EA043626B1 - CROPS HARVESTING MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to headers for agricultural harvesting machines, containing an end cutting device on a crop divider.

State of the art

Headers used for cutting non-row crops such as wheat, canola, flax, oats and soybeans have a horizontal, sideways extending frame with a leading edge to which is attached an extended reciprocating blade. This reciprocating blade includes at least one reciprocating bar to which are attached a plurality of blades that extend substantially across the entire width of the draper. Because these blades reciprocate, they engage the stationary fingers of the knife. The fixed knife fingers are attached to the front edge of the draper header. The reciprocating blades, usually triangular, cut the stems of harvested plants, usually close to the ground. The cut harvested plants fall back onto a moving conveyor belt, which carries them to the outlet of the header.

Some crops harvested are extremely tall, such as canola or canola. These plants can reach 2-3 m in height. They are also relatively weak. As a result, in strong winds (or late in the growing season) they can fall to one side or the other, becoming entangled with their neighboring plants.

This poses a problem for crops in that as the draper header moves across the field, some plants may become wrapped around the end caps of the draper header, and if these plants become tangled with the stems of plants near them, they can be pulled out and dragged behind. draper header, hanging from the sides of the draper header. As the draper header moves further through the field, this mass hanging from each end of the draper header will eventually be lost instead of harvested.

To solve this problem, manufacturers provide a vertical crop divider blade that is located on the end crop divider to cut the harvested plants on the crop divider and cause them to fall to one side or the other of the crop divider.

Crop divider knives typically sit in a vertical plane on the end divider, although they may be angled back at the top of the crop divider or slightly inward or outward. Deviations from the vertical can be provided to enhance the ability of the crop divider blade to cut plants on top of the crop divider.

This application relates to a divider-mounted cutting device that cuts crops generally in a vertical direction to assist in separating the crops at the ends of the header. A variety of different cutting device designs can be used, including rotating chain type systems, where the front length of the chain is in front of the cutting device, or rotating wheel type devices, where a vertical disk has edge cutting blades. In some cases, the cutting device is of the reciprocating type. This application does not relate to any particular design of the cutting device itself, but only to the mounting assembly and drive connection between the divider and the cutting device body. Thus, the description and drawings herein show only one example of a cutting device, and no claim is made as to the design and layout of a variation of the cutting device per se.

The cutting device is mounted on a housing attached to the end divider and is typically mounted in front of a horizontal header blade positioned slightly above the ground, with its cutting components extending upward and generally forward from it.

The essence of the invention

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting assembly and drive device for a divider knife on a header.

According to the invention, a reaper for harvesting agricultural crops is proposed for a harvesting machine, containing:

a main frame structure extending between two ends of the header across the width of the header for movement in a direction generally at right angles to the strip of land containing the crop to be harvested;

an installation unit for installing the main frame structure on the harvesting machine;

a cutterbar along the width of the front portion of the main frame structure, carrying a cutting blade configured to cut the crop as the header moves forward along the ground;

a crop transport system for moving the cut crop to a place of unloading from the header for feeding the crop into the feed opening of the harvesting machine;

- 1 043626 first and second crop dividers, each of which is located at a respective end of the main frame structure and forms an end wall that places the cut crop on the transport system;

and first and second cutting devices, each mounted on a front end of a respective of the first and second crop dividers for cutting and dividing the crop at the respective divider;

wherein each divider has a hydraulic motor and an output coupling element mounted on the divider to drive the cutting device;

wherein each divider has a mounting assembly thereon for connection to a cooperating mounting assembly on the cutting device, whereby the blade structure can be easily attached to the crop divider for operation and can be removed from the crop divider when not needed;

wherein each cutting device has an input coupling element thereon for joint connection with the output coupling element, configured to release the input coupling element and the output coupling element from the joint connection by removing the knife structure from the crop divider.

Preferably, the mounting assembly includes a latch that pulls the cutting device into engagement with the crop divider.

Preferably, the crop divider mounting assembly includes at least one element for hook engagement with a cooperating component of the cutting device.

Preferably, the latch is manually controlled by a human operator so that the operator can easily remove the front cover or cone on the divider held by the same hook and locking device and can use a cutting device if necessary.

Preferably, the interacting component of the knife structure includes hook elements that rotate about the axis of the element on the crop divider to allow the knife structure to rotate into engagement with the crop divider. Preferably, in this device, the hook engagement forming element is located at the bottom of the cutting device, allowing the cutting device to rotate upward and toward the crop divider, and a latch is provided at the top of the crop divider to engage with the top of the cutting device for a locking engagement. In this configuration, the latch is preferably located above the output connector.

In one preferred configuration, the hydraulic motor has a shaft, the axis of which extends generally in front of the crop divider housing and carries thereon said output coupling element rotatable about said axis. This may be a splined shaft or a connecting element that moves into engagement with a cooperating sleeve. However, many interlocking coupling devices are available that will provide automatic engagement when the socket moves into engagement with the actuator.

That is, it is preferred that the mounting assembly comprises at least one engaging hook element for hook engagement with a cooperating cutting device component located on one of the upper or lower portion of the crop divider, and a lock on the other of the upper or lower portion of the crop divider. for retracting the cutting device into engagement with the crop divider, and cooperating input and output connecting members are located between the upper and lower portions of the crop divider.

For the simplest and most effective engagement, the hook element is located at the bottom of the cutting device to engage with the element at the bottom of the cutting device and provides rotational movement of the cutting device around the axis up and towards the crop divider to operate the clamp, holding it in place.

The locking device is preferably of the type that requires the operation of retracting the top of the cutterbar into a position where it can be locked by a locking pin to ensure that the cutterbar stays in place even during significant vibration and shock that may occur at the end of the header during operation. .

Preferably, a handle is provided on the cutting device to assist in lifting the cutting device for said pivoting movement about the pivoting axis.

Brief description of drawings

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

in fig. 1 is an isometric view of the central and only one end section of the header with a number of elements such as the reel removed for ease of display, which shows the mounting assembly and drive device for a cutting device in accordance with the present invention;

in fig. 2 shows a vertical sectional end view of the header of FIG. 1;

- 2 043626 in Fig. 3 shows a vertical sectional end view of the header of FIG. 1 is enlarged and shows the connection between the cutting device and the crop divider;

in fig. 4 is a vertical sectional end view of the divider of FIG. 1 with remote cutting device;

in fig. 5 is a vertical sectional end view of the cutting device of FIG. 1;

in fig. 6 is a side view in vertical section of only the lock of FIG. 1;

in fig. 7 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of the vertical knife system of FIG. 1 when removed from the divider, and containing a casing and a handle for manipulation.

In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in different figures.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In fig. 1 shows a draper header 10 for installation on an agricultural combine (not shown). The draper header 10 has a frame 11, which is extended sideways and perpendicular to the direction of travel V of the combine harvester across the field. The frame 11 supports the left conveyor 12, the right conveyor 13 and the central conveyor 14.

A reciprocating knife 15 is attached to the front edge 16 of the frame and extends substantially across the entire width of the draper. The reciprocating knife 15 is configured to cut plant stems close to the ground and cause them to fall back onto the conveyors, the left and right conveyors, in turn, move this cut plant material sideways inward to the central conveyor 14, which then moves the cut plant material the material is back through an opening 17 in the draper header frame 11 and from there into a farm combine (not shown), which moves the draper header across the field occupied by the crop being harvested.

Two crop dividers 18 extend forward from the frame 11 on the left and right sides of the draper header. These crop dividers 18 are attached to the frame 11 and extend forward from it. The figures show only the left divisor, but it should be understood that the opposite right divisor is symmetrical. The dividers can be rigidly mounted to the frame or can pivot around a transverse axis, floating up and down to follow the contour of the ground. The reel support lever 190 is mounted on the frame 11 on the divider, and the reel is excluded for ease of display. Typically the divider is a panel that is rigidly attached to the frame member 18 and does not float relative to the frame. The divider may comprise an inward facing metal sheet and an upper plastic casing.

The crop dividers 18 support cutting devices 19 that are mounted on the front ends of the crop dividers 18. The knife elements 19 of the crop divider on the left and right dividers 18 have the same design. For this reason, the description below refers only to the mounting unit and the driving device for the cutting device 19.

It should be understood that the particular cutting device design shown is just one example of many different designs well known in the art. The present invention does not relate to the design of the cutting device itself, nor to its features, and the arrangement shown is merely one example included herein to ensure that the best embodiment currently known to the applicant is included herein.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 2, each crop divider blade member 19 includes a knife support body 20, a link arm 21, knife pins 22, and knife blades 24 mounted on an elongated support bar 25 that extends upward from the front end 18 of the crop divider. The knife support bar 25 extends generally vertically, but may also be inclined forward or backward to improve cutting operations on certain crops.

The knife support 25 supports a reciprocating knife bar 26 in the form of an elongated rigid member to which a plurality of knife members 24 are bolted. The knife elements 24 have cutting edges that engage and cut off a portion of the crop hanging on the crop divider 18 . A plurality of knife elements 24 are attached to the cutterbar and spaced substantially along the entire length of the cutterbar.

The main frame structure 11 extends between the two ends of the header along the width of the header to move in direction V generally at right angles to the strip of land containing the crop to be harvested. The frame is mounted on a mounting assembly, shown very schematically at 11A, for mounting the main frame structure on a harvesting machine, also shown schematically at 11B. The header further includes a cutterbar 16 across the width of the front portion of the main frame structure, carrying a cutting blade 15 configured to cut the crop as the header moves forward along the ground. Canvas conveyors 12, 13 and 14

- 3 043626 provide a crop transport system for moving the cut crop to the unloading point 17 from the header for feeding the crop into the feed opening of the harvesting machine 11B. The header further includes first and second divider housings 18, each of which is located at a respective end of the main frame structure and defines an end wall 181 for placing the cut crop onto the transport system. Typically, the housing 18 further includes a top wall 182 and an outer enclosing wall (not shown) enclosing the drive components for the knife 15, including a motor and a vibration system 183 driven by a hydraulic source 184. The bottom wall 186 of the divider housing forms a protective plate extending over the ground when the cutter bar 16 is close to the ground for a cutting action above the ground.

The apparatus of the present invention is provided with first and second crop divider blade structures 19, each of which is mounted on a front end of a respective crop divider body 18.

Each crop divider knife structure 19 includes a cutting bar 25 having a plurality of knife fingers 24 . The knife 26 of the cutting apparatus is mounted on the cutting bar 25 for reciprocating movement longitudinally to the cutting bar with blades 26 on it.

The housing 20 installs the cutter bar on the crop divider housing 18 in the manner described below. The lever mechanism 21 in the housing 20 serves to transmit movement to the cutterbar from the drive system in the divider housing 18.

The drive system for each end knife includes a hydraulic drive motor 40 and an output coupling member 41 mounted on the divider housing to enable actuation of the linkage 21 by an input coupling member 42 located on the end knife housing.

Each divider body has a mounting assembly 43 thereon for connection with a cooperating mounting assembly 44 on the crop divider knife structure body, whereby the crop divider knife structure can be easily attached to the crop divider body for operation and can be removed from the crop divider body, when it's not needed.

Each body of the crop divider knife structure has an input coupling member 42 thereon configured to be jointly coupled with an output coupling member 41 configured to release the input coupling member and the output coupling member from the joint connection by removing the crop divider knife structure. from the body of the crop divider. Such coupling members are typically formed by a coaxially interlocking disk and sleeve arrangement with radially ridged projections that automatically engage or engage when the two components are coupled together along or generally parallel to a common axis. Many designs of such connecting devices are available for use in this design.

The connection that holds the rear surface of the knife drive housing to the front surface of the divider housing mounting assembly includes components 43 on the divider and component 44 on the knife structure. They include a detent 46 on the divider, typically of the over-center hook type, that engages and pulls an engaging bracket 47 on the body of the crop divider knife structure into engagement with the body of the crop divider. In addition, the mounting assembly 43, 44 includes at least one, and typically two, engaging hook members 48 on the blade drive housing that extend rearwardly and may engage a socket or rod 49 on the divider for hook engagement between the blade structure body and the divider. That is, when a combine operator wishes to use a vertical knife to harvest a particular type of crop, the operator moves the knife drive and body toward the divider so as to bring the rear surface of the knife drive toward the front surface of the divider.

In many cases, a shroud or cone is provided to protect the front surface of the divider when the knife drive is removed and must be removed or pushed back to allow the vertical knife drive to engage.

In this position, the hook members at the bottom 48 are engaged with the seats 491 and engage the rod 49, thereby supporting the knife structure on the divider. The knife drive housing is then tilted upward and backward, engaging the latch components 46, 47 at the top of the crop divider body, bringing the body of the crop divider knife structure into engagement with the crop divider body. This movement provides automatic connection of the intermeshing coupling members 41 and 42 when the cooperating input and output coupling members 41 and 42 are positioned between the upper and lower portions of the crop divider housing.

As best shown in FIG. 4, 5 and 6, the connecting element 41 is a disk with an outer ring of teeth, and the connecting element 42 is a sleeve with an inner ring of grooves for receiving the outer surface of the disk of the connecting element 41. When engaged, the connecting element encloses a clamp 421 of plastic material. A protruding pin 50 on the mounting assembly 43 projects into a socket 51 on the mounting assembly 44 to act as an alignment agent when the mounting assemblies are brought together by rotation about the axis of the rod 49. Each has an inclined surface to provide vertical alignment, and the sides of the socket 51 provide lateral alignment. .

The retainer 46 includes a front plate 52 with a cutout 53 for engaging behind the head 54 of the bolt 55. When the plate is pulled back by a pull plate 56 actuated by an eccentric 57 in a hole 58 in the plate, it retracts the plate 52 and pulls the head 54 into tight engagement with divider The worker turns the eccentric 57 with the hex nut 59 using a wrench. To ensure that plate 52 is held in engagement with bolt 55, a locking pin 60 may be provided. Plate 56 carries a support plate 61 with an eccentric connection. The support plate carries a rod 63 at the front end and provides a forward-projecting alignment pin 50. The rod 63 connects the side walls of the divider housing, holding the pin 50 in the correct location in the divider and supporting the detent when not in use. The rear rod 62 snaps into the socket 65 on the plate 61 as the latch moves into position, tightening the head 54.

The same hook-and-lock connection can be used to hold a replaceable cover structure, such as a cone, when removing a vertical knife structure.

As shown in FIG. 7 is a view of the divider blade structure when removed from the divider, which includes a handle 60 on the top surface 601 of the housing and an additional handle 61 on a guard 62 mounted over the blades for safety. In this way, the entire divider cutting system can be easily operated by a worker and moved into place using handles 60 and 61 to a position where the hooks 48 are locked in place and the body is rotated toward the end face of the divider.

Claims (9)

1. A crop harvesting header (10) for a harvesting machine (11B), containing: a main frame structure (11) extending between the two ends of the header (10) across the width of the header (10) for movement in a direction generally at right angles to the strip of land containing the crop to be harvested; an installation unit (11A) for installing the main frame structure on the harvesting machine (11B); a cutterbar (16) along the width of the front portion of the main frame structure (11), carrying a cutting blade (15) configured to cut crops as the header (10) moves forward along the ground; a crop transportation system (12, 13, 14) for moving the cut crop to the place (17) of unloading from the header (10) for feeding the crop into the feed opening of the harvesting machine (11B); first and second crop dividers (18), each of which is located at a respective end of the main frame structure (11) and forms an end wall (181) placing the cut crop on the transport system (12, 13, 14); and first and second cutting devices (19), each of which is mounted on a front end of a respective of the first and second crop dividers (18) for cutting and dividing the crop at the corresponding divider (18); wherein each divider (18) has a hydraulic motor (40) and an output connecting element (41) mounted on the divider (18) to drive the cutting devices (19); wherein each divider (18) has a mounting assembly (43) thereon for connection with a cooperating mounting assembly (44) on the cutting device (19), by which the cutting device (19) is attached to the crop divider (18) for operation and is removed from crop divider (18) when it is not needed; wherein each cutting device (19) has an input coupling element (42) thereon for joint connection with the output connecting element (41), configured to release the input connecting element (42) and the output connecting element (41) from the joint connection behind account for removing the cutting device (19) from the crop divider (18), characterized in that the installation unit (43) of the crop divider (18) contains at least one rod (49) located on one of the upper or lower parts of the divider ( 18) of the crop for hook engagement with the interacting component (48) of the cutting device (19), and a retainer (46) on the other of the upper or lower part of the crop divider (18) for retracting the cutting device (19) into engagement with the divider (18 ) agriculture 2. The header (10) for harvesting agricultural crops according to claim 1, in which the latch (46) is manually controlled by a human operator. 3. The header (10) for harvesting agricultural crops according to claim 1, in which the interacting component (48) of the cutting device (19) contains hook elements (48) that rotate around the axis of the rod (49) on the crop divider (18), to ensure rotation of the cutting device (19) into engagement with the crop divider (18). 4. The header (10) for harvesting agricultural crops according to claim 3, in which the interacting component (48), forming the hook elements (48), is located in the lower part of the cutting device (19), allowing the cutting device (19) to rotate upward and in side of the crop divider (18). 5. A crop harvesting header (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a lock (46) is provided in the upper part of the crop divider (18) for interacting with the upper part of the cutting device (19) for a locking engagement. - 5 043626 crop, while the interacting input and output connecting elements (42, 41) are located between the upper and lower parts of the crop divider (18). 6. A header (10) for harvesting agricultural crops according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the lock (46) is located above the output connecting element (41). 7. A crop harvesting header (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the hydraulic motor (40) has a shaft, the axis of which extends generally in front of the crop divider (18), and said output connecting element (41) rotating around the specified axis. 8. The crop harvesting header according to claim 1, wherein the interacting component (48) is located at the bottom of the cutting device (19) for engagement with the rod (49) at the bottom of the crop divider (18) and provides rotational movement of the cutting device (19) around the axis upwards and towards the crop divider (18). 9. The crop harvesting header (10) according to claim 8, wherein a handle (60) is provided on the cutting device (19) to assist in lifting the cutting device (19) for said pivoting motion about the pivot axis.