WO2022172165A1

WO2022172165A1 - Device for an agricultural machine and agricultural machine comprising such a device

Info

Publication number: WO2022172165A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/051147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gianluca Di Girolamo; Dario Fina
Original assignee: Albavera Srl
Current assignee: Albavera Srl
Priority date: 2021-02-09
Filing date: 2022-02-09
Publication date: 2022-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-09
Also published as: IT202100002855A1; EP4291009A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accessory device (1) for an agricultural machine, comprising a body and a cutter (2) which extends axially along an axis (X) which in use becomes the rotation axis of the cutter (2). The accessory device (1) is configured to receive a driving force from a power take-off of the agricultural machine to determine a rotation of the cutter (2). The body of the accessory device (1) comprises a guide element (3), configured and specifically intended to be introduced at least partially into the ground (100), remaining there during the advancement of the accessory device into the ground (100), and to assist, in use, in maintaining a predefined direction of advancement (F) of the accessory device (1) with respect to the ground (100), the direction of advancement (F) being substantially inclined and/or substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2). The guide element (3) can comprise a ploughshare element (3a) and/or a plurality of moldboard elements (3c). The present invention further relates to an agricultural machine comprising the accessory device (1).

Description

“DEVICE FOR AN AGRICULTURAL MACHINE AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINE

COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

Field of technique

The present invention relates to the field of agricultural devices, and in detail it concerns a tool for an agricultural machine.

The present invention also relates to an agricultural machine including such tool.

Prior art

For some time, agriculture in small-sized land uses mechanized vehicles to speed up and facilitate the main activities in the field.

In agriculture is known, in particular, the use of agricultural machinery, in particular of modest size, including motor cultivators, motor hoes or self-propelled cutters. These agricultural machines are small motorized devices, occasionally equipped with their own wheels, which carry with them, in an integral or removable manner, accessory devices including cutters, rotating hoes, cutter bars, or other accessory devices including blades and/or snow turbines and/or small pumps intended for example and not limited to spraying fields and plants with phytosanitary products.

The motor hoes, or self-propelled cutters, are small agricultural machines that are equipped with an engine, a control handlebar and a rotating cutter that can be rotated through an engine power take-off, which in most cases is an endothermic engine. The motor hoes can have their own wheels, sometimes pulling and driven by the engine by means of a gearbox interposition. In other cases, the motor hoes may have no driving wheels.

The motor hoes have at least a first configuration of use in which the power take-off is decoupled from the rotary cutter, and at least a second configuration of use in which the power take-off is coupled to the rotary cutter. In the first configuration of use, the motor hoe can be transported to the place where you want to work the field. In the second configuration of use, the rather fast rotation of the rotating cutter causes a partial sinking of the agricultural machine into the ground, due to its own weight. In the simpler versions, the advancement of the motor hoe is determined by a combination of a weak thrust force performed by the operator and a driving force induced by the rotation of the rotary cutter, which "hoeing" and stirring the ground, pushes little by little the motor hoe forward. Where there are driving or pulling wheels, the forward action is given by a combination of force imposed by the rotation of the rotating cutter and by the force imposed by the driving or pulling wheels. By advancing along the ground, the motor hoe achieves the desired pulverizing and cleaning effects, preparing the ground adequately to the execution of subsequent phases, for example a sowing phase or an irrigation phase.

The simpler forms of motor hoes can be difficult to control especially when you have to deal with hard and/or compact grounds, and/or where the rotation speed of the rotary cutter is significantly high. In some cases, sudden outflows of the rotary cutter from the ground or, equivalently, rotations of the rotary cutter above the ground can be determined, causing at least temporary advancement of the agricultural machine at the speed linearly imposed by the perimeter rotation of the rotary cutter on the surface of the ground, and not - as it traditionally should be - a modest speed determined by a slippery rotation of the rotary cutter in the ground.

The sudden advancement that may occur can also lead to a sudden deviation with respect to a predefined direction of advancement originally imposed on the motor hoe.

Furthermore, the Applicant has observed that in some cases of use on particularly hard grounds or characterized by a significant herbaceous quantity, in particular when densely rooted, several passes are necessary for the ground to be effectively hoed.

Purposes of the invention

The aim of this disclosure is to describe first of all an accessory device, and subsequently an agricultural machine, which allow to solve the drawbacks described above.

A technical solution of a certain effectiveness for the purpose of solving the above- mentioned technical problems is the subject of international patent application WO201 4/073013A2. However, what is described in the aforementioned patent application is not entirely satisfying in particular as regards the maneuvering effort required to the operator, the non-optimal mode of driving and controlling the motor hoe and at the time required to carry out the desired ground pulverization and cleaning operations.

Therefore, a first purpose of the present invention is to reduce the effort on the operator of a machine such as a motor hoe, a rotary cultivator or a milling machine to control with your own arms both the trajectories of advancement and the depth action of the blade or hoe unit by continuously varying the direction and extent of the intervention.

A second purpose of the present invention is represented by attenuating the stresses transmitted starting from the blades or hoes unit both parallel to the ground and orthogonally to it and which make the milling of the ground tiring and not very easy, while increasing the maneuverability of the milling machine.

A third purpose of the present invention is to increase the effectiveness of soil tillage, making it possible, in particular, to obtain the desired pulverization with a single pass of the cutter machine, with a consequent significant saving in terms of time required by the operator, as well as in terms of resources (in particular fuel) consumed.

Summary

According to a first aspect, an accessory device (1 ) for an agricultural machine is described here, in which the accessory device (1 ) for an agricultural machine, in which the accessory device (1 ) comprises a body and a cutter (2) rotatably coupled to said body, said cutter (2) extending axially along an axis (X) which in use becomes the rotation axis of the cutter (2), in which the accessory device (1 ) is configured to receive a driving force from a power take-off of the agricultural machine to determine a rotation of the cutter (2), the body of the accessory device (1) identifying a front portion (1f) and a rear portion (1r) and comprising a guide element (3), configured and specifically intended for:

- introducing itself at least partially into the ground (100), and remain there during the advancement of the accessory device into the ground (100), and to

- assisting, in use, in maintaining a predefined direction of advancement (F) of the accessory device (1 ) with respect to the ground (100), said direction of advancement (F) being substantially inclined and/or substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) has a conformation such as to perform, in use, a force in contrast with the ground (100) intended to cause the guide element (3) to sink into the ground (100).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) protrudes at the rear portion (1 r) of the body of the accessory device (1 ).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) includes a moldboard (3c) or whale tail element.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) comprises a plurality, in particular a pair, of moldboard (3c) or whale tail elements.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) is configured and specifically intended to enter into the ground (1 ), in particular during the advancement of said accessory device (100) along said direction of advancement (F). According to another non-limiting aspect, the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) is shaped in such a way as to enter deeply into the ground (100) with the advancement of the accessory device (1) along said direction of advancement (F).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) includes a ploughshare portion (3a) extending on a substantially vertical plane and/or parallel to the direction of advancement (F) of the accessory device (1) and/or orthogonal to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the ploughshare portion (3a) is configured to guide the advancement of the accessory (1 ) along a predetermined direction, optionally along the direction of advancement (F).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) is configured to allow the adjustment of a working depth, optionally of a maximum working depth, of said ploughshare portion (3a).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the ploughshare portion (3a) has a pointed end.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the pointed end faces in accordance with said direction of advancement (F).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the pointed end faces in the opposite direction to said direction of advancement (F).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the ploughshare portion (3a) can be rotated on a substantially vertical plane and/or orthogonal to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) is configured to work to a predetermined first working depth.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the ploughshare portion (3a) is configured to work at a predetermined second working depth.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) is configured to allow adjustment of said first working depth independently of said second working depth.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) is adjustable in height, so that the ploughshare portion (3a) and/or the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) can move at least between a first operating position, configured to cause a sinking of the ploughshare portion (3a) and/or of the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) at a first depth in the ground, and a second operating position, configured to cause a sinking of the ploughshare portion (3a) and/or of the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) at a second depth in the ground, said second depth differing from the first depth. According to another non-limiting aspect, the ploughshare portion (3a) is positioned in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of the plurality of moldboard elements (3c).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the movement is determined in use, at least partially, by the rotation of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the ploughshare portion (3a) in use precedes plurality of moldboard elements (3c) along the direction of advancement (F), and/or the ploughshare portion (3a) is positioned at a first distance with respect to the cutter (2) and the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) is positioned at a second distance with respect to the cutter (2), said first distance being less than the second distance.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the ploughshare portion (3a) in use follows said plurality of moldboard elements (3c) along the direction of advancement (F), and/or the ploughshare portion (3a) is positioned at a first distance with respect to the cutter (2) and the plurality of moldboard elements (3c) is positioned at a second distance with respect to the cutter (2), said first distance being greater than the second distance.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) is rotatably movable with respect to the cutter (2), optionally being substantially rotatable around an axis in use lying substantially vertically and/or positioned in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of advancement (F).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the guide element (3) is movable with respect to said cutter (2), in particular being orientable with respect to said cutter (2), optionally being rotatable with respect to said cutter (2) and rotating around to an axis substantially orthogonal with respect to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) comprises at least one drive shaft (2h) and a plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) fixed to the drive shaft (2h) to be rigidly transported in rotation by the drive shaft (2h), said plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) comprising at least a first portion (2d, 2e') substantially blade-shaped, configured to enter in use into the ground for an action of a rotational force imposed by the drive shaft (2h).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) are configured to till the ground (100) by rotation action around said rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2) and/or around said drive shaft (2h).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) comprises a second portion (2d", 2e") substantially horseshoe-shaped, said the second portion (2d", 2e") substantially horseshoe-shaped being substantially positioned at one end of the substantially blade- shaped portion and/or extending in a substantially oblique direction, optionally substantially orthogonal, to the first portion (2d, 2e') substantially blade shaped.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) comprises a plurality of pairs of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e), in which:

- for each pair, a first soil tillage element (2d) and a second soil tillage element (2e) are coupled into a configuration such that the respective portions are substantially horseshoe shaped are opposite and/or lie substantially at the same distance with respect to a central portion of the cutter (2) and/or the accessory (1),

- at least a first pair of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) and a second pair of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) are juxtaposed with respect to each other along a direction substantially identified by the rotation axis (X) of rotation of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, at least part of the first portion (2d, 2e') substantially blade-shaped is shaped like a "J".

According to another non-limiting aspect, at least the part of the substantially J- shaped blade portion comprises a curved sub-portion, said curved sub-portion being a distal portion and/or being a portion of maximum radial distance with respect to the rotation axis (X) of the said cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) comprises a plurality of flanges (2f) for supporting the plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e).

According to another non-limiting aspect, each flange (2f) of said plurality of flanges (2f) comprises an engaging portion on the drive shaft (2h), and is configured to be rigidly rotated by the drive shaft (2h).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) comprises at least one protective casing (2b), juxtaposed to at least a first pair of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) of the said plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) comprises at least a protective casing (2b), keyed on said drive shaft (2h) and juxtaposed to at least a first pair of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e), and/or a flange (2f).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the casing (2b) has an at least partially circular shape.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the casing (2b) is removably fixed to the flange (2f). According to another non-limiting aspect, the casing (2b) rotates integrally with the drive shaft (2h) and/or with the soil tillage elements (2d, 2e).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) develops symmetrically with respect to a first and a second side of said body, in particular with respect to a first left side and a second right side of said body.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the accessory (1 ) comprises a drive unit (4) configured to transmit a rotational motion to said cutter (2), and the cutter (2) is a cutter developing symmetrically to the left and to the right of the drive unit (4) in a configuration such that at least a plurality, optionally a first pair, of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) lies to the left of the drive unit (4) and another plurality, optionally a second pair, of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) lies to the right of the drive unit (4).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the drive unit (4) includes at least one output shaft (6) configured to be rotated, optionally directly or through the interposition of a cascade of gears, with the power take-off of the agricultural machine, said output shaft (6) optionally rotating simultaneously with the cutter (2) in a predefined and fixed rotation ratio; said output shaft (6) being configured to be operationally connected with an auxiliary accessory removably fixed to the accessory device (1 ) and to transmit a rotational motion to members of said auxiliary accessory.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the output shaft is positioned at an upper portion of the drive unit (4) and/or is accessible from the rear portion (1 r) of the accessory device (1 ).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the output shaft (6) rotates along a horizontal axis and parallel to the direction of advancement (F).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the drive unit (4) includes an auxiliary support flange (6f) and the output shaft (6) is positioned at said auxiliary support flange (6f).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the auxiliary support flange (6f) includes holes (6k) for fixing the auxiliary accessory, in particular in a removable way.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) comprises at least one furrowing element (2c) positioned in a substantially central and/or proximal internal portion of the cutter (2) and developing in a substantially planar form along an orthogonal plane with respect to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the cutter (2) comprises a first and a second furrowing element (2c) positioned in a substantially central and/or proximal internal portion of the cutter (2) and developing in a substantially planar shape along an orthogonal plane with respect to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, said at least one furrowing element (2c), or said plurality of furrowing elements (2c) being fixed.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the furrowing element (2c) is configured to cooperate with the protective casing (2b).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the accessory device (1) comprises at least one mudguard (5) configured to protect the user from the soil elements projected by the cutter (2) in use during rotation and/or configured to prevent and/or limiting the unintentional access of the end of the user to said cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the mudguard (5) is installed at a higher level than the height at which the cutter (2) lies.

According to another non-limiting aspect, at least part of the cutter (2) and/or the guide element (3) is made of metallic material, preferably steel, optionally in Boron steel.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the moldboard elements (3c) and/or the ploughshare portion (3a) and/or the plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) are made of metallic material, preferably steel, optionally in Boron steel.

According to another aspect, an accessory device (1 ) for an agricultural machine is described here, in which the accessory device (1 ) for an agricultural machine, in which the accessory device (1 ) comprises a body and a cutter (2) rotatably connected to said body, said cutter (2) extending axially along an axis (X) which in use becomes the rotation axis of the cutter (2), in which the accessory device (1 ) is configured to receive a driving force from a power take-off of the agricultural machine to determine a rotation of the cutter (2), the body of the accessory device (1 ) identifying a front portion (1f) and a rear portion

(1 r), said cutter (2) comprising at least a drive shaft (2h) and a plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) fixed to the drive shaft (2h) to be rigidly transported in rotation by the drive shaft (2h), said plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) comprising at least a first portion (2d, 2e') substantially blade-shaped to enter in use into the ground by an action of a rotational force imposed by the drive shaft (2h).

(1 r), said cutter (2) comprising at least a drive shaft (2h) and a plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) fixed to the drive shaft (2h) to be transported rigidly in rotation by the drive shaft (2h), said plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) comprising at least a first portion (2d, 2e') substantially blade-shaped configured to enter in use into the ground for an action of a force of rotation imposed by the drive shaft (2h), the plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) including a second portion (2d", 2e") substantially horseshoe-shaped, said second portion (2d", 2e") substantially horseshoe shaped being substantially positioned at one end of the substantially blade-shaped portion and/or extending in a substantially oblique direction, optionally substantially orthogonal, to the first portion (2d¹, 2e') substantially blade-shaped.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) comprises at least a first pair of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e), and the cutter (2) comprises at least one protective casing (2b), juxtaposed to at least a first pair of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) of said plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e).

According to another aspect, an agricultural machine is described here which comprises the accessory device according to one or more of the present aspects.

According to a another non-limiting aspect, the agricultural machine comprises an engine, optionally endothermic, having and/or operationally connected to a power take-off configured to transmit a movement force, in particular in rotation, towards said accessory device (1 ).

According to another non-limiting aspect, said agricultural machine comprises at least a first configuration of use in which the power take-off is decoupled from the accessory device (1 ) and at least a second configuration of use in which the power take-off is coupled to the accessory device (1) and rotates said cutter (2).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the agricultural machine comprises a control handlebar.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the accessory device (1 ) is removably connected, and/or is configured to be removably connected, to the agricultural machine. According to another non-limiting aspect, the accessory device (1) is integrally installed on the agricultural machine.

According to another non-limiting aspect, the agricultural machine comprises a pair of self-propelled wheels, configured to perform a traction force in the forward and/or rearward movement of the agricultural machine on the ground (100).

According to another non-limiting aspect, the agricultural machine is a motor hoe.

Presentation of figures

The invention will be described with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a side view of the device object of the present disclosure;

- Figure 2 illustrates a rear view of the device object of the present disclosure;

- Figure 3 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the device subject of this disclosure;

- Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of part of the device object of the present disclosure, in particular of a part of a cutter, partially exploded;

- Figure 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a guide element, forming part of the device object of the present disclosure;

- Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8 and Figure 9 respectively illustrate a first, a second, a third configuration and a fourth configuration of use of the device according to the present invention and

- Figure 10 is a detail view of a component of the device object of the present invention.

Detailed description

The reference number 1 indicates, as a whole, a device for an agricultural machine, particularly intended to be used for tilling the ground (from a purely terminological point of view, it is also underlined how the device object of the present invention can also be called "accessory device" or "accessory" or "tool", these terms being understood as synonyms).

In detail, the device 1 described here is configured to be supported by an agricultural machine (for example a motor hoe), and to be positioned substantially at a power take-off so that an engine, for example and not limited to an internal combustion engine, transfers via the power take-off a rotary motion to a cutter 2 of the device 1 , which is rotatably installed on the body of the device 1. The cutter 2 described here is intended to rotate at a speed which - preferably but not limitedly - is included in the range from about ten revolutions per minute at 200 revolutions per minute. Cutter 2 is therefore arranged to act as the payload of the agricultural machine in which the device 1 is installed.

In order to better understand the arrangement of the various elements of the device 1 described here, reference will be made in the present description to a front portion 1f of the device 1 and to a rear portion 1 r of the device 1 .

The device 1 described here is configured to be moved in use along a predefined direction of advance which is at least partly straight; in order to make it clear in which direction this accessory device is typically intended to be moved by the agricultural machine, in the attached figures there is an arrow F that identifies a direction of advancement.

As can be seen in the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the cutter 2 extends symmetrically starting from a drive unit 4, and therefore with respect to the body of the device 1 ; it therefore appears that the drive unit 4 is substantially positioned at the central portion of the device 1. The cutter 2 substantially extends axially between its first and its second ends along an X axis which in use becomes the rotation axis of the cutter itself.

The drive unit 4, preferably made of steel, distributes the driving force to the left and right portions of the cutter 2 by means of at least one bevel couple, preferably by a plurality of bevel couples.

The bevel couples, in addition to re-orienting the rotation motion of the auxiliary drive shafts towards the cutter shaft, optionally determine a variation of a speed ratio between the rotation speed of the cutter around the X axis and the rotation speed of the power take-off of the agricultural machine.

In use, therefore, the rotation speed of the cutter 2 around the X axis (or, equivalently, its angular speed) is determined and depends with a fixed law on the rotation speed of the power take-off of the agricultural machine.

Merely by way of explanation, it should be noted that, if the accessory device 1 object of the present disclosure is observed with the front portion 1 f to the left, and therefore with the rear portion 1r to the right, the cutter 2 in use will rotate counterclockwise; vice versa, observing the accessory device 1 with the front portion 1 f to the right, and therefore with the rear portion 1 r to the left, the cutter 2 in use will rotate clockwise.

As can be seen from the attached figures, the cutter 2 of the device 1 is arranged symmetrically to the left and to the right of the lower portion of the drive unit 4. In detail, this cutter is conceived in order to allow the ground underneath the accessory device 1 to be worked, tilling the soil in order to make it less compact (that is, chopping or pulverizing it), typically before sowing or transplanting of seeds or small garden or courtyard plants. As shown in detail in the attached figures, in particular in Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4, the cutter 2 comprises a drive shaft 2h extending substantially horizontally and orthogonally to the direction of advancement. Said drive shaft 2h is connected to the drive unit 4 through a gripping member 2a visible in detail in Figure 4. This gripping member 2a is positioned in a central position of the cutter 2.

The cutter 2 includes a plurality of soil tillage elements 2d, 2e, which are actually configured to perform a tilling action of the ground by effect of a force impressed there by the rotation imposed by the drive shaft 2h. The soil tillage elements 2d, 2e are therefore fixed to the 2h drive shaft in such a way as to be transported rigidly in rotation by the latter.

As can be seen from the attached figures, each of the soil tillage elements comprises at least a first substantially blade-shaped portion, indicated with the reference 2d, 2e', which is configured to enter in use into the ground by the action of the force of rotation imposed by the drive shaft 2h. The introduction into the ground takes place at least partially along a direction substantially parallel or slightly inclined with respect to the direction of advancement identified by the arrow F. In other words, a direction of maximum extension of said first substantially blade-shaped portion 2d, 2e' is parallel to a direction of advancement or equivalently it is substantially longitudinal. In a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, at least part of the first portion substantially blade-shaped 2d, 2e' is substantially "J" shaped. In particular, the curve of the "J" - which identifies a peculiar subportion - is found in a distal position of the first substantially blade-shaped portion 2d, 2e', in particular in a position radially of maximum distance with respect to the drive shaft 2h or, equivalently, to the rotation X axis of the cutter 2. This allows make the ground engrave with considerable force, induced by the leverage effect provided by the distance with respect to the drive shaft 2h or, equivalently, by the rotation X axis of the cutter 2. Therefore, the shape of the first substantially blade-shaped portion 2d, 2e' allows to obtain an optimal soil tillage.

Also, the soil tillage elements 2d, 2e include preferably a second portion substantially horseshoe-shaped, identified by the numerical references 2d, 2e". Alternatively to the illustrated horseshoe shape, for the second portion 2d, 2e can have a polygonal shape with sharp edges.

In a preferred and non-limiting embodiment, which is the one represented in the attached figures, the first portion and the second portion 2d, 2e', 2d, 2e" extend seamlessly starting from their respective end positions. In particular, the Applicant observes that the second portion 2d, 2e extends in a substantially oblique direction, optionally at least partially orthogonally, to the first substantially blade-shaped portion 2d, 2e'.

The Applicant observes that the peculiar conformation of the cutter 2 described hereinabove advantageously allows the soil to be tilled in an extremely effective way and prevents or in any case contains the risk of sudden leaps forward of the agricultural machine which could otherwise be generated by the rotation imposed by the cutter 2 on particularly compact grounds. In particular, the Applicant observes that the cutter 2 acts in such a way that the first portion substantially blade-shaped 2d, 2e', splits the ground in the longitudinal direction and facilitates the task of further tilling induced by the second portion 2d, 2e, helping to form clods more easily uprooted even in presence of compact or strongly rooted soils by grass weeds, such as the red weed ( Cynodon dactylon) or similar.

It can be observed how the geometry provided for the first portion 2d, 2e' and for the second portion 2d, 2e defines altogether an extensive impact surface with the ground 100, which significantly contributes to the effectiveness of the pulverization.

It is observed how the curvature of the extremal section in the form of "J" of the first portion 2d, 2e', as well as the curvature of the intermediate section of the second portion 2d, 2e to determine the horseshoe shape, both produce then the advantageous effect of "hiding" the drive shaft 2h during the rotation of the cutter 2, making it very difficult to access for weeds present on the ground and eradicated by the action of the cutter 2. In this way, the formation of a grassy roller around the drive shaft 2h is effectively counteracted, which would produce the known drawbacks of increasing the time and consumptions associated with the milling operation of the ground and to make the driving of the agricultural machine more uneasy and unsafe. In fact, the sections of the first portion and of the second portion 2d, 2e', 2d, 2e substantially parallel to the drive shaft 2h determine a sort of shielding of the drive shaft 2h, while the curved sections of the first portion and of the second portion 2d, 2e', 2d, 2e perform a function of direction ramp of the uprooted weeds which are pushed, during the rotation of the drive shaft 2h, away from the drive shaft 2h.

As illustrated in Figure 5 and as will be described in detail below, the device 1 comprises a guide element 3 configured and specifically intended to introduce itself at least partially into the ground 100, and remain there during the advancement of the device 1 on the ground 100, and to assisting, in use, the maintenance of a predefined direction of advancement F of the device 1 with respect to the ground 100. It is observed in particular that the direction of advancement F is inclined, preferably substantially orthogonal, to the rotation X axis of the cutter 2. In use, therefore, the movement of the accessory device 1 can be determined, at least partially, by the rotation of the cutter 2, in particular when the agricultural machine is a motor hoe without driving wheels, in particular pulling wheels, which advancement is assisted by the rotation of the cutter 2.

In a preferred and non-limiting embodiment, flanges 2f can be installed on the cutter 2 supporting the plurality of soil tillage elements 2d, 2e. In particular, these flanges are configured to host, each of them, a pair of soil tillage elements 2d, 2e. As clearly represented in Figure 4, each flange 2f comprises:

- an engagement portion on the drive shaft, axially arranged on the X axis and by which at least part of the drive shaft 2h is inserted, and

- the disc-shaped flange, lying on a plane substantially orthogonal to the X axis and provided with a plurality of holes to allow the passage of removable locking screws of the soil tillage elements 2d, 2e.

In particular, the flanges 2f can be configured in such a way that they can be coupled longitudinally with other flanges 2f, in order to be able to create a modular type cutter 2, whose extension along the X axis can be varied by adding or elimination of one or more flanges, and therefore - from time to time - of a pair of soil tillage elements 2d, 2e. In order to facilitate the modular configuration of the cutter 2, a hexagonal section can be conveniently provided for the drive shaft 2h.

The Applicant also observed that the soil tillage particularly characterized by strongly rooted and/or long-stemmed herbaceous plants, it can lead to the risk of twisting the stem or roots in the most central cutter 2, that is near the junction between the drive shaft 2h and the drive unit 2. For this reason, the Applicant has conceived an embodiment of the cutter 2 which is equipped with at least one protective casing 2b, keyed on the drive shaft 2h and juxtaposed to at least a first pair of soil tillage 100 elements 2d, 2e or, to the flange 2f. In a preferred embodiment, this protective casing 2b, which preferably but not limitedly, has an at least partially cylindrical shape with a circular section (with an open or closed bottom wall), and it is fixed to the flange 2f preferably and not limitedly by a pair of screws introduced into opposite holes in the casing 2b. Given the attachment to the drive shaft 2h, the casing 2b rotates integrally with the drive shaft 2h and, therefore, integrally with the soil tillage elements 2d, 2e. According to an embodiment (not shown in the figures), the casing 2b can be constrained to the drive shaft 2h in order to allow the operator to change the position along the drive shaft 2h, at will. In the attached figures, in particular in Figure 4, it is also visible a pair of furrowing elements 2c (also definable with the term "rostrums"), fixed, positioned to the left and to the right of motion transfer which from the drive unit 4 transmits the motion to the drive shaft 2h. The presence of the furrowing elements 2c is such as to allow to optimize the processing of the ground and the fragmentation of the clods at the central area of the tiller where there are no soil tillage elements 2d, 2e. Preferably, although not limitedly, the shape of these furrowing elements 2c is substantially crescent-shaped, and these develop substantially as planar surfaces substantially orthogonal to the rotation X axis of the cutter 2. In an embodiment of the present invention (not shown in the figures), the furrowing elements 2c are connected to the body of the device 1 by movable joints, in order to allow the operator to vary the height and/or angle with respect to the drive shaft 2h.

The embodiment of the cutter 2 object of the present disclosure is such that it starts symmetrically to the left and to the right with respect to the drive unit 4. Therefore the cutter 2 has a portion of a drive shaft 2h to the left, and a portion of drive shaft 2h to the right. The cutter 2 shown in the attached figures has a plurality of pairs of soil working elements 2d, 2e, in which, for each pair, a first soil tillage element 2d and a second soil tillage element 2e are coupled in such a configuration whereby the respective portions 2d, 2e substantially horseshoe-shaped are opposite to each other, that is they are installed in opposite positions on the flange 2f.

As can be appreciated especially in Figure 3, the first and second soil tillage elements 2d, 2e are therefore advantageously installed in pairs positioned at the same point of the drive shaft 2h, with an angular distance substantially equal to 180°.

Since the first and second soil tillage elements 2d, 2e each have the respective first portion and the respective second portion 2d, 2e', 2d, 2e in a single body, in particular the first portions 2d, 2e' of each pair are also angularly spaced from each other by an angle substantially equal to 180°, just as the second portions 2d, 2e of each pair are also angularly spaced from each other by a angle substantially equal to 180°. In the representation provided in Figures 1 , 3 and 4, we have that the first and the second soil tillage element 2d, 2e of each pair has the same angular orientation. Alternatively, the pairs of first and second soil tillage elements 2d, 2e can be installed angularly offset from each other, for example by providing, between one pair and the next along the drive shaft 2h, a predetermined variation in the mounting angle on the drive shaft 2h.

Looking at the cutter 2 from the front, that is with the rotation X axis extending from left to right, each pair of the first and second soil tillage element 2d, 2e on the right side of the cutter is substantially at the same distance with respect to a central portion of the cutter 2 and, therefore, of the accessory with respect to the mirror pair of the first and second soil tillage elements 2d, 2e installed on the left side of the cutter.

The soil tillage elements 2d, 2e can be twelve in number, arranged in three pairs of soil tillage elements 2d, 2e for each side of the drive shaft 2h. From a dimensional point of view, a drive shaft length 2h between 500 mm and 1500 mm is considered, preferably between 800 mm and 1200 mm, even more preferably about 1000 mm, a drive shaft section 2h between 5 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 35 mm, even more preferably about 28 mm, a radial extension of the soil tillage elements 2d, 2e between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 35 mm, even more preferably between 10 mm and 75 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 50 mm, even more preferably about 30 mm.

The guide element 3 has a conformation such as to perform in use a force of contrast with the ground 100, and this force of contrast is intended to cause, at least partially, a sinking of the guide element 3 into the ground 100.

The guide element 3 protrudes at the rear portion 1 r of the body of the accessory device 1 and in detail has a coupling fork 3e configured to be rigidly fixed to the drive unit 4 and equipped with a pair of substantially aligned holes along the same axis such as to allow the passage of a pin 3f for fixing a connecting bar 3d. A split pin 3h, in particular for example an elastic safety split pin, is introduced in use by an operator in a transverse drilling of the pin 3f. The connecting bar 3d can therefore rotate with respect to the fork 3e, in particular on the pin 3f which in use is substantially oriented in the vertical direction.

The guide element 3 also comprises a support bar 3b, configured to achieve the removable fixing of at least one of a plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c, or equivalent whale tail and a ploughshare element 3a, or equivalent to a fin (elements that will be better described in following).

The connecting bar 3d has a first end provided with a substantially circular hole for the passage of the pin 3f and a second end opposite the first end equipped with a hole which allows the passage of the support bar 3b.

The support bar 3b in use extends in a substantially vertical direction and has a plurality of holes 3g which allow the introduction of a height adjustment pin 3k. The support bar 3b can therefore slide into the hole located in the second end of the connection bar 3d, and the relative position between the two is determined by the introduction of the height adjustment pin 3k. This relative position determines the working depth of the elements (moldboard elements 3c, 3cand/or element a ploughshare 3a) that can be hosted on it. According to the embodiment of the present invention represented in the figures accompanying the present description, the guide element 3 is therefore configured to allow the operator of the agricultural machine to adjust the penetration of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and/or the ploughshare element 3a into the ground 100, being able to make use of a predetermined number of depths available for this purpose, coinciding with the number of holes 3g along the support bar 3b. The coupling between the support bar 3b and the connecting bar 3d, in the embodiment shown in the figures, is in fact such as to leave a single translational degree of freedom of the support bar 3b along a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of development of the connecting bar 3d, this degree of freedom can be suppressed by applying the adjustment pin 3k.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown in the figures), a rotational degree of freedom can be provided between the support bar 3b and the connecting bar 3d, obtained for example by a hinge positioned between the support bar 3b and the connecting bar 3d. This alternative embodiment is advantageous as it allows the operator to vary the inclination of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and/or the ploughshare element 3a with respect to the ground 100. Since this inclination is adjustable, the angle at which the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and/or the ploughshare element 3a affect the ground 100, for example, depending on the compactness of the ground to be worked, is consequently adjustable. Once the desired inclination has been set, the rotational degree of freedom is appropriately suppressed by the operator, for example by locking the hinge.

According to another alternative embodiment of the present invention, both a translational degree of freedom and a rotational degree of freedom can be provided between the support bar 3b and the connecting bar 3d, with the benefit for the operator of being able to set both the height and the inclination of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and/or of the ploughshare element 3a (and consequently both the depth of penetration into the ground 100 and the angle of incidence with the ground 100).

The configurations of the guide element 3 which allow height and inclination adjustments make the device 1 (and consequently the agricultural machine in which the device 1 is applied) very versatile, as the operator has the possibility to adjust the height and/or the inclination of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and/or the ploughshare element 3a depending, for example, on the characteristics of the ground that is about to be worked and/or the type of effect to be obtained.

This versatility is further increased by the fact that the moldboard elements 3c and/or the ploughshare element 3a are installed in a removable way, so that the operator can decide what to use between the ploughshare element 3a and/or the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’, as well as deciding how to position between the ploughshare element 3a and/or the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ with respect to the cutter 2 (see in this regard Figures 6 to 8 which will be described later).

As can be seen in Figure 5, the moldboard elements 3c, 3c', or equivalent to a whale tail, and the ploughshare element 3a, or equivalent to a fin, are fixed substantially at a lower end portion of the support bar 3b. The ploughshare element 3a and/or the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ are installed at this lower end portion of the bar support 3b according to a predetermined inclination which can be a fixed inclination or preferably an adjustable inclination for example according to the type of the ground to be worked. To this end, the connection between the ploughshare element 3a and/or the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ to the support bar 3b can be obtained by bolts.

The moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ are particularly effective on soft ground in favoring the maintenance of an adequate working depth for the cutter 2 and/or to guide the device 1 along the predetermined direction identified by arrow F.

The moldboard elements 3c, 3c’, are preferably two in number and exhibit a symmetrical conformation with respect to a plane of symmetry which advantageously coincides with a plane of the ploughshare element 3a. As can be appreciated in particular in Figures 2 and 3, the first moldboard element 3c advantageously has a specular conformation to the second moldboard element 3c’, differing from the second moldboard element 3c' only because the first moldboard element 3c exhibits a leftward curvature to an observer positioned behind the device 1 , while the second moldboard element 3c exhibits a curvature towards the right. In a pair of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’, there is typically a fixed distance between the first element and the second element. Flowever, an embodiment in which the guide element 3 is provided with spreading means may be contemplated to allow the operator to adjust the distance between the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’.

The moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ assume a substantially crescent shape and have a significantly reduced thickness with respect to the longitudinal and transverse extension. Their positioning on the support bar 3b is such that, with the advancement of the device 1 along the direction of advancement, they offer a respective inclined surface (which practically acts as a blade), in such a way as to cause or assist their penetration into the ground and/or the maintenance of a correct penetration into the ground. It is observed that the penetration of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ into the ground assists or determines the reaching a predetermined working depth also for the cutter 2. As can be seen from the detailed view in Figure 10 which shows in particular the second moldboard element 3c’, the moldboard elements 3c, 3c' have at least one sharp edge to increase the ability to break the clods. The moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ represented in the Figures exhibit a profile characterized by a curvature around a single axis. This is to be understood as a non-limiting one, as different embodiments of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ can instead exhibit a profile characterized by a double curvature around a pair of axes incident to each other, in particular orthogonal to each other. Variations in the thickness and/or width along the direction of development of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ can also be envisaged.

The ploughshare element 3a is configured to guide the advancement of the accessory device 1 along a predetermined direction, and for this reason it assumes the shape of a planar element which extends substantially vertically and along a direction parallel to the direction of advance F.

The effectiveness of the ploughshare element 3a to guide the advancement along the predetermined direction of advancement is particularly significant on hard grounds.

In a particular embodiment, this ploughshare element 3a assumes a three-quarter circumference shape and identifies a tip oriented along the feed direction F (direction concordant with the advancement direction F).

Although in Figure 5 both the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and the ploughshare element 3a are illustrated in a specific spatial configuration, neither this spatial configuration nor their simultaneous presence is to be considered as limiting. The exploded configuration in Figure 5 substantially corresponds to the configuration represented in figure 6, in which the ploughshare element 3a in use precedes the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ along the direction of advancement F. In other words, the ploughshare element 3a is positioned at a first distance with respect to the cutter 2 (this distance is measured along a direction substantially parallel to the direction of advancement indicated by the letter F) and the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ is positioned at a second distance with respect to the cutter 2, the first distance being less than the second distance. In this configuration, the ploughshare element 3a contributes to a correct anchoring of the device 1 to the ground 100 and the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ contribute instead to an adequate balancing of the device 1 when advancing on the ground 100.

In a non-limiting embodiment, and not shown in the attached figures, the guide element 3 can be configured to allow the adjustment of a working depth, in particular and not limited to the maximum working depth, of the ploughshare element 3a. For "working depth" we mean the height of introduction of the guide element 3 into the ground.

In particular, the working depth of the ploughshare element 3a can be adjusted independently of the working depth at which the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ are configured. This allows to optimize the working conditions for the accessory device object of the present disclosure. More precisely, therefore, defined as the first working depth that working depth at which the ploughshare element 3a is configured to work, and also defined as the second working depth that working depth at which the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ is configured to work, the element guide 3 is advantageously configured to allow adjustment of the first working depth independently of the second working depth.

A different spatial configuration between the ploughshare portion 3a and the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ is illustrated in Figure 7. In this configuration, the ploughshare element 3a in use follows the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ along the direction of travel. In other words, the ploughshare element 3a is positioned at a first distance with respect to the cutter 2 and the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ is positioned at a second distance with respect to the cutter 2, the first distance being this time greater than the second distance.

It can be observed that also in the configuration of Figure 7 the ploughshare element 3a continues to maintain its function of guiding the advancement of the device 1 along the predetermined direction identified by the advance arrow F. In the configuration of Figure 7, the tip of the ploughshare element 3a is oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of advance F.

The configuration illustrated in Figure 7, where the ploughshare element 3a in use follows the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ along the direction of advancement, is particularly effective if the accessory device 1 is used on soft ground, in particular but not limited to sandy grounds. In this specific configuration, the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ can also act as a support and/or as an aid to maintaining the balance of the agricultural machine, in particular if the accessory device is mounted on it cantilevered.

In the configurations illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the ploughshare element 3a is positioned in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’.

Another configuration is shown in Figure 8. In this configuration, particularly suitable for a mixed type of ground, the guide element 3 has the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and the ploughshare element is not fixed to the support bar 3b. Another configuration is represented in Figure 9 which differs from the configuration in Figure 8 due to a different orientation of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ with respect to the support bar 3b. In fact, while in the configuration shown in Figure 8 the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ develop along a direction inclined with respect to the support bar 3b, in the configuration shown in Figure 9 the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ develop along a direction substantially parallel to the support bar 3b (and therefore orthogonally to the ground 100).

Another configuration, not shown in the attached figures, is characterized by the fact that the guide element has only the ploughshare element 3a fixed to the support bar 3b and the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ is absent. This configuration can be advantageously used for working extremely hard ground 100. In this case, it is convenient to install the ploughshare element 3a so that its tip is directed parallel to the direction of advancement of the ground.

In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the ploughshare element 3a and the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ are rigidly fixed on the support bar 3b. This situation is not to be intended as limiting, since the coupling between the ploughshare element 3a with the support bar 3b and/or the coupling between the plurality of moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ with the support bar 3b can be also made of articulated type, so that their inclination and/or their spatial orientation with respect to remaining elements of the accessory device are variable, to adapt to different ground configurations.

More specifically, in a non-limiting embodiment, the ploughshare element 3a can be made rotatable on a substantially vertical plane, that is on a plane substantially orthogonal to the X axis of rotation of the cutter 2. The rotation can for example be determined by the release of a locking pin and the ploughshare element 3a can assume a predefined plurality of rotation positions on this plane, in such a way as to direct, for example, the tip parallel to the ground 100 or downwards, or alternatively upwards. An analogous expedient can be contemplated also for moldboard elements 3c, 3c’.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the ploughshare element 3a and/or the moldboard element 3c, 3c’ are provided with a toothed or serrated profile.

According to this non-limiting embodiment, at least part of the ploughshare element 3a may include a plurality of perimeter teeth, optionally protruding radially outwards and aligned along the plane on which the ploughshare element 3a substantially lies. Again according to this non-limiting embodiment, at least one of the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ can comprise a plurality of perimeter teeth obtained on an edge of the moldboard element designed to break the ground 100 during the advancement of the agricultural machine along the perimeter ground 100.

Finally, it is noted that in a preferred and non-limiting embodiment, illustrated in the attached figures, the accessory device 1 comprises at least one mudguard 5. This mudguard

5 is configured to protect the user from the soil elements projected by the cutter 2 in use during rotation and/or is configured to prevent and/or limit unintentional access of the user to the end of the cutter 2. In particular, it can be observed that the mudguard 5 is installed at a higher level than the height at which the cutter 2 lies, and its longitudinal extension is greater towards the rear portion 1 r than it is towards the front portion 1f.

In a preferred and non-limiting embodiment, at least part of the mudguard 5 is made of metallic material.

Optionally, although not limitedly, the drive unit 4 can comprise at least one output shaft which in the attached figures is indicated with the numerical reference 6. Said output shaft is substantially positioned at the upper portion of the drive unit 4 and is accessible from the rear portion 1 r of the accessory device 1.

Preferably, the output shaft 6 is constrained in rotation with the cutter 2 without the interposition of clutches; for this reason it rotates simultaneously with the cutter 2 in a predefined and fixed rotation ratio.

In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the output shaft rotates along a horizontal axis and parallel to the direction of advancement indicated by the arrow F. Said output shaft 6 is configured to be rotated, optionally directly or by interposition of a cascade of gears, with the power take-off of the agricultural machine. The purpose of the output shaft

6 is to allow the transmission of motion also to additional accessories that can be fixed to the accessory device 1 object of this disclosure (for example, but not limited to, a pump for spraying or for weeding). For this reason, the output shaft 6 is positioned at an auxiliary support flange 6f, in particular in the center of this flange. The auxiliary support flange 6f includes 6k holes for fixing the additional accessory previously mentioned.

Preferably, but not limitedly, at least part of the cutter 2 and/or the guide element 3 are made of steel or an equivalent high-strength metal material, and more preferably they are made of Boron steel.

The Applicant notes that Boron steel is particularly suitable for the use of accessories suitable for use in heavy agricultural operations, because it has considerable wear resistance combined with considerable toughness and relatively low cost. In particular, Boron steel represents a suitable constituent material for the moldboard elements 3c, 3c’ and/or for the ploughshare element 3a and/or for the plurality of soil 100 tillage elements 2d, 2e.

Also, with Boron steel, or equivalent metal material, the mudguard 5 can also be made.

Advantages of the invention

The advantages of the accessory device according to the invention are clear in view of the above. In fact, the accessory device allows the ground to be tilled effectively and safely and also allows to provide an aid for maintaining the direction of the agricultural machine, in particular if the type is not self-propelled (in fact the guide element produces a sort of "rudder effect").

When in particular the accessory device described here is installed on an agricultural machine without driving wheels, this accessory device reduces the risk of forward jumps which could, otherwise, be present if the accessory device is operated on particularly hard ground.

The presence in particular of the ploughshare element and/or moldboard elements makes it possible to considerably improve the stability of the agricultural machine even in the case of working on particularly compact ground, so that the efforts borne by the operator for driving the machine agricultural is significantly downsized. Furthermore, the driving of the agricultural machine is made easier not only by the fact that, thanks in particular to the ploughshare element and/or the moldboard elements, a greater precision in the advancement, but also for the considerable attenuation of the vibrations that propagate up to the handlebar of the agricultural machine. Furthermore, the Applicant points out how the application of the guiding element with the ploughshare element and/or the moldboard elements produces the effect of retracting the center of gravity of the agricultural machine, bringing it closer to the operator and making the operation guide even easier.

Furthermore, the present invention achieves the advantage of making the action of the agricultural machine (for example of the motor hoe) more effective, obtaining high pulverization of the ground even with a single passage of the cutter machine. In fact, the present invention allows a greater depth of penetration into the ground with respect to the known art. A remarkable result is obtained saving in terms of time required by the operator, even more significant given the measures envisaged to counter the formation of a grass roller on the drive shaft and to prevent the uprooted weeds from reaching the transfer group of motion to the drive shaft (avoiding the operator having to resort to preliminary operations with respect to milling, precisely to eradicate weeds from the ground). A significant saving in fuel consumption is also achieved, with benefits also at the environmental level (lower emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere).

Furthermore, the present invention achieves the advantage of making the agricultural machine versatile in order to be able to work in the best possible way grounds with very heterogeneous characteristics, from hard and/or compact grounds to soft and/or sandy grounds. In fact, the tool according to the present invention lends itself to being able to be varied in terms of configuration (especially at the guide element) in order to be best adapted to the characteristics of the ground being worked on.

Finally, in particular, the modular conformation of the drive shaft and the removability of the ploughshare element and moldboard elements make it possible to carry out maintenance operations in a very easy and fast way, as well as to replace components of the accessory device also based on the characteristics of the ground to be worked and/or the penetration into the ground to be obtained.

For example, the operator may have at his disposal a certain range of ploughshare elements and moldboard elements and can choose which ones to mount to the accessory device for the purpose of working the ground he is preparing to perform.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures. For example, asymmetrical configurations can be adopted for the cutter, instead of the symmetrical configuration described and represented.

For this reason, the signs or reference numbers that indicate certain elements are provided for the unique purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims, and should not be interpreted as limiting.

Finally, it is clear that additions, modifications or variants can be applied to the object of the present invention, which are obvious to a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection provided by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Device (1 ) for an agricultural machine, the device (1 ) comprising a body and a cutter (2) rotatably coupled to said body, said cutter (2) extending axially along an axis (X) which in use becomes the rotation axis of the cutter (2), the device (1) being configured to receive a driving force from a power take-off of the agricultural machine to determine a rotation of the cutter (2), the device (1) further comprising a guide element (3) which protrudes in particular from a rear portion (1r) of said body, said guide element (3) being configured and specifically intended to be introduced at least partially into the ground (100), remaining there during the advancement of the device (1), and to assist, in use, in maintaining a predefined direction of advancement (F) of the device (1) with respect to the ground (100), said direction of advancement (F) being inclined, in particular substantially orthogonal, to the rotation axis (X) of the cutter (2), optionally the guide element (3) presenting a conformation such as to exert, in use, a force in contrast with the ground (100) intended to cause the guide element (3) to sink into the ground (100).

2. Device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the guide element (3) comprises a plurality, in particular a pair, of moldboard elements (3c, 3c'), wherein said moldboard elements (3c, 3c') are configured to penetrate deeply into the ground (1) during an advancement of said device (1) along said direction of advancement (F).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the guide element (3) comprises a ploughshare element (3a) extending on a substantially vertical plane and / or on a plane parallel to the direction of advancement (F) of the device (1 ) and / or orthogonal to the axis (X) of rotation of the cutter (2), the ploughshare member (3a) being configured to guide the device to advance (1) along the direction of advancement (F).

4. Device (1 ) according to claim 2 and claim 3, wherein the guide element (3) comprises at least one joint configured to allow the adjustment of a working depth and / or a working inclination of said ploughshare element (3a) and / or of said moldboard elements (3c, 3c') and / or wherein the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') are configured to work at a predetermined first working depth, the ploughshare portion (3a) is configured to work at a predetermined second working depth and the guiding element (3) is configured to allow adjustment of said first working depth independently of said second working depth, and / or wherein the guide element (3) is adjustable in height, so that the ploughshare element (3a) and / or the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') can move at least between a first operating height, configured to cause a sinking of the ploughshare element (3a) and / or moldboard elements (3c, 3c') at a first depth in the ground (100), and a second operating height, configured to cause a sinking of the ploughshare element (3a) and / or of the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') to a second depth in the ground (100), said second depth differing in particular from said first depth, and / or wherein the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') are configured to work on one predetermined first working inclination, the ploughshare portion (3a) is configured to work at a predetermined second working inclination and the guide element (3) is configured to allow an adjustment of said first working inclination independently of said second working inclination, and / or wherein the guide element (3) is adjustable in angle, so that the ploughshare element (3a) and / or the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') can move at least between a first operating angle, configured to cause a sinking of the ploughshare element (3a) and / or of the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') according to a first inclination with respect to the ground (100), and a second operating angle, configured to cause the sinking of the ploughshare element 30 (3a) and / or of the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') according to a second inclination with respect to the ground (100), said second inclination differing in particular from said first inclination and / or wherein the ploughshare element (3a) in use precedes the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') along the direction of advancement (F), the ploughshare element (3a) being positioned at a first distance from the cutter (2) and the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') being positioned at a second distance with respect to the cutter (2) said first distance being smaller than said second distance, or wherein the ploughshare element (3a) in use follows the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') along the direction of advancement (F), the ploughshare element (3a) being positioned at a first distance from the cutter (2) and the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') being positioned at a second distance from the cutter (2), said first distance being greater than said second distance and / or wherein the ploughshare element (3a) and the moldboard elements (3c, 3c') are made of metallic material, preferably steel, optionally Boron steel.

5. Device (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cutter (2) comprises at least one drive shaft (2h) and a plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) fixed to the drive shaft (2h) to be transported rigidly in rotation by the drive shaft (2h), wherein the soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) are configured to till the soil (100) by rotating action around said rotation axis (X) of the cutter and / or around said drive shaft (2h), optionally wherein the cutter (2) comprises a plurality of flanges (2f) for supporting the plurality of soil (100) tillage elements (2d, 2e) and wherein each flange (2f) of said plurality of flanges (2f) comprises an engagement portion on the drive shaft (2h) and is configured to be dragged rigidly rotating from the drive shaft (2h).

6. Device (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the tillage elements (2d, 2e) includes:

- a first portion (2d¹, 2e') substantially in the shape of a blade in particular conformed to "J" and

- a second portion (2d", 2e") markedly shaped substantially in the shape of a horseshoe.

7. Device (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein said at least one of the soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) is a monolithic element, said first portion (2d¹, 2e') and said second portion (2d", 2e") forming opposite ends of said at least one of the soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) and / or wherein said second portion (2d", 2e") extends in an oblique direction, optionally substantially orthogonal, to said first portion (2d ', 2e') and / or wherein said first portion (2d¹, 2e') and said second portion (2d", 2e") are made of metallic material, preferably steel, optionally in Boron steel.

8. Device (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cutter (2) comprises at least one protective casing (2b), juxtaposed to at least a first pair of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e) of the said plurality of soil tillage elements (2d, 2e), optionally wherein said casing (2b) has a cylindrical conformation with a circular section and / or wherein said casing (2b) is devised to protect a unit of motion transfer to the drive shaft (2h) from intrusions of vegetation uprooted from the ground (100) during the advancement of the agricultural machine.

9. Device (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one furrowing element (2c), preferably a pair of furrowing elements (2c), said at least one furrowing element (2c) being positioned at a substantially central and / or proximal internal portion of the cutter (2) and developing in a substantially planar shape along a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis (X) of rotation of the cutter (2), said at least one furrowing element (2c) being installed in particular fixedly on said body.

10. Agricultural machine comprising:

- a device (1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims,

- a motor configured to generate a force of motion and

- a power take-off kinematically connected to said motor for transmitting said force of motion towards said device (1 ) and determining a rotation of said cutter (2) with respect to said body.