AU2001100237A4 - Cultivator tillage tool - Google Patents

Description

CULTIVATOR TILLAGE TOOL This invention relates to improvements in relation to tillage equipment on rowcrop cultivators.

At present, row cultivators suffer from a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage arises where cutting blades are positioned behind another tool. Typical tooling for cultivating row crops consists of three through to six vertical shank assemblies per row of crop. One method comprises two assemblies consisting of a tool comprising of shaped knife attached to the end of a shank, and two assemblies consisting of a single disc attached to the end of a shank and a sweep. Another method is where two assemblies consisting of a single disc are attached to the end of a shank, and a sweep and two essentially straight blades are mounted to a common shank with the straight blades employed behind and separate from the sweep.

The knives mentioned are mounted above the ground projecting downward, rearward and outward. Straight blades are mounted in the wake or shadow of another tool below the surface projecting rearward and outward also parallel to the soil surface.

The tool's position can be independently adjusted vertically, horizontally and angularly.

The main problems with this type of arrangement are: The narrow knives or discs allow weeds to bend around the tooling if the weed is not struck "dead-centre".

Because each tool is positioned separately from one another the weeds already cultivated get "caught" around the next component of tooling, causing a build up of weeds and trash, causing soil to drag, and sometimes resulting in damage to the crop.

There is an unprotected area at the end or edge of all existing blades knives and discs.

Here the weeds may either go over the tip of the tool or slip around the end, because the soil is not disturbed enough at the end or beside the tool. Thus causing the tools to be somewhat less than 100% efficient.

When cultivating close to small crops particularly in dry conditions the crop can suffer "Root shake" caused by a tool passing too close, and or too deep near the root while attempting to eliminate weeds.

The current tooling assemblies are not efficient thus motivating this invention .The object is to eliminate the mentioned disadvantages by creating a tool that is constructed and operates differently to that described above.

I will now make references to the diagrams attached to help with gaining a clearer understanding of the construction and assembly of this invention.

Attempting to eliminate the disadvantages is done by providing a tillage assembly consisting of two tool carrying shanks mounted on a common pivot and projecting downward from a supporting mount or bar. The front shank is fitted with a leading blade such as a sweep The rear shank has two plates mounted to the shank on opposite sides which form a lower adjustable mount to which is fitted a pair of cutting blades attached as to be positioned immediately behind the leading blade. The blades travel below the surface of the soil to sever weeds and till the soil. The cutting blades are positioned immediately behind the leading blade (ideally 0 to 15mm) so that they essentially form an adjustable extension of the leading blade. The cutting blades diverge rearward; outward then upward on opposite sides of the leading blade and this configuration provides one uninterrupted cutting edge from the tip of the leading blade to end of the trailing blades The uninterrupted cutting edge results in a nearer complete elimination of weeds and a cleaner flow of soil, weeds, and trash from the tool assemblies. This ensures more troublefree operation in weedier conditions especially where vines are a problem. Will also allow cultivation in both wetter and harder soil types and field conditions.

The shanks can be adjusted forward and aft by loosening the mounting pivot bolt thus changing the angle of attack on the leading blade. Both shanks being mounted on the same pivot 5) allows these adjustments to be made without changing the relationship between the rear of the front blade and the front of the rear blades The rear shank is pivoted forward so that the gap between the front blade and the rear blades is at a minimum.

The rear blades have their rear-end portion turned sharply upwards but still rearward and outward so as to cut back up to the soil surface. The end portion is angled outwards towards the crop line so as to make it possible to cultivate closer to the crop because the blades get shallower the closer they get to the crop. This eliminates the possibility of weeds escaping over the tip of the blade, and allows closer cultivation to the crop without the crop encountering the effects of "Root shake".

Broadacre seems out of place. The following descriptions all seem to relate to row crop gear. In a broadacre situation a larger sweep would most probably be fitted because the adjustments are unnessary.

Three? Blades? Discs?

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