MODULAR DRAWBAR DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of tiller devices and more particularly to the guidance of agricultural tools in the field of viticulture and / or arboriculture.

[0002] In the field described above, intermediate devices comprising a drawbar between an agricultural implement and the motor vehicle that transports it are known. Agricultural implements require drive systems located at one end of the drawbar, facing the motor vehicle. These drive systems, such as a hydraulic pump, must remain aligned with the motor vehicle. The agricultural implement must be maneuvered along rows, and certain maneuvers can be tricky, particularly when making U-turns or changing rows. Documents FR 2 904 182 A1, EP 1 347 676 A1, and EP 3 646 714 A1 illustrate known drawbar devices.

[0003] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a modular intermediate device that allows for alignment between the driving means required for the agricultural tool and the motor vehicle.

[0004] The invention relates to a modular tiller device for these purposes.

[0005] The invention relates to a modular drawbar device comprising a chassis intended to carry at least one agricultural tool, a drawbar comprising, on the one hand, an end connected to the chassis, and on the other hand an end connected to a coupling device comprising means for attaching to a motor vehicle and a pivot support intended to receive a hydraulic pump suitable for being connected to the agricultural tool by means of hoses.

[0006] According to the invention, the drawbar includes a sliding link with the chassis allowing the length of the drawbar to be modulated, the pivot support is through the drawbar allowing a pivot link between the coupling device and the drawbar and a hose guidance system suitable for guiding the hoses connecting the hydraulic pump to the chassis.

[0007] Furthermore, the implementation of a pivot joint between the hydraulic pump and the drawbar ensures that the hydraulic pump remains aligned with the vehicle at all times while in motion, particularly when turning. Maintaining alignment between the hydraulic pump and the vehicle is essential for the pump's proper operation.

[0008] According to one feature of the invention, the drawbar includes a connecting element provided with an opening and the pivot support passes through the connecting element by said opening allowing a rotational movement between the drawbar and the coupling device around the axis defined by the opening.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pivot support comprises a rotating disc located between the coupling device and the hydraulic pump, said rotating disc being positioned between two lower and upper locking rings of the connecting element, the connecting element also comprising an intermediate locking ring around the rotating disc. The implementation of a rotating disc trapped within the connecting element secures said pivot connection.

[0010] According to one feature of the invention, the chassis comprises a hollow portion adapted to house one end of the drawbar, and a jack is adapted to slide the drawbar within the hollow portion. This hollow portion serves, on the one hand, to form part of the chassis structure, which can also support the jack, and on the other hand, to easily implement a sliding connection for the drawbar, thus allowing its length to be adjusted.

[0011] According to another feature of the invention, the guidance system includes first flexible fittings connected to the hydraulic pump that are free to rotate on the hydraulic pump.

[0012] According to another feature of the invention, the guidance system includes a fitting support fixed to the chassis, said fitting support comprising second flexible fittings freely rotatable on the fitting support. The implementation of a fitting support fixed to the chassis near the drawbar allows the drawbar length to be adjusted without interfering with the flexible hoses.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the hose guidance system comprises two guides: an inlet guide for incoming hoses and an outlet guide for outgoing hoses. Separating the incoming and outgoing hoses by directing them along two distinct paths allows for clear visibility of the hoses and their function.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the incoming and outgoing guides each comprise a tubular structure defining a passage, said tubular structures being fixed to the drawbar. The tubular structure design of the guides is easily adaptable to the device. Other embodiments retaining an opening for the passage of hoses are compatible within the scope of the invention.

[0015] Of course, the different features, variants and embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other in various ways as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0016] Furthermore, various other features of the invention become apparent from the attached description made with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention and where: [ Fig.1 ] is a perspective view of a tiller device according to the invention mounted on an agricultural implement in a horizontal position with the hoses not visible, [ Fig.2 ] is a perspective view of the tiller device according to the figure 1 in a restricted position, [ Fig.3 ] is another perspective view of the tiller device according to the figure 1 , [ Fig.4 ] is a top view of the tiller device according to the figure 1 showing a cross-sectional plane AA', [ Fig.5 ] is a detail of the half-section view along AA' of the figure 4 , [ Fig.6 ] is another perspective view of the tiller device according to the figure 1 with the flexible hoses, and [ Fig.7 ] is a perspective view of the device of the figure 6 in another position.

[0017] It should be noted that in these figures the structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

[0018] The invention aims to provide a modular intermediate device between an agricultural tool and the motor vehicle that sets it in motion.

[0019] The invention relates to these purposes to a tiller device illustrated in the figure 1 and designated as a whole by reference 1, which is modular. The drawbar assembly 1 comprises a frame 2 intended to support at least one agricultural implement 3 and a drawbar 4. On the figure 1 , the agricultural tool 3 includes a cutting device, other tools are also compatible within the scope of the invention.

[0020] According to the invention, the drawbar 4 comprises an end in a sliding connection with the frame 2. To this end, the frame 2 comprises a hollow portion 5 adapted to house at least part of the end of the drawbar 2. The frame 2 also comprises a jack 6 adapted to translate the drawbar 4 within the hollow portion 5 of the frame 2 so as to move from an extended position such as is visible to the figure 1 to a restricted position such as visible to the figure 2 .

[0021] Visible in particular at figures 3 et 4 The drawbar 4 includes at its other end a connecting element 7 for a coupling device 8 intended to be attached to a motor vehicle such as a tractor (not shown). The coupling device 8 comprises, for its purpose, an elongated coupling 9 substantially perpendicular to the drawbar 4, which can be connected to the tractor, for example, at two attachment points. Other configurations for attaching the drawbar device to the motor vehicle are possible within the scope of the invention. According to the illustrated embodiment of the drawbar device 1, the coupling 9 rests on two feet which are intended to be removed when the coupling device 8 is attached to a vehicle.

[0022] According to the illustrated embodiment, visible in particular at the figure 5 , the connecting element 7 at the end of the drawbar 4 includes an opening and the coupling device 8 includes a pivot support 10 passing through the connecting element 7 thus forming a pivot connection between the coupling device 8 and the drawbar 4. According to the embodiment illustrated, the connecting element 7 has substantially the shape of a ring composed of several elements described below.

[0023] The pivot support 10, represented in cross-section by points at the figure 5 The assembly includes a rotating disc 11 located between the coupling device 8 and the dedicated support 12, and a hydraulic pump 13. The connecting element 7 includes two locking rings, lower 14 and upper 15. The rotating disc 11 is positioned between the two locking rings, lower 14 and upper 15, of the connecting element 7. The connecting element 7 also includes an intermediate locking ring 16 around the rotating disc 11. Bolted systems 17 pass through the three rings 14, 15, and 16 to lock the pivot joint. The rotating disc 11 is lubricated and trapped within the three rings 14, 15, and 16 of the connecting element 7.

[0024] According to the illustrated embodiment of the drawbar device 1, the hydraulic pump 13 is fixed to the dedicated support 12 of the pivot support 10 by means of a screw 18. The hydraulic pump 13 is equipped with first flexible fittings 20 mounted for free rotation and intended to receive a set of hoses, and more particularly inlet hoses 21 and outlet hoses 22 (not visible in the illustration). figure 5 ).

[0025] The inlet hoses 21 and outlet hoses 22 of the hydraulic pump 11 are connected to a fitting support 23 mounted on the chassis 2 near the connection with the drawbar 4. The configuration of the fittings is particularly visible in the figures 6 And 7 .

[0026] The fitting support 23 therefore includes second flexible fittings 24 intended to receive the incoming 21 and outgoing 22 flexible hoses of the hydraulic pump 13. The second flexible fittings 24 are mounted for free rotation on the fitting support 23.

[0027] The drawbar device 1 also includes two guides 30, 31 located at the end of the drawbar 4, which includes the connecting element 7. As shown in the figures, an inlet guide 30 is adapted to allow the inlet hoses 21 to pass through, and an outlet guide 31 is adapted to allow the outlet hoses 22 to pass through. The inlet guide 30 and outlet guide 31 have a tubular shape, each comprising a passage for the inlet hoses 21 and outlet hoses 22, respectively. Other embodiments of the guides 30, 31 incorporating a passage for the hoses 21, 22 are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0028] The connection support 23 then allows the incoming hoses 21 and outgoing hoses 22 to be followed in a fixed manner towards the agricultural tool 3.

[0029] To maneuver a modular drawbar device 1 according to the invention, a motor vehicle connected to the coupling device 8 drives the latter in its movement, it is then possible to rotate the assembly formed by the coupling device 8 and the hydraulic pump 12 relative to the drawbar 4. The incoming hoses 21 and outgoing hoses 22 are deformed during the movements but the incoming hoses 21 and outgoing hoses 22 remain in their respective incoming guides 30 and outgoing guides 31.

[0030] Of course, various other modifications can be made to the invention within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A modulatable drawbar device (1) comprising a frame (2) intended to carry at least one agricultural implement (3), a drawbar (4) comprising an end connected to the frame (2) and an end connected to a hitching device (8) comprising means of attachment to a motor vehicle and a pivot support (10) intended to receive a hydraulic pump (13) for connection to the agricultural implement (3) by means of hoses (21, 22), the drawbar (4) comprises a sliding connection with the frame (2) allowing the length of the drawbar (4) to be modulated, the pivot support (10) passes through the drawbar (4) allowing a pivot connection between the hitching device (8) intended to be connected to the hydraulic pump (13) and the drawbar (4), and a hose guide system for guiding the hoses (21, 22) connecting the hydraulic pump (13) to the frame (2).

2. The drawbar device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the drawbar (4) comprises a connecting element (7) provided with an opening and the pivot support (10) passes through the connecting element (7) through said opening allowing rotational movement between the drawbar (4) and the hitching device (8) about the axis defined by the opening.

3. The drawbar device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pivot support (10) comprises a rotation disk (11) comprised between the hitching device (8) and the hydraulic pump (13), said rotation disk (11) being positioned between two lower (14) and upper (15) locking rings of the connecting element (7), the connecting element (7) also comprising an intermediate ring (16) for locking around the rotation disk (11).

4. The drawbar device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (2) comprises a hollow portion (5) for accommodating one end of the drawbar (4) and a cylinder (6) for sliding the drawbar (4) into the hollow portion (5).

5. The drawbar device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide system comprises first hose connections (20) connected to the hydraulic pump (13) freely rotatable on the hydraulic pump (13).

6. The drawbar device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide system comprises a connecting support (23) fastened to the frame (2), said connecting support (23) comprising second hose connections (24) freely rotatable on the connecting support (23).

7. The drawbar device (1) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hose guide system (21, 22) comprises two guides (30, 31), an incoming guide (30) for guiding incoming hoses (21) and an outgoing guide (31) for guiding outgoing hoses (22).

8. The drawbar device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the incoming (30) and outgoing (31) guides each comprise a tubular structure defining a passage, said tubular structures being fastened to the drawbar (4).