WO2021175494A1

WO2021175494A1 - An actuating device for agricultural device

Info

Publication number: WO2021175494A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/025091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eamonn NOLAN; Brian Nolan; Danny NOLAN
Original assignee: Prodig Attachments Limited
Priority date: 2020-03-04
Filing date: 2021-03-04
Publication date: 2021-09-10
Also published as: GB202003153D0

Abstract

An actuating device for agricultural devices attached to a trailer (10) that moves the agricultural device from a working position to a non working position that is in line with the trailer (10). The agricultural device can be a crop mower (30) and the non working position can be horizontally underneath the trailer (10) or upright between the trailer and the towing vehicle, and the actuator (46) may be hydraulic.

Description

Title: An Actuating Device for Agricultural Device

The current invention relates to an actuating device for moving an agricultural device particularly to an actuating device attached to a trailer and for moving an agricultural device between a working mowing position and a non-working position.

Introduction

For clarity, harvesters include agricultural devices attached to a trailer that removes material from a ground surface by an agricultural device.

Agricultural devices include crop mowers and any machine used in farming, horticulture and environmental management to harvest or collect material from the ground. Material can be litter or flotsam, or sticks, wood, leaves or anything than needs to be lifted from the ground and put into a trailer. Routinely the trailer is towed by a suitable vehicle like a tractor, truck, pick-up truck or quad bike.

Crop mowing, especially grass, and harvesting is currently carried out using mowers attached to the rear of a tractor via a draw bar; the mower and harvesting trailer are both offset at an angle behind the tractor so the mower can mow grass behind and to either or both sides of the tractor.

Patent documents EP1008285(A1) and US5140804(A1) describe known types of such mowing apparatus. Each document describes a mechanism comprising drawbars having articulated joints with hydraulic cylinders.

These mowing apparatus have significant disadvantages in that, in use, the drawbars are forced to work at stressful angles relative to the direction of travel of the tractor with which they are pulled. This results in relatively high level and frequent maintenance needs.

Additionally current crop mowers are immovably fixed into a working position and create an impediment to the tractor turning especially U turning to the side the mower and trailer are on.

Known agricultural mowing and harvesting apparatus also have blades and other sharp implements capable of causing injury to a human or animal or damage to property. The blades and other devices are typically disposed having a potentially dangerous position relative to nearby humans, animals or property especially when not in use as a safe non working position is not yet possible. Therefore, known mowing and harvesting apparatus are disadvantaged in that they are relatively inefficient in use; require a relatively high level of maintenance both in parts and labour; are relatively inefficient in maintenance costs, working the ground and task duration; and potentially harmful and damaging.

Accordingly, there is a clear need in the industry for an agricultural mowing and harvesting apparatus which addresses the above- mentioned problems.

Statements of Invention

According to a first aspect of the current invention there is provided an actuating device for moving an agricultural device between a first position and a second retracted position, the actuating device configured to be disposed between a trailer and an agricultural device wherein the actuating device comprises a first actuator having a first end and a second end, and wherein:

(i) the first end is attached to pivoting means,

(ii) the second end is attached to a connector, the connector being configured to attach to a trailer (iii) the pivoting means are attached to a support bar first end, and the support bar being operable to support an agricultural device at the second end.

Preferably the first actuator is one or more of a spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

Most preferably the first actuator is an hydraulic actuator.

Preferably the actuating device comprises a second actuator having a first end and a second end, and wherein:

(i) the first end is attached to the pivoting means; and

(ii) the second end is attached between the first and second ends of the support bar.

Preferably the second actuator is one or more of spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

Most preferably the second actuator is a hydraulic actuator.

Preferably the second end of the support bar is pivotably attached to the agricultural device.

Preferably the pivoting means pivots to move the agricultural device between a first working position towards either 1) a second position beneath the trailer or 2) a second upright position.

Preferably the agricultural device is one or more of a material collector, a crop mower, a liquid applicator, a material pick up reel, a spreader or a vacuum enabled device.

More preferably the agricultural device is a crop mower and even more preferably the agricultural device is a grass mower.

According to a second aspect of the current invention there is provided a harvester assembly comprising the actuating device of the first aspect of the current invention.

The actuating device may be attachable to an agricultural device. The actuating device may be detachably attachable to the agricultural device.

The trailer has a ground clearance to accommodate the agricultural device under the trailer.

A third aspect of the current invention is a process of manufacturing a harvester assembly of the second aspect of the current invention comprising the steps of attaching: 1) the connector to a trailer draw bar or trailer chassis

2) the first end of the first actuator is attached to pivoting means,

(3) the second end is attached to the connector

(4) a support bar to the pivoting means The process of manufacturing may involve steps 1 to 4 in any particular order.

One one or more of the attaching steps 1 to 4 is carried out using pivot pins.

The connector is configured to connect the pivoting means to the trailer chassis or trailer draw bar.

A fourth aspect of the current invention is a kit of parts for moving an agricultural device between a first position and a second retracted position comprising a pivotable member, a first actuator and a support bar, the support bar being operable to support an agricultural device. The kit of parts may comprise a connector configured to connect the pivoting means to the trailer chassis or trailer draw bar. The first actuator may be one or more of a spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.

The kit of parts may comprise pivot pins. The kit of parts may comprise a second actuator wherein the second actuator is one or more of a spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.

The kit of parts comprises a trailer having a ground clearance to accommodate the agricultural device under the trailer.

Description By way of clarification, attaching includes attaching two parts together either permanently, e.g. by welding, or detachably attaching parts bolting and pinning, e.g. pivot pinning parts together.

For further clarification the first position of the agricultural device is a working position or working ready position; and the second retracted position is sufficient to enable the towing vehicle to turn without impediment or store the agricultural device underneath the trailer or upright in front of the trailer. Inline is understood to mean the agricultural device does not extend beyond the trailer area when in second retracted position, i.e. the non mowing position, but may extend above the trailer height when in the upright second retracted position. These and other characteristics of the invention will be clear from the following description of preferred embodiments, given as non-restrictive examples, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein crop mower is an example agricultural device and hydraulic actuators are example actuating devices of the current invention.

Features of the figures are listed as follows: Actuating Device la and lb Actuator and Trailer assembly 2, 3 and 4 Draw bar 5,

Trailer 10, Support bar 15

Pivoting means 25 (hinge for horizontal movement)

Connector 26

Agricultural Device (Crop mower) 30

Pivoting means 35 (rotatable axel for upright movement) First Actuator 46

Attaching pivot pin 48 Power box 50 Second Actuator 55 Transfer unit 70 Conveyer 90

First actuator first end 71 First actuator second end 72 Second actuator first end 73 Second actuator second end 74 Support bar first end 80 Support bar second end 81

Figure 1A shows an isolated actuating device la of the current invention with first actuator 46 visible and Figure IB shows an isolated actuating device lb with second actuator 55 visible.

Figure 2 is front view of a harvester assembly 2 with agricultural device crop mower 30 and trailer assembly 10 with the agricultural device crop mower 30 in a first position, mowing or ready for mowing position.

Figure 3 shows a top down view of the mower and trailer assembly 2 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a harvester assembly 3 with the agricultural device crop mower 30 in the second retracted position underneath the trailer 10.

Figures 5 shows a top down view of the harvester assembly 3 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a bottom up view of the crop mower and trailer assembly 3 of Figure 4 and 5.

Figure 7 shows a front view of the crop mower and trailer assembly 4 with the agricultural device crop mower 30 in a second position that is an upright non mowing position.

Figure 8 is an angled view of the crop mower and trailer assembly 4 of Figure 7.

Example 1

The actuating device la is assembled on the trailer as follows:

1. Attach connector 26 to the trailer draw bar 5 by welding or bolting 2. Attach first end 71 of the first hydraulic actuator 46 to connector 26 using pivot pins 48.

5. Attach second end 72 of actuator to pivot hinge 25 using pivot pins 48. 6. Attach the first end 80 of support bar 15 to the pivoting means 25 using pivot pins 48.

Once the actuating device is assembled on the trailer 10, the user can attach the first end 81 of the support bar 15 to the agricultural device crop mower 30 using pivot pins 48.

Actuating Device of lb has second hydraulic actuator 55 for more refined movement; second hydraulic actuator 55 is attached towards the middle support bar 15, and to pivot means 25, especially for movement of the agricultural device to and from the ground surface. Pivot pins 48 are used to attached second actuator 55 to both the support bar 15 and pivot means 25. Example 2

Harvester assembly 2 having the agricultural device mower 30 in a second retracted position of Figure 4 prior to use, i.e. under the trailer unit 10. Actuation of hydraulic bar 46, powered by power box 50 pivots mower 30 into working position of Figure 2.

Once mowing has finished the user reverses this action and the mower 30 pivots to non mowing position under the front end of trailer unit 10. Trailer unit 10 stays in line with the towing tractor; there is no need for the trailer 10 with mower 30 to be angled awkwardly behind the tractor (not shown).

This pivoting movement moves the trailer 10 inline with the tractor and reduces stresses on the trailer chassis and trailer drawbar. This has the added benefit of increasing trailer and mower lifespan and decreasing maintenance costs.

In a preferred embodiment second actuator 55 then lowers the agricultural device crop mower 30 from a raised position to its ground working position; and second actuator 55 engages a locking system to maintain a first working position or second retracted position.

The second actuator 55 is connected to pivot 25 and support bar 15 using pivot pins 48. Second actuator 55 actuator can raise or lower the agricultural device mower 30 vertically to and from the ground surface when necessary.

The second actuator 55 is powered in the same way as first actuator 46.

In another embodiment of the current invention there is a pivoting joint at the end of support 15 to allow the crop mover 30 or any agricultural device to pivot over the contour of the ground.

In another embodiment of the current invention trailer unit 10 may comprise a Floor unloading system having one or more of Conveyor type floor, Chain and slat type floor, Hydraulic push off system, Side dumping, a Hydraulic tipping trailer type and a Walking floor type The current invention obviates the need for the full trailed harvester assembly to pivot to the side of the tractor unit for its operational purposes. Already existing crop mowers have added issues with increased chassis stresses and strains due to this pivoting process. The inline crop mower or any agricultural device in a second retracted position has a more stable low centre of gravity when positioned beneath the trailer.

This is a safer and more reliable process, further increasing road safety may also be provided by using a road safety non-pivoting drawbar.

In a further embodiment a fertilizer applicator is fitted to the agricultural machine, enabling fertilizing on the go. Example 3

This example has the harvester assembly 4 with agricultural device crop mower 30 in a second position that is upright, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

In use, the user hitches trailer unit 10 with mower 30 in stored position as shown in Figure 7 and 8 to a tractor (not shown) using the draw bar 5 and tractor tow bar (also not shown), the electrical connections between the trailer unit 10 and tractor are connected as per normal practice. The user actuates power box 50 from a mobile application or tractor cockpit control mechanism. The power box 50 provides power to the hydraulic actuator 46.

This actuation step signals the power box 50 to turn pivoting means axel 35 counter clockwise, which then moves support bar 15 ground wards and agricultural device mower 30 folds from the second retracted position which is upright to a first working mowing position, as shown in Figure 2.

In another embodiment sensors may help detect the ground surface and maintain the agricultural device 30 at the correct height from the ground surface.

Optionally the agricultural device 30 may have one or more wheels that drop down during the movement from a second retracted position to a first working position.

When grass or any crop is cut using the agricultural device mower 30, the crop is moved onto transfer units to transfer the material to the holding area by means of Screw Auger type transfer. This may include two or more augers to transport material on a horizontal plane to an upright or diagonal plane into the interior of trailer unit 10. Alternatively instead of auger or augers, the mower 30 may have a conveyor based transfer system 90. Upon completion of the mowing task, the user returns the agricultural device crop mower 30 to the second retracted position of Figures 6 and 7 using an opposite action to the initial actuation step, whether by mobile applications or physical buttons. This control can be automated using sensors and electrical control systems known in art.

Conveyor type (90) transfer includes a number of conveyors to transport material on a horizontal plane to a vertical plane.

The agricultural device second retracted position may be Inline with the trailer. Inline is understood to mean the agricultural device does not extend beyond the trailer width, e.g. when the agricultural device is in the second retracted position underneath the trailer. When the agricultural device is in the second retracted position that is upright, the agricultural device may extend beyond the height of the trailer, but not the sides while being towed or parked.

The state of the art has agricultural devices like crop mowers directly attached to trailer chassis or trailer draw bar. The current invention reduces forces exerted on the trailer drawbar or trailer chassis by using the harvester actuating device of the current invention.

The current invention also surprisingly enables an agricultural device attached to a trailer to be moved into a non working position underneath the trailer or upright from the trailer draw bar. Agricultural devices include crop mowers and any machine used in farming, horticulture and environmental management to harvest or collect material from the ground. Material can be litter or flotsam, or sticks, wood, leaves or anything than needs to be lifted from the ground and put into a trailer.

When the agricultural device is a spreading device, the trailer 10 may feed the agricultural device with material to be spread, for example fertilizer, pesticide, weed killer or seeds.

The Agricultural device can have a field mapping system and a ground fertility sensor system to read ground conditions and automatically calibrate a fertiliser applicator to apply the correct amount of fertilizer to a ground surface.

When the agricultural device is a weed killer applicator, the agricultural device can include on-board sensors and/or cameras to identify weeds, and apply the correct level of weed killer to the exact location of the weed.

The vehicle is any suitable agricultural towing machine and is preferably a tractor or a truck and most preferably is a tractor.

For smaller crop mowers the vehicle may be a quadbike or 4x4 car or pick up truck.

The second retracted position may be an inline transport position when the mower is attached to a trailer being towed by a vehicle, or when the vehicle is parked, or sufficiently retracted to enable the harvester assembly to turn without impediment. This is especially important for sharp U turns while being towed by a vehicle during use of the agricultural device.

In another embodiment the harvester assembly may act and move as a single unit. This movement may be autonomous, not requiring human intervention or control. Autonomy may be provided by software, artificial intelligence, machine learning or neural networks trained to move the assembly in the most efficient and safest way.

The harvester assembly of the current invention may have two agricultural devices that fold down from an upright second retracted position either side of the trailer draw bar, to a horizontal working position plane.

The harvester assembly may have an Independent power supply, i.e. a power supply independent of the towing vehicle.

In yet another embodiment the harvester assembly may be self powered without a towing vehicle.

The self-propelled autonomous harvester unit may comprise an independent engine, trailer, power source and one or more actuators.

Optionally the harvester assembly may be controlled remotely and may be towed by an autonomous vehicle.

The harvester assembly may also include one or more of the following field mapping means and Grass measuring and Grass mapping.

The agricultural device may comprise crop protection means to reduce damage of the crop including padding and positive pressure air vents.

When the agricultural device is a crop mower, it may comprise sensors for one or more of crop weight, moisture content, colour, nutritional content and disease.

Optionally the agricultural device may also comprise one or more of 1) noise reduction means, 2) one or more belt driven floors for unloading of the crop;

3) an on board management system to all Barcode reading at the unloading point to alert operator to the quantity of materials to be delivered;

4) an additive applicator of feed supplements

The additive applicator may add a Granular or a liquid supplement distribution system.

Sensors may wirelessly transfer data collected to an in-cab control, or to a smart device application program interface (API) for analysis or communicated for analysis by a third party. Preferably this data is analyzed in real time. The data obtained from sensors can be used in field mapping, load counting, and invoice management for contractor machines. The agricultural device may have a Hydraulic self-leveling suspension and/or a Pneumatic suspension.

The harvester agricultural device may use tracks instead of wheels to reduce ground compaction while in use.

The trailer ground clearance may be increased at the trailer draw bar end to receive the agricultural device under the trailer in the non working position. The current invention can be sold as a kit of parts for moving an agricultural device between a first position and a second retracted position comprising a pivotable member, a first actuator and a support bar, the support bar being operable to support an agricultural device. The current invention moves the agricultural device to enable sharp turns and U turns while attached to the trailer, preferably when towed by a towing vehicle or as part of a self propelled harvester assembly, and reduces stress to the trailer chassis or trailer draw bar while

Claims

1. An actuating device for moving an agricultural device between a first position and a second retracted position, the actuating device configured to be disposed between a trailer and an agricultural device wherein the actuating device comprises a first actuator having a first end and a second end, and wherein:

(i) the first end is attached to pivoting means,

(ii) the second end is attached to a connector, the connector being configured to attach to a trailer

(iii) the pivoting means are attached to a support bar first end, and the support bar being operable to support an agricultural device at the second end.

2. An actuating device according to claims 1 wherein the first and second actuator is one or more of a spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

3. An actuating device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a second actuator having a first end and a second end, and wherein:

(i) the first end is attached to the pivoting means; and

4. An actuating device according to claim 3 wherein the second actuator is one or more of is one or more of a spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

5. An actuation device according any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second end of the support bar is pivotably attached to the agricultural device.

6. An actuating device according to any preceding claim wherein the pivoting means pivots to move the agricultural device between a first working position towards either 1) a second position beneath the trailer or 2) a second upright position.

7. An actuating device according to any preceding claim wherein the agricultural device is one or more of a material collector, a crop mower, a liquid applicator, a material pick up reel, a spreader or a vacuum enabled device.

8. An actuating device according to any preceding claim wherein the agricultural device is a grass mower.

9. A harvester assembly comprising an actuating device of any one of claims 1 to 8 and an agricultural device.

10. A harvester assembly according to claim 9 wherein the actuating device is attachable to an agricultural device.

11. A harvester assembly of claims 9 or 10 wherein the actuating device is detachably attachable to the agricultural device.

12. A harvester assembly of claims 9 or 10 or 11 comprising a trailer having a ground clearance to accommodate the agricultural device under the trailer.

13. A process of manufacturing a harvester assembly of claims 9 to 13 comprising the steps of attaching:

1) the connector to a trailer draw bar or trailer chassis

2) the first end of the first actuator is attached to pivoting means,

(3) the second end is attached to the connector (4) a support bar to the pivoting means

14. A process of manufacture according to claim 13 wherein one or more of the attaching steps 1 to 3 are carried out using pivot pins.

15. A process of manufacture according to claims 13 or 14 wherein a second actuator is attached to the support bar and the pivoting means.

16. A kit of parts for moving an agricultural device between a first position and a second retracted position comprising a pivotable member, a first actuator and a support bar, the support bar being operable to support an agricultural device.

17. A kit of parts according to claim 16 comprising a connector configured to connect the pivoting means to the trailer chassis or trailer draw bar.

18. A kit of parts according to claims 16 or 17 wherein the first actuator is one or more of a spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.

19. A kit of parts according to claims 16 to 18 comprising pivot pins.

20. A kit of parts according to claims 16 to 19 comprising a second actuator wherein the second actuator is one or more of a spring, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.

21. A kit of parts according to claims 14 to 17 comprising a trailer having a ground clearance to accommodate the agricultural device under the trailer.