AGRICULTURAL IMPACT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to agricultural soil and / or grassland cultivation devices comprising a machine frame, at least one functional tool assembly projecting from the machine frame transversely to the direction of travel for providing the intended agricultural function of the device, and at least one tension strut bracing a side section of the functional tool assembly.

[0002] Soil cultivation equipment such as cultivators or harrows, with larger working widths, increasingly has side wings that project further from the central machine frame. Due to the soil contact forces of the soil tools attached to them, these wings are pulled backwards during operation or have to be pulled forwards with great tensile forces to overcome the soil contact forces. In order to ensure that the massive forces are not absorbed solely by the joints or linkages on the central machine frame and to avoid correspondingly high bending moments in the root areas of the projecting wings, the side sections of the projecting soil tool groups can be braced via tension struts, which on the one hand are connected to the central machine frame orthe longitudinal center plane, spaced laterally outwards, on the ground tool assembly, for example a support frame of the ground tool assembly, and on the other hand, on the central machine frame or an attachment device with which the central machine frame can be attached to a tractor. If the ground tool assembly projects laterally from the central machine frame to the right and left, two tension struts can, for example, be arranged in an arrow-like or V-shaped manner and extend, for example, from a drawbar section or a front part of the machine frame in a V-shape backwards to the side wings.

[0003] Similarly, the cantilevered side wings of grassland equipment can be braced with such tension struts, for example, the rotary rake row of a tedder, which, with a large working width, also often extends far from the machine frame and can be segmented with articulated arms for ground contour following. Similar guying systems can also be used on larger rakes or mowers.

[0004] The tension struts are usually rigid, but their length can also be adjusted using a thread or spindle to tension the side wings of the functional tool assembly as desired. As an alternative to rigid tension struts, guy ropes are sometimes tensioned from the side wings to the central machine frame to absorb the reaction forces resulting from ground engagement.

[0005] One problem with such tension struts is the fact that the distance between the pivot points on the side wing and the machine frame or attachment itself changes constantly during operation. This is because the side wings are often mounted so that they can move up and down or swing up and down like wings in order to adapt to the ground gradient, edges of slopes or bumps. The side wings are often pivotable and mounted on horizontal pivot axes that are approximately parallel to the direction of travel, so that they can rock upwards a little or extend downwards, depending on the terrain formation the side wing encounters. Sometimes, in addition to a pivot axis near the machine frame, another pivot axis or several pivot axes are provided in the side wing itself to enable multi-element adjustment for finer ground adaptation.

[0006] During such up and down movements of the side parts of the functional tool assembly, the geometry and thus the distance between the pivot points of the tension strut are adjusted, so that depending on the adjustment movement, the bracing effect of the tension strut decreases or there is a risk of overstretching the tension strut.

[0007] On the other hand, the side panels of the functional implement assembly are often folded away for road transport or pivoted away across multiple axes to comply with the permissible road transport width. Depending on the kinematics of the linkage, the side wings can, for example, be folded backward around upright axes to approximately follow the tractor's track. Alternatively, it is also known to first tilt the functional implement assembly around a horizontal transverse axis and then fold the side wings forward onto the machine frame around the then upright pivot axes, which essentially serve to adjust ground contours.

[0008] To enable such pivoting and folding movements of the side wings into the transport position, the tension struts can, for example, be unhooked at one of their pivot points. Telescopic tension struts are sometimes used, which can be retracted when the side wings are folded forward. Tension struts in the form of cables can be coiled or stowed in another way.

[0009] Agricultural soil tillage implements with tension struts of various designs are known, for example, from the documents DE 34 22 254 C2, DE 82 28 255 U1, DE 36 31 874 A1 or US 26,69,171 A.

[0010] US Pat. No. 3,198,550 A discloses a mower whose cutter bar is suspended from a support arm that can be pivoted backward and is held in place by a tension rod, the front end of which is attached to the tractor's lower link. Said tension rod is telescopic and contains an overload clutch that triggers in the event of an overload, allowing the tension rod to telescope out, allowing the support arm and thus the cutter bar to pivot backward. Furthermore, DE 88 14 325 U1 and EP 33 11 650 B1 disclose agricultural attachments whose machine frame is mounted on the headstock around an upright pivot axis and can thus steer. Lateral spring struts dampen the steering movement of the machine frame.

[0011] The document EP 33 11 650 B1 does not describe that the tension strut is, on the other hand, hinged to the side wing.

[0012] Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of creating an improved agricultural soil or grassland cultivation device of the aforementioned type that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and advantageously develops them further. In particular, the aim is to achieve improved guying of the side parts of the functional tool assembly, which, even during ground-contouring movements of the side parts, guys the latter with a defined guying force and simultaneously allows the side parts to be moved into the headland and / or transport position without the need for laboriously unhooking the tension strut or stowing it in another way.

[0013] According to the invention, the stated object is achieved by an agricultural soil and / or grassland cultivation device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0014] It is therefore proposed that the tension strut be designed to be elastically stretchable for working operation in order to provide a defined tensile or bracing force for the side part of the functional tool assembly during ground-adapting movements of the guyed side part of the functional tool assembly and a concomitant adjustment of the geometry between the articulation points of the tension strut, and to avoid excessive stress on the tension strut. At the same time, the tension strut is designed to be adjustable in length to allow and compensate for adjustment movements of the side part into the headland and / or transport position. According to the invention, the tension strut is designed to be telescopic and has a spring device between two tension strut sections for transmitting the tensile forces acting on the tension strut during working operation.

[0015] The tension strut can remain movable or its length can be adjusted during operation in order to compensate for changes in the distance between the tension strut pivot points resulting from ground-adapting movements of the functional tool assembly, without the guying force being reduced or the tension strut being overstressed. In particular, the full guying or tensile force of the tension strut can be transmitted evenly via the spring device, at least to the extent that this occurs as intended during normal operation. The spring travel of the spring device is particularly large enough to compensate for the geometric changes occurring during the intended ground-adapting movements, in particular the associated change in the distance between the tension strut pivot points, and to be able to provide the desired guying or tensile force consistently over the entire intended adjustment range.Nevertheless, the spring travel of the spring device can be finite, for example by an end stop that limits the maximum elongation of the tension strut part comprising the spring device, for example when the side part of the functional tool assembly braced by the tension strut hits a larger obstacle.

[0016] In an advantageous development of the invention, the tension strut can have a total length adjustment range that is much greater than the spring travel of the spring device, in order to be able to compensate for larger adjustment ranges or changes in the distance between the pivot points when the side part of the functional tool assembly, which is braced by the tension strut, is moved into the headland and / or transport position. In particular, the tension strut can have a telescopic adjustability that exceeds the adjustment range of the spring device. The length adjustability of the tension strut that exceeds the spring travel of the spring device can, in particular, provide for a tensile force-free adjustment or can be carried out largely without the transmission of tensile forces through the tension strut.

[0017] Advantageously, the tension strut can have at least two, but possibly also three or four adjacent or chain-like, slidably mounted telescopic sections, which can be unsprung and / or abut or locked to one another during operation, so that the tensile forces of the tension strut occurring during operation can be transmitted to one another by these telescopic sections without telescoping movements. During operation, these telescopic sections are essentially rigid or form a non-extendable rod train that only allows the material-related stress strains and does not otherwise telescope. The spring force provided by the spring device is transmitted directly by the telescopic sections that are abut or locked to one another, without the need for additional spring devices between adjacent pairs of telescopic sections.

[0018] While the telescopic sections, which are subjected to tensile stress during operation, are at their stop and thus do not change their length or telescopic length, these telescopic sections can nevertheless be retracted or their telescopic length shortened to allow the guyed side section to be moved into the headland and / or transport position. Depending on the suspension kinematics or the pivoting movement into the headland or transport position, it would also be conceivable to unlock one or more pairs of telescopic sections that are locked together during operation to allow the tension strut to be extended for moving into the transport position.However, it is generally easier to install the drawbar and / or design the kinematics of adjusting the guyed side section into the headland and / or transport position so that the drawbar is shortened when moving it into the transport and / or headland position. This means that it is sufficient to have the telescopic sections in the fully extended or fully locked position during operation to transfer the pulling forces provided by the spring system. When moving to the transport or headland position, the telescopic sections simply retract.

[0019] The aforementioned telescopic sections can be pushed into one another in a conventional manner, or they can be designed as tubes or hollow profiles that can slide into one another. Alternatively, the telescopic sections can also be mounted on elongated, rod- or rail-shaped sliding guide carriages that allow them to slide longitudinally against one another, for example, like an extendable drawer slide guide.

[0020] The functional tool assembly can therefore be moved into a headland or transport position, in particular by telescoping the drawbar, without the drawbar having to be removed for this purpose or without the drawbar hindering or even blocking the movement.

[0021] To ensure taut guying with a defined tensile force right from the start, the spring device can be pre-tensioned in an advantageous development of the invention, or can remain under tension even when the tension strut is not yet subjected to any tensile forces from the guyed side wing. In particular, the spring device can be pre-tensioned to a level at which the spring device provides the desired tensile or guying force for the tension strut.

[0022] The spring device mentioned can fundamentally be designed in different ways. For example, a pneumatic or hydraulic spring device can be provided, which can be preloaded via a pressure accumulator.

[0023] In an advantageous further development of the invention, the spring device can, however, also be designed in particular as a mechanical spring device, for example having at least one mechanical tension spring, which can be connected or fastened with its opposite ends to two tension strut parts in order to transmit tensile forces.

[0024] For example, the spring device can be hinged, in particular rigidly attached or tension-resistant, to a pivot piece of the tension strut on the one hand and to a telescopic section of the tension strut on the other. To achieve favorable weight distribution, it may be advantageous if the spring device is mounted on a front pivot piece of the tension strut, to which the tension strut is connected to the machine frame or an attachment frame or bracket.

[0025] In principle, however, the spring device can also be provided in another section of the tension strut, for example between two telescopic sections or between two parts of the same telescopic section or even on a rear linkage piece of the tension strut.

[0026] In order to be protected from contamination or to avoid pinching on the spring device, in a further development of the invention the spring device can be accommodated in a hollow space of a tension strut part, for example integrated into a telescopic section, wherein the spring device can be fastened on the one hand to a base piece of one telescopic section and on the other hand to the head piece of the other telescopic section which can be inserted therein.

[0027] For example, the spring device can be encased in the tubular casing of a tension strut part.

[0028] To adapt the tensile force of the tension rod to the respective soil tillage implement or its setup, or to adapt it to different soil conditions, the spring device can be detachably mounted and / or replaceably attached to the tension rod parts, for example, by means of a screw connection. Alternatively or additionally, a spring device with adjustable spring stiffness can be provided.

[0029] Advantageously, the tension rod can also include a length adjustment device to adjust the length of the tension rod in its initial state, i.e., without elongation or shortening due to traction force, and to adapt it to the geometry of the soil tillage implement. For example, one of the connecting pieces of the tension rod can be adjustable in length via a screw thread or a spindle adjustment.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, a length adjustment device can also be provided in the area of ​​the linkage elements on the guyed side part of the functional tool assembly and / or in the area of ​​the linkage element on the machine frame or on the attachment frame or attachment device. For example, a connecting eye or coupling element provided there for attaching the tension strut can be slidably mounted and / or adjustable, for example, by a screw spindle.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1: a perspective front view of a soil tillage implement in the form of a disc harrow according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the side wings of the functional tool assembly being braced via tension struts, Fig. 2: a plan view of the soil tillage implement from Fig. 1, which shows the V-shaped spread arrangement of the tension struts, Fig. 3: a longitudinal sectional view of one of the tension struts from the previous figures, which shows the telescopic sections that can be pushed into one another and the spring device between the pivot section and the next telescopic section that can be telescoped into it, and Fig. 4: a partial, enlarged sectional view of the tension strut from Fig. 3 in the area of ​​the spring device, which shows the arrangement of the spring in a telescopic tube and its attachment to the base and head sections of the adjacent telescopic sections.

[0032] As the Figures 1 and 2show, the agricultural soil or grassland cultivation device 1 can comprise a central machine frame 2, which can be supported on the ground by a chassis 3 and can be connected at its front end section to an attachment device 4, by means of which the device 1 can be attached to a tractor (not shown) or to a leading device of a machine combination. For example, the attachment device 4 can comprise a drawbar or a headstock for attachment via a three-point linkage. In particular, the attachment device 1 can be designed as a semi-mounted device and the machine frame 2, supported on the ground via the chassis 3, can steer relative to the tractor. In principle, however, other types of attachment devices are also possible.

[0033] At least one functional tool assembly 5 is attached to the machine frame 2, which can, for example, comprise at least one row of tools extending transversely to the direction of travel 6. If the device is designed as a soil tillage implement 1 in the form of a disc harrow, the functional tool assembly 5 can comprise at least one row of coulter discs. If the device is designed as a soil tillage implement 2 in the form of a rotary harrow, the functional tool assembly 5 can comprise at least one row of harrow tines that can rotate about upright axes. If the soil tillage implement 1 is designed as a cultivator, the soil tillage assembly 5 can have at least one row of cultivator tools.

[0034] However, the soil tillage device 1 can also be designed as a mixed or hybrid device and have functional tool assemblies with different functional tool types or different functional tool types in one functional tool assembly 5.

[0035] As the Figures 1 and 2 As shown, the functional tool assembly 5 can project from the machine frame 2 to the right and left in the working position, transverse to the direction of travel 6. Irrespective of this, the functional tool assembly 5 can be mounted on the machine frame 2 in a rear section, for example, arranged behind the chassis 3, although other configurations are also possible.

[0036] The functional tool assembly 5 can be designed to be movable in itself, for example, comprising several assembly segments that can hinge to each other about pivot axes that, in the working position, can be aligned approximately parallel to the direction of travel in order to allow the tool assembly segments to swing up and down or rock up and down relative to each other and thereby achieve ground adaptation. The pivot axes between the assembly segments are shown in the Figures 1 and 2 marked with the reference number 7.

[0037] To move the widely projecting functional tool assembly 5 into a transport position suitable for road transport, a central section of the functional tool assembly 5 can be mounted on the machine frame 2 around a horizontal transverse axis 8 and tilted by a positioning actuator 9, for example in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, so that the pivot axes 7, which are in the working position, come into an upright position. This allows the side wings 10 to be folded forward onto the machine frame 2 to reduce the transport width accordingly.

[0038] In order to absorb the reaction forces induced by ground engagement in the side wings 10 during operation, the side wings or parts 10 of the functional tool assembly 5 are braced via tension struts 11, which are hinged on the one hand to the side wings 10 of the functional tool assembly 5 at a laterally spaced distance from the machine frame 2 or a longitudinal center plane of the device 1, and on the other hand to a front section of the machine frame 2. The side wing-side pivot points 12 can, for example, be positioned approximately halfway or in a middle section of the side wing 10 projecting laterally from the machine frame 2. The machine frame-side pivot points 13 of the tension struts 11 can be provided in a front third of the machine frame 2 and / or in the connection area of ​​the attachment device 4.

[0039] How Figure 2As shown, the tension struts 11 can have a V-shaped arrangement in the working position of the device, spreading out towards the rear. Irrespective of this, the tension struts 11 can be arranged at least approximately in a common horizontal plane during the working operation of the soil tillage device 1, cf. Figure 1 .

[0040] How Figure 3 As shown, the tension strut 11 can be telescopic or designed as a telescopic rod and have several telescopic sections 14, 15, 16—for example, three or more telescopic sections—which can be designed as hollow profiles and can be pushed into one another. For example, the telescopic sections 14, 15, 16 can be designed as hollow tubular or extruded profiles and their inner and outer diameters can be matched to one another in such a way that the telescopic sections are guided against one another or into one another, or form a sliding guide for one another.

[0041] The aforementioned telescopic sections 14, 15 and 16 can be freely movable between their retracted and extended end positions, so that essentially only the frictional resistance has to be overcome in order to move the telescopic sections into the respective end position.

[0042] As the Figures 3 and 4 show, the tension strut 11 can comprise a further telescopic section 17, into which a spring device 18 can be integrated, which can transmit the tensile forces acting on the tension strut 11.

[0043] The aforementioned telescopic section 17, into which the spring device 17 is integrated, can form the articulation section of the tension strut 11, with which the tension strut 11 can be articulated at one of the articulation points 12 and 13. For example, the aforementioned telescopic section 17 can comprise a bearing eye 19 at its end facing away from the other telescopic sections 14, 15, 16, for example, to be bolted to the machine frame 2.

[0044] The spring device 18 is advantageously accommodated in the interior of the telescopic section 17, which is also designed as a hollow profile, wherein the telescopic section 17 is adapted in terms of its profile to the adjacent telescopic section 14 in order to be able to telescope or to form a sliding guide.

[0045] The spring device 18 can be mechanically designed and, for example, comprise a helical spring which is accommodated in the cavity of the telescopic section 17.

[0046] The spring device 18 can be fastened on the one hand to the base part 19 of the telescopic section 17 and on the other hand to the head part 20 of the adjacent telescopic section 14, which can move into or out of the telescopic section 17 receiving the spring device 18, as far as the spring device 18 permits.

[0047] The spring device 18 can be configured—for example, in terms of its length—such that the full tensile forces of the tension strut 11 are transmitted by the spring device 18, and the adjustment movements of the side wings 1 and the associated changes in distance between the pivot points 12 and 13 that occur during normal operation of the device 1 are absorbed and permitted by the spring travel of the spring device 18. In other words, the spring travel of the spring device 18 is sufficiently large to uniformly transmit a defined bracing or tensile force via the tension strut 11 to the side wings 10 mentioned, even during ground-adapting movements of the side wings of the device 1.

[0048] On the other hand, the changes in the distance between the articulation points 12 and 13 when moving the functional tool assembly 5 into the headland and / or transport position are not compensated by the spring travel of the spring device 18, but by the telescoping of the further telescopic sections 14, 15 and 16. When the side wings 10 of the functional tool assembly 5 are first tilted forward about the horizontal transverse axis 8 and then folded forward onto the machine frame 2 about the pivot axes 7, which are upright after tilting, the two tension struts 11 on the telescopic sections 14, 15 and 16 telescope in.

[0049] How Figure 4 shows, the spring device 18 can advantageously be detachably fastened to the two tension strut parts which are connected to one another by the spring device 11, wherein the fastening can advantageously be detachable without tools.

[0050] In particular, the spring device 18 can have a screw connection part 21 and 22 at each of its ends, by means of which the spring device 18 can be screwed to the bottom 19 of the telescopic section 17 or directly to the articulation piece 23 of the tension strut 11 and, on the other hand, can be screwed to the head 20 of the telescopic section 14.

[0051] Instead of such screw connections 21 and 22, however, other detachable connecting means, for example in the form of a bayonet lock or a cross-bolt connection, can also be provided in order to be able to detachably fasten the spring device 18 to the two adjacent tension strut parts.

[0052] The spring device 18 can advantageously be installed in a pre-tensioned manner, wherein a pre-tensioning device 24 can, for example, have a pressure rod inside the coil spring, which can press the end pieces of the spring device 18 apart into a pre-tensioned position.

Claims

1. Agricultural implement having a machine frame (2), at least one functional tool assembly (5) projecting laterally from the machine frame (2) transversely to the direction of travel, and at least one tension strut (11), by means of which a side wing (10) of the functional tool assembly (5) is braced, which side wing projects laterally from the machine frame (2) transversely to the direction of travel to one side and is mounted so as to swing up and down about a horizontal pivot axis approximately parallel to the direction of travel in order to adapt to the soil during operation, wherein said tension strut (11) is articulated to a front section of the machine frame (2) in the direction of travel and also to said side wing (10) at a lateral distance from the machine frame (2), wherein the tension strut (11) is telescopic and comprises a spring device (18) between two tension strut sections (17; 14) for transmitting the tractive forces acting on the tension strut (11) during operation.

2. Agricultural implement according to the preceding claim, wherein the tension strut (11) comprises at least two adjacent telescopic sections (14, 15, 16) that are mounted so as to be displaceable relative to one another, are unsprung relative to one another and, in working operation, are in abutment with one another and / or are interlocked with one another for the telescopic travel-free transmission of tractive forces.

3. Agricultural implement according to the preceding claim, wherein the functional tool assembly (5) can be pivoted into a headland and / or transport position by telescoping the tension strut (11), wherein the telescopic sections (14, 15, 16) of the tension strut (11) are in the maximum extended position during working operation for transmitting the tractive forces provided by the spring device (18) and can be retracted into a shortened position when the functional tool assembly (5) is moved into the transport and / or headland position.

4. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine frame (2) is supported on the ground by a chassis (3) and the implement (1) is configured as a semi-mounted implement.

5. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring device (18) is accommodated inside a telescopic section (17) of the tension strut (11), wherein the spring device (18) is fastened to a base part (19) of the telescopic tube (17) receiving the spring device (18) and also to a head part (20) of the telescopic tube (14) immersed in said telescopic tube (17) that receives the spring device (18).

6. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring device (18) is detachably attached to the two tension strut parts, which are connected to each other by the spring device (18), and is mounted interchangeably by releasing the fastening means.

7. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (18) has screw connection parts (21, 22) at opposite end portions for detachable screwing to the two tension strut parts which are connected by the spring device (18).

8. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pretensioning device (24) is provided for pretensioning the spring device (18).

9. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pretensioning device (24) is configured to be adjustable and the spring device (18) can be pretensioned to a tractive force level that corresponds to the tractive force of the tension strut (11) in working operation.

10. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring device (18) has a spring path that is sufficient to compensate for the changes in distance of the linkage points (12, 13) of the traction strut (11) that occur as intended in working operation and are induced by soil contact movements, and also to provide a uniform tractive force on the side wing (10) of the functional tool assembly (5) during movements of the side wing (10) in working operation.

11. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tension strut (11) has a length adjustment range that is a multiple of the spring path of the spring device (18).

12. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tension strut (11) comprises at least one telescopic section pair that is freely movable between its retracted and extended end positions and provides a telescopic path that is a multiple of the spring path of the spring device (18).

13. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring device (18) is attached to a linkage piece of the tension strut (11), wherein the linkage piece is preferably a front linkage piece of the tension strut (11) in the direction of travel.

14. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wing (10) of the functional tool assembly (5), which is braced by the tension strut (11), can be moved from the working position projecting transversely from the machine frame (2) into a transport position folded against the machine frame (2), thereby telescoping the tension strut (11).

15. Agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional tool assembly (5) is a soil tool assembly and has at least one row of soil engaging tools, in particular coulter discs and / or harrow tines and / or cultivator tines.