US 11,751,495 B2
Tillage implement with preload assembly
Andrew B. Huber, McPherson, KS (US); and Craig A. Reed, Salina, KS (US)
Assigned to Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., Salina, KS (US)
Filed by Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., Salina, KS (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/106,405.
Prior Publication US 2022/0167542 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. A01B 61/04 (2006.01); A01B 35/28 (2006.01); A01B 63/26 (2006.01); A01B 15/16 (2006.01)
CPC A01B 61/046 (2013.01) [A01B 35/28 (2013.01); A01B 63/26 (2013.01); A01B 15/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tillage implement comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to be removably coupled to a rolling frame;
a shank pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket via a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly including a rotation inhibiting assembly biasing the shank toward an unloaded position relative to the mounting bracket;
a soil working tool operatively coupled to a distal end of the shank; and
a preload assembly for moving the shank to a loaded position that is rotationally offset from the unloaded position,
wherein the preload assembly comprises (i) a fastener that extends between the shank and the mounting bracket, and (ii) a hollow tube that surrounds a portion of the fastener,
wherein the fastener is configured to be actuated to move the shank with respect to the mounting bracket and to impart a load on the rotation inhibiting assembly, wherein the tube is configured to act as a stop when actuating the fastener such that when a lower end of the tube is firmly seated against a bushing proximate a head of the fastener and an upper end of the tube is firmly seated against the mounting bracket, the rotation inhibiting assembly is loaded to an operating load,
wherein when the rotation inhibiting assembly is loaded to the operating load, the shank is positioned in the loaded position.