WO2012017393A1

WO2012017393A1 - An agricultural implement

Info

Publication number: WO2012017393A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/053446
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elias Louwrens Faul
Original assignee: Elias Louwrens Faul
Priority date: 2010-08-03
Filing date: 2011-08-03
Publication date: 2012-02-09
Also published as: ZA201301053B

Abstract

The invention discloses an agricultural implement for a driven wheel supported spray irrigation system comprising a sub-frame carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced apart and laterally adjustable oppositely inclined harrow discs, the sub-frame releasably attached to a gooseneck connection to a main frame. The main frame further includes a hitch to enable the implement to track behind a spray supporting wheel of the irrigation system.

Description

AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an agricultural implement and more particularly to an implement used in an irrigation system.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Irrigation systems are widely used in the cultivation of agricultural crops. Many of these have a central construction around which radially extending booms for carrying water to an array of sprays are caused to revolve. The booms are supported at their free end, or along the length thereof, on wheels which are driven to rotate and follow a path around the perimeter of the irrigated land. Their travel repeatedly over the same path results in undesirable compaction of the soil along the path. In another form the boom extends in a straight line and is supported on a series of spaced apart wheels.

The problem with undesirable compaction causes irrigation farmers serious costs in damage to other cultivation equipment and down time of this equipment. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an implement which is an accessory to irrigation systems of the kind referred to which will at least mitigate the problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided an agricultural implement for a driven wheel supported spray irrigation system comprising a sub-frame carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced apart and laterally adjustable oppositely inclined harrow discs, the sub-frame releasably attached to a gooseneck connection to a main frame including a hitch to enable the implement to track behind a spray supporting wheel of the irrigation system.

Further features of the invention provide for the hitch to allow the frame to pivot about a transverse axis at its operatively forward end.

A further feature of the invention provides for the hitch to include a plate securable to the spray irrigation system and providing a trunnion support for the end of the frame.

A further feature of the invention provides for the discs to be attached to the sub-frame through oppositely off set bearings on extensible members of the sub-frame.

A further feature of the invention provides for the bearings to be housed in bearing covers. A still further feature of the invention provides for the sub-frame to carry scraper blades to clean the concave surfaces of the harrow discs during use. Yet a further feature of this invention provides for the gooseneck connection to include a joint between the main and sub-frames providing limited rotation of the sub-frame around and transverse to the axis of the gooseneck.

A further feature of the invention provides for the main frame and the connection to be relatively slidable to adjust the length of the implement.

The invention also provides for the frame to carry a resiliently biased depth gauge to limit the depth of the action of the discs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will become apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the implement wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of the implement; Figure 2 shows a perspective view from a different angle of the mounting of the harrow discs;

Figure 3 shows a view complementary to Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows an alternative hitch for the implement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An agricultural implement according to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. A main frame (1 ) is assembled from a pair of square sectioned drawn steel members (2) separated at their operatively forward ends by a hollow support (3).

A vertical hitch plate (4) is provided to be mounted between the base beam and gearbox associated with the "pivots" or other structures associated with the spray supporting wheel of the irrigation equipment (not shown). Holes (4A) are provided through the hitch plate (4) to enable it to be secured to the irrigation equipment. This enables proper alignment of the connection between the implement and the irrigation equipment.

The upper end of the hitch plate (4) has a trunnion assembly (5) comprising a plate (5A) and flanges (6) enabling the ends of the frame member (2) and support (3) to be releasably mounted between the flanges (6) on a pin (6A) extending through the flanges (6) and support (3).

The frame (1 ) and implement can be readily separated from the hitch plate (4) by withdrawing the pin (6A) from the support (3).

This provides a useful means to remove and interchange the implement between different wheels of the irrigation system. Where a series of wheels are included in the equipment hitch plates can be provided on different wheels so that a single frame (1 ) assembly can be easily moved from one wheel to another.

A rod (7) extends through a bracket (8) secured between the members (2), which forms a guide for sliding movement of the rod (7). On the upwardly extending end of rod (7) is located a compression spring (9). The operatively lower end of the rod (7) may engage the bottom of the hitch plate (4) and provide a depth gauge to limit the depth of the action of the discs (10) in known manner. The rear ends (1 1 ) of the members (2) are joined in a manner providing a gooseneck for connection (12) to a sub-frame (13) supporting harrow discs (10). On the end of the gooseneck (1 2) is a circular flange (14) with arcuate slots (15) adjacent its upper and lower periphery. The flange (14) is coupled to a similar flange (1 6) with co-operating bolts.

Flange (14) is secured to the end of a main frame connecting member (1 7) and the slots (15) in flange (14), enable the flanges to have adjustable limited relative rotation so that the shape of the gooseneck (12) can be varied to change the attitude and relative position of the harrow discs (10) behind the main frame (1 ).

To provide angular displacement of the member (17) in the gooseneck (12) support plates (18) may be extended from the flange (16) where a bolt and slot connection (17A) may be provided similarly to the bolt and slot (1 5) assembly providing the rotation between the flanges (14) and (16) (see Figure 3).

In addition, the connecting member (17) is slidable into the rear end (1 1 ) of the member (2) and may be clamped in a plurality of positions by suitable locking bolts (17B). This serves to adjust the overall length of the implement as desired. This adjustability of the sub-frame (13) is particularly advantageous where the structures associated with the supporting wheel or "pivots" have been damaged or the shape thereof been altered through wear and tear over time. This means that the alignment of the sub-frame (13) and therefore the harrow discs (10) may be adjusted according to the specific requirement behind each supporting wheel while still maintaining a secure mounting between the implement and irrigation system.

At the rearward end of the frame (1 ) the members (2) are inclined towards each other at (19). One member extends beyond the end of the other which forms a brace at (19) for the other member which terminates in the gooseneck (12). The sub-frame (13) has forward and rearward spaced apart hollow cross-members (20). These members act as guides for longitudinally adjustable slides (21 ). The slides (21 ) are clamped in predetermined positions by suitable locking bolts (22). The components (20) and (21 ) are preferably made of stainless steel to provide additional strength and rigidity.

Oppositely inclined harrow discs (10) are rotatably mounted on bearings in bearing covers (23).

The axes of the bearing covers (23) determine the relative pre-set angle between the harrow discs (10) to give the desired harrowing operation of the implement. This will be affected by the width of the furrow formed by the use of the irrigation equipment.

The bearing covers (23) are provided to prevent or at least limit the ingress of liquids and unwanted objects such as mud and vegetation into the bearings of the harrow discs (1 0). The mounting of the sub-frame (13) to the connecting member (17) is effected through a trunnion assembly (24). The cross-members (20) are secured to the ends of a cradle (25) which is attached to the connecting member (17) by the trunnion pin (26). This gives the desired relative vertical movement to the harrow discs (10) during use.

A scraper blade (27) is also provided on the sub-frame (13) to clean the concave surfaces of the harrow discs (10) during operation.

In use the frame (1 ) is connected to an irrigation boom through a hitch plate as described above in a manner which enables it to track the movement of a driven wheel for the boom (not shown). The spray equipment wheels will be driven in the well known manner.

The harrow discs (10) are set apart a distance which is determined by the width of the furrow formed by the traverse of the associated supporting wheel. Movement of the implement enables the harrow discs to operate in their usual way to restore the ground where the furrow has been formed by the wheel to its state before compaction. It will be understood that the shape and configuration of the hitch will be varied for use with irrigation systems made by different manufacturers.

An alternative embodiment of the hitch in a simple form is shown in Figure 4. The hitch is provided as a hitch plate (100) having flanges (101 ) to receive hitch pins (102) which may be pivotally connected to the members (2).

Various modifications to the implement can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention. Sizes and shapes and materials for the components, for example, can be chosen to meet particular requirements.

Claims

1 . An agricultural implement for a driven wheel supported spray irrigation system comprising a sub-frame carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced apart and laterally adjustable oppositely inclined harrow discs, the sub-frame releasably attached to a gooseneck connection to a main frame including a hitch to enable the implement to track behind a spray supporting wheel.

2. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hitch allows the frame to pivot about a transverse axis at its operatively forward end.

3. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the hitch includes a plate securable to the spray irrigation system and providing a trunnion support for the end of the frame.

4. An agricultural implement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the discs are attached to the sub-frame through oppositely off set bearings on extensible members of the sub-frame.

5. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bearings are housed in bearing covers.

6. An agricultural implement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sub-frame carries scraper blades to clean the concave surfaces of the harrow discs during use.

7. An agricultural implement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the gooseneck connection includes a joint between the main and sub-frames providing limited rotation of the sub-frame around and transverse to the axis of the gooseneck.

8. An agricultural implement as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the main frame and connection are relatively slidable to adjust the length of the implement.

9. An agricultural implement as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the frame carries a resiliently biased depth gauge to limit the depth of the action of the discs.