AU8193798A - Cutting machine assembly - Google Patents

Description

'c -2- The present invention relates to a cutting machine assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a cutting machine assembly used for cutting stubble.

It is known in the field of harvesting crops, that when an upper portion of the crops are stripped a lower portion or stubble is left standing on the field. Since, it is considered inefficient to use known harvesting machines to cut the stubble, the stubble is often left on the field when it is desired to plough and seed new crops.

Further, the known harvesting and mowing machines are inefficient because when they are towed by a tractor or other suitable vehicles the speed of these 10 machines is quite slow. The speed of these machines is usually in the order of 9 kilometres per hour.

The present invention seeks to minimise at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art or alternatively to provide a useful alternative.

**According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting 15 machine assembly including a plurality of cutters mounted on a support member, a drive means for the cutters, the support member being mounted on at least two wheels so that the cutting machine assembly is capable of movement, wherein the cutters are mounted on the support member such that they are disposed at an acute angle relative to the direction of movement of the cutting machine assembly so as to efficiently cut stubble.

The cutters are preferably mounted to the support member such that they are disposed at an acute angle in the range of 5 to 15 degrees relative to the direction of movement of the cutting machine.

-3- The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a cutting machine assembly having four wheels in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a centre wheel arrangement of the cutting machine assembly having four wheels as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a centre wheel arrangement of the cutting machine assembly having two wheels; Figure 4a is an expanded side and plan view of a cutter plate used in the 10 cutting machine assembly in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4b is an expanded view of a shaft used in a cutting machine assembly in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 4c is an expanded side and plan view of a bracket used in a cutting machine assembly in accordance with the present invention.

15 In the accompanying figures, there is shown a cutting machine assembly The cutting machine assembly 10 comprises a rectangular support frame 12, and a plurality of cutting discs 14 which are mounted to the support frame 12 by way of a plurality of shafts 16. A first and a second pair of wheels 18 and respectively are mounted in a centre wheel arrangement to the support frame 12 by way of a respective pair of mounting members. The cutting machine assembly 10 may also have a single pair of wheels 18 mounted to the support frame to support the cutting machine assembly 10 as best seen in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. The wheels 18 may also be positioned towards the outer edges of the rectangular support frame 12 in an outer wheel arrangement (not shown).

-4- A pair of elongate rods 22 are each attached at a first end 23 to the support frame 12. A second end 25 of each elongate rod 22 are joined to form an apex 24. Hence, the pair of rods 22 form a substantial V shape with the upper portion of the V shape being attached to the support frame 12. The pair of rods 22 are preferably removably attached to the support frame 12 by way of a pair of removable pins (not shown).

A tow ball attachment 28 is arranged to be mounted on the apex 24 of the pair of elongate rods 22. Whilst the tow ball attachment 28 is preferably attached to a front end of the cutting machine assembly 10, it is to be understood that the tow 10 ball attachment 28 may be collapsible or demountable so that it is capable of being stored along a side or within the cutting machine assembly oo In Figure 2, there is shown a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of a centre wheel arrangement 30 of the cutting machine assembly 10 having a pair *.of respective wheels 18 and 20. A pair of hydraulic rams 32 and 34 are S 15 connected at an end 33 thereof to the pair of wheels 18 and 20 respectively by **way of a bracket member 36. The other end 35 of the pair of hydraulic rams 32 and 34 are connected to the support frame 12.

S. The bracket member 36 is pivotally mounted about a point 37 on the support frame 12 such that upon extension and contraction of the pair of rams 32 and 34 respectively, the height of the respective wheels 18 and 20 are adjusted relative to the support frame 14. Hence, the height of the cutting machine assembly can be adjusted by extension or contraction of the hydraulic rams 32 and 34 respectively.

A motorised cutting blade arrangement 38 is mounted on the support frame 12 which further includes an upper support member 15 and a lower support member 17 as best seen in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

The motorised cutting blade arrangement 38 comprises a motor 39 attached to an upper end of an upright drive shaft 16. The motor 39 is preferably an electric I 1, motor which may be controlled by way of a switchboard (not shown). A separate motor 39 is preferably required for each cutting blade 14.

The cutting blade 14 is attached to the lower end of the drive shaft 16. The motorised cutting blade arrangement 38 is mounted between the upper support member 15 and the lower support member 17. The motor 39 and the drive shaft 16 are both mounted to a mounting plate 40 which is in turn mounted such that the cutting blade 14 is disposed at an acute angle relative to the direction of movement of the cutting machine assembly 10. The preferred acute angle of the cutting blade 14 relative to the direction of movement of the cutting machine assembly 10 is in the range of 5 to 15 degrees. It is this angle of the cutting blade 14 relative to the movement of direction of the cutting machine assembly 10 which provides efficient cutting of the stubble.

In Figure 3, there is shown a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a centre wheel arrangement 30 of the cutting machine assembly 10 having a pair 15 of wheels 18. The cross-sectional view of the centre wheel arrangement shows the support frame 12 comprising the upper support member 15 and the lower support member 17. A pair of motorised cutting blade arrangements 38 are mounted on the lower support member 17 and are secured in the upper support member 15 in a similar manner to that described for the embodiment of 20 the invention as described above for Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. In particular, the motorised cutting blade arrangements 38 have the cutting discs 14 being disposed at an acute angle relative to the direction of movement of the cutting machine assembly 10. There is also a hydraulic ram 32 connected to a bracket member 36 which upon extension and contraction of the ram 32 permits height adjustment of the cutting machine assembly 10 relative to the ground in a manner similar to that as described for the embodiment of Figure 2.

There is also a resilient guiding means 46 which is mounted forward of the cutting discs of the cutting machine assembly 10. The resilient guiding means -6- 46 acts to pick up stubble so that it may be more easily cut by the cutting discs 14 of the motorised cutting blade assembly.

In Figure 4a, there is shown an expanded side and plan view of a cutting disc 14. The cutting disc 14 has a number of rectangular blades 52 which are equally spaced about the circumference of the cutting disc 14. The disc 50 is mounted on the shaft 16 which is shown in Figure The diameter of the cutting disc from the tip of each rectangular blade 52 is preferably up to a maximum of about 750mm.

In Figure there is shown in expanded detail the bracket member 36 which connects the respective hydraulic rams 32 or 34 to the pair of wheels 18 and respectively.

l.

In use, the cutting machine assembly 10 is towed by a vehicle at a speed up to °..approximately 20 kilometres per hour. The stubble will be picked up by the resilient guiding means 46 where the stubble is directed towards the motorised cutting blade arrangement 38. The motor 39 which is preferably electric is switched on by the switchboard (not shown) so that rotation of the drive shaft 16 and hence rotation of the cutting disc 14 occurs. The stubble is cut at a lower height and approximately 2 to 3 times by the blades 52 on the cutting disc 14 because the rectangular blades 14 are disposed at preferably an acute angle relative to the direction of movement of the cutting machine assembly 10. This occurs because after an initial cut by the blade 52, the stubble is pushed in an upward direction which thereby allows the blade 52 to cut the stubble at a lower height relative to the ground surface. This results in the blade 52 having to cut through a larger cross-section of the stubble which is in a substantially diagonal direction. Hence, the speed of the cutting blade is required to be increased. To achieve this end, the diameter of the cutting disc 14 from the tip of the blades 52 is up to 750 mm which thereby allows the blade 52 to rotate at a top speed of 400 kilometres per hour. The cutting blades 52 on the cutting disc 14 are then able to efficiently cut the stubble at a suitable height. The preferred lowest -7- 400 kilometres per hour. The cutting blades 52 on the cutting disc 14 are then able to efficiently cut the stubble at a suitable height. The preferred lowest cutting height of the cutting machine assembly is 50 mm from the ground surface.

A user is able to adjust the height of the cutting machine assembly 10 by way of extension and contraction of the hydraulic rams 32 and 34. Hence, a user is able to vary the height of the cut stubble as required.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention :1 a.Dated this Twenty-sixth day of June 1997.

S" CRAIG ANTHONY HARDY Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant