AU564310B2

AU564310B2 - Sugar cane harvester topper

Info

Publication number: AU564310B2
Application number: AU17070/83A
Authority: AU
Inventors: D.J. Quick
Original assignee: Massey Ferguson Australia Ltd
Current assignee: Massey Ferguson Australia Ltd
Priority date: 1983-06-30
Filing date: 1983-06-30
Publication date: 1987-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2003-06-30
Also published as: WO1985000268A1; AU1707083A

Description

SUGAR CANE HARVESTER TOPPER

Technical Field

The invention relates to topping mechanisms for sugar cane harvesters.

Background Art

Topping mechanisms of various designs have been used on mechanical cane harvesters. One of the more successful toppers includes a driven circular cutting member and a complementary freely rotatable circular cutter. The freely rotatable circular cutter bears against one side of the driven circular cutting member and is thereby rotated. The driven and the freely rotatable circular cutting members are positioned relative to each other to define an in- running nip that is capable of severing cane tops from the remainder of suger cane sticks. Such a topper is fully disclosed in Australian Patent No. 494,229.

Toppers with circular cutting members perform well when harvesting cane that has had most of the leaves removed by burning. When harvesting green or unburnt cane, the toppers can plug. This plugging is caused by a large quantity of green leaves that stop the freely rotatable circular cutter from rotating. Disclosure of the Invention The topping mechanism for a sugar cane harvester is mounted on the forward portion of the harvester by a pantographic linkage. The linkage is adjustable to support the topper at the desired height above the ground. The topper includes a frame, a right hand top gathering drum and a left hand top gathering drum_* Hydraulic motors rotate the two drums about generally vertical axes so that cane tops pass between the two top gathering drums.

A cutting member with a scalloped cutting edge is attached to each top gathering drum and is rotatable with the drum. A freely rotatable circular „ cutting member with a beveled circular cutting edge bears against the underside of each- cutting member with a scalloped cutting edge. The two pairs of cooperating cutting members each define an in-running nip for severing cane tops and trash. Each scalloped cutting edge cooperates with the adjacent freely rotatable circular cutting member to agressively feed and cut heavy green cane tops and leaves without plugging.

A deflector member is pivotally mounted on the topper frame for deflecting sugar cane toward the right hand or the left hand cutting member with a scalloped cutting edge and the cooperating freely rotatable circular cutting member. Severed cane tops and leaves are conveyed toward the right hand side or the left hand side of the harvester by the top gathering drums and a top-deflecting wall.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sugar cane harvester including a topping mechanism with portions broken away to show the harvester's internal crop handling -mechanisms;

Figure _2 is an enlarged perspective view of the topping mechanism from the top front of the topping mechanism of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the topping mechanism from the rear and below the topping mechanism of Fig. 1.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention The cane harvester 10, as disclosed in

Fig. 1, includes a frame 12 mounted on rear drive wheels 14 and on steerable front wheels 16. A topper assembly 18 is secured to an upright mast 20 on the frame 12 by an upper link 22 and by a lower link 24. The links 22 and 24 are pivotally secured to the mast 20 and to the topper assembly 18 to form a panto- graphic linkage for adjusting the height of the topper assembly.

A driven crop lifter 26 is rotatably mounted at the front of the cane harvester 10 on each side of the harvester throat entrance. The harvester throat is defined by the side walls 28 between which sugar cane passes. A pair of driven base cutters 30 (only one of which is shown) are mounted on the frame 12 to the rear of the crop lifters 26 and between the front.wheels 16. The base cutters each include a cutter disc 32 which is rotatable about a generally vertical axis with a plurality of blades 34 projecting from the cutter disc 32 periphery. The blades 34 sever sugar cane sticks from the ground.-

A feed roller 36 is rotatably driven to feed cane sticks into the cane harvester 10 butt end first. A butt lifting roller 38 cooperates with a driven feed roller 40 to feed severed cane sticks between the upper feed rollers 42 and 44 and lower feed rollers

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// IPO 46 and 48. The feed rollers 36, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48, as well as the butt lifting roller 40, are all rotatably journaled on the side walls 28 within the harvester throat. The lower feed rollers 46 and 48 are spaced apart to allow.rocks and trash to fall to the ground.

A pair of driven rotary choppers 50 and 52 are mounted to the rear of the upper and lower^' feed rollers 44 and 48. Cane sticks discharged from the feed rollers 44 and 48 pass between the choppers 50 and 52 which sever them into cane billets about 18 inches long.

A primary paddle elevator 54 is rigidly secured to the cane harvester frame 12 at the rear of the choppers 50 and 52. A cleaning chamber 56 is integral with the upper discharge end of the primary paddle elevator 54.- An extractor fan 58 is mounted in the top of the cleaning chamber 56 to move air into the bottom of the chamber and out of the top of the chamber. A trash deflector 60 is pivotally mounted to the cleaning chamber 56. The trash deflector 60 receives trash from the extractor fan 58 and directs it toward the ground.

A discharge elevator assembly 62 is pivotally mounted on th& rear of the frame 12. A hopper section 64 of the discharge elevator assembly 62 is positioned directly under the cleaning chamber 56 to receive cane billets that have been discharged from the primary elevator 54. The discharge elevator assembly 62 includes a chain and slot conveyor (^"not shown) which conveys cane billets up to an upper discharge.

The entire discharge elevator assembly 62 is pivotable about a generally vertical axis 66 so that it can discharge cane billets into a field

-* 3REAcT

OMPI _ transporter on. either side of or to the rear of the cane harvester 10. A secondary cleaning mechanism 68 may be mounted on the top of the discharge elevator assembly 62 if desired. A pair of support arms 70 are attached both to the discharge elevator assembly 62 and to the trash deflector 60. The trash deflector 60 rotates with the discharge elevator assembly 62.

The topper assembly 18 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 includes a rigid supporting framework 72 having forwardly diverging beams 74 and 76, a central strut 78, and a top plate 80. A pair of parallel plates 82 provide attachment means for the connection of parallelogram upper and lower links 22 and 24. A rotatable cutter 84 or 86 is mounted on each of the forwardly diverging beams 74 and 76. Hydraulic motors 88 and 90 are supplied with hydraulic fluid by conduits 91 to rotate the rotatable cutters 84 and 86 around their respective vertical axes 87 or 89.

The rotatable cutters 84 each have a cutting member 92 formed with a beveled and scalloped cutting edge 94. The scallops are a series of eight large arcuate recesses in the outer edge of each cutting member 92. The cutting members 92 are detaσhably secured by means of a series of fasteners 93 to the lower cylindrical hubs 96 having internal radial stiffeners 98.

A first series of feed members 100 are fixed to the outer surface of each lower cylindrical hub 96. Each feed member 100 projects beyond the beveled and scalloped cutting edge 94 of the cutting members 92. These feed members 100 are channel-shaped in cross section and taper toward their outer ends. The outer ends of the feed members 100 are swept

OMPI forward in thet direction D of rotation of the rotatable cutters 84 and 86. The outer ends of the feed members are located on the leading side of a radius through the inner end of the feed member 100. An upper cylindrical hub 102 is mounted above each lower cylindrical hub 96. Each set of lower and upper cylindrical hubs 96 and 102 are interconnected by a cylindrical spacer 103 (see Fig. 1) . The cylindrical spacer 103 defines an annular slot 104. The upper cylindrical hubs 102 are of substantially the same dimensions as the lower cylindrical hubs 96.

A second or upper series of feed members 106 is fixed to the outer surface of-each upper cylindrical hub 102. Each feed member 106 projects ^" beyond the beveled and scalloped cutting edge 94.

Each feed member 106 is formed from a length of steel strip formed into a V-shape and welded to an upper cylindrical hub 102. Each of these feed members 106 is arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to a radius of the upper cylindrical hub 102 which passes through the outer end of the feed member 106.

Each set of lower and upper cylindrical hubs 96 and 102, together with their associated feed members 100 and 106, constitute a crop gathering " drum.

A pair of crop gathering rods 108 and 110 are mounted on the forwardly diverging beams 74 and 76 respectively to define the gathering width of the topper assembly 18. The crop gathering rods 108 and 110 are mounted on the forward diverging beams 74 and 76 through mounting plates 112 and 114 fixed thereto. The crop gathering rods 108 and 110 are .connected to these mounting plates 112 and 114 by respective pivot pins 116. A spring biased detent 118 on each crop gathering rod 108 and 110 extends through

TREATS OMPI the selected one of the series of holes 120 formed in the mounting plates 112 and 114. The angular position of the crop gathering rods 108 and 110 can be adjusted by placing each spring biased detent 118 in any selected hole 120.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the beveled and scalloped cutting edges 94 of the rotatable cutters 84 and 86 do not overlap. A disc-shaped resilient steel cutter 122 or 124 cooperates with each rotatable cutter 84 or 86 to sever cane tops. Each resilient steel cutter 122 or 124 has a beveled circular cutting edge 126. The resilient steel cutters are each rotatably mounted on one of the webs 128 rigidly secured to its respective forwardly diverging beam 74 or 76. The webs 128 carry bearings 130 in which the resilient steel cutters 122 and 124 are freely rotatable.

Each resilient steel cutter 122. and 124 bears against the underside of its respective cutting member 92 so as to be rotated thereby and to define an in-running nip for thorough cutting of all cane tops and trash. It will be noted that the cutting edges of the resilient steel cutters 122 and 124 are formed by beveling their lower surfaces. Cutting members 92 are beveled on their upper surfaces.

A generally V-shaped top-de lec ing wall .132 is mounted on the rigid supporting framework 72 behind the rotatable cutters 84 and.86 with its apex 134 projecting forward between the rotatable cutters 84 and 86. At each side of the topper assembly 18, the wall 132 and the lower and upper cylindrical hubs 96 and 102 cooperate to define a passage for the discharge of cane tops.. The position of the wall 132 is such, that the gap between the outer end of each feed member 100 or 106 and the wall 132 is not substantially greater than 6.35 millimeters when the feed members move along the wall.

An adjustable wall portion 136 or 138 is pivotally mounted on the outer end of each limb of the V-shaped wall 132. The adjustable wall portions 136 and 138 modify the discharge direction of cane tops. Each of the wall portions 136 and 138 has three vanes 139 welded to its concave inner surface with the vanes extending outward and downward to deflect the cane tops toward the ground. The position of each wall portion can be adjusted by means of a stay 140 having a series of apertures 141 to receive a pin. The stay is secured to a bracket 142 carried by a support 144 fixed to the respective forwardly diverging beam 74 or 76.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upper and lower deflector members 146 and 148 are mounted on a rigid supporting framework 72 for angular movement about a vertical axis defined by a pivot pin 150 adjacent the apex 134 of the top-deflecting wall 132. Each deflector member 146 or 148 is generally V-shaped at its forward end and is formed into a rigid closed framework by a three sided-structure 152 integral with the forward end and by an internal T-shaped stiffener 154. The upper and lower deflector members 146 and 148 are each welded,- at their rear ends, to a vertical post 156 so as to move in unison. The upper deflector member 146 has a collar 158 pivotally mounted thereon. A control rod 160 passes through the collar 158. A coiled compression spring 162 is trapped between the collar 158 and a washer 164 retained by a nut at the free end of the rod 160. Movement of the deflector members from one side of apex 134 toward a central position compresses the spring 162. On either side of a central position the compression spring 1.62 bias the deflector members 146 and 148 toward the closest rotatable cutter 84 or 86. The two limiting positions of the deflector members . 146 and 148 are defined by stops 166 on the top plate 80 engageable with rod 160 to hold the lower deflector member 148 within the annular slot 104 just clear of the'spacer 103.

The control rod 160 is connected to a linkage 168 (only shown in part) . The upper and lower deflector members 146 and 148 can be moved from one limit position to the other by the operator of the cane harvester 10 from a cab 170 mounted on a forward portion of the frame 12.

In use, the tops of a row of standing cane are guided by crop gathering rods 108 and 110 toward the contra-rotating combined gathering and top cutting- units 172 and 174. The projecting feed members 100 and 106 engage the uncut cane tops and feed them into the gap between the combined gathering and top cutting units 172 and 174. The tops engage one side edge of each deflector member 146 and 148 and, with the deflector member in the position shown in Fig. 2, are deflected away from the rotatable cutter 86 and toward the rotatable cutter 84 before they reach the region of the apex 134 of the V-shaped top-deflecting wall 132. The tops are thereby positively guided into the passage between the wall 132 and the lower and upper cylindrical hubs 96 and 102. The lower feed members 100. with their forward inclination force the cane sticks into the in-running nip between the rotatable cutter 84 and disc-shaped resilient steel cutter 122. The cut is effected by a scissor action between the beveled and scalloped cutting edge 94 and the beveled circular cutting edge 126. The beveled and scalloped cutting edges 94 of the rotatable cutters 84 and 86 insure that cane tops are forced into the in-running nip and are severed.

- The scalloped shape insures that the cutting edges do not become plugged by leaves and other tough material. The severed tops are discharged laterally by the feed members 100 and 106. The precise direction of discharge is influenced by the adjustable wall portion 136 and 138 and their integral vanes 139 which direct the tops downward thereby decreasing the effect of cross winds on the trajectory of the tops.

After the. tops are cut, the cane sticks are severed by the base cutters 30. The butts of the severed cane sticks are lifted by the butt lifting roller 38 and, with the help of the feed rollers 36 and 40, are conveyed between the upper and lower feed rollers 42 and 46.

The upper and lower feed rollers 44 and 48 convey cane sticks between the choppers 50 and 52 where the sticks are cut into billets. The billets fall onto the primary conveyor assembly 54 which delivers them to a cleaning chamber 56. Trash is separated from the billets in the cleaning chamber 56 by air which is pulled upwardly by the extractor fan 58. The trash is received by the trash deflector 60 after it passes through the extractor fan 58 and is directed toward the ground.

The cane billets fall through the cleaning chamber 56 and onto a discharge elevator assembly 62. The discharge elevator assembly 62 elevates the billets and discharges them into a transport container. The transport container can be to the left side, the right side or the rear of the cane harvester 10. The operator station is mounted on the front portion of the frame 12. As shown in Fig. 1, the operator's station is enclosed by an operator's σab 170.

The various cane harvesting and cleaning mechanisms and the rear wheels 14 of the cane harvester 10 are driven through either mechanical or hydraulic drives by an internal combustion engine in the engine compartment 176. The drives are conventional and well -known and, therefore, have not been shown in the drawing.

Claims

1. A sugar cane harvester topper mechanism including a supporting frame 72 with forwardly diverging beams and attachment means on the supporting framework for connecting the supporting framework » ^J 5 to a cane harvester characterized by a rotatable cutter with a beveled and scalloped cutting edge mounted on each forwardly diverging beam, drive means to drive each rotatable cutter in opposite directions so that adjacent portions of the two cutters move

10 in a direction to pass sugar cane therebetween, a complementary disc-shaped steel cutter with a beveled circular cutting edge rotatably mounted on each forwardly diverging beam and cooperating with the adjacent rotatable cutter with a beveled and

15 scalloped cutting edge to define an in-running nip therebetween.

2. The sugar cane harvester topper mechanism of Claim 1 characterized by each complementary disc¬ shaped steel cutter 122, 124 being freely rotatable.

20 3. The sugar cane harvester topper mechanism of Claim 2 characterized by each complementary disc¬ shaped steel cutter 122, 124 bearing against the adjacent rotatable cutter 84 or 86.

4. The sugar cane harvester topper mechanism 25 of Claim 1 characterized by the complementary disc¬ shaped steel cutter being mounted on each forwardly diverging beam 74, 76 below the adjacent rotatable cutter.

5. The sugar cane harvester topper mechanism 30 of Claim 4 characterized by the upper edge of each rotatable cutter being beveled and the bottom edge of each disc-shaped steel cutter is beveled.

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6. The sugar cane harvester topper mechanism of Claim 4 characterized by each rotatable cutter having a cutting edge with eight large arcuate recesses in the outer edge.