AU652375B2

AU652375B2 - Plant stalk removing apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU652375B2
Application number: AU81103/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Charles R Schultz
Original assignee: ARIZONA DRIP SYSTEMS Inc; CARGAI Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ARIZONA DRIP SYSTEMS Inc; CARGAI Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-07-16
Filing date: 1991-07-16
Publication date: 1994-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-16
Also published as: AU8110391A

Description

V L r I I I II- I I T l i i 1 "PLANT STALK REMOVING APPARATUS" This invention relates to plant stalk removing apparatus.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to apparatus for removing upstanding plant stalks from the ground and for illustrative purposes reference will be made hereinafter to such application. However it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications such as the harvesting of flowers or the weeding of fields.

Conventional plant stalk removing apparatus comprise lifting rollers and blade assemblies mounted on a wheeled support Sframe drawn behind a tractor or similar vehicle. The lifting rollers are powered by a drive shaft coupled to the tractor's engine and are used to lift and tear the exposed plant stalks from the ground. The blade assemblies are drawn through the ground immediately behind the lifting rollers and are used to cut the r eo •"roots of the stalks lifted by the rollers. Apart from maintenance 00 problems associated with the operation of machinery comprising 0.

many moving components, the provision of stationary blade assemblies renders the apparatus unsuitable for removing plant stalks from fields containing underground irrigation pipes.

The blade assemblies of many existing stalk removing apparatus include a fixed blade which is angled downwardly towards the ground. During use, forces acting downwardly upon the blade tend to force the blade deeper into the ground, particularly when the wheels of the support frame travel through a hollow or sink into a region of particularly soft soil. In fields where there 2 exist irrigation pipes extending beneath the plants, the tendency of the blade assemblies during use to be drawn deeper into the ground may result in the rupture of the irrigation pipes.

Furthermore, a plant stalk removing apparatus which does not require a power source such as the engine of the towing vehicle would be most desirable.

The present invention aims to alleviate the above a 1 0 disadvantages and to provide plant stalk removing apparatus e which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects S' and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become a •o apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this 15 invention in one aspect resides broadly in plant stalk removing apparatus including:a support frame adapted to be moved along a crop row; a pair of opposing ground engaging discs mounted for free rotation about respective oppositely inclined axes on said support frame whereby said freely rotatable discs incline upwardly and outwardly from a lower plant contacting station, and a plurality of ground engaging members spaced around an outer wall of each said disc whereby in use said ground engaging members engage the ground so as to assist in the I rotation of said discs.

i 1 4 Yi ~lll~114pe 9 Preferably the discs co-operate to engage the plant stalk and to lift the plant stalk out of the ground.

Preferably the displacement of the discs relative to one another is such that a peripheral edge of one of the discs rotates over and in some instahces, contacts the inner face of the other disc. The discs may be substantially flat, concave or convex in shape and in one embodiment, may include a peripheral edge having a plurality of teeth and wherein the 10 teeth of opposing discs may mesh. Preferably each disc is circular and includes an e e e •Too •oo• *•oo ••co coo ml.

i I-~I I 1 1 73 inner wall which is concave in shape, an outer wall which is convex in shape and a peripheral edge which may be sharpened.

Preferably, the outer wall of each disc includes a plurality of ground engaging members such as a plurality of upstanding flanges or projections positioned adjacent the periphery of the disc. The flanges may be arcuate and may be radially spaced about the periperhy of the disc.

means The support frame preferably includes attachment Smeans for the attachment of the support frame to either the 1 0 front or the rear of a vehicle and may include wheels or rollers which support the support frame above the ground and S"which assist the support frame in moving over the ground.

The position of the wheels or rollers relative to the support frame may be adjustable and may permit the user to select the 15 depth the discs may penetrate the ground. The support frame may also trail the ground engaging discs and in one embodiment may include ground engaging means adapted to fill in furrows in the ground. The support frame may also include collection means for collecting the stalks removed from the 20 ground.

4i °i 4 Preferably the support frame includes mounting means for the mounting thereto of the discs. Preferably the mounting of the discs to the support frame is height adjustable thereby enabling the user to selectively set the depth that each disc may penetrate below the ground. The mounting means may also include adjustment means for adjusting, in the direction of travel, the position of contact or position of closest proximity of opposing pairs of discs relative to the support frame, or for adjusting the position of contact or position of closest proximity of one disc relative to the other disc of a pair of opposing discs. The mounting means may also include spacing means for .iaintaining the S: mounting means of opposing discs a selected distance apart.

eo Each disc may include an axle assembly about which the disc may rotate and wherein the axle assembly may extend outwardly from the mounting means in a direction which is perpendicular or inclined either forwardly or rearwardly to the direction of travel eeo of the discs.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plant stalk removing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top view of the plant stalk removing apparatus illustrated in figure 1; ii si FIG. 3 is a front view of the plant stalk removing apparatus illustrated in figure 1, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a mounting assembly of the plant stalk removing apparatus illustrated in figure 1.

The drawings illustrate a stalk removing apparatus including a support frame or tool bar 11 which may be fitted to the front or rear of a vehicle, not shown. The tool bar 10 11 is substantially rectangular or square in shape and •coo includes two opposing longitudinal frame members 12 and two oroe S"transverse frame members 13, each having a rectangular cross 0* section. The tool bar is equipped with wheels or rollers, not shown, for the support of the tool bar above the ground.

15 The tool bar also includes attachment means, not shown, for o: n the attachment of the support frame to either the front or the rear of a vehicle.

The apparatus 10 also includes a pair of ground engaging discs 14, each supported by mounting means dependent from the tool bar 11 and wherein the discs are inclined upwardly and outwardly from an engagement zone 16.i Each disc 14 is circular and includes an inner wall 17 which Lr is concave in shape, an outer wall 18 which is convex in shape and a peripheral edge 19. The discs 14 are permitted to rotate freely about their central axis 20 and are arranged such that the peripheral edge 19 of the disc 14a rotates over and either makes contact with or passes close by the inner k iI 1 wall 17 of the other disc 14b. The outer wall 18 of each disc includes a plurality of outwardly directed flanges 21 adapted to engage the soil during the rotation of the discs 14 through the ground 9 each include an outer ground piecing edge 40 and a ground engaging face 41 extending inwardly therefrom and wherein the surface area of said ground engaging face 41 is substantially greater than the surface area of said ground piercing edge 40. Furthermore, the 10 flanges 21 are spaced radially around the disc and adjacent :the peripheral edge 19 and whereby each flange 21 includes a pair of opposed parallel free edges which are contained in a common plane radiating from the centre of the disc.

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I -radially around the disc and adjarni-the perpheal edge 9.

These flanges 21 impart rotation to each disc and ensure that the rotational torque of the discs 14 is sufficient to perform efficient lifting of the plant stalks and tearing of the plant roots.

The mounting means 15 includes a substantially vertical support arm 24, the upper end 25 of which is releasably secured to the tool bar 11 by a mounting clamp 26. Accordingly, the relative height of the su1pport arm 24 above the ground 9 may be adjusted by 10 moving the support arm 24 relative to clamp 26 in the direction of arrow 22. A mounting bracket 27 having a stub axle 23 extending outwardly therefrom about which a respective disc 14 may rotate, S is pivotally attached to the support arm by bolt 28. The mounting a, e" bracket 27 includes a semicircular array of bolt receiving apertures 29 formed therethrough and wherein bolt 30 extends through a selected aperture 29 and a corresponding aperture 31 formed in the support arm 24. The relative position of the mounting bracket 27 relative to the support arm 24 may be adjusted by removing bolt 30 whilst simultaneously pivoting the bracket 27 relative to the arm 24 about bolt 28 to the desired position, and reinserting bolt 30 through an appropriate aperture 29 and through aperture 31. The stub axles 23 are contained within a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the 1 L: apparatus 10 as indicated by arrow 8.

When the longitudinal axis 32 of the mounting bracket I 27 coincides with the longitudinal axis 33 of the support arm 24, the position of closest proximity or contact 16a between the two I t- L discs 14 lies within a vertical plane containing the two axis 32 and 33. Movement of the mounting bracket 27, to which disc 14a is attached, in the direction of arrow 34 causes a corresponding rearward movement of the position of closest proximity or contact 16a along an ark When the apparatus 10 is fitted to the front of a vehicle, the best results will be achieved when the axis 32 and 33 are co-planar. Similarly, in instances where the apparatus is drawn behind a vehicle, the best results will be achieved when 10 bolt 30 extends through apertures 29a and 31.

The discs 14 are maintained in position by spacir: means 36 including bolt 37 which passes through aperture 38 formed in opposing mounting brackets 27. The peripheral edge 19 of disc 14a may be spaced from the inner wall 17 of disc 14b by adjusting the position of one of the clamps 26 along the tool bar 11 in the direction of arrow 39.

In use, the ground engaging discs 14 are drawn through S the ground 9 along a row of plants at a depth wherein the engagement zone 16 lies beneath the ground 9. Engagement of the flanges 21 with the ground 9 contributes to the rotation of discs 14. The discs 14 in the region of the engagement zone 16 cooperate so as to engage or impinge the plant stalks between the discs 14 and wherein the subsequent rotation of the discs lifts Lf the stalks out of the ground.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such I and other modifications and variations thereto as would be 8 apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to f all within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein def ined in the appended claims.

0 4- a

Claims

2. Plant stalk removing apparatus as claimed in ClaJAi i, 0o wherein said ground engaging members each include an outer ground piecing edge and a ground engaging face extending inwardly therefrom and wherein the surface area of said ground engaging face is substantially greater than the surface area of said ground piercing edge.
3. Plant stalk removing apparatus as claimed in Claim'2, wherein said ground engaging members each include opposed parallel free edges each contained in a common plane radiating from the centre of said disc. 4~~
4. Plant stalk removing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support frame includes spacing means remote from said support frame for maintaining respective discs of each said pair of discs a selected distance apart. Plant stalk removing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including height adjustment means whereby the operative position of said discs may be selectively altered.
6. Plant stalk removing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plant contacting station is selectively variable.
7. Plant stalk removing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Twenty-ninth DAY OF June, 1994. SARIZONA DRIP SYSTEMS, INC. and CARGAI PTY.LTD. BY PIZZEY COMPANY PATENT ATTORNEYS IN K% X irir~rn ~i~iiii;3l'ti' ABSTRACT The invention relates to a plant stalk removing apparatus including a rectangularly shaped support frame 11 and two pairs of ground engaging discs 14, each supported by mounting means dependent from the tool bar 11 and wherein the discs are inclined upwardly and rearwardly from an engagement zone 16. The tool bar 11 may be attached to the front or the rear of a vehicle, not shown, using attachment means, not shown, and may be equipped with wheels or rollers, not shown, for the support of the tool bar. The discs 14 are arranged in pairs and are permitted to rotate freely about their central axis 20 and are arranged such S* that the peripheral edge 19 of one disc 14a rotates over and either contacts or passes close by the inner wall 17 of the opposing disc 14b. Each disc 14 includes drive means for rotating each disc B. including a plurality of ground engaging flanges 21 spaced radially around the outer wall 18 of the disc 14. S a *i I I I-