WO1997021338A1

WO1997021338A1 - Agricultural machine

Info

Publication number: WO1997021338A1
Application number: PCT/SE1996/001676
Authority: WO
Inventors: Crister Stark
Original assignee: Crister Stark
Priority date: 1995-12-14
Filing date: 1996-12-16
Publication date: 1997-06-19
Also published as: SE9504487L; SE9504487D0; AU1113697A

Abstract

The invention concerns an agricultural machine, especially a sowing machine for sowing or spreading of granula and/or powdered material, comprising a container (3) for the material, a dosing arrangement (7) and a distribution arrangement (17) connected thereto, which is arranged to distribute the material to flexible tubes (4) which are connected to harrow tines (5), sowing shares or distribution nozzles, whereby the distribution arrangement comprises a chamber with at least one inlet opening (18) from the dosing arrangement and a plurality of first outlet openings (28), which are connected to said tubes. At least one second outlet opening (36), which is arranged in said distribution arrangement, connects said distribution chamber with said container for recirculation of the material. Closing flaps (26, 26', 26', 44, 51, 63) are arranged in order to selectively close at least one of the first outlet openings at the same time as at least one corresponding second outlet opening is arranged to be opened completely or partly.

Description

Agricultural machine

The present invention relates to an agricultural machine, especially a sowing machine for sowing or spreading granular and/or powdered material, comprising a container for the material, a dosing arrangement and a distribution arrangement connected thereto, which is arranged to distribute the material to transport means, preferably in the shape of flexible tubes, arranged by the sowing means such as harrow tines, sowing shares or dispersal nozzles, whereby the distribution arrangement comprises a chamber with an inlet opening from the dosing arrangement and a plurality of first outlet openings which are connected to said transport means.

EP-A-0 328 858 shows a known distribution arrangement for granular shaped seed for sowing and/or fertilizer. The arrangement comprises a mechanism comprising a shaft which extends downwardly in front of the outlet openings from the distribution chamber, valve leaves being arranged on said shaft, wherein the shaft can rotate so that the valve leaves close off predetermined openings. During the sowing of seeds certain outlet openings for seed are closed off in order to prevent seed from being sown out of predetermined harrow tines or sowing shares in order to in this way produce driving tracks on the field. These driving tracks are used subsequently as markers for driving the wheels ofthe tractor during spraying ofthe field or the spreading of fertilizer. The driving tracks are often arranged at predetermined distances from each other depending on the range ofthe arms ofthe fertilizing arrangement, which means that the pairs of driving track are arranged from approximately 12 meters up to 40 meters apart. It has, however, been shown that when the outlet openings from the distribution chamber are closed with a flap or valve, the seed is unequally distributed to the other adjacent open outlet openings. The outlet openings which are nearest to the closed outlet opening or openings often are more richly supplied with seed which gives an unequal distribution of the seed in the earth and which in turn can give an uneven crop and/or is a waste of seed.

The object of the invention is to produce a sowing machine of the type mentioned in the introduction which, when driving tracks are arranged, gives a better distribution of the sown granules and/or the granular shaped material.

The object is achieved according to the invention through at least one other outlet opening which is arranged in the said distribution arrangement connects the distri- bution chamber with said container, and by the valve means being arranged in order to selectively close at least one of the first outlet openings at the same time as at least a predetermined one of said other outlet openings is arranged to be opened.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have the characteristics described in the dependent claims.

An agricultural machine according to the invention has the advantage that if an opening, which connects the distribution chamber with the inner space of the con¬ tainer where the seed to be sown is, is opened, then a predetermined, adjacent or very closely situated opening is opened at the same time. In this way a more even distribution of the seed to the open first outlet openings occurs. This result is achieved through the seed which moves in the direction towards the closed opening is not guided to the adjacent openings which are connected to the transport means for further transport of the seed to the harrow tines, sow shares or spreading means, but will largely be recirculated to the inside of the container through said second openings.

The invention will be described more closely in the following with reference to the appended drawings which show preferred embodiments. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a sowing machine with pneumatic distribution of the seed to the harrow tines, the machine being drawn by a tractor.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a sowing machine according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a partial view of a distribution chamber with distribution tubes on a sowing machine according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a partial perspective view from below ofthe distribution chamber with the flexible distribution tube partially removed for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 5 shows a partial sectioned side view of a closing flap for opening and closing ofthe outlet openings.

Fig. 6 shows a view similar to that in Fig. 5 of a second embodiment of the closing flap.

Fig. 7 shows a partial view from above of a closing flap according to Fig. 5 or 6 and illustrates more precisely the way in which the closing flap is held in its two pre- determined positions.

Fig. 8 shows a partial side view of a third embodiment ofthe closing flap.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view ofthe closing flap according to Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a partial perspective view from above of a further embodiment of a closing flap. Fig. 1 1 shows a partial side view of a further embodiment of a closing flap for outlet openings in the distribution chamber.

Fig. 12 shows a partial perspective view from above of yet another embodiment of the distribution chamber with closing flaps.

Fig. 13 shows a partial sectioned side view of a closing flap according to the embodiment in Fig. 12. where the flap is shown in a position where the distribution chamber is open towards the tube, and

Fig. 14 shows a partial, sectioned side view of a closing flap according to Fig. 12, where the distribution chamber is open towards the inner space of the container.

Similar parts of the different embodiments shown in the drawings have, as much as possible, been given the same reference numbers.

Fig. 1 shows a sowing machine 1 which is intended for sowing and simultaneous earth working and which is drawn by a tractor 2. The sowing machine 1 comprises a container 3 for the storage of the seed for sowing and/or fertilizer granules or the like. Flexible tubes 4 are arranged for the transport ofthe seed to the harrow tines 5.

The seed can be supplied to the field by another method, such as by means of dif¬ ferent sorts of sowing shares or by means of spreading arrangements. The sowing machine is also equipped with an arrangement 6 for the supply of air to a pneumatic dosing arrangement 7. The flexible tubes 4 are at their lower ends connected to the pipe 8, which is fastened onto a U-shaped plate 9, which in turn is fastened by the harrow pine 5. A blade 10 is fastened at the front lower edge of the harrow tine 5, a blade 10 is fastened and in the inner space ofthe U-shaped plate 9 a guiding plate 1 1 is arranged so that the seed 12 is guided towards the lower rear edge of the blade 10. At the front the sowing machine is further equipped with two rows of spring iron bars 13 which function as skid plates. At the rear end of the sowing machine a row of follow-up tines 14 are arranged.

Fig. 2 shows how air from a fan 15 is blown via the transport pipe 6 to the dosing means 7 so that the seed for sowing is transported pneumatically through a centrally arranged vertical pipe 16 up to a distribution arrangement 17. The seed is subse¬ quently led centrally into an essentially cylindrical chamber 19 and thereafter led out through first outlet openings 20 via the flexible tubes 4 to the harrow tines. A piston and cylinder actuator 21 is connected between an arm 22, which is fastened to the pipe 16, and a smaller arm 23, which is fastened to a rotatable ring 24, in order to. via spring tines 25, act upon valve means 26 comprising two closing flaps arranged with an angle between each other.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the distribution arrangement 17 which comprises an annular part 27 made of an elastic material, e.g. rubber, in which essentially radially arranged through-holes 28 are arranged in order to on its outer side receive and hold fast the flexible tubes 4. An upper and a lower annular rigid part 29 resp. 30 are arranged on both sides of the ring 27, whereby the ring 27is clamped tight between the annular parts 29 and 30 by means of bolts 31. The lower ring 30 is fastened to the pipe 16. By means of fastening clamps 33 removable by through- bolted joints 32, a preferably transparent round disc 34 is fastened into a seat 35 between the upper ring 29 and the rubber ring 27. The opening 18 for the supply of seed to the distribution chamber 19 is appropriately arranged centrally in the distri¬ bution arrangement. Openings 36 are arranged in the lower, annular part 30 directly in front of the predetermined openings 28 in the rubber ring.

Fig. 4 shows the distribution arrangement 17 from below, where the lower part 30 is provided with openings 36, which are openable resp. closable by means of the closing flaps 26. Fig. 4 shows how a predetermined closing flap 26' has been connected by a resilient tine 25 to a rotatable ring 24 between an upper and a lower stationary ring 37 resp. 38. During the actuation of the actuator 21 the ring 24 is rotated which acts on the flap 26^' so that it opens at least one opening 36 and closes at least one adjacent opening 28 or vice versa.

Fig. 5 shows a closing flap 26" which is guided by a resilient tine 25, which is rotatably arranged in a hole 38 on the flap. A surrounding rod 39 is so arranged that the flaps can be threaded onto the ring 39 by means of through-holes 40 through the flap, and during activation of the resilient tine 25 the flap rotates so that the leaf 39 opens the opening 36 in the lower ring 30 and then closes the opening 28 in the rubber ring 30. An adjusting screw 41 is arranged on the closing flap 26".

On the side facing towards the inside of the container, the closing flap 26^" can be shaped with a bulge 70 with a curved surface 71 shown with dashed lines, extending over the opening 36. The bulge 70 has such a shape that it essentially follows the edges of the opening 36 when the closing flap moves between its outer positions. A projecting flange 72 can be arranged on the bulge, which flange is in contact with the lower side of the ring 30 when the flap 26" closes off the opening 28. A groove in the form of a hole 73 through the bulge 70 which is shown with dashed lines, is adapted to the quantity of seed or fertilizer granules or the like which has been found through experimentation to be suitable for recirculation to the container 3 when the opening or openings 28 have been closed by means of the closing flaps. It is also possible to form the grooves in the bulge 70 in another way. in order to achieve the optimal circulation to the container.

Fig. 6 shows a further modified embodiment of the closing flap 26" in Fig. 5, where the lower surface 42 of the flap has been changed in such a way that the seed is guided down to the open hole 36 when the flap is in the position shown with dashed lines 43 where the leaf closes the opening 28 and opens the opening 36. In Fig. 6 it is shown that the surface 42 has been given a predetermined concavely curved shape. This surface should be adapted for an effective and optimal guiding of the powder or granular material back to the container 3.

Fig. 7 shows how a flap of the type shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is arranged on an annular wire 56 in such a way that the valve part 26 can be hold fast through a snap effect in two distinct positions by the through-hole 40 being arranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. By bending the ring 56 as shown at 57, the ring 56 locks the flap in two distinct positions, wherein in one position the opening or openings 28 are closed and adjacent opening or openings 36 are open or vice versa.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a further modified embodiment ofthe closing flap of the distribution arrangement according to the invention, where the closing flap consists of a valve part 44 which is movably guided in tracks 45 arranged on both sides thereof. A mechanism consists of a lever arm part 46 and a link arm 47. which are joined with each other and where the link arm 46 is rotatably joined with an arm 48. The valve part 44 is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in an upper position, where the seed is guided downwardly out through the opening 36, preferably with the help of the curved surface 49 ofthe valve part 44. Dashed lines 50 show the position of the valve part where the opening 36 is closed and the opening 28 is open.

Fig. 10 shows yet another embodiment ofthe closing flap, which here consists of a bent valve part 51 comprising an essentially rectangular flap 52 and a part 53 arranged perpendicular thereto with a curved side 43. During activation of the resilient tine 55 shown with a dashed line, the arm 56 moves in the direction of arrow 57 so that the closing flap makes a movement in accordance with the direc¬ tion of the arrow 58. Fig. 10 consequently shows a position where the opening 36 is open and the opening 28 has been closed. Fig. 1 1 shows a further embodiment in which two rows of openings 60 resp. 61 have been arranged in the elastic annular part 62 which corresponds to the ring 30 in Figs. 3 and 4. The openings 61 in the upper row are suitably connected to the flexible tube and the openings 60 in the lower row open out directly into the con- tainer 3. Single-leaf valve flaps 63 are rotatably arranged on a wire 65 which goes around the wall 64 of the distribution chamber and can by means of a snap effect or by, not shown, holding means be held fast in a position where they close resp. open the openings 60 and 61. The change ofthe position ofthe closing flaps is done by that the lid 34 being removed, whereafter the chosen closing valves are set so that they close the holes which correspond to the intended driving tracks on the seeded field. There should be markings on the closing flaps or by the side of these which show to which sowing means a certain flap belongs.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show yet another embodiment, where a row of openings 70 are arranged in the annular part 71 ofthe distribution chamber. As is apparent from the Figures, three openings 72 have been made in the distribution arrangement and are open towards the inside of the container. A flap 73 is arranged at 74 so that it can take up two positions, either that shown in Fig. 13 where the distribution arrange¬ ment is open towards one of the flexible tubes, or a closed position where the flap 73 closes off the connection with the flexible tubes in question and instead opens the connection towards the container via the opening 72 in the distribution means. Fig. 12 shows three flaps arranged by an equal number of flexible tubes. In this case, three holes 72 have also been made in the distribution arrangement. The number of holes in the distribution arrangement is not limited to three but can be as many as necessary for clear driving tracks to be produced at a predetermined distance from each other on the field. The opening and closing ofthe flaps of this embodiment can take place through any όTthe above described mechanisms or through an electric or pneumatic separate arrangement. The agricultural machine according to the invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments which are shown on the appended drawings. It is obvious that the agricultural machine or parts thereof can be modified within the scope of the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. Agricultural machine, especially a sowing machine for sowing or spreading of granular and/or powder material, comprising a container (3) for the material, a dosing arrangement (7) and a distribution arrangement (17) connected thereto, which is arranged to distribute the material to transport means (4), preferably in the form of flexible tubes, arranged by sowing means (5) such as harrow tines, sowing shares or dispersal nozzles, whereby the distribution arrangement comprises a chamber with at least one inlet opening (18) from the dowing arrangement and a plurality of first outlet openings (28) which are connected to said transport means, characterized in that at least one second outlet opening (36). which is arranged in said distribution arrangement ( 17), connects the distribution chamber with said container (3), and that valve means (26, 26', 26", 44. 51. 63) are arranged to selec¬ tively close at least one of he first outlet openings (28) at the same time as at least one corresponding second outlet opening is arranged to be opened completely or partially.

2. Agricultural machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that each valve means is made up of a closing flap (26, 26', 26"), which is so designed that during activation it can be rotated between two positions so that either said first or said second outlet opening (28 resp. 36) is closed.

3. Agricultural machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that each closing flap (26, 26', 26") surface facing towards the inside of the container (3) has a shape which gives an optimal circulation of the material back to the container when the flap closes off said first opening (28).

4. Agricultural machine according to Claim 3, characterized in that said shape of the closing flap (26") is concave.

5. Agricultural machine according to Claim 3. characterized in that each closing flap (26, 26^") surface facing towards the inside of the container (3) has the shape of a bulge (70) with a through-hole (73) so shaped that the optimal circulation of the material back to the container when the flap closes off said first opening (28) is obtained.

6. Agricultural machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that each closing flap (44) is shaped like an essentially upside down L-shaped flap which is displace- ably arranged in guides (45) so that in one position the body of the L closes off the second opening (36) and in a second position the base ofthe L closes off the first opening (28).

7. Agricultural machine according to Claim 2. characterized in that each closing flap (51 ) is shaped like an essentially laying down L-shaped flap, wherein the body of the L has a bent side (54) which during movement ofthe flap follows one edge of the opening and on one side ofthe stem ofthe L is equipped with hinges in order to be able to be rotated between two positions where said first resp. second openings (28 resp. 36) are closed.

8. Agricultural machine according to Claim 1. characterized in that said first and second openings (28 resp. 36) are arranged in two rows above each other and that each valve means (63) is arranged between said rows in order to be able to be rotated between two positions where said first resp. second openings are closed.