Patent Application
20180242506
The present invention relates to harrow tines, and more particularly to means of repairing or replacing damaged or worn tines.
The use of harrow tines is ubiquitous in agricultural crop production. Tines extend downwardly from an arm of an implement and can be used for a number of purposes, including for example spreading straw evenly across a field once the crop has been harvested, smoothing and levelling the field prior to seeding, packing a field once the field has been seeded to improve seed compaction (to improve seed germination), preserving soil moisture while doing a weed kill at the same time, or tilling an undesirably wet soil surface to help dry it out. In one conventional arrangement, a pair of spring steel tines are connected by a coil, forming a U-shaped unit that can be mounted to an implement for movement across a target field, although single-tine configurations are commercially available and in use.
However, to achieve the desired functionality, tines are commonly constructed to be somewhat flexible. This may have particular utility where, for example, the tines are being used to till the upper soil and may engage forcefully with not only hard soil but also rocks as the implement moves across the field. The result, well known to the skilled person, is that tines wear down with time or may bend. Wear is more common on the tine tips and also severe bending often occurs in the middle of the tines. Breakage may sometimes even occur on one of the two upper coil segments connected to the two tines.
The common solution to the problem of tine wear or bending is to replace the entire tine, which usually means replacing a coil-style tine pair, and in the case of an upper coil segment break would require replacing the whole tine pair. Replacing a tine pair is a very labour-intensive and time-consuming process, as the operator must disassemble the harrow bar which holds the worn or broken tine. In addition, tine pairs are costly to replace, particularly given the number of tines on an implement and the rate at which wear commonly occurs. For example, it is known to have harrow implements with 204 tine pairs for an 82 foot harrow bar, with more tines for wider machines up to 100 feet wide. An 82 foot unit has a total of 408 individual tines that can be and are subject to constant wear during use.
There have been attempts in the past to provide replaceable tine tips, to present a more cost-effective solution than replacing an entire tine pair. For example, Canadian Patent No. 1,271,081 to Dalyea discloses a two-part tine with a sleeve for connecting the tine segments, the basic concept being that a worn or broken lower tine segment can be replaced by removing either the lower tine from the sleeve (where they are removably connected) or replacing the lower tine and sleeve (where the sleeve is removably connected to the upper tine). Dalyea teaches the use of welding, crimping or small set bolts for retaining the tine segments within the sleeve.
However, the Dalyea tine replacement design suffers from significant drawbacks, and clearly would not be desirable for farmers. The set bolts protrude from the sleeve sides, and the top of the sleeve is flat, such that straw can catch and potentially bunch up and cause plugging of the harrows. Also, the upper and lower tines are taught to be distanced from each other within the sleeve, the result being that all of the upward vertical force or load is on the points where the set bolts engage the tine segment surfaces, which will cause set bolt loosening and wear on the tips of the set bolts, allowing them to twist and disengage from the tine segments, ultimately resulting in the loss of the tine tip segment. It is also highly unlikely that a set bolt pressed into the tine surface would securely maintain the lower tine in the sleeve, as the jarring and flexing a tine is subjected to would likely loosen such an engagement. In addition, the use of welding or crimping would have disadvantages. Welding could cause breakage, micro-cracks or stress risers in spring steel, and crimping simply leaves the operator with tine segments that cannot be removed from the sleeve without destroying the claimed utility—namely the ability to replace worn tines and keep operating the implement. Crimping generally produces a connection that cannot be undone without damaging one or both of the connected components, which then results in increased replacement costs.
Finally, modern spring steel harrow tines are increasingly being provided with leading edge hard face such as solid or embedded tungsten carbide wear plates, and therefore the tips must not be allowed to turn sideways or rearwardly. With the Dalyea design, it is highly unlikely that the lower tine would be prevented from rotation within the sleeve—assuming it does not disengage from the sleeve altogether—with the result that the hard face leading edge could end up twisting sideways or rearwardly and the desired utility is then lost.
What is needed, therefore, is a harrow tine design that allows for quick change of worn, bent or broken lower tine sections and/or the ability to remove and replace the upper coil segment if it breaks, without having to dispose of expensive solid or embedded tungsten carbide tips and connectors and while avoiding some or all of the above disadvantages of the prior art assembly.
The present invention therefore seeks to provide a harrow tine assembly, useful in a single-tine or tine pair configuration, that allows for simpler and faster replacement of worn or damaged tine segments or tine tips.
According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harrow tine assembly comprising:
In some exemplary embodiments of the first aspect, the first tine segment comprises a tine tip and the second tine segment comprises an upper tine segment. In some other exemplary embodiments, the first tine segment comprises an upper tine segment and the second tine segment comprises a lower tine segment. The axial cavity may extend between first and second openings, receiving the end of the second tine segment in the first opening and a third tine segment in the second opening.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harrow tine adaptor for receiving and selectively retaining a tine segment, the harrow tine adaptor comprising:
According to a third broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harrow tine assembly comprising:
In some exemplary embodiments of the third aspect, the assembly further comprises an upper transverse channel in a surface of the upper tine segment, an upper transverse passage through the connector, and an upper cross member retained within the upper transverse passage and engaging the upper transverse channel, such that the upper tine segment and the connector are non-rotatably engaged. The lower end of the upper tine segment and the upper end of the lower tine segment preferably abut within the axial cavity, and the assembly preferably further comprises an axial gap extending from an outer surface into the axial cavity.
According to a fourth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harrow tine assembly comprising:
In exemplary embodiments of the fourth aspect, the assembly further comprises an upper recess in a surface of the upper tine segment spaced from the lower end, an upper passage extending from the outer surface of the connector into the axial cavity beside the upper recess, and an upper cross member retained within the upper passage and engaging the upper recess.
According to a fifth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harrow tine assembly comprising:
a tine tip comprising:
an upper tine segment comprising a lower end, the lower end comprising a transverse channel in a surface thereof, the lower end received within the axial cavity such that the transverse channel aligns with the transverse passage; and
a cross member selectively retained within the transverse passage and engaging the transverse channel, such that the upper tine segment and the tine tip are non-rotatably connected;
such that removal of the cross member from the transverse passage allows removal of the lower end from the axial cavity.
In some exemplary embodiments of the fifth aspect, the tine tip comprises a wear-resistant leading surface, which may for non-limiting example comprise a wear-resistant member attached to a leading face of the tine tip. In some exemplary embodiments, a downwardly-facing surface of the tine tip is wear resistant, and the downwardly-facing surface may comprise a wear-resistant member.
In some embodiments the tine tip further comprises an axial gap extending from an outer surface into the axial cavity, such that closing the axial gap securely retains the lower end of the upper tine segment in the axial cavity. Where such an axial gap is present, some embodiments comprise the transverse passage extending across the axial gap and the cross member is a bolt threadably received in the transverse passage, such that tightening the bolt closes the axial gap.
According to a sixth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harrow tine assembly comprising:
a tine tip comprising:
an upper tine segment comprising:
a locking cross member selectively retained within each transverse passage; and
a tightening cross member selectively retained within each gap-spanning passage;
the locking cross member releasably and non-rotatably connecting the upper tine segment and the tine tip; and
the tightening cross member for selectively closing the axial gap to securely retain the lower end of the upper tine segment in the axial cavity.
In some exemplary embodiments of the sixth aspect, the tine tip comprises a wear-resistant leading surface, which may for non-limiting example comprise a wear-resistant member attached to a leading face of the tine tip. In some exemplary embodiments, a downwardly-facing surface of the tine tip is wear resistant, and the downwardly-facing surface may comprise a wear-resistant member.
The tightening cross member may be a bolt threadably received in the gap-spanning passage.
According to a seventh broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable harrow tine tip for use with a harrow tine segment, the harrow tine segment having a lower end with a surface comprising a transverse channel, the tip comprising:
an axial cavity;
a transverse passage impinging on the axial cavity; and
a cross member selectively receivable within the transverse passage;
the axial cavity configured for receipt of the lower end such that the transverse channel aligns with the transverse passage; and
the cross member configured to engage the transverse channel when received within the transverse passage;
such that the upper tine segment and the tine tip are non-rotatably connected when the lower end is received within the axial cavity and the cross member is received within the transverse passage to engage the transverse channel; and
such that removal of the cross member from the transverse passage allows removal of the lower end from the axial cavity.
In some exemplary embodiments of the seventh aspect, the harrow tine tip comprises a wear-resistant leading surface, which may for non-limiting example comprise a wear-resistant member attached to a leading face of the harrow tine tip. In some exemplary embodiments, a downwardly-facing surface of the harrow tine tip is wear resistant, and the downwardly-facing surface may comprise a wear-resistant member.
In some embodiments the harrow tine tip further comprises an axial gap extending from an outer surface into the axial cavity, such that closing the axial gap securely retains the lower end of the upper tine segment in the axial cavity. Where such an axial gap is present, some embodiments comprise the transverse passage extending across the axial gap and the cross member is a bolt threadably receivable in the transverse passage, such that tightening the bolt closes the axial gap.
According to an eighth broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a harrow tine assembly comprising:
A detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is given in the following. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be construed as being limited to these embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are directed to a particular application of the present invention, while it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention has applicability beyond the exemplary embodiments set forth herein.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. The following description of examples of the technology is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form of any exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
The present invention is directed to quick-change harrow tine assemblies incorporating non-rotation features, so that worn or damaged tines or tine segments can be replaced, but are also prevented from rotating so that hard facing or highly durable wear plates remain pointed in the direction of travel. As stated above, the present invention may have application with single-tine or tine pair configurations.
Turning to
The upper tine segment 12 would be connected at its upper end to a coil segment of a tine unit (see
The connector 16 is provided with beveled top and bottom surfaces 26, 28. It is believed that these beveled surfaces may help to avoid accumulation or bunching of straw or other materials on the harrow tines. While the connector could be made from any material deemed suitable by a skilled person, it is preferably composed of a durable cast material.
The connector 16 is also provided with an axial cavity 30 extending throughout the connector 16, sized for receipt of both the lower end 18 of the upper tine segment 12 and the upper end 20 of the lower tine segment 14. Although
The connector 16 is also provided with two transverse passages 32a,b, which are sized and configured for receipt of the two cross members 34a,b, which in the illustrated embodiment are threaded bolts. The passages 32a,b pass through the connector 16, such that when the tine segments 12, 14 are inserted in the axial cavity 30 the cross members 34a,b pass through one side of the connector 16 (via the passages 32a,b), through the channel 22, 24 and through the other side of the connector 16 (via the passages 32a,b). This can best be seen in
The cross members 34a,b are threaded bolts in the illustrated embodiment, with threading 38 on the bolts corresponding to threading 40a,b on the inside surfaces of the passages 32a,b. Alternatively, where threading 40a,b is shown the cast steel part could also be countersunk in a hexagon form to permit a hexagon thread nut to be used to secure the cross member 34a,b.
To assemble the assembly 10, the connector 16 is pressed onto the lower end 18 of the upper tine segment 12, until the passage 32b lines up with the channel 24 in the segment 12. The cross member 34b can then be threaded into the passage 32b. As can be seen in the Figures, the cross member 34b will be generally flush with the surface of the connector 16 when fully inserted, again helping to avoid accumulation or bunching of materials around the connector 16. The lower tine segment 14 can then be inserted into the axial cavity 30, until the passage 32a lines up with the channel 22 in the segment 14, and then the cross member 34a can be threaded into the passage 32a.
Alternatively, the lower tine segment 14 can be connected to the connector 16 first, and then the connector 16 connected to the upper tine segment 12.
The connector 16 (shown in
The assembly 10 can be installed on a harrow implement and used in a conventional manner. In the event that the lower tine segment 14 is subject of damage or significant wear, one possible utility of the illustrated embodiment becomes clear. The cross member 34a can be unthreaded from the passage 32a, which releases the lower tine segment 14 and allows its removal from the axial cavity 30. In the event that the connector 16 itself becomes damaged or worn, it too can be removed by unthreading the cross member 34b from the passage 32b and pulling the connector 16 off of the lower end 18 of the upper tine segment 12. In the event that one of the two upper coil segments (which are illustrated in another embodiment in
While the above-described embodiment can be useful for quickly changing a lower tine segment that is subject of damage or wear, the above-described embodiment also provides desirable non-rotation functionality. As can clearly be seen, when assembled the cross members 34a,b pass through the connector 16 and engage the segments 12, 14, thus securing the segments 12, 14 and the connector 16 in a non-rotatable arrangement. This presents a significant advantage in that many modern tine pairs are increasingly being provided with wear members such as tungsten carbide plates directed in the direction of travel so as to be the leading face of the tine. The anti-rotation features of the exemplary embodiment thus can help ensure that such a wear member remains the leading face of the tine during use.
Moving to
With the upper tine segment 52 welded (or otherwise connected) to the connector 54, the lower tine segment 14 can be inserted into the axial cavity 30. The modified connector 54 is provided with only a single transverse passage 32a, and the segment 14 would be inserted until the channel 22 of the segment 14 aligns with the passage 32a. The cross member 34a can then be threaded into the passage 32a comprising threading 40 (shown in
As was the case with the first embodiment, the embodiment of
The tine assembly 100 is shown mounted on a harrow pipe 106, the coil 104 of the assembly 100 wrapped around and secured to the pipe 106 in a conventional manner. The coil 104 is continued at opposite ends as tines 102a,b. Each tine 102a,b comprises an upper tine segment 108a,b and a lower tine segment 110a,b, the upper tine segment 108a,b connected to the lower tine segment 110a,b by means of a connector 112a,b.
While the connector 112a,b could be made from any material deemed suitable by a skilled person, it is preferably composed of stainless steel or cold drawn seamless mechanical. The connector 112a,b comprises an axial cavity 130a,b. The upper tine segment 108a,b comprises a lower end 114a,b sized and configured for insertion into the upper part of the axial cavity 130a,b, and the lower tine segment 110a,b comprises an upper end 118a,b sized and configured for insertion into the lower part of the axial cavity 130a,b. The upper and lower ends 118a,b and 114a,b are in facial contact when inserted into the axial cavity 130a,b, as described below.
The lower end 114a,b of the upper tine segment 108a,b is provided with a downwardly directed engagement face 116a,b. The engagement face 116a,b is angled off of normal, and while any off-normal angle may have utility (for non-limiting example between 10 and 80 degrees off the tine long axis) the engagement face 116a,b is preferably but not necessarily disposed at 45 degrees off the tine long axis. Correspondingly, the upper end 118a,b of the lower tine segment 110a,b is provided with an upwardly directed engagement face 120a,b, the engagement face 120a,b angled off of normal, preferably but not necessarily disposed at 45 degrees off the tine long axis, but in any event it must be an angle corresponding to the angle of the engagement face 116a,b. In this way, bringing the upper and lower ends 118a,b and 114a,b together inside the axial cavity 130a,b allows the two engagement faces 116a,b and 120a,b to connect and facially engage. This angled facial engagement of the upper and lower tine segments 108a,b and 110a,b is intended to prevent the lower tine segments 110a,b from turning or twisting, which would impair the proper function of the front-facing wear members, as described below.
The connector 112a,b has beveled upper and lower surfaces 126a,b and 128a,b, providing the benefits noted above with respect to the embodiments of
When the upper and lower tine segments 108a,b and 110a,b are fully inserted into the axial cavity 130a,b so that their terminal ends are in facial engagement, the cross member 138 is aligned to contact the upper tine segment 108a,b and the cross member 136 is aligned to contact the lower tine segment 110a,b.
However, the cross members 136, 138 are not intended to merely contact an outer surface of the upper and lower tine segments 108a,b and 110a,b in the illustrated embodiment. Instead, the upper and lower tine segments 108a,b and 110a,b are provided with shallow threaded recesses 124a,b and 122a,b, sized and configured to receive the ends of the cross members 136, 138 when the cross members 136, 138 are fully threaded into the passages 132a,b and 134a,b.
As can therefore be seen, the cross members 136, 138 secure the upper and lower tine segments 108a,b and 110a,b within the connector 112a,b when threaded into the passages 132a,b and 134a,b and the recesses 122a,b and 124a,b. In addition, when secured in this way, the angled facial connection of the engagement faces 116a,b and 120a,b prevents the upper and lower tine segments 108a,b and 110a,b from rotating relative to each other or the connector 112a,b.
The lower tine segments 110a,b are provided with lower ends 148a,b. The lower ends 148a,b may be provided with hard facing or tungsten carbide plating, as discussed above, although this is not shown since
To assemble the assembly 100, the connector 112a,b is pressed onto the lower end 114a,b of the upper tine segment 108a,b, until the passage 134a,b lines up with the recess 124a,b in the segment 108a,b. The cross member 138 can then be threaded into the passage 134a,b and into the recess 124a,b. As can be seen in
The assembly 100 can be installed on a harrow implement and used in a conventional manner. In the event that the lower tine segment 110a,b is subject of damage or significant wear, the cross member 136 can be unthreaded from the recess 122a,b and the passage 132a,b, which releases the lower tine segment 110a,b and allows its removal from the axial cavity 130a,b. In the event that the connector 112a,b itself becomes damaged or worn, it too can be removed by unthreading the cross member 138 from the recess 122a,b and the passage 134a,b and pulling the connector 112a,b off of the lower end 114a,b of the upper tine segment 108a,b. Appropriate replacement can then be undertaken and the implement put back into operation. Also, as stated above, if one of the two upper coil segments (shown in
While the embodiments of
Turning to
The tine tip 210 comprises an upper end 212 and a lower end 214, and in the illustrated embodiment extends axially between the upper and lower ends 212, 214. The tine tip 210 is intended to be connected to a tine segment 226, which segment 226 may be part of a single tine assembly or a tine pair.
The tine segment 226 terminates at a lower end 228, which will be received in the tine tip 210 as described below. The tine segment 226 is provided with a transverse channel 230 extending across the lower end 228 of the tine segment 226. While the transverse channel 230 is shown as being perpendicular to the long axis of the tine segment 226, the channel 230 could be at another angle, for one non-limiting example 45 degrees off of the long axis. The channel 230 is configured for threaded or slip-fit receipt of a corresponding bolt or pin, as described below.
Turning to
The tine tip 210 is also provided with two transverse passages—a locking transverse passage 220 (which can also be used for tightening where the bolt is threaded) and a tightening transverse passage 222, which can be seen in section in
In assembling the tine assembly, the lower end 228 of the upper tine segment 226 would be inserted into the axial cavity 216 at the upper end 212 of the tine tip 210. When the lower end 228 abuts the bottom 218 of the axial cavity 216, the tine tip 210 would be rotated relative to the upper tine segment 226 until the transverse channel 230 aligns with the passage 220. In so doing, the cylindrical passage 220 would remain unobstructed by the lower end 228, and the bolt 224 can then be inserted into the passage 220. With the bolt 224 threadably inserted into the passage 220, the bolt 224 is also in slip-fit engagement with the transverse channel 230 on the lower end 228 of the upper tine segment 226. With the bolt 224 in the passage 220 and engaging the channel 230, the lower end 228 of the upper tine segment 226 is locked within the axial cavity 216 and cannot be removed. Also, the bolt 224 ensures that the lower end 228 of the upper tine segment 226 cannot be rotated within the axial cavity 216. The lower end 228 of the upper tine segment 226 is thus axially and rotationally locked within the axial cavity 216.
It will be clear that while only one transverse passage 220 and corresponding bolt 224 is illustrated, more than one such passage can be incorporated into embodiments of the present invention.
As can be seen in
It will be clear that while only one transverse passage 222 and corresponding bolt 224 is illustrated, more than one such passage can be incorporated into embodiments of the present invention.
The embodiment of
Turning now to
The tine tip 250 comprises an internal, cylindrical axial cavity 256 extending from an upper end 252 approximately halfway through the tine tip 250 to terminate at a bottom surface 258. The tine tip 250 is intended to be connected to a tine segment, as described above with respect to the embodiment of the tine tip 210. The axial cavity 256 is sized and configured for receipt of the lower end of the upper tine segment.
The tine tip 250 is also provided with a single transverse passage 260—this is a locking passage akin to the locking transverse passage 220 described above. The locking transverse passage 260 extends through the body of the tine tip 250 and impinges on the axial cavity 256, and in doing so creates a three-dimensional area where the axial cavity 256 and the transverse passage 260 overlap. This overlap area provides the means for locking the lower end of the upper tine segment within the axial cavity 256.
While not shown, a cross member such as a bolt or roll pin is intended to be received within the transverse passage 260.
Akin to the preceding embodiment described above, the lower end of the upper tine segment would be inserted into the axial cavity 256 at the upper end 252 of the tine tip 250. When the lower end abuts the bottom 258 of the axial cavity 256, the tine tip 250 would be rotated relative to the upper tine segment until the transverse channel of the lower end aligns with the passage 260. The cylindrical passage 260 thus remains unobstructed by the lower end, and a bolt or roll pin can then be inserted into the passage 260. The lower end of the upper tine segment is therefore locked within the axial cavity 256, and the bolt or roll pin ensures that the lower end of the upper tine segment cannot be rotated within the axial cavity 256. The lower end of the upper tine segment is thus axially and rotationally locked within the axial cavity 256. It will be clear that while only one transverse passage 260 is illustrated, more than one such passage can be incorporated into embodiments of the present invention.
This embodiment also shows the presence of a wear-resistant attachment. Specifically, the tine tip 250 comprises a leading face or surface 272 which is directed in the intended direction of travel of the implement. The leading surface 272 is provided with a wear-resistant member 274, which is preferably but not necessarily composed of tungsten carbide. Because of the anti-rotation functionality as described above, the tine tip 250 will thus remain in the desired position with the wear-resistant member 274 pointed in the direction of travel.
Turning to
The tine tip 280 comprises three transverse passages 290. These are locking passages, and they are intended to receive cross members such as bolts or roll pins (not shown). Unlike the embodiments described above, however, the areas of overlap between the axial cavity 286 and each of the passages 290 are relatively small, with only a small encroachment or impingement. The passages 290 are, though, configured to allow the cross members to press against the sides of a tine segment lower end when inserted into the axial cavity 286.
In a further distinguishing feature when compared to the other embodiments described above, this embodiment comprises a sloped bottom 288 to the axial cavity 286, sloping rearwardly and downwardly toward a drainage port 310. In this manner, any fluids or contaminants that enter the axial cavity 286 at the upper end 282 of the tip 280 can proceed downwardly and drain through the port 310.
The embodiment also shows the presence of wear-resistant attachments. The tine tip 280 comprises a leading face or surface 302 which is directed in the intended direction of travel of the implement, and a bottom at the lower end 284 of the tip 280. The leading surface 302 is provided with a wear-resistant member 304, which is preferably but not necessarily composed of tungsten carbide. The bottom of the lower end 284 of the tip 280 is also provided with a wear-resistant member 306, which is preferably but not necessarily composed of tungsten carbide. Because of the anti-rotation functionality as described above, the tine tip 280 will remain in the desired position with the wear-resistant member 304 pointed in the direction of travel.
Turning now to
The connector 416 (shown in detail in
The connector 416 also comprises an axial gap 436, akin to axial gaps described above. While not shown, tightening cross members can be used in the other illustrated transverse passages (shown in
At the lower end of the lower tine segment 414 (see
When the lower end is inserted into the axial cavity 444 and rotated such that the transverse channel 442 aligns with the transverse passage 448, the cross member 446 can be inserted or threaded into the transverse passage 448 to lock the lower end of the lower tine segment 414 to the tine tip 440. While a roll pin is illustrated as being the cross member 446, a threaded bolt may be preferred for robustness.
In addition, a leading face of the tine tip 440 can be provided with a tungsten carbide member 450.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims:
Words that indicate directions such as “vertical”, “transverse”, “horizontal”, “upward”, “downward”, “forward”, “backward”, “inward”, “outward”, “vertical”, “transverse”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, “top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “under”, and the like, used in this description and any accompanying claims (where present) depend on the specific orientation of the apparatus described and illustrated. The subject matter described herein may assume various alternative orientations. Accordingly, these directional terms are not strictly defined and should not be interpreted narrowly.
Where a component (e.g. a circuit, module, assembly, device, etc.) is referred to herein, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a “means”) should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Specific examples of methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to contexts other than the exemplary contexts described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled person, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and/or acts with equivalent features, elements and/or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and/or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and/or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and/or acts of other technology; and/or omitting combining features, elements and/or acts from described embodiments.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments set forth in the foregoing, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the specification as a whole.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2016/000109 | 4/13/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62257947 | Nov 2015 | US |
