MXPA97006962A - Rear bar culture implement - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cultivating implement having a main frame tube extending transversely adapted for a forward movement on the ground, a strip cultivating device connected to the main frame tube, the strip growing device includes: a longitudinally extending four-bar linkage having a front end connected to the main frame tube, and a rear end that can be moved vertically relative to the main frame tube; a tool holder fixed to the rear end and capable of moving vertically with the rear axle, the four-bar linkage maintains an essentially constant tool-holding attitude relative to the ground, a pair of transversely spaced plowshares held from the tool holder for operation at a pre-selected depth of penetration ground, a tool for removing soil rotating tines connected to the tool support to the rear of the pair of plows, so that the four-bar link and the tool support keep the plowshares at an essentially constant angle of attack in relation to the ground and maintain a vertical distance essentially constant between the plowshares and the lump removing tool, where the strip growing device includes a secondary tool bar, a tool bar link connecting the secondary tool bar to the main frame tube and selectively facilitating the vertical movement of the secondary tool bar relative to the main frame tube, and wherein the forward end of the four-bar linkage is connected to the tool bar linkage

Description

STRAIGHT BAR CULTURE IMPLEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1) Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements for the work of the land, and, more specifically, to a implement of cultivation of strip and to a tearing implement which is convertible to change between a conventional crop and a strip culture. 2) Related Art: Many different forms of conservation farming practices are emerging which involve leaving the plant residue on the surface of the earth to preserve the top manure. In one of these ways, referred to as the strip crop, a strip of the fertilizer where the crop will be planted is grown and the crop residue or a cover crop is left between the cultivated strips. Typically, strip cultivation machines use a combination of ribbed plowshares to help cultivate the soil and a rolling basket to break the clods. Strip cultivation is often combined with a scraper mounted on the toolbar or an apparatus for breaking through the compacted layers of soil, and the plowshares are angled to pull the soil inwardly over the groove formed by the soil. ripper The plowshares' on some machines are mounted on a simple swing arm which floats vertically.

An undesirable effect of the swingarm arrangement includes the change in the angle of attack of the plowshares and the changes in height between the plowshares and the rolling basket when the rig floats vertically. Existing machines also rest on one or more fixing screws to fix the height and angle of the operation, and such adjustments are also frequently imprecise and non-uniform across the width of the machine. Therefore it has been a problem to keep the height of the bed uniform with many strip cultivating machines.

Another problem that delays the implementation of the strip culture has been the expense of providing a separate implement. Peasants have hesitated to invest in a new complete machine, particularly if they do not have certainty of the benefits of the practice in their particular conditions of land and harvest.

If a scraper mounted on a toolbar is used, a separate frame bar is usually provided to hold the litter grates directly above the scrapers. The separate bar, required by the lack of space under the toolbar, increases the cost and complexity of the implement. The extra bar also makes the transverse adjustments more inconvenient to accommodate different row spacings and may require an increased off-centering of the implement toolbar from the hitch. There can be a wide variation in the selected depth of operation of the rasgadores, and the change in the vertical position of the toolbar to achieve the different depths can adversely affect the angle of attack and the relative depth of the operation of the various tools on the rigging of the rear implement. In different terrain conditions, different back implements may be necessary, but the conversion of the implement to adapt it to conditions may be difficult. The available mounting arrangements are often insufficiently versatile to provide optimal tool placement and operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved culture implement that overcomes most or all of the above-mentioned problems.

It is another object to provide an improved implement having the strip culture equipment. It is yet another object to provide such an implement with an improved angle of attack and height control capability. It is another object to provide such an implement which provides a more uniform bed height across the width of the machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved implement with more versatility than many previously available cultivation implements and which reduces operator costs by eliminating the need for separate implements for different cultivation operations. It is a further object to provide such an implement that includes a frame structure that accommodates different combinations of the cultivating tools, and the clamp and articulation structure facilitates a wide variety of row spacings.

It is a further object to provide an improved implement that is particularly useful as a straight bar scraper in combination with other cultivating tools including strip culture gear. It is another object to provide such an implement having an improved clamp structure for mounting the shanks of the plows and for clamping the plowshares without the need for an additional mounting tube for the plowshares.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an implement that includes a front tool bar to hold the cultivating tools such as the scrapers and a floating or adjustable secondary frame structure to hold other tools behind the scrapers. It is another object to provide such an implement having improved depth control and float capacity and where the optimum angle of attack of the secondary frame tools can be maintained, even when the front tool bar is adjusted vertically to vary the depth of the tool. the operation of the scrapers.

In accordance with the above-mentioned objects, a cultivating implement is provided which includes a straight bar-ripper structure with main front tool-holder support slots. An optional rear or secondary toolbar held by four bar links to the toolbar. The four bar joints allow the operator to adjust the height of the secondary toolbar relative to the main toolbar depending on the depth of operation of the slitters. Alternatively, the joints can be released to allow the secondary toolbar to float in relation to the main toolbar, by. example, when a calibration wheel structure and a disk cassette are attached to the secondary toolbar.

The adjustability of the secondary toolbar accommodates different accessories behind the scrapers, such as the disk bedding machines, the seeding accessories bedding and the strip culture gear which can operate at optimal angles of attack and penetration depths without Import the depth of operation of the scraper. If a farmer has a conventional machine set-up such as the squeegee handles on the main tool bar and the disk casters or the seeding accessory housings mounted on the secondary tool bar, he only has to change the rear accessories to convert it to strip culture. The conversion requires only the purchase of the strip culture equipment, not a new complete machine, thus lowering the cost and risk of testing the new conservation culture system. The various tool bar clamps, joints and tools are easily adjusted transversely over the tool bars to provide virtually any desired row spacings.

The strip cultivation rig includes the ribbed plowshares and a rolling basket or clod removal device which are vertically adjustable one in relation to the other. The rigging is supported from the secondary frame by a joint of four bars so that the angle of attack and the relative operating height of the plowshares and the rolling basket remain constant as the rig floats through the full vertical range of the rig. The structure therefore ensures a more uniform bed than other types of strip culture gear which allow the height between the plowshares and the rolling basket to change when pivoting the rigs. The combination of the adjustable secondary toolbar and the four-bar articulation on the rig provides a versatile implement for highly variable terrain conditions and different depths of rig and tool operation and row separations. The articulation of four rigging bars also includes repeatable and adjustable downforce settings for a downward force of uniform and predictable rigging across the width of the implement.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art of reading the following detailed description in relation to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of an implement having a toolbar with tear holders and back strip culture attachments connected to a secondary toolbar, with parts of a standard ripper cut out to show more clearly the connection between the main and secondary toolbars.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a rear part of the implement of Figure 1 but with the strip culture accessories replaced by other cultivating tools.

Figure 3 is a side view of a part of the implement of Figure 1 with the secondary tool bar set up for a deep tear operation and also including a plowing frame for determining litter under the tool bar regardless of a separate plow grille mounting tube.

Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the standard scraper assembly showing details of the mounting clamp structure of the scraper and the plow grate.

Figure 5 is a side view of the standard scraper assembly.

Figure 6 is a top view of the standard scraper assembly of Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figures 1-3, there is shown a crop implement 10 including a hook structure 12 (Figure 3) adapted for connection to a conventional three-point hitch (not shown) on a tractor. The latching structure 12 supports a frame or primary tool bar structure 16 in vertically adjustable positions for a forward movement on the ground. The primary tool bar structure 16 includes a transversely extending hooking tube 18 connected to the latching structure 12 and main frame tube that holds the longer tool 20 connected in parallel and in an off-centered manner in relation to the hook tube 18 by clamps 24 spaced outwardly from the latch structure 12.

A plurality of the deep cultivating tools 30 are connected to the main frame tube 20 at the transversely spaced locations by the clamp structure 32. The plow lattice structure of the litter determination 36 (FIG. 3) can be selectively clamped directly to the clamp structure 32 independently of any separate plow grid support tube or the like for operation below the primary tool bar structure 16. The clamp structure 32 is transversally adjusted on the frame tube 20 to vary the spacing of tools 30.

A secondary toolbar structure 0 later indicated generally with the number 40 in the Figures 1 and 2 is adjustably held from the primary tool bar structure 16 by the four parallel bar link structures 42 with the front vertical clamps 44 mounted on the tube 20 the clamp structures 32. An adjustable length member 46 on each one of the structures 42 provides a height adjustment of the secondary tool bar structure 40 relative to the main frame tube 20. Alternatively, the member 46 can be removed to allow the secondary tool bar structure 40 to float on relation to the tube 20. The parallel bar link structures 42 maintain the tool bar structure 40 generally parallel to the front tool bar 20 and at a preselected angular position relative to a transverse horizontal tube axis upon adjusting the structure 40. vertically or when floating the structure 40 vertically in rela tube 20.

A plurality of back-to-back tooling rigs or tooling holders 50 are connected to the secondary toolbar structure 40 by the articulation structures 52 of four rear parallel bars having the front vertical clamps 54 secured at the transversely spaced locations on the secondary tool bar structure 40 by means of the U-bolts (not shown). The secondary tool bar structure 40 is connected by the hearth 58 to the rear plates 64 of the four front rod joints 42. As shown in Figure 1, the rigs 50 are strip culture rigs each having a tube longitudinally extending main 70 positioned in the form of a sandwich between the lower ends of the vertical plates 74 of the joint of four corresponding bars 52. A plow grille assembly 76 is adjustably secured to the front end of the tube 70 under the structure of the four-bar linkage 52. A rolling basket or similar tool 78 is rotatably supported from the rear end of the tube 70 and is off-center behind the plow grid assembly 76 to break up the clods, incorporating chemicals and / or staking the soil in the bed.

The plow grille assembly 76 includes transversely spaced ribbed plows 80 and 82 (FIG. 1) supported from a cross tube 84 secured to the forward end of the tube 70. The vertical shanks 86 are held in the clamps 88 which are perforated at point 90 for the vertical adjustment of the plowshares in relation to the tool 78. As can be seen from Figure 1, once the handles are adjusted, the four-bar articulation structures maintain the constant vertical relationship between the plow grille assembly 76 and basket 78 when rigging 50 floats. A screw arrangement 94 on each of clamps 88 places handle 86 at a desired angular relationship relative to a vertical axis for the desired angle of attack. To change the angle of attack of a plow grid, the operator simply turns screw 94. The adjustment structure of the plow grid preferably is of the type shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,738,316 which it is common property with the present application. An indicator operatively associated with the screw arrangement provides an indication of the angle of attack. The four-bar link structure 52 retains the plow grille assembly 76 in essentially the same attitude as the rig floats vertically so that the angle of attack remains essentially constant. A spring assembly 98 with the detent on the center 100 provides adjustable downward rigging force settings. Two removable and selectively clamped spring assemblies 98, one on each side of the articulation structure 52 and each having two positions for the fastener 100, provide six repeatable and easily changeable and distinct downforce settings. Preferably, the plow grille 80 and 82 operate on opposite sides of a groove formed by the front tool 30 and lay the earth on the groove. The plowshares are set at an angle to the vertical and the angle outward in the upward direction to throw more dirt over the slot and provide a small bed. The basket 78, which preferably has a width approximately equal to the spacing between the plows 80 and 82, is supported from a transversely extending tube 108 secured to the rear end of the tube 70.

The cultivating tool 30 is shown as a scraper having a sub-ground handle 130 connected by a clamp and an exhaust bolt assembly 131 to the rear end of the horizontal leg 132 of the rectangular cross section. The leg 132 has a front end fixed to the clamp structure 32 and extends rearwardly from and at a right angle with respect to the rear face of the main frame tube 20. The backward offset provides ample space for the grid assembly plow 36 directly below the frame tube 20. The plane of the bottom wall of the horizontal leg 132 is located above the plane of the bottom wall of the tube 20 for a good separation of litter.

As shown in Figures 3-6, the clamp structure 32 includes the upper and lower plates 142 and 144 adapted to embrace the upper and bottom walls of the main frame tube 20. The pins located forward and backward 146 and 148 extend through the openings in the plates and are tightened to grip the clamp structure 32 in any desired location along the tube 20. A backward-opening channel-shaped holder 150 is welded at the leading end of the leg 132 and is secured between the clamp plates 142 and 144 by the rear pins 148. A spacer 152 is placed in the form of a sandwich between the lower front part of the support 150 and the rear end of the plate 144. A clamp plow grille 162 connected to the bottom of the plate 144 has a plow grille receiving end projecting forward and downwardly from the front face of the tube 20. A support plow grille 166 is connected to clamp 162 by bolts 168. A garbage determination latch plow 176 is rotatably mounted on support 166 under tube 20 and directly in line with handle 130. Support 166 provides an action Limiting emptying for the plow grate 176. The rear edge of the plow grate 176 is located below the front end of the leg 132 (Figure 3) and directly above the leading edge of the tool. The leading edge of the plow grate 176 is located slightly forward of the front face of the tube 20. When the clamp structures 32 are transversely adjusted on the tube 20 for the desired row spacings, the plow grate 176 is automatically positioned in the right location without the need for additional adjustments. The proportional offset between the tubes 18 and 20 by the clamps 24 facilitates the transverse movement of the bolts 146 with the clamp structures 32 so that the bolts do not have to be removed for most tool spacing adjustments. The transverse adjustment of the tools 24 and 32 and of the joints 42 and 52 readily accommodates and virtually any desired tool spacings.

At least two bar link structures 42 are transversely spaced over the main tube 20 for a side-to-side stability of the back tool bar structure 40. Additional structures 42 may be added depending on the load presented by the tools mounted on the back. For example, when cultivating tools such as wedge-tip plow supports 50 '(Figure 2) are mounted on the secondary tool bar structure 40, three or more of the structures 42 can be provided. The articulation structures 42 are adjusted to the desired height by varying the length of the corresponding members 46, which preferably are retainer members having a latch handle 186. For a strip cultivating machine, the members 46 can be adjusted from so that the average position of the four rear bar links 52 are essentially horizontal as shown in Figure 1 during normal culture operations. If the depth of the tools 30 is increased (for example the main frame tube 20 is lowered), the tool bar structure 40 can be raised relative to the tool bar 42 to simply decrease the length of the members 46 for raising the back plates 64 (Figure 3). The ends of each of the members 46 are connected by quick-locking bolts to the front bracket 44 and to an upwardly projecting stop member 188 located near the rear pivot on the lower joint of the articulation structure 52. The member 188 functions as a stop limit down in the float mode. By pivoting the articulation structure 42 downward to a preselected lower position, the member 188 contacts the rear plate structure 64 to prevent further downward swing, for example, when the implement 10 is lifted into the transport position. .

To provide the float of the back toolbar when, for example, the gauge wheel and disk caster structures are mounted on the rear toolbar structure 40, the members 46 are retained in an elongated position so that the Stop members 188 contact the plate structure 46 and relieve pressure on the quick-lock bolts. The bolts and member 46 are then removed so that the rear tool bar structure 40 floats and the gauge wheel structure maintains a preselected distance between the tool bar and the ground.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it will be evident that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

R E I V I ND I C A C I O N S

1. A cultivation implement having a frame adapted for a forward movement on the ground, a strip culture device connected to the frame, the strip cultivation device includes: a four-bar articulation extending longitudinally having a front end connected to the frame, and a rear end that can move vertically in relation to the frame; a tool holder fixed to the rear end and able to move vertically with the rear end, the four-bar link maintains a tool-supporting attitude essentially constant in relation to the ground; a pair of transversely spaced plowshares held from the tool holder for operation at a selected depth of ground penetration; a rotating clodder removal tool connected to the backing tool holder of the pair of plowshares, so that the four-bar linkage and the tool holder keep the plowshares at an essentially constant angle of attack in relation to the and maintain an essentially constant vertical distance between the plowshares and the clod removal tool.

2. The invention as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that it includes an adjustment mechanism for varying the vertical distance between the plowshares and the clod removal tool.

3. The invention as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that it includes an adjustable low pressure tension spring structure connected to the four-bar linkage to vary downward pressure on the plowshares and the tool.

4. The invention as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that the adjustment mechanism includes a vertically adjustable handle part connected between the plowshares and the tool holder for moving the plowshares vertically in relation to the tool.

5. The invention as claimed in clause 4 characterized in that it includes an adjustment of the angle of attack connected to the plowshares, by which the angle of attack and the relative depth of the operation of the plowshares and of the plow are adjustable. the tool.

6. The invention as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the strip culture device includes a secondary tool bar, a tool bar linkage connecting the secondary tool bar to the frame and selectively facilitating the vertical movement of the tool bar. secondary tools in relation to the frame, and where the front end of the four-bar linkage is connected to the tool bar linkage.

7. The invention as claimed in clause 6 characterized in that the secondary toolbar can be adjusted vertically in relation to the frame, the toolbar hinge selectively provides either a float operation of the secondary toolbar in relation to the frame or a vertically adjustable and fixed relationship between the secondary toolbar and the frame.

8. The invention as claimed in clause 6 characterized in that the tool bar hinge comprises a four bar linkage structure.

9. The invention as claimed in clause 6 characterized in that it also includes a deep cultivation tool connected to the frame, and wherein the frame is vertically adjustable to vary the depth of penetration of the deep cultivating tool, and the articulation of Toolbar can be moved vertically to maintain a pre-selected relationship between the tool holder and the ground while accommodating the vertical adjustment of the frame.

10. The invention as claimed in clause 9 characterized in that the frame further comprises a transverse tube and includes a clamp structure connecting the deep cultivating tool with the tube essentially down the tube, and a cutting plow of waste sustained on the clamp structure down the tube independently of the additional transversely extending tube structure off-center of the tube.

11. A cultivation implement that has a main toolbar connected to a hook structure and adapted for a forward movement on the ground, the main toolbar includes the front and rear faces and the top and bottom walls that connect the faces , a set of deep cultivation tools connected to the main frame, a plurality of four-bar linkage structures having the front ends connected to the main tool bar and which can be adjusted transversely along the main toolbar, the joints four bars include the rear ends, a secondary toolbar connected to the rear ends of the joints, and a height adjustment structure connected to the four-bar joints to vary the relative vertical location of the secondary toolbar in relation to the main frame.

12. The invention as claimed in clause 11 further characterized in that it comprises a rear four-bar linkage connected to the secondary tool bar, and the culture tool structure connected to the rear four-bar linkage and that can rotate vertically with the same in relation to the secondary toolbar, the rear four-bar articulation maintains an essentially constant angle of the culture structure in relation to the ground by rotating the crop tool structure vertically with the four-bar joint.

13. The invention as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that the structure of cultivating tools comprises a front plow grille and a rear clod removal device, and the height adjustment structure to selectively adjust the vertical location of the grid of plow with respect to the clod removal device, wherein the rear four-bar link maintains the selected vertical location by vertically rotating the culture tool structure.

14. The invention as claimed in clause 11 characterized in that the deep culture tool assembly includes a transversely adjustable clamp connected to the main tool bar, a horizontal leg connected to the adjustable clamp and extending rearwardly from the rear face of the main tool bar above the bottom wall of the main tool bar, a plow grid support connected to the adjustable clamp and adjustable transversely with the clamp, and a plowing grid for determining litter held from the support Plow gate to turn down the main toolbar and down the horizontal leg. SUMMARY A cultivating implement that includes a straight bar tear structure with a front main toolbar holding the subsoil handles of the special clamps which can also hold plowshares in front of the handles independently of the additional toolbar structure. An optional rear or secondary toolbar is clamped by four-bar links to the main toolbar. The four-bar joints allow the operator to adjust the height of the secondary toolbar in relation to the main toolbar to accommodate changes in the depth of operation of the scrapers. Joints can also be released to allow the secondary toolbar to float in relation to the main toolbar. The secondary toolbar accommodates different attachments behind the scrapers, such as the disk bedding machines, the plowing planters and the strip cultivation equipment which can operate at optimum angles of attack and depths of penetration regardless of the depth of operation of the scraper. The strip cultivation rig includes the plowshares and the rolling basket held from the secondary frame by a four-bar linkage so that the angle of attack and the relative operating height of the plowshares and the rolling basket remain constant as the rig floats through the full vertical range of the rigging. The combination of the adjustable secondary toolbar and the four-bar linkage on the rig provides versatility for different ground conditions and different tools and depths of rigging operation. The transversely adjustable clamps on the main and secondary toolbars help to accommodate the different tool spacings.