GB2110061A - Ground-supported implements - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding roll 10 has rolls 16, 17 supported on booms 18 which pivot from the transport position shown to an operative position in which they span the strip of ground to be treated, by means of energising rams 34 which pivot the wheel- supporting arms 28, 29 rearwardly about skew axes C-C. This turns wheels 24 inwardly so that moving the implement rearwardly will cause the booms to begin their opening movement. When the booms have been partially opened in this way, the wheels 24 are retracted and the continued rearward movement of the implement, now supported on rolls 12, 16 and 17, will move the booms into their fully open operational position. The booms are locked in this position so that the towing tractor can move forward to commence the rolling operation. The reverse operation is performed to recover the transport position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to groundsupported implements The present invention relates to ground-supported implements having one or more pivotted parts which in an operational position span a relatively large width e.g. so that a relatively wide strip of ground can be treated in one pass of the implement whereas in a non-operational position they span a relatively small width to facilitate travel of the implement, e.g. by road, from one operational site to another. Such an implement will hereinafter be referred to as an implement of the type hereinbefore defined. Typical of such implements for use in agriculture are folding rolls, variable geometry disc harrows and spray booms.

Folding rolls are known in which roll-carrying booms are swung by a hydraulic actuator ram between an operational first position in which they extend transversely to the direction of forward movement of the vehicle so as to treat a relatively wide strip of ground and a non-operational second position in which they lie substantially in line with this direction.

However, the hydraulic equipment required by these implements is both costly and heavy.

Moreover the boom-opening rams tend to cause undesirable loads in the booms.

According to the present invention, an implement of the type hereinbefore defined includes one or more ground wheels adapted, or each adapted, to move from a groundengaging transport position, in which its axis of rotation is roughly perpendicular to the direction of forward travel of the implement, through one or more ground-engaging intermediate positions, in which its axis of rotation is no longer roughly perpendicular to the direction of forward travel of the implement, to a raised position in which it no longer engages the ground, at least the vertical displacement or component of displacement of the or each ground wheel in moving between its transport position and its raised position being controlled by a ram.

Conveniently, in its one or more intermediate positions, the or each ground wheel, when viewed in plan, will have its axis of rotation so inclined as to cause the pivoted parts of the implement to spread if the implement is moved rearwardly. In this case lock means are preferably provided for locking the or each pivoted part in its operational position prior to subsequent forward motion of the implement.

Conveniently, the axis of rotation of the or each ground wheel is carried by a support member privotally connected with the frame of the implement about a skew axis which is inclined inwardly and rearwardly relative to a vertical centre plane of the implement and to the direction of forward motion of the implement, the displacement of the or each ground wheel between its transport position and its raised portion being wholly controlled by the ram.

Alternatively, the axis of rotation of the or each ground wheel may be carried by a support member pivotally connected with the frame of the implement about two separate axes one of which is horizontally disposed and the other vertically disposed. In this case only the pivoting of the support member about the horizontal axis during the displacement of the or each ground wheel between its transport position and its raised position is wholly controlled by the ram, the support member being freely pivotable about its vertical axis during this displacement. In this case, the support member is preferably locked about its vertical axis for transport.

In a variation of this latter arrangement, the support member is driven about its vertical axis by a second ram instead of being freely pivotable.

The arrangements of the present invention avoid the disadvantages outlined above in the context of known designs of folding-roll equipment and present also to a greater or lesser degree in any implement of the type hereinbefore defined in which a hydraulic ram is used to force the pivoted parts between their operational and non-operational positions.

Conveniently, in accordance with a preferred feature of the present invention, the one or more pivoted parts comprise two such parts symmetrically arranged one on each side of the vertical centre plane of the implement.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a first design of folding roll according to the present invention with the booms in their unfolded, operative positions; Figure 2 is a plan view showing the booms in their folded, inoperative positions; Figure 3 is a side view of the same roll with the booms in the position shown in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is detailed perspective view of part of the roll shown in Figs. 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view (not to scale) illustrating the relationship between the rotation axes of a ground wheel and the support member on which it is mounted; and Figures 6(a) (b) and (c) are partially schematic perspective and plan views of part of an alternative embodiment employing a different wheel/support relationship to that illustrated in Fig. 5.

Thus referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a folding roll 10 according to the present invention comprises a middle roller 1 2 carried by cross member 14 and pairs of inner and outer rollers 16, 17 carried by booms 18.

These latter are pivoted about journal bearings 1 9 in cross member 100 of an associated triangular framework 20 which is connected to cross member 14 and provides the tractor hitch point 21 of the implement. In operation, the roll is towed by a tractor (not shown) in a forward direction A.

Reference numerals 22 indicate rubber suspension units e.g. the Bramber Flexitor, which enable ths rolls to respond to uneveness in fhe ground surface and also give reasonably uniform rcll/ground pressures.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that their non-operational folded position, the booms 1 8 iie roughly parallel to the direction of forward travel A of the implement. They are supported in this position by ground wheels 24 which rotate about the transverse axes B-B provided by arm-supported stub axles 26.

At their upper ends, the axle-supporting arms 28, 29 are mounted on the booms for pivotal motion about skew axes C-C which are inclined inwardly rearwards (Fig. 2) relative to the direction of forward travel A of the implement and inwardly upwards (Fig. 3) relative to the centre plane D-D of the implement. As already indicated, this relationship is also diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5 where the same reference numerals and letters have been used. Angles Eand Fin this latter Figure show the inclinations referred to above. A typical value for both these angles would be 10 .

In the towing position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the inclined arms 28, 29 abut with forward stops 30 and the top ends of the links are held by catch mechanisms 32 for safety during transport. Rams 34 for moving the wheels between their retracted and groundengaging positions act between the ends of the arms 28, 29 and lugs 36 on the booms 18. These same lugs also provide pivot points 38 for a folding link arrangement 39 which is connected between the lugs and the triangular framework 20 for reasons to be described below.

Reference numeral 40 indicates a simple latching device designed to prevent separation of the booms during towing. This device, which adopts the latched position shown in Fig. 4 when the wheel-supporting arms are in a towing position, comprises top and bottom plates 41, 42 carried by a first boom-supported cross-member 44 and arranged to cooperate with the end portion of a second boom-supported cross-member 43 to prevent vertical separation of the two booms during towing. The device is completed by a hooklike member 45 which extends transversely from the wheel-carrying arm 28 to engage with a co-operating part 46 of cross member 43 whenever arm 29 is in the transport position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. This prevent horizontal separation of the booms during towing.

If it is desired to move the booms 1 8 from the non-operational transport positions of Figs.

2 and 3 to the operational position of Fig. 1, then catch mechanisms 32 are released and rams 34 are pressurised so as to rotate arms 28, 29 about skew axes C-C. This moves the wheels 24 to the intermediate positions 48 shown in broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The rams 34 are hydraulically locked to hold the wheels in this new position in which they are no longer (nominally) parallel to direction A but are turned in relative to direction A. In addition, the rearward motion of arm 28 from its forward position (shown in full line for arm 29 in Fig. 3) to its rearward position (shown in broken line for arm 29 in Fig. 3) will result in the removal of the hook-like member 45 from part 46 in latching device 40 thereby freeing the booms 1 8 for lateral separation.At this stage the towing tractor is reversed and, because the wheels 24 are turned outwards to the reverse direction of movement, the booms 1 8 open outwards towards the position shown in Fig. 1.

Before booms 1 8 reach their completely opened (operational) positions e.g. when each has moved through about 60 from being roughly parallel with the centre-plane of the implement, rams 34 are fully retracted so as to allow rollers 12, 1 6 and 1 7 to run on the ground and bring the wheels 24 into their raised positions 49 (Fig. 1).

Opening the main booms 1 8 to their operational positions is completed by continued reverse motion of the implement with the whole weight of the implement now supported by the ground-engaging rollers.

It should be explained at this point, that throughout the opening sequence described above (and throughout the corresponding closing sequence) boom movements are synchronised and balanced by means of a link member 51 (Fig. 1) connected between the pivoted initially leading ends of the two booms.

When booms 1 8 have reached the fully operational position, the relative movement that will have occurred between the parts 54, 55 of link arrangement 39 will result in these parts being brought into the overlapping relationship shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The tractor is now stopped and locking-pins 57 are inserted between the newly aligned apertures 59, 60 in parts 54, 55 to lock the booms in the operational positions shown.

The implement is now fully operational and ready for forward motion of the tractor in direction A as above described.

When rolling has been completed, the tractor is stopped and pins 57 are removed to allow the booms 1 8 to move back towards their closed positions. The forward movement of the tractor is then resumed and the booms commence to close.

At a suitable point in the closing sequence, the rams 34 are energised to rotate arms 28, 29 and bring the wheels 24 into contact with the ground at their intermediate positions 48.

This will have the effect of raising rollers 12, 1 6 and 1 7 off the ground so that continued forward movement of the tractor allows the boom closing operation to be completed with the booms wholly supported on ground-engaging wheels 24.

When the booms have moved to the fully closed position of Figs. 2 and 3, rams 34 are again energised to rotate arms 28, 29 and bring wheels 24 back into the transport positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At the same time, catch mechanisms 32 will catch on the upper ends of the arms to lock them into place and latching device 40 will be returned to its initial Fig. 4 position to prevent excessive boom movement during towing.

Turning now to the control system for rams 34, this may either comprise an on/off hydraulic control in the tractor cab which is operated by the driver at suitable points in the opening and closing sequences of boom movement to move wheels 24 between their transport, intermediate and raised positions or it can comprise a fully automatic hydraulic system where all the tractor driver has to do is to initiate the opening or closing sequences and the system does the rest. Typically in this latter case, the angle of the booms 1 8 to cross member 100 will be monitored by a sensing device operating at a predetermined position to send an appropriate signal to the hydraulic valve controlling wheel ram 34 and to a hydraulically-operated drag-link lock release in place of the locking pegs 57 of the illustrated embodiment.In operation of the automatic control system to close the booms for example, the tractor driver initiates the closing sequence to release the drag-link lock as the tractor moves forward with the rollers 12, 16, 1 7 on the ground. At a predetermined boom angle, the sensing device operates to cause rams 34 to be energised so that the wheels 24 are moved from their raised to their intermediate positions. Continued forward movement of the tractor will cause the booms, now supported on wheels 24, to continue their closing movement until the sensing device detects that the booms have now closed. At this point the sensing device will operate to cause the rams 34 to move the wheels from their intermediate to their transport positions, the associated movement of wheel arm 28 bringing hook device 45 into use once again.

As already mentioned, in an alternative version of the above embodiments, the skew axes C-C are each replaced by two or more equivalent axes. One such arrangement is illustrated, somewhat diagrammatically, in the perspective and plan views of Figs. 6a, 6b and 6cwhere reference numeral 62 indicates the stub axle on which the wheel 24 (not shown) will be mounted. Also omitted, for clarity, are the co-operating catch device 32, stop 30, and ram 34 all of which may be similar or substantially identical to the corresponding parts shown in the earlier illustrated embodiments of the invention.

As will be seen from Figs. 6b and 6c, the stub axle 32 is secured to a limit plate 64 and to a support member 66, though, again for clarity, these three parts have been shown separated in Fig. 6a.

At its inner end, the member 66 is secured to arm 29 in such a way as to be able to pivot freely about a vertical axis 68 between the transport position (shown in Fig. 6b) which it will adopt when the implement is being towed in the direction of forward travel A and the "boom-opening" position (shown in Fig. 6c) which it will adopt when the implement is moving rearwardly. In each case the inclination of stub axle 62 to direction A is determined by the engagement of limit plate 64 with one or other of the two abutment plates 70, 71 which extend outwardly from arm 29 on either side of axis 68.

At its top end, arm 29 is pivotally secured to the frame of implement 10 by a horizontal axle 73 about which it can be rotated by the ram referred to earlier to move wheel 34 between the ground-engaging positions in which it supports the weight of the boom and the raised or working position in which the weight of the boom is wholly carried by the rollers 12, 16 and 17.

It will be appreciated from the above that the operation of the "double-axis" embodiment of Figs. 6a to 6c is largely analogous to that described in respect of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5.

Claims (11)

1. An implement of the type hereinbefore defined including one or more ground wheels adapted, or each adapted, to move from a ground-engaging transport position, in which its axis of rotation is roughtly perpendicular to the direction of forward travel of the implement, through one or more ground-engaging intermediate positions, in which its axis of rotation is no longer roughly perpendicular to the direction of forward travel of the implement, to a raised position in which it no longer engages the ground, at least the vertical displacement or component of displacement of the or each ground wheel in moving between its transport position and its raised position being controlled by a ram.

2. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 in which, in its one or more intermediate positions, the or each ground wheel, when viewed in plan, will have its axis of rotation so inclined as to cause the pivoted parts of the implement to spread if the implement is moved rearwardly.

3. An implement as claimed in Claim 2 in which lock means are provided for locking the or each pivoted part in its operational position prior to subsequent forward motion of the implement.

4. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the axis of rotation of the or each ground wheel is carried by a support member pivotally connected with the frame of the implement about a skew axis which is inclined inwardly and rearwardly relative to a vertical centre plane of the implement and to the direction of forward motion of the implement, the displacement of the or each ground wheel between its transport position and its raised portion being wholly controlled by the ram.

5. An implement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the axis of rotation of the or each ground wheel is carried by a support member pivotally connected with the frame of the implement about two separate axes one of which is horizontally disposed and the other vertically disposed.

6. An implement as claimed in Claim 5 in which only the pivoting of the support member about the horizontal axis during the displacement of the or each ground wheel between its transport position and its raised position is wholly controlled by the ram, the support member being freely pivotable about its vertical axis during this displacement.

7. An implement as claimed in Claim 6 including lock means for locking the support member about its vertical axis for transport.

8. An implement as claimed in Claim 5 in which a second ram is provided to drive the support member about the horizontal axis during the displacement of the or each ground wheel between its transport position and its raised position.

9. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the one or more pivoted parts comprises two such parts symmetrically arranged one on each side of the vertical centre plane of the implement.

10. An implement as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

11. An implement as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 6ato 6cof the accompanying drawings.