GB2223654A - Forming dams between the ridges of row crops - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for forming dams between the ridges of row crops comprises a rotating member 11 arranged to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the ground surface and substantially perpendicular to the intended direction of travel of the frame, and including at least two ground engaging paddles 15, the frame also having mounted upon it a retractable stop 17 capable of being retracted to allow free rotation of the rotating member such that one of the ground engaging paddles extends downwardly to engage the ground, the frame having mounted upon it stop driving and controlling means arranged to retract and release the stop for predetermined regular periods so that with the stop retracted the ground engaging paddles of the rotating member rotate along the ground without substantially disturbing the ground surface, but with the stop released the ground engaging paddle in contact with the ground is dragged along the ground to form a dam. A method of forming dams is also claimed. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING DAMS Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming dams between the ridges of a row crop planted field.

If a field is planted with row crops where the crops are planted in ridges with furrows lying between them, on sloping land the loss from 25 millimetres of irrigation can be up to twenty five to thirty percent. Even a minor slope on the field can cause an appreciable run off of water which not only loses the water but contributes to soil erosion and often leaches the soil. One method of helping to reduce this is to form alternate depressions and hummocks within the furrows to heln in reduce any such run off. Apparatus has been developed which includes a rotating member which is ground driven and rolls across the ground as it is pulled behind a tractor to cause alternate depressions and ridges to form.This method is effective in manv parts of the USA where the soil is friable but in the UK where there is a lot of stoney ground the operation is uneven and unsatisfactory.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for forming dams comprising a frame which in use is driven over a surface requiring dams to be formed, and rotatably mounted with respect to the frame a rotating member arranged to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the ground surface and substantially perpendicular to the intended direction of travel of the frame, where the rotating member includes at least two ground engaging paddles, the frame also having mounted upon it a retractable stop capable of being retracted to allow free rotation of the rotating member or being in its second fixed position to lock the rotating member such that one of the ground engaging paddles extends downwardly to engage the ground, the frame having mounted upon it stop driving and controlling means arranged to retract and release the stop for predetermined regular periods so that with the stop retracted the ground engaging paddles of the rotating member rotate along the ground without substantially disturbing the ground surface, but with the stop released the ground engaging paddle in contact with the ground is dragged along the ground to form a dam such that a series of substantially parallel spaced-apart dams are formed.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for forming dams within a field comprising the steps of providing a frame having rotatably mounted upon it a rotating member including at least ground engaging paddles, driving the frame across the surface requiring dams to be formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of dams required such that the axis of rotation of the rotating member is substantially parallel to the ground surface and substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the frame, allowing the rotating member to freely rotate in the areas where no dam is required and fixing the position of a rotating member with one paddle engaged in the ground wherever a dam needs to be formed where the dam is formed both by the paddle being dragged along the ground by the frame.

The frame may form part of the chassis of a purpose built vehicle but preferably the frame is arranged to be coupled to the back of a standard tractor so that it can be used as one of the many attachments for .known agricultural vehicles.

Since the preferred use for the apparatus is for row planted crops preferably the frame has mounted upon it a series of rotating members each rotating about co-linear axes. In this case preferably the frame includes means to vary the spacing between the rotating members to allow for differently spaced planted crops.

The apparatus is of particular use for potato crops but can equally be used on other row crops such as vegetables and sugar beet.

Preferably the power and control for the retractable stop is provided by a hydraulic motor which is coupled to the hydraulics of the tractor with which the attachment can be used. In this case preferably the hydraulic motor rotates a shaft which is coupled via a cam to the stop so that after a fixed rotation of the shaft the stop is caused to retract and then subsequently be released to return to its locked position. Preferably universal joints couple the driving members for each of the rotating members. Preferably the shaft is coupled via universal joints to allow the position of the rotating members to be varied with respect to the ground. Preferably also the shafts are telescopic where the spacing of the rotating members is to be varied.

Typically each rotating member includes four paddles. The number of paddles used on each rotating member and the speed of rotation of the motor can be adjusted to adjust the distance between the dams. The ideal distance between the dams depends on the soil, cropping and water system used. It has been found that on sand-land soils a dam spacing of one metre is satisfactory.

Preferably the apparatus is arranged so that any one of the rotating members can be lifted out of contact with the ground if for any reason one particular furrow is to be kept clear of dams.

Typically the distance between two ridges is 36 inches (91.44 centimetres) and in this case each paddle has a cross-section so that a dam of appropriate width can be formed.

In cases where the crops are planted in more closely spaced rows the shape of a paddle can more conveniently be narrower to fit between the ridges. Preferably the apparatus is arranged such that it can be folded after use for easy transport behind a tractor.

Brief Description of the Drawings Method and apparatus for forming dams between the ridges of a row crop planted field will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in its 'in use' position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing two of the rotating members out of use; Figure 3 is a side view of a rotating member in its 'ridge forming' position; Figure 4 is a view from the other side of the rotating member shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rotating member with the stop retracted; Figure 6 is a second view of the rotating member with the stop retracted; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the dams formed within the field;; Figure 8 is a section through two ridges showing the position of a dam formed on the field; and, Figure 9 is a schematic view of the control mechanism of the retractable stop.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The apparatus illustrated comprises an attachment 1 for linking to a standard tractor 3 to drive the attachment 1 across a field.

The tractor can for example be a 65 horsepower tractor. This will give the power required. The attachment 1 comprises a main frame 5 including means not shown to couple the frame in a fixed position behind the tractor. Mounted on the main frame is a hyraulic motor 7 which is coupled via cables to the hydraulics of the tractor 3 so that no external power source is required. The main frame 5 has mounted upon it four subframes 9 each of which has rotatably mounted upon it a rotating member 11. Each rotating member is mounted to rotate about an axis 13 which is substantially parallel to the ground and substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the tractor 3 and attachment 1. Each rotating member 11 includes four ground engaging paddles 15 which project outwardly from the axis and which have a width here of twelve to fifteen inches. This width is suitable to fit between the ridges of a typical potato crop.

Each sub-frame 9 has mounted upon it a retractable stop 17.

The stop 17 comprises a bar pivotally mounted to a linkage member 19 at one end and passing through a guide collar 21 with a paddle engaging stop 23 at its opposite end. The arrangement is such that when the stop is in its 'released' position as shown in Figure 3 the paddle engaging stop 23 engages a paddle 15 such that the paddle at 90 to it engage the ground.

In this position as the tractor 3 traverses the ground the paddle is dragged along the ground to form a ridge or dam. When the dam has been formed the stop 17 is retracted to its position shown in Figures 5 and 6 so that the paddle can then clear the paddle engaging stop 23 and as the tractor moves along the rotating member freely rotates without disturbing the ground surface. When the next ridge is to be formed the stop is released.

The hydraulic motor 7 rotates a shaft which incorporates a cam which after a given rotation causes movement in a downwards direction of link rod 25. Mounted around link rod 25 is spring 26 which means that once the cam releases the link rod 25 it returns to its uppermost position. The link rod 25 in its downward movement causes the stop to be retracted.

The hydraulic motor 7 is coupled to the non-adjacent frame by. shafts 27 which are coupled to each sub-frame by universal joints 29. The shafts 27 are telescopic so that the distance between the adjacent frames can be varied. Because of the universal joints 29 the ride heights of the rotating members 11 can be varied without breaking the contact with the hydraulic motor 7. In some cases the apparatus will be used as shown in Figure 1 where four sets of dams are to be formed.

In other cases the two centre furrows will not require dams to be formed and the apparatus will be used as shown in Figure 2.

The apparatus is used in fields where row crops are planted such as potatoes, vegetables and sugar beet which are planted in ridges 31 as shown in Figure 7. In order to prevent soil run off when water passes down the furrow 33 a set of dams 35 are introduced into each furrow at evenly spaced intervals.

Typically the distance between two adjacent dams will be one metre. The height of the dam 35 will typically be less than the height of the ridge as shown in Figure 8. Typically the height of the ridge formed will be 72 millimetres.

The shape of the paddle is such that the dam formed has a base width of twelve inches (30.48cm) and a top width of fifteen inches (38.lcm). Where the ridges are more closely spaced the width of the paddle and dam will vary from nine to twelve inches (22.86cm to 30.48cm).

Figure 9 illustrates the mechanism for controlling the retractable stop in more detail. The hydraulic motor rotates shaft 37 slowly.

Mounted on shaft 37 is projection 39 on which roller 41 is mounted. As the shaft 37 rotates the roller 41 comes into contact with striking plate 43 mounted on link rod 25. Link rod 25 is thus lifted and thus mount 45 also moves in an upwards direction. This causes rotation of shaft 47 in direction of arrow 49 which causes similar rotation of link member 19. This is pivotally mounted to retractable stop 17 and causes retraction of the stop 17.

Once the shaft 37 has rotated so that roller 41 is in longer in contact with striking plate 43 the spring 26 which bears against mount 45 and bar 51 urges the link rod 25 to move downwards to the stop release position.

Claims (2)

1. Apparatus for forming dams comprising a frame which in use is driven over a surface requiring dams to be formed, and rotatably mounted with respect to the frame a rotating member arranged to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the ground surface and substantially perpendicular to the intended direction of travel of the frame, where the rotating member includes at least two ground engaging paddles, the frame also having mounted upon it a retractable stop capable of being retracted to allow free rotation of the rotating member or being in its second fixed position to lock the rotating member such that one of the ground engaging paddles extends downwardly to engage the ground, the frame having mounted upon it stop driving and controlling means arranged to retract and release the stop for predetermined regular periods so that with the stop retracted the ground engaging paddles of the rotating member rotate along the ground without substantially disturbing the ground surface, but with the stop released the ground engaging paddle in contact with the ground is dragged along the ground to form a dam such that a series of substantially parallel spaced-apart dams are formed.

2. A method for forming dams within a field comprising the steps of providing a frame having rotatably mounted upon it a rotating member including at least ground engaging paddles; driving the frame across the surface requiring dams to be formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of dams required such that the axis of rotation of the rotating member is substantially parallel to the ground surface and substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the frame; allowing the rotating member to freely rotate in the areas where no dam is required and fixing the position of a rotating member with one paddle engaged in the ground wherever a dam needs to be formed where the dam is formed both by the paddle being dragged along the ground by the frame.