AGRICULTURAL SOWING MACHINE WITH A CONVEYOR LINE WITH A VARIABLE LENGTH

Abstract

The present invention relates to an agricultural sowing machine having a machine frame and a plurality of drill units moveably arranged next to one another on the machine frame and seed separating devices, wherein the drill units comprise at least furrow opener, a conveying line for conveying the seeds from the seed separating device to a placement zone with a dispensing opening arranged near the ground and a pressure element, the at least one furrow opener, the dispensing opening and the pressure element being arranged in this operating sequence relative to one another in the drill unit and the seed separating device, without a mechanically rigid connection to a component of a drill unit, is moveably connected to the machine frame.

Claims

1. An agricultural sowing machine (2) having a machine frame (4) and a plurality of drill units (8) moveably arranged next to one another on the machine frame (4) and seed separating devices (6), wherein the drill units (8) comprise at least one furrow opener (10), a conveying line (14) for conveying the seeds from the seed separating device (6) to a placement zone with a dispensing opening (16) arranged near the ground and a pressure element (12), the at least one furrow opener (10), the dispensing opening (16) and the pressure element (12) being arranged in this working sequence relative to one another in the drill unit (8), the seed separating device (6), without a mechanically rigid connection to a component of a drill unit (8), is moveably connected to the machine frame (4), and the conveying line (14) is composed of tube sections (26, 27), which are formed in at least one section (30) so as to be telescopically moveable into one another, characterised in that the section (30) of the telescopic tubes (26, 27) is situated in the lower half of the conveying line (14).

2. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the furrow opener (10) is designed as one or two disc coulters (32) and the section (30) of the telescopic tubes (26, 27) is situated, from the lateral view of the sowing machine (2), completely within the circular circumference of the disc coulter or disc coulters (32) or partially protrudes over these.

3. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that on the outside of the conveying line (14) in the region of the section (30) of the telescopic tubes (26, 27) a sleeve sealing the telescopic connection is mounted.

4. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the section (30) comprises at least one inner (26) and outer part (27) of the telescopic tubes (26, 27), wherein the outer part (27), in the conveying direction of the conveying line (14), is arranged or plugged on behind or below the inner part (26).

5. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the part of the conveying line (14) comprising the section (30) of the telescopic tubes (26, 27) is connected to a coulter skid (34).

6. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 5, characterised in that the coulter skid (34) is moveably connected to the machine frame (4) so that the same can perform relative movements relative to the same.

7. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that a section (36) of the conveying line (14) following a curved course adjoins the section (30) of the telescopic tubes (26).

8. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that a change in length of the conveying line (14) furthermore results from a section (38) of the conveying line (14) that is produced from an elastic material, wherein the inner surface of the section (38) produced from an elastic material is in the form of a hose.

9. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the inner surface of the section (38) produced from an elastic material is not interrupted by material folds and/or corrugations.

10. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the section (38) produced from an elastic material has, over its length, a cross-sectional shape of the interior that remains at least approximately the same.

11. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the section (38) produced from an elastic material has, with its cross-sectional shape of the interior, an almost approximately or exactly offset-free transition to the neighbouring regions of the conveying line (14).

12. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the section (38) produced from an elastic material consists at least partially of a fabric material.

13. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the conveying line (14) is formed flexible at least in a section (36).

14. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 13, characterised in that the conveying line (14) is designed so as to be flexible in a section (30, 36) within a bending plane which stands parallel to a movement plane of the drill unit (8) to the machine frame (4).

15. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the section (38) of the conveying line (14) produced from an elastic material is subjected, in the installed state, to a preload in a stretch direction.

16. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the seed separating device (6) has at least one separating element which meters or separates the seeds by means of a pneumatic pressure gradient.

17. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the conveying line (14) in its course comprises elevations and/or recesses on the inner surfaces, which generate turbulent flows in the wall region in the air flow.

18. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the conveying line (14) on its half facing the ground is connected to the moveable mounting of the furrow opener (10).

19. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the seed separating device (6) is coupled to the drill unit (8) via a spring and/or damper element (40).

20. The sowing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterised in that the seed separating device (6) is coupled to the machine frame (4) via a spring and damper element (40).

Description

[0045] It Shows:

[0046] FIG. 1: a view of a sowing machine,

[0047] FIG. 2: a lateral view of a conveying line with a telescopable section, through which the length of the conveying line between the seed separating device and the drill unit is variable,

[0048] FIG. 3: an enlarged view of the circle III from FIG. 2 of a conveying line with a telescopable section, and

[0049] FIG. 4: a partly exposed lateral view of the moveable articulation of seed separating device and drill unit.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a sowing machine 2 from obliquely from the back. The sowing machine 2 has a machine frame 4, to which multiple seed separating devices 6 are tied, which are each assigned to a drill unit 8. The drill units 8 consist at least of a furrow opener 10, a pressure element 12 and a conveying line 14, which conducts the seed grains separated in the seed separating device 6 out of the dispensing opening 16 into the sowing furrow. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the furrow opener 10 consists of double disc coulters 32, which are held at an angled position V-shaped relative to one another and on their lower side dip into the field ground in order to open a sowing furrow there. The furrow openers 10 can be connected to a depth guiding device 18 which, in the exemplary embodiment, consists of a wheel which for scanning the ground contour rolls laterally next to the sowing furrow over the field ground. In the shown example, a furrow opener 10 each is assigned to a depth guiding device 18 on both sides. In addition, packer rollers 20 or other units can be arranged in front of the furrow openers 10 which prepare the ground for the sowing and, if applicable, introduce fertiliser in the ground before the seed grains are placed in the sowing furrow. In the present example, ground grooves are pre-shaped and pre-compacted by the rings of the packer rollers 20, in which the furrow openers 10 form the final furrow shape for seed placement.

[0051] The seed separating device 6 is connected to the machine frame 4 via link arms 22, while the drill unit 8 with the furrow opener 10 and the pressure element 12 is connected via link arms 24 to the machine frame 4. The up and down movements of the furrow opener 10 can be dampened by the energy store 28. The seed separating device 6 and the drill unit 8 with the furrow opener 10 and the pressure element 12 are thus moveable in the vertical direction independently of one another so that the conveying line 14 has to bridge different size distances with the length L when the dispensing opening 16 is to convey the seed grains onto a point that remains at least approximately constant before, at or on the pressure element 12.

[0052] The seed separating device 6 is provided with an inlet opening 7 for supplying seeds and/or establishing a pneumatic pressure gradient. By means of a blower or compressor, which is not shown, a pressure gradient for the grain separation and supporting of the transport of the seed grains is generated.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of a conveying line 14 with a telescopable section 30, where the tube sections 26 dip into one another in order to thereby adapt the length L of the conveying line 14 between the seed separating device 6 and the drill unit 8 to the current requirement.

[0054] The telescopable section 30 is situated in the lower half of the conveying line 14, which extends from the seed separating device 6 as far as to the dispensing opening 16 and assumes the length L. Seen from the lateral view of the sowing machine 2, the same is situated in the shadow of or within the circle circumference of the disc coulter 32, which in the exemplary embodiment completely covers the telescopable section 30. The telescopable section 30 is fastened to a coulter skid 34, which in the exemplary embodiment is rigidly connected to the disc coulter 32. The outer one of the two disc coulters 32 is not shown for better clarity in the representation.

[0055] At its lower end, the conveying line 14 comprises a curved section 36 in which the seed grains are deflected from a conveying direction that is approximately directed vertically downwards into a direction directed opposite to the travelling direction towards the pressure element 12.

[0056] By means of the pneumatic pressure gradient, which is established by the inlet opening 7 in the seed separating device 6, a grain dispensation accelerated by an air flow out of the seed separating device 6 into the conveying line 14 is created.

[0057] In FIG. 3, it is clearly noticeable in the sectional view of the conveying line 14 in the region of the telescopable section 30 that the tube sections 26, 27 in the section 30 are formed so as to be moveable into one another in the conveying line 40 in the direction of the double arrow in that the tube ends of the tube section 26, 27 are dipped into one another by different depths, as happens to be required for the respective length L of the conveying line 14. Here, the lower tube section 27 is designed so that it simultaneously co-forms also the curved section 36. As already described in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 shows the two link arms 24 which in the vertical direction are pivotably arranged on the frame 4 and guide the drill unit 8 relative to the frame 4. With an energy store 28, here embodied as hydraulic cylinder, the drill unit can be subjected to a vertical force in order to ensure an improved furrow formation. Independently of the drill unit 8, the seed separating device 6 is likewise pivotably fastened to the frame 4 in the vertical direction via two link arms 22. Between at least one link arm 22 of the seed separating device 6 and a link arm 24 of the drill unit 8, one or more spring/damper elements 40 are arranged, which cushion and/or dampen oscillations which occur during ground contact of the drill unit 8 in the direction of the seed separating device 6. Likewise, one or more spring/damper elements 40 can also be arranged directly between the seed separating device 6 and the drill unit 8 alternatively or additionally to the shown embodiment. Here, two leaf springs as spring/damper elements 40 are fastened to one of the two link arms 24 and slide on a stop which is assigned to the respective link arm 22 along the link arm 24 upon a relative movement of the link arm 22 and accordingly deform in accordance with the relative movement. Through the deformation, a corresponding spring force is generated which acts on the link arm. The sliding movement brings about a damping component. By way of a respective spring preload or spring rate, the force ratios between the two link arms 22 and 24 can be influenced. Instead of leaf springs, further bending or spiral springs as well as hydraulically and/or pneumatically acting springs/damper elements can be used.

[0058] The invention is not restricted to the above exemplary embodiments. The person skilled in the art has no difficulties modifying the exemplary embodiments in a manner deemed appropriate by the said person skilled in the art in order to adapt these to a specific application case.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0059] 2 Sowing machine [0060] 4 Machine frame [0061] 6 Seed separating device [0062] 7. Inlet opening [0063] 8 Drill unit [0064] 10 Furrow opener [0065] 12 Pressure element [0066] 14 Conveying line [0067] 16 Dispensing opening [0068] 18 Depth guiding device [0069] 20 Packer roller [0070] 22 Link arm (pressure element) [0071] 24 Link arm (furrow opener) [0072] 26 Tube section, telescopic tube [0073] 27 Tube section, telescopic tube [0074] 28 Energy store [0075] 30 Telescopable section [0076] 32 Disc coulter [0077] 34 Coulter skid [0078] 36 Curved section [0079] 38 Elastic section [0080] 40 Spring and damper element