GB2217564A

GB2217564A - Attachment for an agricultural machine

Info

Publication number: GB2217564A
Application number: GB8907489A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Farnworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-04-27
Filing date: 1989-04-03
Publication date: 1989-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-03
Also published as: GB2217564B; ES2015673A6; GB8809960D0; GB8907489D0

Abstract

An attachment for a single wheel tractor 10 comprises a beam 40 connected to the tractor. The beam carries a seed hopper 60, a chisel share 45 and a trailing wheel 52. As the share 45 cuts a trough in the ground seeds from the hopper are dropped into the trough through a pipe 62 from the hopper in accordance with station of a feed cog 64 in the hopper which is driven by a belt 66 connected to the trailing wheel 52. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Attachment for an agricultural machine and an agricultural machine having such an attachment DESCRIPTION This invention concerns an attachment for an agricultural machine and an agricultural machine having such an attachment.

In many third world countries farming is still labour intensive with little mechanisation. However, large scale agricultural machinery is often entirely unsuitable for third world requirements due to economic factors as well as possibly limited technological expertise. The provision of relatively simple mechanical equipment to assist cultivation and seeding would be useful for third world countries.

Single wheel tractors are already known but attachments therefor which would render them particularly suitable for use in third world countries for ground cultivation and seeding are not available.

The object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a single wheel tractor suitable for use in ground cultivation and seeding.

According to this invention there is provided an attachment for a single wheel tractor comprising a frame carrying a chisel share and means for depositing seeds in a ground channel formed by said chisel share.

The attachment may be rigidly or pivotally linkable to the single wheel tractor to be pulled along thereby. Preferably the frame also carries a trailing wheel whose height may be adjusted to alter the depth of ground penetration by the chisel share.

The chisel share may be of any suitable shape or size to suit the soil to be cultivated. The chisel share is preferably inclined at an angle to suit the soil type and to give optimum ground penetration and heaving action. A preferred chisel share is of generally flat construction having a sharpened leading edge and may be deeper at its end than at its middle.

The means for depositing seeds is preferably a hopper on the frame having a pipe or tube leading therefrom to deposit seeds in the ground channel formed by the chisel share as the tractor moves forwards. The seeds are preferably metered into the pipe or tube by rotating means, such as a feed cog or cell or cup type feeder disc. The feed cog may be rotated by a belt or chain drive or other suitable connection to the trailing wheel or a rotating part of the tractor.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows schematically an agricultural machine for chisel ploughing and seeding.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, an agricultural machine for chisel ploughing and seeding comprises a one-wheeled tractor part 10 and an implement part 12 attached thereto for pivotting about a vertical axis. A rigid attachment is also suitable.

The one-wheeled tractor part 10 is fairly conventional having a frame 13 supporting a metal wheel 14 which has metal prongs 16 on its outer edge to provide grip, the wheel being driven by a diesel or petrol motor 18 via chain, gears or belt hidden behind guard 20.

20.

The tractor part 10 is directed by means of handles 22 which carry motor controls connected to the motor by wire or rod linkages 24. The two handles 22 diverge from their connection point to the frame 13 and are connected by lateral members. The ends of the handles have hand grips 30.

The implement part 12 comprises a main beam 40 pivotally connected at one end to the frame 13. At the other end of the beam 40 is a depending member 42 and from its other end is a member 44 that points back towards the tractor part. To the member 44 is attached a chisel share 45 at a suitable inclination for ground penetration. The chisel share 45 has a sharpened leading edge 46 and is otherwise generally flat. The chisel share 45 is deeper towards its ends forming a shallower mid-section 48. Other shapes of chisel share are known and these may be used in place of the illustrated chisel share.

The member 42 has an extension 50 which supports an adjustable height trailing wheel 52. The position of the wheel 52 may be altered in order to adjust the depth of ground penetration of the chisel share.

The main beam 40 carries a seed hopper 60 having a capacity of upto about 10 kg. The seed hopper 60 has a pipe or tube 62 leading from the base thereof through the beam 40 and the member 42. Above the pipe or tube 62 is a feed cog 64, rotation of which feeds seeds in the hopper 60 into the pipe or tube 62 and from there into a channel formed in the ground by the chisel share. The cog 64 is rotated by means of a V-belt 66 around a pulley 68 connected axially to the feed cog 64 and around a pulley 70 connected axially to the trailing wheel 52.

In operation, as the tractor is driven forwards, the chisel share forms a channel in the ground of a depth determined by the position of the trailing wheel and seeds are fed into that channel. As a chisel share is being used, the ground moved thereby is not turned over, as would happen with a mouldboard plough, but is inclined to fall back to cover the seeds, which it is encouraged to do by the trailing wheel.

The whole machine can be of fairly narrow construction and so may be suitable for cultivation between rows of tall growing plants, which would otherwise prevent such use due to the risk of damage to them say by a conventional four wheeled tractor or two wheel single axle tractor.

The illustrated machine is believed to be particularly suitable for use in dry ground conditions in small farm and especially third world situations in place of animal drawn cultivation implements.

It will be appreciated that the invention also contemplates the use of an attachment in accordance therewith with one or more animals providing the pulling power instead of motor driven tractor means.

Claims

1. An attachment for a single wheel tractor comprising a frame carrying a chisel share and means for depositing seeds in a ground channel formed by said chisel share.

2. An attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has a trailing wheel.

3. An attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheel is of adjustable knight relative to the frame.

4. An attachment as claimed in 1, 2 or 3, wherein the chisel share is inclined relative to the ground.

5. An attachment as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the chisel share is of generally flat construction having a sharpened leading edge.

6. An attachment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the chisel share is deeper at its end than at its middle.

7. An attachment as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for depositing seeds comprises a hopper with a pipe or tube outlet.

8. An attachment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hopper includes means for metering seeds into the pipe of tube.

9. An attachment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said metering is by rotating means.

10. An attachment as claimed in claim 9, wherein said rotating means is a feed cog or cell or cup type feeder disc.

11. An attachment as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the rotating means is rotated by connection to the trailing wheel.

12. An attachment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rotating means and the wheel are connected by a belt or chain drive.

13. A single wheel tractor having an attachment as claimed in any line of claims 1 to 12.

14. An attachment for a single wheel tractor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

15. A single wheel tractor and attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.