FR2522469A1 - Tractor drawn forage turning machine - has collector drum discharging into intermediate zone with material blown sideways through diagonal duct - Google Patents

Abstract

The tractor drawn agricultural machine for turning over harvested material lying on the ground for use as silage, has a tined gathering drum at the front. The material is lifted and passed to a zone behind it, where it is blown sideways after passing through a diagonal discharge duct. This discharge zone has a flat inlet part and an enlarged outlet, which increases in size towards the discharge end. The structure which forms the front of this zone is triangular in plan. The top of this zone is formed by a horizontal plate which joins the front and rear sections, and with walls forming the sides. A fan mounted on the side opposite to the discharge side forces air through sloping ducts to a collector box from end to end of the gathering drum and behind it, and shaped to partially support the drum.

Description

 The present invention relates to an agricultural machine for turning fodder or other plants on the ground.

 The fodder intended for silage can generally be taken up from the windrows left by the mowers or mower-conditioners, after a short drying time. However, the bottom layer of these swaths remains moist because it is in contact with the ground and is not exposed to the sun. It is therefore desirable to move and turn these swaths around 1800, in order to bring them onto strips of dry earth and present the fodder that is still wet in the sun before harvesting.

 In the case of dry fodder harvesting it is common to swath the fodder in the evening in order to avoid its humidification overnight. Subsequently it is also necessary to turn these swaths in order to perfect the drying of the fodder which is in contact with the ground.

 Said turning of windrows is generally carried out using conventional rakes. These rakes move the swaths by rolling them on the ground. This can cause soiling due to the introduction of soil into the forage. In addition, the swaths are twisted, which makes it difficult to pick up with harvesting machines such as balers, forage harvesters or self-loading trailers. On the other hand, the fodder thus moved undergoes significant crumbling leading to losses of nutrients. Finally, the swath is packed, which lengthens the drying time.

 The object of the present invention is to produce a machine which moves and turns the forage gently, preserves its cleanliness and deposits a well ventilated swath which is easy to pick up.

 To this end, an important characteristic of the invention consists in that the machine comprises in combination a collection device, a blower causing a flow of air directed towards the rear - seen in the direction of advance ment - and at least a deflector having a substantially flat part and a curved part in the form of a moldboard which is arranged obliquely with respect to the direction of the air flow.

 The swathed fodder is thus picked up and routed to said deflector by the pickup device. It is then immediately driven backwards by the air flow and returned thanks to the curved part of said deflector. In addition, it slides to the side of the machine due to the oblique arrangement of said curved part and falls on a strip of dry ground.

 The swaths are thus moved and turned over without being in contact with the ground. The fodder remains free from contamination and does not suffer from losses due to friction.

In addition, the swaths are laid without twists and are well ventilated. This promotes drying of the forage and its recovery by harvesting machines.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, a second deflector extends a certain distance above the flat part of the first deflector. This second deflector allows to channel the air flow in order to increase its efficiency. In addition, it prevents the return of air deflected by the curved part of the first deflector, which return could cause a slowdown in the movement of the forage.

 On the longest side of the flat part of the first deflector there is advantageously provided a guide for bringing all of the forage to the curved part of this deflector. This guide may consist of a substantially horizontal rod and the rear end of which is directed upwards and outwards. This guide can also be constituted by a substantially vertical plate which connects the lateral edges of the two aforementioned deflectors.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the blower comprises a fan, a box spring parallel to the collection device and at least one air duct connecting said fan to this box spring. The latter is constituted by an elongated box, at least partially supporting the collection device. This embodiment is very economical in view of the fact that it avoids the presence of a particular support intended for the collection device.

 Furthermore, said bed base is provided with air outlets substantially adjacent to the upper face of the flat part of the first deflector. I1 thus creates an air blanket automatically entraining the fodder coming from the collection point. According to the invention, the sum of the sections of all the air outlets of said bed base is substantially equal to the section of the air duct or ducts connecting the fan to this bed base. The air pressure is thus constant from the fan to said outlets.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the sum of the sections of all the air outlets of the bed base is less than the section of the air duct or ducts. In this case the air pressure in the bed base is higher, which causes an increase in the speed of the air flow.

This increase allows the reversal of a larger quantity of forage.

 The machine according to the invention may also include means making it possible to increase or decrease the section of the air outlets. The user can thus adapt the speed of the air flow to the volume of swaths to be returned.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the fan is placed at the rear of the curved part of the first deflector. I1 is thus sheltered from shocks against obstacles such as branches or terminals and does not hinder the movement of the forage. In this case the air ducts are advantageously located under said deflector.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below, with reference to the appended drawings which represent, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings - Figure 1 shows a top view of a machine
according to the invention, - Figure 2 shows a side view of this machine, - Figure 3 shows a section along the plane III-III
of figure 1.

 As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the machine according to the invention comprises a chassis (1) of substantially triangular shape. This chassis (1) comprises three support wheels (2, 3 and 4) and a drawbar (5) for coupling to a drive tractor not shown.

The two front wheels (2, 3) are connected to a transverse shaft (6) extending with a slight clearance through a tube (7) of the chassis (1). Said connection is made by means of arms (8 and 9) which are integral with the axes of said support wheels (2, 3) and fixed to the transverse shaft (6) by means of pins (10). The third support wheel (4) is connected to the chassis (1) by means of four levers (11) forming a deformable parallelogram. They are articulated on the chassis (1) by means of axes (12 and 13) and on a support (14) connected to the column (15) of the wheel (4) by means of axes (16 and 17). Said hinge pin (12) comprises a lever (18) which is connected by means of a rod (19) to a lever (20) integral with the link arm (9) of the support wheel (3).

 A hydraulic cylinder (21) which is connected to the hydraulic circuit of the drive tractor makes it possible to adjust the distance of the machine from the ground. This cylinder is disposed between a support (22) in the form of a square which is integral with the chassis (1) and the link arm (8) of the support wheel (2). The actuation of this hydraulic cylinder (21) pivots the machine around the transverse shaft (6) to which the link arms (8 and 9) of the support wheels (2 and 3) are connected. As a result of the support on the ground of these wheels (2 and 3), this pivoting causes the front part of the machine to go up or down. In addition, thanks to the connecting rod (19), this pivoting causes a deformation of the parallelogram formed by the levers (11), which ensures an adjustment in height of the rear part of the machine. Thus, thanks to this hydraulic cylinder (21), the machine can be removed from the ground for transport and lowered to collect it from the ground during work.

 In accordance with an important characteristic of the invention, said chassis (1) carries a pick-up device (23), a blower (24) causing a flow of air directed towards the rear - seen in the direction of advance indicated by the arrow (A) - and at least one deflector (25) having a substantially flat part (26) and a curved part in the form of a moldboard (27). This curved part is arranged obliquely to the direction of the air flow. This direction is indicated by the arrow (B) in Figures 1 and 3.

 Said pickup device (23) is located at the front of the chassis (1). It is one of those commonly used on balers. It comprises in particular a pick-up drum (28) provided with teeth (29) controlled laterally. This drum (28) is rotated during work by means of a belt (30), itself driven by a pulley (31) disposed on an output shaft (32) of a gearbox (33) . This is fixed to the square-shaped support (22) and has an input shaft (34) which can be connected to the PTO shaft of the drive tractor by means of a cardan shaft not shown. Said belt (30) is protected by means of a cover (35). Between said teeth (29) are provided guides (36) on which the gathered forage slides. Said drum is guided at its two ends on flanges (37 and 38) integral with the chassis (1).

 The aforementioned deflector (25) can for example be made of sheet or plastic. The substantially flat part (26) of this deflector (25) extends practically in the extension of the upper part of the pickup device (23). It is slightly inclined downwards from the pick-up device (23).

The value of the angle of inclination relative to the horizontal is approximately 7o
The curved part (27) of the deflector (25) forms an angle (d) between 1100 and 1600 with a plane (P) parallel to the direction of advance (A). In the example of Figure 1, the value of the angle (OC) is 1350. The forage thus slides easily to the side, in order to be deposited on a strip of dry ground. This part (27) is curved in the shape of a half-cylinder in order to cause an effective reversal of 180. In addition, the height (H) of this curved part increases as it moves away from the pickup device (23). Thanks to this characteristic, said curved part does not slow down the lateral movement of the forage.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, a second deflector (39) made of sheet metal or plastic, extends a certain distance above said flat part (26) of the first deflector (25). This has a triangular shape and is connected to the lateral flange (37). This second deflector allows to channel the air flow in order to increase its efficiency.

 A guide (40) is provided on the longest side of the flat part (26) of the first deflector (25) in order to direct the whole of the forage towards the curved part (27). As shown in Figure 2, this guide may be constituted by a substantially vertical plate, connecting the lateral edges of the two deflectors (25 and 39).

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, this guide (40) consists of a rod extending largely parallel to the flat part (26) of the deflector (25), its rear end being directed upwards and outwards. .

 On the shorter side of the flat part (26) of the deflector (25) is provided a screen (41) in order to prevent losses of forage (see FIG. 2). This screen (41) which can also be constituted by a sheet, laterally closes the curved part (27) of the deflector (25).

 The blower (24) comprises in particular a fan (42), a box spring (43) parallel to the pickup device (23) and two air ducts (44) connecting said fan (42) to the bed base (43). As is apparent from Figures 1 and 3, this box spring (43) is constituted by a box (45) of elongated shape. It is fixed to the side plates (37 and 38) by means of bolts (46). The aforementioned guides (36) of the pickup device (23) are fixed to this bed base (43).

 This box spring (43) has two air inlets (47) to which the conduits (44) are connected and, several air outlets (48). These are substantially adjacent to the upper face of the planar part (26) of the deflector (25). In addition, they are regularly distributed over the entire length of the box (45). The sum of the sections of all these air outlets (48) is substantially equal to the sum of the sections of the two ducts (44). This maintains a constant air pressure from the fan (42) to the outlets (48). However, the sum of the sections of all these outputs (48) can also be less than the sum of the sections of the two conduits (44). Thus, the air pressure in the bed base (43) is higher than that at the outlet of the fan (42), which increases the speed of the air flow. According to an alternative embodiment not shown, adjustable flaps in order to increase or decrease the sections of the outlets (48) depending on the nature and volume of the feed to be returned.

These shutters can advantageously be connected to a common control rod in order to carry out a simultaneous adjustment of all the sections of the outlets (48).

 According to a variant embodiment not shown, the air outlets (48) are irregularly distributed over the bed base (43). They are advantageously more numerous on the side of the bed base (43) which is the furthest from the side of the machine on which the returned swath is deposited.

This increases the power of the air flow on the side on which the trajectory of the forage is the longest, until it is again deposited on the ground.

 Said air inlets (47) are placed on the elongated part of the bed base (43). They are distributed in such a way that they each serve the same number of air outlets (48). In addition, each of them is located in the middle of the air outlets (48) that it serves. A good distribution of the power of the air flow is thus obtained over the entire length of the bed base (43).

 The fan (42) is located in a housing (49) placed at the rear of the curved part (27) of the deflector (25).

This housing (49) is fixed to the chassis (1) by means of supports (50). The fan (42) is rotated by means of a belt (51). The drive pulley (52) of the latter is fixed to the end of a shaft (53) extending under the first deflector (25). This shaft has at its other end a pulley (54) driven from the output shaft (32) of the housing (33) by means of a belt (55).

 Said output shaft carries for this purpose a pulley (56).

 The two air ducts (44) consist of flexible pipes. They advantageously extend under the first deflector (25).

 I1 is obvious that we can bring to the embodiment described above in a non-limiting manner, various improvements, modifications or additions or replace certain elements with equivalent elements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (21)

1. Agricultural machine for turning forage or  other plants on the ground, characterized  by the fact that it comprises in combination a device  collection (23), a blower (24) causing a  rearward air flow - viewed in the opposite direction  advancement (A) - and at least one deflector (25)  having a substantially planar part (26) and a  curved part of moldboard (27) which is available  sided obliquely to the direction (B) of the flow  of air. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized by the  fact that the curved part (27) of the deflector (25) forms an angle (OL)) between 1100 and 1600 with a  plane (P) parallel to the direction of travel (A). 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by  the fact that the height (H) of the curved part (27)  of the deflector (25) increases as it  moves away from the pickup device (23). 4. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that  that the flat part (26) of the deflector (25) extends  substantially in line with the upper part  of the pickup device (23). 5. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims  teeth, characterized in that it comprises a  second deflector (39) extending at a certain distance  above the substantially flat part (26) of the first  deflector (25). 6. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims  teeth, characterized in that it comprises a  guide (40) on the longest side of the sensi  flatly (26) of the first deflector (25). 7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that  that the guide (40) is constituted by a rod extending  largely parallel to said sensitive part  flat plane (26) of the first deflector (25), its end  rear moth being directed upwards and towards  outside. 8. Machine according to claim 6, characterized by the  the guide (40) consists of a plate  substantially vertical, connecting the side edges  of the two deflectors (25 and 39) -. 9. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims  teeth, characterized in that it comprises a  side screen (41) which extends on the shortest side  of the substantially planar part (26) of the deflector (25)  and which laterally locks the curved part (27)  of said deflector (25). 10. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims  teeth, characterized in that the blower (24)  includes a fan (42), a parallel box spring (43)  the collection device (23) and at least one conduit  air (44) connecting said fan to this box spring (43). 11. Machine according to claim 10, characterized by the  fact that the box spring (43) is constituted by a box  (45) of elongated shape supporting at least partially  the pickup device (23).  12.Machine according to claim 10 or 11, characterized  by the fact that the bed base (43) has outlets  air (48) substantially adjacent to the upper face  of the substantially planar part (26) of the deflector (25). 13. Machine according to claim 12, characterized by the  makes the sum of the sections of all outputs  air (48) of the box spring (43) is substantially equal to the  section of the air duct (s) (44) connecting the said  fan base (42). 14. Machine according to claim 12, characterized by the  makes the sum of the sections of all outputs  of air (48) of the box spring (43) is less than the section  air duct (s) (44) connecting said bed base (43)  to the fan (42). 15. Machine according to claim 12, characterized by the  causes the air outlet sections (48) of the  bed base (43) are adjustable. 16. Machine according to any one of claims 12 to  15, characterized in that the air outlets (48)  are evenly distributed over the entire length of the  box spring (43). 17. Machine according to any one of claims 12 to  15, characterized in that the air outlets (48)  are irregularly distributed over the bed base (43) and  are more numerous on the side of said box spring which is  farthest from the side of the machine on which the  returned fodder is deposited on the ground.  18. Machine according to claim 10 or 11, characterized  by the fact that the bed base (43) comprises at least one  air inlet (47) on its elongated part, this inlet  being placed in the middle of the air outlets (48) which it  dessert. 19. Machine according to claim 18, characterized by said  that the bed base (43) comprises several air inlets (47)  each serving the same number of air outlets (48). 20. Machine according to any one of claims 10 to  19, characterized in that the fan (42)  is placed at the rear of the curved part (27) of the  deflector (25) - seen in the direction of travel (A) of  the machine -. 21. Machine according to any one of claims 10 to  20, characterized in that the duct (s)  air (44) extend under the first deflector (25).