GB2117613A

GB2117613A - Agricultural implement

Info

Publication number: GB2117613A
Application number: GB08208278A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher William Watts
Original assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
Current assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
Priority date: 1982-03-22
Filing date: 1982-03-22
Publication date: 1983-10-19

Abstract

A subsoiler 10 comprises a variable-pitch share 12 which advantageously penetrates the ground at a relatively steep angle until depth wheel 31, acting through linkage 26, 27, moves the share 12 back to the desired shallow working angle which will be maintained throughout subsequent use of the implement. In a variation, the subsoiler leg 16 is pivotally attached to body portion 20 so as to allow the entry and for working angle of the share to be varied at will under the control of an appropriate hydraulic ram. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Agricultural implement The present invention relates to subsoilers, mole ploughs and like agricultural implements.

With known designs of subsoiler, it is important thatthe share of the subsoiler present only a shallow angle (e.g. 150 to 20") as its leading edge in orderto minimise soil disturbance at the surface. Otherwise satisfactory shallow cultivation, e.g. for direct drilling purposes, cannot be achieved.

However it is a drawback of such shallow angle shares that under hard ground conditions for exam ple it is difficultto persuade the share to enterthe ground.

According to the present invention, however, a subsoiler, mole plough or like agricultural implement comprises a variable pitch share and control means for automatically varying the pitch ofthe share from a relatively steep angle e.g. over 20 and preferably over 25 during entry ofthe share into the ground to a shallow angle e.g. 15"to 2Q" maintained throughout its subsequent use.

Conveniently, the control means includes a sensor member adapted to engagethe surface of the ground when the share has penetrated the ground to the desired depth and atthat point to vary the pitch ofthe share as above described.

In preferred embodiments, the share is securedto a support member which is pivotally mounted on a leg portion of the implement, and the change in share angle is achieved by movement of the support memberaboutthis pivot.

In one such embodiment, for example, where the control means includes a sensor member as above described, then the support means comprises one part of a pivotal linkage between the share and the sensor memberwherebya relative upward dispiace mentofthesensormemberon engaging the ground, as the share penetrates the ground to the desired depth, will result in a corresponding pivotal move ment ofthe share support in a sense such as to reduce the angle ofthe share from the relatively steep angle assumed during entry to the shallow angle main tainedduring su bsequent use of the sha re.

In some embodiments ofthe invention,the leg portion of the implement is pivotally mounted on the body portion of the implement and the entry and/or the working angle of the share may be varied at will buy pivotal movement of the leg portion under the controlofa ram or like drive means.

Embodiments of the invention will now be de scribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatiosideviews of a first embodiment ofthe invention at two stages of its operation and Figure 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment.

Thus referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a subsoiler 10 I in accordance with the present invention comprises a share 12 carried by a support member 14which is pivotally secured to the leg portion 16 of the implement by a horizontal pivot 18.

At its upper end, the leg portion 16 is rigidly secured to body portion 20 of the subsoiler, as too is a rearwardly projecting support arm 22.

At its trailing end, arm 22 carries two downwardly projecting lugs 24 which provide a pivotal support for one part26 ofatwo-part linkage 26, 27 connecting the rear end of member 14with a sensor device 29.

In more detail, sensor device 29 comprises a freely-running depth wheel 31 carried atthe lower end of a variable length screw-threaded support unit 33. Reference numeral 35, indicates a compression spring acting between the sensor-supporting end of part 26 and the support arm 22, the strength ofthis spring being adjustably set by handwheel 37.

During entry ofthe share into the ground 39, the compression spring 35wiil actthrough the linkage 26, 27 to urge the share downwa rdlyu'nto the 40 inclination shown in Figure 1. If desired, steeper inclinations may be positively prevented by means of an appropriate abutment surface of leg portion 16 e.g. at position 41.

As the share continues to penetrate the ground, the pointwill be reached at which depthwheel 31 engages the ground surface and acts through linkage 26,27 to hold the share 12 at the shallow angle shown in Figure 2 (18").

The embodiment of Figure 3 is essentiallythe same as that of Figures 1 and 2 except thatthe leg portion 16 is now pivotally attached to the body portion 20 ofthe implement so as to allowthe entry and/or working angle ofthe share to be varied at will under the control of a hydraulic ram 45. In poor ground conditions, for example, the ram 45 may be shortened to pivotthe leg portion 16 anticlockwise (as shown in Figure 3) and thereby increase the entry angle ofthe share 12 beyond the angle shown in Figure 1. Extension of ram 45 will tiltthe share upwardly (to position 12') to assist its removal from the ground atthe end of a run.

1. A subsoiler, mole plough or like agricultural implement comprises a variable pitch share and control means for automatically varying the pitch of the share from a relatively steep angle during entry of the share into the ground to a shallow angle maintained throughout its subsequent use.

2. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 in which the control means includes a sensor member adapted to engage the surface ofthe ground when the share has penetrated the ground to the desired depth and at that point to vary the pitch of the share to said shallow angle.

3. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the share is secured to a support member which is pivotally mounted on a leg portion of the implement, and the change in share angle is achieved by movement of the support member about this pivot.

4. An implement as claimed in Claim 3wherethe control means includes said sensor member as above described, and in which the support means compris The drawing(s) originally filed was/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 Agricultural implement The present invention relates to subsoilers, mole ploughs and like agricultural implements. With known designs of subsoiler, it is important thatthe share of the subsoiler present only a shallow angle (e.g. 150 to 20") as its leading edge in orderto minimise soil disturbance at the surface. Otherwise satisfactory shallow cultivation, e.g. for direct drilling purposes, cannot be achieved. However it is a drawback of such shallow angle shares that under hard ground conditions for exam ple it is difficultto persuade the share to enterthe ground. According to the present invention, however, a subsoiler, mole plough or like agricultural implement comprises a variable pitch share and control means for automatically varying the pitch ofthe share from a relatively steep angle e.g. over 20 and preferably over 25 during entry ofthe share into the ground to a shallow angle e.g. 15"to 2Q" maintained throughout its subsequent use. Conveniently, the control means includes a sensor member adapted to engagethe surface of the ground when the share has penetrated the ground to the desired depth and atthat point to vary the pitch ofthe share as above described. In preferred embodiments, the share is securedto a support member which is pivotally mounted on a leg portion of the implement, and the change in share angle is achieved by movement of the support memberaboutthis pivot. In one such embodiment, for example, where the control means includes a sensor member as above described, then the support means comprises one part of a pivotal linkage between the share and the sensor memberwherebya relative upward dispiace mentofthesensormemberon engaging the ground, as the share penetrates the ground to the desired depth, will result in a corresponding pivotal move ment ofthe share support in a sense such as to reduce the angle ofthe share from the relatively steep angle assumed during entry to the shallow angle main tainedduring su bsequent use of the sha re. In some embodiments ofthe invention,the leg portion of the implement is pivotally mounted on the body portion of the implement and the entry and/or the working angle of the share may be varied at will buy pivotal movement of the leg portion under the controlofa ram or like drive means. Embodiments of the invention will now be de scribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatiosideviews of a first embodiment ofthe invention at two stages of its operation and Figure 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment. Thus referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a subsoiler 10 I in accordance with the present invention comprises a share 12 carried by a support member 14which is pivotally secured to the leg portion 16 of the implement by a horizontal pivot 18. At its upper end, the leg portion 16 is rigidly secured to body portion 20 of the subsoiler, as too is a rearwardly projecting support arm 22. At its trailing end, arm 22 carries two downwardly projecting lugs 24 which provide a pivotal support for one part26 ofatwo-part linkage 26, 27 connecting the rear end of member 14with a sensor device 29. In more detail, sensor device 29 comprises a freely-running depth wheel 31 carried atthe lower end of a variable length screw-threaded support unit 33. Reference numeral 35, indicates a compression spring acting between the sensor-supporting end of part 26 and the support arm 22, the strength ofthis spring being adjustably set by handwheel 37. During entry ofthe share into the ground 39, the compression spring 35wiil actthrough the linkage 26, 27 to urge the share downwa rdlyu'nto the 40 inclination shown in Figure 1. If desired, steeper inclinations may be positively prevented by means of an appropriate abutment surface of leg portion 16 e.g. at position 41. As the share continues to penetrate the ground, the pointwill be reached at which depthwheel 31 engages the ground surface and acts through linkage 26,27 to hold the share 12 at the shallow angle shown in Figure 2 (18"). The embodiment of Figure 3 is essentiallythe same as that of Figures 1 and 2 except thatthe leg portion 16 is now pivotally attached to the body portion 20 ofthe implement so as to allowthe entry and/or working angle ofthe share to be varied at will under the control of a hydraulic ram 45. In poor ground conditions, for example, the ram 45 may be shortened to pivotthe leg portion 16 anticlockwise (as shown in Figure 3) and thereby increase the entry angle ofthe share 12 beyond the angle shown in Figure 1. Extension of ram 45 will tiltthe share upwardly (to position 12') to assist its removal from the ground atthe end of a run. CLAIMS

es one part of a pivotal linkage between the share and the sensor memberwherebya relative upward displacement of the sensor member on engaging the ground as the share penetrates the ground to the desired depth will result in a corresponding pivotal movement ofthe share support in a sense such as to reduce the angle of the share from the relatively steep angle assumed during entry to the shallow angle maintained during subsequent use ofthe share.

5. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the leg portion ofthe implement is pivotally mounted on the body portion of the implement and the entry and/ortheworking angle of the share may be varied at will by pivotal movement ofthe leg portion underthe control of a ram or like drive means.

6. An implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.