AU648779B2 - Horticultural tool - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 a& COMPLETE SPECIFICATIO1 9 (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class 7 7 Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification ;-odged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: g@e 0 0**e

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.9* Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: AUSTIN TIMOTHY RYAN 19 Hewitt Street Warracknabeal Vic 3393

APPLICANT

DAVIES COLLISON, 1aient Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: 0 tee* C.

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Complete Specification for the invention entitled: 11ut1%j fPcuhha~ The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Q1O3O,gjndat.033,RYAN.DIV, I

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la "HORTICULTURAL TOOL" This invention relates generally to horticultural tools.

Recent interest among some farmers in minimum tillage cultivation and seeding has been met in part by the development of cultivators employing wide, nearly flat chisel cultivating tools or ploughshares, known as sweep shares.

Each share is mounted to a respective depending tyne or strap and will typically be one of a large number carried by a single machine Shares of any kind regularly require replacement because of wear or other damage and it is important that this operation can be carried out speedily and with minimum effort without compromising the security of the individual share mountings. Ploughshares are typically either bolted to their tynes or straps, or secured by a firm press fit which may be set or broken by several good blows with a :.*hammer. Shares fastened by the latter method are known as "knock-on" shares; arrangements of this general class are shown, in Australian patent 533505 and patent applications 91056/82 and 20249/83.

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o^ o f\ o oe *o o** 0o 940203,p:\oper\gjn72674-91.34,1 In a more recent mounting arrangement for the sweep shares of minimum tillage cultivators, an upstanding U-section socket welded to the share receives and is fastened to the depending tyne. In practice, however, the share can be subjected in use to strong torsional forces about the tyne, especially because of its width: these forTes are occasionally sufficient to splay out the socket and the loosened share subsequently falls off the tyne. The farmer may be unaware of this for some time: a serious disadvantage if the cultivator is being operated as a simultaneous seeder.

Other prior disclosed arrangements include the 0:.0 provision of an intermediate adaptor separate from both o, the share and the depending tyne, for securing shares to 15 a variety of mountings, and the use of a horizontal wedged engagement between adaptor and share. The latter concept is shown, in U.S. patent 3104724 to Pollock and both concepts are disclosed in U.S. patents 3752236, 4078866 and 4333536. The Pollock reference also shows a lever able to be pivoted by a nut and thread device to clamp the share on the depending tyne.

The lever engages a rear inside edge of the share.

Another locking device comprising a transverse tie fixed to the share behind its support is shown in U.S. patent 25 3752236 to Foster.

The aforementioned U.S. patent 4333536 to J.W. Ryan discloses a vertical dovetail engagement between the share and the adaptor in addition to the horizontal wedged engagement.

U.S. patents 2117461 and 1'499531 show forward upstanding faces the former on an intermediate "duck 3foot" supporting an earthworking blade, the latter on an elongate integral socket of a sweep share which are divided by a ridge into two rearwardly outwardly trailing surfaces.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel horticultural tool which is configured for reliable mounting but is nevertheless suited to easy replacement when worn.

More particularly, the invention provides a horticultural tool comprising: a body; one or more forward ground working edges associated with said body; an aperture in said body for receiving the foot of a support for the tool; wherein said aperture includes respective first and second portions, said first portion being relatively wider than and rearwardly of said second portion, with respect to said ground working edge(s), and including opposed convex side edges; said second, relatively more forward portion having opposed side edges which converge towards each other forwardly of the tool and which intersect the respective said convex side edges at an angle and forwardly of the latter's maximum separation, e ~whereby, in use, after a said foot of general shape 25 similar to said aperture is initially received through the oo aperture, the tool is engaged with the support by rotating said tool through substantially 1800 and then moving it rearwardly to wedge the second portion of the aperture onto the foot of the support.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly .35 incorporating an embodiment of horticultural tool in accordance with the invention, in which the support is an adaptor for securing a tool in the form of a sweep share to 940203, p: \oper\gjn.72674-91.34,3 an existing depending tyne; Figures 2 and 3 are a rear elevation and underneath view respectively of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an underneath view of the tool or share as it is being mounted, in a reversed disposition, to the adaptor; Figures 5 and 6 are side and front elevations of the adaptor; Figure 7 is a sequence of somewhat schematic views showing how the tool is mounted to the adaptor; and Figures 8 and 9 are top and bottom perspective views of an alternative assembly, Figure 9 being cut away to show rear latch means.

e a a a 1LL q (*j 940203,p:\oper\gin72674-91.34,4 The ploughshare assembly 10 illustrated in Figures horf~ci~oLc+-u 0oo\ \r>Fe Cf.P' o" 1 to 3 includes a/sweep share 12 and an adaptor 14 by which the share is mounted in use to a depending tyne (not shown) of a cultivator frame. The assembly will typically be one of a substantial number of such assemblies spaced across the frame, perhaps in two or more offset rows. The tyne would generally depend somewhat forwardly and be provided with a pair of bolt holes which are traditionally employed for securing a conventional ploughshare directly to the tyne.

The share 12 is detachably mounted to adaptor 14 by 15 means of a wedge-like engagement between a recess 18 (Figures 3 and 4) in the share, defined by a pair of forwardly convergent internal edges 20, 21, and a holder formation 25 (Figures 5 and 6) on the adaptor comprising a pair of lateral grooves 22, 23 also forwardly convergent to seat edges 20, 21, Grooves 22, 23 are arranged to either side of a land 24 integrally bridging the body of the adaptor to a foot 16 which is wider and longer than land 24, and relatively thinner so as to have minimal depth under the share.

25 Share 12 is a wide angled chisel ploughshare which is nearly flat but slightly upwardly convex, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2. This configuration is of a known type and is especially suitable for minimum tillage cultivation. The share has a broadly triancilar flat centre 11 with an outwardly downwardly inclined margin 13 to a pair of ground working edges 13a, 13b.

A, I-s~ Edges 13a, 13b trail outwardly and rearwardly from a rounded strengthened tip 26. Recess 18 is part of an aperture 17 through the centre 11 which is closed about its whole periphery, and in particular at its rear by a v-shaped co-planar projection 19.

Adaptor 14 includes a rearwardly concave shank portion 30 which is rearwardly integrally upstanding from holder formation 25 so that its rear surface 31 is complementary to the forward surface of the tyne. A bolt aperture 32 is formed in shank portion 30 for attaching the adaptor to a tyne. The forward face 35 of the adaptor is convexedly shaped to form a ridge 36 which divides this face into a pair of surfaces 35a, which trail rearwardly outwardly from the ridge. The 15 ridge 36 and surfaces 35a, 35b serve to divide the material stream thrown up by the share and substantially smoothly deflect this stream over surfaces 35a, 35b past the adaptor.

Separation of the share from the adaptor during normal use is substantially prevented by engagement of a tail segment 16a of foot 16 under projection 19, even when the adaptor is at its relatively foremost position.

In the relatively most rearward position of the adaptor, land 24 locates in a notch 17a at the rear of aperture 25 17 and thereby holds the two against relative rotation.

For facilitating mounting of the share to the adaptor, and then subsequent disengagement for replacement of the share when worn, foot 16 is dimensioned to fit through aperture 17 when the share is turned through 1800 to a reversed disposition. In particular, tail segment 16a is tapered to complement and pass through tapered recess "x 7 portion 18 of aperture 17 (Figures 4 and 7A). The centre segment 17b of aperture 17 between recess 18 and notch 17a is of circular profile and of slightly greater diameter than a complementary circular front segment 16b of adaptor foot 16.

For use of the inventive shares with an existing cultivator frame with multiple tynes, the farmer initially and substantially permanently mounts adaptors 14 to the respective tyne shanks 8 with bolts 33. As 0 already foreshadowed, each share 12 is fitted by bringing each share up to its adaptor in a reversed disposition (Figure 7A) and passing recess 18 about foot 16 (Figure 7B). The share is then rotated through 1800 and moved rearwardly so as to clamp edges 20, 21 into 15 grooves 22, 23 (Figure 7C). A few blows with a hammer secure the fitting.

When it is desired to replace a worn s-are, which in some conditions may be a quite frequent requirement, each share is easily disengaged from its wedged seat with a suitable hammer, turned back through 1800 and lifted off the adaptor.

The length of adaptor foot tail segment 16a is arranged relative to aperture 17 so that when the share S* is rearmost and locked by wedging onto the adaptor, the 25 tail segment is under the v-shaped projection 19 behind the aperture. Thus, if the share is knocked even slightly forwardly the combined engagement of the tail under projection 19 and the front foot part 16b under the margins of the aperture prevent any unintended separation of the share: indeed the share can only be separated if rotated through substantially 1800. When 0808 *fee *00

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e 0 ease 00 *@00 8 *8*8 80 0 the share is foremost, and the front part 16b of foot 16 is in register with aperture centre part 17b, the tight fit of projection 19 between tail segment 16a and a trailing flange 14a of adaptor body prevents any tilting of the share adequate to disengage it from the adaptor.

In this position, also, notch 17a substantially prevents rotation of the share on the adaptor.

In operation of a cultivator fitted with multiple ploughshare assemblies 10, each share is advantageously by a coulter disc. The share assembly and disc may be mounted as a single unit on an individual stump-jump mechanism aft-r he manner described in applicant's prior patent applicatiLn PC 74l54. The disc makes an initial cut of say 10cm in the ground. The 15 share 12 slices through the ground about 5cm below ground level, successfully achieving separation and tillage without the wholesale turning over of large clods as occurs in conventional ploughing, and without burying straw, grass or stubble on top. A subsurface 20 layer of soil passes smoothly over the top surface of the share and about the adaptor and tyne. The result tends to be a narrow furrow behind the assembly and it is into this furrow that seed may be directed from a trailing sowing tube. If desired, a depending spout or element may then follow, extending to about the depth of the disc cut, that is to about 10cm, and the fertilizer laid below the seed at this depth. Because of the minimum tillage and turning, the soil tends to fall back over the seed and fertilizer after the has passed.

\-i -9- It will be appreciated that the share is positively engaged on the tyne and is not susceptible to falling off due to twisting or other forces. On the other hand, it is a simple, quick operation to remove a worn share with a few hammer strikes for replacement by a new share. It will also be noted that the shares are well suited to storage and transport in stacks as they have no protruding lugs or sockets. When stacked, apertures 17 can be put to separate advantage by, e.g. tying the shares together with wire passed through the apertures.

Figures 8 and 9, depict an alternative assembly which differs from the first primarily in the absence of projection 19 and in the provision of a latch 40. The share 12' is also integrally provided with a raised shoulder 42 in its top surface defining a curved seat for the land 44 of adaptor 14; just above grooves 22' 23' and with an underside internal rim 46 defining a curved seat for foot 16'. Latch 40 is provid-d to guard against separation of the parts in certain conditions and comprises a length of wire bent (Figure 9) to define a hook 47 secured by bolt 48 and a rearwardly extending portion in the form of an eye 49 that lies within aperture 17'. The back edge 17a' of this aperture then constitutes a detent face engageable by latch 40 to prevent excessive forward movement of the ploughshare during use thereof.

In modified embodiment, the ground working edges 13a, 13b may be formed on respective replaceable marginal strips welded S to a distinct centrepiece portion of the share. These strips would typically be welded to complementary peripheral edge segments of the centrepiece and be thereby replaceable by 30 cutting the respective welds.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follows, unless the context requires otherwise, the word go "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer 35 or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other a integer or group of integers.

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Claims (8)

1. A horticultural tool comprising: a body; one or more forward ground working edges associated with said body; an aperture in said body for receiving the foot of a support for the tool; wherein said aperture includes respective first and second portions, said first portion being relatively wider t!,in and rearwardly of said second portion, with respect to said ground working edge(s), and including opposed convex side edges; said second, relatively more forward portion having opposed side edges which converge towards each other forwardly of the tool and which intersect the respective said convex side edges at an angle and forwardly of the latter's maximum separation, whereby, in use, after a said foot of general shape similar to said aperture is initially received through the aperture, the 'ool is engaged with the support by rotating said tool through substantially 180° and then moving it rearwardly to wedge the second portion of the aperture onto 2 the foot of the support. I S S.

2. A tool according to claim 1 further including an underside internal rim defining a curved seat for said foot.

3. A tool according to claim 1 or 2 further including a 30 raised shoulder on its top surface defining a curved edge for S..a complementary land of said support. a

4. A tool according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a pair of said ground working edges is provided on replaceable marginal 35 strips of the tool.

5. A tool according to any preceding claims wherein said 940203,p:\oper\gjn,72674-91.34,10 i- -11 first portion of said aperture is of generally circular configuration.

6. A tool according to any preceding claim wherein said aperture further includes a notch at the rear of t-3 aperture.

7. A tool according to any preceding claim wherein said tool is of generally triangular configuration including a pair of said forward ground working edges.

8. A tool substantially according -to claim 1 hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 16th day of February, 1994 AUSTIN TIMOTHY RYAN By his Patent Attorneys Davies Collison Cave *-C 0 *o ooo L;' 9 4 0 2 1 6 \oper\gjn,72674-91.4711 la~I I j