WO1990011677A1

WO1990011677A1 - Plough

Info

Publication number: WO1990011677A1
Application number: PCT/AU1990/000134
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruce Allan Poltrock; Gavin John Monk
Original assignee: Grizzly Engineering Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1989-04-06
Filing date: 1990-04-06
Publication date: 1990-10-18

Abstract

A plough having forward and rearward frames (2, 10) with gangs of discs (6, 8, 14, 16) thereon, the frames being pivotally connected about an axis (20) which is offset relative to the vertical. A heavy tension spring (50) acts between the forward and rear frames so as to maintain correct alignment thereof. The plough is particularly suitable for even ploughing in non-uniform ground.

Description

PLOUGH

This invention relates to a plough.

More particularly, the invention relates to a ploug having gangs of discs.

The general object of the invention is to provide plough which has improved characteristics during turns.

According to the present invention there is provided plough comprising a forward frame having gangs of disc thereon, a rearward frame having gangs of discs thereon, an pivot means pivotally connecting the forward and rearwar frames and wherein the pivot axis of the pivot means is off set to the vertical and biasing means cuts between th forward and rearward frames.

Preferably, the pivot axis is off-set at an angle i the range 5° and 15° ^o the vertical, the acute angle bein towards the forward frame. Preferably, the angle is 10°.

Preferably further, the forward frame has gangs whic project forwardly from either side of the frame and th rearward frame has gangs which project rearwardly from th rearward frame.

Preferably further, the plough includes wheels. It i preferred that the wheels are mounted on the forward fram and are located laterally of the pivot means.

The invention will now be further described wit reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of a tandem off-se disc plough constructed in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side view of the pivot of th plough; FIGURE 3 is a simplified view along the line 3-3; and FIGURE 4 is a side view of one of the gangs of discs.

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a tandem off-set disc plough constructed in accordance with the invention. It comprises a forward frame 2 which has a longitudinally extending beam 4 from which extend first and second gangs 6 and 8 of discs and a draw bar 9. The gangs of discs are preferably similar to those disclosed in Australian Patent No. 552,035. The plough also comprises a rearward frame 10 which is pivotally connected to the forward frame 2 by means of pivot means 18. The rearward frame 10 has third and fourth gangs 14 and 16 of discs. The forward frame 2 is supported by wheels 17 and 19.

The forward frame 2 includes gang support arms 41 and 43 which project outwardly from the beam 4. Parts of gang support plates 45 and 47 are connected to the free ends of the arms 41 and 43 for supporting the gangs 6 and 8 respectively. The gang 6 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 4. The gangs 8, 14 and 16 are of the same general configuration and need not be described. The gang 6 includes a plurality of discs 49 mounted on a hub assembly 51 the ends of which are rotatably mounted in end plates 53 and 55. The upper ends of the plates 53 and 55 are connected to a gang support beam 57 which includes an inwardly projecting connecting plate 59. The connecting plate 59 is pivotally connected to an adjusting bar which is mounted above the beam 4. The forward end of the adjusting bar 61 has projecting therefrom a threaded shaft 63 upon which a pair of adjusting nuts 65 are mounted. The adjusting nuts 65 bear against a bracket 67 which projects upwardly from the beam 4, as best seen in Figure 2. Adjustment of the position of the nuts 65 on the shaft 63 causes a longitudinal movement of the bar 61 and hence a rotational movement of the gang 6. The gang 8 is also pivotally connected to the bar 61 and will therefore rotat with the gang 6 but in the opposite sense.

The pairs of plates 45 and 47 form guide channel through which the beams 57 of the gangs are slideable Bolts 89 pass through the plates 45 and 47 to retain th beams 57 within the guide channels.

The adjusting bars 61 and 79 can be operated to chang the orientation of the gangs so as to operate at angles o say 16° to 24° (relative to perpendicular lines to the beam 4 and 14).

Extending downwardly from the beam 4 and gang suppor arm 41 are a pair of plates 11. A link 69 is pivotall connected to the plates 11 for rotation about a generall horizontal axis. The pivot point 71 of the link 69 i adjustable with respect to the plates 11 for altering th position of the horizontal pivot axis, as best seen i Figure 2. The rearward end of the draw bar 9 is itsel pivotally connected at 73 to the link 69 for rotation abou a generally vertical axis. An adjusting link 75 i pivotally connected at one end to the outer end of the lin 69 and at the other end to coupling plates 77 extendin laterally from the side of the bar 9. The link 75 can thu be used to alter the orientation of the bar 9 relative t the link 69 and therefore alter the distance to the side a which the plough will be towed from the tractor (not shown)

This is useful where the plough is to be used in a orchard because it can operate beneath the branches of tree where the tractor cannot pass.

A levelling spring assembly 13 is coupled between th bar 9 and the beam 4. The assembly 13 includes a shaft 1 pivotally connected at its lower end to the bar 9 and a pai of compression springs 25 and 27 which are mounted on th shaft and resiliently bear against a collar 29. The collar 29 is pivotally mounted in a yoke 31 which in turn is pivotally connected to the beam 4. The springs act to resiliently hold the bar 9 and beam 4 generally parallel to one another but to permit relative movement caused by uneven terrain.

The amount of bias applied by the springs 25 and 27 on the collar 29 can be altered by means of adjusting nuts 90 and 92 threadably mounted on the shaft 15. The nuts 90 and 92 can be adjusted to ensure that there is substantially the same amount of working of the soil by the forward and rear gangs. For larger ploughs the adjusting nuts 90 and 92 can be preplaced by an hydraulic ram (not shown) which can be operated by the tractor driver as he operates the equipment.

The rearward frame 10 includes a longitudinally extending beam 12. The third and fourth gangs 14 and 16 of discs project laterally from the beam 12. The gangs 14 and 16 are preferably also of the type disclosed in the aforementioned Australian patent. The orientation of the gangs 14 and 16 can be altered by means of an adjusting bar 79 which functions in a similar way to the adjusting bar 61. It is preferred that the forward gangs 6 and 8 project forwardly relative to the direction of travel and the rearward gangs 14 and 16 project rearwardly relative to the forward . travel, as shown in Figure 1. With this arrangement, the discs of the gangs 6 and 8 tend to move the soil away from the centre line whereas the discs of the gangs 14 and 16 move the soil back towards the centre line.

The wheels 17 and 19 are mounted upon wheel support assemblies 21 and 23 which extend laterally from the rear of the forward beam 4. The wheel 17 is located approximately midway between the gangs 8 and 16 and the wheel 19 is located approximately midway between the gangs 6 and 14. The assemblies 21 and 23 permit adjustment of the height of the forward and rear frames 2 and 10 relative to the wheel 17 and 19. This height adjustment is permitted by arrangin for the wheel axles to be mounted on parallelogram linkage 81 and 83, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3. A hydraulic ram 85 is coupled at one end to the beam 12 and a the other to the linkage 81 for altering the position of th wheel 17 relative to the beam 12. A ram 87 is provided fo adjustment of the wheel 19 in the similar way. The rams 8 and 87 can be operated to alter the position of the wheel relative to the frame 2 to effect adjustment of the depth o ploughing and also to elevate the discs above the ground fo transporting the plough.

Figure 2 shows a preferred form of the pivot means 1 which pivotally connects the forward and rear frames 2 an 10. In the illustrated arrangement, the pivot mean includes an upper ball joint 89 which is located above th beam 4 and a lower ball joint 91 which is located beneat mounting brackets 93 for the wheel support assemblies 21 an 23. As seen in Figure 2, the pivot axis 20 is formed at a angle A to the vertical, the angle preferably being in th range from 5° to 15°. Generally speaking, the angle i reduced for wider machines.

The plough includes abutment means (not shown) on th beam 4 and or beam 12 to limit the angle of relativ rotation about the pivot means 18. Preferably the angula rotation is about 15° either side of the centre position.

The plough also includes a tension spring 50 which act between the forward frame 2 and rearward frame 10 in orde to overcome any tendency for the frames to be misaligne owing to different movements exerted by the gangs 14 and 1 which are at different spacings, in the longitudina direction, from the axis 18. The gang 16 is further space from the pivot 18 and therefore tends to have greate leverage than the gang 14 thus tending to cause a clockwis

SUBSTIT T rotation of the rearward frame (as seen in Figure 1). This tendency is opposed by the spring 50. The axis of the spring 50 is inclined to the longitudinal direction of the plough at an angle which can be in the range 0° to 90° but preferably about 20°. One end of the spring is connected to a laterally extending leg 52 of a bracket 54 the other leg 50 of which is mounted on the beam 12. The other end of the spring is connected to a threaded sleeve 58 mounted on a threaded shaft to which is connected to the forward form 2. The threaded sleeve 58 enables adjustment of the initial tension in the spring to compensate for variations in soil characteristics.

In use of the plough of the invention, it is moved in the forward direction as indicated by arrow 22 by a draught vehicle (not shown). The forward gangs 6 and 8 plough the soil away from the centre line 11. The extent of lateral movement on the soil depends upon the angle of the gangs relative to the beam 4 and this is adjustable by means of the adjusting bar 61. It is preferred that the gangs 6 and 8 make equal angles with the beam 4. The rear gangs 14 and 16 plough the soil back towards the centre line 11. Again, the angles of the gangs 14 and 16 can be adjusted by adjusting bar 79. The angle of the gangs 14 and 16 to the beam 12 is the same but the angle of the rearward gangs is not necessarily the same as that of the forward gangs 6 and 8.

In the plough of the invention, the inclined axis 20 of the pivot means 18 enables better ploughing action during cornering, compared to known ploughs with fixed frames or articulated ploughs with vertical axes of rotation between the forward and rearward frames. The spring 50 tends to keep the beams 4 and 12 aligned when the plough is being drawn in a straight line. With a fixed frame machine of a similar ga configuration during a turn in a corner to the left ( shown if Figure 1), the gang 8 pushes much squarer in t ground which results in that gang ploughing deeper. Th increases the likelihood of damage being caused to t discs. Further, the machine tends to pivot around i centre which means that the gang 16 will not replace so which has been thrown out by the gang 8 because the gang 1 travels in a wider arc than does the gang 8. The forces the gang 6 are, generally speaking, equal to those acting gang 2 and similarly the forces on gang 14, are general speaking, equal to those acting on gang 16. This tends keep the plough straight on flat ground with regular soi texture. When however one of the gangs encounters a rid or harder conditions, the forces acting on it will increa causing the machine to deviate to left or right. F instance, if gang 6 encounters harder ground, the forc acting on it will be greater than those acting on gang which tends to cause the rear end of the plough to swi towards the lef (as seen in Figure 1).

An articulated or tandem machine with a vertical axi tends to maintain a straighter line because the front more or less independently operable of the rear and th enables better distribution of forces. For instance, if t gang 6 encounters harder ground its discs will reduce thei set, that is to say the angle of attack of the dis relative to the soil. This reduces the forces acting on t gang 6 and simultaneously tends to increase the set of t discs of the gangs 14 and 16 thereby tending to balance t forces and maintain equalibrium. Unfortunately, because t rear gangs 14 and 16 work in opposite ways, they do not te to self-correct. For instance when gang 14 encounters ha soil or a ridge, an extra load is placed upon it amd it wi tend to move back. This increases the set upon it inste of decreasing it thereby further increasing the load. On the hard soil or ridge has been passed, it does not tend self-correct because the gang 14 still has more set upon it in relation to gang 16. The machine may maintain reasonably directional stability but the ploughing result is generally speaking unacceptable.

In a plough constructed in accordance with the invention, the aforementioned drawback is generally speaking alleviated. For instance when the gang 14 encounters harder soil or a ridge it will move back but additionally it will tend to be elevated owing to the forward inclination of the pivot axis 20. The upward movement reduces the load on the gang 14 and increases the load on gang 16 by pushing it further into the soil. This therefore tends to equalise the load on the gangs 14 and 16 so that the rear frame 10 will tend to remain aligned with the forward frame 2.

It is preferred that the hinge is located approximately midway between the forward and rear gangs. If it is too far back, the rear will tend to be pushed out in a corner resulting in the rear discs not collecting soil thrown out by the front discs. On the other hand, if the hinge is too far forward, the rear will swing in too far in the corner bringing too much soil to the worked area resulting in ridge.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A plough comprising a forward frame (2) having gangs o discs (6,8) thereon, a rearward frame (10) having gangs o discs (14,16) thereon, and pivot means (18) pivotall connecting the forward and rearward frames, wherein th pivot axis (20) of the pivot means is off-set to th vertical and biasing means (50) acts between the forwar frame and rearward frame.

2. A plough as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivot axi (20) is off-set at an angle in the range 5° and 15°, an wherein said axis is inclined towards the forward frame (12 above said pivot means (18).

3. A plough as claimed in claim 2 wherein said angle i about 10°.

4. A plough as claimed in any preceding claim wherein th forward frame (2) has gangs (6,8) which project forwardl from either side of the frame and the rearward frame (10 has gangs (14,16) which project rearwardly from the rearwar frame.

5. A plough as claimed in claim 4 wherein the rearwar frame (10) has a first and second gangs (14,16) whic project from opposite sides thereof, the first gang (14 being more forwardly located than the second gang (18) an wherein the biasing means comprises a tension spring (50 the forward end of which is coupled to the forward frame an the rearward end of which is coupled to the rearward fram at a point which is laterally off set towards the side o the first gang.

6. A plough as claimed in any preceding claim includin wheels (17,19) for supporting the forward frame (2).

SUBSTITUTE SH£E1.

7. A plough as claimed in claim 6 wherein the wheels are carried by wheel support assemblies (21,23) and means (81,83,85,87) is provided for altering the height of the wheels relative to the forward frame.

8. A plough as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pivot means comprises upper and lower ball joints (89,91).

9. A plough in any preceding claim wherein the forward and rear frames include gang support arms (41,43) which extend laterally from the frames to support the gangs.

10. A plough as claimed in claim 9 wherein the gangs are adjustably mounted relative to said gang support arms.

11. A plough as claimed in claim 10 wherein the inner ends of the gangs are pivotally connected to adjusting members (67,79) carried by the forward and rear frames.

12. A plough as claimed in claim 11 wherein the free ends of the gang support arms include guide means (45,47) for slideably supporting the gangs.

13. A plough as claimed in any one of claims 10, 11 or 12 wherein the gangs are adjustably mounted for orientation at angles in the range 16° to 24° relative to a perpendicular line to the direction of movement of the plough.

14. A plough as claimed in any preceding claim including a draw bar (9) pivotally connected to the forward end of the forward frame (2).

15. A plough as claimed in claim 14 including a levelling spring assembly acting between the draw bar and the forward frame.

16. A plough as claimed in claim 15 wherein the levellin spring assembly (13) includes a collar (29) pivotall carried by a yoke (31) which is pivotally connected to th forward frame and a pair of compression springs (25,27 which act on opposed sides of the collar (29).

17. A plough as claimed in claim 16 wherein the position of the springs (25,27) are adjustable to vary the degree o resilient force applied by the springs on said collar whe the draw bar is parallel to the forward frame.

18. A plough as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17 a appended to claim 8 wherein support plates (11) extend fro the forward frame (2) and one of said gang support arm (41), said plough including a link (69) which is pivotall connected to the plates for rotation about a generall horizontal axis and wherein said draw bar (9) is pivotall coupled to said link.

19. A plough as claimed in claim 18 including an adjusti arm (75) which is pivotally coupled between the link (69 and said draw bar (9), said adjusting arm being operable adjust the orientation of the draw bar relative to t forward frame.

SUBSTITUTE SH£ET