CA2507537A1 - Crop divider for high clearance vehicle - Google Patents
Crop divider for high clearance vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2507537A1 CA2507537A1 CA 2507537 CA2507537A CA2507537A1 CA 2507537 A1 CA2507537 A1 CA 2507537A1 CA 2507537 CA2507537 CA 2507537 CA 2507537 A CA2507537 A CA 2507537A CA 2507537 A1 CA2507537 A1 CA 2507537A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- roller
- bracket
- bottom end
- internal support
- shaft
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01D63/00—Outside dividers
- A01D63/02—Rotating dividers
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
Abstract
A crop divider device comprises a roller which is supported in an upright orientation ahead of one of the wheels of a high clearance agricultural vehicle, for example a sprayer. The roller is coupled to a bracket which carries the roller on the vehicle at a top end of the roller only so that the bottom end is freely suspended and freely rotatable in its mounted position. A lower portion of the roller is frangible to prevent excessive damage to the crop divider device when particularly large or relatively immoveable debris is encountered in use.
Description
CROP DIVIDER FOR HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a crop divider for placement ahead of the wheels of a high clearance vehicle, for example an agricultural sprayer.
BACKGROUND
Crop dividers are becoming more and more common on high clearance sprayers used for agricultural spraying. These crop dividers or crop savers form a point out in front of the tire that effectively splits the crop to the left or right side preventing the wheel from directly running over it. These devices typically provide a considerable cost savings due to reduction of crop damage. Existing crop dividers are usually ineffective in clearing a wheel path in some standing crops such as canola though. Canola tends to be ripped out of the ground by its roots and forms a pile in front of or on top of these existing crop dividers, causing a wider path of damage than the wheel would have done on its own.
Crop dividers on the market today are after market items only. A farmer cannot buy a high clearance sprayer factory equipped with crop dividers because of liability issues, for example; existing crop dividers have to run close to the ground and directly ahead of the steering tires. These units are usually rigid or spring loaded to deflect upwards in the case of bottoming out into the ground or hitting an obstacle but this does not always work. In some cases the point can hit a flat face rock or a steep drainage ditch slope causing the unit to be bent back underneath the steering tire causing a loss of control resulting in property damage not covered by warranty and possible injury or death.
US patent 6,625,969 to Glazik discloses an example of a crop divider in which a tip body is provided of low friction polymer material to reduce clogging at the tip as the crop divider is advanced through a crop. Despite the low friction material, the shape of the crop divider still tends to snag on entangled and leaning crops so that clogging is not substantially reduced.
US patent 5, 167,110 to Reimer discloses a bean cutting and windrowing apparatus in which opposing ends of the header are provided with row dividers which incorporate rollers. Hydraulic motors are provided for continuously rotating the rollers to guide crop material thereacross in one direction. The rollers are supported at both the top and bottom ends with a skid shoe being provided at the bottom end. In this arrangement the skid shoe still becomes entangled in crop material as in conventional styles of crop dividers. Furthermore, forced rotation of the rollers may cause further damage to the crops as the rollers will frequently be forced to rotate opposite the direction which crops are pulled across the roller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a crop divider device for use with a high clearance agricultural vehicle supported on wheels for rolling movement in a forward working direction along the ground, the device comprising:
an elongate roller extending longitudinally between a top end and a bottom end; and a bracket for supporting the roller on the vehicle in an upright orientation, ahead of one of the wheels of the vehicle;
the bracket being coupled to the' roller adjacent the top end of the roller with the bottom end of the roller being freely suspended therebelow.
The divider according to the present invention is a vast improvement in terms of effectiveness and liability issues. The present invention utilizes an upright roller directly in front of a steering tire that can freely rotate in either direction depending on the way the crop is leaning. This effect does not allow the crop to gather on top of or in front of the divider because it is free to roll in the direction of the least resistance.
The roller is a round hollow pipe, usually formed of plastic or fibre composite. This allows the pipe to be suspended from the top end, in one embodiment, by an external hub on the top end only, with a live shaft fixed to the top portion of the pipe. Another option is a bearing or bushing fixed to the inside of the pipe at the top end and the second bearing or bushing suspended by a dead shaft or spacer approximately half way down inside the pipe. These bottom bearing or bushing positions inside the pipe allow the bottom portion of the pipe to be broken off in the event of hitting an obstacle or bottoming out into the ground. This will allow the tire to simply roll over this piece of pipe (an inexpensive consumable). This will eliminate the dangerous loss of control a rigid divider would cause if it was bent back underneath the steering tire.
By providing rollers which are freely rotating, the rollers are always permitted to rotate in the direction towards the direction which favours the bulk of the material laying thereacross as the roller is advanced through the crop regardless of the direction which the crop is leaning. Furthermore by freely suspending the bottom end of the roller, there is no opportunity for crops to collect and bunch up on a skid shoe to widen the path of crop damage as in the prior art.
Preferably the bracket is coupled to the roller only through the top end such that a full length of the roller is freely suspended below the bracket.
The roller may comprise a hollow plastic tube wherein the bottom end of the roller is enclosed by a conical shaped tip.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a crop divider for placement ahead of the wheels of a high clearance vehicle, for example an agricultural sprayer.
BACKGROUND
Crop dividers are becoming more and more common on high clearance sprayers used for agricultural spraying. These crop dividers or crop savers form a point out in front of the tire that effectively splits the crop to the left or right side preventing the wheel from directly running over it. These devices typically provide a considerable cost savings due to reduction of crop damage. Existing crop dividers are usually ineffective in clearing a wheel path in some standing crops such as canola though. Canola tends to be ripped out of the ground by its roots and forms a pile in front of or on top of these existing crop dividers, causing a wider path of damage than the wheel would have done on its own.
Crop dividers on the market today are after market items only. A farmer cannot buy a high clearance sprayer factory equipped with crop dividers because of liability issues, for example; existing crop dividers have to run close to the ground and directly ahead of the steering tires. These units are usually rigid or spring loaded to deflect upwards in the case of bottoming out into the ground or hitting an obstacle but this does not always work. In some cases the point can hit a flat face rock or a steep drainage ditch slope causing the unit to be bent back underneath the steering tire causing a loss of control resulting in property damage not covered by warranty and possible injury or death.
US patent 6,625,969 to Glazik discloses an example of a crop divider in which a tip body is provided of low friction polymer material to reduce clogging at the tip as the crop divider is advanced through a crop. Despite the low friction material, the shape of the crop divider still tends to snag on entangled and leaning crops so that clogging is not substantially reduced.
US patent 5, 167,110 to Reimer discloses a bean cutting and windrowing apparatus in which opposing ends of the header are provided with row dividers which incorporate rollers. Hydraulic motors are provided for continuously rotating the rollers to guide crop material thereacross in one direction. The rollers are supported at both the top and bottom ends with a skid shoe being provided at the bottom end. In this arrangement the skid shoe still becomes entangled in crop material as in conventional styles of crop dividers. Furthermore, forced rotation of the rollers may cause further damage to the crops as the rollers will frequently be forced to rotate opposite the direction which crops are pulled across the roller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a crop divider device for use with a high clearance agricultural vehicle supported on wheels for rolling movement in a forward working direction along the ground, the device comprising:
an elongate roller extending longitudinally between a top end and a bottom end; and a bracket for supporting the roller on the vehicle in an upright orientation, ahead of one of the wheels of the vehicle;
the bracket being coupled to the' roller adjacent the top end of the roller with the bottom end of the roller being freely suspended therebelow.
The divider according to the present invention is a vast improvement in terms of effectiveness and liability issues. The present invention utilizes an upright roller directly in front of a steering tire that can freely rotate in either direction depending on the way the crop is leaning. This effect does not allow the crop to gather on top of or in front of the divider because it is free to roll in the direction of the least resistance.
The roller is a round hollow pipe, usually formed of plastic or fibre composite. This allows the pipe to be suspended from the top end, in one embodiment, by an external hub on the top end only, with a live shaft fixed to the top portion of the pipe. Another option is a bearing or bushing fixed to the inside of the pipe at the top end and the second bearing or bushing suspended by a dead shaft or spacer approximately half way down inside the pipe. These bottom bearing or bushing positions inside the pipe allow the bottom portion of the pipe to be broken off in the event of hitting an obstacle or bottoming out into the ground. This will allow the tire to simply roll over this piece of pipe (an inexpensive consumable). This will eliminate the dangerous loss of control a rigid divider would cause if it was bent back underneath the steering tire.
By providing rollers which are freely rotating, the rollers are always permitted to rotate in the direction towards the direction which favours the bulk of the material laying thereacross as the roller is advanced through the crop regardless of the direction which the crop is leaning. Furthermore by freely suspending the bottom end of the roller, there is no opportunity for crops to collect and bunch up on a skid shoe to widen the path of crop damage as in the prior art.
Preferably the bracket is coupled to the roller only through the top end such that a full length of the roller is freely suspended below the bracket.
The roller may comprise a hollow plastic tube wherein the bottom end of the roller is enclosed by a conical shaped tip.
Preferably the roller includes an internal support received concentrically therein for supporting the roller on the bracket over a portion of a length of the roller, adjacent the top end thereof, wherein the internal support terminates at a bottom end spaced above the bottom end of the roller.
The roller may include a line of severance formed therein adjacent a bottom end of the internal support, the line of severance defining a frangible portion of the roller therebelow. The internal support is preferably formed of a stronger material than the surrounding roller so that the roller is more likely to be broken than the internal support. In this instance, the more rigid internal support may define a frangible portion of the roller regardless of the use of a line of severance.
Preferably the roller is selectively mounted on the bracket by a threaded fastener for selective separation and replacement of the roller when broken.
The internal support preferably comprises a rigid shaft having bearings supported thereon at spaced positions which rotatably support the roller relative to the bracket. In a first embodiment, he internal support comprises a rigid shaft extending concentrically through a portion of the roller, the shaft being rotatably carried by the bearings for rotation of the shaft relative to the bracket together with the roller.
Alternatively, the internal support comprises a shaft fixed on the bracket and bearings supported at spaced positions on the shaft for rotatably supporting the roller relative to the shaft.
The roller may be provided in combination with a divider member having a leading edge supporting the roller therealong and side panels spanning rearwardly to rear ends spaced apart a width greater than a width of the wheel for receiving the wheel therebetween. In this instance, the roller and divider member are preferably coupled together for pivotal movement together relative to the vehicle.
The roller may be longer between the top end and the bottom end thereof than the leading edge of the divider member for projecting downwardly below the bottom edge of the divider member, closer to the ground in use. The roller can be placed closer to the ground with minimal risk due to its frangible and replaceable 5 nature.
The roller may be provided in combination with a high clearance agricultural sprayer wherein the bracket supports the roller in an upright orientation ahead of one of the wheels of the sprayer.
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the crop divider device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device according to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the device according to Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the roller of a further embodiment of the crop divider device.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying Figures there is illustrated a crop divider device generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The device is particularly suited for attachment to a high clearance agricultural sprayer 12 of the type supported on tall narrow wheels 14 for rolling movement along the ground in a forward working direction. Though more than one embodiment is shown in the accompanying Figures, the common features of all embodiments will first be described herein.
The device 10 is supported on the vehicle by a bracket 16 which is pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent a hub 18 of the wheel with which it is associated. The mounting bracket includes a main arm 20 which extends radially outwardly from the pivot connection so as to be pivotal about a horizontal axis parallel to the wheel axis adjacent an inner side of the wheel. The main arm is slightly longer than a radius of the wheel for mounting a crossbar 22 at the free end thereof which extends laterally across the path of the wheel ahead of the wheel when the main arm is near horizontal. The crossbar 22 is generally V-shaped, being coupled to the main arm 20 at one free end thereof with the opposing free end at the rear of the crossbar being spaced laterally across greater than the width of the wheel. A central apex of the crossbar projects forwardly in the working direction.
A divider member 24 is suspended from the crossbar 22 and generally comprises an upright member having a V-shaped horizontal cross section so as to define a leading edge 26 at the apex which is near vertical at a slight downward and outward incline from the apex of the crossbar. Two side panels 28 of the divider member are also generally upright, having a height which is near a radius of the wheel. The side panels 28 span rearwardly and outwardly from the leading edge 26 to be spaced apart at the rear end thereof greater than the width of the wheel for receiving the wheel therebetween. Suitable suspension 30 is coupled between the bracket 16 and the vehicle frame for supporting the divider member spaced slightly above the ground ahead of wheel.
A mounting plate 32 is coupled to the crossbar 22 at a top end of the divider member 24 to project forwardly therefrom in the working direction. The mounting plate 32 supports a roller 34 thereon for suspending the roller in front of the divider member 24, parallel and spaced ahead of the leading edge 26 thereof.
The roller 34 is elongate, extending in a longitudinal direction between a top end 36 and a bottom end 38. The roller is longer in the longitudinal direction than height of the divider member at the leading edge 26 so as to project downwardly slightly below the bottom edge of the divider member.
The roller generally comprises a hollow plastic tube which is supported for free rotation from the top end 36 so that a full length of the roller through to the bottom end 38 is freely suspended and spaced part from any other components of the divider member 24 or bracket 16 supporting the roller and divider member thereon.
An internal support 40 is received concentrically through the tube through the top end 36 thereof for supporting the roller over a portion of the length thereof. The internal support includes a ridge shaft 42 formed of metal which is stronger than the plastic material of the surrounding roller so that the roller can be broken free from the internal support without damaging the internal support in use.
The shaft 42 further includes bearings 44 supported at longitudinally spaced positions thereon for rotatably supporting the roller 34 in relation to the bracket 16. The shaft 42 of the internal support extends less than half the length of the roller so that the bottom end of the internal support 40 is spaced above the bottom end of the roller 34.
The internal support spans a full interior diameter of the roller adjacent the top end 36 of the roller and near the center of the roller at the bottom end of the internal support 40. A frangible portion 46 of the roller is thus defined below the bottom end of the internal support as this lower unsupported frangible section 46 will tend to break off if a large obstacle is encountered instead of causing further damage to the crop divider device 10. An annular groove 48 is formed in the roller to define a line of severance between an upper portion of the roller and the frangible portion 46 towards the bottom end of the roller. The longitudinal position of the groove corresponds to the bottom end of the internal support 40.
The hollow plastic tube forming the roller 34 is slidable onto the internal support 40 and can subsequently be secured thereon and fixed in a longitudinal direction relative to the internal support by a threaded screw 50 received through cooperating apertures in the roller 34 and a portion of the internal support 40 at the top end of the roller.
Turning now more particularly to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, the internal support comprises the shaft 42 in the form of a rod which is threaded at both ends and received through an aperture in the mounting plate 32 for being bolted in place in fixed relationship with the mounting plate of the bracket. A nut is secured about a top end of the shaft which projects upwardly through the mounting plate, while the bearings 44 are spaced apart on the shaft below the mounting plate.
The bearings are spaced apart at the ends of the shaft so that one of the bearings is located immediately below the mounting plate while the opposing bearing is located adjacent the bottom end of the shaft defining the internal support 40.
Bushings 52 span an annular gap between the bearings on the shaft 42 and the internal diameter of the tube forming the roller 34. A spacer sleeve 54 is received concentrically about the fixed shaft between the bearings 44 to maintain spacing between the bearings when a second nut is threaded to the bottom end of the shaft 42 which clamps the bearings and the spacer sleeve therebetween along the shaft between it and the opposing nut at the top end of shaft.
The cooperating aperture which receives the screw 50 is located in the uppermost bushing 52 at the top end of the roller 34.
Turning now to the embodiment of Figure 4, a bearing housing 56 is coupled to the mounting plate in the form of a collar which mounts the bearings 44 concentrically therein at axially spaced positions. The shaft 42 is carried by the bearings 44 for rotation relative to the mounting plate of the bracket.
Annular bushings 58 are secured about the shaft at spaced positions along the shaft below the bearing housing 56. The bushings 58 are fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith and have a diameter which fully spans the interior diameter of the tube forming the roller. A first one of the bushings 58 is fixed to the shaft immediately below the bearing housing 56 at the top end of the roller 34 while the second bushing is mounted at the bottom end of the shaft 42.
A conical tip 60 is received within the open bottom end of the tube forming the roller 34 for enclosing the bottom. The tip 60 has a smooth outer surface which tapers in diameter from the outer diameter of the roller 34 at the bottom end thereof to a pointed apex spaced below the bottom end of the roller.
Integrally formed with the conical tip 60 is an internal mounting collar 62 having an exterior diameter which is snugly fit within the interior diameter of the roller for mounting the tip onto the bottom end of the roller.
The tip 60 is shown schematically in Figure 1, mounted on the first embodiment of the device 10.
In use, the roller 34 of the device 10 is supported ahead of any crop divider type device so as to be suspended from the top end in an upright orientation for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof which is sloped slightly forwardly and downwardly from the top end. The top end is mounted on the bracket of the divider member so that the roller can be deflected upwardly with the bracket and divider member about the pivot connection on the vehicle when obstacles are encountered.
The lighter plastic material of the roller as compared to the internal support permits the frangible portion 46 to be broken free from the remainder of the crop divider device when particularly large or relatively immoveable debris is encountered to 5 minimize damage and reduce the opportunity for the crop divider device to become entangled below the wheel causing loss of control of the resulting vehicle upon which it is supported. Supporting the roller on bearings which are freely rotatable in either direction results in crops which lean in either direction easily rolling across the leading side of the roller as the roller is advanced forwardly through a crop.
The roller may include a line of severance formed therein adjacent a bottom end of the internal support, the line of severance defining a frangible portion of the roller therebelow. The internal support is preferably formed of a stronger material than the surrounding roller so that the roller is more likely to be broken than the internal support. In this instance, the more rigid internal support may define a frangible portion of the roller regardless of the use of a line of severance.
Preferably the roller is selectively mounted on the bracket by a threaded fastener for selective separation and replacement of the roller when broken.
The internal support preferably comprises a rigid shaft having bearings supported thereon at spaced positions which rotatably support the roller relative to the bracket. In a first embodiment, he internal support comprises a rigid shaft extending concentrically through a portion of the roller, the shaft being rotatably carried by the bearings for rotation of the shaft relative to the bracket together with the roller.
Alternatively, the internal support comprises a shaft fixed on the bracket and bearings supported at spaced positions on the shaft for rotatably supporting the roller relative to the shaft.
The roller may be provided in combination with a divider member having a leading edge supporting the roller therealong and side panels spanning rearwardly to rear ends spaced apart a width greater than a width of the wheel for receiving the wheel therebetween. In this instance, the roller and divider member are preferably coupled together for pivotal movement together relative to the vehicle.
The roller may be longer between the top end and the bottom end thereof than the leading edge of the divider member for projecting downwardly below the bottom edge of the divider member, closer to the ground in use. The roller can be placed closer to the ground with minimal risk due to its frangible and replaceable 5 nature.
The roller may be provided in combination with a high clearance agricultural sprayer wherein the bracket supports the roller in an upright orientation ahead of one of the wheels of the sprayer.
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the crop divider device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device according to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the device according to Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the roller of a further embodiment of the crop divider device.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying Figures there is illustrated a crop divider device generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The device is particularly suited for attachment to a high clearance agricultural sprayer 12 of the type supported on tall narrow wheels 14 for rolling movement along the ground in a forward working direction. Though more than one embodiment is shown in the accompanying Figures, the common features of all embodiments will first be described herein.
The device 10 is supported on the vehicle by a bracket 16 which is pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent a hub 18 of the wheel with which it is associated. The mounting bracket includes a main arm 20 which extends radially outwardly from the pivot connection so as to be pivotal about a horizontal axis parallel to the wheel axis adjacent an inner side of the wheel. The main arm is slightly longer than a radius of the wheel for mounting a crossbar 22 at the free end thereof which extends laterally across the path of the wheel ahead of the wheel when the main arm is near horizontal. The crossbar 22 is generally V-shaped, being coupled to the main arm 20 at one free end thereof with the opposing free end at the rear of the crossbar being spaced laterally across greater than the width of the wheel. A central apex of the crossbar projects forwardly in the working direction.
A divider member 24 is suspended from the crossbar 22 and generally comprises an upright member having a V-shaped horizontal cross section so as to define a leading edge 26 at the apex which is near vertical at a slight downward and outward incline from the apex of the crossbar. Two side panels 28 of the divider member are also generally upright, having a height which is near a radius of the wheel. The side panels 28 span rearwardly and outwardly from the leading edge 26 to be spaced apart at the rear end thereof greater than the width of the wheel for receiving the wheel therebetween. Suitable suspension 30 is coupled between the bracket 16 and the vehicle frame for supporting the divider member spaced slightly above the ground ahead of wheel.
A mounting plate 32 is coupled to the crossbar 22 at a top end of the divider member 24 to project forwardly therefrom in the working direction. The mounting plate 32 supports a roller 34 thereon for suspending the roller in front of the divider member 24, parallel and spaced ahead of the leading edge 26 thereof.
The roller 34 is elongate, extending in a longitudinal direction between a top end 36 and a bottom end 38. The roller is longer in the longitudinal direction than height of the divider member at the leading edge 26 so as to project downwardly slightly below the bottom edge of the divider member.
The roller generally comprises a hollow plastic tube which is supported for free rotation from the top end 36 so that a full length of the roller through to the bottom end 38 is freely suspended and spaced part from any other components of the divider member 24 or bracket 16 supporting the roller and divider member thereon.
An internal support 40 is received concentrically through the tube through the top end 36 thereof for supporting the roller over a portion of the length thereof. The internal support includes a ridge shaft 42 formed of metal which is stronger than the plastic material of the surrounding roller so that the roller can be broken free from the internal support without damaging the internal support in use.
The shaft 42 further includes bearings 44 supported at longitudinally spaced positions thereon for rotatably supporting the roller 34 in relation to the bracket 16. The shaft 42 of the internal support extends less than half the length of the roller so that the bottom end of the internal support 40 is spaced above the bottom end of the roller 34.
The internal support spans a full interior diameter of the roller adjacent the top end 36 of the roller and near the center of the roller at the bottom end of the internal support 40. A frangible portion 46 of the roller is thus defined below the bottom end of the internal support as this lower unsupported frangible section 46 will tend to break off if a large obstacle is encountered instead of causing further damage to the crop divider device 10. An annular groove 48 is formed in the roller to define a line of severance between an upper portion of the roller and the frangible portion 46 towards the bottom end of the roller. The longitudinal position of the groove corresponds to the bottom end of the internal support 40.
The hollow plastic tube forming the roller 34 is slidable onto the internal support 40 and can subsequently be secured thereon and fixed in a longitudinal direction relative to the internal support by a threaded screw 50 received through cooperating apertures in the roller 34 and a portion of the internal support 40 at the top end of the roller.
Turning now more particularly to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, the internal support comprises the shaft 42 in the form of a rod which is threaded at both ends and received through an aperture in the mounting plate 32 for being bolted in place in fixed relationship with the mounting plate of the bracket. A nut is secured about a top end of the shaft which projects upwardly through the mounting plate, while the bearings 44 are spaced apart on the shaft below the mounting plate.
The bearings are spaced apart at the ends of the shaft so that one of the bearings is located immediately below the mounting plate while the opposing bearing is located adjacent the bottom end of the shaft defining the internal support 40.
Bushings 52 span an annular gap between the bearings on the shaft 42 and the internal diameter of the tube forming the roller 34. A spacer sleeve 54 is received concentrically about the fixed shaft between the bearings 44 to maintain spacing between the bearings when a second nut is threaded to the bottom end of the shaft 42 which clamps the bearings and the spacer sleeve therebetween along the shaft between it and the opposing nut at the top end of shaft.
The cooperating aperture which receives the screw 50 is located in the uppermost bushing 52 at the top end of the roller 34.
Turning now to the embodiment of Figure 4, a bearing housing 56 is coupled to the mounting plate in the form of a collar which mounts the bearings 44 concentrically therein at axially spaced positions. The shaft 42 is carried by the bearings 44 for rotation relative to the mounting plate of the bracket.
Annular bushings 58 are secured about the shaft at spaced positions along the shaft below the bearing housing 56. The bushings 58 are fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith and have a diameter which fully spans the interior diameter of the tube forming the roller. A first one of the bushings 58 is fixed to the shaft immediately below the bearing housing 56 at the top end of the roller 34 while the second bushing is mounted at the bottom end of the shaft 42.
A conical tip 60 is received within the open bottom end of the tube forming the roller 34 for enclosing the bottom. The tip 60 has a smooth outer surface which tapers in diameter from the outer diameter of the roller 34 at the bottom end thereof to a pointed apex spaced below the bottom end of the roller.
Integrally formed with the conical tip 60 is an internal mounting collar 62 having an exterior diameter which is snugly fit within the interior diameter of the roller for mounting the tip onto the bottom end of the roller.
The tip 60 is shown schematically in Figure 1, mounted on the first embodiment of the device 10.
In use, the roller 34 of the device 10 is supported ahead of any crop divider type device so as to be suspended from the top end in an upright orientation for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof which is sloped slightly forwardly and downwardly from the top end. The top end is mounted on the bracket of the divider member so that the roller can be deflected upwardly with the bracket and divider member about the pivot connection on the vehicle when obstacles are encountered.
The lighter plastic material of the roller as compared to the internal support permits the frangible portion 46 to be broken free from the remainder of the crop divider device when particularly large or relatively immoveable debris is encountered to 5 minimize damage and reduce the opportunity for the crop divider device to become entangled below the wheel causing loss of control of the resulting vehicle upon which it is supported. Supporting the roller on bearings which are freely rotatable in either direction results in crops which lean in either direction easily rolling across the leading side of the roller as the roller is advanced forwardly through a crop.
10 Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Claims (20)
1. A crop divider device for use with a high clearance agricultural vehicle supported on wheels for rolling movement in a forward working direction along the ground, the device comprising:
an elongate roller extending longitudinally between a top end and a bottom end; and a bracket for supporting the roller on the vehicle in an upright orientation, ahead of one of the wheels of the vehicle;
the bracket being coupled to the roller adjacent the top end of the roller with the bottom end of the roller being freely suspended therebelow.
an elongate roller extending longitudinally between a top end and a bottom end; and a bracket for supporting the roller on the vehicle in an upright orientation, ahead of one of the wheels of the vehicle;
the bracket being coupled to the roller adjacent the top end of the roller with the bottom end of the roller being freely suspended therebelow.
2. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the bracket is coupled to the roller only through the top end such that a full length of the roller is freely suspended below the bracket.
3. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the roller is supported on the bracket by bearings such that the roller is freely rotatably in either direction relative to the bracket.
4. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the roller comprises a hollow plastic tube.
5. The device according to Claim 4 wherein the bottom end of the roller is enclosed.
6. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the bottom end of the roller is conical shaped.
7. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the roller includes a frangible portion adjacent the bottom end thereof.
8. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the roller includes an internal support received concentrically therein for supporting the roller on the bracket over a portion of a length of the roller, adjacent the top end thereof.
9. The device according to Claim 8 wherein the internal support terminates at a bottom end spaced above the bottom end of the roller.
10. The device according to Claim 8 wherein the internal support is formed of a stronger material than the surrounding roller.
11. The device according to Claim 8 wherein the roller includes a line of severance formed therein adjacent a bottom end of the internal support, the line of severance defining a frangible portion of the roller therebelow.
12. The device according to Claim 8 wherein the internal support comprises a rigid shaft having bearings supported thereon at spaced positions which rotatably support the roller relative to the bracket.
13. The device according to Claim 8 wherein the internal support comprises bearings supported on the bracket and a rigid shaft extending concentrically through a portion of the roller, the shaft being rotatably carried by the bearings for rotation of the shaft relative to the bracket together with the roller.
14. The device according to Claim 8 wherein the internal support comprises a shaft fixed on the bracket and bearings supported at spaced positions on the shaft for rotatably supporting the roller relative to the shaft.
15. The device according to Claim 1 wherein the roller is selectively mounted on the bracket for selective separation and replacement of the roller.
16. The device according to Claim 15 wherein the roller is carried on the bracket by at least one threaded fastener.
17. The device according to Claim 1 in combination with a divider member having a leading edge supporting the roller therealong and side panels spanning rearwardly to rear ends spaced apart a width greater than a width of the wheel for receiving the wheel therebetween.
18. The device according to Claim 17 wherein the roller and divider member are coupled together for pivotal movement together relative to the vehicle.
19. The device according to Claim 17 wherein the roller is longer between the top end and the bottom end thereof than the leading edge of the divider member.
20. The device according to Claim 1 in combination with a high clearance agricultural sprayer wherein the bracket supports the roller in an upright orientation ahead of one of the wheels of the sprayer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2507537 CA2507537A1 (en) | 2005-05-17 | 2005-05-17 | Crop divider for high clearance vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2507537 CA2507537A1 (en) | 2005-05-17 | 2005-05-17 | Crop divider for high clearance vehicle |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2507537A1 true CA2507537A1 (en) | 2006-11-17 |
Family
ID=37450464
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2507537 Abandoned CA2507537A1 (en) | 2005-05-17 | 2005-05-17 | Crop divider for high clearance vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2507537A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106342777A (en) * | 2016-08-25 | 2017-01-25 | 南通黄海药械有限公司 | Separating walking device and special cotton chemical-applying machine with same |
| CN106427386A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2017-02-22 | 合肥多加农业科技有限公司 | Supporting leg structure capable of separating seedlings |
-
2005
- 2005-05-17 CA CA 2507537 patent/CA2507537A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106342777A (en) * | 2016-08-25 | 2017-01-25 | 南通黄海药械有限公司 | Separating walking device and special cotton chemical-applying machine with same |
| CN106427386A (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2017-02-22 | 合肥多加农业科技有限公司 | Supporting leg structure capable of separating seedlings |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 20121224 |