Agricultural machine

• US 6,230,636 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maasland NV A Dutch Limited Liability Company
• Original Assignee: Maasland N.V.
• Inventors: Bom, Cornelis Johannes Gerardus, Brabander, Adrianus Petrus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US09/103,720
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 172/518, 172/538, 172/539, 172/540, 172/519, 172/439, 172/445.1, 172/449, 172/677, 172/605, 172/297, 172/810, 111/13, 111/63, 111/55, 111/174, 111/130, 111/8, 280/460.1, 280/461.1
• US Class Current: 111/13
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/062 Devices for making drills or furrows

Abstract

Disclosed is a cultivator mounted to roll about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the machine in combination with a hopper. The cultivator and hopper are mounted on a frame which is adapted to be connected to a three-point hitch of a tractor. The cultivator is connected to the frame under and behind the hopper and by a pivotal shaft which interconnects bearings confined fore and aft by U-profiles. The cutivator is thus tiltable within limits relative to the frame and hopper and is also turnable within limits so that the cultivator turns with the tractor. It also provides support for the hopper. A centrifugal air pump is mounted on the hopper which, via a pair of venturi-type devices, draw in granular material, such as seed, from the hopper for distributing same on the soil, the hopper having a pair of metering devices which meter granular material received by the venturi-devices. The venturi-type devices are mounted at the bottom of the metering devices to be hingeably or slidably removable so that granular material can be collected in buckets or the like directly from the metering devices to ascertain the rate that granular material is being dispensed by the metering devices.

Claims

1. An agricultural machine comprising an implement which includes coupling means for coupling said implement to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, said implement, for the purpose of being supported on the ground, comprising a roller connected with a frame, pivotal supporting means between the frame and the roller for providing a mutual pivoting movement about an axis oriented in the direction of the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel.

2. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotal supporting means comprises a real pivotal axis that defines said mutual pivoting movement.

3. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotal supporting means comprises front supporting means for supporting a front part of said implement, said front supporting means located between said roller and said frame in front of a transverse centerline of said roller as seen in plan, and at least one rear supporting means for supporting a rear part of said implement, said rear supporting means located behind said centerline.

4. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said front supporting means and said rear supporting means each comprises a roller bearing.

5. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame carries a guide face, said pivotal supporting means being movable within limits on said guide face.

6. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said guide face comprises at least in part a U-profile.

7. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising a connection between said frame and said roller, said connection comprising a quadrangle hinge construction having substantially upwardly directed pivotal axes.

8. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 7, comprising a guide face which is associated with said quadrangle hinge construction, said quadrangle hinge construction having two forward pivotal axes which lie within a substantially vertical plane extending transverse to the agricultural machine'"'"'s normal direction of forward travel.

9. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said quadrangle hinge construction comprises two arms converging in a forwardly direction, each arm intersecting with two of said upwardly directed pivotal axes.

10. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said arms are inclined upwardly relative to the normal forward direction of movement of the agricultural machine.

11. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said arms each comprise ball and socket joints where they intersect each said pivotal axes.

12. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 7 comprising a hopper having an outlet, said outlet arranged forward of at least one of said pivotal axes.

13. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pivotal axes comprise a foremost pivotal axis and a rearmost pivotal axis, the foremost pivotal axis being disposed forward of said roller and the rearmost pivotal axis being arranged behind said roller as seen in plan.

14. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising a substantially triangular coupling trestle for said coupling to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, lower and upper arms mounted on said trestle, said lower and upper arms extending substantially horizontally in a forward direction relative to the normal operative travel of the agricultural machine, said upper and lower arms forming a connection of said coupling trestle with a forward framework comprising two transverse horizontal carriers interconnected by struts.

15. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said roller comprises an axle and said pivoted supporting means comprises a transverse horizontal roller frame beam and arm portions extending from said frame beam, said arm portions connected with said axle of said roller, a support member on said frame beam and a pivot mechanism mounted on said support member disposed between said frame and said roller.

16. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said roller comprises a central axle, roller segments mounted on said central axle, said pivotal supporting means which is provided between said frame and said roller comprising at least one arm portion extending between two of said roller segments towards said axle.

17. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivotal supporting means comprises a pivot mechanism which comprises a U-shaped section, a bearing received in said U-shaped section, said bearing and said U-shaped section constructed and arranged so that said bearing travels, within limits within said U-shaped section, in a curved path, a quadrangle hinge construction defining said curved path, the movement of said bearing in said curved path being caused by mutual pivoting between said frame and said roller.

18. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 17 comprising an additional U-shaped section, said two U-shaped sections facing each other and being disposed at substantially the same heights, a further bearing received in said further U-shaped section and a shaft interconnecting said two bearings, said shaft being interconnected to said roller to pivot therewith relative to said frame.

19. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 1 comprising a hopper that contains granular material to be dispensed from said hopper, said hopper being carried by said frame.

20. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 19, comprising a centrifugal air pump that pneumatically transports said granular material dispensed from said hopper, a drive shaft provided in the transverse center of said implement, an endless transmission element interconnecting said drive shaft and said centrifugal air pump.

21. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 20, comprising a metering device for metering flow of the granular material dispensed from said hopper, said metering device connected to a venturi-device that mixes metered granular material with air flowing from said centrifugal air pump, said venturi-device being hingeably connected to said metering device for releasing an outlet of said metering device.

22. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 20, comprising a metering device which meters said granular material dispensed from said hopper and a venturi-device for mixing the metered granular material with air flow produced by said centrifugal air pump, a sliding device between said metering device and said venturi-device for selectively changing at least part of said venturi-device from an operative position to an inoperative position for releasing, in the inoperative position, granular material flowing from said metering device.

23. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 22 wherein said sliding device is provided with a handle on the front side of the agricultural machine.

24. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 23 wherein said sliding device comprises a straight guide means that guides a slide in a forward direction in the agricultural machine to a place where an opening in said slide registers with a discharge opening from said metering device.

25. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 24 wherein the length of said straight guide means is at least about double the length of said slide.

26. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 22 comprising an air flow discharge conduit connected to a further metering device, a carrier interconnecting said conduit and said venturi-device for displacing said conduit together with at least part of said venturi-device when at least part of said venturi-device is displaced by said sliding device to prevent said conduit from obstructing a discharge opening which is provided under said metering device when said sliding device releases said discharge opening for the collection of granular material therefrom.

27. An agricultural machine which comprises a three-point hitch for connection to a tractor, a hopper supported by said three-point hitch, a ground engaging roller for treating the underlying soil connected to said three-point hitch between said three-point hitch and said hopper, the connection of said roller to said three-point hitch comprising a leg which is constructed and arranged so that said roller is rotatably coupled thereto at a lower aspect of said leg, a bearing support extending generally forwardly and horizontally mounted on an upper aspect of said leg so that said roller is tiltable within limits relative to said bearing support, at least one bearing joined with said bearing support, a U-shaped section receiving said bearing so that said bearing is disposed in said U-shaped section so as to be movable within limits generally horizontally and transversely relative to the normal forward direction of travel of the agricultural machine, said U-shaped section providing at least in part support for said hopper via said bearing and said roller.

28. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 27 comprising a further bearing, said two bearings being joined by said bearing support, a further U-shaped section, said two U-shaped sections being disposed for receiving said bearings, said bearings disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane which is transverse to the normal direction of travel of the agricultural machine and which contains the axis of rotation of said roller.

29. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 27 comprising means for broadcasting granular material carried by said hopper, said means for broadcasting being mounted on said hopper.

30. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 27 comprising a further leg whereby there are two of said legs, said roller having an axle, each of said legs rotatably receiving said axle on opposite lateral aspects of said roller whereby said legs are on opposite sides of a vertical plane extending through the center of said roller in the direction of normal travel of the agricultural machine, levers pivotally interconnected to said legs and said U-shaped sections, said levers converging in the direction of operative travel of the agricultural machine.

31. An agricultural machine which comprises a three-point hitch for connection to a tractor, a ground engaging roller for treating the underlying soil connected to said three point hitch, the connection of said roller to said three-point hitch comprising a leg which is constructed and arranged so that said roller is rotatably coupled thereto at a lower aspect of said leg, a bearing support extending generally forwardly and horizontally mounted at an upper aspect of said leg so that said roller is tiltable within limits relative to said bearing support, at least one bearing joined with said bearing support, slide means receiving said bearing so that said bearing is slidably retained on said slide means to move generally horizontally and transversely relative to a normal of travel of the agricultural machine.

32. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 31 comprising a further bearing so that there are at least two bearings joined by said bearing support and a further sliding means so that there are at least two sliding means being provided for receiving said bearings, said bearings disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane extending transverse to the normal direction of travel of an agricultural machine and containing the axis of rotation of said roller.

33. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 32 comprising a hopper and means for broadcasting granular material carried by said hopper, said means for broadcasting being mounted on said hopper.

34. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 32 comprising a further leg so that there are two of said legs, said roller including an axle, each of said legs rotatably receiving said axle on opposite sides of said roller whereby said legs are on opposite sides of a vertical plane extending through the center of said roller in the normal direction of travel of the agricultural machine, levers pivotally interconnected to said legs and said sliding means, said levers converging in the normal direction of travel of the agricultural machine.

35. An agricultural machine comprising an implement for coupling to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, said implement comprising a roller connected with a frame, pivotal supporting means between the frame and the roller for providing a mutual pivoting movement about an axis oriented in the direction of the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel, a connection being provided between said frame and said roller, said connection comprising a quadrangle hinge construction having substantially upwardly directed pivotal axes.

36. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 35, comprising a guide face which is associated with said quadrangle hinge construction, said quadrangle hinge construction having two forward pivotal axes which lie within a substantially vertical plane extending transverse to the agricultural machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel.

37. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 36, wherein said quadrangle hinge construction comprises two arms converging in a forwardly direction each, arm intersecting with two of said upwardly directed pivotal axes.

38. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 37, wherein said arms are inclined upwardly relative to the normal forward direction of travel of the agricultural machine.

39. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 38, wherein said arms each comprise ball and socket joints where they intersect said pivotal axes.

40. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 35, comprising a hopper having an outlet, said outlet arranged forward of at least one of said pivotal axes.

41. An agricultural machine as claimed in claim 35, wherein said pivotal axes comprise a foremost pivotal axis and a rearmost pivotal axis, said foremost pivotal axis disposed forward of said roller and said rearmost pivotal axis arranged behind said roller as seen in plan.

42. An agricultural machine comprising an implement for coupling to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, said implement, for the purpose of being supported on the ground, comprising a roller connected with a frame, pivotal supporting means between the frame and the roller for providing a mutual pivoting movement about an axis oriented in the direction of the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel, a substantially triangular coupling trestle for said coupling to a front hitch of a tractor, lower and upper arms mounted on said trestle, said lower and upper arms extending substantially horizontally in a forward direction relative to the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel, said lower and upper arms forming a connection of said coupling trestle with a forward framework comprising two transverse horizontal carriers interconnected by struts.

43. An agricultural machine comprising an implement for coupling to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, said implement, for the purpose of being supported on the ground, comprising a roller connected with a frame, pivotal supporting means between the frame and the roller for providing a mutual pivoting movement about an axis oriented in the direction of the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel, said roller comprising an axle and said pivotal supporting means comprising a transverse horizontal roller frame beam and arm portions extending from said frame beam, said arm portions connected with said axle of said roller, a support member on said frame beam and a pivot mechanism mounted on said support member disposed between said frame and said roller.

44. A agricultural machine comprising an implement for coupling to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, said implement, for the purpose of being supported on the ground, comprising a roller connected with a frame, pivotal supporting means between the frame and the roller for providing a mutual pivoting movement about an axis which is oriented in the direction of the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel, said roller comprising a central axle, roller segments mounted on said central axle, said pivotal supporting means which is provided between said frame and said roller comprising at least one arm portion extending between two of said roller segments towards said axle.

45. An agricultural machine comprising an implement for coupling to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, said implement, for the purpose of being supported on the ground, comprising a roller connected with a frame, pivotal supporting means between the frame and the roller for providing a mutual pivoting movement about an axis which is at least oriented in the direction of the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel, said pivotal supporting means comprising a pivot mechanism which comprises a U-shaped section, a bearing received in said U-shaped section, said bearing and said U-shaped section constructed and arranged so that said bearing travels, within limits within said U-shaped section, in a curved path, a quadrangle hinge construction defining said curved path, the movement of said bearing in said curved path being caused by mutual pivoting between said frame and said roller.

46. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 45, comprising an additional U-shaped section, said two U-shaped sections facing each other and being disposed at substantially the same heights, a further bearing received in said further U-shaped section and a shaft interconnecting said two bearings, said shaft being interconnected to said roller to pivot therewith relative to said frame.

47. An agricultural machine comprising an implement for coupling to a front lifting hitch of a tractor, said implement, for the purpose of being supported on the ground, comprising a roller that is connected with a frame, pivotal supporting means between said frame and said roller for providing a mutual pivoting movement about an axis which is at least oriented in the direction of the machine'"'"'s normal direction of travel, the machine further comprising a hopper that contains granular material to be dispensed from said hopper, said hopper being carried by said frame, a centrifugal air pump that pneumatically transports said granular material dispensed from said hopper, a drive shaft provided in the transverse center of said implement, an endless transmission element interconnecting said drive shaft and said centrifugal air pump.

48. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 47, comprising a metering device for metering flow of the granular material dispensed from said hopper, said metering device connected to a venturi-device that mixes metered granular material with air flowing from said centrifugal air pump, said venturi-device being hingeably connected to said metering device for releasing an outlet of said metering device.

49. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 47, comprising a metering device which meters said granular material dispensed from said hopper in a venturi-device for mixing the metered granular material with air flow produced by said centrifugal air pump, a sliding device between said metering device and said venturi-device for selectively changing at least part of said venturi-device from an operative position to an inoperative position for releasing, in the inoperative position, granular material flowing from said metering device.

50. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 49, wherein said sliding device is provided with a handle on a front side if the agricultural machine.

51. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 50, wherein said sliding device comprises a straight guide means that guides a slide in a forward direction in the agricultural machine to a place wherein an opening in said slide registers with a discharge opening in said metering device.

52. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 51, wherein the length of said straight guide means is about double the length of said slide.

53. An agricultural machine in accordance with claim 49, comprising an air flow discharge conduit connected to a further metering device, a carrier interconnecting said conduit and said venturi-device for displacing said conduit together with at least part of said venturi-device when at least part of said venturi-device is displaced by said sliding device to prevent said conduit from obstructing a discharge opening which is provided under said metering device when said sliding device releases said discharge opening for the collection of granular material therefrom.