Patent Description:
More precisely, the invention regards an apparatus suitable to be fixed to a multi-purpose operator machine or to an agricultural machine or to a lawn mower or the like.

Known are agricultural machines, for example small tractors and large lawn mowers etc., fixed to which is an apparatus for working the soil for work operations such as for example mowing the lawn, cutting and anything else.

Such apparatus generally comprise a shaft or rotor, which is fixed to the agricultural machine and connected to a special actuator suitable to drive it in rotation around a rotation axis thereof, and a plurality of work tools which are removably associated to the rotor for the aforementioned work operations and which are oscillating with respect to the rotor around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor.

For example, such tools can be the so-called blades or cutters in case of mowing and cutting operations.

In particular, in the apparatus of the prior art, said work tools are hinged to the shaft or rotor by means of a pivot pin inserted into a reception seat defined by two brackets specially obtained on the rotor, provided with mutually coaxial through slots, and fixed to said brackets at the opposite ends thereof by means of washers and fixing bolts.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose examples of such tools.

Such tools periodically require, within a more or less short period depending on the use, maintenance so as to make the working unit effective.

Furthermore, each time there arises the need to pass from one operation for working the soil to another, the tools must be replaced with other specific ones for the subsequent operation to be carried out.

To this end, the tools must thus be assembled and disassembled on the rotor each time, and, considering the high number of work tools fixed to the shaft or rotor, these disassembly and re-assembly operations are particularly difficult and require long times, in that they require unscrewing and subsequently screwing all bolts.

Thus, a need felt in the industry lies in quickening the operations for assembling and disassembling the work tools, as well as making said operations easier and simpler.

An object of the present invention is to meet said needs felt in the industry.

Another object is that of attaining such object through a solution that is simple, rational and relatively inexpensive.

These and other objects are attained by the characteristics of the invention, as outlined in the independent claim <NUM>.

The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

In particular, the invention provides an apparatus for working the soil, comprising a rotor, provided with a rotation axis thereof, and a work tool, rotatably associated to the rotor by means of a hinge, which comprises at least one pivot pin of the work tool and a pair of brackets, said pin being associated to the brackets by means of a magnetic system.

This solution allows providing an apparatus for working the soil where the tool is rotatably associated to the rotor by means of a pivot pin, in which the work tool assembly and disassembly operations are considerably easier with respect to the apparatus of the prior art, as well as much quicker, in that the pivot pin is fixed to the rotor in a particularly simple and quick manner and in particular without using screws and bolts.

Another aspect of the invention provides for that each bracket can be provided with a through slot for receiving the pivot pin.

Thanks to such solution, the pin is inserted into the through slot of said brackets and then associated to the rotor by means of a solution that is particularly simple, inexpensive and intuitive.

A further aspect of the invention provides for that at least one of said brackets may comprise a portion made of ferromagnetic material, and that the magnetic system may comprise a permanent magnet fixed to the pivot pin suitable to interact with the portion made of ferromagnetic material of the bracket.

This solution allows providing a particularly solid removable coupling between the pivot pin and the brackets.

Still, another aspect of the invention provides for that one of the brackets may comprise a seat for receiving the permanent magnet of the pivot pin.

Thanks to such solution, the permanent magnet may be inserted into said reception seat so as to be fully contained (or at most slightly projecting) therein, and thus effectively protected against possible collisions with foreign bodies during the operations for working the soil.

Another aspect of the invention provides for that the axis of the pivot pin can be parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor.

Thanks to such solution, the architecture of the apparatus for working the soil is particularly rational and effective.

Still, another aspect of the invention provides for that the pivot pin may have two radial grooves with full circumferential extension, and that each groove can be arranged at the through slot of the respective bracket.

Thanks to such solution, the grooves are suitable to embrace, due to the weight force when the apparatus is not operative or due to the centrifugal force in the operative step, the profile obtained by the through slots of the brackets with the brackets, and this allows preventing the axial movements of the pivot pin.

Another aspect of the invention provides for that the work tool can comprise a Y- flail.

Thanks to such solution, the apparatus for working the soil may be designated for mowing or shearing operations.

A further aspect of the invention provides for that the work tool may comprise a paddle flail.

Thanks to such solution, the apparatus for working the soil may be designated for lawn mowing and shrub cutting operations.

Still, another aspect of the invention provides for that the work tool can comprise a verticut flail.

Thanks to such solution, the apparatus for working the soil can be provided with a work tool designated for function of aerating the soil.

Still, a further aspect of the invention provides for that each bracket may comprise two juxtaposed fins.

Thanks to such solution, the permanent magnet may be magnetically anchored to the bracket and it is laterally protected against collisions with foreign bodies by means of fins.

The invention further provides an operator machine comprising:.

Thanks to such solution, the invention provides an operator machine provided with an apparatus for working the soil as described above and with the advantages relating thereto.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from reading the following description - provided by way of non-limiting example - with reference to the figures illustrated in the attached drawings.

With particular reference to such figures, an apparatus for working the soil, for example for lawn mowing and cutting is indicated in its entirety with <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> first and foremost comprises a rotor <NUM>, provided with its own rotation axis A, suitable to be removably connected to an operator machine <NUM>, or to an agricultural machine or a lawn mower and the like, and connected to a suitable actuator suitable to drive it in rotation around said rotation axis A.

The rotor <NUM> substantially is a rigid bar, for example with circular cross-section, and it provided with an outer jacket, for example cylindrical, exposed.

The apparatus <NUM> then comprises a work tool <NUM>, associated to the rotor <NUM>.

As observable in <FIG>, the work tool <NUM> may comprise a mowing and/or cutting tool, for example a so-called Y-flail.

In such case, the work tool <NUM> comprises two identical blades <NUM> which define said Y-flail, each provided with a first portion and with a second portion transversal to the first, and the blades <NUM> are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other, i.e. the second portions of the blades <NUM> are arranged so as to be divergent with respect to each other.

Alternatively, the work tool <NUM> may comprise a verticut flail <NUM>, defined by a blade for example substantially straight, with the function of aerating the soil.

For example, it is also possible to provide for that the work tool <NUM> may comprise said Y-flail cutter and said verticut flail <NUM>, and that the verticut flail <NUM> be interposed between the blades <NUM> of the Y-flail and unconstrained therefrom.

Alternatively, as observable in <FIG>, the tool may comprise a so-called paddle flail or shovel-like cutter.

More generally, the work tool <NUM> may comprise any tool suitable to be associated to the rotor <NUM> and configured to carry out any operation for working the soil.

In particular, the work tool <NUM> is rotatably associated to the rotor <NUM> by means of a hinge. The hinge comprises a pair of brackets <NUM>, rigid and for example made of metallic material, each provided with a through slot <NUM>.

The brackets <NUM> are mutually parallel and spaced along a direction parallel to the rotation axis A of the rotor <NUM> so that defined between the two is an interspace, and the through slots <NUM> of the brackets <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM> are mutually coaxial.

According to a variant of the invention, the brackets <NUM> can be made of a monolithic body, i.e. the brackets <NUM> can be obtained as a single body, i.e. They can be obtained by means of a single process for working a rigid material for example metallic.

Said brackets <NUM> extend radially with respect to the rotor <NUM> and project cantilevered from the outer jacket of the rotor <NUM>.

In particular, said brackets <NUM>, are rigidly fixed, for example welded, to the rotor <NUM>. Preferably, each bracket <NUM> comprises a through slot <NUM> provided with a central axis parallel to the rotation axis A of the rotor <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the invention, illustrated in <FIG>, each bracket <NUM> may comprise two rigid fins <NUM>, juxtaposed and mutually transversal, which extend from juxtaposed ends of the bracket <NUM> transversely thereto, defining a substantially C-shaped structure therewith.

More precisely, as observable in such <FIG>, the brackets <NUM> are arranged symmetrically with respect to symmetry plane parallel to the brackets <NUM>.

In detail, at least one bracket <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM> has at least one portion made of ferromagnetic material.

Preferably, at least one bracket <NUM> is entirely made of ferromagnetic material.

In the example, both brackets <NUM> are made of ferromagnetic material.

The hinge then comprises at least one pivot pin <NUM> through which the work tool <NUM> is rotatably associated to the rotor <NUM>, around a hinge axis B, preferably a hinge axis B parallel (and eccentric) to the rotation axis A of the rotor <NUM>.

More precisely, the work tool <NUM> has a through hole, for example with central axis parallel to the rotation axis A of the rotor <NUM>, and it is suitable to be received (at least partly, with the first portion) in the interspace defined between the brackets <NUM>, and arranged with the through hole coaxial to the through slots <NUM> of the brackets <NUM>.

The through hole of the work tool <NUM> and the through slots <NUM> of the brackets <NUM> thus define a seat for receiving said pivot pin <NUM>.

In particular, as observable in <FIG>, said pivot pin <NUM> may, in some embodiments, have two radial grooves <NUM> with full circumferential extension, each having an extension along a direction parallel to the hinge axis B of the work tool <NUM>, equal to (or at most slightly greater than) to an extension of each bracket <NUM> along said direction.

The pivot pin <NUM> is thus inserted into the reception seat defined by the through hole of the work tool <NUM> and by the through slots <NUM> of the brackets <NUM> so that each groove <NUM> is arranged at a respective through slot <NUM> of a bracket <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM>.

Each groove <NUM> is thus pushed, by means of the weight force in the inoperative step of the work apparatus <NUM> or by means of centrifugal force in the operative step of the work apparatus <NUM>, embracing - on three sides - the profile defined by the through slot <NUM> of the respective bracket <NUM> with the respective bracket <NUM> itself.

Thus, this allows preventing (or reducing in any case) the axial movements (along the hinge axis B) of the pivot pin <NUM> in the reception seat.

The pivot pin <NUM> is rigid and, for example, made of ferromagnetic material.

Preferably, the pivot pin is made of iron or steel.

Said pivot pin <NUM> is associated to the brackets <NUM>, or to the rotor <NUM>, by means of a magnetic system.

More precisely, the pivot pin <NUM> is removably fixed to the brackets <NUM> of the pair of brackets by means of said magnetic system.

The magnetic system comprises a permanent magnet <NUM>, fixed to the pivot pin <NUM>.

For example, as observable in <FIG>, said permanent magnet <NUM> may be substantially disc-shaped.

In particular, the permanent magnet <NUM> may have a through cavity <NUM> comprising a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion with smaller diameter with respect to the diameter of the first cylindrical portion, and the pivot pin <NUM> has a first cylindrical section with diameter substantially equal to (or at most slightly smaller than) the diameter of the first cylindrical portion of the through cavity <NUM>, and a second cylindrical portion with diameter substantially equal to (or at most slightly smaller) to the diameter of the second portion of the through cavity <NUM>.

The pivot pin <NUM> is thus inserted into the through cavity <NUM> obtained in the permanent magnet <NUM>, so that the first cylindrical section of the pivot pin <NUM> is in abutment with a bottom of the first cylindrical portion of the through cavity <NUM>, and that the second cylindrical section of the pivot pin <NUM> fully traverses and projects beyond the second cylindrical portion of the through cavity <NUM> of the permanent magnet <NUM>.

The pivot pin <NUM> is thus fixed in position, for example by means of a threaded bolt screwed on a corresponding threading obtained on a portion of the second cylindrical section of the pivot pin <NUM> projecting beyond the through cavity <NUM> of the permanent magnet <NUM>.

The pivot pin <NUM> is thus fixed to the permanent magnet <NUM>, without possibility of slipping off axially.

It cannot be ruled out that, in alternative embodiments, the pivot pin <NUM> and the permanent magnet <NUM> can be made of an integral body, i.e. that the permanent magnet <NUM> and the pivot pin <NUM> can be made of a single body by means of a single work operation of permanent magnet material.

The permanent magnet <NUM> is thus suitable to interact with the portion made of ferromagnetic material of the bracket <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM>, i.e. the permanent magnet is magnetically anchored to the bracket <NUM> at least partially made of ferromagnetic material. In the example, the permanent magnet <NUM> is magnetically anchored to said bracket <NUM>, for example at a face of the bracket distal from the other bracket <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM>, with the pivot pin <NUM> inserted into the reception seat obtained by the through hole of the work tool <NUM> and by the through slots <NUM> of the brackets <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM>. Thus, this allows facilitating and considerably quickening the operations for fixing the pivot pin <NUM> when there arises the need to assemble the work tool <NUM>; as a matter of fact, it is sufficient to insert the pivot pin <NUM> into the reception seat and magnetically anchor the permanent magnet <NUM> to said bracket <NUM> at least partially made of ferromagnetic material. More preferably, the permanent magnet <NUM> is magnetically anchored to said bracket <NUM>, at said face distal from the other bracket <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM>, and the pivot pin <NUM> projects axially (along the hinge axis B) beyond the other bracket <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM>.

Thus, this allows facilitating the operations for removing the pivot pin <NUM> whenever there arises the need to disassemble the work tool <NUM> for maintenance; as a matter of fact, simply acting with a with an axial force (along the hinge axis B) on said portion of the pivot pin <NUM> projecting beyond the bracket <NUM> without the permanent magnet <NUM> allows obtaining the de-anchoring the permanent magnet <NUM> from the bracket <NUM> to which it is anchored and the removal of the pivot pin <NUM> from the reception seat obtained by the through hole of the work tool <NUM> and by the through slots <NUM> of the brackets <NUM>.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the invention visible in <FIG>, the permanent magnet <NUM> can be inserted, substantially fittingly, into a seat specially obtained in the bracket <NUM> to which it is magnetically anchored, for example at said face of the bracket <NUM> distal from the bracket <NUM> of the pair of brackets <NUM>.

Preferably, the permanent magnet <NUM> is inserted into said seat so as to be fully contained (or at most slightly projecting) into the seat, i.e. Substantially so as not to project beyond the seat and thus beyond the bracket <NUM> to which it is magnetically anchored.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention <NUM>, when the bracket <NUM> comprises the fins <NUM>, the permanent magnet <NUM> can be magnetically anchored to the bracket <NUM>, and in particular so as to be fully contained in the volume delimited by the bracket <NUM> and by the fins <NUM>.

In both cases, the permanent magnet <NUM> is thus protected against possible collisions with foreign bodies during the various work operations carried out by the apparatus <NUM>.

It still cannot be ruled out that even should the bracket <NUM> comprise the fins <NUM>, the permanent magnet <NUM> can still be inserted into a special seat obtained in the bracket <NUM> at least partially made of ferromagnetic material.

Preferably, the apparatus <NUM> comprises a plurality of work tools <NUM> each of which is rotatably associated to the rotor <NUM> by means of a respective hinge <NUM>,<NUM>.

For example, the apparatus <NUM> has a series <NUM> of hinges <NUM>,<NUM> comprising a plurality of hinges, in which the pairs of brackets <NUM> of the plurality of hinges are aligned and spaced one from the other along said direction parallel to the rotation axis A of the rotor <NUM>.

Alternatively, the work apparatus <NUM> may comprise a series <NUM> of hinges <NUM>, <NUM> comprising a plurality of hinges <NUM>,<NUM>, in which the pairs of brackets <NUM> of the hinges are spaced one from the other and arranged on the outer jacket of the rotor <NUM> along a helical path, and said helical path extends along the cylindrical jacket of the rotor <NUM> substantially over the entire axial extension (along the rotation axis A) thereof.

Even more preferably, the apparatus <NUM> has a plurality of series <NUM> of hinges <NUM>,<NUM>, preferably more than two series <NUM> of hinges <NUM>,<NUM>, each series <NUM> consisting of a plurality of hinges <NUM>,<NUM> whose pairs of brackets <NUM> are aligned and spaced one from the other along said direction parallel to the rotation axis A of the rotor <NUM>.

Said series <NUM> of the plurality of series <NUM> are spaced one from the other along the circumferential extension of the outer jacket of the rotor <NUM>.

For example, said series <NUM> of the plurality of series <NUM> are mutually parallel and arranged at the same distance one from the other along said circumferential extension of the outer jacket of the rotor <NUM>.

In other words, said series <NUM> are spaced one from the other by circle arcs of the same length along the circumferential extension of the outer jacket of the rotor <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the apparatus <NUM> is suitable to be associated to an operator machine <NUM> for carrying out the aforementioned operations for working the soil.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the work tool <NUM> can be a cutting tool and the operator machine <NUM> can be a self-propelled operator machine of the type suitable to be guided by a user seated on board.

The operator machine <NUM> comprises a support framework <NUM>, installed on which is a plurality of wheels R for resting against the soil, and present in the front part of the support framework <NUM> is a driving station.

Furthermore, connected to the support framework <NUM> is a so-called cutting apparatus <NUM>.

The cutting apparatus <NUM> comprises a guard provided with two juxtaposed lateral sides rotatably associated to which is the apparatus <NUM>, and an actuator (not illustrated) suitable to drive the rotor <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> for working the soil in rotation around the rotation axis A thereof.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept.

In addition, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>) for working the soil, comprising:
- a rotor (<NUM>), provided with an own rotation axis (A),
- a work tool (<NUM>), rotatably associated to the rotor (<NUM>) by means of a hinge,
characterised in that
- the hinge comprises at least one pivot pin (<NUM>) of the work tool (<NUM>) and a pair of brackets (<NUM>), said pivot pin being associated to the brackets (<NUM>) by means of a magnetic system (<NUM>).