AU602879B2 - An improved scraper device for an agricultural implement - Google Patents

Description

To: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS (a member of the firm of DAVIES COLLISON for and on behalf of the Applicant).

Davies Collison, Melbourne and Canberra.

4, i 1 i- COMMONWEALTH .OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 6 (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: 67 36/87 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: ,,*Priority: .'Related Art: 90 *t 0 1 *0 0 It 0 tt.

Ir *r 1 1tl Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: t Jla GRIZZLY ENGINEERING PTY. LTD.

Ultima Road, Swan Hill, in the State of Victoria, Commonwelath of Australia.

Bruce Allan POLTROCK DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Actual Inventor(s): t ct Address for Service: Complete specification for the invention entitled: "AN IMPROVED SCRAPER DEVICE FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us 1 Insert place and date of signature. Declared at W'-J J L- this 7 day J J Y l/q Signature of Declarant(s) (no attestation required). Note: Initial all alterations. DAVIES COLLISON. MELBOURNE and CANBERRA.

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2 "AN IMPROVED SCRAPER DEVICE FOR AN AGRICULTURAL

IMPLEMENT"

This invention relates to a scraper device for removing earth from an axially rotatable member of an agricultural implement.

Generally speaking the present invention can be regarded as an improvement on the earth clearing means which is disclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 27720/84.

The earth clearing means described in the specification °of that application is particularly suited to clearing earth and other foreign material from plough discs. It has a number of advantages but it does nevertheless have some drawbacks. As the agricultural implement is operated, the plough discs are rotated and any earth u* ~which is accumulated on the spacer elements between the plough discs is removed by a scraper plate which is fixed adjacent to the spacer elements. Earth accumulated on the disc itself tends to be removed by falling into the void created on removal of accumulated material from the spacer elements. As, however, the o 4 scraper plate is located a fixed distance from the spacer elements, earth can become compacted and pressed Sbetween the scraper plates and the spacer elements.

This compacted earth does not prevent rotation of the plough discs and spacer elements, however, layers of compacted earth on the spacer elements may cause damage to the scraper plates and their mounting arms. Any damage will impair the operation of the earth clearing means.

M II 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 ,37 The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawback.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an implement including a framework, a plurality of ground working discs with spacer elements therebetween, the discs and elements being rotatably mounted on the framework, clearing means for each spacer element, said clearing means each comprising an arm having blade means thereon operable to remove earth or other material accumulated on the spacer elements and arm mounting means arranged such that the arm can swing relative to the framework about an axis which is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the spacer element between a first position in which the blade means is spaced from the spacer element by a first predetermined distance and a second position in which the blade means engages or is spaced from the spacer element by a second predetermined distance which is less than said first predetermined distance, the arrangement being such that in use earth or other material forms a layer accumulated on the said spacer element, which layer, on engagement with the blade means, will cause the blade means to penetrate the layer and swing towards said second predetermined position, thereby removing at least a part of said layer, said clearing means being biased so said arm returns to a position, after removing said at least part of said layer, at which the blade means is clear of any part of said layer still remaining on the spacer element, thereby avoiding compaction of the layer by the blade means.

The present invention further provides a method of clearing earth or other material from spacer elements located between respective ground working discs of a plough, comprising the steps of moving the discs over the ground so that they rotate about respective axes and layers of earth or other material accumulate thereon on the spacer elements, mounted clearing means including blades relative to the element such 900802. dbwspe.011,grizzly.spe3 3a 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 t tt t 13 t 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 3 8 i.t.

that they can swing about axes which are generally parallel to the axes of the spacer elements between first and second extreme positions, permitting the layers to increase in thickness until the blades engage the layers, causing the blades to bite into the layers and be moved towards said elements until they reach their second extreme positions, thereby causing removal of at least parts of said layers, and after removal of said at least parts of said layers, permitting the blades to return to positions in which they are clear of any said layers still remaining on said spacer elements, thereby avoiding compaction of the layers by the blades.

The present invention also provided a scraper device for use on an implement including a framework, a plurality of ground working discs with spacer elements therebetween, the discs and elements being rotatably mounted on the framework, clearing means for each spacer element, said scraper device comprising an arm having blade means thereon operable to remove earth or other material accumulated on the spacer elements and arm mounting means arranged such that the arm can swing relative to the framework about an axis which is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the spacer element between a first position in which the blade means is spaced from the spacer element by a first predetermined distance and a second position in which the blade means engages or is spaced from the spacer element by a second predetermined distance which is less than said first predetermined distance, the arrangement being such that in use earth or other material forms a layer accumulated on the said spacer element, which layer, on engagement with the blade means, will cause the blade means to penetrate the layer and swing towards said second predetermined position, thereby removing at least a part of said layer, said clearing means being biased so said arm returns to a position, after removing said at least part of said layer, at which the blade means is clear of any part of said layer 900802.dbwspe.O11.grizzly.$pe.4 4 still remaining on the spacer element, thereby compaction of the layer by the blade means.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described, by way of example only, with reference accompanying drawings wherein: avoiding 4 6 7 8 9 11 So4 a 12 13 14 a* e o 16 17 18 19 21 22 S 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 further to the 900802.dbwspe.O11.grizzlyspe.5 1 2 Figure 1 is a side view of unassembled parts of the scraper 3 device; 4 Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembled scraper device; 6 7 Figure 3 is a side view of the scraper device mounted on an 8 agricultural implement; and 9 Figure 4 is a rear view of the scraper device mounted on an 11 agricultural implement.

12 13 The scraper device 2, as shown in the drawings, comprises an 14 arm 6 and a clamping member 4 which in use is clamped to an agricultural implement 5 such as 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 90036.dbi-;=pe.005.grizzly.s pe.4 L qL1-- i i i i j plough (see Figure Alternatively the member 4 can be welded to the agricultural implement 5. The agricultural implement 5 may be similar to that described in Australian patent application No. 27720/84 apart from the earth clearing means disclosed therein.

The implement 5 has a framework of which only a transverse beam 30 is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The implement has a transverse shaft 31 upon which is mounted a plurality of plough discs 34 and spacer elements 32 alternately located along the shaft 31. The discs are separated by the spacer elements 32 and are supported thereby. In use, the implement 5 is moved across the ground, the discs engage the earth and rotate 0 oi, about the shaft 31 and in so doing effect working of the t ground surface. The device 2 of the invention is for .9 clearing accumulated earth and other material from the ,spacer elements 32, as will be described below.

As best seen in Figure 2, the member 4 is bifurcated, a slot 3 being defined between a pair of side portions and 20b. The member 4 has a recess 1 for receipt of the beam 30. A leg 21 opposite to the side portions 20a and has a threaded bore through which passes a clamping bolt 8 for fixing the member 4 to the beam 30. The side portions 20a and 20b have a bolt hole 10 passing C t therethrough for receipt of a bolt 22 which forms the pivotal connection for the arm 6 to the member 4.

Alternatively the arm 6 may be pivotally connected to a locating lug (not shown) attached to the transverse beam The arm 6 has a generally straight central portion 7 and a tapered portion 9 which is formed at its lower end with a scraper plate 18. The plate 18 may be integrally 6 formed with the tapered portion 9 or be connected thereto be welding. The lower edge 23 and/or the side edges of the plate 18 may be sharpened. The upper end of the central portion is formed with an inclined leg 11 having a curved outer edge 34 and an upper leg 15. As best seen in Figure 4, the central portion 7 is inclined relative to the plane which contains the leg 11 thus facilitating location of the plate 18 between adjacent discs 34. A bolt hole 12 is formed through the inclined leg 11 and the bolt 22 passes through aligned holes and 12. A nut 24 is tightened on the bolt 22 to complete ,the pivotal connection. The bolt 22 is preferably a rrr s{ iotlcnncin ,high-tensile bolt. The arm 6 also includes an upper leg 15 adjacent to the leg 11, the leg 15 having a 4 threaded bore which receives an adjusting bolt 16, the inner end of which is engageable with the surface of the beam 30. A number of different fastening methods, however, could be used to pivotally attach the arm 6 to the beam 4 r(Figure 3 shows the assembled device 2 mounted 9n the beam 30 and the location of the plate 18 relative tothe spacer element 32. The clamping member 4 is mounted so that the scraper plate 18 lies generally adjacent the surface 42 of the spacer element 32. The scraper device 1 2 is constructed so that upon clamping the device 2 to the assembly frame member 30, the center of mass of the arm 6 (including the plate 18 and leg 11) is offset, horizontallyiand vertically from the pivotal axis of the bolt 22, towards the spacer element 32. This ensures that either the inner face 36 of the leg 11 or the free end of the adjusting screw 16 engages the face 38 of the beam 30 in a rest position of the arm. Thus the 7 clearance between the plate 18 and the element 32 at the rest position of the arm 6 may be adjusted by the adjusting bolt 16. The bolt 16 is easily accessable to the user, as seen from Figure 4. The arrangement is such that the bolt 16 can adjust the rest position of the arm such that the maximum clearance between lower edge 23 and the surface 42 of the spacer element is preferably in the range 65-75 mm. The arm can swing inwardly until the edge 23 engages the surface 42 or until the arm engages an abutment such as surface formed in the clamping member 4 adjacent the slot 3.

*,On The minimum clearance between the edge 23 and surface 42 is preferably in the range 0-25 mm.

l o 0 If the device is mounted on the member 30 so that the 0 0 oo center of mass of the arm 6 is not offset with respect Oa to the axis of the bolt 22 as described above, a spring or other mechanical means may be employed in order to bias the arm 6 towards a desired rest position.

As the ground surface is worked the spacer element 32 0 and the plough disc 34 are rotated in the direction of arrow 40 as seen in Figure 3. Depending upon the soil conditions some earth may be accumulated on the surface S 42 of the spacer element 32 as a layer 25. When the thickness of the layer 25 grows it will engage the lower p edge 23 of the plate, the edge will bite into the layer This causes the arm to rotate in the direction of arrow 44. As rotation of the layer 25 continues its outer portions will be shaved off by the edge 23 of the plate and the arm 6 will continue to rotate inwardly i.

a 8 until the edge 23 impinges on the surface 42 thereby removing substantially the whole layer Alternatively the arm 6 may engage an abutment limiting inward rotation thus preventing the edge 23 engaging the surface 42 thereby leaving a thin layer of earth adhered to the element 32. In either case, after the layer has been reduced by inward travel of the plate 18, the arm 6 will then be free to return to its rest position.

As seen in Figure 4, the scraper plate 18 is wide enough so as to remove earth from substantially the entire Se. surface 42. It has been found that removal of the layer adhered to the element 42 causes a consequential a.

o ,o clearing of earth and other m-aterials accumulated on the surfaces of the discs 34. This effect is achieved .Og because the removal of the layer creates a void into cr Dwhich material accumulated on. the discs is free to fall.

The side edgesof the plate 18 as it swings also tend to directly dislodge materials accumulated on the faces of the discs 34.

It will be noted that the free swinging action of the arm prevents compaction of the layer 25 on the spacer element 32 or compaction of layers on the adjacent discs.

In an alternative arrangement, the device 2 is mounted such that its scraper plate 18 is adjacent to a radial face of a disc instead of a spacer element. The lower edge 43 of the plate 38 would then remove dirt directly I from the face of the disc. In this case the arm 6 would I l 9 be mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the discs.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein. It will be appreciated that the device could be used on other implements such as road making or repairing machinery in an analogous manner.

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Claims (4)

1. An implement including a framework, a plurality of ground working discs with spacer elements therebetween, the discs and elements being rotatably mounted on the framework, clearing means for each spacer element, said clearing means each comprising an arm having blade means thereon operable to remove earth or other material accumulated on the spacer elements and arm mounting means arranged such that the arm can swing relative to the framework about an axis which is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the spacer element between a first position in which the blade means is spaced from the spacer element by a first predetermined distance and a second position in which the blade means engages or is spaced from the spacer element by a second predetermined distance which is less than said first predetermined distance, the arrangement being such that in use earth or other material forms a layer accumulated on the said spacer element, which layer, on engagement with the blade means, will cause the blade means to penetrate the layer and swing towards said second predetermined position, thereby removing at least a part of said layer, said clearing means being biased so said arm returns to a position, after removing said at least part of said layer, at which the blade means is clear of any part of said layer still remaining on the spacer element, thereby avoiding compaction of the layer by the blade means.

2. An implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clearing means is biased to said first position by gravity.

3. An implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clearing means is biased to said first position by a spring.

4. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the implement comprises a plough and wherein there are a plurality of said ground working elements mounted on shaft

900802.dbwspe.011.grizzly.spe,10 'V 6h.-- 1: ~i 11 V t t 1 12 f r 13 14 tv i t 15 *tr 16 16 .17 18 19 20 S*t 21 22 23 24 S' 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 k 3 37 -i 38 means extending generally transversely to the direction of movement of the plough. An implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spacer elements are cylindrical in shape and are mounted for rotation on said shaft means and wherein said blade means is generally parallel to spacer elements arid the first predetermined distance is in the range 65 to 75 mm and the second predetermined distance is in the range 0 to 25 mm. 6. An implement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the blade means is located at the base of a plane which extends between adjacent discs. 7. An implement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the blade means has a lower edge and the axis of rotation of the arms is located rearwardly of said shaft means and wherein, in the second position of the blade means, its lower edge is located beneath a horizontal plane passing through the center of the spacer elements. 8. An implement as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arm mounting means includes a body which is mounted on the framework. 9. An implement as claimed in claim 8 including means to selectively adjust the first or second predetermined position. 10. An implement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one adjusting bolt. 11. A method of clearing earth or other material from spacer elements located between respective ground working discs of a plough, comprising the steps of moving the discs over the ground so that they rotate about respective axes and layers of earth or other material accumulate thereon on 900802,dbwspe.O11.grlzzly. ape. i 1- 12 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 Ox 38 the spacer elements, mounted clearing means including blades relative to the element such that they can swing about axes which are generally parallel to the axes of the spacer elements between first and second extreme position, permitting the layers to increase in thickness until the blades engage the layers, causing the blades to bite into the layers and be moved towards said elements until they reach their second extreme positions, thereby causing removal of at least parts of said layers, and after removal of said at least parts of said layers, permitting the blades to return to positions in which they are clear of any said layers still remaining on said spacer elements, thereby avoiding compaction of the layers by the blades. 12. A scraper device for use on an implement including a framework, a plurality of ground working discs with spacer elements therebetween, the discs and elements being rotatably mounted on the framework, clearing means for each spacer element, said scraper device comprising an arm having blade means thereon operable to remove earth or other material accumulated on the spacer elements and arm mounting means arranged such that the arm can swing relative to the framework about an axis which is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the spacer element between a first position in which the blade means is spaced from the spacer eldment by a first predetermined distance and a second position in which the blade means engages or is spaced from the spacer element by a second predetermined distance which is less than said first predetermined distance, the arrangement being such that in use earth or other material fo--ms a layer accumulated on the said spacer element, which layer, on engagement with the blade means, will cause the blade means to penetrate the layer and swing towards said second predetermined position, thereby removing at least a part of said layer, said clearing means being biased so said arm returns to a position, after removing said at least part of said layer, at which the blade means is clear of any part 900802,dbwspe.Oll.grizzly.spe,12 I13 1 of said layer still remaining on the spacer element, thereby 2 avoiding compaction of the layer by the blade means. 3 4 13. A scraper device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device is biased to said first position by gravity. 6 7 14. A scraper device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the 8 device is biased to said first position by a spring. 9 15. A scraper device as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein 11 the implement comprises a plough and wherein there are a 12 plurality of said ground working elements mounted on shaft S 13 means extending generally transversely to the direction of 14 movement of the plough. 16 16. A scraper device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the 17 spacer elements are cylindrical in shape and are mounted for 18 rotation on said shaft means and wherein said blade means is 19 generally parallel to spacer elements and the first predetermined distance is in the range 65 to 75 mm and the 21 second predetermined distance is in the range 0 to 25 mm. 22 23 17. A scraper device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the 24 blade means is located at the base of a plane which extends between adjacent discs. 26 27 18. A scraper device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the 28 blade means has a lower edge and the axis of rotation of the 29 arms is located rearwardly of said shaft means and wherein, in the second position of the blade means, its lower edge is 31 located beneath a horizontal plane passing through the 32 center of the spacer elements. 33 34 19. A scraper device as claimed in claim 18 wherein said arm mounting means includes a body which is mounted on the 36 framework. b 37 38 900802,dbwspe.O11.grizzly.spe.13 I 14 A scraper device as claimed in claim 19 including means to selectively adjust the first or second predetermined position. 21. A scraper device as claimed in claim 20 wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one adjusting bolt. 22. An implement including a framework hereinbefore described with reference to drawings. substantially as the accompanying 23. A method of clearing earth or other material from a ground working element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 24. A scraper device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 2nd day of August, 1990. GRIZZLY ENGINEERING PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON 900802,dbwspe.O1,grzzly.spe, 14 L,