AU654489B2 - An agricultural implement - Google Patents

Description

Aft rm COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: JOHN BOOTH JOHN BOOTH CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT 66 6 *.6 Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PK26t5 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 6 6**6 9* @6 6 @6 66 THIS INVENTION relates to an agricultural implement for in-ground fertilising. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to a sugar cane stubble fertiliser.

The majority of sugar cane is now cut 'qreen", i.e. the cane is not burnt to destroy "trash before harvesting. (The term "trash" refers to the leaves on the cane stalks and the leafy tops which are cut from the stalks by the cane harvester). During harvesting, the cane stalks are cut into billets and the lighter trash material is separated from the heavier cane billets by blower fans on the harvester. The cane billets are delivered by the harvester to a bin trailer, cane transporter or the like, while the trash material is blown by the fans over the previously harvested area.

This trash settles on the ground and forms a protective layer helping to retain ground moisture. Eventually, the trash deteriorates into mulch.

However, the layer of trash and mulch on the ground gives rise to problems in fertilising the ratoon crop of cane which grows from the cane stubble left after harvesting. Although fertiliser may be spread over the trash, most of the nitrogen and other nutrients in the fertiliser would be lost to the atmosphere before they S" reach the ground and the cane stubble. Consequently, fertilisation by overground spreading is inefficient and wasteful. Further, such fertiliser is more likely to find its way into creeks and rivers and pose environmental problems.

In order to provide more direct fertilisation eeoc of the cane stubble and surrounding ground, "under trash" or in-ground fertilisers have been developed. Such s fertilising implements comprise a coulter (which in this specification, is defined as a thin planar blade wheel) which slices through the layer of trash and a predetermined distance into the ground or cane stubble, S followed by a tyne which digs a furrow along the line cut by the coulter. A relatively thin tube is fastened to the trailing side of the tyne, the lower end of the tube being near the bottom of the tyne while the upper end of the tube is in communication with a reservoir of fertiliser, e.g. a fertiliser bin.

In use, fertiliser is fed through the tube into the furrow formed by the tyne. A weighted or springloaded trailing wheel is sometimes used in an effort to close, the furrow and/or press the fertiliser into the ground. A mechanism connected to a wheel of the implement is generally used to control the rate oE delivery of the fertiliser. That is, the rate of delivery is proportional to the speed of the implement so that the distribution of fertiliser along the ground is substantially uniform.

It has been found that the known "under trash" fertiliser has several inherent disadvantages. First, although the coulter is intended to slice through the trash, some pieces of trash are simply pressed into the ground or otherwise not cut, and consequently accumulate around the following tyne. Thus, the implement must be stopped at regular intervals to clear the trash accumulated around the tyne.

to Secondly, the furrow dug by the tyne disturbs the ground around the stubble, or the stubble itself, and 25 leaves a gap in the trash cover. Due to the width of the furrow created by the tyne, the press wheel may not be sufficient to close the furrow, and fertiliser may be exposed to the atmosphere through the gap in trash cover.

Thirdly, the provision of the tyne to shield 30 the fertiliser tube and dig the furrow adds to the cost of manufacturing the fertilising implement.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or substantially ameliorate the abovedescribed soft disadvant,'ges.

In one broad form, the present invention provides an agricultural implement for in-ground JL 1,1, fertilising, comprising C 'd,7 \a frame adapted to be moved over the ground in a direction of operation; at least one sub-frame connected to the frame, each said sub-frame having a coulter which is mounted thereto and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis and which, in use, penetrates into the ground, the coulter being angled at a predetermined angle to the direction of operation so that a groove is formed in the ground as the coulter moves along the ground, the groove being of greater width than the thickness of the coulter; each subframe being pivotally connected at its leading end to the frame, and being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis.

a receptacle for holding fertiliser; and conduit means for delivering fertiliser from the receptacle to the groove formed in the ground adjacent the trailing face of each coulter.

Typically, the conduit means comprises a tube for each coulter, having its bottom opening adjacent the lower par-. of the trailing side of the coulter, and its upper opening communicating with a supply of fertiliser to be delivered into the soil.

In the preferred embodiment, the implement has at least two coulter subframes, and the trailing ends of adjacent subframes are connected by a link of adjustable length. By adjusting the length of this link, the angle of a coulter can be varied as the coulter subframe pivots about its pivotal connection at its leading end.

The agricultural implement of this invention obviates the need for a separate tyne since the coulter 30 not only cuts through the trash, but also opens up a groove in the soil to receive the fertiliser. Further, the coulter protects the delivery tube located on the :....trailing side thereof.

The agricultural implement of this invention has several advantages. First, as there is no tyne, there is no accumulation of trash. Secondly, manufacturing costs are rediuced due to the elimination of /O the tyne. Thirdly, there is minimal disturbance to the trash layer and the ground or cane stool Ps only a relatively thin groove is cut through thB ground or cane stool, and the trash layer and groove are substantially closed after the seed, fertiliser or other material has been applied.

Each coulter need only be angled or offset from the direction of travel by a small amount, typically a few degrees, sufficient to open up a groove in the ground of the desired width. (The width of the groove will depend of course on the angle of the coulter and the length thereof in the soil). The trash and soil are pushed up and slightly to one side by the leading face of the coulter, and the trash layer and groove will therefore tend to close naturally to a certain extent after the coulter blade has passed. Preferably, a weighted or biased trailing wheel is provided on the implement to press close the groove and trash layer.

Typically, the agricultural equipment will have one or more pairs of coulters, the coulters in each pair being offset or angled to the direction of travel in opposite senses so that the lateral reactionary forces applied to the implement by the ground will substantially cancel each other.

Preferably, the degree of offset angle for each 25 coulter or other blade-like member is adjustable.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 30 Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of part of 00 the agricultural implement of the preferred embodiment; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of part of the agricultural implement of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the agricultural p implement 10 of the preferred embodiment is adapted for use as a fertiliser. The implement 10 comprises a frame 11 which typically is connected, in use, to the threepoint linkage at the rear of a conventional tractor. In this manner, the height of the frame 11 relative to the ground can be adjusted by the tractor operator.

Four coulter sub-frames 12 are pivotally coupled at their leading end to the implement frame 11, each coulter sub-frame 12 being pivotable about the vertical axis of its pivotal connection to the implement frame 11. A respective coulter 13 is rotatably mounted within each coulter sub-frame 12 and has a sharp edge as can be seen in the drawings.

The rear ends of adjacent coulter sub-frames 13 are connected by adjustable links 14. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that by adjusting the length of the links 14, the relative orientation of the coulters 3.3 to the direction of travel the direction of operation of the implement) can be varied.

In use, the links 14 are adjusted in length so that each coulter 13 is angled to the direction of travel to a sufficient degree to open up a groove of the desired width in the ground. Typically, the coulters are offset angled to the direction of travel by approximately 5° so as to create a 2cm width groove in the ground as illustrated in broken outline for the top coulter in Fig.

2 (the angle of offset is exaggerated for illustrative 25 purposes).

Means are provided for delivering fertiliser into the grooves cut in the soil by the coulters 13. In the illustrated embodiment, such delivery means comprises a plurality of conduits in the form of flexible tubes one tube being provided for each coulter. The bottom opening of each tube 15 is located adjacent the lower part of the trailing face of its associated coulter, while the upper end of each tube 15 is connected to a supply of fertiliser a fertiliser bin). A metering device, connected to a wheel of the implement, may be used to control the rate of flow of iertiliser so that even distribution is obtained irrespective of the speed of the implement.

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5 S S I7'~ c) 47 A press wheel 16 is located behind each coulter 13. The wheels 16 are typically mounted on leaf springs 17 so that the wheels are spring loaded, weighted or otherwise biased against the ground to compact the trash and soil, and thereby close the grooves cut by their respective leading coulters 13.

When the implement is used as a sugar cane fertiliser, it is mounted to a tractor, and the depth of cut of the coulters i3 is set by adjusting the height of the three point linkage to which the implement is attached. As the implement is pulled by the tractor, each coulter 13 cuts through the trash and opens up a narrow groove in the soil. The trash is either cut or diverted by the coulters and does not accumulate against the implement.

Fertiliser is delivered through the respective tubes 15 into the grooves cut by the coulters 13. After 0. 0 passage of each coulter 13 through the ground, the groove .00.0: and gap in the trash layer may close naturally to some extent. In any case, the raised side of the groove and trash gap will be pressed down by trailing wheel 16 to close the groove and trash layer. The lateral spacing of the coulters 13 (and their trailing wheel 16) may be adjusted to vary the distance between the applied 25 fertiliser and the cane stool.

0 The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in 30 the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. An agricultural implement for in-ground fertilising, comprising a frame adapted to be moved over the ground in a direction of operation; at least one sub-frame connected to the frame, each said sub-frame having a coulter which is mounted thereto and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis and which, In use, penetrates into the ground, the coulter being angled at a predetermined angle to the direction of operation so that a groove is formed in the ground as the coulter moves along the ground, the groove being of greater width than the thickness of the coulter; each subframe being pivotally connected at its leading end to the frame, and being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis. a receptacle for holding fertiliser; and conduit means for delivering fertiliser from the receptacle to the groove formed in the ground adjacent the trailing face of each coulter.

2. An implement as claimed in claim 1, having two or more said sub-frames, wherein the trailing ends of adjacent sub-frames are connected by a link of adjustable Slength.

3. An implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sub-frames are arranged in pairs, the coulter in each pair of sub-frames being angled to the direction of to operation in opposite senses.

4. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, 30 wherein each coulter is angled to the direction of *too operation of the implement by approximately formed by that coulter.

6. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conduit means comprises a plurality of tubes each having an upper end in communication with the receptacle and its lower end adjacent the trailing face of a respective coulter.

7. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means for connecting the implement to the rear of a tractor so as to be towed by the tractor.

8. An agricultural implement for under trash fertilisation of sugar cane stubble, comprising a frame adapted to be towed over the ground by a tractor in a direction of operation; a plurality of sub-frames connected to the frame, each sub-frame being pivotally connected at its leading end to the frame and pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis, the trailing ends of adjacent sub- frames being connected by a link of adjustable length, each sub-frame having a coulter which is mounted thereto and rotatable about a generally horizonal axis and which, in use, engages the ground, the coulter being angled at a predetermined angle to the direction of operation so that a groove wider than the thickness of the coulter is formed in the ground adjacent the trailing face of the coulter, the coulters being arranged in *pairs, the coulters in each pair being angled to the direction of operation in opposite senses, a receptacle for holding fertiliser; and 25 a plurality of conduits, each having an upper opening in communication with the receptacle and a lower opening adjacent the trailing face of a respective coulter whereby fertiliser is gravitationally fed to the 0 0 groove formed by that coulter. 30 9. An agricultural implement substantially as 0 hereinbefore described with refarence to the accompanying drawings. see*$* DATED this seventh day of September 1994 JOHN BOOTH by his patent attorneys CULLEN CO. ABSTRACT An agricultural implement (10) for fertilising ground comprises at least one coulter (13) which is adapted to cut through the ground in use, but is angled to the direction of travel so that a groove is formed in the ground adjacent the trailing face of the coulter. The coulter shields a tube (15) mounted adjacent its trailing face vhich delivers fertiliser into the groove. The groove may be pressed closed by a trailing spring- biased wheel The implement may comprise pairs of such coulters, the coulters in each pair being angled from the direction of travel in opposite senses. S J S*. S *94*