GB2033713A

GB2033713A - Soil working implement

Info

Publication number: GB2033713A
Application number: GB7933489A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-09-28
Filing date: 1979-09-27
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: GB2033713B; DE2842294C2; DE2842294A1; PL218564A1

Abstract

An implement for soil loosening and seed bed preparation has a tubular support extending transverse to the direction of travel and attached to a tractor, attached to which support are retaining arms 5 of soil loosening members 6, and a motor-driven transverse rotating shaft (18) provided with prongs or cutting blades (19) for seed bed preparation mounted on portal frame (12) height adjustably attached to the tractor as well as the tubular support wherein retaining arms (5) in the area of the paths 19a described by the prongs or cutting blades (19) are provided with vertical or diagonal shafts (5a) and retaining arms (5b) connected thereto which in the direction of travel curve down at the front and in the work position pass through the soil, to the forward ends (5c) of which are fitted laterally-mounted, wing-shaped soil loosening blades (6c) in front of the paths (19a). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Implement combination for soil loosening and seed bed preparation The invention relates to a combination of a known type of implement for soil loosening having a tubular support extending transverse to the direction of travel and which can be attached to a tractor, attached to which support at intervals side by side are the retaining arms of at least two loosening members, with an implement for seed bed preparation height adjustably attached to the tubular support and having a motor driven rotating shaft extending transverse to the direction of travel and which is provided with prongs or cutting blades.

This known type of implement combination has the disadvantage that larger amounts of harvest residue lying on the ground, e.g. corn or maize straw, green fertilizer plants, weeds, potato foliage, turnip leaves, and particularly loose material which tends to mat, or wet materials, piles up against the arms of the soil loosening toolsdespite being slightly offset to the front and rear with respect to the direction of travel-and forms bridges which under unfavourable conditions can lead to blockages.

A further disadvantage of this combination is the fact that the gap between the loosening tools and the paths of movement described the rotating prongs is too great, particularly in heavy soil or if further implements are attached. This can be attributed to the fact that it is not possible to arbitrarily ignore the minimum length of the connecting rods between the tubular support of the device for seed bed preparation and the width of the frame of the seed bed preparation implement.

For this reason attempts have already been made by the applicant to eliminate these blockages between the arms of the tools for soil loosening by providing an additional driven shaft with rotating prongs in front of the tool arms which can force the material between the tool arms. However, this device requires a substantial amount of expenditure, extra energy as well as more time for assembly and disassembly because it is not necessary for use in fields on which there is no material which causes matting. A further disadvantage with this combination is its excessive length, making it difficult or even impossible to couple together several implements in one operation, e.g. one device respectively for soil loosening, seed bed preparation and for drilling.

For this reason it has already been proposed by the applicant to further modify the aforementioned device for soil loosening and seed bed preparation so that the loosening mem bers-even although slightly offset to the front or rear-as well as the bearing brackets for a shaft provided with rotating tools for breaking up the soil are mounted on a common transverse support and if necessary with such small intermediate gaps that the movements made by the prong ends extend sideways past the arms of the loosening members and into the area in front of the forward edge of the arms.However, this arrangement has the disadvantage that the downwardly directed movement paths of the prongs at least partly remain above the wide surface wing-shaped loosening blades enabling stones to become trapped between the prongs and the upper side of the loosening blades and causing damage. Apart from that, this combination also cannot be disassembled quickly or at all in order for the constituent parts to be used by themselves, Thus, for example, changing the working depth of its constituent parts is a cumbersome process.

It is the object of this invention to improve the aforementioned implement combination in such a way as to make it work under all conditions without requiring modifications or refitting, especially when working very loose, wet soil or soil matted by roots, and on fields which are covered with harvest residue inclined to matting, without interruption and blockages and without any danger of damage to the tools by the stones. Additionally it must also be of the shortest length possible, easily separable and enable the individual implements to be adjusted heightwise with respect to each other.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the shaft of the implement for seen bed preparation provided with prongs or cutting blades is mounted on a known type of portal frame which is height adjustably attached to the tractor as well as the tubular support of the soil loosening implement, and that the retaining arms of the soil loosening tools in the area of the movement paths of the prongs or cutting blades of the implement for seed bed preparation are provided with a substantially vertical shaft or a shaft extending diagonally downwards, and a section connected thereto which in the direction of travel curves down at the front and in the work position extends into the ground, to the forward end of which are fitted laterally mounted wing-shaped loosening blades in front of the movement paths described by the prongs or cutting blades-as seen from above.

Preferably the frame carrying the rotating shaft of the implement for seed bed preparation is connected via tension arms with the tubular support of the working implement for soil loosening.

According to another feature of the invention, the forward edge of the frame of the implement for seed bed preparation carrying the rotating shaft is arranged approximately vertically above the front end of the shafts seen from above.

Advantageously the rotating shaft in the area behind each retaining arm is provided with spacers which respectively are non-rotatably connected with the adjacent prongs.

The prongs arranged on each side adjacent a retaining arm are arranged on the shaft offset with respect to each other at an angle of 90 degrees.

The invention is now described with the aid of an embodiment example represented by Fig. 1 and 2, which show: Figure 1 a partially cut off side elevation, Figure 2 a partially cut off plan view, Figure 3 a partial front elevation, Figure 4 a partial plan view, Figure 5 a partial side elevation of another embodiment example.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 and 2, the working implement for soil loosening 1 comprises a known type of tubular support 2 which is rigidly connected with a known type of connecting arm 3-incompletely drawn and clamped to which are a numer of known types of tool hoiders 4 at intervals from each other in such a way that the retaining sockets 4a fixed through brackets 4b to the rear of the known type of mounting plates 4c, 4d in line and at a specific distance behind the tubular support 2.

In these retaining sockets 4 is releasably secured the vertical shaft 5a of a retaining arm 5 of a loosening tool 6 extending preferably approximately vertically downwards and having a forwardly sloping section 5b which is reinforced by a reinforcing triangle Sc and to the point 5d is releasably secured in a known manner a sleeve 6b for the soil loosening blades 6c of the loosening tool 6.

The upper edge of the forwardly extending part 5b of the tool retaining arm 5 and the lower part of the front edge of the vertical shaft 5a connected thereto are provided with a cutting edge 5e, because in the working position they pass through the soil beneath the ground.

To the end face of the tubular support 2 are connected mounting plates 7 provided with threaded drillings 7a. Connected to the mounting plates 7 is a coupling device 8 having a number of drillings 8a in which by means of bolts 9 the tension arm 10 of a device for seed bed preparation 1 3 is releasably secured at various heights. The tension arm 10 is secured in one of many possible positions of a perforated rail 11 fixed to the frame 1 2 of the device for seed bed preparation 13, thereby being able to alter the length of the forwardly extending end of the tension arm 10.

The forward face 1 2a of the frame 1 2 is approximately situated in the vertical plane above the front face 1 8a of a tool shaft 1 8 (respectively the hubs of the prongs 1 9 fixed to these) and at a very small distance behind the tool arms 5.

The forward face 1 2a of the frame 1 2 also forms the rear limit of a recess 14 which is limited laterally by the brackets 1 5 rigidly connected with the frame 1 2 and along the front by the rear of the tubular support 2 and in which is arranged the tool holder 6, the retaining arms 5a and-as seen in plan view-the downwardly sloping part of the paths described by the prongs 19 of the tool shaft 18. The tool shaft 1 8 is mounted in a bearing 1 7 of the bearing arm 1 6 which is fixed for easy removal to the brackets 1 5 of the frame 1 2 in a known manner.

Through this embodiment of the frame 1 2 of the device for seed bed preparation 1 3 it is achieved that the forward downwardly sloping part of the paths 1 9a described by the points of the prongs 19, which are arranged wholly in the intermediate spaces between the vertical shafts 5a of the tool retaining arms 5, passes along the side of these shafts 5a and partly also into the area in front of the tool retaining arms 5 in order to continuously strip off and convey to the rear larger lumps of earth or matted material lying on the ground, e.g. harvest residue such as corn or maize straw, turnip leaves, grass, weeds, green plant fertilizer etc. which is liable to become trapped in the front side of the retaining arms 5a so as to be mixed thoroughly with the soil loosened by the soil loosening tools 6 and broken up by the prongs 19.

This makes possible the use of the known type of implement for soil loosening 1 and the attached device for seed bed preparation 1 3 also in fields on which there are large quantities of such harvest residue, green plant fertilizer etc. without it becoming necessary in every case to comminute and remove this.

As can be seen, particularly from Fig. 1, attached to the rear side of the frame 1 2 respectively to each of its outer ends are brackets 20 to each of which is connected a supporting member 28 for a tubular support 22 to which is releasably secured via side bars 23 the bearing arm 24 of a known type of crumble roller 25 and held by means of a clamping member 26 with a screw or pin 27.

The U-shaped bearing member 28 arranged between the U-shaped bearing member 21 and the bracket 20 has laterally extending open limbs 28d containing at least three drillings 28a, 28b, and 28c. The centre drilling 28b contains a rotatable sleeve 30 connected to it via a pin 29, which sleeve has secured to it a swivel support 31 having a forwardly extending horizontal foot 33 and through a pin 32-in Fig. 1 shown in the withdrawn position-it can be seen by the position in the drilling 28c when the implement for seed bed preparation is to be lowered to the ground, e.g. in order to facilitate the easy removal of the shaft 1 8 or to change it with another shaft.

In the working or drive position the support 31 is pushed upwards about the pin 29-in Fig. 1 shown in broken lines-and secured in the drilling 28a by means of pin 32.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, between the rear edge 1 2b of the frame 1 2 and the tubular support 22 there is a recess 34 which is laterally limited by the brackets 20 and the supporting member 28 and which can be covered when in use if required in a known manner by removable sheet metal covers not shown in more detail-in order to prevent soil from being thrown up and towards the rear. This recess has the advantage that it is possible in a very simple manner to removably secure clamping members on the front and rear edge of the frame 12, for example for securing means for additional working implements-not shown here.

As can be seen from Figs. 3-5, the implement for seed bed preparation 1 3 can be substantially improved still further by completely removing the brackets 1 5 and to shorten the front end of the bearing arms 1 6 until the outer retaining arm can be directly aligned with the bearing arm 1 6 and in front of it.

This has the advantage that material or earth lying on the outside of the retaining arms 5a, or brushing past it, cannot become lodged in the front end of the bearing arm 16, as is the case with the implement according to Fig. 1 and 2. This arrangement also increases the working width of the whole device because, unlike that shown in Fig. 2, at least one further prong 1 9b can be arranged on the shaft 18.

In this arrangement the free space 34 is limited sideways by the tool holders 4 of the respective outer retaining arm 5.

As can be further seen from Figs. 3-5, it is advantageous to attach additional vertical cutting members (ploughshares) 37 especially to the sleeves 6a of the outer retaining arms 5.

They have the advantage of holding together the earth raised by the loosening blades, i.e.

extend completely into the area of the paths 1 9a described by the prongs 19, in other words prevent the individual folds of earth from sliding outwards.

These cutting members 37 can also be fixed to some or all other retaining arms or sleeves. Here they serve to cut open loose or very dense soil, even before the retaining arms, so as to slide past the retaining arms with even greater ease, or reach the paths 1 9a described by the blades.

As can be seen particularly from Fig. 2, the supporting arms of the retaining members are of varying lengths so that the tools 6 of adjacent loosening members can be offset with respect to each other towards the front and rear in the direction of travel in order to still further improve the throughput of earth and organic material!

Claims

1. Combination of a known type of implement for soil loosening having a tubular support extending transverse to the direction of travel and which can be attached to a tractor, attached to which support at intervals side by side are the retaining arms of at least two loosening members, with an implement for seed bed preparation height adjustably attached to the tubular support and having a motor driven rotating shaft extending transverse to the direction of travel and which is provided with prongs or cutting blades, characterised in that the shaft (18) provided with prongs or cutting blades (19) of the implement for seed bed preparation is mounted on a known type of portal frame (12) preferably which is height adjustably attached to the tractor as well as the tubular support (2) of the soil loosening implement (1), and that the retaining arms (5) in the area of the paths described by the prongs or cutting blades (19) are provided with a substantially vertical shaft (5a) or a shaft (5a) extending diagonally downwards, and a retaining arm (5b) connected thereto which in the direction of travel curves down at the front and in the work position passes through the soil, to the forward end (5c) of which are fitted laterally mounted wing-shaped loosening blades (6c) essentially in front of the paths (19a) described by the prongs or cutting blades (19)-as seen from above.

2. Combination according to claim 1, characterised in that the frame (12) carrying the rotating shaft (18) of the implement for seed bed preparation is connected via tension arms (10) with the tubular support of the working implement for soil loosening (1).

3. Combination according to claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the forward edge (12a) of the frame (12) of the implement for seed bed preparation is arranged approximately vertically above the front end (18a) of the shaft (1 8)-as seen from above.

4. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the rotating shaft (18) in the area behind each retaining arm (5) is provided with intermediate spacers (36) which are non-rotatably connected with the adjacent prongs (19).

5. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the prongs (19) arranged on each side adjacent a retaining arm (5) are arranged on the shaft (18) offset with respect to each other by an angle of 90 degrees.

6. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the forward edge (16a) of the mounting (12), as seen from above, aligns with the forward edge (12a) of the frame (12) and with the rear edge of the respective outer retaining arm (5) of the implements for soil loosening.

7. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the free space (14) is laterally limited by the respective externally attached tool holder (4).

8. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the sleeves (6a) of the support arms and/or the cutting blades (5e,l of the retaining arms (S) or the support arms (6a) are provided with vertically arranged, forward extending cutting members (3tor which are arranged at least on the respective external lateral retaining arms (5 > .

9. Device according to the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the cutting members (37) are also fixed to some or all other retaining arms (5) or sleeves (6at.

10. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the retaining arms (5b) are adapted to be of varying lengths so that the tools (6) of adjacent loosening tools (6) are arranged to face the front and rear relative each other in the direction of travel.

11. Combination according to one af the aforementioned claims, characterised in that to the end faces of the tubular support (2) are attached securing plates (7) having threaded drillings (7a) connected to which is a coupling dish (8) having a plurality of drillings (8ar by means of which, through bolts (9), the respective tension arm (10-) of the implement for seed bed preparation (13) is secured at various heights.

12. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the reverse side of the frame (12) has brackets (20) to which are attached respectively a stand (28) and a known type of U-shaped support (21) for a tubular support (22) to which via side bars (23) is releasably attached the bearing arm (24) of a known type of crumble roller (25).

13. Combination according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the U-shaped stands (28) arranged between the U-shaped support (21) and the bracket (20) have laterally extending free limbs (28d) having at least three drillings (28, 28b, 28c), the centre one of which serves as a bearing for a bolt (29) and aushing (30) to which is connected a pivoting support (31) having a forward, horizontally extending foot (33) and which is selectively secured in one of the two other drillings (28a, 28b).