AU766845B2 - Ground working apparatus - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT S. S

S

fr* S S S.

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicants: Actual Inventors: Address for service in Australia: DEREK GILBERT BARNSTABLE AND DENIS JAMES

DANAHER

DEREK GILBERT BARNSTABLE AND DENIS JAMES

DANAHER

CARTER SMITH BEADLE 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia Invention Title: GROUND WORKING APPARATUS IP Australia Documents received on: 3 0 SEP 1999 Details ofAssociated Provisional Application: PP6245 filed 30 September 1998 Batch No: n t The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us 2 GROUND WORKING APPARATUS Technical Field and Background to the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for working soil ground. It also relates to a mounting or support apparatus for a soil working tool. The apparatus is especially suitable for use as a seeding apparatus but can also be used for general cultivation.

Soil working apparatus have been known for centuries. Typically the soil working apparatus is towed or hauled by animals but in more recent times by vehicles such as tractors. Many improvements in soil working apparatus have been made over the years. One such series of improvements has related to maintaining a constant depth of the tool or tyne in the soil. This is particularly important in seeding operations where evenness in depth of seeding ensures uniform germination and maximises yield. One method of achieving this is the use of a ground engaging wheel. This wheel is referred to as a press wheel or gauge and is attached to the tool and in operation is usually in a trailing position relative to the tool or tyne. The press wheel is located relatively close to the tyne so that small variations in ground contours that the press wheel responds to will lead to corresponding variations in the tyne such that the tyne will penetrate the soil to a constant depth despite variations in ground contours. When the attachment between the press wheel and the tyne is fixed, the angle between the tyne and the soil may vary as the terrain varies and this can lead to unsatisfactory working of the soil. To overcome this problem a parallelogram linkage between the tyne and the towing attachment point of the soil working apparatus was introduced. This linkage ensured that the tyne is maintained in a vertical position regardless of small variations in terrain. The parallelogram consists of a pair of generally horizontal arms being a lower and upper arm and a pair of generally vertical arms being a leading and trailing arm. Downward pressure on the press wheel is typically maintained by diagonally arranged springs anchored at or near two corners of the parallelogram. One corner is that formed by the upper and trailing arms and the other by the lower and leading arms. These springs urge the press wheel and tyne to their normal working position. In their normal operation the lower and upper arms are DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 generally horizontal and the leading and trailing arms are generally vertical. Although the arms are generally horizontal and vertical, it will be appreciated that it is the four pivot points that effectively define the parallelogram. When the terrain varies the diagonal of the parallelogram increases or decreases where the springs are located causing a corresponding increase or decrease in spring tension and an urging of the parallelogram and thus the tyne back to their working positions as determined by the gauge wheel.

When a soil working apparatus is used in soil that contains immovable objects such as tree roots or stones, the apparatus can often be damaged when the tyne strikes the immovable object. To overcome this problem various "stump jump" apparatus were devised that allowed the tyne to swing backwards and upwards to clear the obstacle. The tyne was typically urged back to its normal working position by a i spring. The stump jump capability was preferably combined with the parallelogram linkage to provide improved soil working and the advantages of each of these features. However, these soil working apparatus still suffer from some disadvantages.

One problem arises because the tyne tends to return quite violently after it has been lifted to avoid an obstacle. This violent return can lead to equipment damage. A second difficulty arises when the tyne swings back in response to hitting an obstacle.

The tyne may strike the press wheel and cause damage to the press wheel tyre. A further difficulty arises from operating the apparatus on different soils or with different seeds in seeding operations. Known apparatus do not allow the relative adjustment between the spring forces in the parallelogram linkage and the spring forces on the stump jump portion of the soil working apparatus to optimise performance from a single adjustment means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ground working apparatus that overcomes one or more of the problems of prior art apparatus or at least provides alternative apparatus.

Summary of the Invention In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for soil working of the type having a stump jump capability and a parallelogram linkage with a lower and DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 upper arm and a leading and trailing arm,, wherein the trailing arm has a portion inboard of the four pivot points in the parallelogram linkage and wherein that inboard portion is pivotally connected to a tool support member arranged so that the tool support member may swing about the inboard pivot point, the apparatus further comprising a biasing means for applying an adjustable force to the tool support member and to the parallelogram linkage.

Preferably, the trailing arm is a plate.

Preferably the plate may have a stop member connected to or formed on the plate to limit movement of the tool support member beyond a predetermined position.

The apparatus may further comprise a ground engaging means for setting depth of soil working during use. The ground engaging means may include a support arm oooo and a ground engaging wheel. Preferably the support arm is pivotally connected to where the lower and trailing arms are pivotally connected in the parallelogram. The ground engaging means is preferably adjustable so that the depth of working of the soil may be adjusted. Preferably the tool support member and the ground engaging support member are connected by a strut of adjustable length to permit the depth of soil working to be set. The ground engaging means preferably comprises one or more press or gauge wheels.

The biasing means is preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, and more preferably a hydraulic cylinder and applies a force to the apparatus. The cylinder may be a single or double acting cylinder that can apply resistance force when opening and closing. Other biasing means that may be used include coil springs, leaf springs and pressure accumulators such as gas accumulators. The position of the applied force may be adjusted to either side of a pivot point where the upper and lower arms are connected to the trailing arm, or plate. The adjustment means forms part of the biasing means. Combinations of different biasing means may be used. The position may also be coincident with that pivot point. In a preferred embodiment, the biasing means is pivotally connected at one end to a connecting arm, and the connecting arm is pivotally connected at another point to the plate. Applying a force to the biasing means causes the connecting member to try to rotate about the point where the DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 connecting member is pivotally connected to the plate. An abutment member that abuts on one of the upper or lower arms or a member connected thereto is linked to the connecting arm, and the force that is applied by the biasing means is thereby manifested as a force applied to the upper or lower arm by the abutment member.

Preferably, the abutment member has an adjustable position and adjusting the position of the abutment member adjusts the force applied to the upper or lower arm.

The force applied to the upper or lower arm by the abutment member may be a downwards force, a zero force or an upwards force.

Preferably, the other end of the biasing means is connected to the tool carrying apparatus.

The abutment member preferably abuts with the upper arm or an extension oo e thereof The extension of the upper arm may comprise a rail positioned transversely to the upper arm and connected thereto. Alternatively, the upper arm may comprise a channel section having two sides connected by a transverse web, with the abutment member abutting one of the sides of the channel section.

It is especially preferred that the apparatus described above includes a mirror image of the apparatus on the other transverse side of the tool carrying assembly, such that the apparatus includes two sets of upper and lower arms.

The upper and lower carry points are preferably formed on upper and lower carry arms connected to or formed with a clamping means for clamping to a carry bar or a towing machine frame.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a parallelogram linkage mechanism that also allows operation in a stump jump mode. When the soil working tool encounters an obstacle, if the force of the obstacle is sufficiently large, the tool working apparatus may rotate upwardly and backwardly about the point where it is connected to the plate(s). This assists in avoiding damage to the apparatus that may be caused by obstacles in the soil.

The apparatus may be used as part of a planting or seeding apparatus, in which case the apparatus is also provided with seed supply means and, optionally, supply means for supplying beneficial agents, such as herbicides, fungicides and fertilizer, to DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 the soil. When used as a planting or seeding apparatus, the apparatus will have ground engaging means to control the depth of planting or seeding. The parallelogram linkage mechanism allows close control over soil working depth over ground that is not level.

The apparatus of the present invention also allows for an adjustable force to be applied to the ground engaging means, such as a press wheel. For example, when cultivating fallow ground, a large force may be applied to the press wheel to help break up any larger clods of earth. For working light soils or planting delicate seeds, little force may be applied to the press wheel(s) while the press wheel(s) is still sensing depth.

The apparatus may also be locked into place and used as a conventional ploughing apparatus by locking the parallelogram linkage mechanism.

Detailed Description of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; ~Figure 2 is a rear view of an upper part of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figures 3 to 5 are side views of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with the 20 abutment means shown in 3 different positions; Figure 6 shows an alternative arrangement for the abutment means.

Figure 7 is an end view of the downforce adjuster used in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the end of the arm over which the downforce adjuster of Figure 7 slides; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the downforce adjuster of Figure 7.

Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus 10 includes a clamp 12 having fixed arms 13, 14 extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, therefrom. Fixed arms 13 and 14 are suitably welded to clamp 12. The apparatus further includes an upper arm and a lower arm 16. Upper arm 15 is pivotally mounted to fixed arm 13 at point 17. Lower arm 16 is pivotally mounted to fixed arm 14 at point 18.

DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 The apparatus further includes a trailing arm or plate 19. Plate 19 is pivotally connected to upper arm 15 at point 20 and is also pivotally connected to lower arm 16 at point 23.

A tyne 22 is mounted in a tyne box 57 which is pivotally connected at point 21 to plate 19.

A biasing means 24, which is in the form of a hydraulic ram is connected at its lower end 25 to the tyne carrying box 57 and is connected at its upper end 26 to a short extension member or arm 27. A further feature of the present invention is that the hydraulic ram may be adjusted by conventional means such as varying the oil pressure. The other end of the short extension member or connecting arm 27 is pivotally mounted at point 28 to an upper part 27 of the plate 19. As can be seen from •ee.

Figure 1, short extension member or connecting arm 27 may comprise a simple .ee• S weldedjoint between connections 26 and 28.

:A rearwardly extending arm 29 is connected to short extension member or connecting arm 27. The other end of rearwardly extending arm 29 has an abutment carrying arm 30 pivotally connected thereto at point 31. Abutment carrying arm carries an abutment means 32 which is preferably in the form of a roller bearing affixed to abutment carrying arm 30. The position of abutment means 32 may be adjusted by screw adjuster 33 which may be fixed at 34 to the upper arm 15. This 20 adjustment means forms part of the biasing means and allows the force to be adjusted between the parallelogram linkage and the stump jump mechanism.

As will be appreciated, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus in accordance with the invention. In the apparatus of the present invention, it is preferred that the upper and lower arms and plate are duplicated on either side of the tyne and hydraulic or other biasing means. This is shown more clearly in Figure 2, which shows an end view of an upper part of the apparatus of Figure 1. In Figure 2, some features have been omitted for clarity.

In particular, Figure 2 shows the rearwardly extending arm 29 having abutment carrying arms 30 and 30a pivotally mounted thereto at 31. For ease of reference in Figure 2, where a duplicate structure to that shown in Figure 1 is shown, it is DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 identified by the same reference numeral with the suffix Abutment carrying arms 30a carry bearings 32, 32a.

Upper arms 15, 15a have rails 34, 34a transversely affixed thereto via connecting webs 35, 35a. As can be clearly seen in Figure 2, bearings 32, 32a abut on the lower part of rails 34, 34a. As rails 34, 34a are connected to there respective upper arms 15, 15a, abutment of the bearings 32, 32a on rails 34, 34a results in a force being applied by the bearings 32, 32a to the respective upper arms 15, As can also be clearly seen in Figure 2, the apparatus 10 of Figure 1 is provided with transversely spaced plates 19, 19a. With the exception of the upper and lower arms 15, 16, all of the other working features of the invention, including the tyne and the hydraulic or other biasing means are positioned between the plates 19, o 19a.

In operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, the clamp 12 is connected to a carry bar. The press wheel arm 36 is adjusted to set the working depth to the desired depth (it being appreciated that press wheel arm 36 carries a press wheel, not shown). The hydraulic ram 24 is then activated to extend the ram. This forces tyne box 57 into contact with the pivot pin 21 extending between the lower arms 16 and the other lower arm located on the opposite side of the apparatus. In this regard, pivot pin 21 acts as a stop member for the tyne box 57. It may also be possible to provide the apparatus with a separate stop member for the tyne box. The support arm 36 is connected to the press wheel (not shown) and a adjustable strut 58 is connected to the top of the tyne box 57 at 59. This enables the parallelogram linkage to operate in response to changing ground contours.

The press wheel arm is forcibly rotated upwards and away from the tyne when the tyne jumps after it hits an obstruction so no damage happens to the press wheel.

Upon passing the obstruction the press wheel comes down with the tyne, the tyne reenters the soil the hydraulic ram continues pushing causing the press wheel to move down to soil surface level causing the tyne to straighten up and become vertical and then the press wheel re-establishes the tyne's working depth by controlling the parallelogram.

DVG: JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 As can be seen from Figure 1, pivot pin 21 acts to orientate tyne 22 such that the tyne 22 has a substantially vertically extending part.

As mentioned earlier, the position of abutment means 32 may be adjusted fore and aft of the point 20 at which the plate and the upper arm are pivotally connected.

Three possible positions for the position of the abutment means 32 are shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. In Figure 3, abutment means 32 is essentially coincident with pivot point 20. Consequently, extension of hydraulic ram 24 causes no net rotational force to be applied to the upper arm 15. This is because the force applied by the abutment member 32 to the upper arm 15 is essentially a moment force and when the abutment member 32 is essentially coincident with the pivot point 20, the moment arm is zero. In this situation, the hydraulic ram is not applying any rotational force to the upper arm Turning now to Figure 4, it can be seen that the abutment means 32 has been adjusted to be positioned to the fore of pivot point 20. In this embodiment, extension of the hydraulic ram 24 causes abutment means 32 to move upwardly and this causes a rotational force as shown by arrows 37 and 38 to be applied to the upper arm. As will be appreciated, this force effectively increases downforce on the depth sensing press wheel. This increases the resistance of the parallelogram arrangement to allow working in a vertical mode and pivoting as the apparatus moves across the ground.

Turning now to Figure 5, the abutment means 32 is shown as adjusted to the aft of the pivot point 20. Extension of the hydraulic ram 24 causes abutment means 32 to move upwardly and this applies a rotational force as shown by arrows 39 and 40 to the upper arm 15. This force acts to decrease downforce on the depth sensing press wheel and this adjustment is particularly suitable for use in cultivation of delicate or fragile soils, or in planting of fragile seeds.

During use of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 6, hydraulic ram 24 is operated to maintain the tyne box 57 in its lowermost position in which the tyne box 57 is in abutment with pivot pin 21 (or other stop member). As the press wheel attached to the press wheel arm 36 follows the contours of the earth, there will be a slight up and down movement of the tyne 22, which translates to a slight movement in DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 the upper and lower arms 15, 16.

The use of the upper and lower arms 15, 16 in conjunction with the hydraulic ram 24 acting to hold the tyne 22 in a given orientation ensures that the tyne 22 remains in a substantially vertical orientation during normal use. However, if the soil working implement attached to the tyne 22 encounters an obstacle in the ground or if the soil conditions become too severe, the force applied to the soil working implement may exceed the hydraulic pressure provided by hydraulic ram 24. In such a case, the obstruction or severe soil conditions will overcome the hydraulic pressure in hydraulic ram 24 and the tyne 22 and tyne box 57 will pivot upwardly and backwardly about pivot point 23, which will cause the tyne 22 and adjustable press wheel arm 36 to rotate upwardly and backwardly out of the way of the obstruction or severe soil conditions. This is shown by reference numeral 57 in Figure 1, which shows the tyne in jump position. Although not shown in Figure 1, when the tyne is in jump position, the hydraulic ram 24 will be somewhat closed up. In other words, the apparatus can act as a stump jump mechanism. The force applied by the hydraulic ram 24 and the weight of the apparatus will subsequently force the apparatus back down such that the soil working implement once again commences working of the soil once the obstacle or severe soil conditions have passed.

The apparatus shown in the accompanying Figures may comprise one of a 20 plurality of similar arrangements arranged transversely as part of an overall seeder apparatus, which will enable the planting of multiple rows of seeds. A number of units may also be provided fore and aft in the seeder apparatus.

Although not shown in any of the drawings, when the apparatus is used as a seeder, seed supply means and optional supply means for providing other beneficial agents such as fungicides, fertilizer and herbicides, will be provided.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention as shown in the accompanying Figures provides a very compact apparatus that is much shorter fore to aft than other known parallelogram controlled stump jump mechanisms. This allows more lateral rows within a machine. The apparatus is particularly suited to precision control of planting depth for summer crops such as maize and cotton. All winter DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 11 crops would also benefit from the apparatus as well. The down force on the press wheel can be adjusted from a maximum available, through to nil, through to a negative force where the press wheel may even be lifted from the ground. Part of the force applied by the hydraulic ram may be diverted to give a wide range of force to the press wheel, although by far the major downforce is provided to the stump jump mechanism. Moreover, a wide range of movement in the parallelogram linkage allows each tyne to easily move up or down in response to changing soil conditions and topography. The stump jump mechanism shown in the accompanying Figures with its hydraulic controlling ram is carried within the parallelogram through its working range. The hydraulic ram is protected inside the mechanism. However, it "will be appreciated that the positioning of the hydraulic ram may be varied from that shown without departing from the scope of the present invention.

oo.o The present invention provides a parallelogram controlled stump jump assembly that allows for vertical movement as well as a rear breakaway movement.

This allows the apparatus to be used with both tynes and points (which require a rear breakaway movement to avoid obstacles) and rotating tools such as discs and coulters which can ride over obstacles and thus only need to move up and down to avoid S.obstacles.

The apparatus of the present invention may also include a hole 41 (see Figure 1) through the lower parallelogram arms and side plates to enable the arms and plates to be pinned into a fixed position or other means to achieve the same result.

Furthermore, a hole 42 may also be provided in the plates to allow the tyne to be pinned up out of work. This is especially useful for transport. The parallelogram can be simply inactivated by a stop pin and the depth sensing wheel can be removed whilst leaving the stump jump ability of the apparatus in tact. This enables the apparatus to be used as a conventional cultivation apparatus.

Turning now to Figures 6 to 9, which show an alternative design for the downforce adjuster, a rearwardly extending arm 50 is connected to connecting member 27. Arm 50 includes an intermediate portion 51 of reduced cross-section and an end portion 52 having a hole 53 through which adjusting screw 33 fits. A DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 Sptcmber 1999 downforce adjuster 54, best shown in Figures 7 and 9, includes a hole 55 that can slidably receive the intermediate portion 51 of reduced cross section of arm Downforce adjuster 54 also carries bearings 32, 32a. Adjusting screw 33 is also threadably received within passage 56 in downforce adjuster 54. In order to adjust the position of downforce adjuster 54, adjusting screw 33 is turned, which causes the adjuster to move along the thread of the screw, thereby adjusting the position at which the bearings 32, 32a abut on the parallelogram arms.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope.

S

DVG JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999

Claims (10)

1. An apparatus for soil working of the type having a stump jump capability and a parallelogram linkage with a lower and upper arm and a leading and trailing arm, wherein the trailing arm has a portion inboard of the four pivot points in the parallelogram linkage and wherein that inboard portion is pivotally connected to a tool support member arranged so that the tool support member may swing about the inboard pivot point, the apparatus further comprising a biasing means for applying an adjustable force to the tool support member and to the parallelogram linkage. .t

2. An apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein the trailing arm is a plate. .i.

3. An apparatus as defined in Claim 2 wherein the plate has a stop member connected to the plate to limit movement of the tool support member beyond a predetermined position.

4. An apparatus as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 3 further comprising a *t 9 ground engaging means for setting depth of soil working during use.

5. An apparatus as defined in Claim 4 wherein the ground engaging means includes a support arm and a ground engaging wheel and the support arm is pivotally connected to where the lower and trailing arms are pivotally connected in the parallelogram linkage.

6. An apparatus as defined in Claim 5 wherein the tool support member and the ground engaging support member are connected by a strut of adjustable length to allow the depth of soil to be worked to be adjusted.

7. An apparatus as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the biasing means DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999 14 is a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and preferably a hydraulic cylinder selected from one or more coil springs, leaf springs, gas struts, air springs, hydraulic cylinder and more preferably a hydraulic cylinder.

8. An apparatus as defined in Claim 7 whereas the position of the applied force may be adjusted to either side of a pivot point where the upper and lower arms are connected to the trailing arm or plate.

9. An apparatus as defined in Claim 8 that further comprises an abutment member that abuts on one of the upper or lower arms or a member connected thereto is linked to the connecting arm, and the force that is applied by the biasing means is thereby manifested as a force applied to the upper or lower arm by the abutment member.

10. An apparatus for soil working and substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 30 September 1999 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: DEREK BARNSTABLE DENIS DANAHER DVG:JMD:#29507.CAP 30 September 1999