AU726268B2 - Agricultural cultivator - Google Patents
Agricultural cultivator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU726268B2 AU726268B2 AU32461/97A AU3246197A AU726268B2 AU 726268 B2 AU726268 B2 AU 726268B2 AU 32461/97 A AU32461/97 A AU 32461/97A AU 3246197 A AU3246197 A AU 3246197A AU 726268 B2 AU726268 B2 AU 726268B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- tool bar
- probes
- differential
- spacing
- moveable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Soil Working Implements (AREA)
Description
b4 P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: GREAT WESTERN CORPORATION PTY LTD PETER LLOYD MANSUR
INTELLPRO
Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level D, 308 Edward Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) AGRICULTURAL CULTIVATOR Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): Australian Patent Application No. P01352 filed 1 August, 1996.
The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: AGRICULTURAL CULTIVATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention THIS INVENTION relates to an agricultural apparatus for reshaping row mounds and furrows prior to replanting and in particular but not limited to a cultivator for reshaping row mounds and furrows prior to replanting cotton.
2. Description of the Prior Art Nowadays cotton planting and cultivation techniques have changed, in particular, rather than completely ploughing over an entire field spent cotton stalks are pulled and existing mounds reshaped for the next planting. What this means is the mounds must be reshaped for the next planting thus retaining the basic structure of the previous rows without the need for complete re-preparation.
The problem arising with this technique and solved by the present invention arises when using wide cultivators encountering existing rows which 15 are unevenly spaced and/or existing rows having combinations of wide and narrow rows presenting in front of the cultivator. This means some rows must be reshaped more than others to give even row spacing behind the cultivator.
*o .o o The present invention has as its primary object to provide a row cultivator ***that is designed to reshape existing rows where the rows prior to reshaping possess some form of irregularity but after the cultivator has passed the rows have *"been reshaped and are evenly spaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a row cultivator adapted to be drawn behind a prime mover to reshape existing alternating mounds and 3 furrows, the cultivator comprising a transversely extending laterally moveable tool bar having spaced cultivating tools giving rise to alternating, evenly spaced longitudinally extending furrows and mounds as the tools are drawn through soil in a longitudinal direction, the tool bar being mounted for transverse displacement and there being provided sensing means and tool bar drive means for causing lateral displacement of said moveable tool bar in response to said sensing means sensing an irregularity in the spacing of the existing rows and mounds, the lateral displacement of the moveable tool bar giving rise to reshaped mounds and furrows absent the irregularity.
Preferably, the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform means relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally. The rigid platform means is typically one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar and mounted with means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement. The means holding the extra tool 15 bars rigid against transverse movement typically comprises one or more coulter wheels travelling behind and coupled to the extra tool bars and anchored in the soil.
The sensing means preferably comprises probes travelling in furrows at each of the outer extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar and differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves 4 either right or left in response to detection of the difference in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero. Typically, the reference point is selected so that the moveable tool bar is constantly moved so that it is generally centred between the probes.
The tool bar drive means preferably comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:- Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a row cultivator according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of a row cultivator according to the present invention; -"Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the left hand side of a row o cultivator according to the present invention; g* SFigure 4 is a schematic view illustrating a typical sensing means; i to ~Figures 5A to 5D are schematic views illustrating operation of the sensing means; and *"Figure 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating control and operation of a typical tool bar drive means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated in schematic form a row cultivator 10 shown drawn behind a prime mover illustrated by the wheels 11 with rows defined by mounds illustrated in terms of the lines 12 before the cultivator and the reshaped mounds being illustrated by the lines 13 located behind the cultivator. As can be seen the rows before the cultivator include an irregularity. In this case there are wide rows shown at 14 and relatively narrow rows shown at 15. What this means is some of the rows in advance of the cultivator will have to be reshaped to a greater degree than the other rows.
For this reason the cultivator 10 includes a fixed rigid tool bar 16 and a moveable tool bar 17 travelling behind the fixed tool bar 16 and pivotable relative thereto via connecting bars 18, 19 and 20. Where the rows to be reshaped are all evenly spaced the connecting bars 18, 19 and 20 would be 15 positioned parallel to the rows.
As can be seen in Figure 1 the moveable tool bar 17 is displaced to the left. This displacement arises as a consequence of probes 21 and 22 having sensed the irregularity arising from the wider rows 14 and the narrow rows thus causing the lateral displacement of the tool bar 17 to the left to thereby maintain the tool bar 17 centrally between the probes 21 and 22. As can be seen each of the tool bars 16 and 17 carry cultivating tools 23 and located at spaced intervals along the tool bars in order to cultivate the rows. The considered effect of the two tool bars as shown is to give evenly spaced reshaped rows.
6 Reference will now be made to the drawings of Figures 2 to 6 which illustrate a particular form of the present invention it being appreciated that the principles embodied in the present invention are illustrated in Figure 1 and that the mechanism of control and implementation of the principle being variable.
Referring now to Figure 2 there is illustrated a tractor 11 pulling a row cultivator 24, the row cultivator in this case employing two rigid tool bars 25 and 26 rigidly coupled to a trailing pair of coulter wheels 27 and 28 the combination of the tool bars 25 and 26 and the coulter wheels 27 and 28 providing a rigid platform for lateral movement of the moveable tool bar 29 in response to differential movement of the sensing probes 30 and 31 relative to the centre of the tool bar 29. The tool bar 29 carries tools 32 and as in the previous embodiments the other tool bars 25 and 26 can also carry tools. A three point linkage illustrated generally at 33 couples the cultivator to the prime mover 11.
Pivoting connecting bars 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 couple the moveable tool bar 29 to the tool bar 26 and a drive means in the form of a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly 39 is driven in response to differential movement of the probes 31 and 30 to move the moveable tool bar in response thereto either left or right.
Figure 3 illustrates in perspective form the arrangement of Figure 2 and where appropriate like numerals have been used to illustrate like features it being appreciated that the left hand side as shown is, generally speaking, a mirror image of the right hand side, the cultivating tools having been omitted from the right hand side in this particular drawing.
-oo ~Referring now to Figure 4 the operation of the probes 30 and 31 will be discussed.
7 The tool bar 29 illustrated in Figure 4 has mounted at each extremity thereof a projecting bar 40 and 41 carrying an assembly 42 and 43 so that as the probes 30 and 31 travel in respective furrows the probes 30 and 31 are free to rotate about a horizontal axis at pivot 44 and 45 and also about a vertical axis in concert with and causing rotation of the shafts 46 and 47 which in turn rotate the cranks 48 and 49 in response thereto. Linkage rods 50 and 51 operate to rotate cranks 52 and 53 to in turn rotate shafts 54 and 55 through supporting bearing assemblies 56. A differential sensor assembly 57 is of mechanical form and cranks 58 and 59 cause rotation of an averaging plate 60 via links 61 and 62 so that as long as the distance from the probes 30 and 31 to the centre of the tool bar 29 is equal there will be no movement of the sensing plate 63 relative to proximity switches 64 and In the event there is a differential movement arising from probe 30 or probe 31 moving further either inward or outward than the other probe then the plate 63 will move toward one or the other of the proximity switches 64 or This electrically activates a solenoid valve to cause the hydraulic cylinder assembly 39 to drive the tool bar 29 either to the right or the left so that the tool o bar 29 re-positions itself centrally between the two probes 30 and 31. The actual operation of this process is illustrated in Figures 5A to 5D and the actual control of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 39 is illustrated in Figure 6.
Referring now to Figures 5A to 5D examples of movement of the probes and 31 are shown and as can be seen in Figures 5A and 5B both probes have moved but the probes have moved an equal distance inward in Figure 5A and an equal distance outward in Figure 5B thus giving rise to no movement of the plate 8 63. On the other hand in Figure 5C the probes located in the outermost furrows have given rise to movement of the probes to the left meaning that the furrows in advance of the tool bar have an irregularity and the plate 63 is moved to the proximity switch representing left displacement of the tool bar 29 thus initiating displacement to the left into a central position between the now re-positioned probes 30 and 31 as shown in Figure 5C. Likewise displacement of the probes to the right as illustrated in, for example, Figure 5D will result in the plate 63 being displaced toward the proximity switch representing right movement of the tool bar 29 and the tool bar 29 will thus be driven to the right to be centred again between the respective positions of the probes 30 and 31.
Referring now to Figure 6 there is illustrated a circuit diagram for control and operation of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 39 in response to movement of the plate 63. In Figure 6 proximity switch 66 represents movement of the tool bar 29 to the left and proximity switch 67 represents movement of the tool bar 29 to the right. Each of the proximity switches correspond to respective relays 68 and 69 for left and right movement respectively. A two way hydraulic *o°.jsolenoid valve 70 is employed to deliver hydraulic fluid to the cylinder assembly a.
a S" 39. A pressure line from the prime mover is illustrated at 71 and a return line at 72. A 12 volt power supply is illustrated at 73. As can be seen whenever the plate 63 moves towards the proximity switch 63 a signal will be sent to the relay °*9a 68 thereby opening the valve 70 to retract or extend the ram 39 in accordance with the desired correction movement of the tool bar. Likewise when the plate 63 moves adjacent to proximity switch 67 the relay 69 will be initiated to move the hydraulic cylinder assembly in the opposite direction.
9 It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention can be implemented in a mechanical means as illustrated or a combination of mechanical and electrical or completely electrical means can be employed.
Likewise although probes travelling in the furrows have been employed any other suitable probe means can be employed to bring about the desired relative movement of the moveable tool bar relative to the prime mover.
Acordingly, whilst the above has been given byway of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.
V
*eo
Claims (22)
1. A row cultivator adapted to be drawn behind a prime mover to reshape existing alternating mounds and furrows, the cultivator comprising a transversely extending laterally moveable tool bar having spaced cultivating tools giving rise to alternating, evenly spaced longitudinally extending mounds and furrows as the tools are drawn through soil in a longitudinal direction, the tool bar being mounted for transverse displacement and there being provided sensing means and tool bar drive means for causing lateral displacement of said moveable tool bar in response to said sensing means sensing an irregularity in the spacing of the existing mounds and furrows, the lateral displacement of the moveable tool bar giving rise to reshaped o 10 mounds and furrows, the reshaped mounds and furrows being absent the irregularity.
2. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally.
3. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement.
4. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying 11 cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement comprising one or more coulter wheels travelling behind and coupled to the extra tool bars and anchored in soil against lateral movement as the cultivator is used.
A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the laterally moveable tool bar has opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the outer extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing 10 and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where co 15 a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero.
6. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the laterally moveable tool bar has opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the outer extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the Srespective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the 12 monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the defined reference point being selected so that the moveable tool bar is moved so that it is generally centred between the probes.
7. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved 10 laterally, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved 15 laterally, the moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar A will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right 13 or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero.
9. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined :reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero.
A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the means holding 14 the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement comprising one or more coulter wheels travelling behind and coupled to the extra tool lars and anchored in soil against lateral movement as the cultivator is used, the moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined 10 reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined oreference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to a detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero.
11. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs ameans providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the laterally moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral 7 displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the reference point being selected so that the moveable tool bar is constantly moved so that it is generally centred between the probes.
12. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved :laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying 10 cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means 99 holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the laterally moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral 9999 extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the defined reference point being selected 16 so that the moveable tool bar is moved so that it is generally centred between the probes.
13. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement comprising one or more coulter wheels travelling behind and coupled to the extra tool bars and anchored in soil against lateral movement as the cultivator is used, the laterally moveable tool V°0 bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the defined reference point being selected so that the moveable tool bar is moved so that it is generally centred between the probes. 17
14. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means. S:
15. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs q. 10 means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved j laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the means holding S* the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement comprising one or more 15 coulter wheels travelling behind and coupled to the extra tool bars and anchored in soil against lateral movement as the cultivator is used, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
16. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the laterally moveable tool bar has opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the outer extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing 18 and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to oo move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
•17. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the laterally moveable tool bar has opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the outer extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the defined reference point being selected so that the moveable tool bar is moved so that it is generally centred between the probes, the tool bar 19 drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar.
18. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one S another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the 10 arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar .will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the 15 differential as near as practicable to zero, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
19. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement comprising one or more coulter wheels travelling behind and coupled to the extra tool bars and anchored in soil against lateral movement as the cultivator is used, the moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved laterally, the laterally moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference 21 position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the defined reference point being selected so that the moveable tool bar is moved so that it is generally centred between the probes, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively 10 disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
21. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved ii. ilaterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying oe o cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means •go• 15 holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the laterally o "".moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar 22 will not arise but where a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the defined reference point being selected so that the moveable tool bar is moved so that it is generally centred between the probes, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means.
22. A row cultivator according to claim 1 wherein the row cultivator employs means providing a rigid platform relative to which the moveable tool bar is moved o 10 laterally, the rigid platform means being one or more extra tool bars carrying cultivating tools in advance of the moveable tool bar, there being provided means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement, the means holding the extra tool bars rigid against transverse movement comprising one or more coulter wheels travelling behind and coupled to the extra tool bars and anchored o 15 in soil against lateral movement as the cultivator is used, the laterally moveable tool bar having opposed lateral extremities and the sensing means comprises respective probes travelling in respective furrows at each of the lateral extremities of the laterally moveable tool bar, the probes being spaced from one another by a spacing and there being differential monitoring means monitoring the spacing between the respective probes and a defined reference position, the arrangement being that the monitoring means monitors lateral displacement of the probes about the defined reference position, where both probes are the same distance from the defined reference position displacement of the moveable tool bar will not arise but where 23 a differential spacing arises the tool bar moves either right or left in response to detection of the differential spacing in order to maintain the differential as near as practicable to zero, the defined reference point being selected so that the moveable tool bar is moved so that it is generally centred between the probes, the tool bar drive means comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder assembly and cylinder assembly control means operatively disposed to move the moveable tool bar relative to the rigid platform means. DATED this 14th day of August 2000 GREAT WESTERN CORPORATION PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO s so S
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU32461/97A AU726268B2 (en) | 1996-08-01 | 1997-08-01 | Agricultural cultivator |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPO1352 | 1996-08-01 | ||
| AUPO1352A AUPO135296A0 (en) | 1996-08-01 | 1996-08-01 | Agricultural cultivator |
| AU32461/97A AU726268B2 (en) | 1996-08-01 | 1997-08-01 | Agricultural cultivator |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU3246197A AU3246197A (en) | 1998-02-05 |
| AU726268B2 true AU726268B2 (en) | 2000-11-02 |
Family
ID=25622106
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU32461/97A Expired AU726268B2 (en) | 1996-08-01 | 1997-08-01 | Agricultural cultivator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU726268B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU744619B2 (en) * | 1998-03-19 | 2002-02-28 | Great Western Corporation Pty Ltd | Apparatus/method for reforming cultivation rows |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4463811A (en) * | 1982-06-21 | 1984-08-07 | Deere & Company | Implement with laterally movable frame structure |
| AU7077691A (en) * | 1990-01-19 | 1991-08-05 | William Nicholas Chivers | Agricultural weeding apparatus |
| AU8170394A (en) * | 1993-12-22 | 1995-06-29 | Great Western Corporation Pty Ltd | Improvements in relation to row cultivators |
-
1997
- 1997-08-01 AU AU32461/97A patent/AU726268B2/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4463811A (en) * | 1982-06-21 | 1984-08-07 | Deere & Company | Implement with laterally movable frame structure |
| AU7077691A (en) * | 1990-01-19 | 1991-08-05 | William Nicholas Chivers | Agricultural weeding apparatus |
| AU8170394A (en) * | 1993-12-22 | 1995-06-29 | Great Western Corporation Pty Ltd | Improvements in relation to row cultivators |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU3246197A (en) | 1998-02-05 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5941317A (en) | Row cultivator with laterally moveable tool bar | |
| AU618542B2 (en) | Agricultural apparatus | |
| EP1332655B1 (en) | Agricultural machine | |
| DE102017121152B4 (en) | Agricultural tillage equipment | |
| EP3732942A1 (en) | Control system for agricultural machine tools, agricultural machine for working the soil and/or sowing and method for regulating the working depth of agricultural machine tools | |
| EP2793542B1 (en) | Integrated soil-tilling apparatus for rotary ploughs | |
| EP2158800B1 (en) | Planter for potatoes | |
| US2546461A (en) | Combination agricultural implement | |
| AU726268B2 (en) | Agricultural cultivator | |
| US4618004A (en) | Method and apparatus for building borders | |
| GB1603138A (en) | Soil working machines | |
| DE19954423B4 (en) | Agricultural order combination with favorable shift of emphasis | |
| EP0436975A1 (en) | A soil cultivating machine | |
| EP2944170A1 (en) | Agricultural distributor, especially a sowing machine, and method for adjusting the height of seed coulters | |
| EP0189235B1 (en) | Soil cultivating implement | |
| JP2826392B2 (en) | Seeding equipment | |
| US4884640A (en) | Soil cultivating implements | |
| DE102009039599A1 (en) | Device for use with e.g. tractor for laying and/or holding soaker hose for irrigation of agricultural utility surfaces in potato field, has deflection device that is movably arranged against base frame | |
| CN219679189U (en) | Subsoiler is used to high-efficient fertilizer | |
| NZ209703A (en) | Agricultural implement for levelling and harrowing | |
| JP2898469B2 (en) | Leveling equipment | |
| RU2019933C1 (en) | Soil cultivator | |
| CN2381102Y (en) | Tractor-drawn ploughing and raking apparatus | |
| DE19821394A1 (en) | Combined trailer of agricultural cultivator implements, with wheeled support frame | |
| DE3117786A1 (en) | Seed drill |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB | Opposition lodged by |
Opponent name: GROVEHILL PTY LTD |
|
| CH | Opposition withdrawn |
Opponent name: GROVEHILL PTY LTD |
|
| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) |