WO2014016467A1

WO2014016467A1 - Distributer unit towably connected to a tank trailer and corresponding direct sowing machine and slurry injector

Info

Publication number: WO2014016467A1
Application number: PCT/FI2013/050663
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaakko Vaissi
Original assignee: Jaakko Vaissi
Priority date: 2012-07-26
Filing date: 2013-06-18
Publication date: 2014-01-30
Also published as: FI20125817A7; FI123999B

Abstract

The invention relates to a distributer unit (10) towably connected to a tank trailer (11) or similar, and raisable with its lifting devices (24), for example, in a direct sowing machine, in which distributer unit (10) is a distributer device (15) equipped with a seeder (49) that is wider than the tank trailer (11) and which is pivoted relative to the tank trailer (11) to rotate relative to the vertical axis (31), and to hinge relative to the horizontal axis (27), which distributer unit. (10) includes a pressing operating device (42) to press the distributer device(15) against the ground. The distributer unit (10) is in two parts and includes a pivot part (16) connected to the lifting means (24) of the tank trailer (11) and further the said distributer device (15) that turns relative to the said transverse horizontal axis (27) of the pivot part (16). The invention also relates to a corresponding direct sowing machine- and a slurry injector.

Description

Distributer unit towably connected to a tank trailer and corresponding direct sowing machine and slurry injector.

The present invention relates to a distributer unit towably connected to a tank trailer or similar, and raisable with its lifting devices, for example, in a direct sowing machine, in which distributer unit is a distributer device equipped with a seeder that is wider than the tank trailer and which is pivoted relative to the tank trailer to rotate relative to the vertical axis, and to be hinged relative to the horizontal axis, which distributer unit includes a pressure operating device to press the distributer device against the ground. The invention also relates to a corresponding direct sowing machine ^" and; a^■ slurry injector.

Traditional device designed for direct sowing have been rigid in the longitudinal direction and pivoted only relative to a horizontal pivot, so that it has been possible to lift the devices for transportation. A problem with such devices is that, as rigid structures, they turn very poorly in corners, particularly at the headlands of fields.

Distributer units for direct sowing are known from the prior art. One such device is disclosed in patent publication US 4681335 A, in which the device is pivoted to the rear of a trailer. In order to stabilize the device while the rear frame is raised, the device includes a cylinder on one side of the pivot. The problem with such a solution is that a single cylinder demands a complicated connection in order to operate. In addition, the solution according, to the publication is suitable for use only with narrow direct sowing devices, as their rotation taking place around the longitudinal direction can be controlled without a separate mechanism. In addition, manufacturing a wide direct sowing machine with the structure according to the patent would make it considerably heavy. The invention is intended to create a simpler and sturdier distributer unit than the prior art to be attached to a tank trailer by towing means, so that it will be possible to use a large working width. The charactering features of the present invention are stated in the accompanying Claim 1. The invention is also intended to create a better direct sowing machine than those of the prior art. The characteristic features of a direct sowing machine are stated in the accompanying Claim 11. The invention can also be applied in a slurry injector, which has in the same way a wide distributer unit at the rear of a tank trailer. The characteristic features of the slurry injector according to the present invention are stated in the accompanying Claim 12. The intention of the distributer unit according to the present invention can be achieved by a distributer unit that is towably connected to a tank trailer or similar and raisable with its lifting devices, for example in a direct sowing machine, in which distributer unit there is a distributer device equipped with a seeder that is wider than the tank trailer. The distributer device is pivoted relative to the tank trailer rotatably relative to the vertical axis and hinged relative to the horizontal axis, which distributer unit includes a pressing operating device to press the distributer device against the ground. The distributer unit has two parts, including a pivot part connected to the lifting means of the tank trailer and further a distributer device rotating relative to the transverse horizontal axis of the pivot part. Being in two parts, the distributer unit can be manufactured with a lighter construction than solutions according to the prior art, because the turning and hinging of the distributer unit can be performed as a structure external to the actual distributer device . According to one embodiment, the pivot part is arranged to be attached to the tank trailer non-rotatably relative to its horizontal direction and the pivot part includes a vertical shaft to permit the distributer device to turn relative to the tank trailer. This allows the attachment of the pivot part to the tank trailer to be implemented simply.

The pivot part preferably includes 3-point attachment means for attaching the pivot part to the tank trailer. 3-point attachment means are devices that are well known from the technology and therefore also cheap to maintain.

The distributer unit can include locking means for the joints of the vertical shafts, for straight driving. With the aid of the locking means, the distributer unit can be locked for straight driving. While driving, the locking means can be opened, when the pivot part and rear part of the distributer unit will be free to hinge relative to each other. The pivot part and the rear part are locked relative to each other when the distributer unit is raised into the air for road transportation.

The distributer unit preferably includes a tilting mechanism to permit the distributer device that is wider than the tank trailer to tilt to a limited extent around the longitudinal axis relative to the tank trailer. Thanks to the tilting mechanism, the distributer unit is also suitable for use on uneven surfaces, so that the distributer device remains on the ground over its entire width.

The tilting mechanism can include two tilting arms, with the aid of which the rear part is pivoted to the pivot part, and a locking mechanism for locking the tilting mechanism. In this way, the distributer unit is made rigid when lifted into the air . The towing means are preferably arranged to permit the vertical movement of the pivot part which is equipped with wheels. This will permit the distributer device to be in contact with the ground, even on an uneven surface.

The transverse pivot of the pressure of the distributer device of the distributer unit is preferably a separate pivot from the turning vertical shaft.

The pivot part preferably includes all the necessary pivot parts and pivot part locking components for turning and tilting the distributer device.

The lifting means are preferably included in the 3-point attachment means. Thus the design of the lifting means is easier than that of complicated lifting means.

The operating device for pressing the distributer device is preferably arranged between the pivot part and the rear part.

The pressure operating device is at an angle of at least 10°, preferably at least 15° to the horizontal plane. Thus the force of the operating device is always directed in such a way that the distributer device and particularly its rear part remains on the ground. The towing means can include parallelogram arms for attaching the distributer unit to the tank trailer. This will permit the pivot part to float vertically.

Thanks to the turning rear part, working, for example sowing, can also be continued at the headlands of a field.

In the following, the invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings depicting some embodiments of the invention, in which Figure la shows a side view of the distributer unit according to the invention,

Figure lb shows a side c r o s s - s e c t i o of the distributer unit according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a top view of the distributer unit according to the invention, depicted when driving the distributer unit straight,

Figure 3 shows an enlargement of the surroundings of the pivot part of the distributer unit according to the invention, depicted from above with the vertical pivot straightened,

Figure 4 shows an axonometric view of the pivot part of the distributer unit according to the invention,

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the pivot part of the distributer unit according to the invention,

Figure 6a shows the pivot part of the distributer unit according to the invention, with the locking means of the tilting arms locked,

Figure 6b shows the pivot part of the distributer unit according to the invention, with the locking means of the tilting arms open,

Figure 7 shows the wing-lock mechanism of the rear chassis frame of the distributer unit according to the invention,

Figure 8 shows an axonometric view of the pivot part of the distributer unit according to the invention, separated from the distributer unit,

Figure 9 shows separately the movement limiter of the pressure operating device of the distributer unit according to the invention,

Figure 10 a partial front view of the distributer device of the distributer unit according to the invention, Figure 11 shows the hydraulic diagram of the distributer unit according to the invention,

Figure 12a shows an enlargement of the wing-lock mechanism of Figure 7 , with the locking

5 closed,

Figure 12b shows an enlargement of the wing-lock mechanism of Figure 7 , with the locking open ..

10 In the figures, reference is made to the following reference numbers, which mean

10 distributer unit 40 direction valve

11 trailer 41 direction valve

15 12 towing means 42 pressure operating

14 rear part device

15 distributer device 43 direction valve

16 pivot part 46 front pushing arm

17 upper pivot 48 lifting cylinder

20 18 work means 49 drill boots

19 support pivot 50 roller wheels

22 tank trailer wheels 52 rear wheels

24 lifting means 54 h o r i z o n t a l

26 locking means adjustment cylinder

25 27 horizontal shaft 56 frame beam

28 cylinder 57 folding joint

29 vertical pivot 58 body frame

31 vertical shaft 59 widening blocks

32 direction valve 60 shaft

30 33 tilting mechanism 62 operating device

34 hydraulic feed line 63 front pushing arm

35 hydraulic line upper pivot

36 direction valve 64 rear wheel arm

37 direction valve 65 lug

35 38 direction valve 67 rear vertical beam

39 direction valve 69 front pushing arm 128 p i vo t p a r t ' s lower pivot turning structure

74 parallelogram arm 130 attachment support

76 transverse frame 132 cyinder pivot

5 78 coulter discs 136 transverse beam

80 front support wheel 138 slot

82 sleeve frame 140 sheath part

^■83 opening 141 loc^'king operating

84 centre-line marker device of movement

10 cylinder limiter

86 eccentric 142 sleeve part

89 casing structure 144 locking mechanism

92 auxiliary frame o f t i l t i n g

94 pivot arm mechanism

15 96 lower support 145 tilting pivot

98 upper support 146 catch

100 loading spring 148 shaft pin

102 operating device of 150 movement limiter tilting mechanism's slot.

20 lock mechanism 151 bottom plate

104 tilting arm 152 counter cup

106 lifiting means 154 cylinder piston rod attachment shaft 156 slider pin

108 slider 158 attachment loop

25 110 eccentric arm 159 ^"arm

114 movement limiter 160 shaft

116 sleeve frame lug 162 locking counter-

118 cylinder attachment piece

collar 164 cam arm

30 120 wing-lock mechanism 166 shaft

122 wing-lock mechanism 168 locking surface

arm 170 cam bevel

124 d i s t r i b u t i o n 172 stop

device's wings

35 126 pivot part' s fixed

structure Figures la and lb show a side view of the distributer unit 10 according to the invention. The distributer unit is attached to the rear of a tank trailer, i.e. in the case of the figures to the rear of the trailer 11. The trailer can be pulled, for example, by a tractor. The distributer unit is preferably a direct sowing machine or a spreading device for liquid manure. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the distributer unit is a direct sowing machine. Generally when pulling a direct sowing machine there is granular fertilizer and seed grain in different compartments in the trailer, which are not shown in the figures.

According to the figures, the two-part distributer unit 10 includes a pivot part 16 and a rear part 14. The rear part 14 is a distribution device 15, with the aid of which the material being dosed by the distributer unit 10, for example grain or manure, is distributed as desired to the ground. The distributer unit 10 further includes towing means 12, with the aid of which the distributer unit 10 is attached to the rear of a trailer 11, preferably to the chassis frame 58 of the trailer 11. The pivot part 16 of the distributer unit 10 is preferably vertically floating, i.e. the towing means 12 permit the vertical movement of the pivot part 16 relative to the trailer 11. The distribution device 15 includes coulter discs 78, with the aid of which narrow grooves are made in the ground for the material being dosed. In the figures, the distribution device 15 is a distribution device 15 intended for direct sowing, which includes in addition drill boots 49 for dropping grains and manure into the grooves made by the coulter discs and roller wheels 50 for closing the grooves, once for example grain has been dosed into the grooves. The distribution device 15 is supported on the ground with the aid of the coulter discs 78, the drill boots 49, and the rear wheel 52. The distribution unit 10 preferably includes lifting means 24, with the aid of which the entire distribution unit 10 can be raised into the air with the aid of the towing means 12. Thanks to this property, the entire distribution unit can be in the air, for example during road transportation, so that the drill boots cannot touch the road. For dosing, the rear part 14 is attached to the vertical shaft 31 belonging to the pivot part 16 with the aid of a pressure operating device 42. With the aid of the vertical shaft 31, the pivot part 16 and the rear part 14 can be pivoted relative to each other. This permits operating the distribution unit in corners too, so that the distribution unit need not be raised into the air during corners. This in turn increases the effective work time of the distribution unit, as sowing can be carried out during corners. According to a second embodiment, the vertical shaft can also be formed outside the pivot part as a separate part between the tank trailer and the pivot part, so that the horizontal shaft and the vertical shaft will be in different parts. The distribution unit 10 preferably also includes a tilting mechanism 33, which permits the tilting of the distribution device 15 around its longitudinal axis relative to the pivot part 16 of the distribution unit 10. The tilting mechanism 33 can include two tilting arms pivoted to the pivot part 16, with the aid of which the rear part 14 is attached to the pivot part. The tilting arms are parts that are separate from each other, which permits their rotation to differ from each other around their pivot. The tilting arms are described in greater detail in Figures 3, 6a, 6b, and 8. Thus the distribution device can also be used effectively on a sloping surface, without one side of the wide distribution device being in the air. The tilting mechanism can include a separate lock mechanism for each tilting arm, by means of which the tilting arms are locked in place. The operation of the lock mechanism is described in greater detail in connection with Figures 6a and 6b. According to Figures la and lb, the distribution device 15 should preferably be pressed against the ground with the aid of a pressure operating device 42, so that it will be on the ground the whole time. The operating device is preferably a hydraulic cylinder, with the aid of which the rear part 14 is pressed by the tilting arms around the transverse horizontal shaft 27 of the pivot part 16. The pivot formed by the horizontal shaft 27 is preferably a different pivot to the vertical shaft, so that all the forces do not act on the same pivot.

The distribution unit preferably includes locking means 26 for locking the vertical shaft 31 between the pivot part 16 and the rear part 14. With the aid of the locking means 26 the pivot part 16 and the distribution device 15 can be locked parallel to each other when they are raised to the transportation position.

According to. Figure lb, the rear part 14 is attached to the pivot part 16 with the aid of two transverse pivots. The upper transverse pivot, i.e. upper pivot 17, is attached to the upper end of the vertical shaft 31 and the lower transverse horizontal shaft 27 is in turn attached to the tilting arms of the tilting mechanism 33. By continuing the pressure operating device 42 attached to the upper pivot 17, the rear part 14 turns around the transverse horizontal shaft 27, so that the rear part 14 presses against the ground. The tilting arms are attached at their other ends to the pivot part 16. Figure 2 shows a top view of the distributer unit 10. The figure shows only one side of the centre-line of the distribution device 15, but it should be understood that the distribution device is preferably symmetrical. According to the figure, the distribution device 15 is considerably wider than the tank trailer. The distribution device can be 1.5 ,- 3.5 times wider than the tank trailer, preferably 2.0 - 3.0 times. The distribution device can be formed of a real vertical beam 67, a transverse frame 76, and the distribution device's wings 124. The coulter discs, drill boots 49, and roller wheels 50 are attached to the transverse frame, as are also the work means 18, which can be, for example, sowing means according to the figure. Because the sowing means tend to brake from the effect of the ground when sowing and raise the transverse frame 76 upwards and the entire pivot part 16 around the horizontal shaft 27 (in Figure lb), a pressure operating device 42 is arranged to press the distribution device 15 towards the ground. A particularly large turning force is created by the coulter discs 78 attached to the distribution device 15, on account of which the pressure cylinder should press at an angle of at least 15° downwards relative to the horizontal. Thanks to its slanting attachment, the rear part 14 is not able to turn around the horizontal shaft 27 due to the force transmitted by the coulter discs 78 from the surface of the ground. The frame beams 56 of the wings 124 of the distribution device 15 are pivoted horizontally and in the longitudinal direction of the frame beams by a transverse hinge pivot 57, so that the wings 124 of the distribution device 15 can be raised vertically for the duration of transportation of the distribution unit 10. Thus, the distribution device is narrowed essentially to the width of the tank trailer for transportation.

The adjustment of the working depth of the drill boots 49 can be made with the aid of the horizontal adjustment cylinder 54, in which there is locking. The drill boots 49 travel at least at the depth of the roller wheels 50. The drill boots can be spring-loaded, according to Figure 10, so that they rise when ploughing over obstacles in the ground, such as stones. The roller wheels 50 close the furrows, and with their aid the sowing depth can be adjusted. The roller wheels can be, for example, rubber. In its entirety, the working depth can be adjusted with the aid of the lifting cylinder 48 of the distribution unit 10 and the horizontal adjustment cylinder 54 and pressure operating device 42 of the rear part 14.

According to Figure 3, the vertical shaft's locking means 26 preferably include two cylinders 28, which are pivoted at one end to the fixed structure 126 of the pivot part 16 and at the other end to the turning structure 128 of the pivot part 16. According to the figure, the towing means' 12 parallelogram arms 74, the front pushing arm 46, and the ends of the cylinders 28 of the locking means 26 are pivoted to the fixed structure 126. The tilting arms 104 and the pressure operating device 42 are, for their part, pivoted to the turning structure 128. The fixed structure 126 of the pivot part 16 includes an attachment support 130, to which cylinders 28 are pivoted with the aid of vertical pivot 29. The turning structure 128 is preferably arranged to move on top of horizontal, plastic sliding surfaces belonging to the fixed structure 126. In the locking position of the locking means, the piston rods of the cylinders 28 protrude entirely, so that the pivot part 16 and the rear part 14 are locked in parallel. The cylinders 28 can be at their pivot points 0.4 - 1.5 m, preferably 0.6 - 1.0 m from each other.

Figure 3 shows also the location of the lifting cylinders 48 of the lifting means 24, which is directly above the parallelogram arms 74. The parallelogram arms 74 are pivoted to the tank trailer. The tank trailer also preferably includes . a lug 65 for the front pushing arm 46. Below the pressure operating device 42 a lockable movement limiter 114 is attached between the pivot part 16 and the rear part 14. The movement limiter 114 is shown more clearly visible in Figures la, lb, and 4, and is depicted separately i Figure 9. The task of the. movement limiter 114 is to lock the distance between the pivot part 16 and the rear part 14 to be fixed when lifting, the distributer unit into the air with the aid of the lifting means. According to Figure 9, the movement limiter 114 preferably includes a slot 150, in which there is a slider pin 156. For the movement limiter 114, the distributer device 15. can includes a separate locking operating device 141 (Figure 4), which locks the movement limiter 114.

When driving the distributer unit straight, all the possible locks are desired to be kept open, so that the distributer device can conform as well as possible to the ground. In other words, the movement limiter 114 is open, permitting the rear part to be pressed, the tilting mechanism lock mechanism is open, permitting tilting to take place around the rear part's longitudinal axis, and the vertical shaft's 31 locking means 26 are open, permitting the pivot part and the rear part to be at an angle to each other in the horizontal plane. When it is wished to lift the distributer unit into the air, all of the aforementioned locks are locked, so that the distributer unit will be stable to transport and it will remain in place.

Figure 4 shows an axonometric view of the pivot part 16 of the distributer unit 10. According to the figure, the pivot part 16 is pivoted from its lower part to the ends of the parallelogram arms and there is a unified transverse beam 136 between the parallelogram arms, on top of which the attachment support 130 of the cylinders 28 of the locking means 26 is attached. The turning structure 128 of the pivot part 16 is, when seen from above, slightly V-shaped, which permits a greater degree of turning of the turning structure 128 of the pivot part 16. The turning structure 128 is formed of two casing structures 89, set at a slight angle to each other. The angle between the casing structures 89 can be 140 - 170°, preferably 150 - 160°.

Preferably the pivot part 16 and the rear part 14 are arranged to turn relative to each other by 0 - 35°, according to one embodiment the turning permitted is 27° in both directions, so that the total turning is more than 50°. The turning permitted can be increased by increasing the length of the piston rods of the cylinders and the width of the pivot part, so that there will be more space for the pivot part and the rear part to turn relative to each other. Alternatively, the degree of turning can be increased by increasing the difference between the directions of the casing structures of the turning structure. The chassis frame 58 of the tank trailer 11 can include a slot 138, through which a pin limiting the movement of the lifting means can be placed. Preferably, the first end of the pin can be fixed above the transverse beam 136, and at the other end the pin can move freely upwards in the slot 138. Only downwards movement is limited, so that the pin and slot can carry part of the weight of the distributer unit 10. The pin is not shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 also shows the front support wheels 80 belonging to the distributer device 15, which can be in front of the distributer device 15, at the side of the pivot part 16. The front support wheels 80 can be front support wheels known from the prior art, which in this case are attached to the rear part 14 and are located in the rear part at the position of the_. horizontal shaft 27. The front support wheels are intended to carry the weight of the rear frame with the rear wheels 52. The front support wheels can be lifted separately into the air and can be located to the sides of the rear frame. The rear wheels for their part support the rear frame, so that the distributer unit cannot sink too deeply into soft ground.

Further, Figure 4 shows how the movement limiter's 114 (Figure lb) attachment loop 158 is attached to the pivot part 16 directly on the same vertical line under the upper pivot 17 of the pressure operating device 42. Thus both the movement limiter 114 and the pressure operating device 42 are on the same path when the distributor device 15 turns relative to the pivot part 16. According to Figure 5, there is an opening 83 in the sleeve frame 82 of the vertical shaft 31, through which the movement limiter is attached to the sheath part 140. Both the movement limiter 114 and the pressure operating device 14 are able to move relative to both the vertical and the horizontal pivot . Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the vertical pivot of the pivot part 16. According to the figure, the pressure transverse device's upper pivot 17 is attached to the sheath part 140, which is mounted in bearings from the side to the sleeve frame 82. The sheath part 140 can move and be turned around the vertical shaft 31. The tilting arm 104 for the attachment of the rear part is, for its part, attached to the sleeve part 142, which is in turn mounted in bearings on top of the sleeve frame 82. The sleeve part 142 can be rotated around the vertical shaft 31 relative to the sleeve frame 82. Preferably the sleeve part 142 is set on top of a plastic slider piece 108, which facilitates the rotation of the sleeve part 142.

Figures 6a and 6b show side views of the pivot part 16. In Figure 6a, the lock mechanism 144 of the tilting mechanism 33 is shown in the locked position and in Figure 6b in the open position. The locked position of Figure 6a prevents the tilting arms 104 of the tilting mechanism 33 from rotating around their horizontal pivot. The lock mechanism 144 operates with the aid of an asymmetric arm 110, which includes an eccentric 86, according to Figure 8. In one position, the eccentric 86 locks the movement of the tilting arms 104 and in the other position the eccentric makes space to permit the movement of the tilting arms 104. The asymmetric arm 110 can be operated with the aid of the operating device 102.

Figure 7 shows the locking of the wings 124 of the distribution device into the transportation position. According to the figure, the transverse frame beams 56 are pivoted at a hinge pivot 57 and can be turned relative to the hinge pivots 57 in such a way that the wings 124 are essentially vertical. In order to keep the wings 124 vertical during the entire transportation, the rear part 14 preferably includes a wing-lock mechanism 120. This includes two arms 122, which are attached at one end to a wing 124 and at the other end are attached to each other with the aid of a catch 146. The catch 146 can operated with the aid of an operating device 62. Thus, the wings 124 can be locked securely during transportation.

According to Figure 8, there are counter-cups 152 in the turning structure 128 of the pivot part 16 for the cylinders 28 of the locking means 26 of the vertical shaft 31 of the pivot part 16, in which the piston rod 154 of the cylinders 28 is supported when it pushes the turning structure 128 of the pivot part 16. According to Figure 10, the transverse frame 76 can include an auxiliary frame 92, which is arranged to float. This means that the lower support 96 is .arranged to move freely relative to the upper support 98 in the lateral direction of the distribution device, by means of pivot arms 94. This permits a small lateral movement of the boot drills 49 when the machine turns, which in turn reduces the forces acting on the boot drills. According to the figure, the coulter discs 78, the boot drills 49, and the roller wheels 50 are supported on the auxiliary frame 92 and, in addition, loaded with a loading spring 100.

Figure 11 shows a possible form of implementation of the hydraulics of the distribution unit according to the invention. According to the figure, both of the rear-wheel horizontal adjustment cylinder 54 and the pressure operating device 42 are preferably fed by the hydraulic feed line 34. From the feed line 34, the flow is divided through direction valves 32 and 38 to the horizontal adjustment cylinders 54 and the pressure operating device 42. The return flow is directed through the direction valves 32 and 38 to the hydraulics lines 35, i.e. to the tank lines. These operating devices are connected to the same feed line, so that they operate simultaneously. Figures 12a and 12b show an enlargement (det. B) of the operation of the wing-lock mechanism 120 of Figure 7. In Figure 12a the wing-lock mechanism 120 is locked. One arm 122 of the wing-lock mechanism includes a cam arm 164 pivoted with a shaft 166, which includes a cam bevel 170 and a locking surface 168. Correspondingly, the other wing-lock mechanism arm 122 includes an arm 159, to which a locking counter-piece 162 is attached, which can be, for example, a flat iron bar, pivoted with a shaft 160. When the wings of the distributer unit are lifted to a vertical position, the arms 122 of the wing-lock mechanism approach each other, until the cam bevel 170 of the cam arm 164 meets the shaft 160 of the arm 159. The cam bevel 170 turns the freely moving cam arm 164 around the shaft 166, so that the arms 122 of the wing-lock mechanism are able to come closer together, until the locking surface 168 of the cam arm 164 drops against the locking counter-piece 162. The locking surface 168 has a negative angle, which prevents the wing-lock mechanism 122 from opening. When it is wished to open the wing-lock mechanism 122, the arm 159 is turned with the aid of operating device 62, and it in turn rotates the locking counter-piece 162. The locking surface 168 of the cam arm 164 can then slide along the locking counter-piece 162 and the wing-lock mechanism's arms 122 are able to move apart. The arm 159 includes, in addition, a stop 172, which prevents the cam arm 164 from rotating under the shaft 160.

Also the operating devices 62 of the wing locking and the centre-line marker cylinders 84 are connected to the same hydraulic lines 34 and 35. Here, however, the operating devices 62 and centre-line marker cylinders 84 operate alternately according to the control of the direction valve 36. Centre-line markers are rods at the sides of the distribution device, which are used to mark the driving lines of the following sowing line. The centre-line markers are not shown in the figures. The cylinders 28 of the locking means are, for their part, in the same hydraulic line as the tilting mechanism's operating devices 102. Thus both the locking means and the tilting mechanism's lock mechanism can be operated simultaneously while transferring the distribution unit. The cylinders 28 of the locking means are single-acting, i.e. when they are pressurized, their piston rods are entirely outside.

The cylinder of the locking means are preferably hydraulic cylinders, as hydraulics can be led to the distribution unit from the tank trailer. Also the other pushing or pulling operating devices used in the distribution unit are preferably hydraulic cylinders, but can also be entirely other types of operating device. The cylinders can also be pneumatic, if pneumatics is available. The tank trailer can also include a hydraulic power unit, which is operated by power obtained from the tractor's power take-off.

When locking the locking means, the control means can direct the pressure to both cylinders. The locked position will be sure to be achieved, if both cylinders are pressurized similarly. The locking means are always open during sowing and closed during transfer driving. The distribution unit according to one embodiment is, in the sowing position, 1.4 m high, 4.5 m long, and 6 m wide. During transportation, the width can be reduced to the 3 m permitted for road transport, with the aid of the turning wings of the distribution device.

The distribution unit according to the invention can be made for example from steel or some other material that will withstand the strains imposed on the distribution unit.. The distribution unit can include quick-release means for connecting the distribution unit to the rear of a tank trailer. The distribution unit can also includes remote-control means, when the locking of the position means and other adjustment operations can be made directly, for example, from the cab of the tractor. In the figures and description the distribution unit is depicted in the tasks of a direct sowing machine, but the distribution unit solution according to the invention is suitable for use in other work tasks, such as, for example, the slurry injector of a liquid-manure trailer. According to the regulations, manure spread on fields from a liquid-manure trailer should be covered, in which case a slurry injector connected the rear of a liquid-manure trailer is required. In terms of the use of the slurry injector it is extremely advantageous, if the slurry injector used is a distribution unit according to the invention, which turns easily in curves.

By means of the distribution unit according to the invention particular benefit is achieved when working on the headlands of fields. Direct sowing machines according to the prior art are generally lifted into the air at headlands,, when the entire weight of the direct sowing machine comes onto the rear wheels of the trailer. This in turn also lightens the front of the trailer, when the entire mass of the trailer and the direct sowing machine comes onto the rear wheels of the trailer. The rear wheels then compact the ground of the headlands with such a great pressure, that the growing of plants on the headlands is hindered or becomes impossible. In the solution according to the invention, the boot drills are raised into the air for the duration of the headland, but the rear wheels and the coulter discs still remain on the ground. The ground compacting effect of the trailer's rear wheels then remains very small and the coulter discs work the ground at the headlands too.

Thanks to the vertical shaft the distribution unit turns easily. Because the vertical shaft is at a distance from the trailer's rear wheels, the distributer device follows in nearly the same line as the trailer and does not cut corners.

Claims

1. Distributer unit (10) towably connected to a tank trailer (11) or similar, and raisable with its lifting devices (24), for example, in a direct sowing machine, in which distributer unit (10) there is a distributer device (15) equipped with a seeder (49) that is wider than the tank trailer (11) and which is pivoted relative to the tank trailer (11) to rotate relative to the vertical axis (31) , and to hinge relative to the horizontal axis (27), which distributer unit (10) includes a pressure operating device (42) to press the distributer device (15) against the ground, characterized in that the distributer unit (10) is in two parts and that it includes a pivot part (16) connected to the lifting means (24) of the tank trailer (11) and further the said distributer device (15) that turns relative to the said transverse horizontal axis (27) of the pivot part (16) .

2. Distributer unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said pivot part (16) is arranged to be attached to the tank trailer (11) non-rotationally in the horizontal direction relative to it and the pivot part (16) includes a vertical shaft (31) to permit the distribution device (15) to rotate relative to the tank trailer (11) .

3. Distributer unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivot part (16) includes 3-point attachment means for attaching the pivot part (16) to the tank trailer (11) .

4. Distributer unit according to Claim 2 or _: 3, characterized in that the distributer unit (10) includes locking means (26) of the pivot of the vertical shaft (31) to lock the attitude between the pivot part (16) - and the distributer device (15) .

5. Distributer unit according to any of Claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the distributer unit (10) includes a tilting mechanism (33) for permitting the tilting of the distributer device (15) , which is wider than the tank trailer, to a limited extent around the longitudinal axis, relative to the tank trailer.

6. Distributer unit according to Claim 5, characterized in that the said tilting mechanism (33) includes two tilting arms (104), with the aid of which the said rear part (14) is pivoted to the pivot part (16), and a lock mechanism (144) to lock the tilting mechanism.

7. Distributer unit according to any of Claims 1 - 6, character! zed in that the towing means (12) are arranged to permit the vertical movement of the pivot part (16) .

8. Distributer unit according to any of Claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the towing means (12) includes parallelogram arms (74) for attaching the distributer, unit (10) to the tank trailer.

9. Distributer unit according to any of Claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the distributer unit's (10) transverse horizontal shaft (27) for attachment to the distributer device (15) is a separate pivot to the pivot of the turning vertical axis (31 ) .

10. Distributer unit according to any of Claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the said pressure operating device (42) for pressing the distributer device (15) is arranged between the pivot part (16) and the rear part (14) and is at . an angle of at least 10°, preferably at least 15° to the horizontal plane.

11. Direct sowing machine, which includes a trailer (11) equipped with fertilizer and seed grain containers, characterized in that it includes a distributer unit (10) according to any of Claims 1 - 10.

12. Slurry injector, which includes a trailer (11) equipped with a manure container, characterized in that it includes a distributer unit (10) according to any of Claims 1 - 10.