poor fit in the paerture the engagement of the bolt is often not sufficient to prevent it turning when any substantial force is applied to nut 14, e.g. if it has become corroded in place. Once the bolt turns in the tine body it is very difficult to get any effective grip on it with any other tool and often the bolt has to be cut and discarded necessitating the provision of a fresh bolt when the tine is to be reversed. Moreover the changing round of all the tines, even on a small cultivator, becomes a time consuming process necessitating the implement being out of action for a substantial period, possibly at a busy time, and involving substantial labour costs and the need to ensure that a spare supply of bolts is available. A cultivator tine embodying the invention is shown in Fig. 2. The body 10 of the tine is generally as described with reference to Fig. 1 except that no squared central aperture 13 is provided, nor is there a separate or loose bolt 12. Instead a length of threaded stud 15 has one end welded into an aperture 16 centrally of body 10 so that the stud is integral with the body. Preferably the length of stud 15 is somewhat greater than the length of bolt 12 normally employed, thus when the stud is mounted on the cultivator stem and the tine is to be reversed, the associated nut 14 need only be slacked sufficiently for the tine to be turned round without removing it from the stem completely, then the nut is retightened. Thus complete dis-assembly is not necessary. As the stud will not turn relative to the body 10 nut 14 can be loosened without difficulty, even if corrosion has taken place thus resulting in considerable saving in time and trouble and avoiding the need to provide replacement bolts. The welding at the end of stud 15 will usually be somewhat harder than the steel forming body 10, thus there will be little or no wear in area 16 and in any event the area of positive engagement or bonding between the stud and body 10 is much greater than that afforded by the squared head of bolt 12, even if it was a perfect fit in aperture 13. It is contemplatecd that the cost of a tine formed according to the invention will be little different from providing a tine with a separate bolt and in any event there will be considerable savings in cost when the economies of time and labour in changing over the tines and the economy in not having to provide separate replacement bolts is taken into account. CLAIMS

1. A double-ended point tine for a tillage implement comprising an elongate body portion having an earth working tip or point at each of its opposite ends whereby when one point or tip is worn the tine can be inverted to bring the remaining point or tip into use, wherein the improvement comprises a threaded mounting stud fixed integrally to a central region of the body portion.

2. A tine as in Claim 1 wherein the stud is fixed by welding.

3. A tine as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the body portion is an elongate curved angle section having chamferred ends forming the working tips or points.

4. A tine as in any preceding claim wherein the length of the stud is sufficient to allow a nut engaged therewith in use to secure the tine to the implement to be slackened sufficiently for the tine to be inverted without removing the nut from the stud.

5. A point tine for a tillage implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A tillage implement including one or more point tines as in any preceding claim.