GB1582703A - Agricultural apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL APPARATUS (71) We, SIMBA MACHINERY LIMITED, a British Company, of Leasingham Hall, Leasingham, Lincoln, 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: This invention relates to an improved agricultural apparatus. Although the apparatus of the present invention may be used to carry any desired tool, a disc harrow plough will be described by way of example.

The conventional disc harrow has been known for many years and may comprise two lines of 20" or 22" discs, each offset relative to the direction of ploughing. The spacing between the discs is usually about nine inches and the disc harrows are usually coupled directly to the towing tractor or like vehicle during use.

According to the present invention we provide an agricultural apparatus comprising a frame including means for supporting a plurality of tools, a draw member by means of which the apparatus is towed and adjustable spring-loaded means provided between the draw member and the frame and arranged so that by adjustment of the effective length of the spring-loaded means the downward pressure on the tools may be varied.

Preferably the means for supporting a plurality of tools comprises a forward and a rear tool carrier, the adjustable springloaded means acting between the draw member and the forward tool carrier.

The draw member may be a drawbar which is hitched to the forward tool carrier at a plurality of hitch positions.

Preferably the adjustable spring-loaded means is set at an angle between the draw member and the frame and the adjustment of the downward pressure on the tools is effected by varying the pitch of the draw member.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention is use as a disc plough harrow and in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the agricultural apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a right hand side elevation of the frame with the drawbar broken away for clarity; Figure 3 shows the lifting mechanism with a wheel in the lowered and a raised position; and Figure 4 is a right hand side elevation of the drawbar.

In the drawings an agricultural apparatus 1 has a rectangular support frame 2 and a drawbar member 3. The rectangular support frame 2 has a torque bar 4 between two opposed sides for strength and absorbing shock. Disposed at right angles to the torque bar 4 is a rotatable shaft 5 journaled in the other two opposed sides of the frame 2. The shaft 5 is completed by two levers 6, one at each end, which are pivotally connected one to each of a pair of bars 7 which support a transport axle 8.

On the ends of the axle 8 are transport wheels 9. In addition to absorbing shock the torque bar 4 allows the frame 2 to twist slightly during use on encountering a load and then returns the frame to its correct position.

As seen from the drawings the bar 7 also each have pivotally mounted thereon a strap 20 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 21. A pair of transport straps 10 and 11, which may be releasably secured together by a bolt 12 during transport, are pivotally mounted at 21 and 22 respectively. Extending between one end of the frame 2 and the shaft 5 is the ram 13 of a hydraulic cylinder 14 to enable rotation of the shaft 5 as desired.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 it will be seen that one side 15 of the frame 2 is extended at both ends so as to provide a mounting for gang carriers 16. A plurality of holes 17 are provided in one of the extended portions of the side 15 to allow the respective gang carrier 16 to be positioned at various angles relatitve to the direction of travel-see Figure 1. The other gang carrier 16 is adjusted with respect to holes 22' in the opposed side of the frame 2.

The forward gang carrier 16 has hitched thereto at three positions 18 the drawbar member 3. In addition there is provided a bumper spring 19 which helps absorb any shock encountered during use. The drawbar member 3 at its free end has a pull point 30 for connection to a tractor or the like and carries means for supporting hose 31 to the hydraulic cylinder 14.

As seen from Figure 2 and 4 it will be seen that the drawbar member 3 is positioned normally slightly below the frame 2 so that the spring 19 is positioned at an angle between the drawbar and the forward going carrier-see line 32. The bumper spring 19 is adjustable so that by adjustment the downward pressure on the gang carriers 16 may be varied by varying the pitch of the drawbar 3. The adjustment is such that by lengthening the effective length of the threaded bar 24 which is inside the spring the implement front is raised and the rear is tilted downwards, by shortening the length the front of the implement is lowered and the rear is raised thus giving more depth to the front. Thus the adjustment permits the correct tracking of the implement.

In use, referring particularly to Figure 3, the farm tool frame 1 is moved with the wheels 9 lowered as shown to the left in Figure 3. Once it is desired to plough the bolt 12 is removed from the transport straps and the wheels 9 are lifted by hydraulics operated by the tractor operator. This is done by causing rotation of the shaft 5 which raises the axle 8 and wheels 9 as shown to the right in Figure 3.

Once in this position the frame 2 is supported on the tools carried by the carriers 16 and ploughing is ready to commence.

During use the spring 19 helps absorb shock and also, by adjustment, allows the pressure on the gang carriers to be varied as desired.

It should be mentioned that in our copending application No. 9543/77 (Serial No. 1582702) there is described and claimed a farm tool frame including two wheels movable from a ground engaging transportation position to a raised position by means comprising an elongate rotatable member rotatably mounted on the frame, a support member for each wheel and longitudinally spaced lever means secured to the rotatable member and pivotally connected to the respective support members for the wheels the arrangement being such that, on rotation of the rotatable member, the lever means are turned angularly about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to raise or lower the support means, and thus the wheels, with respect to the ground.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. An agricultural apparatus comprising a frame including means for supporting a plurality of tools, a draw member by means of which the apparatus is towed and adjustable spring-loaded means provided between the draw member and the frame and arranged so that by adjustment of the effective length of the spring-loaded means the downward pressure on the tools may be varied.

2. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the means for supporting a plurality of tools comprises a forward and a rear tool carrier, the adjustable spring-loaded means acting between the draw member and the forward tool carrier.

3. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the draw member is a drawbar which is hitched to the forward tool carrier at a plurality of spaced hitch positions.

4. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the tool carriers carry ploughing discs and are adjustable so as to be positioned at various angles relative to the direction of travel.

5. Agricultural apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame is substantially rectangular and includes a torque bar extending between a leading and a trailing side for strength and absorbing shock.

6. Agricultural apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the adjustable spring-loaded means is set at an angle between the draw member and the frame and the adjustment of the downward pressure on the tools is effected by varying the pitch of the draw member.

7. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the spring-loaded means is a bumper spring which helps absorb any shock encountered during use.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the shaft 5 as desired. Referring now particularly to Figure 1 it will be seen that one side 15 of the frame 2 is extended at both ends so as to provide a mounting for gang carriers 16. A plurality of holes 17 are provided in one of the extended portions of the side 15 to allow the respective gang carrier 16 to be positioned at various angles relatitve to the direction of travel-see Figure 1. The other gang carrier 16 is adjusted with respect to holes 22' in the opposed side of the frame 2. The forward gang carrier 16 has hitched thereto at three positions 18 the drawbar member 3. In addition there is provided a bumper spring 19 which helps absorb any shock encountered during use. The drawbar member 3 at its free end has a pull point 30 for connection to a tractor or the like and carries means for supporting hose 31 to the hydraulic cylinder 14. As seen from Figure 2 and 4 it will be seen that the drawbar member 3 is positioned normally slightly below the frame 2 so that the spring 19 is positioned at an angle between the drawbar and the forward going carrier-see line 32. The bumper spring 19 is adjustable so that by adjustment the downward pressure on the gang carriers 16 may be varied by varying the pitch of the drawbar 3. The adjustment is such that by lengthening the effective length of the threaded bar 24 which is inside the spring the implement front is raised and the rear is tilted downwards, by shortening the length the front of the implement is lowered and the rear is raised thus giving more depth to the front. Thus the adjustment permits the correct tracking of the implement. In use, referring particularly to Figure 3, the farm tool frame 1 is moved with the wheels 9 lowered as shown to the left in Figure 3. Once it is desired to plough the bolt 12 is removed from the transport straps and the wheels 9 are lifted by hydraulics operated by the tractor operator. This is done by causing rotation of the shaft 5 which raises the axle 8 and wheels 9 as shown to the right in Figure 3. Once in this position the frame 2 is supported on the tools carried by the carriers 16 and ploughing is ready to commence. During use the spring 19 helps absorb shock and also, by adjustment, allows the pressure on the gang carriers to be varied as desired. It should be mentioned that in our copending application No. 9543/77 (Serial No. 1582702) there is described and claimed a farm tool frame including two wheels movable from a ground engaging transportation position to a raised position by means comprising an elongate rotatable member rotatably mounted on the frame, a support member for each wheel and longitudinally spaced lever means secured to the rotatable member and pivotally connected to the respective support members for the wheels the arrangement being such that, on rotation of the rotatable member, the lever means are turned angularly about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to raise or lower the support means, and thus the wheels, with respect to the ground. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. An agricultural apparatus comprising a frame including means for supporting a plurality of tools, a draw member by means of which the apparatus is towed and adjustable spring-loaded means provided between the draw member and the frame and arranged so that by adjustment of the effective length of the spring-loaded means the downward pressure on the tools may be varied.

2. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the means for supporting a plurality of tools comprises a forward and a rear tool carrier, the adjustable spring-loaded means acting between the draw member and the forward tool carrier.

3. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the draw member is a drawbar which is hitched to the forward tool carrier at a plurality of spaced hitch positions.

4. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the tool carriers carry ploughing discs and are adjustable so as to be positioned at various angles relative to the direction of travel.

5. Agricultural apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame is substantially rectangular and includes a torque bar extending between a leading and a trailing side for strength and absorbing shock.

6. Agricultural apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the adjustable spring-loaded means is set at an angle between the draw member and the frame and the adjustment of the downward pressure on the tools is effected by varying the pitch of the draw member.

7. Agricultural apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the spring-loaded means is a bumper spring which helps absorb any shock encountered during use.