A SOIL CULTIVATING MACHINE

Abstract: The invention relates to a soil cultivating machine comprising a frame portion (1), wherein a plurality of power-driven soil working members (3) are supported in side-by-side relationship, whilst behind said soil working members (3) there is arranged by means of pivotal arms (8) a roller (11) which, during operation, is movable relative to said frame portion (1) about an at least substantially horizontal transverse axis and is afforded by a packer roller provided with scraper elements (14) disposed at the rear thereof by means of a carrier (16). Means are provided with the aid of which the carrier (16) with the scraper elements (14) is movable, during operation, in at least one direction relative to the arms (8) for the roller (11). The said means include at least one pivotal shaft (10, 39) with the aid of which the said carrier (16) is pivotal with respect to the arms (8) supporting the roller (11). The said pivotal shaft (10, 39) extends at least substantially transverse to the direction of operative travel of the machine and at least substantially horizontally and a connecting element (19, 31, 35) is disposed between the said carrier (16) and the said frame portion (1), the said pivotal shaft (10, 39) being constituted by a stud which is accommodated with clearance in a recessed portion (9, 40) supporting the roller (11).

Description: The invention concerns a soil cultivating machine comprising a frame portion wherein a plurality of power-­ driven soil working members are supported in side-by-side relationship, whilst behind said soil working members there is arranged by means of pivotal arms a roller which, during operation, is movable relative to said frame portion about an at least substantially horizontal transverse axis and is afforded by a packer roller provided with scraper elements disposed at the rear thereof by means of a carrier and means are provided with the aid of which the carrier with the scraper elements is movable, during operation, in at least one direction relative to the arms for the roller. With soil cultivating machines of the above-­ defined type, as known from the German patent application 3.431.333, the frame portion carrying the soil working members can move upwardly relative to the arms and the roller about the pivotal axis for the arms when the soil working members hit an obstacle in the soil, so that damage to the soil working members is prevented. However, in practice it has been found that with the known construction, when a soil working member remote from the centre hits an obstacle, the upward movement of the frame portion via the arms can be counter-acted by the carrier carrying the packer roller's movable scraper elements, it then even being possible for the roller to be lifted partly from the soil. This means that for the soil working members of the prior art construction there is not always a sufficient protection against damage when they hit obstacles in the soil. Now, by means of the construction according to the invention, this disadvantage can be obviated in that the means include a connecting element arranged between the frame portion and the carrier for the scraper elements and with the aid of which the position of the scraper elements relative to the cylindrical carrier of the roller is adjusted upon an adjustment in height of the roller with respect to the frame portion. Using this provision, the carrier for the scraper elements, when the frame portion deflects upwardly, can perform a relative movement with respect to the roller arms, as a result of which the upward movement of the frame portion is not impeded anymore. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a soil cultivating machine having a construction according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of part of a machine in accordance with a second embodiment according to the invention; Figure 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view in accordance with Figure 4 of a third embodiment of a construction according to the invention, and Figure 6 is a view in accordance with Figure 4 of a fourth embodiment of a construction according to the invention. The implement shown in the drawings concerns a soil cultivating machine, in particular one for the preparation of a seed bed. The machine comprises a box-like frame portion 1 which extends transversely to the direction of operative travel A and in which are supported, spaced apart equidistantly by preferably 25 cms, the upwardly, preferably vertically, extending shafts 2 of soil working members 3. Each of the soil working members 3 includes an at least substantially horizontal carrier 4 which is mounted on that end of the shaft 2 projecting from the bottom of the frame portion 1 and whose ends are provided with downwardly extending soil working elements 5 in the form of tines. The ends of the box-like frame portion 1 are closed by means of plates 6 which extend at least substantially parallel to the direction of operative travel A. Each of the plates 6 is provided near its front upper side with a bolt 7 which extends transversely to the direction of operative travel A and about which is freely pivotal an arm 8 extending rearwardly along the inner side of a plate 6. Each of the arms 8 has at its rear end a plate-shaped support 9 extending obliquely downwardly and rearwardly. Near the lower side, each of the supports 9 has a stub 10 extending transversely to the direction of operative travel A, the arrangement being such that the longitudinal centre lines thereof are in alignment. On the stubs 10 there is arranged freely rotatably a roller 11, which roller is designed as a packer roller. The packer roller 11 includes a cylindrical carrier 12 on which there are arranged equidistantly crowns of cams 13. Plate-­ shaped scraper elements 14 are provided between the crowns of cams 13. During operation, the scraper elements 14 assume a position as shown in detail in Figure 2, the free front end of a scraper element being located at least substantially near the lower side of the cylindrical carrier 12 bearing on the soil. Each of the plate-shaped scraper elements 14 is disposed at the lower side of an obliquely upwardly and rearwardly directed arm 15. The arms 15 are mounted on a carrier 16 which extends transversely to the direction of operative travel A and is positioned at least substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller 11. By means of an arm 17 extending obliquely downwardly and subsequently forwardly (Figure 2), the ends of the carrier 16 are freely pivotal about the stubs 10 carrying the roller 11. Near the ends, the carrier 16 (Figure 1) is provided at its upper side with two spaced-apart lugs 18, between which one end of a connecting element 19 in the form of a rod is disposed freely movably to all sides by means of a ball and socket joint, the other end being arranged freely movably to all sides by means of a ball and socket joint between two lugs 20 at the rear side of the frame portion 1. The lugs 20 at the rear side of the frame portion 1 are located in the region of a fourth soil working member 3, taken from an end of the frame portion 1. The respective connecting elements 19, which are adjustable in length, are provided such that, in plan view, they enclose an angle of approximately 50° to the direction of operative travel A of the machine. The rear side of each of the plates 6 is provided with a support 21 which at the upper and lower sides has a portion 22 which is folded at a square angle. The portion 22 extends at least substantially horizontally, is directed inwardly and serves as a stop adapted to co-operate with an arm 8. The portions 22 are interconnected by a strip 23, the arrangement being such that the arm 8 is capable of movement between the strip 23 at the support 21. The support 21 and the strip 23 have curved rear sides, the arrangement being such that the curvature extends in accordance with a section of a circle having its centre on the longitudinal centre line of a bolt 7. The rear side of the support 21 and the strip 23 are both provided between the portions 22 with two interspaced rows of holes 24, which extend parallel to the rear side of the support and the strip, respectively, and in one of which a pin 25 can be inserted, the arrangement being such that in operation of the machine the pin bears on the upper side of the arm 8, so that the working depth of the soil working members 3 is determined by means of the roller 11. Inside the box-like frame portion 1, each shaft 2 is provided with a pinion 26, the arrangement being such that the pinions on the shafts of adjacent soil working members 3 are in driving connection with each other. Near the centre, the shaft 2 of a soil working member 3 is extended upwardly and by means of this extension reaches to into a gear box 27, inside which the extension is in driving connection via a conical gear wheel transmission and a speed variator 28, located at the rear side of the gear box, with a shaft 29 which extends in the direction of operative travel A and projects at the front side from said gear box 27. The end of the shaft projecting from the gear box can be coupled to the power take-off shaft of a tractor via an intermediate shaft. Near its front end, the frame portion 1 includes near its centre a trestle 30 for coupling of the machine to the three-point lifting hitch of a tractor. The machine described in the foregoing operates as follows: During operation, the machine coupled to the three-point lifting hitch of a tractor via the trestle can be moved in a direction indicated by the arrow A, whereby each of the soil working members 3 can be rotated from the power take-off shaft via the intermediate shaft and the above-­ described transmission, the arrangement being such that adjacent soil working members rotate in opposite direction and, by means of their downwardly directed soil working members 5, cultivate at least adjoining strips of soil. As has already been observed, the working depth of the soil working members 3 can be set with the aid of the roller 11 by introducing the pin 25 in one of the holes 24, the arrangement being such that the pin bearing on the upper side of the arms 8 prevents the frame portion 1 supporting the soil working members from moving downwardly to a further extent. With the aid of the scraper elements 14 disposed at the rear side of the roller 11 by means of the carrier 16 and the arms 15 it is possible, during operation, to scrape-­ off in a very early stage the earth caught between the crowns of cams 13, thus preventing clods of undesired size from being deposited on the seed bed to be prepared. If, during operation, one or more of the soil working members 3 hits/ hit an obstacle in the soil, the box-like frame portion 1 is capable of deflecting upwardly relative to the roller 11 and the arms 8 about the bolt 7. In this situation, this upward deflection is not impeded by the presence of the carrier 16 for the scraper elements 14, since this carrier is freely pivotal by means of the arms 17 about the stubs 10 which constitute a pivotal axis and at the same time an axis of rotation for the roller 11. During operation, the connecting elements 19 ensure that the scraper elements 14 are retained in an appropriate position relative to the roller 11. If, for example, the box-like frame portion 1 is moved upwardly at one end because the soil working members 3 hit an obstacle in the soil, the connecting element 19 can effect a forward deflection of the carrier 16 for the scraper elements 14 about the pivotal axis 10, as a result of which the deflection of the box-like frame portion with the soil working members supported therein is not impeded. Furthermore, the use of the connecting elements 19 accomplishes that, when the roller 11 is readjusted relative to the box-like frame portion 1 for setting the working depth, the position of the scraper elements 14 is adapted automatically to the new position. Thus, when the roller moves downwardly relative to the frame portion, i.e. to a position of the roller for working less deeply, the connecting elements 19 pivot the carrier 16 via the arms 17 to such an extent about the pivotal axis 10 that the scraper elements 14 move upwardly along the periphery of the cylindrical carrier 12. When the roller moves upwardly relative to the frame portion, i.e. the setting of a deeper working depth, the relative movement between the roller 11 and the frame portion 1 ensures that the connecting elements 19 pivot the carrier 16 via the arms 17 to such an extent about the pivotal axis 10 that the scraper elements 14 move downwardly. The position of the scraper elements can be changed further by changing the length of the connecting elements 19. Figures 3 and 4 show an embodiment wherein only one connecting element 31 is present between the vertically movable frame portion 1 and the carrier 16 carrying the scraper elements 14. In this situation, the connecting element 31 is provided between lugs 32 near the centre of the carrier 16 and supports 33 near the centre at the upper side of the frame portion 1. With this construction, the ends of the carrier 16 are given a maximum freedom of movement, as a result of which the frame portion 1 is given a maximum freedom of movement when meeting obstacles in the soil, in particular if these obstacles hit the soil working members at the ends of said frame portion. The length of the connecting element 31 is also adjustable. Also with this construction, an automatic adaptation of the position of the scraper elements is obtained when the roller 11 is adjusted in height. Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment wherein a flexible connecting element 35 in the form of a chain is provided between a lug 34 at the ends of the carrier 16 for the scraper elements 14 and the upper side of an arm. The lower ends of the arms 17 for the carrier 16 have a forwardly directed support 36 which by means of a tension spring 37 is connected to the lower side of an arm 8, the arrangement being such that, during normal operation, the flexible connecting element 35 is kept under tension. Also in this embodiment, in the event the frame portion deflects, said frame portion can move independently of the carrier 16 for the scraper elements 14, so that said carrier does not impede any movement of the frame portion in height. Furthermore in this embodiment, there is provided also an automatic adaptation of the position of the scraper elements upon readjustment of the roller. It is also possible for the length of the connecting element to be adjustable. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, an arm 38 for the carrier 16 is arranged pivotally near the centre by means of a shaft 39 at the lower side of a support 40 of an arm 8. In this embodiment, the roller 11 and the carrier 16 can be pivoted together about the pivotal shaft 39. The ends of the carrier 16 or its centre may be connected to the frame portion 1, or to the ends of the arms 8, by means of a connecting element described in the foregoing. The respective arms 8 and 38 have such a recessed portion for accommodating, respectively, the stubs 10 and the pivotal shaft 39 that they are contained in said recessed portion with some play. This accomplishes that, when the frame portion 1 is moved up­ wardly, there is ample freedom of movement between the respective arms 8 and 38 and the respective stubs 10 and shaft 39. Using the construction described in the foregoing, it is achieved that means constituted by the respective pivotal shafts and connecting elements are present, by means of which upon upward movement of the frame portion 1 the carrier 16 for the scraper elements 14, when a soil working member 3 hits an obstacle in the soil, cannot obstruct this movement, when the frame portion moves upwardly, the carrier 16 can effect a relative movement with respect to the arms 8 to which the roller 11 is connected. Thus, even if an obstacle hits the soil working members at the ends of the frame portion, an effective upward movement of the frame portion is possible.

Claims: 1. A soil cultivating machine comprising a frame portion (1) wherein a plurality of power-driven soil working members (3) are supported in side-by-side relationship, whilst behind said soil working members (3) there is arranged by means of pivotal arms (8) a roller (11) which, during operation, is movable relative to said frame portion about an at least substantially horizontal transverse axis (7) and is afforded by a packer roller provided with scraper elements (14) disposed at the rear thereof by means of a carrier (16), and means are provided with the aid of which the carrier (16) with the scraper elements (14) is movable, during operation, in at least one direction relative to the arms (8) for the roller (11), characterized in that the means include a connecting element (19, 31, 35) arranged between the frame portion (1) and the carrier (16) for the scraper elements (14) and with the aid of which the position of the scraper elements (14) relative to the cylindrical carrier (12) of the roller (11) is adjusted upon an adjustment in height of the roller (11) with respect to the frame portion (1). 2. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means also include at least one pivotal shaft (10, 39), with the aid of which the carrier (16) for the scraper elements (14) is pivotal with respect to the arms (8) supporting the roller (11). 3. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the pivotal shaft (10, 39) extends at least substantially transversely to the direction of operative travel (A) of the machine and at least substantially horizontally. 4. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pivotal shaft (10, 39) for the said carrier (16) is provided near each of the ends of the cylindrical carrier (12) for the scraper elements (14). 5. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the pivotal shaft (10, 39) is disposed on the arm (8), with the aid of which the roller (11) is pivotal with respect to the frame portion (1). 6. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, during operation, the roller (11) together with the said carrier (16) is pivotal about the pivotal shaft (10, 39). 7. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the pivotal shaft (10) coincides with the axis of rotation of the roller (11). 8. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the pivotal shaft (39) is arranged between the axis of rotation (10) of the roller (11) and the carrier (16) for the scraper elements (14). 9. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the pivotal shaft (10, 39) is constituted by a stud which is accommodated with clearance in a recessed portion in a support (9, 40) for the roller (11). 10. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the means include a rigid connecting element (19, 31) disposed between one end of the said carrier (16) and a point between the ends of the frame portion (1) supporting the soil working members (3). 11. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the said connecting element (19) extends at an angle of approximately 50° to the direction of operative travel (A) of the machine. 12. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that there is provided one single connecting element (31) disposed near the centre of the said carrier (16) and the said frame portion (1). 13. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the ends of the said connecting element (19, 31) are arranged for a movability to all sides with respect to the said carrier (16) and to the said frame portion (1), respectively. 14. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the length of the said connecting element (19, 31) is adjustable. 15. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the means include a flexible connecting element (35) arranged between the said carrier (16) and the arms (18) for the roller (11). 16. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that there is provided a spring-loaded mechanism, with the aid of which the flexible element (35) is kept under tension during operation. 17. A soil cultivating machine as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the spring-loaded mechanism includes a tension spring (37) which is connected to the said carrier (16) and is disposed in front of the axis of rotation of the roller (11) with respect to the direction of operative travel (A).

Inventors: BOM, CORNELIS JOHANNES GERARDUS, VAN DER LELY, ARY
Applicants: C. VAN DER LELY N.V.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01B29
IPC codes: A01B49, A01B29