GB2065431A

GB2065431A - Implement combination

Info

Publication number: GB2065431A
Application number: GB8032086A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1979-11-14
Filing date: 1980-10-06
Publication date: 1981-07-01
Also published as: FR2469093B1; DE2945896A1; FR2469093A1; GB2065431B; DE2945896C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an implement combination for seed bed preparation, which comprises at least a ground loosening implement 3, a pressing roller 4 and a seed drill 8 fitted with sowing coulters 6 and adapted to be coupled to a tractor 2. Running wheels 5 are provided behind the pressing roller in the wheel tracks 11 produced by the wheels 10 of the tractor which running wheels 5 at their support surface on the ground are almost as wide as the width of the wheel tracks. Covering members 13 for engaging in the ground are provided between these running wheels 5 and sowing coulters 6 of the seed drill in the region of the edges on both sides of the wheel track. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Agricultural apparatus Agricultural apparatus including an implement combination for seed bed preparation comprising at least a soil loosening implement, a pressing roller and a seed drill fitted with sowing coulters and adapted to be coupled to a tractor.

Such an implement combination is already from DE-PS 1557925. This combination has proved advantageous in agricultural practice. An adverse feature, however is that the strips of soil pressed-in position by the running wheels of the tractor and located in the wheel tracks are engaged by the cul tivatingtoolsofthe soil loosening implement to a substantially lesserextentthan the remaining soil so that after cultivation by the soil loosening implement, this soil strip assumes a lower surface level.

Consequently the soil within this strip of ground cannot be pressed-into position by the pressing roller as uniformly as in the remaining ground surface.

This forcibly results in the ground strip located in the wheel tracks having a substantially greater penetration depth for the drill coulter in the ground, which in turn leads to a later germination of the seed grains deposited herein and a lesser planting out of the plants created from these seed grains. Proceeding from the fact that the working width of such implement combinations due to their requirement on towing output on the one hand and the type of tractor provided in agriculture on the other hand is generally in Germany no greater than 3 m and the wheel tracks produced by the rear wheels of the tractor having a width of tyre of about 40 cm, have a width of about 30 cm, then at least 20% of the whole area of the field is affected by this adverse feature, so that considerable minimum yields result.

An object underlying the invention resides in providing the condition from the ground side that the drill coulters of the seed drill located in the strip of ground between the wheel tracks do not penetrate the ground any deeper than the other coulters.

Herewith for all drill coulters also the recently utilised usual low penetration depth of from 2.5 to 3.0 cm should be possible.

According to the present invention there is provided agricultural apparatus comprising a combination of implements for seed bed preparation, which at least comprises a soil loosening implement, a pressing roller and a seed drill fitted with sowing coulters and adapted to be coupled to a tractor, characterised by the feature that behind the pressing roller supporting running wheels are provided and are such as to run in the wheel tracks produced by the wheels of a tractor for towing the apparatus, the supporting surface on the ground of each running wheel being at least as wide as the width (B) of the tractor wheel tracks, and that covering members engaging in the soil are located between these running wheels and the sowing coulter of the seed drill on both sides of each track in the region of the edges thereof.

As described in more detail below, due to these measures the soil strips located in the wheel tracks after being processed by the soil loosening implement are each pressed-down separately by the pressure-loaded running wheels and subsequently thereto adequately filled with soil by the covering members. Owing to this additional ground compacting or tam ping of the strips of ground located between the wheel tracks, the drill coulters located herein are unable to penetrate the loosely filled soil any deeper than the rest of the drill coulters penetrate through the soil uniformly depressed into the ground by the pressing roller.

It is known from the DE-PS 17 57427 for a machine for distributing granular, powdery or liquid materials to be provided with seed coulters for depositing seeds in the ground. This machine is provided with running wheels which are in rolling engagement in the tracks produced by the tractor wheels. Behind these running wheels and in front of the drill coulters, harrows or soil loosening devices are located, mounted on the machine frame, and penetrate deeply into the ground and rip up coarse clods in the ground tamped by the wheel tracks. Owing to this generally known, unsatisfactory method of operation of the soil loosening devices there is attained a considerably fluctuating varying depth of penetration of the drill coulters located in the scarified wheel tracks which leads to the same adverse feature, i.e.

minimum yields as in the above described known implement combination.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seed drill of the implement combination is to befit- ted with the running wheels for rolling along in the tractor wheel tracks. This permits the implements appertaining to the combination to be coupled to one another without requiring additional pressureloaded running wheels for repeatedly pressing the strips of ground located in the wheel tracks of the running wheels of the tractor loosened by the loosening device to be finely crumbly.

A particularly favourable finely crumbled structure of the ground located in the wheel tracks of the trac tor wheels is attained in that the ground loosening device is provided in a manner known from the implement combination according to the prospectus No. D549* 7.79 of applicant with ground cultivating implements or devices driven by the power take-off shaft of the towing tractor. Herein the ground loosening implement may also be adapted as a riddle harrow in accordance with the prospectus No. RE 113*11 .78 of applicant, as a reciprocating harrow or any other implement with driven ground cultivating tools.All these known implement combinations, however, have the disadvantage that the running wheels of the seed drill do not roll along the tracks made by the tractor wheels and no covering devices or members are provided for any of the wheel tracks.

Moreover, for attaining a particularly effective pressing-down of the ground after cultivation by the ground loosening implement, the invention provides for the pressing roller in a manner known from the aforesaid prospectuses to have an endless or continuous surface provided with outwardly projecting teeth.

For the present, still generally normal spacings between rows of more than 11 cm it suffices when sowing grain seeds for the running wheels rolling along in the wheel tracks of the tractor to have a width at their supporting surface on the ground cor responding at least 2/3 of the width of the wheel tracks, and thus amounts to at least 20 cm. Herein within each track of the running wheels covered with soil by the covering members at least two seed coul ters should each be located in a position at least substantially symmetrical to the track centre. This measure provides for the seed coulters located within the wheel tracks to be situated on the ground strip pressed down by the running wheels of the implement combination or the seed drill, whereby the remaining seed coulters penetrate the ground outside the wheel tracks.The inevitable result of these measures was that with the provision of wide tractor tyres andlorthe lately preferred sowing of grain seeds with less spacing between rows, three or more coulters are located in a sufficientlysymmetri- cal position within the wheel tracks and hence over the ground strip additionally pressed down by the running wheels. Important in this case only is that none of the drill coulters is located on both sides within edge regions of each wheel track not pressed down by the running wheels.

If in accordance with the invention the covering members have plates set diagonally or inclinedly to the direction of travel, the rear ends of which project into the wheel tracks, there is attained in favourable manner a sufficient filling-up of the wheel tracks with soil additionally pressed down by the running wheels. In view of a uniform ground surface over the whole working width of the implement combination, it has been found expedient that the covering members in the region of the edges on both sides or wheel tracks produced by the running wheels of the tractor to have a projection extending diagonally or inclinedly downwards in the direction oftravel.

Herewith it is possible for the soil pressed towards the side by the running wheels to be completely engaged and pushed bythe plates intothewheel tracks.

In order to avoid the production of furrows at the side of the wheel tracks the covering members, in accordance with the invention the maximum penetration depth of the covering members in the ground is not substantially greater than the depth of the wheel tracks produced by the running wheels.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying, drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of agricultural apparatus comprising an implement combination; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the ground to be tilled whilst being traversed by the rear wheel of a tractor.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the same ground region of Fig. 2 directly after being traversed by the rear wheel of the tractor; Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the same ground region after being cultivated by a ground loosening implement; Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the same ground region after passage of a pressing roller; Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the same ground region during the pressing of the strip of ground located in the wheel track by a running wheel; Fig. 7 is a cross-section through the same ground region during the closing-up of the wheel track pres sed in position; Fig. 8 is a iongitudinal section of the same ground region with a closing-up member; and Fig. 9 isa cross-section showing the same ground region during sowing by the seed coulter of a seed drill component device.

An implement combination 1 iscoupledtoatrac- tor 2 and comprises a ground loosening implement 3, a pressing roll or roller 4, a seed drill 7fitted with running wheels 5 and drill coulters 6 and a seed comb orbrusher8 mounted on seed drill 7and located behind the drill coulters for harrowing in the seed and pivotable in an upright plane. The running wheels 5 loaded with the weight of the seed drill 7 are located behind the pressing roller 4 and are in rolling engagement along wheel tracks 11 produced by the wheels 9 and 10 of the tractor.

Closing members 1i2 are provided located on the seed drill 7 between the running wheels 5 and coulters 6. These closing members 12 have plates 13 which are set inclined to the direction of travel indicated by arrow 14 in such a manner that their rear ends project into the wheel tracks 11. Moreover, the closing members 12 project outwardly beyond the edges 15 of the wheel tracks 11.

The ground implement 3 is formed as a powerdriven rotary harrow having ground cultivating implements or tines 16 which are driven via the drive 17 and drive shaft 18 hy powertake-offshaft 19 of the tractor 2.

To obtain a particularly effective pressing-down effectthe pressing roller4 has a closed jacket or surface 20 which has a large number of outwardly projecting teeth 21 located thereon.

Figs. 2 to 8 show in sections the cultivation of the ground by means ofthe implement combination by way of the individual stages occurring. Herewith Fig.

2 shows the ploughed coarse-clodded ground layer 22 during the passage thereover of rear wheel 10 of the tractor, the tyre 23 of which wheel has a width of tyre R of about 40;cm in its region facing the ground.

As clearly evident from Fig. 3, this rear wheel 10 of the tractor impresses a wheel track 11 into the ploughed groundwhich, depending upon the solidity of the ground and the weight of the tractor 2 has a depth E of about 8 to 12 cm upon the average ground surface 24 and has a width B at this ground surface which is about 30 cm and hence substantially less than.the width R of the tyre. To elucidate the operationthe depth of penetration of the plough or share body is designated by P which generally amounts to about 25 cm and, below title plough bed 25 thereof, asolid uncultivated ground region 26 is located.

As shown by Fig. 4, the ground loosening implement 3 converts the coarse-clodded, ploughed ground layer 22 into a ground layer 27 having a finely crurnbled structure up to an operating depth L of about t2 cm whereby, however, the wheel track 11 cannot be fully filled with soil. This is to be attributed to the fact that the ground below the bed 28 of the wheel track 11 is only slightly engaged by the ground loosening implement 3 and that soil necessary for completely filling it cannot be supplied from the outside of this wheel track. Moreover, during this cultivation of the ground the average ground surface level 24 subsides somewhat so that an average ground surface level 29 is produced, the distance G is less than the distance P of the plough bed 25.

If the ground layer 27 and hence also the ground layer 22 are compacted by the pressing roller 4, then the average ground surface level subsides somewhat further, as shown in Fig. 5; i.e. after passage of the pressing roller4the ground surface 30 is produced with a distance W from the plough bed 25.

Nevertheless, the ground or soil 31 within the wheel track 11 remains relatively loose, so that sowing coulters used herein would penetrate in the ground substantially deeper than the remaining coulters.

As shown in Fig. 6, the soil 31 situated within the wheel track 11 is pressed down by the running wheel 5. This running wheel 5 has a widthb on its abutment surface 32 with the ground 31 which width is greater than 2/3 of the width B of the wheel track 11 and thus preferably at least 20 cm. Moreover, during this pressing operation a firm bed 33 is created below the support surface 32 of the running wheel 5, thus at a depth of 3 to 4 cm, whilst certain soil quantities 34 are pressed outwardly and upwards on both sides of the running wheel 5.

As shown in Fig. 7 the wheel track 35 produced by the running wheels 5 is filled with the soil 34 forced to the side by the running wheels by means of the closing members 12.

The closing members 12 should have a penetration depth t in the ground which is at maximum not substantially greater than the depth T of the wheel track 35.

To enable the wheel track 35 to be filled with soil sufficiently evenly, the closing members 12 (as shown in Fig. 8) are provided with a projection 36 extending diagonally downwards in the direction of travel 14. By means of this projection 36 the soil is lifted so that it is also supplied via the plates 13 in the arcs designated by the arrows 37 to the central region of the wheeltrack 35.

As shown in Fig. 9, owing to the slight spacing A provided between rows of 9 cm, three seed coulters 6 are located within the closed-up wheeltrack 35 of the running wheel 5 and hence also within the impressed wheeltrack 11 of the rear wheel 10 of the tractor in symmetrical arrangement relative to the centre of the wheeltrack designated by the chaindotted line 38. This prevents narrow gap 39 between the wheeltracks 11 and 35 not yet pressed-down by the running wheels 5 being swept over by the sowing coulters 5, so that all sowing coulters 5 can penetrate the ground at an even depth.

Equivalent or corresponding dimensions apply in the U.K. depending on usage and requirements.

Claims

1. Agricultural apparatus comprising a combination of implements for seed bed preparation, which at least comprises a soil loosening implement, a pressing roller and a seed drill fitted with sowing coulters and adapted to be coupled to a tractor, characterised by the feature that behind the pressing roller supporting running wheels are provided and are such as to run in the wheel tracks produced by the wheels of a tractor for towing the apparatus, the supporting surface on the ground of each running wheel being at least as wide as the width (B) of the tractor wheel tracks, and that covering members engaging in the soil are located between these running wheels and the sowing coulter of the seed drill on both sides of each track in the region of the edges thereof.

2. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the seed drill is fitted with running wheels to be in rolling engagement along the tractor wheel tracks.

3. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the soil loosening device has cultivating tools driven by the power take-off shaft of the tractor provided for towing.

4. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the pressing roller has a continuous surface provided with outwardly projecting teeth.

5. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the running wheels rolling along in the tractor wheel tracks of the running wheels of the tractor have a width (b) at their supporting surface on the ground which amounts at least to 2/3 of the width (B) of the tractor wheel tracks.

6. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which within each of the wheel tracks of the running wheels covered with soil by the covering members there are at least two sowing coulters in a position at least substantially symmetrical to the centre of the track.

7. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the covering members have plates set inclinedly to the direction of travel, the rear ends of which plates project into the wheel tracks (11,35).

8. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the covering members in the region of the edges on both sides of the tracks produced by the tractor wheels, have a shoulder or projection extending diagonally downwards in the direction of travel.

9. Agricultural apparatus as claimed in claims 7 and 8, in which the penetration depth (t) of the covering members in the soil is at a maximum not substantially greaterthan the depth (T) of the wheel tracks produced by the running wheels.

10. Agricultural apparatus including the combination of cultivating implements substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.