GB2131263A - Following equipment for one-way ploughs - Google Patents

Abstract

A main frame (1) journals a main packer roll (2). The frame has catching traction arms (8) and (9) one at each side for pivoting alternately in opposite directions, into a pulling position (arm 8) when caught by an entrainment arm (11) of the plough and a position of rest (arm 9), via a coupling device (10). An auxiliary frame (12) carrying an auxiliary roll (13) is connected to the main frame (1) by a centre pole (14) via a ball-and-socket joint (15). On a change in the direction of travel, the frame (12) and the pole (14) are automatically shifted to the opposite side of the main frame (1) in a swinging movement illustrated by the chain dotted line 34. Provision is made for carrying the auxiliary frame on the main frame during transportation of the equipment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Following equipment for one-way ploughs The present invention relates to a following equipment for one-way ploughs.

In known following equipment of this type, a main frame journalling at least one main packer roll for soil densifying and for simultaneously performing seed-bed preparation is connected, at each of its two frame sides facing respectively in the opposite directions of travel of the following equipment, with an auxiliary frame in which one or more auxiliary rolls are supported, in order to ensure, in this manner, that in each of the two directions of travel, an auxiliary frame with an auxiliary roll or rolls follows the main frame with the main packing roll or rolls.With such a construction, however, in each of the two directions of travel of the following equipment, an auxiliary frame precedes its main frames and the auxiliary rolls supported in this preceding auxiliary frame impair the result of the work of the following equipment, and they do this even when it is assured by auxiliary means that the auxiliary roll in the preceding auxiliary frame run over the ground only under their own weight, that is without any additional compressive loading. In addition, such a construction is structurally expensive because of the double arrangement of auxiliary frame and auxiliary rolls.

In following equipment for conventional ploughs which do not form one-way ploughs, it is further known to attach the main frame with the main packer roll or rolls to the plough by means of a chain and to fit an auxiliary frame only to the side of the main frame facing in opposite direction from the direction of travel, in which case the auxiliary frame can be connected to the main frame via an articulated connection by means of a centre pole, the vertical main axis of which is disposed at the height of the main frame and on its rear transverse frame strut.In the case of such following equipment which is only moved in a single direction of travel, the following relationship of the auxiliary frame to the main frame is maintained in operation, and the articulated connection of the centre pole only serves for the jointing of the component devices combined to form the following equipment to improve travel round curves.

It is the object of the present invention to provide improved following equipment for one-way ploughs.

Thus, the present invention provides following equipment for one-way ploughs comprising a main frame with at least one main packer roll mounted therein, the main frame having two catching traction arms one at each of the two frame sides facing in the opposite directions of travel of the following equipment, the catching traction arms being articulated on the main frame for pivoting alternately in opposite directions into a pulling position or a position of rest, via a coupling device, and at least one auxiliary roll mounted in an auxiliary frame and following the main frame in both directions of travel of the following equipment, the auxiliary frame being connected or connectible to the main frame by means of a centre pole via an articulated joint the arrangement being such that, on a change in the direction of travel of the following equipment, the auxiliary frame together with its centre pole can be transferred, in a pivotal movement of about 180 about the main axis of the articulated joint and the main frame into an alternative following position in relation to the main frame of the following equipment.

Following equipment according to the present invention produces a particularly satisfactory result in use, which is no longer impaired by an auxiliary roll or rolls travelling in advance of the main packer rolls, with reduced expenditure on construction and reduced tractive power requirements. At the same time, the following equipment produces an automatic change of following position, accompanying the change in direction of travel, so that no separate reversal work is necessary.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described byway of example, and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows following equipment according to the present invention in side view; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the equipment.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings, the following equipment illustrated for oneway ploughs has a main frame 1 in which a main packer roll 2 is journalled for free rotation. Instead of one main packer roll 2, a plurality of main packer rolls may be supported one behind the other in the main frame 1. Each main packer roll consists, as is known, of a plurality of packer rings or wheels 3 disposed coaxially side by side on a supporting shaft or spindle.

Provided on each of the two frame sides, 67 which face in the opposite directions of travel 4, 5 of the following equipment and which are formed by transverse frame struts, is a catching traction arm 8 or 9 respectively, the catching traction arms 8, 9 being articulated on the main frame 1 and pivotable alternately in opposite directions into a traction position or a position of rest via a coupling device 10.

In the case of the machine illustrated, the catching traction arm 8 is in the traction position and the catching traction arm 9 in the position of rest. An entrainment means associated with the one-way plough, not illustrated, is indicated at 11 in Figure 2.

This engages the catching traction arm 8 for a direction of travel according to arrow 4 and, after a change of direction of the one-way plough, the catching traction arm 9 for a movement of the following equipment in the direction of the arrow 5.

The following equipment further comprises an auxiliary frame 12 with at least one auxiliary roll 13 mounted for free rotation therein, which may form a crumbling roll, a croskill roll or any other suitable roll. The auxiliary frame 12 can be connected to the main frame 1 by means of a centre pole 14 via an articulated joint 15. The main axis 16 of the articulated joint 15 coincides with an imaginary vertical centre axis perpendicular to the plane of the main frame 1, and the articulated joint 15 is disposed above the main packer roll 2 on a bridge girder 17 spanning overthese, parallel to the direction of travel and disposed in the longitudinal centre plane of the main frame 1.The articulated joint 15is constructed in the form of a ball-and-socket joint in order to permit transverse tilting movements of the auxiliary frame 12 in relation to the main frame 1 in operation, and comprises a joint eye 18 at the centrepole side with a spherical part 19 which is provided with a central bore and can be placed on a connecting pin 20 rising vertically from the bridge girder 17 and can be located on this connecting pin.

The spherical part 19 is only mounted for limited movement in its joint eye 18 as symbolized by the axis lines 21,22 in Figure 1.

The centre pole 14 has an angular shape with angles in the vertical plane and has an upper, substantially horizontal arm 23, an inclined connecting arm 24 and a lower, substantially horizontal arm 25. The upper arm 23 is provided, at its front end, with the ball-and-socket joint 18,19 and has, with spacing behind this, a further ball-and-socket joint 26 of the same construction which can be placed on the connecting pin 20 in order to establish a transport connection.

The auxiliary frame 12 is provided with a receiving sleeve 27, supported above its plane via struts, for the lower arm 25 of the centre pole 14 as the drawing shows in more detail. The lower arm 25 of the centre pole 14 can be introduced into this receiving sleeve 27 and be located by means of a transverse pin 28 which engages through a transverse bore 29 in the receiving sleeve 27 and one of the transverse bores 30 disposed one behind the other with spacing in the lower arm 25 of the centre pole 14. As a result, the distance of the auxiliary frame 12 from the main frame 1 is adjustable.

The main frame 1 is provided, at its frame side 6, with connections 31,32 for coupling to a three-point lifting device of an agricultural tractor, the upper connection 32 being disposed below an imaginary horizontal plane through the articulated joint 15. At its frame side 7 situated opposite the frame side 6 with the connections 31,32, the main frame 1 is provided with supporting struts 33 parallel to the direction of travel and projecting outwards, towards the right in Figures 1 and 2, on which the auxiliary frame 12 can be placed in the transport position of the parts of the following equipment. In this transport position, in which the ball-and-socket joint 26 is placed on the connecting pin 20, the auxiliary frame 12 forms a pick-a-back component coupled on the main frame 1.In this position, the following equip mentwith auxiliary roll can also be used as a three-point implement.

On a change in the direction of travel of the following equipment the auxiliary frame 12 together with its centre pole 14 can be transferred out of the position of the parts illustrated in the drawing, in a pivotal movement illustrated by the pivot line 34 of about 180" round the main axis 16 of the articulated joint 15 and the main frame 1, into an alternative following position in relation to the main frame 1 of the following equipment, automatically in the following manner in the example of embodiment illustrated.If, for example at the end of a furrow which has been produced by the plough with a direction of movement according to arrow 4, the entrainment means 11 of the plough is released from its engagement with the catching traction arm 8 and, afterthe plough has been turned over or rotated, the plough is moved by means of the tractor carrying it to form a furrow in the opposite direction according to arrow 5, then the entrainment means comes into entraining engagement with the catching traction arm 9 which is at first still in its position of rest. With pulling action on the main frame 1, which now begins, this first swings into the oblique position illustrated by the chain line 35 and moves towards the right in Figure 2 into a position offset by the width of a furrow which generally coincides with the working width ofthe following equipment, parallel to the lower edge of the drawing, while at the same time the auxiliary frame 12 in Figure 2 swings round in counterclockwise direction and comes into a following position in relation to the frame side 6 of the main frame 1. A corresponding operation is repeated in reverse form during the next change of direction of the plough.

Claims (13)

1. Following equipmentforone-way ploughs comprising a main frame with at least one main packer roll mounted therein, the main frame having two catching traction arms one at each of the two frame sides facing in the opposite directions of travel of the following equipment, the catching traction arms being articulated on the main frame for pivoting alternately in opposite directions into a pulling position or a position of rest, via a coupling device, and at least one auxiliary roll mounted in an auxiliary frame and following the main frame in both directions of travel of the following equipment, the auxiliary frame being connected or connectible to the main frame by means of a centre pole via an articulated joint the arrangement being such that, on a change in the direction of travel of the following equipment, the auxiliary frame together with its centre pole can be transferred, in a pivotal movement of about 180 about the main axis of the articulated joint and the main frame into an alternative following position in relation to the main frame of the following equipment.

2. Following equipment as claimed in claim 1, in which the main axis of the articulated joint coincides with an imaginary vertical centre axis perpendicular to the plane of the main frame and the articulated joint is disposed above the main packer roll or the main packer rolls on a bridge girder of the main frame spanning over these.

3. Following equipment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the articulated joint is constructed in the form of a ball-and-socket joint.

4. Following equipment as claimed in claim 3 in which the ball-and-socket joint comprises a joint eye at the centre-pole side with a spherical part which is provided with a central bore receiving a connecting pin extending vertically upwardly from the bridge girder.

5. Following equipment as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the spherical part is mounted for only limited movement in the joint eye.

6. Following equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the centre pole has an angular shape with angles in the vertical plane.

7. Following equipment as claimed in claim 6 in which the centre pole comprises an upper, substantially horizontal arm and a lower, substantially horizontal arm offset downwards in relation to its upper arm.

8. Following equipment as claimed in claim 7 when claim 6 is appendantto claim 3,4 or 5, in which the upper arm is provided with the ball-and-socket joint at its free front end and comprises a further ball-and-socket joint rearwardly spaced from its free front end for transporting connection of the auxiliary frame with the main frame.

9. Following equipment as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which the auxiliary frame is provided with a receiving sleeve for the lower arm of the centre pole supported above its plane via struts.

10. Following equipment as claimed in claim 9 in which the lower arm of the centre pole is provided with a number of transverse bores disposed one behind the other for locating the lower arm in the receiving sleeve by means of a transverse pin entered through a transverse bore of the receiving sleeve.

11. Following equipment as claimed in any preceding claim in which the main frame is provided at one of its frame sides facing in a direction of travel with connections for coupling to a three-point lifting device of an agricultural tractor, the upper connection being disposed below an imaginary horizontal plane through the articulated joint.

12. Following equipment as claimed in claim 11 in which the main frame is provided at the other of its frame sides facing in a direction of travel with supporting struts which project outwards parallel to the direction of travel and on which the auxiliary frame can be placed for transport of the following equipment.

13. Following equipment for one-way ploughs substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.