Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TILLING SOIL
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to agriculture. In particular, the invention
relates to tilling
soil in preparation for planting crops.
Background
[0002] Preparing a field for planting crops involves a number of steps.
Typically, the
field is first ploughed. Ploughing turns a top layer of soil over. Plants
growing in the top
layer of soil are under the top layer after ploughing. This plant matter can
decay to build
the soil and provide nutrition for the current-year's crop. This plant matter
is known as
`green fertilizer'.
[0003] One or more additional preparation steps are typically performed after
ploughing
to break up the soil. Breaking up the soil makes it easier for a new crop to
establish
itself and to access nutrients in the soil and also facilitates planting. A
harrow is a tool
commonly used for this purpose. One type of harrow is a disc harrow. The disc
harrow
has a number of rows of disc-like blades that cut the soil as they pass
through it. After
ploughing a farmer may pull a disc harrow (or other harrow) over the ploughed
field to
break up the soil sufficiently to allow a new crop to be planted.
[0004] Soil compaction resulting from driving repeatedly over the field with
heavy
equipment can harm the land. Repeated passage of tractors or other equipment
can seal
off the natural passages by way of which air and water can penetrate the soil.
[0005] The field of agriculture is becoming increasingly competitive. Farmers
work hard
to reduce their cost of production. Field preparation involves significant
costs because it
typically involves traveling over every part of the field to be prepared
multiple times.
This results in very significant costs for fuel as well as wear and tear on
expensive
tractors. Labour costs can also be significant.
[0006] Over the years farmers have taken advantage of a number of developments
that
help to reduce costs of production. One of these developments is the tumble
plough.
Because ploughs are "handed" a farmer cannot simply plough a furrow to one end
of the
field and then turn around and plough another furrow adjoining the just-
ploughed area.
This would result in the soil being turned over in one direction for the first
furrow (or
set of furrows in the case of a multi-bottom plough) and turned over in the
opposing
direction on the return trip.
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[0007] A tumble plough has two sets of plough shares. The two sets are
oppositely
handed (one set turns the soil over to the right-hand side of the tractor as
the tractor
pulls the plough ahead and the other set turns the soil over to the left-hand
side of the
tractor as the tractor moves ahead). Using a tumble plough, a farmer can
plough a set of
furrows along a field in one direction. When the farmer reaches the end of the
field, the
farmer can lift the plough shares clear of the ground, flip the plough over to
bring the
second set of plough shares into operating position, turn around in a U-turn,
drop the
plough into engagement with the ground and plough another set of furrows
immediately
next to the just-ploughed area. This significantly increases efficiency and
can save both
fuel and labour costs in ploughing the field (at the cost of the capital
investment in a
tumble plough).
[0008] There remains a need for methods and apparatus useful in soil tilling
which
provide further savings in time and/or fuel.
Summary
[0009] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and
illustrated in a
way that is meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. The
invention
has a number of aspects. These include novel agricultural soil tilling
implements;
tractors equipped with soil tilling implements; and methods for tilling soil.
[0010] One aspect of the invention provides a method for preparing soil. The
method
comprises: with a tractor, pulling a plough to plough a first strip of
ploughed land;
driving the tractor adjacent to the first strip pulling the plough to plough a
second strip
of ploughed land contiguous with the first strip; and, while ploughing the
second strip,
tilling the first strip with a first tiling member mounted to the tractor and
projecting to a
first side of the tractor.
[0011] Another aspect of the invention provides soil tilling apparatus
comprising: a
member bearing tilling members that is mounted to a tractor and is movable
between a
lowered configuration in which the tilling members engage the soil across a
strip of soil
offset to one side of the tractor and a raised configuration wherein the
tilling members
are lifted away from the soil and an actuator coupled to move the member
between its
lowered and raised configurations.
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[0012] Another aspect of the invention provides an agricultural implement
comprising: a
hitch configured for coupling the agricultural implement to a tractor; a frame
supported
by the hitch; first and second arms pivotally mounted to the frame; tilling
members
mounted to the first and second arms. The first and second arms are each
pivotally
movable between raised and lowered configurations. When the first arm is in
its lowered
configuration, the corresponding tilling members are positioned to engage the
ground in
a first strip that is offset to a first side of the tractor. When the second
arm is in its
lowered configuration, the corresponding tilling members are positioned to
engage the
ground in a second strip that is offset to a second side of the tractor
opposed to the first
side. The first and second strips are spaced apart from one another by a third
strip. The
implement may be mounted to a tractor in combination with a plough with the
plough
dimensioned such that a strip ploughed by the plough lies substantially within
the third
strip.
[0013] Further aspects of the invention and features of example embodiments of
the
invention are described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0014] The accompanying drawings show non-limiting example embodiments of the
invention.
[0015] Figure 1 is a top-view of a tractor pulling a tumble plough.
[0016] Figures 2A to 2C are top-views of a tractor ploughing a field according
to a
method the invention.
[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an implement according to an example
embodiment.
[0018] Figure 4 is a front elevation view of the implement of Figure 3.
[0019] Figure 5 is a top plan view of the implement of Figure 3.
[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the implement of Figure 3 in an
operating mode
with one arm raised.
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[0021] Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the implement of Figure 3 in an
operating
mode with one arm raised.
[0022] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the implement of Figure 3 in a
transport
configuration with both arms raised.
[0023] Figure 9 is a front elevation view of the implement of Figure 3 in a
transport
configuration with both arms raised.
[0024] Figures 10A, 10B and IOC are top plan views showing the end of one arm
of the
implement of Figure 3 and illustrating how an angle of a soil tilling member
may be
adjusted.
[0025] Figure 11 is a front elevation view of an implement according to an
alternative
example embodiment.
Description
[0026] Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in
order to
provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However,
well
known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid
unnecessarily
obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be
regarded
in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
[0027] Embodiments of this invention provide a front-mounted tilling assembly
that may
be used in conjunction with a plough. The tilling assembly can be controlled
to till the
soil that was ploughed on a previous pass of the tractor. The tilling assembly
can be used
most effectively in combination with a tumble plough.
[0028] Figure 1 is a top-view of a tractor 10 pulling a tumble plough 12. A
tilling
apparatus 15 is mounted on the front of the tractor 10. Tilling apparatus 15
comprises
arms 16R and 16L arranged to project respectively on the right and left-hand
sides of
tilling apparatus 15. Arms 16R and 16L each comprise tilling members. In the
illustrated embodiment, the tilling members comprise disc blades 18. The
tilling
members may optionally comprise other blades or tines in addition to or in the
alternative to disc blades. Disc blades 18 are mounted to shafts 19 (see
Figure 5) which
are rotatably mounted to the corresponding arm 16R or 16L. Arms 16R and 16L
can be
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lowered so that the corresponding disc blades 18 are in contact with and till
the soil or
raised so that the arm 16R or 16L is not in contact with the soil.
[0029] Figure 2A is a top-view of a tractor 10 commencing to plough a field.
The
tractor will follow path 20 to allow plough 12 to cover the entire area of the
field. In
Figure 2A, the tractor has commenced ploughing. The plough shares on plough 12
are
turning over the soil towards the right-hand side of the tractor as indicated
by arrows 22.
Arms 16R and 16L are in their raised positions with disc blades 18 out of
contact with
the ground. The weight of arms 16R and 16L on the front end of tractor 10
provides
front ballast that assists in maintaining traction (in the event that tractor
10 has driven
front wheels 11).
[0030] In Figure 2B, tractor 10 has completed its first pass along the field
and has
turned around, flipped tumble plough 12 and started to proceed in the opposite
direction.
It can be seen that the tumble plough 12 is now ploughing so that soil is
turned over
toward the left-hand side of tractor 10 as indicated by arrows 24. Arm 16L has
been
lowered so that its tilling members (disc blades 18) are tilling the soil that
was ploughed
on the previous pass. Arm 16R remains in its raised position.
[0031] Figure 2C shows the field with the tractor on the next pass. The tumble
plough
12 has been flipped again and is now ploughing so that soil is turned over
towards the
right-hand side of tractor 10. Arm 16R has been lowered to bring the
corresponding
tilling members (e.g. disc blades 18) into engagement with the ground ploughed
on the
previous pass. Arm 16L has been raised. The tilling members (disc blades 18)
on the
lowered arm 16R are tilling the soil turned over in the previous pass of
plough 12.
[0032] By proceeding as described above, a farmer can both plough and till a
field with
a single pass over the field. Furthermore, since the tilling apparatus may
comprise or be
used in conjunction with a tumble plow, tractor 10 does not need to travel for
any
significant distances to transport plough 12 to a new starting point. Tractor
10 can cover
the entire field by making U-turns to change direction when it reaches the
ends of the
field.
[0033] As illustrated in Figures 2B and 2C, the lengths of arms 16 and the
portions of
those arms which carry tilling members 18 are selected to facilitate tilling
of the soil that
has been turned over in an adjacent previous pass of plough 12. The portion 25
(see
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Figure 4) of arms 16 which carry tilling members (e.g. disc blades 18) may be
at least
approximately the same length as the width covered in each pass of plough 12.
[0034] In some embodiments, portion 25 is slightly longer than the width of
each pass of
plough 12 to provide some overlap between the strips tilled in successive
passes of
tilling apparatus 15. Although farmers like to do a neat job of field
preparation,
ploughing does not require high precision. Portion 25 is offset from a
centerline of
tractor 10 to coincide with an adjacent strip of land that has been ploughed
in a previous
pass of plough 12. Portions 25 may be offset by the same amount respectively
to left and
right sides of the tractor centerline.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, when the corresponding frame 33R or 33L
is in its
lowered configuration, the corresponding portion 25 does not extend
significantly into
the current path of plough 12. The tilling members of tilling apparatus 15 are
arranged
so as to leave a gap between the strips that can be tilled by portions 25. In
the gap there
are no tilling members (or in the alternative any tilling members that may be
present for
other applications are mounted by a retraction mechanism that may be operated
to keep
such tilling members retracted away from the ground to allow for operation of
tilling
apparatus 15 as described herein). In the illustrated embodiment, tilling
members of
either one of portions 25 may be engaged with the ground to till the soil
without
bringing any tilling members into engagement with the ground in a strip
extending more-
or-less the width of plough 12. This allows plough 12 to work on clean, un-cut
soil.
Apparatus 15 may be configured such that, with plough 12 configured to plough
to one
side, when the arm 16R, 16L corresponding to that ploughing direction is in
its lowered
configuration, the corresponding portion 25 may have its innermost edges in
line with or
nearly in line with the edge of the strip being currently ploughed by plough
12 and
extend outwardly (away from the centreline of tractor 10) from that point.
[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, when a frame 33R or 33L is in its
lowered
position, the corresponding portion 25 begins approximately even with the
outside edges
of tires 11 of tractor 10. Leaving at least part of the track of tires 11
untilled is
advantageous since the soil on which tires 11 drive can remain undisturbed by
tilling
apparatus 15, thereby maintaining traction.
[0037] Advantageously, apparatus 15 may be configured such that, when a right
arm
16R is in its lowered configuration, the corresponding tilling members are
positioned to
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engage the ground in a first strip that is offset to the right side of tractor
10 and when
left arm 16L is in its lowered configuration, the corresponding tilling
members are
positioned to engage the ground in a second strip that is offset to the left
side of the
tractor and the first and second strips are spaced apart from one another by a
third strip.
Advantageously the third strip may extend into the track of tires 11 past the
inner edges
of tires 11. In some embodiments, the track of tires 11 may be entirely within
the third
strip. Depending upon its width, plough 12 may plough a strip that
substantially lies
within the third strip.
[0038] Figures 3 through 10C show some details of construction of an example
embodiment of tilling apparatus 15. In the illustrated embodiment, arms 16R
and 16L
respectively comprise frames 33R and 33L.
[0039] Apparatus 15 comprises a central frame 30 which includes a coupling 32
for
mounting to the front of a tractor 10. In some example embodiments, coupling
32
comprises a 3-point hitch coupling that couples to a front-mounted 3-point
hitch
assembly on the front end of tractor 10. In alternative embodiments, frame 30
could be
bolted or otherwise affixed to the front of tractor 10.
[0040] Swinging frames 33R and 33L are pivotally attached to central frame 30.
A disc
assembly 34 is attached to each of swinging frames 33R and 33L. Disc assembly
34
comprises a member 36 to which is rotatably mounted a shaft 19 which carries
disc
blades 18.
[0041] Actuators (for example hydraulic cylinders) are coupled between
mounting points
on central frame 30 and corresponding mounting points on swinging frames 33R
and
33L. The illustrated embodiment includes hydraulic cylinders 40R and 40L which
are
respectively coupled to raise and lower swinging frame 33R and swinging frame
33L.
[0042] In a simple embodiment, hydraulic cylinders 40R and 40L are controlled
by
means of auxiliary hydraulic circuits (not shown) of a tractor 10. Control
levers for
controlling each of these auxiliary hydraulic circuits may be provided in a
cab of tractor
10. By operating the control levers, a driver of the tractor can individually
control each
of swinging frames 33R and 33L to move between its raised and lowered
positions and
to stay in the selected raised or lowered position.
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[0043] Some embodiments provide a more automatic control. In such embodiments,
a
single control lever or other user interface may be provided which has
positions or
commands for left frame 33L down (and right frame 33R up); right frame 33R
down
(and left frame 33L up); and transport position (both right and left frames
33L, 33R up).
[0044] Members 36 may be angled relative to the direction of travel of tractor
10 to
provide a desired tilling action. As illustrated in Figures 10A to 10C, some
embodiments
permit the angles of members 36 to be varied to modify tilling action of disc
blades 18.
[0045] Since only one of left and right arms 16L and 16R is being deployed at
a time in
normal operation, an alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 11 has only a
single
arm that can be swung between left and right sides of a tractor 10. In the
Figure 11
embodiment, single arm 50 carries first and second sets 51L and 51R of tilling
members. Arm 50 can be carried in a central upright position for transport.
Additionally, arm 50 can be swung to the left to bring tilling members 51L
into contact
with soil on the left-hand side of tractor 10. Arm 50 can be swung to the
right to bring
tilling members 51R into contact with the soil on the right-hand side of the
tractor. Any
suitable actuator may be applied to swing arm 50 between its positions and to
hold arm
50 in a position after that position has been selected. For example, the
actuator could
comprise a hydraulic motor, a rack and pinion mechanism, a hydraulic piston,
or the
like.
[0046] Other constructions are also possible. For example, front-mounted
tilling
members on either side of a tractor 10 may be mounted so that they can be
independently lifted away from engagement with the soil or lowered to engage
and till
the soil by means of a mechanism which lifts and lowers the members in a
generally
vertical direction.
[0047] Alternative types of tilling members may be provided. For example,
motor-
driven rotary tiller blades may be mounted in place of disc blades 18. Such
blades may
be driven, for example, by means of a hydraulic motor connected to be driven
by
pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied from tractor 10. Movable or fixed, driven
or non-
driven tines may be provided instead of or in addition to disc blades 18.
Instead of being
mounted on the front of a tractor 10, arms 16R and 16L could be mounted to
sides of
tractor 10 so that they can be lowered to bring tilling members into position
to till a
previously-ploughed strip of soil.
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[0048] While it is most efficient to use an implement as described herein
together with a
tumble plough, some embodiments comprise a single-bottom plough. Such
embodiments
require only a single arm that can be lowered to bring tilling members into
contact with
a strip of land ploughed in a previous pass. The single arm may be mounted on
the side
of the tractor toward which the plough turns the soil.
[0049] Preferably the tilling members are mounted so that, when they engage
the ground
at least inside edges of tires of the tractor 10 drive on ground that has not
been tilled by
the tilling members. For example, the tilling members may be mounted so that
they till a
strip of land beginning just outside of the tractor's front wheels and
extending outward
(away from the centerline of the tractor) for the width of the plough being
pulled by the
tractor or slightly farther.
[0050] Although tractor 10 is depicted as having tires, the invention may be
applied
using a tractor having tracks. Tractor 10 is not required to be a purpose-
built
agricultural tractor but may be a crawler tractor or any other vehicle capable
of
application as described herein.
[0051] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed
above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications,
permutations,
additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the
following
appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all
such
modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within
their true
spirit and scope.
