Pivoting apparatus for an agricultural soil working device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pivoting apparatus for tool holders and / or soil working elements of a soil working device having a base frame, in particular for working row crops, the pivoting apparatus being in the form of a parallelogram and being movable between a first position for working the soil and a raised second position, and a first support rail arranged on the base frame and a second support rail which can pivot relative to the first support rail, and an upper brace and a lower brace, the upper and the lower braces being arranged substantially one above the other and articulatedly linking the first and second support rails, the braces each being mounted pivotably in the support rails in an upper and a lower bearing point. According to the invention, the distance between an upper bearing point and a lower bearing point at least of one support rail can be varied.

Description

[0001] Swivel device for an agricultural soil tillage implement

[0002] The present invention relates to a pivoting device for tool carriers and / or soil cultivation elements of an agricultural soil cultivation implement, in particular for cultivating row crops. Furthermore, the invention relates to a soil cultivation implement, in particular for cultivating row crops, with at least one pivoting device designed according to the invention.

[0003] In agriculture, a wide variety of equipment and soil tools are used for soil cultivation. Soil cultivation equipment is typically mounted on an agricultural towing vehicle such as a tractor, or attached to it and pulled. Soil cultivation within the meaning of the invention can include both mechanical soil cultivation, such as plowing or hoeing, particularly in row crops, as well as the sowing of crops. Soil cultivation equipment for cultivating row crops typically has a plurality of soil cultivation elements arranged side by side to achieve a larger working width.

[0004] For improved work results, the tillage elements should follow the soil contour as precisely as possible, while essentially maintaining a constant working depth. For larger working widths, a height-adjustable suspension of the individual tillage elements or the tool carriers supporting the elements is usually provided. Various suspension devices are used for this, such as linearly movable bearings or parallelogram-shaped pivoting devices. These bearings also allow the tillage elements to be lifted or raised, for example, at a headland or during road travel.For tillage elements for mechanical soil cultivation, a particularly high lifting is required, as the tillage elements must be raised out of the soil and to a sufficiently high height in order to avoid damage to crops, for example when hoeing.

[0005] Such a device for pivoting soil tillage elements of a soil tillage implement is known from EP 2 922 383 A1. This discloses an inter-row cultivator having suspension devices in the form of parallelograms for adjusting the height of soil tillage elements. An upper or lower strut of the parallelogram-like suspension is designed in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, whereby the soil tillage elements can be lifted or pivoted by changing the length of the hydraulic cylinder. The disadvantage of replacing a strut with a hydraulic cylinder in this way is that a hydraulic cylinder with a greater overall length is required to lift the soil tillage elements sufficiently. This increases the weight of the soil tillage implement and increases costs due to larger hydraulic cylinders.In addition, the forces of tillage act directly on the hydraulic cylinder, so it must be dimensioned accordingly. When mounted on tillage implements, this also results in an unfavorable shift of the center of gravity away from the tractor.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a pivoting device for

[0007] Tool carriers and / or tillage elements of an agricultural

[0008] To provide soil tillage equipment that enables a compact, weight-saving, cost-effective way of pivoting the soil tillage elements.

[0009] The object is achieved by a pivoting device for a soil tillage implement according to the features of independent patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a soil tillage implement having the features of claim 10.

[0010] According to claim 1, a pivoting device for tool carriers and / or soil tillage elements of a soil tillage implement with a base frame, in particular for tilling row crops, is proposed, wherein the pivoting device is designed in the shape of a parallelogram and is displaceable between a first position for tillage and a raised second position, and has a first support rail arranged on the base frame side and a second support rail pivotable relative to the first support rail, as well as an upper strut and a lower strut, wherein the upper and lower struts are arranged substantially one above the other and articulately connect the first and second support rails, wherein the struts are each pivotably mounted in an upper and a lower bearing point in the support rails. According to the invention, a distance between an upper bearing point and a lower bearing point of at least one support rail is variable.

[0011] In a first position for soil cultivation, the pivoting device is lowered in the direction of a soil, allowing the soil cultivation elements to follow a soil contour. In this case, a distance between the bearing points of the first support rail can substantially correspond to a distance between the bearing points of the second support rail, whereby the upper and lower struts can be arranged substantially parallel. During pivoting, this causes a substantially purely vertical displacement of the second support rail and the soil cultivation elements arranged thereon, whereby the latter can thus follow the soil contour. In a raised second position of the pivoting device and / or during pivoting into the second position, the distance between an upper bearing point and a lower bearing point of at least one support rail can be changed.A change in the distance between the two bearing points on at least one support rail results in a non-parallel arrangement of the upper and lower struts of the pivoting device, whereby upon pivoting, for example into the second position, a tilting movement, particularly in the direction of the base frame, can be superimposed on the vertical displacement of the second support rail. A change, particularly an opposing one, in the distance between the bearing points on both support rails is also conceivable. This additional tilting movement enables a significantly greater lifting of the second support rail and the tool carriers and / or soil tillage elements arranged on it than with a purely vertical displacement of the second support rail.

[0012] The advantage here is that the distance between tool carriers and / or tillage elements and the ground can be increased, enabling a short design for the pivoting device. In addition, the short design and simple mechanical construction mean that the weight can be kept lower, and an unfavorable shift in the center of gravity of the tillage implement can be avoided or reduced. Furthermore, also in comparison to a pivoting device with extended struts, with the same distance between the tool carriers and / or tillage elements and the ground, a vertical shift of the tool carriers and / or tillage elements can be reduced, allowing the tillage implement to be built more compactly. By increasing the distance to the ground, especially between the tillage elements, crop damage, particularly in row crops, and damage to the tools can be avoided.

[0013] Preferably, at least one bearing point of the first or second support rail is designed to be displaceable. A change in the distance between an upper bearing point and a lower bearing point on a support rail can be made possible in a simple manner by displacing at least one of the bearing points on a support rail. A displacement of a bearing point during pivoting can occur, starting from a first position of the pivoting device, towards a second bearing point on the support rail or away from this, for example outwards. A displaceable bearing point and the associated support rail can be designed and constructed in such a way that the bearing point can be displaced along at least part of the support rail. By displacing at least one bearing point on a support rail, a change in the distance between two bearing points on a support rail can be made possible cost-effectively using simple technical means.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a raised second position, a distance between the bearing points of the first support rail is smaller than a distance between the bearing points of the second support rail. This enables the second support rail to tilt in the direction of the first support rail during pivoting, whereby a distance from the ground of the second support rail, and in particular from soil tillage elements attached thereto, can be further increased. In a first position of the pivoting device, the distance between the bearing points of the first support rail can essentially correspond to the distance between the bearing points of the second support rail. As a result, the upper and lower struts can be arranged essentially parallel, whereby the pivoting device acts like a parallelogram with an essentially vertical, tilt-free pivoting movement, which enables the ground contour to be followed.

[0015] Preferably, a guide device is provided at a displaceably configured bearing point for guiding and / or limiting the displacement of the bearing point. The guide device can ensure controlled movement of the bearing point. The guide device can also have at least one stop, which can limit the displacement. A guide device can be designed, for example, in the form of an elongated hole or a rail.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the guide device is straight or at least partially curved. The guide device can, for example, have straight, curved, and / or angled sections for guiding a bearing point. This allows for the control of the vertical and / or tilted displacement when the bearing point in question is relocated. This has the advantage that it also allows for the control of the movement of an associated tool carrier or the soil tillage implements, thus preventing, for example, collisions with other attachments of the soil tillage implement.

[0017] According to a preferred development, a first actuator is provided for pivoting the pivoting device between the first position for soil cultivation and the raised second position. The first actuator can be arranged such that, upon pivoting, the second support rail can be displaced relative to the first support rail. The first actuator can be mounted at one end on the base frame side and / or on the first support rail and can be operatively connected to the second support rail directly or indirectly, for example via one of the struts. A first actuator can also be mounted on one support rail, for example the second, and connected to a displaceable bearing point on the second support rail. A first actuator can be designed in the form of a hydraulically and / or pneumatically acting cylinder or in the form of a spindle drive.Due to a substantially diagonal direction of action of the first actuator, an additional force can be exerted by the first actuator on the tool carrier and / or the tillage elements, particularly in the first position of the pivoting device. The advantage of this is that, due to the parallelogram-like design of the pivoting device, the additional force acts essentially vertically and tilt-free on the tool carrier and / or the tillage elements, without changing the working position of the tillage elements.

[0018] Preferably, a second actuator is provided for displacing at least one bearing point. The second actuator can be arranged such that a distance between two bearing points of a support rail can be changed. The second actuator can be arranged with at least one end on a bearing point or a strut which is connected to the displaceable bearing point. A second actuator can be designed in the form of a hydraulically and / or pneumatically acting cylinder, a mechanical spring, a gas spring or in the form of a spindle drive. When pivoting from the first position of the pivoting device, the second actuator can bring about a definable displacement of the bearing point to be displaced, whereby the tilting of the support rail, in particular the second one, can be precisely controlled.In addition, the second actuator can hold a movable bearing point in the first position of the pivoting device in a position in which the struts of the pivoting device are arranged essentially parallel. This allows the pivoting device to act essentially like a parallelogram and enable the soil cultivation elements to follow the soil contour.

[0019] Preferably, a strut which extends between two bearing points, in particular the upper strut, has at least one projection, wherein the projection projects beyond one of the bearing points and / or one of the support rails. The projection can be designed and arranged such that a force can be introduced into the strut on the outside of a bearing point and / or a support rail, in particular for displacing the strut. One end of the first and / or the second actuator can be arranged on a projection. The projection enables, for example, a force to be introduced into a strut by an actuator arranged on the outside of a support rail, in particular for displacing a bearing point. This offers the advantage of a particularly space-saving arrangement of the actuator, in particular the second actuator.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one strut, in particular a lower strut, is at least partially curved or angled. A strut can be curved or angled toward a base. By at least partially curved or angled, in particular of the lower strut, the struts come into contact later when pivoting into the second position, and the pivoting movement can be limited later. This has the advantage that the pivoting device can be pivoted further.

[0021] Preferably, the first actuator is operatively connected to the base frame side and to the upper bearing point of the second support rail, wherein the upper bearing point of the second support rail is designed to be displaceable. In the case of an operative connection on the base frame side, the actuator can be arranged with one end on the base frame and / or the first support rail arranged on the base frame. In the case of an operative connection with a displaceable bearing point, the actuator can be connected directly or indirectly to the bearing point. An indirect operative connection can be designed such that an actuator is connected to a strut which has a displaceable bearing point, so that when the length of the actuator changes via the strut, a displacement of the displaceable bearing point, in particular relative to a support rail, can also occur.The advantage here is that the swiveling device and the displacement of the displaceable bearing point can be effected with an actuator.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the first actuator is connected to the second support rail and to a projection of the upper strut projecting beyond the second upper bearing point, wherein the first upper bearing point is designed to be displaceable in the first support rail, in particular towards the floor. This arrangement of the first actuator on a rear side of the second support rail, viewed in the working direction, enables a space-saving arrangement of the first actuator and offers the advantage that only one actuator is required to pivot the pivoting device with a displacement of the displaceable bearing point. A second actuator can additionally be arranged between the upper and lower rails for the controlled displacement of the displaceable bearing point.

[0023] The object stated above is achieved by a soil tillage implement having at least one pivoting device, wherein the at least one pivoting device is designed according to one of claims 1 to 11. Further details of the invention can be found in the figures and the description of the figures, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0024] It shows:

[0025] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a pivoting device of a soil tillage implement;

[0026] Fig. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of the pivoting device in a first position;

[0027] Fig. 3 is a side view of the pivoting device of Fig. 2 in a pivoted second position;

[0028] Fig. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the pivoting device in a first position;

[0029] Fig. 5 is a side view of the pivoting device of Fig. 4 in a pivoted second position;

[0030] Fig. 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of the pivoting device in a first position;

[0031] Fig. 7 is a side view of the pivoting device of Fig. 6 in a pivoted second position;

[0032] Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a pivoting device 1 of a towed soil tillage implement 2 for tilling row crops. The soil tillage implement 2 has a base frame 3 extending substantially parallel to the soil to be tilled, with the pivoting device 1 being arranged on the base frame 3. Depending on the working width of the soil tillage implement 2, a plurality of pivoting devices 1 can be arranged side by side on the base frame 3. A tool carrier 14 with soil tillage elements 18 for tilling the soil is pivotally mounted on the base frame 3 via the pivoting device 1. For the sake of clarity, the soil 21 is shown below the soil tillage elements 18; however, during soil tillage, the soil tillage elements 18 would at least partially penetrate the soil 21. Plants arranged in rows are located on the soil 21.

[0033] The pivoting device 1 is designed like a parallelogram and is movable between a first position for soil cultivation and a raised second position. A first support rail 4 of the pivoting device 1 is arranged on the base frame 3, and a second support rail 5, which can be pivoted relative to the first support rail 4, is articulated to the first support rail 4 via an upper strut 6 and a lower strut 7. The support rails 4, 5 and / or the struts 6, 7 can be designed as profiles, for example in the form of U-profiles. The struts 6, 7 are pivotally mounted in the support rails 4, 5 in an upper bearing point 8, 10 and a lower bearing point 9, 11. The bearing points 8, 9, 10, 11 can be in the form of bolts.The upper and / or lower struts 6, 7 can each also be formed from two struts arranged next to one another and can be mounted in the same bearing points 8, 9, 10, 11 of the support rails 4, 5.

[0034] A tool carrier 14 is arranged on the second support rail 5 and has a support frame 17 for the adjustable reception of soil tillage elements 18 and a disk 19. Furthermore, a support wheel 15 is arranged on the second support rail 5 and is connected to the support rail 5 via a depth adjustment device 16. The working depth of the soil tillage elements 18 can be adjusted via the support wheel 15. Due to the parallelogram-like design of the pivoting device 1, the tool carrier 14 can follow the ground contour in the first position of the pivoting device 1, in which the struts 6, 7 are arranged essentially parallel. In a second position of the pivoting device 1, the tool carrier 14 can be pivoted upwards, for example for transport, so that the soil tillage elements 18 are at a distance b from the ground 21.Pivoting of the pivoting device 1 is effected via a first actuator 12, which is arranged with one end on the base frame side on the first support rail 4 and with its other end on the lower strut 7. This essentially diagonal direction of action of the first actuator 12 also enables the application of a substantially vertical and tilt-free force to the tool carrier 14 and / or the soil tillage elements 18, thereby enabling them to penetrate the soil 21 more effectively.

[0035] According to the invention, a distance a1, a2 between an upper bearing point 8, 10 and a lower bearing point 9, 11 of at least one support rail 4, 5 can be changed. Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the pivoting device 1, in which the first upper bearing point 8 of the first support rail 4 is designed as a displaceable bearing point. The first upper bearing point 8 can be displaced along a guide device 13 in the direction of the first lower bearing point 9 of the first support rail 4. The guide device 13 is designed in the form of an elongated hole. The pivoting device 1 shown in Fig. 2 is shown in the first position for soil cultivation. To pivot the pivoting device 1 into the second position, a first actuator 12 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder is provided, which is arranged between an upper end of the first support rail 4 and the lower strut 7.

[0036] Additionally, a second actuator 20 is provided for displacing the displaceable bearing point, here the first upper bearing point 8. The second actuator 20 is arranged between the struts 6, 7 and, by changing its length, can cause a displacement of the upper strut 6 and thus also of the first upper bearing point 8. Furthermore, the second actuator 20 can hold the struts 6, 7 essentially in a parallel arrangement in the first position of the pivoting device 1, whereby the pivoting device 1, like a parallelogram, enables a purely vertical displacement of the tool carriers 14 and / or soil tillage elements 18 and / or the support wheel 15 while following the soil contour.

[0037] In Fig. 3, the pivoting device from Fig. 2 is shown in a raised second position, wherein the support wheel 15 is at a distance b from the ground 21. The tool carriers and soil tillage elements (not shown) are also arranged at a distance b from the ground 21. The first upper bearing point 8 of the first support rail 4 is displaced downwards, towards the first lower bearing point 9, whereby a distance a1 between the bearing points 8, 9 of the first support rail 4 is smaller than a distance a2 between the bearing points 10, 11 of the second support rail 5. As a result, the second support rail 5 can, in addition to a purely vertical displacement, also be tilted, in particular with its upper end, towards the first support rail 4, whereby an increase in the distance b from the ground of the tool carriers, soil tillage elements and / or the support wheel is possible, compared to a purely vertical displacement with the first and second support rails 4, 5 arranged in parallel.

[0038] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the pivoting device 1 in a first position. In the second embodiment, the first actuator 12 is mounted at one end on an upper end of the first support rail 4 and at its other end on the upper strut 6, and thus indirectly via the upper strut 6 to the second upper bearing point 10 of the second support rail 5. The second upper bearing point 10 is designed as a displaceable bearing point, wherein the upper bearing point 10 can be displaced away from the lower bearing point 11 along a guide device 13. This embodiment has the advantage that both a pivoting of the pivoting device 1 and the displacement of the displaceable bearing point 10 can be effected via the first actuator 12. Fig. 5 shows the second embodiment of the pivoting device 1 in a wasted second position.In this second position, the second upper bearing point 10 of the second support rail 5 in the guide device 13 is deflected upwards in the form of an elongated hole, whereby the distance a2 between the bearing points 10, 11 of the second support rail 5 is greater than the distance a1 between the bearing points 8, 9 of the first support rail 4, whereby the second support rail 5 is tilted in the direction of the first support rail 4.

[0039] Fig. 6 shows a somewhat more compact third embodiment of the pivoting device 1 in a first position for soil cultivation. Here, the second upper bearing point 10 of the second support rail 5 is also designed to be displaceable. The second upper bearing point 10 can be displaced away from the second lower bearing point 11, whereby, upon displacement into the second position, the distance a2 between the bearing points 10, 11 of the second support rail 5 can also be increased compared to the distance a1 between the bearing points 8, 9 of the first support rail 4. Only the first actuator 12 is provided for pivoting the pivoting device 1. The first actuator 12 is arranged with one end at a lower end of the first support rail 4 and with its other end with the upper strut 7, adjacent to the second upper bearing point 10 of the second support rail 5.By changing the length of the first actuator 12, the upper strut 7 is raised, as is the second upper bearing point 10 connected to the upper strut 7, which is thereby also displaced along the guide device 13. Thus, the first actuator 12 can move the pivoting device 1 into the pivoted second position shown in Fig. 7.

[0040] The pivoting device 1 in Figs. 6 and 7 has an upper strut 6 with a projection 22. This projection 22 extends from the first support rail beyond the second support rail 5. The projection 22 can serve to accommodate one end of a first actuator (not shown). The first actuator can be arranged essentially vertically on the tool carrier side or on a side of the second support rail 5 facing the soil tillage elements 18. This enables a particularly compact design of the pivoting device 1.

[0041] Reference symbol

[0042] Swivel device a1 Distance between the bearing points of the

[0043] Soil tillage implement first support rail

[0044] Base frame a2 Distance between the bearing points of the

[0045] First mounting rail second mounting rail

[0046] Second support rail b distance

[0047] Upper strut

[0048] Lower strut

[0049] First upper bearing point

[0050] First lower bearing point

[0051] Second upper bearing point

[0052] Second lower bearing point

[0053] First actuator

[0054] Guide device

[0055] tool carrier

[0056] support wheel

[0057] Depth adjustment device

[0058] support frame

[0059] Soil cultivation element

[0060] disc

[0061] Second actuator

[0062] Floor

[0063] cantilever

Claims

Claims: Swiveling device for tool carrier (14) and / or soil cultivation elements (18) of a soil cultivation implement (2) with a base frame (3), in particular for cultivating row crops, wherein the swiveling device (1) is designed in a parallelogram shape and is displaceable between a first position for soil cultivation and a raised second position, and has a first support rail (4) arranged on the base frame side and a second support rail (5) pivotable relative to the first support rail (4), as well as an upper strut (6) and a lower strut (7), wherein the upper and the lower strut (6, 7) are arranged essentially one above the other and pivotably connect the first and second support rails (4, 5), wherein the struts (6, 7) are pivotably mounted in the support rails (4, 5) in an upper and a lower bearing point (8, 9, 10, 11), characterized in that a distance (a) between an upper bearing point (8,10) and a lower bearing point (9, 11) of at least one support rail (4, 5) is changeable. Swivel device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one bearing point (8, 9, 10, 11) of the first or second support rail (4, 5) is designed to be displaceable. Swivel device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in a raised second position a distance (a1) between the bearing points (8, 9) of the first support rail (4) is smaller than a distance (a2) between the bearing points (10, 11) of the second support rail (5). Swivel device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a guide device (13) for guiding and / or limiting a displacement of the bearing point (8, 9, 10, 11) is provided at a displaceable bearing point (8, 9, 10, 11). Swivel device according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide device (13) is straight or at least partially curved. Swivel device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first actuator (12) for pivoting the swivel device (1) between the first position for soil cultivation and the raised second position is provided.A pivoting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second actuator (20) is provided for relocating at least one bearing point (8, 9, 10, 11). A pivoting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a strut (6, 7) extending between two bearing points (8, 9, 10, 11) has at least one projection (22). The swivel device according to one of the preceding claims is characterized in that at least one of the struts (6, 7), in particular the lower strut (7), is at least partially bent or angled. The swivel device according to one of the preceding claims is characterized in that the first actuator (13) is operatively connected to the base frame and to the upper bearing point (10) of the second support rail (5), wherein the upper bearing point (10) of the second support rail (5) is displaceable.Swivel device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first actuator (13) is connected to the second support rail (5) and to a projection (22) of the upper strut (6) extending beyond the second upper bearing point (10), wherein the first upper bearing point (8) is designed to be displaceable in the first support rail (4), in particular in the direction of the ground (21). Soil cultivation implement with at least one swivel device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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