BE499368A - - Google Patents

Description

       

   <Desc / Clms Page number 1>
 



  IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO BEAMING MACHINES.



   The present invention relates to a combined harvester-combine, and more particularly to a machine for collecting and / or threshing crops which are difficult to process by the usual collecting and threshing means.



   The object of the invention is - the production of an improved picking and / or threshing machine - an improved mechanism intended for picking up creeping legumes in a field, and shelling the vegetables given off by these creeping plants. , separating the shelled vegetables and the shelled pods from the. mass of creeping plants., the evacuation of the creeping plants in the field; the transfer of the shelled vegetables into suitable containers, while the pods with the shell are returned to the machine to be processed again;

   - a harvester which cuts and collects predetermined parts of a mass of plants crawling on the ground and passes the crawling plants through a machine to separate the vegetables from the pods of these creeping plants - an improved machine which makes passing a mass of creeping plants along one side of a series of aligned paddle elements, which beat and rub the creeping plants against a sieve spaced from the paddles;

   - a machine intended for shelling dwarf peas provided with a perforated wall delimiting a sinuous path through the machine,

 <Desc / Clms Page number 2>

 a plurality of flat vane rotors being mounted spaced from the wall and driven simultaneously in the transverse direction of a surface of that wall of conveyor devices mounted below the perforated wall for collecting the shelled vegetables separated from the creeping plants and transporting the shelled vegetables to a place where they are collected $ -'- cutting and removing a strip from a mass of creeping legumes entangled on the ground and upward routing of the creeping plants as well removed, by several paddles along a smooth wall spaced from the paddle rotors.,

   without losing an appreciable part of the vegetables during this transport; - several fins provided along a face of a plate located at a distance from several paddle rotors mounted so as to advance the creeping legumes along said plate, the aforementioned fins being inclined towards the center of the plate in the direction of travel of the creeping plants to reduce the scattering of the creeping plants on the face of said plate; - improved devices provided in a machine for harvesting creeping plants to separate the shelled peas and pods without the pods, from the leaves, the short parts of the creeping plants and other wastes obtained by treating the trailing plants;

   - the introduction of an angularly upwardly directed air stream through a mass of mixed vegetables, pods and debris moving by means of a conveyor along a predetermined path so that the waste is forced out of the machine and that the vegetables and the pods with the husks pass through a part of the conveyor located beyond the air jet;

   - the movement of a mass of crawling plants through a mechanism for treating crawling plants by means of several vane rotors arranged along a path extending through the machine; the device supporting the creeping plants being located at a distance from the paddle rotors provided along said path, the device supporting the creeping plants being provided with openings through which the vegetables pass and additional paddle rotors provided for conveying the waste coming from the machine while agitating them to separate the peas and pods which they entrain;

   - several paddle rotors provided in a machine intended for harvesting creeping plants, these rotors being arranged along a path crossing the machine, a delay device extending laterally in said path to tilt the bundles of crawling plants , bundles resulting from the action of the paddle rotors on the creeping plants, thereby tending to direct these boots longitudinally towards the following paddle rotors provided in the machine.



   The foregoing characteristics and advantages as well as others forming the subject of the present invention will become apparent during the description which follows and which is given with reference to the appended drawing, in which FIGS. 1 and 1 A show the front and rear parts of the machine, respectively, and is a composite side elevation view of the left side of a pea harvesting machine in accordance with the present invention, with some parts of the machine removed; Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken at 2-2 of Figure 1 with some parts removed;

   Figure 3 is a side elevation of the ladder machine

 <Desc / Clms Page number 3>

 the reduced showing the right side of the machine, some parts removed; FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing the left side of the machine, this view being taken to the same scale as that of FIG. 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of the machine, taken to the same scale as that of Figures 3 and 4, some parts removed; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the support system of the lower end of a screen and part of a curved lower screen; Figure 7 is a kind of fragmentary perspective view showing the operating mechanism at the top of Figure 1A;

   however, the lateral spacing between some of the chains and chain wheels has been exaggerated in order to show more clearly their various interrelationships.



   GENERAL DESCRIPTION.



   The accompanying drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention, particularly intended for harvesting creeping plants and threshing legumes such as peas = Thanks to slight modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in the art; the invention can be applied to other crops such as, for example, beans, peanuts and cereals. Accordingly; :). The words "creeping plants" and "peas" as used here, also designate other plants which are obviously capable of being harvested and / or threshed by a mechanism in accordance with 1 -'invention.



   The illustrated embodiment of the pick-up mechanism is particularly intended for creeping plants, but all the rest of the machine can be used for other plants. Consequently'. it is envisioned that other types of cutting mechanism, such as a mower blade and ordinary collecting belts, may replace the creeping plant collecting device shown, when the machine is intended to be used. used for harvesting plants other than creepers.

   Likewise, although the embodiment shown is provided with carrying wheels and with a mechanism for cutting crops, it is obvious that the plants to be threshed can be cut and brought to the machine :, which in this box can be permanently mounted in a cannery or other suitable place
The embodiment which is the subject of the invention comprises a main part A provided with wheels and capable of being towed by a suitable motor vehicle such as an ordinary agricultural tractor, not shown.



   The coupling to the tractor is laterally offset in a well known manner, so that the wheels of the tractor circulate on the part of the ground cleared of the crop of creeping plants to avoid damaging them. A harvesting device comprising a well-known type of elevator or reel B provided with teeth is mounted forward of the anterior end of the main part to untangle and rear comb creepers which are tangled on it. ground.

   A crawling plant collecting device C, also of a well-known type, is mounted on the front end of the main part A for gripping in the mass of the creeping plants lying on the ground and in them. lift = A vertical cutting device D is mounted in the vicinity of an ex-

 <Desc / Clms Page number 4>

 end of collecting drum;

   this device can circulate along the unharvested side of a row of creeping plants being collected to cut the creeping plants in the row at a distance from the plants neighboring this row In some cases, the rambling plants cannot can be effectively detached from the ground and in such cases the creeping plants are first mowed and raked in the usual manner, and then collected by circulating the present harvesting machine along the lines. or mown rows
A vertical series B of vane feed rotors help to drive the creepers and advance them up and then back below the lowest rotor of a first vertical series F of rotors- paddle mixers.

   From there, the creepers follow a meandering path through the machine in a manner to be described later, during which they are threshed, rubbed and shaken to free the peas from their pods and separate the shelled peas from the ground. mass of creeping plants.



   The threshed creepers are then unloaded onto a discharge conveyor G composed of several paddle rotors which, while transporting the creepers backwards to a place where they are discharged back onto the field shake the shelled peas or loose pods with pods which may still remain in creeping plants.



   A transport and cleaning mechanism H is arranged to receive the peas and pods with the pods which are threshed out of the creeping plants and fall onto the mechanism H. After having been subjected to air cleaning operations, which will be described further on, the peas and pods are discharged into an elevator I which, in turn, discharges them into a perforated rotary drum K. There, the shelled peas are separated from the full pods, the peas are discharged into an appropriate receptacle. - prayed, and the pods with the pods are returned to the threshing mechanism for further processing.



   CHASSIS AND ENGINE.



   The main part A comprises an iron frame 10 of U-section and a box-shaped casing 11 of a type common in the manufacture of agricultural machinery, in which casing the frame members in lugs or U-bars are bolted or welded together and are covered by sheet metal panels attached to the frame members. A series of removable door panels 16 (fig. 3) are provided along one side of the housing to allow access to the interior of the machine between the adjacent vertical series of threshing rotors and in view. to facilitate the disassembly and cleaning of the screen elements in a manner which will be described below.



   A conventional type of gasoline engine 12 is mounted in a sheet metal housing 13 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) and is supported by an engine console 14 extending forward from the front end. of the main part A, the motor is provided with a usual type of speed reduction device 15 serving to drive a pair of main control chains 17 and 18 (fig. 1 and 2) which will be described further. far when describing the operating mechanism of the entire machine $ In this description of the machine, the terms "right" and "left" are used to denote the right and left sides of the machine when it is travels 1? forward, unless otherwise specified.



   It should be noted in figure 5 that the main part which contains the threshing rotors F is narrower than the housing of the

 <Desc / Clms Page number 5>

 
 EMI5.1
 mechanism .fâ33., born. and that the width of the mowed row indicated j) ar X in figure 2. This allows the load wheels of the main part to be mounted on the sides of the narrower part of the housing beater rotors so that the carrying wheels circulate on the ground cleared of creeping plants.



     MECHANISM FOR COLLECTING CURRENT PLANTS.
 EMI5.2
 



  ------, --------------------------------
Two support arms 19 and 20 of the lifting reel (figs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) are rigidly joined to each other by a coupling bar.
 EMI5.3
 ment 20 a (fig. 5) which is welded at its ends to the arms. The arms 19 and 20 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 26 mounted across the main part of the machine and extend forward of the latter.

   The length of the arms can be adjusted by means of a telescopically extendable part 21, immobilized in the adjusted position, by adjusting screws 22 (figo 1) screwed into the front end of each support arm. arm =. lifting reel supports in a position suitably adjusted for harvesting peas, although, when harvesting some plants, it is desirable to shorten the arms somewhat, by means of the adjuster, to position the lifting reel
 EMI5.4
 near the pickup drum. Two balancing coil springs 195 (fig. 1, 3o 4 and 5) connect the rear ends of arms 19 and 20 (which extend rearwardly beyond pivot shaft 26) to frame 10.



   The lifting reel B is of a conventional type, one part
 EMI5.5
 mechanically driven peripheral 23 being mounted on one of its ends and a peripheral part 24 being mounted on its other end to be able to rotate freely in an eccentric manner and being
 EMI5.6
 connected by levers 21, a to several transverse rods 25a to each of which are fixed several fingers 25 forming teeth. Thanks to this organization, the teeth 25 are kept almost perpendicular to the ground, although the reel B turns in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1.



   The collecting drum C has a cy-
 EMI5.7
 lindrical 27, a chain drive wheel 28 (iig ,, 1) being attached to one of its ends. Pick-up fingers 29 are mounted to protrude radially through rows of slotted openings in the body of drum 27. Fingers 29 are mounted on a conventional eccentric drive mechanism (not shown) mounted on the drum. inside of the drum body. By means of this well-known eccentric control mechanism, the pick-up fingers alternately project radially outwardly on the lower and front parts of the drum and then enter the drum on the upper and rear parts. of the drum.

   The fingers protruding forwards and downwards penetrate and engage in the mass of the creeping plants untangled by the lifting reel B and bring the creeping plants on the upper part of the collecting drum C, tending to loosen them from the ground .



  As the fingers 29 move inward to come flush with the rear upper peripheral surface of the drum, they release the creepers to send them into the machine. This type of pickup drum is well known to technicians and is unnecessary
 EMI5.8
 to describe it in more detail. However, the feeding devices of the present mechanism which cooperate with the collecting drum are important for its satisfactory operation; as we will see later.



   The collecting drum C is mounted between the front ends of two housings 30 and 31 which are pivotally mounted at their rear ends on a return shaft 185 articulated across the main frame.

 <Desc / Clms Page number 6>

 cipal 10. Most of the weight of the collector drum assembly is balanced by two coil springs 198 and 199 which extend from housings 30 and 31 respectively to feed housing 32. A wheel 33 coming into contact with the ground (Fig. 2) is mounted on a shaft end fixed in a set position on the outer side of the left case 30, near its front end, to support the unbalanced weight of the case.

   A second wheel 34 coming into contact with the ground (fig. 2 and 3) is mounted on a shaft end provided on the front end of a wheel support arm 35 which is locked in a position set in a block of. support 37 pivotally mounted on the right outer face of the articulated housing 31 supporting the pickup drum near its rear end.



   A part 38 of U-section (fig. 3) is mounted in a vertical position on the outer right-hand side of the casing 31 of the pick-up drum, the upper and lower ends of the support being folded to extend towards the right. outside, in order to receive the articulated arm 35 supporting the wheel and to limit the upward and downward pivoting of this arm with respect to the casing 31 of the drum, the upper end part of the part 38 of U-section extending outwardly rests normally on arm 35 to support the unbalanced weight of the right end of the pickup drum and allow it to overcome any obstacles the wheel is called upon to roll over. .



    However, if the wheel passes over a depression in the ground, the U-shaped part 38 allows the lever arm 35 to oscillate downwards with respect to the casing 31 of the drum, so that the wheel follows the depression while continuing to press on the creeping plants lying below it.



   The cutting device D for creeping plants is in the form of a short mower blade of a common type .. mounted vertically at the front end of the right housing supporting the drum 31 (fig. 1, 3 and 4). A usual saw blade 36 (fig. 3) of the cutting device D is capable of being moved back and forth in the usual manner by a square lever 39 which oscillates by means of a connecting rod. 40 connected at its rear end to an eccentric pin mounted on a pulley 41.



   The front ends of the casing 30 and 31 supporting the collecting drum are bevelled inwards to guide inwardly on the collecting drum C the marginal part of the "swath" of creeping plants cut by the device. section D, drum whose width (fig. 2 and 5) is somewhat less than that of the "swath" indicated in X in figure 2. The cutting device cuts a vertical passage in the mass of plants entangled creepers, which prevents the collecting drum from pulling excess creepers from the side of the machine where the crop was not harvested.

   The machine is designed to move around a field of peas being harvested, with the left side of the collecting drum following the marginal edge of the field or a previously harvested "swath"., As a result, no cutting mechanism is needed on the left side of the machine.



   FEEDING MECHANISM,
Behind the pickup drum C, a transfer roller 44 rotates so that its upper surface moves rearward.



  The mass of creeping plants from collecting drum C passes rearward over transfer roller 44 and from there (Figs. 1 and 2) over the forwardly curved lower part of a plate. Sheet feeder 45, smooth and vertical, which constitutes the rear wall of a feed casing 32 for the vertical series E of vane feed rotors,

 <Desc / Clms Page number 7>

 
Each of the E series vane feed rotors, as well as all the other vane rotors in the machine, has a split main part 47 (Fig 2) of hollow section, having approximately 1.

   cross shaped, a forged metal end plug 48 being attached coaxially to each end of the main part 47. The preferred diameter for the feed and threshing rotors is approximately 178 mm, although that generally satisfactory limits are between 127 mm and 254 mm in diameter
A short bearing 49 is concentric with each of the plugs 48. When necessary this bearing extends axially beyond the bearing in which it is mounted to receive the various chain wheels, gears and pulleys which will be described later. .

   The E series feed rotors are driven to rotate counterclockwise (as seen in Figs. 1 'and 4), as are all other vane rotors on the machine, with the exception of the horizontal row of the smaller vane rotors of the unloading mechanism G, which rotors are driven to rotate in the opposite direction.



   It should be noted in Figures 2 and 5, that the width of the housing 32 which contains the. E series of feed rotors (fig. 2) is somewhat shorter than the length of the collecting drum C which in turn is shorter in length than the X width of a mass cut "swath" of creeping plants in the field using the cutting device Do. Note also that the feed rotor housing 32 which contains the vane feed rotors E is somewhat wider than the rear portion of the housing 11 containing the vane threshing rotors F.

   Each of the two angularly mounted guide plates 42 and 43 is located on either side of the forwardly curved lower portion of plate 45 for guiding creeping plants from the collecting drum into the inlet of the housing 32 of the feed rotor. .



   In addition, in order to reduce the width of the. mass of the creeping plants, as they ascend through the feed casing 32, compacting devices for the creeping plants comprising several deflectors 51 inclined inward or towards the center are attached to the front face of the plate 45. These deflectors extend in the space between the feed rotors and the plate 45 and they tend to compact the mass of creeping plants inwardly so that they are present in a vertical longitudinal central plane of the machine. When the mass of creeping plants reached the upper end of the feed casing 32, its width was reduced to approximate the length of the shorter threshing rotors F, THRESHING MECHANISM.



   The upper end of the smooth vertical feed plate 45, forming the rear wall of the feed casing 32 is bent backwards and slanted downward as seen at 52 (Fig. 1). The lower end of the inclined rear part 52 is substantially tangent to a curved grid 56 (figs 1 and 6) formed of several spaced rods 53, extending transversely and freely mounted in housings provided in the terminal flanges 46 ( fig. 6).



  The stems enter housings provided in the terminal flanges 46 with enough play to be able to vibrate and rotate on themselves under the action of the friction contact of the creeping plants moving on these stems in the manner which will be described. further.

   Thanks to this, the rods are cleaned so as to remain free from deposits of material which, if not, might tend to accumulate on them. The rods 53 of the grids are spaced apart a sufficient distance from each other. to allow shelled peas and shelled pods to pass through

 <Desc / Clms Page number 8>

   @@ towards them, but feels close enough to each other to support the me @ se of crawling plants passing through the machine.



   The lowermost threshing rotor 54 of a first vertical series 55 of rotors is spaced upward from the curved grate 56, so that the mass of the creepers passing rearwardly over the inclined portion 52 of the plate. feed is directed into the space left between the curved grate 56 and the lowermost threshing rotor 54 From there the creepers are carried by the rotation of the rotors on the grate 56 and rise (passing from a threshing rotor next) between the rear part of the first series 55 of the threshing rotors F and a first screen 57 arranged vertically (figs 1 and 6).



   The threshing rotors are preferably arranged so that neighboring rotors are similarly arranged (as shown in Fig. 1) and rotate at the same speed. The interval left between neighboring rotors is such that their vanes are spaced at least from each other ;, by a distance which is not less than the diameter of the peas to be threshed. The maximum spacing between the vanes of neighboring rotors must be such that creepers cannot be dragged from one of the rotors to the next. With most crops of creepers, this maximum permissible spacing is less than 38 mm .



   Under most crop conditions the threshing rotors are preferably driven at a speed which gives maximum speeds corresponding to those of a 178 mm rotor. of diameter rotating between 450 and 550 revolutions per minute Higher or lower maximum speeds tend to increase the risk of spoilage of the peas and give less satisfactory performance.



   The screen 57 shown is of woven steel wire, its apertures preferably being between 12.7 mm and 25.4 mm. However, if desired, the screen 57 can be of rough plate material with openings have the desired dimension.

   The roughness of the sieve is important, because if the sieves were smooth, the displacement of the branch plants along the sieve under the action of the rotors would not be retarded and the friction action which has a role. important in the present invention would not occur
The sieves associated with the beater rotors are mounted so as to vibrate, either in the plane of the sieve, or by making an angle with respect to the latter o The sieve 57 (freezes 1 and 6)

   is mounted in a rectangular frame 64, the outwardly facing U-section members 58 and 59 of which are fixed along the lower and upper ends, respectively, of the screen. These U-shaped elements are capable of slidably receiving protrusions 60 and 61 carried by tubes 62 which are mounted so as to slip freely on square support rods 63, the ends of which are introduced into. housings 66 in the form of boxes (fig.

   6) mounted on the opposite sides of the housing 11 of the harvester The introduction of the protrusions 60 and 61 in the elements 58 and 59 of U-section of the screens, the introduction of the tubes 62 on the support rods 63, and the introduction of the rods 63 into their support housings 66 'are effected with enough play to allow the entire screen to vibrate on its supports under the beating action of the rotor vanes acting on the other face of the mass of creeping plants passing over the sieve - If desired, we can provide.

   for screens, common embodiments of resilient or mechanically driven supports to enable vibratory movement of the latter during threshing operations.
This vibratory movement of the screens aids the threshing action and

 <Desc / Clms Page number 9>

 also expels material which would otherwise tend to adhere to the tat. Peas which are shelled by the action of threshing paddles and sieves on the mass of creeping plants are shaken out of the creeping plants by the vibration to which they are subjected., Pass through the openings of sieves or grids and fall onto a conveyor belt 73 (Figs. 1, 1A, 4 and 5), along with some pods with shell and other debris.



   As the creepers ascend past the uppermost rotor of the first series 55 of threshing rotors (fig. 1), a transfer rotor 67 with paddles, one of which is mounted with its axis offset-slightly rearward in relation to each series of threshing rotors, directs the ascending mass of the creeping plants rearward, on a transfer grid 65. The grid 65 is formed of several arched rods 68 which extend from the upper end of the rear screen of each series of threshing rotors (except the last) to the front screen of the series immediately behind it.

   The creepers pass through the rear wall of the grate 65 where they are driven by the uppermost paddle rotor 69 of a second set 70 of rotors and from there are directed down into the space left between the second series 70 of threshing rotors F and the front screen 71 of the latter.



   The front sections of the second-in-series 70 vane threshing rotors drive the creepers downward past the second sieve 71 similar to the first sieve 57 previously described. During this downward movement, the creepers again are subjected to the threshing action of the paddles and sieve so that the peas are shelled and shaken in the same manner as previously described, with a view to their upward displacement under the impulses of the first series or front series F of the paddle rotors.



   Additional series of beater rotors, similar in their sets and provided with transfer devices, sieves and guide grids associated with them, are provided over the entire length of the machine as required. In the illustrated embodiment of the machine, five sets of threshing rotors are used in all. Since all of these sets and the transfer rotors, screens and screens associated with them are generally similar to those described above, it will be unnecessary to give a further description.



   At times, the propellant effect of the threshing rotors and the retarding effect of the sieves opposed to it causes some of the creeping plants to be bundled or rolled up into an elongated cigar-shaped mass. If such a bundle were to pass all the way through the machine it would not be subjected to proper threshing action and would retain an appreciable percentage of intact peas when it was removed from the machine. In order to minimize the formation of such bundles and to prevent them, when they form, from passing entirely through the machine, devices are intended to come into contact with a protruding part of the mass of the machine. creeping plants crossing the threshing zone to change its speed relative to the rest of the mass.

   This operation is carried out in the illustrated embodiment of the invention with the aid of protruding devices comprising several retardation plates 72 arranged obliquely (figs 1, 2 and 5), plates mounted at the alternately opposite ends of the upper grids. 65,
By delaying the advance of one end of such a mass of coiled creeping plants, the plates 72 force the opposite or free end of the boot to be attacked before the delayed end, by the rotor. -the highest beater in the series immediately following. This

 <Desc / Clms Page number 10>

 runs the bundle of crawling plants in a longitudinal direction to a position perpendicular to the axes of the threshing rotors.

   In such a position, the subsequent inaction of the threshing rotors on this bundle attacks the reed, creeping plants and beats it to bring out the peas therein. It has been observed that when such devices are used with the end of the bundle forward to prevent bundles of creeping plants from passing intact through the threshing zone, an appreciable increase in the percentage of peas harvested * is obtained. TRANSPORT AND CLEANING MECHANISM.



     As the mass of creeping plants moves up (Fig. 1A) along the rear part of the last set or rear set of threshing rotors and nears its upper end. the threshed creepers are released to fall backward on the horizontally aligned row of smaller paddle rotors constituting the discharge conveyor G. These discharge rotors are spaced from each other so that the pallets of the Neighboring rotors are preferably separated by a distance very nearly approaching the maximum diameter of the threshing peas, although the distance between such exhaust rotors may be slightly smaller than such a diameter without a significant amount of peas has deteriorated.

   It is desirable that the discharge rotors be disposed very close to each other to prevent creeping plants from wrapping around them and thus hamper their proper operation. The discharge rotors are driven to rotate in the opposite direction of the feed and threshing rotors, so as to transport creeping plants backwards and unload them in the field. The evacuation rotors agitate the mass of creeping plants passing through them as they carry it backwards, tending to shake it to bring out any shelled peas or open pods which may be drawn into the mass. These peas and pods descend between the adjacent vane discharge rotors and fall onto a sheet 107 which is mounted a very short distance from the discharge rotors.

   The lower part of the discharge rotors pulls the peas and pods forward on the sheet 107 which ends inside the housing and above the rear part of a main conveyor belt 73. From l At the front end of the sheet 107, the peas and pods fall under the effect of gravity on the principal conveyor belt 73.



   The main conveyor belt 73 is mounted in the longitudinal direction of the machine and extends horizontally below the entire length of the five sets of threshing rotors to drive unshelled or incompletely threshed peas and pods which fall through. - to the screens and screens described above provided for this purpose.



  The term "pods with the pods" as used herein also applies to all pods from which the peas have not been removed.



  A certain amount of leaves and other debris, most of which are of lower specific gravity than peas and pods with the pods, or which are at least more easily carried by a jet of air than peas and pods without pods, also fall on the main belt conveyor 73 ,. This debris, along with the shelled peas and unshelled pods, is entrained rearward and is discharged over the rear end of the main conveyor 73, which is separated from the front end of a second short conveyor 80 with belt., by an interval 81.



   A first fan 78 is provided (fig. 1A, 3 and 4) provided with a discharge duct 79 serving to send a jet of air directed angularly upwards and backwards in the gap 81. This air jet is of sufficient intensity to expel the relatively smaller debris

 <Desc / Clms Page number 11>

   gers such as empty pods leaves $ dust etc. up and back, quite beyond a first waste conveyor belt 82.

   The first waste conveyor belt 82 is connected, at its front end, to the frame 10 of the machine by two split rods 82a mounted to pivot (fig. 1A and 3) which allow limited vertical and longitudinal adjustment. of the lower front end of the inclined waste belt 82. The rear end of this first waste belt 82 is connected., With a view to its vertical adjustment, to two split links 86 pivotally mounted on a support fixed to the discharge conveyor G.



   The speed of the air jet can be controlled by means of an adjustable flap 96 mounted in the discharge duct of the first fan 78. The speed of the jet and the position of the front end of the first waste belt 82 are adjusted. so that the peas and solid pods (which are of greater specific gravity than most of the waste) fall through the air stream directly onto the second horizontal conveyor belt 80.

   It should be noted that to facilitate this initial separation, the forward end of the first waste conveyor belt 82 is such that it can be mounted sufficiently rearward of the discharge end of the belt. main conveyor 73, to be beyond the path of peas and shelled pods falling through the air jeta Most of the peas and pods passing through the air jet fall directly onto the second belt conveyor 80.



   Material of intermediate specific gravity, such as pieces of stems and other material including a few peas and solid pods fall out of the air stream on the waste conveyor belt 82.



  This belt 82 vibrates under the action of a rear upper non-circular section roller 84, the front roller section 83 of the belt 82 being circular. The vibration of the belt 82 causes most of the peas and many of the solid pods which fall on it to roll down the belt and fall onto the second conveyor belt 80.



   A rotary belt slider 85 is mounted to rub against the lower or return run of the waste conveyor belt 82. The slider 85 has a rotating hub to which two rubbing paddles 87 are attached and can be rotated to move the outer edges of the paddles 87 in the opposite direction to the movement of the lower run of the first return belt 82. The second conveyor belt. carrier 80 is provided to discharge the material therein rearward, beyond a second gap 88 and onto a narrow lateral conveyor belt 89 (Fig. 1A).

   A second fan 90 is mounted to send a jet of air upwards and backwards in the second gap 88 to expel, backwards and out of the machine :) any lighter material which can remain on the second conveyor belt 80.



  The intensity of this jet of air, like that of the first, is regulated so that the relatively heavier shelled peas and full pods fall through the jet of air onto the side conveyor belt 89, while the waste relatively light weight are driven rearward either entirely out of the machine $ or onto a second inclined waste conveyor belt 91 similar to the previously described belt 82.



   The front end of the second waste conveyor belt 91 is mounted on two hinged split links 91a to allow limited vertical and longitudinal adjustment., Similarly to the first waste conveyor belt 82 and the rear upper end. of the second waste conveyor belt is connected)) to allow vertical adjustment to two split and articulated links 106 similar to the links 86. A fixed rubbing paddle 92, which can comprise

 <Desc / Clms Page number 12>

 carrying a strip of rubbery material for belts mounted to be in cleaning contact with the lower strand of the second waste conveyor belt 91.

   With certain kinds of crops.9 the best results are obtained by removing the first waste conveyor belt 82 completely or shortening it so that it extends only enough to protect the transverse take-up belt 89 from falling waste. out of the first jet of air
The side conveyor belt 89 (fig. 1A, 4 and 5) is designed to discharge the transported material and consists mainly of shelled peas and solid pods ;, in a hopper 93, the lower end of which opens into the lower end of housing 94 of elevator 1.

   An elevator belt 95, provided with the usual buckets or blocks 97, brings up the peas and shelled pods from hopper 93 and unloads them from the upper end of the elevator into the open rear inlet end of the drum perforated K, rotating and cylindrical, serving to separate the pods (fig. 2, 4 and 5).



   Drum K is mounted along one side of the machine, somewhat above the inclined upper portion 52 of the feed plate 45. The perforations drilled in the peripheral wall of the drum K are such that the shelled peas can pass through them, but the pods without the pods which may be in the drum are retained.

   A helical conveyor vane 98 is attached to the inner side of the peripheral wall of the drum to transport the material therein progressively forward, so that the pods with no pods, which are unable to pass through them. perforations made in the peripheral wall, are brought forward in the rotating drum and discharged through its open outlet end 99 located at the front. An inclined chute 100 for returning the pods (FIG. 2) is mounted to receive the unshelled pods thus discharged from the drum and to bring them back by gravity (FIG. 2) into the machine.

   The pods are evacuated from the lower end of the chute onto the mass of the creeping plants as they pass over the upper part 52 inclined towards the rear (fig. 1) of the feeding plate. 45.



   A hopper L is mounted below the pod separation drum K to collect the peas passing outward through the perforations of the drum K. Two discharge control slides 102 serve to control the flow of the peas coming from them. of the hopper L in the usual containers.? shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, containers which can be placed on a platform 103 provided for this purpose above the wheel 104.

   A folding platform 105 is hingedly mounted on the side of the machine in the vicinity of the hopper L to provide the necessary working space for the operator.The platform can be folded down along the side of the platform 103 to reduce the load. width of the machine when moving it along a path or a major artery,
If desired, the arrangement of the hopper L can be such that it discharges the peas in an elevator serving to raise them and discharge them in a carriage moved alongside the machine. This practice is common with other types of threshing machines and does not form part of the present invention; it has therefore neither been represented nor described here.



   TRAINING MECHANISM.



   The drive mechanism of the machine shown mainly consists of a series of chain wheels, chains, pulleys and belts. From chain wheels fixed to the take-up shaft

 <Desc / Clms Page number 13>

 force (fig. 1, 2, 3 and 5) of the speed reducer 15 driven by the motor 12, the two main drive chains 17 and 18 pass respectively around the chain wheels 110 and 111.



   The chain wheel 111 is mounted on the right end of a countershaft 112 which extends across the machine housing 11 and is provided with a chain wheel 113 (figs 1, 2 and 4 ) on its other end or left end. A chain 114 passes around the chain wheel 113 and also around a chain wheel 115 located on the left end of the lower most vane rotor-rotor 54 of the first series F of rotors.

   The lowest rotor-threshing shaft of each series of rotors has., On its left end, a double chain wheel; therefore, by means of several short drive chains 117 (fig- 1, 1A and 4), each of these double chain wheels (with the exception of the one located furthest back) drives the chain wheel following it and (except for the forward-most chain wheel) is driven by the chain wheel preceding it (fig. 1 and 1A).



   A double chain wheel 118 (fig. 1A) and 4) is mounted on a short shaft provided on the left side of the main housing 11, near its rear end. Part of this double chain wheel can be driven by the upper strand of the short drive chain 117 located furthest back. The other part of the double chain wheel 118 drives a chain 119 which passes under a chain tensioner 120, around a chain wheel 121 mounted on the shaft of the rear drive roller 75 of the conveyor belt. main 73 and also around a chain wheel 122 mounted on the shaft of the front roller of the second conveyor belt or rear conveyor belt 80.



   A grooved pulley 127 is also mounted on the shaft of the front roller of the rear conveyor 80 and a belt 128, of V section, passes around this pulley 127 and also around a pulley 129 which is mounted on the shaft. of the lower front roller of the first waste conveyor belt 82. From there, the belt 128 passes around a tension pulley 130, around a pulley 131 mounted on the shaft of the front roller of the second waste conveyor belt 91 and around a grooved pulley 132 (fig. 3) which drives a bevel pinion 133 (fig. 1A). The bevel gear 133 is engaged with a second bevel gear 134 mounted on the shaft of one of the rollers supporting the narrow side conveyor belt 89.

   From pulley 132, the belt passes under a tension pulley 135 and returns to its drive pulley 127.



   To drive the two fans 78 and 90, a large grooved pulley 137 is attached to the lower threshing rotor shaft of the rearmost series of threshing rotors (more clearly shown in fig. 1A). ) From this pulley 137 descends a belt 138 which passes around a relatively small pulley 139 wedged on the shaft of the first fan 78, goes up from there to pass over a tension pulley 140, comes down again and passes around a pulley 141 wedged on the shaft of the second fan 90 and, 9 from there, passes over a tension pulley 142 and goes up at an angle forwards to return to the large drive pulley 137.



   On the right-hand end of each shaft of the paddle rotors, except the lowest one, there is a double chain wheel. The lower shafts and the shafts of the transfer rotors associated with them have single chain wheels mounted on their right end. A series of short chains 143.



  (fig. 3) connect the chain wheels of the threshing and transfer rotors to those immediately above and below them, so that all these threshing and transfer rotors are thus driven to the same speed and in the same direction.

 <Desc / Clms Page number 14>

 



   From a chain wheel 147 attached to the left end of the shaft of the uppermost vane rotor of the rear series of which this rotor is a part (freezes 1A and 7), a chain 148 passes to the before and around a chain wheel 149 attached to the shaft of the upper roller of elevator I.



  The chain 148 passes under the larger chain wheel 150 of a triple chain wheel 151 mounted on a short shaft attached to one side of the housing 11.



  Thus, the chain 148 drives the elevator I and causes the triple chain wheel 151 to turn at reduced speed.



   A chain 152 passes around a second chain wheel 153 of the triple chain wheel 151 and from there descends obliquely rearwardly, on either side of the rear upper threshing rotor shaft and around it. a chain wheel 154 attached to the forward shaft of the rotor 155 of the discharge conveyor G. The remaining vane discharge rotors are connected to this rotor 155 by a suitable drive 157 by chain and sprocket wheels. chain (fig. 3) to drive all the evacuation rotors at the same speed and in the same direction as the rotor 155 most forward of the latter.



   A chain 158 (fign lA and 7) passes around the third and smaller chain wheel 159 of the triple chain wheel 151 and also passes around the chain wheel 160 of a combined chain wheel member 161 and grooved pulley. This element 161 is mounted so as to rotate freely on the shaft of the rear upper vane rotor-beater. A chain tensioner 162 is used to compensate for chain flutter 158.



   To rotate the perforated pod separation drum K (fig. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7), a circular section belt 164, made of rubbers passes around the grooved pulley 165 of the combined element 161 with wheels at chain and pulley. The lower run of the belt 164 extending from the pulley 165 passes around a pulley 167 arranged horizontally (fig. 1A, 2 and 7) and pivotally mounted on the arm projecting laterally from an angled support. 168 (fig.

   2) which, in turn, is attached to the side of the elevator housing 94. From there, the belt 164 passes horizontally under the perforated pod separation drum K and then rises and passes around it. From the inner side of the drum, the belt 164 descends and passes under a pulley 169 arranged vertically and mounted. to pivot on the other leg of the angle bracket 168 opposite to that carrying the horizontal groove pulley 167 and from there the belt 164 returns to the groove pulley 165 of the combined element 161.



   The upper main drive chain 17 from the speed reducer 15 (figs 1 and 3) passes around a chain wheel 110 mounted on the right end of the shaft of the transfer vane rotor 50 and power supply. A 171 series of double chain wheels and short chains (pins 2 and 3) is provided, also on the right side of the machine to drive the E series feed rotors in the same way as described. previously about the vertical series of paddle rotors.



   A chain wheel 172 (Fig. 1) is mounted on the left end of the uppermost paddle feed rotor shaft, and a chain 173 passes around the chain wheel 172 and around it. one of the chain wheels of a double chain wheel 174, mounted on the pivoting support shaft 26 supporting the arms 19 and 20 of the lifting reel (fig <- 2). A chain 180 passes around the second chain wheel of the double chain wheel 174 (pins 1 and 2) and also around a chain wheel 181 mounted to drive the lifting reel B.

   A chain wheel 182 (fig. 1) is also attached to the shaft of the lowermost feed rotor and a chain 183 passes around this chain wheel, a chain tensioner 184, a chain wheel. chain wheel attached to an intermediate shaft

 <Desc / Clms Page number 15>

 185 and a chain wheel 187 attached to the shaft of the small transfer roller 44, located just aft of the top of the toothed shearing drum G. A chain 188 also passes around the chain wheel mounted on the intermediate shaft 185 and around the chain wheel 28 of the pickup drum C.



   To raise the lifting reel B, the collecting drum C and the parts associated with them in an inoperative position., A cable 190 is connected to the end extending towards the rear of the arm 20 of the lifting reel (fig = . 1). The cable 190 passes under the pulley 191 mounted on the frame 10 of the threshing machine and from there to the front where it is connected to a suitable actuating device, not shown, to allow control by the driver of the tractor.
The chains 193 and 194 connect the support arms 19 and 20 supporting the lifting reel and spring balanced to the articulated end housings 30 and 31 (similarly balanced) of the collecting drum C,

   so that when the tractor driver swings the lifting roller B upwards to bring it to the rest position, the pickup roller C also swings upwards together with the latter. The chains are of sufficient length so that, when the lifting roller B is lowered to bring it into the working position, (as shown in figs 1, 3 and 4),

   the chains hang loosely and do not interfere with the normal pivoting of the collector drum housings 30 and 31 when their load wheels 33 and 34 follow the irregularities of the ground over which they pass
 EMI15.1
 '' Oh'C'IOIV1VF.EnTT
Assuming that the machine is located on one side of a field of peas in which the latter are more or less entangled on the ground as is usually the case in such fields, one preferably turns the front of the machine so that the initial "swath" is cut with the left side of the machine following along an edge of the pea field, so that the vertical knife D cuts a strip of creeping plants the desired "swath" width indicated at X in Figure 2.

   Then, the machine is preferably operated so that the knife D remains on the unharvested side of the successive rows to be cut.
The various mechanisms are driven as previously described by the motor 12 connected by the usual clutch devices (not shown) to drive the main control chains 17 and 18.

   The tractor operator lowers the lifting reel B to bring it to the desired set position by releasing the cable 190 by the desired amount. When the lifting reel is thus lowered, the chains 193 and 194 are of sufficient length to lower the collecting drum to the position in which it is supported on its wheels 33 and 34 bearing on the solo.
The teeth of the lifting reel B penetrate the mass of creeping plants as such reels usually do, and by lifting creeping plants slightly and combing them backwards, they cause the trailing plants to occupy a position such that the fingers 29 (eccentrically supported) of the collecting drum C, in their extended position on the front of the drum, can penetrate the mass,

   engage the creeping plants and bring them up and back over the top of the drum. Thanks to the springs 198 and 199, a part of the weight of the whole collection drum remains unbalanced and this unbalanced weight is supported by the wheels 33 and 34 of the collection drum.

 <Desc / Clms Page number 16>

 



   When operating on level ground, the articulated arm 35, on which the right wheel supporting the pickup drum is mounted, abuts against the upper end turned towards the outside of the part 38 of U section, to support the collection drum with the lower end of the mower blade D located just above ground level, and to lift it when the wheel passes over a bump in the ground. However, if the wheel 34 passes over a hole or depression in the ground, the lever arm 35 allows the wheel to swing downward and stay in contact with the creeping plants below it.

   This is important with some creepers which are difficult to cut, since the pressure of the wheels tends to keep the creepers to the side of the field and drag away uncut trailing plants which might bundle up. in front of the mower blade in the indentations separating the teeth of said blade.



   The vertical cutter D cuts the creepers along the right side of the "swath" being harvested, and the forward beveled sides of the end hinged housings 30 and 31 of the drum. pick-up guide the sides of the mass of creeping plants laterally inward on the pick-up drum. As the creepers are measured over the top of the collecting drum (Figs. 1 and 2), the transfer roller 44 prevents creepers from descending onto the rear part of the collecting drum. and directs them rearward onto the forward curved apron 123 located at the lower end of the feed housing 32.

   In this place, the creeping plants are grasped between the plate 45 and the lowest feed rotor of the series E of these rotors. The tension exerted on the trailing plants by the action of the feed rotors, at which the action of the fingers of the drum is added-, detaches the creeping plants from the dirty
When the fingers 29 pass rearwardly beyond the upper part of the drum, they enter their slots to come flush with the upper rear part of the drum, thus releasing the creeping plants.

   Eventually, stubborn and firmly rooted creepers stubbornly resist the combined pulling action of the collecting drum and feed rotors, but the leaves and pods are separated from these trailing plants and are brought up into the air. the beater mechanism with the other creeping plants. The loose mass of the creeping plants is brought upward between the rear portions of the feed rotors and the rigid and smooth feed housing plate 45.



   The smoothness and rigidity of plate 45 minimizes any threshing action the feed paddles may have on creeping plants so that the latter are moved upward with minimal loss of weight and strain. pods. The creeping plants are subjected to very little vibration during this upward progression and, therefore, the pods and peas which may be separated during this progression are, for the most part, pulled upward with the creeping plants. When the creepers reach the top of the vertical series E of the feed rotors, the feed and transfer rotor 50 directs the creepers back over the sloping top end part 52 of the plate. 45.



   During this upward movement of the creeping plants beyond the feed rotors the pallets 51 inclined inward on the plate 45 compact the mass of the creeping plants laterally to a width corresponding approximately to the length of the threshing rotors of the series following these threshing rotors. When the creepers descend over the upper part 52 inclined towards the ar-

 <Desc / Clms Page number 17>

   behind the plate 45 of the feed casing, they are directed by the latter onto the curved grid 56 which is substantially tangent (fig. 1 and 6) and from there, into the space left between the grid 56 and the rotor. inferior paddle beater 54 of the first vertical series 55.



   At this point, the creeping plants are grasped between the paddle rotor 54 and the grid 56 and are drawn up between the rear parts of the successive superimposed paddle rotors of this series and the first screen 57 mounted freely. The sieve 57 is vibrated by the beating of the paddle rotors against the opposite part of the mass of creeping plants opposite this sieve. The roughness of the sieve surface tends to retard the progression of the mass of crawling plants by the rotors.

   Thus, the mass of the creeping plants is beaten and rubbed, which tends to cause the pods of the peas which it contains to burst open and to shake the shelled peas out of the mass through the openings made in the sieve 57 A weak The proportion of pods without pods is also knocked off the creeping plants and passes through the openings of the sieve.



   The self-cleaning vibratory movement of the screens, which is obtained, in the mechanism illustrated by the action of the paddles on the freely mounted screens., Can of course be made more effective by mechanical vibratory devices of many types. well known. The Applicant has also found that, during operation, the screens of the machine can be cleaned effectively simply by light brushing carried out with a mechanically actuated brush or even by hand. Mechanically actuated devices are provided to brush or vibrate the screens when necessary, in the case of crops having an abnormal tendency to clog the screens.



   As they pass over the top of the first sieve 57, the creepers are attacked by the first transfer beater rotor 67 by which they are sent backward on the arched stems 68 of the first sieve. upper 65. At this point, they are driven down again under the inaction of gravity and they enter the gap between the second screen 71 and the front part of the second vertical series of threshing rotors. valley where the threshing process described in connection with the first series of threshing rotors is repeated.

   The lower grid 56, located below the second set of rotors = threshers, is similar to the one below the first set, and guides the creepers around the lower part of the lowest rotor and into the space left between the rear part of the series and the sieve which is separated from it ,, Thus. the creeping plants progress through the machine following a winding path, down along the front part, up along of the rear part of the successive series of beater rotors and passing over the transfer grids 65 connecting one of the series of beater rotors to the next.



   The screens can be inspected by opening or removing the door panels 16 provided in the side face of the casing 11. The door panels are of sufficient width to allow the ends of the two screens which are mounted between neighboring series of rotors to be unmasked. - beaters, so that the screens can be extracted by sliding them to allow inspection or cleaning or to unmask the rotors associated with them *
As the creepers pass over the arched upper grids 65 located between the neighboring sets of threshing rotors, a retarder plate 72, disposed obliquely and extending outward in the path of the threshers. creeping plants,

   is struck by the end of any mass of creeping plants placed

 <Desc / Clms Page number 18>

 in roll which may have been formed by the action on the creeping plants of the opposing fcrces of progression and retardation of the pallets and the sieves respectively.

   When one of the ends of such a roll of creeping plants is thus delayed by coming into contact with the plate 72, the free end of the roll advances on the grid 65 and is gripped by the rotors. threshers of the neighboring series of these rotors beyond the retardation plate, so that the creeping plant roller presents one of its ends forward and that this end is introduced before the other into the space created between the new series of rotors-beaters and the screen associated with it. The creeping plants of the roller are thus subjected to the threshing action of the beater rotors and screens which follow.



   When the threshed creeping plants reach the upper part of the rear side of the rearmost set of threshing rotors (fig. LA), the action of gravity tends to make them fall backwards onto the conveyor d. 'evacuation G, the rotors of which transport the creeping plants to the rear and evacuate them through an outlet 76 into the field. During their displacement towards the rear, the evacuation rotors constantly vibrate the beaten crawling plants, so that shelled peas or loose pods which they entrain are shaken and descend between the neighboring discharge rotors onto the plate 107 below, from where they are driven by the rotors of the discharge conveyor G and fall from the front end of the sheet onto the main conveyor 73.



   The peas threshed out of the creepers as they pass through the machine pass through the various screens or screens adjacent to the threshing rotors and fall onto the main conveyor belt 73 which carries them rearward and throws them from its rear end and downwards onto the air jet exiting the gap 81 formed between the first and the second conveyor.

   The speed of the air jet exiting the first air supply gap 81 and the position of the forward end of the first waste conveyor belt 82 are controlled and adjusted so that the paths of the peas and unshelled pods falling on the jet brings them right onto the waste conveyor belt 82 and the second horizontal conveyor belt $ On Air jet blows very light debris COIT- picking up pieces of leaves from dust , etc., entirely beyond the first conveyor belt 82, as the intermediate specific gravity material including a few peas and unshelled pods falls out of the stream onto the waste conveyor belt 82.



  The conveyor belt 82 drives this waste backwards and unloads it onto the second waste conveyor belt 91. Vibration of the waste conveyor belt forces any shelled peas and solid pods which may be expelled therein to roll towards it. down and falling onto the second horizontal conveyor belt 80.



   The second conveyor belt 80 sends the material it carries past the second gap 88, where the jet of air from the second fan 90 is controlled, and where the position of the forward end of the conveyor belt 91 debris is adjusted so that the normal paths of the shelled peas and solid pods through the second jet of air do not bring them onto the second debris conveyor belt 91, but cause them to fall directly onto the side conveyor 89. The upper ends of the conveyor belts 82 and 91 can be adjusted to control the inclination of the belts by means of adjustment devices constituted respectively by the slotted links 86 and 106.

   This adjustment is easily done by the driver and is often required several times a day, depending on the humidity or other characteristics of the creeping plants.

 <Desc / Clms Page number 19>

 



   In many cases, better pea recovery is achieved by completely eliminating the first waste conveyor belt, or it can be made shorter than shown, for example, of such length as Only the side conveyor belt 89 is protected from the waste falling out of the first jet of air. It is also envisaged that the direction of movement of the first waste conveyor belt is in the reverse direction. material falling therein is transported forward and back to the main conveyor belt.

   With any of these arrangements, the jet of air exiting the first blower 78 expels very light waste towards the quarry, either alone or with the subsequent help of the second jet of air to a point behind the beyond the side conveyor 89.



  As the lighter debris which tends to obstruct the air stream thus being expelled, the relatively heavier but cleaner debris can be removed more effectively by the second jet of air.



   The shelled peas and full pods are conveyed laterally by the receiving belt 89 extending transversely and are sent to the hopper 93 of the elevator, from where the elevator 1 makes them.
 EMI19.1
 go up and eâ..déèJ: largS '¯in -1, e - tarhQo "t:!. r.-i {- de" s-épâraM..on. back 'pods-.



   The pod separation drum K (Figs. 2 and 7) is driven by the belt 164 in one direction to rotate the helical conveyor 98, which is mounted therein, so as to advance the contents of the drum towards the end. exit before the latter.

   The shelled peas pass through the perforations of the drum K, while the pods, which are too large to pass through the perforations., Are carried forward and discharged through the open front end of the drum into the inclined return chute 100 (figo 2). The pods slide under the action of gravity at the bottom of the chute 100 and fall on the mass of the creeping plants passing downwards and backwards over the upper part 52 inclined towards the rear of the plate 45, in order to make a second pass through the threshing machine.



   The interior of the machine can be accessed through removable door panels 16 provided in the side wall of the casing and which (figs 3 and 6) open into the space located between neighboring sieves The sieves can be removed to allow cleaning or to unmask the paddle rotors by sliding the end of the screens out of the opening of the door 16, to release the U-section elements 58 and 59 provided on the screen, out of the protrusions 60 and 61 located on the tubular support members 62. The extraction of the screens releases the rods
 EMI19.2
 63 which support the grids' (figa 6) to allow their lifting out of their box-shaped housings 66, whereby the lower grids are released to allow their extraction.



   When transporting the machine along a road or major artery, the tractor operator oscillates the lifting reel B to bring it to the raised position by means of the strands of the cable 190 extending forward (figo 1). Chains 193 and 194 simultaneously oscillate upwardly of the pickup drum assembly, lifting wheels 33 and 34 out of contact with the ground. By oscillating
 EMI19.3
 1a. Hinged platform 105 upwards, to bring it into a vertical position along the side of the machine. and by fixing it in such a position by a suitable locking device (not shown), the width of the machine can be reduced to avoid traffic jam.



   It is obvious that the preferred embodiment described above and shown in the accompanying drawing is given only as an indication and not limiting and that various modifications can be made thereto.

 <Desc / Clms Page number 20>

 sars therefore depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.



   CLAIMS.



   1. A threshing machine comprising: one or more perforated supports or screens intended to support creeping plants and mounted so as to delimit a path through a housing, a device for advancing the dwarf peas towards said housing, a certain number of rotors mounted laterally in the vicinity of one another and spaced from the support (s), and finally, drive devices for rotating the aforementioned rotors in order to move the crawling plants along the path delimited by the one or more supports referred to above for the purpose of shelling and removing the peas from said creeping plants.


    

Claims (1)

2. A threshing machine according to claim 1, having mounting devices for supporting said screens to obtain limited vibratory displacement. 3. A threshing machine according to claim 1, in which the drive devices are mounted to rotate the rotors so as to bring the successive vanes of neighboring rotors in a position substantially perpendicular to the aforementioned support, to advance the plants. crawling and beating them to get the peas out. 4. A threshing machine according to claim 1, having guide devices extending between two of the aforementioned screens and remote from a terminal rotor of a series of rotors. 5. A threshing machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotors are separated from each other by a distance which is not less than the diameter of the product to be threshed, and which is not greater than 38 mm. 6. A threshing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a number of said perforated supports for creeping plants are mounted so as to define a path through a casing carried by wheels and in that devices are mounted below the supports to collect peas falling through the openings of these supports 7. A threshing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the perforated trailing plant supports are mounted in said housing parallel and at a distance from each other and in that it comprises devices for advancing the creeping plants. these in the spaces formed between each series of rotors and its neighboring support., and finally, guide devices mounted beyond a terminal rotor of each series of rotors to guide the creeping plants coming from the space provided between one of the aforementioned supports and the rotors adjacent to these towards the space existing between another of these supports and the rotors adjacent to these cio 8. A threshing machine as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 comprising: a feed device provided with a rigid smooth surface extending from the creeper collecting device to a threshing zone located in the casing, the perforated supports intended for creeping plants being mounted in the threshing zone of the abovementioned casing; a series of paddle rotors, the axes of which are mutually parallel, mounted between the aforementioned perforated supports and at a distance from them; finally has driving devices for rotating said feed and threshing rotors in order to advance the creeping plants on said surface., in the remaining space <Desc / Clms Page number 21> between an initial beater rotor and the support which is associated with it., and along the spaces between the beater rotors and the supports, to shell and release the peas located on these creeping plants. 9. A threshing machine according to claim 6, comprising a series of vertical, spaced apart pairs of creeping plant supports (perforated supports of generally planar shape) mounted one behind the other in the housing. aforementioned said rotors being mounted between each pair of creeping plant supports and at a distance from the latter; feeders mounted to guide creeping plants in the space between an initial rotor located at one end of a series of rotors and a support associated therewith; perforated guiding devices interposed between two supports for guiding crawling plants around a rotor located at the opposite end of the series of rotors from the initial rotor; perforated guide devices connecting the neighboring perforated supports of the two successive pairs of the latter to guide the creeping plants from one of the series of rotors to the next; finally, drive devices intended to rotate said rotors in order to advance the creeping plants along a sinuous path delimited between the successive perforated supports and the rotors which are associated with them, to shell and release the peas found on these creeping plants. 10. A threshing machine comprising a row of rotors mounted laterally in the vicinity of a perforated support intended for crawling plants and at a distance from the latter; devices sending creeping plants into the space left between the support and the row of rotors; finally, a synchronous drive device for simultaneously rotating the rotors at the same speed to bring the successive vanes of neighboring rotors in alignment with each other, and then in a position substantially perpendicular to said support, in order to beat and to advance the creeping plants and to bring out the peas. 11. A threshing machine comprising: a first series of threshing rotors; a first perforated support or screen mounted along said rotors and at a distance therefrom; devices introducing a mass of creeping plants into the space provided between the above-mentioned first rotors and the above-mentioned first perforated support; second series of threshing rotors and a second perforated support mounted at a distance from the latter; devices for rotating the rotors of the two sets of rotors with a view to advancing a mass of creeping plants along the spaces left between the rotors and the perforated supports which are associated with them; finally, devices for making the mass of creeping plants pass from a space left between the first series of rotors and the first perforated support, to a space provided between the second series of rotors and the second perforated support. 12. A threshing machine according to claim 11, comprising a pair of screens, mounted one on each side of the aforementioned second series of rotors and at a distance therefrom one end of one of the screens of said pair of aforementioned screens being disposed in the vicinity of an end of the first series of rotors and the first screen, and guide devices mounted between the pair of screens and at a distance from a rotor of the second series of rotors for guiding the creeping plants coming from a space left between one of the sieves of said pair of sieves and its rotors to pass them into the space provided between the other sieve of this pair of sieves and its rotors. 13. A threshing machine according to claim 10 or claim II, \) comprising several series of paddle-beater rotors spaced from one another and arranged in a row in a casing, the rotors of each series being very close. one another ; a pair of sieves mounted between neighboring series of rotors, each of these sieves being spaced <Desc / Clms Page number 22> cé of a neighboring series of twists and of the other sieve of this pair of tabs ;;;} @ sieve mounted on the opposite part of one of said series of this pair of sieves located between said series; a first screen connecting one end of one of the screens of this pair of screens with the corresponding end of the other screen; a second grid connecting the end, opposite to the first grid, of one of the screens of this pair of screens to a corresponding end of the screen on the opposite side of one of said series; devices guiding creeping plants to an initial rotor of an initial series of rotors; devices for simultaneously rotating the aforementioned rotors to advance the creeping plants, coming from this initial rotor along a sinuous path passing through the spaces left between the rotors of said series and said screens and on said grids; devices mounted below the screens and grills to collect the peas which pass through them; finally, devices for unloading crawling plants at the terminal end of the aforementioned sinuous path. 14. A threshing machine comprising: devices connected to a housing for picking up a row of creeping plants from a field; a feed member rigidly supported in said housing and having an overall vertical surface area; a series of paddle feed rotors spaced from said surface, the position of the creeping plant collection device being such that it can introduce the creeping plants into the space left between the feed rotor lower plus and said feed member; finally, devices for rotating the feed rotors in a direction to drive the creeping plants upward between said surface of the feed element and the rotors. 15. A threshing machine according to claim 14, wherein the feed device comprises a curved lower surface, a vertical planar intermediate surface and an inclined upper surface and having devices for advancing the creepers on the threshing floor. curved lower surface of said feed member, a first vane feed rotor mounted to rotate within the curved lower surface of said feed member and, finally, a series of superimposed vane feed rotors mounted above the first rotor, said rotors being located at a distance from said feed element. 16. A threshing machine according to either of claims 6, 10, 11 and 14, comprising a smooth rigid wall mounted in the aforementioned casing, the feed rotors being mounted in the vicinity of (in to distance from) said floor and devices for directing the creeping plants in the space left between an initial rotor of said feed rotors and said wall. 17. A threshing machine according to claim 16, having centrally converging devices extending into the space left between the wall surface and the rotors, and being arranged to contact the creeping plants passing between them. on the opposite sides of their axial line and to compact the mass of crawling plants laterally to bring it to a width corresponding to that of the threshing zone of this housing = 18. A threshing machine as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: a feed plate supported in a feed zone; several fins inclined upwards and towards the center fixed to a base of this plate, the feed rotors being situated at a distance from this plate and these fins; devices for directing rows of creeping plants, collected in the field. 9 to the space left between a lower feed rotor <Desc / Clms Page number 23> and said feed plate; finally, devices for rotating the rotors in one direction in order to drive the creepers along the space left between the plate and the rotors and along the fins to the threshing zone to compact them laterally. plants up to a width corresponding to that of the threshing zone of said housing. 19. A threshing machine according to claim 1, having means for moving said rotors in successive cycles to shell and shake the peas out of the creepers and to pass the creepers along the support from one of said rotors. next. 200 A threshing machine comprising-. devices mounted on a housing for collecting creeping plants from a field; a plurality of axially aligned vane rotors mounted in said housing; a perforated support for creeping plants, mounted along said rotors and away from their pallets; devices for guiding the collected dwarf peas in the space left between the support and one of these rotors; finally, devices for rotating the rotors of said series of rotors simultaneously in the same direction, for shelling and shaking., in order to bring out the peas found in the creeping plants and to pass the plants through them. along the support of one of these rotors to the next 21. A threshing machine comprising.- paddle beater devices mounted in the vicinity of a support or vertical screen; drive devices rotating the paddles of said paddle beater elements successively in the same direction across the aforementioned screen in a continuous manner and away from said screen; finally, devices for bringing the creeping plants into the space left between the paddle-beater devices and the sieve 22. A threshing machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 21 having a transfer device mounted beyond the aforesaid screen in the direction of rotation of the paddles or rotor-threshers, said transfer device being driven by said devices. drive and being able to bring the creeping plants beyond said sieve, to pass them away from the threshing devices. 23. A threshing machine according to claim 22, in which the transfer device is mounted above the aforesaid support and a series of rotors, and is offset with respect to said series of rotors in front of said. support. 24. A threshing machine according to claim 22 or claim 23, having a delay device mounted adjacent to the aforesaid transfer device for contacting and retarding one end of the bundles of creeping plants. bunches being produced by Inaction on the mass of the crawling plants of the rotors and the ta- set. 25. A threshing machine according to claim 1 or claim 21, comprising a device projecting into the mass of the creeping plants on one of the sides of the median part of the latter to be in contact with it. plants and vary the relative speed of progression of the retained part of said plants, in order to direct, consequently towards a longitudinal position, the bunches of creeping plants obtained by the action of the rotors and of the sieve on the mass of the plants crawling, 26. A threshing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising *. drive devices operating the beater devices; devices for introducing a mass of creeping plants into the aforementioned threshing devices; a transporter extends <Desc / Clms Page number 24> dan @ below the beaters devices for entraining the beaten products coming from the creeping plants of the devices for sending a jet of air inclined upwards through the beaten products entrained on the above-mentioned conveyor; a device transporting the waste mounted beyond the path of the peas and pods crossing the aforementioned air jet to be located under a part of said air jet, finally a drive device actuating the device transporting the waste to bring the material which falls there out of the jet of air in a predetermined direction. 27 A threshing machine according to claim 26, having; a first conveyor mounted under the threshing devices; a second conveyor mounted beyond the first conveyor, and at a distance from the latter to constitute a first air sending interval; a receiver mounted beyond the aforementioned second conveyor and at a distance from the latter to constitute a second air sending interval; devices for driving the first and the second conveyor to said receiver; a device for sending a first jet of air through the aforementioned first interval; a device for sending a second jet of air by the aforementioned second interval, these air jets being directed upwards and obliquely in the direction of movement of the conveyors and the length of the aforementioned device conveying the waste being limited for that it is under one of said air jets, 28. A threshing machine according to claim 26, having devices for vibrating the waste conveyor to facilitate the downward rolling of the rounded bodies on the latter and so that they can leave the lower end. of said deohets conveyor with a view to moving towards the receiving device. 29. A threshing machine according to claim 27, wherein the air jets are directed upwards and obliquely in the direction of travel of the conveyors, and a first waste conveyor is mounted under a portion of said first jet. air and protects the receiver from waste falling outside said first air jet; a second waste conveyor is located under a portion of the second air stream, this second waste conveyor being tilted towards the receiver and away from the second conveyor to lie beyond the path of the peas and solid pods passing through the second air jet, drive devices actuate the waste conveyors to transport the waste therein, at a distance from said receiving device, finally, devices vibrate the second waste conveyor to facilitate the bearing of the round bodies towards the receiver. 30. A threshing machine comprising.- devices for inserting the dwarf pea plants into a housing; devices provided in this housing for threshing the creeping plants in order to separate the shelled peas and the full pods from said plants; devices for separating the shelled peas from the full pods; devices for receiving shelled peas separated from the pods; finally, reception and transport devices receiving the pods separated from the shelled peas and returning said pods to the aforementioned threshing devices in order to process them again. 31. A threshing machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a perforated rotary drum mounted above a part of the threshing devices or rotors, said drum having an inlet port and an orifice. inlet and an outlet port, the outlet port being placed above a part of the threshing devices, the openings provided in said drum having a dimension such as to allow the shelled peas to pass through them but that they retain the pods; devices provided in the aforementioned drum, the rotation of which allows the material therein to advance from said inlet opening <Desc / Clms Page number 25> from the drum to the outlet port and there will escape devices for transporting the shelled peas and released pods detached from the creeping plants and sending said peas and pods through said inlet opening of said drum; devices for receiving peas passing through the openings of the drum; finally, an inclined chute mounted in the vicinity of the outlet opening of the drum to receive the channels exiting through said outlet orifice of the drum. \) the lower end of said chute opening into the housing above the threshing devices mentioned above for returning said pods to the threshing devices in order to process them again. 32. A threshing machine as claimed in claim 30, having devices for removing threshed creeping plants, such discharge devices comprising a series of closely juxtaposed paddle elements or rotors forming a plant support. crawling3 devices for driving said pallet elements by using successive curved paths to transport the creeping plants backwards in the field while vibrating the plants to shake the entrained products and to pass the products thus removed. stained down between neighboring vane exhaust elements; and devices located below the discharge elements for entraining the products passing through them. 33A threshing machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a plate situated below the rotors for driving the products passing between them, said plate being placed in the vicinity of the lower parts of the rotors, so that the pallets rotors drive, along said sheet, the products passing between said rotors: 34. A threshing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, having guide devices comprising several rods arranged to constitute an arcuate grid, each of said rods being free to rotate under the frictional contact of the creeping plants. moving thereon, and devices mounted below the support and the grid for driving the threshed products falling through them. 35. A threshing machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a rotary pick-up device comprising eccentrically mounted fingers intended to penetrate and engage in the mass of the creeping plants to exert therein. traction tension a supply rotor mounted in the vicinity of said collecting device devices cooperating with said supply rotor to press the plants against said supply rotor in order to exert on them a tension supplementing the traction tension of the ramas fingers - wise; finally, drive devices connected to simultaneously rotate the pickup device and the feed rotor. 36. A threshing machine according to claim 35, comprising a transfer roller cooperating with the collecting device and the feed rotor to guide the mass of creeping plants from the collecting device in feed contact with the rotor. feeder, and drive devices connected to simultaneously drive the transfer roller, the pickup device and the rotor d!) the feeder to raise the plants over the pickup device and direct them between the feed rotor and its cooperating support device 37. A threshing machine according to claim 35, having a vertical cutting device mounted adjacent to one end of the collecting device and for cutting a strip of creeping plants caught in an unharvested part thereof. <Desc / Clms Page number 26> 38. A threshing machine according to claim 37, comprising an element coming into contact with creeping plants, \! movable vertically and mounted laterally beyond the aforementioned cutting device at a distance from the aforementioned collecting device, this element coming into contact with the creeping plants being able to seize the creeping plants cut by the aforementioned cutting device and freely follow the irregularities of the ground. 39. A machine. threshing according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a main part provided with wheels and being able to be moved along one side of a field of peas to be harvested; a lifting device mounted on the front end of the machine and capable of engaging with a mass of tangled creeping plants in the field; a collecting drum mounted behind the above-mentioned lifting reel and provided with eccentrically mounted fingers capable of penetrating and engaging in a mass of creeping plants detached by this lifting reel; a vertical cutting device mounted in front of one end of the collecting drum and for cutting a strip of creeping plants from an unharvested part of the latter; a feed rotor housing having a smooth vertical wall mounted behind the above-mentioned collecting drum; devices located at the lower end of this feed casing for guiding the mass of creeping plants passing from the collecting drum into the feed casing; a series of paddle feed rotors spaced from said vertical wall a distance sufficient to pass the mass of plants between the paddle feed rotors and said wall; devices provided at the upper end of the feed casing for driving the mass of plants backwards; a vertical series of vane threshing rotors, the lower rotor of which comes into contact with the creeping plants driven backward from said feed casing; a freely mounted sieve device having openings of sufficient size to allow passage of the shelled peas and to support the mass of creeping plants separated from these paddle threshing rotors, by a sufficient distance to pass the mass of plants between threshing rotors and sieve; a vane transfer rotor offset from the plane of the first series of vane threshing rotors and mounted at the end thereof which is opposite the feed rotors; a curved grid over which the creeping plants are driven by the transfer rotor; a second vertical series of threshing rotors receiving the plants passing through the grate, making them descend on one side of this second series of threshing rotors, around the lowest rotor of this series and bringing them up on the other side of said series; a sieve device mounted freely spaced from said second series of threshing rotors by a sufficient distance to allow the mass of creeping plants to pass between said sieves and said rotors; devices for removing threshed plants from the rearmost series of threshing rotors; a conveyor mounted below the threshing rotors and capable of receiving the material comprising shelled peas and unshelled pods having passed through the aforementioned screens; devices for supplying material on said conveyor over an air supply gap; devices for sending an air jet angularly and upwardly through said air sending gap; devices of limited length for receiving and retaining portions of said higher specific weight material including shelled peas and solid pods in the machine, as well as for conveying other portions of said material of weight specific lower on the outside of the machine; devices for raising the higher specific weight portions comprising shelled peas and solid pods; a perforated drum for receiving said parts coming from said lifting device, said drum having perforations the dimensions of which allow the shelled peas to pass and the full pods to be retained; a hopper receiving the peas passing through the perforations of said drum <Desc / Clms Page number 27> bour; a feedback device operating under Inaction of the. gravity mounted near the end of the drum opposite the elevator, the lower end of this return device opening into the interior of the machine in the vicinity of a series of vane threshing rotors; finally, a conveyor device mounted in said drum for transporting the unshelled pods forwardly through said drum and for discharging them into said return device for their further processing in the machine. 40. A machine for harvesting and threshing peas constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.