FR2494081A1 - Trained plant cutter for tractor - has tines protruding beyond rotary blades on end of spring arm attached to frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The attachment is for the preliminary cutting of plants trained on wires between supporting posts. It comprises a frame on which an arm pivots about a vertical axis-At the free end of the arm is a cutter with rotary tines protruding beyond the cutter blades. The arm is spring-loaded against a stop into its outermost position, and retracts when the tines encounter the posts. The tines can be mounted above the blades, and at their free ends can be bent forwards and downwards in the direction of rotation, being longer than the blades.

Description

 The present invention relates to cutting materials for plants planted in line, with stakes for retaining pimped wires stuck in the ground at more or less regular intervals, such as vines, fruit trees and others.

 The annual pruning which is a very slow and expensive manual operation can be facilitated by the present invention which makes it possible to carry out a pre-pruning which consists in cutting the longest part of the strands to be then cut and thus making this second operation much faster.

 This device can be mounted on all types of tractors.

 Its design allows pre-pruning of the strands continuously, over the entire planting line, bypassing each stake.

 The cutting is ensured by a system of blades and rotary counterblades 7 and II allowing to obtain a clean cut in hard wood.

The blades are driven by a hydraulic motor 5 and the transmission by chain and sprockets.

 This cutting assembly is mounted on an arm 10 articulated on an axis 14, this in order to retract to meet the stakes.

 I1 remains held in abutment by a spring 13. The particularity of this device lies mainly in the rotating comb 6 mounted above the cutting assembly. Indeed, its shape as well as the spreading of its teeth are studied in order to allow the penetration of the blades of vegetation (Fig. 1) in the cutting element and to obstruct the stakes, thus forcing the whole to bypass them ( Fig. 2).

Its teeth, arranged radially, are provided with a curvature at their extremity directed downward and forward in the direction of rotation.

They are longer than the cutting element and thus protect it.

 This protective comb of the cutting element is independent and driven by a rotary movement using a hydraulic motor 8.

 The speed of rotation of the blades and that of the comb are independently adjustable so as to be able to vary as a function of the density of the vegetation, and of the forward speed of the tractor.

 The advantage of this system is that it does not require any prior detection of the stakes.

 Although this assembly retracts automatically, it can be controlled manually by a lever 4 from the driver or by a hydraulic cylinder in the event of an obstacle not allowing this retraction.

 The rod 9 serves as strand guides, thus forcing the latter to enter the cutting element. It is adjustable in height and angularly and integral with the main chassis 3 by means of an arch 15 which spans the row of vegetation.

 This frame 3 supporting the cutting assembly is adjustable in height by sliding on the support 1 thus making it possible to perform the cutting at the desired height.

 It is this support 1 which is fixed to the tractor, the axis XX 'being that of the tractor seen from the rear, the axis YY' that of the plantation.

Height adjustment is ensured either by a hydraulic cylinder 2 or by any other mechanical means.

 All hydraulic controls are grouped near the driver.

Claims (7)

 1. Equipment intended for the pre-pruning of plantations in lines mounted on wires and holding stakes, characterized in that it consists of a frame (3) on which is mounted, pivoting about a vertical axis (14), a arm (10) provided at its end with a cutting member provided with a rotating comb (6) projecting from the blades (7) and (11). This arm (10) is held in abutment by a spring t13) and retracts in contact with the comb (6) with the stakes.  2. Equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the teeth of the comb (6) are arranged above the cutting assembly.  3. Material according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the teeth (6) are radial and provided with a curvature at their end directed downward and forward in the direction of rotation and that they are more as long as the cutting member.  4. Equipment according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the drive of the comb (6) is distinct from that of the cutting member.  5. Equipment according to claim i characterized in that the arm (10) supporting the cutting member is provided with a return means which can be either a manual lever or a hydraulic cylinder.  6. Equipment according to claim 1 characterized in that the grip of the strands in the cutting member is complete thanks to a guide (9) secured to the main frame (3) via a hoop (15) which spans the vegetation.  7. Equipment according to claims 1 and 5 characterized in that the spring (13) for returning the arm (10) is disposed at the opposite end of the cutting member relative to the vertical axis (14) of pivoting of the arms.