GB1563852A

GB1563852A - Agricultural apparatus for distributing spreadable scatterable for like material

Info

Publication number: GB1563852A
Application number: GB2105277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1976-05-19
Filing date: 1977-05-19
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: FR2351570A1; DE2622246B1; CA1057112A; AT345021B; ATA818876A; DK526176A; FR2351570B1; DE2622246C2

Description

(54) AGRICULTURAL APPARATS FOR DISTRIBUTING SPREADABLE, SCATTERABLE OR LIKE MATERIAL (71) We, AMAZONEN-WERKE H.

DREYER at Amazonenwerk 4507 Hasbergen Gaste, Post Box 109, Federal Republic of Germany ; a German Company do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :- The present invention relates to agricul- tural apparatus for distributing spreadable, scatterable or like material, the overall width of which machine, seen in the direction of normal operation is greater than its overall leneth, and wherein the overall length does not exceed the maximum permissible width dimension for the transportation on public roads and paths. The apparatus also includes working imp! ements in transverse rows one behind the other and which are lowerable into the operating position for the deposit of the material into the ground and raisable into the transportation position, and a frame supported via three support positions by running wheels, and having a towing device which may be connected and wherebv a running wheel is adapted as a guide wheel freely pivotable about a vertical axis through 360 .

An agricultural apparatus is disclosed in United States Patent Specification No.

3,884,309 which is provided with lowerable and raisable working implements in the shape of shares and pressing rollers which are arranged in two transverse rows one behind the other. Furthermore, the apparatus has a frame which is supporte via three supporting points also on three running wheels, one of which, seen in the operating direction, is located on the front and two others on the rear side of the apparatus. The front running wheel is adapted as a guide wheel pivotable throueh 360 , whilst the rear running wheels, by means of a threaded spindle are each located so as to be interchangeable by means of a screw spindle, so that they can roll along the ground either in the direction of operation or in the direction of transportation extending at right angles thereto.

Moreover, the rear running wheels are detachably mounted on struts which may be slid into the frame so that, in their inserted position, the overall length of the apparatus seen in the direction of operation is not greater than the overall width permissible for transportation on public highways and paths. Thus, a special transportation vehicle is not required when the apparatus has to be driven along normal roads as is necessary in many cases when conveving the apparatus from one operating site to another.

A considerable disadvantage of the apparatus however, resides that its conversion from a condition to travel in the direction of normal operation to a condition to travel in the direction of transportation, or vice versa, requires considerable effort and time. It is necessary for this purpose for the rear running wheels to be slid with their holders by actuating the screw spindles to extend out of the guides located verticallv on the frame and after each has been pivoted through 90 drawing such into the guides again. Moreover, it is necessary in the operation of interchanging the running wheel holders, for the machine to be jacked-up using additional devices.

For travel in the direction of transportation a further disadvantage exists in that when the two rear running wheels, seen in the direction of operation, are sDaced wi ; Selv one behind the other with the result that. on cornering, one of the running wheels is dragDed along the ground surface transverse to the direction of transportation. This action increases tyre wear. Far worse results, however, are produced when travelling over rutted paths with deep tracks since such transverse movement of the running wheels is not possible at all. Distortions and fractures of the running wheel holders or the frame sections connected thereto are then unavoidable.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved agricultural apparatus wherein a speedy and expedient adjustment of the apparatus for travel both in the direction of normal operation and for travel in the direction of transportation, so that optimal trouble free travel in both directions may be attained.

According to the present invention there is provided agricultural apparatus particularly for distributing spreadable, scatterable or like material, having an overall width whicn seen in the direction of operation is greater than its overall length and wherein the overall length does not exceed the maximum permissible width allowed for agricultural apparatus for travelling on public roads and paths, and which apparatus includes a frame, working implements located in transverse rows one behind the other and adapted to be lowered into a working position for distributing or de positing material on or in the ground and raised into a transportation position, a towing device connectable at the front and alternatively at a side of said frame, at least three running wheels supportinC said frame via three support points wherein one running wheel is adapted as a castor wheel pivotable through 360 about a vertical axis, characterised by the feature that also the remaining running wheels are also adapted as castor wheels, and that one of said running wheels is adapted to be locked to roll in a tranportation direction extending normal to the normal working direction of the apparatus.

When proceeding from the travel in the normal operating direction, all that is needed to permit travel in the direction of transportation is to have a towing device arranged on one longitudinal side of the apparatus and to lock one running wheel in the transportation direction after pivotal movement thereof. Swivelling the running wheel is rendered readily possible in that the apparatus only needs to be towed for a short distance whereby all running wheels and thus this one also, swivel automatically into the direction of transportation. The locked running wheel during travel in the transportation direction then ensures a truetrack travel of the apparatus, whilst this track holding of the apparatus when used in operation in the direction of normal operation is generally attained by the operating position of the lowered working imolements.

In a preferred arranaen. ent, the two rear running wheels, seen in the direction of normal operation of the apparatus, arc mounted laterally on the frame in such manner that they do not protrude lateralln beyond the rearmost working implement the direction of transportation. Such measure provides the additional avantage that the working implements without increasing the overall length of the apparatus could be mounted in several rows, one behind the other, seen in the operating direction, whereby for an uninterrupted deposit of materials in the soil by means of the shares with an even lester width between rows, a free passage between these working implements may be attained.

Furthermore, a rear running wheel, seen in the direction of transportation, is prefer- ably lockable additionally in the direction of operation and, in the direction of operation, and rolls along the edge on this side of the operating track determined by the operating width of the apparatus. Herewith in favorable manner, the distribution of the material may be commenced directly at the edge of the field without the lockable wheel having to roll along on the adjacent soil.

In a preferred embodiment of the inven tion, securing elements for a towing device are also provided on one side of the frame seen in the direction of operation. This additionally facilitates the conversion of the apparatus for travel both in the direc tion of normal operation and direction of transportation when only one towing device is required.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of an agricultural apparatus; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

The apparatus illustrated includes a frame 1 which has the two-part storage container 2 mounted thereon, with the lower part of the container 2 having a metering device 3 located thereon. Working implements 4 comprising shares and pressing rollers are pivotally mounted on the frame 1 in three rows one behind the other, and are shown in their lowered, workine position. The implements 4 are supplied with accurately ajustable quantities of material from the storage container 2 by means of a metering device 3 via tubular conduits 5. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the working implements 4 are arranged staggered when viewed in the direction of operation and have equal lateral spacings between them.

The frame I is supported by two front running wheels 7 and two rear running wheels 8. The front running wheels 7 are connected to frame 1 by means of support point 9 which includes a bearing pin extending in the direction of travel, and the rear running wheels 8 are connected to the frame I by means of two support points 10.

These three support points result in a balance and secure support of the frame 1.

In this case a chassis 12 is secured to be pivotable in a vertical plane on the front support point 9 by means of bearing II located centrally on the frame 1. At the outer ends of the chassis 12, the two leading running wheels 7 acting as castor or guide wheels are mounted by means of holders 13 to be freely pivotal through 360 in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis 14. The two rear supporting points 10 are located on opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus and comprise mountings or holders 15 and 15'for the rear running wheels 8 and are pivotable about vertical axes 14, said rear wheels being formed as castor or guide wheels. The holders 15 and 15'are detachably mounted on the frame 1. A towing device 17 is mounted on the front side of the frame I by means of the securing elements 16 and is pivotable in vertical plane. A towing eyelet 18 of device 17 is located forwardly of the apparatus centre and permits coupling of the apparatus to a tractor 19.

The arrangement of the front wheels 7 is such that the width of track corresponds exactly to the width of track of the rear wheels 20 of the tractor. This ensures a smooth running of these wheels at maximum working speed. Moreover, a reduction of the wheel tracks on the field also results. Furthermore, the rear running wheels 8 are so mounted on the frame I that they are in rolling engagement on both sides of the apparatus along the two edges 21 of the working track determined by the working width 22 of the apparatus. This arrangement provides the advantages of a further reduction of'the tracks of the apparatus on the field, since one of the rear running wheels 8 is constantly in rolling engagement in a track formed by the preceding working track of a running wheel 8.

Furthermore, this makes it possible for the field to be tilled right up to the edge of the field without the running wheel having to roll long the adjacent soil. With very narrow widths of row, i. e. with slight lateral spacings of the working implements 4 relative one another, it is necessary however, for the right-hand running wheel 8 to be mounted with a greater lateral spacing on the frame 1 so that, during transportation of reversing of the apparatus as is frequently necessary with narrow turns, the wheel does not come into contact with the adjacent working implements 4.

To avoid contact of the working implements 4 with the left-hand lower running wheel 8, the wheel may be locked both in the direction of operation 6 and in the transportation direction 23 at right angles thereto. For this purpose, running wheel holder 15'is fitted with a disc 24 which has two recesses 25 located at right angles to each other. A catch 26 is pivotally mounted on the frame I and arranged in each of these recesses and retained by the force of a spring 27. To permit release of the lockino action, the upper end of the catch 26 is connected to a hydraulic cylinder 28 which, when the hydraulic system is switched on, swings the lower end of the catch 26 out of the given recess 25 against the force of spring 27. To change over the running wheel 8 into the transportation position 8'shown in broken lines, the hydraulic system is switched-off and the spring 27 then pulls the lower end of the catch 26 into the alternative recess 25.

As shown in Fig. 2, further lateral securing elements 16 are also provided on frame I on the right-hand side of the apparatus when viewed from the rear and these elements 16 are equidistant relative each other like those securing elements 16 located on the front of frame 1. To change over the apparatus for travel in the transportation direction 23, after uncoupling the apparatus from the tractor 19, the towing device 17 is released from the front securing elements 16 and located on the lateral securing elements 16 and thereby assumes the position 17' shown in broken lines. Subsequently, the locking action on the left-hand rear running wheel 8 is released. After coupling of the tractor to the towing device now assuming the position 17'the apparatus is moved forwards a short distance whereby the running wheels 7 and 8 assume the positions 7'and 8'indicated by broken lines. Thereupon by cut-out of the hydraulic system, the left-hand rear running wheel 8 is locked in the transportation position 8'. The apparatus may now be driven in the direction of transportation 23 in the manner of a normal twin axle trailer. The overall width 29 of the apparatus is thus no greater than the maximum width permitted by road traffic regulations for agricultural machines.

The rear running wheels 8 are also releasably mounted in their holders 15 and 15'.

The advantage of this arrangement resides firstly in that the running wheels 8 can be demounted in a simple manner if it should be necessary for repairs. Furthermore, if the additional supports 30, shown in broken lines, are mounted on the rear portion of the frame 1, it is also possible to mount the running wheels 8 in the position 8"in these supports 30. These supports 30 can be made rigid if it is not necessary, in the case of rounded off agricultural appara tus to use public roads and paths to the field or from the field to the farm.

Since, on the other hand, the supports 15, 15'are also detachably arranged on a frame 1, these may also be secured to the rear end of frame I together with the running wheels 8, in which case the position 8" is also available for the running wheels 8 again.

The lateral clearance between the rear running wheels 8 in the position 8"for both possibilities should be such for reducing the tracks on the field that these wheels roll in the tracks produced by the rear wheels 20 of the tractor.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Agricultural apparatus particularly for distributing spreadable, scatterable or like material, having an overall width which seen in the direction of operation is greater than its overall leneth and wherein the overall length does not exceed the maximum permissible width allowed for agricultural apparatus for travelling on public roads and paths and which apparatus includes a frame, working implements located in transverse rows one behind the other and adapted to be lowered into a working position for distributing or depositing material on or in the ground and raised into a transportation position, a towing device con nectable at the front and alternatively at a side of said frame, at least three running wheels supporting said frame via three support points wherein one running wheel is adapted as a castor wheel pivotable through 360'about a vertical axis, characterised by the feature that the remaining running wheels are also adapted as castor wheels, and that one of said running wheels is adapted to be locked to roll in a transportation direction extending normal to the normal working direction of the apparatus.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which, seen in the working direction, two running wheels are located laterally on the frame in such a manner that in the transportation position the rearmost working implements seen in the direction of working do not project laterally.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claims I and 2, in which a rear running wheel, seen in the working direction, is lockable to be operable in the direction of transportation and additionally in the working direction, said wheel in the working direction being in roilina engagement along an edge on the side of the working track determined by the working width of the machine.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claims I to 3 in which the other non-lockable rear running wheel is also in rolling engagement along the edge located in the working direction on the side of this running wheel of the working track determined by the working width of the machine.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which two running wheels are located at the front on the frame and interconnected by means of a chassis and adapted as castor wheels ; the chassis being mounted centrally and pivotable on the frame by means of a bearine.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the bearing is located in use behind the trailer eyelet of the towing device and in which the front running wheels have a width of track which is the same as the width of track of the rear wheels of a tractor which is to be used for towing the machine.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which two rear running wheels, seen in the working direction, are detachably located with their holders laterally on the frame.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 in which running wheels and holders are adapted to be detachably mounted on the frame on the rear side of the apparatus.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claims 7 and 8, in which the two rear running wheels are detachably mounted on their holders.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which when the two rear running wheels are provided on the rear of the frame such are arranged symmetrically about apparatus centre and have a width of track which is the same as the width of track of the rear wheels of a tractor to be used for towing the apparatus.
I I. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims I to 10 in which identical securing elements for a towing device are provided at the front and one one side of the frame, seen in the working direction.
12. Agricultural apparatus substantial3y as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying draw inss.