NZ549450A

NZ549450A - Device for holding agricultural implements with primary and secondary supports connected with a parallelogram linkage

Info

Publication number: NZ549450A
Application number: NZ54945006A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: George Alexander Eady
Original assignee: George Alexander Eady
Priority date: 2006-08-25
Filing date: 2006-08-25
Publication date: 2008-10-31
Also published as: AU2007211876A1

Abstract

A support for supporting an implement (42) from a terrestrial vehicle (1) is disclosed. The support comprises a primary support member (4) for mounting on the vehicle (1) and a secondary support member (20) to which the implement (42) is mounted. The secondary support member (20) is joined to the primary support member (4) by a pair of substantially equal length substantially parallel arms (24, 26) in an articulated parallelogram arrangement. The parallel arms (24, 26) are pivotally attached to each of the primary (4) and secondary (20) support members at four pivotal connections (32, 34, 38, 40) having mutually parallel and spaced apart pivot axes, which in use are transverse to the direction of vehicle (1) travel. The parallel arms (24, 26) are each pivotable relative to the primary support member (4) through an angular range in which the arms (24, 26) depend downwardly and rearwardly from the primary support member (4). The secondary support member (20) has a lower end (22) which is adapted for contacting a ground surface over which the support is moved. The primary support member (4) is supported on an adjustable frame member (2) that in use can raise and lower the primary support member (4) relative to the vehicle (1).

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 549450 Date: 25 August 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AGRICULTURAL DEVICE I, GEORGE ALEXANDER EADY, a New Zealand citizen, of 108 Pughs Road, RD1 Richmond, Nelson, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 1 - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFRCE OF N.Z. I 6 JUL 2007 RECEIVED AGRICULTURAL DEVICE FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to agricultural machinery for use in treating land and crops, and particularly for horticulture where crops are managed by machinery that is moved between generally parallel crop rows. BACKGROUND Horticultural crops planted out in rows are subjected to treatments by equipment that is towed behind, or mounted on, a tractor vehicle that is driven between the rows or straddles one or more rows. Typical treatments include pruning, trimming, harvesting, and spraying with fungicides, insecticides or herbicides. In large scale horticultural operations it is known to hang several crop-treating implements, for example air blast spray heads, from discrete positions across a support boom. The boom is mounted transversely on a tractor vehicle or on a trailer that is towed behind a tractor vehicle. The tractor vehicle is driven between or over the crop rows with the boom mounted above the crop and spanning transversely across several crop rows. The crop-treating implements are positioned to treat several crop rows simultaneously. The boom may be hinged to allow the end portions of the boom to be folded into a compact configuration when turning at the ends of crop rows or for general transport on public roads. The outer ends of the boom may be supported by wheeled trollies, dollies or carriages that run between crop rows in lanes parallel to that in which the tractor is driven. The boom may be hinged to allow the outer ends of the booms to rise and fall with respect to the tractor when moving over uneven ground. 1048948-1 - 3 - SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of at least one embodiment of the invention is to provide a support for maintaining the elevation of an implement above a ground surface when the implement 5 is moved along a crop row, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. In a first aspect the invention may be broadly said to be a support for supporting an implement from a terrestrial vehicle, wherein the support comprises a primary support member for mounting on the vehicle and a secondary support member to which in use 10 the implement is mounted, the secondary support member is joined to the primary support member by a pair of substantially equal length substantially parallel arms in an articulated parallelogram arrangement, the parallel arms are pivotally attached to each of the primary and secondary support members at four pivotal connections having mutually parallel and spaced apart pivot axes which in use are transverse to the direction 15 of vehicle travel, the parallel arms are each pivotable relative to the primary support member through an angular range in which the arm depends downwardly and rearwardly from the primary support member, the secondary support member has a lower end which is adapted for contacting a ground surface over which the support is moved and the primary support member is preferably supported on an adjustable frame 20 member by which in use the primary support member can be raised and lowered relative to the vehicle. Preferably, the primary support member is an elongate boom for mounting transversely on the vehicle. 25 In a second aspect the invention may be broadly said to be a support for simultaneously supporting a plurality of implements from a terrestrial vehicle, wherein the support comprises an elongate primary support member for mounting transversely on the vehicle and a plurality of secondary support members that are spaced apart along the 30 primary support member, each secondary support member being joined to the primary support member by a pair of substantially equal length substantially parallel arms in a respective articulated parallelogram arrangement in which the parallel arms are pivotally attached to the primary support member and the respective secondary support member at four pivotal connections having mutually parallel and spaced apart pivot 1048948-3 INTELLECTUAL PROPE OFFICE OF N.2. 1 1 SEP 2008 INTEjL| fncc OF-roz. - 4 - axes which in use are transverse to the direction of vehicle travel, the parallel arms are each pivotable relative to the primary support member through an angular range in which the arm depends downwardly and rearwardly from the primary support member, the secondary support member has a lower end which is adapted for contacting a ground 5 surface over which the support is moved and the primary support member is preferably supported on an adjustable frame member by which in use the primary support member can be raised and lowered relative to the vehicle. Preferably, the primary support member comprises at least one end portion which carries at least one of the secondary support members and the at least one end portion is hinged to a central portion of the 10 primary support member, so that the at least one end portion can be folded forward and/or backward about a substantially vertical hinge axis. Preferably, in either the first of second aspects, the lower end of the secondary support member can in use be lifted clear of the ground by adjustment of the adjustable frame. 15 The lower end of the, or each, secondary support member may comprise a wheel or skid. At least one of the arms may comprise a pair of parallel spaced-apart members that are joined together at the respective pivotal connections of the at least one arm. 20 At least one implement is preferably fitted to the, or each, secondary support member. Preferably, the height of the at least one implement above the lower end of the respective secondary support member can be preset or adjusted. The at least one implement may be a spraying device, a trimming or pruning device, a crop harvesting 25 device, a sowing device, a fertiliser applying device, or a mowing device. The vehicle may be a wheeled tractor or a wheeled trailer. Alternatively, the vehicle may be a tracked vehicle that runs on endless tracks. 30 The invention may further be said to consist in any alternative combination of parts or features mentioned herein or shown in the accompanying drawings. Known equivalents INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE Of Ni 1048948-3 1 1 SEP 2008 received of these parts or features which are not expressly set out are nevertheless deemed to be included. The term 'comprising' as used in this specification means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments and methods of utilising the invention will be further described, with reference to the accompanying figures, by way of example only and without intending to be limiting, wherein; Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the left side of crop sprayer attached to the rear end of a tractor; Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the crop sprayer of Figure 1, with a boom lowered and a drop leg in a first operational position riding on level ground; Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the crop sprayer of Figure 1, with the boom lowered and the drop leg riding over high ground; and Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of the crop sprayer of Figure 1, with the boom raised to lift the drop leg off the ground. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the figure it will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in various forms and modes. The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is given by way of example only. 1048948-1 - 6 - Figure 1 shows the rear end of a tractor vehicle 1. A vertical rectangular frame 2 is attached to the rear end of the vehicle. The top of the frame is braced by a pair of guys 3 which are secured to the vehicle. A central portion of a transverse boom 4 is attached 5 to the frame by a double parallelogram linkage 6. The parallelogram linkage comprises left and right pairs of upper and lower parallel arms 8. The boom can be raised and lowered by operation of two hydraulic rams 10 which are connected between the frame and respective lower arms of the parallelogram linkage. 10 The boom includes a triangular section truss having three horizontal primary truss members 12, being upper and lower forward truss members 12A and 12B, and rearward truss member 12C. The boom extends transversely beyond the width of the tractor. Six drop legs 14 are carried at discrete locations along the length of the boom. The three horizontal truss members 12A, 12B and 12C are linked together by secondary truss 15 members 16, where each drop leg is attached. The upper and lower primary truss members 12A and 12B and diagonal bracing members 18 lie in a vertical truss plane to give the boom sufficient strength and rigidity to carry equipment fitted to the drop legs. A lower major portion 20 of the length of each drop leg 14 is vertical. A wheel 22 is 20 fixed at the lower end of each leg. The wheel axis is parallel to the boom. The wheel is free to rotate about its axis but, in the embodiment shown, is otherwise fixed, i.e. the ^ wheel does not swivel or rotate about a vertical or upright axis. Each drop leg 14 is attached to the boom 4 by a pair of upper and lower parallel links 24 25 and 26 which, with a lower rear pair of secondary truss members 16 of the boom and an upper end 30 of the drop leg, form a parallelogram linkage arrangement. The upper and lower parallel links 24 and 26 are each formed by a pair of parallel arms that are rigidly joined together at each end at a pivotal connection 32. The upper ends 30 of the upper and lower links 24 and 26 are pivotally joined to the boom 4 at upper and lower pivotal boom connections 34 and 36. The lower end of the upper parallel link 24 is pivotally joined to the upper end 30 of the drop leg 14 at an upper pivotal drop leg 1048948-1 - 7 - connection 38. The lower end of the lower parallel link 26 is pivotally joined to the drop leg at a lower pivotal drop leg connection 40 which is spaced from the upper pivotal drop leg connection 38. 5 The spacing between the upper and lower boom connections 34 and 36 is substantially equal to the spacing between the upper and lower drop leg connections 38 and 40. The length of the upper link 24 between its end connections is substantially equal to the length of the lower link 26 between its end connections. This pairing of lengths between the connections provides the parallelogram arrangement that maintains the 10 substantially vertical orientation of the lower portion 20 of the drop leg 14 as the leg ^ rides up and down relative to the boom 4. The horizontal transverse spacing between the drop legs 14 is selected to correspond to the spacing between crops rows. The spacing may be fixed on initial manufacture or 15 can be adjustable. For example, the upper connections 34 and 36 of the links 24 and 26 supporting the drop leg 14 may be attached to the boom 4 by a sliding attachment (not shown). Alternatively, the boom may include telescopic sections (not shown) in the truss members 12 and 18. 20 Spray heads 42, or other crop-treating implements, are attached, for example by collars or clamps 44, to the vertical lower portions 20 of the drop legs 14. The height of a . spray head above the corresponding drop leg wheel 22 can be adjusted, for example by loosening the collar or clamp, raising or lower the spray head to the desired height, and then re-tightening the collar or clamp on the drop leg. The height and/or orientation of 25 the spray head is selected to direct the spray to the target area of the crop being treated. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the secondary truss members 16 between the upper boom connections 34, 36 are arranged at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from horizontal to allow the upper and lower links to work over a wide 30 useful range. The upper and lower links 24 and 26 are able to pivot relative to the boom 4 over almost a 180 degree range. 1048948-1 - 8 - The spacing between the upper and lower boom connections 34, 36 is substantially equal to the spacing between the upper and lower drop leg connections 38, 40. The length of the upper link 24 between its end connections is substantially equal to the length of the lower link 26 between its end connections. This pairing of lengths 5 between the connections provides the parallelogram arrangement that maintains the substantially vertical orientation of the lower portion 20 of the drop leg 14 as the leg rides up and down relative to the boom 4. Figure 2 is a schematic side view showing the boom 4 in a lowered position with a drop 10 leg wheel 22 resting on the ground 46. In this position the upper and lower links 24 and ^ 26 hang downwardly and rearwardly from the boom at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from horizontal. This is a preferred operational position. It is to be appreciated that, from this preferred position, the drop leg moves relative to the boom either upwardly and rearwardly or downwardly and forwardly in a direction that is 15 approximately 45 degrees from horizontal. In particular, if the drop leg wheel encounters an obstacle, the wheel can rise to over-ride the obstacle while the boom continues its forward movement. In other words, the drop legs can swing backward and upward relative to the boom, such as when encountering an obstacle. By this movement, the drop leg support arrangement described herein reduces the loading on 20 the boom that might otherwise occur. For example, increased loading on the boom could occur if the drop legs could only move upward or only move backward, relative ^ to the boom, over part of the operational range of drop leg movements. When the height of the boom is set to the preferred position, with the upper and lower 25 links generally at about 45 degrees from horizontal, each drop leg can rise and fall, independently of the other drop legs, over a wide range in response to unevenness in ground contours to maintain each spray head at a constant elevation above the ground in the immediate vicinity of the respective spray head. 30 Figure 3 is a schematic side view showing one example of the range of movement of the drop legs. A drop leg wheel 22 has ridden up over a rising ground contour 48 to lift the 1048948-1 - 9 - 10 corresponding drop leg relative to the tractor and boom 4. The orientation of the drop leg is maintained by the upper and lower parallel links 24 and 26. The tractor 1 can be advanced along crop rows, with each drop leg 14 riding on its respective wheel 22. Each spray head 42 is independently maintained at a constant elevation relative to the ground in the immediate vicinity of the crop being sprayed by that spray head, and largely regardless of uneven ground contours in the lane along which the spray head is moving or of differences between the contours of neighbouring lanes over which the boom is travelling. ^ Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing the boom 4 lifted to a raised position by extension of the hydraulic rams 10 to lift the drop leg wheels 22 clear off the ground 46. The upper and lower links 24 and 26 hang vertically downward. The boom can be raised to this position when the boom is to be swung around at the ends of crop rows, or 15 when relocating the tractor and boom arrangement. When the boom is in the raised position seen in Figure 4, the tractor 1 can be driven into a starting position at one end of parallel crop rows with the tractor and the spray heads 42 on the drop legs 14 aligned in lanes between the crop rows. The boom is then 20 lowered to bring the wheels into ground contact and so that the parallel links 24 and 26 supporting the drop legs 14 are at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from horizontal as seen in Figures 1 and 2. By predetermination of the length of the links and the length of the drop legs, the boom will clear the tops of the crop while the drop leg wheels ride on the ground. 25 Sites with slopes or uneven ground contours, and particularly where there are ruts along the tractor wheel tracks, can cause tilting of booms spanning multiple crop rows. The tilt of the boom lifts and drops opposite ends of the boom. The tilt is more pronounced with longer booms. It is known to support the boom on out-rigger wheels or skids 30 running in outer lanes between crop rows. However, this is sometimes insufficient to maintain spray heads at a constant elevation over intermediate lanes, and particularly where lanes have different ground contours. 1048948-1 -10- However, by allowing individual drop legs to ride on respective wheels along each lane as described above, the elevations of the spray heads above ground are maintained substantially constant in each lane so that the spray can be accurately directed at the 5 predetermined target zone, even on sloping or terraced sites, or other sites that have uneven ground contours. By accurately directing the spray at the crop, or at a particularly target zone of a crop, the over-use of sprayed material can be reduced, giving economic and environmental 10 advantages. In earlier systems, excessive spraying has been used to ensure efficacy of ^ the treatment. This led to wastage and contamination of surrounding soils or neighbouring properties from overspray. The foregoing describes the invention with reference to a preferred embodiment. 15 Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope of the invention. For example, dampers or shock absorbers may be fitted to the parallelogram linkages, and particularly to damp the rise and fall movements of the individual drop legs. The 20 wheels can be mounted to the drop legs with damped suspension mechanisms, particularly if shock loadings on the drop legs need to be reduced, such as if heavy | equipment is carried on the drop legs. In one option, the wheels 22 swivel to allow the wheels to self-steer such as when the 25 tractor and boom are being turned around, for example at the end of the crop rows. The boom can be divided into sections, for example two outer end sections may be hinged to a central section fitted to the linkage 6. The outer sections may fold forward, rearward or upward into a compact configuration, such as for storage or transport on 30 standard or limited width roads. 1048948-1 -11- The boom can be raised and lowered by any suitable mechanism. For example, a cable or cables wound on and off a driven drum, other winch systems or electric actuators could be used as alternatives to the hydraulic rams described above. 5 The boom, instead of being an open framework such as the triangular section truss described above with reference to the figures, can be a tubular boom, or a boom of other design. The single wheel on each drop leg, as described above, may be replaced by a roller, or a 10 plurality of wheels or rollers, or any other suitable device for supporting the leg while . riding on the ground surface. For example, skids or skis can be fitted to the lower end of the drop legs as alternatives to the wheel described above. It is to be understood that the arrangement described above can be use to spray any 15 materials used in association with agricultural crops. The spray may be directed onto the desired crop, or directed away from the desired crop and directed at undesired companion plants, such as weeds. Spray materials that can be sprayed with the arrangement described include, but are not limited to, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. The drop legs may carry implements other than spray heads. For example, 20 the drop legs could carry equipment for sowing, pruning, crop or weed trimming, harvesting, grass mowing, or applying fertiliser. 1048948-1 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> -12- WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A support for supporting an implement from a terrestrial vehicle, wherein the support comprises a primary support member for mounting on the vehicle and a secondary support member to which in use the implement is mounted, the secondary support member is joined to the primary support member by a pair of substantially equal length substantially parallel arms in an articulated parallelogram arrangement, the parallel arms are pivotally attached to each of the primary and secondary support members at four pivotal connections having mutually parallel and spaced apart pivot axes which in use are transverse to the direction of vehicle travel, the parallel arms are each pivotable relative to the primary support member through an angular range in which the arm depends downwardly and rearwardly from the primary support member, the secondary support member has a lower end which is adapted for contacting a ground surface over which the support is moved and the primary support member is supported on an adjustable frame member by which in use the primary support member can be raised and lowered relative to the vehicle.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary support member is an elongate boom for mounting transversely on the vehicle.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower end of the secondary support member can in use be lifted clear of the ground by adjustment of the adjustable frame.

4. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower end of the secondary support member comprises a wheel or skid.

5. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one implement is fitted to the secondary support member.

6. A support for simultaneously supporting a plurality of implements from a terrestrial vehicle, wherein the support comprises an elongate primary support member 1048948-3 I 11 SEP 2008 -13. for mounting transversely on the vehicle and a plurality of secondary support members that are spaced apart along the primary support member, each secondary support member being joined to the primary support member by a pair of substantially equal length substantially parallel arms in a respective articulated parallelogram arrangement 5 in which the parallel arms are pivotally attached to the primary support member and the respective secondary support member at four pivotal connections having mutually parallel and spaced apart pivot axes which in use are transverse to the direction of vehicle travel, the parallel arms are each pivotable relative to the primary support member through an angular range in which the arm depends downwardly and 10 rearwardly from the primary support member, the secondary support member has a lower end which is adapted for contacting a ground surface over which the support is moved and the primary support member is supported on an adjustable frame member by which in use the primary support member can be raised and lowered relative to the vehicle. 15

7. A support as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lower end of at least one of the secondary support members can in use be lifted clear of the ground by adjustment of the adjustable frame. 20

8. A support as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the lower end of at least one of the secondary support members comprises a wheel or skid.

9. A support as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein at least one implement is fitted to at least one of the secondary support members. 25

10. A support as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the primary support member comprises at least one end portion which carries at least one of the secondary support members and the at least one end portion is hinged to a central portion of the primary support member, so that the at least one end portion can be folded forward 30 and/or backward about a substantially vertical hinge axis. -14-

11. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the arms comprises a pair of parallel spaced-apart members that are joined together at the respective pivotal connections of the at least one arm.

12. A support as claimed in claim 5 or claim 9, wherein the height of the at least one implement above the lower end of the respective secondary support member can be preset or adjusted.

13. A support as claimed in claim 5, 9 or 12, wherein the at least one implement is a spraying device, a trimming or pruning device, a crop harvesting device, a sowing device, a fertiliser applying device, or a mowing device.

14. A support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle is a wheeled tractor or a wheeled trailer.

15. A support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the vehicle is a tracked vehicle that runs on endless tracks.

16. A support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, any one or more of the accompanying drawings. 1048948-3 INTELLECTUAL PiOPERTv OFFICE OF N.Z 11 SEP 2008 ftECE I </div>