Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough
The invention proposes a pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in
accordance with the generic concept of patent claim 5 1.
Reversible ploughs, not only large semimounted ploughs, but also mounted
reversible ploughs in particular, are usually equipped with pivoting support wheels
to limit the depth of the ploughing tools. The ploughing tools attached in pairs op10
posite the plough frame turn the soil in one direction. After passing over the field to
be ploughed, the reversible plough is turned by 180 degrees around its frame axis,
in order to obtain a furrow connection and an even ploughed surface on the field
on the return over the field to be ploughed. Through this plough turning operation,
the pivoting support wheel also rotates into a deeper position opposite the plough
15 frame, in order to limit the working depth of the ploughing tools on the return. The
working depth is usually given by the pivoting angle of the support wheel. Mechanical
limits in the form of stop spindles, bolt stoppers, etc., have become familiar
here. However, because of the dynamic properties of the pivoting operation,
these solutions are often susceptible to failure and cannot always guarantee the
20 secure setting of a plough working depth. A device of this type is described in the
German utility model DE 75 38 474 U1. In order to stop the support wheel pivoting
forwards when the plough is placed down, the forward pivoting movement of the
wheel is prevented with a catch or through displacement of the wheel's centre of
gravity. The backwards pivoting movement in the working position is restricted with
25 an adjustable stopper for the depth setting of the plough. On the same day a further
solution is proposed in DE 25 54 273 C2 in which the
3
rotatability of the support wheel around its running axis in a vertical position of the
support wheel holder is prevented by a brake device. Through the braked wheel,
on a forward movement of the plough the support wheel swivels to the rear and is
restricted as described above with an adjustable stopper for the depth setting of
the plough. Hydraulic limiting devices for the pivoting angle of the support whee5 l
are also known. A comfortable and functionally safe solution is described, for example,
in the German application documents DE 10 2006 039 513 A1. However,
because of the expensive hydraulic components, this solution tends to be preferred
by comfort-conscious users.
10
The task of the invention is therefore to supply a low-cost and functionally
safe pivoting support wheel that has a compact design and is easy to assemble
from a few parts.
15 This task is solved through the features of the characterising part of claim 1.
Because the pivoting support wheel falls from a higher position into the lowest
possible position when the raised reversible plough is rotated around its rotating
gear axis, as a result of its arrangement the catch slides over the recesses of
20 the toothed segment and the contour of the cover into an end position. After the
plough is lowered into the working position of the ploughing tools, the support
wheel is supported on the ground and the pivoting support wheel swivels back in
the opposite position in the direction of the frame. In doing this, the catch slides up
to the end of the contour of the cover and falls through its own weight into the first
25 possible and therefore effective recess of the toothed segment behind the end of
the contour of the cover. A further pivoting movement of the pivoting support wheel
is limited in this way. Depending on how far the cover covers a part of the toothed
segment, the catch falls into a selected recess of the toothed segment and enables
differently adjustable pivoting angles of the pivoting support wheel and
30
4
thus simple adjustment of the working depth of the ploughing tools. This cover can
be changed by adjusting the position of the cover to the toothed segment.
Because the cover of the toothed segment can be altered by adjusting the
position of the cover plate to the toothed segment, this permits a variable setting 5 of
the respective effective or non-effective area by enabling or preventing the fall of
the catch into a corresponding recess.
In a special implementation of the invention, the toothed segment is as10
signed to a part of the plough frame and the catch to the pivoting support wheel.
This arrangement of the components achieves a simple construction of the device,
which is not impaired in its function through falling harvest residues and clumps of
earth during the turning procedure of the reversible plough
15 Another version of the invention provides that the catch is assigned to a part
of the plough frame and the toothed segment to the pivoting support wheel. This
construction achieves a very compact arrangement of the cover plate over the
toothed segment.
20 In a particular implementation of the invention, the effective length of the
catch or the effective clearance of the catch is designed to be adjustable towards
the toothed segment. Through this adjustability, a further and even more precise
adjusting possibility of the pivoting angle of the pivoting support wheel is enabled
beyond the angular pitch of the recesses of the toothed segment.
25
It is also to be regarded as advantageous if the pivoting speed of the pivoting
support wheel is limited by a damping device. The durability of the device is
improved in particular on rapid turning procedures of the reversible plough.
30
5
In a special implementation of the invention, the movement of the catch or
the positive interplay of the catch with the toothed segment is supported by an energy
storage device or by external power. Through the employment of an energy
storage device, such as, for example, a spring, a magnet or other elastic adjusting
elements, the functional safety of the device is guaranteed still more, even 5 on
slopes and with driving dynamics influences. Switchable devices with external
power, such as fluid cylinders and magnetic or electric motor equipment, are also
conceivable. These can also be actively actuated by a control unit, for example in
dependence on the pivoting operation or other signals.
10
In an implementation of the invention that goes still further, the wheel blade
and the support wheel is designed to be rotatable with another pivoting device in
the lengthways axis of the wheel blade at an angle of approximately 90°. Through
this arrangement, the pivoting support wheel takes over the function of a transport
15 wheel, which supports part of the plough's weight during transport as a trailing star
wheel in a middle, blocked pivoting position of the reversible plough.
The invention is characterised in particular in that a pivoting support wheel
is created that is easy to fit and is assembled at low cost from just a few parts,
20 which enables a variable, finely adjustable depth guide of a reversible plough
through a catch in operative connection with a toothed segment and can be comfortably
adjusted through movable cover plates.
Further details and advantages of the object of the invention can be seen in
25 the following description and the associated drawings, in which a design example
with the necessary details and individual parts is shown.
6
Figure 1 Shows a perspective view of a mounted reversible plough
whose working width can be adjusted,
Figure 2 Shows a side view of a mounted reversible plough,
Figure 3 Shows a perspective view of a pivoting support wheel,
Figure 4 Shows the pivoting support wheel from the left side in the di5 -
rection of travel, and
Figure 5 Shows a top view of the pivoting support wheel.
Figure 1 shows a reversible plough 1 whose working width can be adjusted
10 for mounting on a tractor's three-point hydraulic system. When this is done, the
lower link arm and the upper link arm of the three-point hydraulic system must be
connected to the mounting rotating turret 13. The tractor can lift the complete
plough above the ground or lower it to the working depth of the ploughing tools 5
by means of the three-point hydraulic system. The plough frame 4 with its plough15
ing tools 5 is connected to the mounting rotating turret 13 rotatable around the
turning shaft 14. A turning cylinder 15, which is connected hinged to the mounting
rotating turret 13 and engages at a lever laterally to the turning shaft 14, can
swivel the plough frame 4 with its individual parts, the ploughing tools 5 and the
pivoting support wheel 2 jointly from a left turning position by approx. 180 degrees
20 to a right turning position and vice versa. The plough frame 4 is connected to the
turning shaft 14 by a steering rod 17 and adjusters. The plough frame can be
swivelled with the hydraulic cylinder 18 at an angle to the turning shaft. In this way,
the cutting width of the ploughing tools 5 guided with a rod 19 parallel to the direction
of travel 12 can be adjusted. In the top view, the support wheel bracket 16 is
25 fastened pivoting to the plough frame 4 by means of two frame plates 20, 20' and
is also guided via the rod 19 approximately parallel to the direction of travel 12 and
the ploughing tools 5. Again, the wheel blade 7 of the pivoting support wheel 2 is
mounted rotatable around the pivoting shaft 3 via a pin in a bearing provided for
this in the support wheel bracket 16 and when the reversible plough is lifted or
30 lowered its weight causes it always to fall into the deepest possible position limited
by stoppers. The support wheel 6 is mounted rotatable at the other end of the
wheel blade 7.
7
Figure 2 shows a side view of the reversible plough 1 in direction of travel
12 seen from the left side. The figure shows the mounting rotating turret 13 for
coupling at the tractor's three-point hydraulic system as well as the rotatable turning
shaft 14 and the turning cylinder 15 then engages here via a lever. The steer5 -
ing rod 17 connects the plough frame 4 with the turning shaft 14. The ploughing
tools 5 and the pivoting support wheel 2 are mounted on the plough frame via
support wheel bracket 16. The pivoting support wheel 2 is shown here in the working
position and supports itself on the ground 21 with its support wheel 6 and in
10 this way sets the working depth of the ploughing tools 5 together with the wheel
blade 7, the toothed segment 9 and the catch 8.
The adjustment of the working depth and the limit of the pivoting angle of
the pivoting support wheel 2 can be seen in Figure 3. The wheel blade 7 is ro15
tatable around the pivoting shaft 3 in the support wheel bracket 16. The frame
plates 20, 20' connect the support wheel bracket 16 with the plough frame 4 from
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The support wheel 6 is rotatable at the lower end of the wheel
blade 7. The bearing shaft 22 is aligned parallel to the pivoting shaft 3 and approximately
vertically to the direction of travel 12. Screwed tightly to the wheel
20 blade 7 the toothed segment 9 swivels with its gearing concentrically around the
pivoting shaft 3. Two cover plates 10, 10' are positioned movably around the pivoting
shaft 3 between the toothed segment 9 and the wheel blade 7. The cover
plates are adjustably locked relative to the toothed segment through spring-loaded
locking bolts 23 and cover part of the gearing of the toothed segment. The catch 8
25 is connected easily rotatable to the support wheel bracket with a bolt 24. Through
its layout, the catch 8 drops through gravity. If the reversible plough is now raised
or reversed, the pivoting support wheel 2 drops down. The wheel blade 7 moves
the toothed segment 9 and the cover plates 10, 10'. When this is done, the gearing
of the toothed segment 9 and the outer surface of the cover plate 10' slide as with
30 a ratchet past the gravity-loaded corner of the catch 8. If the reversible plough is
now lowered again, the support wheel 6 comes into contact with the ground. The
wheel blade 7, the toothed segment 9 and the cover plates 10, 10' move in an op8
posed direction. The catch now slides over one of the cover plates 10, 10' until its
end and then drops safely and positively into the first possible recess of the
toothed segment 9. The pivoting support wheel 2 is now fixed in an upward
movement and sets the working depth of the reversible plough reproducibly. When
the reversible plough is turned, the procedure takes place mirror symmetricall5 y
with the other cover plate 10', 10. If the locking bolt 23 of the cover plate 10, 10' is
pulled manually, the cover plate 10, 10' can be moved relative to the toothed segment
9 and exposes various tooth recesses into which the catch 8 drops first. In
this way, the pivoting angle of the pivoting support wheel 2 is adjustable, and with
10 it the working depth of the reversible plough r.
Figure 4 shows the layout in Figure 3 in a side view from the left. It can
clearly be seen how the catch 8 is rotatable around the bolt 24 and with its external
edge drops into the toothed segment 9 immediately behind the lower end of
15 the cover plate 10' and prevents this, and thus the associated wheel blade 7 and
the support wheel 6, from pivoting up further.
Figure 5 shows the same layout as Figure 3 and Figure 4 in a top view. A
damping device 11 is attached to the side of the support wheel bracket 16 oppo20
site the wheel blade 7, which is supported on the support wheel bracket 16 and
engages at a lever 25 that is connected tightly to the wheel blade 7 through the
pivoting shaft 3 and limits the pivoting speed during the turning procedure of the
reversible plough 1.
25 The invention is not limited to the examples shown and described here.
Semimounted ploughs equipped with a different chassis and fixed ploughs whose
width cannot be adjusted in other configurations are conceivable.

WE CLAIM
1. Pivoting support wheel (2) for a reversible plough (1), which is connected
with the plough frame (4) of the reversible plough (1) rotatably around a pivoting
shaft (3) that runs at least approximately parallel to the ground and at least ap5 -
proximately vertical to the direction of travel, whereby the reversible plough (1)
with its ploughing tools (5) is adjustable from a right turning into a left turning position,
whereby a support wheel (6) is mounted rotatably on a wheel blade (7) and
forms the pivoting support wheel (2) with this and the support wheel (6) limits the
10 working depth of the ploughing tools (5) through contact with the ground, in that
the pivoting angle of the pivoting support wheel (2) to the plough frame (4) is limited,
c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the pivoting support wheel (2) is rotatable
in a raised position of the reversible plough (1) for the lowest pivoting position
when the reversible plough (1) is lowered into a working position, whereby the
15 working position is given by at least one movable catch (8), which drops into a recess
of a single-part or multi-part toothed segment (9) and in this ways positively
limits the pivoting angle of the pivoting support wheel (2), whereby the toothed
segment (9) is dived towards the catch (8) by at least one cover (10, 10') into an
effective and a non-effective area.
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2. Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in accordance with claim 1,
c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the cover of the toothed segment (9) can be
varied by adjusting the position of the cover (10, 10') to the toothed segment (9).
25 3. Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in accordance with claim 1,
c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the toothed segment (9) is assigned to a part of
the plough frame (4) and the catch (8) to the pivoting support wheel (2).
10
4. Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in accordance with claim 1,
c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the catch (8) is assigned to a part of the plough
frame (4) and the toothed segment (9) to the pivoting support wheel (2).
5. Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in accordance with th5 e
above claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the effective length of the catch
(8) or the effective clearance of the catch (8) is designed to be adjustable towards
the toothed segment (9).
10 6. Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in accordance with the
above claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the pivoting speed of the pivoting
support wheel (2) is limited by a damping device (11).
7. Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in accordance with the
15 above claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the movement of the catch (8) or
the positive interplay of the catch (8) with the toothed segment (9) is supported by
an energy storage device or by external power.
8. Pivoting support wheel for a reversible plough in accordance with the
20 above claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t the wheel blade (7) and the support
wheel (6) are designed to be rotatable with another pivoting device in the
lengthways axis of the wheel blade (7) at an angle of approximately 90°.