GB2265534A

GB2265534A - Improvements in or relating to tillage elements.

Info

Publication number: GB2265534A
Application number: GB9206370A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Douglas Temple Topham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-24
Filing date: 1992-03-24
Publication date: 1993-10-06
Also published as: GB9206370D0; AU3642193A; WO1993018637A1

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved tillage element for use in a cultivator such as a plough, harrow or the like, which comprises a flat central portion (21) and a plurality of spaced teeth (22') projecting from the periphery of said flat central portion, the spaced teeth (22') being inclined out of the plane of the central portion to project to the same side of said central portion. The improved tillage elements are particularly suitable for use in wet or sticky soil conditions in assisting breaking up of the soil, without causing long peeled slivers of soil.

Description

"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TILLAGE ELEMENTS" This invention relates to improved tillage elements and to agricultural machines, for example ploughs and harrows, embodying such tillage elements.

Farmers are currently faced with the prospect of a complete ban on straw and stubble burning. This represents a considerable problem for arable farmers since the volume of straw produced by grain crops is far more than is required for animal bedding purposes and like uses. Moreover, the cost of transporting straw in bulk for other uses is prohibitive, even if such uses could be found. Accordingly, there is a need to incorporate the straw into the ground from which it has grown.

Many proposals have been made for straw incorporation, including the use both of ploughs and harrows. The success of these proposals depends very much on the conditions prevailing when the straw is to be incorporated into the soil. Generally speaking, problems are much less acute on light soil. In my co-pending British Patent Application No 91 15307.2, I discuss the use in tillage apparatus of an inversion wheel disc having a substantially planar portion and an inclined flange portion extending from the periphery of the central portion, an abrupt transition being provided from the central portion to the flange portion. This inversion wheel I have found to work efficiently over the wide range of ground conditions.Conventional tilling discs are of a concave shape and I have found that my prior inversion wheel with a frustoconical peripheral flange provides far better penetration in all soil types and conditions than the conventional concave disc plough.

A prime benefit arises from the use of the inversion wheel as compared with a conventional concave disc in that it is only the rear part of the concave disc which moves the soil, this being sharply sideways in an uncontrolled fashion. The soil inversion wheel's front and rear flat portion move the soil sideways providing a predictable and progressive rolling motion whereby the whole of the width of the inversion wheel is operating as compared with only half of the span of a conventional concave disc. Thus, as compared with the conventional concave disc, the inversion wheel provides, with its flat centre portion, for good soil transfer with a rolling action to bury straw and other material at the surface of the soil being worked and the peripheral edge portion of the inversion wheel provides better penetration than the edge of the curved concave disc.

I have now found that my prior soil inversion wheel can itself be improved, particularly for use in wet or sticky conditions, by having the flange convex, preferably quite strongly convex. I believe this is due to the soil peeling away quite easily from the convex flange surfaces as moving over them with a strong breaking action being provided by the very abrupt transition from the central planar portion and the convex flange portion.

With this construction, there is less tendency for soil slithers to be created in wet conditions, whilst in dry and wet conditions the construction has a shattering effect whilst inverting the soil. The peripheral flange can readily be replaceable when worn. Whilst the inversion wheel could be used for simple harrowing or disc-ploughing operations, preferably it is used in a plough with a leg having a point and a landslide for additional penetration. Preferably, when used in such wet conditions, especially with the additional penetration provided by a leg point and landslide, a scraper or rotational skimmer can be provided. Additional shattering and breaking of the soil can be provided by having a scalloped peripheral convex edge to the inversion wheel.

Thus, in one broad aspect, the present invention provides a tillage element for use in a cultivator such as a plough, harrow or the like, which comprises a disc having a substantially planar central portion and a-flange portion extending from the periphery of said central portion, an abrupt transition being provided between the central portion and the flange portion, the angle of inclination of the flange portion to the central portion decreasing from the inner edge to the outer edge of said flange portion. While the central portion will normally be planar, it can be slightly convex or concave if sorequired.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a tillage element for use in a cultivator, such as a plough, harrow or the like, which comprises a flat central portion and a plurality of spaced teeth projecting from the periphery of said flat central portion, the spaced teeth being inclined out of the plane of the central portion to project to the same side of said central portion. This tillage implement is an inversion wheel which, instead of having a simple frustoconical flange as referred to in my previously mentioned copending application, has spaced teeth projecting out of the plane of the central planar portion. This provides good penetration in all types of soil conditions with the toothed edge cutting into the soil creating a good driving action with a very good momentum.As compared with the previous inversion wheel referred to in my abovementioned British Patent Application, the toothed construction provides better penetration and also provides soil pulverisation. Because of the soil pulverisation, the actual soil inversion action is provided by the substantially flat central portion of the tillage element as the soil moves across it during ploughing. With this construction, there is less tendency for soil slithers to peel off in wet conditions and the teeth themselves can be simply replaceable when worn. This construction can be used in a manner similar to that referred to above with the convex flange, either as harrow discs, as a simple rotary plough or for ploughing in combination with a leg and landslide to obtain additional penetration. A scraper or skimmer can be fitted as required.The use of this toothed soil inversion wheel would have far less tendency to create a pan than conventional ploughing methods.

A further aspect of the invention provides a machine comprising a plurality of tillage elements with those tillage elements being according to one or both of the first aspects of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 compares a conventional disc with an inversion wheel type disc tillage element embodying the invention; Figure 2 compares a conventional disc and the inversion wheel type tillage element diagrammatically illustrating their capabilities in operation; Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified toothed disc or inversion wheel tillage element embodying the invention; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the tillage implement of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to that of Figure 3 but showing an alternative embodiment of tillage element; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of tilling apparatus embodying the tillage element of Figure 3 for use in a rotary plough; ; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing an alternative form of tillage element as shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but illustrating the manner in which the tillage element can be swung between positions for left-hand and right-hand ploughing; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the tilling apparatus shown in Figure 7; Figure 10 is a diagram to illustrate soil movement during use of the tilling apparatus of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing how tillage elements embodying the invention may be incorporated for use as harrows; Figure 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of how a plurality of tillage elements can be arranged as tilling apparatus in a plough to provide a series of side-by-side furrows;; Figure 13 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating a tillage element as used in the apparatus of Figure 9 but having a skimmer or scraper mounted in relation thereto; and Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the incorporation of a secondary tillage element indicated as a conventional concave disc, further to assist in inversion of soil during use of the plough.

Figure 1 illustrates, in side elevation, a conventional concave cultivating disc 10 as may be used in a conventional disc plough, harrow or other disc tilling apparatus and beside it a tillage element 20 embodying the present invention which is in the form of a dish or inverter wheel comprising a generally flat planar central base portion 21 and a flanged portion 22 about the periphery of the base with an abrupt transition 23 being provided between the flange portion and the central planar portion. As shown, the angle of inclination of the flange portion 22 decreases progressively from its inner edge point of connection to the central planar base and its outer peripheral edge. Whilst the inclination of the inner edge of the flange may be between 70 and 90 , or less in some instances, it is preferably at least 80".

The peripheral edge of the flange should be preferably inclined at less than 60 to the plane of the central portion and is preferably more than 200 , perhaps in-the range of 30 to 45". This shape of the flange portion makes the tillage element particularly suitable for use in heavy sticky soils.

The flange 22 may itself be detachably secured to the central planar portion to enable its ready replacement when worn. The peripheral edge of the flange may be scalloped.

The tillage element 20, as can be seen in Figure 1, has a depth or width which can be half the width or less than the depth or width A of a conventional tilling disc0 Whilst the preferred smooth edge to the disc is illustrated, for some soil conditions, it may be preferred to have a scalloped or otherwise formed edge to the periphery of the flanged portion. Also, apertures may be provided through the central and/or flanged portions to assist breaking of the soil.

Figure 2 illustrates the advantage of the additional width of cut which is obtainable with the tillage element 20 as compared with a conventional ploughing disc 10. Because of the improved efficiency, both the flange portion 22 cutting into the soil and better distribution of the soil across the tilling disc, a substantially wider cut 24 can be achieved with the tillage element 20 as compared with the narrow cut 25 obtained with the conventional tilling disc 10 under the same soil conditions. Typically, the maximum angle of operation of a conventional ploughing disc or disc harrow having a penetration similar to the tillage element used in the present invention is 35 , though in many cases they cannot operate as steeply as that.The tillage element of the present invention can operate at very much greater angles, illustrated as 45 to 55" in Figure 2, although with a suitable construction, particularly for lighter soils, the angle could be as much as 70" although the more preferred range is 40 to 60".

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of tillage element, also suitable for use with heavy wet soils, in which instead of having the continuous flange 22, a series of teeth 22' are provided around the periphery of the central disc portion. These teeth also, as shown, preferably have a sharp transition with the outer edge of the disc to which they are attached and may be considered as lying on an imaginary frustoconical surface. The teeth as shown in Figure 3 have their side edges at right angles to the peripheral edge of the central portion although these side edges may be inclined to the peripheral edge portion circumference as shown in the teeth 22" in the alternative embodiment of Figure 5.

A wear strip 26 is attached to the disc so as to extend adjacent the periphery of the central disc portion and at the roots of the teeth 22' in order to provide a renewable wear strip. The teeth themselves are preferably detachably secured to the central portion so that they can be replaced when worn.

Figure 6 illustrates tilling apparatus in the form of part of a plough in which the tilling element 20' with its base 21 and teeth 22' is rotatably mounted on a shaft 44 which is pivoted, at 30, to a frame comprising a landslide 15 and a point 18 which projects forwardly of the leading edge of the tilling element 20' where it penetrates the grounds.

Figure 7, similar to Figure 6, shows the tillage element 20 provided with the convexly curved flange portion 22.

As can be seen in Figure 8, the pivot 30 enables the tillage element 20 to be swung between alternative positions, allowing left- or right-hand ploughing. The construction of the tilling apparatus can possibly be better understood from the showing of Figure 9 where a frame comprising an upright portion 14 carries the point 18 and the rearwardly extending landslide 15. Preferably, a frame member, not shown, will extend across from the upper end of the frame member 14 and carry the support for the pivotal connection of the shaft 44. The support for the pivotal connection can, if desired, be extended down to be secured to the landslide 15 in order to obtain greater rigidity. The frame comprising the members 14 and 15 preferably is pivotally secured to a plough beam so as to trail from that beam when the plough is in operation.

Figure 10 illustrates the manner of flow of earth when being inverted by use of the tillage element provided with the flange 22 with the direction of movement of the plough being shown in this Figure, as in the others, by an arrow marked DT. In this diagram, the soil level is shown as SL and soil can be shown as being moved initially by action of the flange 22 with the convex surface of the flange preventing removal of the soil, particularly when it is wet and sticky with the soil then being broken up and inverted as it changes direction and slides over the centre of the inversion wheel. Using a series of inversion wheels in a plough as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 12, it can be seen how the soil lifted and leaving the inversion wheel is dropped into the furrow which has been left by a preceding inversion wheel.

Figure 11 illustrates how the tillage element of the present invention may be used as a harrow. The upper part of Figure 11 shows flanged tillage elements being arranged in series on a shaft to provide a harrow which is particularly effective when dragged at an angle to the direction of movement. Also shown in this Figure is a diagrammatic illustration of a harrow provided with the toothed tillage elements. Although this harrow could be used at an angle, the tooth elements are particularly effective in penetrating and in breaking up the heavy soil in the parallel formation shown.Whilst these different types of harrows could be used individually, it is also possible for them to be used in the format as illustrated in Figure 11 with one diagonally arranged flanged tilling element harrow being followed by the toothed tillage element harrow, so that soil is broken up and displaced by the initial harrow and then the turned earth is then further broken up by the toothed tillage elements of the second harrow portion.

Figure 12 illustrates how, with the inversion wheel type tilling elements used as a plough, the earth dug out inverted by the first tillage element leaves a furrow which is filled by the earth turned over by the second tillage element and so forth.

Figure 13 shows an embodiment in which the flanged tillage element 20 has a rearward stub mounting portion which is mounted by a bearing 41 on a nonrotatable shaft 44 with a skimmer or scraper 42 mounted on the end of the shaft 44 by a bolt 43 which extends through a hole at the centre of the tillage element. The skimmer or scraper will remain stationary so as to ensure that any soil sticking to the tillage element will be broken away therefrom in use of the apparatus.

Figure 14 shows a further rotary tillage element 52, here shown as a conventional disc shape, mounted for rotation at the centre of the main tillage element 20 but at an angle thereto, so as to operate further to displace and turn over soil initially deflected by the tillage element 20. The secondary element 52 instead of being in the form of a curved disc could also be formed as a tillage element embodying the present invention, whether of the toothed or flanged type.

In general, the tillage element may be formed with the central portion and flanged or toothed portion being readily removable as a unit from a central hub for replacement purposes or, as indicated above, the flange portion or teeth, the parts which are most subject to wear, may themselves be replaceably mounted on the central portion, with the central portion then possibly being more heavily built so that there is never any normal need to remove it from the central hub which supports it for rotation.

Claims

1. A tillage element for use in a cultivator such as a plough, harrow or the like, which comprises a disc having a substantially planar central portion and a flange portion extending from the periphery of said central portion, an abrupt transition being provided between the central portion and the flange portion, the angle of inclination of the flange portion to the central portion decreasing from the inner edge to the outer edge of said flange portion.

2. A tillage element according to claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the flange intersects the plane of the central portion at an angle of between 70 and 90 , preferably at least 80".

3. A tillage element according to claim 2, wherein the inner edge of the flange is substantially at right-angles to the plane of the central portion.

4. A tillage element according to any preceding claim, wherein there is a progressive change of inclination of the flange portion progressing from the inner edge to its outer peripheral edge.

5. A tillage element according to any preceding claim, wherein the periphery of the flange portion is at an angle of less than 60 to the plane of the central portion.

6. A tillage element according to claim 5, wherein the angle at the periphery of the flange to the plane of the central portion is more than 20 .

7. A tillage element according to claim 6, wherein the angle is between 30 and 45".

8. A tillage element according to any preceding claim, wherein the flange is detachably secured to the central portion.

9. A tillage element according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer periphery of the flange portion comprises a scalloped edge.

10. A tillage element for use in a cultivator, such as a plough, harrow or the like, which comprises a flat central portion and a plurality of spaced- teeth projecting from the periphery of said flat central portion, the spaced teeth being inclined out of the plane of the central portion to project to the same side of said central portion.

11. A tillage element according to claim 10, wherein there is a sharp transition between the roots of the teeth and the plane of the flat central portion.

12. A tillage element according to any preceding claim, wherein the teeth are curved along their length to vary the angle of inclination to the plane of the central disc portion

13. A tillage element according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the side edges of the teeth are substantially at right-angles to the periphery of the central portion.

14. A tillage element according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the side edges of the teeth are inclined in a direction circumferentially of said central portion.

15. A tillage element according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the teeth are detachably mounted to the flat central portion.

16. An agricultural machine, comprising a plurality of tillage elements as claimed in any preceding claim.

17. A machine according to claim 16, wherein a skimmer or scraper is mounted in relationship to the tilling element to assist removal of soil therefrom.

18. A machine according to claim 17, wherein the skimmer or scraper is mounted to the end of a shaft mounting the disc through a central aperture through the tillage element.

19. A machine according to claim 16, wherein a secondary tillage element is provided for rotation in association with the main tillage element, further to turn over soil initially moved by the main tillage element in use of the machine.

20. A machine according to claim 19, wherein the secondary tillage element has a shape similar to that of the primary tillage element.

21. A machine according to any one of claims 17 to 20, which is in the form of a plough with each tillage element being associated with a point arranged to penetrate the ground in front of the forwardmost edge of the flange with the tillage element being rotatable with its plane of rotation inclined to the direction of movement of the plough.

22. A plough according to claim 21, wherein the point is provided on a frame which also carries a landslide extending rearwardly of the tillage element.

23. A plough according to claim 22, wherein the tillage element is rotatable on a shaft which is pivotably mounted to the frame for swinging movement to reverse its direction of inclination relative to the direction of movement of the plough to permit leftwards or rightwards turning of the soil.

24. A plough according to claim 22 or 23, which comprises a beam from which a plurality of said frames trail from pivotal connections.

25. A tillage element in accordance with claim 1 or claim 9, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

26. An agricultural machine embodying a tilling element in accordance with claim 25, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.