EP2028920A1

EP2028920A1 - A plough

Info

Publication number: EP2028920A1
Application number: EP06790354A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gavan Monk
Original assignee: Oregon House Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Oregon House Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-02
Filing date: 2006-10-09
Publication date: 2009-03-04
Also published as: WO2007140507A1; EP2028920A4

Abstract

This invention relates to a plough comprising a frame and a plurality of gangs of discs pivotably coupled to the support frame for movement between a carrying position and a ploughing position. The plough includes two or more wheel assemblies for supporting the supporting frame and means for driving the gangs of discs between the carrying position and the ploughing position. The plough further includes means for linking each gang of discs to the drive means such that the gangs of discs move in unison upon actuation of the drive means.

Description

A PLOUGH

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to ploughs and, more particularly, to ploughs that have tilling instruments that are linked to a frame to move between a transport position and a ploughing position.

Background of the invention

To improve the ease of transporting ploughs, for example through narrow gates and on roads , conventional plough designs enable tilling instruments to be moved between a working or ploughing position and a transport or carrying position.

In the working position, the tilling instruments are spread to define a cutting width that is generally wider than the width of the tractor towing the plough to optimise ploughing efficiency. In the transport position, the tilling instruments are retracted. In the retracted position the tilling instruments are folded close to the frame, on which the tilling instruments are mounted, to minimise the draft width of the plough. The transport position therefore allows the plough to fit through gates that are narrower than the cutting width. Additionally, the plough may be sufficiently narrow in the transport position so that the width of the plough is less than width restrictions for vehicles that travel on roads.

One form of plough has support arms that extend from a central frame and that carry tilling instruments , such as gangs of discs . The arms are linked to the frame to swing between a transport position and a working position. A set of wheels supports the arms. Movement of the arms between the transport position and the working position may be controlled manually. However, this is a generally inconvenient and time consuming task. This is particularly problematic in the event that the angle of attack of the gangs of discs must be changed each time the terrain or soil conditions change during the course of working a field because a farmer must stop the plough and make the required change manually.

The problem associated with manual movement of the tilling instruments is overcome by providing a hydraulic ram to move the tilling instruments and by enabling the hydraulic ram to be controlled remotely from the cab of a tractor.

Typically, ploughs with multiple swing arms have at least two hydraulic rams that control the movement of the swing arms .

The conditions in which ploughs operate are generally dusty. Airborne dust and soil particles can interfere with the workings of the hydraulic ram. Accordingly, in addition to the initial cost of a plough with remotely operable swing arms, there is a cost associated with maintaining of two or more hydraulic rams in working order .

There is a financial cost associated with maintaining two or more hydraulic rams and there is also a time cost associated with the downtime of the plough for a period of maintenance. The time cost is important because a plough with several hydraulic rams for controlling the movement of the tilling instruments will become inoperable when only one of hydraulic rams fails. That is, a plough with three hydraulic rams has a 50% greater risk of requiring maintenance than a plough with two hydraulic mm Q _

rams .

A further problem arises with ploughs having two or more hydraulic rams controlling respective gangs of discs when one of the hydraulic rams leaks . Gangs of discs controlled by the leaky hydraulic rams do not move, when the hydraulic rams are operated, to the same extent as the gangs of discs controlled by a hydraulic ram that does not leak. Accordingly, the respective gangs of discs are not controlled to be at a position selected by a farmer . The farmer selects the position of the gangs of discs relative to the direction of movement of the plough over the ground being ploughed based on the soil conditions and the terrain. Accordingly, the ground is not being ploughed properly in the event that the gangs of discs are not at the position selected by a farmer.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is concerned with reducing the downtime of a plough with tilling instruments that are moveable between a transport position and a working position by hydraulic rams or by other forms of drivers .

The invention provides a plough comprising:

(a) a support frame having a longitudinal axis and a draw bar at a forward end thereof for coupling to a vehicle;

(b) a plurality of gangs of discs, each gang being independently coupled to the support frame for pivotable movement about a substantially vertical axis for moving the gangs of discs between a carrying position in which the gangs of discs are arranged to provide the plough with a draft width for transporting the plough and a plough position in which the gangs of discs are arranged for ploughing;

(c) two or more wheel assemblies for supporting the support frame;

(d) means for driving the gangs of discs between the carry position and the ploughing position; and

(e) means for linking each gang of discs to the drive means such that actuation of the drive means causes the gangs of discs to move in unison.

It will be appreciated that, by linking each gang of discs to the drive means obviates the need for two or more drive means to control the position of the gangs of discs. Accordingly, the plough may have a single hydraulic ram, for example, as the drive means. The time and cost to maintain such a plough are, therefore, reduced and also the risks of downtime are reduced. Additionally, the gangs of discs move in unison so all the gangs of discs are controlled to move to the same extent as each other. This ensures that all the gangs of discs are at a position selected by a farmer as an appropriate position for ploughing the ground.

Preferably, the linking means comprises a hub member associated with the drive means for slidable movement relative to the support frame and a plurality of connecting members linking each gang of discs to the hub member.

Each wheel assembly preferably includes means for adjusting the vertical position of wheels relative to the discs. Vertical adjustment of the wheels enables the disc penetration depth in the ground to be adjusted and enables the discs to be spaced from the ground during transport of the plough.

The connecting members of the linking means preferably comprise arms configured to translate a sliding displacement of the hub member to rotational displacement of the gangs of discs about their respective substantially vertical pivot axes.

The linking means may further comprise cams connected to the arms and pivotably connected to the support frame such that sliding displacement of the hub member causes rotational displacement of the cams and at least one gang of discs is operably linked to each cam such that rotational displacement of the cams causes rotational displacement of the respective gangs of discs relative to the support frame .

Preferably, two arms extend from the hub member to two respective cams .

Preferably, each cam is linked to two gangs of discs by respective arms.

One cam is preferably linked to two foremost gangs of discs , in terms of the direction of travel of the plough when towed, and the other cam is linked to two rearmost gangs of discs.

The plough preferably comprises a pair of foremost gangs of discs and a pair of rearmost gangs of discs , and the gangs of discs in each pair of gangs of discs are off-set longitudinally along the support frame such that interference between the gangs of discs in each pair is avoided when the gangs of discs are rotationally displaced relative to the frame and such that the ground passing beneath the frame is ploughed by the gangs of discs .

The provision of four independently pivotable gangs of discs in relative off-set positions enables the plough to have a draft width, when the gangs are in the carrying position, that is less than the draft width of ploughs with gangs of discs in a side-by-side configuration. Accordingly, the width of the frame and, therefore, the plough may be reduced.

Preferably, the linking means is configured such that the foremost gangs of the discs rotate in a forward direction from the ploughing position to the carrying position and the rearmost gangs of discs rotate in a rearward direction from the ploughing position to the carrying position.

Preferably, the gangs of discs are mounted to the support frame with a pivot axes off-set from the middle of the gangs of discs such that a major portion of the gangs of discs rotates through an area that is external to the perimeter of the support frame.

In this configuration, the spacing between the foremost and rearmost gangs of discs can be reduced so that the overall length of the plough is reduced. This reduction in length provides advantages in terms of the manoeuvrability of the plough.

Brief description of the drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which : Figure 1 is a top plan view of a plough in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with gangs of discs configured in the ploughing position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the plough in

Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the plough in Figure 1 in the direction shown by arrow A.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the plough in Figure 1 with the gangs of discs in a carrying position.

Figure 5 is a side plan view of the plough in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a front plan view of the plough in Figure 4 in the direction shown by arrow B.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the drive means, the linking means and the gangs of discs in the carrying position of the plough in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the drive means , the linking means and the gangs of discs in the ploughing position of the plough in Figure 1.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention in the form of a plough 10 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 8.

The plough comprises a frame 20 (Figures 1 and 2) with a draw bar 22 and gangs of discs 30, 40 pivotably mounted to the support frame at pivots 32, 34, 42 and 44. The plough 10 further comprises wheel assemblies 50 (Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5) for supporting the frame 20.

The plough 10 further comprises driving means for moving the gangs of discs between a ploughing position and a carrying position. The driving means is in the form of a hydraulic ram 70 (Figures 1, 4, 7 and 8) coupled to linking means (described in more detail below) for transferring movement of the hydraulic ram 70 into rotational movement of the gangs of discs 30, 40 about their respective pivots 32, 34, 42 and 44.

The frame 20 is a generally elongate and is formed of three primary tubular steel beams spaced apart by studs to form a rigid structure for supporting the gangs of discs 30, 40 during transport in a carrying position and during ploughing in the plough position . The draw bar assembly 22 is located at a forward end of the plough 10 for connection to a prime mover, such as a tractor .

The gangs of discs 30, 40 are preferably similar to those disclosed in Australian patent no. 552035 and, therefore , are not described hereinafter in detail .

The wheel assemblies 50 are mounted on telescopic legs 52 that are driven by hydraulic rams 54 to vary the position of the wheel assemblies 50 vertically with respect to the support frame 20. Accordingly, retraction of the legs 52 of the wheel assemblies 50 (Figure 2) to a position in proximity to the frame 20 causes the gangs of discs 30, 40 to come into contact with the ground on which the plough 10 is located. Conversely, extension of the legs 52 so that the wheel assemblies 50 (Figure 5) are remote from the frame 20 causes the gangs of discs to be lifted above the ground (Figures 5 and 6) such that the plough 10 can be transported, for example on roads or from field to field.

Naturally, the position of the wheel assemblies 50 relative to the frame 20 can be selected to be a position , between the extreme extended and retraction positions shown in Figures 5 and 2, respectively. Positions between the extreme positions can be selected to control the depth to which the gangs of discs 30, 40 penetrate the soil . In those positions , the wheel assemblies 50 travel in contact with the ground being ploughed and support the frame 20.

The wheel legs 52 are inclined toward a forward end of the support frame 20 and are braced by beams 58 extending longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly of the legs 52.

The gangs of discs 30 , 40 are rotationally displaceable about their respective pivots 32, 34, 42 and 44 by the hydraulic rams 70 driving the linking means that interconnects the hydraulic ram 70 and the gangs of discs 30, 40.

The linking means comprises a hub member in the form of a plate 60 (Figures 7 and 8) that has elongate apertures 62 for slidably engaging bosses 66 formed on the frame 20. The bosses 66 may include bearings to assist sliding movement of the plate 60 relative to the frame 20. The bosses 66 extend through the elongate apertures 62 such that the plate 60 is guided to slide along a linear axis defined by the longitudinal axis of the elongate apertures 62 when the hydraulic ram 70 is actuated.

The plate 60 includes a laterally extending tab 68 to which one end of front and rear link rods 72, 74 are fixed so that movement of the plate 60 relative to the frame 20 also causes the front and rear link rods 72, 74 to move relative to the frame 20.

The other end of each link rod 72, 74 is respectively joined to a cam member in the form of cranks 76 (Figures 7 and 8) . The cranks 76 are pivotably mounted to the frame such that movement of the respective front and rear link rods 72, 74 causes each crank 76 to rotate about its respective pivot.

Each crank 76 is linked to a respective forward gang of discs 30 or rearward gang of discs 40 by arms 80 (Figures 7 and 8) .

The gangs of discs 30, 40 are pivotably mounted to the frame 20 at a location longitudinally offset from the centre of the gang of discs 30, 40 to define a short end 36, 46 and a long end 38, 48 of each gang of discs 30, 40. The respective arms 80 connect to the short end 36, 46 each gang of discs 30, 40 such that when the gangs of discs 30, 40 pivot from a carrying position to a ploughing position the short ends 36, 46 rotate inwardly towards a longitudinal centre line of the plough 10 and the long ends 38, 48 swing outwardly from the frame 20.

The width of the plough 10 can be reduced by ensuring that the short ends 36, 46 extend inwardly of the frame 20. The gangs of discs 30 comprising the forward gangs of discs are longitudinally offset along the frame 20 to avoid interference between the gangs of discs 30 when pivoting from the carrying position to the ploughing position and vice versa. For the same reason, the gangs of discs 40 of the rearward gangs of discs are also longitudinally offset along the frame 20.

The shape of the cranks 76, the positions on the cranks 76 at which the arms 80 are connected, the lengths of the arms 80 and the positions on the gangs of discs 30, 40 at which the arms 80 are connected are selected to enable the gangs of discs 30, 40 to be moved between the carrying position and the ploughing position.

The cranks 76 have a generally elongate body with respective opposite ends to which the arms 80 are connected. The cranks 76 are pivotably mounted to the frame 20 at a position laterally off-set from an axis extending between the positions at which the arms 80 are connected to the crank 76. Furthermore, the front and rear link rods 72 , 74 are connected to the respective cranks 76 at positions laterally off-set from the axis extending between the positions at which the arms 80 are connected to the crank 80, but on the opposite side of the axis to the position at which the cranks 76 are connected to the frame 20. The positions of connection of the cranks 76 to the frame 20 and of the front and rear link rods 72 , 74 are off-set longitudinally along the axis .

The respective connection positions of the arms

80 to the crank and the position at which the crank 76 is mounted to the frame 20 prescribe arcs through which the connection positions of the arms 80 move and thereby prescribe a range of displacement of the arms 80 and, in turn, a range of displacement of the gangs of discs 30, 40.

Furthermore, the position at which the arms 80 connect to the gangs of discs 30, 40 relative to the respective pivots 32, 34, 42, 44 contributes to defining the range of displacement of the gangs of discs 30, 40.

In general terms , the positions of connection of the arms 80, cranks 76, front and rear link rods 72, 74 and gangs of discs 30, 40 are selected to enable movement of the gangs of discs 30, 40 from a carrying position, generally parallel to the direction of travel of the plough, to a ploughing position, generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the plough. However, the gangs of discs 30, 40 may be positioned at other angles relative to the direction of travel of the plough as required depending on the soil conditions and the terrain .

The front and rear link rods 72, 74, the cranks 76 and the arms 80 are configured in the plough 10 to enable the gangs of discs 30, 40 to rotate between the carrying position and the ploughing position in unison. Accordingly, only one drive means, such as a single hydraulic ram 70 , is required to effect the rotational movement of the gangs of discs . This is advantageous because a farmer can control the position of all the gangs of discs simultaneously and because the farmer does not need to worry about selecting the individual positions of the gangs of discs .

The pivotal mounting of the gangs of discs 30, 40 to the frame 20 also enables the angle of attack of the gangs of discs 30, 40 to be adjusted to a variety of angles between the carrying position (Figure 7) and the ploughing position (Figure 8) . By enabling the angle of attack of the gangs of discs 30, 40 to be adjusted, a farmer is able to select an optimal angle of attack depending upon the soil conditions and terrain of a field being ploughed. Furthermore, as the hydraulic ram 70 can be actuated remotely from the cab of a tractor , the angle of attack can be adjusted quickly and conveniently, and thereby, can reduce the time and labour required in controlling the plough 10.

Many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention .

Claims

1. A plough comprising:

(b) a plurality of gangs of discs, each gang being independently coupled to the support frame for pivotable movement about a substantially vertical axis for moving the gangs of discs between a carrying position in which the gangs of discs are arranged to provide the plough with a minimum draft width and a plough position in which the gangs of discs are arranged for ploughing;

(c) two or more wheel assemblies for supporting the support frame;

(e) means for linking each gang of discs to the drive means, such that actuation of the drive means causes the gangs of discs to move in unison.

2. A plough as defined in claim 1 , wherein the linking means comprises a hub member associated with the drive means for slidable movement relative to the support frame and a plurality of connecting members linking each gang of discs to the hub member .

3. A plough as defined in claim 2 , wherein the connecting members of the linking means comprise arms configured to translate a sliding displacement of the hub member to rotational displacement of the gangs of discs about their respective substantially vertical pivot axes.

4. A plough as defined in claim 3 , wherein the linking means comprises cams connected to the arms and pivotably connected to the support frame such that sliding displacement of the hub member causes rotational displacement of the cams and at least one gang of discs is operably linked to each cam such that rotational displacement of the cams causes rotational displacement of the respective gangs of discs relative to the support frame .

5. A plough as defined in claim 4 , wherein two arms extend from the hub member to two respective cams .

6. A plough as defined in claim 4 or claim 5 , wherein each cam is linked to two gangs of discs by respective arms .

7. A plough as defined in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the linking means comprises two cams and one cam is linked to foremost gangs of discs , in terms of the direction of travel of the plough when towed, and the other cam is linked to rearmost gangs of discs .

8. A plough as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plough comprises a pair of foremost gangs of discs and a pair of rearmost gangs of discs , and the gangs of discs in each pair of gangs of discs are off- set longitudinally along the support frame such that interference between the gangs of discs in each pair is avoided when the gangs of discs are rotationally displaced relative to the frame and such that the ground passing beneath the frame is ploughed by the gangs of discs .

9. A plough as defined in claim 9, wherein, the linking means is configured such that the foremost gangs of the discs rotate in a forward direction from the ploughing position to the carrying position and the rearmost gangs of discs rotate in a rearward direction from the ploughing position to the carrying position.

10. A plough as defined in any one of the preceding claims , wherein the gangs of discs are mounted to the support frame with a pivot axes off-set from the middle of the gangs of discs such that a major portion of the gangs of discs rotates through an area that is external to the perimeter of the support frame .

11. A plough as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting means of each wheel assembly is actuable remotely from the wheel assemblies .

12. A plough as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driving means is actuable remotely from the plough.

13. A plough as defined in any one of the preceding claims , wherein each wheel assembly includes means for adjusting the vertical position of wheels relative to the discs .