SCHOOL EDITION 15 MAY 2024 - Flipbook - Page 27
MACHINERY NEWS
FARMWEEK
OCTOBER 28 2021
27
New 4.20 metre wide
Disco 4400 Contour
A
Kuhn adds compact
and lightweight option
to Venta drill range
K
UHN has added a new
lighter
weight
and
compact drill to its Venta
range of pneumatic seeders.
Available initially as the 3
metre Venta 320, this new 100
series machine is designed
for tractors in the 120 to 150
horsepower range. With an
850-litre hopper as standard,
the drill has the option of
an extension that increases
capacity to 1,150 litres.
The Venta 320 can be used in
combination with Kuhn’s HRB
302, HRB 303 or HR 304 power
harrows. In combination, the
seed drill is mounted on the
power harrow frame, with the
seeding bar guided by the roller
frame. This means seeding
depth is independent of the
working depth of the power
harrow and excellent ground
following is maintained.
Centralised adjustment of
depth and pressure makes
machine set-up simple and easy.
The seed bar comprises 20 or
24 rows of single disc elements,
each with an internal cast iron
coulter positioned at the front
of the disc. This proven concept
provides constant cleaning of
the disc whilst ensuring precise
placement of seed in the furrow.
Seeding unit pressure of up to
32kg is applied.
The seed blower on the Venta
320 is driven by the tractor
hydraulic circuit and is therefore
independent of the PTO driving
the power harrow. Improved
fan design on this drill, with
turbine rotation optimised in
line with seed size, results in
oil requirement being reduced
from 35 litres/minute down to
26 litres/minute.
Electrically
powered
volumetric metering on the
drill helps to facilitate a wide
operating range of between
1.5 to 430kg/ha and ensures
all seed sizes are handled with
precision. With the QS2 control
unit, seed rate can be adjusted
from the tractor cab. Calibration
is easily accessible and simple to
carry out.
The Venta 320 has a spacious
loading platform that provides
safe access to the hopper from
the side. A covering harrow
with universal tines is fitted as
standard, and the basic model
comes with integral lighting and
signalling kit.
new 4.20m wide rearmounted mower, the Disco
4400 Contour, has been
added to the Claas Disco
range. It features central
pivoting and Active Float, plus an
innovative vector folding system.
Rear-mounted mowers with large
working widths used in front-rear
combinations can be an effective
alternative to triple combinations,
depending on the application. Claas
has responded to customer demand
for a rear mower with a working width
of more than 4.0 m with the launch
of the new Disco 4400 Contour. The
mower features innovative diagonal
120deg folding for safe, vertical road
transport at a height of less than
4.00m and a space-saving storage
position combined with powerful
performance.
With its 4.2m working width, the
new Disco 4400 Contour becomes the
flagship model in the Disco range. As
with other mowers in the Disco range
it features the well proven Max Cut
mower bed for which there is a doubleswath laying option. This is achieved
by placing two swath drums on the
4th and 5th disc (from the inside) to
create one narrower and one wider
single swath. This is especially useful
on wet or soft ground as it avoids
driving on the forage.
The mower bed on the Disco 4400 is
pivot-mounted at its centre of gravity.
An adjustable spiral spring ensures
that the mower bed comes down
evenly during lowering while two
vibration dampers stabilise it as it is
raised.
Two pivot points on the arm at
right angles to the direction of travel
ensure optimum ground-contour
following on uneven ground and when
mowing banks.
Active Float suspension, tried and
tested over many years, allows the
ground pressure of the mower bed
to be adjusted from the cab by spool
valve while on the move.
A gauge on the headstock shows
the currently set pressure. In parked
position a mechanical latch disables
FLAGSHIP: The new Disco 4400 Contour is now the flagship model in the
Disco range.
the suspension system so that
pressure is maintained in the circuit.
Alternatively, the pressure can be
reduced so that the mechanical lock
is not required.
The Disco 4400 Contour is equipped
with the unique hydraulic non-stop
collision protection as standard. In
the event of a collision, the mower bar
swings back and over the obstacle
thanks to a rotating pin inclined at an
angle of 15 degrees.
Oil from the collision protection
system is forced into the suspension
ram to further depressurise the
mower bed.
This provides effective protection
from serious damage. Once past the
obstacle, the mower bed automatically
swings back to its working position
due to the oil pressure.
A unique feature of the Disco 4400
Contour is its vector folding system
which allows the mower to be
The Disco 4400 Contour is equipped with
the unique hydraulic non-stop collision
protection as standard.
folded vertically to 120 degrees for
transport.
The unique part is that the mower
can then be folded backwards
slightly using the hydraulic break
back ram, which then allows the
mower when folded for transport to
lean backwards slightly to reduce the
transport height.
So, despite having a working width
of 4.20m, the mower unit achieves a
transport height of less than 4.0m for
road travel.
At the same time, it is positioned
diagonally behind the tractor and
supported by the headstock, thereby
shifting the centre of gravity to the
tractor’s longitudinal axle.
Compared with mowers that pivot to
the rear, this solution reduces the load
on the tractor front axle by around 50
percent, which has a positive impact
on the steering behaviour.
Furthermore, in transport position
the Disco 4400 Contour hardly swings
back at all and so does not endanger
other road users when turning or
negotiating tight bends and makes it
easier to get into the field gate from a
narrow road.
Wagtail offers safe and versatile hose handling
T
RAMSPREAD has
designed and
manufactured a new
hose handler to help when
spreading umbilically. The
Tramspread ‘Wagtail’ Hose
Humper pivots to both the
left and right which enables
more accurate hose placing
outside tramlines which
reduces pipe wear.
“This is the first hose
humper we have designed
with the ability to pivot the
wheel to either side of the
tractor. This mechanism
reduces damage to the crop
when spreading because
the operator does not
have to leave the tramlines
when moving the hose,”
says Tramspread managing
director Terry Baker.
The option to move hose
IMPLEMENTS: When raised for transport the Wagtail leaves
the tractor pick up hitch available for other implements such as to either side of the tractor
also helps the operator to
trailed hose reeler or pump trailer.
PIVOT: New ‘Wagtail’ hose humper can pivot on both sides of
the tractor.
avoid obstacles more easily.
“By having the flexibility
to position hose on either
side of the tractor it makes
moving a hose around much
quicker and easier,” he adds.
The hydraulic offset
and raising the wheel into
the transport position is
controlled from the tractors
spool valves. A breaking
mechanism allows for the
wheel to spin freely or be
locked in position. “When
the Wagtail is raised it also
leaves the tractor pick up
hitch available for other
implements such as trailed
hose reeler or pump trailer,”
explains Mr Baker.
The Wagtail can be used
to move hose widths up to
8 inches making it suitable
for most slurry and digestate
operations. “By choosing to
use the Wagtail, operators
can reduce stress on pipe
and couplings.
“This will also reduce
the risk of leaks and spills,
making spreading safer,
easier for the operator and
better for the crop,” he
concludes.
