WO1994014311A1

WO1994014311A1 - Ploughs for growing and digging up potatoes

Info

Publication number: WO1994014311A1
Application number: PCT/DK1993/000427
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bjarni Debess
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-21
Filing date: 1993-12-17
Publication date: 1994-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1995-06-21
Also published as: DK152292A; DK152292D0; DK170454B1

Abstract

The plough (Fig. 2) is long with a big and 'soft' bending as to the aim indicated on (Fig. 3). The sledge (3) (Fig. 2), which can be adjusted in its height, holds the plough in the desired depth and thereby the turf will be cut into the preferable thickness used when planting potatoes. The small share (5) (Fig. 2) cuts the turf only half way through, so it is stuck and is directed as wished, both when planting and digging up potatoes (10) (Fig. 3), also indicated on (Fig. 6). The reverse plough (6) (Fig. 5) is as to the aim indicated on (Fig. 6) where the turf is turned over when digging up the potatoes. The clevis is standard for tractor hitches. The same clevis is used for both ploughs. The clevis can be assembled or unassembled when needed with the bolts indicated on (Fig. 1 and 4). The ploughs can especially be used in the Faroe Islands, where the soil is soft and deep. The machines can very easily sink. They do best when operating on grass field, e.g. by growing potatoes in turf.

Description

Ploughs for growing and diggine up potatoes.

The invention concerns a plough specially made for growing potatoes in turf, which is a very common way of growing potatoes in the Faroe Islands.

Most of the already known ploughs are deep-ploughing and therefor the soil has to be hoed with a harrow before it is ready to be used for planting of potatoes.

Ploughs for cutting turf into belts for roof-covering are already known. When these ploughs are used for potato growing instead of roof-covering, the belts are cutted up by hand.

The already known and mentioned techniques are either requirering a lot of ressources or they are labourintensive.

These disadvantages are countered for by this plough, according to claim 1, which can be reversed between two functions.

By a first replaceable ploughunit, the plough turns over a belt of turf in immediate connection with the planting and fertilization of potatoes. Immediate before the covering the potatoes are planted on a narrow belt of turf, which remains untouched by the plough. This belt is next to the broader belt of turf, which is used a moment later by the plough to cover the planted seed potatoes. The planting of potatoes in turf, the covering of the planted potatoes and the shaping of the row can therefore be carried out by the one and same routine by use of the plough.

Later the new grown potatoes will be digged up by the plough, as the turf, which covers the planted potatoes, now with help from an other replaceable ploughunit, will be turned back in the opposite direction, whereby the new grown and topped potatoes are ready to be picked up.

The two ploughunits are consequently interchangeable and the unit, which is in use, is assembled by bolts on a clevis of a certain type, which is common for both ploughunits and which can be designed for a tractors three-point hitch. The plough, according to the invention, is therefore a combined implement with components matching each other, so the totality realizes the growing method.

Following the invention will be described in details with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 indicates the clevis with bolts in position for assembling the ploughunit for planting and possible simultaneous fertilizing of the potatoes.

Fig. 2 indicates the ploughunit for planting potatoes.

Fig. 3 indicates the plough assembled in its function as potato planter. Fig. 4 indicates the clevis with accessory bolts in position for assembling the ploughunit for digging up potatoes.

Fig. 5 indicates the ploughunit for digging up potatoes.

Fig. 6 indicates the plough assembled in its function as potato digger. Fig. 7 indicates the plough seen from above as potato planter.

The plough is intended to be operated by a not shown tractor.

The plough fig. 3 is characterized by being very flat and not deep ploughing. The plough is approx. 2,5 m long and has a very soft and long bending, as indicated on the figure, so the turf will not break when the mouldboard (2) shapes and directs the turf all the way to the other row. The plough share (4) cuts the turf entirely in the front. The plough share (5) cuts the turf approx. half way through (10) so the turf is stuck at the place where it was bent over and by ploughing up in the autumn still can be stuck and by turning over can fall into its original place. (11) indicates where the seed potatoes together with the fertilizer are to be planted. (3) indicates a sledge with the size of approx. 20 x 50 cm, shaped like a ski. This holds the plough in the level matching the desired thickness of the turf. The plough, fig. 4. 5, 6, for digging up potatoes, is also indicated both assembled and unassembled and operating. It is characterized by being unknown hitherto for this purpose. May be it should not be called a plough. As mentioned before it is an implement, which can be used for turning over the turf when digging up potatoes. (7) indicates a slide bar, (8) indicates the front af the implement. (6) indicates the mouldboard which lifts up the turf and turns it over when digging up potatoes in such a way that it falls into its original place. Then the potatoes are ready to be picked up.

Claims

Patent Claim

1. Plough applied for growing potatoes in turf, which intend to be operated by a tractor, which carries the plough on its clevis (1), and which has a first replaceable ploughunit (fig.2) for use in connection with planting and possible fertilizing of potatoes, and which first ploughunit (fig.2) has a flat and not deepgoing share, a slide bar (7) for steering and a sledge (3), which controls how deep the plough works and thereby the thickness of the turf, and with holes for assembling on the clevis (1) with bolts (fig 1), characterized by, that the ploughunits (fig 2) horizontal share ends in a small upwards directed share (5), and that this very same plough¬ unit has a long mouldboard (2) with such a soft bending which reaches totally over the turf which the mouldboard under operation is turning over, and that the turf hereby is shaped in such a way that it is bent over the potatoes and at the very same time is directed precisely over into the other row (fig. 3), and by, that the very same plough has an other replaceable ploughunit in the shape of a reverse plough (fig. 5) for later usage in connection with digging up potatoes which were planted by use of the first ploughunit (fig. 2) and where the other ploughunit has a mouldboard (6) which is shaped to lift and turn over the turf in such a way that this falls into its original place, as well as it has an angleshaped slidebar (7) and holes for assembling on the clevis (1 ) with bolts (fig. 4).

2. The plough according to claim 1. characterized by, that the sledge (3) has welded angles with slitholes, so the sledge can be adjusted to the desired height. The carriage is preferably 20 x 50 cm, and slides on the field. The sledge controls the ploughs depth and thereby the thickness of the turf to preferably 8 - 10 cm.

3. The plough according to claim 1. and 2. characterized by, that the small upward bent share (5), only cuts the turf half way through (10). By only cutting the turf half way through, the turf is stuck in the one side and can be placed as wished during the ploughing Fig 3, as well as it still is stuck and falls back to its original place Fig. 6, when the potatoes are digged up.