A DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SOIL WORKING TOOLS

Abstract: A device for adjusting the distance between soil working tools such as plough bodies (5) disposed beside each other and fitted to means (7) movable along a bar (3). The invention is characterized in that slewing brackets (11, 14, 15) for de­ fining the movements of the movable means along the bar (3) are arranged articulatedly between the movable means (7) so that the relative movement between the two outermost means on the bar is a (n-1), where a is the distance of the movement between two adjacent means (7) and n is the number of means. A hydraulic piston-cylinder unit is arranged to provide the mo­ tion of the movable means (7) along the bar (3).

Description: This invention relates to a device for adjusting the distance between soil working tools disposed beside each other and fitted to means movable along a draw bar. The device allows a rapid adjustment of the centre distance between the soil working tools which adjustment can be performed from the driver's cabin of the traction vehicle. When fields are worked by means of different types of soil working tools the soil will be prepared in different ways varying from time to time depending on its humidity just then and different soil types vary mutually in different ways. As an example it can be mentioned that a ridge width of 57 cm is obtained in ploughing in order to obtain an intended working of dry soil. The same soil requires when damped throughout a ridge with of 60 cm to obtain the corresponding working as at dry soil. Other factors influencing the ridge with in order to attain a perfect result are if the soil has been previously worked, e.g. stubble worked using another tool. The problem is known before and there are different types of solutions for moving the tools relative to each other. All these solutions require that the tools are indivi­ dually moved manually at the tool frame. Due to the fact that the adjustment must be made repeatedly before the correct centre distance between the working tools has been obtained for the occasion and that the very adjustment of the different tools is heavy per se and requires work it goes without saying that the matter has been left as it is and the same setting has been used the whole time independently of species of soil and soil humidity. A rapid adjustment of the distance between the soil working tools is obtained through the invention and said ad­ justment can be made from within the driver's cabin of the traction vehicle. This is possible thanks to the fact that the invention has been given the characteristic features defined in the claims. The invention will be described in greater detail in the form of an example with reference to the drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows schematically a tool in the form of a plough where the invention is utilized, Fig. 2 shows a detached part of the tool that is the invention, with a certain distance be­ tween the soil working tools, and Fig. 3 shows the invention with another distance between the tools. Thus, the tool is shown schematically in Fig. 1 in the form of a frame 1 at which means 2 for fitting the plough to the tool coupling of the traction vehicle - tractor - is ar­ ranged. At the front of the frame a beam 3 is attached to the frame sides, on one hand, and, on the other hand, by means of braces 4. The working tools, in this case plough bodies 5, are articulatedly attached to sleeves 7 movable along the beam 3 via plough ridges 6 with double arms. The plough bodies 5 can be adjusted by means of arms 8 and stone release means 9 and be kept on the right level during work. The tool described here is known as such and is for instance taught in Swedish patent 8402338-1. According to the invention a bearing 10 in the form of for instance two upright parallel ears is disposed on the up­ per side of the respective sleeve 7. As is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3 a slewing bracket 11 is pivotably mounted in each bearing 10. The respective slewing bracket 11 has in addition to the bearing hole for the mounting of the arm in the bearing 10 two additional bearing holes 12 and 13, respectively, the distance between all the holes being equal - for natural rea­ sons, as appears from below, the right slewing bracket as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 need not be provided with an outermost third bearing hole. A bracket 14 extends articulatedly from the central bearing hole 12 in the respective slewing bracket 11 to the bearing 10 of the sleeve 7 immediately nearby. Another bracket 15 extends articulatedly from the outermost bearing hole 13 of the respective slewing bracket 11 to the central hole 12 of the adjacent slewing bracket 11. When geometrically possible, the first bracket 14 and the second bracket 15 can be built together to one single bracket in theory, see Figs. 2 and 3, but for technical and functional reasons the brackets should be articulated with each other. These joints are shown at 16 in the figures. A hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 17 is arranged diamet­ rically to the bearings 10 relative to the beam 3. In the example shown the cylinder is fitted to a bearing 18 of the left sleeve 7 as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and the piston rod is extended by means of a rod 19 which is connected with its outermost end to a bearing 20 of the right sleeve 7, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 a position of the sleeves 7 is shown in which these and consequently the plough bodies 5 are at a smaller distanse from each other. In Fig. 2 the position is shown where the sleeves 7 and consequently the plough bodies 5 are at a greater distance from each other. When the piston in the piston-cylinder unit 17 is forced out of the cylinder from the position shown in Fig. 2 meaning that the outermost sleeves 7 are influenced and removed from each other the brackets 14 and 15 will control by force the movements of the intermediate sleeves exactly relative to the outer sleeves. In other words, if the first left sleeve 7 is thought to be still and the other adjacent sleeve is to move the way a from the first-men­ tioned left sleeve the third sleeve must move the distance 2a from the first-mentioned sleeve and the fourth sleeve the dis­ tance 3a from the first-mentioned sleeve. As the slewing brac­ kets 11 are evenly distributed between the bearing holes 13, 12 and the bearing hole in the bearing 10 and the "lower" bracket 14 extends from the hole 12 of the bearing bracket 11 to the bearing 10 while the "upper" bracket 15 extends from the upper end of the slewing bracket 11 to the bearing 10 of the remotest sleeve 7 but one, this will move twice as far as the closest or intermediate sleeve 7. As this sleeve moves a distance a the slewing bracket 11 of this will also be moved the distance a meaning that this distance is "superimposed" to the following slewing brackets - sleeves. It is apparent from the drawing that the whole assembly of sleeves (four in the example) can be moved along the beam 3 which allows a good flexibility and adaptation of the tool. By arranging the bracket system on one side of the main beam 3 and the driving piston-cylinder unit 17 on the other side of the beam and engaging to two outermost sleeves 7 an extremely easily operable device is obtained by the embodiment shown, at which the risk of a drawer effect is eliminated. As is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3 the extension rod 19 of the piston rod is movably mounted in the intermediate sleeves 7 by means of for instance flanges 21 provided with holes. The piston is operated from the driver's cabin on the traction vehicle (not shown). It is to be understood that the bracket system can be formed in other ways within the scope of the invention, the desired effect being achieved, and there are several different possibilities for one skilled in the art. However, it has been found that the embodiment described here as an example can be produced very simply and cheaply and at the same time it has a good reliability in function with a possibility to good mea­ sure tolerances. Moreover, it should be understood that of course more than four sleeves 7 or equivalent means can be operated in the way described above depending on the form and appearance of the beam. As soil working tools any other tool, in which the in­ vention can be utilized, should be understood beyond plough bodies.

Claims: 1. A device for adjusting the distance between soil work­ ing tools (5) disposed beside each other and fitted to means (7) movable along a bar (3), characterized in that slewing brackets (11, 14, 15) for defining the movements of the movable means (7) along the bar (3) are arranged arti­ culatedly between the movable means (7) so that the relative movement between the two outermost means (3) in a (n-1) where a is the distance of the movement between two adjacent means (7) and n is the number of means (7), and that a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit (17) is arranged to provide the motion of the movable means (7) along the draw bar (3). 2. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the respective means (7) is provided with a slewing bracket (11) articulated at the means and that a first bracket (14) is arranged articulatedly between each slewing bracket (11) and the adjacent means (7) and a second bracket (15) is arranged articulatedly between each slewing bracket (11) and the next means (7) beside the adjacent means. 3. The device of claim 2, characterized in that the distance between the fulcrum of the slewing brac­ ket (11) at the means (7) and the fulcrums of the first and second bracket (14, 15) at the slewing bracket (11) are the same. 4. The device of claim 2 or 3, character­ ized in that the second bracket (15) has a joint (16). 5. The device of any one of claims 2-4, char­ acterized in that the piston-cylinder unit (17) is arranged to engage the movable means (7) on the diametrically opposite side of the bar (3) relative to the brackets (14, 15). 6. The device of claim 5, characterized in that the piston-cylinder unit (17) acts between the two outermost movable means (7) via an extended piston rod (19).

Inventors: KARLSSON, RUNE
Applicants: KARLSSON, RUNE
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01B15
IPC codes: A01B63, A01B13, A01B15, A01B71, A01B3