METHOD FOR SPREADING GRANULAR MATERIAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for spreading spreading material onto an agricultural area (100) by means of an agricultural spreader (10) with two rotatably driven spreading discs (12a, 12b), comprising the steps of: spreading spreading material by means of the agricultural spreader (10) in a normal spreading mode of the agricultural spreader (10) while driving on inner lanes (104) within an inner area far from the boundary of the agricultural area (100), and spreading spreading material by means of the agricultural spreader (10) in a boundary spreading mode of the agricultural spreader (10) while driving on an outer boundary lane (106) running at least partially parallel and adjacent to the boundary (102) of the agricultural area (100) within an area near the boundary of the agricultural area (100).wherein in the boundary spreading mode a boundary spreading device is used to deflect at least part of the dispensed spreading material and a reduced total amount of spreading material is applied compared to the normal spreading mode.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for spreading spreading material according to the preamble of claim 1 and an agricultural spreading device according to the preamble of claim 12.

[0002] Agricultural spreaders, which have two rotating spreading discs, are typically used to apply spreading material in agriculture. These spreaders usually offer different spreading modes, allowing the application rate to be adjusted during the spreading process.

[0003] When driving on inner lanes within a boundary-distant area of ​​agricultural land, spreading material is usually carried out in a so-called normal spreading mode. When driving on an outer boundary lane within a boundary-adjacent area of ​​agricultural land, spreading material is carried out in a boundary spreading mode to ensure the most even possible lateral distribution of the spreading material, even near the boundary.

[0004] In practice, different driving methods have become established when spreading spreading material near borders, which, for example, lead to severe over- and under-fertilization near borders when spreading fertilizer.

[0005] The object underlying the invention is therefore to achieve the most uniform possible lateral distribution of the spreading material, even near boundaries. Ideally, at least partially, existing tramline systems that have already proven effective in practice should be used.

[0006] The problem is solved by a method of the type mentioned above, wherein in the boundary spreading mode a boundary spreading device is used to deflect at least a part of the dropped spreading material and a reduced total amount of spreading material is applied compared to the normal spreading mode.

[0007] The invention takes advantage of the knowledge that by using a boundary spreading device to deflect at least part of the dropped spreading material in combination with a reduction in the amount of spreading material, a comparatively uniform distribution of spreading material can be achieved even in areas near the boundary.

[0008] The boundary spreading device is preferably positioned in the discharge area of ​​a spreading disc and is part of the agricultural spreader. Preferably, in boundary spreading mode of the agricultural spreader, the boundary spreading device is arranged in the discharge area of ​​the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing away from the boundary, wherein the boundary spreading device is preferably arranged on the side of the spreading disc facing away from the boundary that is closer to the boundary.

[0009] The total amount of spreading material refers to the sum of the amounts applied to each of the two spreading discs. A reduced total amount of spreading material can therefore be achieved, for example, by applying a reduced amount to the spreading disc furthest from the boundary and / or to the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing the boundary.

[0010] The distance between the inner tracks, which are driven on in the normal spreading mode of the agricultural spreader, and the boundary of the agricultural area is greater than half the working width in normal spreading mode. The distance between the outer boundary track, which is driven on in the boundary spreading mode of the agricultural spreader, and the boundary of the agricultural area is less than half the working width in normal spreading mode.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, spreading material is applied by means of the agricultural spreader in an intermediate spreading mode, while an inner boundary lane, running at least partially parallel to the boundary and adjacent to the interior of the agricultural area, is driven on within the boundary-adjacent area of ​​the agricultural area. In the intermediate spreading mode, a reduced total quantity of spreading material is preferably applied compared to the normal spreading mode. In the intermediate spreading mode, a different deflection device is preferably used to deflect the dispensed spreading material, for example, a limiter. The deflection device used in the intermediate spreading mode is preferably arranged on the side of the spreading disc facing the boundary.Alternatively or additionally, in intermediate spreading mode, the blade position of at least one spreading disc can be adjusted compared to normal spreading mode. In intermediate spreading mode, the spreading pattern is therefore not adjusted via the boundary spreading device used in boundary spreading mode, but via a different deflection device and / or an adjusted blade setting of at least one spreading disc. The inner boundary lane is preferably located between the outer boundary lane and the interior of the agricultural area.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in boundary spreading mode, the spreading material is applied only by the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing away from the boundary of the agricultural area. Alternatively or additionally, in intermediate spreading mode, the spreading material is applied by both spreading discs of the agricultural spreader. Preferably, in boundary spreading mode, the boundary spreading device is arranged between the spreading discs of the agricultural spreader and / or arranged such that the spreading material thrown from the spreading disc facing away from the boundary of the agricultural area towards the boundary of the agricultural area is deflected by the boundary spreading device.In the boundary spreading mode, the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing the boundary of the agricultural area is preferably deactivated and / or no spreading material is applied to the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing the boundary of the agricultural area.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a total amount of spreading material is applied that is reduced by 75 percent compared to the normal spreading mode in the border spreading mode.

[0014] Preferably, in boundary spreading mode, a 50 percent reduction in the amount of spreading material compared to normal spreading mode is applied to the spreading disc furthest from the boundary of the agricultural area. Preferably, in boundary spreading mode, no spreading material is applied through the spreading disc furthest from the boundary of the agricultural area. Alternatively or additionally, in intermediate spreading mode, a total amount of spreading material reduced by 25 percent compared to normal spreading mode is applied. Preferably, in intermediate spreading mode, a 50 percent reduction in the amount of spreading material compared to normal spreading mode is applied to the spreading disc furthest from the boundary of the agricultural area. Preferably, in intermediate spreading mode, the amount of spreading material applied to the spreading disc furthest from the boundary of the agricultural area is not reduced compared to normal spreading mode.In intermediate spreading mode, the same amount of spreading material is applied to the spreading disc inside the field as in normal spreading mode.

[0015] Furthermore, a method according to the invention is advantageous in which the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing away from the boundary of the agricultural area differs in boundary spreading mode from the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs of the agricultural spreader in normal spreading mode. By adjusting the point of application, different discharge angles can thus be achieved in boundary spreading mode and in normal spreading mode. Alternatively, the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing away from the boundary of the agricultural area in boundary spreading mode and the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs of the agricultural spreader in normal spreading mode are identical. In this case, an adjustment of the discharge angle is preferably achieved via the spreading vanes of the spreading discs.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreading device facing away from the boundary of the agricultural area and / or the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreading device facing the boundary of the agricultural area in intermediate spreading mode and the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs of the agricultural spreading device in normal spreading mode are identical.Alternatively, the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing away from the boundary of the agricultural area and / or the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing towards the boundary of the agricultural area differs in intermediate spreading mode from the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs of the agricultural spreader in normal spreading mode. Preferably, the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing towards the boundary of the agricultural area and / or the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing towards the boundary of the agricultural area in intermediate spreading mode differs from the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader facing away from the boundary of the agricultural area in boundary spreading mode.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the distance of the outer boundary track from the boundary of the agricultural land is less than 10 m, preferably less than 5 m. The distance of the boundary track from the boundary of the agricultural land can, for example, be approximately 3 m. Thus, when driving along the outer boundary track, the agricultural spreader moves in close proximity to the boundary, enabling the operator to maintain a substantially constant distance to the boundary even without additional technical equipment. The constant distance between the boundary of the agricultural land and the outer boundary track also results in a substantially parallel course between the boundary of the agricultural land and the outer boundary track.

[0018] Furthermore, a method according to the invention is advantageous in which the distance of the inner boundary track from the boundary of the agricultural area corresponds to half the working width in normal spreading mode. The spreading material in the area near the boundary thus occurs in both boundary spreading mode and intermediate spreading mode. Boundary tracks whose distance from the boundary of the agricultural area corresponds to half the working width in normal spreading mode have already become established in various agricultural sectors. Therefore, the method according to the invention can be implemented, at least partially, on a tramline system already established in practice.

[0019] Furthermore, a method according to the invention is preferred in which the spreading of the material when driving through the area near the boundary is carried out exclusively in boundary spreading mode. The inner driving lanes thus follow directly from the outer boundary lane towards the interior of the agricultural area. Inner boundary lanes are not regularly created in some agricultural areas, so that spreading in the area near the boundary must be carried out exclusively in boundary spreading mode. Therefore, the method can also be readily applied in agricultural areas where inner boundary lanes are not common.

[0020] In a further development of the method according to the invention, the total amount of spreading material is reduced by 50 percent in the boundary spreading mode compared to the normal spreading mode. Preferably, compared to the normal spreading mode, there is no reduction in the amount of spreading material applied to the spreading disc furthest from the boundary. Preferably, the spreading disc facing the boundary is deactivated in the boundary spreading mode, so that no spreading material is applied by the spreading disc facing the boundary.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the position of the agricultural spreader on the agricultural land is detected, in particular by means of a satellite-based positioning system for the agricultural spreader. Specifically, the agricultural spreader automatically adjusts the normal spreading mode, the border spreading mode, and / or the intermediate spreading mode depending on its detected position. Alternatively, the normal spreading mode, the border spreading mode, and / or the intermediate spreading mode can also be adjusted manually by the user of the agricultural spreader. The satellite-based positioning system can, for example, be a GPS system. The automatic adjustment of a spreading mode can include the automatic positioning or movement of the border spreading device.Alternatively or additionally, the automatic setting of a spreading mode can include the automatic setting of an application rate and / or the automatic setting of the application point of the spreading material onto the spreading discs of the agricultural spreader. Alternatively, the positioning or movement of the boundary spreading device, the setting of the application rate, and / or the setting of the application point of the spreading material onto the spreading discs of the agricultural spreader can also be performed or initiated by a user of the agricultural spreader.

[0022] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by an agricultural spreading device of the type mentioned above, wherein the agricultural spreading device according to the invention is configured to carry out the method for spreading material according to one of the embodiments described above. With regard to the advantages and modifications of the agricultural spreading device according to the invention, reference is first made to the advantages and modifications of the method according to the invention.

[0023] The adjustable spreading modes of the agricultural spreader can include a normal spreading mode, a border spreading mode, and / or an intermediate spreading mode. In a preferred embodiment of the spreader according to the invention, it includes a metering device by means of which the amount of spreading material applied can be adjusted. Alternatively or additionally, the agricultural spreader includes a spreading material application system by means of which the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs can be adjusted. The control device is preferably configured to control the metering device and / or the spreading material application system depending on the selected spreading mode. The metering device preferably comprises two metering elements, with one metering element being assigned to each of the two spreading discs. The amount of spreading material applied to each spreading disc can be adjusted via the metering elements of the metering device.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment of the agricultural spreader according to the invention, it comprises a position detection system, in particular a satellite-based position detection system, by means of which the position of the agricultural spreader on the agricultural land can be detected. Preferably, the control device is configured to automatically set a spreading mode depending on the detected position of the agricultural spreader. Alternatively, the control device can be configured to suggest a spreading mode to the user depending on the detected position of the agricultural spreader. The suggestion can be displayed, for example, via a display and / or sound output device of the agricultural spreader.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 shows an agricultural spreading device carrying out an embodiment of the inventive method for spreading spreading material in a schematic representation; and Fig. 2 shows an agricultural spreading device carrying out a further embodiment of the inventive method for spreading spreading material in a schematic representation.

[0026] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an agricultural area 100 with a boundary 102. On the agricultural area 100, spreading material, namely fertilizer, is applied by means of an agricultural spreading device 10, namely a twin-disc fertilizer spreader.

[0027] The agricultural spreader 10 has two side-by-side, rotatably driven spreading discs 12a and 12b. The spreading disc furthest from the boundary 102 is designated 12a, while the spreading disc closest to the boundary 102 is designated 12b. Depending on the direction of travel of the agricultural spreader 10, either the left or the right spreading disc can be the spreading disc 12b closest to the boundary 102. The same applies accordingly to the spreading disc 12a furthest from the boundary 102.

[0028] The agricultural spreader 10 is equipped with a boundary spreading device for deflecting at least a portion of the discharged spreading material. Furthermore, the agricultural spreader 10 has a control unit by means of which different spreading modes can be selected. The application rate of spreading material can also be adjusted via a metering device of the agricultural spreader 10. This metering device comprises two separate metering elements by means of which the application rate to the spreading discs 12a and 12b can be adjusted independently of each other. In addition, the agricultural spreader 10 has a spreading material application system by means of which the application point of the spreading material onto the spreading discs 12a and 12b can be adjusted. The metering device and the spreading material application system are controlled by the control unit depending on the selected spreading mode.

[0029] During the spreading process, when driving over inner tracks 104, the spreading material is applied in a normal spreading mode of the agricultural spreader 10. The inner tracks 104 are located within an inner area of ​​the agricultural land 100, far from the boundary. The individual inner tracks 104 are spaced 112 apart, with the distance 112 corresponding to the specified working width. When spreading the material in normal spreading mode, a previously determined total quantity of spreading material is applied. For this purpose, the same amount 110a, 110b of spreading material is applied to both spreading discs 12a, 12b. The amount of spreading material applied in normal spreading mode subsequently serves as a reference value, so that the amount of spreading material applied to the spreading discs 12a, 12b in normal spreading mode is assumed to be 100 percent for reference purposes.

[0030] Within a border area of ​​agricultural land 100, the spreading material is applied in a different manner. For spreading the material in this border area, both an outer boundary lane 106 and an inner boundary lane 108 are used during the spreading process. The distance 114 between the outermost inner lane 104 and the inner boundary lane 108 corresponds to the working width. The distance 116 between the inner boundary lane 108 and the boundary 102 corresponds to half the working width. The distance 118 between the outer boundary lane 106 and the boundary 102 is less than 5 m, for example, approximately 3 m.

[0031] While driving on the inner boundary lane 108, the spreading material is applied in an intermediate spreading mode of the agricultural spreader 10. In intermediate spreading mode, a reduced total amount of spreading material is applied compared to normal spreading mode. Compared to normal spreading mode, 50 percent less spreading material is applied to the spreading disc 12b facing the boundary 102. The amount of spreading material applied to the spreading disc 12a facing away from the boundary 102 corresponds to the amount applied to spreading discs 12a and 12b respectively in normal spreading mode. Overall, this results in a 25 percent reduction in the total amount of spreading material compared to normal spreading mode.

[0032] In intermediate spreading mode, a limiter can be used, for example, to modify the trajectory of the material being discharged from the spreading disc 12b facing boundary 102. Alternatively or additionally, the spreading vanes of the spreading disc 12b can be adjusted compared to normal spreading mode to appropriately influence the spreading pattern. The point of application of the material onto the spreading discs 12a and 12b is essentially identical in intermediate and normal spreading modes. However, with alternative application variants, the points of application of the material may differ between intermediate and normal spreading modes.

[0033] While driving along the outer boundary lane 106, the spreading material is applied in the boundary spreading mode of the agricultural spreader 10. In boundary spreading mode, a boundary spreading device is used to deflect at least a portion of the dispensed material. This device is located in the discharge area of ​​the spreading disc 12a facing away from the boundary 102. In boundary spreading mode, the boundary spreading device is essentially positioned between the spreading discs 12a and 12b. A reduced total quantity of material is also applied in boundary spreading mode compared to normal spreading mode. Specifically, the spreading disc 12b facing the boundary 102 is deactivated in boundary spreading mode, so no material is dispensed through it. A 50 percent reduction in the quantity of material 110a is applied to the spreading disc 12a facing away from the boundary 102 compared to normal spreading mode.Thus, in border spreading mode, the total amount of spreading material is reduced by 75 percent compared to normal spreading mode.

[0034] The point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc 12a, which faces away from the boundary 102 of the agricultural area 100, differs in boundary spreading mode from the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs 12a, 12b in normal spreading mode. In alternative variants of the spreading material application, the application points in boundary spreading mode and in normal spreading mode can also be identical.

[0035] The Fig. 2 shows an alternative spreading method. Unlike the one described in the Fig. 1 The depicted spreading method lacks an inner border lane, so that the spreading of the material when passing through the border area takes place exclusively in border spreading mode while driving on the outer border lane 106.

[0036] Once again, the spreading disc 12b facing the boundary 102 is deactivated, so that the spreading material is applied exclusively by the spreading disc 12a facing away from the boundary 102 when driving on the outer boundary lane 106.

[0037] In the depicted spreading method, the quantity of spreading material applied to the spreading disc 12a furthest from the boundary 102 is not reduced compared to the normal spreading mode. This is necessary because the distance 120 between the outermost inner lane 104 and the outer boundary lane 106 corresponds to the specified working width, and no further lanes for spreading material are provided between the outermost inner lane 104 and the outer boundary lane 106.

[0038] Because the spreading disc 12b facing the boundary 102 is deactivated in boundary spreading mode, a total amount of spreading material is applied that is reduced by 50 percent compared to normal spreading mode.

[0039] The depicted spreader 10 can have a position detection system, for example a satellite-based position detection system, by means of which the position of the agricultural spreader 10 on the agricultural area 100 can be detected. Thus, a spreading mode can be automatically set via the control unit of the agricultural spreader 10 depending on the detected position of the agricultural spreader 10. Alternatively, the different spreading modes can also be set manually by a user of the agricultural spreader 10. For example, the agricultural spreader 10 can be configured to suggest a specific spreading mode to the user depending on the current position. Reference sign

[0040] 10 Spreader 12a, 12b Spreading discs 100 Agricultural land 102 Boundary 104 Inner lanes 106 Outer boundary lane 108 Inner boundary lane 110a, 110b Disc-related application rates 112-120 Spacing

Claims

1. Method for spreading spreading material on an agricultural area (100) using an agricultural spreader (10) with two rotating spreading discs (12a, 12b), comprising the steps of: - spreading spreading material using the agricultural spreader (10) in a normal spreading mode of the agricultural spreader (10) while driving on inner lanes (104) within a boundary-distant inner area of ​​the agricultural area (100); and - spreading spreading material using the agricultural spreader (10) in a boundary spreading mode of the agricultural spreader (10) while driving on an outer boundary lane (106) running at least partially parallel and adjacent to the boundary (102) of the agricultural area (100) within a boundary-adjacent area of ​​the agricultural area (100); characterized by the fact thatIn the border spreading mode, a border spreading device is used to deflect at least part of the dropped spreading material, and a reduced total amount of spreading material is applied compared to the normal spreading mode.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the step: - Spreading material by means of the agricultural spreader (10) in an intermediate spreading mode of the agricultural spreader (10) while driving on an inner boundary lane (108) running at least partially parallel to the boundary (102) and adjacent to the interior of the agricultural area (100) within the area near the boundary of the agricultural area (100); wherein in the intermediate spreading mode preferably a reduced total quantity of material is spread compared to the normal spreading mode.

3. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact thatIn boundary spreading mode, the spreading material is applied only by the spreading disc (12a) of the agricultural spreading device (10) facing away from the boundary (102) of the agricultural area (100) and / or in intermediate spreading mode, the spreading material is applied by both spreading discs (12a, 12b) of the agricultural spreading device (10).

4. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that In the border spreading mode, a total amount of spreading material is reduced by 75 percent compared to the normal spreading mode and / or in the intermediate spreading mode, a total amount of spreading material is reduced by 25 percent compared to the normal spreading mode.

5. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact thatthe point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc (12a) of the agricultural spreading device (10) facing away from the boundary (102) of the agricultural area (100) in boundary spreading mode differs from the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs (12a, 12b) of the agricultural spreading device (10) in normal spreading mode.

6. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc (12a) of the agricultural spreading device (10) facing away from the boundary (102) of the agricultural area (100) and / or the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading disc (12b) of the agricultural spreading device (10) facing towards the boundary (102) of the agricultural area (100) in intermediate spreading mode and the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs (12a, 12b) of the agricultural spreading device (10) in normal spreading mode are identical.

7. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that the distance (118) of the outer boundary lane (106) from the boundary (102) of the agricultural area (100) is less than 10 meters, preferably less than 5 meters.

8. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that the distance (116) of the inner border lane from the border (102) of the agricultural area (100) corresponds to half the working width.

9. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that The spreading of the spreading material when driving through the border area is carried out exclusively in border spreading mode.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that In the border spreading mode, the total amount of spreading material is reduced by 50 percent compared to the normal spreading mode.

11. Method according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized byat least one of the following steps: - Determining the position of the agricultural spreader (10) on the agricultural area (100), in particular by means of a satellite-based position detection system of the agricultural spreader (10); - automatically setting the normal spreading mode, the border spreading mode and / or the intermediate spreading mode by the agricultural spreader (10) depending on the detected position of the agricultural spreader (10).

12. Agricultural spreader (10), comprising: - two side-by-side and rotatably driven spreading discs (12a, 12b); - a border spreading device for deflecting at least part of the discharged spreading material; and - a control device by means of which different spreading modes of the agricultural spreader (10) can be set; characterized by the fact thatthe agricultural spreading device (10) is equipped to carry out the method for spreading material according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Agricultural spreading device (10) according to claim 12, further comprising: - a metering device by means of which the amount of spreading material to be applied can be adjusted; and / or - a spreading material application system by means of which the point of application of the spreading material onto the spreading discs (12a, 12b) can be adjusted; wherein the control device is preferably configured to control the metering device and / or the spreading material application system depending on the set spreading mode.

14. Agricultural spreading device (10) according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising: - a position detection system, in particular a satellite-based position detection system, by means of which the position of the agricultural spreading device (10) on the agricultural land (100) can be detected; wherein the control device is configured to automatically set a spreading mode depending on the detected position of the agricultural spreading device (10).