AU5447701A - Hinged crop pickup - Google Patents

Description

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11103DIV

ORIGINAL

Complete Specification

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Applicant: Inventors: Title: Address for Service: David Mark Shute and Desmond George Short David Mark Shute and Desmond George Short Hinged crop pickup LESICAR PERRIN, 49 Wright Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Hinged crop pickup The present invention relates to an apparatus that assists in harvesting of crops. In particular it relates to an apparatus that lifts crops from the ground leading to a higher yield of crop harvested per unit area whilst accommodating for uneven ground level.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To maximise the amount of harvested grain from crops, it is desirable to lift the crop from ground level before the grain is cut. Otherwise, some crop is lost since it is not fed into the harvester.

Accordingly fixed devices commonly referred to as crop lifters are known wherein the device is attached to the front of a comb that is situated at the front of a harvesting header. The difficulty with these types of crop lifters is that in undulating or rocky ground either end of the header comb may be elevated which means that the crop lifter is either suspended in the air (above the crop) or is too low down to the ground.

In the latter instance the crop lifter may even dig into the surface of the ground, often 15 causing the lifter to bend or even break. Should this happen, bits of the device may be thrown back into the header mechanisms, causing damage to expensive machinery.

S The problem is exacerbated with the width of the comb, and one may appreciate that where combs are more than 10 meters in width, the problem is a serious one.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the abovementioned 20 problems or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

*°•oo SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION STherefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a crop lifting device to be attached to comb fingers in a harvester said device including; a first arm adapted to be removably attached to said comb finger; a second arm pivotably attached at one end to said first arm wherein said second arm other end is adapted to be in contact with the ground said pivotable action enabling said arm to accommodate rises and falls in the ground level.

Preferably said arms are pivotable with respect to each other through a hinge mechanism.

In preference said hinging mechanism is a chain link hinge, said chain link hinge fixedly attached to the upper side of said first and second arms.

In preference said first arm is a generally flat bar. This makes it easier to attach the arm to the comb finger.

Preferably said second arm is a rod. The rod minimises any damage to the crop that is being lifted.

In preference said second arm is made from heavy material to assist in the second end of the arm being in contact with the ground level.

In preference said second arm includes a foot attached to said second end, said foot enabling said second arm to glide over the ground.

Preferably said device further includes a guide bar extending rearwardly from said foot.

:°oooo Preferably said guide bar is of a non-linear shape.

In preference the first arm includes an aperture adapted to accommodate a fastening means to thereby fasten said arm to said comb fingers.

•o ooi Advantageously said first arm includes a cut-out adapted to accommodate a fastening means to thereby fasten said arm to said comb fingers BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 20 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this ~specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crop lifer device embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the crop lifter when used on even ground; Figure 3 is a side view of the crop lifter when it has encountered higher ground; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the crop lifter illustrating the principle of operation of the lifter; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further crop lifter device embodying the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings.

Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. In the following description it is to be understood that reference to discs or to plates refers to the same part.

Referring to Figures 1-4 there is shown a crop lifter 10 including a support arm 12 (upper section of device) at one end connected to an end of rod 14 (lower section of device) through a hinge mechanism 16. The hinge mechanism includes a two-chain link hinge 18, with the ends of the hinge being fixedly attached to arm 12 at end 20 and rod 14 at end 22 respectively to thereby allow for pivotable movement there in between.

Typically the support arm is a flat bar including a cutout 24 at end 20. The purpose of 00: the cut-out is to assist in the arm being fixedly attached to a header comb finger 26 through conventional means such as a bolt 28 and nut 30, the bolt passing through the finger and cut-out. The comb is situated at the front of the header when reaping.

:0#000 To assist in positioning the arm 12 onto the finger, a positioning plate 32 extends from 0 25 the hinge.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the hinged construction allows the lower 0 section of the device to move generally up and down with respect to the arm 12.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 the hinged mechanism is generally attached (by welding or other suitable means) to the top of the flat bar adjacent end 20 and top of the rod 14 adjacent end 22. This enables the lower section or rod 14 to move up and down. This means that with the number of devices 10 fitted across the width of the comb and if the surface is uneven, moving the device over the surface results in each device riding up or dipping down as required hence working more efficiently.

The hinged crop pick-up invention is typically designed with the rod 14 being made of generally heavier material to allow the rod 14 to drop back down to ground level or to follow the contours of the ground. With the configuration of the hinged mechanism 18 and the connecting arm and rod, the arm can dip without bending back on itself. In the event that the arm does get caught in anything that might cause it to break, it is designed so that the weakest point is the hinge mechanism 18 so that it breaks at the hinged mechanism and because of its weight, the intention is that the arm would drop down to the ground and not fly back into the machine.

To assist in following the contours of the land, end 32 of the rod 14 that is in contact with the ground includes a foot or ski 34. As illustrated in Figure 3 when the rod is in contact with ground 36 at a higher level, the foot assist in the rod gliding over the ground rather than digging into it by upwardly pivoting the rod.

Typically the foot is wider than the rod and also shaped to assist in the gliding motion.

Although the hinged crop pick-up invention is designed with a cutout groove at the installation end of the flat bar it is to be understood that a drill hole may equally well be o used. However the use of a cut-out means that it is only necessary to loosen the nut to oo..

remove or install the device instead of having to completely remove and re-insert the nut and bolt.

To further assist in lifting crop from the ground the device includes a guide bar 38 extending rearwardly and upwardly from foot 34. The bar may be bent towards its free end 40 and acts to assist in lifting the crop 42 as illustrated in Figure 4.

oo o One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present device will have a better chance of picking up a higher amount of crop, hence enabling one to reap a higher yield of grain.

Although not shown it is to be understood that many modifications may be made to the present invention whilst still within its scope. For example, the shape and length of the arm and rod may be varied according to the crop that is being harvested. Thus it is envisaged that users may adjust the shape (curve) and length of the flat bar 12 that is attached to the comb to adapt the device to fit the different types of machinery. The shape and length of the guide bar 28 may also be adapted to suit the type of grain being reaped and the length of the rod 14 can be adapted depending on the individual need where the ground surface is soft or sandy.

The device may be manufactured in varying sizes and thicknesses of flat and round steel.

As illustrated in Figure 5 and as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a different hinging mechanism 44 may be employed in the present invention. It is however important to note that it is preferred if the hinging motion did not allow for the rod to pivot underneath the arm.

Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

In the claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "Including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

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Claims (13)

1. A crop lifting device to be attached to comb fingers in a harvester said device including; a first arm adapted to be removably attached to said comb finger; a second arm pivotably attached at one end to said first arm wherein said second arm other end is adapted to be in contact with the ground said pivotable action enabling said arm to accommodate rises and falls in the ground level.

2. A crop lifting device as in any one of the above claims wherein said arms are pivotable with respect to each other through a hinge mechanism.

3. A crop lifting device as in claim 2 wherein said hinging mechanism is a chain link hinge, said chain link hinge fixedly attached to the upper side of said first and second arms.

4. A crop lifting device as in any one of the above claims wherein said first arm is a generally flat bar. oooo S 15

5. A crop lifting device as in claim 1 wherein said second arm is a rod.

6. A crop lifting device wherein at least a portion of said second arm is made from heavy material to assist in the second end of the arm being in contact with the ground level.

7. A crop lifting device as in any one of the above claims wherein said second arm 20 includes a foot attached to said second end, said foot enabling said second arm to ::glide over the ground.

8. A crop lifting device as in any one of the above claims wherein said device further includes a guide bar extending rearwardly from said foot.

9. A crop lifting device as in claim 8 wherein said guide bar is of a non-linear shape.

A crop lifting device as in any one of the above claims wherein said first arm includes an aperture adapted to accommodate a fastening means to thereby fasten said arm to said comb fingers.

11. A crop lifting device as in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said first arm includes a cut-out adapted to accommodate a fastening means to thereby fasten said arm to said comb fingers

12. A crop lifting device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

13. A crop lifting device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure Dated this 1 9 th day of July 2001-07-19 David Mark Shute and Desmond George Short By their Patent Attorneys LESICAR PERRIN *o* *o