Agricultural machine

• US 5,046,346 A
• Filed: 11/22/1989
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vittorio Pegoraro
• Original Assignee: Vittorio Pegoraro
• Inventors: Pegoraro, Vittorio
• Primary Examiner(s): STEINBERGER, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/440,512
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 172/27, 172/28, 172/42, 172/43, 172/56, 172/63, 172/69, 172/71, 172/81, 172/105, 172/106, 172/119, 172/123, 172/124
• US Class Current: 172/71
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/16 with special additional arrangements A01B49/00 takes precedence; for sowing or fertilising A01B49/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/022 at least one tool being actively driven

Abstract

The invention relates to an agricultural machine for soil-cultivation, comprising, in the direction (F) of travel of the machine, a first row of cutting wheels arranged at right-angles to the said direction of travel and having substantially horizontal axes, in front of which is arranged a cylindrical roller with the aid of which weeds and/or the remains of past cultivation, such as stalks, stubble, and the like may be broken up. A subsequent row of ripping elements, with blades preferably running out to a point, rips up and loosens the soil, without ploughing it in, and is associated with plough-mould-boards which partially plough in the loosened soil. A transverse row of rotor-tools, with substantially horizontal axes, acts as a harrow and is used for final ploughing through 180° and for crumbling the soil. The cutting wheels and the rotor-tools are arranged with their axes at an angle to the perpendiculars to the direction of travel (F) of the machines, preferably at an angle of between 5° and 45°, whereas the ripping elements run in the said direction of travel (F).

Claims

1. An agricultural machine for soil cultivation comprising:

a plurality of rows of soil cultivating elements, each of said rows being parallel to each other, each said row of elements being arranged at an axis extending at an angle to the direction of travel of said machine, said direction angle being between about 5°

to about 45°

;

said plurality of rows of cultivating elements comprising, in the direction of travel of said machine, a first device for breaking plant material comprising an element for bending said plant material toward said soil and, following said plant bending element, a row of rotating blades for breaking up said bent plant material against the soil.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the blades at each end of said row of rotating blades define a path of travel and wherein said plant bending element is located at a distance from said path of travel of said rotating blades so that said plant material is cut by said blades in said bent position.

3. The machine according to claim 1, additionally comprising means connected to said plant bending element for adjusting the height of said element and for maintaining said distance between said element and said path of travel of said blades constant.

4. The machine according to claim 2, wherein said roller comprises means for rotatingly driving said roller by friction between said means and said soil.

5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein said rotatingly driving means consists of a helical rib wound around said roller.

6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said plant bending element consists of a freely rotating roller.

7. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotating blades have a predetermined profile when viewed edgewise, said profile being selected so that when said row of rotating blades is at said direction angle, said blades break up all of said bent plant material within the area defined by said path of travel of said rotating blades.

8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined profile of said rotating blades is an S-shaped profile.

9. The machine according to claim 1, additionally comprising a frame and suspension means connected to said first device for resiliently suspending said device from said frame so as to follow the contours of the ground passed over by said machine.

10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein said suspension means comprises an articulated quadrilateral and a tension adjustable resilient element operatively engaging said quadrilateral.

11. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of rows of cultivating elements comprises, behind said first device for breaking up said plant material, a single row of ripping elements for ripping up and lifting said soil and for plowing under said broken up plant material.

12. The machine according to claim 11, wherein said ripping elements comprise a front part for penetrating into said soil and a plow-like rear part for plowing up said soil ripped up by said front part and for covering up said broken up plant material.

13. The machine according to claim 12, wherein said rear part of said ripping element is adjustable in height relative to said front part of said ripping element.

14. The machine according to claim 13, additionally comprising guide plates mounted to said ripping elements for guiding said machine in a straight line in said direction of travel.

15. The machine according to claim 14, additionally comprising a rotatably mounted shaft parallel to and between said row of ripping elements and said row of soil breaking up tools;

and clod-breakers mounted on said shaft for breaking up lumps of soil lifted by said ripping elements;

said clod breakers comprising fingers radially disposed along said shaft and in offset relation to said soil breaking up tools.

16. The machine according to claim 15, wherein the rotational speed of said shaft is higher than that of said rotor tools.

17. The machine according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of rows of cultivating elements additionally comprises soil breaking up tools for breaking up said soil and for turning said broken-up soil on to said broken-up plant material.

18. The machine according to claim 17, wherein said soil breaking up tools comprise rotor tools, each rotor tool comprising a rotor and a hub secured to and rotatable about a common shaft, and a plurality of scoops affixed to said hub in staggered relation to each other.

19. The machine according to claim 18, wherein said scoops are arranged at an angle with respect to the radial direction of said hub.

20. The machine according to claim 18, additionally comprising a scraper blade operatively connected to each rotor tool for cleaning said scoops and for completing said soil cultivation.

21. The machine according to claim 20, wherein said plurality of rows of cultivating elements are carried by at least two frames, said first frame carrying said first device for breaking-up plant material and for attachment to a tractor;

said second frame carrying said ripping elements and said rotor tools and, optionally, said clod-breakers;

said first and second frames being suitable for soil cultivation independently of each other.

22. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of said cultivating elements is carried in a common frame for attachment to a tractor.

23. The agricultural machine according to claim 1, additionally comprising a frame, said plurality of cultivating elements mounted to said frame, said frame comprising:

a plurality of cultivating elements mounted to said frame, said frame comprising struts and cross-members having a rectangular cross-section for connecting said struts; and

clamps for mounting said elements to said frame, said clamps consisting of jaws having an angled profile, a threaded part and at least one screw for threaded engagement with said threaded part and for securing said jaws to each other and to said cross-member.