Rotary tiller
A Rotary tiller is a motorised cultivator that works the soil by means of rotating blades. Rotary tillers are either self propelled or drawn behind a tractor where they are attached by means of a three-point hitch and driven by a Power Take-Off (PTO).
Small rotary tillers
A small rotary tiller known by the trademark rototiller and another, produced by the company Howard who produced a range of rotary tillers, was known as the rotovator.
The rototiller
Rotary tillers are popular with home gardeners who want large vegetable gardens. The garden may be tilled a few times before planting each crop. Rotary tillers may be rented for single-use applications, such as when planting grass.
The small rototiller is typically propelled weakly forward by the rotating tines and do not have powered wheels and they cannot move backwards because such movement can seriously mangle the operator's feet. A rototiller works best when sunk into the soil, but this prevents it from being propelled forward by the tines. Dragging the rototiller backwards is easier and more effective than pushing it forward, but care must be taken to ensure that the operator does not stumble and pull the rototiller on top of himself. Rototilling is much faster than manual tilling, but not easier. Rototiller operation is exhausting work that can require great strength. Sub-surface objects, such as tree roots and buried garbage, can cause a rototiller to abruptly and violently move in any direction.
The rotovator
Unlike the rototiller, the self propelled rotovator was equipped with a gearbox and driven forward by wheels which had the advantage that the rotation speed of the blades could be set higher than the forward speed of the machine.
Agricultural rotary tillers
Tractor-drawn rotary tillers are attached to a three point linkage and are driven by a power take off shaft. They are used for roadmaking and for cultivation between rows of vines etc.
These are also known as power tillers or walking tractors.
In Japan and some east Asian countries, rotary tillers for rice plants have been developed in a different way. They are used especially for rice plants in small ares of paddy fields or outskirts of mountain areas. They often mounts compact, yet sophisticated powerful diesel engines in a small body. Thus, this kinds of rotary tillers are still very useful today in stead of tractors.
Other Uses
Beginning in the 1970's or 1980's, hand operated rototillers were modified to clean the exterior of oilfield pipes. These pipes, either new or used, and in sizes that are just over 2 inches in diameter to 30 inches or larger, were used in the exploration, drilling and production of oil wells.
These modified tools replaced cleaning using hand tools, and were ultimately supplanted by machinery that cleaned entire pipe lengths within a few years.
The modification replaced the tines with wire brushes. The tool was used by a man walking the length of a pipe (typically 30 or 40 feet), which was rotated.
External Links
