IE41713B1

IE41713B1 - Improvements in ploughs

Info

Publication number: IE41713B1
Application number: IE2036/75A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Ransomes Sims & Jefferies Ltd
Priority date: 1974-09-24
Filing date: 1975-09-16
Publication date: 1980-03-12
Also published as: NL7511249A; IT1050878B; GB1480918A; DK417375A; LU73447A1; BE833460A; DE2538883A1; FR2285795A1; NO753107L; SE7510672L; NO141029B; ES441180A1; NO141029C

Abstract

1480918 Reversible plough RANSOMES SIMS & JEFFERIES Ltd 12 Sept 1975 [24 Sept 1974] 41542/74 Heading A1B A reversible plough comprises left and right hand plough body support legs 8, 9 secured at vertically opposite locations on a stub beam 3 so as to be capable in the operating position, of movement in a vertical plane, the forward end of the stub beam 3 being pivotally mounted in a head 1 at upper and lower locations respectively above and below the beam axis. Resilient means, preferably comprising a hydraulic accumulator, a cylinder 15 and piston 15A, bias both the beam against rotation relative to the head and each support leg against upward and rearward pivotal movement when that leg is in operative position. In a preferred embodiment (Fig. 1) the beam 3 is hollow and contains rod elements 10A, 10B joined pivotally relative to a roller 11. The opposite ends of the rod elements 10A, 10B are attached respectively to a pivot rod 12 on the head and the piston 15A. A pair of links 16 are pivoted at their ends to the leg 8 and the cylinder 15 while the pair of links 17 are connected in similar manner between the leg 9 and cylinder 15. Upon engagement of the working plough body with an obstruction providing both horizontal and vertical force components the beam 3 rotates relative to the head 1 about the upper pivotal location defined by an upper spindle 7 in a corresponding cup 2 while the lower spindle 7 separates from its cup 2. If the vertical force components excede a predetermined value the support leg (8 in Fig. 1) and its associated plough body are rotated relative to the beam. A plurality of ploughs may be incorporated into a multi-row plough (Fig. 4, not shown).

Description

TATENT APPLICATION BY fPlJRANSOMES SIMS & JEFFERIES LIMITED, A BRITISH COMPANY, OF NACTON ROAD, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND.

Prtce 12|p HUS INVENTION relates to ploughs and, more partieulai’ly, to reversible, so called one-way ploughs. When a plough body in work encounters an obstruction it is ΙηιριηΊηιΛ that trip mechanism body on the plough Should enable the plough/under the draft force trip, that is to say to supplied by the tractor to which the plough is connected to/rise to avoid the obstacle out of the ground/before the plough suffers damage. Whilst such mechanisms have been proposed previously, in the known forms thereof, operation is unsatisfactory when the obstruction encountered subjects the plough body to large vertically downwardly directed components of force.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reversible plough having trip mechanism the risk of obstruction of which is appreciably reduced. is provided According to the invention there / a reversible plough comprising a stub beam, left and right hand plough body support logs each pivotally secured to the beam at vertically opposite locations so as to permit movement when pendently supported from the beam in operative position in a vertical plane upwardly and rearwardly, a head, in which the forward end of the beam is pivotally mounted at upper and lower locations respectively above and below the beam axis so as to permit rotation of the beam in a vertical plane about the upper of said locations whilst separation of the beam from the head at the lower of said locations occurs, resilient means biassing the beam against rotation relatively to the head and further biassing each support leg against upward and rearward pivotal movement when the support leg is in operative position, the arrangement being such that upon engagement of the plough body in work with an obstruction causing vertical and horizontal components of force on the plough body, the beam is rotated relatively to the head and in the event of the vertical force components exceeding a predetermined value the support leg of the plough body in work and the plough body thereon are rotated relatively to tho beam until the attitude of the plough body relatively to tho obstruction enables tho plough body to ride up and over tho obstruction whereupon the resilient means effect return rotation of tho beam and support leg so causing re-entry of the plough body in operative position into work.

Suitably, the resilient means comprise an hydraulic accumulator, a piston and cylinder connected with the accumulator and located adjacent the end of the beam remote from the head and linkage means connecting one of the piston and cylinder with the head and the other with each of the support legs so that when in operation an obstruction is encountered on rotation of one or both of the operative support legsand the beam hydraulic fluid is expelled from the cylinder to the accumulator and. when the obstruction is cleared reverse flow of fluid from the accumulatoi’ to the cylinder returns to operative location the displaced beam and/or support leg.

Preferably, the piston is connected by way of rod means to the head whilst the cylinder is connected by respective links to the plough body support legs.

In one form of the invention, the plough is a multi-furrow plough and includes a plurality of mutually spaced parallel stub beams, left-hand and right-hand plough body support legs pivotally secured to each beam at vertically opposite locations so as to permit, when pendently supported from the corresponding beam in operative position, movement in a vertical plane upwardly and heads rearwardly, heads mounted on a plough frame in which/the forward ends of the respective beams are pivotally mounted each at upper and lower locations respectively above and below the beam axis so as to permit rotation of the beam in a vertical piano about the upper of said locations whilst separation of the beam occurs at the lower of said locations, resilient means biassing each beam against - 3 41713 rotation relatively to the corresponding head and further hiassing each support leg carried on the beam against upward and rearward pivotal movement when the support leg is in operative position, the arrangement being such that upon engagement of a plough body in work with an obstruction causing vertical and horizontal components of force on the plough body, the corresponding beam is rotated relatively to the head and in the event of the vertical force components exceeding a predetermined value the support leg of the plough body in work and the plough body thereon are rotated relatively to the beam until the attitude of the plough body relatively to the obstruction enables the plough hody to ride up and over the obstruction whereupon the resilient means effect return rotation of the beam and support leg so causing re-entry of the plough body in operative position into work.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference te the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a reversible plough according to the invention, Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the plough of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a line drawing illustrating positions assumed hy parts of the plough of Figure 1 in operation and when an obstruction is encountered, and Figure 4 is a plan view of some principal parts of a two furrow reversible plough having a hydraulic system which from a hydraulic accumulator is in duplicate of the system required for the single furrow reversible plough shown in Figure 1.

In the drawings like parts have been accorded the same reference numerals.

The plough shown in Figure 1 comprises a head 1 formed with vertically spaced semi-cylindrical cups 2. A hollow stub beam 3 is formed with vertically opposed support hlooks 3A which - 4 41713 are rigidly attached at the forward end of the beam 3 and in each of which a horizontal spindle 7 which projects equally on opposite sides of the corresponding block 3A is secured. The ends of each spindle engage and can pivot in the semi-cylindrical cups 2 formed in the head 1.

The head 1 is suitably coupled to a piough frame adapted to be drawn by a tractor.

Leg support plates j® are attaehed to the rearward end plates of the stub beam 3 to which/ by means of pivot pins 3C are secured the right-hand leg 8 and the left-hand leg 9 to which are attached the respective right and. left hand plough bodies (not shorn). Engagement between abutments 3D and 3E respectively on the leg 8 and the beam 3 define in the case of the leg which is pendently carried by the beam, leg 8 as illustrated, the operative position thereof.

Transversely located in the head 1 is a pivot rod 12 to which is freely coupled the eye-shaped end of rod assembly 10.

Rod assembly 10 passes rearwards and longitudinally through the stub beam 3 and is In the form of two rod elements 10A and 10B connected pivotally relative to a roller 11 of diameter equal to the internal dimension of the beam 3. The roller 11 permits limited angular movement of element 103 relatively to element 10Λ.

Attached to the rearward end of the rod element 10B is the piston rod 15A of a hydraulic cylinder 15 whioh extends rearwards beyond the rear end of the stub beam 3· A pair of links 16 pivoted at their ends to the leg 8 and the cylinder 15 and a similar pair of links 17 pivoted to the leg 9 and to the cylinder 15 maintain under the influence of fluid pressure· in the cylinder 15 engagement between abutments (JD and 3E. / A gas diaphragm or piston type hydraulic accumulator 51 as seen in Figure 4 is supported on the frame of the plough. The - 5 41713 hydraulic outlet from tho accumulator connects via needle valve ^19 and pipe 53 with the cylinder 15 or in the case of the two furrow a plough of Figure 4, connects with each cylinder 15 via/separate pipe 53· the accumulator This hydraulic system is charged with oil and/pressurised through a use connects tractor. pipe 54 which in / the accumulator 51 to the hydraulic system of the / This pressure can be varied to give different loads on. the plough body required to effect tripping of the plough body.

The accumulator 51, cylinder 15 and links 16 and 1/ comprise resilient means biassing the legs 8 and 9 to engagement of abutments 3D and JE whilst the accumulator, cylinder and rod assembly 10 afford resilient means biassing the beam.3 to the position of engagement of upper and lower spindles 7 with cups 2.

An obstruction encountered by a plough body imposes a load which initially creates a clockwise turning movement of the lower operative plough body about the upper spindle 7 in the corresponding cup 2. During this movement the lower spindle 7 separates from its cup 2. The movement of the beam 3 causes the rod 10 to rotate about the pivot rod 12 and the distance between the axis of tho pivot rod 12 and common axis of the connection of links 16 and 17 to rod 15A increases as a result of which rod 10 causes movement of the piston in cylinder 15 to discharge a volume of oil from the end of the cylinder adjacent the beam 3· The discharged oil from the cylinder flows into the accumulator 51 further compressing the gas and increasing the accumulator pressure.

As soon as the obstruction is cleared, the increased pressure in the accumulator causes return of fluid to the cylinder 15 with the result that the beam 3 is lowered and the plough body or leg 8 re-enters work. ' The assembly the legs 8 and 9 axid the plough bodies is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis -'of the stub beam 3 and the cylinder 15 accordingly controls both' right and left hand plough bodies. - 6 41713 Referring nov/ to Figure J, the operation of the plough of Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated in the circumstances where the plough body encounters an obstruction which gives rise to forces on the plough body having substantial vertical and horizontal components. The drawing illustrates the change in shown in Figures 1 and 2 position of a number of points in the mechanism/as the plough is drawn forward against the obstruction which is in the form of a tree root under whioh the leading edge of the plough body on the support leg 8 engages. Each point of the mechanism considered is shown in seven positions of the mechanism whieh positions are numbered 0 to 6. The various points on the mechanism are as follows:A is the top pivot of the plough beam 3 on the head 1, i.e. the axis of upper spindle B is the pivot between leg 9 and links 17.

C is an arbitrary point on the centre line of the beam 3· D is the pivotal point between links 16 and 17 and cylinder 15, E is the pivotal point between leg 8 and links 16.

F is the pivotal point 3C of leg 8 on the beam 3· ,G is an arbitrary point on the centre line of the leg 8.

P is the point of the plough body in work which it will be noted is vertically below the top pivot spindle 7· In the drawing each of the above points is given a subscript 0 to 6 representing each of the seven positions of the mechanism considered.

In the position of the above points corresponding with subscript 0, the point of the plough body in work below ground level 55 Has moved underneath a tree root obstruction 56 and the - 7 41713 leading edge of the plough body is just contacting the obstruction. The leading edge, 'it should be noted, is inclined at about 30° to tho horizontal and, accordingly, requires to be rotated clockwise through 60° to roach a vertical attitude. The position of points A to P ooi'responding to subscript 1 arises because the horizontal component of forces on the plough body because of its engagement with the obstruction causes rotation of leg 8 about point Aq and in the position 1, it will be seen that the beam 3 has rotated maintaining coincidence between points C and D, the rotation being about 20°. In position 2 the increasing vertical component of load has caused the leg 8 to trip not only about the pivot A but also about pivot F. This is indicated by the fact that the points C and D no longer coincide. At this stage the beam has rotated some 22° about pivot A and the leg 8 has rotated 10° with respect to the beam about pivot F.

In position 3 the beam angle remains as it was in position 2 but the leg 8 has rotated further relatively to the beam the total extent of rotation of the leg relative to the beam then being about 20°. In position 4 the beam angle has reduced to 19° whilst the leg has continued to pivot about point F, its total pivotal movement about that point then amounting to 30°. In position 5 the beam angle has further lowered to 16° whilst the leg rotation relative to pivot F has further increased to 4o°.

Finally, in position 6 the beam angle has lowered to 12° whilst the leg rotation relatively to pivot F has increased to 50°. At this point the total rotation of the plough body relative to ground amounts to some 62° and the leading edge of the plough body is in an upright attitude whioh on further movement forward allows the plough body to slide up and over the obstruction. Once past the obstruction, the pressure in the accumulator 51 causes fluid to be returned to the cylinder 15 whioh restores the - 8 41713 beam 3 to the position in which the upper and lower spindles 7 are engaged in their respective cups 2 whilst leg 8 has rotated forwards and downwards to cause the jilough body to re-enter work.

The dual tripping action described ensures that when high vertical loads are imposed on the plough body as a result of hooking under a stone or tree root or the like, the initial tripping action which tends to move the plough hody rearwards relatively to the obstruction is followed by a further tripping action of the plough body support leg relatively to the plough beam and this action continues until the vertical load necessary to hold the body in contact with the obstruction can no longer be sustained by the obstruction. The plough hody then rides up and over the obstruction.

Known types of disc and skim ooulters can be attached to the stub beam 3. the described A number of / leg assemblies ean be used to suit multifurrow reversible share ploughs.

It will be seen that as the main components of the trip mechanism consist primarily of the rod 10 which is contained within the beam 3, the cylinder 15-whioh is an enclosed, structure, rod 12, the spindles 7 and their cups 2 which, except when the beam 3 is relatively to the head, pivoted / are protected by the end of the beam 3 and blocks JA, the likelihood of the trip mechanism being rendered inoperative by foreign bodies such as stones and earth, is minimised.

Claims

1. Λ reversible plough comprising a stub beam, left and right hand plough body support legs each pivotally secured to the beam at vertically opposite locations so as to permit movement 5 when pendently supported from the beam in operative position in a ' vertical plane upwardly and rearwardly, a head in which the forward end of the beam is pivotally mounted at upper and lower locations respectively above and below the beam axis co as to permit rotation of the beam in a vertical plane about the upper of said locations 10 whilst separation of the beam from the head at the lower of said locations occurs, resilient means biassing the beam against rotation relatively to the head and further biassing each support leg against upward and rearward pivotal movement when the support leg is in operative position, the arrangement being such that 15 upon engagement of the plough body in work with an obstruction causing vertical and horizontal components of force on the plough body, the beam is rotated relatively to the head and in the event of the vertical force components exceeding a predetermined value the support leg of the plough body in work and the plough body 20 thereon are rotated relatively to the beam until the attitude of the plough body relatively to the obstruction enables the plough body to ride up and over the obstruction whereupon the resilient means effect return rotation of the beam and support leg so causing re-entry of the plough body in operative position into work, 25

2. A plough as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the resilient means comprise an hydraulic accumulator, a piston and cylinder connected with the accumulator and located adjacent the end of the beam remote from the head and linkage means connecting one of the piston and cylinder with the head and the other with each of the support legs 30 so that when in operation an obstruction is encountered on rotation of one or both of the operative support leg and the beam hydraulic fluid is expelled from the cylinder to the accumulator and when the IO 41713 obstruction la cleared rovov.x flow of fluid from the accumulator to the cylinder· returns to operative location the displaced beam and/or support log.

3. Λ plough as claimed in Claim 2, wherein tho piston is 5 connected by way of rod means to the head whilst the cylinder is connected by respective links to the plough body support legs,

4. A plough as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the rod means aro in two mutually inclinable parts.

5. A plough as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein means 10 are provided for pressurising the hydraulic accumulator to vary the force required to be exerted on the plough body to effect tripping thereof.

6. A plough as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the means for means pressurising the accumulator comprise pipe/which 15 serves to connect the accumulator to the hydraulic system of a tractor on which in operation the plough is mounted.

7. A plough as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plough is a multi-furrow plough and Includes a plurality of mutually spaced parallel stub beams, left-hand and right-hand plough body 20 support legs pivotally secured to each beam at vertically opposite locations so as to permit, when pendently supported from the corresponding beam in operative position, movement in a vertical plane upwardly and rearwardly, heads mounted on a plough frame in heads which/the forward ends of the respective beams are pivotally mounted 25 each at upper and lower locations respectively above and below the beam axis so as to permit rotation of the beam in a vertical plane about the upper of said locations whilst separation of the beam occurs at the lower of said locations, resilient means biassing each beam against rotation relatively to the corresponding head and further 30 biassing each support leg carried on the beam, against upward and rearward pivotal movement when the support leg is in operative - 11 41713 position, tho ari’angcnicnt being such that upon engagement ol' a plough body in work with an obstruction causing vortical and horizontal components of force on the plough body, the corresponding beam is rotated relatively to the head and in the event of 5 the vertical force components exceeding a predetermined value tho support leg of the plough body in work and the plough body thereon are rotated relatively to the beam until the attitude of the plough body relatively to the obstruction enables the plough body to ride up mid over tho obstruction whereupon the resilient 10 means effect return rotation of the beam and support leg so causing re-entry of the plough body in operative position into work.

8. A plough as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the resilient means comprise, an hydraulic accumulator, piston and cylinder mechanisms respectively located adjacent-the beams at the ends ]5 thereof remote from the corresponding heads, each cylinder being connected with the accumulator, and, associated with the piston and cylinder mechanisms, respective linkage means connecting one of the piston and cylinder of each mechanism with the corresponding head and the other with each of the support legs carried on the 20 adjacent beam so that when in operation an obstruction is encountered, on rotation of one or both of the operative obstructed support leg and the corresponding beam, hydraulic fluid is expelled from the associated cylinder to the accumulator and when the obstruction is cleared reverse flow of fluid from the accumulator to 25 the cylinder from which the fluid was expelled effects return of the displaced beam and/or support leg.

9. A plough as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 7, wherein the or each stub beam is hollow and the resilient means' include rod means which extend through the beam and connect pivotally with the head. 30

10. A plough as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the rod means are in two parts each pivoted relatively to a roller located between the - 12 41713 part;; and of dJaiiioLor equal to an internal dimension of the beam,

11. Λ plough as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the configuration of the cooperating parts of each beam and the adjacent head arc such, that otherwise than when the beam is pivoted relatively to tho head, the rod moans and connection thereof to tho head are enclosed. • ,

12. Λ plough as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each plough body support log is adapted to locate a plough body in work with the leading point thereof substantially vertically below the upper pivotal mounting of the beam in the head.

13. Λ reversible plough constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to accompanying each of the embodiments depicted in the/drawings.