AU577457B2

AU577457B2 - Pitting implement

Info

Publication number: AU577457B2
Application number: AU55122/86A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gustave A. Gintzburger; Laurie Liedel; Peter William Skinner
Original assignee: HALSE NORMAN JAMES
Current assignee: HALSE NORMAN JAMES
Priority date: 1985-02-13
Filing date: 1986-02-10
Publication date: 1988-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2006-02-10
Also published as: ES551912A0; AU5512286A; ES8706360A1; WO1986004771A1

Description

"PITTING IMPLEMENT"

THIS INVENTION relates to a pitting implement which is intended to provide a series of spaced pits on the surface of the ground whereby the pits are intended to receive seed and provide an environment which promotes germination of the seeds.

Throughout this specification the term "seed" shall be taken as including seeds, pods, seed conglomerates and like seed materials.

The pitting implement may be associated with a seed deposition means which deposits seed into the pits formed by the pitting implement.

It is a function of the invention to provide -an implement which creates a shallow pit in which seeds and possibly mulch material is deposited. The function of the pits is to provide a zone in which rain water can be trapped and which do not in themselves promote the development of run-off channels for any surface water.

In one form the invention resides in an implement comprising a tool support frame having at least one wheel which supports at least a portion of the weight of the frame and a draw bar means for connection to a towing means, said support frame supporting a pitting tool comprising a disc having an axis of rotation oblique to the longitudinal axis of the implement and having an external periphery comprising a first portion of a first radial dimension and a second portion of a second radial dimension whereby the first radial dimension is greater than the second radial dimension and wherein the first portion when in engagement with the ground surface will rotate with movement of the implement and cultivate the ground surface to form a pit and said second portion is provided with an means which will engage with the ground surface and cause rotation of the pitting tool when said second portion is in close abutting relationship with the ground surface and on movement of the implement over the ground surface but not form a pit in the ground surface.

According to a preferred feature of the invention said second radial dimension is equal to or less than the spacing between the rotation axis of the tool and the ground surface.

The invention will be more fully understood in^' the light of the following description of one specific embodiment. The description is made with reference to the accompany¬ ing drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the implement in the transport mode;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the embodiment in the operational mode with the tool in its pitting mode;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment in the operational mode with the tool in the non-pitting mode; and

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional elevation of the pitting tool and seed box.

The embodiment is directed towards a pitting tool which may be drawn by tractor, car or like vehicle or a beast of burden such as an ox, horse or camel. The embodiment comprises a support frame 11 which when in the transport mode is supported by a pair of transversely spaced wheels 12. The frame is provided at its forward end with a draw bar 13. The rear portion of the support frame 11 supports a trailing arm 14 through a horizontal transverse pivot (not shown). The rear end of the trailing arm 14 is provided with a support wheel 15 which is associated with a depth control means 16. The arm further supports a pitting tool 17 which comprises modified cultivation disc rotatable about an axis 18 which is oblique to the longitudinal axis of the implement. The arm further supports a seed box 19 having an outlet chute 20 at its rear face disposed adjacent the pitting tool 17.

The arm 16 is movable between a transport position as shown at figure 1 in which position the support wheel 15 and pitting tool 17 are clear of the ground and an operating position at which the support wheel 15 and pitting tool 17 are in engagement with the ground and accept most of the load of the machine that would be otherwise accommodated by the transport wheels 12 when the implement is in the transport mode. To move the arm 14 between the transport and operational mode the implement supports an upstanding arm 22 having a pulley wheel at its outermost end and a winch 23 forward of the arm 22. A cable 24 from the winch extends over the pulley 25 to the outer end of the arm 14 and a brace 26 in the form of a chain or like means extends between the draw bar 13 and the arm 22 to brace the arm against any movement due to the loads exerted thereon by the cable 24. On extension of the cable 24 through the action of the winch 23 the arm 14 is caused to be lowered towards the ground to the operating position whereas on retraction of the cable 24 on the winch 23 the arm 14 is raised to the transport position.

The pitting tool 17 comprises a modified plough disc whereby the tool has a first portion A having a first radial dimension and a second portion B having a second radial dimension whereby the first radial dimension is greater than the second radial dimension and whereby the first portion extends for approximately one third of the periphery of the tool. The second portion of the tool has a set of spigots 27 mounted thereto which extend radially from the periphery of the second portion and are spaced equidistant along the length of the second portion. The spacing between the outer end of the spigots 27 and the periphery of the second portion corresponds substantially with the difference between the radial dimensions of the first and second portions A and B.

As shown at figure 4 the pitting tool is supported by an axle 28 which is journaled within the seed box 19 to extend through the lower portion of the seed box. The portion of the axle 28 which is accommodated within the seed box 19 supports a set of beaters 29. A baffle 37 is located above the beaters 29 to partially restrict the flow of material to the beaters. As stated previously, the rear face of the seed box 19 is provided with an outlet chute 20 which is controlled through a gate 30 slidably supported, on the rear wall of the seed box 19 to be movable between a closed position and an open position in relation to the outlet chute 20. The gate is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 31 from which depends a control rod 32 which extends through an aperture in a second rearwardly extending arm 33 mounted to the rear wall of the seed box 19. The lower end of the control rod 32 is provided with a roller 34. A coil spring 35 is received over the control rod 32 between the arm 31 on the gate 30 and the arm 33 on the seed box 19 serves to bias the control rod and gate downwardly to the closed position for the gate 30. The pitting tool 17 is provided with a cam member 36 on its rear face which extends only partially around the axle 28 and is located such that when the portion A of the tool is in engagement with the ground the external surface of the cam 36 is in engagement with the roller 34 associated with the gate 30 to cause the gate 30 to be moved and held at its open position. When the cam is disengaged from the roller 34 the gate is biassed through the action of the spring 36 to its closed position.

When the implement is in its operating mode the support for the implement is provided through the draw bar 13 and support wheel 15. When the pitting tool 17 is in engagement with the ground. The depth of penetration of the pitting tool 17 is controlled through the depth control means 16 associated with the support wheel 15. On forward movement of the implement when in its operating mode the pitting tool is caused to rotate due to the engagement of the first portion A of the pitting tool with the soil or the engagement of the spigots 27 of the second portion B with the soil. When the first portion A is in engagement with the soil a furrow-like pit is formed in the soil for the period over which the first portion A is in such engagement. When the spigots 27 of the second portion B are in engagement with the soil no pit or a pit of reduced dimensions is formed in the soil. In addition due to the relationship between the cam 37 the rear face of the tool 17 and the roller 34 associated with the gate 30 the gate over the opening 20 in the seed box 19 is caused to open periodically during the period that the pit is being formed through the pitting tool 17. While the opening 20 is open the action of the beaters 29 within the seed box 19 serve to cause seed in the seed box 19 to be ejected through the opening 20 and thus fall into the pit formed by the tool 17. On the portion A becoming disengaged with the soil the gate 30 closes the opening 20 due to the disengagement of the cam 37 on the roller 34 which is associated with the gate.

As a result of the embodiment a pitting implement is provided which is able to form a series of longitudinally spaced pits and deposit seed into those pits. The embodiment is capable of being drawn by machines and/or beasts of burden. In addition if desired the seed box 19 may also contain mulch material or alternatively a further deposition means may be associated with the tool for depositing mulch material on or around the seed received within the pit.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiment described above. In particular the invention need not be limited to the particular structural configuration described in relation to the embodiment and need not be associated with a seed deposition means. Furthermore where a seed deposition means is used that seed deposition means may be take any desired form available for causing sequential deposition of seed into the pits formed through the pitting tool.

Claims

THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:

1. A pitting implement comprising a tool support frame having at least one wheel which supports at least a portion of the weight of the implement and draw bar means for connection to a towing means, said support frame supporting a pitting tool comprising a disc having an axis of rotation oblique to the longitudinal axis of the implement and having an extenal periphery comprising a first portion of a first radial dimension and a second portion of a second radial dimension whereby the first radial dimension is greater than the second radial dimension and wherein the first portion when in engagement with the ground surface will rotate with movement of the implement and form a pit, said second portion is provided with a extension means which will engage with the ground surface and cause rotation of the pitting tool when said second portion is in close abutting relationship with the ground surface and on movement of the implement over the ground surface but not form a pit in the ground surface.

2. A pitting implement as claimed at claim 1 wherein said second radial dimension is equal to or less than the spacing between the rotation axis of the pitting tool and the ground surface.

3. A pitting implement as claimed at claim 1 or 2 wherein a seed deposition means is mounted to the implement to deposit seed into the pit behind the pitting tool and during the passage of the first portion of the pitting tool through the ground surface.

4. A pitting implement as claimed at claim 3 wherein a mulch deposition means is mounted to the implement to deposit mulch material into the pit behind the pitting tool and during the passage of the first portion of the pitting tool through the ground surface.

5. A pitting implement as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the non-cultivating extension means comprises a plurality of spigot members radially extending from the second portion and spaced along the periphery of the second portion.

6. A pitting implement as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the pitting tool is mounted to the support arm by a support member pivotally supported from the support frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis whereby the arm is movable to a transport position at which the pitting tool is clear of the ground surface and an operating position at which the pitting tool is in engagement with the ground surface.

7. A pitting implement as claimed at claim 6 wherein the support arm supports a support wheel which is adapted to engage the ground surface when the arm is in its operating position and support at least a portion of the weight of the implement.

8. A pitting implement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.