The present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus which can realize so-called sequential substrate transfer and can improve throughput, even when one multi-layered thin film includes plural layers of the same film type. A manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transfer chamber, three sputtering deposition chambers each including one sputtering cathode, two sputtering deposition chambers each including two or more sputtering cathodes, and a process chamber for performing a process other than sputtering, and the three sputtering deposition chambers, the two sputtering deposition chambers, and the process chamber are arranged around the transfer chamber so that each is able to perform delivery and receipt of the substrate with the transfer chamber.

The present liquid sample measuring device comprises a device body on which a biosensor is detachably mounted, a liquid biological sample being dispensed in drops on the biosensor; a measuring section that measures bioinformation from the liquid biological sample; a motion measuring section that measures motion information of the device body; a motion assessment section that assesses the degree of motion of the device body on the basis of the motion information of the device body measured by the motion measuring section; and a measurement controller that adjusts the measurement time for measuring the bioinformation on the basis of the assessment result of the motion assessment section.

The present disclosure relates to an electrode strip, a sensor strip, a system thereof and a manufacturing method thereof. The sensor strip includes a first reactive film, a second reactive film and a vent hole. The first reactive film includes a substrate, a first electrode layer and a first insulation layer. The first end of the first insulation layer is concaved to a first depth to form a first reactive area. The second reactive film includes a second electrode layer and a second insulation layer. The first end of the second insulation layer is concaved to a second depth to form a second reactive area. The vent hole penetrates the second insulation layer, the second electrode layer and the first insulation layer so as to connect the first reactive area and the second reactive area.

A method of forming a 3-phenylimino-3H-phenothiazine or a 3-phenylimino-3H-phenoxazine mediator includes providing a first reactant including phenothiazine or phenoxazine, providing a first solvent, providing a second reactant and providing a second solvent. The first reactant, first solvent, second reactant and second solvent are combined to form a reactants solution. Sodium persulfate is added to the reactants solution to couple the first and second reactants resulting in a reaction solution including the 3-phenylimino-3H-phenothiazine or the 3-phenylimino-3H-phenoxazine mediator.

In a gas sensor sensing a specific gas component contained in gas to be measured, oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte is used in a sensing element for sensing the specific gas component. A terminal unit is used, which comprises a pair of insulators, each having an inner side surface, disposed to pinch and hold the base end portion of the sensing element on the pair of electrode-mounted surfaces of the sensing element. The terminal unit comprises two pairs of metal terminals and a spring member. The metal terminals electrically contact electrode pads of the sensing element, pair by pair, respectively, and are disposed on the inner side surfaces of the insulators. The spring members press the pair of insulators at one or more positions of electrode-mounted surfaces of the sensing element in a width direction so that the insulators are pressed to be opposed to each other.

The present invention provides a device that decreases deformation during manufacturing of the device, provides a firm joint without use of an adhesive, and allows chemical modification of a channel during manufacturing of the device. The device includes two joined substrates, and a concavity is formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the two substrates so as to make a channel, where the two substrates are joined together by a covalent bond via a crosslinking agent (A), and the crosslinking agent (A) is exposed on an inner wall surface of the channel.

The present invention provides a method for fabricating a working electrode. The method comprises the following steps: providing a photoelectrode, which comprises a conductive substrate with a semiconductor material; providing a dye solution, which comprises a dye dissolved in a solvent; and applying a voltage for conducting an electrophoresis to adsorb said dye onto a surface of said semiconductor material. The method of present invention makes the dye adsorbed fast to a surface of a semiconductor material by electrophoresis, and therefore, significantly reduces the time for fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell.

A metal material is provided with a bismuth coating which enables the subsequent coating to be accomplished at a high throwing power, and has excellent corrosion resistance, coating adhesion and is able to be produced with reduced damage to the environment. The metal material has a surface and a bismuth-containing layer deposited on at least a part of the surface of the metal material, wherein the percentage of bismuth atoms in the number of atoms in the surface layer of the metal material with a bismuth coating is at least 10%.

A well, in particular an open well (14) with an upper end having a vertical axis (101), for containing a liquid and particles contained within said liquid, characterized by comprising at least two manipulation electrodes (1, 2, 3, 31, 32, 36, 17, 40, 41) able to be powered by electrical voltages, in particular alternating electrical voltages, so as to manoeuvre particles within the well by means of the dielectrophoretic effect. A platform comprising a plurality of wells as described above and a method for using said well.

The invention concerns an electrostatic coalescing device that includes a vessel or a pipe through which a mixture of fluids flows. At least one metal electrode plate and transformer are arranged inside the pipe/vessel. The electrode plate and transformer are fully enclosed by insulation, and the transformer is energized from an external alternating low voltage source/power supply located outside the vessel/pipe. The transformer includes a first end of a high voltage winding connected electrically to the metal plate within the insulation.

Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods for producing a halide of a non-alkali metal and for electrorefining the halide. The systems typically involve an electrochemical cell having a cathode structure configured for dissolving a hydrogen halide that forms the halide into a molten salt of the halogen and an alkali metal. Typically a direct current voltage is applied across the cathode and an anode that is fabricated with the non-alkali metal such that the halide of the non-alkali metal is formed adjacent the anode. Electrorefining cells and methods involve applying a direct current voltage across the anode where the halide of the non-alkali metal is formed and the cathode where the non-alkali metal is electro-deposited. In a representative embodiment the halogen is chlorine, the alkali metal is lithium and the non-alkali metal is uranium.

A sputtering target including a sintered body including In, Ga and Mg, the sintered body including one or more compounds selected from a compound represented by In2O3, a compound represented by In(GaMg)O4, a compound represented by Ga2MgO4 and a compound represented by In2MgO4, andhaving an atomic ratio In/(In+Ga+Mg) of 0.5 or more and 0.9999 or less and an atomic ratio (Ga+Mg)/(In+Ga+Mg) of 0.0001 or more and 0.5 or less.

A biological sample measuring device including a mounting portion to which a biological sample measuring sensor is mounted, a voltage application section that applies voltage to a counter electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor mounted to the mounting portion, amplifiers that are selectively connected to a working electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor, and a determination section that is connected to these amplifiers. The determination section has a threshold determination section that determines a voltage value obtained by voltage conversion of the current value of the working electrode, a same determination section that selectively connects the amplifiers to the working electrode depending on the determination of the threshold determination section, and identifies the sample deposited on the biological sample measuring sensor from the output of the selected amplifier, and an output section that outputs a measurement value corresponding to the identified sample.

A filtering film structure includes a film, a conductive layer and a dielectric layer. The film includes a plurality of holes. The conductive layer is disposed on the inner surface of the holes, and the dielectric layer is disposed on the conductive layer. When applying a voltage to the conductive layer, an electrical charge layer forms on the surface of the dielectric layer.

The invention relates to design of short oligonucleotides and analogs thereof (such as, di-, and trinucleotide compounds) useful for various therapeutic applications. It is believed that the compounds of the invention can be used as antiviral agents, anticancer agents and so on. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can modulate immune-stimulatory pathways and non-TLR pathways. The invention also relates to design modified oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, by excluding nucleotide segments having off-target effects from the modified oligonucleotides. In another aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of the invention. It is believed that the compounds and compositions as described herein have therapeutic utility against a variety of diseases, including viral diseases, autoimmune diseases (such as, allergy, asthma, and inflammatory disorders) and cancer.

An implement is disclosed for smoothing grounds that include at least a compact base having a top surface and a lesser compact footing on top of the base. The implement includes a frame having a front portion, a central portion, a rear portion, and a width. Wheels are mounted for rotation directly to the frame, and tools are carried by the frame for engagement with the ground. The tools include a specially shaped cleaving blade connected to the rear portion of the frame by a tool support, which securely connects the cleaving blade at predetermined heights. The blade has a front shaving edge and a rear compressing edge. The blade extends straight across the width of the frame so as to maximize the drag displaced on the frame during use of the blade. Arrangement of the wheels directly on the frame provides optimal stabilization of the frame during operation of the blade.

A tongue pulled spreader and grader system having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls and cross beams to define a frame portion, a plurality of moveable or fixed blades extending between the sidewalls, each blade positionable along the length of each sidewall and fixed in position at a predetermined angle; a tongue for mounting the frame to the rear of a vehicle; a pair of wheels positioned on an axle on either side of the sidewalls; means for manually or hydraulically extending the wheels to a down position to make contact with a surface in order to transport the spreader and grader and for retracting the wheels to an up position so that the spreader and grader can undertake the grading process. The spreader and grader can attach to and be operated by ATVs, SUVs, light trucks, lawn tractors, sub compact tractors, side by side ATVs and fork trucks.

A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. A plurality of target profiles extending along a path are determined, each corresponding to a cut location. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller is further configured to determine a lowest cost target profile and the lowest cost target profile defines an optimized cut location. A method is also provided.

A ripping mechanism for a vehicle has a support frame. A ripping member has an engagement head that is configured for plowing a groove in the ground. The ripping member is preferably positionable in a selected working position and working orientation by adjustment of the support frame. The ripping member is preferably movable relative to the support frame to cause reciprocating movement of the engagement head at least partially longitudinally. A tilt adjustment cylinder is preferably operable to orient the ripping member in the selected orientation. A vibrator mechanism is preferably operatively connected to the ripping member and activatable to cause reciprocating movement of the engagement head at least partially longitudinally.

Disclosed is a working machine which comprises: a lower propelling body; a support base; an equipment installation area; a pipe extending from the equipment installation area; a guard which covers the equipment installation area and has an opening for leading out the pipe therethrough; and a clamp configured to support the pipe and having a shape capable of closing up the opening. The clamp includes: at least one support element for supporting the pipe; a guide portion for guiding the at least one support element; and a pair of clamping members for clamping the at least one support element. One of the pair of clamping members has a shield plate portion having a shape capable of closing up a remaining region of the opening other than a region closed up by the at least one support element arranged.

In one embodiment, a turf aerator includes a frame having wheels, a variable displacement pump, an engine for driving at least one of the wheels and driving the pump, a tine assembly supported by the frame and being movable between lowered and raised configurations, and a swash-plate-adjustment linkage extending from the tine assembly to the pump. The tine assembly includes: a base; a hydraulic motor in hydraulic communication with the pump; rotatable cranks powered by the hydraulic motor; a downwardly-extending arm rotatably coupled to each crank; a tine extending downwardly from each downwardly-extending arm; springs operatively anchored to the base; and a guide arm extending between each downwardly-extending arm and a respective spring. The swash-plate-adjustment linkage automatically adjusts the pump with movement of the tine assembly relative to the frame to provide output to the hydraulic motor substantially only when the tine assembly is at the lowered configuration.

A towable soil pulverizer having a center section and foldable wings mounted by hinges on opposite sides of the center section to fold upwardly or downwardly about substantially longitudinal hinge axes. Each hinge has a spaced ball joint and guide roller in roller slot. A wing float axis for each wing extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal hinge axis in a transverse direction, each wing also being pivotal about the float axis. The hinge design with the float axis prevents weight transfer between the center section and wing sections when the pulverizer operates over uneven soil, providing uniform soil conditioning over the width of the pulverizer. The center section rollers are positioned ahead of, behind, or co-linear with the wing rollers. Lockout kits are provided for mounting in the roller guide slots for restricting motion.

A scraper assembly for removing mud and moist soil from the gauge wheels of an agricultural planter includes a support rod attached to a hub of a gauge wheel arm, a clamp structure attached to an end portion of the support rod, and a scraper blade attached to the clamp structure. An axis of the end portion of the support rod is approximately perpendicular to and intersects with an axis of rotation of the gauge wheel. The scraper blade is mounted approximately perpendicular to the outer surface of the gauge wheel and is angled approximately 45 degrees from the sides of the gauge wheel. The scraper blade has a curved profile along its length that substantially matches an outer profile of the outer surface of the gauge wheel when the scraper blade is properly adjusted.

A method to collect soil cores from a green comprises the steps of providing a soil core collector, extracting soil cores from a green, allowing the cores to dry for at least fifteen minutes, and utilizing the core collector to gather the cores from the green.

A mount assembly is provided that allows for interconnecting an implement (e.g., snow plow, rotary brush etc.) to the front end of a vehicle while permitting that implement to move laterally relative to the front end of the vehicle.

A ripper tip includes a front end, a rear end, and a mounting cavity extending into the rear end. The ripper tip further includes an upper surface extending between the front end and the rear end, wherein a portion of the upper surface at the rear end of the ripper tip includes an upwardly projecting ridge having ridge sides and a ridge top that extend rearwardly on the ripper tip.

A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises a wearable control device, and a corresponding receiver on the materials handling vehicle. The wearable control device is donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle, and comprises a wireless transmitter to be worn on the wrist of the operator and a travel control communicably coupled to the wireless transmitter. Actuation of the travel control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a first type signal designating a request to the vehicle. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter.

A machine includes a plurality of ground engaging elements and an operator control station supported on a frame. A work tool is pivotably attached to the frame using a lift arm assembly and a tilt linkage. At least one device measures a quantity associated with at least one of the lift arm assembly, the tilt linkage, and the work tool. An electronic controller, in communication with an operator display and the at least one device. The electronic controller is configured to store an operator selected orientation of the work tool, calculate a current orientation of the work tool based on the quantity, and calculate a deviation of the current orientation from the operator selected orientation. A visual representation of the deviation is displayed on the operator display.

An articulated cutting head and conveyor mount for sod harvesting machines. The invention provides a linkage design that can provide many benefits including: allowing the operator to see the cutting operation, enabling the high lifting of the cutting head for service and maneuvering, managing the vertical bending load of the ground reference roller, providing high transverse stiffness, maintaining the position of the conveyor relative to the cutting head. The linkage design can include fewer parts than previous designs while still being robust and durable. As such, cutting heads employing the linkage design of the present invention can produce higher quality slabs with less service and maintenance than when using current designs.

Some embodiments of a ground surface treatment system can include a flexible roller system having one or more of rollers arranged in a side-by-side position and include a flexible axle member extending through each row of rollers.

An agricultural system includes an agricultural row unit movable on a field between a first soil condition and a second soil condition, the first soil condition having a different soil hardness than the second soil condition. A down-pressure actuator applies an initial first pressure associated with the first soil condition. A soil-hardness sensing device is positioned at a distance D forward of the row unit and outputs a soil-hardness change signal when detecting a change from the first soil condition to the second soil condition. At least one memory device stores instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the down-pressure actuator to change, in response to receiving the soil-hardness change signal, the initial first pressure to a different second pressure when the row unit encounters the second soil condition.

The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a system and method for controlling a rotation angle of a blade of a motor grader having a front frame operatively coupled to a rear frame at a point defining an articulation angle between the front and rear frames. The control system includes at least one sensor operatively associated with the blade, at least one sensor operatively associated with a wheel, at least one sensor operatively associated with at least one of the front frame or the rear frame, and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensors. The controller is adapted to determine a current position of the blade, determine a wheel steering angle, determine an articulation angle, and control the rotation angle of the blade based in part on the wheel steering angle and the articulation angle.

A coulter assembly for an agricultural implement. The coulter assembly includes a support structure and a disc blade rotatably mounted to the support structure. The coulter assembly also includes a spring assembly coupled to the support structure and configured to urge the disc blade into soil. The spring assembly includes a variable rate spring.

A cleanup device having a first board having a first edge, a second board having a first edge, a first hinge attached to the first edge of the first board and the first edge of the second board, an aperture defined by a portion of the first edge of the first board and a portion of the first edge of the second board, a first plate slidably attached to the first board, wherein the first plate is movable from a first, open position where the aperture is open to a second, closed position where the first plate extends over at least a portion of the aperture, and wherein a top surface of the first board is movable towards a top surface of the second board to form a V-shaped surface for directing dirt or soil off of the first board and the second board.

An agricultural machine (101; 201; 301) comprising two mainly parallel, in the direction of travel, cross-running disc implement rows (102a, 102c; 202a, 202b; 304a, 304b), wherein the orientation of the disc implements (102b, 102d; 203a, 203b; 302a, 302b) contained in the mentioned disc implement rows is arranged so that the fore row (102a; 202a; 304a) has disc implements that are mounted on a frame beam (110; 211; 303) and that are angled outwards and backwards towards the sides of the machine and in a dividing line mainly parallel to the direction of travel of the machine form a first point of change (208a, 304c), and the rear row (102c, 202b; 304b) has disc implements (102d; 203b; 302b) that are mounted on a frame beam (110; 211; 303) and that are angled inwards and backwards from the sides of the machine and in the dividing line form a second point of change (208b, 304a), wherein the fore row is adapted to throw soil from the first point of change outwards towards the sides of the machine and the other row is adapted to throw soil from the sides of the machine inwards towards the second point of change. The dividing line with the first point of change (208a, 304c), and with the second point of change (208b, 304) is arranged at a predetermined distance from the centre line of the machine (101; 201; 301) across the direction of travel.

A front loader (10) for a tractor with a parking stand unit (28) including a parking support (30) pivotably mounted on the front loader arm (12). A locking brace (32) is pivotably seated at one end on the parking support (30) and is movably guided at the other end by a guidance means (50) formed on the locking brace (32) and at least one guide groove (48, 49) formed in the parking support (30). The guidance means (50) can be brought by pivoting the parking support (30) into the parking position (P3) into a locking position in which it comes to rest at a stop (66) formed in the guide groove (48, 49). The guidance means (50) can be pressed against the stop (66) and fixed in the locking position by a support force of the front loader arm (12) acting in the parking position (P3) on the locking brace (32).

A hand held material moving tool is disclosed. The material engaging implement has a material engaging portion adapted for movement of material. A handle is connected to a top surface of the tool. The handle is positioned low and in close proximity to the material engaging portion of the implement. The handle is connected to the tool by a swivel mechanism permitting a predetermined amount of pivot of the implement in relation to the handle about an axis.

A trailer includes a chassis having a hitch, an axle having a pair of tractive elements rotatably coupled to the chassis, an actuator coupled to the chassis and positioned to steer the pair of tractive elements, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit has an input for receiving a transmission gear of a tractor vehicle and a variable output for engaging the actuator. The processing circuit is configured to control the steering of the pair of tractive elements according to a control strategy that varies based on the transmission gear of the tractor vehicle.

A swing control apparatus and a swing control method for a construction machine are provided. The swing control apparatus includes a start position estimation unit, a stop target position calculation unit, and a swing motor position control unit. Even if an operator releases a lever or commands a stop at different times, an upper swing structure of the construction machine (for example, excavator) can be stopped within a predetermined range, and thus the inconvenience caused by an additional driving operation, which is required as the stop position differs according to the time point where the stop command starts, can be solved.

A turf cutter device, an infill extractor/collector device, and a turf wind-up device are used to facilitate the cost-effective removal of an infilled synthetic turf and the subsequent installation of a new turf at the same site, with minimal subsurface disruption. An infill extractor/collector device mounted on a motorized vehicle moves a relatively narrow strip of filled artificial turf from the surface, in front of the vehicle, and directs the strip to an infill removal station. The infill removal station inverts the strip and redirects the strip back toward the front of the vehicle, after agitating the strip to extract the infill. After redirecting the strip toward the front of the vehicle, the vehicle drives over the unfilled strip. Meanwhile, the extractor/collector device moves the extracted infill rearwardly to a bag located in a trailer. The turf cutter device is used prior to infill extraction, while the turf wind up device may be used before or after infill extraction, depending on whether infill extraction takes place at the field or at a remote site, respectively.

A toolbar transport system for extending and retracting a large agricultural toolbar. Forward and rearward folding segments of the toolbar allow the toolbar assembly to retract against the sides of the vehicle without interfering with the steering wheels. A forward-folding segment and rearward-folding segment of each lateral toolbar section connect to provide steering wheel clearance in the transfer position and an integrated lateral toolbar with regularly-spaced ground-engaging implements in the application position. Gauge wheel assemblies assist in the extension and deployment of the toolbar assembly.

An apparatus for servicing roadways includes a frame configured to be secured to a prime mover. The apparatus further includes a grinding drum rotatably supported upon the frame. The apparatus still further includes a driving system supported upon the frame and configured to rotationally drive the grinding drum.

A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a desired operating parameter and a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. The controller determines a plurality of target profiles corresponding to different cut locations. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller further determines an optimized target profile relative to the desired operating parameter and the optimized target profile defines an optimized cut location.

The invention concerns a drill bit, intended to be used with a down-the-hole drill and comprising a drill head (2) with a front surface provided with drill pins (3) and a shaft (4), whereby the shaft is narrower than the drill head and intended to be inserted in a manner that allows axial sliding into the end of a drill chuck that is a component of a down-the-hole drill and which shaft has a rear end part (6) that is somewhat thickened with a plane striking surface (7) against which a hammer piston (8) that is a component of the down-the-hole hammer drill is arranged to impact, that the drill head when viewed along its axial direction has a cylinder-shaped forward part (20) provided with cuttings channels (22), a rear cylinder-shaped part (21) that is located for the reception of drill cuttings at the same level or somewhat below the bottom (25) of the cuttings channels, whereby the diameter (D1) of the forward part is greater than the diameter (D2) of the rear part. In a drill bit that has high performance and a long useful life, and that is furthermore well-suited to be used for directed drilling, the cylinder-shaped forward part (20) of the drill head (2) has an axial length (L3) from the main plane of the front surface to a shoulder plane (26) located between the drill head (2) and the shaft (4) that is greater than the axial length (L4) of the cylinder-shaped rear part (21) of the drill head.

A brake control system and method for motor vehicles is provided with an electronic control unit, by which, when the motor vehicle is stationary, a parking brake function can be activated manually or automatically. Its deactivation occurs upon reaching a predefined release condition. In the presence of a release condition the brake pressure, which was built up for the parking brake function, is released in a time offset manner at least in relation to the axles of the vehicle by way of the control unit.

The present invention extends to a stacking mechanism having electrical actuators for stacking slabs of sod on a sod harvesting machine. The electrical actuators allow the stacking head to be driven in three axes. The stacking mechanism also includes position feedback sensors for reporting the position of the stacking head to enable precision when operating the stacking head at a fast rate. The stacking mechanism of the present invention also provides temporary pallet support wings to enable the continued stacking of slabs of sod on one pallet even while another pallet is being dropped from the sod harvesting machine.

A hitch on a vehicle is raised and lowered by a hydraulic actuator controlled by an electrically operated valve. A control system receives a command that indicates a designated velocity and uses the command to operate the valve. Based on a reference external force exerted on the hitch, the control system is configured with relationships for converting a plurality of command values to corresponding electric current levels for operating the valve. The control system compensates for effects due to differences between the actual force acting on the hitch and the reference external force. Velocity feedback adjusts the electric current level applied to the valve. The passive load force control provides a predictor of the hitch load force to eliminate overshoot/undershoot of hitch motion. During hitch motion, the velocity feedback also compensates for effects due to load and hitch geometry changes that occur.

An apparatus for extracting and collecting particulate infill from an infilled artificial turf field. A vehicle has a first forward end and a second rearward end. An infill extractor is located at the first end of the vehicle and adapted to extract infill from a strip of infilled athletic turf. Extracted infill falls into a bottom section of the infill extractor. An infill mover is secured to the vehicle and adapted to move the extracted infill from the bottom section of the infill extractor toward the second end of the vehicle. An infill collector is connected to the second end of the vehicle and operable to cooperate with the infill mover to collect the moved infill. The infill collector includes a frame that is laterally movable relative to the vehicle from an operative “in use” position to a stowed position.

A linkage arrangement (10) is provided for moveably connecting an attachment (6) to a work machine (8). The linkage arrangement (10) includes linkage group (12) having an upper arm (14) with a machine pivot point (20) for connecting to the work machine (8) and an attachment pivot point (22) for connecting to the attachment (6). The linkage group (12) further has a lower arm (16) with a machine pivot point (24) for connecting to the work machine (8) and an attachment pivot point (26) for connecting to the attachment (6). An actuator (30) extends between the upper and lower arms (14, 16), whereby during normal operation an increase in the length of the actuator (30) results in the attachment (6) being lowered relative to the work machine (8).

A method of making a tillage blade by obtaining a generally circular sheet metal steel disc having an outer peripheral edge. Waves are made in the outer peripheral edge of a circular steel disc in a predetermined pattern while the steel is cold. The outer peripheral edge is then sharpened at a predetermined acute angle with respect to a first plane by grinding. Then the disc is heat treated to make it harder so it will wear longer. If it is desired to have a concave/convex disc, instead of a coulter, then during the heat treating process the disc is deformed so that the sharpened portions of the peripheral edge remain generally in the first plane but a central portion of the disc is disposed at least partially in a second plane which is parallel to but spaced from the first plane.