GB2146211A - Agricultural implement - Google Patents

Abstract

A ridging implement includes at least one pair of discs 3, 4, preferably two, which are arranged one behind the other such that their respective centres of rotation are laterally spaced, in the intended direction of movement of the implement. The two discs of each pair are mounted to be rotatable in respective planes which converge both forwardly and downwardly of the implement and the centres of rotation of the rear pair of discs being spaced further apart than those of the leading pair of discs. Means may be provided for incorporating fertilizer or other chemical supply to the soil in which the implement is used. The principal use of the implement is in providing ridges for root crops without considerable penetration of the discs and thereby reducing damage to the crops. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Agricultural implement This invention relates to an improved agricultural implement and more particularly to an improved ridging machine.

Known ridging machines employ pairs of discs which throw the soil laterally, so that adjustment pairs form a ridge between them.

A drawback of such machines is that in order to displace sufficient soil the discs penetrate the soil deeply enough to cut plant roots, which is especially undesirable in drought conditions as it leads to moisture loss, and also deeply enough to tend to bring stones to the surface in fields where the top soil has been stone cleared, or to disturb untreated sub soil in fields where the top few inches have been treated with chemicals to inhibit weed growth.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a ridging implement which can be operated to slice the haulm between rows of root crops such as potatoes and fold it back onto the ridges in advance of a crop harvesting machine, preventing blockage by haulm of the harvesting machine, at the same time displacing an adequate amount of soil effectively to cover the crop, thereby protecting it against frost or vermin damage, but with a minimum penetration of the soil by individual discs.

According to this invention there is provided a ridging implement to be carried by a tractor or other vehicle, the implement comprising at least one pair of discs arranged coaxially and mounted to be rotatable in re respective planes which converge both forwardly and downwardly of the implement, a further rotatable guiding disc optionally being provided in a vertical plane with respect to the implement in front of the said pair of discs in the intended direction of movement of the implement.

In the preferred construction the optional guiding disc is omitted and the implement comprises at least two pairs of discs as described herein.

According to a preferred arrangement the present invention provides a ridging implement to be carried by a tractor or other vehicle, the implement comprising at least two pairs of discs arranged one behind the other in the intended direction of movement of the implement, the two discs of each pair being mounted to be rotatable in respective planes which converge both forwardly and downwardly of the implement and the centres of rotation of the rear pair of discs being spaced further apart than those of the leading pair of discs.

The invention includes within its scope an implement sub-assernbly comprising a leading and a rear pair of discs supported on a frame, both said pairs preferably being independently spring mounted.

Any desired number of assemblies each comprising a leading and a rear pair of discs may be mounted in laterally spaced relation on a common frame, which may be adapted to be carried by a tractor hitch, and preferably each pair of discs is independently spring mounted so that it can ride over stones and other obstructions. The spacing apart of the centres of rotation of the or each rear pair of discs is preferably adjustable to accommodate the implement to different tractor speeds. To maintain the implement in a position to operate at a chosen depth either it may be suitably weighted or a pivoted member may be provided which will react against the two lower links of a tractor hitch under the influence of tension springs connecting it to a rear part of the frame.The loading of this spring connection may be adjustable by an hydraulic ram which may be supplied with hydraulic fluid from the tractor.

As it does not penetrate the soil deeply the implement of the invention can be used repeatedly on ground which has been stone separated without tending to bring stones to the surface. On the other hand it will throw sufficient soil to cover potatoes or other root vegetable crops. When the first few inches of top soil have been treated with weed-inhibiting chemicals, as in turnip growing, untreated soil is less likely to be disturbed.

The implement of the invention can operate effectively without sufficient soil penetration to disturb plant roots, with consequent avoidance of moisture loss, especially in drought conditions.

An alternative use to which the implement of the invention is well suited is to slice and fold out of the way of the wheels of a vehicle which is spraying a crop such as rape, flax and grain. For this purpose the implement may be mounted in front of the tractor with two pairs of discs in front of and aligned with each front wheel. The leading pairs of discs will slice the crop and the rear pairs will shade or fold it aside from the wheel tracks.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of an implement in accordance with the invention mounted on the three-point hitch of a tractor.

The implement illustrated comprises a frame 8 supported by the three-point hitch of a tractor, (not shown). At spaced intervals transverse of the frame 8 sub-assemblies 5 are bolted on. Each sub-assembly 5 comprises a sub-frame from which forward and rear flanges depend. To the lower end of each of these is fixed one end of a spiral leaf-spring 9 the other end of which extends rearwardly and downwardly and supports mounting means for a respective pair of discs 3 and 4.

The discs are dish-shaped in that they have concave and convex surfaces, the convex surfaces of each pair facing each other. In a manner known per se and therefore not shown in detail the discs of each pair 3 and 4 are individually rotatably mounted on bearings which hold the discs of each pair 3 and 4 in planes which converge both forwardly and downwardly with respect to the intended direction of movement of the implement, so that each pair 3 and 4 presents to the soil a V-formation of discs which is adapted to cut it and throw it sideways to form ridges between adjacent sub-assemblies 5 and either side of the outermost sub-assemblies 5.

In accordance with the present invention the rear pair of discs 4 of each sub-assembly 5 is aligned with the forward pair 3 thereof in the intended direction of movement of the implement but the centres of rotation of the rear pair of discs 4 are spaced further apart than those of the forward pair 3, as is evident from Fig. 1. The independent suspension of each pair of discs 3 and 4 of each subassembly 5 on its own spiral leaf spring 9 enables the implement to ride over minor obstructions with a minimum of displacement.

The forward pairs of discs 3 cut the soil and throw it aside and the wider-apart rearward pairs 4 further move the previously cut soil so that although none of the discs penetrates the soil deeply an adequate amount of soil is displaced to form ridges.

The working depth of the implement can be controlled simply by weighting it or, as shown, a bar 2 may be provided which bears against the undersides of the two lower links of the hitch 1 of the tractor under the influence of tension springs 7 which connect a rear part of the frame 8 with a member upstanding from the rod 2 and pivotable therewith about the axis of the connection of the frame 8 to the lower links of the hitch 1.

The loading of the springs 7 is adjustable by an hydraulic ram 6 mounted on the frame 8 and connected to a cross-member to which the springs 7 are connected (Fig. 1). The ram 6 may be supplied with hydraulic fluid from the tractor to adjust the loading of the springs 7.

To simplify iliustration the springs 9 supporting the forward pairs of discs 3 and the bearings of the latter are omitted from Fig. 1 as well as the leading pair of discs in front of and aligned with the centre pair of rear discs 4. Any desired number of sub-assemblies 5 may be used.

As illustrated on the right-hand side of Fig.

1, each of the rear discs 4 of each subassembly 5 is rotatably mounted on an axle 10 which is supported by a iink 11. At their forward ends the two links 11 of each subassembly are secured by a hinge bolt 12 to the free end of the associated spring 9. Ad ditionally the free ends of the axles 10 are releasably clamped to the spring 9 by a bolt 1 3. As shown, the rear discs 4 of each sub assembly make with one another approxi mately the same angle as the two forward discs 3, but the mutual angle of the two rear discs 4 is adjustable by slackening the bolts 1 2 and 13, repositioning the discs 4 at a different angle and retightening the bolts 1 2 and 1 3. For example, the angle of each disc 4 relative to a vertical, longitudinal plane may be increased so that the rear discs 4 have a more scooping action.

As indicated in Fig. 1 a guiding disc 1 4 can be provided whereby the front pair 3, although shown, would be omitted. The disc 14 is straight and is independently spring mounted to the sub-assembly. The mechanism for securing the guiding disc would be by conventional means allowing for rotation thereof and is not shown in any great detail.

Preferred sub-assemblies are as shown on the right hand side of Fig. 1 employing at least two pairs of discs.

It is preferred that the discs 3 and 4, each of which is freely rotatably mounted, are of equal diameter in the range 30 cm - 60 cm.

Preferabiy the fixed discs 3 converge downwardly such that each rotates about an axis 40 - 70 to the horizontal and converge forwardly at a mutual angle in the range 30 - 60 . The adjustable setting of the rear discs 4 enables them to have an orientation similar to the forward discs or a wider or shallower taper angle to suit different operating conditions, such as different tractor speeds.

As indicated in the lower portion of Fig. 2 a guiding disc (dotted lines) 14 is provided, being mounted on leaf spring 9 and in a vertical plane with respect to the implement.

The front pair of discs 3, although shown, would be omitted. The arrangement would then form a leading disc and a rear pair of discs.

The converging point of the front pair is indicated at 15, whereas that of the rear is shown at 16.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the respective pairs of discs 3, 4 are shown to be separated whereby their circumferences do not overlap, in a modification the said pairs of discs do have overlapping circumferences but their centres of rotation remain spaced apart.

Accordingly, the pairs are still arranged one behind the other.

In a further modification the sub-assembly frame members 5 are not used. The pairs of discs are then mounted directly to the main frame 8 by clamping directly to the horizontal cross members of the said frame. The corresponding mounted arrangement of spring 9, axle 10, links 11 may remain unaltered. This embodiment may be constructed so that the leaf springs 9 are mounted directly to the said cross members.

All embodiments of the invention may be used in conjunction with means for dispensing granular or liquid fertilizer or other appropriate chemicals, to the root crop contained within the ridges. In such a combination a central dispensing reservoir may be connected to individual dispensing devices (such as a dispenser in knife-shaped form, dribble bars, spray nozzles and tine injectors) by a plurality of supply conduits extending from the reservoir to the respective dispensing device. The reservoir may be adapted to be pressurised and this may be accomplished by suitable means provided on the tractor.

Such a dispensing device may be located on a framework portion adapted for connection to the three point hitch of tractor.

The advantage arising from using the invention with a dispensing device is that it enables liquid fertiliser to be placed in planted ridges that can be effectively reshaped in stone separated land.

Preferably the fertilizer (or other chemical) dispensing device is located between adjacent pairs of discs such that the device can engage the soil ridge being formed by the implement and appropriately dispensed fertilizer (or other chemical) below and to the side of the root crop for efficient usage. Such a combination can provide for root crop ridging and fertilizer placement in a single pass. This modification may suitably be used on stone-separated land in common with other embodiment of the invention.

Another advantage of using the invention is that the implement can be more 'free flowing' than prior constructions and may reduce or eliminate bulldozing of soft earth even when the implement is used down steep gradients.

Stone separating and root crop planting machines tend to accumulate soft earth underneath, this bulldozing effect often forcing the plants out of their ridges. By using implements according to the invention in combination with a stone separator or crop planter this disadvantage may be reduced or eliminated.

Claims (18)

1. A ridging implement to be carried by a tractor or other vehicle, the implement comprising at least one pair of discs arranged coaxially and mounted to be rotatable in respective planes which converge both forwardly and downwardly of the implement, a further rotatable guiding disc optionally being provided in a vertical plane with respect to the implement in front of the said pair of discs in the intended direction of movement of the implement.

2. A ridging implement to be carried by a tractor or other vehicle, the implement comprising at least two pairs of discs arranged one behind the other in the intended direction of movement of the implement, the two discs of each pair being mounted to be rotatable in respective planes which converge both forwardly, and downwardly of the implement, and the centres of rotation of the rear pair of discs being spaced further apart than those of the leading pair of discs.

3. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 including a plurality of sub-assemblies each of which comprises a leading and a rear pair of discs, the sub-assemblies being mounted in laterally spaced relation on a common frame.

4. An implement sub-assembly as defined in Claim 3 comprising a leading and a rear pair of discs supported on a frame.

5. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the guiding disc is fitted and/or each pair of discs is independently spring mounted whereby, in use, the disc(s) can ride over stones and other obstructions.

6. An implement as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the spacing apart of the centres of rotation of the or each rear pair of discs is adjustable.

7. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim which is weighted so as to maintain it in a chosen depth of soil.

8. An implement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein a pivoted member is provided in the implement which can react against the two lower links of a tractor hitch under the influence of one or more tension springs connecting it to a rear part of the frame.

9. An implement as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the loading of the or each spring connection is adjustable, for example by a hydraulic ram.

1 0. An implement as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the said two pairs of discs are carried on a sub-frame which is attached to a main frame capable of connection with a tractor or other vehicle.

11. An implement as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 10, wherein the discs of the or each pair are carried by a spiral leaf-spring.

1 2. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each pair of discs presents a V-formation.

1 3. An implement as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 12, wherein the mutual angle of the two rear discs is adjustable by suitable means.

14. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each disc is of equal diameter, preferably in the range 30 - 60 cms.

1 5. An implement as claimed in any preceding claim further including means for dispersing fertilizers or other chemicals, in granular or liquid form, mounted on the implement such that dispensing means are located between adjacent pairs of discs.

16. An implement as claimed in Claim 15, wherrein a central reservoir communicates with a plurality of dispensing devices by means of conduit pipes extending over parts of the implement.

1 7. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 5 or 16, wherein the dispensing devices are in the form of knives or dribble bars or spray nozzles or tine injectors.

18. An agricultural implement substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

1 9. Use of an implement as claimed in any preceding claim for constructing ridges for root crop vegetables.