AU2020200978A1

AU2020200978A1 - Adjustable agricultural closing wheel

Info

Publication number: AU2020200978A1
Application number: AU2020200978A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Ryan
Original assignee: Ryan Farm Machinery Aust Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ryan Farm Machinery Aust Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-11
Filing date: 2020-02-11
Publication date: 2020-08-27

Abstract

There is disclosed a closing wheel for use in closing a furrow formed by at least one planting member of agricultural equipment, the closing wheel including: a resilient helical coil member having a first end and a second end and a plurality of coil windings extending between the first and second ends; a mounting plate for the coil member, the first end of the coil member being connected to the mounting plate;and an adjustable adapter for connecting the mounting plate to a support arm of the agricultural equipment, wherein the adjustable adapter allows the coil member to swivel relative to the support arm.

Description

ADJUSTABLE AGRICULTURAL CLOSING WHEEL RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority from Australian Provisional patent Application No. 2019900425 filed on 11 February 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to agricultural equipment, and in particular to a closing wheel for use in agricultural applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Closing wheels are used in cultivation equipment to close furrows containing seeds just after they have been sown in the furrows. Typically, for each furrow a pair of closing wheels are used. Each closing wheel is adapted to press firmly down onto the soil from a respective side to compact the seeds or grains underneath. Good soil to grain contact is important for a good crop yield. Grains sown in crumbly and cloddy soil will be slower to germinate until the next rainfall, by which time the grain may have turned mouldy and have to be resown.

Closing wheels have traditionally comprised a solid metal or rubber wheel, for example in the form of a rubber tyre. The rubber of these closing wheels do however wear over time. In addition, mud can build up on the closing wheel during normal use. The clumps of mud on the closing wheel can cause the wheel to bounce. Also, the build up of mud over the periphery of the closing wheel can change its working diameter. These issues reduce the overall functioning of the gauge wheel.

There has recently been proposed an agricultural press wheel which comprises a helical coil having a first end and a second end both mounted to a common cast hub assembly, and windings between the first and second end. The coil has spring characteristics to allow flexure and relative movement between the windings. This type of press wheel has been found to be effective in closing a furrow, but has suffered from issues of breakage in operation.

WO 2014/117215 Al discloses a helical coil press wheel of the type described above which attempts to address the issue of breakage. In WO 2014/117215 Al a link is provided between the first end and the hub assembly in the form of a double hinge arrangement which permits relative movement between the first end and the hub assembly, so that the distance between the hub assembly and the first end is variable, ie they can move closer together or further apart. The double hinge arrangement allows the coil to squeeze and flex with a reduced risk of breakage. The press wheel of WO 2014/117215 Al is, however, quite bulky and relatively expensive to manufacture.

It is therefore desirable to provide a closing wheel that alleviates one or more of the disadvantages associated with known closing wheels. It is also desirable to provide a closing wheel which has a simpler construction and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a closing wheel for use in closing a furrow formed by at least one planting member of agricultural equipment, the closing wheel including: a resilient helical coil member having a first end and a second end and a plurality of coil windings extending between the first and second ends; a mounting plate for mounting the coil member to a support arm of agricultural equipment, the first end of the coil member being connected to the mounting plate; and an adjustable adapter for connecting the mounting plate to the support arm, wherein the adjustable adapter allows the coil member to swivel relative to the support arm.

The adjustable adapter preferably includes a first part which is adapted to be rigidly connected to the support arm, and a swivel joint connected to the mounting plate, the swivel joint being relatively movable relative to the first part to adjust the orientation of the mounting plate and coil member relative to the first part.

In one embodiment, the swivel joint includes a shaft which can be rotated relative to the first part, and a second part which extends at an angle relative to the shaft.

The first part of the adapter preferably has a bore through which the shaft extends. In one embodiment, the first part is a cylindrical member, which can be rigidly connected to a support arm of the agricultural equipment.

The second part is preferably connected at one end to the mounting plate and at its other end to a collar provided on a first end of the cylindrical shaft. The second part may include a stub member connected to the mounting plate, and a joining member connected to the collar.

Preferably, the adapter includes locking means for locking the orientation of the mounting plate relative to the support arm.

In one preferred embodiment, the locking means comprises a locking nut having an internally screw-threaded bore engagable with an externally screw-threaded portion of the shaft.

The externally screw-threaded portion is preferably provided on a second end portion of the shaft which extends though and projects from the bore in the first part of the adapter to be engaged by the locking nut. A clamping member may be provided on the shaft between the locking nut and the first part of the adapter.

The locking nut may be tightened to press the clamping member against the first part to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the first part of the adapter, and the nut may be loosened to allow the shaft to rotate relate to the first part to adjust the angle of the second part relative to the shaft. The locking nut can then be tightened to lock the mounting plate and closing wheel in its new orientation.

In one embodiment, the second end portion of the shaft has an end section which is non-cylindrical, eg square or hexagonal, in cross-section, so that it can be engaged by a tool to facilitate rotation of the shaft when the locking nut is loosened.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided agricultural apparatus incorporating a closing wheel in accordance with the first aspect, wherein the adjustable adapter of the closing wheel is connected to a support arm of the agricultural apparatus.

Preferably, the agricultural apparatus includes a planting member adapted to form a furrow for planting seeds or grains, and the closing wheel is mounted rearwardly of the planting member and adapted to close the furrow formed by the planting member.

The apparatus may further include a gauge wheel for controlling the depth of the furrow formed by the planting member. In one embodiment the gauge wheel may comprise a rubber tyre. In another, more preferred embodiment, the gauge wheel may comprise a resilient helical coil member including a plurality of coil windings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be convenient to further describe the invention with respect to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the gauge wheel according to the present invention. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 show is a top view of agricultural apparatus incorporating a closing wheel in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view from the rear and one side of part of the apparatus of Figure 1 incorporating a closing wheel in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from above and one side of part of the apparatus of Figure 1 incorporating a closing wheel in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an adjustable adapter for connecting the closing wheel to the agricultural apparatus of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view from the rear and above an alternative agricultural apparatus incorporating a closing wheel in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of part of Figure 5 showing the closing wheel connected to the agricultural apparatus by the adjustable adapter of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a closing wheel 10 mounted to a support arm 20 of agricultural apparatus 30 by an adjustable adapter 40.

The agricultural apparatus 30 shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes a planting member 31 comprising a rotatable disc which is adapted to form a furrow in soil for the planting of seeds or grains. The planting member 31 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 33 of the agricultural apparatus 30 via a hub 34. The apparatus 30 also includes a gauge wheel 32 which is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 33 adjacent to the rotatable disc 31 and which engages the soil on a side of the furrow to control the depth by which the planting member 31 cuts into the soil to form the furrow. The shaft 33, hub 34, gauge wheel 32 and planting member 31 are connected to a frame 35 of the agricultural apparatus 30 in such a manner that they depend downwardly from the frame 35. A gauge wheel suspension member 36 in the form of a coil spring may be provided between the shaft 33 and the frame 35 of the agricultural apparatus 30.

The gauge wheel 32 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is in the form of a rubber tyre. Alternatively, the gauge wheel 32 may comprise a resilient helical coil member including a plurality of coil windings as described in our International Patent Application WO 2018/213879 Al.

In use, the frame 35 of the agricultural apparatus 30 is connected to a vehicle (not shown) and drawn by the vehicle in a forward direction A shown in Figure 1.This causes the planting member 31 and the gauge wheel 32 to rotate relative the frame 35 so that the planting member 31 cuts a furrow into the soil, with the depth of the furrow being controlled by the gauge wheel 32.

The agricultural apparatus 30 may also include planting means, such as a planting tube 37, via which seeds or grains may be planted in the furrow formed by the planting member 31.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the support arm 20 has a first end 21 and a second end 22. The first end 21 connected to a part 23 of the agricultural apparatus 30 adjacent to and at the side of the planting tube 37, planting member 31 and the gauge wheel 32. The support arm 20 extends in a rearward direction from its first end 21 to the second end 22 which is connected to the closing wheel 10 by the adjustable adapter 40. Therefore, the closing wheel 10 is mounted rearwardly of the planting member 31, the gauge wheel 32 and the planting tube 37. The support arm 20 has a plurality of straight portions 24 and bends 25 which are so arranged to locate the closing wheel 10 substantially in the same vertical plane as the planting member 31.

The closing wheel 10 comprises a resilient helical coil 11 having a first end 12, a second end 13 and a plurality of coil windings 14 extending between the first and second ends 12 and 13. The first end 12 of the helical coil 11 is connected to a first side 16 of a mounting plate 15 adjacent the support arm 20, and the second end 13 of the helical coil 11 is connected to a stub axle 18 provided on the second, opposite side 17 of the mounting plate 15 remote from the support arm 20. The stub axle 18 allows the helical coil 11 and mounting plate 15 to rotate relative to the support arm 20.

In use, as the agricultural apparatus 30 is drawn in the forward direction A shown in Figure 1, the helical coil 11 of the closing wheel 10 rotates over the ground to close the furrow created by the planting member 31.

More specifically, as the helical coil 11 rotates over the ground portions of the coil windings 13 move reciprocally together then separate. As corresponding portions of the windings 13 come into contact with the ground, the portions move closer together narrowing the gaps between the windings 13 so that the soil at the side of a furrow is moved to cover the furrow and the seeds or grains within the furrow.

The coming together of the windings 13 may also simulate a single solid closing wheel when in contact with the ground to compact the soil over the seeded furrow. Upon leaving contact with the ground, the windings 13 separate as the closing wheel continues to rotate. This assists in flicking off any mud attached to the coil windings 13 to reduce the likelihood of mud building up on the coil windings 13.

The adjustable adapter 40 for mounting the closing wheel 10 to the support arm is best shown in the exploded perspective view of Figure 4 and includes a hollow cylindrical member 41 rigidly connected to the second end 22 of the support arm and a swivel joint 42. The swivel joint 42 includes an elongate cylindrical shaft 43 which, in use, extends through a bore 44 in the hollow cylindrical member 41, a collar 45 provided on a first end 46 of the shaft 43, and a cylindrical stub 47. The collar 45 is connected to the cylindrical stub member 47 by a joining member 48 in such a manner that the stub member 47 extends at an angle to the cylindrical shaft 43. The second, opposite end portion 49 of the shaft 43 remote from the collar 45 has a square end section 50 and an externally threaded portion 51 adjacent the end section 49.

The adapter 40 also includes a disc shaped cap 52 having a circular bore 53 through which the shaft 43 extends, and a locking nut 54 having an internal screw threaded bore 55 engagable with the externally threaded portion 51 of the shaft 43.

In use, the cylindrical stub 47 of the adapter 40 is fixed to the mounting plate of the closing wheel 10 and the second end portion 49 of the shaft 43 of the adapter is inserted through the bore 44 in the cylindrical member 41 and the cap 52. The locking nut 54 is then placed on the second end portion 49 of the shaft 43 to engage with the externally threaded portion 51 of the shaft 43 such that the square end section 50 projects outwardly from the locking nut 54.

When the locking nut 54 is tightened on the shaft 43, the mounting plate 15 and closing wheel 10 are locked in a particular orientation relative to the support arm and the frame 35 of the agricultural apparatus. If required, the orientation of the closing wheel 10 can be adjusted first by loosening the locking nut 55 and then turning the square end section 50 to rotate the shaft 43. Rotation of the shaft causes the cylindrical stub 47 and the mounting plate 15 of the closing wheel to swivel about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 43 and cylindrical member 41. The mounting plate 15 and closing wheel 10 can then be locked in the new orientation by tightening the locking nut 55.

The adjustable adapter described above therefore allows the closing wheel 10 to be set at a preferred orientation for optimal performance of the closing wheel 10. It may be desired to adjust the orientation of the closing wheel 10 for different modes of operation, for example, covering and pressing the soil over the furrow, or just covering the furrow. It may also be desirable to adjust the orientation of the closing wheel 10 for different soil types. With the coil 11 of the closing wheel 10 working at an angle to the orientation of the planting member 31 the spring action of the coil 11 can flex and squeeze the soil in an improved manner, so that the coil 11 can act more vigorously allowing it to shed foreign material and crush clods of soil.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modified agricultural apparatus 100 similar to that of Figure 1 to 3 including a closing wheel 10 and adjustable adapter 40. The closing wheel 10 and adjustable adapter 40 are substantially as described above with reference to Figure 4, and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts.

The agricultural apparatus 100 is similar to the apparatus 30 of Figures 1 to 3 in that it includes a planting member 131 in the form of a disc rotatably mounted on a shaft 133 and a gauge wheel 132 eccentrically mounted on the shaft 133 adjacent to the planting member 131. The planting member 131 and gauge wheel 132 are connected to a frame 135 of the agricultural apparatus 100 in such a manner that they depend downwardly from the frame 135. A suspension member 136 in the form of a coil spring may be provided between the shaft 133 and the frame 135 of the agricultural apparatus 100.

The agricultural apparatus 100 differs from the apparatus 30 of Figures 1 to 3 in that the rubber tyre gauge wheel 32 of Figures 1 to 3 has been replaced by a gauge wheel 132 in the form of a resilient helical coil member including a plurality of coil windings 138 such as described in our International Patent Application W02018/213879 Al.

The agricultural apparatus 100 also differs from the apparatus 30 of Figures 1 to 3 in the form of the support arm 120 for the closing wheel 10. The support arm 120 in Figures 5 and 6 is of bifurcated form having two limbs 124 and 125. A first end of the support arm 120 is connected to a part of the agricultural apparatus 30 closer to the planting member 131 and the gauge wheel 132 than in the apparatus of Figures 1 to 3. The support arm 120 extends from its first end to its second end 122 in a rearward direction which is substantially parallel to the plane of the planting member 131. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, another suspension member 128 in the form of a coil spring may be provided between the support arm 120 and part of the frame 135 of the agricultural apparatus.

The arrangement of Figures 5 and 6 allows the use of a substantially straight support arm 120, instead of the support arm 20 of Figures 1 to 3 which has a number of straight portions 24 and bends 25.

As in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the second end 122 of the support arm 120 is connected to the closing wheel 10 by the adjustable adapter 40. The hollow cylindrical member 41 of the adapter 40 is rigidly connected to the second end 22 of the support arm 120 and the cylindrical stub 47 of the swivel joint 42 is fixed to the mounting plate 15 of the closing wheel 10 in the same manner as in Figures 1 to 3.

The operation of the adapter 40 in the apparatus 100 of Figures 5 and 6 is substantially the same as in Figures 1 to 3. Thus, when the locking nut (not shown in Figures 5 and 6) is tightened on the shaft of the adapter, the mounting plate 15 and closing wheel 10 are locked in a particular orientation relative to the support arm 20 and the frame 35 of the agricultural apparatus. If required, the orientation of the closing wheel 10 can be adjusted first by loosening the locking nut, and then turning the square end section to rotate the shaft 43. Rotation of the shaft causes the cylindrical stub 47 and the mounting plate 15 of the closing wheel 10 to swivel about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and cylindrical member 41. The mounting plate 15 and closing wheel 10 can then be locked in the new orientation by tightening the locking nut.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A closing wheel for use in closing a furrow formed by at least one planting member of agricultural equipment, the closing wheel including: a resilient helical coil member having a first end and a second end and a plurality of coil windings extending between the first and second ends; a mounting plate for the coil member, the first end of the coil member being connected to the mounting plate; and an adjustable adapter for connecting the mounting plate to a support arm of the agricultural equipment, wherein the adjustable adapter allows the coil member to swivel relative to the support arm.

2. A closing wheel according to claim 1, wherein the adapter includes a first part which is adapted to be rigidly connected to the support arm, and a swivel joint connected to the mounting plate, the swivel joint being relatively movable relative to the first part to adjust the orientation of the mounting plate and coil member relative to the first part.

3. A closing wheel according to claim 2, wherein the swivel joint includes a shaft which can be rotated relative to the first part, and a second part which extends at an angle relative to the shaft.

4. A closing wheel according to claim 3, wherein the first part of the adapter has a bore through which the shaft extends

5. A closing wheel according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the second part is connected at one end to the mounting plate and at its other end to a collar provided on a first end of the shaft.

6. A closing wheel according to claim 5, wherein the second part of the adapter includes a stub member connected to the mounting plate, and a joining member connected to the collar.

7. A closing wheel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter includes locking means for locking the orientation of the mounting plate relative to the support arm.

8. A closing wheel according to claim 7 as appended to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the locking means comprises a locking nut having an internally screw threaded bore engagable with an externally screw-threaded portion of the shaft.

9. A closing wheel according to claim 8, wherein the locking nut is provided on a second end portion of the shaft which extends through and projects from the bore in the first part of the adapter, and a clamping member is provided on the shaft between the locking nut and the first part of the adapter.

10. A closing wheel according to claim 9, wherein, when the locking nut is tightened, it presses the clamping member against the first part of the adapter to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to said first part, and when the locking nut is loosened, it allows the shaft to rotate relative to said first part to adjust the angle of the second part which extends at an angle relative to the shaft.

11. A closing wheel according to claim 10, wherein the second end portion of the shaft has an end section which is non-cylindrical, eg square or hexagonal, in cross-section, so that it can be engaged by a tool to facilitate rotation of the shaft when the locking nut is loosened.

12. Agricultural apparatus incorporating a closing wheel in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustable adapter of the closing wheel is connected to a support arm of the agricultural apparatus.

13. Agricultural apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus includes a planting member adapted to form a furrow for planting seeds or grains, and the closing wheel is mounted rearwardly of the planting member and adapted to close the furrow formed by the planting member.

14. Agricultural apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus further includes a gauge wheel for controlling the depth of the furrow formed by the planting member.

15. Agricultural apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the gauge wheel comprises a resilient helical coil member including a plurality of coil windings.