Disc Roller Contour

HE-VA’s Disc Roller Contour is a high speed multipurpose primary and secondary cultivator suitable for any farm. Importantly it’s simple to use with the disc depth hydraulically operated from within the tractor cab. To make a stale seedbed or prepare a seedbed for drilling it is important that the cultivator follows the contours of the field to ensure areas in the field are not under or over cultivated or consolidated as this will undoubtedly effect the crop growth and yield at harvest.  The Disc Roller Contour combats this with its unique contour following system which means that when a machine is unfolded it is not ridged across its working width. The system comes into its own when working at a shallow depth when ground can be missed in a weed chit situation.  A situation that is usually overcome, by other disc cultivators, by working the discs deeper.

Unlike traditional concave discs or aggressively angled discs that lift soil and cut out “grooves” forming a corrugation effect under the surface, HE-VA’s DSD, depth synchronised disc, system works to move the whole soil surface and is effective in both shallow soils and at depth. The 510mm Sabre discs pull themselves into the ground which assists penetration meaning more soil is inverted and residue incorporated.

Looking for something bigger? Take a look at the Disc Roller XL

HE-VA’s Disc Roller Contour is available as a rigid machine, working widths 2.75m & 3.25m and as a two or three section folding machine. Two section cultivators with working widths of 4.25m – 6.25m and a three section machine with working widths of 7.75m. The Disc Roller Contour is available with either a single or twin roller and a number of front tool options on the trailed models. These include Top Cutter for mechanical cover crop destruction, shatta and slicer boards for aggressive levelling ahead of the discs or straw tines.

The Disc Roller is highly versatile, it can be used for shallow weed chits after harvest directly after the combine as well as the incorporation of stubble and other crop residues to a depth of up to 125mm (5”) in minimal tillage cultivations. It is also a superb tool for working ploughed land prior to drilling and with around 1 tonne per metre you have an efficient consolidating press for primary and secondary cultivations.

When working shallow the DSD system ensures that the angle of the disc to the soil is vertical which means that the discs push the soil horizontally (sideways) and the whole soil profile is moved. It also shears the soil loose rather than “scooping” it out like a concave disc working at an angle, this means there is no smearing which would create a disc pan. 

When being used as a deep disc cultivator or for residue mixing and incorporation a more aggressive disc angle is required. By increasing depth of the disc it automatically moves away from vertical using HE-VA’s DSD system which increases the aggressiveness of the disc relative to the soil surface – again ensuring the whole soil profile is moved.

To make a stale seedbed or prepare a seedbed for drilling you need to ensure that the machine you are using follows the contours of the field. If not you will have areas in the field that are under or over cultivated or consolidated and this will effect the crop growth and yield at harvest. The Disc Roller Contour combats this with its unique contour following system. The system comes into its own when working at a shallow depth when ground can be missed in a weed chit situation.  A situation that is usually overcome, by other disc cultivators, by working the discs deeper.

Special Active Transfer (SAT) System 

The Disc Roller Contour’s hydraulic folding system is linked to two accumulators and a hydraulic pressure gauge. The gauge allows the operator to even the pressure out across the working width to ensure consistent cultivation depth on uneven ground. The accumulators act as an oil buffer when the cultivator travels over uneven ground and the hydraulic rams need to extend or shorten to allow the disc cultivator to follow the contours.

The amount of contour following "float" varies depending on the working width 

The various working widths pivot on the inner wings giving the following amount of float up and down. (see below).

4.25m Disc Roller Contour = 45mm up and 45mm down = total 90mm float.
5.25m Disc Roller Contour = 55mm up and 55mm down = total 110mm float.
6.25m Disc Roller Contour = 65mm up and 65mm down = total 130mm float.

DSD - Depth Synchronised Disc - Aggressiveness

When designing the Disc Roller the aim of the HE-VA engineers was to produce a machine that could fulfil all the roles that a disc cultivator is asked to. It needed to be able to work shallow to create stale seedbeds at 2 - 5cm and at the same time be able to cut and incorporate crop residues when working deep in heavy soils. The unique DSD system is the way that both aims were achieved. When the machine is being used for shallow cultivation (position 1) the disc is virtually perpendicular to the soil. As the operator adjusts the discs deeper using the tractor hydraulics (position 2) the disc angle automatically increases (see below).

1. When working shallow the DSD system ensures that the angle of the disc to the soil is perpendicular (vertical) which means that the discs push the soil horizontally (sideways) and the whole soil surface is moved. Another key benefit of the vertical disc is that it breaks the soil loose rather than “scooping” it out like a concave disc working at an angle, this means there is no smearing or sub surface corrugations which would create a disc pan.

2. When being used as a deep disc cultivator or for residue mixing and incorporation a more aggressive disc angle is required. The DSD system automatically increases the aggressiveness of the disc angle relative to the soil surface.

The end result is that the discs pull themselves into the ground more which assists penetration meaning more soil is inverted and residue incorporated. All this happens automatically and hydraulically as the depth of the discs is being altered by the operator from the tractor cab.

A traditional concave disc or an aggressively angled disc will lift soil and cut out “grooves” but will not move all the soil surface. At the same time it will tend to smear and seal the worked soil creating a disc pan. 

A major part of the development work on the Disc Roller Contour was the optimisation of the disc design. This has resulted in the new Sabre Disc (see below) from HE-VA. Normal heavily dished discs (see below) have too much angle and do not overlap enough to cut all the soil at shallow depths. 

The Sabre discs shallow disc angle, with its superb cutting action, coupled with the stagger of the two disc rows, provides maximum movement and mixing of soil, even at shallow working depths. The other advantage of a relatively flat disc is that it does not smear causing a disc pan in wet conditions, where the back of a more conventional concave disc smears the soil as it works, creating a pan and causing problems for crop roots and drainage. 

Each disc is mounted on an individual arm, this allows each disc to more accurately follow ground contours and increases ground penetration.

The Contour features 90mm increased clearance between the two rows of discs and the same again between the discs and packer. This ensures a consistent flow of material through the machine even in trashy conditions. 

The border deflector comes standard on every Disc Roller ensuring that a level finish can be achieved on any soil type.

The HE-VA Disc Roller has automatic transport locks that is operated from the tractor seat. This makes it 
quick and easy to setup and ensures minimal downtime when moving between fields.

Like many of the machines in the HE-VA range the Disc Roller can be fitted with a choice of packers to suit a wide range of soil types and conditions. 

Single "V" Profile pressed steel ring that has an aggressive castellated profile.  The rings are mounted on a 150mm solid axle so that each section of the roller turns as one ensuring the machine can continue to work in very wet sticky conditions. In conjunction with the excellent scraper system.  The castellations ensure the roller turns in light soils and the aggressive rib and shoulder profile combine with the 145mm spacing has great clod crushing characteristics leaving an excellent consolidated weatherproof finish.

Twin "V" Profile pressed steel ring that has an aggressive castellated profile. The rings are mounted on a 150mm solid axle so that each section of the roller turns as one ensuring the machine can continue to work in very wet sticky conditions. On lighter soils the twin design characteristics reduce the bulldozing effect and draught requirements of the tractor. The rollers leave a more open finish and allow the soils to dry more easily.

The "U" Profile roller has been utilised in HE-VA machines for over a decade. It is designed to provide shallow consolidation without smearing due to the “soil on soil” pressing that occurs when the U profile fills with soil. On lighter soils the twin design characteristics reduce the bulldozing effect and draught requirements of the tractor.

The 2.25m - 3.25m Disc Rollers are available as rigid models with the option of either mounted or trailed on all machines with the exception of the 2.25m model.

A real advantage of the Disc Roller design is the simplicity of folding. From driving to the field to being in work literally can be measured in seconds. Once in work all the adjustments needed can be done from the tractor seat.

All 2 section folding models incorporate the SAT system allowing all sizes of machines to follow the contours of the ground. 

The same advantages are integrated into the larger 3 section folding machines. The same as the 2 section machines, getting the Disc Roller into work from transport is done in seconds, all adjustments can be done from the tractor seat and then put straight into work.

All 3 section folding models incorporate the SAT system allowing the 7.75m Disc Roller Contour to follow the contours of the ground. 

Whilst the Disc Roller is capable of secondary cultivation on its own adding a Shattaboard is a cost-effective way to create a true multi-purpose machine

The Shattaboards break down clods, consolidate and level the soil allowing the discs to do a better job of cutting and slicing to create a final seedbed.

• Hydraulically adjustable on the move
• Hydraulically retractable

Designed to assist in cover crop destruction, the Top-Cutter can be fitted as an option to HE-VA Disc-Rollers.

Mounted ahead of the main cultivation elements on the chosen machine, the roller is equipped with six blades which span its full working width. With downforce generated by the implement it’s affixed to, the blades provide a transverse chopping action.

• V-Profile rings on the host machine work at 90 degrees to the knife roller ensuring crop residues are comprehensively dealt with

• Blades are arranged in a chevron pattern to evenly load the roller and avoid vibrations being generated when the machine is running at speed

With a Multi-Seeder mounted on your Disc Roller it becomes an oilseed rape and/or cover crop drill making it even more useful on the farm.

Individual metering roller for each outlet giving higher accuracy.

Soil Mat

This ensures soil falls in front of the roller to present a level surface to be consolidated. Recommended when fitting a seeder to your Disc Roller.

Brakes

Air braking or hydraulic braking systems are available for all trailed disc rollers as a factory fit option.

Electric Depth Stop

Standard on the larger machines and available as an option on the 2.5 - 6.5m machines. This allows a preset depth to be selected.

Front Wheels

A set of adjustable front mounted pivoting support wheels 300/65x12ply, for use on very uneven terrain.

Following Harrow

Adjustable spring loaded 12mm diameter following harrow behind the roller, often fitted when seeding. 

HPV Controller

Reduces the number of tractor spools needed by controlling up to four double acting functions. Multiple functions can be activated simultaneously.

Memory Cylinder

Hydraulic adjustment of the drawbar angle to balance the left and right pull from discs (in place of spacer clips). 

Track Eradicators

Optional Track Eradicators fitted behind the tractor wheels to alleviate tractor wheeling's