NZ289782A - Ground working tool has a body with a pair of wings at an acute angle - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand No. International No. 289782 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 25.07.1994;31.08.1994; Complete Specification Filed: 25.07.1995 Classification:^) A01B13/08; A01B15/06; E02F9/28 Publication date: 19 December 1997 Journal No.: 1423 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Ground working tool Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: EDWARD WILLIAM CHAPMAN, an Australian citizen of "Seven Hills", Marmor, Queensland 4702, Australia 28 9 7 8 TITLE "GROUND WORKING TOOL" FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a ground working tool which 5 most particularly but not exclusively is a "boot" which is attached to agricultural machines such as cultivators and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hitherto a conventional boot was formed of heavy gauge steel and included a socket part which included a pair of opposed 10 attachment apertures for receiving an attachment bolt for attachment to the ripper tyne. In operation, a cultivator incorporated a plurality of spaced ripper tynes which were mounted to a horizontal mounting beam which could be raised or lowered by a pair of upper and lower hydraulic ram assemblies attached to a body or chassis of the cultivator which pair 15 of hydraulic ram assemblies were located at each end of the mounting beam. The horizontal mounting beam was usually attached to the body or chassis by a parallelogram linkage. The arrangement was such that the angle of the ripper tynes to the horizontal or ground surface could be varied depending upon the hardness of the ground. Normally the usual 20 operational angle to the ground surface utilised by the plurality of ripper tynes was 45°C.

The conventional boot normally had a body which was substantially rectangular in cross-section which tapered inwardly from top to bottom though the socket part before forming a ground engagement 25 spike or tapered end portion. In operation, a plurality of spaced boots, which were each attached to an associated ripper tyne, created a groove or furrow of loose overburden after one longitudinal pass was made by the cultivator through a tract of ground or land. The cultivator subsequently usually made a series of transverse passes across the 30 longitudinal furrow, alternatively known as "cross ripping", to widen the initial groove which was usually necessary when it was desired to remove soil from a particular location such as the formation of contour banks.

WO 96/03023 PCT/AU95/00449 The process of "cross ripping" was time consuming and expensive especially when it was necessary to take into account the costs of fuel and tractor hire if applicable. The process of "cross ripping" also could not be carried out in soft or wet soil and was most appropriate for 5 cultivating hard or rocky soil.

Reference may also be made to Australian Patent Specification 74231/91 which describes an agricultural share having a working portion and a mounting portion having a mounting aperture. The working portion had a nose at one end and a reinforcing rib extending 10 from the nose to the mounting portion. There was also provided a recess in the rib and the mounting portion to accommodate the head of a mounting bolt received in the mounting aperture. The recess included a wall defined by the mounting portion and the reinforcing rib to entirely surround the bolt head to afford it at least some protection against the 15 aggressive effects of on-coming soil when the agricultural share was moving through the ground. The agricultural share was also provided with a pair of lateral wings on either side of the reinforcing rib which tapered progressively inwardly from an end of the share adjacent the recess to the nose. The share had an undersurface which was 20 substantially planar.

Reference also may be made to Australian Patent Specification 74010/91 which also described an agricultural share or ground working tool of generally triangular shape, the tool having a working portion for engaging the ground which included an apex of the 25 triangle and converging sides of the triangle. The working portion also included a forward region including the apex of the triangle and a rearward region wherein the forward region had greater resistance to wear under the aggressive effects of soil than the rearward region such th<^t a working edge developed at each of the sides of the triangle as a 30 result of wear on the rearward region. The share also included a mounting portion for attachment to an agricultural machine.

A particular problem with the use of agricultural shares or KLLLIVLU U I AUb I3a& 3 289782 ground working tools of the type described above in Australian Specifications 74231/91 and 74010/91 is that after continuous use, the body of the tool or share will tend to wear especially when the tool or share is being utilised in rocky or hard terrain. This means that the working or functional edges of the tool or share will become irregular and thus satisfactory operation will no longer be achieved. This problem may be least partially exacerbated by the provision of a reinforcement rib or reinforced recess in the case of Specification 74231/91 or specially reinforced regions in the case of Specification 74010/91 which not only are expensive to manufacture but do not provide any assistance in operation. ground working tool that may alleviate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

The invention therefore provides, in one aspect, a ground working tool which includes:- (i) a body; (ii) a pair of wings integral with or attached to the body wherein each wing includes a body part which has a plane which is offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the body at a maximum acute angle of 5° from front to rear having regard to the direction of travel; and (iii) a terminal ground contacting projection located at a free end of each of the wings.

The invention, in another aspect, provides a wing for attachment to a body of a ground working tool, said wing having a body part and a terminal ground contacting projection at a free end thereof, characterised in that said body part has a plane which, when attached to the body of the ground working tool, is offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the body at a maximum acute angle of 5° from front to rea ' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It therefore is an object of the invention to provide a share or _ regard to the direction of travel.

AMENDED SHEET IPEVAU PCT/AU HO / U U t «t 51 RECEIVED 0 I AUG 1S35 28 9 7 82 The body of the ground working tool may have any suitable shape having a mounting part of any suitable design. Preferably, however, the body is similar to a conventional boot as described above having a mounting part in the form of a mounting socket and a ground engagement part in the form of a spike or tapered end portion. The mounting socket may have an open end and adjacent internal socket which may have any suitable cross-sectional shape such as round or AMENDED SHEET IPEA/AU WO 96/03023 PCT/AU95/00449 4 more preferably is rectangular. The mounting socket may have a progressive inward taper from the open end to the ground engagement part.

However, it will be appreciated that the mounting part of the 5 type described in Patent Specification 74231/90 or Patent Specification 74010/91 may also be utilised as the mounting part of the ground working tool of the invention.

In another alternative form, the mounting part may have a pair of opposed attachment apertures to accommodate a mounting bolt 1 o and thus need not include an open end or form a mounting socket of the type discussed above.

Each wing is preferably welded to the body but this does not preclude other forms of releasable attachment thereto. However it is preferred that each wing is fixedly attached to the body. 15 Each wing may include an attachment end and a free end having the terminal ground contacting projection. Preferably, the projection is in the form of a pin of substantially round cross-section which may be welded to the free end of the wing so that the pin has a longitudinal axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the body but 20 spaced from the body. However, it will be appreciated that the pin may have any other suitable cross-sectional shape.

Preferably, each wing has a substantially triangular body part of plate-like form but this is not essential and the body part may be of any other suitable shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of an agricultural cultivator tractor having a plurality of ripper tynes to which are attached 30 the ground working tool of the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ground working tool shown in FIG. 1; WO 96/03023 PCT/AU95/00449 FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ground working tool of FIG. 2 in association with an adjacent ripper tyne; FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing that the body part of each wing attachment is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the body 5 of the boot; FIG. 5 represents a plan view of a ground working tool constructed in accordance with a different embodiment to that shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of the ground working 10 tool shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 represents a cross-sectional profile of the ground working tool of FIG. 6 as indicated by the arrow, FIG. 8 represents a cross-sectional profile of the ground working tool of FIG. 6 as indicated; FIG. 9 refers to a perspective view of a ground working tool constructed in accordance with a different embodiment to that shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5; and FIG. 10 illustrates a detailed view of the terminal ground contacting projection illustrated in FIG. 9. 20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1, there is shown agricultural tractor or cultivator 10 having a mounting beam 11 to which are releasably attached thereto a plurality of ripper tynes 12. Each tyne 12 has a multiplicity of mounting apertures 13 through which may pass a mounting bolt 14. There are also 25 shown links 15 attached to extensions 16 of mounting beam 11 at 17. Links 15 are also attached to chassis 18 of tractor 10 at 19 and form part of a parallelogram linkage system (not shown). There are also utilised-hydraulic ram assemblies attached to each end of mounting beam 11 which have also been omitted for convenience. The tractor 10 also 30 includes crawler tracks 20 and wheels 21. Mounting beam 11 also includes linkage attachment lugs 22 and associated links 22A.

Each ripper tyne 12 also includes a boot 23 attached 28 9782 thereto. As shown in FIG. 2, each boot 23 includes a body 24 having a socket part or attachment end 25, a pair of opposed attachment apertures 26 which are included in internal socket 27, tapered digging point 28, reinforcement rib 29, wings 30 which are each welded to body 24 at 31 and round pins or projections 32 which are each welded to an adjacent free end 33 of wings 30. Each wing 30 includes a triangular body part 34. Each projection 30 is spaced from body 24 by space or gap 35. Each projection 32 has an axis which is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of body 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, each wing 30 may include an attachment edge 36 which is to be welded to body 24, free edges 37 and 38 and projection 30 welded to adjacent edge 39. The "free end" 33 may include edge 39, edge 38 or part of edge 37 as is considered appropriate. _ However, preferably the projection 30 is welded to edge 39 and has an outwardly extending part 40 from body 34.

The projection 30 may also be aligned at any suitable angle to the longitudinal axis of body 24. While the preferred angle of inclination is 90°, this may also form within the range of 45°-135° wherein the relevant angle of interest is the included angle between axis 41 of projection 30 and longitudinal axis 42 of body 24.

The ripper tyne 12 also includes body 43, opposed recesses 44, and end projection 45 for engagement with socket 27. There is also included attachment aperture 46 which is aligned with opposed apertures 26. Mounting bolt 47 is also shown. There is also shown end lug 48 having aperture 49.

FIG. 4 also shows that it is preferred that the plane of the body part 34 of each wing 30 is offset or tilted relative to the longitudinal axis or plane of boot 23. This is shown in FIG. 4 wherein a line depicting the plane of body part 34 and extending from front to rear of boot 23 having regard to the direction of travel is offset at an angle a to longitudinal axis 42 of body 24. The value of a is preferably a maximum of 5° and more suitably is 1-3° and most suitably is 2°. The vertex of t£ve' ~ :7'"V AMENDED SHEET IPEA/AU 1/ W& 28 9 7 8 6/1 angle a is a point 0 which is designated by the intersection of edges 36 and 37. The angle of tilt may be upward or downward of longitudinal axis 42.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 5-8, the ground working tool 23A includes body 24A, wing 30 welded to body 24A at 50, reinforcement AMENDED SHEET IPEA/AU WO 96/03023 PCT/AU95/00449 rib 29A and a pair of reinforcement ribs 51 located adjacent to reinforcement rib 29A. There is also included a nose portion 52 of relatively shallow rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 7.

The purpose of reinforcement ribs 51 is to greatly 5 strengthen the body 24A and thus provide body 24A with an apparently longevity which is considerably superior to conventional ground working tools or tynes.

FIGS. 9-10 show a ground working tool 53 having body 54, tapered digging points 55, reinforcement rib 56, wings 57, terminal ground 10 contacting projections 58 and rotatable components 59 of projections 58. As best shown in FIG. 10, each rotatable component 59 is mounted on a support bolt 60 having a head 61. There is also provided nut 62 and washer 63. Bolt 60 may be inserted into co-aligned passages 64 and 65 of component 59 and projection 58 respectively. The assembly of (i) 15 component 59 which is fixedly mounted to bolt 60, (ii) bolt 60, (iii) head 61 and nut 62 may rotate as one or in unison relative to projection 58. The provision of rotatable component 59 means that during use of the ground working tool 53, the available surface area of component 59 is considerably increased since rotation of component 59 is caused by 20 contact with the ground in use and thus operational longevity of the tool 53 is considerably increased. Head 61 of bolt 60 is welded to component 59 at 66 and projection 58 is welded to wing 57 at 67. There is also included reinforcement rib 68.

In another embodiment, rotatable component 59 may be 25 rotatably mounted to a fixed bolt or pin (not shown) which is welded or fixedly attached to projection 58.

In operation, it has been found that when the wings are attached to the body of the boot, the ground working tool may be used satisfactorily in soft or wet terrain and that a furrow may be formed on one 30 pass by tractor over ground requiring soil removal without there being any need for "cross ripping" or making transverse passes across the furrow which is necessary if the boot is utilised without the wings WO 96/03023 PCT/AU95/00449 The furrow formed by the ground working tool of the invention may also make a much wider furrow than in the case if the boot was used alone with the projection contacting each edge of the furrow. The wider furrow thus created provides a furrow far more suitable for the 5 retention of water than in the case of a narrow furrow with steeply sloping sides formed by the boot alone. This means that the wider furrow is superior when compared to the narrow furrow for planting purposes. This means that plants have a far greater chance of germinating, and thus use of the ground working tool of the invention provides a superior seed bed 10 than in the case of the narrow furrow.

It will also be appreciated that after making an initial pass when utilising the ground working tool of the invention, it"will be much easier to pull the ground working tool of the invention including the boot through the soil in subsequent passes because in such subsequent 1 5 passes at least one of ripper tynes 12 will not be doing any work.

The provision of the projection and, in particular, outwardly extending part 40 or rotatable component 59 by contacting the sides of the furrow will also protect the body of boot from excessive wear and thus operational longevity is considerably enhanced. 20 The ground working tool of the invention may be utilized for soil removal or for cultivation. In the case of soil removal, the requirement for "cross ripping" is now substantially overcome. In the case of cultivation, a field may be rapidly ploughed or cultivated by making a first series of parallel passes in one direction and making a second series of 25 passes intermediate adjacent passes of the first series in a second direction. In use, it will be found that soil will pass underneath outwardly extending part 40 or rotatable component 59 and thereby compacts the soil along the opposed sides of the furrow thus formeo. This has a desirable effect of stabilizing each side of the furrow. The presence of 30 each gap 35 also provides clearance so that bolts 47 may be removed from opposed apertures 27 when desired.

Claims (18)

28 9 7 ! CLAIMS

1. A ground working tool which includes:- )%*;(i) a body;;(ii) a pair of wings integral with or attached to the body 5 wherein each wing includes a body part which has a plane which is offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the body at a maximum acute angle of 5° from front to rear having regard to the direction of travel; and;(iii) a terminal ground contacting projection located at a 1 o free end of each of the wings.;

2. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the body has a mounting part with a pair of opposed attachment apertures and a ground engagement part;

3. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the 15 mounting part is a mounting socket and the ground engagement part comprises a spike or tapered end portion.;

4. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the mounting socket has an open end and an adjacent internal socket.;

5. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the 20 mounting socket includes a pair of opposed attachment apertures.;

6. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each wing is fixedly attached to the body.;

7. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 6 wherein each wing includes an attachment end and a free end which has the terminal;25 ground contacting projection.;

8. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the terminal ground contacting projection comprises a pin of substantially round cross section welded to said free end.;

9. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 7 wherein each 30 wing is of plate-like form.;10. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 1 whecjBtfj^Q^;acute angle is 1-3°. /r*1' AMENDED SHEET IFEA/AU PCT/au Q 5 / 0 0 4 4 9 RECEIVED 0 1 AUG 1998

10 28 9 7 8 2

11. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the acute angle is 2°.

12. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the body includes one or more reinforcement ribs.

13. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 7 wherein each terminal ground contacting projection includes a rotatable component which is located on a restrictive outer end of each terminal ground contacting projection.

14. A ground working tool as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the rotatable component includes a mounting spindle or bolt which is located in a mounting aperture in a respective terminal ground. contacting projection.

15. A wing for attachment to a body of a ground working tool, said wing having a body part and a terminal ground contacting projection at a free end thereof, characterised in that said body part has a plane which, when attached to the body of the ground working tool, is offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the body at a maximum acute angle of 5° from front to rear having regard to the direction of travel.

16. A ground working tool substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A ground working tool substantially as herein described with reference to figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A ground working tool substantially as herein described with reference to figures 9 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. I^octW7 <— j end of claims AMENDED SHEET IFEA/AU