AU2009212894A1 - An Agricultural Rig - Google Patents

Description

AN AGRICULTURAL RIG Field of the Invention The present invention relates to farming and, in particular, to an agricultural rig for use with a tractor. Background Art In farming tractors are widely used for moving over the ground (whether containing a crop or not) in order to carry out a wide number of tasks. The tractor is provided with a three point hitch mechanism which enables various types of rigs to be carried behind the tractor and raised or lowered as desired by the tractor operator. The agricultural rig extends transverse to the direction of motion of the tractor and the efficiency of the farming operation is increased if the elongate extent of the agricultural rig is also increased because this means that a greater area of ground is covered as the tractor moves forwardly. However, it is necessary to move the tractor together with its rig from one paddock to the next. Therefore it is desirable for the agricultural rig to be folded or pivoted between an extended use configuration and a compact storage configuration. This enables the tractor to pass through gates, for example, between adjacent paddocks. However, for those paddocks which have been prepared for irrigation, a head ditch and a tail drain are created. These structures involve mounds of earth which stand in the vicinity of 1 metre above the general ground level of the paddock. These therefore represent an obstacle which limits the manoeuvrability of the tractor with the agricultural rig in the extended use configuration. Genesis of the Invention The genesis of the present invention is a desire to provide an agricultural rig which has increased manoeuvrability. Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an agricultural rig for a tractor having a three point hitch mechanism, said rig comprising

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an elongate central frame including attachment means for connection to said three point hitch mechanism, said central frame extending transversely to the direction of motion of the tractor and having two ends, and a pair of elongate wing frames pivotally connected each to a corresponding one of said ends; wherein each said wing frame is pivotally movable about a substantially vertical axis between a compact storage and transport configuration in which each said wing extends adjacent to, and substantially parallel to, the corresponding side of said tractor, and an extended use configuration in which said wing frames are substantially aligned with and extend from said central frame; and wherein each said wing frame is pivotally movable about a substantially horizontal axis between said use configuration and a manoeuvre configuration in which each said wing frame is movable in a substantially vertical plane to incline said wing frame relative to said central frame. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of manipulating an agricultural rig between a storage and transport configuration, an extended use configuration and a manoeuvre configuration, said rig in said extended use configuration comprising an elongate central frame and a pair of elongate wing frames each located one at each end of, and substantially aligned with, said central frame, said method comprising the steps of: (i) pivotally interconnecting each wing frame with said central frame, (ii) pivoting said wing frames in a substantially horizontal plane about a substantially vertical axis to move said wing frames from said extended use configuration to said compact storage and transport configuration, and (iii) pivoting either, or both, of said wing frames in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis to move the corresponding wing frame from said extended use configuration to said manoeuvre configuration. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a tool bar unit for an agricultural rig, said unit comprising a top member able to be releasably secured to an agricultural rig, a lower member to which an agricultural implement is able to be secured, a parallelogram linkage interconnecting said top and lower members, and a resilient damping arrangement to damp the motion of said lower member. 2 .JLOOAI-AU Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tractor and an agricultural rig in accordance with a first embodiment, the rig being pivoted into its compact storage configuration, Fig. 2 is plan view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the rig in its extended use configuration, Fig. 3 is a rear view of the rig in the configuration shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the rig with the wing frames in the manoeuvre configuration, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a tool bar unit of a first embodiment which attaches to the rig of Figs 1-4, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rig unit of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the rig with multiple tool bar units attached, Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the tool bar unit of a second embodiment, Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a tool bar unit of a third embodiment, and Fig. 10 is a partial front elevation similar to Fig. 7 but illustrating the embodiment of Fig. 9. Detailed Description As seen in Fig. 1, the rig 1 is associated with a tractor 2 having rear wheels 21 and front wheels 22. The rig 1 has a central frame 3 and two wing frames 4, 5 which in the compact storage and transport configuration illustrated in Fig. 1 lie alongside the tractor 2. The central frame 3 is connected to the rear of the tractor 2 by three conventional hitch points 6. This enables the central frame 3 and its associated wing frames 4, 5 to be raised and lowered by the conventional three point hitch of the tractor 2. In addition, the central frame 3 is preferably provided with two L-shaped anchor arms 31, 32 each of which terminates in a corresponding anchor point 33, 34. In the compact storage and transport configuration illustrated in Fig. I the wings 4, 5 pass over the corresponding anchor arms 31, 32 as they pivot about a pair of vertical axles 3 J400A-1AU 36, 37 (illustrated in Fig. 3). The swinging motion of the wing frames 4, 5 around the vertical axles 36, 37 is controlled by corresponding hydraulic rams 80 as seen in Fig. 1. As seen in Fig. 2, with the wings 4, 5 in the extended use configuration, two detachable struts 9, each of which is preferably an open truss, are connected between the corresponding anchor points 33, 34 and corresponding intermediate points 43, 44 on the wing frames 4, 5. The detachable struts 9 enable gravitational forces and rearwardly directed forces generated by attached implements working the ground, both of which are experienced by the wing frames, to be transferred via the anchor arms 31, 32 to the central frame 3. The detachable struts 9 are removed before pivoting wing frames 4, 5 from the use configuration illustrated in Fig. 2 to the compact storage configuration illustrated in Fig. 1. Preferably the detachable struts 9 are carried either on the corresponding wing frame or alongside the tractor 2 by means of brackets attached to the chassis of the tractor (and not illustrated in the drawings). The detachable struts 9 can be realised in various ways including steel beams or cables. Turning now to Figs. 3 and 4, the wing frames 4, 5 are movable between the extended use configuration illustrated in Fig. 3 and a manoeuvre configuration illustrated in Fig. 4. The wing frames 4, 5 are typically approximately 5 metres long (with a range of 3-8 metres) and the central frame is typically 6 metres long (with a range of 4-12 metres), giving an overall extent of 16 metres (with a range of 10-28 metres). In the manoeuvre configuration each of the wing frames 4, 5 is inclined relative to the central frame 3. The wing frames 4, 5 can, if desired, be raised until nearly vertical with respect to the ground 11. On each of the wing frames 4, 5 adjacent the central frame 3 is provided a horizontal axle 46, 47 about which the wing frames can be inclined by means of hydraulic rams 8. The hydraulic rams 8 are preferably independently operable so that either one, or both, of the wing frames 4, 5 can be raised as required thereby increasing the tractor's ability to manoeuvre adjacent to obstacles such as a head ditch or tail drain 15. 4 DLM5?A-AU It will be apparent from the drawings that the central frame 3 and wing frames 4, 5 each constitute a truss, the lowermost bar 12 of which enables various implements or attachments (not illustrated) to be attached to the rig 1. Turning now to Figs. 5-7, a tool bar unit 100 of a first embodiment is illustrated and which releasably clamps to the lower bar 12 of the rig 1 of Figs. 1-4. This releasable clamping action is provided by U-bolts 108 in co-operation with L-shaped brackets 114. A tool bar 106 is maintained substantially parallel to the ground 130 by means of two pivoted bars 117 which form a parallelogram linkage between the brackets 114 (and hence bar 12) and the tool bar 106. The lower ends of the bars 117 are pivoted at pivot points 103 and 104. The upper ends of the bars 117 are pivoted at pivot points 101 and 102. The distance between pivot points 101 and 102 is the same as the distance between pivot points 103 and 104. Similarly, the distance between pivot points 101 and 103 is the same as the distance between pivot points 102 and 104. The degree of extension of the parallelogram linkage formed by bars 117 is determined by a spring 112 which is adjustable by means of a rod 105. Either of the two types of tool 118 illustrated in Fig. 5 can be attached to the tool bar 106. The depth to which the tools 118 penetrate the ground is controlled by the ground engaging depth wheel 111. The depth is set by an adjustable rod 109. A stop rubber 113 limits the forward motion of the tool bar 106, it being understood that forward motion in Fig. 5 is from left to right. Other forms of tool are also able to be used. As seen in Fig. 7, multiple tool bar units as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, are releasably secured to the bar 12 of the central frame 3 and wing frames 4, 5. The depth wheels 111 ride over the ground 130 to be cultivated by the tools 118. A second embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 8 which is particularly suitable for tools such as an Ellis rolling cultivator and similar attachments which bolt directly onto a front to rear extending pipe 206. As before, the arrangement is releasably connected 5 to the bar 12 of the frames 3, 4 and 5. The bracket 114 is essentially as in Figs. 5-7. However, the parallelogram linkage is replaced by an L-shaped arm 217 and an adjustable rod 205 which is loaded by adjustable spring 212. Each end of the rod 205 is pivoted at pivot points 201 and 203 respectively. The L-shaped arm 217 is pivoted at pivot points 202 and 204 respectively. The short end of the L-shaped arm 217 has a through hole 222 which is aligned with another hole (not visible) of the same size in the bracket 114. A bolt 223 passes through the hole 222 and into the bracket 114 when the unit is used for cultivation. This means that the L-shaped member 217 does not pivot relative to the bracket 114 or bar 12. Thus the leading end of the pipe 206 is fixed and the pipe pivots in an arc in a vertical plane about pivot point 204, the motion being damped by the spring 212. The arrangement in Fig. 8 is modified in Fig. 9 by the removal of bolt 223. Thus the L-shaped arm 217 is free to pivot about pivot point 202 relative to bracket 114. Below the pipe 206 is a weed sprayer unit 318 which as seen in both Figs. 9 and 10 has a spray shroud 301. This arrangement is particularly suitable for spraying weeds growing between row crops such as cotton plants 302. The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the agricultural arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the wing frames 4, 5 can be folded rearwardly rather than forwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1. Similarly, the central frame 3 can be 9 metres long and each wing frame 4, 5 can be 6 metres long giving a total extent of 21 metres. The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'. 6

Claims (13)

1. An agricultural rig for a tractor having a three point hitch mechanism, said rig comprising an elongate central frame including attachment means for connection to said three point hitch mechanism, said central frame extending transversely to the direction of motion of the tractor and having two ends, and a pair of elongate wing frames pivotally connected each to a corresponding one of said ends; wherein each said wing frame is pivotally movable about a substantially vertical axis between a compact storage and transport configuration in which each said wing extends adjacent to, and substantially parallel to, the corresponding side of said tractor, and an extended use configuration in which said wing frames are substantially aligned with and extend from said central frame; and wherein each said wing frame is pivotally movable about a substantially horizontal axis between said use configuration and a manoeuvre configuration in which each said wing frame is movable in a substantially vertical plane to incline said wing frame relative to said central frame.

2. The rig as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said wing frame is independently movable between said use configuration and said manoeuvre configuration.

3. The rig as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and including for each wing frame a detachable strut which extends between an intermediate point on said wing frame and a corresponding anchor point provided on said central frame.

4. The rig as claimed in claim 3 wherein said detachable strut is stored alongside said tractor or alongside the corresponding wing frame when said wing frames are pivoted into said compact storage and transport configuration.

5. The rig as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 wherein said frames comprise open trusses.

6. The rig as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 wherein each said wing frame is pivotable by at least one hydraulic ram extending between each said wing frame and said central frame.

7. The rig as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 wherein said frames are adapted to have agricultural implements secured thereto.

8. An agricultural rig substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. 7 YL/ZSA-AU

9. A method of manipulating an agricultural rig between a storage and transport configuration, an extended use configuration and a manoeuvre configuration, said rig in said extended use configuration comprising an elongate central frame and a pair of elongate wing frames each located one at each end of, and substantially aligned with, said central frame, said method comprising the steps of: (i) pivotally interconnecting each wing frame with said central frame, (ii) pivoting said wing frames in a substantially horizontal plane about a substantially vertical axis to move said wing frames from said extended use configuration to said compact storage and transport configuration, and (iii) pivoting either, or both, of said wing frames in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis to move the corresponding wing frame from said extended use configuration to said manoeuvre configuration.

10. A method of manipulating an agricultural rig between a storage and transport configuration, an extended use configuration and a manoeuvre configuration, said method being substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

11. A tool bar unit for an agricultural rig, said unit comprising a top member able to be releasably secured to an agricultural rig, a lower member to which an agricultural implement is able to be secured, a parallelogram linkage interconnecting said top and lower members, and a resilient damping arrangement to damp the motion of said lower member.

12. The tool bar unit as claimed in claim 11 and including a lock mechanism to lock said top member and one arm of said parallelogram linkage.

13. A tool bar unit substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 1st day of September 2009 JAMES WHEILDON By FRASER OLD & SOHN Patent Attorneys for the Applicants 8