AU1753300A

AU1753300A - Combined agricultural machine for working the soil and sowing

Info

Publication number: AU1753300A
Application number: AU17533/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michel Kirch
Original assignee: Kuhn SAS
Current assignee: Kuhn SAS
Priority date: 1999-02-19
Filing date: 2000-02-16
Publication date: 2000-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-16
Also published as: EP1029432A1; FR2789845A1; PL189826B1; DE60007464T2; AU761095B2; EP1029432B1; DE60007464D1; DK1029432T3; FR2789845B1; ATE256965T1; PL338175A1

Abstract

The combined seeding and earth working machine has earth working tools which are maintained in position when working by a reference element (10). The reference element has a support (11) connected to the chassis (2) of the machine. A seeding bar (20) is mounted on the chassis using a quadrilateral frame (30). A support (40) is attached to the seeding bar and rests against the support of the corresponding reference element, so that it limits the depth of seeding. It is arranged so that it can slide over a section (11a) of the reference element support.

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: KUHN S.A.

Actual Inventor(s): Michel KIRCH Address for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 711 High Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia Invention Title: COMBINED AGRICULTURAL MACHINE FOR WORKING THE SOIL AND SOWING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 15/02/00,al 1139.1011,1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION Combined agricultural machine for working the soil and sowing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to the overall technical field of agricultural machines intended for operations of working the soil and sowing. Such machines combining various tasks in a single pass over a lot of land are generally mounted on a tractor and comprise, for example, a pneumatic or mechanical feed drill and driven or stationary soil-working implements.

Discussion of the Background: It is known practice to produce a combined agricultural machine for working the soil and sowing, comprising: a frame intended to be attached to a tractor; at least one chassis connected to the said frame; soil-working implements mounted on the chassis, which are at least partially held in position by at least one reference member during work, the said reference member(s) being mounted on a corresponding bearing structure articulated to the respective chassis;

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at least one sowing bar connected to the said chassis by means of at least one connecting structure of the quadrilateral type; at least one support device connected to the said (each) sowing bar and intended to press against the bearing structure of the corresponding reference member so as to limit the sowing depth of the said sowing bar.

Such combinations often require numerous settings, particularly when the user is altering the reference member(s) in order to work the soil to a different depth. A single setting is then not enough to keep the same sowing depth and/or maintain the same orientation of the sowing bar(s) with respect to the soil. Furthermore, certain corrective adjustments to the position of the sowing bar(s) may result in this (these) sowing bar(s) no longer remaining approximately parallel to the soil. This may, in particular, prove troublesome when the combined machine, attached to the lift of a tractor, is lowered after a manoeuvre at the headland. The specific problem is that the sowing coulters, or more specifically the openings through which the seeds are expelled therefrom, carry the risk of becoming blocked, particularly by earth, if the said sowing coulters come into contact with the soil with an inappropriate inclination.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is therefore to attempt to produce a combined agricultural machine for working the soil and for sowing which does not exhibit the drawbacks of the state of the art, that is to say one in which the number of setting operations required when the work and/or sowing conditions change, is lower.

Another object of the present invention is to attempt to optimize the position and orientation of the sowing bar(s) and to do so for all possible settings of the combined agricultural machine.

The objects assigned to the present invention are achieved with the aid of one (or more) support device(s) connected to the said (each) sowing bar and designed so as to produce one (or more) support point(s) capable of sliding "along one (or more) portion(s) of the bearing structure of the reference member corresponding to the said sowing bar.

oooo BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter and made with reference to the appended drawings which are given by way of non-limiting example and in which: 3 Figure 1 depicts a part view from above of one embodiment of a combined agricultural machine according to the invention; Figure 2 depicts a side view of the combined agricultural machine of Figure 1, placed in a first work position; Figure 3 depicts a side view of the combined agricultural machine of Figure 1, placed in a second work position; Figure 4 depicts a side view of the combined o agricultural machine of Figures 1 to 3, with a sowing bar in a raised position; Figure 5 depicts, viewed from above, the combined •go.oi agricultural machine of Figures 1 to 4, placed in a folded transport position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a combined agricultural machine according to the invention. This machine includes a frame 1 provided with a three-point a-b-c hitch system which allows the combined agricultural machine to be attached to the lift of a tractor, not depicted. Yokes la, lb, Ic or other coupling devices may be provided. In what follows, the combined agricultural machine according to the invention and depicted in the figures is a folding two-part machine. The 4 present invention is not, however, restricted to this particular embodiment. A non-folding and/or rigid combined agricultural machine would not be departing from the scope of the present invention. The frame 1 is connected, via articulations, the axes of which are directed in the direction of forward travel A, to two chassis 2.

These two parts can, for example, be folded upwards for transport by road (Figure The folded position is obtained using hydraulic folding rams 3, each articulated between the frame 1 and the corresponding chassis 2.

Each chassis 2 is, on the one hand, provided with soil-working implements and, on the other hand, associated with a reference member 10 and with a sowing bar 20. The latter is connected to the corresponding chassis 2 using a 15 connecting structure 30. The combined agricultural machine according to the invention also includes at least one support device 40 allowing each sowing bar 20 to be positioned heightwise with respect to the corresponding -"reference member Figure 2 depicts, in a side view, the combined agricultural machine according to the invention in a first work position. Each chassis 2 consists of a rotary harrow beam and the working implements are rotary harrow implements 4 rotated about vertical axes. A box 5 mounted on the frame 1 allows the rotational movement from the tractor power take-off to be transmitted to each chassis 2. This 5 transmission is achieved using a respective transmission shaft 5a. Such drive means are known per se.

Each reference member 10, for example consisting of a press roller, is mounted on the corresponding chassis 2 by means of a bearing structure 11. The latter is articulated to the said chassis 2 with one articulation 12 located on each side of the reference member 10. The articulation 12 has an axis transverse to the direction of forward travel A.

It is this bearing structure 11 which supports the rotation axle 13 of the said reference member 10 and allows the position of the latter to be defined with respect to the corresponding chassis 2. For this purpose, the said chassis oo..

2 is provided with a stop means 14 against which the bearing structure 11 bears when the reference member 10 is running 15 along the ground. The stop means 14 can preferably be moved a.

Sto.

in the various positions and is made using any known means.

S-Thus, when the user lowers the combined agricultural machine using the tractor lift, each reference member defines the working depth hl, h 2 that is to say the penetration of the corresponding implements 4 into the soil.

An adjusting mechanism of this kind is already known.

The bearing structure 11 also includes an additional piece 15 comprising means for cleaning the reference member In the example depicted in the figures, this is a press roller scraper. The additional piece 15 is, for example, 6 fixed to the bearing structure 11 using any known means, for example screws Each sowing bar 20 consists of a crossmember 21 extending transversely to the direction of forward travel A. The crossmember 21 supports sowing coulters 22 which are connected by pipes 23 (depicted partially) to a distributor head 24 of a pneumatic seed drill. The distributor head 24 allows the seeds that are to be sown to be distributed in each corresponding pipe 23 and sowing coulter 22. The distributor head 24 is of course fed in the known way by a hose 25 communicating with a hopper (not depicted in the figures) mounted, for example, on a front lift of the tractor.

The distributor head 24 and the hose 25 are preferably 15 mounted or fixed on or to an additional frame 2a secured to the frame 1 using connecting arms 2b, 2c.

The pipes 23 are not depicted in their entirety in order not to make the figures needlessly more complicated. How many such pipes 23 there are depends on the number of sowing coulters 22 mounted on the crossmembers 21. The latter also serve to support a corresponding earthing-over harrow 26 intended to follow the sowing coulters 22. Appropriate means 27 for fitting and adjusting each earthing-over harrow 26 may also be provided. According to another embodiment of the combined agricultural machine according to the invention, 7 the pneumatic seed drill is replaced by a mechanical seed drill.

Each sowing bar 20 is connected to the corresponding chassis 2 by a connecting structure 30 which allows the said sowing bar 20 to move heightwise with respect to the said chassis 2 and with respect to the corresponding reference member Each connecting structure 30 consists of four link rods 31, 32, each pair forming a quadrilateral that can be deformed in a roughly vertical plane of extension directed *...roughly in the direction of forward travel A.

The link rods 31, 32 exhibit, by way of example, an imaginary (not depicted) point of convergence located a certain distance in front of the combined agricultural machine so as to form an instantaneous centre of rotation which is relatively distant from the sowing bar .Advantageously, this instantaneous centre of rotation is located near the surface of the soil, or better still, a

S..

certain distance below the surface of the soil.

Each crossmember 21 is extended upwards by at least two first uprights 28a to which the link rods 31, 32 are articulated by their respective rear end, using articulations 31a, 32a. The front ends of each link rod 31, 32 are, for their part, articulated to the corresponding chassis 2 or to a piece secured to the said chassis 2 using an articulation 31b, 32b. Advantageously, the upper link rod 8 31 may be produced using a length-adjustable tie rod so that the orientation of the corresponding sowing bar 20 with respect to the ground can possibly be altered. The path of the sowing bar 20 is determined by its connecting structure 30, in this particular instance a slightly convergent quadrilateral. Positioning the instantaneous centre of rotation away from the sowing bar 20 gives the latter a series of work positions for which the planes in which the sowing coulters 22 extend remain approximately parallel to 10 each other, that is to say approximately parallel to the surface of the soil.

According to the embodiment depicted in the figures, each :°oeo• connecting structure 30 has together two pairs of link rods 31, 32, the lower link rods 32 being connected together by 15 stiffening rods 33, 34. This gives the connection between ae the corresponding sowing bar 20 and the respective chassis 2 better stability.

The combined agricultural machine according to the

S.

invention also includes two support devices 40 connected to the corresponding sowing bar 20 and intended to rest against the bearing structure 11 of the respective reference member so as to limit the sowing depth p of the said sowing bar Each support device 40 is connected to its corresponding sowing bar 20 by a second upright 28b extending roughly upwards from the crossmember 21. The second uprights 28b, secured to the crossmember 21, are offset sideways with 9 respect to the first uprights 28a. In the example depicted, a second upright 28b extends near to each end of the corresponding crossmember 21.

Each support device 40 therefore consists of a second upright 28b secured to the corresponding sowing bar 20, a support arm 41 which, on the one hand, is articulated to the second upright 28b and, on the other hand, rests against the bearing structure 11 of the corresponding reference member and of a positioning means 42 articulated between the 10 support arm 41 and the second upright 28b. The support arm

S

41 is connected to the second upright 28b by an articulation 41b. The front positioning means, for its part, 42 is articulated to the second upright 28b with an articulation a 42b and to the support arm 41 with an articulation 42c. The 15 positioning means 42 is advantageously of adjustable and/or variable length.

The support arm 41 rests against the bearing structure 11 via its free end 41a. In the example depicted, this free end 41a is advantageously cranked. This cranked end 41a has, for oe e example, a roughly cylindrical shape and extends roughly horizontally and at right angles to the direction of forward travel A. The bearing structure 11, for its part, has a portion lla against which the cranked end 41a of the support arm 41 can slide. The cranked end 41a and the portion lla of the bearing structure 11 thus define a support point which can move along the said portion lla. The combined 10 agricultural machine depicted in the figures exhibits, as stated, a support device 40 near to each end of the corresponding crossmember 21. As this machine is a folding two-part machine, it therefore has four support devices The heightwise movement of the sowing bar 20 with respect to the corresponding reference member 10 is guided by the respective connecting structure 30 and the travel of such movement is defined or limited by the corresponding support device(s) 40. More specifically, it is the length of the positioning means 42 that determines the relative position of the corresponding sowing bar 20 with respect to the respective reference member 10. It is therefore the length of the positioning means 42 that determines the sowing depth p. The downwards (towards the ground) movement of the 15 quadrilateral formed by the link rods 31, 32 is stopped at a given height, which corresponds to the desired sowing depth p, by the triangle 28b-41-42 and the cranked end 41a of the o*oe support arms 41 bearing against the corresponding portions la of the bearing structure 11 of the corresponding reference member 10. It is the deformation of this triangle, that is to say the increase or reduction in the length of the positioning means 42 that allows the sowing depth p to be altered.

According to one embodiment according to the invention, the combined agricultural machine also includes a control means for raising and lowering one sowing bar 20 with 11 respect to the corresponding reference member 10. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the means 42 for positioning the (each) support device 40 consists of a hydraulic ram 42d for also producing the control means.

Using one (or more) such support device(s) 40, extending the hydraulic ram(s) 42d allows the corresponding sowing bar to be raised with respect to the respective reference member the support arms 41 each remaining against the corresponding portion la. The connecting structure 30, of the quadrilateral type, deforms upwards and guides this raising movement. Whereas in the various work positions, the planes in which the sowing coulters 22 extend remain approximately mutually parallel, it may be seen, in the final raised position (Figure that the sowing coulters 15 22 in the back row are somewhat further away from the ground than those of the front row. This is the result of the position of the instantaneous centre of rotation of the *o quadrilateral that forms the connecting structure 30. Each sowing bar 20 and the corresponding earthing-over harrow 26 S 20 thus exhibit a comfortable ground clearance. Retraction of the hydraulic rams 42d allows the corresponding sowing bar to be lowered again with respect to the respective reference member 10. The minimum length of the positioning means 42 therefore determines the sowing depth p and its maximum length determines the raised position of the said sowing bar 20 relative to the said reference member 12- Advantageously, each hydraulic ram 42d (positioning means 42) may have a length-adjustable rod 42a (Figures 3 and 4 in particular). In so far as the stroke of this hydraulic ram 42d remains constant, it is thus easy to alter the relative position of the corresponding sowing bar 20 with respect to the respective reference member 10 and therefore the sowing depth p. It may prove advantageous to raise the said sowing bar 20 with respect to the said reference member 10 during manoeuvres at the headland or for performing only an operation of working the soil (without sowing) using the combined agricultural machine according to the invention.

This may prove useful for special preparation of a seed bed.

The control means, in this instance the hydraulic rams 42d, are therefore incorporated into the corresponding support 15 devices Figure 3 depicts the agricultural machine according to the invention with a different setting of the working depth of the implements 4. Specifically, the stop means 14 has been removed upwards so as to allow the corresponding reference member 10 and bearing structure 11 to pivot slightly about the articulation 12. This results in greater penetration of the implements 4 into the ground, corresponding to a working depth h 2 of the said implements 4 when each bearing structure 11 comes to bear against the underneath of the corresponding stop means 14. With a setting of this kind, the cranked end 41a of each support 13 arm 41 is slid along the corresponding portion 1la during the pivoting of the bearing structure 11. This allows the said support arm 41 to fully enact its function and, above all, maintain the same sowing depth p for the sowing bar Each profiled portion Ila advantageously exhibits a bearing surface, the shape and/or inclination of which allows a corrective movement to be imparted precisely to the corresponding sowing bar 20 when the bearing structure 11 of the respective reference member 10 pivots. This corrective movement is obtained by virtue of the sliding of the cranked S end 41a of each support arm 41 along the corresponding portion 1la.

A modification to the setting of a reference member with respect to the corresponding chassis 2 therefore has no 15 impact on the sowing depth p. The shape and/or inclination of each portion 1la is determined in such a way that the corresponding crossmember 21, during work, is at a constant height with respect to the surface of the soil as detected by the respective reference member S 20 All these advantages are also obtained when the reference member 10 is replaced by another reference member. This is the case, for example, when the press roller is replaced by a press roller of a different diameter.

Incidentally, the movement of the sowing bar 20 with respect to the corresponding reference member 10 as a result of a height adjustment of the latter has practically no 14 effect, if any, on the parallelism between the plane in which the sowing coulters 22 extend and the ground, this being by virtue of the connecting structure 30 of the slightly converging quadrilateral type.

A quadrilateral of this type may also, according to another embodiment according to the invention, to be a parallelogram.

The combined agricultural machine according to the invention and as depicted in the figures therefore includes two sowing bars 20, the position of which is corrected automatically when the corresponding reference member 10 is moved heightwise. This is a considerable advantage to the user because it saves him an adjustment operation which is often tricky and time-consuming.

The combined agricultural machine according to the invention also has a retaining means llb preventing a cranked end 41a and the corresponding portion lla from moving apart. Without these retaining means llb a moving-apart of this kind would actually be possible with a S 20 combined agricultural machine as depicted in the figures, that is to say one made of two parts that could be folded vertically for transport by road. In the vertical position, the corresponding cranked ends 41a of one sowing bar retain the sowing bar and prevent any relative movement between the said sowing bar 20 and the corresponding chassis 2 (Figure This is because such movements would, during transport, generate knocking which, in the long-term, would be detrimental to the various articulations and to the stability of the combined agricultural machine according to the invention.

Figure 4 depicts the combined agricultural machine according to the invention with each sowing bar 20 in a raised position with respect to the corresponding reference member 10. The working depth of the implements 4 is determined by the reference members 10 when the tractor lift system (not depicted) is lowered to position the machine in its work position.

Each cranked end 41a, bearing on the corresponding ['"'"portion lla, is approximately in the same position with respect to the said portion ila as the one depicted in 15 Figure 2. Thus, extending the hydraulic rams 42d causes the connecting structure 30 of the respective sowing bar 20 to pivot in the direction F. The said sowing bar 20 is therefore brought upwards to clear the ground. When the hydraulic rams 42d have a length-adjustable rod 42a, the .oo..i S 20 orientation or inclination of the plane in which the sowing coulters 22 extend can be modified or corrected.

Raising each sowing bar 20 with respect to the corresponding reference member 10, as depicted in Figure 4, admittedly allows the user to perform manoeuvres at the headland, but also allows him to perform operations exclusively of working the soil.

16 What is more, such raising may be advantageous before vertically folding the two chassis 2 in so far as the bulk of the combined agricultural machine is reduced.

Figure 5 depicts the combined agricultural machine, in a transport position and viewed from above. The connecting arms 2c are each fitted with a mechanical buffer 2f against which one of the lower link rods 32 of the corresponding connecting structure 30 can bear when the chassis 2 is completely folded upwards for transport.

These mechanical buffers 2f prevent the sowing bars S'from pivoting towards each other and/or from knocking against the distributor head 24. The dimensions of these mechanical buffers 20 are chosen so that they best reduce oeeeo the possible movements and the ensuing prejudicial impacts :"15 of subassemblies consisting of a sowing bar 20, the corresponding bearing structure 11 and the respective e reference member go Aside from the advantages already mentioned, the combined agricultural machine according to the invention additionally oe 20 has the advantage of not transmitting to one sowing bar during work, the movements and jolts experienced by the corresponding chassis 2. The sowing depth p is therefore not affected by the movements and these jolts.

Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

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Claims

1. Combined agricultural machine for working the soil and sowing, comprising: a frame intended to be attached to a tractor; at least one chassis connected to the said frame; soil-working implements mounted on the chassis, which are at least partially held in position by at least one reference member during work, the said reference member(s) being mounted on a corresponding bearing structure 9 articulated to the respective chassis; at least one sowing bar connected to the said chassis by means of at least one connecting structure of the quadrilateral type; at least one support device connected to the said sowing bar and intended to press against the bearing Sstructure of the corresponding reference member so as to limit the sowing depth of the said sowing bar, characterized in that the support device(s) connected to the said (each) sowing bar is (are) designed so as to produce one (or more) support points capable of sliding along one (or more) portion(s) of the bearing structure of the reference member corresponding to the said sowing bar.

2. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim i, characterized in that the support point(s) is (are) able to 18 slide along one (or more) profiled portion(s) of the said bearing structure.

3. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said (each) sowing bar includes a support device on each side of its connecting structure.

4. Combined agricultural machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support device consists of an upright secured to the sowing bar, of a support arm which, on the one hand, is articulated to the said first upright and on the other hand bears against the S bearing structure of the corresponding reference member, and "of a positioning means which is articulated between the support arm and the upright. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 4, 15 characterized in that the positioning means is a length-adjustable tie rod.

6. Combined agricultural machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one control means used to raise and lower said (each) sowing S 20 bar with respect to the corresponding reference member.

7. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 6 taken in conjunction with Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the positioning means consists of a hydraulic ram to form the control means. 19

9. 9 9** 8. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 7, characterized in that the hydraulic ram has a length-adjustable rod. 9. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the support arm has a cranked end which bears against the bearing structure of the corresponding reference member. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the said bearing structure exhibits a retaining means which more or less prevents the cranked end and the bearing structure from parting.

11. Combined agricultural machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each connecting structure consists of at least two link rods forming a quadrilateral.

12. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 11, characterized in that each connecting structure consists of two pairs of link rods.

13. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the quadrilateral(s) converges (converge) towards a respective point of convergence located a certain distance in front of the machine.

14. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 13, characterized in that the point of convergence is also located near the surface of the soil that is to be worked, preferably somewhat below this soil surface. 9 9 0000 20 Combined agricultural machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it includes two parts which can be folded for transport by road.

16. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim characterized in that each part comprises a chassis, a reference member, a sowing bar and a hydraulic folding ram allowing the said part to be pivoted between a work position and a transport position.

17. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 16, characterized in that the hydraulic folding ram is articulated between the corresponding chassis and the frame intended to be attached to the tractor lift.

18. Combined agricultural machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the reference member(s) consists (consist) of a press roller extending transversely to the direction of forward travel.

19. Agricultural machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the soil-working implements and the chassis constitute a rotary harrow.

20. Combined agricultural machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it includes a hopper communicating with the sowing bar(s) via seed-conveying means.

21. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim characterized in that the hopper is intended to be mounted on the front lift of the tractor. a•D 21

22. Combined agricultural machine according to Claim 21, characterized in that it includes at least one distribution head connected to the frame. DATED this 16t1h day of February, 2000 KUHN S.A. By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE AgeO goo* 0* 000 22