GB2301013A - Furrow press roller - Google Patents

Abstract

A light-weight furrow press (10) for use in agriculture is composed of a series of spaced apart ring-like tools (12) carried on a shaft for rotation together. Each tool (12) has a hub (14) mounted on the shaft, a series of hollow radial vanes or spokes (15) and a hollow circumferential portion (16). The portion (16) is shaped to possess an enlarged and bulbous region (17) nearest the vanes (15) and a tapered v-shaped region (19) extending from the enlarged region (17) radially outwardly to form a cutting rim (20) for penetrating the soil.

Description

TOOLS AND TOOL ARRANGEMENTS FOR USE IN AGRICULTURE The present invention relates in general to ploughs and cultivators for use in agriculture and more particularly to tools and tool arrangements designed for such agricultural usage.

Following the harvest of a crop it is necessary to cultivate the soil prior to planting the next crop. Typical cultivation operations are ploughing, harrowing and sub-soiling. Following such primary cultivation, it is often beneficial to roll the soil surface in a secondary operation further to cultivate the soil to break down lumps or clods of soil and to level the surface.

Where the primary cultivation has left a significantly uneven surface, which is most typical following a deep cultivation operation, such as ploughing, it is common practice to use a rolling unit, such as a heavy roll or a furrow-press for the secondary operation.

In order to enable these rolling units to penetrate sufficiently into the soil surface they must be heavy relative to their contact area. This can be termed high ground pressure. It is thus common practice to construct these rolling units from solid cast iron or steel wheel elements which provides both a heavy weight combined with a strong construction.

This heaviness is disadvantageous when transporting the unit when not in operation. It can also be disadvantage in certain soil/moisture conditions when the high ground-pressure can cause the unit to penetrate too deeply into the soil surface causing excessive draft due to the increased rolling-resistance of the unit and also increasing the tendency for soil to block or clog the unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved means of secondary soil surface rolling by reducing the weight of the equipment and providing means for controlling the depth of penetration.

In one aspect the present invention provides a tool arrangement or furrow press for use in agriculture; said arrangement being composed of a series of ringlike tools mounted side-by-side in spaced apart relationship, the tools being designed to roll over a soil surface to cultivate and level the soil, wherein each tool is composed of a central hub, a hollow shaped circumferential portion with a radially outwardly extending cutting projection and a tapered region of progressively increasing width axially of the tool running inwardly form the cutting projection and a series of hollow radial members extending between the hub and the circumferential portion. In one practical construction a tool arrangement is composed of two separate sets of tools as aforesaid mounted in parallel relationship with the tools of one set interposed between the tools of the other set.

In another aspect, the invention provides a tool for use in the tool arrangement as aforementioned and comprising a central hub, a hollow shaped circumferential portion with a radially outwardly extending cutting projection and a tapered region of progressively increasing width axially of the tool running inwardly from the cutting projection and a series of hollow radial members connecting the hub to the circumferential portion.

Normally the tools of the tool arrangement or of each set of tools thereof would be supported with their hubs on a common shaft or axle extending transversely to a towing direction and behind a tractor, for example, and their cutting projections would penetrate lumps or clods of soil to break these up. The contact between the hollow circumferential portions of the tools and the soil induces rotation of the tools. The circumferential portion of each of the tools is preferably shaped so as to have the tapered region of progressively increasing width axially of the tool, conveniently of V-shape, running from the cutting projection and a pronounced enlarged bulbous region opposite the cutting projection and adjacent the radial members. In this way the cutting projection cooperates with the tapered region in a wedging action thereby squeezing and splitting the soil lumps.Furthermore soil can pass through the gaps between the radial members of the tool and this assists in breaking down the lumps into smaller pieces.

The tool may have the inner enlarged region of maximum axial width merging the tapered region with another projection joining or forming the radial members.

A preferred shape for the circumferential portion of each tool in crosssection resembles a spinning top with a bulbous part disposed radially inwards adjacent the radial members and a narrower spinning end representing the radially outermost cutting projection or rim and the tapered region.

Preferably additional means is provided selectively to increase the contact pressure between the tools and the soil when the arrangement is in use.

The provision of such tools made in accordance with the invention enables high ground pressure when the arrangement is operated at a shallow depth yet because primarily the circumferential portions are hollow the tools are inherently light in weight. As the tools move progressively deeper into the soil the soil contact area increases and ground pressure decreases. During operation, the tools will normally penetrate the soil to a pre-determined first depth and resist further penetration beyond a pre-determined second depth.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a tool composed of a central hub, a number of hollow radial spokes or vanes connected to the hub and a pair of sheet metal elements mounted side-by-side and shaped in a symmetrical fashion to define a hollow circumferential portion of the tool connected to the spokes or vanes, the circumferential portion having a cutting rim a first region of maximum cross-section radially opposite the cutting rim and a second tapered region between the first region and the cutting riin.

The invention may be understood more readily and various other aspects and features of the invention may become apparent from consideration of the following description.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a double-row tool arrangement constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic end view of part of the tool arrangement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line m-nr of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the circumferential portions of the tools of the tool arrangement of Figure 1, the view being taken on a somewhat larger scale and Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of the circumferential portions of the tools of a single row tool arrangement of Figure 2 and similar to Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 1 a tool arrangement 10 is composed of a first set 1 1 of tools or implements 12 mounted side-by-side and spaced apart on a rotatable shaft (not shown) and a second set 13 of tools or implements 12 likewise mounted sideby-side and spaced apart on another rotatable shaft (not shown). The tools 12 of each set 11,13 are rotationally locked to the shaft so that they all rotate together.

The individual tools 12 of one set 11 are disposed partly between two adjacent tools 12 of the other set 13. In a single row arrangement 10 (Figure 5) only a single set of tools 12 is provided. The or each support axle or shaft can be mounted in a frame adapted for towing behind a tractor or within or behind some other machine.

As represented in Figure 2 each tool 12 is composed of a cylindrical spigot or hub 14 for mounting onto the support axle or shaft, a number of spaced apart radial spokes or vanes 15 and a hollow circumferential portion 16. Figure 3 depicts one of the vanes 15 which is a hollow structure formed from walls 5 of sheet metal.

Figures 4 and 5 depict a preferred shape of the circumferential portion 16 in more detail. As shown, the circumferential portion 16 of each tool 12 has the appearance of a spinning top with a pronounced enlarged bulbous region 17 near an inner radial projection 18 adjacent the associated vanes 15. The region 1 7 merges smoothly via a transition zone 25 into a narrower progressively tapered Vshaped region 19 running out to an outer radial projection 20 forming a cutting rim The portion 16 can be fabricated from a pair of sheet metal members 21,22 welded or riveted together at flanges 23,24 forming the projections 18,20. The sheet metal members 21,22 can terminate at the vanes 15 or the flanges 23 can be extended in side-by-side relationship back to the spigot 14 and shaped to constitute the vanes 15.

In the single row arrangement (Figure 5) the tools 12 can be spaced apart by a distance L of about 210mm whilst in the double-row arrangement (Figure 4) the tools 12 of each set can be spaced apart by a distance L of about 264mm with a distance L' of about 132mum between the tools 12 of the respective sets 11,13.

The tools 12 in contact with the soil are induced to rotate in unison as the tool arrangement 10 is drawn along.

The cutting rims 20 and the tapered regions 19 of the tools 12 co-operate to exert high pressure on the soil at a shallow depth resulting in a wedge like action designed to split lumps or clods of soil. Soil can escape through the tapered gaps between the vanes 15 which further assists in breaking down the soil.

The provision ofthe hollow circumferential portions 16 on the tools 12 and if provided the hollow vanes 15 considerably decreases the mass and hence the weight of the tools 12 and the arrangement 10. This is advantageous per se since for a given weight more tools 12 can be adopted and used. Since the mass of the tools 12 and the arrangement 10 is decreased transportation of the arrangement 10 is made easier. Nevertheless, during operation it is desirable to ensure adequate soil contact pressure is achieved to promote the penetration of the soil and the inherent weight of the arrangement 10 may not produce such adequate soil contact pressure. It is thus desirable to provide some additional means to increase the soil contact pressure when the arrangement 10 is in operation.This additional means can be the provision of one or more massive bodies affixed temporarily to the arrangement 10 or means for temporarily transferring weight from a frame to which the tool arrangement 10 is mounted or from a tractor to which the frame is coupled for towing. A preferred solution is the provision of one or more hydraulic or pneumatic rams or one or more mechanisms each incorporating such a ram which are designed to exert downward thrust on the tool arrangement when the latter is operating. Such mechanisms or rams can be carried by the frame or the tractor.

The shape formed by the circumferential cutting rim 20 and the tapered region 19 of each tool 12 is optimal to penetrate large blocks of soil and to split open large blocks of soil with the wedge like action. Further the shape formed by the sides of the region 19,20 of one tool and the facing sides of the region 19, 20 of a neighbouring tool 12 including the zones 25 is also optimal to provide additional convergence for squeezing and breaking soil blocks and to allow penetration ofthe tools 12 into the soil to a pre-determined first depth and to resist penetration of the tools into the soil beyond a predetermined second depth. Thus as the tools 12 go deeper into the soil the soil contact area increases and therefore produces a lower ground pressure. The first depth is defined by the region 19 up to the zone 25 and the second depth is defined by the region 17 from the zone 25.

The gaps between neighbouring tools 12 also allows small soil blocks to pass into the interior of the arrangement 10 to reduce clogging between tools 12.

This may be assisted by scrapers between the tools 12. The construction of the vanes 15 allows such soil blocks to tumble around and become further reduced in size further to reduce clogging.

Claims (17)

1. A tool arrangement or furrow press for use in agriculture; said arrangement being composed of a series of ring-like tools mounted side-by-side in spaced apart relationship, the tools being designed to roll over a soil surface to cultivate and level the soil, wherein each tool is composed of a central hub, a hollow shaped circumferential portion with a radially outwardly extending cutting projection and a tapered region of progressively increasing width axially of the tool running inwardly from the cutting projection and a series of hollow radial members extending between the hub and the circumferential portion.

2. A tool arrangement according to claim 1, wherein there are two separate sets of tools each set being composed of said series of ring-like tools and the sets are parallel with the tools of one set interposed between the tools of the other set.

3. A tool arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each series of tools are supported with the hub on a common shaft or axle extending transversely to a towing direction when in use so that soil contact with the tools induces rotation of the shaft or axle.

4. A tool arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tapered region is V-shaped.

5. A tool arrangement according to any one of claim 1 to 4, wherein the circumferential portion of each tool also has an inner enlarged region of maximum axial width merging with the tapered region.

6. A tool arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the enlarged region lies adjacent another projection forming or joining the radial members.

7 A tool arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the circumferential portion of each tool resembles a spinning top with a bulbous part disposed radially inwardly adjacent the radial members and a narrower spinning end representing the radially outermost cutting projection and the tapered region.

8. A tool arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims and further comprising means for increasing the soil contact pressure between the tools and the soil.

9. A tool arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the means for increasing the soil contact pressure takes the form of one or more pneumatic or hydraulic rams or one or more mechanism each incorporating a pneumatic or hydraulic ram.

10 A tool arrangement substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figure 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings or Figure 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings or Figure 1 and 2 in combination with Figure 3 or Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A tool for use in the tool arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a central hub, a hollow shaped circumferential portion with a radially outwardly extending cutting projection and a tapered region of progressively increasing width axially of the tool running inwardly from the cutting projection and a series of hollow radial members connecting the hub to the circumferential portion.

12. A tool according to claim 11, wherein the tapered region is V-shaped.

13. A tool according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the circumferential portion also has an inner enlarged region of maximal axial width merging with the tapered region.

14. A tool according to claim 13, wherein the enlarged region lies adjacent another projection forming or joining the radial members.

1 5 A tool according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the circumferential portion resembles a spinning top with a bulbous part disposed radially inwardly adjacent the radial members and narrower spinning end representing the radially outermost cutting projection and the tapered region.

16. A tool for use in the tool arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and composed of a central hub, a number of hollow radial spokes or vanes connected to the hub and a pair of sheet metal elements mounted side-by-side and shaped in a symmetrical fashion to define a hollow circumferential portion of the tool connected to the spokes or vanes, the circumferential portion having a cutting rim, a first region of maximum cross-section radially opposite the cutting rim and a second tapered region between the first region and the cutting rim.

17. A tool substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.