GB1597358A

GB1597358A - Agricultural machinery

Info

Publication number: GB1597358A
Application number: GB4976076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ROBYDOME Ltd
Current assignee: ROBYDOME Ltd
Priority date: 1976-11-30
Filing date: 1976-11-30
Publication date: 1981-09-09

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY (71) We, ROBYDOME LIMITED of Spoons Hall, Pebmarsh, Halstead, Essex, a British 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 a method and apparatus of seed drilling in which the flow of seed through a predetermined number of seeding units is interupted at predetermined intervals during the seeding of a field using a multiseeding unit drill.

In arable farming, for example cereal growing, increasing use is being made of multi-positioned seed drills for seeding in conjunction with appliances for spraying the growing crop with pesticides, fungicides or herbicides, or spreading fertilizer thereto subsequent to seeding. A particular system of cereal growing using this technique is known as the "Laloux system".

Since spraying with a herbicide, for example, has to be undertaken whilst the crop is growing it is desirable to leave unplanted lanes through the crop along which the tractor towing the spraying or spreading apparatus can pass with minimal crop damage. These unplanted lanes are generally referred to as "tramlines". The distance apart of the tramline should be just sufficient for a sprayer being towed up one set of tramlines and down the next to completely cover the intervening crop without an undue amount of overlapping.

Difficulties arise, during seeding, for a tractor driver to determine precisely where the tramlines should be located. Frequently tramlines are placed either too close to, or too far removed from, adjacent tramlines so that portions of crop may either receive excessive and therefore wasteful amounts of herbicide or other material, or there may be strips of crop left untreated.

We have now developed a method which enables a tractor driver to provide tramlines at accurately located distances apart during the seeding of a field. In this method the supply of seed to a selected number of seeding units, normally two, located immediately behind the tractor wheels is halted during one seeding cycle after completing a predetermined number of cycles.

Broadly the method consists in generating a first electrical signal at the start and finish of each seeding cycle, transmitting the signal to a control box, which preferably has a visual display of the cycle number being seeded, arranging for the number of seeding cycles to be counted and for a second signal to be transmitted from the control box to drive the seed-unit shut-off actuators for selected seeding units after a predetermined number of seeding cycles have been completed. Preferably proVision is made for a seeding cycle to be prematurely stopped and restarted without transmission of the first signal taking place. Preferably also an audible warning is sounded at the end, including a premature end, of each seeding cycle which audible warning ceases at the begining of the next seeding cycle, or on restart of seeding.

Accordingly, from one apsect, the present invention provides a method of seed drilling using a multi-unit seed drill drawn by a tractor wherein the flow of seed through a predetermined number of seeding units is interrupted for a complete seeding cycle at predetermined intervals, expressed-in terms of seeding cycles, to provide tramlines comprising, generating a first signal at the begin mg and end of each seeding cycle, transmitting the signal to first means arranged to count the number of signals transmitted and to transmit, after completion of a given number of seeding cycles, a second signal, said second signal being received by second means which actuates selected seed unit shut-off mechanisms during the next seeding cycle, said first signal transmitted at the begining of the next seeding cycle rendering inactive the seed unit shut-off mechanisms and causing said counter to reset to cycle 1; and repeating the aforesaid operations until the seed drilling operation is complete.

For the purpose of the present specification a seeding cycle starts with the drill set in the working condition i.e. with the drill down and the seeding units open and ends with the drill set in a non-working condition i.e. coulters raised and the seeding units shut off.

A tractor includes any vehicle used for towing a drilling machine over ground being sown with seed.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the above method comprising, in combination, a sensor and an actuator, one of which is mounted on a part of a seeding drill which moves relative to the drill frame at the begining and end of each seeding cycle, such that the said one describes a defined path during such movement, and the other is mounted on the drill frame opposite a point on the aforesaid part, said sensor generating a first signal at the begining and end of each seeding cycle in response to the movement of said movable part, a control means including a first means to receive said signal, count the number of said signals received and compute the number of seeding cycles completed, second means coupled to said first means for transmitting a second signal, after completion of a predetermined number of seeding cycles, to actuate selected seeding unit shut-off mechanisms during the next seeding cycle, said first signal transmitted at the begining of the next seeding cycle causing said second means to cease transmitting said second signal thereby rendering inactive the seeding unit shut-off mechanisms and causing said counter to automatically reset to cycle 1.

The control means preferably consists of a control box mounted within view and for manual operation by the tractor driver, the control box further providing a visual display of the seeding cycle being worked and includes the first and said second means.

The apparatus further preferably includes an isolating switch enabling the sensor to be isolated during a premature stop and restart of a seeding cycle and thus not transmit a first signal at both times.

It is also preferred that an audible alarm is included which is sounded at the end, including a premature end, of a seeding cycle.

Means to manually advance the number of cycles completed and registered by the control box and to reset the counting mechanism to the first cycle in a series may also be provided.

One embodiment method and apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which drawing is a block diagrammatic representation of the apparatus.

In this embodiment the apparatus is attached to and used in conjunction with a multi-position seed drill, towed by a tractor, and having a width of 3 meters. The ground spraying apparatus used in association with the seed drill has a width of 12 meters. To operate the combination of seed drill and spraying apparatus effectively tramlines are therefore required after every fourth drill width. The drilling machine and spraying apparatus are of conventional design and therefore are not illustrated.

Referring to the drawing, a magnetic field sensor 1 is mounted on the frame of the drilling machine and its associated permenant magnet activitator attached to the coulter bar of the seed drill such that the actuator 2 passes the sensor 1 each time the coulters are raised or lowered.

A control box 5 is mounted on the tractor towing the machine forward of the driver.

The control box contains conventional electronic circuitry and includes counter 6 coupled to a visual display unit 7 which indicates the cycle number being worked. The counter 6 receives the signal transmitted from sensor 1 when the actuator passes the sensor via a switch 8 that includes a facility for dividing the number of signals by 2 (the number of seeding cycles being equal to half of the number of signals transmitted from sensor 1) e.g. a J.K. flip flop.

The counter 6 is automatically programmed to reset to cycle 1 at the begining of every fifth cycle. A manual reset switch 16 linked to the counter 6 is provided to enable the driver to reset to cycle 1 if required, for example after completion of a seeding operation.

The control box 5 also includes a programme selector switch 9 coupled to the counter 6 to determine the frequency of insertion of tramlines to suit the ratio of drill width to that of spray (or spreading apparatus). In the present embodiment this switch is set at 4. The selector switch 9 is linked to a solenoid drive 10 which activates solenoids 11 and 12 of shutters 20 and 21 of two seeding units of the drilling machine.

The two seeding units being located immediately behind the tractor wheels.

An alarm 13, a sensor isolating switch 14, to allow the coulter to be raised and lower without advancing the programme, and a manual programme advance switch 15 to enable the programme to be advanced manually to correct an error in the number of cycles recorded are also located in the control box 5.

In operation, at the begining of a seeding operation with the visual display unit showing cycle 1, the coulters are lowered, to enable drilling to start, or stop, as the actuator 2 passes sensor 1 the latter generates an electrical signal which is received by the switch 8. At the end of the first cycle (i.e. at the end of the first row of seeding) the coulters are raised causing the sensor to generate a further signal which is received by the switch 8 which then actuates the alarm 13 causing an audible warning signal to be sounded. On lowering the coulters to start the next cycle the signal from the sensor causes switch 8 to actuate the counter 6 to advance the programme to the next stage, that is cycle 2 and switch off the alarm 13.

At the begining of the fourth cycle a signal is transmitted by the programme selector switch 9 in the control box to a solenoid drive 10 which actuates solenoids 11 and 12 operating the shutters 20 and 21 on the two seeding units positioned in line with the tractor wheels to cut off the supply of seed to those units and provide the unplanted tramlines.

At the begining of the fifth cycle the counter in the control box is automatically reset to 1 and the process repeated until the seeding operation is complete.

If it is necessary to raise the coulters during any cycle, for example in the case of a breakdown during drilling, the isolater switch 14 can be manually operated by the driver prior to raising the coulters so that the sensor does not transmit a signal to the control box. The isolating switch is maintained in the on position until the coulters have been lowered again in order for seeding to be restarted. The isolater switch 14 is linked to the alarm 13 so that an audible warning signal is sounded during the time that the isolater switch is set to isolate the sensor to warn the driver that the switch must be reset prior to drilling actualy restarting.

If for any reason the cycle needs to be advanced manually, for example if the isolating switch 14 is left in the "on" position following a break down, then the programme can be advanced manually by means of the programme advance switch 15.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of seed drilling using a multi-unit seed drill drawn by a tractor wherein the flow of seed through a predetermined number of seeding units is interrupted for a complete seeding cycle at predetermined intervals, expressed in terms of seeding cycles, to provide tramlines comprising generating a first signal at the begining and end of each seeding cycle, transmitting the signal to first means arranged to count the number of signals transmitted and to transmit, after completion of a given number of seeding cycles, a second signal, said second signal being received by second means which actuates selected seed unit shut-off mechanisms during the next seeding cycle, said first signal transmitted at the begining of the next seeding cycle rendering inactive the seed unit shut-off mechanisms and causing said counter to reset to cycle 1; and repeating the aforesaid operations until the seed drilling operation is complete.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first means further visually displays the seeding cycle being worked, a seeding cycle being equal to half the number of transmission received.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a seeding cycle can be prematurely stopped and restarted without a first said -signal being transmitted as a result of said premature stop and restart.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said first signal transmitted at the end, including a premature end, of a seeding cycle actuates an alarm and at the begining of the next seeding cycle, or at the restart of a prematurely interupted seeding cycle, switches off the alarm.

5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

6. A method of seed drilling using a multi-position seed drill substantially as hereinbefore described.

7. An apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1 comprising, in combination, a sensor and an actuator one of which is mounted on a part of a seeding drill which moves relative to the drill frame at the begining and end of each seeding cycle, such that the said one describes a defined path during such movement, and the other is a mounted on the drill frame opposite a point on the aforesaid part, said sensor generating a first signal at the begining and end of each seeding cycle in response to the movement of said movable part, a control means including a first means to receive said signal, count the number of said signals received and compute the number of seeding cycles completed, a second means coupled to said first means for transmitting a second signal, after completion of a predetermined number of seeding cycles, to actuate selected seeding unit shut-off mechanisms during the next seeding cycle, said first signal transmitted at the begining of the next seeding cycle causing said second means to cease transmitting said second signal thereby rendering inactive the seeding unit shut-off mechanisms and causing said counter to automaticallv reset to cvcle 1.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said one of said sensor and said actuator is mounted on the said drill coulter.

9. An apparatus according claim 7 wherein said first control means consists of a control box mounted within view and for manual operation by the tractor driver, said control box providing a visual display of the seeding cycle being worked and including said first and second means.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9 including an isolating switch enabling the said sensor to be isolated and thus not transmit a first signal during a pre

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. generate a further signal which is received by the switch 8 which then actuates the alarm 13 causing an audible warning signal to be sounded. On lowering the coulters to start the next cycle the signal from the sensor causes switch 8 to actuate the counter 6 to advance the programme to the next stage, that is cycle 2 and switch off the alarm 13. At the begining of the fourth cycle a signal is transmitted by the programme selector switch 9 in the control box to a solenoid drive 10 which actuates solenoids 11 and 12 operating the shutters 20 and 21 on the two seeding units positioned in line with the tractor wheels to cut off the supply of seed to those units and provide the unplanted tramlines. At the begining of the fifth cycle the counter in the control box is automatically reset to 1 and the process repeated until the seeding operation is complete. If it is necessary to raise the coulters during any cycle, for example in the case of a breakdown during drilling, the isolater switch 14 can be manually operated by the driver prior to raising the coulters so that the sensor does not transmit a signal to the control box. The isolating switch is maintained in the on position until the coulters have been lowered again in order for seeding to be restarted. The isolater switch 14 is linked to the alarm 13 so that an audible warning signal is sounded during the time that the isolater switch is set to isolate the sensor to warn the driver that the switch must be reset prior to drilling actualy restarting. If for any reason the cycle needs to be advanced manually, for example if the isolating switch 14 is left in the "on" position following a break down, then the programme can be advanced manually by means of the programme advance switch 15. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of seed drilling using a multi-unit seed drill drawn by a tractor wherein the flow of seed through a predetermined number of seeding units is interrupted for a complete seeding cycle at predetermined intervals, expressed in terms of seeding cycles, to provide tramlines comprising generating a first signal at the begining and end of each seeding cycle, transmitting the signal to first means arranged to count the number of signals transmitted and to transmit, after completion of a given number of seeding cycles, a second signal, said second signal being received by second means which actuates selected seed unit shut-off mechanisms during the next seeding cycle, said first signal transmitted at the begining of the next seeding cycle rendering inactive the seed unit shut-off mechanisms and causing said counter to reset to cycle 1; and repeating the aforesaid operations until the seed drilling operation is complete.

5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

mature stop and restart of a seeding cycle.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the first mentioned means includes an audible alarm which is sounded at the end including a premature end of a seeding cycle.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 as dependant on claim 10 wherein the audible alarm is actuated by operation of the sensor isolating switch.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12 including a programme advance means to manually advance the number of cycles completed and registered upon the visual display and to reset said counter to cycle 1.

14. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.