AU2006318923A1

AU2006318923A1 - Combined sowing machine

Info

Publication number: AU2006318923A1
Application number: AU2006318923A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michel Kirch
Original assignee: Kuhn SAS
Current assignee: Kuhn SAS
Priority date: 2005-11-28
Filing date: 2006-11-27
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: FR2893815A1; RU2421969C2; UA92927C2; EP1959722B1; FR2893815B1; EP1959722A1; RU2008126315A; WO2007060377A1

Description

IN THE MATTER OF an Australian Application corresponding to PCT Application PCT/FR2006/051236 RWS Group Ltd, of Europa House, Marsham Way, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, hereby solemnly and sincerely declares that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the following document, prepared by one of its translators competent in the art and conversant with the English and French languages, is a true and correct translation of the PCT Application filed under No. PCT/FR2006/051236. Date: 25 April 2008 C. E. SITCH Managing Director - UK Translation Division For and on behalf of RWS Group Ltd COMBINED SOWING MACHINE The present invention relates to the overall technical field of agricultural machinery intended for 5 tilling and seeding operations. It relates to a wide combined machine consisting of a tilling machine with a frame and a seeder, said combined machine is intended to be connected to a tractor by means of a hitch system and to rest on the ground by means of a carriage 10 equipped with wheels. A wide combined machine such as this with a tilling machine and a seeder exists in the prior art. This combined machine is intended to be connected to a tractor by a hitch system and rests on the ground by 15 means of a carriage equipped with wheels. The carriage is connected to the hitch system via a connecting structure. This connecting structure is intended to support the tilling machine and hold it clear of the ground for maneuvers. The wide tilling machine has two 20 parts which are intended to be stood up vertical for transport. This tilling machine is fastened under the connecting structure by means of its frame. The frame is connected, at the front, to the connecting structure via a three-point hitch and at the rear by two rams 25 intended to raise the tilling machine for maneuvers at the headland. In order to allow the tilling machine to be held clear of the ground at a sufficient height, the connecting structure is relatively tall. This 30 connecting structure is dimensioned in such a way as to support the weight of the tilling machine and is therefore bulky and heavy. Another combined machine of this type is also known, from document DE 198 33 674. This combined 35 machine also has a connecting structure connecting the carriage to the hitch system. The connecting structure is designed to support the tilling machine. The tilling machine, via its frame, is suspended under the connecting structure. In order to reduce the height of -2 the connecting structure and increase the ground clearance, the tilling machine is in particular equipped with a special-purpose frame and has special kinematics for connecting the frame of the tilling 5 machine to the connecting structure. A hydraulic ram controls the movement of the tilling machine from the tilling position to the transport position and vice versa. Thanks to the articulation between the support arm and the swinging linkage, the tilling machine can 10 be raised further clear of the ground. In addition to these kinematics for raising the tilling machine, a quadrilateral guides the tilling machine via its frame to keep it substantially parallel to the ground. With these kinematics, the height at which the tilling 15 machine is held clear of the ground is increased, but is always dependent on the connecting structure. It is observed that the kinematics connecting the tilling machine to the connecting structure are particularly complicated and that the use of a special 20 frame for the tilling machine considerably increases the cost of such a wide combined machine. Furthermore, it is impossible either to use the tilling machine or the seeder solo unless special modifications are made for hitching it or them to the tractor. 25 It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and to propose a combined machine like the one described in the introduction, which is simpler to produce, and in which there is no limit on the height at which the 30 tilling machine can be held clear of the ground. To this end, an important feature of the invention is that said carriage is connected to said hitch system by means of a first connecting device, of said frame of said tilling machine, and of a second connecting 35 device. The construction of the combined machine is therefore relatively simple. Thanks to the synchronized operation of the first and second connecting devices, the tilling machine is - 3 lifted clear of the ground vertically and substantially parallel to the ground. Other features and advantages will emerge from the claims and description which follow of one exemplary 5 nonlimiting example of the invention with reference to the attached drawings in which: - figure 1 depicts an isometric view of a combined machine according to the invention, - figure 2 is a side view of the combined machine 10 in a particular configuration, - figure 3 illustrates in greater detail a part of the combined machine in a work configuration, - figure 4 illustrates in greater detail part of 15 the combined machine of figure 3. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the combined tilling and seeding machine according to the invention is a very wide machine. This combined seeding machine consists of a combination of a 20 tilling machine (1) and of a seeder (2). The seeder (2) plants the seed in the ground, whilst the tilling machine (1) prepares the seed bed using tilling tools. The preparing of the seed bed and the sowing of the seed in the ground are thus performed simultaneously 25 and in a single pass. The combined seeding machine of the invention is intended to be connected to a tractor (3) which serves to power the combined seeding machine and to move it in a direction of forward travel indicated by the arrow (A) during work as during 30 transport via a hitch system (4) . In the remainder of the description, the ideas of "front" and "rear", "in front of" and "behind" are defined with respect to the direction of forward travel (A) and the ideas of "right" and "left" are defined when viewing the machine 35 from behind in said direction of forward travel (A). The combined machine according to the invention is a wide combined seeding machine which rests on the ground via a carriage (5) equipped with wheels (6). The combined seeding machine has a working width - 4 approaching 6 meters. The tilling machine (1) and the seeder (2) are produced in at least two parts (1A, 1B; 2A, 2B) that can be shifted around in such a way that the combined seeding machine complies with the 5 legislation governing running on the public highway. At present, in France, this legislation in particular restricts the width to 3 meters and the height to 4 meters. In the work position, the two parts (1A, 1B) of the tilling machine (1) extend transversely to the 10 direction of forward travel (A) on each side of a vertical mid-plane of the combined machine. The seeder (2) is also in two parts extending transversely to the direction of forward travel (A) in the continuation of and behind the parts (1A, 1B) . Each part (1A, 1B) is 15 substantially 3 meters long. In the transport position, the parts (1A, 1B) are pivoted about a respective articulation from a substantially horizontal work position to a substantially vertical transport position by means of 20 maneuvering members such as rams for example. The respective articulations are positioned in such a way that, in the transport position, the parts (1A, 1B) do not exceed the permissible width for travel on the public highway. Such folding into the transport 25 position is known to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be described further. The parts of the seeder (2) are not depicted in figure 1. The tilling machine (1) extends in front of the seeder (2) in a direction transversal to the direction 30 of forward travel (A) . It comprises a frame (7) which is intended to support the two parts (1A, 1B) of the tilling machine (1) . The frame (7) is connected to the hitch system (4) by means of a first connecting device (8) . The first connecting device (8) comprises, in the 35 side view, a vertically deformable quadrilateral. The deformable quadrilateral is a parallelogram. The first connecting device (8) is made up of a first upper link (9) and of a first lower link (10) . Said first links (9, 10) are connected, on the one hand, to the frame - 5 (7) and, on the other hand, to the hitch system (4) by means of respective articulations the respective axes of which are substantially perpendicular to the direction of forward travel (A). Advantageously, the 5 frame (7) of the tilling machine (1) is equipped with a three-point hitch with an upper hitch point and two lower hitch points. Thus, the first connecting device (8) comprises a first upper link (9) and two lower links (10). 10 The frame (7) of the tilling machine (1) is also connected to the carriage (5) by means of a second connecting device (11). The carriage (5) is thus connected to the hitch system (4) by means of the first connecting device (8), of the frame (7) of the tilling 15 machine (1), and of the second connecting device (11). The carriage (5) is intended to accept a hopper (12) at the base of which there is a metering device (not depicted) for metering out the seed leaving the hopper (12) . The carriage (5) also carries, at the rear, a 20 device (13) for planting the seed in the ground and a blower device (not depicted) delivering a flow of air to carry the seed from the hopper (12) as far as the seed-planting device (13). The seeder (2) is therefore made up of the carriage (5) with the hopper (12) and 25 the device (13) for planting the seed in the ground. According to the exemplary embodiment, the seeder (2) is of the pneumatic type. The pipes carrying the seed from the hopper (12) to the planting device (13) and the distribution head are not depicted in the various 30 figures. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in figure 2, the hitch system (4) is intended to be coupled to the two lower hitch points (14) of the three-point hitch of the tractor (3). In this case, the hitch system (4) has 35 an articulation (15) of substantially vertical axis making it possible to limit the area the combined machine needs for maneuvers at the headland. By virtue of this vertical articulation. (15), the maneuvers needed to realign the combined seeding machine with the -6 tractor (3) at the headland are limited. In another exemplary embodiment that has not been depicted, the combined seeding machine is coupled directly to the towing pin of the tractor (3) . When coupled to the 5 towing pin, a vertical articulation (15) on the hitch system is not needed. Figure 2 depicts the combined seeding machine in a configuration known as the maneuvering configuration. It will be observed that, in this maneuvering 10 configuration, the tilling machine (1) and the planting device (13) are held clear of the ground. This configuration allows for maneuvers at the headland by simply holding the tilling machine (1) and the seeder (2) or, more specifically, the planting device (13) 15 clear of the ground. This so-called maneuvering configuration avoids having to fold the parts (1A, 1B) up vertically into the transport position. Because of the nature of the tilling machine (1) it is important that the latter be lifted substantially 20 vertically clear of the ground. In the exemplary embodiment, the tilling machine (1) is a rotary harrow (16) comprising implements (17) driven off the power take-off of the tractor (3) . These implements (17) are connected, in a way known to those skilled in the art, 25 to the casing of the rotary harrow (16) via rotors. The implements (17) are driven about a respective vertical axis off the power take-off of the tractor (3) which, via a telescopic PTO shaft (18) equipped with universal joints, drives the input shaft of the central box. The 30 central box, located on the casing, then transmits the rotational movement to the rotors. In order not to damage the telescopic PTO shaft (18), it is important for the input shaft of the box to remain parallel to the power take-off of the tractor (3). 35 Thus, according to an important feature of the invention, the second connecting device (11) connecting the frame (7) to the feeder (2) comprises, in a side view, a vertically deformable quadrilateral. The second connecting device (11) for its part comprises a second - 7 upper link (19) and a second lower link (20). Said second links (19, 20) are connected, on the one hand, to the frame (7) and, on the other hand, to the carriage (5) by means of respective articulations the 5 respective axes of which are substantially perpendicular to the direction of forward travel (A) . In the example depicted here, the deformable quadrilateral is advantageously a parallelogram. Advantageously, the second connecting device (11) 10 comprises a second upper link (19) and two second lower links (20). In order to raise the tilling machine (1) for maneuvers or to lower it for tilling, the combined seeding machine is equipped with a hydraulic module 15 (21). This hydraulic module (21) allows the rotary harrow (16) to be lowered into its work position or raised for the maneuvering position. The hydraulic module (21) deforms the parallelograms of the first connecting device (8) and of the second connecting 20 device (11) in such a way as to move the rotary harrow (16) clear of the ground substantially vertically and parallel to the surface of the ground. In the exemplary embodiment of figure 3, the combined seeding machine is depicted in its work 25 configuration. It will be noted that the implements (17) of the rotary harrow (16) are in the ground. To change from the so-called maneuvering configuration (fig. 2) to the work configuration (fig. 3) and vice versa, the hydraulic module (21) comprises a first 30 actuator (22) intended to act on the first connecting device (8) and a second actuator (23) intended to act on the second connecting device (11) . It will be noted that, in the work configuration (fig. 3), the two actuators (22, 23) are retracted whereas in the so 35 called maneuvering configuration (fig. 2), the two actuators (22, 23) are extended. The planting device (13) is not depicted in figures 3 and 4. The extent to which the tilling machine (1) can be raised clear of the ground is not restricted by any part of the - 8 combined machine. It is rather dependent on the stroke of the two actuators (22, 23) and on the length of the links (9, 10, 19, 20) of the first and second connecting devices (8, 11). 5 Studying figures 3 and 4, the first actuator (22) is connected, on the one hand, to the first lower link (10) via a first articulation (24) the axis of which is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of forward travel (A) and, on the other hand, to the frame 10 (7) via a second articulation (25) the axis of which is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of forward travel (A) . The second actuator (23) for its part is connected, on the one hand, to the second upper link (19) via a third articulation (26) the axis of 15 which is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of forward travel (A) and, on the other hand, to the frame (7) via a fourth articulation (27) the axis of which is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of forward travel (A) . The first lower link (10) is 20 connected, on the one hand, to the hitch system (4) by means of a fifth articulation (28) and, on the other hand, to the frame (7) by means of a sixth articulation (29). The second lower link (20) is, for its part, connected, on the one hand, to the carriage (5) by 25 means of a seventh articulation (30) and, on the other hand, to the frame (7) by means of an eighth articulation (31) In the exemplary embodiment, the first actuator (22) consists of at least one single-acting hydraulic 30 ram and the second actuator (23) for its part consists of a double-acting hydraulic ram. In order to impart a substantially vertical movement to the rotary harrow (16), the first connecting device (8) and the second connecting device (11) are synchronized via the 35 hydraulic module (21). The hydraulic module (21) is in communication with the hydraulic unit belonging to the tractor (3) . The hydraulic module (21) is controlled directly via the control device inside the tractor (3). The farmer will have no need to act on the lifting of - 9 the lower hitch points (14) of the three-point hitch of the tractor (3). According to figure 4, the large chamber (32) of the second actuator (23) is supplied by the tank (36) 5 of the hydraulic unit to lift the rotary harrow (16) clear of the ground. The small chamber (33) of the second actuator (23) is, for its part, in communication with the large chamber (34) of the first actuator (22). Thus, when the large chamber (32) of the second 10 actuator (23) is supplied with fluid, the fluid contained in the small chamber (33) is driven into the large chamber (34) of the first actuator (22). The second actuator (23) is advantageously a double-acting ram but is used as a single-acting ram. Because of 15 this, the two actuators (22, 23) are in maximum extension and the rotary harrow (16) is lifted clear of the ground (fig. 2). The rotary harrow (16) is lifted clear of the ground via the hydraulic module (21) parallel to the ground and without damage to the 20 telescopic PTO shaft (18). The two actuators (22, 23) are then fully extended. To lower the rotary harrow (16) into the work position, the fluid contained in the large chamber (34) of the first actuator (22) is driven into the small 25 chamber (33) of the second actuator (23) under the action of the weight of the rotary harrow (16) and the fluid from the large chamber (32) of the second actuator (23) returns to the tank (36). It is important for the volume of the small 30 chamber (33) of the second actuator (23) to be equal to the volume of the large chamber (34) of the first actuator (22) . In this way, the rotary harrow (16), when the second actuator (23) is actuated, moves clear of the ground substantially parallel to the ground. The 35 sixth articulation (29) and the eighth articulation (31) impart an upward vertical movement of. the same magnitude. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the first actuator (22) consists of two single-acting rams. These two rams are sized in such a way that the volume - 10 of the small chamber (33) of the second actuator (23) is equal to the volume of the two large chambers (34). According to an exemplary embodiment which has not been depicted, it is possible to install an 5 oleopneumatic accumulator on the port of the small chamber (35) of the first actuator (22) so that the rotary harrow (16) can be raised a little during work, performing what is known as relieving the load. According to another advantage of the invention, 10 the lengthwise bulk of the combined seeding machine in the so-called maneuvering configuration and for transport is smaller. In the so-called maneuvering configuration, the first and second actuators (22, 23) are extended in such a way as to lift the tilling 15 machine (1) clear of the ground. It will be observed that the carriage (5) is then closer to the hitch system (4). The distance between a vertical plane passing through the first articulation (24) and a vertical plane passing through the third articulation 20 (26) is shorter than this distance when the combined seeding machine is in its work configuration (fig. 3). This reduced lengthwise bulk improves the handling of the combined seeding machine during transport and during maneuvers. 25 To reduce the size of the headland, it is possible to operate the tilling machine (1) and the seeder (2) at different times. In practice, when the farmer reaches his plot, he will first of all command the lowering of the two parts of the tilling machine (1) so 30 that they run substantially horizontally and lie perpendicular to the direction of forward travel (A) . He will then engage the telescopic PTO shaft (18) via the power take-off of the tractor (3) which will drive the rotation of the implements (17) of the rotary 35 harrow (16). He operates the hydraulic module (21), that is to say the second actuator (23) which will bring the rotary harrow (16) into its work position and will continue to move forward. When the feeder (2), that is to say the planting device (13) comes level - 11 with the area tilled by the rotary harrow (16), the farmer will lower the planting device (13) into the ground. Thus the combined machine will seed at the same time as preparing the seed bed. To come back out of the 5 ground at the headland, the farmer will first of all command the hydraulic module (21) to lift the rotary harrow (16) clear of the ground, and will then move the planting device (13) clear. The ground is entered and exited gradually, thus limiting the size of the 10 headlands. The farmer will not need to act on the lifting of the lower hitch points (14) of the three point hitch of the tractor (3) when using the combined machine. In the exemplary embodiment of the figures, the 15 tilling machine (1) is equipped, in addition to the rotary harrow (16), at the front, with a leveling that erases traces, and at the rear, with a press roller. This equipment extends substantially under the frame (7) and transversely with respect to the direction of 20 forward travel (A) . The press roller defines the working depth of the implements (17) of the rotary harrow (16). Using the combined machine of the invention, the seed bed is prepared and seed is introduced into the 25 ground simultaneously in a single pass over the plot. Farming rates are increased because the number of successive passes over the same plot to perform the various operations is lower. This reduction therefore leads to a saving of time, a saving of fuel and a 30 reduction of undesirable compaction of the ground by the wheels of the tractor. In wet autumn soil, the conditions are not always favorable to the use of such a combined machine. By virtue of the first and second connecting devices (8, 11), the farmer can modify the 35 combined machine to suit his requirements. He can use the tilling machine (1) independently of the seeder (2). To do this, he will uncouple the second connecting device (11) followed by the first connecting device (8) and will couple the tilling machine (1) directly to the - 12 three-point hitch of the tractor (3) . Thus, he will prepare the seed bed in a first pass and perform the seeding operation in a second pass when the ground has dried out. Seeding will then be able to be performed at 5 high speed. For seeding, the farmer will couple the hitch system (4) to the seeder (2) using the first connecting device (8). It is even possible for the seeder (2) of the invention to have a three-part planting device (13). In 10 such a case, the planting device (13) has a central part and a lateral part on each side of the central part. For transport, it is only the lateral parts which are then folded up. Because a three-part seeder such as this is known to those skilled in the art, it will not 15 be described further. It is quite obvious that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described hereinabove and depicted in the attached drawings. Modifications can still be made, particularly as regards the construction 20 or number of the various components or by substituting technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection.

Claims

1. A wide combined machine consisting of a tilling machine (1) with a frame (7) and a seeder (2) 5 said combined machine is intended to be connected to a tractor (3) by means of a hitch system (4) and to rest on the ground by means of a carriage (5) equipped with wheels (6), characterized in that said carriage (5) is connected to said hitch 10 system (4) by means of a first connecting device (8), of said frame (7) of said tilling machine (1), and of a second connecting device (11).

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized 15 in that said tilling machine (1) is held clear of the ground by means of said first connecting device (8) and of said second connecting device (11). 20

3. The machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first connecting device (8) consists of an articulated quadrilateral with a first upper link (9) and a first lower link (10) and in that said second connecting device (11) 25 consists of an articulated quadrilateral with a second upper link (19) and a second lower link (20).

4. The machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30 3, characterized in that said first connecting device (8) and said second connecting device (11) each have an upper link (9, 19) and two lower links (10, 20). 35

5. The machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said first connecting device (8) and said second connecting device (11) consist of a deformable quadrilateral, in particular of a respective parallelogram. - 14

6. The machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said first connecting device (8) and said second connecting device (11) 5 are operated synchronously via a hydraulic module (21).

7. The machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said hydraulic module (21) comprises a 10 first actuator (22) with a large chamber (34) and a small chamber (35) acting on said first connecting device (8) and a second actuator (23) with a large chamber (32) and a small chamber (33) acting on said second connecting device (11). 15

8. The machine as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said first actuator (22) is connected to said first lower link (10) by means of a first articulation (24) and to said frame (7) by means 20 of a second articulation (25), and in that said second actuator (23) is connected to said second upper link (19) by means of a third articulation (26) and to the frame (7) by means of a fourth articulation (27). 25

9. The machine as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said large chamber (34) of the first actuator (22) is in communication with the small chamber (33) of the second actuator (23). 30

10. The machine as claimed in claim 7 or 9, characterized in that the volume of the small chamber (33) of the second actuator (23) is equal to the volume of said large chamber (34) of the 35 first actuator (22).