Over the years manufactures and farmers have skewed the definition of chisel plows.  That right there is more of a ripper.  We demoed one to break up a grass bottom.  Worked great.  Chisel plows came out in the 30s and 40s and was a product of the dust bowl.  The first ones we had were lever lift Graham-Hoemes.  The common practice was to use them with sweeps to kill the weeds but leave the stubble on top for erosion control. 

http://www.asabe.org/awards-landmarks/asabe-historic-landmarks/graham-hoeme-chisel-plow-38.aspx

https://www.google.com/search?q=graham+hoeme+plow&biw=1366&bih=622&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi5rYqS7LjLAhUC-mMKHclrBy4Q_AUIBigB