AU699151B2 - A device for crushing stubble - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 553660 P/00/OII Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT e *44 444444 4e4*

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*444 4 4, 4 44 4 4 44* 4 *4*4 4.44,4 4 4 44 64 4 4 4 Applicant(s): Kenneth Noel Taylor 23 Gilbert Street WALGETT NSW 2832

AUSTRALIA

Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 A device for crushing stubble Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-

I.

1 P, PERDHU20415.95 RES- 9.,93 -1- A DEVICE FOR CRUSHING STUBBLE This invention relates to a device for crushing stubble.

Harvesting a crop of grain, straw or the like results in stumps of the gran stalks or the like being left in the ground after the crop has been cut. The stumps, otherwise known as "stubble" must, however, be removed or broken down in order to provide a suitable ground surface for the following year's crop. A number of ways of doing this are known, such as burning the stubble or ploughing the stubble into the ground. Burning the stubble, however, has the disadvantage that most of the nutrients from the stubble are not returned to the soil, furthermore, it causes the ground to dry out, which greatly increases the risk of wind erosion of topsoil, whilst ploughing the stubble into the ground reduces the rate of the stubble degrading. Also, any non-degraded stubble that remains below the ground surface may cause blockages in seeder tynes which are used to sow a subsequent crop.

The present invention seeks to provide a means of breaking up or crushing the stubble on the ground surface.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a device for crushing stubble comprising a rotatable crushing means, a frame for supporting the crushing means and S" a coupling means for coupling the device to a portion of a drive means which effects motion of the device across the stubble in a predefined direction, wherein the coupling means includes a pivot connection which permits pivotal movement of the crushing means about an axis substantially parallel to the predefined direction of motion.

p Preferably the device includes suspension means for accommodating limited vertical movement of the crushing means.

Preferably the crushing means comprises a plurality of radially projecting blades which preferably extend axially of the rotatable crushing means. Preferably the crushing means includes a drum which rotates about an axle supported by the frame, and the 4 r i B^ -2blades are formed on the periphery of the drum.

Preferably, the coupling means includes a bracket for mounting to the portion of the drive means, and a support arm for supporting the frame at one end thereof and which is pivotally coupled to the bracket, the suspension means being carried by the bracket and arranged to act between the bracket and the support arm.

Preferably, the support arm is pivotally coupled to the bracket intermediate said one end and another end thereof, and the suspension means acts on said other end.

Preferably, the suspension means includes a spring captured between the bracket and a retainer member, and a bolt coupled between the retainer member and the support arm and arranged to extending through the bracket and lengthwise through the spring.

S 15 Preferably, the portion of the drive means comprises a tvne of a plough or S' scarifier.

Preferably the coupling means includes lugs which are adapted to fit about the portion of the drive means or the abovedescribed tyne so as to inhibit rotational 20 movement of the coupling means in relation thereto. Preferably the coupling means has a deflector fitted thereto to deflect stubble and earth away ftom the coupling means.

SPreferably the device according to the present invention may be constructed so as to be either drawn or pushed across the stubble.

i- In another aspect, there is provided an agricultural assembly which comprises a plurality of devices, as abovedescribed, which are preferably arranged in an overlapping fashion so that stubble crushed by any one given device is at least partially crushed by another of the devices arranged on the assembly, when the agricultural assembly is driven across the stubble.

The invention will now be more fully described, by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which-

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i i i n P OPER D304I5 RES. 9,9,% -3- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a coupling means used in the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a plough assembly in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with another aspect of the invention; and Figures 5 and 6 are side views of the device of Figure 4 in use.

A device 1, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a frame 2 formed of two side members 6 and 7 and a cross member 8, with a rotatable crushing means having an axle 9 supported in openings 10, 11 formed in ends 12, 13 of the side members 6 and 7. The crushing means is in the form of a drum 14 having a plurality of axially extending blades 15 which project radially therefrom. The device 1 also comprises a coupling means 40 in the form of a bracket i 3 for attaching the device 1 to a portion 5 of a drive means (not shown), which supplies the driving force for either pushing or pulling the device across the ground surface in a *V 20 predefined direction of motion.

*8 The bracket 3 is mounted to the cross member 8 of the frame 2 by pin 16 and is secured to portion 5 by bolts 17. The pin 16 allows for rotation of the crushing means about an axis substantially parallel to the predefined direction of motion. The bracket also 25 preferably has lugs 25, as shown in Figure 2, which protrude along the sides of the portion 5 so as to inhibit rotation of the bracket 3 relative to portion 5 when the device 1 is in use.

A deflecting means 20 may also be fitted to the bracket 3 to prevent build up of broken-up 3 straw and earth on the bracket. The deflecting means 20 is preferably in the form of interconnecting splines 21, extending from either side of the bracket 3 as shown in Figure 2, so as to deflect the broken straw and earth downwardly and away from the bracket 3.

'I -I IL I_ I a CI-IUI~-=~ P X PER-DHM155 95P S 9.91 -4- The drum size may vary in diameter and length according to a particular machine it is designed to fit i,e, various makes of ploughs or scarifiers are available to which the device 1 may be fitted. The drum 14 preferably has a diameter in the order of 0.2 meters and a length in the order of 0.8 meters. A plurality of devices 1 of such dimensions may readily be attached to a conventional agricultural assembly such as a plough assembly 30, as schematically shown on the left-hand side of the assembly 30, as viewed in Figure 3, wherein the portion 5 to which each assembly is attached consists of one of the tynes of the assembly.

The length and placement of the devices 1 is such that when the assembly is drawn forward in a predefined direction by, for example, a tractor via pivot 32, a degree of overlap exists such that stubble which is crushed by a first device 1 is at least partially subsequently crushed again by a following device. Also, the length of the drum 14 is small enough so that the drum can maintain substantial contact with the ground surface by pivoting on pin 16, even when the assembly passes over uneven or undulating ground.

It is also possible to fit a stabilising mechanism (not shown) to the device 1, such as an arrangement of springs, to prevent the device from freely rotating about pivot 16. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous when the assembly 30 is elevated from the S; ground surface for transportation along a road.

i" 20 As an alternative to bracket 3, the coupling means 40 means can instead be formed of an assembly 42, as shown in Figures 4 to 6. The assembly comprises a support arm 43 which carries the frame 2 and drum 14 at one end 44 thereof via a pin 16 in a manner identical to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The support arm 43 is connected to a bracket i 45 which is coupled to a carrying portion 46 of a suitable drive means. The carrying portion t 25 46 is preferably part of a frame of a plough, of similar agricultural machine. The bracket S. includes two U-bolts 47 for securing the assembly 42 to the carrying portion 46, but any suitable securing means may instead be employed. The arm 43 and bracket 45 are connected via pivot 50, and a suspension coupling 51. The suspension coupling 51 is formed of a spring 52 which is held between the bracket 45 and a retaine- member 53. A bolt 54 extends between the arm 43 and retainer member 53 and has a head 55 which abuts the retainer member. The other end of the bolt has a threaded fastener which serves to prevent the bolt <lwAL tpulling through the arm 43. The fastener can also be used in conjunction with a suitable f" }'\washer such as a dome- S- mIIILI~LLIIIIIIII shaped washer to accommodate changes in angle that the bolt makes relative to the arm 43 during operation.

During operation, the drive means is effective in pushing the drum 14 along the ground in a direction toward the left, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, although the device may just as readily be pulled to the right, as viewed. An arrangement where the device is fitted to plough assembly 30 and pulled across a ground surface is again represented on the left hand side of the assembly 30 as viewed in Figure 3, whereas the arrangement wherein the device is pushed is illustrated on the right hand side of the assembly 30 as viewed. When the drum 14 encounters an uneven ground surface, and is driven upwardly, the arm can rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed, about pivot 50 so that the end 56 of the arm moves away from the bracket 45. This results in the bolt being too drawn downwardly through the bracket 45 such that the bolt head 54 and retainer member 53 move toward the bracket, thereby compressing the spring 52. As such, the vertical movement of the drum 14 will be accommodated by the spring and unnecessary stresses which would otherwise be experienced by the various components of the device and frame can thereby be reduced, as compared to an arrangement where no suspension means C CC is provided.

20 As can be seen from the above, the device of the present invention provides a f' convenient means of breaking up or crushing straw after harvest without the need for 9 burning or ploughing the straw into the ground. Also, the particular arrangement of the bracket 3 or 45 permits the device 1 to be attached to any conventional plough assembly and, additionally, the pivot pin 16 of the bracket 3 results in the device being suitable for uneven or undulating gromund.

Many modifications and variations may be made to the device and assembly of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as i defined in the following claims.

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Claims (15)

1. A de, ice for crushing stubble comprising a rotatable crushing means, a frame for supporting the crushing means and a coupling means for coupling the device to a portion of a drive means which effects motion of the device across the stubble in a predefined direction, wherein the coupling means includes a pivot connection which permits pivotal movement of the crushing means about an axis substantially parallel to the predefined direction of motion.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 further including a suspension means for accommodating limited vertical movement of the crushing means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the crushing means comprises a plurality of radially projecting blades.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the blades extend axially of the rotatable crushing means.

A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the crushing means includes a drum C which rotates about an axle supported by the frame, and the blades are formed on the periphery of the drum. t t S I ft:

6. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the coupling means includes a bracket for mounting to the portion of the drive means, and a support arm for supporting the frame at one S end thereof and which is pivotally coupled to the bracket, the suspension means being carried stti P i: 25 by the bracket and arranged to act between the bracket and the support arm.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support arm is pivotally coupled to the o,' 1 bracket intermediate said one end and another end thereof, and the suspension means acts on said other end.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the suspension means includes a spring captured between the bracket and a retainer member, and a bolt coupled between the retainer i! member and the support arm and arranged to extend through the bracket and lengthwise 4 p uA- 1 PA0PER\DH'0415.95,285 12/10M9 -7- through the spring. *500*a Sa*a 0 S 9* a. a S S S

9. A device as Iaimed in claim 1 wherein the coupling means includes a bracket adapted to be secured to a tyne of a plough or scarifier.

A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the bracket includes lugs which are adapted to fit about the tyne so as to inhibit rotational movement of the coupling means in relation thereto.

11. A device as claimed in claim, 8 wherein the bracket has a deflector fitted thereto to deflect stubble and/or earth away therefrom.

12. An agricultural assembly comprising a plurality of devices, each device being constructed in accordance with the device claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

13. An agricultural assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the devices are arranged in an overlapping fashion so that stubble crushed by one given device is at least partially crushed by another of the devices arranged on the assembly, when the assembly is driven across the stubble.

14. A device for crushing stubble substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

15. An agricultural assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 12th day of October, 1998. TAYLOR, Kenneth Noel NVBy his Patent Attorneys AVIES COLLISON CAVE I- I 1, ABSTRACT A device for crushing stubble comprising a rotatable crushing means a frame (2) for supporting the crushing means and a coupling means (40) for coupling the device to a portion of a drive means which effects motion of the device across the stubble, wherein the coupling means includes a pivot connection (16) which permits pivotal movement of the crushing means transve :ely to the direction of motion. 0 4 S ji f- i i 57- f II tr 041IS\IOlni