Soil cultivation tool support device

Abstract

The invention relates to a support device (1) for tillage tools, particularly for under-row implements, comprising a chassis (5) including a base having, on the one hand, means for attachment to the rear of a motor vehicle (2) with a direction of travel (Y) and, on the other hand, means for attachment to an inter-row tool (3), an upper sleeve (7) and two main arms extending from the upper sleeve (7) in a plane P(X,Z) perpendicular to the direction (Y), each of the main arms having an upper beam (16) capable of translating along the direction (X) in the upper sleeve (7) and a vertical mast (17) including means for attachment to a complete-row tool (4). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Support device for soil tillage tools

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of support device for soil tillage tools and in particular for under-row tools.

[0002] In viticulture, a major challenge is maintaining the area beneath the vine row, namely between the vines. Chemical weed control solutions exist, but these present risks such as the depletion of soil microfauna and the pollution of water and soil.

[0003] Several mechanical solutions also exist, such as undercutting with a tillage tool, mowing, or using a string trimmer. However, such methods have slow working speeds.

[0004] It is also known to work the soil using a so-called half-row cultivator, which allows the soil to be worked on one or two opposing half-rows. Such a half-row cultivator is towed or pushed by a tractor-type motor vehicle. Such a half-row cultivator can also be mounted on a robotic arm.

[0005] The invention aims to provide a support device for existing tools that allows for working two complete rows, or even two complete rows and two additional half-rows, depending on the row or half-row tools used. On the one hand, the support device allows the use of an inter-row cultivator, namely for working two opposing half-rows or a single half-row, and, on the other hand, two soil tools, referred to as complete-row cultivators, for working the two outer half-rows. The support device according to the invention thus allows for soil cultivation on two complete rows, or even two complete rows and two additional half-rows.

[0006] The invention relates to a support device for soil work tools and in particular for under-row tools, comprising a chassis including a base having, on the one hand, means for attaching to the rear of a motor vehicle with a direction of travel Y and, on the other hand, means for attaching to an inter-row tool, an upper sleeve and two main arms extending from the upper sleeve along a plane P(X,Z) perpendicular to the direction Y, each of the main arms having an upper beam capable of translating along the direction X in the upper sleeve and a vertical mast including means for attaching to a complete row tool.

[0007] Advantageously, the support device according to the invention allows the use of existing inter-row tools and the support device according to the invention is adaptable to different dimensions of vine row.

[0008] According to one feature of the invention, one of the upper beams is able to slide within the other upper beam. The use of such upper beams reduces the overall size of the support device. This configuration also allows for the design of upper beams with a greater extension range.

[0009] According to another feature of the invention, each vertical mast comprises a vertical arm capable of translating within a vertical sleeve of the vertical mast, thus forming a vertical slide. Such a vertical slide makes it possible both to reduce the overall size of the support device in the transport position and to adapt to the terrain by raising and lowering the inter-row tools accordingly.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support device comprises two tool lifting cylinders, one tool lifting cylinder being fixed between the vertical arm and the vertical sleeve.

[0011] According to one feature of the invention, the support device comprises two row width jacks, each row width jack being fixed on the upper sleeve and the respective upper beam.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper sleeve includes a carriage capable of translating along the X direction and the two row width cylinders are fixed on the carriage.

[0013] The implementation of a trolley connected to the row-width cylinders enables a system for compensating for vehicle drift. The correct positioning of the full-row tools relative to the vines is thus maintained. The equipment is therefore protected.

[0014] According to one feature of the invention, the support device further comprises at least two trolley jacks, each trolley jack being fixed on the upper sleeve and on each side of the trolley.

[0015] According to another feature of the invention, each upper beam includes a cam slider and a cam sensor for adapting to a row width. The implementation of the cam slider makes it easier to position the width on each side of the support device, as defined by the positioning of the vertical masts, to accommodate standard row widths.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support device comprises two tilting cylinders fixed on the base and the upper sleeve.

[0017] Such a tilting system makes it possible to preserve the equipment by raising the structure of the support device and therefore the inter-row and full-row tools when a tool encounters an obstacle such as a rock for example.

[0018] According to one feature of the invention, the support device further comprises a parallelogram-mounted ground-following device located between the full-row tool and the vertical arm, which includes a ground-following sensor and a depth control wheel capable of translating along the Z-direction. The implementation of a parallelogram-mounted ground-following device allows for independent control of the height of a full-row tool. The vertical mast then serves only to raise the full-row tool, for example, at the end of a row. The function of adjusting the height of the full-row tool according to the terrain is thus performed by the parallelogram-mounted ground-following device.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the invention, the support device comprises a depth control cylinder fixed between the depth control wheel and the parallelogram soil tracking device.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support device further comprises a lifting sensor capable of knowing the position of the support device relative to the motor vehicle.

[0021] The combined use of motion sensors and cylinders, and more particularly hydraulic cylinders, facilitates the movement of the support device structure. Each element of the support device can be actuated via a control unit.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support device includes a control unit capable of retrieving information from the sensors and controlling each cylinder.

[0023] Of course, the different features, variants and embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other in various ways insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0024] In addition, 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:

[0025] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the tool support device mounted on the rear of a tractor and equipped with tillage tools,

[0026] [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the device support according to the invention,

[0027] [Fig.3] is a flat view along the (Y,Z) plane of the support device of the [Fig.2] equipped with a full range of tools,

[0028] [Fig.4] is a flat view along the (Y,Z) plane of the support device of the [Fig.2] equipped with full-row tools in a tilted position,

[0029] [Fig.5] is a flat view along the (X,Z) plane of the support device of the [Fig.2] equipped with a full range of tools,

[0030] [Fig.6] is a detail of [Fig.1],

[0031] [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view along the (X,Z) plane of a detail of [Fig.2],

[0032] [Fig.8] is a view of a detail of [Fig.5],

[0033] [Fig.9] is a view of a detail of [Fig.5],

[0034] [Fig. 10] is a flat view along the (X,Z) plane of the support device of the [Fig.2] equipped with full-row tools in the raised position,

[0035] [Fig. 11] is a flat view along the (X,Z) plane of the support device of the [Fig.2] equipped with full-row tools in the lowered position,

[0036] [Fig. 12] is a view of an example embodiment of the transverse beams of a support device according to the invention,

[0037] [Fig. 13] is a view of an example embodiment of a trolley of the support device according to the invention,

[0038] [Fig. 14] is a perspective view of a detail of an example embodiment of a support device according to the invention, and

[0039] [Fig.15] is an exploded view of [Fig.14].

[0040] It should be noted that in these figures, structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same reference numerals. The orthogonal coordinate system (X,Y,Z) is used for each figure and the description.

[0041] The invention aims to facilitate soil work in the field of viticulture. The invention proposes a support device designated as a whole by reference numeral 1 as illustrated in [Fig. 1] forming a gantry allowing the use of several soil-working tools.

[0042] Figure 1 illustrates the support device 1 according to the invention, fixed to the rear of a tractor-type motor vehicle 2, and on which are mounted an inter-row tool 3 located behind the device between two opposing central half-rows and two full-row tools 4 intended to work the soil on the outside side of each half-row. Two full rows are thus worked simultaneously for this example of use of the support device 1 according to the invention.

[0043] An inter-row tool compatible with the invention is intended for a single right or left half-row or for two opposing half-rows. Such an inter-row tool may include a mower, a mulcher, or an inter-row cultivator. Other types of inter-row tools are compatible with the invention.

[0044] A full-row tool compatible with the invention is intended for a single outer half-row or two opposing half-rows located outside each row. Such a full-row tool may include a mower, a mulcher, or an inter-row cultivator. Other types of full-row tools are compatible with the invention.

[0045] Such inter-rank 3 tools and full-rank 4 tools are advantageously available commercially.

[0046] The support device 1, shown alone in Figures 2 to 5, comprises a frame 5 formed by an assembly of parts forming a structure. The frame 5 thus includes a base and an upper sleeve 7. The upper sleeve 7 is pivotally mounted relative to the base by means of a pivot beam 8.

[0047] According to the illustrated embodiment, the upper sleeve 7 comprises two central beams 9, each resting on a removable wheel 10, and two transverse beams 11. Mounting plates 12, visible in particular in [Fig. 2], are located on the central beams 9 and the transverse beams 11 so as to allow, on the one hand, the three-point linkage to be attached to the rear of the tractor-type motor vehicle 2, and on the other hand, the inter-row implement 3 to be attached. The inter-row implement 3 is also attached to the chassis 5 by means of two hitching brackets 13, visible in particular in [Fig. 6]. Other embodiments of the means for attaching the support device 1 to the rear of a motor vehicle 2 are compatible with the invention, depending on the inter-row implement 3 used.

[0048] The motor vehicle 2 has a horizontal direction of travel Y substantially parallel to the ground. The support device 1 extends along a plane P (X,Z) substantially orthogonal to the direction Y.

[0049] Two tilting cylinders 14 connect the base to the upper sleeve 7.

[0050] In order to realize the support device 1 in the form of a tool support gantry, two main arms extend from the upper sleeve 7 in the direction X.

[0051] Visible in figures 7 to 9, each main arm includes an upper beam 16 suitable for sliding in the upper sleeve 7.

[0052] According to the embodiment illustrated in particular in [Fig.7], one of the upper beams 16 is also able to slide in the other upper beam 16.

[0053] Visible in figures 10 and 11, each main arm also includes a vertical mast 17 fixed perpendicularly along the Z direction to an upper beam 16.

[0054] The vertical mast 17 comprises a vertical arm 18 capable of translating along the Z direction within a vertical sleeve 19, thus forming a vertical slide. A tool lifting cylinder 20 is fixed between the vertical arm 18 and the respective vertical sleeve 19.

[0055] The vertical arm 18 also includes a tool fixing structure 21, visible in particular in [Fig.6], on which a full row tool 4 is fixed.

[0056] Two row width 22 cylinders are visible in figures 8 and 9. One row width 22 cylinder is fixed between the upper sleeve 7 and the vertical mast 17.

[0057] According to one embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 12], the upper beams 16 include a sliding cam 23 and a cam sensor 24 allowing the vertical arms 18 to be placed according to standard row width values.

[0058] According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper sleeve 7 comprises a carriage 25. Two carriage jacks 26 are fixed on each side of the carriage 25 and the upper sleeve 7. The carriage 25 is thus able to translate along the direction X.

[0059] In this particular embodiment visible in [Fig. 13], the two row width cylinders 22 meet and are fixed on the carriage 25.

[0060] According to one embodiment of the support device 1 of the invention, the vertical masts 17 are equipped with a ground feeler 27, visible in particular in [Fig. 6], which allows the position of the full-row tool 4 relative to the ground to be determined. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 13, such a ground feeler 27 is mounted on the tool mounting structure 21.

[0061] A full row tool 4 compatible with the invention and illustrated in dotted lines in [Fig.6] includes a sensor on a vine-de-vine-maker 28 and a deformable parallelogram thus allowing the full row tool 4 to bypass the foot or vine.

[0062] Figures 14 and 15 illustrate an alternative embodiment for the interface between the vertical arm 18 and a full-row tool 4.

[0063] According to an embodiment illustrated in figures 14 and 15, a parallelogram soil tracking device 29 is placed between the vertical arm 18 and the full row tool 4 at an anchoring point of the parallelogram soil tracking device 30.

[0064] The parallelogram ground tracking device 29 comprises a grounding frame 31 which includes a ground tracking sensor 32, a parallelogram ground tracking device 33 and a grounding wheel 34 equipped with a grounding cylinder 35 connecting the grounding wheel 34 to the grounding frame 31. The parallelogram ground tracking device 29 is thus able to translate along the Z direction.

[0065] According to one embodiment of the invention, particularly as shown in [Fig. 6], the support device 1 also includes a lift sensor 36 located on a removable wheel 10 near one of the lift points of the tractor-type motor vehicle 2. The lift sensor 36 is capable of retrieving information relating to the position of the support device 1 relative to the tractor-type motor vehicle 2. Indeed, according to one embodiment of the invention, the support device 1 is mounted on the three-point linkage at the rear of a tractor.

[0066] A support device 1 according to the invention is fixed to the rear of a tractor-type motor vehicle 2 at three lifting points, which allows the support device 1 to be raised for a transport position or, at the exit of the row of vines, to perform the repositioning maneuver to enter a new row.

[0067] The motor vehicle 2 has a direction of travel Y between the rows of a vine. The row-width cylinders 22 are then activated so as to position the vertical masts 17 on each outer side of the vine rows. Figure 12 shows a upper beam 16 deployed. The motor vehicle 2 and the support device 1 can thus advance in the ranks.

[0068] The tool lifting cylinders 20 are then activated so as to place the full row tools 4 as close as possible to the vines as shown in figures 10 and 11. The full row tools 4 or the under row working tool 3 are then put into operation.

[0069] If the motor vehicle 2 does not follow a perfectly straight path, the information regarding the movement of the vines towards or away from each other is retrieved by at least one full-row tool 4. One of the parallelograms of the full-row tools 4 deforms, and the sensor on the vine-cultivator 28 emits a signal indicating that the vine is moving closer to the ground. This information can be processed by a control unit (not shown) to activate the carriage cylinders 26. The carriage 25 then translates relative to the right or left along the X direction to adjust the position of the vertical masts 17, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0070] For a support device such as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 13 in operation, the ground sensor 27 provides real-time ground height information. The tool lifting cylinders 20 are then actuated according to this information so as to raise or lower the respective full-row tool 4.

[0071] Alternatively, for a support device 1 as illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, the ground-following sensor 32 provides relative information on the position of the full-row tool 4 with respect to the ground. The depth control cylinder 35 is activated to adjust the ground-following device on the parallelogram 29 to the appropriate height.

[0072] In addition, if one of the full row tools 4 encounters an obstacle which may be dangerous for the equipment, the two tilting cylinders 14 are activated so as to tilt the upper sleeve 7 thus carrying the upper beams 16, the vertical masts 17 and therefore the full row tools 4, as shown in [Fig.4].

[0073] When the motor vehicle 2 reaches the end of a row, it raises the support device 1 using the three-point linkage. This information is detected by the lifting sensor 36. The control unit then activates the tool lifting cylinders 20 to raise the tools for the entire row 4. The motor vehicle 2 can then perform a U-turn to move into one of the adjacent rows, with the possibility of skipping a row.

[0074] Of course, various other modifications can be made to the invention within the scope of the annexed claims.

Claims

Demands

1. A support device (1) for tillage tools, particularly under-row implements, comprising a frame (5) including a base having, on the one hand, means for attachment to the rear of a motor vehicle (2) with a direction of travel (Y) and, on the other hand, means for attachment to an inter-row implement (3), an upper sleeve (7) and two main arms extending from the upper sleeve (7) in a plane P(X,Z) perpendicular to the direction of travel (Y), each of the main arms having an upper beam (16) capable of translating in the direction (X) within the upper sleeve (7) and a vertical mast (17) fixed perpendicularly in the direction (Z) to the upper beam (16) and including means for attachment to a full-row implement (4), each upper beam (16) being capable of translating in the horizontal direction (X) within the upper sleeve (7) so as to position the vertical masts (17) on each outer side of the ranks.

2. Support device (1) according to the preceding claim in which one of the upper beams (16) is able to slide in the other upper beam (16).

3. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which each vertical mast (17) has a vertical arm (18) capable of translating in a vertical sleeve (19) of the vertical mast (17) thus forming a vertical slide.

4. Support device (1) according to the preceding claim comprising two tool lifting cylinders (20), one tool lifting cylinder (20) being fixed between the vertical arm (18) and the vertical sleeve (19).

5. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising two row width jacks (22), each row width jack (22) being fixed on the respective upper sleeve (7) and upper beam (16).

6. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper sleeve (7) comprises a carriage (25) capable of translating in the direction (X) and the two row width cylinders (22) are fixed on the carriage (25).

7. Support device (1) according to the preceding claim further comprising at least two trolley cylinders (26), each cylinder trolley (26) being fixed on the upper sleeve (7) and on each side of the trolley (25).

8. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which each upper beam (16) includes a sliding cam (23) and a cam sensor (24) allowing adaptation to a row width.

9. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising two tilting cylinders (14) fixed on the base and the upper sleeve (7).

10. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a parallelogram-mounted ground tracking device (29) located between the full row tool (4) and the vertical arm (18) comprising a ground tracking sensor (32) and a depth control wheel (34) capable of translating along the direction (Z).

11. Support device (1) according to the preceding claim comprising a depth control cylinder (35) fixed between the depth control wheel (34) and the parallelogram soil tracking device (29).

12. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a lifting sensor (36) capable of knowing the position of the support device (1) relative to the motor vehicle (2).

13. Support device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a control unit capable of retrieving information from at least one sensor (24,28,32,36) and of controlling at least one cylinder (14,20,22,26,35).

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