AGRICULTURAL MACHINE COMPRISING AN ARK AND A SPECIAL FIXING SYSTEM ATTACHED TO THE ARK AND ENSURING THE SECURITY OF A TOOL

Abstract

AGRICULTURAL MACHINE COMPRISING AN ARK AND A SPECIAL FIXING SYSTEM ATTACHED TO THE ARK AND SECURING A TOOL. The invention relates to an agricultural machine (100) comprising an arch (106) with two uprights (108a-b), at least one fastening system (150a-b) with a starboard subsystem (152a) mounted on a starboard upright (108a) and a port subsystem (152b) mounted on a port upright (108b), and which comprises a connecting bar (204), an upper bar (202a) and a lower bar (202b), wherein the upper and lower bars are hinged to the upright (108a-b) and to the connecting bar (204) which carries first fastening means, a lifting system (160) for vertically moving each connecting bar (204), and a tool (50a-b) comprising a secondary frame (54) and for each of the first fastening means,of the second fastening means integral with the secondary frame (54) and removably attached to said first fastening means (206). Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: AGRICULTURAL MACHINE COMPRISING AN ARK AND A SPECIAL FIXING SYSTEM ATTACHED TO THE ARK AND ENSURING THE SECURITY OF A TOOL technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural machine, in particular for market gardening. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Market gardening is generally arduous work for the farmer, and it is necessary to use agricultural machinery, which is usually expensive. Furthermore, depending on the tasks to be carried out, it is often necessary to have a dedicated piece of agricultural machinery, and by increasing the number of machines, the costs increase accordingly.

[0003] It is therefore necessary to find a machine that is suitable for market gardening and that allows different tasks to be carried out thanks to its versatility. Description of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an agricultural machine which includes an arch and a particular fastening system which is fixed to the arch and ensures the removable attachment of a tool.

[0005] To this end, an agricultural machine comprising: is proposed

[0006] - a chassis mounted on wheels and comprising an arch having a post starboard side, a port side upright and a crossbar connecting the upper ends of the two uprights,

[0007] - at least one fastening system, where each fastening system comprises a sub- starboard system mounted hinged on the starboard post and a port subsystem mounted hinged on the port post, wherein each subsystem comprises a connecting bar, an upper bar and a lower bar, wherein the upper bar and the lower bar each have a proximal end mounted hinged to the post in question and a distal end mounted hinged to the connecting bar, wherein each connecting bar carries first means of attachment,

[0008] - a lifting system configured to vertically move each connecting bar, And

[0009] - a tool comprising a secondary chassis and for each of the first means of fixing, of the second means of fixing attached to the secondary chassis and adapted to be fixed in a removable manner to said first means of fixing.

[0010] Advantageously, a wheel is mounted at the lower end of each upright, the chassis includes a lateral beam attached to one of the uprights of the arch and extending to the front of the arch and the front end of the side beam carries a wheel.

[0011] Advantageously, the agricultural machine includes a control station which includes a seat removably fixed to the side beam and a control panel fixed to the seat, where the seat can be oriented forward relative to a main direction of travel or backward relative to the main direction of travel.

[0012] Advantageously, the control panel is removably attached to the seat.

[0013] Advantageously, each subsystem comprises a lateral connecting rod, one end of which is mounted articulated to the chassis and the other end of which is mounted articulated to one of the lower or upper bars, and the lateral connecting rod extends laterally and outwards relative to the lower or upper bar to which it is articulated.

[0014] Advantageously, the first fastening means consist of an upper tow ball and a lower tow ball disposed below relative to the upper tow ball, the second fastening means comprise a coupling head and a shaft which is disposed below relative to the coupling head, and the coupling head is arranged to fit onto the upper tow ball and the shaft is arranged to fit onto the lower tow ball.

[0015] Advantageously, the lifting system includes a motorized winch fixed to the cross member and a cable which winds onto the winch cylinder or unwinds from said cylinder depending on the direction of rotation of said cylinder, and where the cable is extended by a link fixed in its middle to the cable and at each of its ends to an upper bar of the fastening system.

[0016] Advantageously, the crossbar is configured to be adjustable in length. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0018] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of an agricultural machine according to the invention,

[0019] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a detail of a machine fastening system agricultural equipment according to the invention, using a specific tool.

[0020] [Fig.3] is a perspective view similar to that of [Fig.2] without the tool,

[0021] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view of the horizontal plane IV fixing system of the [Fig.2],

[0022] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view of the fastening system by the VV line of [Fig.4], and

[0023] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the agricultural machine from another point of view.

[0024] DETAILED STATEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS

[0025] Fig. 1 shows an agricultural machine 100 which is particularly intended for market gardening but can also be used in other types of agriculture. The agricultural machine 100 has a horizontal longitudinal direction X, a horizontal transverse direction Y, and a vertical direction Z, these three directions X, Y, and Z being orthogonal to each other. The agricultural machine 100 has a main direction of travel, represented by arrow F, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction X, but of course, the agricultural machine 100 can travel in the opposite direction, which is then called the "secondary direction of travel".

[0026] The terms "front" and "rear" are to be considered in relation to the main direction of advancement F.

[0027] The agricultural machine 100 comprises a chassis 102 mounted on wheels 104 and a drive system that rotates the wheels 104. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, there are three wheels 104 arranged at the vertices of a right triangle, and each wheel 104 is driven by an electric motor mounted on its side. Of course, any other type of drive system is possible. Thus, there are two rear wheels 104 coaxial about an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction Y, and a front wheel 104 aligned with one of the rear wheels 104 (here, the wheel on the left) parallel to the longitudinal direction X.

[0028] To enable changes of direction of the agricultural machine 100, certain wheels 104 are steerable and mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, and a motor ensures the rotation of the wheel 104 about said vertical axis. Of course, depending on the number of wheels 104, there may be one or more steerable wheels 104. In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 1], the front wheel 104 is the steerable wheel.

[0029] The frame 102 includes an arch 106 which has two vertical uprights 108a-b, namely a starboard upright 108a and a port upright 108b, and a horizontal cross member 110 which connects the upper ends of the two uprights 108a-b. The presence of the arch 106 allows the space beneath the arch 106 to be cleared for work to be carried out and / or for the installation of tools that would occupy the space beneath the arch 106.

[0030] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, a rear wheel 104 is mounted at the lower end of each upright 108a-b. The arch 106 is inscribed in a vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

[0031] The chassis 102 also includes a side beam 112 which is integral with one of the uprights 108b of the arch 106 and extends forward of the arch 106 parallel to the longitudinal direction X and relative to the main direction of travel F, and carries the front wheel 104 at its front end. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous because the space under the arch 106 in front of and behind the arch 106 is not obstructed by structural elements of the chassis 102 as can be seen in [Fig.6] where the tools have been removed, and it is then easy for a user to move around to place the desired tools in the space under the arch 106. The side beam 112 is perpendicular to the plane in which the arch 106 is inscribed.

[0032] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the chassis 102 includes a reinforcing beam 114 which is fixed between the front end of the side beam 112 and the cross member 110.

[0033] Figure 6 shows a particular embodiment of a control station 602 for the agricultural machine 100. The control station 602 is removably attached to the side beam 112 and comprises a seat 604a-b and a control panel 606a-b attached to the seat 604a-b. In Figure 6, there are two seats 604a-b to show the two positions that the seat 604a-b can assume. The seat 604a-b is thus removably attached to the side beam 112 and can be fixed so as to face forward (seat 604b) or be fixed so as to face backward (seat 604a). Thus, depending on the direction in which the agricultural machine 100 is moving, the operator is always facing in the direction of travel.The control panel 606a-b is attached to the seat 604a-b and positioned so that it is accessible to the driver when seated in the seat 604a-b. The control panel 606a-b communicates wirelessly with a control unit installed on the chassis 102, which controls the various components of the agricultural machine 100, and in particular the various motorized components. The control panel 606a-b contains the controls necessary to operate the agricultural machine 100.

[0034] According to a particular embodiment, the control panel 606a-b is removably attached to the seat 604a-b. Thus, a user can operate the agricultural machine 100 while standing next to said agricultural machine 100 or while seated on a tool 50a-b, such as a bed 56 or a transplanting seat, or others as described below. The removable attachment is achieved by any suitable fastening means, such as clips, screws, etc.

[0035] The agricultural machine 100 also includes at least one fastening system 150a-b which is fixed to the arch 106 and ensures the fastening of a tool 50a-b.

[0036] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 1], there is a fastening system 150a at the rear of the arch 106 and a fastening system 150b at the front of the arch 106, each carrying a tool 50a-b. At the rear, the tool 50a is a fork with two arms 52 for load transport, and at the front, the tool 50b is a set of two horizontal beds 56 that allow workers to lie down to perform operations on the plants in the ground while the agricultural machine 100 is moving. These operations include, for example, planting, transplanting, weeding, defoliating, harvesting, etc.

[0037] Other tools can be considered such as, for example, hoeing tines, transplanting seats, vibro-cultivator tines, a plastic mulch unroller, a harrow, a harvesting tray, etc.

[0038] In the following description, only the rear fixing system 150a is described, but the front fixing system 150b is symmetrical with respect to the vertical plane in which the arch 106 is inscribed.

[0039] The fastening system 150a comprises a starboard subsystem 152a hinged to the starboard upright 108a and a port subsystem 152b hinged to the port upright 108b. The tool 50a is removably attached to the starboard subsystem 152a and the port subsystem 152b. The starboard subsystem 152a and the port subsystem 152b are identical and symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane passing through the midpoint of the cross member 110 and parallel to the longitudinal direction X.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows the starboard subsystem 152a with tool 50a, Fig. 3 shows the starboard subsystem 152a without tool 50a, Fig. 4 shows the starboard subsystem 152a in top view and in section by horizontal plane IV, and Fig. 5 shows the starboard subsystem 152a in side view and in section by line VV.

[0041] In the following description, only the starboard subsystem 152a is described, but the port subsystem 152b has the same elements.

[0042] The starboard subsystem 152a comprises an upper bar 202a and a lower bar 202b. Each upper and lower bar 202a-b has a proximal end mounted articulated to the starboard upright 108a and a distal end. The upper bar 202a is arranged above the lower bar 202b.

[0043] The starboard subsystem 152a includes a connecting bar 204. The distal end of the upper bar 202a and the distal end of the lower bar 202b are hinged to the connecting bar 204. The two lower and upper bars 202a-b are overall of the same length to ensure an overall vertical orientation of the connecting bar 204.

[0044] According to a particular embodiment, the two lower and upper bars 202a-b are adjustable in length and thus take, for example, the form of a length-adjustable connecting rod. Such an arrangement makes it possible to adjust the inclination of the connecting bar 204 and, in this case, a secondary frame 54 around a horizontal axis, for example, to stabilize a pallet when it is moved by tilting it slightly forward.

[0045] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the articulation of each proximal end to the starboard upright 108a is a ball joint, and the articulation of each distal end to the connecting bar 204 is a rotation about an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction Y.

[0046] The agricultural machine 100 also includes a lifting system 160 which allows to move the connecting bar 204 vertically either directly or via the lower or upper bars 202a-b.

[0047] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the lifting system 160 is relatively simple and includes a motorized winch fixed here inside the cross member 110 and a cable 162 which winds onto the winch cylinder or unwinds from said cylinder depending on the direction of rotation of said cylinder.

[0048] The cable 162 is extended here by a link 164, here a chain, which is fixed in its middle to the cable 162 and at each of its ends to an upper bar 202a of a fastening system 150a-b.

[0049] But the lifting system 160 can take other forms such as for example a system of jacks fixed between the chassis 102 and one of the lower or upper bars 202a-b or the connecting bar 204.

[0050] Each connecting bar 204 carries first fixing means 206 and there are therefore first fixing means 206 on the starboard side and first fixing means 206 on the port side.

[0051] Each tool 50a-b comprises a secondary chassis 54 and for each of the first fastening means 206, second fastening means 208 integral with the secondary chassis 54 and adapted to be removably attached to said first fastening means 206. The fastening is said to be "removable" when the separation of the fastening means 206 and 208 does not cause their destruction.

[0052] The functional elements of the tool 50a-b are fixed to the secondary frame 54, such as here the arms 52, the beds 56 or hoeing teeth or others.

[0053] Controlling the lifting system 160 from the control station 602 allows the height of the connecting bars 204, and therefore of the tool 50a-b, to be adjusted as needed. Furthermore, because the same fastening means 206 and 208 are used for all tools 50a-b, the agricultural machine 100 is versatile and allows the necessary tool 50a-b to be fitted.

[0054] To best ensure the stability of the subsystem 152a-b, said subsystem 152a-b comprises a lateral connecting rod 210, one end of which is articulated to the frame 102, and the other end of which is articulated to one of the lower or upper bars 202a-b, here the upper bar 202a, here in the vicinity of its distal end, as shown in [Fig. 5]. The lateral connecting rod 210 extends laterally and outwards relative to the lower or upper bar 202a-b to which it is articulated, as shown in [Fig. 4].

[0055] In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the articulation of each end of the lateral connecting rod 210, respectively to the chassis 102 and to the upper bar 202a, is a ball joint.

[0056] Preferably, the lateral connecting rod 210 is adjustable in length. Thus, depending on of the width of the tool 50a-b, it is possible to modify the length of each lateral connecting rod 210 in order to adapt the gap between the two connecting bars 204 of said tool 50a-b.

[0057] In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the first fastening means 206 consist of two tow balls 206a-b, namely an upper tow ball 206a and a lower tow ball 206b which is arranged below relative to the upper tow ball 206a.

[0058] The second fastening means 208 comprise a coupling head 208a and a shaft 208b which is disposed below relative to the coupling head 208a.

[0059] The coupling head 208a is arranged to fit onto the upper coupling ball 206a and the shaft 208b is arranged to fit onto the lower coupling ball 206b.

[0060] Installing the tool 50a-b involves positioning it so that the coupling head 208a and the shaft 208b are positioned above the associated coupling ball 206a-b, and then raising each connecting bar 204, particularly using the handle provided for this purpose at the top of said connecting bar 204. When raising the connecting bar 204, the lower coupling ball 206b engages with the shaft 208b and the upper coupling ball 206a engages with the coupling head 208a. Removing the tool 50a-b is done by reversing the procedure.

[0061] Such an arrangement with two fixing points for each connecting bar 204, i.e. on each side of the tool 50a-b, guarantees an isostatic and stable positioning of the tool 50a-b.

[0062] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 1], and to secure the height positioning of the connecting bars 204 after adjustment with the lifting system 160, the agricultural machine 100 comprises, for each tool 50a-b, a pair of chains 170, one chain 170 of which is fixed between the upper bar 202a of a subsystem 152a-b, here near its distal end, and the associated upright 108a-b. A tensioner can be provided on each chain 170 to allow for fine adjustment of the chain 170's length. The tensioner is, for example, a screw, eye, or lantern type.

[0063] Of course, any other positioning system can be implemented, and it can even be integrated into the lifting system, for example when the latter includes cylinders.

[0064] According to a particular embodiment, the cross member 110 is configured to be adjustable in length to adjust the width of the agricultural machine 100 as required. The particular arrangement with a chassis 102 having a single side beam 112 facilitates the length adjustment of the cross member 110 because it is sufficient to move the upright 108a, which does not support the side beam 112 and is therefore lighter.

[0065] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 1], the cross member 110 is This structure consists of two superimposed beams HOa-b. The two beams HOa-b extend parallel to the transverse direction Y and are movable relative to each other along the same transverse direction Y. The two beams 110a-b are fixed to each other by plates 113 attached to the sides of the two beams 110a-b by removable fasteners such as screws. Of course, a telescopic cross member 110 can also be used.

Claims

Claims

1. Agricultural machine (100) comprising: - a chassis (102) mounted on wheels (104) and comprising an arch (106) having a starboard upright (108a), a port upright (108b) and a cross member (110) which connects the upper ends of the two uprights (108a-b) together, - at least one fixing system (150a-b), where each fixing system (150a-b) comprises a starboard subsystem (152a) mounted articulated on the starboard upright (108a) and a port subsystem (152b) mounted articulated on the port upright (108b), where each subsystem (152a-b) comprises a connecting bar (204), an upper bar (202a) and a lower bar (202b), where the upper bar (202a) and the lower bar (202b) each have an end proximal end mounted articulated to the upright (108a-b) considered and a distal end mounted articulated to the connecting bar (204), where each connecting bar (204) carries first fixing means (206),- a lifting system (160) configured to vertically move each connecting bar (204), and - a tool (50a-b) comprising a secondary chassis (54) and for each of the first fixing means (206), second fixing means (208) secured to the secondary chassis (54) and adapted to be removably fixed to said first fixing means (206).,

2. Agricultural machine (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that a wheel (104) is mounted at the lower end of each upright (108a-b), in that the chassis (102) comprises a side beam (112) integral with one of the uprights (108b) of the arch (106) and extending to the front of the arch (106) and in that the front end of the side beam (112) carries a wheel (104).

3. Agricultural machine (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a control station (602) which comprises a seat (604a-b) removably attached to the side beam (112) and a control panel (606a-b) attached to the seat (604a-b), the seat (604a-b) being able to be oriented forwards relative to a main direction of advancement (F) or backwards relative to the main direction of advancement (F).

4. Agricultural machine (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the control panel (606a-b) is removably attached to the seat (604a-b).

5. Agricultural machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each subsystem (152a-b) comprises a lateral connecting rod (210) of which a first end is mounted articulated to the chassis (102) and of which a second end is mounted articulated to one of the lower or upper bars (202a-b) and in that the lateral connecting rod (210) extends to the side and outwards relative to the lower or upper bar (202a-b) to which it is articulated.

6. Agricultural machine (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the lateral connecting rod (210) is adjustable in length.

7. Agricultural machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first fixing means (206) consist of an upper hitch ball (206a) and a lower hitch ball (206b) arranged below relative to the upper hitch ball (206a), in that the second fixing means (208) comprise a hitch head (208a) and a barrel (208b) which is arranged below relative to the hitch head (208a), and in that the hitch head (208a) is arranged to fit onto the upper hitch ball (206a) and the barrel (208b) is arranged to fit onto the lower hitch ball (206b).

8. Agricultural machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lifting system (160) comprises a motorized winch fixed to the crosspiece (110) and a cable (162) which winds onto the winch cylinder or unwinds from said cylinder depending on the direction of rotation of said cylinder, and where the cable (162) is extended by a link (164) fixed in its middle to the cable (162) and by each of its ends to an upper bar (202a) of the fixing system (150a-b).

9. Agricultural machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the crosspiece (110) is configured to be adjustable in length.

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