AU2021105166A4

AU2021105166A4 - Knife/blade holder for agricultural machine

Info

Publication number: AU2021105166A4
Application number: AU2021105166A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jack Auldist
Original assignee: Cruel Sea Technologies Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Cruel Sea Technologies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-03-03
Filing date: 2021-08-09
Publication date: 2021-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-09
Also published as: AU2022100101A4; AU2021105166B4

Abstract

A knife holder can be bolted to the front of an agricultural seeder. The knife holder has a channel within which a shank of a knife can be received. The knife is held in position by a transverse bolt. The knife holder includes a slot within which the bolt is located, the slot having several discrete positions in which the head of the bolt can be received. 1/3 44 40 8 ,,22 20-52 34 10 320 Fig. 1 44 40 2 9 10 __54 50 A20 32---8 30----N4 32 Fig. 2

Description

1/3

44

40 8

,,22

20-52

34 10 320

Fig. 1

44 40

2 9

__54 50

32---8 A20

30----N4

32

Fig. 2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Invention title:

"KNIFE/BLADE HOLDER FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINE"

Applicant:

CRUEL SEA TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

Associated provisional applications:

Australian provisional patent application number 2021900590

The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

"KNIFE/BLADE HOLDER FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINE"

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the connection of 'blades' or 'knives' to agricultural machines such as ploughs and seeders.

Background to the Invention

[0002] Ploughs and seeders are pieces of agricultural machinery arranged to be drawn by a tractor. Generally, a plough has a number of 'blades' or'knives' spaced across its width, arranged to penetrate the ground and 'turn' the soil. Similarly, a seeder has a plurality of seeding units spaced across its width. Each seeding unit has a number of components: a leading blade or knife arranged to penetrate the ground and create a furrow as the seeder is pulled forward; a fertiliser tube through which liquid or granular fertiliser can be deposited in the furrow, a seeding 'boot' through which seeds can be deposited into the furrow, and a trailing press wheel which acts to close the furrow.

[0003] Knives for such equipment are subject to significant abrasive wear. As such, it is necessary for the knives to be periodically replaced.

[0004] It is desirable to construct ploughs and seeders with knives that are readily replaceable. It is also important that the knives are securely and rigidly held in position during use. It is also valuable to provide means to adjust the depth of knives, either due to wear or in response to particular soil conditions. It has proved difficult to achieve both of these ends.

[0005] The present invention proposes a system of attachment of replaceable knives for agricultural machines.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a knife holder arranged to mount to an agricultural machine, the knife holder having a leading edge defining a direction of travel, a first lateral side extending away from the leading edge and a second lateral side parallel to and spaced from the first lateral side, the knife holder having a channel arranged to receive a shank of a ground penetrating knife, the channel extending at least in part between the first and second lateral sides, wherein the knife holder includes a bolt-entering slot on the first lateral side and a bolt exiting slot on the second lateral side, the bolt-entering slot and the bolt-exiting slot each extending in a longitudinal direction, the knife holder being arranged to receive a bolt inserted through the bolt-entering slot, the channel, and the bolt-exiting slot in turn, the bolt being arranged to engage with a shank of a ground penetrating knife within the channel, wherein the bolt-entering slot includes a plurality of discrete bolthead positions longitudinally spaced along the bolt-entering slot.

[0007] Preferably, each of the bolthead positions includes side walls which are partially polygonal, preferably part hexagonal.

[0008] It will be appreciated that the bolt-entering slot has a central aperture larger than a shank of a bolt, such that a bolt can be slid in the longitudinal direction along the bolt-entering slot and bolt-exiting slot when a head of the bolt is spaced from the first lateral side, but wherein location of the head of the bolt in a bolthead position prevents movement of the bolt along the bolt entering slot.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a knife holder arranged to mount to an agricultural machine, the knife holder having a leading edge defining a direction of travel, a first lateral side extending away from the leading edge and a second lateral side parallel to and spaced from the first lateral side, the knife holder having a rear edge remote from the leading edge, the rear edge including at least one bolt receiving aperture such that the knife holder is arranged to be bolted to the agricultural machine by a bolt passing through the bolt receiving aperture, the knife holder having at least one upper support attached to at least one of the lateral sides, the upper support extending from the lateral side in a direction away from the leading edge, the upper support having a connection aperture for connection to the agricultural machine, the connection aperture being spaced from the knife holder.

[0010] Preferably each lateral side has an upper support connected thereto.

[0011] It is preferred that the upper supports extend from the rear edge of the knife holder in a direction away from the direction of travel. In practice, the upper supports extend in a horizontal direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] It will be convenientto further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

[0013] Figure 1 is a front perspective of a knife holder in accordance with the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a rear perspective of the knife holder of Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 3 is a front-left perspective of the knife holder of Figure 1, shown with an attached knife and with attached upper supports;

[0016] Figure 4 is a front-right perspective of the knife holder of Figure 1, shown with an attached knife and with attached upper supports; and

[0017] Figure 5 is a perspective of a seeder employing the knife holder of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0018] Referring to the Figures, the is shown a knife holder 10 arranged to be attached to a leading member of a seeder 12. The knife holder 10 is arranged to hold a knife 14 in position.

[0019] The knife holder 10 has a convexly curved leading edge 20; a concavely curved rear edge 22; a generally flat first lateral side 24 and a generally flat second lateral side 26.

[0020] The rear edge 22 has an upper portion 28 and a lower portion 30, which are angled with respect to each other at an angle of about 150°. This is to correspond with the arrangement of the seeder 12. In use, the upper portion 28 is positioned to be generally vertical, with the lower portion 30 providing a forwardly projecting angle for the knife 14.

[0021] The leading edge 20 is generally parallel to the lower portion 30 of the rear edge 22.

[0022] A channel extends internally of the knife holder 10 from an aperture in a lower edge thereof. The channel is arranged to receive a shank of the knife 14.

[0023] The lower portion 30 of the rear edge 22 includes two bolt receiving apertures 32, which are longitudinally spaced apart along a centre line of the lower portion 30. The bolt receiving apertures 32 are arranged to align with corresponding apertures on the seeder 12 when the lower portion 30 is abutting an arm of the seeder 12. In this way, the knife holder 10 can be directly bolted to the arm of the seeder 12.

[0024] The leading edge 20 includes two tool access apertures 34 which are aligned with the bolt receiving apertures 32. The arrangement is such that when the knife holder is abutting the arm of the seeder 12, bolts passing through the bolt receiving apertures 32 can be accessed for tightening via the tool access apertures 34.

[0025] The tool access apertures 34 are provided with plugs to prevent the ingress of dirt during use.

[0026] Each of the first and second lateral sides 24, 26 include a strap location portion 40 near an upper end thereof. The strap location portion 40 extends from the upper portion 28 of the rear edge 22 towards the leading edge 20. The strap location portion 40 is formed by a thinning of a wall of the respective first or second lateral side 24, 26, forming a hollow on the outside of the wall. The arrangement is such that an end of an upper support or strap 42 can be positioned in the strap location portion 40, with the strap 42 extending rearwardly away from the knife holder 10, and with the thickness of the strap 42 corresponding to the thickness of the hollow such that an outer face of the strap 42 is generally level with the outer surface of the lateral side 24,26.

[0027] A securing aperture 44 is located centrally of the strap location portion , allowing a strap 42 to be bolted into position.

[0028] The knife 14 is arranged to be held in position within the knife holder by means of a securing bolt 46. The securing bolt 46 is arranged to pass through a bolt-entering slot 50 on the first lateral side 24 and a bolt-exiting slot 52 on the second lateral side 26.

[0029] The bolt-exiting slot 52 extends along the second lateral side 26 in a longitudinal direction; that is, a direction parallel to a centre line of the leading edge 20. The bolt-exiting slot 52 has a width slightly greater than a shank of the securing bolt 46. It will be appreciated that if the bolt 46 is located in the bolt-exiting slot 52, and oriented in a transverse direction, the bolt 46 can be readily slid up and down the bolt-exiting slot 52.

[0030] The bolt-entering slot 50 is aligned with the bolt-exiting slot 52, and has a central elongate portion which is complementary in shape to the bolt exiting slot 52. The bolt-entering slot 50 has three bolthead positions spaced along its longitudinal length, an upper bolthead position 54, a central bolthead position 56 and a lower bolthead position 58.

[0031] The upper bolthead position 54 is formed by five ridges each spaced at 120° to each other, with an open space across the central elongate portion. It will be appreciated that the ridges form a hexagonal shape, with the open space representing a sixth edge to complete a nominal hexagon. The ridges are sized such that a hexagonal head 47 of the securing bolt 46 can locate within the upper bolthead position 54 and be restrained from movement by the ridges.

[0032] The lower bolthead position 58 is a mirror image of the upper bolthead position 54, located at the opposite longitudinal end of the bolt-entering slot 50.

[0033] The central bolthead position 56 is formed by four ridges, two on each side of the central elongate portion, with an open space at both longitudinal ends of the central bolthead position 56. The arrangement is such that the open edge of the upper bolthead position 54 corresponds to an open upper edge of the central bolthead position 56, and the open edge of the lower bolthead position 58 corresponds to an open lower edge of the central bolthead position 56.

[0034] It will be appreciated that the ridges located along either side of the central elongate portion form a 'zigzag' shape with alternating 120° bends. The first lateral side 24 extends on the inside of each zigzag shape, providing a straight edge to the central elongate position. As a consequence, each bolthead position 54, 56, 58 includes an outwardly facing surface 59 against which, in use, an internally facing bearing surface of the head 47 of the securing bolt 46 will locate.

[0035] The knife holder 10 is prepared for use by attachment to the seeder 12. Firstly, it is bolted to the seeder 12 via the bolt receiving apertures 32. Secondly, straps 42 are bolted into the strap location portions 40, and extended rearwardly (horizontally) across the arm of the seeder 12. The straps 42 are bolted to the seeder 12 at a location remote from the knife holder , thus providing additional bracing support.

[0036] The shank of the knife 14 can then be inserted into the channel of the knife holder 10. The shank includes a notch arranged to receive the securing bolt 46.

[0037] When the shank of the knife 14 is inserted sufficiently far into the channel of the knife holder 10, the securing bolt 46 can be passed through the bolt-entering slot 50, through the notch of the knife 14, and through the bolt exiting slot 52. The securing bolt 46 and thus the knife 14 can be slid up and down in the longitudinal direction until one of the three locating positions is chosen. The securing bolt 46 can then be advanced so that the head 47 of the securing bolt 46 is located within one of the bolthead positions 54, 56, 58.

[0038] The knife 14 can be secured in position by application of a nut 60 to an outer end of the securing bolt 46, against the bolt-exiting slot 52.

[0039] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A knife holder arranged to mount to an agricultural machine, the knife holder having a leading edge defining a direction of travel, a first lateral side extending away from the leading edge and a second lateral side parallel to and spaced from the first lateral side, the knife holder having a channel arranged to receive a shank of a ground penetrating knife, the channel extending at least in part between the first and second lateral sides, wherein the knife holder includes a bolt-entering slot on the first lateral side and a bolt exiting slot on the second lateral side, the bolt-entering slot and the bolt-exiting slot each extending in a longitudinal direction, the knife holder being arranged to receive a bolt inserted through the bolt-entering slot, the channel, and the bolt-exiting slot in turn, the bolt being arranged to engage with the shank of the ground penetrating knife within the channel, wherein the bolt-entering slot includes a plurality of discrete bolthead positions longitudinally spaced along the bolt-entering slot.
2. A knife holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the bolthead positions includes side walls which are partially polygonal.
3. A knife holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the side walls are part hexagonal.
4. A knife holder arranged to mount to an agricultural machine, the knife holder having a leading edge defining a direction of travel, a first lateral side extending away from the leading edge and a second lateral side parallel to and spaced from the first lateral side, the knife holder having a rear edge remote from the leading edge, the rear edge including at least one bolt receiving aperture such that the knife holder is arranged to be bolted to the agricultural machine by a bolt passing through the bolt receiving aperture, the knife holder having at least one upper support attached to at least one of the lateral sides, the upper support extending from the lateral side in a direction away from the leading edge, the upper support having a connection aperture for connection to the agricultural machine, the connection aperture being spaced from the knife holder.
5. A knife holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein each lateral side has an upper support connected thereto.
6. A knife holder as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the upper supports extend from the rear edge of the knife holder in a direction away from the direction of travel.

CRUEL SEA TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP

P2415AU01