AU2007207858A1 - A resilent tyre for a gauge or press wheel - Google Patents

Description

02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 141p 70-0731 12:46:18 P-m. 17-08-2007 3117 2028156321I 1.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) Complete Specification Dale Anthony Foster A resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel The invention is described in the following statement: Blake Dawson Waldron Patent Services Level 35, Grosvenor Place 225 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: 61 2 9258 6000 Fax: 61 29258 6999 Ref: DGC JUB 02 1421 1056 COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 12:46:32 p.m. 17-08-2007 4 117 202815632 I S2.

A RESILIENT TYRE FOR A GAUGE OR PRESS WHEEL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel.

00 Itn BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 00 Agricultural machinery incorporating blades, coulters, tines or other instruments to work soil or cut trash and stubble typically include a gauge wheel to control or limit the depth to which the blade, coulter or tine may enter the ground. These machines may also include a press wheel to compact the soil after seed, fertiliser or other product is placed in the soil.

Excessive compaction of the soil affects the development of root systems and encourages capillary action of water to the soil surface promoting soil water evaporation and soil cracking. Tyres fitted to gauge and press wheels are generally resilient and thus locally flatten or deform at their point of contact with the ground for reduction of the pressure exerted by the wheel on the ground and thus prevent excessive compaction.

The deformation also serves to reject mud and moist soil particles which would otherwise adhere to the tyre. The degree of soil compaction is critical to the successful germination of a crop so it is important that compaction is regulated. Press wheels are generally coupled to an adjustable spring providing means by which wheel pressure can be altered.

Existing tyres have at least some of the following disadvantages: solid rubber tyres only allow a generally insufficient amount of deformation within the limits of the rubber itself; hollow tyres can generally not be made with sufficient tyre tread and wall thickness to hold the required air pressures and simultaneously resist punctures, and also wear quickly; a tyre comprising a soft rubber, which may allow sufficient deformation, wears quickly; COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 12:46:58 p.m. 17-08-2007 5/17 202815632 I 3.

Smany existing tyre geometries provide an uneven ground pressure across the width Sof the tyre; and in wetter conditions the wheel pressure is minimised so as to avoid overcompaction, but this minimises deformation that repels mud and moist soil particles 00 5 especially when the treads and walls of tyres flex insufficiently, as it typical, to repel mud Sand moist soil particles.

SSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION SAccording to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a resilient tyre for a C gauge or press wheel, the tyre comprising a plurality of passageways, each extending into the tyre from either or both of a pair of opposing external tyre surfaces.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a gauge or press wheel comprising: a resilient tyre including a plurality of passageways, each extending into the tyre from either or both of a pair of opposing external tyre surfaces; and a pair of hub plates sandwiching the resilient tyre.

Preferably scraping means are attached adjacent one of the hub plates.

Preferably the opposing external surfaces bound a mass of rubber compound.

Preferably the tyre includes a rolling surface that has negligible curvature in the direction parallel to an imaginary axis of the tyre. More preferably the rolling surface is featureless and/or tread-free.

Preferably the passageways are blind passageways. Alternatively the passageways are throughgoing passageways.

Preferably the passageways are arranged in a ring formation. More preferably the passageways are arranged in a single ring formation.

Preferably one of the opposing external tyre surfaces include a protrusion running around it. More preferably the protrusion is in the form of a rib having a triangular-like crosssection. Even more preferably the blind passageway terminates adjacent the protrusion.

COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 12:47:20 p.m. 17-08-2007 6/117 202815632 I S4.

SPreferably the other of the opposing external tyre surfaces is substantially flat.

Preferably the tyre includes mounting means for mounting the tyre to the wheel. More preferably the mounting means include a bead connected to an inner circumferential surface of the tyre. Even more preferably the mounting means includes a waist portion 00 5 connecting the bead to the tyre.

n00 Preferably the tyre is formed of a hard rubber compound.

Preferably the tyre is shaped doughnut-like. Alternatively the tyre is shaped disk-like.

SAccording to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel, the tyre comprising a plurality of passageways, each extending into the tyre from either or both of a pair of opposing external tyre surfaces wherein at least some of the passageways are throughgoing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the invention preferred embodiments of a resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel and a gauge or press wheel will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tyre shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tyre shown in figure 1 through C-C; Figure 4 is a detail from figure 3; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a gauge wheel assembly: Figure 6 is a perspective view of the wheel of figure 1 and gauge wheel assembly of figure mounted to a coulter assembly; Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in figure 6.

COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 12 4 7 :44 p.m. 17-08-2007 7/17 202815632

I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION/PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

SA preferred embodiment of a resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel is shown in figures 1 Sand 2 and is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The tyre 10 is generally in the form of a doughnut shaped mass of rubber compound 12 having a pair of opposing O external tyre surfaces such as side wall 11 and its opposing side wall 17. The doughnut 12 Shas a plurality of passageways such as 14 extending from the side wall. The passageways S 14 may be arranged around the tyre 10 in a single ring formation. In some embodiments of the tyre there may be more than one ring of passageways. The passageways such as 14 may be moulded into the tyre during fabrication.

In the preferred embodiment the passageways 14 are blind passageways 14. However, in some other embodiments the passageways 14 pass through the doughnut 12, especially if the tyre 10 is narrow.

The preferred embodiment of a tyre 10 includes a rolling surface 28 that has negligible curvature in a direction parallel to the imaginary axis 30 (shown in figure 2) of the doughnut 12. The structure of the tyre 10 promotes the application of even ground pressure across the width of the tyre, especially when the passageways pass through the doughnut. The rolling surface 28 may be featureless and tread-free to inhibit the pick up of soil and provide even pressure on the ground.

The passageways 14 promote deformation of the tyre 10 even when the tyre 10 is fabricated of a hard rubber compound resistant to punctures and wear. The degree of tyre deformation may be controlled by altering any one of the size, number, position and configuration of the holes without changing the rubber compound.

As best shown in figure 4 the tyre side wall 17 includes a protrusion or circular rib 18 running around it. In this embodiment the protrusion 18 has a triangular-like cross-section.

The blind passageway 12 may terminate adjacent the protrusion 18 within the tyre 10. The tyre 10 of this embodiment also includes the opposing annular side wall 11 that is substantially flat.

COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 12: 48:13 D.m. 17-08-2007 8 117 202815632 1 6.

n The preferred embodiment of a tyre 10 includes mounting means 22 including a bead 22 Sconnected to an inner circumferential surface or wall 16. The mounting means includes a waist portion 26 connecting the bead 22 to the tyre Figure 5 shows a gauge wheel assembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 00 5 The wheel assembly 40 includes a tyre 10 as described above. It also includes a pair of 00 hub plates 42 and 44 that sandwich the tyrc 10. A scrapping means in the form of a scraper plate 45 is placed adjacent to one of the hub plates 44 and the assembly is fastened Swith fastening means such as screws 46. An axle rod 48 is attached to the hub plate 42 to Sallow the wheel assembly 40 to be rotationally mounted.

Figures 6 and 7 show a coulter assembly 50. The assembly includes a mounting plate 52 so that the assembly can be attached to an agricultural vehicle. The agricultural vehicle may include a multi row cultivator or planter drawn by a tractor. Alternatively, the agricultural implement 10 can be attached to a tractor. As the assembly 50 moves forward the tyre 10 rotates as does the scraper 45 which is fastened to the wheel 10 as shown in figure 5 and described above. An edge (not visible) of the scrapper 45 is in close proximity to a face (hidden) of the coulter 54 which cuts a trench into the soil as the assembly 50 moves forward. Soil and other material that may adhere to the side face of the coulter 54 come into contact with the rotating edge of the scraper 45 which removes the soil or other material.

Now that several embodiments of a resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel and its use has been described, it will be understood that it has at least some of the following advantages: a tyre can be designed and fabricated with an arbitrary amount of distortion controlling the pressure exerted by the tyre on the soil; the size, number, position and configuration of the holes can be chosen to arbitrarily control the desired flexibility and deformation of the tyre without changing the rubber compound; a puncture and wear resistant hard rubber can be used to manufacture a tyre which still allows substantial deformation; COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 12:48:41 D.m. 17-08-2007 9117 202815632 1 S7.

a thick tyre tread can used, which resists puncture, tear and wear while still Sallowing sufficient deformation; Sa puncture, tear and wear resistant hard rubber compound can be used; and a tyre which applies even ground pressure across the width of the tyre can be 00 n 5 designed.

00 It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without Sdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. For example, the c tyre could be formed in any suitable material other than hard rubber. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17

Claims (17)

1. A resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel, the tyre comprising a plurality of passageways, each extending into the tyre from either or both of a pair of opposing external tyre surfaces. 00

2. A resilient tyre as defined by claim 1 wherein the pair of external surfaces bound a o mass of rubber compound.

3. A resilient tyre as defined by either of claims 1 or 2 including a rolling surface that O has negligible curvature in the direction parallel to an imaginary axis of the tyre.

4. A resilient tyre as defined by claim 3 wherein the rolling surface is featureless and/or tread-free. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the passageways are blind passageways.

6. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of the claims I to 4 wherein the passageways are throughgoing passageways.

7. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the passageways are arranged in a ring formation.

8. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein passageways are arranged in a single ring formation.

9. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the opposing external tyre surfaces include a protrusion running around it. A resilient tyre as defined by claim 9 wherein the protrusion is in the form of a rib having a triangular-like cross-section.

11. A resilient tyre as defined by either of claims 9 or 10 wherein the blind passageway terminates adjacent the protrusion. COMS ID No: ARCS-157392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron124:6m. 70827 117 12:4 9:16 p. m. 17-08-2007 11117 2028150321I o 9.

12. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of claims 9 to I I wherein the other of the ;Z opposing external tyre surfaces is substantially flat. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the tyre includes mounting means for mounting the lyre to the wheel. 00 00 connected to an inner circumferential surface of the tyre. A resilient tyre as defined by claim 14 wherein the mounting means includes a waist portion connecting the bead to the tyre.

16. A resilient ryre as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the tyre is formed of a hard rubber compound.

17. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the tyre is shaped doughnut-Ilike.

18. A resilient tyre as defined by any one of claims I to 16 wherein the tyre is shaped disk-like.

19. A gauge or press wheel compri sing: a resilient tyre including a plurality of passageways, each extending into the tyre from either or both of a pair of opposing external tyre surfaces; and a pair of hub plates sandwiching the resilient lyre. A gauge or press wheel defined by claim 19 wherein scraping means are attached adjacent one of the hub plates.

21. A resilient tyre for a gauge or press wheel, the tyre comprising a plurality of passageways, each extending into the tyre from either or both of a pair of opposing external tyre surfaces wherein at least some of the passageways are throughgoing.

22. A gauge or press wheel substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. COMS ID No: ARC5-i57392 Received by IP Australia: lime 12:53 Date 2007-08-17 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron124:0m. 7--20127 12:4 9:4 0 P. m. 17-08-2007 12117 2028156321I

23. A resilient tyre for a guage or press wheel substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. 00 00 Dated: 17 August 2007 Dale Anthony Foster Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: BLAKE DAWSON WALDRON PATENT SERVICES COMS ID No: ARCS-i 57392 Received by IP Australia: Time 12:53 Date 2007-08-17