PLOUGH MODULE AND PLOUGH DEVICE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE PLOUGH MODULE

Abstract

The invention relates to a plough module (1) with plough-following stabilisation for mounting on a base frame of a plough device, comprising a rotatable first cutting element designed as a hollow-disc cutting plate. A lateral region (122) of a soil ridge can be cut away by moving the plough module (1) on the ground along a ploughing direction (110). The plough module (1) comprises a second plat cutting element (105) with a second cutting edge (106), wherein a base region (121) of the soil ridge can be cut away by moving the plough module (1) on the ground. The plough module (1) is designed as a fully assembled unit, in which the second cutting element, designed as a fixed cutting blade (6), follows the first cutting element (102) in the ploughing direction (110). The cutting blade (6) is angled backwards relative to the working angle, achieving a dynamic balance of forces between the first cutting element (102) and the cutting blade (6) for plough-following stabilisation. A contact plate (8) is provided on the cutting blade (6), which is supported on a furrow wall (121) such that a stabilising effect follows the plough.

Claims

1. A plow module having plow-following stabilization for interchangeable mounting on a base frame of a plow device for plowing ground, wherein the plow module comprises: a rotatable first cutting element which is configured as a hollow disk cutting plate, with a circumferential first cutting edge, wherein the first cutting element is configured such that a lateral region of a soil ridge of the ground can be cut away by moving the plow module on the ground in a plowing direction, a second planar cutting element with a second cutting edge, wherein the second cutting element is configured such that a base region of a soil ridge of the ground can be cut away by moving the plow module on the ground in a plowing direction, the plow module being configured as a fully mounted structural unit, in which the second cutting element which is configured as a fixed cutting blade follows the first cutting element in the plowing direction with its cutting edge and a first carrier structure on which the first cutting element is arranged, a second carrier structure on which the second cutting element is arranged and which is connected to the first carrier structure, is provided and the first carrier structure has means for the releasable fastening to a base frame of a plow device, wherein the cutting blade is angled back to the rear such that a dynamic balance of forces can be achieved between the first cutting element and the cutting blade in the sense of a plow-following stabilization, and the cutting blade cooperates with an additionally provided contact plate which is supported on a furrow wall such that a stabilizing effect follows the plow, the lateral region of the soil ridge being cut away from said furrow wall.

2. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second carrier structure is pivotably connected via a joint to the first carrier structure.

3. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cutting element is displaceably arranged on the first carrier structure such that the spacing between the first cutting edge of the first cutting element and the second cutting edge of the second cutting element is adjustable.

4. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cutting element and second cutting element are arranged relative to one another such that a cutting region of the first cutting edge of the first cutting element is vertically spaced apart from the second cutting edge of the second cutting element.

5. The plow module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first cutting region is configured in a first cutting plane and a second cutting region is configured in a second cutting plane, wherein the first cutting plane and the second cutting plane form relative to one another an angle of 30° to 135°.

6. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cutting element is configured to be cambered, conical or frustoconical.

7. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cutting edge of the first cutting element has recesses on the circumference.

8. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting blade of the second cutting element is of L-shaped configuration, wherein a first bar of the cutting blade is oriented horizontally in the working position of the plow module and a second bar is oriented substantially perpendicularly thereto.

9. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting blade is configured in one piece.

10. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting blade forms with the contact plate an adjustable furrow base-cutting edge-guide unit.

11. The plow module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the furrow base-cutting edge-guide unit is adjustable in terms of depth by means of a height adjustment device configured as a perforated plate-suspension device.

12. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein for adjusting the pull-in force the cutting blade has an angle of attack which can be adjusted via its rotational axis.

13. The plow module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting blade has a spacing from the furrow wall which can be adjusted by means of spacer washers.

14. A plow device comprising a base frame, wherein at least one plow module with plow-following stabilization is arranged on the base frame thereof, the at least one plow module as claimed in claim 1.

15. The plow module as claims in claim 5, wherein the first cutting plane and the second cutting plane form relative to one another an angle of 45° to 110°.

Description

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a view of a plow module with a hollow disk and cutting blade;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a plow device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows two plow modules arranged one behind the other in which a hollow disk is shown as the first cutting element and a cutting blade is shown as the second cutting element;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a drawing of a partial view of a plow device according to the invention as a rear view of the drawing according to FIG. 3 with the contact plate; and

[0062] FIGS. 5a), b), c) show three partial views of a plow module according to the invention.

[0063] Components which are the same or similar are provided in the various figures with the same reference numerals. The drawings in the figures are substantially schematic and merely by way of example.

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a plow module 1 for plowing ground 120 in which a first cutting element 102 in the form of a spherical cap-shaped hollow disk is arranged upstream of a second cutting element 105 in the form of a cutting blade 6, one behind the other in the plowing direction 110. The first cutting element 102 is provided for cutting the side surface of a soil ridge, not shown, whereas the second cutting element 105 arranged downstream of the first cutting element 102 is configured as a cutting blade 6 which cuts the furrow base. Both cutting elements 102, 6/105 are joined together by means of a carrier structure 4, 5 as a plow module. The carrier structure 4, 5 can be fastened to a base frame (not shown), wherein the second cutting element 105 is connected in an articulated manner to the first cutting element 102 via the carrier structure 4 thereof.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 1 a rotatable first cutting element 102 with a circumferential cambered first cutting edge 103 is arranged on a first carrier structure 4 and configured such that when the carrier structure 4 moves on the ground 120 in the plowing direction 110 a lateral region 122 of a soil ridge, not shown, of the ground 120 can be cut by means of a first cutting region of the first cutting edge 103, as shown in FIG. 1. The plowing direction 110 is defined as the direction along which the plow device 3 is moved over the ground 120. A second cutting element 105 with a second cutting edge 106 is arranged on a second carrier structure 5 which is releasably connected to the first carrier structure 4 and pivotable relative to the first carrier structure 4 regarding the angle of attack. The second cutting element 105 is configured such that when the carrier structure 5 moves on the ground 120 in the plowing direction 110 a base region of the soil ridge of the ground 120 can be cut away by means of the second cutting region of the second cutting edge 106. The second cutting element 105 is arranged relative to the first cutting element 102 in the plowing direction 110 such that the second cutting region is arranged downstream of the first cutting region in the plowing direction 110. The second cutting region is thus spaced apart from the first cutting region with the spacing x.

[0066] Since the base frame 2 of the plow module 1 is pushed with the first and second carrier structure 4 and 5 in the direction of the cut surface 121 or furrow bed of the ground 120 during plowing, the first cutting element 102 is correspondingly also pushed in the direction of the cut surface 121 such that the first cutting element 102 is held at the desired ground depth during plowing.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the essential functional elements of a plow device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This FIG. 2 shows the correct spatial arrangement of the first and second cutting elements 102 and 105 and the formation and turning of the soil ridge. The remaining components of the associated plow device 3 are not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0068] The plow device 3 shown in FIG. 2 has in a conventional design a base frame or a plow tree 2, plow modules 1 accordingly attached on both sides extending therefrom. The plow modules 1 according to the invention have in each case a first cutting element 102 which is configured as a hollow disk, and associated therewith a second cutting element 105 which is configured as a cutting blade 6, with a contact plate 8, which is configured in the manner of a grinding shoe, additionally attached thereto. According to the view of FIG. 2, the plow modules 1 with the contact plate 8 are shown from their rear face, which means that the cutting blade 6, not shown in FIG. 2, extends from the rear face of this contact plate 8. Illustrated is a first carrier structure 4 which provides via a joint 7 the option of the cutting blade 6 together with the contact plate 8, which is located so to speak on the upwardly facing plane of the cutting blade 6, being able to be adjusted to different plowing and ground conditions, in the sense of an adjustability of the angle of attack of the cutting blade 6. One respective module of the plow device 3 thus consists of the first cutting element 102 which is configured as a hollow disk and the cutting blade 6 with the contact plate 8 which is connected via the first carrier structure 4 indirectly to the base frame 2, which is also denoted as a plow tree. The function of the contact plate 8 is to contribute to the dynamic balance of the transverse forces and to be supported on the furrow wall 122, not illustrated, forming the lateral region of a furrow. As a result, a plow-following stabilization can be provided for the plow device 3, in the sense that a stabilizing effect follows the plow due to the fact that the hollow disk 102 generates a lateral force when cutting the ground 120 and subsequently turning the soil ridge produced by the hollow of the disk. Due to this lateral force, which is present without the contact plate 8, the plow device 3 would have the tendency to deviate from its straight following line; a plow-following stabilization would then not take place.

[0069] In FIG. 3 two plow modules according to the invention which are arranged one behind the other are shown slightly enlarged relative to FIG. 2, wherein the first cutting element 102 is configured as a cambered hollow disk with a first cutting edge 103 and is configured to be toothed, so to speak, in the recesses provided in the cutting edge. The first carrier structure 4 is indicated on the convex rear face of the hollow disk 102 which at its lower end exhibits the cutting blade 6. The angle of attack of the cutting blade 6 can be adjusted such that a force is exerted in the direction of the ground 121 or the furrow bed (not illustrated), whereby the entire plow module 1 and thus the plow device 3 is held at the desired plowing depth.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1 the carrier structure 4 and 5 for the two cutting elements 102 and 105 is configured to connect together at least the first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 fixedly to the base frame 2 of a plow device 3. The first carrier structure 4 is fastenable via the base frame 2 of the plow device 3 to a traction machine, such as for example a tractor, in order to drive the cutting elements 102, 105 accordingly in the plowing direction 110. The plow module 1 has, for example, the first and second carrier structure 4, 5 which can be configured fixedly or pivotably via joints.

[0071] The first and the second carrier structure 4 or 5 form, therefore, a rigid fastening structure for the cutting elements 102, 105. The cutting elements 102, 105 are fixed to the carrier structures 4, 5 such that a relative movement between the positions of the cutting elements 102, 105 is not possible during plowing. If according to the invention, therefore, the second cutting element 105 is pushed in the direction of the ground 120 due to the cutting of the soil ridge, at the same time the first cutting element 102 is also pushed into the ground 120 since both carrier structures 4, 5 are fixedly connected together.

[0072] The first cutting element 102 is rotatably fastened and the second cutting element 105, or its angle of attack, is pivotably fastened to the respective carrier structure 4 or 5. Accordingly, the first cutting element 102 has a rotational axis about which the cutting element 102 rotates. The second cutting element 105 forms a pivot axis via the joint 7 about which the second cutting element 105 is pivotable with its angle of attack. The first cutting element 102 is configured by way of example here as a spherical cap-shaped cutting plate and has a circular circumferential line. The corresponding circumferential first cutting edge 103 having recesses 10 is configured along the circumferential line. The lateral region 122 (see FIG. 1) of the soil ridge is cut from the furrow wall 122 of the ground 120 by means of the first cutting edge 103. The circumferential first cutting edge 103 has a cutting region which is that circumferential portion of the first cutting edge 103 which in the plowing direction 110 comes first into contact with the ground 120 and cuts the ground. A base region 121 of the soil ridge is cut from the ground 120 by means of the cutting blade 6 as the second cutting element 105. That circumferential portion of the second cutting element 105 which in the plowing direction 110 is received second in terms of contact with the ground 120, or follows the first cutting element 102 and cuts the ground, is denoted as the second cutting region of the second cutting edge 106. The double arrow 12 in FIG. 5a indicates that the second cutting element 105 is pivotably mounted on the first carrier structure 5, not shown here. The pivoting permits the adjustment of the angle of attack of the cutting blade 6 relative to the plowing direction 110 and thus the penetration depth of the plow module 1 in the ground 120.

[0073] A rotatable hexagonal disk (not shown) which precuts or opens the ground 120 with the cutting blade 6 and the first cutting element 102 can be arranged upstream of the plow module 1 or connected thereto. As a result, the tractive force required for plowing is reduced, as is the wear of the cutting blade 6 and the following first cutting element 102. The cutting blade 6 cuts as a double or triple edge horizontally and vertically and cooperates with the contact plate 8 such that a stabilizing effect follows the plow.

[0074] The first cutting element 102 is rotated when the plow device 3 moves along the ground 120. In this case, for example, frictional forces cause the cutting element 102 to be moved. The cutting element 102 in this case is dimensioned such that during plowing only the lower half of the first cutting element 102, which is located below the rotational axis thereof, penetrates into the ground 120 so that frictional forces with the ground 120 cause the rotation. The rotation of the first cutting element 102 also causes the cut-away soil ridge to be lifted.

[0075] The cut-away soil ridge is in frictional contact with a cutting surface of the cutting element 102. The cutting surface is that surface of the cutting element 102 which is configured inside the first cutting edge 103 or is surrounded thereby. Moreover, the cutting surface is that surface which is oriented toward the cut-away soil ridge. The cutting surface, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, can be configured uniformly without recesses or elevations.

[0076] Due to the lifting of the soil ridge by means of the rotating cutting element 102, the soil ridge can be conveyed into the adjacent furrow in an energy-efficient manner. This furrow has been lifted out by a previous passage of a plow module.

[0077] According to FIG. 1, the first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 in this case are fastened relative to one another on the carrier structure 4, 5 such that in the vertical direction the cutting region of the first cutting element 102 is spaced apart from the second cutting element 105 or is located above the second cutting element 105 when the plow device 3 is positioned on the ground 120 in the working position or penetrates into the ground.

[0078] The rotating cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 cooperate synergistically. On the one hand, by means of the second cutting element 105 a desired plow depth can be kept constant since the cut-away soil ridges push with a defined compressive force/pull-in force onto the second cutting element 105 via the adjusted angle of attack and thus act counter to a lift of the rotating cutting element 102. On the other hand, the action of the rotating cutting element 102 when cutting the soil ridge, which is advantageous in terms of energy, in particular the side surfaces or lateral regions 122 of the soil ridges, is utilized. Thus an energy-efficient plow device 3 is provided without the quality of the furrow pattern being negatively affected. Additionally, the fixed second cutting element 105 causes the cut-away soil ridge to be pushed in the direction of the first cutting element 102 so that the cut-away soil ridge is crumbled. Moreover, due to a lateral force which is input into the first carrier structure 4 by means of the second cutting element 105 mounted upstream, which is achieved in particular by the contact plate 8, a lateral force on the first cutting element 102 caused during the cutting is counteracted, so that a simpler and improved guidance of the plow device 3 with a traction machine, i.e. a plow-following stabilization when plowing, is possible.

[0079] The first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 are arranged relative to one another on the first and second carrier structure 4 and 5 such that the front part of the cutting element 105, i.e. the cutting edge thereof, in the plowing direction 110 is located with a spacing x downstream of the first cutting region of the first cutting edge 103 of the first cutting element 102. Thus, during plowing, the fixed second cutting element 105 contacts the soil ridge first at the side and cuts it in an energy-efficient manner with the second cutting edge 106 of the second cutting element 105 from the remaining ground 120. Subsequently, the first cutting element 105 with the first cutting edge 103 cuts the lateral region 122 of a soil ridge. The second cutting element 105 undercuts the furrow wall 122 cut by the first cutting element 102. As a result, the following cutting element 102 of the following plow module 1 can vertically cut the soil ridge at the side and turn it. Then the soil ridge is rotated and deposited in the adjacent furrow due to the bulged shape of the hollow disk as the first cutting element 102 and the oblique orientation thereof to the plowing direction 110. Thus the first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 cut away the soil ridge in an energy efficient manner, and at the same time they are held at the desired cutting depth by the compressive force acting on the second cutting element 105, wherein the contact plate 8 implements a lateral support on the furrow wall 122 such that a stabilizing effect follows the plow device 3.

[0080] The second cutting element 105 undercuts the soil ridge with a region (blade surface). A further fastening region of the second cutting element 105, on which a fastening rod for fastening to the first carrier structure 4 is arranged, is formed on the side on the second cutting element 105 remote from the first cutting element 102. Thus, during plowing, the fastening rod runs in an already prepared furrow which reduces the tractive force of the plow device 3.

[0081] The carrier structure 4, 5 is configured such that the first cutting element 102 and/or the second cutting element 105 are adjustable relative to one another in 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 to the carrier structure 4 by means of a height adjustment device 16, cooperating by means of slots in the first carrier structure 4. By adjusting the spacings of the cutting element 102, the second cutting element 105 and the carrier structure 4, 5 in the plowing direction 110, the plow device 3 can be adjusted to the specific conditions of different ground types, and used in a manner which is optimized in terms of efficiency. Moreover, the elements can be re-adjusted if the elements are worn after the use of the plow device 3.

[0082] Moreover, the carrier structure 4, 5 can be configured such that the first cutting element 102 in a directional component of its rotational axis 108 and the second cutting element 105 in a directional component of its cutting blade extension are adjustable relative to one another. In particular, an angle can be adjusted between the first rotational axis 108 and the cutting blade longitudinal axis. The first cutting element 102 and the second cutting element 105 are in this case fastened relative to one another on the respective carrier structure 4 or 5, such that their cutting planes are not parallel and are at an angle to one another. For example, an angle between the first rotational axis 108 and the cutting blade longitudinal axis is less than 90°, in particular between 45° and 80°.

[0083] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of an arrangement according to FIG. 3. The second carrier structure 5 which is provided for receiving the first carrier structure 4 is indicated here. A width setting 15 is provided on the second carrier structure 5 connected to the first carrier structure 4, the spacing of the first cutting element 102 in the form of the hollow disk and the second cutting element 105 in the form of an indicated cutting blade 6 being able to be adjusted thereby. The variable width setting 15 can be undertaken in this case via replaceable spacer washers. The contact plate 8, which is provided for support along the furrow wall 122, not shown in FIG. 4, in the sense of a stabilizing effect following the plow device 3, is shown above the cutting blade 6.

[0084] Finally, three partial views of a plow module 1 according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0085] FIG. 5b shows a rear view of the arrangement of the second cutting element 105 in the from of a cutting blade 6, in which a contact plate 8 is provided for support against the furrow wall 122, wherein the second cutting element 105 extends to the rear from the view shown. In order to make clear the arrangement of both cutting elements 102 or 105 inside a plow module 1, in the view according to FIG. 5b in each case a hollow disk 102 is shown both to the left and to the right from the second cutting element 105 with the contact plate 8. The rear face of the contact plate 8 has a reinforcing plate 9 which provides the contact plate 8 with a greater strength and stability (see FIG. 5c). A joint 7, via which the second cutting element 105 in the form of the cutting blade 6 can be adjusted in a changeable manner relative to the first carrier structure 4 regarding its angle of attack, is illustrated. A height adjustment device 13 is also illustrated, the cutting blade carrier structure unit being adjustable thereby in terms of height relative to the base frame or plow tree 2 of the plow device 3. The height adjustment device 13 relates to the height adjustment of the cutting blade 6. Moreover, a further height adjustment device is provided for the first cutting element 102 in the form of a hollow disk.

[0086] FIG. 5a shows a view of the plow module 1 according to the invention from the right-hand side of the rear view shown in FIG. 5b, whereas FIG. 5c shows a lateral view of the rear view according to FIG. 5b from the left.

[0087] The pivotability of the second cutting element 105 in the form of the cutting blade 6 about the joint 7 is identified in FIG. 5a by the double arrow 12. A corresponding blocking of the adjusted angle of attack of the cutting blade 6 is carried out by an inclination fixing device 11.

[0088] The side view 5c to the left of the rear view according to FIG. 5b shows that in the sense of plow-following stabilization the contact plate 8 bears against the furrow wall, not shown in FIG. 5c, in the sense of a longitudinal guide, whereas the furrow bed 121 for the soil ridge still to be cut away, which is cut away and turned by the indicated hollow disk 102, is already cut by the cutting blade 6 at a depth in the soil to be plowed. The fact that the cutting blade 6 penetrates the contact plate 8 and in its position is fixedly fastened therein and also can be pivoted via the joint 7 together with the cutting blade 6, means that even with a changed angle of attack the contact plate 8 is always pivoted together with the cutting blade 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0089] 1 Plow module [0090] 2 Base frame/plow tree [0091] 3 Plow device [0092] 4 First carrier structure [0093] 5 Second carrier structure [0094] 6 Cutting blade [0095] 7 Joint [0096] 8 Contact plate [0097] 9 Reinforcing plate [0098] 10 Recess [0099] 11 Inclination fixing device [0100] 12 Double arrow [0101] 13 Height adjustment, cutting blade [0102] 14 Furrow [0103] 15 Width setting [0104] 16 Height adjustment, hollow disk [0105] 102 First cutting element, hollow disk [0106] 103 First cutting edge [0107] 105 Second cutting element [0108] 106 Second cutting edge [0109] 108 Rotational axis of first cutting element [0110] 110 Plowing direction [0111] 120 Ground [0112] 121 Cutting surface/furrow bed/base region [0113] 122 Lateral region/furrow wall