BRPI1002196B1 - PREPARATION AND SOIL PLANTING IMPLEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

tillage implement and soil planting. The present invention relates to the combination of a rotary basket tillage implement and a seed distribution implement is described. A height-adjustable mounting system for a rotating basket tillage implement is also described for use with a seeder that enables such an implement to be raised above ground as needed to avoid wet conditions.

Description

(54) Title: IMPLEMENT OF SOIL PREPARATION AND PLANTING (51) Int.CI .: A01B 49/06; A01B 35/28; A01B 27/00 (73) Owner (s): L & B MANUFACTURING, INC.

(72) Inventor (s): LLOYD C. VAN BUSKIRK; BRIAN R. MELDAHL

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Descriptive Report of the Invention Patent for IMPLEMENTATION OF PREPARATION AND SOIL PLANTING.

Cross Reference to Related Orders [001] This order is a non-provisional order from Order No. 61 / 214,955, filed on April 30, 2009, and claims priority for that order which is also supposed to be incorporated in its entirety by the reference in this order.

[002] Federally Secured Research or Development Statement

Not applicable

Background of the Invention

I. Field of the Invention [003] The present invention in general refers to the field of agricultural machinery and, more particularly, it relates to a pre-planting tillage implement used in combination with a seed planting device . Specifically, the invention relates to a rotating basket tillage implement used in tandem with a seed planting implement in which the rotating basket can have an independent height adjustment aspect.

II. Related technique [004] In the spring, before planting, farmers must prepare their fields to accept sowing. Many tillage implements have been designed and are used to condition the soil in preparation for planting. Traditional agriculture involves both primary and secondary tillage tasks to prepare the soil, such as plowing, disc use, harrowing and field cultivation. Disc use is an example of a primary tillage method and harrowing is an example of a secondary tillage method.

[005] Primary tillage is a first pass over the soil using a soil preparation implement attached to the rear of a

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2/15 tractor that works deep into the ground. The soil is usually worked about 10.16 centimeters (four inches) deep to break clods of soil, remove air pockets and destroy weeds deep in the soil. Secondary tillage involves another pass over the same soil, at a shallower depth, using attachments that are generally attached to the rear of the primary tillage unit in such a way that the secondary tillage unit follows the primary tillage unit. The secondary tillage unit generally works the soil at a depth of about 5.08 centimeters (two inches).

[006] The secondary tillage unit is usually a final preparation tool to prepare the soil for planting. Such units can chop crop residues, break clods of soil and break any crust on top of the soil, provide weed control, incorporate chemicals into the soil, and shake and firm the soil closest to the surface.

[007] Bounders of prepared soil for planting a rotating basket represent an important type of secondary soil preparation implement. Rotating baskets are used primarily as soil leveling devices to break and minimize clods of soil and to remove air pockets from the soil. Farmers obtain great benefits from the use of rotating baskets as a secondary crop device to provide level soil for planting. The ability to break clods of soil, remove air pockets and additionally incorporate chemicals in general results in better crop yields in the crop.

[008] In this way, it would be beneficial if a secondary tillage operation using a rotating basket could be advantageously combined with a planting operation in such a way that a farmer

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3/15 can take immediate advantage of the soil in condition for planting when carrying out the planting project during the same passage over a field. Thus, the fixation of a rotating basket crop for use in conjunction with a seed planting implement would be desirable.

[009] However, the use and effectiveness of rotating baskets or other soil preparation implements are very limited by the condition of the soil. If the soil is too wet, rotating basket soil preparation implements can become full and clogged with soil which will make it useless to prepare more soil until they are emptied of soil again. When a farmer realizes these areas of soil in a field that is too wet to use such implements, he will generally give up on using such soil preparation implements entirely for the season. This means that much of the soil may not be treated properly and an expensive crop implement will remain idle. This is not a desirable or economically efficient situation for farmers.

[0010] Therefore, it would also be beneficial to provide an arrangement or mechanism that would enable the intermittent use of a soil tillage implement, particularly a soil binder prepared for planting a rotating basket, and / or a seeder in a field where areas of soil were dry enough for use, but where there were also areas that were also wet for use. A device like this would allow a farmer to lift bins of prepared soil for planting a rotating basket above the ground and out of use whenever they reach a section of a field where the soil is very wet and then enable the rotating basket to be lowered and reconnected with the soil in areas where the soil was suitable for use.

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4/15 [0011] Document CA2639284 teaches a structure of rolling baskets with simplified construction and reduced cost, providing baskets with single support for arms that are self-cleaning, and the basket structure works more effectively in wet waste conditions it's heavy. The band preparation tool includes a single arm mounted in the center located directly above the area of a band preparation shoulder. The basket halves are rotatably connected on opposite sides of the support arm to eliminate the external support arms. The waste stream encounters rolling baskets instead of fixed arms, so that the capture, turning and twisting of waste is minimized and clogging at high waste conditions is reduced. A single center-mounted bearing and simplified basket halves reduce the cost and complexity of the implement.

[0012] The document US20100006309 refers to tillage tools and, more particularly, to a special planting roller specialized in the soil, useful in breaking surface slopes and spraying the soil, as in preparing a field to receive seeds. Instead of rigid bars, a planting roll uses a series of elongated flexible elements such as lengths of the connecting chain that are spaced circumferentially around the roll and extend axially. The flexible elements arch outward by centrifugal force as the roller rolls along the soil during tillage operations to impact and fracture clods found at the lower front end of the roller. When the roller is used in connection with strip cultivation operations, the flexible elements arch up and inward along the bottom spool periphery as they fit and adjust to the cross section of the strip cultivation shoulder, avoiding thus the destruction of the berm despite the spraying action provided by the flexiPetition elements 870180012026, of 02/15/2018, p. 9/24

5/15 vehicles.

[0013] US 4,108,089, on the other hand, describes an implement that has a forward structure that supports a fluid distribution system, including soil penetration tools, such as graft bodies from freely rotatable groups of teeth through which the fluid it is distributed through a wide path. The support structure is connectable to a three-point tractor hitch and connected to a cultivator frame by a parallelogram forward link. The cultivator frame supports a line of soil working rotors and at the rear of the rotors, a wheel sowing device is mounted on a parallelogram structure so that it can move vertically regardless of the support structure or the cultivator structure . Another rear parallelogram structure connects the rear of the first mentioned parallelogram structure to support earth wheels and a hydraulic cylinder is positioned above the rear structure to lift the seeder for transport. A stop is associated with parallelogram structures to limit their relative movements. [0014] JP2000316309 discloses a vehicle component made of unsaturated polyester resin that provides an article with improved weather resistance, i.e. gloss retention and resistance to discoloration, and having a small content of a polymerizable and unsaturated monomer to provide a vehicle member obtained using the composition. The unsaturated polyester resin composition for a vehicle component consists of an unsaturated polyester and a polymerizable unsaturated monomer and gives a cured product with gloss retention (gloss retention after 2,000 h of a weathering test by an artificial weathering chamber of according to the ISO Standard) of at least 60%.

Summary of the Invention

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6/15 [0015] The present concept is related to combining said preparation implement in the form of bidders of soil prepared for planting a rotating basket to seeders to perform multiple tasks in a single pass. One aspect of the present concept relates to assembling rotating basket sowing binders in planting equipment. An additional aspect of the present concept is related to an assembly set for a soil tillage implement in the form of a soil bidder prepared for planting a rotating basket. The assembly set is for individual rotating baskets that are a part of such soil preparation implements generally arranged in a spaced way in alignment (parallel) on a multi-row seed drill, seeding auger or other implement, which it is used to distribute seeds into the soil, coupled and pulled by a tractor or other driving machine.

[0016] Certain modalities of the assembly set include a height-adjustable assembly arrangement for each of the rotary basket soil preparation implements. Each height adjustment mechanism comprises an actuator to adjust the relative height of a corresponding rotating basket individually, and an associated control system to operate the height adjustment mechanism. The actuator preferably comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, which can be single-acting or double-acting. It is also an aspect of the present invention for the assemblies and associated implements to be combined with a seeder and arranged in such a way that soil preparation with a rotating basket takes place in front of each individual seed planting unit in a seeder.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, each assembly set for each rotary basket soil preparation implement can

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7/15 be controlled from a central control system that includes control switches or a control panel, or the like, having a control device associated with each rotating basket located in the cabin of an associated tractor. In this way, a user is able to adjust the height of each assembly set individually and, therefore, the height of each associated soil preparation rotary basket implement can be individually adjusted as needed.

[0018] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that actuating devices such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, or the like, together with the necessary controls can be connected to be operated from the cab of a tractor or other driving machine of an agricultural implement device by means of of conventional resources in a well-known way.

[0019] In other modalities, rotating basket devices can be attached to the seed drill and other mechanical devices can be used to apply varying degrees of force to the soil being processed. These include compression or torsion springs, inflatable pneumatic chambers, spring-loaded damping devices, or the like. Pneumatic chamber systems can be single-acting or double-acting.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0020] The features and advantages previously exposed of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description below of one or more preferred modalities, especially when considered together with the attached drawings, in which are:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly set using a wrap-type assembly for attachment to a rotating basket;

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8/15 figure 2 shows a side view of the assembly set of figure 1;

figure 3 shows a perspective view of an alternative assembly set fixing a rotating basket;

figure 4 shows a side view of the assembly set of figure 3;

figure 5 illustrates the assembly set of figures 3 and 4 attached to the front of a planting implement with the rotating soil preparation basket shown in an elevated position;

Figure 6A is a view similar to that of Figure 5 showing the rotating soil preparation basket implement in a lowered position with the ground;

figure 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of figure 6A;

Figure 7A is a schematic perspective view showing a rotating basket attached to a main frame element of a sowing implement;

figure 7B is a view similar to figure 7A with a pneumatic double-acting chamber as the actuator;

figure 8 is a front view of the assembly set of figures 3 to 7 attached to a cultivation implement;

figures 9A to 9F represent another modality of rotating baskets similar to those of figures 1 and 3 using other types of drive or force application devices; and Figure 10 is a block diagram of a pneumatic control system for controlling assembly assemblies and a schematic drawing of a rotary basket soil preparation system combined with a multi-row seed drill.

Detailed Description [0021] This description of the preferred modalities is intended

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9/15 to illustrate representative examples of inventive concepts and is not intended to be a limitation as for the scope of the concepts. The examples are to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the full written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as bottom, top, horizontal, vertical, above, below, above, below, top and bottom as well as derivatives thereof (for example, horizontally, descending, ascending, etc.) must be interpreted to refer to to orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as connected, connecting, fixed, fixing, joined and joining are used interchangeably and refer to a structure or surface being attached to another structure or surface or manufactured integrally in one piece, unless expressly described in another way.

[0022] One aspect of the invention relates to an adjustable mounting bracket assembly for attaching a soil tillage implement in the form of a rotating basket device, particularly to a sower frame.

[0023] As shown in the form of figures 3 to 8, the assembly set 2 for a swivel basket soil preparer 10 consists of three parts: an adjustable height assembly 4, a height adjustment mechanism or actuator, which can be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder (6A in figure 9E) or pneumatic 6, and an associated control system (figure 10) to operate such height adjustment mechanisms to adjust the height of connected and spaced connected rotating baskets as normally used in tandem with a seed drill as towed by a tractor.

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10/15 [0024] As shown in figure 3, the height-adjustable assembly 4 is made up of several parts comprising a fixing plate 12 and a pair of parallel-spaced side plate elements 16 and fixing arms 18 for coupling the implement for the preparation of soil from a rotating basket to the attachment plate 12. The attachment plate 12 is adapted to be attached to the frame of a cultivation implement in the form of a conventional seed drill together with the attachment plates of other units in such a way that the soil in front of each planting unit is prepared.

[0025] Each assembly set comprises spaced arms 18 that extend away from an associated swivel basket preparation and leveling implement 10 that is supported for rotation between arms 18, as in 20. Arms 18 they connect to the elements 16 attached to the fixing plate 12. The arms 18 are connected to each other by a common crossbar 24 which also supports one end of a cylinder or actuator 6.

[0026] As shown in figures 3 and 4, the arms 18 and the elements 16 of the fixing plate 12 are designed in such a way that they articulate to each other. Any way known in the art that connects and enables the arms 18 to articulate in 22 in relation to the elements 16, such as bearings, bushings, etc., can be employed, so that the adjustable assembly 4 is able to move in the direction and away from the ground surface with the operation of the cylinder 6 which can be fixed using a U-clamp arrangement such as 26 to secure the rod end and a support arrangement such as 28 to secure the concealed end of the cylinder 6 to the fixing plate 12.

[0027] The height adjustment actuator 6 can be a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or other devices, as illustrated, and those skilled in the art will recognize that any mechanical mechanism

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11/15 capable of raising and lowering the soil preparation implement 10, as shown in figures 5 and 6, can be used. Thus, in some modalities, height adjustment depends on raising the seeder with the rotating baskets fixed. In these embodiments, downward force can be provided by means of a spring-operated mechanism, an inflatable pneumatic spring, or any similar system known in the art, as shown in figures 9A-9D. As indicated, several preferred modalities use pneumatic cylinders since compressed air is generally available on tractors to connect to agricultural implements and to operate them. It will be recognized, however, that hydraulic systems are also commonly used in these types of applications.

[0028] The rotating basket units 10 additionally comprise a pair of side plates 30 connected by spaced steel bars 32 which can be fixed internally or externally to the plates 30. A tree or central axis 34 is also provided.

[0029] Figures 5, 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B also represent a planting implement 35 having a seed distribution arrangement 36 (figure 6B) and a connection frame 37 comprising a main structural element 38 that connects one of the 35 similar units.

[0030] As shown in figures 5 and 6A, the operation of the actuator 6 serves to raise and lower the rotating soil preparation basket implement 10 according to the operation of a control system. It should be noted that in an implement carrying rotating soil preparation baskets 10, as shown in figure 10, an associated control system enables the raising and lowering of the soil preparation implements individually as desired by the operator on the tractor or other vehicle towing. It can also enable the soil preparation implement 10 to

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12/15 be positioned in a floating mode on the ground surface or lowered with applied force as needed.

[0031] An alternative modality of the mounting bracket set is generally shown at 102 in figures 1 and 2 and also comprises an adjustable height assembly 104. This system uses a cover or wrap 114 covering the top of the rotating basket 110. The hingedly connected elements 116 and the arms 118 are shown together with the mounting bracket 120 and the U-clamp attachment 122. The drive cylinder or other such device is not shown.

[0032] Figure 10 is a schematic drawing of a soil preparation system used with a multiple row seeder, so that a field can be leveled properly and then receive seeds from the seeder modules. In this schematic drawing, a tow bar 40 is connected to a tow tongue 42 which is adapted to be connected by means of a U-clamp (not shown) to a tow vehicle, such as a farm tractor. Attached to the tow bar are the swivel basket tillage devices 44.

[0033] Primary tillage devices (not shown), for example, comprise disc plows or rakes plows of conventional design known in the art and can be used before using rotating baskets. As explained earlier, primary crates are arranged to dig deeper into the soil and typically produce clods depending on the type and moisture content of the soil. It is preferable that the clods become crushed and broken and the soil leveled by the action of secondary rotating basket devices 44 leaving the field prepared to receive seed at the time of sowing and the seed distributed by the sowing modules 46.

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13/15 [0034] The user or driver of the tractor or other driving machine determines whether the soil is too wet for soil preparation implements 2 to work effectively or not. If the ground is very wet the user sends a signal, through the control system, to activate the height adjustment mechanism 4. In a preferred embodiment, the height adjustment mechanism is connected to a pneumatic system that has a compressor air 50 to maintain a predetermined pressure in an accumulator 52. A pneumatic solenoid valve 58 is connected between the accumulator and each actuator 6 to control the application of the pressure supplied to the actuator 6. A manifold 56 is shown in figure 10 as supplying air pressurized, by means of solenoid valves 58, for one or more actuators 6 under control of electrical signals from an operator controller module that comprises a mini control keypad (which can be remote) in 60. A combined electrical and pneumatic connection is shown at 62 and a distributor controller is shown at 64. The system can incorporate a pressure regulator (not shown) to adjust the amount of force (from the pre ssurized) applied to raise the soil preparation implement.

[0035] Pressurized air is then supplied to pneumatic cylinders 6 in a well-known manner to the assembly set, which, in turn, will raise the soil preparation implement if the user has determined that the soil at that location is too wet for use, or lower the soil preparation implement if the soil is suitable for use with the soil preparation implement. It will be realized that cylinders 6 can be single-acting or double-acting, with single-acting cylinders used to raise the soil preparation implements in the power stroke and allow the basket to descend under its own weight when pressure is applied. released. Double-acting cylinders can be used to

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14/15 fix the implement in a lowered position.

[0036] As also shown in figure 10, each of the rotary basket soil preparation assemblies can be placed in front of each of the seed distribution units of a sower, such as in 46, to prepare the soil for receive the seeds. Each of the assembly sets for the soil planters can be controlled individually or simultaneously with others. Also, groups of assembly sets can be controlled. If the assembly sets are individually controlled, the distributor 56 (pneumatic or hydraulic) can supply pressurized air using the solenoid valves 58. The operator is able to control the height adjustment and thus the application of a soil preparation implement , a specific group of soil preparation implements, or all soil preparation implements using the control panel 60 in the tractor cab. As indicated, the control panel 60 can be of any type known in the art to send control signals to solenoid or other pneumatic or hydraulic valves.

[0037] The system allows maximum efficiency of the soil preparation implements because if a row or some of the rows in a field are very wet, but the remaining rows are dry, the user can selectively apply the implement of rotating soil preparation baskets to the appropriate ranks. The user, therefore, is able to maximize the effect of using rotary basket soil preparation devices in a field.

[0038] Figure 7A represents a rotating basket device 10 according to the invention attached to the main structural element 38 of a planting implement, a unit of which is shown at 35, in which the fixing plate 12 is attached to the element 38 by means of an additional structure 70. A similar arrangement is shown in the figure

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15/15

7B in which the actuator is a double-acting pneumatic chamber system as in 72.

[0039] Figures 9A-9E represent alternative actuating devices used in combination with rotating baskets. They contain a pair of torsion springs, as in 80 in figure 9A, which are used to provide an amount of downward force on the rotating basket 10. Similarly, figure 9B uses a compression spring 82 connected between the mounting plate 12 and the cross member 24. A spring and damper arrangement 84 is shown in figure 9C and a single action pneumatic chamber or air damper is shown in figure 9D.

[0040] It should be noted that rotating baskets having mounting arrangements with devices providing only downward force are normally lifted manually when they need to be placed out of contact with the ground. They are held in an elevated position using a manually operated hitch system as shown in figure 9F.

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1/1

Claims (4)

1. Implementation of soil preparation and planting that consists of: a seed distribution implement (35) adapted to be pulled by a tractor or other driving machine; characterized by the fact that it also consists of: a rotating basket tillage implement (10) attached to said seed distribution implement in a way in which the rotating basket tillage takes place just before sowing. 2. Soil preparation and planting implement according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it still consists of a mechanized system (6, 6A, 80, 82, 84) to raise and lower said rotating basket tillage implement (10) independent of said implement of seed distribution (35). 3. Implementation of soil preparation and planting according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it still consists of a control system (60) that enables the raising and lowering of said rotating basket tillage implement (10) and is operable of said driving machine. 4. Implementation of soil preparation and planting according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said mechanized system for raising and lowering said rotating basket tillage implement (10) is selected from the group consisting of: a single action air bag device and a double action air bag device. Petition 870180012026, of 02/15/2018, p. 21/24 1/5