GB1586079A

GB1586079A - Roller implement

Info

Publication number: GB1586079A
Application number: GB2449577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Silk O A
Current assignee: Silk O A
Priority date: 1978-05-19
Filing date: 1978-05-19
Publication date: 1981-03-18

Description

(54) ROLLER IMPLEMENT (71) 4, OSWALD ARTHUR SILK, a British Subject of Wootton Grange House, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention has reference to roller implements primarily for agricultural use and of the kind having at least one roller which in use has its axis of rotation inclined to the direction of draught of a tractor vehicle drawing the implement whereby the rotating roller has a rubbing action against the soil as the implement is drawn along and'which has the effect of breaking up or pulverising the surface clods of soil e.g. in the preparation of a seed bed.

The object of this invention is to provide a roller implement for agricultural or other purposes of the above-mentioned kind of which practical advantages will be apparent from the following disclosure.

According to this invention a roller implement of the kind referred to is characterised by the or each roller being of parallel cylindrical form having a plain periphery.

In 'practice constructions and arrangements are as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one arrangement of the roller implement, Figure 2 is a detail elevation of a roller mounting, and Figures 3 & 4 are plan views showing alternative arrangements.

Like parts are referred to by the same or similar reference designation throughout 'the drawings.

Referring to Figures,1 and 2 the implement 1 comprises a pair of rollers 10 carried by sup- port structure shown in the form of a rectangular frame 12 consisting of front and rear cross members, 13 and side members 14. A draw bar 3 for a tractor is pivotally connected at 31 to the front cross member 13 of the frame 12, the, pivotal connection 31 being preferably at the same level above ground as the axes A of the rollers 10.

Each roller 10, is of parallel cylindrical form having a plain substantially smooth periphery and is rotatably supported at its outer end from the corresponding side member 14 of the frame 12 inan underslung manner i.e. by a generally L-shaped shaft member 18 consisting of a stub shaft portion or journal 181 which is received by a bearing block 100 in the adjacent end of the corresponding roller 10 whilst an upright limb 182 of the shaft member 18 is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis in a bracket 19 bolted or otherwise secured to the frame side member 14. A removable retraining pin 184 enables the limb 182 to be withdrawn from the bracket 19. For simplicity and cheap replacement, the bearing 100 may consist of a block of hardwood having a bore 110 which rotatably receives the stub shaft portion 181, the block being held in place in a recess in the end of the roller 10 by a retaining plate 111 bolted to the end of the roller 10 so that the block 100 can be readily replaced when worn. The arrangement also serves as a thrust bearing owing to the abutment of the retaining plate 111 with a flange 183 on the stub shaft 181.

The inner end of each roller 10 is similarly mounted from a sub-frame or carriage 120 slidably or other wise mounted for longitudinal forward and backward movement at 121 on top of the main frame 12 in a direction generally the same as the direction of draught D of the implement. The frames20 is operated for such longitudinal movement by a hydraulic ram 90 shown pivotally connected bewteen the rear cross member 13 and a central cross member 122 of the frame 120.

In the extended condition of the ram 90 shown in Figure 1, the frame 120 is advanced forwardly so as to incline the axis A of each roller 10 to the direction of draught D i.e. in their operative position for effecting a pulverising or scrubbing action on surface clods of soil.

It will be noted that the rollers 10 are also arrayed in a mutually inclined manner so as to have a balanced action in this way with little'our no tendency for the implement to have side movement relative to the direction of draught D.

When it is desired to turn the implement round at the end of an operative run or to simply move the implement e.g. from one' locality of use to another, the ram 90 is retracted to move our permit movement of the frame 120 rearwardly and so bring the rollers 10 to the transverse position at right angles to' the direction of draught D as partly indicated in chain dotted lines at 10' in Figure 1. For the purpose of movement of the rollers to the operative or inoperative positions, the stub.

shafts 181 of the shaft members 18 pivotally mounted on the frame 120 are able to have axial sliding movement in corresponding bearing blocks 100 at the inner ends of the rollers 10. However, any suitable bearing support for the rotatable rollers 10 may be employed.

On release of hydraulic fluid pressure to the ram 90 the rollers 10 tend to move the the fully transverse position and return action of the ram 90 for this purpose can be assisted by spring means (not shown) e.g. acting between the frame 120 and rear cross member 13.

As will be appreciated the rollers 10 can be readily changed from the operative inclined position to their parallel turn-around or travelling position and vice versa by appropriate operation of the ram 90 e.g. from the hydraulic system of a tractor drawing the implement, whilst adjustment of the roller inclination intermediate these positions can be effected.

When operating in the inclined position the rollers tend to have a self cleaning action against pick-up of damp soil or mud and in view of this the implement is suitable for rolling grass covered acreas such as football pitches, especially when the latter are in a muddy condition. In such a case the angle of inclination is set so that a self cleaning action of the rollers is obtained without an undue scrubbing action which would otherwise adversely affect the grass.

The main frame 12 may be also arranged to receive weights preferably in a variable and removable manner and also in a balanced arrangement e.g. adjacent either side of the slidable frame 120. Thus the frame 12 may receive platforms or boarding for the purpose or the weights may be carried by any other suitable support on or from the frame 12. Alternatively or additionally, the rollers 10 of hollow form may be arranged to be filled or partly filled with a liquid such as water or oil as necessary.

Referring generally to both Figures 3 and 4, the roller implement 1 may consist of a single roller 10, or an endwise series of two or more rollers rotatable about the same axis, in a rectangular frame 12 which is shown braced by cross members 17 which are arched to bridge the roller and are shown inclined to the cross members 13 of the frame 12 in order to counter-act stresses on the latter under operating conditions.

Stub axles 11 of the roller 10 are shown mounted in suitable bearings 16 carried by side members 14 of the frame 12, one or more of said bearings 16 also providing thrust bearing support for the roller 10. As before the roller 10 simply has a plain smooth periphery for obtaining a required scrubbing action against the ground as it rolls about its axis A inclined to the direction of draught D.

In these arrangements the draw gear is such that the roller 10 can be drawn, at a suitable degree of inclination of its axis A to the line of draught D but can be subsequently operated to readily permit turning of the tractor and implement at the end of an operative run or for travelling movement only.

For this purpose, and referring to Figure 3, the draw gear is as follows: Support structure in the form of an attachment 2 is provided for rigid mounting at the rear of an agricultural tractor and is adapted to be carried by the usual draw bar 3 of the latter and is also preferably braced from the tractor by a link or tumbuckle 30 pivotally connected at 23 to one end of a cross member 20 of the attachment 2, so that rigid mounting of the attachment 2 against operating stresses is ensured.

The attachment 2 also provides a pivotal i.e. draw pin connection 24 for a central drawbar 4 rigidly connected to the implement frame 12 and shown braced at 40 from the forward side member 13 of the latter.

In the operating condition shown, a further draught connection 5 is shown provided by an offset link 50 pivotally connected at 25 be tween the attachment 2 and the frame 12, at 15 the connection to the attachment 2 being by means of a secondary connecting link 51.

The main link 50 is extendable and retractable lengthwise by hydraulic ram mechanism 6 and in the particular ram mechanism shown a pair of relatively slidable frames 61, 62 are provided of which the frame 61 is fast with the link rod 50 and has the ram cylinder 60 secured to its other end, whilst the other frame 62 is pivotally connected at one end at 15 to the implement frame 12 and has the ram piston rod 66 connected to it at its other end. The action is such that when the ram 60 is extended the frame 62 is drawn alongside the frame 61 so that contraction of the secondary connection 5 is obtained thus pulling the implement frame 12 to the inclined position shown. On retraction of the ram 60 endwise movement of the frames 61, 62 in a direction away from one another is obtained so that the secondary connection 5 is extended to move the implement frame 12 and roller 10 to a position at right angles to the line of draught D as indicated at 12'.

The above described mechanism 6 enables a single acting ram 60 to be employed but if desired a simpler arrangement employing a double acting ram may be used.

By contraction of the secondary connection 5 the roller frame 12 is pulled to the inclined position so that a laterally spaced apart two point draught connection is applied to the roller frame 12 i.e. by the central drawbar 4 and the secondary connection 5. In this way thrusting stresses on the roller frame 12 are avoided or minimised and which otherwise tends to cause structural failure of the latter.

When the secondary connection 5 is-extended to allow the roller 10 to assume a posi tion at right angles to the line of draught D, the pivotal connection 55 of the main link 50 to the secondary link 51 is caused to move over the pivotal connection 24 ofthe central drawbar 4 to the attachment 2 so that the two pivotal connections 24, 55 substantially coincide about the same vertical axis. This is achieved by spring loading of the secondary link 51 by means of a tension spring 26 connected between the latter and an anchorage 27 at the other end of the cross member 20 of the attachment 2. A stop 21 is provided for preventing the pivotal connection 55 of the secondary link 51 moving beyond the position where it coincides with the central drawbar connection 24.

When the pivotal connections 24, 55 coincide in the above manner the roller implement 1 can be drawn in the normal way of a pivoted drawbar connection so that turning round ofthe tractor drawing the implement can be readily effected, e.g. on a headland after an operative run. Similarly this position can be adopted for travelling purposes of the tractor and implement.

In a modification of the above described drawgear arrangement, the secondary connection 5 may consist of a flexible member such as wire rope anchored to the implement frame 12 and passing via a guide roller on an attachment as at 2 to a double acting ram mounted on the tractor or on support structure or part of the attachment. Operation of the ram draws in the wire rope to incline the axis A of the roller to the line of draught D and vice versa. The guide roller may be carried by a spring loaded secondary link similar to the link 51 shown so that it moves over the central drawbar connection 24 when the roller frame 12 is allowed to assume a position at right angles to the line of draught D.

The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is applicable to a roller implement 1 where the total weight of the latter is such that it can be lifted from the tractor clear of the ground for tuming or travelling purposes.

In this case a usual or suitable form a Aframe 7 is provided at the rear of the tractor and carried by the three point implement linkage 8 of the latter.

In the operative position the A-frame 7 is located in a rigid manner by the top link 81 and the lower hydraulically operated pair of links 82 which latter are firmly held in place by check chains 83 to the tractor rear axle casing or other suitable structure of the tractor, the chains 83 preferably incorporating turn buckles 84 for length adjustment, and tightening.

Directly carried by the A-frame 7 is the roller frame 12 at the required angle of inclination of the roller axis A to the line of draught D, thus the base of the A-frame 7 is directly welded or otherwise secured to the roller frame 12 at one side 75 and connected by an extension piece 74 at the other side, both sides of the A-frame 7 together with the hydraulic link connection 82 providing two point draught connec,- tion 74,75 to the roller frame 12.

The upper part of the A-frame 7 i.e. from the top link connection is connected by tie-bars 72 to the rear cross member 13 of the roller frame 12 so that the latter is suitably supported when the tractor implement linkage is operated to raise the complete roller implement 1 clear of the ground.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A roller implement of the kind and for the purposes referred to characterised by the or each roller being of parallel cylindrical form having a plain periphery.

2. A roller implement according to Claim 1 wherein the implement includes at least two said rollers having their axes mutually inclined to one another.

3. A roller implement according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein inclination of the or each roller axis to the direction of draught is adjustable.

4. A roller implement according to Claim 3 wherein inclination of the or each roller axis is adjustable from a position at right angles to the direction of draught to an operative position inclined to the direction of draught.

5. A roller implement according to Claims 1 or 2 and either of Claims 3 or 4 wherein bearing support of one end of the or each roller is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from support structure such as a frame of the implement and bearing support of the other end of said roller is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from an adjustable member such as a sub frame or carriage operable for forward or backward movement on the support structure or frame of the implement in a direction generally the same as the direction or draught of the implement.

6. A roller implement according to Claims 2 and 5 wherein at least two rollers are arrayed so as to have adjacent ends, the bearing supports of said ends being each pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from the adjustable member whilst the other or outer ends of the rollers have their bearing supports pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from corresponding parts of the support structure or frame of the implement.

7. A roller implement according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the adjustable member is operable by ram means from the support structure or frame of the implement for obtaining said forward or backward movement of the adjustable member on the support structure or frame.

8. A roller implement according to Claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein bearing support of each end of the -or each roller consists of a bearing member or block carried by the roller and having an axial bore receiving a shaft which latter has a limb which is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from the support strcuture or frame of the implement or from the adjustable member as

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Claims

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

tion at right angles to the line of draught D, the pivotal connection 55 of the main link 50 to the secondary link 51 is caused to move over the pivotal connection 24 ofthe central drawbar 4 to the attachment 2 so that the two pivotal connections 24, 55 substantially coincide about the same vertical axis. This is achieved by spring loading of the secondary link 51 by means of a tension spring 26 connected between the latter and an anchorage 27 at the other end of the cross member 20 of the attachment 2. A stop 21 is provided for preventing the pivotal connection 55 of the secondary link 51 moving beyond the position where it coincides with the central drawbar connection 24.

When the pivotal connections 24, 55 coincide in the above manner the roller implement 1 can be drawn in the normal way of a pivoted drawbar connection so that turning round ofthe tractor drawing the implement can be readily effected, e.g. on a headland after an operative run. Similarly this position can be adopted for travelling purposes of the tractor and implement.

In a modification of the above described drawgear arrangement, the secondary connection 5 may consist of a flexible member such as wire rope anchored to the implement frame 12 and passing via a guide roller on an attachment as at 2 to a double acting ram mounted on the tractor or on support structure or part of the attachment. Operation of the ram draws in the wire rope to incline the axis A of the roller to the line of draught D and vice versa. The guide roller may be carried by a spring loaded secondary link similar to the link 51 shown so that it moves over the central drawbar connection 24 when the roller frame 12 is allowed to assume a position at right angles to the line of draught D.

The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is applicable to a roller implement 1 where the total weight of the latter is such that it can be lifted from the tractor clear of the ground for tuming or travelling purposes.

In this case a usual or suitable form a Aframe 7 is provided at the rear of the tractor and carried by the three point implement linkage 8 of the latter.

In the operative position the A-frame 7 is located in a rigid manner by the top link 81 and the lower hydraulically operated pair of links 82 which latter are firmly held in place by check chains 83 to the tractor rear axle casing or other suitable structure of the tractor, the chains 83 preferably incorporating turn buckles 84 for length adjustment, and tightening.

Directly carried by the A-frame 7 is the roller frame 12 at the required angle of inclination of the roller axis A to the line of draught D, thus the base of the A-frame 7 is directly welded or otherwise secured to the roller frame

12 at one side 75 and connected by an extension piece 74 at the other side, both sides of the A-frame 7 together with the hydraulic link connection 82 providing two point draught connec,- tion 74,75 to the roller frame 12.

The upper part of the A-frame 7 i.e. from the top link connection is connected by tie-bars 72 to the rear cross member 13 of the roller frame 12 so that the latter is suitably supported when the tractor implement linkage is operated to raise the complete roller implement 1 clear of the ground.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A roller implement of the kind and for the purposes referred to characterised by the or each roller being of parallel cylindrical form having a plain periphery.
2. A roller implement according to Claim 1 wherein the implement includes at least two said rollers having their axes mutually inclined to one another.
3. A roller implement according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein inclination of the or each roller axis to the direction of draught is adjustable.
4. A roller implement according to Claim 3 wherein inclination of the or each roller axis is adjustable from a position at right angles to the direction of draught to an operative position inclined to the direction of draught.
5. A roller implement according to Claims 1 or 2 and either of Claims 3 or 4 wherein bearing support of one end of the or each roller is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from support structure such as a frame of the implement and bearing support of the other end of said roller is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from an adjustable member such as a sub frame or carriage operable for forward or backward movement on the support structure or frame of the implement in a direction generally the same as the direction or draught of the implement.
6. A roller implement according to Claims 2 and 5 wherein at least two rollers are arrayed so as to have adjacent ends, the bearing supports of said ends being each pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from the adjustable member whilst the other or outer ends of the rollers have their bearing supports pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from corresponding parts of the support structure or frame of the implement.
7. A roller implement according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the adjustable member is operable by ram means from the support structure or frame of the implement for obtaining said forward or backward movement of the adjustable member on the support structure or frame.
8. A roller implement according to Claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein bearing support of each end of the -or each roller consists of a bearing member or block carried by the roller and having an axial bore receiving a shaft which latter has a limb which is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis from the support strcuture or frame of the implement or from the adjustable member as

appropriate.
9. A roller implement according to Claim 8 wherein the shaft of the bearing support at at least one end of the or each roller is arranged to have axial sliding movement in the bore of its associated bearing member or block.
10. A roller implement according to Claim 8 or 9 wherein each bearing member at each end of the or each roller consists of a hardwood block having a bore receiving a corresponding shaft.
11. A roller implement according to Claim 1 wherein the implement includes structure mounted, or adapted to be mounted, in a rigid manner at the rear of a tractor vehicle and draught means connected between said structure and the roller carrying frame of the implement whereby, in use, laterally spaced twopoint draught connection is provided between the structure and said frame of the implement for obtaining or maintaining inclination of the axis of the or each roller to the direction of draught.
12. A roller implement according to Claims, 1,3 and 11 or Claims 1,4 and 11, wherein the draught means comprises a pair of draught connections one of which is variable in effective length for obtaining adjustment in the angle of inclination of the axis of the or each roller to the direction of draught.
13. A roller implement according to Claim 11 wherein the draught connection which is variable in effective length is operable by ram means for such variation.
14. A roller implement according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein the draught connection which is variable in effective length is urged to cause pivotal attachment thereof to the tractor mounted or mountable structure to substantially coincide with pivotal attachment of the other draught connection to said structure when the or each roller is at right angles to the direction of draught so that the implement can be drawn for turning round or travelling purposes.
15. A roller implement according to Claim 1 or 11 wherein the implement is adapted to be raised and lowered by implement linkage of the latter for lifting the implement clear of the ground for turning round or travelling purposes.
16. A roller implement of the kind and for the purposes referred to when substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or 5 of the accompanying drawings.