GB1588852A - Soil cultivating implements - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SOIL CULTIVATING IMPLEMENTS (71) We, C. VAN DER LELY N.V., of 10, Weverskade, Maasland, The Netherlands, a Dutch Limited Liability 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: This invention relates to soil cultivating implements or machines of the kind which comprise a plurality of soil working members that are arranged in a row which extends substantially perpendicular, or at least transverse, to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement and that are rotatable about non-horizontal axes, a soil levelling member being provided in advance of said soil working members with respect to that direction. The expression "implement(s) or machine(s)" will be shortened to "implement(s)" alone throughout the remainder of this specification for the sake of brevity.

According to the invention, there is provided a soil cultivating implement of the kind set forth, wherein the soil levelling member is in the form of a beam which, when the implement is viewed in plan, is, as a whole, of saw-toothed configuration.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a soil cultivating implement in accordance with the invention connected to the rear of an agricultural tractor, Figure 2 is a section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line II-II in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line IV-IV in Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the soil cultivating implement that is illustrated therein is in the form of a rotary harrow and comprises a hollow box-section frame portion 1 that extends substantially horizontally transverse, and usually (as illustrated) substantially perpendicular, to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement that is indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings by an arrow A. A plurality (in this case, twelve) of non-horizontal shafts 2 are rotatably journalled in the hollow frame portion 1 in a single row, said shafts 2 being in parallel relationship with their longitudinal axes (axes of rotation) spaced apart from one another at regular intervals which advantageously, but not essentially, have magnitudes of substantially 250 millimetres.

Usually, as illustrated, the non-horizontally extending shafts 2 will actually be disposed in vertical or substantially vertical positions.

Each shaft 2 projects downwardly from beneath the bottom of the hollow boxsection frame portion 1, the downwardly projecting portion thereof having a corresponding soil working member, that in generally indicated by the reference 3, firmly secured to its lowermost end so as to be rotatable therewith. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, each rotary soil working member 3 comprises a substantially horizontally disposed support or carrier whose midpoint is secured to the lowermost end of the shaft 2 concerned, said support or carrier having substantially cylindrical sleeve-like tine holders at its opposite ends in each of which tine holders is releasably secured an upper fastening portion of a corresponding rigid soil working tine 4. Each tine 4 has a soil working portion that projects downwardly from the lowermost end of the corresponding fastening portion and into the soil when the implement is in use.

The opposite ends of the hollow boxsection frame portion 1 are closed by sub stantially vertically disposed side plates that are in parallel relationship with each other and parallel or substantially parallel relationship with the direction A. Substantially the fronts of said side plates, with respect to the same direction, are provided with substantially horizontally aligned strong pivots, and arms 5, which extend generally rearwardly from said pivots relative to the direction A, are turnable upwardly and downwardly about those pivots alongside the neighbouring plates. Each arm 5 projects rearwardly beyond the rearmost edge of the corresponding side plate, those side plates themselves being extended rearwardly relative to the frame portion 1 itself. The rearwardly extending portion of each side plate is formed with a curved row of holes (see Figure 4) which are equidistant from the substantially horizontal axis that is defined by the strong pivots and each arm 5 is formed with a hole at the same distance from said axis. Retaining bolts are furnished for horizontal entry through the holes in the arms 5 and chosen ones of the holes in the curved rows thereof that are formed in the rearwardly projecting portions of the frame portion side plates and it will be apparent that the particular holes in said side plates which are chosen for co-operation with the retaining bolts determine the angular positions of the arms 5 about the substantially horizontal axis which is defined by the aligned strong pivots at substantially the fronts of those side plates. The rearmost ends of the two arms 5 are bent over downwardly and carry, at their extremities, substantially horizontally aligned bearings between which an open-work ground roller 6 is mounted in a freely rotatable manner.

The roller 6 extends throughout substantially the whole of the combined working width of the twelve, in this embodiment, rotary soil working members 3 and. during operation, assists in controlling the maximum depth to which the tines 4 of the rotary soil working members 3 can penetrate into the ground by virtue of the level thereof which is chosen as compared with that of the frame portion 1 and soil working members 3. The roller 6 also acts as a soil working member in its own right inasmuch as it will engage and crush any lumps of soil that exceptionally remain unbroken at or near the surface of the ground after treatment by the rotary members 3. The roller 6 assists in distributing the cultivated soil uniformly throughout the working width of the implement and has a levelling and gently compressing effect upon the surface of that soil. The construction of the roller 6. which is known per se, will be evident from a study of Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings. it being particularly noted that a plurality of tubular (as illustrated) or rod formation elongate elements which principally afford its ground-engaging surface are wound helically, in spaced relationship, around a central tubular support of the roller which is coincident with its substantially horizontal axis of rotation.

Two shield plates 8 are provided at locations which are short distances beyond the opposite ends of the single row of rotary soil working members 3. Each shield plate 8 is, during operation, substantially vertically disposed and is connected to a corresponding pair of arms 7 which project upwardly from the top thereof over the upper edges of the corresponding arm 5 and frame portion side plate and then inwardly towards the centre of said frame portion in divergent relationship, their inner ends being pivotally connected to two brackets which are mounted on top of the hollow frame portion 1 at the front and rear, respectively, of that top, having regard to the direction A. The pivotal connections of the inner ends of the pair of arms 7 to said brackets define a substantially horizontal axis which is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction A and this allows the shield plate 8 concerned to move upwardly and downwardly during operative progress of the implement in the direction A to match undulations in the surface of the soil which are met with by its lower edge, that lower edge being shaped to slide over the soil surface in substantially the direction A. The shield plates 8 co-operate with the two end soil working members 3 of the single row thereof in working the soil at the edges of the broad strip of land that is cultivated by the co-operating members 3 substantially as intensively as it is cultivated at locations which are closer to the centre of the broad strip. The shield plates 8 also act to minimise ridging of the soil at the edges of the broad strip and to prevent stones and other dangerous hard objects from being flung laterally of the path of travel of the implement by the rapidly rotating tines 4 of the soil working members 3. The danger of injury or damage to bystanders, livestock and property from this cause is thus greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated. As will be seen from Figure 1 of the drawings, the axes about which the supporting arms 7 of the shield plates 8 are pivotable relative to the brackets on top of the hollow frame portion 1 are spaced inwardly from the opposite ends of that frame portion by distances which are substantially equal to the working width of one of the soil working members 3.

Two carriers 9 are mounted above the top of the hollow frame portion 1 and lie at equal distances from the midpoint of said frame portion. The two carriers 9 are upwardly and forwardly inclined and the leading ends thereof, which are disposed in front of the frame portion 1, with respect to the direction A, have the upper ends of corresponding downwardly projecting and substantially vertically disposed supports 10 fastened to them. Two further supports 11 (Figures 2 to 4) are rigidly secured to the front of the hollow frame portion 1 so as to project substantially horizontally forwards therefrom at locations which are vertically in register with the leading ends of the two carriers 9. The leading free end of each further support 11 has one limb of a corresponding L-shaped bracket welded to it (see Figure 3) so that the other limb thereof projects to one side of said further support. The projecting limb, together with a parallel vertically extending rib 12 that is welded to said further support 11, defines a channel-shaped guide between the limbs of which fits, and is rigidly welded, the corresponding substantially vertically disposed support 10. Each support 10 is of flat strip-shaped formation and has a similarly shaped and similarly disposed arm 13 clamped alongside it by a corresponding pair of horizontally disposed but vertically spaced apart bolts 14. As will be evident from the drawings, each arm 13 is in overlapping relationship with the corresponding support 10, the arms 13 being formed with two spaced and vertically extending rows of holes 15. The supports 10, on the other hand, are formed with single holes at locations spaced by substantially equal distances above, and beneath, the corresponding further supports 11, said distances being such that two chosen holes 15 in the corresponding upper and lower rows thereof will register with the two holes in the support 10 concerned. Thus, by using the corresponding pair of bolts 14 and chosen holes 15, each arm 13 can be retained in any chosen one of a plurality of different positions of downwardly projecting extension beyond the lowermost end of the respective support 10.

The two arms 13 are provided, at their lowermost extremities, with corresponding pins 16 that project substantially horizontally therefrom in a direction that is perpendicular, or at least transverse, to the direction A, said pins 16 being in alignment with one another when, as is the intention, the two arms 13 are similarly adjusted in position relative to the corresponding supports 10. A lug 17 is pivotable about each pin 16 relative to the corresponding arm 13, the two lugs 17 being parts of a soil levelling member in the form of a beam that is generally indicated by the reference 18. The soil levelling beam 18 is located in advance of the soil working members 3 with respect to the direction A and extends throughout substantially the whole of the combined working width of those members (see Figure 1). The beam 18 has a hollow polygonal cross-section that is preferably, as illustrated, square. The beam 18 comprises four identical or substantially identical portions 19 and 20 which are so disposed that, as seen in plan view (Figure 1), the whole beam has a shallow saw toothed configuration. With the particular construction that is illustrated, the opposite free ends of the two outer beam portions 19 and the junction between the leading ends of the two inner beam portions 20 are furthest forward with respect to the direc tion A, each pair of beam portions 19 and 20 defining a shallow V-shaped figure that is identical to the companion figure defined by the other pair of portions 19 and 20. The two V-shaped figures adjoin one another to produce the saw-toothed configuration re ferred to above and the points thereof are rearmost with respect to the direction A, said points being provided with the aforementioned lugs 17. A line a which joins the leading free ends of the outer beam portions 19 and the interconnected leading free ends of the two inner beam portions 20 is parallel or substantially parallel to a plane which contains the axes of rotation of all twelve (in this embodiment) of the shafts 2, the longitudinal axis of each straight beam portion 19 or 20 being inclined by the same angle a to said line a, the angle a advan tageously having a magnitude of substantial ly 30 A pair of lugs 21 project rearwardly from the back of the leading junction between the two inner portions 20 of the soil levelling beam 18, their rearmost ends being inter connected by a pivot pin 22 that is substan tially horizontally parallel to the direction A. The leading lower end of an adjustable length tie member 23 is turnably mounted on the pivot pin 22, the opposite rearmost upper end of said tie member 23 being pivotally connected to a pair of lugs, which project forwardly from a horizontal beam at the foot of a coupling member or trestle 24 of the implement, by a further parallel pivot pin 23A. The nature of the adjustable length tie member 23, whose construction is known per se, will be immediately evident to a person skilled in the agricultural machinery art from an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawings. The coupling member or trestle 24 is disposed substantially centrally be tween the planes of the two side plates of the hollow box-section frame portion 1 and its construction is such that, as seen in front or rear elevation, it is of substantially triangular configuration. Locations close to the apex of the coupling member or trestle 24 are rigidly connected, for strengthening purposes, to locations at the rear ends of the two carriers 9 by corresponding downwardly and rearwardly divergent tie beams 30 (Figures 1 and 4). The coupling member or trestle 24 is constructed and arranged for connection to the free ends of the upper and lower lifting links of a three-point lifting device or hitch at the rear of an agricultural tractor or other operating vehicle in the basically known manner that is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Each of the shafts 2 is provided, inside the hollow frame portion 1, with a corresponding straight-toothed or spur-toothed pinion 25, the size and arrangement of the pinions 25 being such that the teeth of each of them are in mesh with those of the or each immediately neighbouring pinion 25 in the single row of twelve (in this embodiment) such pinions. Thus, when the implement is in use, each pinion 25 will, together with the corresponding shaft 2 and soil working member 3, revolve in the direction that is indicated by a curved arrow in Figure 1 of the drawings which direction is opposite to the direction of rotation of the or each immediately neighbouring similar assembly of parts 2, 3 and 25. One of the centre pair of the row of twelve shafts 2 has an upward extension through the top of the hollow frame portion 1 into a gear box 26 which is mounted on top of that frame portion. The upward shaft extension which has just been mentioned is in driven connection by way of meshing bevel pinions (not visible) inside the gear box 26 with a substantially horizontal shaft (not visible) that extends substantially parallel to the direction A. The rearmost end of this substantially horizontal shaft and the rearmost end of a parallel shaft 28 that is located in spaced relationship thereabove both project through the back of the gear box 26 into a change-speed gear 27 which is mounted at the rear of the gear box 26. It is not necessary to describe nor to illustrate the change-speed gear 27 in any detail for the purposes of the present invention and it suffices to say that the two shaft ends which project into that gear are splined for the reception of the matchingly splined hubs of a co-operating pair of straighttoothed or spur-toothed pin ions (not shown) of different sizes. There are preferably at least two such pairs of co-operating pinions in each of which pairs the two pinions are of a different size from those in the other pair and it will be apparent that the particular pair of pinions that is chosen for use in the change-speed gear 27. and the arrangement. which is interchangeable, thereof on the co-operating shaft ends which is chosen. will dictate the transmission ratio between the upper shaft 28 and the lower and parallel shaft that cannot be seen in the drawings. The latter shaft indirectly drives all of the soil working members 3 so that the speed of rotation thereof can be increased or decreased. as may be required. without having to change the substantially constant input speed of rotation that is applied to the splined or otherwise keyed leading end of the shaft 28 which projects forwardly from the front of the gear box 26 in substantially the direction A to serve as a rotary input shaft. When the implement is to be used, the forwardly projecting leading end of the shaft 28 is placed in driven connection with the rear power take-off shaft of an agricultural tractor or other operating vehicle by way of an intermediate telescopic transmission shaft 29, which is of a construction that is known per se, having universal joints at its opposite ends.

In the use of the soil cultivating implement that has been described, its coupling member or trestle 24 is connected to the three-point lifting device or hitch at the rear of an agricultural tractor or other operating vehicle and the leading end of the rotary input shaft 28 of the gear box 26 is placed in driven connection with the rear power take-off shaft of the same tractor or other operating vehicle by way of the known telescopic transmission shaft 29 that has universal joints at its opposite ends. Adjustments which may, if necessary, be made before work commences include setting the speed at which the rotary soil working members 3 will revolve in response to a substantially standard speed of rotation applied to the shaft 28 by appropriate adjustment of the change-speed gear 27.

Also, the maximum depth to which the tines 4 of the soil working members 3 can penetrate into the soil is adjusted by moving the roller 6 either bodily upwards or downwards relative to the frame portion 1 using the arms 5 and retaining bolts in the manner described above. These adjustments are made primarily having regard to the nature and condition of the soil that is to be dealt with and the particular purpose for which that soil is required after cultivation. Soil levelling members that have previously been used in advance of rotary soil working members of soil cultivating implements have proved to be insufficiently effective in levelling the soil, particularly when it is wet and/or heavy. to an extent which is such that the tracks of the rear wheels of the operating agricultural tractor or other vehicle are adequately obliterated. The saw-toothed configuration of the soil levelling beam 18 that is provided in the present case is such that earth scraped from the ground surface by the beam portions 19 and 20 are directed obliquely rearwardly in the directions that are indicated by straight arrows in Figure 1 towards the points of the aforementioned shallow V-shaped figures which points, it will be noted. are in register. in the direction A. with the rear wheels of the diagrammaticallv illustrated agicultural tractor that operates the implement. Thus, this laterally displaced soil, which is collected throughout the working width of the implement, is fed into the rear wheel tracks of the tractor and fills them to such an extent that, after subsequent working by the members 3 and roller 6, said tracks are substantially, if not completely, obliterated thus leaving a well cultivated broad strip of land that, in many cases, will be usable as a seed bed or for the introduction of small plants without further treatment. The level of the points of the two shallow V-shaped figures of the beam 18 relative to the frame portion 1 is determined by adjusting the arms 13 upwardly or downwardly relative to the supports 10, employing the bolts 14 to maintain any chosen setting. This adjustment will usually be made having regard to the bodily level of the roller 6 which has been set with respect to that of the frame portion 1. It will be remembered that the soil levelling beam 18 can additionally be tilted upwardly or down wardly about the axis that is defined by the aligned pins 16 by increasing or decreasing the length of the tie member 23, the axis which is defined by the two pins 16 being located in advance of the frame portion 1 with respect to the direction A.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A soil cultivating implement of the kind set forth, wherein the soil levelling member is in the form of a beam which, when the implement is viewed in plan, is, as a whole, of saw-toothed configuration.

2. An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the construction and arrangement of the soil levelling beam are such that, when the implement is connected to the rear of a tractor or other vehicle, rearmost extremities of the saw-toothed configura tion, with respect to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement, are substantially in register, in that direction, with the rear ground wheels of the tractor or other vehicle.

3. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the soil levelling beam com prises four portions that are of equal or substantially equal length.

4. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an imaginary straight line joining the midpoint and the opposite ends of the soil levelling beam is parallel or substantially parallel to a plane which contains the axes of rotation of said row of soil working members.

5. An implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one portion of the soil levelling beam is inclined to said imaginary line at an angle of substantially 30".

6. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the soil levelling beam is upwardly and downwardly adjust able in level relative to a frame portion of the implement which carries said row of soil working members.

7. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the soil levelling beam is pivotable about an axis that extends substantially horizontally perpendicular, or at least transverse, to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement.

8. An implement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said axis is located at the same horizontal level as is at least part of the soil levelling beam itself.

9. An implement as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein rearmost extremities of said saw-toothed configuration of the soil levelling beam are pivotally connected to a frame portion of the implement which carries said row of soil working members.

10. An implement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said arms are upwardly and downwardly adjustable in level relative to supports that are carried by said frame portion.

11. An implement as claimed in claim 10, wherein said supports are connected to the frame portion at two spaced points.

12. An implement as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein an upper end region of each support is fastened to a carrier which is mounted above the top of said frame portion so as to extend in the intended direction of operative travel of the implement and is also connected to a guide member that forms part of a further support which is arranged at the front of said frame portion, with respect to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement, at a lower horizontal level than is the corresponding carrier.

13. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein a tie member that is adjustable in length interconnects substantially the midpoint of the soil levelling beam and said frame portion.

14. A soil cultivating implement of the kind set forth, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. displaced soil, which is collected throughout the working width of the implement, is fed into the rear wheel tracks of the tractor and fills them to such an extent that, after subsequent working by the members 3 and roller 6, said tracks are substantially, if not completely, obliterated thus leaving a well cultivated broad strip of land that, in many cases, will be usable as a seed bed or for the introduction of small plants without further treatment. The level of the points of the two shallow V-shaped figures of the beam 18 relative to the frame portion 1 is determined by adjusting the arms 13 upwardly or downwardly relative to the supports 10, employing the bolts 14 to maintain any chosen setting. This adjustment will usually be made having regard to the bodily level of the roller 6 which has been set with respect to that of the frame portion 1. It will be remembered that the soil levelling beam 18 can additionally be tilted upwardly or down wardly about the axis that is defined by the aligned pins 16 by increasing or decreasing the length of the tie member 23, the axis which is defined by the two pins 16 being located in advance of the frame portion 1 with respect to the direction A. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A soil cultivating implement of the kind set forth, wherein the soil levelling member is in the form of a beam which, when the implement is viewed in plan, is, as a whole, of saw-toothed configuration.

2. An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the construction and arrangement of the soil levelling beam are such that, when the implement is connected to the rear of a tractor or other vehicle, rearmost extremities of the saw-toothed configura tion, with respect to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement, are substantially in register, in that direction, with the rear ground wheels of the tractor or other vehicle.

3. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the soil levelling beam com prises four portions that are of equal or substantially equal length.

4. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an imaginary straight line joining the midpoint and the opposite ends of the soil levelling beam is parallel or substantially parallel to a plane which contains the axes of rotation of said row of soil working members.

5. An implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one portion of the soil levelling beam is inclined to said imaginary line at an angle of substantially 30".

6. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the soil levelling beam is upwardly and downwardly adjust able in level relative to a frame portion of the implement which carries said row of soil working members.

7. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the soil levelling beam is pivotable about an axis that extends substantially horizontally perpendicular, or at least transverse, to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement.

8. An implement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said axis is located at the same horizontal level as is at least part of the soil levelling beam itself.

9. An implement as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein rearmost extremities of said saw-toothed configuration of the soil levelling beam are pivotally connected to a frame portion of the implement which carries said row of soil working members.

10. An implement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said arms are upwardly and downwardly adjustable in level relative to supports that are carried by said frame portion.

11. An implement as claimed in claim 10, wherein said supports are connected to the frame portion at two spaced points.

12. An implement as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein an upper end region of each support is fastened to a carrier which is mounted above the top of said frame portion so as to extend in the intended direction of operative travel of the implement and is also connected to a guide member that forms part of a further support which is arranged at the front of said frame portion, with respect to the intended direction of operative travel of the implement, at a lower horizontal level than is the corresponding carrier.

13. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein a tie member that is adjustable in length interconnects substantially the midpoint of the soil levelling beam and said frame portion.

14. A soil cultivating implement of the kind set forth, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.