WO2020256674A1

WO2020256674A1 - Folding mechanism of the inter-row hoeing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2020256674A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/050455
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet TÜRKAY
Original assignee: Türkay Tarim Maki̇nalari Sanayi̇ Ve Ti̇caret Li̇mi̇ted Şi̇rketi̇
Priority date: 2019-06-20
Filing date: 2020-05-27
Publication date: 2020-12-24

Abstract

The invention relates to the folding and locking mechanism (40) allowing the short profiles (30) on which the units (80) are located at the right and left foresides, to be folded on the main profile (20) with a straight angle of 180° by means of hydraulic pistons (41) so that the main profile (20) of the hoeing machine (1) is able to be reduced to the permissible safe transport width.

Description

FOLDING MECHANISM OF THE INTER-ROW HOEING MACHINE

Technical Field

The invention relates to hoeing machines which clean the inter-row and undesired weeds during the growth of a variety of products which were cultivated/planted (corn, sunflower, cotton, beet, watermelon, poppy, onion, tomato, pepper, etc.) is still ongoing.

The invention particularly relates to a folding mechanism which allows the chassis to be folded with a straight angle of 180° by means of hy draulic pistons so that said machine is able to be reduced to the permissible safe transport width.

Present Art

At the present, tools and machines performing the inter-row hoeing process, are manufactured in different types including spring-loaded or splined types, and these being in various forms themselves by many manufacturers serving the agricultural mechanization. Depending on the nature of the soil and the cultivating/planting distance of the product, as the needs are varied, the production thereof in different types and forms is involved.

Whether spring-loaded or splined type, in currently manufactured inter-row hoeing tools and machines, the work widths of the units which are to perform hoeing function by entering the inter-rows of products, vary depending on the row distance of the product. These units are in mechanically adjustable nature on chassis.

In determining the chassis width in spring-loaded tools or splined hoeing machines, there are a variety of parameters such as the number of the units which are to perform hoeing function by entering the inter-rows of products and the work widths of these units; as well as the requirement of being able to adjust the distance of inter-rows which changes product- specifically.

Therefore, depending on all variations, the required chassis width of the tool/machine may be below or above the permissible safe transport limits according to the road traffic regulations. Chassis may be mono-block in the cases where the widths are below the transport limit. However, the chassis being one-piece is a legal problem during transport, when the permissible safe transport limits are exceeded.

In the prior art, there may occur some technical problems during the transportation of the tools or machines having the widths exceeding the limit of 3.05 m, in which: • Material fatigue is involved as the chassis will oscillate towards the ends subject to strong jolts caused by reliefs and holes during the transportation of the tractor to the field by hanging it to the three-point linkage system or during the transportation thereof to the place where it will be parked after completing the work.

• The fatigued materials cause undesired problems such as cracking or breaking while working with tools or machines, and the lifetime of the machine is negatively affected.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, several companies have had studies relating to the hydraulic folding arrangement. However, as the folding is done at the angles such as 90 or 135°, the weight of the units which w ere folded on the chassis and again the loads on the components at the folding points cause adverse outcomes related to the material fatigue due to the jolts during the transportation.

State of The Art

As a result of the studies made in the literature, various embodiments relating to said hoeing machines can be found. One of which is the utility model of TR2013/02685 application number, entitled "Inter-row hoeing-fertilizing machine.". In the abstract of the invention, the classification of which is A01 B 9/00, "This invention relates to the inter-row hoeing-fertilizing machine for loosening, hoeing and inter-fertilizing the soil, comprising a stand with three- point linkage lift stand, the wheel having also a depth adjustment mechanism, a fertilizing unit and a fertilizing tank, wherein it is characterized by a body in which at least one row-shaped sweep, at least one row-shaped hoeing unit, at least one row-shaped fertilizing unit and the fertilizing tank function together and onto which said sweep, hoeing unit and fertilizing unit and fertilizing tank are fastened." is included. In this application, the weeping process is made with low efficiency since the number of units is low.

Another example of said embodiment is the utility model of TR2007/00725 application number, entitled "A hoeing machine.". In the abstract of the invention, the classification of which is A01 B 9/00, "This invention is the hoeing machine comprised of; a piston having an additional foldable chassis which provides ease of handling a larger area in one cultivation in an open position and ease of transportation in a closed position and which allows opening and closing the additional chassis foldable onto the main chassis; a motion transmitting coupler and a motion receiving coupler which allows the connection between the motion shaft driving the hoeing units and the additional foldable motion shaft, and a spring providing flexibility to said coupler against the forces which may come onto the motion transmitting coupler." is included. In this application, the excess units formed on the sides can be folded on the mid-structure, but this folding is made at 135°. This may lead to breaking the connection points of side units during transportation. Another example of said embodiment is the utility model of application number TR2017/12212, entitled "Full-Automatic Intra-Row Hoeing Machine". In the abstract of the invention, the classification of which is A01 B 41/00, "The invention relates to the intra-row hoeing machine which can perform the hoeing process of rowed-cultivated plants grown in agricultural areas without harming the crops and which can perform the hoeing process in a fully automatic manner independent from manpower in such a way that the maximum soil conditions on which a crop can grow are provided." is included. In this application, a machine can be found the side units of which are foldable at 90°.

Such applications can be exemplary of said disadvantages since they cannot be folded on the mid-structure with a straight angle.

Consequently, improvements are made in parallel with the developing technology in hoeing machines; therefore new embodiments are needed to eliminate the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide solutions to existing systems.

The object of the Invention

The invention relates to the hoeing machine which was developed in order to overcome said disadvantages and to provide additional advantages differently from the embodiments used in the present art.

The object of the invention is to allow to the main structure to be fully folded with a straight angle of 180° by means of hydraulic pistons in orde r to be able to reduce said tools and machines to permissible safe transport width according to road traffic regulations. The object is to eliminate all disadvantages in the state of the art by means of the hydraulic folding and locking mechanism which was developed for this purpose.

In another object of the invention, the weight of units at the end parts folded on the chassis with a straight angle of 180° is known as distribut ed load, which was equally distributed on the components at the folding points. Thus, the material fatigue due to the jolts during transportation is minimized. Therefore, the problems resulting from material fatigue are prevented and the lifetime of the machine is positively affected.

Another object of the invention is to allow to the short profiles which are located on the right side and left side to be folded on the main profile by means of hydraulic pistons with a straight angle of 180°. Here, also aimed is to elim inate all disadvantages in the state of the art with the developed curvilinear arm and linear arm which play an important role.

The structural characteristics and all advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description described by means of the figures given below and the references made to these figures. Therefore, the evaluation shall be made considering these figures and detailed description.

Brief Description of the Figures Which Will Help to Understand the Invention

Figure-1 ; shows the two-dimensional front view of the open state of all units of the hoeing machine.

Figure-2; shows the perspective view of the open state of all units of the hoeing machine.

Figure-3; shows the two-dimensional front view of the closed state of side units of the hoeing machine.

Figure-4; shows the perspective view of the closed state of side units of the hoeing machine. Figure-5; shows the perspective view of the locking mechanism allowing the movement of side units of the hoeing machine.

Figure-6; shows the perspective view of the disassembled states of the main profile, the short profile and the folding/locking mechanism.

Reference Numbers

1. Hoeing machine 46.Profile attachment apparatus 10. Tractor attachment apparatus 461.Apparatus centering pin 20. Main profile 47. Profile locking pin 30. Short profile 50. Hexagonal central shaft 40. Folding and locking mechanism 30 51. Long shaft dovetail

41. Hydraulic piston 52. Short shaft dovetail

42.Hydraulic piston lock 60. Hexagonal short shaft

43. Curvilinear arm 70. Spring

44. Linear arm 71. Spring spacing flange 45.Arm joining apparatus 35 80. Unit Detailed Description of An Example of the Invention

Said hoeing machine (1 ) is comprised of the tractor attachment apparatus (10), the main profile (20), the short profile (30), the folding and locking mechanism (40), the hexagonal central shaft (50), the hexagonal short shaft (60), the spring (70) and the units (80). The hoeing machine (1 ) is shown in perspective in Figure 1.

Tractor attachment apparatus (10) allows the respective machine to be connected to the tractor by being located to the central part of the main profile (20).

The main profile (20) is the integral long portion at the center which forms the chassis of the hoeing machine (1 ). All members related to the machine are located on the main profile (20).

The short profile (30) is the foldable short portions located right and left fore sides of the main profile (20). The connection between the short profile (30) and the main profile (20) is made by means of the profile attachment apparatus (46). The profile attachment apparatus (46) is comprised of two portions. One portion thereof is fit to the end of the main profile (20) while the corresponding other portion is fit to the end of the short profile (30) which will remain inside. These two separate portions are fixed together via apparatus centering pin (461 ). The relation between the short profile (30) and the main profile is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5.

The folding and locking mechanism (40) consists of the hydraulic piston (41 ), the hydraulic piston lock (42), the curvilinear arm (43) and the linear arm (44). The folding and locking mechanism (40) is shown in detail in Fig. 5.

Said hydraulic piston (41 ) is the member providing the hydraulic folding by converting the hydraulic energy received from the tractor hydraulic assembly to the mechanical energy.

The hydraulic piston lock (42) is the mechanism providing the safe fixation of the foldable unit (80) by means of the hydraulic piston (41 ).

The curvilinear arm (43) is one of the significant components of the custom design folding system which allows the short profiles (30) located on the right and left foresides to be fully folded on the main profile (20) with a straight angle of 180°.

The linear arm (44) is one of the significant components of the custom design folding system which allows the short profiles (30) located on the right and left foresides to be fully folded on the main profile (20) with a straight angle of 180°. One end of the curvilinear arm (43) and linear arm (44) is fit to the profile attachment apparatus (46) while the other end thereof is fit to the arm joining apparatus (45) and these two members are joined at one point.

The hexagonal central shaft (50) is the drive shaft which transmits the return movement received from the transmission to the units (80).

The long shaft dovetail (51 ) is the part which provides the connection at the folding points between the hexagonal short shafts (60) and hexagonal central shafts (50) which drive the units (80) located on the right and left foresides, and which remains on the hexagonal central shaft (50) after the folding.

The short shaft dovetail (52) is the part which provides the connection at the folding points between the hexagonal short shafts (60) and hexagonal central shafts (50) which drive the units located on the right and left foresides and hexagonal central shafts (50) and which remain on the hexagonal short shafts (60) after the folding.

The hexagonal short shaft (60) is the short drive shaft which drives the units (80) located on the right and left foresides.

The spring (70) is the semi-elastic machine element which allows the hexagonal short shaft (60) to be compressed to the hexagonal central shaft (50) and the mechanical energy to be dumped in the case that the hydraulic piston (41 ) is fully opened while the hoeing machine (1 ) is moved from the transportation position to the working position.

The spring spacing flange (71 ) is used to locate the spring (70) at the desired distance.

The unit (80) is the functioning structure which will perform the hoeing process by entering the inter-rows of the cultivated/planted product. There are 7 units (80) in the drawings of the invention shown in the figures.

Mounting principle:

All structures are fixed on the main profile (20). The tractor attachment apparatus (10) which will be attached to the tractor is fit to the middle part of the machine.

The short profiles (30) are contacted to the right and left ends of the main profile (20) using the profile attachment apparatus (46). The profile attachment apparatus (46) is formed by the members which are in a symmetrical structure with each other, connected with the profile locking pin (47). The profile attachment apparatus (46) is inserted into both the main profile (20) and the short profile (30) and joined from the side where the profile locking pin (47) is present. The profile locking pin (47) allows the profile attachment apparatus (46) to be opened and closed. Thus, the short profile (30) is opened and closed.

A unit (80) is fit on each one of the short profiles (30). 5 units (80) are fit on said main profile (20) at equal distances.

In order to actuate and drive the units (80), the hexagonal central shaft (50) is passed through and contacted with each of the units (80).

The folding and locking mechanism (40) of the subject matter of the invention is contacted with the short profile (30) joined to the profile attachment apparatus (46), and the main profile (20).

The hydraulic piston (41 ) is fixed on the main profile (20). The curvilinear arm (43) and the linear arm (44) are contacted to the arm joining apparatus (45) located on the end part of the hydraulic piston (41 ). The curvilinear arm (43) is fixed to the side of the profile attachment apparatus (46) which is fit to the main profile (20). The linear arm (44) is fixed to the side of the profile attachment apparatus (46) which is fit to the short profile (30). Figure 6 shows a disassembled state of the short profile (30), the main profile (20) and the folding and locking mechanism (40) that contacts them to each other. The above mentioned hexagonal central shaft (50) is in an integral structure. The hexagonal short shaft (60) is used to activate the units (80) fit to the short profiles (30). The long shaft dovetail (51 ), the short shaft dovetail (52) and the spring (70) are used for contacting the hexagonal short shaft (60) and the hexagonal central shaft (50).

The perspective view of the assembled hoeing machine (1 ) is shown in Figure 2.

Operating principle:

When moving the machine from the operating position to the transportation position, first the profile locking pin (47) is removed. Then, the hydraulic energy received from the tractor is converted into the mechanical energy by means of the hydraulic pistons (41 ) and the hexagonal short shafts (60) located on the fore sides are allowed to separate from the hexagonal central shaft (50) by disengaging the short shaft dovetail (52) from the long shaft dovetail (51 ). By this way, it is provided that the short profiles to be folded on the main profile (20) in a hydraulic manner simultaneously in the direction of X with a straight angle of 180°. The hoeing machine (1 ) is safely moved to the transportation position through completing the folding process by way of the hydraulic piston locking (42) mechanism serving as a stopper. In Figures 3 and 4, the hoeing machine moved to the transportation position is shown. The weight of the units (80) at the end parts is loaded on the components at the folding points as the distributed load, which is equally distributed. Thus, the material fatigue due to the jolts during the transportation is minimized, the problem which may arise due to this is prevented and the lifetime of the machine is positively affected. On the contrary case, in other words, when the hoeing machine (1 ) is moved from the transportation position to the operating position, again the hydraulic piston (41 ) is driven by means of hydraulic energy received from the tractor. The short profile (30) starts to move in the direction of Y with such drive motion. When the hydraulic piston (41 ) is fully opened, it is provided that the hexagonal short shaft (60) is compressed to the hexagonal central shaft (50). By way of this, the spring (70) which is a semi-elastic machine element providing the mechanical energy to be damped and the spring spacing flange (71 ) allowing this spring (70) to be at the desired distance play a significant role. The short shaft dovetail (52) and the long shaft dovetail (51 ) are allowed to interlock. The short profiles are provided to be parallel with the main profile (20) simultaneously. The hoeing machine (1 ) is safely moved to the working position by way of fitting the profile locking pin (47) in place.

Claims

1. The folding and locking mechanism (40) allowing the short profiles (30) to be folded on the main profile (20) by means of the hydraulic piston (41 ), which short profiles are located at both side ends of the main profile (20) serving as the chassis of the hoeing machine (1 ) comprising the hexagonal central shaft (50) and the hexagonal short shaft (60) which enable the internal mechanisms of the units (80) performing the hoeing process to be moved, wherein it comprises;

• The profile attachment apparatus (46) allowing these two members to be connected by inserting them into said main profile (20) and short profile (30);

• The apparatus centering pin (461 ) providing the opening and closing function to the profile attachment apparatus (46) which is formed of two portions by joining the portions thereof in one point,

• The linear arm (44) which is contacted to the short profile (30) side of said profile attachment apparatus (46), allowing the short profile (30) to be fully folded on the main profile (20) with a straight angle of 180°

• The curvilinear arm (43) which is contacted to the main profile (20) side of said profile attachment apparatus (46), allowing the short profile (30) to realize the rotating movement in a stable manner.

2. The folding and locking mechanism (40) according to claim 1 , wherein; it comprises the profile locking pin (47) which enables the profile attachment apparatus (46) to remain locked while using the machine.

3. The folding and locking mechanism (40) according to claim 1 , wherein; it comprises the long shaft dovetail (51 ) which allows the connection at the folding points between the hexagonal short shafts (60) driving the units (80) located on the right and left foresides and the hexagonal central shaft (50) and which remains on the hexagonal central shaft (50) after completing the folding.

4. The folding and locking mechanism (40) according to claim 1 , wherein; it comprises the short shaft dovetail (52) which allows the connection at the folding points between the hexagonal short shafts (60) driving the units located on the right and left foresides and the hexagonal central shaft (50) and which remains on the hexagonal short shaft (60) after completing the folding.

5. The folding and locking mechanism (40) according to claim 1 , wherein; it comprises the spring (70) which allows the hexagonal short shaft (60) to be compressed to the hexagonal central shaft (50) and the mechanical energy to be damped when the hydraulic piston (41 ) is fully opened while said hoeing machine (1 ) is moved from the transportation position to the working position.

6. The folding and locking mechanism (40) according to claim 1 , wherein; it comprises the spring spacing flange (71 ) which is used for locating said spring (70) at the desired distance.