Soil cultivating machines

Abstract

A soil cultivating machine has a front row of subsoil penetrating tools and a second soil working member or row of members that work the top soil. The tools can be strip-shaped tines, at least some of which have plate-shaped elements pivoted to their lower ends. The elements or tines are connected to an eccentric mechanism that periodically raises and lowers the elements as the machine is operated. The second soil working member can be a row of tined rotors or an elongated further working member that extends transverse to the direction of travel and works the top soil from a direction that is different from the direction of movement of the strip-shaped tines. Intermixing the worked top soil and the subsoil is prevented.

Description

Claims

1. A soil cultivating machine comprising an elongated frame and soil working means supported on said frame, coupling means on said frame positioned for connection to a prime mover, said soil working means including a transverse row of cultivating tools positioned to penetrate the ground, each of said tools comprising a subsoil working element pivoted adjacent the lower end of the tool and driving means connected to periodically turn said elements about their pivots and raise subsoil upwardly to a limited extent from below the surface of the ground, a row of tined rotors on respective upwardly extending shafts being positioned to work the top soil at a level above said elements, said driving means including rotary gears on said shafts and an eccentric operatively associated with the gear of every third rotor, said eccentric being linked to a respective element and said gears being driven to turn the rotors and work the top soil.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotors are arranged in a transverse row and each rotor includes an upwardly extending shaft with a respective gear, the gears of neighboring rotors being in driving engagement with one another and said eccentric being mounted on one of the rotor shafts.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein tines of neighboring rotors are arranged to work overlapping strips of soil.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said neighboring rotors are connected to said driving means and rotated in relative opposite directions.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tool comprises a strip-shaped tine with a corresponding plateshaped element at the lower end thereof.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a drive transmission to each element comprises a rod that links the rear portion of said element to an eccentric of said driving means.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein a pivotal connection of said rod to said element is located below that element.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pivotal connection comprises adjusting means and said rod can be pivotally interconnected to said element at any chosen one of different locations thereon.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rod is drivingly connected to said eccentric mechanism through a rocker.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said eccentric mechanism comprises an eccentric disc and a ring surrounding the periphery of said disc, said periphery being rotatable within said ring and the latter bearing against a slider of said rocker.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein said slider is biased into contact with said ring by a tine's resistance to the displacement of soil contacted by the corresponding element during operation, said resistance being transmitted to said slider via the rod and said rocker.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotors are journalled in an elongated frame portion and said tools are supported on a carrier in advance of the rotors, said carrier being interconnected to the frame portion by spaced apart supports.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said elements are linked to eccentrics by respective connecting rods, said carrier having holes and said rods extending through said holes.

14. A soil cultivating machine comprising an elongated frame and soil working means supported on said frame, coupling means on said frame positioned for connection to a prime mover, said soil working means including a transverse row of cultivating tools positioned to penetrate the ground, each of said tools comprising a subsoil working element pivoted adjacent the lower end of the tool and driving means connected to periodically turn said elements about their pivots and raise subsoil upwardly to a limited extent from below the surface of the ground, a row of tined rotors on respective upwardly extending shafts being positioned to work the top soil at a level above said elements, said cultivating tools being positioned in front of said row, driving means including rotary gears on said shafts and an eccentric being mounted on some of the shafts, said eccentric being linked to a respective element by means of a drive connection located at the rear of said tool with respect to the direction of travel of said implement, said gears being driven to turn the rotors and work the top soil.