GB2200824A

GB2200824A - Improvements in agricultural tools

Info

Publication number: GB2200824A
Application number: GB08700644A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Esmond Eaton Kimbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-01-13
Filing date: 1987-01-13
Publication date: 1988-08-17
Also published as: GB8700644D0

Abstract

An agricultural tool (10), which may be attached to a tractor, comprises a frame (11), at least one time (30 or 31) extending downwardly from the frame (11) when in use, and a means for vibrating the or each tine (30 or 31) at between 2000 and 4000 vibrations per minute. The means for vibrating the or each tine (30 or 31) may be a poker vibrator (32) of the type used in concrete drills. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEhENTS IN AGRICULTURAL TOOLS The invention relates to agricultural tools, and more particularly to tined implements for breaking up the soil. The term "tine" used herein is intended to cover any type or shape of implement designed to engage the soil for the purpose of breaking up the soil.

According to the invention, there is provided an agricultural tool comprising frame means, means for connecting the frame means to a tractor or the like, at least one tine extending downwardly from the frame, in use, and means for vibrating the or each tine at between 2000 and 4000 vibrations per minute.

The means for vibrating the or each tine may be a poker vibrator. Where there is more than one tine, each tine is preferably individually vibrated. The or each poker vibrator is preferably mounted on the associated tine. The or each poker vibrator may be of the type used in concrete vibrators. The or each poker vibrator may be electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically mechanically or otherwise vibrated.

The frame means may comprise a tine support bar extending laterally with respect to a proposed direction of movement. The frame means may comprise mounting means for mounting a power source, such as an engine, to provide power to the or each poker vibrator.

The or each tine may be clamped to the support bar whereby location of the or each tine may be adjusted by unclamping, moving and reclamping the or each tine.

The or each tine may include a foot portion having a leading edge adapted to ease passage through the soil.

By way of example, two embodiments of an agricultural implement according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of an implement according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the implement of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of an agricultural implement according to the invention attached to a tractor; Figure 4 is a plan view of a frame of the embodiment of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cutaway side view of a tine of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4; and Figure 6 is a plan view of the tine of Figure 5.

An agricultural implement generally indicated at 10 has a frame consisting,mainly of an elongate support bar 11 which is square in cross-section.

Secured to the support bar 11, conveniently by welding, are flanges 12 and 13 which are connected together by a web 14, free ends of the flanges 12 and 13 each being provided with holes 15, 16 to allow mounting of the implement on a tractor or-the like.

Spaced apart from the flanges 12 and 13 are two further pairs of-flanges 17, 18 and 19, 20 provided with respective holes 21, 22 and 23, 24 to provide further mounting points for mounting the implement 10 on a tractor or the like.

Clamped to the support bar 11 in the illustrated embodiment are two tines 30, 31. The tines 30 and 31 are clamped to respective brackets 45, 46 by means of nuts and bolts 47 and the brackets 45, 46 are clamped to the support bar 11 by means of nuts and bolts 48, the arrangement allowing positioning of the tines 30 and 31 at any desired location along the bar 11.

As can be seen readily in Figure 2, clamped to each of the tines is a poker vibrator, that attached to the tine 31 having reference numeral 32. Clamping is achieved via clamps 33, 34.

The poker vibrators may be electrical, in which case they are driven by electrical power which may be supplied by a source mounted on the frame or may alternatively be supplied from an electrical source on the tractor to which the implement is to be connected. Electrical power arrives via conduits 35, 36. The pokers are oil cooled.

Alternatively, the poker vibrators may be hydraulic, and the tractor to which the tool is attached can conveniently be used as the hydraulic power source, although a separate engine or motor may be mounted on the frame to generate hydraulic pressure. A further possibility would be to use pneumatic poker vibrators and again the tractor or a separate power source mounted on the frame may be used to poe the pneumatic poker vfomators. The poker vibrators may be mec;xnically vibrated, for example by using a flexible shat.

Vibration of the pokers is in the range 2000 to 4000 vibrations per minute.

The tines 30, 31 are provided with feet 40, 41 to ease passage through the soil but the feet may be omitted if so wished.

-Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a tool 49 attached to a tractor whose rear wheel 50 is shown, behind which extends a standard mounting linkage 51. The linkage 51 attaches the tool 49 at an upper central location 52, and spaced apart, coaxial locations, one of which is shown at 53. The tool 49 has a square-section support bar 54 supporting a pair of vibrating tines, one of which is shown in Figure 3 and numbered 55. The tine 55 is mounted on the bar 54 by an adjustable mount 56.

Figure 4 shows the tool (without tines) in more detail.

The arrangement for mounting the bar 54 on a tractor is essentially the same as that of the first embodiment, and includes a central support 60, and laterally spaced outer supports 61, 62 adapted to engage the tractor three point mounting linkage 51. In view of the detailed description of this aspect of the first tool embodiment, no further description will be given.

Outside the outer supports 61, 62 are vibratory tine mounts 63, 64 consisting of spaced flanges 65, 66 and 67, 68 respectively, adjustably mounted on the bar 54. The arrangement may be similar to that of the first embodiment where adjustment is achieved by using bolts and nuts. Tines (as shown in Figures 5 and 6) are secured to the flanges 65, 66 and 67, 63 by nuts and bolts.

A central, fixed tine 70 is mounted on the bar 54 by bolts passing through fixed flanges 71, 72 and nuts (not shown). The tine 70 may or may not be vibrated.

Mounting bars 73 and 74 extend rearwardly of the bar 54 to enable an engine to be mounted therein as a power source for the poker vibrators.

Figure 5 shows a tine 75 in cutaway view. The tine 75 has a hollow upper casing 76 in which a poker vibrator 77 is held by locating screws 78, 79. The casing 76 has a tapered leading edge 80, as shown in Figure 6 which provides both convenient location for the poker vibrator 77 and an advantageous profile for cutting through soil. The tine has a foot portion 81, again to assist in breaking up the soil.

The advantages of these embodiments of an agricultural implement is that it is light, consumes little power and is easily adjustable, providing a convenient implement easily towed behind a tractor for breaking up soil.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description is by way of examply only and that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An agricultural tool comprising frame means, means for connecting the frame means to a tractor or the like, at least one tine extending downwardly from the frame, in use, and means for vibrating the or each tine at between 2000 and 4000 vibrations per minute.

2. An agricultural tool as claimed in Claim 1 having a plurality of tines, where each tine has its own individual vibratory means.

3. An agricultural tool as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means for vibrating the or each tine is a poker vibrator.

4. An agricultural tool as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the or each poker vibrator is electric.

5. An agricultural tool as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the or each poker vibrator is hydraulic.

6. An agricultural tool as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the or each poker vibrator is pneumatic.

7. An agricultural tool as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the or each poker vibrator is vibrated mechanically.

8. An agricultural tool as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the frame means comprises a tine support bar extending laterally with respect to a proposed direction of movement.

9. An agricultural tool as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the or each tine is clamped to the support bar whereby location of the or each tine may be adjusted by unclamping, moving and reclamping the or each tine.

10. An agricultural. tool as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 including mounting means for mounting a power source, to provide power to the or each poker vibrator.

11. An agricultural tool as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the or each tine includes a foot portion having a leading edge adapted to ease passage through the soil.

12. An agricultural tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.