GB2062435A - Tractor/implement couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

A planting machine having a link mechanism 28A, 28B of substantially an inverted trapezoid shape in front view for coupling a planting device to a machine body. The link mechanism is so arranged that a center of rolling P to permit relative transverse oscillations between the planting device and the machine body is substantially at the middle transversely of the machine body and adjacent to ground contacting surfaces of floats 15 supporting the planting device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Planting machine The present invention relates to a planting machine in which a planting device having floats is coupled to a machine body for free rolling movements whereby the planting device is retained at a substantially level position regardless of any sidewise inclination of the machine body during a planting operation to provide a transversely balanced planting depth.

In known planting machines of this type, the center of rolling to permit relative transverse oscillations between the planting device and the machine body is located at the middle transversely of the machine body and at a position above and considerably distant from the floats. Therefore the planting device not only moves a great deal in transverse directions but its lateral sides tend to move vertically at time of rolling, which results not only in large amounts of mud displaced by side edges of the floats but in the problem of failing to achieve the desired object to diminish variations in the planting position and equalize the planting depth in the transverse direction.

Having regard to the above state of the art, the object of this invention is to provide improvement in diminishing variations in the planting pposition and equalizing the planting depth in the transverse direction as well as checking displacement of mut by the side edges of the floats at time of rolling.

To this end, the planting machine of the present invention comprises a planting device having floats, and a link mechanism having substantially an inverted trapezoid shape in front view and coupling the planting device to a machine body such that a center of rolling to permit relative transverse oscillations between the planting device and the machine body is substantially at the middle transversely of the machine body and adjacent to ground contacting surfaces of the floats. This construction makes it possible to minimize transverse movement of the planting device and vertical movement of the lateral sides thereof at the time of rolling. Displacement of mud by the side edges of the floats incidental to the rolling is adequately checked and unevenness in the planting depth and variations in the planting position in the transverse direction hardly occur.Thus the invention has positively achieved the true object of rolling which is equalization of the transverse planting depth.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a planting machine according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view partly broken away showing a principal portion ofthe machine; and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the principal portion.

Referring to the drawings, the planting machine comprises a machine body 1 having an engine2 mounted on a frame3 to which a transmission case 4 is connected. The transmission case4 has a pair of right and left dirigible wheels 5 connected to a forward portion thereof, and is connected at a rear portion thereof with a wheel supporting case 7 housing a transmission leading to a pair of non-dirigible wheels 6. A steering wheel 8 for controlling the dirigible wheels 5 and a driver's seat 9 are provided above the front and rear wheels 5, 6. The driver's seat9 is adapted to swivel and lock on a vertical axis.

A space is provided forwardly of the driver's seat 9 and above steps 10 defined on the transmission case 4 which is open to right and left to allow the driver to get on and offthe machine body 1.

Number 11 denotes a planting device comprising a forwardly inclined seedling holder 12 adapted to reciprocate transversely, planting forks 13, a planter casing 14 housing means to drive holder 12 and forks 13, and floats 15 for soil in which seedlings are planted.

Number 16 denotes a raising and lowering link mechanism for raising and lowering the planting device 11 relative to the machine body 1. The planting device 11 maintains a substantially fixed posture relative to the ground while in a planting depth adjusting range, and as the planting device 11 ascends higher above this range the angle of inclination of the seedling holder 12 relative to the ground becomes smaller. The raising and lowering mechanism 16 with such a function is constructed as follows.

A frame 17 fixed to the machine body 1 carries a transversely extending first support shaft 18 which is rigidly connected with a forward end of a top link 19.

Arms 20 oscillatable on the first support shaft 18 carry at extreme ends thereof a transversely extending second support shaft21 to which are pivoted forward ends of a pair of right and left lower links 22.

A raising and lowering cylinder24 is provided between a raising and lowering arm23 rigidly connected to the first support shaft 18 and the fixed frame 17. The raising and lowering arm 23 and the second supportshaft21 are interconnected by means of an elongate bore 25 and a bolt 26. According to this construction, the planting device 11 is vertically moved while retaining the seedling holder at a fixed posture relative to the ground by oscillations about the support shaft 18 and 21 of the top link 19 and the lower links 22 until a nut 27 screwed onto the bolt 26 contacts the raising and lowering arm 23.

Above this range of vertical movement, the top link 19 and the lower links 22 oscillate about the first support shaft 18 whereby the degree of inclination of the seedling holder 12 relative to the ground gradually reduces as the planting device 11 is raised higher.

Number28 denotes a link mechanism having an inverted trapezoid shape in front view and coupling the planting device 11 to the machine body 1 such that a center of rolling to permit relative transverse oscillations between the planting device 11 and the machine body 1 is at the middle transversely of the machine body 1 and adjacent to ground contacting surfaces of the floats 15. The link mechanism 28 comprises brackets28A having a channel shape in plan view and secured to right and left sides of an attaching member29 substantially in a gate form when viewed from front or rear and interconnecting the rear ends of the top link 19 and the lower links22 of the raising and lowering link mechanism 16, and a pair of right and left links 28B pivoted to the right and left brackets 28A and the planter casing 14 ofthe planting device 11. The links28B are disposed such that their extensions meet at a middle point transversely of a middle float 15 and adjacent to a ground contacting surface thereof.

This trapezoid link mechanism 28 is adapted to place the center of rolling P substantially at the middle of the planting depth adjusting range to thereby diminish transverse oscillations ofthe floats 15.

Claims (4)

1. A planting machine comprising a planting device having floats and a link mechanism of substantially inverted trapezoidal front elevation compling the planting device to a machine body such that the center of rolling permitting relative transverse oscillations between the planting device and the machine body is substantially at the transverse center of the machine body and adjacent ground contacting surfaces of the floats.

2. A planting machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the trapezoidal link mechanism is disposed between the planting device and a raising and lowering link mechanism provided on the machine body.

3. A planting machine as claimed in clam 1 or 2, in which the trapezoidal link mechanism is adapted to place the center of rolling substantially at the middle of a planting depth adjusting range.

4. A planting machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.