Soil cultivating machines

A soil cultivating machine comprises a cultivating member having discs and a tined roller, both of which are power-driven. Holes are provided in the discs and the periphery of each disc is divided into plate tine members by recesses. Tines extending from the tined roller extend between adjacent discs. In operation, the discs cut the soil into strips, and these strips are then engaged by tines of the tined roller. Further equipment, such as a seed drill, cultivator, or roller or a combination of these may be hitched to the machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to soil cultivating machines. 
Machines are known which comprise a frame and at least one cultivating 
member supported in the frame to be driven about an axis extending 
transversely of the direction of travel of the machine. Soil cultivating 
machines of this type, particularly when working on heavy soil, are 
frequently not capable of performing in a single run a cultivation of the 
soil which provides a structure providing optimum conditions for 
germination of seeds or growth of seedlings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention there is provided a soil cultivating 
machine comprising a cultivating member, which is drivable about an axis 
extending transversely of the intended direction of operative travel of 
the machine, the cultivating member comprising a plurality of discs which 
co-operate with a tined roller of the machine. 
In the context of the present invention, "tined roller" refers to a roller 
capable of packing the soil at least lightly having outwardly extending 
projections for working the soil. "Tined roller means" in the context of 
the claims is a "tined roller" capable of performing these functions. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tined roller is 
driven and comprises a tubular carrier which may bear on the ground during 
operation. In this way the machine will be stable in operation, which is 
particularly important when the machine is combined with a seed drill. 
Preferably, holes are provided in the discs. By simple means it can thus be 
ensured that the discs more firmly attack the soil. The machine may be 
provided with cultivator tines arranged in a releasable manner. The 
machine can then be used on extremely hard soil, for example, in summer 
and after the harvest. The machine may be provided with a three-point 
suspension for attaching further implements to the machine so that 
adaptation to the prevailing conditions and the job concerned can be 
carried out at will. 
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a basic 
machine which--when combined with the appropriate implement--can be 
employed throughout the year to perform the appropriate and desired soil 
cultivation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises two parallel frame beams 1 and 
2 disposed one behind the other with respect to the intended direction of 
operative travel of the machine, as indicated by the arrow A. The frame 
beams 1 and 2 are substantially horizontal and extend transversely of the 
direction A. From FIG. 2 it will be appreciated that the frame beam 2 is 
at a higher level than the frame beam 1. The ends of the frame beams 1 and 
2 are interconnected by upwardly extending plates 3 extending in the 
direction A (FIG. 2). The frame beams 1 and 2 are also interconnected 
between their ends by supports 4. The front and rear edges of the plates 3 
are substantially parallel to each other and slope downwardly from front 
to rear. The underside of each plate 3 is substantially horizontal. Near 
the transition between the front edge and the underside of each plate 3 a 
tubular carrier 5 is rotatably mounted between the plates 3 by means of 
stub shafts and bearings. The tubular carrier 5 is provided with discs 6, 
which are substantially normal to the rotary axis of the carrier. The 
tubular carrier 5 and the discs 6 constitute a rotatable cultivating 
member 7. The discs 6 are arranged at equal distances from one another. 
The distance between adjacent discs 6 is preferably fifteen centimeters 
and the diameter of each disc is preferably fifty centimeters. Each of the 
discs 6 has a central, rectangular (and preferably square) opening 8 
through which can pass plates 9 (which are also rectangular and preferably 
square) which are mounted on the tubular carrier 5, so that each of the 
discs 6 can be fastened to a plate 9 by means of bolts 10 at the corners 
of the plates and passing through holes near the middle of the sides of 
the square opening 8 (FIG. 3). Near its periphery, each disc 6 has holes 
11. In the illustrated embodiment, these holes 11, are circular and their 
centers are angularly spaced from one another by 45.degree. on an 
imaginary circle centered on the rotary axis of the cultivating member 7. 
The distance between this circle and the periphery of the disc 6 is about 
one quarter of the radius of the disc 6. Each disc 6 also has at its 
periphery trapezoidal recesses 12 located centrally between each two 
adjacent holes 11. The recesses 12 have one substantially radial edge, the 
opposite edge being inclined to the radial line by about 20.degree. in a 
manner such that the recess is outwardly flared. The inclined edge of each 
recess 12 is located to the rear with respect to the intended direction of 
operative rotation of the discs 6, as indicated by an arrow B, and extends 
in a trailing position. As shown in FIG. 3, the recesses 12 extend 
inwardly to an imaginary circle which is tangential to, and circumscribes, 
the holes 11. The portions of the periphery of each disc between the 
recesses 12 can be regarded as plate tine members or simply as tines 13. 
Between the plates 3 near their rear edges there is a roller 14, the ends 
of which are rotatably supported in bearing housings by means of stub 
shafts and bearings. The roller 14 comprises a tubular carrier 15 provided 
with spaced circumferential rows of projections referred to herein as 
tines 16. The rows are arranged so that the tines 16 of each row move 
centrally between two adjacent discs 6 of the cultivating member 7. The 
tines 16 are straight, as shown in FIG. 3, and extend radially throughout 
their length to project between the discs 6. Each row comprises four tines 
16 spaced apart from each other by circumferential angles of about 
90.degree., and their ends describe a circle having a diameter of 
preferably about fifty centimeters. Each tine is secured by a pin 18 in a 
sleeve-like holder 17 welded to the periphery of the tubular carrier 15. 
Each tine 16 has an angular, preferably square, cross-section and is 
disposed so that a diagonal of the cross-section lies in a plane normal to 
the longitudinal centerline of the tubular carrier 15, this centerline 
being the axis of rotation of the roller 14. 
Above each frame beam 1 and 2 there is a bracket-shaped beam 19. The beams 
19 are arranged near the ends of the beams 1 and 2 and are provided in the 
middle with a horizontal part. The horizontal parts are interconnected by 
supports 20 extending in the direction A. The horizontal central part of 
the front beam 19 is provided at the front near the middle with a pair of 
lugs 21 for attaching the top arm of a three-point lifting device of a 
tractor. At equal distances on each side of the center the front of the 
frame beam 1 is provided with pairs of lugs 22 for attaching the lower 
arms of the three-point lifting device. The central part of the rear beam 
19 is provided near the middle with a pair of lugs 22A, and at equal 
distances on each side of the center, at the rear, the frame beam 2 is 
provided with pairs of lugs 23. The pairs of lugs 22A and 23 constitute 
coupling points for a three-point suspension of a device to be combined 
with the machine. The combinations will be described in further detail 
hereinafter. 
On the left-hand side, as viewed in the direction A, the stub shaft 24 of 
the tubular carrier 5 of the cultivating member 7 is prolonged and extends 
into a protective casing 25 on the outboard side of the plate 3. Inside 
the casing 25 the stub shaft 24 is provided with a sprocket 26 over which 
a chain 27 runs. The chain 27 also runs over a sprocket 28 on an extended 
stub shaft 29 of the tubular carrier I5 of the roller 14. The extended 
stub shaft 24 is also provided with a sprocket 30 accommodated in a 
protective casing 31 on the inboard side of the plate 3. A chain 32 runs 
over the sprocket 30 and over another sprocket 33 on a shaft 34, The shaft 
34 is journalled near the top of the casing 31 and in a tube 35 extending 
transversely of the direction A and parallel to the frame beams 1 and 2. 
The end of the tube 35 away from the sprocket 33 is fastened to a gear box 
36, into which the shaft extends. Tne gear box 36 is supported by the 
frame beams I and 2 and comprises a shaft 37 which extends in the 
direction A and is drivably connected through a change-speed gear 38 at 
the rear side of the gear box with the shaft 34. The shaft 37 projects 
from the front of the gear box 36 and can be connected by means of an 
auxiliary shaft 39 with the power take-off shaft of a tractor. 
The above-described machine comprising the combination of a cultivating 
member 7 rotatable about a substantially horizontal, transverse axis with 
a roller 14 provided with tines 16 operates as follows. 
Using the coupling means 20 and 21 on the front of the beams 1 and 19, the 
machine is connected to the three-point lifting device of the tractor. For 
operation, the assembly is moved in the direction A. By means of the 
auxiliary shaft 39, the power take-off shaft of the tractor can rotate the 
front cultivating member 7 through the transmission described above in the 
direction indicated by the arrow B in FIGS. 2 and 3. During rotation, the 
discs 6 divide the soil into strips, which are subsequently worked by the 
tines 16 of the roller 14, the effective diameter of which, as stated 
above, corresponds to the diameter of the cultivating member 7. During 
this operation the soil is attacked by the tines 16 between each two 
adjacent discs and the soil enclosed between the discs is then displaced 
to the rear. Owing to the specific design of the discs formed by the 
combination of the holes 11 at the periphery, the recesses 12 and the 
tines 13 the machine is particularly suitable for carrying out a primary 
work either in spring or in autumn. Particularly on very dirty soil and/or 
on stubble fields the discs, by their specific constructions, are capable 
of co-operating effectively with the tines 16 to work weeds and vegetable 
material by mixing it intimately with the soil. With the aid of vertically 
adjustable ground wheels 40 arranged on the front of the frame beam 1, the 
working depth of the cultivating member 7 and the roller 14 can be set. 
When the ground wheels 40 are moved into the position shown by way of 
example in FIG. 5 the tubular carrier 15 of the roller 14 can bear on the 
ground. This not only enhances the stability of the machine in operation, 
but also creates a soil structure particularly suitable for sowing, since 
the tubular carrier 15 then has a packing effect. In this working position 
the machine can co-operate very effectively with a seed drill 41, which, 
as indicated in FIG. 5, can be coupled by means of arms 42 and 43 with the 
coupling means 22 and 23. 
The machine described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 can be combined, if 
desired by means of the coupling points formed by the pairs of lugs 22 and 
23 with a cultivator 42A of the kind shown in FIG. 6. The cultivator 42A 
comprises a frame beam 43A extending transversely of the direction A on 
which a row of cultivator tine means consisting of tines 45 is pivotally 
mounted by means of equidistant pairs of lugs 44. Each of the cultivator 
tines 45 can deflect against the force of a spring mechanism 46 if 
overload is imminent. The frame beam 43A is provided at equal distances 
from the center with pairs of lugs 47 and at the middle with a support 48 
which together constitute a three-point fastening means, which can be 
connected with the coupling points formed by the lugs 22A, 23 on the rear 
of the frame beams 2 and 19. From FIG. 6 it will be appreciated that, with 
this coupling arrangement, the free ends of the cultivator tines 45 can 
extend below the roller 14. The combination with the cultivator 42A is 
very suitable for working fields having relatively hard soil, as may be 
the case in summer and in particular towards the end of the summer. The 
combination with the cultivator 42A shown in FIG. 6 is particularly 
suitable for working stubble fields. When the assembly is set at a depth 
at which the tubular carrier 15 of the roller 14 bears on the ground 
during operation, it is possible--since the cultivator tines 45 extend 
substantially below the roller--to obtain in addition some packing effect 
and stabilization with the aid of the tubular carrier 15 so that the 
assembly can be combined with a seed drill 41 that can be attached this 
time to coupling means on the rear side of the beam 43A and the support 48 
as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
The machine described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 may also be combined 
with a device comprising a frame 49, which can be connected with the 
coupling points 22A, 23 on the rear of the frame beam 19 and 2 with the 
aid of a trestle 50 and arms 51, 52, the top arm 51 having an adjustable 
length (see FIG. 9). The frame 49 comprises a transverse beam 53 provided 
with a row of displacer disc means consisting of freely rotatable discs 55 
arranged side by side and supported by arms 54. The row extends 
transversely of the direction A and the rotary axes of the discs 55 are 
substantially parallel to each other. A plane normal to the rotary axes of 
the discs 55 is at an angle of about 60.degree. to the direction A. The 
discs 55 are each provided with a hub 56 provided with radially extending, 
tapering ridges 57 extending over substantially half the radius of the 
discs. The periphery of each disc 55 has outwardly extending ground 
engaging members comprising sawtooth-like serrations so that the discs are 
rotated during operation by their ground contact and thus produce lateral 
displacement of the soil. 
Behind the row of discs 55 there is a packer roller 58, which is supported 
for free rotation by downwardly and rearwardly inclined supports 59 
mounted on the frame. The combination shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be used 
effectively for working the soil, for example, in summer or at the end of 
the summer; the members formed by the discs 55 which are capable of 
laterally displacing the soil can have a very effective result inter alia 
on slopes. 
A combination based on the machine described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 
and suitable for use on heavy, very hard soil at the end of the summer, is 
shown in FIG. 11. This combination comprises the cultivator shown in FIG. 
6 behind which is mounted, by means of a three-point suspension comprising 
arms 59A and 60A, a frame 61 provided with a trestle 60, in which frame a 
packer roller 62 is freely rotatable. The packer roller 62 has scrapers 63 
at the rear which extend between tines disposed in circumferential rows on 
the packer roller, these scrapers 63 being in contact with the tubular 
carrier of the packer roller at a position below a horizontal plane 
containing its rotary axis. The scrapers 63 are arranged on a transverse 
carrier 64 located near the rear of the frame 61. A screw spindle 65 
mounted between a lower arm 60A and the trestle 60 on the frame 61 enables 
the position of the packer roller to be adjusted with respect to the other 
implements of the combination. 
The machine described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, comprising the 
cultivating members 7 provided with discs 6 of specific design and the 
tined roller 14 co-operating with it, may, as will be appreciated from the 
above examples, serve as a basic unit for combination with other devices 
in a manner such that, in each season, the soil can be worked effectively, 
whilst moreover a combination including a seed drill enables seeds to be 
rationally distributed in a single run both in spring and in autumn. The 
machine described is thus suitable for use at any time for performing a 
desired soil cultivation matching the prevailing conditions. 
Although various features of the machine that described and illustrated in 
the drawings will be set forth in the following claims as inventive 
features, the invention is not necessarily limited to these features and 
may encompass all inventive features that have been disclosed both 
individually and in various combinations.