WEED TURNING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a weed-removing device which can be attached to a tractor. It comprises a chassis (3) carried by the tractor (2), on which are mounted: - on the one hand a rotor (4) comprising a transverse shaft (40), driven in rotation in the direction of rotation of the wheels (20) of the tractor (2) and at a higher rotation speed, carrying juxtaposed radial arms (5), angularly offset two by two, and the end of each of which consists of a curved sole (50), of curvature concentric to the shaft (40), - and on the other hand, behind and under the rotor (4), two juxtaposed rollers (6, 7), the axes of which are carried by a circle (B) concentric to the shaft (40) and so that the rollers (6, 7), which rotate in the opposite direction to that of the rotor (4), are flush with the soles (50), the one of the rollers (6, 7) arranged lowest, extending close to the ground (S).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a weed-removing device, attachable to a tractor.

[0002] Due to new environmental standards, weed control can no longer be carried out using treatment products; it can only be done mechanically, and essentially manually.

[0003] Australian patent document number AU 54766 73 discloses a weed-removing device capable of being attached to a tractor, with a chassis on which are mounted three rollers of approximately equal diameters and arranged so that the rolling surface of each of the rollers is in contact with the rolling surface of the other two rollers.

[0004] In operation, weeds that come into contact with the surfaces of the two counter-rotating rollers closest to the ground are trapped between them and are pulled out, the third roller being expected, due to its contact with each of the first two rollers, to facilitate the pulling out of the weeds.

[0005] However, this device is not very effective, particularly on low-height weeds, and the multiple rollers mean that tall weeds may become trapped between them.

[0006] Thus, as far as large agricultural areas are concerned, there is no tool for efficient mechanized uprooting, and manual uprooting is not profitable.

[0007] The present invention aims to remedy this deficiency by proposing a weed removal device which can be attached to a tractor.

[0008] The weed-removing device attachable to a tractor according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a chassis carried by said tractor, on which are mounted: on the one hand a rotor comprising a transverse shaft, driven in rotation in the direction of rotation of the wheels of said tractor and at a higher rotation speed, carrying juxtaposed radial arms, angularly offset two by two, and the end of each of which consists of a curved sole, of concentric curvature to said shaft, and on the other hand, behind and under said rotor, two juxtaposed rollers, the axes of which are carried by a circle concentric to said shaft and so that said rollers, which rotate in the opposite direction to that of said rotor, are flush with said soles, the one of said rollers arranged lowest, extending close to the ground.

[0009] It will be understood that in use, initially the lowest roller and then the second roller tend to raise the grass, while the rotor soles jam the grass against said rollers, and due to the difference in rotation speed, the grass is uprooted.

[0010] According to an additional characteristic of the tearing device according to the invention, the radial arms consist of diametrical arms, comprising two diametrically opposed soles.

[0011] According to another additional characteristic of the tearing device according to the invention, each of the soles is covered with an elastic lining.

[0012] The elastic lining can consist of a rubber plate or similar, it ensures that the grass is wedged against the rollers.

[0013] According to another additional characteristic of the tearing device according to the invention, the rotation of the rollers is ensured by contact with the soles, through the stuck grass.

[0014] According to another additional characteristic of the tearing device according to the invention, the rotor comprises a succession of regularly spaced flanges carrying, two by two, radial arms.

[0015] According to another additional characteristic of the lifting device according to the invention, the rotation speed of the rotor is controlled by that of the movement of the towing vehicle.

[0016] The advantages and characteristics of the tearing device according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the attached drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

[0017] In the attached drawing: [ Fig.1 ] represents a partial schematic profile view of the weed removal device according to the invention. [ Fig.2 ] represents in perspective a part of the same tearing device. [ Fig.3 ] represents a partial schematic profile view of a part of the same device.

[0018] In reference to the figure 1 , we can see a device 1 for pulling out weeds according to the invention, attached to the rear of a tractor 2, and pulled by the latter in direction A.

[0019] This weed-removing device 1 comprises a chassis 3 carrying a transverse rotor 4 mounted in rotation on a shaft 40, in the direction R identical to that of the wheels 10 of the tractor machine 1, and driven by motor means not shown.

[0020] Also referring to the figure 2 , we can see that the rotor 4 comprises a succession of regularly spaced flanges 41 carrying, two by two, radial arms 5.

[0021] Non-limitingly, two adjacent flanges 41 carry between them two diametrically opposed radial arms 5. Each arm 5 has at its free end a sole 50 of width corresponding to the spacing between the two flanges 41, and of a curvature concentric with the shaft 40, so that in rotation the soles 50 are inscribed in a circle C.

[0022] From a construction point of view, each arm 5 comprises two plates 51 and 52 secured to the sole 50, and each able to be secured to a flange 41.

[0023] On a pair of flanges 41 are therefore fixed two diametrically opposed arms 5, while one of the flanges 41 of this pair of flanges 41 carries, with the following flange 41, two other arms 5 diametrically opposed but angularly offset relative to the two neighboring arms 5, in this case, non-limitingly, by 90°.

[0024] This offset is of course linked to the dimensions of the soles 50, so on the figure 1 , we can see that this offset is 45°.

[0025] Also referring to the figure 3, it can be seen that the weed-removing device according to the invention also comprises two rollers 6 and 7, arranged transversely behind the rotor 4 and under it close to the ground S, mounted in free rotation on shafts, respectively 60 and 70, the axes of which are carried by a circle B concentric to the shaft 40, while these rollers 6 and 7 are tangent to the circle C, that is to say to the soles 50, the roller 6 being arranged closest to the ground S.

[0026] When the assembly is moved, the roller 6, then the roller 7 pass under the grass to be pulled out, while the soles 50, as the rotor 4 rotates, wedge this grass against the rollers 6 and 7, to pull it out and throw it behind the rotor 4.

[0027] The rollers 6 and 7 as well as the rotor 4 are adjusted in height so as not to come into contact with the ground S, and so that the area at which the soles 50 come into contact with the rollers 6 and 7, coincides with the size of the grass to be pulled out.

[0028] It will be noted that advantageously, the soles 50 are each provided with a lining 53 made of flexible material of the elastomer or rubber type, ensuring that the grass is properly wedged against the rollers 6 and 7.

[0029] The rotation speed of the rotor 4 is such that the linear speed of the soles 50 is greater than the linear speed of the tractor 2, and above all capable of allowing the entire grassy surface to be treated, knowing that the soles 50 are diametrically opposed.

[0030] This being the case, it is possible to provide that the rotation speed of the rotor 4 is controlled by that of the movement of the towing vehicle 2.

Claims

1. Weed-removing device attachable to a tractor characterized in that it comprises a chassis (3) carried by said tractor (2), on which are mounted: - on the one hand a rotor (4) comprising a transverse shaft (40), driven in rotation in the direction of rotation of the wheels (20) of said tractor (2) and at a higher rotation speed, carrying juxtaposed radial arms (5), angularly offset two by two, and the end of each of which consists of a curved sole (50), of curvature concentric with said shaft (40), - and on the other hand, behind and under said rotor (4), two juxtaposed rollers (6, 7), the axes of which are carried by a circle (B) concentric with said shaft (40) and so that said rollers (6, 7), which rotate in the opposite direction to that of said rotor (4), are flush with said soles (50), that of said rollers (6, 7) arranged lowest, extending close to the ground (S).

2. Pulling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial arms (5) consist of diametrical arms, comprising two diametrically opposed soles (50).

3. A tearing device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each of the soles (50) is covered with an elastic lining (53).

4. Pulling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotation of the rollers (6, 7) is ensured by contact with the soles (50), through the stuck grass.

5. Pulling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rotor (4) comprises a succession of regularly spaced flanges (41) carrying, in pairs, radial arms (5).

6. Pulling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe rotation speed of the rotor (4) is controlled by the movement speed of the towing vehicle (2).