FR2670356A1 - Device for spreading and digging solid products into the ground - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for spreading and digging a solid product into the ground. It consists of a tank (1) of product, of a conveyor, the speed of the drive roller of which is variable. A distributor (7) and (8) spreads the product in front of a farming system (14), the load and working depth of which are adjustable. The work is finished off by a system (17) for levelling and compacting the ground. The apparatus according to the invention is more particularly intended for incorporating solid fertiliser into the surface layer of cultivatable ground.

Description

 The present invention relates to an apparatus for spreading and burying a solid product in the surface layer of the soil.

 Traditionally, this solid product, whether it is a granular, fibrous or pulverulent fertilizer, an organic or mineral amendment or any other additive for the soil, is first spread with devices rear unloading.

 Then, using an agricultural implement, this product is buried so as not to be dispersed by rainwater, runoff or wind.

 Until then, these two phases were carried out successively with the following drawbacks: loss of time, compaction of the land due to two successive passages, risk of dispersion by rainwater and wind between the two operations.

 The present invention therefore aims to remedy these drawbacks by simultaneously carrying out the action of spreading and intimate burial of the product in the surface layer of the soil while restoring the initial appearance of the ground (enrichment of the soil in spaced for the vine for example) or by making it suitable for immediate use (enrichment and preparation of market boards for example).

 To this end, the invention relates to a spreading-burial device comprising a reserve of product to be spread. This reserve has, on the front side of the device in the direction of travel, the latter being pulled by an agricultural tractor, a wall equipped with an adjustable hatch making it possible to adjust the height of the spread product and a drawbar does not interfere with the output of the product. The bottom of this reserve consists of a conveyor designed to evacuate the product from the reserve. The conveyor is adapted to the texture of the product to be spread: conveyor with smooth belt, belt with cleats, chains and bars, or other. Its speed is adjustable so as to obtain a fine dosage of the quantity of product spread relative to the surface area to be treated. The output of the conveyor is equipped with a product distribution system adjustable in width to adapt the width of spreading when in use (tractor track for vineyard use, width of plank in market gardening for example).

 The assembly described above is installed on an axle with an adjustable track width so that the compaction of the soil created by the passage of the wheels is located outside the spreading strip.

 Under the assembly described above, and suspended from it by a parallelogram system for example, is an agricultural system, placed behind the fall of the product to be spread, and which will, depending on the destination of the spreading and the ground , a system either with notched discs, or with vibrating teeth, with rolling spades or other. This subset creates the ground preparation and the intimate mixture of the product in the ground. Its inclination relative to the advancement axis of the device is adjustable in order to adapt to the criteria of the soil and the product to be buried.

The tillage system is kept in the low position by a downward vertical thrust system (for example hydraulic cylinders) so as to ensure its penetration into the ground under a given force. This effort must be sufficient to ensure a chosen depth of burial and yet be limited (hydraulic valve calibrated in pressure for example) to clear the agricultural assembly in the event of encounter with foreign bodies (rocks, stones for example). The limitation of the depth is also achieved by easily adjustable mechanical stops.

 This thrust system is reversible so as to raise the entire tillage system and ensure minimum ground clearance allowing maneuvers, U-turns and traffic on roads and paths.

 The tillage system is sized according to the spreading width chosen.

 The entire assembly can be completed with a compacting and compacting element that is also adjustable in vertical downward thrust on the ground, and retractable in the event of non-use or traffic on roads.

This element may be of the roll-cage type, rod breaker, rotary harrow, or other compacting and crumbling device.

Other characteristics will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, of an embodiment given here especially by way of example and represented in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side view of the device, burial and compaction systems in the high position.

 Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device, burial and compaction system in the working position.

 Figure 3 shows a top view of the elements located under the conveyor (section AA).

 In Figures 1 and 2, we find the reserve (1) for product (2) and the hatch (3) adjustable in height for the output of the product. The conveyor (4) with chains and cleats placed on a floor (5) is moved by the motor roller (6) whose speed is adjustable to regulate the flow of the product (2) to be spread. This product falls on a deflector (7) equipped with adjustable cheeks (8) to give the width of the desired spreading. V-shaped pieces (9) can make it possible to create several bands of spread product if necessary. An arrow (19) clears the product outlet, the direction of advancement of the device being indicated by the arrow (F).

 The above assembly is supported by an axle (10) and wheels (11), the track width of which can vary by known means (adjustable rims for example).

 Under the conveyor, a frame (12), articulated by rods (13) forming a parallelogram, supports a shaft equipped with notched discs (14). The axis of these discs is adjustable in inclination relative to the direction of advance. A set of jacks (15) keeps the notched disc system in the high position (Figure 1) or in the working position (Figure 2). Adjustable stops (16) limit the burial depth H chosen.

 At the rear of the device, a roll cage (17) made of a wire mesh allows to level and compact the soil.

This roller (17), by means of jacks (18), has a high position and a working position.

 The two types of cylinders (15) and (17) are fitted with pressure limiters in order to dose the forces and to absorb any foreign bodies.

 The apparatus according to the invention is more particularly intended for the spreading and the burial of solid fertilizers in cultivable lands.

Claims (6)

 1) Apparatus for spreading solid products and simultaneously burying them in the surface layer of the soil, characterized in that it comprises a reserve of product and a conveyor allowing it to be spread in quantity and in desired width before a system of burial mixing it intimately with the soil, the work being completed by a system that re-equalizes and recompacts this soil.  2) Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the burial system is adjustable in orientation relative to the working axis.  3) Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the burial depth is adjustable.  4) Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the downward vertical force of burial and compaction is controllable.  5) Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the burial and compaction systems are retractable in the high position to allow maneuvers and movement on the road.  6) Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spreading and burial width as well as the track width are adjustable.