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1 CULTIVATIONS DESIGN PROJECT Designed to help the farmer...

ST103 Brochure

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Primary combination cultivator for deep cultivation and mixing designed for high hp tractors, particularly suitable for incorporating heavy crop residue after the harvesting of GM Maize Corn and other such crops.

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Page 1: ST103 Brochure

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CULTIVATIONS DESIGN PROJECT

Designed to help the farmer...

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Cultivations Design Project ST103

Introducing

A Whole New

Tillage Concept

For Agriculture

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ST103 Concept

The concept of the ST103 project has evolved from years of study in the primary cultivations sector of agriculture.

These years have seen progression from the mouldboard plough and subsequent multi-pass cultivations to achieve a seedbed, through the concepts of minimum tillage and direct drilling.

The more recent years have evidenced a strong movement towards reducing the number of passes across the fields and consequent fuel, labour and tractor hours’ usage. This has resulted in many one-pass cultivation systems; all good in their own right but limited by the seasonal ground condition changes and unpredictable weather patterns that make farming a challenging occupation.

Hence, the main concept of ST103 is . . . . . . . . . FLEXIBILITY

Flexibility of use

Flexibility of cultivation sequence

Flexibility of consolidation functions

Flexibility of adaption to ground conditions

Flexibility of adaption to weather

Flexibility of construction

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Flexibility of use

The concept is to provide a machine, which from standard build specification, can be adapted to suit many preferred cultivation op-

tions; from minimum tillage right through to maximum subsoiling operations, from single discing or light cultivation operations to a

combination of all three, from a strongly consolidated finish through medium or light pressure consolidation to a completely open

non-consolidated finish.

Flexibility of cultivation sequence How is all this flexibility achieved from one cultivator?

The optimum package includes:

two rows of heavy duty 26” discs

two rows of heavy duty adjustable depth sprung tine cultivators

nine heavy duty deep subsoiling legs arranged in double “V formation”

eight wide heavy duty flotation depth wheels, covering the whole width of the machine, and also doubling for transport.

one full width packer system with adjustable pressure control

The difference with this concept is… That this machine is a modular design, which with the exception of the packer system, allow-ing each module to be easily moved to different locations along the length of the cultivator. This gives the agricultural specialist the adaptability he needs to adjust to the different conditions found from one season to the next, or even the onset of severely wet weather during a previously dry season!

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Standard Configuration

Maximum Consolidation for hard dry conditions

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Maximum aeration for over-wintering or drying out wet land

Rear Discing for leaving ready prepared fine tilth

Many more configurations are possible according to conditions and operator preference

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1. Normal heavy duty consolidation; in this situation the packer being hydraulically controlled shares the same oil as the main depth wheels and carries between 30% and 50% of the weight and down-draught of the cultivator. This has the effect of strong consolidation without at any time overloading the packer causing unnecessary blockage, bearing wear or component failure.

2. By simply switching hydraulic taps at the rear of the machine pressurized oil can be eliminated from the packer rams and the rams themselves turned into floating cylinders with a hydraulic pressure canister maintaining moderate pressure within the rams but al-lowing packer flotation.

3. By connecting one extra pipe provided from the packer to a free-flow return location on the tractor hydraulics the packer can be put into total float mode where it is exerting only its own weight with no hydraulic pressure at all and will run very lightly over the ground having a leveling effect and still increasing straw to soil contact but with no consolidation of damp ground.

4. In damper conditions where either the packer is inclined to block due to damp soil and straw, or the preference is to leave a completely open finish allowing damp ground to dry out, the packer can be suspended in a raised condition well above the soil by a simple operation of hydraulic taps.

5. If, as in some farming operations, many acres of ground need cultivating and a completely open finish left with no consolidation, it is possible in a matter of minutes to remove the whole packer assembly completely. This leaves the machine lighter, shorter and more compact to handle in difficult wet conditions.

Flexibility of consolidation functions

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Flexibility of adaption to ground conditions

A major part of the design concept is that the machine can be configured to achieve the best results in hard and dry conditions. For instance, in the situation where moisture conservation is of the utmost importance, it might be appropriate to move all the deep cul-tivations to the front of the machine leaving only one row of discs behind the axle and before the final packer.

Also an advantage in these conditions is the ability to attack the soil progressively, i.e. discs to 100mm, then cultivators to 200mm, followed by subsoilers at 350mm, followed by wheel consolidation with just one row of discs to create tilth before final weather-fast packing.

This progressive concept prevents the disturbance of large boulders or blocks of earth by penetrating the soil strata more gradually. Additionally in hard conditions the progressive nature protects machine components from unnecessary damage.

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We have all experienced times when hard dry conditions like these can change with several days consistent rain to the point where the one-pass machine has to be parked away due to packers blocking up and the machine not able to support its own weight without the packers.

In situations like this a simple and total removal of the packer can render the machine still very functional and the large prime-mover, high horse-power tractor still able to go to work and cover the acres.

Land is left open ready to dry at the first opportunity when a secondary quick pass with a light cultivator can put it back into seed bed conditions.

Flexibility of adaption to weather

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In extreme conditions wheels can be moved for-ward to the second module by a simple operation using the special tool kit provided. This can be done in field if needed, without the requirement of a return to base. All that is needed in addition to the machine’s own facilities is one standard-sized telescopic forklift.

The machine can be operated with all deep cultivations coming after the wheel unit. This can only be done with no packer but is possible because the 8 flotation axle system is able to fully support the weight of the cultivations.

Alternatively, for a fast shallower operation the subsoilers can be taken out altogether and run with or without the packer as pre-ferred.

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Another option is to go back to using the machine with only one module, i.e. just discing where ground can be moved to a shallow depth of four or five inches at speed.

Flexibility of construction

This concept introduces a completely different type of flexibility where we are talking about not so much the flexibility of what the machine can do but the flexibility of the machine itself.

It starts with a strongly fabricated drawbar with full parallel linkage to the tractor reducing strain and drawbar wear both on the tractor and the cultivator.

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Following this, a very strong, hydraulic folding front pulling bar can be seen.

To this pulling bar are attached six substantial but flexible lengths of steel. This comprises the total components which could be called the main frame of the machine. IN FACT IT DOESN’T REALLY HAVE A FRAME!

Below is the total fixed components of the machine. All other components are quick-attach and movable and even these fixed components can FLEX!

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To these 6 flexible pulling bars all the other modules attach. But, not only

that, they attach via a spigot and socket system which has 10mm clearance

all round allowing for flexibility as the machine pulls through the ground.

Nothing is rigidly held, everything can move as it adjusts to the ground and pulling contours without creating stress points, metal fa-tigue and eventually cracking and frame failure.

Emphasized above is one key feature of the design of the ST103 concept, the design engineer having spent many years of his life in-volved in welding, fabricating, repairing and strengthening, the rigid frames of many other cultivation designs.

With prime moving tractors becoming ever bigger and more powerful the stresses imposed on cultivators with rigid main frames increase proportionately creating immense design challenges. ST103 faces these challenges from a completely new standpoint of flexibility.

Added to this, while there is no pretence or intention for ST103 to be a lightweight machine, it can be said that the majority of steel found in the machine is involved in the actual soil engagement process rather than just being in a main frame which only car-ries the cultivation element.

Therefore it is envisaged that ST103 should be capable of matching the horse-power requirements of agriculture for the next dec-ade and beyond providing investors with a sound future vision.

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In Plan View:

It can easily be seen that there is no wasted space while at the same time the machine has excellent throughput to cope with trash and soil movement in damper conditions.

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THERE ARE ALSO OTHER MAJOR BENEFITS OF THIS PATENTED FLEXIBLE DESIGN CONCEPT:

1. By having no main frame there is nothing in the way to prevent all modules being lowered in and engaging in their spigot and socket attachment sys-tem simply from above.

2. Secondly the whole axle module can be lift-ed hydraulically out of its sockets after the un-latching of six simple twist locks and rolled for-wards or backwards to its new location.

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3. Thirdly, at the end of each flexible longitu-dinal pulling beam there is a simple hook and pin system similar to many forklift bucket attachments which means the packer can simply be lifted off in 3 separate sections held on by only two pins each.

4. FROM THE MANUFACTURING POINT OF VIEW:

This construction method means that all components are easy to handle, very few of them being longer than 3m and there-fore good positional welding is possible throughout the constructional process with no large main frame having to be trans-ported and rotated through the welding bay.

Also all components can be made and painted in separate form enabling easy handling and final assembly.

A standard production schedule of components can be used to produce a machine which can be assembled to meet most customers’ desired specifications without special order or special build programs.

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5. FROM THE CUSTOMERS’ POINT OF VIEW:

Having ordered a machine to his desired specification; should his cropping program change, or should he purchase more land of a different type, his same machine can be altered to the desired specification for a new situation.

6. On a totally different concept, and again from the manufacturer’s point of view, should a machine of this type develop into ex-port markets it is very significant that the whole machine can be broken down very simply into small components for container-ization. This can often substantially reduce the costs of shipping large machines to other continents where the roll -on/roll-off re-quirements of some large machines or the difficulty of containerization hinder exportation.

7. On the same subject road transportation in and throughout Europe, or for delivery to purchasing farms is simply conducted on a standard semi-lo-loader configuration with nothing needing to be adapted or removed from the machine.

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ST103 is a design concept from start to finish:

From the front and rear simple depth adjusting mechanisms

ST103 … TAKING A LOOK AT THE COMPONENTS

Then the main cultivation components:

26” discs mounted on strong solid disc arms (not rubber) for precise depth pene-

tration supplemented by ST103 design disc hubs incorporating two double angular

contact heavy duty bearings and specialist design dirt seals protected by plastic

string guard spacers.

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Followed by specialist ST103 design axle unit incorporating eight

heavy duty flotation wheels and fully braked transport system,

heavy duty lorry type 10 stud axles and solid hardox 50mm trail-

ing arms, all designed to cope with the highest horse-power and

hardest ground conditions. Each pair of wheels is supplemented

by a high tensile full width dirt scraper system.

Followed by ST103 design extremely heavy duty sprung tine cultivation

units with depth adjustment and front and rear mounting to make a

compact module.

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Followed by 9 leg twin v-form front and rear mounted subsoiler units with

heavy duty adjustable height legs and single bolt point, wing and shin sys-

tem.

Followed by hydraulically-controlled 700mm diameter DD packer with four individual gangs, each with two bearings and ST103 de-signed low-angled scraper arms.

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Engineering Components

1. Parallel linkage drawbar with heavy duty construction to transfer weight to

the pulling tractor and reduce wear on both the tractor and cultivator draw-

bar.

2. Front depth wheels with simple single pin adjust depth control to allow full depth control or a

floating situation where they just assist the tractor if the cultivator starts to dig in too much in

soft soil.

3. Front depth control unit with screw adjust hydraulic ram stop, depth gauge and

shearbolt protection.

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4. Heavy duty dual ram hydraulic 170⁰ fold system designed to fold both sides

at once for smooth operation and to maintain machine stability at all times.

5. Depth adjustment on second disc gang to allow for balancing of disc thrust to maintain machine in straight pull, and also to allow for uneven wear between first and second disc gang.

6. Main axle depth adjust system, screw-controlled from front drawbar complete with

visible depth gauge and shearbolt protection.

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7. Movable support hinges to support frame when axle is in forward module two

mode.

8. Quick-attach system for packer removal or replacement.

9. Simple sprung-loaded twist locks for safe locking and easy unlocking to facilitate easy

and quick changing of cultivation modules and even the whole axle.

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IN THE FIELD

Folding to a compact width, within 3m; with wings kept low and central to the machine to achieve optimum centre of grav-ity.

Time to fold up and go. Hydraulics are designed to allow the machine to fold both wings simultaneously in one even movement from ground lev-el to lower centrally onto their rests.

Entering uneven gateways with the machine kept low for stability...

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Fully unfolded and ready to check for field settings

All modules are adjustable for depth relevant to the first row of discs which is fixed. Having decided at what depth the discs are to run the under-beam measurement of the front disc is then taken as datum level of say... 100mm

The depth of the second set of discs can then be set by sim-ple heavy duty screw adjustment to perhaps 130mm by giv-ing them a 30mm longer under beam-setting than the front discs.

...and unfolding ready for work.

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...once the sprung-loaded safety service locks are...

...simply snapped into place.

Raising the machine to full height. This height is used for service only...

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It is safe to go underneath with ample room to remove one pin from each leg, slide it up or down, and replace the pin at the desired depth.

Then the next module is the axle which is simply set to depth hydraulically when work commences.

Leaving the heavy duty sprung cultivator tines to be simply adjusted by one pin and clip, again by measuring the under beam clearance to the bottom of the points and setting it as an addition to the front disc datum point ie 100mm addition-al under-beam clearance would therefore give a cultivation depth of 200mm in this example.

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The next field setting is to decide which packer setting is preferred for the work in question.

Controlled by a simple adjustment of four easy- access hydraulic taps from full pressure through medium pressure, own packer weight only to fully raised “out of work” position.

Approximate depth settings for front and rear depth can then be set by two simple handles controlled by hydraulic ram stop on the drawbar rams for the front and on the wheel lift rams for the rear.

It is normal at this point to start with a shallow setting and adjust to de-sired depth once work has commenced and it can be seen what depth the machine is running by a simple measurement of under- beam to ground clearance.

In this example the target under beam to ground clearance will be 100mm less than the under-beam measurement to the bottom of the front disc.

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So in to work…

First run up the field showing machine set shallow and deeper at the front than the back requiring simple adjustment of the screw depth levers at the front.

Now coming back down the field…

Fully adjusted running level and set to the correct depth.

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Achieving excellent stubble mix and even cultivation across the full width of the machine.

Light consolidation and ridged weathering effect of top surface together with stubble notching and soil to stubble contact achieved by packer running on medi-um pressure only.

Starting to cover the acres with neat headland turns performed with machine weight carried by all eight wheels to avoid headland rutting and undue compaction.

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OPEN FINISH FOR OVER-WINTER OR AERATION OF WET SOIL

Moving now on to the possibility of leaving an open cultivated finish with land lying light for over-wintering preparation for maize a simple adjustment of the hydraulic taps can fix the packer in suspended mode running totally out of work.

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Leaving a completely unconsolidated open finish to an even depth throughout.

Due to the success of this experiment and large acreages of land needing to be left in this over-winter state, a decision is made to remove the packer module completely involving removing six pins only and lifting the packer off in three sepa-rate modules, easily conducted in a short space of time.

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Leaving the machine with no packer at all..

… full weight being carried by the substantial flotation tyre and axle system.

This produces an excellent open finish. One further experiment involves moving the axle forward to second module followed by subsoilers third module and finally cultivators. This is done as previously detailed by undoing six axle twist-locks and rolling it for-ward once the subsoilers have been removed from second module.

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This produces a well balanced cultivator with central axle still able to control the down-draught of the extensive cultivation modules behind and keep the machine in level mode. This gives maximum soil heave and loosening with the following cultivators leaving a broken and open finish. In this configuration the machine level is controlled by the substantial drawbar rams.

However a reversal of the cultivation modules to have the sprung cultivators following the wheels at say 250mm depth followed by the subsoilers at 350mm has a more progressive effect giving less middle heave with more broken soil able to easily move through the subsoilers. It is worth noting that the front discs working to 100mm substantially aid this process of breaking down the soil into smaller lumps gradually.

This illustrates the fact that all situations are governed by the existing soil structure conditions and weather patterns but that the ST103 concept gives flexibility and adaptability to cope with such extremes.

It does not HAVE to be changed at all. In some situations supplied in its progressive cultivation form it could do good work year in year out just with the ability to adjust or remove the packer according to conditions. However, as illustrated it can be changed when the need arises and it can be supplied easily to any customers preferred build.

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Substantial straw incorporation and fine tilth mixing by heavy duty discs to a depth of 100-125mm

Coarse lower tilth production 200-250mm by strong depth adjustable sprung tines

Intermediary consolidation by full width wheel unit

Underbusting of cultivation and drainage pan to 300-350mm, leaving vertical fissures

for deep root penetration without major surface disturbance

Consolidation, moisture retention and weathering process achieved by full width

packer solution

So many substantial soil moving functions each preparing for the next, to reduce total

draft requirement.

Combination of 4 simple depth setting functions for control in all terrains.

ST103 shown in progressive mode

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Most primary combination cultivators are too long and heavy to be able to support their weight on one full width rear packer. The

result is the transport wheels are used to assist depth control and load carrying. Where traditionally two large wheels are used, these

will create more compacted soil grooves, as a result of their loading.

However, most machines compensate for this by secondary leveling cultivation which fills in these grooves prior to final consolidation leaving an apparently level field. Often this leveling cultivation does not address the recompaction of the grooved area but merely fills it with fine soil which settles with seasonal weathering leaving a bumpy, uneven pass for seed drills and particularly sprayers which follow later.

LOAD BEARING COMPARISON...

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It is true to say that the same soil formation principles apply with eight wheels but the undulations are minimized to an unnoticeable level.

Added to this where total machine weight and downdraught can be equally carried throughout the machine recompacted zones are minimized. Also in the case of ST103 in progressive format the subsoiling module follows the full width axle, creating vertical fissures and lifting out any recompaction without major surface upheaval due to the top 200mm already having been cultivated.

TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM LEVEL FINISH

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FULL CONCEPT PLANNING FROM DESIGN TO REALISATION

DESIGN REASSURANCE

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Well formed Soil Structure...

...the foundation for...

...well formed crops

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Fresh Growth

Root Growth

Your Growth

More Growth

...with ST103

Achieving...

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Proven tillage systems integrated into a unique concept, combining versatility and adaptability into one machine, suitable for today’s high demands in

agricultural performance and high horse-power utilisation.

ST103

Designed to help the farmer

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ST103 Designed to help the Farmer ...