GB2062431A

GB2062431A - Agricultural implement

Info

Publication number: GB2062431A
Application number: GB7939006A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Moore M H
Current assignee: Moore M H
Priority date: 1979-11-10
Filing date: 1979-11-10
Publication date: 1981-05-28

Abstract

An agricultural implement (1) comprising at least one set (3) of harrow discs (4) in combination with a drainage attachment which is defined as any form of implement which is employed to provide soak-away drainage in soil, for instance, a sub-soiler (5) or mole drainer. The drainage attachment can be located intermediate a pair of harrow disc sets (3), rearwardly of the disc set(s) or forwardly of the disc set(s). The combination disc harrow/drainage attachment implement of the invention performs not only a harrowing operation but also a drainage operation, whereby harrowed soil is provided with suitable drainage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Combination agricultural implements This invention relates to a combination agricultural implement of which one component is a disc harrow.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an agricultural implement comprising at least one set of harrow discs in combination with a drainage attachment, as hereinafter defined.

Throughout this specification, the expression "drainage attachment" is used to define any form of agricultural implement which is employed to provide soak-away drainage in soil. For instance, such an implement may be a sub-soiler or mole drainer.

Mole drainers are used to provide a bore drainage hole in soil at depths of, say, 24 to 30 inches, and sub-soilers to loosen compacted sub-soil and/or to provide minor drainage cracks at depths of say 15 to 20 inches. With the recent advent of more powerful wheeled tractors of, say, 300 to 400 horsepower, as opposed to previous tractors of 100 to 200 horsepower, it has been found that, when such powerful tractors are used for towing harrows or drainage attachments and are moving at 3 to 4 m.p.h., a large proportion of their power output capacity is not being utilised. Also, these types of tractor are much heavierthan the previous, lower horse-powered tractors and, as a consequence, their wheels tend to compact the soil such that drainage cracks are either closed over in the region of the compacted soil or are otherwise damaged, whereby drainage efficiency is reduced.

Thus, the invention provides an agricultural implement which not only performs a harrowing function but also one associated with drainage.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred form of implement, in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view, in elevation, of a combination agricultural implement; Fig. 2 is a perspective side view ofthe implement shown in Fig. 1, incorporating two sub-soilers; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the implement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, incorporating two sub-soilers and a mole drainer attachment.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, an agricultural implement 1 comprises a frame 2 supporting two sets 3 of harrow discs 4 and a sub-soiler 5 located between the two harrow disc sets 3. The frame 2 comprises a substantially horizontal supporting beam 6, an upright linkage beam 7, at right angles to the beam 6, and an inclined strengthening member 8. Linkage eyes 9 are provided on the upright beam 7 for attachment to the rear linkage of, say, awheeled tractor.

The two sets 3 of harrow discs 4 each comprises a transverse beam 10 which is supported by the beam 6 via adjustable attachments 11 that can be slidahly moved along a portion of the length of the beam 6, as will be described in more detail below, for adjust ing the angular position of the associated disc set 3 with respect to the beam 6 and, hence, the direction of travel ofthe implement 1.

The sub-soiler 5 comprises a blade 12 which is provided with a sub-soilerfoot 13 at its lower end.

The sub-soiler blade 12 is vertically adjustable, by means of associated holes 14 and a fixing bolt 15 in the beam 6, for altering the working depth of the sub-soilerfoot 13.

The implement shown in Fig. 2 comprises two sub-soilers 5 spaced transversely with respect to the supporting frame 2, there being two inclined strengthening members 8 and a pair of supporting beams 6. Front and rear cross members 15 secure the two supporting beams 6 rigidly together, whilst each slidably adjustable attachment 11 is located in a respective slot 16 in the associated beam 6. Each attachment 11 has a pair of bolts for securing the respective disc harrow set 3 in the desired angular position with respect to the frame. The blade 12 of each sub-soiler 5 is also vertically adjustable within a slot in the respective beam 6.

In addition to the cross members 15, there are provided two further cross-members 17 which are also connected between the beams 6 and which carry a slot attachment 18 for accommodating a blade of a further sub-soiler.

Turning now to Fig. 3, which is a plan view of the implement shown in Fig. 2, there is shown three sub-soilers 5 of which the outer two have their blades 12 located in the grooves 16 of respective supporting beams 6, whilst the blade 12 of the central sub-soiler 5 is located within the groove attachment 18.

It will be appreciated that a mole drainer (not shown) may be used to replace the or at least one of the sub-soilers 5 shown in the Figures, whereby a greater drainage depth, say, 24 inches, may be provided. Additionally, it is understood that the subsoiler(s) 5 and/or mole drainer may be located forward or rearwardly of the two sets 3 of harrow discs 4, as required by the particular agricultural application.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the invention provides an agricultural implement which not only performs a harrowing function but also a drainage function, whereby harrowed soil is provided with suitable drainage.

1. An agricultural implement comprising at least one set of harrow discs in combination with a drainage attachment as hereinbefpre described.

2. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drainage attachment comprises at least one sub-soiler.

3. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drainage attachment comprises at least one mole drainer.

4. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the drainage attachment is located The drawing(s) originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Combination agricultural implements This invention relates to a combination agricultural implement of which one component is a disc harrow. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an agricultural implement comprising at least one set of harrow discs in combination with a drainage attachment, as hereinafter defined. Throughout this specification, the expression "drainage attachment" is used to define any form of agricultural implement which is employed to provide soak-away drainage in soil. For instance, such an implement may be a sub-soiler or mole drainer. Mole drainers are used to provide a bore drainage hole in soil at depths of, say, 24 to 30 inches, and sub-soilers to loosen compacted sub-soil and/or to provide minor drainage cracks at depths of say 15 to 20 inches. With the recent advent of more powerful wheeled tractors of, say, 300 to 400 horsepower, as opposed to previous tractors of 100 to 200 horsepower, it has been found that, when such powerful tractors are used for towing harrows or drainage attachments and are moving at 3 to 4 m.p.h., a large proportion of their power output capacity is not being utilised. Also, these types of tractor are much heavierthan the previous, lower horse-powered tractors and, as a consequence, their wheels tend to compact the soil such that drainage cracks are either closed over in the region of the compacted soil or are otherwise damaged, whereby drainage efficiency is reduced. Thus, the invention provides an agricultural implement which not only performs a harrowing function but also one associated with drainage. In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred form of implement, in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view, in elevation, of a combination agricultural implement; Fig. 2 is a perspective side view ofthe implement shown in Fig. 1, incorporating two sub-soilers; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the implement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, incorporating two sub-soilers and a mole drainer attachment. Referring firstly to Fig. 1, an agricultural implement 1 comprises a frame 2 supporting two sets 3 of harrow discs 4 and a sub-soiler 5 located between the two harrow disc sets 3. The frame 2 comprises a substantially horizontal supporting beam 6, an upright linkage beam 7, at right angles to the beam 6, and an inclined strengthening member 8. Linkage eyes 9 are provided on the upright beam 7 for attachment to the rear linkage of, say, awheeled tractor. The two sets 3 of harrow discs 4 each comprises a transverse beam 10 which is supported by the beam 6 via adjustable attachments 11 that can be slidahly moved along a portion of the length of the beam 6, as will be described in more detail below, for adjust ing the angular position of the associated disc set 3 with respect to the beam 6 and, hence, the direction of travel ofthe implement 1. The sub-soiler 5 comprises a blade 12 which is provided with a sub-soilerfoot 13 at its lower end. The sub-soiler blade 12 is vertically adjustable, by means of associated holes 14 and a fixing bolt 15 in the beam 6, for altering the working depth of the sub-soilerfoot 13. The implement shown in Fig. 2 comprises two sub-soilers 5 spaced transversely with respect to the supporting frame 2, there being two inclined strengthening members 8 and a pair of supporting beams 6. Front and rear cross members 15 secure the two supporting beams 6 rigidly together, whilst each slidably adjustable attachment 11 is located in a respective slot 16 in the associated beam 6. Each attachment 11 has a pair of bolts for securing the respective disc harrow set 3 in the desired angular position with respect to the frame. The blade 12 of each sub-soiler 5 is also vertically adjustable within a slot in the respective beam 6. In addition to the cross members 15, there are provided two further cross-members 17 which are also connected between the beams 6 and which carry a slot attachment 18 for accommodating a blade of a further sub-soiler. Turning now to Fig. 3, which is a plan view of the implement shown in Fig. 2, there is shown three sub-soilers 5 of which the outer two have their blades 12 located in the grooves 16 of respective supporting beams 6, whilst the blade 12 of the central sub-soiler 5 is located within the groove attachment 18. It will be appreciated that a mole drainer (not shown) may be used to replace the or at least one of the sub-soilers 5 shown in the Figures, whereby a greater drainage depth, say, 24 inches, may be provided. Additionally, it is understood that the subsoiler(s) 5 and/or mole drainer may be located forward or rearwardly of the two sets 3 of harrow discs 4, as required by the particular agricultural application. Accordingly, it can be seen that the invention provides an agricultural implement which not only performs a harrowing function but also a drainage function, whereby harrowed soil is provided with suitable drainage. CLAIMS

intermediate a pair of harrow disc sets.

5. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1,2 or3, wherein the drainage attachment is located rearwardly of the harrow disc set(s).

6. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the drainage attachment is located forwardly of the harrow disc set(s).

7. Acombination agricultural implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.