The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 2020
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2018
Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, Beatrice, NE (US);
Clark S. Papke, Cortland, NE (US);
Stanton L. Mapson, Lincoln, NE (US);
Alex W. Buhr, Filley, NE (US);
Justin L. Pryor, Beatrice, NE (US);
Daniel G. Jameson, Roca, NE (US);
Sang Pheng, Lincoln, NE (US);
Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, Beatrice, NE (US);
Abstract
A soil penetrating apparatus having an automatic tool (e.g., aerator tine) depth control system and method. The system includes an actuator that sets and controls tine depth, a sensor that monitors tine depth, and a controller that controls the actuator in response to the sensor. In some embodiments, the actuator is a hydraulic actuator, wherein once tine depth is set, flow to the actuator is bypassed. A relief may be provided to allow the tines to lift to a shallower depth temporarily when soil hardness exceeds a threshold. The system may then automatically return the tines to the pre-selected depth once soil conditions permit.