GB2230411A

GB2230411A - Plough with adjustable shares

Info

Publication number: GB2230411A
Application number: GB9006975A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Magne Skjaeveland
Original assignee: Kverneland AS; Kverneland Klepp AS
Current assignee: Kverneland AS; Kverneland Klepp AS
Priority date: 1989-04-07
Filing date: 1990-03-28
Publication date: 1990-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-28
Also published as: NO166561B; ES2027838A6; SE9000969L; IT1239468B; IT9019967A1; AT398017B; NO891461L; SE470173B; GB2230411B; NO891461D0; GB9006975D0; DE4011109A1; NO166561C; FR2645395A1; IT9019967A0; FR2645395B1; DE4011109C2; SE9000969D0; ATA81290A

Description

1 PLOUGH WITH ADJUSTABLE SHARES This invention relates to a multi-share

plough comprising a plough frame, and a plurality of plough bodies mounted on the frame for movement between a number of different positions in order to vary the ploughing width defined between adjacent plough bodies.

In multi-share ploughs which can be set for several different ploughing widths, this is accomplished by altering the angle of the plough bodies in relation to the plough frame, whereafter the plough frame during ploughing automatically adjusts itself in correct angle in relation to the ploughing direction because of the pressure of the soil against the plough bodies. Nevertheless, it is necessary to lock the plough frame at this angle, and this may easily be done by means of e.g. a turnbuckle or hydraulic cylinder acting between the plough frame and a carrier piece to which the plough frame is pivotally attached.

In known ploughs which are adjustable in fixed steps, a connecting piece, herein designated yoke carrier, which attaches each single plough body to the plough frame, is fixed in desired position with a screw bolt passing through the yoke carrier and the plough frame. For each desired position a separate set of holes is provided for the screw bolt in the yoke carrier and 1 or the plough frame.

When the plough is to be set for altered ploughing width, the screw bolt must be pulled entirely out of the yoke carrier and the plough frame; then the plough.body must be adjusted into the desired position in relation to the plough frame, nd thereafter the screw bolt must be fitted in through a corresponding set of holes and tightened.

This is cumbersome, and a lot of work is involved. The screw bolt may stick and thereby is difficult to demount. It is often difficult to get the holes in 2 alignment after the adjustment, so that it becomes very difficult to fit the screw bolt through the holes again. In order to achieve this, two persons should be present.

The invention therefore seeks to provide a multi-share plough having improved means to facilitate the adjustment of the plough bodies.

According to the invention there is provided a multishare plough comprising a plough frame, a plurality of plough bodies mounted on the frame for movement between a number of different positions in order to vary the ploughing width defined between adjacent plough bodies, in which each plough body mounting comprises:

a first pivot connected to the frame and defining a first upright axis about which the plough body is adjustable; an eccentric adjuster which is pivotable between a number of different angular positions in order to define a corresponding number of adjusted positions of the plough body; a second pivot connected to the frame and defining a second upright axis about which the ec.centric adjuster is pivotable;.and, a socket provided on the plough body, or a plough body carrier connected to the plough body, and arranged to receieve the eccentric adjuster and to hold it captive against rotation in any of its positions of adjustment.

Preferably, the eccentric adjuster is formed by a multi-sided plate, and the socket may therefore be 'shaped so as to be engageable with at least some of the edges of the plate.

In a preferred arrangement, the adjuster plate is four sided, and the socket is formed by a pair of opposed locating formations to engage opposed edges of the plate.

Preferably, each plough body is connected to the plough frame via a Ushaped plough body carrier arranged with its side limbs embracing the frame therebetween. The 1 1 1 j 3 second pivot is conveniently formed by a threaded fastener which is taken through a hole in the plough frame and through slots formed in the limbs of the carrier, which thereby permit angular adjustment of the plough body about the first pivot with a sliding movement of the fastener taking place along these slots.

A pair of adjuster'plates may be provided to form the eccentric adjuster, with one being located above the upper limb of the carrier and the other being located below the' lower limb of the carrier.

One embodiment of multi-share plough according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the multi-share plough, showing the plough bodies adjusted to the smallest but one ploughing width between adjacent plough bodies; Figure 2 is a detailed view, to an enlarged scale, showing the mounting of a plough body on the plough frame and in the smallest ploughing width adjustment position; Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing adjustment of the plough body to the largest ploughing width; and, Figure 4 is a detailed view of a plough body carrier yoke for attaching a plough body to the plough frame.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes plough bodies attached to a plough frame 2 by means of a connecting piece or yoke carrier 3. The yoke carrier 3 is substantially U-shaped and surrounds the plou-gh frame 2, with one U-leg above and one U-leg beneath the plough frame 2. The yoke carrier 3 is attached to the plough frame 2 with a fixing screw 4 passing through the two Ulegs of the yoke carrier and through the plough frame, and thereby forming first pivot. The yoke carrier 3 is kept in correct position in relation to the plough frame 2 by means of an eccentric adjuster in the form of two square 4 adjusting plates 5. one above and one beneath the yoke holder. In the yoke carrier 3. both on the top side and the bottom side, two ridges 6 and 7 are formed, the mutual spacing of which corresponding to the width of the adjusting plates 5, so as to form receiving sockets for the plates. An eccentric adjuster in the form of an adjusting plate 5 is positioned between the ridges 6 and 7 both above and beneath the yoke carrier 3. a fixing screw (forming a second pivot) 8 being passed through a hole in the upper adjusting plate and a corresponding hole in the lower adjusting plate 5 and through a groove 9 in the upper U-leg and a corresponding groove 9 in the lower U-leg of the yoke carrier 3 and through a hole straight through the plough frame 2. The hole in the adjusting plates 5 is displaced in relation to the centre of the adjysting plate 5, so that the adjusting plates 5 can be positioned in four different positions in relation to the yoke carrier 3 by rotating them 900 each time, so that one of the four edges 10, 11, 12 or 14 of the adjusting plates 5 comes to rest against the ridges 7 on the yoke carrier 3. As the distance x between the centre of the hole of the adjusting plate 5 and the ridge 7 on the yoke holder 3 will be different in the four different positions of the adjusting plate 5, the yoke carrier 3 and thereby the plough body 1 will have to rotate about the fixing screw 4 in order for the adjusting plate 5 to fit in between the two ridges 6 and 7 in the different positions of the adjusting plate. The plough body 1 will thereby alter its angle in relation to the plough frame 2.

In the embodiment, the adjusting plates 5 are-square, and the device is otherwise shaped so that the four different positions of the adjusting plates 5 respectively correspond to 12", 14", 16" and W ploughing width. This is marked through numbers 14 on the adjusting plates 5. It will be appreciated that a device having e.g. hexagonal adjusting plates 5 would give six different ploughing widths.

k i 1 1 111 When the ploughing width of the plough is to be altered, this is accomplished by altering the angle of all plough bodies 1 in relation to the plough frame 2 equally. Besides, a tie rod 15 between the plough frame 2 and a supporting piece 16 to which the plough frame is pivotally attached, must be adjusted.

The angle of a plough body 1 in relation to the plough frame 2 is altered through loosening the fixing screw 8 so much that the adjusting plates 5 may be rotated about the fixing screw 8 above the ridges 6 and 7 into a new pition. The yoke carrier 3 together with the plough body osi 1 is rotated about the fixing screw 4 until the upper adjusting plate 5 falls into place in desired position between the ridges 6 and 7. Thereafter, the fixing screw 8 is tightened once more, simultaneously as care is taken to secure that also the lower adjusting plate 5 is located in correct position between the ridges 6 and 7 on the bottom side of the yoke carrier 3.

One essential feature of the embodiment of the invention comprises the provision of at least one eccentric adjuster (adjusting plate 5) for each plough body, and that a socket (ridges 6 and 7) is provided in which the adjuster fits. Moreover, only one hole is provided for the fixing screw 8 through the plough frame 2 and only one groove through the yoke carrier 3; this being contrary to known arrangements of this kind wherein several holes are provided through the plough frame and several holes through the yoke carrier, and wherein the fixing screw 8 must be pulled entirely out and thereafter put into other holes when the ploughing width is to be altered.

Also other disadvantages in known devices described in the introduction are eliminated through the device according to the invention. In the device according to the invention, the ploughing width of the plough can be altered quite easily and without problems by one person only.

It will be appreciated that the ridges 6 and 7 between i i 6 which the adjusting plate 5 is to fit, could be replaced by a cavity formed in the plough body 1 or a part 3 connected to the plough body.

1 1 1 i i i i i 7 i x i I i i I 1 1 i 1 1 1 i 1 7

Claims

1. A multishare plough comprising a plough frame, plurality of plough bodies mounted on the frame for movement between a number of different positions in order to vary the ploughing width defined between adjacent plough bodies, in which each plough body mounting comprises:

a first pivot connected to the frame and defining a first upright axis about which the plough body is adjustable; an eccentric adjuster which is pivotable between a number of different angular positions in order to define a corresponding number of adjusted positions of the plough body; a second pivot connected to the frame and defining a second upright axis about which the eccentric adjuster is pivotable; and, a socket provided on the plough body, or a plough body carrier connected to the plough body, and arranged to receieve the eccentric adjuster and to hold it captive against rotation in any of its positions of adjustment.

2. A plough according to Claim 1, in which the eccentric adjuster comprises a multi-sided plate.

3. A plough according to Claim 2, in which the socket is shaped so as to be engageable with at least some of the edges of the plate.

4. A plough according to Claim 3, in which the plate is four sided, and the socket is formed by a pair of opposed locating formations to engage opposed edges of the plate.

5. A plough according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each plough body is connected to the frame via a U-shaped plough body carrier arranged with its side limbs embracing the frame therebetween.

6. A plough according to Claim 5, in which the second pivot comprises a threaded fastener taken through a hole in I i i i 8 i 1 the frame and through slots formed in both limbs of the carrier.

7. A plough according to Claim 6, in which a pair of adjuster plates are provided to form the eccentric adjuster, one being located above the upper limbs of the carrier and the other being located below the lower limb of I i I I i i 1 i 1 i the carrier.

8. A plough according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to. and as shown in. the accompanying drawings.

1 i i 1 Published 1990 at 72ie Patent 0Mce. State Howe.66M High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. PurLher copies be obedtrom The Patentotrice "es Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpington. Kent BM S&D. PrIntad by MulUpex twlxffiques ltd. St Maiy Cray. Kent, Con. 1187 1