SEEDING MODULE FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINE AND COMBINED AGRICULTURAL MACHINE WITH THIS SEEDING MODULE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the general technical field of agricultural machinery and in particular to the field of soil preparation and / or sowing.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to a combined agricultural machine, combining a soil-working machine and a seeding machine.

[0003] Patent application EP2949193A1 discloses a combined mounted machine, combining a tillage machine and a conventional seed drill module, of the seed bar type, for row sowing. The tillage machine and the seed drill module are attached to each other by a system of movable hooks and pins. This seed drill is particularly well-suited to cereals (wheat, barley, etc.). This combined mounted machine has the advantage of being able to plant the seeds and prepare the soil in a single pass. This notably reduces fieldwork time and / or minimizes soil drying before sowing, for example, when the periods suitable for sowing are short. However, some species cannot be sown by this machine for technical, agronomic, and / or economic reasons.

[0004] This is the case, for example, with corn, which requires individual seed sowing. A mounted precision seeder, such as the one described in document FR3026913A1, allows for this type of sowing. This type of seeder has multiple seeding units arranged side by side, which serve to separate the seeds before they are placed in the ground. These seeding units are individually attached to a beam belonging to the machine's main frame. While this machine can sow varieties other than those of the combination machine described above, it does not offer the advantages of the combination machines mentioned above for these varieties, which result from sowing carried out immediately after soil preparation.

[0005] No integrated solution combining a precision seeder and a tillage machine currently exists. Therefore, there is a need for combined agricultural machines, such as those combining a tillage machine and a seed drill, with optimized and more versatile designs.

[0006] The invention therefore relates to a combined agricultural machine comprising a seeding module as described in claim 1. This configuration makes it possible to limit the length of the seeding module and thus improve its compactness.

[0007] According to the invention, the axis of the upper front pivot is disposed in front of a vertical plane passing through the rearmost point of the mounting support.

[0008] This configuration is advantageous in terms of reducing the length of the seeding module compared to an arrangement of the high front pivot under a vertical plane passing through the lower point of the attachment support.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, the two front pivots are arranged in the same vertical plane transverse to a longitudinal orientation of the seeding module. This configuration has the advantage of allowing the movement of the tools intended to be in contact with the soil (seed placement unit, gauge wheel, press wheel, furrow closing unit) parallel to the soil surface.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the front upright is mounted to the mounting bracket in a removable and / or adjustable manner. This type of mounting offers good versatility to the combination machine and allows for the planting of different species with the same machine. Alternatively, the front upright is mounted permanently to the mounting bracket.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the front upright includes a fastening element at its upper part, preferably a jaw. This fastening element allows the seeding unit to be mounted on the frame's mounting bracket. This configuration is, for example, suitable for a removable and / or adjustable mounting of the front upright to the mounting bracket.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the front frame is configured to support a fertilizer incorporation unit at its lower end. For example, in the case of a precision seed drill, the optimized integration of the seeding unit into the seeding module allows for the retention of a fertilizer incorporation unit in front of the seed placement elements of the seeding unit.

[0013] According to the invention, the seeding element is a single-seed seeding element.

[0014] Such a single-seed seeding module, when implemented in a combined agricultural machine, advantageously allows one to benefit from the advantages of a combined machine of the type associating a soil preparation machine and a seeding machine, namely to sow one's field in a single pass immediately after the soil preparation has been completed for species requiring individualized sowing and thus to limit the working time in the field and / or to limit the drying before planting the seed when weather conditions require it.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the hanging support is a beam extending over the entire width of the machine.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, the hanging support has a plurality of hanging portions.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the mounting bracket has at least one dovetail-section mounting portion. This configuration offers very good mounting stability.

[0018] The invention relates to a combined agricultural machine comprising at least one seeding module and one tillage module as described in claim 1. In the combined agricultural machine, the seeding module is then mounted on the tillage module.

[0019] Thanks to the increased length of the seeding module achieved by positioning the upper front pivot below the lower point of the mounting bracket and in front of the vertical plane passing through the rearmost point of the mounting bracket, the pitching moment (or torque) is minimized. Pitching moment refers to the ability of the seeding module's weight to rotate it around the tractor's rear axle. Keeping the pitching moment as low as possible allows the seeding module described above to be used on a wider range of combination agricultural machines than conventional seeding module designs, such as seed bars, for combination machines.

[0020] The above-mentioned combined agricultural machine is preferably, but not exclusively, a mounted machine. Such a mounted machine is made possible by limiting the length of the seeding unit and the resulting rearward rolling moment induced by the seeding unit on the tractor's rear axle. This allows for the installation of seeding units heavier than row-mounted seed bars, for example, one or more precision seeding units. The improved integration of the seeding unit into the combined machine thus enables the design of machines previously unavailable on the market, such as a mounted precision seed combination agricultural machine.

[0021] The combined agricultural machine can be either trailed or semi-mounted. The advantage of length limitation is then retained, which is beneficial for reducing the turning radius at the end of the field, for example.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting examples of embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which: there figure 1 is a side view of the machine according to the invention; the figure 2 is a view of a detail of the figure 1 .

[0023] There figure 1 Figure 5 illustrates a combined agricultural machine associating a tillage module 6 and a seed drill 7. The drill 5 is a mounted machine, meaning it is designed to be attached to the rear of a tractor (not shown) and carried by it. The seed drill 7 is mounted to the tillage module 6 by means of a structure whose principle and embodiment are detailed below. A forward direction A is shown in figure 1 The longitudinal orientation of machine 5, that is to say its front-to-back orientation, corresponds to this advance direction A.

[0024] The soil preparation module 6 here includes, and combines, a rotary harrow 11 and a compaction and crumbling roller 12 generally called a packer roller.

[0025] The rotary harrow 11 is equipped with tines 41, designed to loosen the soil when rotating, and a leveling board 42, to contain any clods of earth that may be ejected and to smooth the soil 15 behind the tines 41. A track marking device 43 is provided on the combined agricultural machine 5 or on the tractor. Here, the track marking device 43 is a marker. The track marking device 43 is mounted on the rotary harrow 11. The marker 43 has a tine (or a disc) that leaves a mark when passing through the field to help position the machine 5 on the next pass. As alternatives not shown, the track marking device includes a GPS system (for example, mounted on the tractor) or another digital tracking system.

[0026] The compaction and crumbling roller 12 has a drum 46 around the perimeter of which teeth 47 are mounted. The drum 46 is oriented transversely to the direction of travel A. The compaction and crumbling roller 12 can be replaced by other types of soil working elements, such as disc rollers, cage rollers, helical rollers, smooth rollers, etc., according to soil requirements.

[0027] The compaction and crumbling roller 12 includes a hooking system 120 and a supporting structure 121 ( figure 2 ).

[0028] The mounting system 120 allows the seeding module 7 to be attached to the tillage module 6. The mounting system 120 has housings 123 and hooks 124 designed to accommodate rear positioning means 131 and front positioning means 132 belonging to the frame 13 of the seeding module 7. The rear positioning means 131 and front positioning means 132 are tubular pins. The hooks 124 are designed to close onto the rear positioning means 131 and front positioning means 132 when these are positioned in the housings 123. The interaction between the rear positioning means 131 and front positioning means 132 and the mounting system 120 allows the seeding module 7 to be effectively attached to the tillage module 6 for cultivation.

[0029] The supporting structure 121 has at least one rear beam 122. The rear beam 122 forms an attachment support for a cleaning system 48. The cleaning system 48 includes, for example, a series of scrapers 125 interposed between the rows of teeth 47, to dislodge soil residues that may adhere to the drum.

[0030] The hooking system 120 and the positioning means 131 and 132 can adopt another form and / or be arranged, one 120 on the frame 13 and the others 131, 132 on the roller 12.

[0031] The seeding module 7 comprises a frame 13 and a seeding unit 14. The seeding unit 14 is designed to be mounted to the rear of the frame 13, as shown in the figures. The seeding unit 14 can be mounted on the frame 13 in a fixed, removable, or adjustable manner, for example, by sliding along the frame.

[0032] The frame 13 here carries, among other things, a central hopper 44 (optional) containing fertilizer and a walkway 450 equipped with a ladder 45. The frame 13 includes a mounting bracket 60. The mounting bracket 60 is an H-beam, meaning it has a wider cross-section on two of its parallel sides than between those two sides. The H-beam has a mounting portion 61 oriented towards the rear of the machine 5. The mounting portion 61 is trapezoidal or dovetail-shaped. The mounting bracket 60 can serve as a support for the walkway 450 for reasons of industrial practicality (reducing the number of parts and their cost, reducing assembly time and its cost).

[0033] The seeding unit 14 shown is a precision seeding unit. The seeding module 7 is therefore a precision seed drill. The seeding unit 14 includes a fertilizer applicator 31 (optional), a manually loaded hopper 32 intended here to hold seeds, a seed distribution unit 33, an opening disc 34, a seed placement unit 35 such as a share or tine, a gauge wheel 36, a press wheel 37 (optional), here a roller, and a furrow closing wheel 38. The axis of rotation of the opening disc 34 is located within the footprint of the gauge wheel 36. Furthermore, the lateral position of the gauge wheel 36 is such that its point of contact with the ground is aligned, in a side view, with the point where the seed will fall to the ground.

[0034] The fertilizer placement unit 31 is designed to place fertilizer in a first furrow 16. The fertilizer is pneumatically conveyed to a conduit 314 (partially shown in figures 1 And 2 ) of the fertilizer implantation unit 31 from the fertilization hopper 44.

[0035] The hopper 32 supplies seeds to the distribution unit 33. The distribution unit 33 is also supplied with air via a duct 334 from a turbine 331. The distribution unit 33 separates the seeds and sends them, one by one, to the planting unit 35. The seeds are then deposited in a second furrow 17 parallel to the first furrow 16 formed by the opening disc 34. The depth of the furrow 17 is determined by the gauge wheel 36. This depth can be adjusted to suit the type of seed being sown. A press wheel 37 moves along the bottom of the furrow 17 and ensures contact between the seeds and the soil. Finally, the furrow closing wheel 38 pushes soil back into the furrow 17 to protect the seeds during germination.

[0036] The seeding element 14 includes a deformable mechanism 50. The deformable mechanism 50 is a quadrilateral, preferably of the parallelogram type as shown in the figures. Here, the deformable mechanism 50 comprises a rear upright 51, a lower arm 52 and an upper arm 53, a front upright 54 and an adjustment device 59.

[0037] The rear upright 51, which is substantially vertically oriented, is an integral part of the structure supporting the hopper 32, the distribution unit 33 and some of the elements in contact with the ground (here, but not limited to, the opening disc 34, the seed planting unit 35, the gauge wheel 36, the press wheel 37 and the furrow closing wheel 38).

[0038] The front post 54, also of substantially vertical orientation, has an upper part 541 and a lower part 542.

[0039] The upper portion 541 is provided with a fastening member 543. The fastening member 543 is shaped to complement the mounting support 60 so as to ensure robust attachment of the seeding element 14 to the frame. In the preferred embodiment shown, the fastening member 543 is a jaw. This jaw is provided, but not limited to, with an upper hook 544, formed as a body with the upper portion 541, and a lower hook 545. The jaw 543 is dimensioned to be able to be attached to the mounting portion 61. The jaw 543 is attached to the dovetail joint by tightening a fastener (not shown), such as a screw-nut system.

[0040] The lower part 542 carries front pivots 57 and 58. The lower part 542 also carries in its lower part, in an adjustable manner, the optional fertilizer planting element 31, for example by means of a system of perforations 311 and pin(s) 310 ( figure 2 ).

[0041] The fertilizer placement unit 31 here comprises a mast 312 and an incorporation tool 313. The mast 312 is, but not limited to, fixed at one end into an internal recess in the front upright 54. The mast 312 carries at a second end, opposite the first, one or more incorporation tools 313, here a pair of discs. The fertilizer placement unit 31 also includes a feed conduit 314 through which fertilizer is guided to a fertilizer outlet (not shown), located here between the discs 313. In an alternative design not shown, the incorporation tool(s) may have a tooth. In another variant not shown, the mast 312 is mounted against or around the lower part 542 and / or the linkage system between the front upright 54 and the fertilizer planting member 31 is different from the perforation system 311 and pin(s) 310.The above-mentioned fertilizer incorporation variants can be combined in various ways as appropriate.

[0042] The two arms 52 and 53 are arranged one above the other. Furthermore, they are preferably substantially parallel to each other. Since the arms 52 and 53 shown are curved, the arms of the mechanism 50 do not need to be straight.

[0043] The lower arm 52 is connected to the rear pillar 51 by a rear lower pivot 55, and to the front pillar 54 by the front lower pivot 57. The upper arm 53 is connected to the rear pillar 51 by a rear upper pivot 56, and to the front pillar 54 by the front upper pivot 58.

[0044] The rear pivots 55 and 56 are arranged one above the other.

[0045] The front pivots 57 and 58 are arranged one above the other. The front pivots 57 and 58 are here, preferably but not exclusively, arranged on the same vertical plane V transverse to the general direction A.

[0046] The adjustment device 59 is located between the arms 52 and 53. The adjustment device 59 allows the ground support force of the seeding element 14 to be adjusted. The adjustment device 59 is here, but not limited to, a spring-loaded device.

[0047] The front frame 54 is configured so that the axis of each of the front pivots 57 and 58 is positioned below a horizontal plane Hb passing through the lower point of the mounting portion 61. In other words, the mounting portion 61 is positioned above the front pivots 57 and 58. This configuration allows the upper front pivot 58 to be positioned further forward than conventional solutions permit. Consequently, the entire seeding unit 14 is moved forward, thus limiting the longitudinal dimension of the seeding module 7. In the case of a mounted machine whose entire weight rests on the tractor axles during transport, the rear axle pitching moment is reduced, and the risk of the tractor tipping backward is eliminated.

[0048] Preferably, the axis of each of the front pivots 57 and 58 is located in front of a vertical plane Ha passing through the rearmost point of the attachment portion 61. In other words, the attachment portion 61 extends rearward beyond the upper front pivot 58. In the embodiment shown, the rear face of the dovetail attachment portion 61 is flat and vertical. The vertical plane Ha therefore passes through this rear face.

[0049] This configuration further enhances the advantages of limiting the length of the seeding module and limiting the moment of pitching. Indeed, in the configuration detailed above, the mounting support 60 is higher than a conventional mounting support for a precision seeding unit, making it possible to significantly move the position of the front pivots 57, 58 forward on the machine 5.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, when the seeding module 7 is mounted on the soil-working module 6, the attachment portion 61 - and in particular its lowest point defined by the horizontal plane Hb - is positioned above the beam 122 and / or the fixings 126 of the scrapers 125 ( figure 2 ). In the embodiment shown, also, the attachment portion 61 - and in particular its lower point defined by the horizontal plane Hb - are arranged above the horizontal plane 1310 passing through the lower point of the rear positioning means 131, preferably above the horizontal plane 1311 passing through the upper point of the rear positioning means 131. Preferably, the attachment support 60 and / or the attachment portion 61 is arranged entirely above the rear positioning means 131.

[0051] In an alternative configuration not shown, the attachment support 60 and / or the attachment portion 61 are configured differently from the dovetail example. The attachment support is, for example, a beam with a square, rectangular, or double cylindrical cross-section, etc. Similarly, attachment elements other than the one described in 543 may be provided, such as a clamping system that wraps around the beam.

[0052] In another, unillustrated variant, the hitch support 60 is not a beam spanning the entire width of the machine but is formed from a series of individual hitch modules whose cross-section is, for example, similar in shape to the beams described previously (dovetail, square, etc.). This configuration reduces the mass of the hitch support and thus makes it possible to lighten the axle load on the tractor in the case of a mounted combination machine.

[0053] The different types of seeding modules can be implemented not only in a mounted combination machine, but also in another type, such as trailed or semi-mounted (i.e., mounted for transport and wheeled for work).

[0054] In an alternative design not shown, the 32 manually loaded hoppers are replaced by relay hoppers. These relay hoppers have a smaller volume than the manually loaded hoppers. For example, the relay hoppers hold 2 to 15 liters, compared to 20 to 50 liters for the manually loaded hoppers. The relay hoppers then become part of a remote seed feeding system.

[0055] The relay hoppers can then be supplied with seeds from a front hopper. The central hopper 44 and the fertilizer applicator 31 can be maintained or not depending on the fertilization requirement.

[0056] The relay hoppers can also be fed with seeds from the central hopper 44. Optionally, fertilization can then be carried out from a front hopper.

[0057] The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Combined agricultural machine comprising at least one seeding unit (7) and a soil-working unit (6), the seeding unit (7) including a precision seeder element (14) and a chassis (13), the precision seeder element (14) including a deformable mechanism (50), the deformable mechanism (50) having two arms (52, 53), a front upright (54) and two front pivots (57, 58), each of the two arms (52, 53) being connected to the front upright (54) by a respective front pivot (57, 58), the chassis (13) having a hitching support (60), the front upright (54) being mounted on the hitching support (60), where the axis of the upper front pivot (58) is arranged underneath a horizontal plane (Hb) passing through the lower point of the hitching support, and where the axis of the upper front pivot (58) is arranged in front of a vertical plane (Ha) passing through the hindmost point of the hitching support (60).

2. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the previous claims, the two front pivots (57, 58) being arranged in a same vertical plane (V) that crosses a longitudinal orientation (A) of the seeding unit.

3. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the previous claims, the front upright (54) being mounted on the hitching support (60) in a movable, adjustable or fixed manner.

4. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the previous claims, the front upright (54) including a hitching element (543) on its upper part (541), preferably a jaw.

5. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the previous claims, the front upright (54) being configured to support a fertiliser burying element (31) in its lower part (542).

6. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the claims 1 to 6, the hitching support (60) being a beam that extends over the entire width of the machine.

7. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the claims 1 to 6, the hitching support (60) having multiple hitching portions (61).

8. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the previous claims, the hitching support (60) having at least one hitching portion (61) with a dovetail-shaped section.

9. Combined agricultural machine according to one of the previous claims, the seeding unit (7) being mounted on the soil-working unit (6).

10. Combined agricultural machine according to the previous claim, the combined agricultural machine being a mounted combined agricultural machine.