AU647742B2 - Tine pressure control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

a~l U3 I kti PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: 647Cl Class 2 Application Number: Lodged: Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant(s): Address of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: JOHN DAVID THOMAS and COLIN CRAIG CAMPBELL 4 Worner Crescent Karrinyup, Western Australia, Australia Road Wembley Downs, Western Australia Australia

APPLICANTS

'Kelvin Lord Co., 4 Douro Place, WEST PERTH, Western Australia. 6005.

0014111 G Col S 1 W0 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "TINE PRESSURE CONTROL MECHANISM" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/ us

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~1 -I 2 The present invention relates to a tine pressure control mechanism and a tine apparatus incorporating such a tine pressure control mechanism.

The tine pressure control mechanism can act on a tine of the tine apparatus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tine pressure control mechanism comprising pivotal member means pivotally connected to mounting means by a first pivotal connection; and, first biasing means comprising first rod means and first spring means, said first rod means pivotally connected to said mounting means by a second pivotal connection and said first spring means associated with said first rod means, wherein said pivotal member means is arranged to enable a tine to be pivotal therewith such that, in use, when said tine encounters resistive force upon its forward movement through soil tending to pivot said pivotal member maans and said tine in a backward direction via said first pivotal connection, said spring means exerts a biasing force to counteract said resistive force and counter the pivoting of said pivotal member means and said tine in said backward direction.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a tine assembly apparatus incorporating a tine pressure control mechanism in 4

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O (1 04 4 j- 1 3 2 accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 3 Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of the tine apparatus 4 shown in Figure 1 with the seed delivery tube omitted therefrom for clarity; 6 Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the tine apparatus 7 shown in Figure 1; 8 Figure 4 is a partly sectional elevation view of part of the 9 tine pressure control mechanism of the tine apparatus shown in Figure 1; 11 Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of part of the tine 12 apparatus shown in Figure i, showing the tine pressure 13 control mechanism in greater detail; and 14 Figure 5 is a partly cut-away rear perspective view of part of the tine pressure control mechanipm shown in Figure 16 In Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a tine apparatus 17 incorporating a tine pressure control mechanism 12 in 18 accordance with the present invention.

19 The tine pressure control mechanism 12 is also shown, in 20 more detail, in Figures 4 to 6.

''ft 21 The tine pressure control mechanism 12 comprises a pair of 22 plate members 14 and 16 which are pivotally connected to 23 mounting lugs 18 by a first pivotal connection, and first 24 biasing means which comprises a rod 20, 7hich is pivotally tr 25 connected at a fir:t end thereof to the mounting lugs 18 by 26 a second pivotal connection, and a spring 22 associated with 27 the red 28 The first pivotal connection is at a height above the second p-2 9 pivotal connection.

0 The first pivotal connection is provided forwardly of the I 6 0 I. o6* S1 4

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second pivotal connection (relative to the direction of forward movement of a tine 100 of the tine apparatus The first pivotal connection may comprise a bolt 24 passing through aligned apertures in the plate members 14 and 16 and the mounting lugs 18. The bolt 24 is retained in position by a nut 26. The plate members 14 and 16 are pivotable via the bolt 24 to provide the pivotal connection.

The second pivotal connection may comprise a pin 28 extending between the mounting lugs 18 and a short sleeve at the first end of the rod 20. The rod 20 is pivotable via the pin 28 and sleeve 30 to provide the pivotal connection.

The rod 20 supports the spring 22.

The spring 22 is a coil spring and is arranged around the rod The rod 20 is provided with a screw-threaded portion 32 near its second end, i.e. the end remote from the short sleeve A spring retainer 34 is disposed on the rod 20 and abuts with an end of the spring 22, on one side thereof to retain that end. A nut 36 is disposed on the other side of the spring retainer 34 around the screw thread of the screw-threaded portion 32. This arrangement forms a tension adjustment mechanism for the tension in the spring 22,- A pair of narrow spring retainer plates 38 are provided on the plate embers 14 and 16 and abut with the second end of the spring 22. The retainer plates 38 are shown in Figure 4 and can also be partly seen in Figure 6. The narrow spring retainer plates 38 are formed with respective narrow plates The two sets of narrow plates 38 and 40 form an shaped plate member. The narrow plates 40 are connected to I C Jii t c C t

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Ic- ,1 1 2 the upper portion of a respective plate member 14,16. The 3 narrow plates 40 extend from the narrow spring retainer 4 plates substantially in the longitudinal direction of the 5 spring 22, above the spring 22. The narrow spring retainer 6 plates 38 retain the second end of the spring 22.

7 The tension of the spring 22 can be adjusted via the tension 8 adjustment mechanism, i.e. increased or decreased, by 9 turning the nut 36 in the appropriate direction. Rotation of the nut 36 causes the spring 22 to either contract or 11 expand, thereby altering the tension thereof.

12 The plate members 14 and 16 are connected to a base plate 13 42.

I 14 A pair of lugs 44 and 46 extend from the undersurface of the base plate 42. Another pair of lugs 48 and 50 are pivotally 16 connected to the lugs 44 and 46, respectively.

17 This pivotal connection may comprise a bolt 52 passing 18 through aligned apertures in the lugs 44 and 46 and the lugs 19 48 and 50. The bolt 52 is retained in position by a nut S. 20 54. the lugs 48 and 50 are pivotable via the bolt 52 to

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l l 21 provide the pivotal connection.

22 Portions 56 and 58 extend from the base plate 42 on the 23 outer sides of the plate members 14 and 16, respectively.

I 24 The extended portions 56 and 58 are provided with openings 25 60 and 62, respectively, i 26 Second and third biasing means are also provided.

S 27 The second and third biasing means are provided on the outer 28 side of a respective plate member 14,16. i /9 The second biasing means comprises a rod 64 and a spring

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1- 6-6 2 80. The third biasing means comprises a rod 66 and a spring 3 82.

4 The rods 64 and 66 extend through the openings 60 and 62, respectively. The rods 64 and 66 are pivotally or 6 non-rigidly connected with respective pairs of ends of the 7 lugs 48 and 50. These pivotal, or non-rigid, connections 8 may comprise bolts 68 and 70 which pass through apertures in 9 respective pairs of ends of the lugs 48 and 50 and short sleeves 72 and 74 at first ends of the rods 64 and 66, 11 respectively. The bolts 68 and 70 are retained in position 12 by respective nuts one of which (76) is seen in Figure 3, 13 which is on the bolt 68. The rods 64 and 66 are pivotable 14 via the bolts 68 and 70 and the sleeves 72 and 74 to provide the pivotal connections.

16 The rods 64 and 66 support the springs 80 and 82, 17 respectively.

18 The springs 80 and 82 are arranged around the rods 64 and 19 66, respectively. The springs 80 and 82 are coil springs.

.20 The rods 64 and 66 are provided with screw-threaded portions 21 84 and 86, respectively, near their second ends, i.e. the 22 ends remote from the respective short sleeves 72 and 74.

23 Spring retainers 88 and 90 are disposed on the rods 64 and 24 66, respectively, and abut with a respective end of the 25 springs 80 and 82, respectively, on one respective side of 26 the spring retainers 88 and 90 to retain these respective 27 ends of the springs 80 and 82. Nuts 92 and 94 are disposed tLC 28 on the other respective sides of the spring retainers 88 and 29 90 around the screw-thread of the screw-threaded portions 84 \0 and 86, respectively. This forms respective tension 1 6a 2 adjustment mechanisms for the tension in the springs 80 and 3 82.

4 The second respective ends of the springs 80 and 82 abut with the upper surfaces of the extended portions 56 and 58, 6 respectively. The extended portions 56 and 58 retain the 7 second respective ends of the springs 80 and 82.

8 The tension of the springs 80 and 82 can be individually 9 adjusted, i.e. increased or decreased, by turning the nuts 84 and 86, respectively, in the appropriate directions.

11 Rotation of the nuts 92 and 94 causes the springs 80 and 82, 12 respectively, to either contract or expand, thereby altering 13 the tension thereof.

14 A plate 96 is connected to the undersurfaces of the lugs 48 and 50 and a gusset 96 is connected to the undersurface of 16 the plate 96.

17 The plate 96 and gusset 98 are connected to the tine 100, of 18 the tine apparatus 10. In this way, one end of the tine 100 19 is connected with the lugs 48 and 50 and thus with the tine r I 20 pressure control mechanism 12. In this way, the tine 100 is t St 21 pivotable relative to the first and second pivotal 22 connections.

23 The other end of the tine 100 has a channel shaped member 24 102 attached thereto. A ground engaging tool 104 is I 25 connectable to the tine 100 by a bolt 106 (shown in phantom .26 in Figure 3) which passes through a pair of aligned S27 apertures in the channel shaped member 102 and tine 100. A 28 ring 108 is connected to the rear of the tine 100, at the S" 29 lower portion thereof. Another ring 110 is connected to the ~ANj~ 1 6b 2 plate 96, at the rear of one side thereof.

3 A seed delivery tube 112 is retained by the channel shaped 4 member 102 and the rings 108 and 110.

The bolt 106 passes into the seed delivery tube 112 and is 6 retained by a nut 114 (shown in phantom in Figure The 7 tine apparatus 10 further comprises a bracket V I I C IVL

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0 116 to which the lugs 18 are connected. The bracket is used to connect the tine ae apparatus 10 to an agricultural machine (not shown).

The manner of use and operation of the present invention will now be described.

The tine -aesA- apparatus 10 is connected to a suitable agricultural machine. As the agricultural machine traverses the land, the ground engaging tool 104 is pulled through the soil to create a furrow. Seeds are dropped through an opening 118 of the seed delivery tube 112 into the furrow. The arrow A in Figure 3 shows the direction of travel of the agricultural machine.

As the tine 100 moves through the soil, the resistance to its movement provided by the soil tends to move the tine 100 backwards. This is shown by the arrow B in Figure 3.

The backwards movement of the tine 100 will also tend to move the tine 100 and the working tool 104 upwards. This also tends to move the opening 118 of the seed delivery tube backwards and upwards which is undesirable since the seeding depth is not kept constant.

This tendency to backwards movement of the tine 100 causes the plate members 14 and 16 to tend to pivot via the first pivotal connection wiv\the mounting lugs 18 in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 5 by arrow C. Additionally, the rod 20 tends to pivot about the second pivotal connection with the mounting lugs 18 in a like direction.

As the plate members 14 and 16 tend to pivot about the first pivotal connection and the rod 20 tends to pivot about the second pivotal connection, the distance between -I l~ t it

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a c :mn~ 101. 1 *s 8 the second pivotal connection and the narrow spring retainer plates 38 increases. This is because the mounting lugs 18 tend to pull the rod 20 in a forward and downward direction. This tends to compress the spring 22 on the rod 20 between the narrow spring retainer plates 38 and the spring retainer 34. The spring 22, in turn, exerts a biasing force against the narrow spring retainer plates 38 against such compression. This biasing force tends to pivot the plate members 14 and 16, and the rod 20 in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Figures 5 and 6) about their respective first and second pivotal connections.

Thus, the spring 22 exerts a biasing force which tends to counteract the pivoting of the plate members 14 and 16 (and the rod 20) in the direction of arrow C, and counteract the backwards and upwards movement of the tine 100, working tool 104 and opening 118 of the seed delivery tube 112.

In this way, the biasing force exerted by the spring 22 is not exerted directly on the tine 100 but on the narrow spring retainer plates 38 which thereby act as pressure plates.

Thus, the tine 100, working tool, 104 and the opening 118 are maintained at a substantially constant depth in the soil, due to the force exerted by the spring 22. This enables a substantially constant seeding depth to be attained, not withstanding irregularities in the soil through which the tine 100 passes.

If the working tool 104 engages greater resistance on one of its sides than the other, the tine 100 will tend to pivot laterally about the bolt 52 with the lugs 48 and -9.

Thus, for example, if the tine 100 encounters greater resistance on its left side, as viewed in Figure 2, it will tend to pivot about the bolts 52 in the direction shown in Figure 2 by the arrow S. This will tend to move the rod 66 upwardly in the direction shown by the arrow U in Figure 2.

Simultaneously, the rod 64 will tend to move downwardly in Sthe direction shown by the arrow D in Figure 2.

t This movement tends to cause the spring 82 around the rod 66 to be compressed between the stop spring retainer 90 and the extended portion 58 of the base plate 42. The spring however, exerts a biasing force against such compression of the spring 82 and pivoting of the tine 100 in the direction S.

An analogous situation would occur if the tine 100 i 15 encountered greater resistance on its right side, except that the roles of the springs 80 and 82 and rods 64 and 66 would be exchanged.

The tine 100 is thus biased against lateral movement such that it tends to remain substantially upright due to the forces exerted by the springs 80 and 82.

Th b,.asing forces of the spring 22 and the springs 80 and 8- may be adjuste. by altering the position of the nut 36 and the nuts 84 and 86, respectively.

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

Claims (24)

1. A tine pressure control mechanism comprising: pivotal member means pivotally connected to mounting means by a first pivotal connection; and, first biasing means comprising first rod means and first spring means, said first rod means pivotally connected to said mounting means by a second pivotal connection and said first spring means associated with said first rod means, wherein said pivotal member means is arranged to enable a tine to be pivotal therewith such that, in use, when said tine encounters resistive force upon its forward movement through soil tending to pivot said pivotal member means and said tine in a backward direction via said first pivotal connection, said spring means exerts a biasing force to counteract said resistive force and counter the pivoting of said pivotal member means and said tine in said backward direction.

2. A tine pressure con'rol mechanism according to claim 1, wherein first spring retainer means is provided to retain said first spring means at a first end thereof and second spring retainer means is provided to retain said first spring means at a second end thereof.

3. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said pivotal member means is provided with said first spring retainer means.

4. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said first spring retainer means comprises first plate members on which said first spring means exerts 11 2 said biasing force. 3

5. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 4, 4 wherein second plate members are provided and extend from respective said first plate members substantially in the 1 6 longitudinal direction of said first spring means, above 7 said first spring means. 8

6. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one 9 of claims 1 to 5, wherein first tension adjustment means is provided to adjust the tension in said first spring means. 11

7. A tine pressure controL mechanism according to claim 6, 12 wherein said first tension adjustment means comprises a nut 13 engaging with a screw-threaded portion provided on said 14 first rod means and said nut abutting said second spring retainer means such that the tension in said first spring 16 means is adjustable by turning said nut. 17

8. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one 18 of claims 1 to 7, wherein said mounting means comprises lug 19 members and said pivotal member means comprises third plate members. 21

9. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 8, 22 wherein said first pivotal connection comprises first bolt 4 23 means extending through said lug members and said third 24 plate members are pivotable via said first bolt means.

10. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claims 8 and 9, wherein said second pivotal connection comprises ;27 first pin means extending between said lug members and a 28 sleeve provided on said first rod means, said rod means L being pivotable via said first pin means and said sleeve. 3 i

11. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one .II i ~1-11 I i i I C C 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 IA 12 of claims 1 to 10, wherein said first pivotal connection is at a height above said second pivotal connection.

12. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said first pivotal connection is provided forwardly of said second pivotal connection relative to the direction of said forward movement of said tine.

13. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising base plate means connected to said pivotal member means, first lug means extending from said base plate means and second lug means pivotally connected to said first lug means by a third pivotal connection such that said third pivotal connection allows said second lug means to pivot laterally relative to the direction of said forward movement of said tine through the soil, said second lug means arranged to have said tine connected thereto.

14. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 13, further comprising second and third biasing means arranged on respective sides of said pivotal member means such that when said tine encounters a greater resistance on one of its sides tending to pivot said second lug means anci said tine laterally via said third pivotal connection means, said second or third biasing means exerts a counteractive biasing force against said resistance to counter the lateral pivoting of said second lug means and said tine.

15. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said second biasing means comprises second rod means and second spring means associated with said second r -r i ii 1 13 2 rod means, said third biasing means comprises third rod 3 means and third spring means associated with said third rod 4 means, third spring retainer means provided to retain said second spring means at a first end thereof and fourth spring 6 retainer means provided to retain said second spring means 7 at a second end thereof, and fifth spring retainer means 8 provided to retain said third spring means at a first end 9 thereof and sixth spring retainer means provided to retain said third spring means at a second end thereof. 11

16. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 12 15, wherein said third spring retainer means and said fifth 13 spring retainer means comprise respective extended portions 14 extending from said base plate means.

17. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 16 16, wherein said extended portions have respective openings 17 therein and said second and third means extend through 18 respective said openings and are pivotally connected with S19 said second lug means by fourth and fifth pivotal connections, respectively. 21

18. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one 22 of claims 15 to 17, wherein second and third tension 23 adjustment means are provided to adjust the tension in said 24 second spring means and said third spring means, respectively. 26

19. A tine pressure control mechanism according to claim 27 18, wherein said second and third tension adjustment means 28 each comprise a nut engaging with a respective L,I screw-threaded portion provided on said second and third rod 6 3O means and a said nut abutting said fourth and sixth spring :r LI. IIIX~IIIXII I- L i II ,t It C.~ I i~ i i~ 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 ,26 :"r t 27 28 14 retainer means, respectively, such that the tension in said second and third spring means is adjustable by turning a respective said nut.

20. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein said third pivotal connection co;prises second bolt means extending through said first lug means and said second lug means is pivotable via said second bolt means.

21. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein said second lug means comprises a pair of second lug members, and said fourth and fifth pivotal connections each comprise third and fourth bolt means, respectively, extending between said second lug members and a respective sleeve provided on said second and third rod means, a said sleeve being pivotable around said third and fourth bolt means, respectively.

22. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one of claims 13 to 21, wherein said first lug means comprises a pair of third lug members.

23. A tine pressure control mechanism according to any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein a tine is connected to said second lug means such that said tine is pivotable relative to said first and second pivotal connections.

24. A ti.ne apparatus comprising bracket means to connect said tine npparatus to an agricul al machine, a tine arranged to carry a ground engagiuig tool, and a tine pressure control mechanism as defined in any one of claims 1 to 23 to which said tine is connected. A tine pressure control mechanism substantially as I 1 15 2 hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying 3 drawings. 4 26. A tine apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 6. 7 8 DATED OCTOBER 27 1993 9 TROTCO PTY LTD (ACN 009 341 520) By their Patent Attorneys KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA CIA It t II t l I S -rJ cU P: r t~L :t-'.rr