PLOUGH MODULE

Abstract

The invention relates to a plough module (1) for interchangeable mounting on a base frame (2) of a ploughing assembly (3) for ploughing ground, wherein the plough module (1) comprises: a rotatable first cutting element (102) which is designed as a coulter disc and has a rotating first cutting edge (103), wherein the first coulter element (102) is designed in such a manner that a lateral region (202) of a soil ridge (201) in the ground (120) can be cut by moving the plough module (1) on the ground (120) in a ploughing direction (110), a second, flat cutting element (105) having a second cutting edge (106), wherein the second cutting element (105) is designed in such a manner that a ground region (203) of a soil ridge (201) in the ground (120) can be cut by moving the plough module (1) on the ground (120) in a ploughing direction (110), characterized in that the plough module (1) is designed as a ready-mounted unit in which the second cutting element (105) in the ploughing direction (110) follows with its cutting edge the first cutting element (102), and with a first carrier structure (4), on which the first cutting element (102) is arranged, a second carrier structure (5), on which the second cutting element (105) is arranged and which is connected to the first carrier structure (4), and that the first carrier structure (4) has means for detachable attachment to a base frame (220) of a ploughing assembly (3).

Claims

1. A plow module (1) for replaceable installation on a base frame (3) of a plow device (2) for plowing ground, wherein the plow module (1) comprises: a rotatable first cutting element (102) formed as a crowned cutting plate, having a circumferential first cutting edge (103), wherein the first cutting element (102) is formed in such a way that, by moving the plow module (1) on the ground (120) along a plowing direction (110), a lateral region (202) of a soil strip (201) of the ground (120) can be cut, a second, flat cutting element (105) having a second cutting edge (106), wherein the second cutting element (105) is formed in such a way that by moving the plow module (1) on the ground (120) along the plowing direction (110) a bottom region (203) of the soil strip (201) of the ground (120) can be severed, characterized in that the plow module (1) is formed as a fully mounted assembly in which the second cutting element (105) with its cutting edge follows the first cutting element (102) in the plowing direction (110) and a first carrier structure (4) is provided, on which the first cutting element (102) is arranged, a second carrier structure (5) is provided, on which the cutting element (105) is arranged and which is connected to the first carrier structure (4), the first carrier structure (4) has means for releasable attachment to a base frame (3) of the plow device (2).

2. The plow module according to claim 1, characterized in that the second carrier structure (5) is connected via a hinge (7) to the first carrier structure (4).

3. The plow module according to claim 1, characterized in that the first cutting element (102) is displaceably arranged on the first carrier structure (4) in such a manner that the distance between the first cutting edge (103) of the first cutting element (102) and the second cutting edge (106) of the second cutting element (105) is adjustable.

4. The plow module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first cutting element (102) and second cutting element (105) are arranged in relation to one another in such a manner that the cutting region (104) of the first cutting edge (103) of the first cutting element (102) is vertically set at a distance from second cutting edge (106) of the second cutting element (105).

5. The plow module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first cutting region (104) is formed within a first cutting plane and the second cutting region (118) within a second cutting plane, wherein the first cutting plane and the second cutting plane form an angle with each other from 30° to 135°, in particular from 45° to 110°.

6. The plow module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the crowned first cutting element (102) has a conical or truncated-cone design.

7. The plow module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first cutting edge (103) of the first cutting element (102) and/or the second cutting edge (106) of the second, disc-shaped cutting element (105) has recesses (10, 11) on the perimeter.

8. The plow module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second cutting element (105) is a rotatable cutting element and the second cutting edge (106) is a circumferential cutting edge (106).

9. The plow module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second cutting element (105) is a stationary cutting knife (6).

10. The plow module according to claim 9, characterized in that the cutting knife (6) of the second cutting element (105) has an L-shaped design, wherein a first bar (8) of the cutting knife (6) is horizontally aligned in the working position of the plow module (1) and a second bar (9) is aligned essentially perpendicular thereto.

11. The plow module according to claim 10, characterized in that the cutting knife (6) has a one-piece design.

12. A plow device (2) comprising a base frame (3), characterized in that at least one plow module (1) according to claim 1 is arranged on the base frame (3) of the plow device (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] In the following, exemplary embodiments are more closely described with reference to the accompanying drawings for further clarification and for better understanding of the present invention. Shown are:

[0051] FIG. 1 a representation of a plow module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0052] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a plow device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention during a plowing operation;

[0053] FIG. 3 a plow module according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which module the alternative arrangement of a cutting knife and a cutting disc is shown as a second cutting element;

[0054] FIG. 4 a representation of a plow device according to the invention as a conventional plow device having three plow modules in a further exemplary embodiment of the invention and

[0055] FIG. 5 a top view of a plow device in which, for example, a plow body is replaced by a plow module configured for retrofitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Identical or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numbers. The representations in the figures are largely schematic and serve only as examples.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a plow module for plowing ground 120, in which plow module a first cutting element 102 in the shape of a spherical-cap-type hollow disc in front of a second cutting element 105 in the form of a flat plate are arranged one behind the other in the plowing direction. The first cutting element 102 is provided for cutting the lateral face of a soil strip, whereas the second cutting element 105 arranged after the first cutting element 102 is configured as a flat disc which cuts the furrow bottom. Both cutting elements 102, 105 are combined by means of a support structure 4, 5 as a plowing module. The support structure 4, 5 can be secured to a base frame (not shown), wherein the second cutting element 105 has an articulated connection to the first cutting element 102 via its carrier structure 4.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, a rotatable first cutting element 102 having a circumferential crowned first cutting edge 103 is arranged on a first carrier structure 4 and is configured in such a way that, when the carrier structure 4 is moved on the ground 120 along the plowing direction 110, a lateral region 202 (see FIG. 2) of a soil strip 201 of the ground 120 can be cut by means of a first cutting region of the first cutting edge 103, as is shown in FIG. 2. The plowing direction 110 is defined as the direction along which the plowing direction 3 is moved over the ground 120. A second cutting element 105 having a second cutting edge 106 is arranged on a second carrier structure 5, which is releasably connected to the first carrier structure 4 and can be pivoted in relation to the first carrier structure. The second cutting element 105 is configured in such a way that, when the carrier structure moves 5 on the ground 120 along the plowing direction 110, a bottom region 203 of a soil strip 201 of the ground 120 can be severed by means of a second cutting region of the second cutting edge 106, wherein the second cutting element 105 is arranged relative to the first cutting element 102 in plowing direction 110 in such a way that the second cutting region is arranged after the first cutting region in the plowing direction. The second cutting region is thus set apart from the first cutting region at the distance x.

[0059] Because during plowing the base frame 2 of the plow module 1 is pressed with the first and second carrier structures 4 and 5 in the direction of parting face 121 of the ground 120, the first cutting element 102 is also pressed accordingly in the direction of a parting face 121, so that the first cutting element 102 is kept at the desired ground depth during the plowing.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the essential functional elements of a plow device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention during a plowing operation. This FIG. 2 shows the correct spatial arrangement of the first and second cutting elements 102 and 105 as well as the formation and turning of soil strips 201. For the sake of greater clarity, the remaining components of the associated plow device 3 are not depicted.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, so-called soil strips 201 are cut out of the ground 120 during the plowing. A soil strip 201 has a lateral region 202 along which the first cutting element 102 cuts. Furthermore, the soil strip 201 has a bottom region 203, which connects the two lateral regions 202 and is separated by means of the second cutting element 105, which is depicted here, for example, as a stationary cutting knife 6 in a double-L shape. Accordingly, the ground 120 at the bottom region 203 of the soil strip 201 has a parting face 121, the so-called plow sole 121. After the soil strip 201 is cut out, the furrow wall 122 from which the lateral region 202 of the soil strip 201 was released is recognizable in the ground 120. The bottom region 203 thus defines the bottommost horizontal face in the vertical direction of the soil strip 201 at the instant of separation from the ground 120. The lateral regions 202 of the soil strip 201 define the lateral wall regions of the soil strip 201 at the instant of separation from the ground 120.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier structures 4 and 5 for the two cutting elements 102 and 105 are formed in such a way that together they jointly connect at least the first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 to the base frame 2 of a plow device 3. The first carrier structure 4 can be attached via the base frame 2 of the plow device 3 to a towing vehicle, such as a tractor, in order to thereby drive the cutting elements 102, 105 along the plowing direction 110 accordingly. The plowing module 1 has, for example, the first and second carrier structure 4, 5, which can be configured as rigid or pivoting via hinges.

[0063] The first and second carrier structures 4 and 5 thus form a rigid attachment structure for the cutting elements 102, 105. The cutting elements 102, 105 are fixed to the carrier structures 4, 5 in such a way that no relative movement between the positions of the cutting elements 102, 105 is possible during the plowing. Therefore, if the second cutting element 105 is pressed in the direction of the ground 120 because of the cutting of the soil strip 201 in accordance with the invention, also the first cutting element 102 is simultaneously pressed into the ground 120, because both carrier structures 4, 5 are fixedly connected to each other.

[0064] The first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 are rotatably attached to the relevant carrier structure 4 or 5. Accordingly, the first cutting element 102 has an axis of rotation 108 about which the cutting element 102 rotates. The second cutting element 105 forms a second axis of rotation 109 about which the second cutting element 105 rotates. The first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 are formed here, for example, as cutting plates with a spherical cap design or as a flat disc and have a circular perimeter line. The corresponding circumferential first cutting edge 103 and the second cutting edge 106 are formed along the perimeter line. By means of the first cutting edge 103, the lateral region 202 of the soil strip 201 is separated from the furrow wall 122 of the ground 120. The circumferential first cutting edge 103 has a cutting region 104. The cutting region 104 is that circumferential portion of the first cutting edge 103 which in the plowing direction 110 is the first to come into contact with the ground 120 and cut it. By means of the second cutting edge 106, a bottom region 203 of the soil strip 201 is separated from the ground 120. The second cutting region of the second cutting edge 106 is that circumferential portion of the second cutting element 105 which in the plowing direction 110 is the second to make contact with the ground 120 or follows the first cutting element and cuts said ground. The double arrow 12 in FIG. 2 indicates that the second cutting element 105 is pivot mounted on the second carrier structure 5 (not shown). The swiveling allows the setting of the engagement angle of the cutting knife 6 in relation to the plowing direction and thus the penetration depth of the plow module 1 into the ground 120.

[0065] A rotatable disc coulter 13 can be arranged in front of the plow module 1 or connected thereto and pre-cuts or opens the ground 120 in front of the vertical, second bar 9 of the cutting knife 6 and the first cutting element 102. In this way, the tractive force required for the plowing is reduced, as is the wear of the cutting knife 6 and the trailing first cutting element 102. The cutting knife cuts horizontally and vertically as a double or triple cutting blade.

[0066] The first cutting element 102 is rotated if the plowing device 3 moves along the ground 120. Frictional forces, for example, cause the cutting element 102 to move. The cutting element 102 is thus dimensioned such that, during the plowing only the bottom half of the first cutting element 102, which is located below the axis of rotation 108, penetrates into the ground 120 so that frictional forces with the ground 120 induce the rotation.

[0067] The rotation of the first cutting element 102 further causes the severed soil strip 201 to be raised. This is indicated in FIG. 2 with the arrows, which depict the conveying direction 123 of the soil strip 201 along the plow device 3.

[0068] The severed soil strip 201 is in frictional contact with a cutting face 113 of the cutting element 102. The cutting face 113 is that face of the cutting element 102 which is configured inside the first cutting edge 103 and surrounded thereby. Furthermore, the cutting face 113 is that face which is directed toward the severed soil strip 201. The cutting face 113 can, as depicted in FIG. 1, have a homogeneous design without recesses or raised points.

[0069] Because of the raising of the soil strip 201 by means of the rotating cutting element 102, the soil strip 201 can be conveyed into the adjacent furrow in an energy-efficient manner. This furrow was raised during a preceding cycle of the plow module, as depicted in FIG. 2.

[0070] According to FIG. 1, the first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 are attached on the carrier structure 4, 5 relative to each other in such a way that the cutting region 104 of the first cutting element 102 is set at a distance in the vertical direction from the second cutting element 105, or is situated over the second cutting element 105 if the plow device 3 in the working position rests on the ground 120 or penetrates into the ground.

[0071] The rotating cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 cooperate synergistically. On the one hand, a desired plowing depth is kept constant by means of the second cutting element 105, because the severed soil strips 201 press with a defined compressive force/drawing in force on the second cutting element 105 and thereby counteract a lifting of the rotating cutting element 102. On the other hand, the energy-promoting action of the rotating cutting element 102 is utilized during the cutting of the soil strip 201, in particular of the lateral faces or lateral regions 202 of the soil strip 201. Thus, an energy-efficient plow device 3 is provided without negatively affecting the quality of the furrow profile. Moreover, the rotating second cutting element 105 causes the severed soil strip 201 to be pressed toward the first cutting element 102, so that a crumbling of the severed soil strip 201 is carried out. Furthermore, because of a lateral force which is inserted by means of the forwardly positioned second cutting element 105 into the first carrier structure 4, it is that a lateral force induced during the cutting on the first cutting element 102 is counteracted, thereby allowing an easier and better guidance of the plow device 3 with a towing vehicle.

[0072] The first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 are arranged in relation to each other in such a way on the first and second carrier structures 4 and 5 that the second cutting region 107 of the second cutting edge 106 of the second cutting element 105, which second region comprises the front half of the cutting element 105, is situated with a distance x in the plowing direction 110 after the first cutting region 104 of the first cutting edge 103 of the first cutting element 102. Therefore, the rotating first cutting element 105 first hits the soil strip 201 laterally during the plowing and severs it from the remaining ground 120 in an energy-efficient manner with the second cutting edge 106 of the second cutting element 105. Then the first cutting element 105 uses the first cutting edge 103 to cut a lateral region 202 of a soil strip 201. The second cutting element 105 thus separates the furrow wall cut with the first cutting element 102. As a result, the trailing cutting element 102 of the trailing module can vertically cut the soil strip on the side and turn it. Then the soil strip 201 is turned by the curved shape of the first cutting element 102 and its diagonal orientation with respect to the plowing direction and deposited in the adjacent furrow. Thus, the first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 cut into the soil strip 201, and they are simultaneously held at the desired cutting depth with the compressive force acting on the second cutting element 105.

[0073] The second cutting element 105 undercuts the soil strip 201 with a region (approx. half a circular disc). A further attachment region of the second cutting element 105, on which a mounting rod/shaft (axis of rotation 109) is arranged for attachment to the first carrier structure 4, is configured on the side of the second cutting element 105 that faces away from the first cutting element 102. Thus, the mounting rod/shaft runs in an already processed furrow during the plowing, thereby reducing the tractive force of the plow device 3.

[0074] The carrier structure 4, 5 is configured in such a way that the first cutting element 102 and/or the second cutting element 105 are adjustable relative to each other along the plowing direction 110 and/or perpendicularly, i.e., vertically, to the plowing direction 110. For example, the first cutting element 102 can be displaceably fastened on the carrier structure 4 by means of bolted connections 115, which can engage in elongated holes 116 of the first carrier structure 4. By means of adjusting the distances of the cutting element 102, the second cutting element 105 and the carrier structure 4, 5 along the plowing direction 110, the plowing device 3 can be adjusted to special conditions of different types of soil and used in a manner optimized for efficiency. Furthermore, the elements can be readjusted if the elements lose their shape after the plow device 2 is used.

[0075] Furthermore, the carrier structure 4, 5 can be configured in such a way that the first cutting element 102 along a directional component of the first axis of rotation 108 and the second cutting element 105 along a directional component of the second axis of rotation 109 are adjustable relative to each other. In particular, an angle can be set between the first axis of rotation 108 and the second axis of rotation 109. The first cutting edge 103 runs in a first cutting plane while the second cutting edge 106 runs in a second cutting plane. The first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 are thus attached relative to each other on the particular carrier structure 4 or 5 in such a way that the first cutting plane and the second cutting plane are not configured parallel and have an angle with respect to each other. For example, an angle between the first axis of rotation 108 and the second axis of rotation 109 is less than 90°, in particular between 45° and 80°.

[0076] Accordingly, a distance between the cutting region 104 of the first cutting edge 103 of the cutting element 102 and the second cutting edge 106 of the second cutting element 105 can be set with the flexible attachment of the cutting element 102 and/or the second cutting element 105 to the carrier structures 4 and 5.

[0077] FIG. 3 shows a plow module 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the second cutting element 105 is alternatively configured as a rotating disk 16 or as a stationary cutting knife 6.

[0078] The first cutting element 102 and/or the second cutting element 105 can be pivotably mounted, for example by means of a hinge, on a particular carrier structure 4 or 5, so that an angle can be set between the first axis of rotation 108 and the second axis of rotation 109 and fixed in a desired position. This possibility is indicated here by a hydraulic cylinder or a spindle 15, which connects the second cutting element 105, which is pivotably mounted in the second carrier structure 5, to the first carrier structure 4. The position of the first cutting element 102, which is shown here by way of example as a concave disc with a crowned edge, can also be adjusted, for example hydraulically, in relation to the first carrier structure 4. Such an adjustment can influence, among other things, the width of the formed furrow 14 or the interaction of the two cutting elements 102 and 105.

[0079] The first cutting element 102 in FIG. 3 has a spherical cap design and a corresponding mounting region on its first axis of rotation 108, which region is configured in a mounting plane. The circumferential first cutting edge 103 runs inside the first cutting plane, wherein the mounting plane is set at a distance from the cutting plane along the axis of rotation 108. The cutting face 113 of the cutting element 102 is configured between the circumferential first cutting edge 103 and the mounting region.

[0080] FIG. 4 is an illustration with a plow device 3 according to the invention as a conventional plow device on the base frame 2 of which three plow modules 1 according to the invention are shown by way of example. Each of the three plow modules shown has a first cutting element 102 and a second cutting element 105 that trails the first, each of which is connected to each other at a first carrier structure 4 and a second carrier structure 5 to form a unified plow module, wherein the second carrier structure 5 is pivotably articulated on the first carrier structure, so that the second cutting element 105 can have an at least small engagement angle at the bottom in the soil in order to therefore exert the required pressure on the plow device, to remain at the desired plowing depth and thereby ensure the first cutting element 102 configured as a hollow disc at the desired depth for severing the side of the soil strip. During plowing in the plowing direction indicated with the arrow 110, the first cutting element 102 with the circumferential cutting edge 103 for cutting the side of the soil strip is in front of the second cutting element 105 with a likewise circumferential cutting edge 106 for cutting the furrow bottom. A first coupling part 20 is used to connect the plow device 3 to, for example, a towing vehicle, wherein the first coupling part 20 has an articulated connection to the generally bar-shaped second coupling part 21. The second coupling part 21 represents in principle the base frame 2. The plow modules 1 are fastened by means of hinges 19 to the base frame 2.

[0081] When pulled over the ground 120, a part of the plow modules penetrates into the soil 120 to a depth specified by design and ejects the soil strips 201 thus produced. The plow modules 1 are situated essentially staggered next to each other, so that a plurality of soil strips corresponding to their number are produced, as is shown in FIG. 2. These soil strips 201 after the turning come to rest in the furrow 14 formed by the preceding cutting elements 102 after they leave the first cutting element 102, as is shown in FIG. 2.

[0082] And finally, a plow device 3 is shown in FIG. 5 in a top view for which six plow bodies 24 are arranged next to each other in pairs. The double arrow shows that the plow bodies 24 can be replaced with the plow modules 1 according to the invention. This is especially easy with respect to the assembly effort, because the complete plow modules 1 are exchangeable for the plow bodies 24 originally installed on the plow device without the installation effort being significantly increased. The plow modules 1 according to the invention have a first, leading cutting element 102 for cutting the sides of the soil strip and a trailing cutting element 105 for cutting the furrow bottom. The second cutting element 105 is mounted on a carrier structure 5, whereas the first cutting element 102 is attached to a first carrier structure 4. The carrier structure 4 and the carrier structure 5 are connected to each other, and specifically such that the second carrier structure 5 is pivotable in order to be able to set the engagement angle of the second cutting element 105 with respect to the plow sole. The first cutting element 102 is adjustable in multiple degrees of freedom, so that adjustment is possible depending on the soil parameters and also with regard to further parameters by adjusting, on the one hand, the plowing width and, on the other hand, the interaction between the first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105. Therefore, the first cutting element 102, for example, is adjustable by means of a carriage 23 on the first carrier structure 4, so that its height is adjustable with respect to the plane which is intersected by the second cutting element 105.