Agricultural organic device for weed control

Abstract

An agricultural system includes a plurality of organic devices for controlling weeds in a planted field, the organic devices being positioned between respective adjacent rows of planted matter in a field. Each the organic devices includes a pivotable shaft having an upper end and a lower end, and a weed-control unit attached to the lower end of the pivotable shaft. The weed-control unit includes a rotatable blade for mowing weeds growing between the adjacent rows of the planted matter. The system further includes at least one motor coupled to one or more of the organic devices for driving the rotatable blade of each weed-control unit.

Claims

1. An agricultural system comprising: a frame linkage for attachment to an agricultural vehicle; and at least one cutting device for cutting planted matter in a planted field, the cutting device being mounted to the frame linkage and positioned between respective adjacent rows of the planted matter in the field and including a vertically-adjustable shaft having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being the only portion of the at least one cutting device mounted directly to the frame linkage, and a cutting unit attached to the lower end of the shaft, the cutting a rotatable blade for cutting the planted matter, including weeds, growing between the adjacent rows of the planted matter, the cutting unit being attached concentrically with a vertical axis of the shaft; and at least one dedicated electric motor mounted to the upper end of the shaft for driving the rotatable blade of the cutting unit, the electric motor being external to the cutting unit.

2. The agricultural system of claim 1, wherein the cutting unit includes a guard within which the rotatable blade is mounted, the guard having a bottom opening through which the rotatable blade makes contact with the planted matter.

3. The agricultural system of claim 1, wherein the cutting unit has a width that is less than a row width of the adjacent rows of the planted matter.

4. The agricultural system of claim 1, further comprising at least one gauge wheel attached to the cutting unit.

5. The agricultural system of claim 4, wherein the at least one gauge wheel is mounted in a leading position of the cutting unit.

6. The agricultural system of claim 1, further comprising a sprayer input tube attached to the cutting unit for delivering a weed-control substance.

7. The agricultural system of claim 1, wherein the at least one cutting device includes a plurality of cutting devices.

8. The agricultural system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of cutting devices are commonly mounted to the frame linkage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an organic device with a single weed-control unit and a single motor.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an agricultural system with multiple weed-control units driven by a single motor.

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating an agricultural system with an agricultural vehicle attached to a weed-control unit having a single motor and a front gauge wheel.

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating height adjustment of weed-control units.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating weed-control units with front and rear gauge wheels.

(7) FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating pivoting movement of weed-control units.

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating spring-loaded weed-control units with front and rear gauge wheels.

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating single weed-control units with respective motors.

(10) FIG. 9 is a rear view illustrating pivoting movement of weed-control units with a spring-loaded element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

(11) Although the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

(12) Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG. 1, an organic device 100 is attachable to an agricultural towing vehicle, e.g., a tractor, for mowing and/or spraying weeds located between rows in a field of planted matter. The device 100 includes a vertically adjustable shaft 102 that is attached, at an upper end 104, to the towing vehicle via an attachment link 106 and, at a lower end 108, to a weed-control unit 110. The weed-control unit 110 includes a dedicated motor 112 and a rotatable cutting blade 114. By way of example, the motor 112 is a hydraulic or electric motor. The device 100 further includes a sprayer input with one or more sprayer input tubes 116 that are coupled to and end in the weed-control unit 110 for delivering weed-control and/or other substances.

(13) The device 100 is advanced through adjacent rows of planted matter, such as a left row 120 and the right row 122 of plants 124 in a field 126. As the device 100 is advanced, it mows down growing weeds 128 with the cutting blade 114 to clear a reduced or weed-free path 130 between the rows 120, 122. In addition to, or instead of, the mowing achieved by the cutting blade 114, the device 100 further outputs one or more weed-control substances from the sprayer input tubes 116. The weed-control substance are helpful in reducing and/or preventing the reappearance of weeds in the path 130.

(14) Referring to FIG. 2, an agricultural system 200 includes multiple organic devices 202 driven by a single motor 204. The organic devices 202 include a left device 202A, a center device 202B, and a right device 202C, which each device having a respective shaft 206. In this example, the shaft 206 has a fixed height, with all the devices 202 having the same height.

(15) The motor 204 is mounted to an upper end of the shaft 206 of the center device 202B. In turn, each upper end of the left and right devices 202A, 202C is coupled via a respective rotating belt 208 to the center device 202B. As such, the single motor 204 drives simultaneously each of the devices 202.

(16) Referring to FIG. 3, an agricultural system 300 has an agricultural vehicle 302 that is attached to an organic device 304 via a frame linkage 306. The device 304 has a weed-control unit 305, a single motor 308, and a front gauge wheel 310. As the device 304 advances in a direction D along a field 312, growing weeds 314 are mowed and/or treated with weed-control substances to achieve a generally weed-free or reduced-weed path 316 between the rows of planted matter 318.

(17) Referring to FIG. 4, an agricultural system 400 has a plurality of organic devices 402 with respective weed-control units 404 and adjustable shafts 406. The shafts 406 are adjustable, having an H range of positions, in accordance with a weed height present in the field. As applicable, the devices 402 are generally similar (but not necessarily identical) to and include one or more components of the devices 100, 202, 304 described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

(18) Referring to FIG. 5, an agricultural system 500 has a plurality of organic devices 502 with respective weed-control units 504. Each device 502 has a pair of gauge wheels that includes a front gauge wheel 506 and a rear gauge wheel 508. The gauge wheels 506, 508 are mounted to a shaft 510 via a gauge frame 512.

(19) Referring to FIG. 6, an agricultural system 600 has a plurality of pivotable organic devices 602 with respective weed-control units 604 and motors 605. The weed-control units 604 are attached to lower ends of respective shafts 606, which include an outer protective shield 608 and an internal substance-insertion tube 609. The shafts 606 are independently pivotable at various angles, such as angles A1 and A2, with each shaft 606 pivoting between respective rows 610-613 of plants 614. For example a left shaft 606A pivots at an angle A2 between a first row 610 and a second row 611, while a center shaft 606B simultaneously pivots at an angle A1 between the second row 611 and a third row 612.

(20) The pivoting feature allows the devices 602 to be spaced across rows at distances that are not necessarily the same width. For example, a right shaft 606C is spaced away from the center shaft 606B at a greater width W1 than the left shaft 606A is spaced away from the center shaft 606B (at a smaller width W2).

(21) Referring to FIG. 7, an agricultural system 700 has a plurality of organic devices 702 with respective weed-control units 704. Each organic device 702 has a shaft 706 with a spring-loaded element 708 at a lower end that is attached to the weed-control unit 704. The spring-loaded element 708 allows automatic adjustment of the weed-control unit 704 when passing over uneven terrain or weeds. The weed-control units 704 further include a pair of front and rear gauge wheels 710, 712.

(22) Referring to FIG. 8, an agricultural system 800 has a plurality of organic devices 802 with respective motors 804. The devices 802 have cutting blades 806 that are independently powered, respectively, by the motors 804.

(23) Referring to FIG. 9, an agricultural system 900 has a plurality of pivotable organic devices 902 with respective weed-control units 904 and motors 905. The weed-control units 904 are attached to lower ends of respective shafts 906, which are independently pivotable at various angles (such as angles A1 and A2). A spring-loaded element 907 is mounted at the lower end of each shaft 906 allow self-adjustment of the weed-control unit 904 over uneven terrain or weeds.

(24) The pivoting motion of the devices 902 is achieved, in part, by a top bearing element 903 and/or a bottom bearing element 908. The bottom bearing element 908, which is at a fixed distance from the top bearing element 903, allows the weed-control unit 904 to float parallel to the ground (in response to the weight of the weed-control unit 904). The height of the weed-control unit 904 is optionally maintained at a desired height via gauge wheels. Alternatively, according to another example, the height of the weed-control unit 904 is maintained via a motor drive unit mounted inside the shaft 906 or inside the bottom bearing element 908.

(25) It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiment and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.