A towed weeding device comprising a deformable parallelogram carrying at least one weeding element

Abstract

Title: Towed weeding device comprising a deformable parallelogram carrying at least one weeding element. The invention relates to a weeding device comprising: - a frame (1) intended to be hitched to a vehicle to tow the weeding device; - a deformable parallelogram (2) comprising an upper beam (20) and a lower beam (21) carrying at least one weeding tool (3) and ground-rolling means, said beams being connected by at least one pair of connecting rods (22), the connecting rods (22) extending from one beam to the other at an angle, from the upper beam (20) to the lower beam (21), forwards in a forward direction of movement of the weeding device; - a connecting member (5) being interposed between the frame (1) and the deformable parallelogram. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: A towed weeding device comprising a deformable parallelogram carrying at least one weeding element technical field

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of agricultural machinery. More specifically, the invention relates to a hoeing device intended to be towed by a vehicle, designed in particular but not exclusively for working hard soils. State of the art

[0002] Hoeing is a weeding operation in the vicinity of plantations, aimed at promoting the development of said plantations, by eliminating the parasitic capture of water by weeds and by optimizing the penetration of water into the soil towards the roots of the plantations.

[0003] For agriculture, hoeing equipment has been developed to be specifically adapted to crops sown in rows (maize, beetroot, etc.), allowing hoeing to be carried out between rows of plants freshly emerged from the ground, possibly simultaneously between several rows of plants.

[0004] There are two main types of hoeing machines, namely, tine hoeing machines and star hoeing machines. In both cases, the principle is the same: hoeing elements work between the rows of crops so as to penetrate the soil a few centimeters deep, in order to pass under or through the roots and uproot the weeds, leaving behind a series of furrows.

[0005] In some cases, the work of the hoe is made particularly difficult, either because of the hardness of the soil (particularly dry soil) or because of the presence of stones.

[0006] However, in the presence of these hard soils, the main difficulty is to keep the hoeing elements in the ground, as they naturally tend to withdraw from it, due to an upward withdrawal of the hoeing device.

[0007] Indeed, according to a classic design of weeders, the weeding elements are supported by the lower (horizontal) beam of a deformable parallelogram, the lower beam being connected to the upper beam of the parallelogram by two connecting rods inclined forward (according to the direction of movement of the weeder), going from the lower beam to the upper beam.

[0008] In practice, with such a design, when the hoeing machine encounters a brake or an obstacle, the hoeing elements exert a rearward force on the beam The lower section, which tends to tilt backwards relative to the upper beam, results in an upward movement of the tilling elements (hence their removal from the ground). Kinematically, this is explained by the fact that the upper end of the connecting rods is fixed to the upper beam, while also forming a pivot point around which the connecting rod rotates in an arc-like motion.

[0009] To avoid this withdrawal phenomenon, a widespread technique consists of weighting the parallelogram of the hoe to keep the tines in the soil.

[0010] This technique does not always give complete satisfaction, and in any case finds its limits in the presence of particularly hard soils.

[0011] To solve this problem and ensure that the tilling elements remain in the soil under all circumstances, particularly when working hard ground, the solution described in patent EP2880969 was proposed. In this solution, the orientation of the connecting rods linking the upper and lower beams of the parallelogram is reversed compared to that of the previously described technique. Specifically, the connecting rods are oriented forward from the upper to the lower beam. This causes the parallelogram to react when working hard ground or encountering obstacles, causing the lower beam to pivot behind the rear of the device.This pivoting tends to move the lower beam away from the upper beam, resulting in a downward movement of the lower beam, which tends to keep the hoeing elements in the soil, or even slightly increase their penetration depth into the soil.

[0012] This solution is particularly satisfactory in terms of the quality of the work performed and the dynamic behavior of the weeding device with regard to its ability to maintain or even reinforce the retention of the weeding elements in the soil. This solution is also satisfactory in that it has a robust and simple design, minimizing the maintenance required to keep it operational.

[0013] Since the proposal of this solution, new needs have emerged, particularly relating to the possibility of avoiding the hoeing of certain areas without having to divert the vehicle equipped with the hoeing device. Technical problem

[0014] The invention is specifically designed to meet this need.

[0015] More specifically, the invention aims to provide a weeding device with a good capacity to maintain or even reinforce the holding of the weeding elements in the soil, and the capacity to not perform weeding using the weeding tools carried by a deformable parallelogram without having to divert the vehicle equipped with the weeding device.

[0016] The invention also aims to provide such a device which is robust and simple to minimize the maintenance required to keep it operational. Summary of the invention

[0017] These objectives, as well as others that will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention, which relates to a weeding device comprising: - a frame designed to be attached to a vehicle to tow the weeding device; - a deformable parallelogram comprising an upper beam and a lower beam carrying at least one hoeing tool as well as means for rolling on the ground, said beams being connected by at least one pair of connecting rods, the connecting rods extending from one beam to the other while being inclined, from the upper beam to the lower beam, forwards in a direction of forward movement of the device, - a connecting member being interposed between the frame and the deformable parallelogram;characterized in that the upper beam is movable relative to the frame between a raised position towards the frame and a lowered position towards the ground, the upper beam being rotationally mounted on the connecting member about an axis of rotation extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the upper beam and located at a front end of the upper beam, and in that the weeding device comprises a double-acting hydraulic cylinder comprising a body rotationally mounted on the connecting member and a rod whose distal end is rotationally mounted on an anchor point of the upper beam, the anchor point being located along the upper beam and at a distance from the front end of the upper beam, the hydraulic cylinder being in an extended position in the lowered position of the upper beam.

[0018] Thanks to the rotational mounting of the upper beam at its front end to the connecting member, and to the hydraulic cylinder, the deformable parallelogram can be raised, thus removing the tilling tool(s) from the soil, by means of the upper beam moving from its lowered to its raised position. In this way, when approaching an area where tilling is not required, the user of the device can simply trigger the retraction of the tilling tools without necessarily having to divert their vehicle.

[0019] The forward orientation of the connecting rods, from the upper beam to the lower beam, tends to cause the parallelogram to react when working in hard ground or in the presence of an obstacle, such that the lower beam pivots towards the rear of the device. This pivoting tends to move the lower beam away from the upper beam, resulting in a downward displacement of the lower beam that tends to keep the tilling elements in the soil, or even slightly increase their penetration depth. Thus, the tilling elements do not withdraw from the soil in the case of hard ground or obstacles, but on the contrary, maintain, or even increase, their depth in the soil in the event of significant resistance.

[0020] The design of the connecting member and the hydraulic cylinder combines its effects with those of the deformable parallelogram arranged as previously described. The combination of these effects results in optimized dynamic behavior of the weeding device with regard to its ability to keep the weeding tools embedded in the soil. More specifically, the design of the deformable parallelogram creates, during weeding, a counterforce acting on the upper beam in a front-to-back direction, potentially with a vertical component that varies depending on the soil type or the presence of obstacles. The hydraulic cylinder then absorbs some of these forces that could otherwise cause the upper beam to rotate around its axis of rotation on the connecting member.The use and integration of the hydraulic cylinder allows for the optimized transfer of these forces thanks to its rod which is in its extended position, and therefore stopped, preventing a lowering of the rear end of the upper beam, and which resists a raising of the rear end of the upper beam thanks to the liquid filling one of the chambers of the cylinder body to maintain it in its extended position.

[0021] According to a preferred feature, the hydraulic cylinder is rotationally mounted on the connecting member around an axis of rotation offset opposite an extension axis of the hydraulic cylinder rod relative to a longitudinal axis of the upper beam.

[0022] This feature makes it possible to reduce the bulk produced by the hydraulic cylinder above the deformable parallelogram by bringing it back towards the upper beam.

[0023] Preferably, the anchor point is located at least beyond one-third of the length of the upper beam from the front end of the upper beam.

[0024] The recovery of force by the hydraulic cylinder is thus reinforced.

[0025] According to a preferred design, the connecting member comprises two cheeks between which are inserted the front end of the upper beam and a base of the body of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0026] This contributes to the compactness of the means for raising the deformable parallelogram.

[0027] Preferably, the hydraulic cylinder has a cradle on which the base of the cylinder body is fixedly mounted, the cradle being mounted to pivot around the axis of rotation offset on the cheeks.

[0028] The invention also relates to a weeding assembly, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of weeding devices as described above, the weeding devices sharing a single frame, the deformable parallelograms of each weeding device extending in planes parallel to each other, the the hydraulic cylinder of each weeding device being actuable independently of the cylinder(s) of the other weeding devices.

[0029] Thanks to this weeding assembly, it is possible to raise the weeding tools from only one part of the weeding devices, depending on the needs related to the terrain on which the vehicle is operating.

[0030] For example, when approaching a field edge, the vehicle operator can raise the tilling attachments that need to travel along the edge, while leaving the others in the ground to perform tilling. The operator then does not necessarily need to alter the vehicle's path to bypass such an edge.

[0031] The invention also relates to an agricultural vehicle, characterized in that it carries a weeding device as described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of various preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the accompanying drawings, among which: • [Fig.1] [Fig.1] is a schematic perspective representation of a weeding device according to the invention; • [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation in median longitudinal section of a frame, the connecting member, and the deformable parallelogram of the weeding device according to the invention. Detailed description

[0033] With reference to [Fig.1], a weeding device according to the invention is shown.

[0034] This weeding device is intended to be towed by a vehicle.

[0035] With reference to [Fig.2], the weeding device includes a frame 1, which can be coupled to a vehicle such as an agricultural tractor.

[0036] For this purpose, the frame 1 has an intermediate support 10 taking for example the form of a beam extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the weeding device, and a plate 11 coupled to the intermediate support.

[0037] As detailed later, at least part of the rest of the weeding device is coupled to the frame 1 so that it can be towed, and carry out the weeding work, by the vehicle.

[0038] As discussed below, several weeding devices can be combined to form a weeding unit. In this case, the frame 1 is divided and forms a single frame. The frame 1 then has a plurality of plates 11 distributed along the intermediate support 10.

[0039] The weeding device also includes: - a deformable parallelogram 2; - a connecting element 5 of the deformable parallelogram 2 to the frame 1; - a 6-point double-acting hydraulic cylinder.

[0040] With reference to [Fig. 1] and 2, this connecting member 5 is interposed between the frame 1 and the deformable parallelogram 2. The connecting member 5 is designed to ensure the transmission of the tensile force from the frame 1 to the deformable parallelogram, but also to allow a lifting R of the deformable parallelogram 2 relative to the frame 1 in cooperation with the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 6.

[0041] The deformable parallelogram 2 consists of an assembly comprising: - an upper beam 20; - a lower beam 21; - at least one pair of connecting rods 22, and in particular two pairs of connecting rods located on either side of the beams, the connecting rods each being connected in an articulated manner by one of its ends to the upper beam 20 and, by the other of its ends, to the lower beam 21.

[0042] As shown in [Fig. 1], the lower beam 21 carries: - a plurality of hoeing tools 3; - means of rolling the hoeing device on the ground.

[0043] These rolling means consist in this case of a depth wheel 4 carried by an arm 40 inserted height adjustable in a sleeve 41 attached to the deformable parallelogram 2 in the front part thereof, extending from the lower beam 21 so as to position the depth wheel 4 substantially vertically above the frame 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the hoeing tools consist of teeth 31 present at the end of elastically deformable members 30 taking the form of an S. These S-shaped members are of a known type and allow to generate a vibration phenomenon at the level of the tooth in the soil.

[0045] The weeding device may have a series of weeding tools, the number of which may vary as much as needed.

[0046] According to an embodiment illustrated by [Fig.1], the device carries five weeding tools, one of which is positioned in line with the beams of the deformable parallelogram, while the others are each carried by an arm 30, so as to offset the weeding tools laterally relative to the aligned tooth.

[0047] The deformable parallelogram 2 of the device is constructed as follows: the connecting rods 22 extend from one beam to the other, inclined forwards in the direction of forward movement AV of the device (or in other words, in the direction of the device's frame), from the upper beam 20 to the lower beam 21. It follows that Each connecting rod 22 has a rear end articulated on the upper beam 20 and a front end articulated on the lower beam 21.

[0048] Thus, with a device according to the invention, starting from a configuration such as that illustrated by [Fig. 1] in which the upper beam and the lower beam have a basic spacing between them corresponding to a depth of the hoeing tools in the soil (and in which the tines occupy a position high below the level of the depth wheel 4), when the device moves through hard ground and / or encounters an obstacle (of a nature to cause the phenomenon described below), the elements of the device will react in the following way: - the depth wheel will maintain or even increase its support on the ground surface, keeping the lower beam of the parallelogram at a predetermined height; - the resistance exerted on the tine(s) of the hoeing tools will cause the lower beam to tilt towards the rear of the device (the connecting rods 22 pivoting around their articulation on the upper beam, describing at the level of their articulation on the lower beam an arc of a circle towards the rear of the device), resulting in an "opening" of the deformable parallelogram tending to lower the lower beam relative to the upper beam;

[0049] The maintenance of the tines of the hoeing tools at a desired depth in the soil is therefore maintained, or even slightly increased in the case of hard soil or an obstacle in the soil.

[0050] With reference to [Fig.2], the weeding device includes stops for the displacement of the upper beam 20 relative to the lower beam 21.

[0051] The displacement stops comprise: - a first stop 71 carried along the connecting rods 22 located towards the front of the device; - two second stops 72 carried by the other connecting rods 22 located towards the rear of the device.

[0052] The first stop 71 takes the form of a cylinder extending longitudinally between the two central parts of the connecting rods 22 before, located on either side of the deformable parallelogram 2.

[0053] The second stops 72 are carried by hook ends 221 of the rear connecting rods 22. These rear connecting rods 22 have an S-shaped profile with hook ends 221 oriented towards the inside of the deformable parallelogram 2.

[0054] Similarly, the first stop 71, the two second stops 72 extend longitudinally respectively between the hook ends 221 of the two rear connecting rods coupled to the upper beam 20, and between the hook ends 221 of the two rear connecting rods coupled to the lower beam 21.

[0055] In the configuration of maximum separation of the two beams from each other illustrated by [Fig.2], the upper face 210 of the lower beam is abutted against the second abutment 72 spanned between the coupled hook ends 221 to the lower beam of the rear connecting rods, while the lower face 204 of the upper beam 20 is abutted against the second abutment 72 carried between the hook ends 221 coupled to the upper beam 20 of the rear connecting rods.

[0056] In the configuration with the two beams folded against each other, all the stops, in particular the first stop 71 and the second stops 72, are then in contact against the lower face 204 of the upper beam 20 and the upper face 210 of the lower beam 21.

[0057] The connecting member 5, and more generally the connection of the deformable parallelogram 2 to the frame 1, are described below with reference to figures 1 and 2.

[0058] The connecting member 5 includes a jaw 50 intended to be closed onto the plate 11. To do this, bolts 51 allow one of the jaws of the jaw 50 to be tightened towards another jaw which is fixed on the connecting member.

[0059] The connecting member 5 comprises two cheeks 53.

[0060] These two cheeks 53 extend parallel to each other. The jaw 50 is partially formed by these two cheeks 53. The two cheeks 53 serve as a support for the deformable parallelogram 2 and the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 6.

[0061] As mentioned previously, the deformable parallelogram 2 is liftable on the frame 1.

[0062] Indeed, the upper beam 20 is mobile relative to the frame 1 between a raised position towards the frame 1 and a lowered position towards the ground (position illustrated on [Fig.2]).

[0063] The upper beam 20 is more precisely mounted for rotation on the connecting member 5 around an axis of rotation 50.

[0064] This axis of rotation 50 is supported by the two cheeks 53 of the connecting member 5.

[0065] The axis of rotation 50 extends orthogonally to a longitudinal axis 200 of the upper beam 20 and is located at the level of a front end 201 of the upper beam 20. The front end 201 of the upper beam 20 corresponds to the end of the upper beam located closest to the connecting member 5.

[0066] This axis of rotation 50 extends in particular perpendicularly to the two cheeks 53. Indeed, the front end 201 of the upper beam 20 is inserted between the two cheeks 53.

[0067] As mentioned previously, the weeding device includes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 6.

[0068] The hydraulic cylinder 6 comprises: - a body 60; - a rod 61 mounted to slide in the body 60, along an extension axis 500 of the rod 61; - a piston 63 mounted in a cylindrical housing formed in the body 60 and integral with the rod 61.

[0069] The hydraulic cylinder has two supply ports located at the ends of the cylindrical housing. The piston 63 forms two chambers 64 in the cylindrical housing and each supply port opens into one of the two chambers.

[0070] Depending on the working direction chosen, a liquid is supplied into one of the two chambers 64 in order to push back the piston 63. In the position illustrated in [Fig.2], the chamber 64 behind the piston 63 relative to the rod 61 is completely supplied and the piston 63 and the rod 61 are completely pushed back, the hydraulic cylinder then being in an extended position.

[0071] The body 60 is rotationally mounted on the connecting member 5.

[0072] More specifically, the hydraulic cylinder 6 has a cradle 62 on which the base 60 of the cylinder body 60 is fixedly mounted.

[0073] This cradle 62 extends orthogonally to the extension axis 600 of the rod 61 from the cylinder body 60, to an end by which the cradle 62 is mounted pivoting on the two cheeks 53. The base of the cylinder body 60 and the cradle 62 are inserted between the two cheeks 53.

[0074] The cradle 62 extends in particular orthogonally to the extension axis 600 opposite the deformable parallelogram 2 with respect to the extension axis 600 of the rod 61.

[0075] At a distal part of the base of the cylinder body 60, the cradle 62 is thus mounted tilting by means of an offset rotation axis 52 on the cheeks 53.

[0076] More generally, the hydraulic cylinder 6 is mounted to rotate on the connecting member 5 around the offset rotation axis 52 which is located opposite the extension axis 600 of the rod 61 of the hydraulic cylinder 6 relative to the longitudinal axis 200 of the upper beam 20.

[0077] The rod 61 of the hydraulic cylinder 6 has a distal end 610 by which the hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the upper beam 20.

[0078] The distal end 610 is notably mounted for rotation on an anchor point 202 of the upper beam 20.

[0079] This anchor point 202 is carried on an upper face 203 of the upper beam 20.

[0080] The anchor point 202 is located along the upper beam 20, at a distance from the front end 201 of the upper beam 20.

[0081] Thanks to this design, the hydraulic cylinder 6 is in an extended position in the lowered position of the upper beam 20.

[0082] As illustrated, the anchor point 202 is located at least beyond one-third of the length of the upper beam 20 from the front end 201 of the top beam 20, and preferably before half the length of top beam 20.

[0083] This configuration optimizes the load recovery capacity offered by the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 6 in order to counterbalance the forces resulting from hoeing and which are transmitted in the deformable parallelogram 2, the lifting kinematics R of the upper beam 20, while limiting the size of the hydraulic cylinder 6.

[0084] Furthermore, the connecting member 5 has an end stop 54 at its lower end. This end stop extends between the two cheeks 53 and has a flat surface against which the lower face 204 of the upper beam 20 bears in the lowered position of the upper beam 20. This end stop 54 acts in synergy with the hydraulic cylinder 6 to maintain the upper beam 20 in its lowered position.

[0085] As mentioned previously, a weeding assembly can be formed using a plurality of weeding devices. In this case, the deformable parallelograms of the weeding devices all extend parallel to each other. Furthermore, the hydraulic cylinder 6 of each weeding device can be actuated independently of the hydraulic cylinders 6 of the other weeding devices.

[0086] A control system thus makes it possible to select the deformable parallelograms to be lifted in order to carry out a partial weeding under the weeding assembly.

[0087] The invention also relates to the vehicle which tows a weeding device as previously described, or which tows a weeding assembly.

[0088] The hydraulic cylinder(s) 6 described above are intended to be connected to a hydraulic circuit of a vehicle towing the weeding device. However, it is also possible for the weeding device, or the weeding assembly, to have its own hydraulic circuit incorporating a hydraulic motor and means for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic cylinders 6.

[0089] The hoeing device described above forms a fundamentally robust and simple-to-maintain solution, while having the ability to limit at least partially hoeing carried out without having to modify the movement of a vehicle towing the hoeing device.

[0090] According to one application example, an agricultural tractor can tow a weeding unit with more than ten weeding tools. If the vehicle passes near a field edge that falls within the area covered by the weeding unit, the weeding tools located at the edge can be raised as soon as they reach it, and then lowered once the edge has been passed. This allows the agricultural tractor to continue moving forward in a straight line. The raising and lowering of the weeding tools can be carried out manually, but also automatically. example, include a plan indicating areas not to be weeded and a geolocation of the vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. Weeding device comprising: - a frame (1) intended to be hitched to a vehicle to tow the weeding device; - a deformable parallelogram (2) comprising an upper beam (20) and a lower beam (21) carrying at least one weeding tool (3) as well as ground rolling means, said beams being connected by at least one pair of connecting rods (22), the connecting rods (22) extending from one beam to the other while being inclined, from the upper beam (20) to the lower beam (21), forwards in a direction of forward movement of the weeding device, - a connecting member (5) being interposed between the frame (1) and the deformable parallelogram (2);characterized in that the upper beam (20) is movable relative to the frame (1) between a raised position towards the frame (1) and a lowered position towards the ground, the upper beam (20) being rotationally mounted on the connecting member (5) about an axis of rotation (50) extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis (200) of the upper beam (20) and located at a front end (201) of the upper beam (20), and in that the weeding device comprises a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (6) comprising a body (60) rotationally mounted on the connecting member (5) and a rod (61) whose distal end (610) is rotationally mounted on an anchor point (202) of the upper beam (20), the anchor point (202) being located along the upper beam (20) and at a distance from the front end (201) of the upper beam (20), the hydraulic cylinder (6) being in the extended position in the lowered position of the upper beam (20).;

2. Weeding device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder (6) is mounted to rotate on the connecting member (5) around an offset rotation axis (52) opposite an extension axis (600) of the rod (61) of the hydraulic cylinder (6) with respect to the longitudinal axis (200) of the upper beam (20).

3. A weeding device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the anchoring point (202) is located at least beyond one-third of the length of the upper beam (20) from the front end (201) of the upper beam (20).

4. Weeding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting member (5) comprises two cheeks (53) between which are inserted the front end (201) of the upper beam (20) and a base of the body (60) of the hydraulic cylinder (6).

5. Weeding device according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder (6) has a cradle (62) on which the base (60) of the cylinder body (60) is fixedly mounted, the cradle (62) being mounted to pivot around the offset axis of rotation (52) on the cheeks (53).

6. Weeding assembly, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of weeding devices according to any one of the preceding claims, the weeding devices sharing a single frame (1), the deformable parallelograms (2) of each weeding device extending in planes parallel to each other, the hydraulic cylinder (6) of each weeding device being actuable independently of the hydraulic cylinder(s) (6) of the other weeding devices.

7. Agricultural vehicle, characterized in that it carries a weeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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