GB2027574A - An agricultural implement for turning over and lining up fodder - Google Patents

Abstract

An agricultural implement has a chassis (1) for connection to a tractor, an arm (2) pivotally connected to the chassis for angular rotation relative thereto by at least 25 DEG , the arm (2) being connected to a transverse member (4) which carries bearings (5) at its ends for rotary drums (6) powered from the tractor. The drums (6) carry tines (8) which are adjustable to turn over fodder, to scatter the fodder or to be folded back to occupy minimum width. Pivotally connected to and extending from the member (4) is an arm (9) to the end of which is pivotally connected a bridge member (10) to which adjustable deflectors (11) are articulated at its ends. Adjustment between the member (4) and arm (9) can move the rear part of the implement relative to the member (4) and adjustment of the deflectors (11) towards or away from each other forms a row of fodder of greater or lesser width. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An agricultural implement for turning over and lining up fodder The present invention relates to an agricultural implement, particularly a ploughing implement, designed and built for turning over and lining up fodder.

According to the present invention an agricultural implement for turning over hay and to form rows or ridges of the said fodder, or to spread it for rapid drying after having turned it over, comprises a chassis of generally inverted channel form, the chassis having various coupling points for connecting it, in use, to a tractor, an irregular tubular profile welded at a bearing point to a central part of the chassis to allow rotation of said tubular profile relative to the chassis by a minimum of 250, a rear end part of the tubular profile being articulated to a tubular rectangular section extending transversely thereto, at the ends of which section are located single bearings each having a gear to actuate a rotary drum located therebelow at each of the said ends, power to rotate said drums being taken off, in use, from said tractor, each drum having a series if tines or teeth having no vertical movement, but arranged to move horizontally by manual operation into one of three positions, one to form rows of fodder, another to scatter the fodder and a third to reduce the width to facilitate transport, a rigid arm extending from the centre if the transverse tubular section towards the rear of the implement and axially to the intended direction of travel thereof, in use, and having at its end a bridge element to which individual deflectors with regulator levers are articulated so as, in use, to direct the fodder towards the left, the right or to the centre.

The implement in the form of a plough is fitted with two or more drums having a series of tines or teeth for turning over fodder, in such a manner that rotation of the drums is achieved by take-off from the tractor or similar vehicle to which the implement is coupled.

Furthermore, the tines or teeth for turning over fodder may be arranged into differing forms, so as to allow the use of the plough for various types of fodder, by exclusively changing the tines secured to the base of the relevant drums without the possibility of vertical rotation, even though they allow adjustment into three or more positions with reference to horizontal movement, in such a manner that one given position of the tines allows rows or ridges of fodder to be formed. Another tine position is intended for spreading the fodder, scattering it to allow quick drying, and finally the third position allows the tines to be brought together as close as possible for the purpose of easier transport of the implement.

The basic chassis of the implement, may be in the form of an inverted channel, with three coupling points for hooking onto any type of tractor. An irregularly shaped tubular body can be pivotally secured to the chassis to allow a minimum rotation relative thereto of 250. The tubular profile body can be joined to the remainder of the implement by means of a number of nuts and bolts.

Furthermore, the rotary drums are mounted on seating bearings at the ends of a transverse rectangular tube, the said bearings carrying gears intended to actuate the drums.

Provision is also made for height adjustment of the drums, by means of a tyred wheel located inside each drum, the said wheel being secured to a vertical support with a spindle allowing adjustment from the upper part of each drum.

The implement also has a third metallic wheel preventing the fodder from being thrown from one drum to another, the said metallic wheel acting as a divider wheel and excluding any jamming during operation, also allowing the machine to be moved when stored in the barn.

Finally the rear part of the implement has a transverse frame with a number of hole for allowing adjustment of deflectors intended to form the rows or ridges of fodder, the deflectors being adjusted according to the required width of rows.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a general schematic perspective view of an implement according to the invention, outlining all the components making up the implement as such, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the implement of Fig. 1.

The implement if Fig. 1 comprises a chassis 1 in the form of an inverted channel, with suitable means in the form of three coupling points for securing the implement to a tractor. At a central part of the said chassis a tubular and irregular profile is articulated thereto to form a pivot so as to allow its rotation by 250 as a minimum, to the left and to the right, according to the direction of operation.

The said tubular profile 2 has a bracket 3 fitted to it to admit the installation of a divider wheel 31 to prevent jamming during operation.

A rear end of the said irregular profile 2 is in turn connected to a rectangular tube 4 located transversely in relation to the direction of movement of the implement. The ends of the said tube 4 are fitted with respective single bearings 5, each having a gear intended to actuate a corresponding drum 6, which is vertically suspended from an end of the tube 4, so that in the manner of rings, each of said drums rotates by means of a bearing, with power take-off from the tractor. The rotation of the drums 6 are in opposite directions and inwards, as shown by the arrows 7.

Height adjustment of the drums is possible by tyred wheels 6' located inside the drums, each wheel 6' being secured to a vertical support by a spindle allowing adjustment from the upper part of the drum.

The said drums 6 carry appropriately mounted tines or teeth 8 intended to turn over the fodder, so that as the implement advances and the drums 6 rotate, in the direction of the arrows 7, the tines or teeth collect or turn over the fodder to form rows or ridges in the direction of travel of the implement.

The tines or teeth 8 have no vertical movement, but they have horizontal settings according to three positions, in one of which the tines or teeth may be located to form rows, and in another postion they scatter the fodder and in the final position they fold back to reduce the overall width so as to facilitate easier transport.

The setting of the tines or teeth 8 is effected manually by means of levers 14 (shown schematically), located in the upper part of the bearings 5 at the ends of the transverse tube 4.

From the central part of the transverse tube 4, a pivotally connected rigid arm 9 extends and is directed axially towards the rear of the implement, pivotally carrying its end a bridge 10 on which are mounted lateral deflectors 11, allowing by means of their articulation 12 an arrangement in more or less convergent form, so as to allow wider or narrower rows 13 of fodder to be formed.

A spring rod 17 is located between the transverse tube 4 and the rigid axial arm 9 and according to its setting the rear part moves to the left, the right or to the centre, so as to ensure the arrangement of the row or fodder accordingly. A series of spaced holes are provided in the arm 9 for reception of one end of the rod 17 in a selected one thereof. The deflectors 11 are adjustable towards and away from each other, by means of spring rods 18 so as to form a row of fodder of greater or lesser width. Spaced holes are provided in the bridge 10 to receive an end of a rod 18.

Telescopic tubes 1 5 carrying the articulations 12 can be shortened or lengthened to given lengths by adjustment in the tubular bridge 10, so as to form rows or ridges of fodder of greater or lesser compactness and density, as well as with a greater or lesser height.

Claims (4)

1. An agricultural implement for turning over hay and to form rows or ridges of said fodder, or to spread it for rapid drying after having turned it over, comprising a chassis of generally inverted channel form, the chassis having various coupling points for connecting it, in use, to a tractor an irregular tubular profile welded at a bearing point to a central part of the chassis to allow rdtation of said tubular profile relative to the chassis by a minimum of 250, a rear end part of the tubular profile being articulated to a tubular rectangular section, extending transversely thereto at the end of which section are located single bearings each having a gear to actuate a rotary drum located therebelow at each of the said ends, power to rotate said drums being taken off, in use, from said tractor each drum having a series of tines or teeth having no vertical movement, but arranged to move horizontally by manual operation into one of three positions one to form rows of fodder, another to scatter the fodder and a third to reduce the width to facilitate transport, a rigid arm extending from the centre of the transverse tubular section towards the rear of the implement and axially to the intended direction of travel thereof, in use, and having at its end a bridge element to which individual deflectors with regulators levers are articulated so as, in use, to direct fodder towards the left, the right or to the centre.

2. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deflectors for forming the rows or ridges of fodder, are articulated to the ends of respective tubular, telescopic spans partly located in said bridge element secured to said end of the rigid arm, a spring-rod able to be coupled in differing positions between the rigid arm and the transverse tubular section to allow movement of the rear section of the implement towards the left, the right or the centre, further spring-rods being located between a frame which houses the tubular telescopic spans and the two lateral deflectors secured thereto, simultaneously to allow a greater or lesser convergence of the two deflectors, so as, in use, to form a row of fodder of greater or lesser, density and height.

3. An agricultural implement for turning over hay and to form rows or ridges of said fodder, or to spread it for rapid drying after having turned it over, comprising a chassis adapted to be coupled, in use, to a tractor or like vehicle, a elongated member pivotally connected at one of its ends to said chassis to allow said member to rotate relative to said chassis by a minimum of 25 , the other end of said member being connected to a transversely extending member, at the ends of which are located respective bearings each having a gear to actuate a rotary drum located therebelow, power to rotate said drums, in use, being taken from said tractor or like vehicle, each drum having a series of tines or teeth having no vertical movement, but arranged to be movable horizontally into one of at least three positions, a rigid arm extending from said transverse member towards the rear of the implement, and having at its end remote from said transverse member a bridge member connected thereto, and respective deflectors with regulator levers being articulated to said bridge member so as, in use, to direct fodder towards the centre, the left or the right.

4. An agricultural implement for turning over hay and to form rows or rodges of said fodder, or to spread it for rapid drying after having turned it over substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.