Abstract
The invention relates to a soil cultivation arrangement (100) for the agricultural cultivation of a soil (500), in particular a field and/or arable land, with a carrier device for attaching to an agricultural tractor and with one or more soil cultivation units (200, 201, 202, 203) for preparing and/or generating a seed furrow (530), which soil cultivation units (200, 201, 202, 203) as modular components of the soil cultivation arrangement (100), can be connected to the carrier device and/or to a sowing unit that can be towed by the agricultural tractor and can be arranged along the carrier device in the desired sequence.
Claims
1. A soil cultivation arrangement (100), for agricultural cultivation of a soil (500), with a carrier device for attaching to an agricultural tractor and with one or more soil cultivation units (200, 201, 202, 203) for preparation of or to generate a seed furrow (530) the soil cultivation units (200, 201, 202, 203) being modular components of the soil cultivation arrangement (100) and connectable to the carrier device or to a sowing unit that can be towed by the agricultural tractor and can be arranged along the carrier device in the desired sequence.
2. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one soil cultivation unit (200, 201, 202, 203) comprises one or more soil cultivation disks (210), which are mounted rotatable around an axis of rotation (223) for rolling on the soil (500), which on at least one are provided axial loosening pins (300), which loosening pins (300) are designed to loosen the soil (500) in the area of the respective seed furrow wall (531).
3. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the one or more soil cultivation disks (210) are provided on an outer circular surface (221) with the loosening pins (300) by means of a joint connection and the loosening pins (300) are aligned orthogonally to the respective outer circular surface (221).
4. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the one or more soil cultivation disks (210) have a cutting edge (231) which, starting from the outer disk circumference of the respective soil cultivation disk (210), is formed along the outer circular surface (221), and extends in the direction of the axis of rotation (223) of the soil cultivation disk (210).
5. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one soil cultivation unit (200) is designed as a furrow opener (203) with two rotatable mounted soil cultivation disks (210), at least one of the soil cultivation disks (210), which is for generating the seed furrow (530), is arranged at an angle to a pulling direction or forward travel direction (Z) of the agricultural tractor and the respective outer circular surface (221), and is provided with the loosening pins (300).
6. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one soil cultivation unit (200) is designed as a soil loosening unit (202) with a single rotatable mounted soil cultivation disk (210), the soil cultivation disk (210) which is for loosening the soil (500) and for preparing the seed furrow (530), is provided with the loosening pins (300) on one or both of the outer circular surface (221) facing the seed furrow wall (531).
7. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one soil cultivation unit (200) has a runner-like sliding device (400), on the underside of which, facing the soil (500), a sliding surface (410) is designed to slide on a soil surface (510).
8. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that one or more soil cultivation disks (210) protrude the sliding surface (410) of the sliding device (400) by a variably adjustable working or penetration depth (x).
9. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one soil cultivation unit (200) is designed as a pre-cutter (201) with a single rotatable mounted soil cultivation disk (210), the soil cultivation disk (210), which is for cutting plant and root remains and for preparing the seed furrow (530), is provided with a radially extending tooth profile (232) along its outer circumferential or running surface (230).
10. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one soil cultivation unit (200) is designed as a soil loosening unit (202) with one or more knives (310), which are for cutting plant and root residues, loosening the soil (500) and preparing the seed furrow (530), are movable translationally to the pulling direction or forward travel direction (Z) of the agricultural tractor.
11. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claims 10, characterized in that the one or more knives (310) of the soil loosening unit (202) are arranged to penetrate a slot-like recess (430) of the sliding device (400), with each knife (310) preferably being assigned a respective slot-like recess (430).
12. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one soil cultivation unit (200) is designed as a soil loosening unit (202) with a revolving soil loosening chain (320), the soil loosening chain being used for cutting plant and root residues, for loosening the soil (500) and for preparing the seed furrow (530) to be produced in the manner of a motorized chain saw driven by an actuator and has a saw tooth profile.
13. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 1 and further comprising a furrow opener (203) for connection to a carrier device of the soil cultivation arrangement (100) characterized in that the furrow opener (203) having two rotatable mounted soil cultivation disks (210) whereby the soil cultivation disks (210) enclose an acute angle with one another for generating a seed furrow (530) in a pulling direction or forward travel direction (Z) of an agricultural tractor, the soil cultivation disks outer circular surfaces (221) are axially provided with loosening pins (300), which loosening pins (300) are designed to loosen the soil (500) in the area of the respective seed furrow wall (531).
14. A soil loosening unit (202) for connection to a carrier device of a soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the soil loosening unit (202) has one or more knives (310) which are used for cutting plant and root residues, for loosening the soil (500) and for preparing a seed furrow (530) and are moved translational to the pulling direction or the forward direction of travel (Z) of an agricultural tractor.
15. A soil loosening unit (202) for connection to a carrier device of a soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that the soil loosening unit (202) is designed with a revolving soil loosening chain (320) which is actuated and driven in the manner of a motorized chain saw for cutting plant and root residues, loosening the soil (500) and preparing a seed furrow (530) and is formed with a saw tooth profile.
16. A soil cultivation arrangement (100) according to claim 1 and further comprising a pre-cutter (201) for connection to a carrier device of the soil cultivation arrangement, characterized in that the pre-cutter (201) has a runner-like sliding device (400) with a soil-facing underside having a sliding surface (410) designed to slide on a soil surface (510) and has a single, rotatable mounted soil cultivation disk (210), the soil cultivation disk (210), being for cutting plant and root remains and for preparing the seed furrow (530), and provided with a radially extending tooth profile (232) along its outer circumferential or running surface (230).
17. A method for producing a soil cultivation disk (210) for a soil cultivation unit (200) for connection to a carrier device of a soil cultivation arrangement (100), characterized by the following steps: Providing a soil cultivation disk (210) with two lateral circular surfaces (220) and a circumferential or running surface (230), Providing a desired number of loosening pins (300), Generating receiving recesses (224) on one or both circular surfaces (220) of the soil cultivation disk (210) by erosion or drilling processes, whereby the circumferential shape of the generated receiving recesses (224) correspond to the circumferential shape of the loosening pins (300), and subsequently Joining the soil cultivation disk (210) with the loosening pins (300), wherein the loosening pins (300) being fitted into the receiving recesses (224) by form, power or frictional fit.
Description
[0053] Further details, features, (sub)combinations of features, advantages and effects based on the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention and the drawings. These show in
[0054] FIG. 1a a schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the soil cultivation arrangement according to the invention with three soil cultivation units arranged one after the other, each designed as a soil cultivation disc,
[0055] FIG. 1b a schematic sectional illustration of a seed furrow to be produced in a front view,
[0056] FIG. 1c the soil cultivation arrangement from FIG. 1a in a schematic side view,
[0057] FIG. 2a a schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a furrow opener according to the invention with two soil cultivation discs, together with a schematic sectional illustration of a seed furrow produced therewith in a front view,
[0058] FIG. 2b a schematic top view of the furrow opener according to FIG. 2a,
[0059] FIG. 3a a schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with a soil cultivation disc,
[0060] FIG. 3b a schematic perspective illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with a soil cultivation disc with a cutting edge,
[0061] FIG. 3c a schematic front view of the soil loosening unit according to FIG. 3a, together with a schematic sectional illustration of a seed furrow,
[0062] FIG. 4 a schematic perspective illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with three knives, together with a schematic sectional illustration of a seed furrow to be produced,
[0063] FIG. 5 a schematic perspective illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with a rotating saw chain and together with a furrow opener,
[0064] FIG. 6 a schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a pre-cutter according to the invention with a rotatable mounted knife disk and a sliding device,
[0065] FIG. 7a a schematic side view of a further exemplary embodiment of the soil cultivation arrangement according to the invention with three soil cultivation units arranged one after the other,
[0066] FIG. 8 a schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with a soil cultivation disc with conical loosening pins,
[0067] FIG. 9 two schematic perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with two milling heads arranged next to one another and in parallel,
[0068] FIG. 10 two schematic perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with a single milling head and
[0069] FIG. 11 three schematic perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit according to the invention with two milling heads arranged one behind the other or in a row.
[0070] The figures are merely exemplary in nature and are only used for understanding the invention. The same elements are provided with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.
[0071] FIG. 1a shows a first exemplary embodiment of a soil cultivation arrangement 100 according to the invention. The soil cultivation arrangement 100 has three soil cultivation units 200, which are modularly connected to a not shown here carrier device of the soil cultivation arrangement 100 in a manner known from the prior art. The carrier device of the soil cultivation arrangement 100 is designed for connection to a tool carrier of an agricultural tractor, also not shown here, in particular a tractor or tug. The soil cultivation units 200 are in turn arranged one after the other along a pulling direction or forward travel direction Z of the agricultural tractor. The soil-cultivation unit 200 arranged foremost in the pulling direction Z has a soil cultivation element 210 in the form of a pre-cutter 201. Likewise, with respect to the direction of pull Z, the pre-cutter 201 is followed by a soil cultivation unit 200 designed as a soil-loosening unit 202. The pre-cutter 201 and the soil-loosening unit 202 are each designed as a single soil cultivation disc. As the rearmost module of the soil cultivation arrangement 100, a soil cultivation unit 200 in the form of a furrow opener or sowing disc 203 follows the soil-loosening unit 202. The furrow opener 203 comprises two soil cultivation discs 210 arranged opposite one another. The soil cultivation disks 210 of the soil cultivation units 200 each have two lateral circular surfaces 220 as well as a circumferential or running surface 230 and are mounted rotatable about their respective axis of rotation 223.
[0072] A schematic sectional illustration of a conventional, exemplary seed furrow 530, which can be prepared and produced with the soil cultivation arrangement 100, can be seen in FIG. 1b. The seed furrow 530 is formed with an approximately V-shaped cross-sectional area within the soil 500, more precisely in the uppermost soil horizon 520, and comprises two sloping seed furrow walls 531. The seed furrow depth a is the distance from the soil surface 510 to the deepest point of the seed furrow 530, also known as the furrow base. The seed furrow width b is usually measured in the area of the soil surface 510 and is defined as the distance between the two seed furrow walls 531 in this area. The seed furrow width b is usually in a range between 3.75 cm to 4 cm and the seed furrow depth a in a range between 3 cm to 10 cm. In order to prepare and generate the seed furrow 530, the soil cultivation arrangement 100 is pulled from the agricultural tractor along the pulling direction Z according to FIG. 1a, wherein the rotatable mounted soil cultivation disks usually roll along their respective circumferential or running surface 230 on the soil 500. The pre-cutter 201 and the soil-loosening unit 202 are each provided for preparing the seed furrow 530 and for loosening the soil in the uppermost soil horizon 520, along a cross-sectional area within which the seed furrow 530 is to be created. The actual seed furrow 530 is opened or pulled by means of the following furrow opener 203.
[0073] In FIG. 1c, the soil cultivation arrangement 100 from FIG. 1a is shown in a schematic side view. In this illustration, the soil 500 and its soil surface 510 are also indicated schematically. In conservation soil cultivation, the soil 500 is cultivated exclusively within the uppermost soil horizon 520. The soil cultivation units 200, each having one or two soil cultivation discs 210, roll along the soil 500 or on its surface 510 in the roll direction R and penetrate the soil 500, preferably in each case by the same working or penetration depth x, which also roughly corresponds to the seed furrow depth a. Alternatively, and not shown here, it can also be expedient that the pre-cutter 201 and/or the soil loosening unit 202 penetrate deeper into the soil 500, i.e. have a greater working or penetration depth x than the furrow opener 203. This also causes the soil in the area below the seed furrow 530 can be loosened. The working or penetration depth x or seed furrow depth a can be adjusted to the desired amount as required depending on the optimal planting depth of the seed.
[0074] For setting the working or penetration depth x, among other things, the pre-cutter 201, for example in the FIG. 1c, has a sliding device 400, the underside sliding surface 410 of which slides on the soil surface 510. By offsetting the soil cultivation disc 210 and the sliding device 400 of the pre-cutter 201 relative to one another, the distance by which the soil cultivation disc protrudes, in particular penetrates, beyond the underside sliding surface 410 and thus its working or penetration depth x can be determined. The sliding device 400 consequently fulfills the function of the devices known from the prior art and optionally also applicable to the invention for setting the working or penetration depth x, such as depth wheels or so-called “chicken feet” and is mounted in a similar manner on a not shown here carrier device of the soil cultivation arrangement 100.
[0075] A schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a furrow opener 201 according to the invention together with a schematic, frontal sectional illustration of a seed furrow 530 produced therewith is shown in FIG. 2a. The furrow opener 201 has two soil cultivation disks 210, in particular sowing disks, which are arranged opposite one another and are each set at an angle to the pulling direction Z, whereby the soil cultivation disks 210 enclose an angle in a range between 10.5° and 11.5° with one another. Each soil cultivation disc 210 in turn comprises an outer circular surface 221 which leads in the pulling direction Z, which faces the soil 500 or the respective seed furrow wall 531 to be produced and an opposing inner-side circular surface 222, lagging in the pulling direction Z, which faces away from the soil 500 or the corresponding seed furrow wall 531. Starting from their circumferential or running surface 230, the soil cultivation disks 210 are provided in the radial direction with a cutting edge 231 formed here on one side, along the respective outer circular surface 221. The width of the cutting edge 231 is 10 mm, for example. Also in the area of the outer circumference of the respective soil cultivation disc 210 and adjacent to the cutting edge 231, loosening pins 300 are connected to the respective outer circular surface 221 of the corresponding soil cultivation disc 210. The loosening pins 300 are cylindrical in this embodiment and are arranged alternately along two circumferential or circular paths. The distance between two adjacent loosening pins 300 is in a range between 1 cm and 4 cm. The loosening pins 300 are connected to the outer circular surface 221 via a joining connection, in particular pressed into a receiving recess 224 formed there, and aligned orthogonally to the outer circular surface 221, preferably enclosing an angle of 90° with it.
[0076] A schematic top view of the furrow opener 201 is shown in FIG. 2b. It can be seen that the soil cultivation disks 210 are arranged opposite one another and are aligned symmetrically with respect to the pull direction Z. The ends 211 of the soil cultivation discs 210 leading in the pulling direction Z touch each other in a circumferential area of about 4 cm to 5 cm, whereas the trailing ends 212 are arranged at a distance from one another which corresponds approximately to the seed furrow width b. The cutting edge 231, which is embodied all around the outer disk circumference, on the outer circular surface 221 in each case, and is embodied here on one side, can also be clearly seen in this illustration.
[0077] In operation, when the agricultural tractor pulls the furrow opener 201 along the pulling direction Z, the soil cultivation discs 210 roll on the ground 500. This way on the one hand the soil is displaced up to the penetration depth x from the outer circular surface 221 to generate the seed furrow 530 with one of the penetration depth x corresponding seed furrow depth a. At the same time, the loosening pins 300, arranged alternately in two rows in this embodiment, are pulled along a respective cycloid, in particular an epicycloid path, through the adjacent seed furrow wall 531. Due to the cycloid, in particular an epicycloid path, the soil is loosened in the area of the complete seed furrow wall 531, whereby a seed furrow wall compaction can be effectively avoided.
[0078] An exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit 202 according to the invention can be seen in FIG. 3a in a schematic perspective illustration. The soil loosening unit 202 has a single soil cultivation disc 210 which, when the soil cultivation arrangement 100 (see FIG. 1a) is in operation, is aligned parallel to the pulling direction Z and is pulled along it. The soil cultivation disc 210 of the soil loosening unit 202 rolls, as described above, on the soil 500. A circumferential area of the soil cultivation disk 210 defined by the working or penetration depth x penetrates the soil 500, as a result of which a groove-like slot or incision aligned along the pulling direction Z is drawn in the soil 500. Because the soil loosening unit 202 precedes the furrow opener 203 (see FIG. 1a), the creation of the actual seed furrow 530 is prepared and made considerably easier. Because of its parallel alignment, the soil cultivation disc 210 has two outer circular surfaces 221. Orthogonally aligned loosening pins 300 are arranged on both outer circular surfaces 221, which in this embodiment are limited by way of example to the circumferential area of the soil cultivation disc 210 defined by the working or penetration depth x. Alternatively, however, the loosening pins 300 could be arranged also completely distributed over one or both outer circular surfaces 221 of the soil cultivation disc 210. The loosening pins 300 are arranged here in three rows, by way of example, along three circumferential or circular paths, three loosening pins 300 each lying on a common radius of the soil cultivation disc 210. During operation, the soil 500 is loosened by means of the loosening pins 300, which are drawn through the respectively adjacent soil along respective cycloids, in particular epicycloid paths, similar to the previously described for furrow opener 201. In this way, on the one hand, the generation of the seed furrow 530 is facilitated and, on the other hand, compaction of the seed furrow wall is prevented.
[0079] FIG. 3b shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit 202 according to the invention with loosening pins 300 arranged along a total of four circumferential or circular paths. The soil loosening unit also has a circumferential cutting edge 231, which here is formed in particular on both sides, on both outer circular surfaces 221.
[0080] FIG. 3c shows a front view of the soil loosening unit 202 according to FIG. 3a, shown along the pulling direction Z, together with a schematic, frontal sectional view of a seed furrow 530 to be generated. The loosening pins 300 arranged on both sides can be clearly seen here. They are arranged orthogonally to the respective outer circular surface 221 and are connected to it. Alternatively, an embodiment variant (not shown) would also be possible in which loosening pins 300 penetrate the soil cultivation disc 210 of soil loosening unit 202 and protrude from soil cultivation disc 210 on both outer circular surfaces 221. In addition, it is shown in this embodiment that the working or penetration depth x exceeds the seed furrow depth a of the seed furrow 530 to be formed with the following furrow opener 203, which also loosens the soil below the seed furrow 530 or prevents soil compaction in the area of the furrow bottom.
[0081] A schematic perspective illustration of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a soil cultivation unit 200 according to the invention with a soil cultivation element 210 designed as a soil loosening unit 202 can be seen in FIG. 4, together with a schematic section of a seed furrow 530 to be generated. The embodiment of the soil loosening unit 202 shown here is designed with a total of three knives 310, which are provided with a saw profile 311 in the pulling direction Z and can be moved up and down linearly in translation along a cutting direction S running orthogonally to the pulling direction Z. The soil loosening unit 202 also has a sliding device 400, the sliding surface 410 of which is provided for sliding on the soil surface 510. A front section 420 of the sliding device 400 in the pulling direction Z is raised in the manner of a runner with respect to the ground surface 510 in order to facilitate sliding off even on uneven ground. Three slot-like recesses 430 of the sliding device 400, arranged parallel to one another, are each penetrated by one of the knives 310. At the same time, function as a kind of guide in the cutting direction S. The sliding device 400 can be used to variably set the working or penetration depth x of the knives 310. In addition, the sliding device 400 prevents plant or root residues from being pulled out of the soil. The set working or penetration depth x preferably corresponds to the seed furrow depth a, and the distance between the two outer knives 310 corresponds to the seed furrow width b of the seed furrow 530 to be generated. As can be seen from the schematic sectional view of the seed furrow 530, the embodiment of the soil loosening unit 202 shown here loosens the soil 500 transversely to the direction of pull Z along a rectangular cross-sectional area. The V-shaped cross-sectional area of the seed furrow 530 protrudes, in particular in the area of the seed furrow walls 531, which effectively prevents soil compaction here. The knives 310 can be driven electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically or mechanically via a conventional linear actuator and are mounted, preferably spring-loaded and/or with clearance, so that they can move up and down along the cutting direction S.
[0082] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a soil cultivation arrangement 100 with two soil cultivation units 200. The soil cultivation arrangement 100 has the soil cultivation unit 200 designed as a furrow opener or as a seeding disc 203 and a preceding soil cultivation unit 200 with a soil cultivation element 210 designed as a soil loosening unit 202, which is constructed with a revolving soil cultivation chain 320. The furrow opener 203 corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a, b and is therefore not explained again in the following. The soil loosening chain 320 of the soil loosening unit 202 is preferably driven electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically or mechanically via an actuator and is attached to the carrier device of the soil cultivation arrangement 100. If necessary, it can circulate, “forwards” in the rolling direction of the soil cultivation discs of the furrow opener 203 or “backwards” in opposite to the direction of rotation R indicated schematically. The soil loosening chain 320 is preferably provided, at least in sections, with a saw tooth profile, not shown here, the teeth of which extend straight or obliquely, in particular radially, outward, in the direction of the soil 500. Optionally the soil loosening unit 202 having the soil loosening chain 320 has a sliding device 400 according to FIGS. 1a, c, for setting the working or penetration depth x.
[0083] A soil cultivation element 210, embodied as a pre-cutter 201, of an exemplary soil cultivation arrangement 100 can be taken from FIG. 6, for example, in a schematic perspective illustration. The pre-cutter 201 comprises a single soil cultivation element 210, which is mounted rotatable around its axis of rotation 223 and is aligned parallel to the pulling direction Z. Here it is projected as a circular saw-like knife disc for cutting plant and root residues, as well as for preparing the seed furrow 530 to be produced. Along the circumferential or running surface 230, the soil cultivation disc 210 is provided with a tooth profile 232 pointing radially outward, which through the rotation of the soil cultivation disc 210, cuts plant or root residues present on the soil surface 510 or in the soil 500. In order to make it easier to shear off plant or root remains, the pre-cutter 201 is therefore additionally designed with a sliding device 400, the front section 420 of which is raised in a runner-like manner with respect to the ground surface 510. The soil cultivation disc penetrates a centrally arranged and elongated slot-like recess 430 of the sliding device 400. During operation of the soil cultivation arrangement 100, the pre-cutter 201 is moved along the pulling direction Z, whereby the sliding device 400, with its underside sliding surface 410, slides along the soil surface 510 and holds down any plant residues. At the same time, the sliding device 400 prevents any root residues located in the soil 500 from being pulled out of the soil 500 by the rotating soil cultivation disc 210. In addition, the sliding device 400 is used to set the working or penetration depth x.
[0084] Finally, a further exemplary embodiment of a soil cultivation arrangement 100 according to the invention is shown in a schematic perspective illustration in FIG. 8. The soil cultivation arrangement 100 comprises three soil cultivation units 200, which are designed as a pre-cutter 201, a soil loosening unit 202 and a furrow opener 203. The pre-cutter 201 has a single soil cultivation disc 210 and a sliding device 400. With regard to the pulling direction Z, the soil loosening unit 202 is arranged following the pre-cutter 201 and likewise comprises a sliding device 400, which, however, is penetrated by three knives 310 which can be moved up and down transversely to the pulling direction Z. The furrow opener 203 is arranged with two soil cultivation discs 210 each oriented at an angle to the pulling direction Z, terminating in the pulling direction Z or following the soil loosening unit 202.
[0085] During operation, i.e. when an agricultural tractor pulls the soil cultivation arrangement 100 in the pulling direction Z, plant and root residues can first be cut above and below ground by means of the pre-cutter 201, with an incision in the soil 500 leading to the seed furrow 530 being produced at the same time. By means of the soil loosening unit 202 provided with three knives 310, the soil 500 is then loosened in the area of the seed furrow 530 to be generated. In this embodiment the rectangular cross-sectional area of the soil 500 loosened with the soil loosening unit protrudes the V-shaped cross-sectional area of the seed furrow 530, in particular in the area of the seed furrow walls 531. As a result, the soil is loosened extensively around the seed furrow 530 to be produced, so that compaction of the soil 500 in the region of the seed furrow walls 531 is effectively prevented. Finally, the furrow opener 203, the surrounding soil being displaced laterally in the manner of a plow by the inclined tillage discs 210, draws the actual seed furrow 530. In order to prevent the inevitably occurring compression in the area of the seed furrow walls 531 during this work step, the soil cultivation discs 210 are each provided with the loosening pins 300 on their outer circular surface 221. During the generation of the seed furrow 530 they are drawn along a respective cycloid, in particular an epicycloid path through the soil adjacent to the seed furrow walls 531 and loosen them up.
[0086] FIG. 8 shows an alternative, exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit 202 according to the invention in a schematic perspective illustration. The soil loosening unit 202 comprises a soil cultivation disc 210 which is provided on both sides with loosening pins 300 which are here conically formed. As an example, only two loosening pins 300 are shown in the illustration, one of the loosening pins 300 being arranged ready for use within a receiving recess 224 that penetrates the soil cultivation disc 210, so that the tapered tips of the loosening pin 300 each protrude beyond the two circular surfaces 220 of the soil cultivation disc 210. A second loosening pin 300 is shown in an exploded view of the soil cultivation disc 210, so that it's central, cylindrical section and the two conically tapering tips can be seen. To fasten the loosening pins 300 within the soil cultivation disks 210 or within the respectively assigned receiving recess 224, the loosening pins 300 are first inserted into the corresponding receiving recesses 224 up to the desired position and attached to both circular surfaces 220 of the soil cultivation disk 210 by means of soldering using a hard solder.
[0087] Two schematic perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit 202 according to the invention comprising two milling heads 340 arranged next to one another in the pulling direction or forward travel direction Z with axes of rotation 341 aligned parallel to one another can be seen in FIG. 9. Depending on the depth of the seed furrow to be produced, however, more than two milling heads 340 can also be arranged next to one another. For depth control, the soil cultivation unit shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a sliding device 400, which is designed with one or more recesses 430 through which the milling heads 340 pass. Alternatively, the sliding device 400 can also be renounced.
[0088] FIG. 10 shows two schematic perspective views of a further exemplary embodiment of a soil loosening unit 202 according to the invention with a single milling head 340. The milling head 340 or its axis of rotation 341 is arranged here centrally within an optional sliding device 400 and penetrating a recess 430 provided therein. Alternatively, according to FIG. 11, two or more milling heads 340 can also be arranged one behind the other or in a row with respect to the pulling direction or forward travel direction Z. When using several milling heads 340 arranged one behind the other, it has been found to be advantageous to design them with different diameters, the milling head 340 arranged at the front in the forward travel direction Z expediently having the smallest diameter and the milling head 340 arranged at the rear having the largest diameter.
[0089] The respective milling heads 340 of the previously described embodiments according to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are driven by one or more drive units, not shown here, which are preferably designed as an electrically, pneumatically, mechanically or hydraulically driven rotary actuator. By means of the drive unit and, if necessary, interposed gear elements, the milling heads 340 can be rotated around their respective rotational axis 341 at the desired speed in the same or opposite direction of rotation. The chosen arrangement of the milling heads 340, i.e. a single milling head 340, two or more milling heads 340 next to one another and/or two or more milling heads 340 one behind the other can, if necessary, be adapted to the prevailing soil conditions.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0090] 100 soil cultivation arrangement
[0091] 200 soil cultivation unit
[0092] 201 pre-cutter
[0093] 202 soil loosening unit
[0094] 203 furrow opener
[0095] 210 soil cultivation disc
[0096] 211 leading end
[0097] 212 trailing end
[0098] 220 circular surface
[0099] 221 outside circular surface
[0100] 222 inside circular surface
[0101] 223 axis of rotation
[0102] 224 receiving recesses
[0103] 230 circumferential or running surface
[0104] 231 cutting edge
[0105] 232 tooth profile
[0106] 300 loosening pins
[0107] 310 knives
[0108] 320 soil loosening chain
[0109] 330 teeth
[0110] 340 milling head
[0111] 341 axis of rotation
[0112] 400 sliding device
[0113] 410 sliding surface
[0114] 420 front section
[0115] 430 recess
[0116] 500 soil
[0117] 510 soil surface
[0118] 520 top soil horizon
[0119] 530 seed furrow
[0120] 531 seed furrow wall
[0121] x working or penetration depth
[0122] a seed furrow depth
[0123] b seed furrow width
[0124] Z direction of pull or forward direction of travel
[0125] R direction of rotation
[0126] S cutting direction
