Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to ploughs.
According to the present invention a plough
comprising:-
a main frame movable across a ground surface;
at least one elongate drum mounted for rotation
relative to said main frame;
said drum having a longitudinal axis of rotation
which is offset with respect to an axis extending
substantially normal to the direction of movement
of said main frame so that said drum is inclined
with respect to the normal direction of travel of
said frame, said drum when in use being substantially
~ parallel to the surface being ploughed;
; a plurality of annular members which are mounted
co-axially with said drum and which project outwardly
; therefrom at respective spaced locations along the
length of said drum, said annular members being
of frustoconical form extending outwardly from the
drum in a direction towards the same end of said
drum;
said drum being dimensioned so that its diameter
is greater than the radial distance between the
outer surface of the drum and the free edge of each
said annular member; and a plurality of sets of
; 25 tynes spaced along said drum said tynes in each
said set extending in a respective array about the
periphery of said drum. The or each drum may have
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its ends mounted to said main frame so as to be
freely rotatable relative thereto, the or each said
drum being unsupported throughout its length other
than at said ends. Preferably, said tynes are formed
from elongate members extending from root portions
thereof adjacent the cylindrical me;mber to tip portions
thereof remote from said cylindrical memberO Preferably
too, the the said tip portions of the tynes are
covere~ with removable tip elements. The tip elements
may be slidable onto the elongate members by sliding
movement in the directions of extent of the elongate
members.
Preferably, the drum i5 unsuppor~ed throughout
its length otherwise than at the said ends. The
said tynes preferably extend from the drum such
that there is a set of said tynes associated with
each one of the said annular members. In this instance,
the tynes in each said set are preferably arranged
in a regular array about the drum periphery next
to the associated said annular member. The tynes
may be arranged to be generally radial to the axis
of the drum when viewed axially of the drum. Each
said annular member may have an array of spaced
gaps therein and the tynes of the set of tynes
associated therewith may extend from the periphery
of the drum outwardly through the gaps to terminate
outside the outer periphery of that annular member.
Rod-like elements may be provided extending in the
axial direction of the or each drum and arrayed
about the axis of the or each drum and spaced from
the outer surface of the or each drurr. to extend
between adjacent pairs of the annular members.
In a particularly preferred arrangement there
are two said cylindrical members arranged in a common
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plane so that the axes thereof are generally horizontal
and transverse to the direction of movement of the
frame across said ground surface in use of the plough,
the axes of the two cylindrical members being non-
parallel so as to extend from respective first ends
thereof at one lateral side of the plough to respect-
ive second ends at the opposite latleral side of
the plough with the said first ends being closer
together than the said second ends and with the
second end of a leading one of said cylindrical
members leading the first end of that cylindrical
member in use of the plough and with the first end
of the other, trailing, cylindrical member leading
the second end thereof in use of the plough. In
this instance, the said tynes preferably are so
arranged that outer ends thereof are closer to the
said second end of the cylindrical member from which
they extend than are inner or root end thereof. The
frustoconical annular members may each be diver-
gent from an inner periphery thereof adjacent the
respective drum to an outer periphery thereof away
from the respective drum and with the said outer
periphery close to the said end of the respective
said drum than the said inner periphery.
Preferably said frame is mounted on ground
wheels for movement across said ground surface. Preferably
too, a tow structure is provided for coupling the
frame to a tractor for towing the plough. Such
tow structure may be connected to said frame by
pivotal connection means such that the tow structure
is pivotally secured to the frame for pivoting about
an axis which is horizontal in use of the plough
and located between the said cylindrical members,
and extends from the pivot axis forwardly past the
cylindrical member which in use is the leading cylin-
drical member. Preferably too, the or each cylin-
drical member is of large diameter such as two feet
in diameter.
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The invention is further described by way of example
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FicJure 1 is a plan view of a plough constructed in
accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-section on the line
2-2 in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspectlve view of part of
the plough of Figure 1 viewed in the directi.on A in
Figure 1;
Figure~4 is a perspective view of one tyne included in
the plough of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a transverse cross-section of the tyne of
Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative form
of tyne tip member foruse in the plough of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further
alternative form of tyne tip member for lncorporation
in the plough of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view like Figure
2, but showing a tyne tip member positioned on the
plough;
Figure 9 is an end view of an alternative form of
plough structure useful in a plough constructed in
accordance with the invention;
Figure 10 is a cross-section on the line 10-10 in
Figure 9;
Figure 11 is an enlarged cross-section on the line
11-11 in Figure 9;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-section on
the line 12-12 in Figure 9;
Figure 13 is a cross-section on the line 13-13 in
Figure 9;
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Figure 14 is a fragmentary,partly sectioned side view
of a modified tyne-carrying structure; and
Figure 15isafragmentary perspective view
approximately in the direction of arrow "A" in figure
14 and showing -tynes and tip members included in the
structure of figure 14.
~ The plough 10 sho~?n in the drawings comprises
a frame 12 including front and rear transverse memhers
14, 16 held in spaced horizontal relationship by a
number o front to rear extending members 18 of which
only two are shown in the drawings for cla,rity. A
sub-frame 20 is provided in-termediate members 14, 16.
This includes a transverse member 22 sup~orting ground
wheels 24 to opposite sides of the frame 12. A ~ow
lS structure 26 extends from Erame 12 forwardly past member
14 to a suitable tow connector 28 for attachment of
the plough to a tractor for towing of the plough across
a ground surface to be ploughed. Tow structure 26 is
pivotally connected to frame 12 by coaxial pivot pins 39
: 20 so that the tow structure can pivot about a horizontal
transverse axis located somewhat below the members 18
and between members 14 and 16~ The intended di~ection
of travel of the plough during ploughing is as indicated
by the arrow "B" in ~igure 1.
The sub--frame 20 is pivotally connected to the
frame 12 by links 25 securéd to the sub-frame and
e~.tending rearwardly therefrom to pivot pins 2.7 on the
frame so that the sub-frame 20 can pivot relative to
frame 12 about a common horizontal transverse a~is of
the pins 27. The sub-frame 20 is maintained at a pivotal
disposition relative to frame 12, as necessary in order
to establish a desired height of the frame 12 above the
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ground, by pre-setting the degree of extension of a
hydraulic ram 37 extending between the sub-frarne 20
and frame 12.
The plough includes two generally cylindrical
plough structures 30, 32. These are of like form and are
mounted for free rotation relative to the frame 12 and
about respective front and rear axes which are horizontal,
but inclined relative to each other when viewed in plan
so that one end 30a of structure 30 i5 in advance of the
other end 30b thereof during towing of the plough. Simi-
larly, one end 32a of plough structure 32 trails the other
end 32b thereof during towing of the plough. The arrange-
ment of the plough structures 30, 32 is such that the
respective ends 30a, 32a to one side of the plough are
further apart than the ends 30b, 32b to the other side
of the plough.
The plough structures 30, 32 are carried by
the members 14, 16 in like manners, the structures 30,
32 having end axles 34 which are rotatably supported in
bearings 36 carried by downwardly extending legs 38 to
the opposite ends of each member 14, 16 as illustrated
in Figure 2~ Thus, the two structures 30, 32 are rotat-
able about the axes thereof.
The structure 30, 32 each have a hollow central
drum 40 closed at each end and supporting the axles 34.
A number of plough discs 42 are provided on
each of the drums 40, being arranged at spaced locations
therealong. The discs are of slightly frusto-conical
form, being defined on imaginary cones one of which is
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7 ~2~376~3
illustrated in Flgure 2 and designated by reference
numeral 42a. The apices 42b of these cones are
arranged, in the case of the plough structure 30,
to be directed towarcls the end 30b of structure 30
and, in the case of structure 32,
towards the end 32a of structure 32.
A set of tynes 44 is associated wit:h each
disc 42. Each set comprises a number of tynes 44
arranged in an array about the axis of its respective
drum 40 and welded thereto so as to extend outwardly
of the respective drum in a manner such that, when viewed
axially of the drums, the tynes 44 extend radially
of the drum axes. When viewed laterally of the drum
axes, the tynes are, as best shown in Figure 2,
inclined with the discs 42 with which they are associated
so as to follow the incline of the respective discs.
More particularly, each tyne 44 of plough structure 30
has its root end located closer to end 30b of structure
30 than the tip portion thereof whilst each tyne 44
of the plough structure 32 has its root end closer
: to end 32a of structure 32 than the tip porti.on thereof,
As most clearly seen from Figures 3 and 4,
each tyne 44 is formed from a member 46 made of
angle iron. The root ends 46a of -the members 46 are
welded to the respective drums 40. The members 46
also extend such that the lengthwise extending edges
46b,at the apices of the cross-sections thereof,are
arranged against the surfaces of the associated discs
42 and welded thereto (Figure 4) such that respec-tive
side flanges 46c, 46d forming the members 46 are
arranged at equal angles c~ to the associated discs
42, with the angle~beinCJabout 45 (.Figure 5).
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Although the plough can be used with the
tynes 44 simply arranged as shown in Figures 1 to 3,
-the tynes normally include tip members 50 as best
shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8. Each -tip member 50 is
formed from a piece 51 of angle iron of slightly larger
dimension than that forming the members 46. A trans-
verse plate 52 is welded to the angle iron piece 51 so
as to extend across the cross-section of the angle iron
piece from outer edge portions of.the two side flanges
50a, 50b defining the angle iron. Thus, there is
defined a triangular space between the angle iron piece
and plate 52, which space is arranged to be just
sufficient to accommodate the cross-section of a
member 46. The -tip members 50 are thus fi-tted to
the members 46 by sliding them on to the outer ends
of the members 46 so that the outer ends of the
members 46 are wédged into the triangular spaces
aforementioned as shown in Figure 5. The outer ends
of the members 46 may be slightly tapered, such as
by tapering the side to side dimension C (Figure 4) of
the flanges 46c, 46d towards the outer ends of the
members 46. When in position, the tip members 50
extend outwardly a short distance from the outer ends
of the members 46.
::5 ~lthough the tip members 50 in Figure 4 have
been found to be quite satisfactory, alterna-tive
tip members may be employed. For example, Figure 6
shows a tip member 56 formed from a pie^e of angle
iron 55 and a transverse plate 58 welded to the
free edges of the piece 55 so as to extend transversely
across the piece 55 and to project to either side
thereof. This tip member 56 is fittable on -to a
member 46 in the same way as tip member 50, that
is to say by passing the outer end of the member 46
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into the space defined between the piece 55 and plate
58A Another alternative tip member 60 is shown in
Figure 7. This is yenerally like the tip member 50
in Figure 4, having an angle iron piece 51 and a trans-
S verse plate 52 welded thereto to allow fit~ent of the
tip member onto a member 46 by passing the outer
end of the member 46 into the space between the plate
52 and piece 51. However, the outer end of the
piece 51 carries a further plate 64 the median plane of
which is transverse to the direction of extent of the
piece 51. Thus,when the tip member 60 is positioned on
a member 46, the plate 64 is positioned at the outer end
of the member 46. Further forms of tip member
may also be employed. For example; part annular
segmental plates could be welded to the pieccs 51
so that these when fitted to the members 46 associated
with a disc 42 fit together to form a frusto-conical
section which constitutes an outward continuation of the
respective disc 42.
In use, the plough is towed across the ground
surface to be ploughed,as described,with the tynes
44 and or tip members thereof engaging the ground
surface. The plough has been found to provide very
satisfactory ploughing. The arrangement described has
the particular advantage that -the bearings for the
structures 30, 32 are kept well out of the ground during
ploughing, this arising largely because of the relatively
large diameter of the drum 40. The provision of the
tynes as well as the discs 42 is particularly advantageous
since it greatly reduces wear on the discs as compared
with conYentional disc ploughs. Since it is a simple
ma-tter to replace the tip members on the tynes, the
arrangement provides for simple main~enance.
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The articulated interconnection between tow
structure 26 and the frame 12, at locations between
the two plough structures 30, 32 provides very
effective operation in tha-t it permits the plough
structures 30 to rise upwardly to clear obstacles
encountered during ploughing.
In practice, the drums 40 may be of the
order of 2 to 3 feet in diameter with the discs
42 being about 12 inches wide and the tynes 44
being about lg inches long.
Figures 9 to 13 illustrate an alternative
form of plough structure 130 which may be used in
place of the plough structure 30 or 32 previously
described. Plough structure 130 is generally
similar to plough structures 30, 32, having a
central hollow drum 140 having end axles 134 for
supporting the structure 130 in the previously
described bearings 36 of legs 38. Plough discs
142 are also provided arranged at spaced locations
along the druml4~ these being of slightly frusto-
conical form defined on imaginary cones 142a.
Likewise, a set of tynes 144 is provided associated
with each disc 142. The tynes 144 of each set are
arrayed about the axis of the drum 140 so as to
extend outwardly of the drum so that, when viewed
axially of the drums the tynes extend radially of
the drum axes, and when viewed laterally of the
drum, the tynes are inclined with discs 142 with
which they are associated so as to follow the
incline of the respective discs. The tynes la4
are formed from angle iron pieces in the same
manner as the previously described tynes 44. In
this instance, however, the discs 142 are each
made l~p of part-annular segmen-ts 142c which are
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arrayed about the axis of the drum 140 and spaced
from each other around the periphery of the drum so
as to define gaps therebetween which extend radially
outwa;,dly from the drum surface. The tynes 144
5 extend through these gaps from the surface of the
drum to termina-te at locations outside the peri-
phery of the associated discs 142. As best shown
in Figure 12, the disc segments 142c terminate, at
the radially extending edges 145 thereof flush
against the lengthwise extending edges 147 of the
side flanges of the angle iron piece defining each
tyne 144.
By forminy the discs 142 from the segments
142c and connecting these to the free edges of
the tynes 144 as described, a configuration is
arrived at for the discs and tynes which offers
less opportunity for accumulation of earth on the
tynes and discs than is the case with the previously
described tynes 44 and discs 42.
As. shown in Figure 13, and as illustrated
on one tyne in Figure 9, it is possible to fit
tip members 50 of the form shown in Figures 4 and
5 to the tynes 144in the same manner as previ.ously
described in relation to the tynes a4.
The plough structure 140 is also fitted
with aclditional means for facilitating brea~ing
up of earth clods during ploughing. This means
includes a number of rods 165 which extend wi-th
their axes parallel to the axis of -the drum 140
and which are arrayed in a regular array arouncl
the axis of drum 140. The rods 165 are positioned
to extend through apertures 167 (Figure 11) in
12
the disc segments 1~2c so as to be positioned at a
distance of, say, some six inches from the outer
surface of the drum 140. Lengthwise movement of
the rods is limited by provision of pins 169 which
extend through openings 171 in each end of each
rod 165 shown, for example, in Figure 11.
Aside from the modifications illustra-ted
by Figures 9 to 13, still further alterations may
be made to the precise form of the plough as
described. In particular, although only two
plough structures 30, 32 are shown in the arrange-
ment of Figure 1, the plough could be modified
to include furtherplough-structures. In particular,
two pairs of structures 30, 32 could be
positioned one to eitherlateral side oE the plough
being carried by frames like frame 12. These frames
could, for example, be hinged one to either
lateral side of the frame 12 for hinging movement
about front to rear horizontal axes so that they
can be swung upwardly and away from the ground to
assume near vertical positions for transport of
; the plough.
Again, whils-t the frame 12 as described
is pivotally connected to a tow structure 26 to
enable towing, the tow structure 26 may be
modified or omitted. For example, the ground wheels
2~ may be carried directly by frame 12 and a simple
support provided extending forwardly of the frame
for carrying the tow connection. For example,
structure 26 could also be replaced by a simple
forwardly extending bar Pivoted to the frame 12 at
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13
one end and attachable at the other end to the towing
tractor. In this case, it is preferred that the bar
be secured for its pivotal movement to -the frame 12 by
an upwardly extending pivot pin, the piVGt pin
extending into an opening in the bar o~ such diameter
as to allow some degree of universal movement between
the bar and frame 12. In this case, in order to
provide a "stump-jump" mode of operation, spring
loading is preferably provided acting between the bar
and frame and resiliently biasing the bar to a
generally horizontal position relative to the frame.
In figure 12, a modified plough st,ructure 30' is
shown. This is of drum-like configuration like
structures 30, 32, save that it is mounted to frame 12
in a slightly different way. Thus, the ends of -the
structure 30' carry bearings 36' and the structure is
rotatably mounted by these bearings on a fixed axle
34' which is secured to legs 38 of the frame 12.
Alternatively -the axle 34' may be replaced by two
short axially aligned stub axles secured to legs 38.
The tynes 44 are of the same form as previously
described each set beiny interconnected with webs
defining frusto-concial disc 42. The tip members 80
are provided on the tynes 44, these having sockets 80a
which fit over the tyne ends. Sockets 80a are each
formed from an angle iron piece and a planar iron
piece, in the manner previously described in relation
to tip members 50. Each tip member has at its outer
end a rectangular but sliyhtly curved end plate 82.
The end plates of the tip members form an annular
somewhat frusto-concial formation 84 around the axis
of plough structure 30'. This frusto-concial
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14
formation has a side surface, constituted by the outer
surfaces of the end plates 82, which presents, in
axial sector, an acute angle "~" to the axis of the
structure 30', that angle varying from a rela-tively
small angle at locations to one axial side thereof to
a steeper angle at the opposite side. The tip members
82 have been found to be particularly advantageous in
use, providing for effective ploughing, even where a
prime mover of reduced power is used.
The described arrangement has been advanced merely by
way of explanation and many modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined in the appended claims.
