GB2240245A

GB2240245A - A semi-trailer rotating plough

Info

Publication number: GB2240245A
Application number: GB9100445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wilhelm Meurs
Original assignee: Lemken GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Lemken GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1990-01-26
Filing date: 1991-01-09
Publication date: 1991-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-09
Also published as: GB2240245B; DE4031503C2; DE4031503A1; GB9100445D0; CZ285372B6; CS531790A3; FR2657494A1; SK280144B6; FR2657494B1

Abstract

A semi-trailer rotating plough (1) has a plough front carriage (6) connected with the a plough frame (2) for free pivoting about approximately vertical axis (10). The plough frame (2) is equipped with plough shares (3) which can be pivoted simultaneously by a linkage (4). A rotating device (9) is connected in an articulated manner both with the plough frame (2) and with a stabilizer (8). The stabilizer (8) guides a support wheel (7) with a pivot bearing (11) being associated with the stabilizer (8) or the support wheel (7). The bearing (11), is connected in an articulated manner, about an axis which is vertical in the working position of the plough, by a connecting arm (14) to the plough frame. The arm 14 is acted upon by a steering mechanism (16) which controls the plough shares (3), so that when the plough shares (3) are pivoted, the support wheel (7) is at the same time brought into a position so that the directions of travel of the wheel (7) and the plough shares (3) are parallel. The stabilizer (8) and wheel fork (9) for the support wheel (7) are connected together in articulated manner by a transverse axis (20). Adequate ground clearance is assured because the movement of the transverse axis (20) is limited by stop means (24) which is released when in the working position. <IMAGE>

Description

A SEMI TRAILER ROTATING PLOUGH This invention relates to a semi-trailer rotating agricultural ploughs.

From EP-A-O 266 240, a semi-trailer rotating plough is known, in which a plough frame is equipped with plough shares and is rotated over a stabilizer and a support wheel by means of a rotating device. The frame is freely pivotable about an upstanding axis on a plough front carriage. The support wheel is held, in known manner, by a stabilizer in its approximately vertical position and also by an arm linked to a pivot bearing and connected to the plough frame. The arrangement of the arm with pivot bearing has the disadvantage that, during the rotation operation, the pivot bearing may come into contact with the ground and would therefore be subjected to considerable loadings leading to eventual failure.Also, the handling and transporting c,f the known plough is made difficult with such a form of construction , especially on uneven ground and during manoeuvring An object of the present invention is to provide an improved semi-trailer rotating plough with better adjustment of the working depth, in which sufficient clearance between the plough and the ground is always present, even during the rotating operation and during transportation.

According to the present invention the wheel fork of the support wheel and the stabilizer are connected together by an articulated joint. This joint possesses a transverse axis which can be limited to ensure a predetermined clearance from the ground, but which is released in the working position of the plough.

By a connection of this type between the stabilizer and support wheel, it is ensured that, during rotation and also in the transportation position, contact with the ground cannot occur. This can be effected by the provision of a locking means for the articulated joint connecting the wheel fork and stabilizer on the transverse axis of the same.

The clearance is also ensured when the working depth of the plough has been changed, because then the locking of the transverse axis comes into effect and in particular the pivot bearing cannot come too near to the ground. It is therefore advantageous that an adjustment to the working depth may be allowed, by which a very wide variety of adjustment possibilities is available, without there being any risk that parts of the plough can touch the ground during the rotating operation.

According to the invention there is provided a semi-trailer rotating plough, comprising a plough frame pivotable about an upstanding axis in relation to a plough front carriage, plough shares mounted on the plough frame, a rotating device for turning the frame, a support wheel mounted on a stabilizer, with which a pivot bearing is associated either directly or via the stabilizer, and an arm connected with the plough frame and attached to the pivot bearing, wherein the support wheel has a wheel fork connected to the stabilizer by an articulated joint, which possesses a transverse axis which can be limited to ensure a predetermined clearance from the ground, but is released in the working position.

When the plough frame is rotated over the stabilizer , a favourable movement sequence is obtained, in that the stabilizer and the wheel fork for the support wheel are connected together by a universal joint, which possesses a stop means limiting its movement. As a consequence, assurance is provided that the pivot bearing cannot descend too far and then, for example during transportation or in the region of the half-rotated position, touch the ground and thereby be at risk of damage. Movement is limited by the stop which ensures adequate ground clearance. The working depth may be adjusted by means of an hydraulic piston and cylinder unit with a lost-motion-mechanism within the range allowed by the stop means.

One especially simple form of construction of the universal joint is achieved by it being constituted of a joint having two axes. One axis is the transverse axis disposed in the region of the pivot bearing, the freedom of movement of which is limited by the stop means. The other axis is that provided by the joint disposed on the stabilizer and in front the support wheel. The movement limiter may favourably be realised on the transverse axis, because it is here that the components which set the working depth, i.e.

the hydraulic unit become effective.

The stop means is, in a preferred design,formed of a limit stop associated with the stabilizer and of at least one movement limiter associated with the wheel fork. The movement limiter may, for example, be formed of an elongate hole of curved shape, the semi-circular ends of which more or less define the zone against which the limit stop, such as a pin, comes into contact, when, during rotation and transportation, the pivot bearing has been lowered beyond the predetermined limit. The movement limiter may, however, be formed of simply projecting bars or the like, because then the risk of clogging is avoided. The movement limiter would therefore always remain effective.

Another possible way of constructing the stop is that in which it is formed from a dumb-bell-shaped bar and eyes associated with the stabilizer and wheel fork respectively.

The dumb-bell-shaped bar can, in the working position, slide freely to and fro in the eyes.

The working depth may be set by means of the hydraulic unit mentioned earlier if the transverse axis extends approximately horizontally and the approximately vertical axis is disposed at a distance in front of same. This vertical axis is associated with the stabilizer.

The plough frame can, if needed, be extended or varied in its number of furrows because, according to another feature of the invention, the support wheel is disposed laterally to the plough frame. The extensions to be fitted to the plough frame are therefore not impeded by the support wheel.

The invention provides that when the setting of the working width is varied, the support wheel is maintained in favourable working and transportation positions that it is close to the plough frame. Additionally, when the working depth is being established the invention provides an easily handled plough. This is accomplished by the arm and the pivot bearing being articulated pivotally to the plough frame about an axis which, in the working position of the plough, is associated vertically with the plough frame.

This arm is connected to a steering mechanism, which influences the plough shares pivotably mounted on the plough frame. As a result of the special connection of the arm, which carries the pivot bearing, to the plough frame, is the support wheel is always guided close to the plough frame and remains there independently of the particular setting of the working width and depth. On account of this optimum guidance of the support wheel, the forces that act during rotation of the plough frame and also the tilting moments acting on the tractor are minimized. In this way a generally synchronous, optimally adjusted semi-trailer rotating plough, which can also be lengthened without problem and having a variable setting of the working width is obtained.

A favourable guidance of the support wheel is assured if, the axis of the arm is at approximately the same distance, in the working direction of the plough, from the plough front carriage as is the ground contact area of the support wheel. This means, therefore, that the axis of the support wheel and the axis connecting together the arm and plough frame are in approximately the same position in respect to the plough frame. This can be achieved by having the arm connecting the plough frame, to the support wheel and stabilizer arc-shaped. A particular embodiment has, the axis of the pivot joint linking the plough frame to the stabilizer arm, in the working direction of the plough, disposed behind the ground contact area of the support wheel, preferably at the same position as the rear edge of the wheel.

A favourable introduction of the pulling forces through the stabilizer onto the plough frame may be assured by the transverse axis being disposed below the pivot bearing. In this way the stabilizer is articulated to the wheel fork of the support wheel by the transverse axis lying in the working position.

The position of the pivot bearing and hence the working depth of the plough can be varied, by making the support wheel adjustable with the hydraulic piston and cylinder unit mentioned previously. The hydraulic unit is preferably provided with a lost-motion-mechanism which becomes effective when the stop means becomes effective during the rotation operation, to maintain the ground clearance between pivot bearing and the ground.

A simple adaptation of the front furrow width is made possible by the stabilizer being constructed so that its length may be varied. The freedom of movement of the stabilizer necessary for this purpose is assured because it is connected by articulated joints having approximately vertical axes with both the plough front carriage and the support wheel.

The setting of the width of the front furrow is, as already mentioned above, made possible by the variability in length of the stabilizer. A variation in the angle of the plough shares is made possible by the plough frame being connected in an articulated fashion to a rotating part of the rotation device, directly or indirectly by an axis that is approximately vertical in the working position. At the same time, the rotating device is connected freely pivotally to the stabilizer about a horizontal axis disposed transversely to the stabilizer. The changes produced by the change in the length of the stabilizer are thus transmitted via the rotating device to the plough frame, and cause the change of adjustment of the front furrow width. Changes to the furrow width are therefore easily accomplished.

Further details and advantages of the of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the associated drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention together with the necessary details and individual parts are illustrated. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a lateral view of a semi-trailer rotating plough constructed in accordance with the invention in the half rotated position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plough when in the working position; Fig. 3 is a lateral view of the support wheel and components necessary for setting the working depth, on a somewhat larger scale, and Fig. 4 is a lateral view of the support wheel in the half rotated position with a different form of construction of the stop.

In Fig 1, a plough 1 constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in lateral elevation and the half-rotated position. The plough 1 has a frame 2 and on the plough frame 2, several plough share bodies 3 are mounted. The shares 3 are connected together by a linkage 4 in such a manner that the working width of each can be varied with the aid of a steering mechanism 16.

A device 5, for rotating or turning the plough frame 2, is situated at a distance from the actual plough front carriage 6 on a stabilizer 8 which guides a support wheel 7.

The stabilizer 8 and the support wheel 7 are connected together by a wheel fork 9, of which further details will follow below. The stabilizer 8 is connected with a coupling 38 to an extension, which at the same time constitutes the connection with the plough front carriage 6.

The stabilizer 8 and its extension are connected to a shackle coupled to the carriage 6 with an upstanding pivot axis 10 and the shackle can pivot about a horizontal axis 41. The shackle provides a universal joint and in this way the plough frame 2 is connected freely pivotally with the carriage 6.

The end of the stabilizer 8 which holds the support wheel 7, is coupled with a pivot bearing 11, to an arm 14 pivotably connected with the plough frame 2 for movement about a transverse axis 15. Thus, when the steering mechanism 16 is displaced for adjusting the working width of the individual plough shares 3, the support wheel 7 and the front furrow width are simultaneously adjusted. The steering mechanism 16 acts as near as possible to a pulling point 17, ie to the connecting point between the wheel fork 9 and the stabilizer 8.

The stabilizer 8 and the fork 9 for the support wheel 7 are connected together by a pivot joint with a transverse axis 20 in the region of the pulling point 17. The stabilizer 8 has another coupling 39 with an upstanding pivot axis associated with the support wheel 7. This coupling 39 constitutes, together with the transverse axis 20, a universal joint, by which the support wheel 7 can be pivoted each time into the optimum position. The support wheel 7 can be adjusted about the transverse axis 20 with the aid of a lever arm 21 and an hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 22.

The unit 22 is attached at one end to the pivot bearing 11 and the stabilizer 8, and at the other end to the lever arm 21, with a lost-motion joint 23 which becomes effective when a stop means 24 is in abutment or becomes active.

It has already been mentioned earlier that the stabilizer 8 and the support wheel 7 or wheel fork 9 are connected together by the transverse axis 20, in order to make possible an adjustment of the support wheel 7 and thus of the working depth of the plough 1. This setting, or the pivoting of the wheel fork 9 about the transverse axis 20, is limited by the stop means 24, so that excessive descent of the pivot bearing 11 is prevented, both during the rotating operation and also in the transportation position.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 1, the stop means 24 is constituted by a limit stop pin 25, associated with the stabilizer 8 engaging an elongate hole 26, associated with the lever arm 21. The elongate hole 26 is of curved form. The setting shown in Fig. 1 represents the limit which ensures ground clearance, which prevents the pivot bearing 11 from descending any further. By actuating the hydraulic unit 22, the wheel fork 9 can be pivoted and thus the working depth of the plough 1 can be changed.

The setting of adjustment of the working width of the individual plough shares 3 is carried out by means of the steering mechanism 16. This steering mechanism 16 is provided with an actuator 29 in the form of a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit, which is equipped with hydraulic connections 30, 30', so that is can be operated from the tractor. The actuator 29 is attached to the plough frame 2 with an adjusting rod 31, which is pivotal about an axis associated with the plough frame 2 and acts upon a transmission rod 32 to displace the linkage 4. As the linkage 4 is displaced, longitudinally of the plough frame 2, a corresponding adjustment of the individual plough shares 3 takes place. The adjusting rod 31 is also connected by a connecting rod 33 with the arm 14, so that with the pivoting of the adjusting rod 31, the arm 14 is likewise displaced. Since the arm 14, together with the pivot bearing 11 can be pivoted about the axis 15, a corresponding adjustment of the support wheel 7 takes place.

The support wheel 7 is then situated, parallel to the plough shares 3 and is at the same time guided close to the plough frame 2, as shown especially by Fig. 2.

The rotating device 5 constitutes a connection between the plough frame 2 and the stabilizer 8 and by the actuation of the hydraulic piston and cylinder units of the rotating device 5, a rotation of the plough frame 2 and the pivot bearing 11 takes place about a rotation axis 34.

The rotating device 5 is connected with the plough frame 2 by a pivot joint 35 and with the stabilizer 8 by a pivot joint 36. The axis 37 of the joint 36 extends horizontally and transversely to the stabilizer 8. This particular form of construction of the rotation device 5 is advantageous.

Figures 1 depicts that the distance from the axis 15 to the plough front carriage 6 and from a ground contact area 40 of the support wheel 7 to the plough front carriage 6, are both equal. According to Fig. 2, however, the axis (15) lies further behind. as a consequence, an optimum position of the support wheel 7 for all working widths of the plough bodies is maintained.

For setting or adjusting the front furrow width by extending the length of the stabilizer 8, the form of construction shown in Fig. 1 is used. The stabilizer 8 possesses, a slide-in component 42 and a tube-43 which are connected to each other by an actuator 44. By actuation of the actuator 44, the tube 43 is thus displaced to a greater or lesser extent over the slide-in component 42. The position of the plough frame 2 and of the rotation device 5 relative to the stabilizer 8 then changes due to their articulated connection with one another.

Fig. 2 is a plan view on the plough 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 and illustrates the parallel position of the support wheel 7 relative to the plough shares 3. For this purpose, the wheel 7 is correspondingly pivoted about the axis 15 Fig. 2 also shows that the axis 15 of the arm 14 is in close proximity to the ground contact area 40 of the support wheel 7.

Fig. 2 also shows that the substantially vertical plough front carriage axle axis 10 and the substantially horizontal axis 41, provide a universal pivotal connection between the plough front carriage 6 and the plough frame 2.

Figures 3 and 4 show a larger representation of the connecting zone between plough frame 2 and support wheel 7 with the stabilizer 8. The arrangement of the pivot bearing 11 and its articulated connection to the plough frame 2 by the arm 14 and the vertical axis 15 are also shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Fig. 3 shows a portion of the plough 1 situated in the working position. Here it is clearly evident that the pivot bearing 11 lies parallel to the plough frame 2, and that the stop means 24 is disengaged in the working position. The lost-motion joint 23 on the unit 22, connected to the lever arm 21, and in the region of the pivot bearing 11 of the stabilizer 8 is situated at its lower limiting position and the stop means 24 is not in abutment.

Fig. 4 in contrast, shows the plough 1 and the stabilizer 8 and support wheel 7 in the half-rotated position, which corresponds to the transportation position. Here the lever arm 21 is situated between the limits defined by the joint 23, whereas the stop means 24 is at one limit of movement.

Figure 4 depicts a different embodiment of the stop means 24 compared to that illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein a dumb-bellshaped bar 45 is slideably mounted in eyes 46, 47 associated respectively with the stabilizer 8 and wheel fork 9.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the facility for varying the position of the support wheel 7 and the wheel fork 9 by activating the unit 22. The bar 45 has in Figure 4, been adjusted so as to be firmly seated in the eyes 46, 47 and the fork 9 has been pivoted about the axis 20 without permitting an excessive descent of the pivot bearing 11 which might otherwise strike the ground.

The invention is distinguished especially in that a semitrailer plough having a simple construction is created, in which, even when the working depth is being varied, easy handling is always assured. Contact with the ground by the plough especially by the pivot bearing is prevented because the movement of the corresponding articulated joint or transverse axis is limited accordingly by the stop means but normal functioning of the plough is not adversely affected.

Claims

1. A semi-trailer rotating plough, comprising a plough frame pivotable about an upstanding axis in relation to a plough front carriage, plough shares mounted on the plough frame, a rotating device for turning the frame, a support wheel mounted on a stabilizer, with which a pivot bearing is associated either directly or via the stabilizer, and an arm connected with the plough frame and attached to the pivot bearing, wherein the support wheel has a wheel fork connected to the stabilizer, by an articulated joint, which possesses a transverse axis, which can be limited to ensure a predetermined clearance from the ground, but is released in the working position.

2. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to claim 1, wherein the stabilizer and the wheel fork of the support wheel are connected together by a universal joint which possesses stop means for limiting its degree of freedom.

3. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to claim 2, wherein the universal joint defines the transverse axis disposed in the region of the pivot bearing and the freedom of movement of the axis is limited by the stop means.

4. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the stop means is formed of a limit stop associated with the stabilizer, and of at least one movement limiter, associated with the wheel fork.

5. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to Claim 2 characterized in that the stop means is formed of a dumbbell-shaped bar fitting within eyes.

6. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the transverse axis is disposed approximately horizontally and the joint defines another axis at some a distance from the transverse axis which is approximately vertical.

7. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the support wheel is disposed laterally of the plough frame.

8. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the arm with the pivot bearing is articulated to the plough frame for pivotal movement about an axis, which in the working position of the plough is substantially vertical, and the arm is connected to a steering mechanism, which serves to adjust the plough shares.

9. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to Claim 8 wherein the axis of the arm is at substantially the same distance from the plough front carriage considered in the working direction of the plough, as the ground contact area of the support wheel.

10. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to Claim 8 wherein the axis of the arm is disposed, in the working direction of the plough, behind the ground contact area of the support wheel.

11. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the transverse axis of the joint is disposed below the pivot bearing.

12. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the support wheel is adjustable to vary the working depth by means of an hydraulic piston and cylinder unit.

13. A semi-railer rotating plough according to Claim 12, wherein the hydraulic unit is actuated via a lever arm with a lost-motion-mechanism.

14. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the stabilizer is constructed so that its length may be varied.

15. A semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of Claims 1 to 14 wherein the rotating device is connected freely with the stabilizer for pivoting about an axis disposed horizontally and transversely to the stabilizer and the axis of rotation of the device is disposed above the stabilizer and extends horizontally transversely to the axis of pivoting of the device.

16. Semi-trailer rotating plough according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the plough frame is connected in an articulated manner with a rotating part of the rotation device, indirectly or directly via an axis which is approximately vertical in the working position of the plough.

17. A semi-trailer rotating plough substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.