Rod-type support structure for agricultural machines, such as precision seeding machines, and seeding machine comprising such structure

Abstract

A rod support structure (1) for an agricultural machine, such as a precision seeder, comprises: at least one main beam (2) having opposite axial ends, at least one of the axial ends being arranged to be closed by a removable cover; and at least one secondary beam (11) which can be removably connected to an axial end of the main beam (2) in place of a removable cover in a manner of an axial extension of the main beam (2). The primary beam (2) and the at least one secondary beam (11) are configured as a closed tubular structure at least when they are connected to each other and comprise attachment arrangements for the seeding elements, the leveling system and the respective working ducts (20). The working pipes (20) are arranged inside the tubular structure (1) of the primary beam (2) and the secondary beam (11) and provided with connectors (21) for connecting the corresponding working pipes (20) of the primary beam (2) and the secondary beam (11) to each other and connectors (21) arranged on the primary beam (2) and the secondary beam (11) to connect the working pipes with the corresponding seeding and leveling elements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rod support structure for an agricultural machine, such as a precision seeder, the rod support structure comprising the features described in the preamble of the main claim.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a seeder comprising said structure. Background Art

[0003] For example, a structure comprising these features is known from US10448560.

[0004] Rod support structures intended for fitting to agricultural machines are also known from US20190 00009, US2016 135360, US 9554505, US 8567517, US2014 0060867, US 4151886, US 4453601, US4729435, US4453601, US10448560 and US 4151886.

[0005] Like the present invention, the structure described in US10448560 is configured to be fitted with a plurality of seeding elements for precision seeding, the seeding elements preferably being of the pneumatically operated type.

[0006] The solution described proposes using the rod as a conduit for connection to a decompression system at the seeding elements, which use this decompression system to singularize the seeds according to methods known per se.

[0007] This solution is advantageous in that it reduces the number of conduits that are installed outside the machine and are thus exposed to potential damage caused by impact and wear.

[0008] However, this system only represents a partial solution to the problem, since it only protects the connection between the seeding elements and the decompression pneumatic circuit. No suggestions are made for other users. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to implement a rod support structure that is structurally and functionally configured to overcome the drawbacks set forth in the cited prior art.

[0010] The present invention solves this problem by means of a rod support structure constructed according to one or more of the appended claims.

[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, a rod support structure for an agricultural machine and in particular for constructing a precision seeder includes: at least one main beam having opposite axial ends, at least one of the axial ends being preferably arranged to be closed by a removable cover; and at least one secondary beam which can preferably be removably connected to the axial end of the main beam in the form of an axial extension of the main beam instead of the removable cover. Preferably, both the main beam and the at least one secondary beam are constructed as closed tubular structures at least when the main beam and the at least one secondary beam are connected to each other or when the main beam is closed by the cover. Preferably, the main beam and the at least one secondary beam include attachment arrangements for seeding elements and a leveling system. In a preferred embodiment, these arrangements include corresponding working ducts located on the main beam. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the working ducts are provided inside the tubular structures of the main beam and the secondary beam, and there are connectors for connecting the corresponding working ducts in the main beam and the secondary beam to each other. In addition, there are connectors on the main beam and the secondary beam to connect the working ducts to the corresponding seeding elements and leveling elements. In this way, the secondary beam can be installed as an extension of the main beam by a simplified intervention without the need to provide any additional material.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the main beam is connected to a first pneumatic system for seed singulation. In this case, preferably, within the area of the attachment arrangements for seeding elements on at least one of the main beam and the secondary beam, there are feedthrough connectors for connecting the first pneumatic system to the seeding elements by means of the beam. Thus, the main beam and the secondary beam (or multiple beams in the case of more than one beam) serve as supply ducts for pressurizing the first system to the respective seeding elements.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the main beam is connected to a second pneumatic system with positive pressure. In this case, preferably, within the area of the attachment arrangements for seeding elements on at least one of the main beam and the secondary beam, there are feedthrough connectors for connecting the second pneumatic system to the seeding elements by means of the working ducts. In this way, the working ducts are provided inside the main beam and the secondary beam and are protected.

[0014] In a preferred solution, the working ducts of the main beam and the secondary beam can be connected to each other.

[0015] In an advantageous option, the secondary beam is two beams arranged to be connected to the corresponding axial ends of the respective at least one main beam.

[0016] Preferably, the attachment arrangements located on the secondary beam are two attachment arrangements for the corresponding two seeding elements.

[0017] Preferably, two main beams are used, which are hinged to a carriage and preferably carried in a swinging manner, in particular in a manner that swings from an operating position to a transport position. In this operating position, the main beams extend in a manner that is an extension of each other and are axially aligned. In this transport position, the main beams are preferably oriented upwards and collected towards the carriage to limit the space requirement of the main beams on the road. Therefore, it should be understood that in this context, the term "in a swinging manner" preferably aims to be understood as meaning "in a movable manner", and more particularly as meaning "in an inclined manner" or "in a folded manner". Preferably, a corresponding leveling system is included, which can be transferred from the main beam to the corresponding secondary beam. The leveling system is supplied by means of a working pipe that extends into the main beam and can be connected to a corresponding working pipe provided in at least one secondary beam. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The features and advantages of the present invention can be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments shown by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rod support structure according to the present invention;

[0020] - Figure 2 and Figure 3 are Figure 1 two detailed views of the rod support structure of

[0021] - Figure 4 is another perspective view of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] In the drawings, the rod support structure according to the present invention is generally labeled as 1. In the proposed exemplary embodiment, this structure 1 includes two main beams 2, which extend at opposite two sides of a carriage 3. Preferably, these main beams 2 are hinged to the carriage 3 by means of corresponding hinge members 4. The hinge members 4 are further provided with hydraulic cylinders or similar moving devices not shown in the drawings, so as to allow the corresponding main beams 2 to swing from an operating position to a transport position. In this operating position, these main beams 2 extend in a manner that is an extension of each other and are axially aligned. In the transport position, these main beams 2 are swung upwards and collected towards the carriage 3 to limit the space requirement of these main beams 2 on the road.

[0023] For support rods with smaller dimensions, the main beam 2 can also be provided as a single beam and / or non-foldable.

[0024] An attachment arrangement 8 for a seeding element (not shown) is provided on the main beam 2, and the seeding element is preferably of the type having a pneumatic seed singulation function.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, these arrangements 8 are spaced apart at regular intervals. The seeding element can be, for example, of the type described by the same applicant in WO 2017 / 182997, or of other conventional types per se. If a seeding element of the type described in WO 2017 / 182997 is used, a distributor is preferably mounted on the carriage 3, which is associated with an air compressor for supplying compressed air to the above-mentioned seeding element. In order for the above-mentioned seeding element to operate correctly, the above-mentioned seeding element is provided with both a first pneumatic system (positive or negative pressure) and a second pneumatic system. The first pneumatic system is used for singulating the seeds, and the second pneumatic system has a positive pressure to accelerate the seeds when they fall towards the seeding furrow. However, other conventional systems only require the first pneumatic system to singulate the seeds. In this case, the distributor and the associated air compressor can be omitted.

[0026] If a distributor is provided, the distributor is connected to a multiple collector provided on the main beam near the carriage 3.

[0027] At two opposite sides of the articulated member 4, both main beams 2 terminate in flanges 10 or other equivalent means, thereby allowing the flange 10 or other equivalent means to be removably enclosed by a cover (not shown in the drawings).

[0028] The present invention also provides that one or both main beams 2 can be extended by adding corresponding secondary beams 11, and the secondary beams 11 are also provided with flanges 12 to allow the secondary beams 11 to be connected to the flanges 10 of the main beams 2 preferably instead of the cover. The cover can be used to enclose the opposite ends of the secondary beam 11. For this purpose, the opposite ends of the secondary beam 11 are also provided with flanges.

[0029] Attachment arrangements 8 identical to the attachment arrangements on the main beam are also provided on the secondary beam 11, so that additional seeding elements can be added to the secondary beam 11 in a manner equivalent to that of the main beam 2.

[0030] Both the main beam 2 and the secondary beam 11 are provided with attachments for respective leveling elements or systems 15, which leveling elements or systems 15 include a wheel-shaped member 16 that can pivot relative to the beams 2, 11 by means of a swing arm 17 carried by a bracket 18. The bracket 18 is in turn removably fixed, for example by means of screw / bolt connections 19, in a preset position of the respective beams 2, 11. Preferably, an actuator 19A, such as a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder, is arranged between the bracket 18 and the arm 17, and this actuator 19A allows the respective beams 2, 11 to be leveled by changing the height of the respective beams 2, 11 from the ground at the corresponding ends.

[0031] The two main beams and the secondary beam 11 are in the form of box-shaped tubular elements such that when the main beams and the secondary beam are connected to each other, they form a single tubular element that is closed at the end of the beam 2 pointing to the carriage 3 by a plate 13A and is removably closed at the opposite end by a closing element 13B, such as a cover.

[0032] In this way, the main beam 2 and the secondary beam 11 can advantageously be used to connect the seeding elements to a first pneumatic pressurization system (positive or negative pressure relative to the external environment) to control the singulation function of the seeds. The type of pressurization depends on the structural specifications of the seeding elements used. For example, the first pneumatic pressurization system is connected to each of the main beams in the main beam 2 by a connection and is connected to the respective seeding elements by means of respective connections 22 provided in the region of each attachment arrangement 8 through pipes (not shown). The corresponding working pipes are also received inside the main beam. The first series of working pipes consists of pipes 20 for compressed air that extend from the respective openings of a multi-way collector 28 to a feed-through collector or connection 21 that is provided on the main beam and the secondary beam near the attachment arrangement 8. Thus, the feed-through 21 is connected to the respective seeding units by means of flexible pipes (not shown).

[0033] Optionally, the working pipes may include pipes 24 for the conveyance and return of a hydropneumatic fluid for controlling the cylinders of the leveling system 15. The secondary beam contains a segmented identical pipe arrangement 20 and 24 that has a length corresponding to the extension of the secondary beam and can be connected to the corresponding pipes and tubes in the main beam by means of connections 25 and sleeves 26. The pipes 20 for compressed air in the secondary beam are in turn connected to the pipes 20 provided in the main beam until they are connected to the corresponding openings of the multi-way collector 28.

[0034] Therefore, the present invention allows for the conversion of a precision seeder by adding or removing seeding elements as needed. For example, by adding the corresponding secondary beams and the corresponding seeding elements to the main beam, a 12-row seeder can be converted into a 16-row seeder. This is done by removing the end cover of the main beam and connecting the corresponding secondary beams in the form of an axial extension of the main beam. The connection is made via the corresponding flanged connectors, and a sealant made of paste is added if necessary to improve airtightness.

[0035] Therefore, the cover is repositioned at the end of the secondary beam 11 and the secondary beam 11 is closed. If necessary, the working pipes are connected and the leveling elements are repositioned before these operations are carried out. The present invention thus solves the problems posed, thereby providing the following distinct advantages: allowing the pole support structure of agricultural machines, especially seeders, to be adapted to commercial requirements, for example, by increasing the number of seeding elements fitted to the agricultural machine to meet commercial needs; arranging all the necessary structures in the same secondary beam and thus making such conversion simple and quick, even for farmers who do not have expertise in the mechanical structure of agricultural machines.

Claims

1. A rod support structure (1) for an agricultural machine, such as a precision seeder, the rod support structure (1) comprising: At least one main beam (2), the main beam (2) having opposite axial ends, at least one of the axial ends being arranged to be closed by a removable cover; and at least one secondary beam (11), the secondary beam (11) being capable of removably connecting to the axial end of the main beam in the manner of an axial extension of the main beam in place of the removable cover, the main beam (2) and at least one of the secondary beams (11) being configured as a closed tubular structure at least when the main beam (2) and at least one of the secondary beams (11) are connected to each other or when the main beam is closed by the cover, the main beam and at least one of the secondary beams including an attachment arrangement (8) for a seeding element and a leveling system, the arrangement including corresponding working ducts (20, 24) located on the main beam, characterized in that the working ducts are arranged inside the tubular structure of the main beam (2) and the secondary beam (11), and the working ducts are provided with: connectors (25, 26) for connecting the corresponding working ducts in the main beam and the secondary beam to each other; and connectors (21, 22) provided on the main beam and the secondary beam for connecting the working ducts to the corresponding seeding elements and leveling elements.

2. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the main beams (2) is connected to a first pneumatic system for seed singulation.

3. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein At least one of the main beams (2) is connected to a second pneumatic system with positive pressure.

4. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, In the area of the attachment arrangement (8) for the seeding element on at least one of the main beam (2) and the secondary beam (11), there is a feed-through connector (21) for connecting the first pneumatic system to the seeding element by means of the beam (2, 11), and / or the feed-through connector (21) for connecting the second pneumatic system to the seeding element by means of the working duct (20).

5. The rod support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, The working ducts (20, 24) capable of being connected to each other are arranged in the main beam (2) and the secondary beam (11).

6. The rod support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims when referring to claim 3, wherein, In the area of the attachment arrangement (8) for the seeding element on at least one of the main beam (2) and the secondary beam (11), there is an auxiliary feed-through connector for connecting the second pneumatic system to the seeding element by means of the working duct (20).

7. The rod support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, The secondary beam (11) is two beams arranged to be connected to the corresponding axial ends of the corresponding at least one main beam (2).

8. The rod support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, The attachment arrangement (8) located on the secondary beam (11) is two attachment arrangements for the corresponding two seeding elements.

9. The rod support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein Two main beams (2) are swingably hinged to the carriage (3).

10. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 9, wherein, The two main beams (2) extend at opposite two sides of the carriage (3) where the main beam (2) is hinged by means of the corresponding hinge members (4).

11. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 10, wherein, The articulated member (4) is provided with a movement device which allows the corresponding main beam (2) to swing from an operating position, in which the main beams (2) extend in an extension of one another and are axially aligned, to a transport position, in which the main beams (2) are swung upwards and gathered together towards the carriage (3) to limit the space requirement of the main beams (2) on the road.

12. The rod support structure (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, the rod support structure (1) comprising a respective leveling system (15) which can be transferred from the main beam (2) to the corresponding secondary beam (11), the leveling system being supplied by means of the working pipe (24) which passes through the main beam and can be connected to a corresponding working pipe provided in at least one of the secondary beams.

13. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 12, wherein, The respective leveling system (15) comprises a wheel member (16) which can be tilted relative to the beams (2, 12) by means of a swing arm (17) carried by a bracket (18).

14. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 13, wherein, The bracket (18) is removably fixed in a preset position of the respective beam (2, 12).

15. The rod support structure (1) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, A hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is arranged between the bracket (18) and the arm (17), the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder allowing the corresponding beam (2, 11) to be leveled by changing the height of the corresponding beam (2, 11) from the ground at the corresponding end, the working pipe (24) comprising supply and return pipes for the hydraulic and pneumatic control fluid of the cylinder of the leveling system (15).

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