PNEUMATIC ELEMENT FOR AN AGRICULTURAL TOOL COMPRISING A RIGID BASE

• US 20180092283A1
• Filed: 09/25/2017
• Published: 04/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otico
• Original Assignee: Otico
• Inventors: PIOU, Denis
• Granted Patent: US 10,863,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 29/043 Tire-packers

Abstract

An agricultural tool element (3) comprises a non-inflated tire (9) with a tread (9-1) and a pair of sidewalls (9-2) each connected to the tread (9-1) at a respective first end portion. The element (3) additionally comprises a rigid, generally annular base (7), by means of which the tire (9, 103) is fitted on a rotary support (2, 101) of an agricultural tool. The sidewalls (9-2) are each over-molded on a peripheral portion of the rigid base (7, 107) at a second end portion, opposite the tread (9-1).

Claims

1. Agricultural tool element (3) of the type comprising a non-inflated tire (9, 103) with a tread (9-1) and a pair of sidewalls (9-2) each connected to the tread (9-1) at a respective first end portion, characterized in that the element (3) additionally comprises a rigid, generally annular base (7, 107), by means of which the tire (9, 103) is fitted on a rotary support (2, 101) of an agricultural tool, and in that the sidewalls (9-2) are each over-molded on a peripheral portion of the rigid base (7, 107) at a second end portion, opposite the tread (9-1).

2. Element according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion of the rigid base (7, 107) and the second end portion of the sidewalls (9-2) are arranged with cooperation of form relative to one another.

3. Element according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the second end portion of the sidewalls (9-2) is formed at least partly in a radially inner groove in the tire (9, 103), the peripheral portion of the rigid base (7) comprises at least one rib (15, 105), and the groove and the rib (15, 105) are arranged with correspondence of form relative to one another.

4. Element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the peripheral portion of the rigid base (7, 107) comprises a plurality of recesses (29), and the second end portions of the sidewalls (9-1) extend at least partly through these recesses (29).

5. Element according to claim 4, wherein at least some of the recesses (29) open in the vicinity of the second end portion of each of the sidewalls (9-2), and the tire (9) comprises at least one junction of material (9-5) between the sidewalls (9-2), and this junction of material (9-5) passes through at least one of the recesses (29).

6. Element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid base (7, 107) is wider than the tire (9).

7. Element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid base (7, 107) has an inner face (11) with a network of ribs (27, 25) which provides it with an alveolar structure.

8. Agricultural tool, of the type comprising at least two pneumatic elements (3) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Agricultural tool according to claim 8, comprising a rim (101) in which at least one base (7) is provided as a peripheral part of the rim.

10. Tool according to claim 9, wherein the peripheral part of the base (7) comprises two circumferential ribs (105), on each of which a respective tire (103) is over-molded.

11. Tool according to claim 8, wherein the rotary support (2) is generally tubular and elongate, and comprises a plurality of pneumatic elements (3) fitted on the rotary support (2) in a manner which is aligned according to the longitudinal direction of the rotary support (2).

12. Agricultural tool according to claim 11, additionally comprising a plurality of braces made of flexible material which are interposed in each case between the bases of mutually adjacent pneumatic elements.

13. Agricultural tool according to claim 12, wherein the braces (5) have at least one large lateral face, and the bases (7) have at least one large lateral face (17), and the large lateral faces of the braces (5) on the one hand and the bases (7) on the other hand have mutually conjugated forms.

14. Tool according to claim 13, wherein the large lateral face of the bases (7) has a beveled edge, the large lateral face of the braces (5) has a beveled surface, and the beveled surface and the beveled edge are mutually conjugated.