GB2272353A

GB2272353A - An agricultural machine

Info

Publication number: GB2272353A
Application number: GB9322126A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip J Wright
Original assignee: Simba International Ltd
Current assignee: Simba International Ltd
Priority date: 1992-10-30
Filing date: 1993-10-27
Publication date: 1994-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-27
Also published as: GB9322126D0; GB9222831D0; GB2272353B

Abstract

A first section 10 of the machine carries a container 19 for material e.g. seeds or fertiliser to he distributed by the machine. A ram 24 on the first section 10 is responsive to weight of the material in the container 19. Two further sections 11, 12 are pivoted on the first section 10 for movement in the vertical plane. Two second rams 16, 17 are provided on the first section 10 for applying a downward load to the further sections 11, 12. The first and second rams 24, 16, 17 are interconnected by fluid circuitry whereby variation in the weight of material in the container 19 will cause the second rams 16, 17 to apply a downward load on their respective further sections 11, 12. <IMAGE>

Description

AN AGRICULTURAL MACHINE The invention relates to an agricultural machine and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a seed drill or fertiliser applicator which includes a plurality of sections enabling the machine to follow ground contour and facilitating width reduction for transport along a highway. Such machines may typically comprise two outer sections and a central section carrying a container such as a hopper or tank.

One of the problems with existing such machines is that the weight of the material in the container is distributed only over the central section which can result in the central section applying an undesirable amount of ground pressure and running at a lower level than the outer sections leading to uneven distribution of material. An object of the present invention is to provide a machine in which that particular problem is substantially reduced.

According to the invention there is provided an agricultural machine comprising a first section, a container on the first section for material to be distributed by the machine, means on the first section responsive to weight of the material in the container, at least one further section mounted on the first section for movement in the vertical plane and second means on the first section for applying a downward load to the further section, said first and second means being operatively interconnected whereby variation in the weight of material in the container will cause the second means to apply a downward load to the further section.

A machine of the type set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph enables the weight of the material e.g. seed or fertiliser to be spread over both the first and second sections thereby avoiding the problem mentioned above.

The container may be mounted for generally vertical movement on the first section and the movement is preferably sensed by the first said means.

The container may conveniently be pivotally mounted on the first section so as to be pivotable in a vertical plane.

Preferably, the first section is located centrally between at least two said further sections. In such a case two second means may be provided on the first section for applying a downward load to both further sections, both of the second means being operatively connected to the first means so that the weight of material in the container will cause both second means to apply downward load to their respective further sections.

The first means may comprise a fluid operable actuator and the or each second means may similarly comprise a fluid operable actuator. In such a case, the actuators may take the form of hydraulic rams. The operative interconnection between the actuators may take the form of fluid circuitry.

The or each second actuator may also be arranged to apply an upward load to its further section to enable the further section to be raised for transport purposes.

The first actuator may comprise a piston and cylinder arranged such that one is connected to part of the first section and the other to the container or to a support therefor which is movable with the container.

An agricultural machine in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a perspective view of a seed drill in accordance with the invention and Fig.2 is a diagrammatic view of part of the machine shown in Fig.1 to illustrate hydraulic circuitry.

The seed drill comprises a central section 10 and two further sections in the form of outer wings 11, 12.

The wing 11 has a pair of pivot bars 13 each of which is connected to the central section 10 by a pivot 14. One of the pivot bars 13 is connected to an upstanding frame 15 on the central section 10 by means of a hydraulic ram 16 (constituting the aforesaid second means). The central section 10 and wings 11, 12 have seed distributor tubes 8 and front and rear rollers 9.

The wing 12 likewise includes pivot bars 13 which are similarly connected to pivots 14 on the central section 10, one of the pivot bars 13 being connected to the frame 15 by means of a further hydraulic ram 17. The rams 16, 17 constitute the aforesaid second actuator means.

The central section 10 is provided with a tow bar or other suitable hitch 18 by means of which it can be attached to a towing vehicle. The hitch 18 can be adjusted for height by means of a fluid operable ram 18a.

The central section 10 carries a container in the form of a hopper 19 mounted on a support 20. The hopper 19 feeds the tubes 8 and is connected to the central section 10 by means of a pivot 22 (Fig.2). The frame 15 has a mounting plate 23 thereon. A ram 24 (constituting the aforesaid first means) has its cylinder 25 pivotally connected to the plate 23 and its piston 26 pivotally connected to a mounting plate 27 on the support 20. A chamber 28 of the ram 24 to the left of the piston as shown in the drawings communicates through circuitry 21 with chambers 29, 30 between the pistons 32, 33 and the ends of the rams 16, 17 pivoted on the frame 15.

Due to the weight of seed S in the hopper, the hopper 19 will tend to move downwardly about pivot 22 thereby increasing the fluid pressure in the chamber 28, which pressure is transmitted to the chambers 29, 30 through the circuitry 21. In that way, the weight of the hopper 19 and the seed S will be transmitted to the wings 11 and 12 so that the weight is distributed over the whole machine rather than being carried solely by the central section 10.

Where it is desired to lift the wings 11, 12 for transportation, fluid is fed to inlets 16a, 17a and is exhausted through a valve 32 to allow exhausted fluid to return to a sump on the towing vehicle. A facility (not shown) may be provided to isolate the ram 24 from the remainder of the circuitry 21 when the wings are folded by the rams 16, 17 for transport.

The pressure hydraulics for the machine via lines 21a is derived from the towing vehicle which is typically an agricultural tractor.

The initial position of the hopper 19 when filled with seed S is controlled by the position of the piston 26 in ram 24, the position of the piston being determined by the pressure of fluid in the hydraulic system. As the amount of seed S decreases in the hopper 19, the load applied to the piston 26 will gradually decrease thereby decreasing the loading applied to the wings 11, 12 by the rams 16, 17.

By distributing the weight of the hopper 19 and seed S over the three sections of the vehicle, the central section 10 will remain generally level with the wings 11, 12 which will facilitate placing of the seed to a more uniform depth in the field. Even seeding depth will result in optimal emergence, crop evenness and ultimately optimal crop yield.

Where the machine is to deliver a liquid such as fertiliser, a tank can be used on the central section 10 instead of the hopper 19.

Claims

1. An agricultural machine comprising a first section, a container on the first section for material to be distributed by the machine, means on the first section responsive to weight of the material in the container, at least one further section mounted on the first section for movement in the vertical plane and second means on the first section for applying a downward load to the further section, said first and second means being operatively interconnected whereby variation in the weight of material in the container will cause the second means to apply a downward load to the further section.

2. An agricultural machine according to Claim 1 in which the container is mounted for generally vertical movement on the first section and the movement is preferably sensed by the first said means.

3. An agricultural machine according to Claim 1 or 2 in which pivotally mounted on the first section so as to be pivotable in a vertical plane.

4. An agricultural machine according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the first section is located centrally between at least two said further sections.

5. An agricultural machine according to Claim 4, in which two said second means are provided on the first section for applying a downward load to both further sections, both of the second means being operatively connected to the first means so that the weight of material in the container will cause both second means to apply downward load to their respective further sections.

6. An agricultural machine according to any preceding claim in which the first means is an actuator

7. An agricultural machine according to any preceding claim in which the second means is an actuator.

8. An agricultural machine according to Claim 6 or 7 in which the actuator is a fluid operable ram.

9. An agricultural machine according to Claim 7 in which the or each actuator forming said second means is arranged to apply an upward load to its further section to enable the further section to be raised for transport purposes.

10. An agricultural machine according to Claim 6 in which the actuator forming the first said means comprises a piston and cylinder arranged such that one is connected to part of the first section and the other to the container or to a support therefor which is movable with the container.

11. An agricultural machine constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.