AU2002223734B2 - Multipurpose ploughing appliance for sowing - Google Patents

Abstract

The implement consists of at least one gang (2) of spherical discs (3), angled so that the convex sides of the discs face in the direction of travel (F) and engaging with the soil with their lower edges, especially for covering seeds (4) previously placed on the soil surface, e.g. by a broadcast or in-line drill. The spherical disc gang can be pivoted about a vertical axis for normal use and is preceded by a soil loosener (1) in the form of one or more disc gangs with forward-facing concave faces.

Description

POPER\SASUuI-D 06\122141 10 Ispldoc-2310M6 la A MULTIFUNCTION TILLING IMPLEMENT USABLE FOR SOWING The present invention relates to a multifunction tilling implement which can be used for sowing or merely for preparing the ground, e.g. by harrowing or firming.

As a general rule, seeds such as cereals are sown in ground that has previously been worked by means of a sowing device which either places seeds in series in parallel lines, or else distributes seeds by scattering them over the ground. The seeds are then buried by a tool which can be of various kinds. Those methods of sowing are generally referred to as "drilling" and as "broadcasting".

A preferred embodiment of the present invention seeks to associate, under special conditions, a sowing device with a tilling implement comprising at least one set of disks in the form of spherical caps or truncated cones; said set of disks being also suitable for use as a traditional tilling implement when it is not participating in sowing, or merely for preparing the ground for harrowing or firming.

The present invention provides a multifunction tilling implement, the implement comprising at least one set of disks substantially in the form of spherical caps, the convex face of each disk being directed in the travel direction of the implement, the disks acting on the ground via the bottom ends of their convex faces for burying previously-deposited seeds in the ground.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, in order to break up the ground upstream from the set of disks which buries the seeks, the implement includes one P \OPER\SASUu-D1 c 0i\12214110 pa doc-23/A/06 lb Nc or two sets of parallel disks which work in conventional manner, presenting their concave sides to the forward 0D advance direction of the implement.

In another embodiment, the ground can be broken up in front of the set of disks of the invention by other means such as shares, claws, or other harrows.

2 In the invention, the seeds can be placed on the ground by any sowing device appropriate to the nature of the seeds.

Thus, for wheat, the seeds may be broadcast in front of or behind the device which breaks up the ground.

By means of the invention, the action of the convex bottom portions of the disks have the effect of progressively pushing back the seeds against their convex sides so as to place the seeds substantially in parallel lines, while lightly tamping the ground to bury them.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is possible to use a traditional seed drill which places the seeds between the disks of the set of disks of the invention, and ahead of it, thereby ensuring that the seeds are properly placed, even at shallow depth.

In the invention, it is thus possible to modify the depth at which the seeds are placed in the ground, by varying the distance between the axis of the disks and the point where the seeds are placed on the ground.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the set of disks situated at the back of the implement can be turned about a vertical axis, either into a position in which the disks present their convex faces in the travel direction of the implement, which can then be used in particular as a sowing device in accordance with the invention, or for preparing the ground such as by harrowing or firming, or else, in a position where the disks present their concave faces to the forward advance direction of the implement, thus enabling them to perform traditional tilling.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous to have identical pairs of sets of disks disposed symmetrically about the central axis of the tilling implement, thus making it possible to compensate the lateral forces which would otherwise tend to shift the implement sideways if it comprised only sets of disks inclined in the same direction.

P.\OPERlSAS1JI-D O\ 2214110 Ip. d.c-23A& A 3 In the invention, and if so desired, it is also possible to have an implement with one or more sets of parallel disks suitable in one travel direction for being used as a tilling implement, and suitable for use in the opposite travel direction as a sowing device for burying seeds sown by drilling or by broadcasting.

In accordance with the present invention, the outline of the convex disks may be arbitrary. Thus, in accordance with the invention, it is possible to use disks that are lobed, i.e. disks of a perimeter that is defined by a succession of convex circular arcs, disks having peripheries that present a series of notches in the form of concave circular arcs, convex disks whose edges present ribs or corrugations which perform additional breaking up of the ground, or indeed disks having a periphery that is circular.

The sets of convex disks of the invention may be mounted on a common shaft, in which case they lie on a common axis. It is also possible for each of them to be supported by an arm making it possible simultaneously to adjust the inclination of each disk relative to the vehicle and relative to the forward advance direction.

Under such circumstances, all of the arms are secured to a common beam in order to constitute the set.

Various embodiments of a multifunction tilling apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an embodiment of the implement of the invention; Figure 2 shows a particular embodiment of the PAOPERZSASUuDom 06N]22111 0 Ispa do-231A)06 4 implement of the invention in which the earth is broken up upstream from the sowing device by a set of disks working in conventional manner; Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the invention having sets of disks disposed symmetrically on either side of the axis of the implement, the rear sets of disks being capable of being turned about so as to present in the forward advance direction, either the convex faces of the disks in order to use the implement for sowing, or else their concave faces in order to use the sets of disks in traditional manner as a tilling implement; Figures 4, 5, and 6 show examples of shapes for disks which can be used in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 shows an embodiment in which each disk of the invention is secured in adjustable manner to a beam.

Figure 1 is a diagram of an implement 1 for breaking up the ground. This implement may be constituted, for example, by traditional plow shares, a set of claws, or one or more sets of disk harrows.

The ground can be broken up either prior to the passage of an embodiment of the implement of the invention, or else by means of an implement that is itself physically connected to an embodiment of the implement of the invention.

When the implements are connected together, a set of disks 2 is placed behind the implement 1 which travels in the direction of arrow F.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, PAOPERkSASUuIDc O61 2214110 Ispa doc2310816 the set of disks 2 comprises disks 3 whose convex faces face in the forward advance direction F of the implement.

In the embodiment of Figure i, a sowing device is placed in front of the set of disks 2 to deposit seeds at 4 in order to act as a seed drill.

In the invention, the seeds are advantageously placed towards the middles of the gaps between the front ends of pairs of adjacent disks.

In a variant, the seeds may be broadcast in front of the set of disks 2 of the invention.

In an embodiment of the invention, the convex disks work only over a depth that is sufficient for burying the seeds appropriately.

Because of the convex shape of the disks, the seeds are thus buried progressively and tamped in the ground by being pushed back by the bulging bottom portions of the disks.

As a result, even if the seeds are broadcast, an embodiment of the implement of the invention tends to arrange them in lines by the action of the bottom loadsupporting edges of the convex disks.

Figure 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the implement of the invention in which a set of conventional disks la has been placed in front of the set of disks 2 in order to break up the ground, with the set of disks 2 being associated with a seed drill 4.

Figure 3 shows that it is advantageous to make an implement of the invention by disposing two sets of disks la and Ib at the front of the implement symmetrically about its axis, the front sets of disks P:OPER\SASJ.1-Dmc06\12214I 10 Isp dox-23/0L' having their concave faces facing in the forward advance direction, and to place behind them two other sets of disks 2a and 2b which are capable of turning about respective vertical axes between a first position shown in continuous lines in which the sets of disks 2a and 2b present their concave faces in the forward advance direction of the implement, which then behaves as a conventional tilling implement, and a second position shown in Figure 3 by dashed lines in which the rear sets of disks 2a and 2b present their convex faces in the forward advance direction of the implement, thus enabling each of them to be associated with a seed drill 4 shown in Figure 3 in dashed lines, but which could be replaced by a broadcast sowing device.

This symmetrical disposition of the implement shown in Figure 3 serves to balance the lateral forces that are exerted by the sets of disks when their axes are parallel.

In contrast, in the embodiment of Figure 2, the tilling set of disks la and the set of disks 2 that participate in sowing cancel each other out 6 substantially, given that they are inclined in opposite directions.

Disks of various shapes may be used.

Figure 4 shows a prior art multilobe disk which, in addition to being in the form of a spherical cap, also presents a series of lobes 5 at its periphery.

Figure 5 shows a prior art disk whose edges have cutouts 6 of rounded shape.

Finally, Figure 6 shows a prior art disk of circular periphery, this disk being essentially in the form of a spherical cap.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment in which each disk 9 is secured to a beam 7 by means of a hinged arm 8 which can be maintained in a variety of angular positions about axes 10 and 11.

This enables the disks to be oriented in an optimum position as a function of the sowing that is to be performed.

In the invention, there is no need for the disks to be in the form of spherical caps in the geometrical meaning of the term, and if deemed useful, it is possible for example to use disks that are in the form of flattened cones or disks that are in the form of soup plates.

Similarly, the disks may be provided at their peripheries with ribs or corrugations for further breaking up of the ground.

In the invention it is possible to use various types of disks such as embossed disks and flail disks.

It is clear that the embodiments described above do not present any limiting character and that they can be modified in any desirable manner without thereby going beyond the ambit of the invention.

PAOPER\SASLI.D= 06\122141 10 spa dom.23AMlAM 7 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.