This present disclosure relates to an earthworking tine and method of manufacture. More particularly the disclosure is directed to a earthworking tine with a hardened end and related methods. Specifically, the disclosure relates to an earthworking tine with an indicator layer to indicate wear and potential tine failure before failure occurs.
A spring harrow is a traditional farm implement featuring a frame that is towed over the ground by an agricultural tractor so that a set of spring tines depending downward from the frame engage the ground surface to break up and smooth out the same.
Common types of spring harrows employ a double coil spring tine, where a pair of horizontally spaced apart coils wind around a shared horizontal axis with inner ends of the coils joined together by a central cross-bar running parallel to that axis. Then, a pair of tine shafts extend downwardly from the outer ends of the two coils. A central cross-bar is mounted to the implement frame and the coils independently and respectively bias the two tine shafts downward about the coil axis to keep the lower ends of the tine shafts engaged with the ground.
A known problem with spring tines is they may tend to wear relatively quickly, and accordingly require frequent replacement. The tines themselves are relatively cheap, however, when a tine is about to break, there is no early warning system in place. Additionally, if the tine breaks in the field, it is not always readily apparent. As such, the broken tine may find itself puncturing a hole in a very expensive farm tractor tire or being a hazard within the field. As such, tines may be improved and strengthened in a variety of ways.
In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide for a spring harrow comprising at least one spring, at least one downwardly extending member having an upper portion and a lower portion and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; said upper portion of the downwardly extending member is in contact with the at least one spring and said lower portion terminating in a distal tip, a hardened layer at an outer surface extending around a perimeter of the lower portion terminating at the distal tip of the lower portion, wherein the hardened layer is a laser clad hardened material, wherein the laser clad hardened material is operative to create a hardened wear zone. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for a transition zone, wherein the transition zone is located longitudinally between the upper portion and lower portion. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the transition zone which is operative to transition from the upper circular portion in cross section to the lower non-circular shape in cross section. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion to include an interior body, wherein the interior body is located underneath the laser clad hardened material. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion to further include a shoulder extending radially inward towards the longitudinal axis from the interior body of the lower portion, wherein when the laser clad hardened material added to the shoulder, the hardened material is operative to sit essentially flush with the shape of upper portion of the tine. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine further includes an indicator layer located between the interior body and the outer surface. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer as a distinct different color than that of the hardened portion. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the laser clad hardened material is in a range from about 30 to about 60 thousandths of an inch thick. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment provides that the upper portion is circular shape in cross section and the lower portion has a non-circular shape in cross section. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine to be of a diamond shape, square shape, pentagonal shape, oval shape, rectangular shape, or triangular shape when viewed in cross section. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine further includes: an indicator layer located between the lower portion of the tine and the outer surface. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer to be operative to provide a visual indicator to a user that the tine is broken and needs replaced when the hardened layer is fractured, cut, broken or otherwise perforated. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer is a distinct different color than that of the outer surface.
In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide for a spring harrow comprising at least one spring, at least one downwardly extending member having an upper portion and a lower portion and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; said upper portion of the downwardly extending member is in contact with the at least one spring and said lower portion terminating in a distal tip, a hardened layer at an outer surface extending around a perimeter of the lower portion terminating at the distal tip of the lower portion, wherein the hardened layer is a laser clad hardened material, wherein the laser clad hardened material is operative to create a hardened wear zone. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for a transition zone, wherein the transition zone is located longitudinally between the upper portion and lower portion. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the transition zone which is operative to transition from the upper circular portion in cross section to the lower non-circular shape in cross section. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion to include an interior body, wherein the interior body is located underneath the laser clad hardened material. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion to further include a shoulder extending radially inward towards the longitudinal axis from the interior body of the lower portion, wherein when the laser clad hardened material added to the shoulder, the hardened material is operative to sit essentially flush with the shape of upper portion of the tine. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine further includes an indicator layer located between the interior body and the outer surface. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer as a distinct different color than that of the hardened portion. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the laser clad hardened material is in a range from about 30 to about 60 thousandths of an inch thick. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment provides that the upper portion is circular shape in cross section and the lower portion has a non-circular shape in cross section, This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine to be of a diamond shape, square shape, pentagonal shape, oval shape, rectangular shape, or triangular shape when viewed in cross section. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine further includes: an indicator layer located between the lower portion of the tine and the outer surface. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer to be operative to provide a visual indicator to a user that the tine is broken and needs replaced when the hardened layer is fractured, cut, broken or otherwise perforated. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer is a distinct different color than that of the outer surface.
In another aspect, the disclosure may provide for an article of manufacture comprising; at least one spring, at least one downwardly extending member having an upper portion and a lower portion and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; said upper portion of the downwardly extending member is in contact with the at least one spring, wherein the transition zone is operative to transition from the circular shape to the non-circular shape, an inwardly defined shoulder of the lower portion, and the lower portion is defined by a cutting surface on the front of the lower portion deigned to make contact with a ground surface and a non-cutting surface on the rear of a tine; a distinct material layer of the lower portion, wherein the distinct material is operative to create a hardened wear zone, and wherein the hardened material has a thickness equal to that of the inwardly defined shoulder so as to be positioned to sit flush with the upper portion. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide the distinct material is in a range from about 30 to about 60 thousandths of an inch thick. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment provides that the upper portion is circular shape in cross section and the lower portion has a non-circular shape in cross section This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine to be of a diamond shape, square shape, pentagonal shape, oval shape, rectangular shape, or triangular shape. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the lower portion of the tine further includes: an indicator layer located between the lower portion of the tine and the outer surface. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer is operative to provide a visual indicator to a user that the tine is broken and needs replaced when the hardened layer is fractured, cut, broken or otherwise perforated.
In another aspect, the disclosure may provide for a method for installing a tine onto an earthworking machine, wherein the tine comprises at least one spring, at least one downwardly extending member having an upper portion and a lower portion and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; said upper portion of the downwardly extending member is in contact with the at least one spring and said lower portion terminating in a distal tip, a hardened layer at an outer surface extending around a perimeter of the lower portion terminating at the distal tip of the lower portion, wherein the hardened layer is a laser clad hardened material, wherein the laser clad hardened material is operative to create a hardened wear zone; and an indicator layer, located between the outer surface of the hardened material layer and the outer surface of the lower portion, wherein the indicator layer is operative to provide a visual indicator to a user that the lower portion of the tine is worn, broken, fractured or otherwise needs replaced, operating the earthworking machine with the installed tine, exposing the indicator layer as a result of operating the installed tine on one or more surfaces of the tine, viewing the exposed indicator layer, removing and disposing the tine in response to viewing the exposed indicator layer; and replacing the tine with the exposed indicator layer for another tine without an exposed indicator layer. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for exposing the indicator layer further including displaying the indicator layer while the lower portion remains intact. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer is a distinct different color than that of the outer surface.
In another aspect, the disclosure may provide for a method for installing a tine onto an earthworking machine, wherein the tine comprises at least one spring, at least one downwardly extending member having an upper portion and a lower portion and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; said upper portion of the downwardly extending member is in contact with the at least one spring and said lower portion terminating in a distal tip, a hardened layer at an outer surface extending around a perimeter of the lower portion terminating at the distal tip of the lower portion, wherein the hardened layer is a distinct material, wherein the distinct material is operative to create a hardened wear zone; and an indicator layer, located between the outer surface of the hardened material layer and the outer surface of the lower portion, wherein the indicator layer is operative to provide a visual indicator to a user that the lower portion of the tine is worn, broken, fractured or otherwise needs replaced, operating the earthworking machine with the installed tine, exposing the indicator layer as a result of operating the installed tine on one or more surfaces of the tine, viewing the exposed indicator layer, removing and disposing the tine in response to viewing the exposed indicator layer; and replacing the tine with the exposed indicator layer for another tine without an exposed indicator layer. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for exposing the indicator layer further including displaying the indicator layer while the lower portion remains intact. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide for the indicator layer is a distinct different color than that of the outer surface.
In another aspect, the disclosure may provide for an earth engaging member comprising: at least one downwardly extending member having an upper portion and a lower portion and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; said lower portion terminating in a distal tip, a hardened layer defining an outer surface extending along a portion of the lower portion terminating at the distal tip of the lower portion, wherein the hardened layer is a distinct material separate from the lower portion of the member, wherein the distinct material is operative to create a hardened wear zone.
A sample embodiment of the disclosure is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are fully incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various examples, methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings,
Exemplary embodiments provide for the ratio of the lengths of L1 to L3 to be about 2:1 to about 6:1. For example, when L1 is about 15 inches in length, L3 may be between about 2.5 and about 7.5 inches in length. Further exemplary embodiments provide for a ratio of L1 to L3 to be about 2:1 to about 4:1. For example, when L1 is about 15 inches in length, L3 may be between about 3.75 to about 7.5 inches in length. A further exemplary embodiment provides for a ratio of 3:1. For example, when L1 is about 15 inches in length, L3 may be between about 5 inches in length.
Further, while the tine 10 is configured to be constructed as a unibody, monolithic, single member formed from a unitary material, portions of the tine 10 will be described with references to other portions thereof and may be described with different references, but physically constructed from the same material. For example, the tine 10 may be fabricated from a single piece, wire or rod of metal material so as to define the structural relationships described herein.
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These exemplary embodiments are merely examples and other shapes may be used. In these embodiments, the hardened material surrounds the tine in all directions. However, in other embodiments discussed later it may be appropriate for only the surface end which is to be in contact with the ground, soil, dirt, etc., may be coated in the hardened material.
In all embodiments, multiple shapes of exemplary lower end 16 of the tine 10 may be implored. The tine 10 is relatively cylindrically shaped on the upper end of the shaft 18 and may taper into another shape at the lower end the shaft 20 and tine 10. Shape consideration may be chosen in response to effects occurring during seedbed or field preparation. These effects may include, but are not limited to the incorporation of seeds, fertilizers and granulated chemicals, methods of mechanical weed control in place, variation of particle properties within the seedbed or field, density of the soil, traveling speed of the tine, and moisture content of the soil involved. Shapes may be chosen from multiple options, including but not limited to, circle, oval, square, rectangular, pentagonal, etc. As such, shapes are not limited to those seen and described herein. In some embodiments, the lower end of the shaft may be tapered over a long distance of a transition zone 28. In other embodiments, the lower end of the shaft 20 may be machined away in some method to create a transition zone 28 and shoulder 24 that are one in the same.
In exemplary embodiments the width of “W” may be in a range of between about 30 and about 60 thousandths of an inch deep. In further exemplary embodiments the width may be smaller, or larger depending on the desired soil type, including the amount of rocks, chaff and other debris within the field. Strengthening material is then applied so that it is essentially flush with the lower end of the shaft 20 of the material so that a shelf is not created to collect chaff and debris as the tine 10 moves through a field.
In exemplary embodiments, the hardened end 22 is hardened by processing the end with laser cladding. Laser cladding is a method of depositing material by which a powdered or wire feedstock material is melted and consolidated by use of a laser in order to coat part or all of a substrate with a fused material. Generally, the powder or wire feedstock used in laser cladding is normally of a metallic nature, and is injected into the system by either coaxial or lateral nozzles. The interaction of the metallic powder stream or wire and the laser causes localized melting to occur, and is known as the melt pool. The powder is feedstock is thusly deposited onto a substrate, all while moving the substrate and allowing the melt pool to solidify and thus produce a track of solid metal on the substrate. While this is the most common technique of laser cladding, other processes involve moving the laser and nozzle assembly over a stationary substrate to produce solidified tracks; wherein the motion of the substrate is guided by a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) system which interpolates solid objects into a set of tracks, thus producing the desired part at the end of the trajectory of the path.
Laser cladding is operative to give the coated portion of substrate superior properties when compared to other hard facing techniques. Laser cladding allow for a low dilution between the track and substrate, low levels of deformation between the substrate, substantially free of any crack and porosity, a high cooling rate (which in turn leads to a fine microstructure), a small heat affected zone, increased corrosion resistance and higher strength of the part which has been laser cladded.
In certain embodiments, the laser cladding is applied by a method which includes resting the uncladded tine on a support structure, positioning the tine within the support structure which is operative to hold the tine in a horizontal position or, alternatively, may be adjusted to change the orientation or angle of the tine relative to the support structure, aligning the tine with the laser and injector, melting and simultaneously depositing the laser clad material onto the tine while moving the tine or the support structure in a pathway along the tine and depositing laser clad material onto tine along the pathway until the entire surface desired to be laser clad is covered.
Additionally, through various experimentation, it is possible determine the length of life for the hardened layer of the tine. This length of wear would be different for various soil types. Therefore, it would be possible to measure the tine width at the hardened material in an iterative manner and noting that whenever the laser cladding reaches a certain thickness or depth, the tine should be replaced rather than waiting until it breaks.
An exemplary method provides for installing an exemplary tine on an earthworking machine, operating the earthworking machine with the installed tine, exposing the indicator layer as a result of operating the installed tine on one or more surfaces of the tine, viewing the exposed indicator layer, removing and disposing the tine in response to viewing the exposed indicator layer, and replacing the tine with the exposed indicator layer for another tine without an exposed indicator layer.
Exemplary embodiments relate to an earthworking tine with an inwardly shaped shoulder has been laser cladded in order to sit flat and create a hardened wear zone. In alternative embodiments relate to an earthworking tine with a portion of the underlying tine shaped into different shapes. A further alternative embodiment relates to an earthworking tine which has been laser cladded and prior to laser cladding an indicator layer operative to indicate wear of the tine is applied.
Also, various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.
While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.
Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “lateral” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.
Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed herein could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.
If this specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately” may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/−0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.
Additionally, any method of performing the present disclosure may occur in a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, no sequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitly stated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of the method in a different order could achieve a similar result.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.