GB1598453A - Tines for stubble cultivation - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN TINES FOR STUBBLE CULTIVATION (71) We, RANSOMES SIMS & JEF FERIES LIMITED, a British company of Nacton Works, Ipswich IP3 9QG, 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 tines for stubble cultivation and has as an object the provision of an improved tine in which worn earth working parts can be replaced without the necessity of discarding a complete implement. It is a further object of the invention to provide a tine the use of which is effective in stubble cultivation without the tendency to leave pronounced furrows in the ground.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a tine for stubble cultivation comprising a tine leg adapted to be mounted on a frame for forward propulsion across ground; a replaceable earth working member projecting forwardly of the tine leg and a wing assembly comprising two replaceable earth working wings on respective opposite sides of the member, each wing having a leading edge extending outwardly and rearwardly for lifting earth and a trailing edge which extends over a distance transverse to the direction of forward propulsion similar to that over which the leading edge extends so as to deposit the lifted earth without substantial displacement laterally of the tine.

Suitably, the wing assembly further comprises a support member for the wings which is mounted on the tine leg, the earth working member, the support member and each of the two wings being separately replaceable.

Advantageously, the leading and trailing edges of each wing are generally parallel and of substantially equal length.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded view of a tine according to the present invention.

The tine shown in the drawing comprises a tine leg 1 which extends upwardly for mounting on a suitable frame (not shown) adapted to be drawn across a field at the correct height. The forward end of the leg 1 is shaped for engagement with a complementary depression 3 in a generally triangular support plate 5, and is secured thereto with a bolt 7 which serves also to attach earth working member 9 to the tine leg 1. Further bolts 8 and 10 serve to secure the earth working member 9 to the leg 1 and the support plate 5 respectively. Each bolt 7, 8, and 10 is provided with a nut 12, only one of which is shown in the drawing. The member 9 is provided with transverse cutting edges 11 at both ends thereof and is provided with sufficient bolt holes 13 to enable reversal of the member once one cutting edge 11 has worn away in use. The dihedral form of the member 9 ensures that the correct cutting angle is achieved with respect to the tine leg 1.

Two planar wings 15 in the form of parallelograms are bolted to respective opposite sides of the support plate 5 by means of four bolts 14 (only one being shown in the drawing) which pass through aligned bolt holes 18 and 20 in the wing and the support plate respectively to receive nuts 16. The lengths of the two wings 15 are inclined outwardly and rearwardly at equal angles to the forward direction. The width of each wing is inclined rearwardly and upwardly so that the trailing edge 17 of each wing is above the corresponding leading edge 19; and each wing is bevelled on the upper surface at 21 to reduce earth resistance in use. To assist in showing the structure of the assembled tine, the manner in which bolts 7, 10 and 14 extend through the parts of the tine is indicated by chain lines.

The effect of drawing the described tine at a shallow depth through the ground is in some respects similar to that attained by conventional stubble cultivators. The foremost cutting edge 11 of the member 9 serves to break the earth, whilst the wings 15 penetrate through the ground to cut the roots of established weeds and to lift the uppermost layer of earth. The lifted earth is deposited behind the tine having been broken up by its passage over the wings. An important advantage, however, of the present invention over conventional stubble cultivation tines in which, for example, the trailing edge of each wing sweeps upwardly into contact with the tine leg, is that the lifted earth is here deposited with minimal displacement laterally of tine. There is therefore little tendency for the deposited earth to form mounds at the wing tips as has hitherto often been the case. Whilst in the preferred arrangement the leading and trailing edges of each wing are parallel, this is not essential, it being important merely that the two edges are of similar lateral extent so that earth is not deflected sideways on passing over the wings.

A further important advantage of the present invention is that the member 9 and the two wings 15 are each separately replaced able. When the cutting edge on any of these parts, or both cutting edges in the case of the reversible member 9, have been worn away through use, that part alone need be discarded and replaced. A considerable economy in spare parts is thereby achieved.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tine for stubble cultivation comprising a tine leg adapted to be mounted on a frame fororward propulsion across ground; a replaceable earth working member projecting forwardly of the tine leg and a wing assembly comprising two replaceable earth working wings on respective opposite sides of the member, each wing having a leading edge extending outwardly and rearwardly for lifting earth and a trailing edge which extends over a distance transverse to the direction of forward propulsion similar to that over which the leading edge extends so as to deposit the lifted earth without substantial displacement laterally of the tine.

2. A tine according to Claim 1, wherein the wing assembly further comprises a support member, the two wings being separately secured to the support member.

3. A tine according to Claim 2, wherein the support member comprises a plate bolted to the tine leg, the two wings each being bolted to the plate.

4. A tine according to any one of Claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the leading and trailing edges of each wing are generally parallel and of substantially equal length.

5. A tine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the earth working member has two cutting edges at opposite ends thereof and is adapted to be secured to the tine leg in either of two orientations with respective opposite cutting edges projecting forwardly of the tine leg.

6. A tine for stubble cultivation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. passage over the wings. An important advantage, however, of the present invention over conventional stubble cultivation tines in which, for example, the trailing edge of each wing sweeps upwardly into contact with the tine leg, is that the lifted earth is here deposited with minimal displacement laterally of tine. There is therefore little tendency for the deposited earth to form mounds at the wing tips as has hitherto often been the case. Whilst in the preferred arrangement the leading and trailing edges of each wing are parallel, this is not essential, it being important merely that the two edges are of similar lateral extent so that earth is not deflected sideways on passing over the wings. A further important advantage of the present invention is that the member 9 and the two wings 15 are each separately replaced able. When the cutting edge on any of these parts, or both cutting edges in the case of the reversible member 9, have been worn away through use, that part alone need be discarded and replaced. A considerable economy in spare parts is thereby achieved. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tine for stubble cultivation comprising a tine leg adapted to be mounted on a frame fororward propulsion across ground; a replaceable earth working member projecting forwardly of the tine leg and a wing assembly comprising two replaceable earth working wings on respective opposite sides of the member, each wing having a leading edge extending outwardly and rearwardly for lifting earth and a trailing edge which extends over a distance transverse to the direction of forward propulsion similar to that over which the leading edge extends so as to deposit the lifted earth without substantial displacement laterally of the tine.

2. A tine according to Claim 1, wherein the wing assembly further comprises a support member, the two wings being separately secured to the support member.

3. A tine according to Claim 2, wherein the support member comprises a plate bolted to the tine leg, the two wings each being bolted to the plate.

4. A tine according to any one of Claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the leading and trailing edges of each wing are generally parallel and of substantially equal length.

5. A tine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the earth working member has two cutting edges at opposite ends thereof and is adapted to be secured to the tine leg in either of two orientations with respective opposite cutting edges projecting forwardly of the tine leg.

6. A tine for stubble cultivation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.