Agricultural implement with support rollers

Abstract

An agricultural implement is proposed, comprising a frame, at least three support rollers spaced apart on its underside for supporting the implement on the ground, and a coupling device designed for connection to a complementary coupling device of a tractor. To improve the handling of the agricultural implement, particularly during coupling to the tractor's coupling device, the invention proposes that at least two support rollers be assigned at least one electric drive motor to rotate them.

Description

The invention relates to an agricultural implement having a frame with at least three support rollers which are arranged at a distance from one another on the underside thereof and are designed to support the implement on the ground, and having a coupling device which is designed to be coupled to a coupling device, complementary thereto, of a tractor in order to connect the implement to the tractor.Agricultural implements are known in a variety of configurations. They can be mounted in a heavy design on an axle-supported trailer or self-driver or designed in a lighter design as implements, wherein in the latter case they are equipped with a coupling device which is designed for coupling to a coupling device, complementary thereto, of a tractor, such as in particular a tractor, in order to connect the implement to the tractor. The coupling device of the tractor is generally formed by a standardized three-point power jack with two lower links and an upper link, at the ends of which a coupling point, for example in the form of a respective ball sleeve, is formed for the coupling device of the agricultural attachment complementary thereto.From the handling standpoint, it frequently proves to be laborious in agricultural implements to fasten them detachably to the tractor, such as a tractor, in that the coupling device of the implement has to be coupled to the three-point power jack of the coupling device of the tractor, so that the latter can accommodate the implement. For this purpose, the tractor must first move so close to the attachment set down on the ground that the attachment can be connected to its power supply and, if applicable, to its rear power take-off shaft. The lower links of the three-point power lifter are then aligned in such a way that they are aligned with the connection points of the coupling device of the attachment which are complementary thereto and which can be designed, for example, in the form of hooks. Subsequently, the tractor must be moved backwards so close to the attachment which is still placed on the ground that the lower links of the three-point power lifter of the coupling device of the tractor can be coupled to the hooks of the coupling device of the attachment which are complementary thereto, after which the upper link of the three-point power lifter of the tractor is coupled to the connection point of the coupling device of the attachment which is complementary thereto and which can likewise be designed, for example, in the form of a hook.In order to facilitate the alignment of the agricultural implement with respect to the tractor during coupling and in particular also the transfer of the agricultural implement to a location at which it can be coupled to the tractor, the frame of the agricultural implement can be equipped with at least three or more, for example four, support rollers which are arranged at a distance from one another on the underside thereof and are designed for supporting the implement on the ground and are usually mounted on the frame in the region of the corners thereof. However, a displacement of such an agricultural working implement supported on rollers still requires considerable handling-related outlay, which is due in particular to the generally very high weight of the working implement and its place of use, which generally has a very uneven, unpaved and frequently moist and deep soil. This applies in particular, although not exclusively, to agricultural distribution machines designed as implements, on the frame of which a storage container for storing the distribution material is mounted, such as in the form of powder- or particle-shaped distribution materials, e.g. mineral fertilizers, seeds and the like, or in the form of liquid distribution materials, such as crop protection agents, liquid fertilizers and the like. Such agricultural distribution machines, which can be designed, for example, in the form of centrifugal fertilizer spreaders, pneumatic distribution machines, such as, for example, pneumatic fertilizer spreaders, sowing machines, drilling machines, etc., field sprayers or the like, have a considerable weight of several tons, in particular when the storage container has been filled with the respective distribution material.The object of the invention is to improve an agricultural implement of the type mentioned at the beginning in a simple and cost-effective manner to the effect that its handling, such as in particular on the occasion of its coupling to the coupling device of a tractor, is improved with at least the avoidance of the aforementioned disadvantages to the greatest possible extent.According to the invention, this object is achieved in an agricultural implement of the type mentioned at the beginning in that at least two support rollers are assigned at least one electric drive motor in order to set the support rollers in rotation.The embodiment according to the invention ensures a significantly simplified handling of the agricultural implement compared to the prior art in that, on the one hand, it can be easily and comfortably moved from its storage location on the farm by means of the at least two electric motor-driven support rollers to a location at which its coupling device is coupled to the coupling device of a tractor, such as a tractor, on the occasion of imminent use on the field (and vice versa), on the other hand, the implement can in turn be oriented in this respect during coupling to the tractor, so that the coupling process is facilitated. In this way, relatively heavy agricultural implements, such as, for example, agricultural distribution machines, the storage container of which has been filled with the respective item to be distributed, can also be easily displaced, such as, in particular, also on uneven and / or unfixed ground.While it may in principle be sufficient if only two support rollers of the agricultural implement arranged at a distance from one another, such as e.g. the two support rollers facing the coupling device, can be set in rotation with at least one electric drive motor, it can be provided in an advantageous embodiment that at least three, in particular all, support rollers are assigned at least one electric drive motor in order to set the support rollers in rotation. This may be appropriate in particular for relatively heavy implements, such as, for example--although not necessarily--for agricultural distribution machines whose storage container has a capacity of, for example, at least one or more tons of material to be distributed.While in principle, for example, an electric drive motor assigned to one or each pair of rollers can also be provided, it can be provided in an advantageous embodiment that at least two, in particular at least three, preferably all, support rollers are each assigned a separate electric drive motor in order to set the support rollers in rotation independently of one another. This opens up the possibility of not only providing a simple, primarily linear displacement of the agricultural working implement by the drive of, for example, only one or only-as viewed in the direction of travel-the right or left support rollers or by the drive of the left and right support rollers with different, including opposite, rotational speeds, but also a cornering and a rotation of the same about a vertical axis, so that it can be moved, for example, on the one hand from its parking location on the farm to the intended coupling location with the tractor (and vice versa) and, for example, on the other hand, can be aligned exactly relative to the tractor in a simple manner on the occasion of the coupling operation in order to couple its coupling device with the coupling device of the tractor.The at least one electric drive motor, in particular all electric drive motors, can accordingly preferably be a speed-controllable drive motor which can be designed in particular in the form of a servomotor, for example as a brushless direct current motor.The at least one speed-controllable drive motor or the speed-controllable drive motors is or are advantageously connected via an electronic interface to a control device which is designed for its speed control in order to displace the agricultural implement along a desired movement path and / or to align it exactly with respect to a tractor on occasion of the coupling operation.According to one embodiment variant, the electronic interface can be, for example, a wired interface and the control device can be a control device of the attachment, which can, for example, also control other functional components of the attachment, such as metering elements, distributing elements, etc., and which is connected to an input device which is set up for inputting control commands for the speed-controllable drive of the at least one electric drive motor in order to drive the respective supporting rollers at the respectively desired rotational speed. The input device can be, for example, an operating terminal arranged in a stationary manner on the attachment or on a tractor or, for example, also the operating terminal of an ISOBUS system.According to a further embodiment variant, the electronic interface can alternatively or additionally be a wireless interface, such as a WLAN, Bluetooth, infrared, mobile radio interface or the like, and the control device can be an, in particular mobile, terminal with an input device, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop or the like, which is configured to input control commands for the speed-controllable drive of the at least one electric drive motor. The latter is expediently carried out by means of application software installed on the respective terminal device, which can be made available on the manufacturer side and / or in relevant app stores in the Internet in a downloadable manner, for example.According to an advantageous development of the agricultural attachment, it can be provided that it has at least one contactless sensor at least on its side facing the coupling device, which is connected to the control device and is designed to detect the position of the attachment with respect to the tractor, wherein the control device is designed to automatically drive the at least one electric drive motor in a speed-controlled manner as a function of the received sensor signals. In this way, autonomous movement of the attachment is possible by driving its support rollers by means of their respective drive motors, which are controlled in terms of speed by the control device, as a function of the sensor signals, in order to transfer the attachment, for example, into a position which enables coupling of its coupling device to the coupling device of a tractor, such as a tractor. If the agricultural working implement has a position detection system, such as a GPS system, as is now common in modern agricultural implements, it is furthermore conceivable that the implement can autonomously drive at least over shorter distances, such as from a parking space on the farm to a work location or the like, by means of its drive motors controlled in terms of speed by the control device, depending on the sensor signals.The at least one contactless sensor can be any known sensors, such as are known from the automotive sector for detecting the environment. Thus, the sensors can be e.g. electromagnetic wave-emitting sensors, in particular in the form of radar sensors, sound wave-emitting sensors, in particular in the form of ultrasonic sensors, optical sensors, in particular in the form of digital cameras or the like.The agricultural implement can furthermore preferably have a power supply device which supplies at least the at least one electric drive motor of the supporting rollers with power, wherein the power supply device comprises in particular a rechargeable battery. The power supply unit expediently comprises a charging interface which, during use of the attachment in the field, can be connected, for example, to the power supply of a tractor, such as a tractor, and / or to any known charging station, including commercially available charging acids, household sockets, etc.As already indicated, the agricultural implement can furthermore be formed in particular, although not necessarily, by an agricultural distribution machine for applying powder- or particulate distribution material, such as fertilizer, seed etc., and / or liquid distribution material, such as crop protection agents, liquid fertilizer etc., such as for example in the form of a centrifugal spreader, a pneumatic distribution machine, e.g. in the form of a pneumatic spreader, a sowing machine, a drilling machine etc., a field sprayer or the like, in which the configuration according to the invention is particularly appropriate with regard to the usually considerable weight.Further features and advantages result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an agricultural implement in the form of a centrifugal spreader obliquely from behind; FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the agricultural implement according to FIG. 1 obliquely from the front; FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective detailed view of a support roller of the agricultural implement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, including one of its electric drive motors according to one embodiment; FIG. 4 shows a schematic detail view, partially in section, of a support roller of the agricultural implement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, including one of its electric drive motors, according to an alternative embodiment to FIG. 3 ; and FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the support roller with its electric drive motor according to FIG. 4 along the sectional plane V-V of FIG. 4.The agricultural implement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, here: in the form of an agricultural distribution machine or more precisely in the form of a centrifugal spreader, has a storage container 2 which is supported by a frame 1 and which in the present case serves for storing powder- or particulate distribution material, such as, in particular, fertilizer or seed. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the storage container 2 comprises two container parts 2 a, 2 bthat taper downward in an approximately funnel-shaped manner and each have an outlet opening that is not visible in the drawings at their lower end. Directly below a respective outlet opening of the container parts 2 a, 2 bis located a metering element which is likewise not recognizable in the drawings and which is known per se from the prior art and comprises, for example, in each case a metering slide interacting with a respective outlet opening, wherein the metering slides of the two metering elements can preferably be controlled or regulated independently of one another by means of a control device of the attachment in order to be able to set a mass flow of distribution material corresponding to the respective desired distribution quantity. Again below a respective metering element, a distributor disk 3 a, 3 bis mounted rotatably about a respective approximately vertical axis, wherein the distributor disks 3 a, 3 bare equipped with ejection blades 4 a, 4 bin the usual manner (cf. FIG. 1 ). The distributor disks 3 a, 3 bare rotationally driven in opposite directions by means of suitable drives, wherein the drives can be, for example, electric or hydraulic motors (not shown), preferably capable of being controlled at rotational speeds independently of one another. Alternatively, the distributor disks 3 a, 3 bmay also be coupled, for example, via a common drive shaft to the power take-off shaft of a tractor, such as a tractor (not shown), and be rotationally driven by the latter. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the frame 1 of the agricultural attachment comprises a coupling device 5, which is designed for coupling to a coupling device complementary thereto in the form of a standardized three-point power jack (not shown) of a tractor, such as a tractor, in order to be able to carry the agricultural attachment by means of the tractor during its operation. The coupling device 5 has, in a manner known as such, for example, two lower coupling points 5 afor connection to the lower links of the three-point power lifter and an upper coupling point 5 bfor connection to the upper link of the three-point power lifter.As can also be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of-here:four support rollers 6 are mounted, which are arranged, for example, in the region of the corners of the frame 1 and are designed to support the attachment on the ground. The two support rollers 6, which are arranged on the side of the attachment facing the coupling device 5, are each assigned their own electric drive motor 7 as viewed in the direction of travel in order to set these support rollers 6 in rotation independently of one another. While in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing the two other supporting rollers 6 arranged on the side of the attachment remote from the coupling device 5 and at the rear as viewed in the direction of travel are passive, i.e. are not driven in rotation, it is of course also conceivable for corresponding electric drive motors to be associated with these as well, for example when it is a heavy attachment and / or one with a high loading of one or more tons. The electric drive motors 7 of the support rollers 6 are expediently connected to a power supply device, not shown in the drawing, of the agricultural working implement, which can comprise, for example, a rechargeable battery and a charging interface, which can be connected, during use of the attachment on the field, for example to the power supply of a tractor, such as a tractor, and / or to any known charging station, including commercially available charging acids, household sockets, etc.The electric drive motors 7 of the support rollers 6 are in the present case drive motors 7 that can be controlled in terms of rotational speed, for example in the form of servomotors, which are connected via an electronic interface (not shown in the drawing) to a control device (likewise not shown in the drawing), which serves for the individual rotational speed control of the electric drive motors 7 independently of one another. The electronic interface can be designed, for example, as a wired interface and be connected to the control device of the attachment, which in this case comprises an input device which is set up to input control commands for the speed-controllable drive of the electric drive motors 7, such as, for example, in the form of an operating terminal of the agricultural attachment or a tractor capable of carrying the same, such as a tractor, an operating terminal of an ISOBUS system or the like. The electronic interface can furthermore alternatively or cumulatively be designed as a wireless interface which communicates with an external control device, such as for example in the form of an, in particular mobile, terminal with an input device, e.g. a mobile telephone, a tablet computer, a laptop, etc., which in turn is set up for the input of control commands for the speed-controllable drive of the electric drive motors 7.As can be seen from FIG. 2, the agricultural attachment can furthermore be provided, at least on its side facing the coupling device 5 and viewed in the direction of travel, with a plurality of contactless sensors 8, which are connected to the control device and are designed to detect the position of the attachment with respect to a tractor (not shown) or generally: with respect to any object located in the vicinity of the agricultural attachment, wherein the sensors 8 can be, for example, electromagnetic-wave-emitting sensors, for example in the form of radar sensors, sound-wave-emitting sensors, for example in the form of ultrasonic sensors, or optical sensors, for example in the form of digital cameras, and combinations of such sensors 8. The control device is designed here for automatically driving the electric drive motors 7 of the support rollers 6 in a speed-controlled manner as a function of the received sensor signals, so that in particular an autonomous or semi-autonomous displacement of the attachment is possible, in order to bring it, for example, into an intended coupling position with respect to a tractor, such as a tractor. In addition, corresponding sensors 8 can of course also be provided on the rear side, viewed in the direction of travel, facing away from the coupling device 5 and / or on the sides of the attachment (not shown in the drawing), provided that a fully autonomous movement of the attachment is desired at least over shorter distances.As can be seen in FIG. 3, the support rollers 6, which are driven rotationally by electric motor and which can be provided on the circumferential side with a suitable tire, for example made of solid rubber or the like, are mounted, for example, on a profile part 10 which can be mounted, for example screwed, on the frame 1 of the agricultural working device (cf. in this respect FIGS. 1 and 2 ) by means of an upper support section 10 a. On its side-viewed in the axial direction of the support roller 6-a side on the left in FIG. 3-a bearing 11, for example in the form of a radial ball bearing, is fastened to a first leg 10 bof the profiled part 10, which bearing serves for the driveless mounting of the support roller 6. On its side-again viewed in the axial direction of the support roller 6-on the right-hand side in FIG. 3-a second leg 10 cof the profiled part 10 is on the one hand in turn fastened a bearing 11, for example likewise in the form of a radial ball bearing, which likewise serves for the drive-free mounting of the support roller 6; on the other hand, the electric drive motor 7 is mounted on the second leg 10 cof the profiled part 10, the output shaft 71 of which motor is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a flange hub 61 of the support roller 6 and is mounted in the two bearings 11 in a freely rotatable manner.The embodiment of an electric motor rotatably driven support roller 6 of the agricultural working implement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from that of FIG. 3 primarily in that an axle 63 of the support roller 6 is mounted on a web 10 dof a profile part 10, wherein a toothed wheel 62 connected thereto in a rotationally fixed manner is seated on the axle 63. A gearwheel 72 is engaged with the gearwheel 62 of the axle 63 of the supporting roller 6, which gearwheel is seated in a rotationally fixed manner on the output shaft 71 of the electric drive motor 7, which gearwheel is in turn mounted on the side of the web 10 dof the profiled part 10 opposite the supporting roller 6.

Claims

Agricultural implement having a frame (1) with at least three support rollers (6) which are arranged at a distance from one another on the underside of the frame and are designed to support the implement on the ground, and having a coupling device (5) which is designed to be coupled to a coupling device, complementary thereto, of a towing machine in order to connect the implement to the towing machine, characterized in that at least two support rollers (6) are assigned at least one electric drive motor (7) in order to set the support rollers (6) in rotation.Agricultural implement according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least three, in particular all, support rollers (6) are assigned at least one electric drive motor (7) in order to set the support rollers (6) in rotation.Agricultural implement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least two, in particular at least three, preferably all, support rollers (6) are each assigned a separate electric drive motor (7) in order to set the support rollers (6) in rotation independently of one another.Agricultural attachment according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one electric drive motor (7), in particular all electric drive motors (7), is a drive motor (7) which can be controlled in terms of speed, in particular in the form of a servomotor.Agricultural attachment according to Claim 4, characterized in that the at least one drive motor (7) which can be controlled in terms of rotational speed is connected via an electronic interface to a control device which is designed for controlling the rotational speed thereof.Agricultural attachment according to Claim 5, characterized in that the electronic interface is a wired interface and the control device is a control device of the attachment which is connected to an input device which is set up to input control commands for the drive of the at least one electric drive motor (7) which can be controlled in terms of rotational speed.Agricultural attachment according to Claim 5, characterized in that the electronic interface is a wireless interface and the control device is an, in particular mobile, terminal having an input device which is configured to input control commands for the drive of the at least one electric drive motor (7) which can be controlled in terms of rotational speed.Agricultural attachment according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it has at least one contactless sensor (8) at least on its side facing the coupling device (5), which sensor is connected to the control device and is designed to detect the position of the attachment with respect to the tractor, the control device being designed to automatically drive the at least one electric drive motor (7) in a speed-controlled manner as a function of the received sensor signals.Agricultural attachment according to Claim 8, characterized in that the at least one contactless sensor (8) is a sensor which emits electromagnetic waves, in particular in the form of a radar sensor, a sensor which emits sound waves, in particular in the form of an ultrasonic sensor, or an optical sensor, in particular in the form of a digital camera.Agricultural implement according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it has a power supply device which supplies power to at least the at least one electric drive motor (7) of the supporting rollers (6), the power supply device comprising, in particular, a rechargeable battery.Agricultural implement according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is formed by an agricultural distribution machine, in particular in the form of a centrifugal spreader, a pneumatic distribution machine or a field sprayer.

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