AGRICULTURAL SHEET LIFTER

Abstract: An agricultural sheet lifting device enables operations such as seeding, fertilising etc. to be carried out underneath an agricultural sheet without damaging or requiring the renewal of the sheet. The device has a frame (10) mounted on wheels (11, 12), means (13) for lifting the buried edges (32) of the sheet (31), means such as a plough (15), roller (16) and bridge (18) for conveying the sheet (31) over agricultural machinery, such as seeding machinery, conveyed by the device, and means such as furrow openers (23) and furrow closers (25) for reburying the edges (32).

Description: AGRICULTURAL SHEET LIFTER The present invention relates to machinery for handling agricultural sheets of the type used for covering soil. The type of sheets with which the invention is concerned include, for example, solid or perforated polyethlene film or woven sheets; that is, any sort of sheet which can be comparatively easy manoeuvred without suffering excessive damage. Sheeting of this type is used for various agricultural purposes. For example sheets can be used to cover newly planted seeds and crops in the early stages of growth to protect them from adverse weather conditions. It is also common practice to lay sheets of this type of material over prepared fields in, for example, October to retain heat in the soil prior to the planting of crops in, for example, February. Sheets are usually layed in strips of about 1.5 metres in width with an adequate spacing between adjacent strips for the accommoda¬ tion of tractor wheels. The edges of the sheets are buried in the earth to anchor the sheets, and there are many machines known for carrying out the function of laying sheets and burying the edges. However it is frequently necessary to carry out action underneath the sheets: for example to drill seeds in February under sheets laid in October, and to apply fertiliser, insecticide and the like to crops at a stage where it is still desirable to have the crops covered. This involves either raising the sheets, and current methods of raising the sheets usually involve so much damage that new sheets have to be laid, or perforating the sheets, which inevitably results in some loss of effectiveness thereof. There therefore exists a need for some means of raising sheets, carrying out a function on crops beneath the sheets, and then relaying the sheets. According to the present invention an agricultural sheet lifting device has a frame mounted on wheels and means for conveying attached thereto agricultural machinery characterised in including means for lifting buried edges of an agricultural sheet, means for guiding the sheet over the agricultural machinery, and means for repositioning and reburying the edges. The type of agricultural machinery intended to be carried includes, for example, seeding machinery and fertiliser or insecticide spraying machinery. The means for lifting the buried edges may include, for example, tines, shares, or rotary discs, which may be powered or unpowered, adapted to travel at a sufficient depth below ground level to raise the edges without damaging a sheet. The means for guiding the sheet over the agricultural machinery may include a lifting plough preferably having curved surfaces, which may advantageously have a free-rolling or a powered nose roller. Alternatively a series of powered or free rolling rollers may be used. The means for repositioning and reburying the edges preferably includes a free running or a powered tension roller. One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of which, Figure 1 is an elevation, in section along line A-A of Figure 2, of a device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the device, Figure 3 is a front elevation, along line B-B of Figure 2, of the device, Figure 4 is a plan view of a field containing sheets to be lifted by the device, and Figure 5 is a detail of a sectional elevation of the field surface. A sheet lifting device (Figures 1 to 3) has a frame 10 mounted on front wheels 11 and rear wheels 12. At each side of the frame 10, extending inwardly thereof and forward of the wheels 11 are a pair of edge ' lifting tines 13 secured to mountings 14 at a level lower than the plane defined by a running surface of wheels 11, 12. Also mounted on the frame 10 are 2 curved plough members 15, each mounted at a position adjacent the level of the wheels 11 and extending inwardly and forwardly to a central position, in substantial alignment with the tines 13, where they mutually support a nose roller 16. Secured to the frame 10 aft of the wheels 11 is an equipment mounting bar 17 from which extends a curved bridge member 18 beneath which is defined a volume 19 in which can travel agricultural machinery, such as that shown at 20, also secured to the equipment mounting bar 17. Rear of the bridge member 18 is a tension roller 21 mounted on a pivoted frame 22. Reburying furrow openers 23 secured to mountings 24 are positioned at a depth dimilar to that of the tines 13, and reburying furrow closers 25 secured to mounting 26 are positioned at the plane define by the running surf ce of the wheels 11, 12 and rearward of the wheels 12. In use the device is used in a field (Figure 4, Figure 5) 30 in which have been layed a plurality of sheets 31 each with edges 32 buried into earth 34 and with a space 33 between adjacent sheets 13. The machine is drawn by a tractor (not shown) , which passes with its wheels along the spaces 33, as do front wheels 11 of the device. An end of the sheet is manually manoeuvred on to the plough defined by members 15 and roller 16, and then the device is drawn along the length of the sheet 31. The edge lifting tines 13 slide below the edges 32 of the sheet, releasing them and allowing the sheet to be lifted by the plough 15, and roller 16 on to the bridge 18, over the bridge 18 back to the earth to overlie new furrows created by reburying furrow openers 23. The sheet 31 is pressed onto the surface of the earth by the tension roller 21. The width between the rear wheels 12 is preferably such that they run over the edges 32 of the sheet 31 pressing them into the furrows which are then closed by the furrow closers 25. Whilst the sheet 31 is clear of the earth 34 appropriate agricultural machinery 20 attached to the equipment mounting bar 17 carries out an agricultural process such as seeding, fertilising or spraying with insecticide. It will be realised that very many alternative embodiments of the above described device are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, whilst sheets 31 are commercially produced in standard widths it may be advantageous to have the width of the wheels 11.. wheels 12 or both adjustable to allow for some variation in width of sheets 31. It may also be advisable to have the heights of edge lifting tines 13, reburrowing furrow openers 23, and reburrowing furrow closers 25 relative to the plane of the running surface of wheels 11, 12 adjustable, to allow for variations in depth of burying of edges 32 of sheets 31, or to allow the device to be towed along surfaces without these items penetrating or contacting the surface. This may be achieved by making the lengths of mounting 14, 24 and 26 adjustable, or by making the wheel 11, 12 mountings of adjustable height. Also many items described above, shown as free acting, may be replaced by powered versions: for example the nose roller 16 and tension roller 21. The tension roller 21, shown as freely mounted, may also be forced into greater pressure of contact with the sheet 31 and underlying earth 34 by, for example, hydraulic or pneumatic means which may be supplied from the tractor (not shown) used in conjunction with the device. Likewise the tines 13 may be replaced by, for example, shares or rotary discs which may be power driven, the plough 15, 16 may be replaced by a plurality of rollers which may be powered or free rolling, and the bridge member 18 may comprise powered or free rolling rollers. It will be realised that the structure of the reburying furrow openers 23, reburying furrow closers 25 and rear wheels 12 when used to press the edges 32 into the earth 34 are common with conventional sheet laying machinery, and also that the device is designed to operate with conventional agricultural seeding, and the like, machinery as indicated at 20.

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. An agricultural sheet lifting device having a frame (10) mounted on wheels (11, 12) and mears (17) for conveying attached thereto agricultural machinery (20), characterised in including means (13) for lifting buried edges (32) of an agricultural sheet (31), means (15, 16, 18) for guiding the sheet (31) over the agricultural machinery (20) and means (21, 22, 23, 25) for repositioning and reburying the edges (32). 2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the means (13) for lifting the buried edges (32) include tines. 3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the means (13) for lifting the buried edges (32) include shares. 4. A device as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the means (13) for lifting the buried edges (32) include rotary discs. 5. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the means (13) for lifting the buried edges (32) are powered. 6. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 characterised in that means for guiding the sheet includes a lifting plough (15). 7. A device as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to 6 characterised in that the device for guiding the sheet includes a bridge member (18). 8. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the device for guiding the sheet includes a plurality of rollers. 9. A device as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that the rollers are powered . 10. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the means for repositioning and reburying the edges (32) includes a tension roller (21). 11. A device as claimed in Claim 10 characterised in that tension roller (21) is powered. 12. An agricultural sheet lifting device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 characterised in that the rear wheels (12) are adapted to run over the edges (32) after repositioning and before reburying.

Inventors: ANTILL DAVID NORMAN, MUSTEY HAROLD GEORGE, ANTILL, DAVID, NORMAN, MUSTEY, HAROLD, GEORGE
Applicants: MINI AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES, THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD, I
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A01G13
IPC codes: A01G13