FR2772551A1 - Lift for rotary mower to lift cut product - Google Patents

Abstract

The fodder lift is formed by cutters (8), which are fitted with at least two lifting blades (29, 30). Each is removably fixed to the cutter, and diametrically opposed to each other, relative to the centre (11a) of the cutter. The cutter has a link (57), linked to at least two lifting blades, diametrically opposed to each other.

Description

Description
The present invention relates to a forage lifting device intended to influence the trajectory of the product previously cut by a cutting element and comprising at least two lifting elements each intended to be fixed to said cutting element in a removable manner and diametrically opposite one to the other. other with respect to the center of said cutting element.

Such a forage lifting device is known from the document.
FR 2 561 488. This document FR 2 561 488 describes a disc mower-conditioner comprising a movable frame, a processing device provided with a counter-rotating element and rotary cutting means carried by the frame. These rotary cutting means are intended for mowing a standing crop and comprising a transverse cutting bar carrying several cutting members in the shape of a disc spaced transversely with respect to the direction of advance. Each cutting member has two knives each linked to it by a respective screw. Each cutting member is equipped with a forage lifting device intended to lift the forage previously mown by said cutting member so as to direct it towards the counter-rotating elements of the treatment device. This lifting device comprises two lifting elements each fixed, in a removable manner, on each cutting member near the corresponding knife by means of two screws, one of these screws being that which is used to link said knife to said cutting member.

 During operation, each cutting member is driven at a high speed of rotation around a respective axis of rotation directed upwards.

 Such a lifting device certainly makes it possible to equip each cutting member with a forage lifting device and to remove the latter so as to easily adapt to different working conditions, but this known lifting device has however a certain number of drawbacks .

 In fact, when the cutting members are driven at a high speed of rotation, the screws making it possible to fix the lifting elements to the cutting members are subjected to significant mechanical stresses due to centrifugal force.

In practice, it has already happened that one of these screws breaks, which inevitably leads to a rupture of the other screw and which results in a detachment of the lifting element and the corresponding knife from the corresponding cutting member. . Such separation of the lifting element and the knife in full operation of the mower-conditioner is dangerous and risks seriously injuring the user of said mower-conditioner as well as the people in the vicinity of said mower-conditioner.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above while seeking to obtain a simple and inexpensive solution.

 For this purpose, the forage lifting device is characterized in that there is provided a connecting device connecting at least the two lifting elements diametrically opposed to each other.

 Such a design of the forage lifting device makes it possible to remedy the drawbacks raised and to considerably reduce the stresses to which the screws are subjected which make it possible to fix the lifting elements to the cutting members as well as the stresses to which the latter are subjected. Indeed, by connecting at least the two diametrically opposite lifting elements to each other advantageously makes it possible to cancel the centrifugal forces which are applied to said lifting elements when the latter are driven in rotation.

The invention also relates to the following characteristics considered in isolation or in all their technically possible combinations:
the lifting elements are of at least substantially equal mass, which
advantageously makes it possible to obtain, during the rotation of the element of
section equipped with said lifting elements, a balanced assembly
each lifting element has an inclined active part intended for
project the forage previously cut by the cutting element towards the
high;
each lifting element is intended to be fixed to the cutting element of
removably by means of fasteners so as to allow
disassembly and reassembly of said lifting element to adapt to
different working conditions;
each lifting element has two holes and a stud for
fixing said lifting element to the cutting element;
- the stud extends below the active part of the lifting element
corresponding which allows in particular to have an upper part
plane of said active part, which prevents that forage remains attached to it
and disturbs the proper functioning of the lifting element;
- the two diametrically opposite lifting elements are fixed one to
the other by means of the connecting device so as to form a part
unique.

 The invention also relates to a cutting element intended to equip a cutting machine and comprising a support comprising at least one cutting tool and equipped with a forage lifting device, said forage lifting device having one or more of the characteristics below. above.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the support of the cutting element is in the form of an oval disc comprising at each of its longitudinal ends a retractable cutting tool and said support is also intended to be fixed to a rotary element belonging to the cutting machine by means of screws.

 Advantageously, each cutting tool is retractably linked to said cutting element by means of a cylindrical connection and the forage lifting device has a clearance at the level of said cylindrical connection thus allowing fairly easy access to the latter for possible disassembly. of said cutting element when the latter is worn and also making it possible not to overload said cylindrical connection.

 According to another additional characteristic of the invention, at least one of the screws making it possible to fix the cutting element to a rotary element of the cutting machine, contributes to fixing an elevating element to said cutting element.

 According to another additional characteristic of the invention, the two diametrically opposite lifting elements are fixed to each other by means of the connecting device so as to form a single piece which extends from one of the longitudinal ends of the cutting element to the other longitudinal end of said cutting element passing through the center of the latter.

The invention also relates to a cutting machine comprising a coupling structure by means of which it is intended to be linked to a motor vehicle, and a cutting mechanism comprising at least one rotary element to which a cutting element is attached, said cutting element cutting element having one or more of the above features.

 Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention appear in the following description with reference to the appended drawings which represent, by way of nonlimiting examples, some embodiments of the forage lifting device according to the invention.

In these drawings:
- Figure 1 shows, a cutting machine in top view comprising cutting elements equipped with forage lifting devices according to the invention;
- Figure 2 shows a cutting element equipped with a forage lifting device in top view of Figure 1 on another scale according to a first embodiment;
- Figure 3 is a broken section along the plane m-III defined in Figure 2;
- Figure 4 shows the forage lifting device of Figure 2 alone in three dimensions;
- Figure 5 shows a cutting element equipped with a forage lifting device in top view of Figure 1 on another scale according to a second embodiment;
- Figure 6 shows a cutting element equipped with a forage lifting device in top view according to a third embodiment.

 The cutting machine (1) shown in FIG. 1 generally comprises a coupling structure (2) by means of which it is intended to be linked to a motor vehicle (3), a carrying structure (4), a cutting mechanism (5) and a processing device (6) for treating the product previously cut by said cutting mechanism (5).

 The cutting mechanism (5) comprises cutting elements (8) arranged one beside the other along a line (9) extending orthogonally to the direction of advance (10). According to the embodiment shown, each cutting element (8) comprises a support (11) in the form of an oval disc intended to be driven in rotation about a respective axis of rotation (1a) at least substantially vertical.

For this purpose each support (11) is fixed to a respective rotary element (12) belonging to the cutting mechanism (5) of the cutting machine (1). In light of FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the support (11) is fixed to the rotary element (12) by means of four screws (13) distributed regularly around the longitudinal axis (11a) of said support (11 ) and each passing right through said support (11) by means of four respective holes (14) and being screwed into said rotary element (12).

 Each support (11) comprises, due to its oval shape, two longitudinal ends (15, 16), each having a retractable cutting tool (17).

 Each cutting tool (17) is retractably linked to the support (11) of the cutting element (8) by means of a respective cylindrical connection (18) with longitudinal axis (18a). Each cylindrical connection (18) has a bolt (19) extending right through the support (11) and through the cutting tool (17).

 It will also be noted that, according to the embodiment shown, each support (11) is at least substantially symmetrical with respect to a first straight line (21) and a second straight line (22). The first straight line (21) passes through the two longitudinal axes (18a) of the cylindrical connections (18) and through the axis of rotation (11a) of said support (11). The second straight line (22), for its part, passes through the axis of rotation (11a) and is at least substantially orthogonal to the first straight line (21).

 It will be noted in addition in the light of the different figures that each support (11) comprises according to the embodiment shown a number of bulges, concave parts and flat parts. Indeed around each hole (14) and each bolt (19) is provided a flat part (23, 24) corresponding in particular to ensure good support of said screws (13) and said bolts (19).

 In the light of FIG. 1, it can be seen that the treatment device (6) comprises two counter-rotating rollers (25, 26) extending substantially horizontally and between which is intended to pass the forage previously cut by the cutting elements (8). so as to be conditioned. To ensure good passage of the cut product between the rollers (25, 26) the latter must be directed towards the quarry and upwards during work. To this end, there is provided an elevating device (28) intended to influence, or even accentuate, the trajectory of the product previously cut and conveyed backwards by the cutting elements (8) in the direction of the treatment device (6) during work. .

 Each lifting device (28) comprises, according to the first embodiment shown (Figures 1 to 4), two lifting elements (29, 30) of at least substantially identical shape and mass. Each lifting element (29, 30) comprises an inclined active part (32) intended to project the forage previously cut by the cutting element (8) backwards and upwards. This active part (32) is at least substantially planar and rests at one (33) of these transverse ends (33, 34) on the support (11) of the cutting element (8). It will be noted that this transverse end (33) is, in a top view, at least substantially parallel to the first straight line (21).

 It will also be noted that the lifting elements (29, 30) of fodder are fixed on top of a corresponding support (11) removably by means of fixing elements (13, 35, 36). For this purpose each lifting element (29, 30) comprises two holes (38, 39) collaborating with two corresponding holes (14, 40) provided in the support (11). The first hole (38) is, in a top view, at least substantially coincident with one of the holes (14) of the support (11), said hole (14) being that which is located between the longitudinal axis (1 la) and the active part (32) of the corresponding lifting element (29, 30). The second hole (39) is located in turn, in a top view, on the first straight line (21) between the axis of rotation (11a) of the support (11) and the longitudinal axis (18a) of the cylindrical connection (18).

 It will be noted that at least one of the screws (13) making it possible to fix the support (11) of the cutting element (8) to the corresponding rotary element (12), contributes to fixing the lifting element (29, 30 ) corresponding to said support (11). For this purpose, the fixing element (13) consists of the screw (13) making it possible to fix the support (11) of the cutting element (8) to the rotary element (12) of the cutting mechanism ( 5). This screw (13) passes right through the lifting element (29, 30) by means of the first hole (38) and right through the support (11) by means of the corresponding hole (14), said screw (14 ) then being screwed into the corresponding rotary element (12).

 The fixing element (35) is in turn composed of a plug (41) passing right through the lifting element (29, 30) by means of the second hole (39) and right through the support ( 11) by means of the corresponding hole (40).

 In the light of FIGS. 2 to 4, it can be seen that each lifting element (29, 30) has two flat parts (42, 43). The flat part (42) is located around the screw head (13) so as to ensure good support of the latter on said flat part (42).

 The flat part (43) is located in the vicinity of the bolt (41) so as to ensure good support of the screw head and the nut of said bolt (41) on said flat part (43).

 The fixing element (36) is composed, according to the embodiment shown, of a stud (45) located below the active part (32) of the corresponding lifting element (29, 30). This stud (45) is welded to the underside (46) of the active part (32) and extends at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (18a) of the cylindrical connection (18). This stud (45) extends through the support (11) by means of a corresponding hole (47). A nut (48) is screwed onto the stud (45) and bears on the underside (48) of the support (11) which advantageously allows the transverse end (33) of the active part (32) to be pressed onto the upper face (49) of said support (11). To this end, the support (11) has an additional flat part (51) in which the hole (47) is provided and on which the nut (48) is supported.

 In addition, it will be noted that each active part (32) has two lateral ends (52, 53) extending between the transverse ends (33, 34) of said active part (32). The stud (45) is located, in a top view closer to the transverse end (33) of the active part (32) than to the transverse end (34) and substantially halfway between the lateral ends ( 52, 53) of said active part (32).

 It will be noted in the light of FIG. 4 that the lateral end (52) of the active part (32) has a closing part (54) preventing, during work, the forage from becoming lodged between said active part (32) and the support (11). This closure part (54) is at least substantially vertical and at least substantially matches the shape of the periphery (55) of the support (11).

 In the light of FIGS. 1 to 4, it can be seen that each lifting element (29, 30) has a clearance (56) allowing access to the cylindrical connection (18) connecting the cutting tool (17) corresponding to the support (11 ).

 It can also be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4 that the two lifting elements (29, 30) are fixed on the support (11) so that they are arranged diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of rotation (1 la). Note in addition that there is provided a connecting device (57) connecting the two lifting elements (29, 30) together.

 According to this first exemplary embodiment shown (FIGS. 1 to 4), it will be noted that the two lifting elements (29, 30) form a single piece (58) which extends from one (15) of the longitudinal ends (15, 16) from the support (11) of the cutting element (8) to the other longitudinal end (16) of said support (11) passing through the center of the latter, that is to say the axis of rotation (1 la).

 This single piece (58) therefore forming the lifting device (28) is mounted on a cutting element (8) intended to rotate clockwise (59) (clockwise) as shown in Figure 2 .

 During work, the forage cut by the corresponding cutting element (8) first comes into contact with each transverse end (33) of the active part (32) and then with the transverse end (34) of said part. active (32) so that said forage is projected backwards and upwards towards the rollers (25, 26). For this purpose, it will be noted that the transverse end (33) is situated lower than the corresponding transverse end (34) so that the active part (32) is inclined backwards and upwards taking account of the direction of rotation of the corresponding cutting element (8).

FIG. 5 represents a cutting element (8) equipped with a forage lifting device (28A) according to a second embodiment. This lifting device (28A) comprises a certain number of elements which have been described previously. These elements will therefore keep the same reference number and will not be rewritten. They also include a number of elements which are comparable to elements of the lifting device (28) followed by the letter
A. They will only be described if necessary.

 This second embodiment of the lifting device (28A) shown in FIG. 5 is on the whole very similar to the lifting device (28). Note, however, that this lifting device (28A) is intended to be mounted on a cutting element (8) which rotates in the opposite direction (60) to the clockwise direction (59).

For this purpose, it can be said that each lifting element (29A, 30A) has undergone a symmetry with respect to the second straight line (22) so that, during work, the forage is also projected backwards and upwards towards the rollers (25, 26) when the lifting device (28A) equips a cutting machine like that described above.

 Note that the lifting device (28A) according to this second embodiment, is fixed to the support (1 lA) by means of the two other screws (13), the two bolts (41) and the two studs (45A). Each of these two screws (13) passes right through the lifting element (29A, 30A) corresponding by means of the corresponding first hole (38A) and right through the support (1 lA) by means of the hole (14) corresponding, said screw (14) then being screwed into the corresponding rotary element (12A). Each bolt (41) passes right through the lifting element (29A, 30A) corresponding by means of the corresponding second hole (39A) and right through the support (11A) by means of the corresponding hole (40A).

 Each of the studs (45A) extends through a hole (61) provided in the support (1 lA), said hole (61) being provided in a flat surface belonging to said support (l lA).

 FIG. 6 represents a cutting element (8) equipped with a forage lifting device (28B) according to a third embodiment. This lifting device (28B) comprises a certain number of elements which have been described previously. These elements will therefore keep the same reference number and will not be rewritten. It also includes a certain number of elements which are comparable to elements of the lifting device (28) followed by the letter B. fis will only be described if necessary.

 This third embodiment of the lifting device (28B) shown in FIG. 6 differs essentially from the lifting device (28) in that the two lifting elements (29B, 30B) are in two parts and that they are fixed to the to each other by means of a connecting device (57B).

 To this end, each lifting element (29B, 30B) comprises, according to this third embodiment, a fixing element (64, 65) extending upwards.

 The lifting elements (29B, 30B) are firstly fixed to the support (11) as described above and between them by means of two bolts (66).

 To this end, the fixing element (64) of the lifting element (29B) extends opposite the fixing element (65) of the lifting element (30B). The two bolts (66) pass right through the fixing elements (64, 65) by means of holes (67, 68) corresponding.

 Finally, various modifications can be made to the examples which have just been described, in particular as regards the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without however departing from the field of protection.

 Thus it is for example possible to provide on the same support (11, 1 lA) two holes (47) and two holes (61) so as to be able to equip this support (11, 11A) with a device elevator (28, 28A) according to the first and the second embodiment.

 It is also perfectly possible to imagine a lifting device provided on the one hand with two lifting elements (29B, 30B) fixed to one another by means of a connecting device (57B) as described above and intended on the other hand to be mounted on a cutting element (8) rotating in the opposite direction (60) to the clockwise direction (59).

Claims (14)

 29B, 30B) diametrically opposed to each other.  (57; 57B) connecting at least the two lifting elements (29, 30; 29A, 30A;  cutting (8; 8A), characterized in that a connecting device is provided  diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the center (1 la) of said element  be detachably attached to said cutting element (8; 8A) and  two lifting elements (29, 30; 29A, 30A; 29B, 30B), each intended for  previously cut by a cutting element (8; 8A) and comprising at least  Claims 1. Forage lifting device intended to influence the trajectory of the product 2. Forage lifting device according to claim 1, characterized in that  that the lifting elements (29, 30; 29A, 30A; 29B, 30B) are of mass at  less substantially equal. 3. Forage lifting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in  that each lifting element (29, 30; 29A, 30A; 29B, 30B) has a  inclined active part (32; 32A; 32B) intended to project the fodder  previously cut by the cutting element (8; 8A) upwards. 4. forage lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to  3, characterized in that each lifting element (29, 30; 29A, 30A; 29B,  30B) is intended to be fixed to the cutting element (8; 8A) removably  by means of fasteners (13, 35, 36; 36A; 36B). 5. Forage lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to  4, characterized in that each lifting element (29, 30; 29A, 30A; 29B,  30B) has two holes (38, 39; 38A, 39A; 38B, 39B) and a stud (45;  45A; 45B) for fixing said lifting element (29, 30; 29A, 30A;  29B, 30B) to the cutting element (8; 8A). 6. Fodder device according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the  dowel (45; 45A; 45B) is located below the active part (32; 32A;  32B) of the corresponding lifting element (29, 30; 29A, 30A; 29B, 30B). 7. forage lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to  6, characterized in that the two lifting elements (29, 30; 29A, 30A;  29B, 30B) diametrically opposed are fixed to each other by means of the  connecting device (57; 57B) so as to form a single piece (58;  58A). 8. Cutting element intended to equip a cutting machine (1) and comprising  a support (11; 11A) comprising at least one cutting tool (17) and equipped  a lifting device (28; 28A; 28B) for fodder, characterized in that the  forage lifting device (28; 28A; 28B) is a lifting device  Fodder according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. Cutting element intended to equip a cutting machine (1) according to the  claim 8, characterized in that the support (11 1 lA) is in the form of  oval disc comprising at each of its longitudinal ends (15, 16;  15A, 16A) a retractable cutting tool (17), and that said support (11; lA)  is intended to be fixed to a rotary element (12; 12A) belonging to the machine  cutting (1) by means of screws (13). 10. Cutting element intended to equip a cutting machine (1) according to the  claim 9, characterized in that each cutting tool (17) is linked  retractable to said cutting element (8; 8A) by means of a connection  cylindrical (18) and the lifting device (28; 28A; 28B) of fodder  includes a clearance (56; 56A; 56B) at the level of said connection  cylindrical (18). 11. Cutting element intended to equip a cutting machine (1) according to the  claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one of the screws (13)  for fixing the cutting element (8; 8A) to a rotary element (12, 12A)  of the cutting machine (1), contributes to fixing a lifting element (29, 30;  29A, 30A; 29B, 30B) to said cutting element (8; 8A). 12. Cutting element intended to equip a cutting machine (1) according to the  claim 9, characterized in that the two lifting elements (29, 30;  29A, 30A; 29B, 30B) diametrically opposed are fixed to each other at the  means of the connecting device (57; 57B) so as to form a part  single (58; 58A) which extends from one (15; 15A) of the longitudinal ends  (15, 16; 15A, 16A) from the cutting element (8; 8A) to the other end  longitudinal (16; 16A) of said cutting element (8; 8A) passing through the  center (1 la) of the latter. 13. Cutting machine comprising a coupling structure (2) by means of  which it is intended to be linked to a motor vehicle (3), and a mechanism  cutting (5) comprising at least one rotary element (12; 12A) which is  attached a cutting element (8; 8A), characterized in that the cutting element  (8; 8A) is a cutting element according to any one of claims 8 to  12. 14. Cutting machine according to claim 13, characterized in that it  includes a processing device (6) for processing the product  previously cut by the cutting element (s) (8; 8A).