FR2843681A1 - Lifter connected to forage chopper by two part coupling comprising horizontal tube fixed to lifter rear under forage outlet and frame having lower horizontal branch sliding transversely in tube between two stops - Google Patents

Abstract

The lifter (1) composed of a spiked roller (2) transfers the forage into a chute (3) fitted with an Archimedes screw (4). The lifter is connected to the forage chopper by means of a coupling (10) formed from two parts (10a,10b). The first coupling part is a horizontal tube fixed to the rear of the lifter under its forage outlet (5) and the second part is a frame having a lower horizontal branch engaged in the tube and able to slide transversely between two stops. The section of the tube has a greater height than that of the lower branch in order to allow relative pivoting between the lower branch and the tube.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a collector intended

  to be attached to a forage harvester by a coupling means comprising - a first part connected integrally to the rear and in the middle of the massager ra5, at the level of the product outlet window, - a second part, movable in a limited manner by relative to the first part and intended to be hung on the forage harvester, this second part in the form of a frame surrounding the exit window of the picker (entry window of the forage harvester) having * a bearing in the lower part receiving the first part , * a hooking means for two connecting springs connecting each side of the frame to a point of attachment of the pickup, these points

  fastener being spread towards the two sides of the pick-up.

  The coupling means which connects the collector to the forage harvester is intended to allow relative mobility between the collector and the forage harvester

  to follow the movements of the ground, so that the movements of the picker do not affect the forage harvester and vice versa. The pick-up is in fact a relatively large piece of equipment which, therefore, follows the ground by encountering other deformations of the ground with its support rollers than the forage harvester which carries the pick-up.

  As the collectors are generally manufactured by other manufacturers than the forage harvester manufacturers, and as the coupling means vary from one type of forage harvester to another, it has been interesting to connect the collector to the forage harvester by an intermediate part generally carried by the picker and harnessed for the execution of a task at the forage harvester. STATE OF THE ART There is already a collector coupling device composed of a first part formed by a pivot, fixed to the rear of the collector and a second part in the form of a frame with a housing receiving the pivot. . This assembly is secured in the longitudinal direction, that of

the pivot axis.

  Thus the intermediate frame remains fixed integrally to the pickup. This frame is provided with coupling means for receiving the coupling means of the forage harvester. These coupling means are means

  quick couplings by axis and spindle.

  Usually, since the pickup is of large width, it can only be transported on the road on

  transport, the pick-up being placed in a longitudinal position, perpendicular to the normal operating direction of the pick-up.

  This equipment is generally towed by the forage harvester to go from one site to another.

  A forage harvester can also use several types of pickers which each remain in their area of activity, the forage harvester making the move. In this case and whatever the type of picker, its intermediate frame intended for coupling to the forage harvester includes

  attachment means adapted to those of the forage harvester.

  Practice has shown that the adapter frame mentioned above, which is described in particular according to an IDASS prospectus from 1989 entitled "Adaptable pick up IDASS", is relatively complicated to manufacture.

  OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to develop a pick-up intended for a forage harvester by a coupling means which is of a very simple, economical embodiment and offers multiple possibilities of adaptation for its fixing to any what type of picker or forage harvester. Object and advantages of the invention For this purpose the invention relates to a pickup of the type defined above characterized in that - the first part of the coupling means is a horizontal guide fixed to the rear of the pickup under its outlet, 2s - the second part of the coupling means is a frame whose branch

  lower horizontal cooperates by pivoting with the guide and in transverse sliding relative to the guide between two stops.

  The collector and its coupling means on the forage harvester allow a limited displacement in translation and also in pivoting which gives great flexibility of movement to the crew thus formed without this complicating the production of the coupling means intermediate. According to an advantageous characteristic, the horizontal guide 10a is in the form of a tube receiving the lower branch and the section of the tube is greater in height than that of the lower branch to allow relative pivoting between the lower branch of the frame and the tube. According to another advantageous characteristic, the lower branch is a tube receiving the horizontal guide and the lower branch section is greater in height than that of the guide to allow a

  relative pivoting between the lower branch and the guide.

  This coupling means is particularly simple and economical to

  realize since they are two tubes sliding one inside the other, the inner tube having dimensions significantly smaller than those of the outer tube, in the vertical direction so as to allow not only easy sliding but also a lateral pivoting.

  Advantageously, the lower branch of the frame comprises the two stops which limit the relative transverse movement between

the first and the second part.

  In a particularly interesting manner, elastic elements are interposed between the lower branch of the frame and the guide. 15 These elastic elements of appropriate hardness, dampen the movement

  and make it perfectly silent.

  The position of these elastic elements inside the tube is chosen to allow a more or less significant relative travel between the picker and the forage harvester according to parameters such as the re20 regularity of the ground and more generally the conditions of use of

the picker / forage harvester crew.

  In a particularly advantageous manner, support members are provided between the first part and the second part, in particular when one of the parts is a tube and the other, a tube or even a part is a tube and the the other is a rail, possibly in the form of a tube, so as to relieve the elastic members intended to dampen the relative pivoting movement, to prevent either or both of the elastic members from being completely compressed when the first part of the coupling means and the second part of the coupling means are in a practically normal position, i.e. in position

  relative parallel (or horizontal).

  According to an advantageous characteristic, the tube has a U-shaped section open on the rear side to receive horizontally the lower branch which is retained by pins in the opening of the tube.

  According to another variant, the tube has an open section downwards and the lower branch of the frame engages in the tube from below.

  According to another variant, the tube has a closed section and the lower branch of the frame is engaged in this tube when

  the assembly of the frame and especially before the final assembly of the frame.

  This non-removable solution has the advantage of simplicity. 5s Practice has in fact shown that it is rare that it is necessary to separate the first and the second part of the coupling means, the assembly remaining generally installed almost permanently on the pickup. A change is only made when the picker is I0 intended to be coupled to a different forage harvester from the usual forage harvester and if this forage harvester does not have the same coupling means. It will then be necessary to replace the coupling means of the pickup by a coupling means adapted to this forage harvester. In the case of a coupling means constituted by a tube with open section either towards the front or towards the rear, it will suffice to replace the frame with a frame provided with coupling means adapted to those of the new forage harvester. . Otherwise replace

the entire coupling means.

  According to another advantageous characteristic, the pick-up comprises a fixed part and a movable part which can be folded relative to the fixed part for the transport position and the horizontal guide is extended on the side of the fixed part of the pick-up to allow the frame to come into the median equilibrium position of the fixed part or of the assembly constituted by the fixed part and of the mobile part folded back in the transport position.

  This arrangement makes it possible to considerably simplify the folding of one part of the pickup relative to the other to come into the transport position since the same member, that is to say the rail, serves both as a constituent means the interface between the picker and the forage harvester during the work of the machine and of the connecting member during transport, without it being necessary to detach the frame of the picker or the forage harvester to pass into the transport position . The kinematics are extremely simple since it is a translational movement of a

position to another.

  Drawings The present invention will be described below in more detail using different embodiments shown in the drawings in which: s - Figure 1 is a rear view of an example of pickup according to the invention equipped only of the first part of the coupling means on the forage harvester, - Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the picker of Figure 1, o0 - Figure 3 is a front view of the coupling means of the picker on the 'forage harvester, - Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the main part of the coupling means according to the invention in the rest position, - Figure 5 is a view of the coupling means of Figure 4 in position 15 tilted to one side, - Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 for a tilted position in the other direction, - Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 showing a first embodiment of the horizontal tube, - Figure 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 showing a second alternative embodiment of the horizontal tube, - FIG. 9 is a view in vertical section of the first part of the coupling means according to the invention, - FIGS. 10, 11, 12 show three alternative embodiments of the coupling means, - Figure 13 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 1 showing another embodiment of the coupling means of the pickup

  on the forage harvester and a variant of this second embodiment.

  Description of embodiments of the invention

  According to Figures 1 and 2, the invention relates to a pickup intended to be hung on the front of a forage harvester not shown by a

coupling means.

  The pick-up 1 is generally made up of a spiked roller 2 with a substantially horizontal axis, driven in rotation by drive means (not shown) and pressing the products spread on the ground to transfer them to a chute or path transfer 3 equipped with a double Archimedes screw 4 bringing the products of all the width towards the middle of the collector at the level of the window 5 to make

  pass the products through the forage harvester 6 (figure 2) shown diagrammatically by a contour line. In fact, it is a self-propelled vehicle transporting the pick-up and comprising means for cutting and chopping the products that the pick-up provides it with to make silage products.

  The collector rests on the ground by rollers 7 and in

end by pads 8.

  The spike wheel 2 and the screw 4 are driven by a cardan transmission connecting a power take-off at the front of the forage harvester, to the movement input of the pick-up. The movement is transmitted to a l0 side 9 of the forage harvester with a pulley and belt housing for the transmission of the movement. These various means, known, are not detailed.

  The interface between the picker and the forage harvester is a coupling device 10 formed of two parts, one 10a connected integrally to the rear of the picker and the other, 0lb movably connected to the first part 10a and carrying coupling means 11, 12 for receiving the non-detailed coupling means 61, 62 of the forage harvester 6. These coupling means are generally constituted by four coupling points arranged symmetrically with respect to the median plane of the whole of the forage harvester installation, with two coupling means at the bottom and

two coupling means at the top.

  The coupling device 10 according to the invention (Figures 2, 3, 4) consists of a first part 10a formed of a guide constituted by a horizontal tube fixed to the rear of the pickup, under the product outlet 5 This tube, generally of rectangular section, receives the second part 10b of the coupling means. This second part 10b is constituted by the lower branch 14 of a frame further comprising two uprights 15 and an upper cross member 16. The uprights 15 are provided with lower and upper coupling means 11, 12 for the forage harvester. They also carry attachments 17 for the springs 18 connecting the upper part of the frame to points 19 (FIG. 1) located near the lateral ends of the pick-up, in order to have springs of great length recalling the pick-up in its equilibrium position by relation to the forage harvester

(or at the frame).

  The lower branch 14 carries two stops 20 limiting the relative movement in the transverse direction (double arrow A) between the

  tube 10a and the lower branch 14 on the guide or tube 10a.

  The free height Hi inside the tube 1 Oa is greater than the external height H2 of the lower branch 14 which allows a movement not only of sliding but also of tilting, relative as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6; this tilting, combined with sliding, is necessary but also sufficient to compensate for the relative movements of the picker and the forage harvester.

  According to FIG. 7, the tube 10a fixed to the pick-up comprises two elastic members 21 in the form of buffers, arranged in positions symmetrical relative to the median plane (M M) and damping the relative tilting / sliding movement between the tube lOa and the

lower branch 14.

  Advantageously, these elastic buffers 21 are completed by a support member 22 occupying a central, symmetrical position, which avoids that in normal position, the two buffers 21 are completely crushed by the load exerted by the pickup through of its horizontal tube lOa leaning against the branch

lower 14 of the frame.

  Figure 8 shows a variant of this embodiment. In this case, there are two support members 23 in a symmetrical position with respect to the median plane M M. These two support members have the same function as

  the support member 22 described above. In this embodiment, there are also elastic buffers 21 damping the relative tilting movement between the horizontal tube 10a and the lower branch 14a.

  FIG. 9 shows the horizontal tube 10a, alone, with elastic buffers 21 adjustable in the direction of the double arrow B so as to make it possible to modify the amplitude of the possible movement between the

  tube 10a and the lower branch 14 not shown.

  Although the reciprocal solution is also possible for the support members 22, 23 and that these can on the antagonistic surface 30 of the lower branch 14a to cooperate under the same conditions with the horizontal tube 10a, the first solution described above is preferable because the load is exerted by the pickup attached to the tube 10a; under these conditions, the load will always be balanced with respect to the support member 22 or to the two support members 23, which would not always be the case in the reciprocal embodiment due to the possible translation of the branch lower 14a compared to tube 10a

of the collector.

  The same remark applies to elastic organs 21.

  FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the lower tube 10a equipped with two elastic members 21 placed inside the tube 10a at its upper internal face (or on the lower branch 14). These elastic blocks 21 are preferably adjustable transversely (direction of the double arrow B), to modify the high elastic support points between the lower branch 14 and the tube 0la.

  Figures 10, 11 and 12 show three particular embodiments of the coupling means of the pickup. The pickup 1 shown by a line carries the lower tube 10a. In a first case (FIG. 10) the 10 lower tube 10a is a closed tube. In the second case (Figure 11) the lower tube 13a is open in U-shaped section, lying, open on the side with two walls 131, flared and it receives the lower branch 14 of the frame in the direction of the horizontal arrow C. The third variant (FIG. 12) corresponds to a lower tube UO 15 in the shape of a U open downwards and the lower branch 14 of the frame is then introduced into this open tube in the path indicated by the arrows D. In the second case and in the third case (FIGS. 11, 12) retaining pins 21a, 2lb, hold the lower branch 14 in the lower tube 10aa, 10ab. This restraint function is not associated with

  a support function, so pins are sufficient to perform this function.

  Finally, it should be noted that the lower branch 14 is, in general, constituted by a tube of rectangular section like the other 25 elements 15, 16 of the frame forming the second part 0lb of the

coupling means.

  FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the picker and, in particular of the means for coupling the picker to the forage harvester.

  To simplify the description and the drawings, references similar to the references of the first embodiment have been used below by adding 100 to them.

  According to Figure 13, a collector 101 comprises a hitch 110 formed by a part 1 1Oa carried by the pickup 101 and a part 35 1 10b carried by the forage harvester not shown. Unlike the first

  embodiment, the part 1 10a of the coupling consists of a rail, for example in the form of a tube, in particular of rectangular section, connected to the pickup at two fixing points 131, 132 not detailed. The se-

  conde part 1 Ob of the coupling means 110 is constituted by a frame formed by a lower branch 114, two uprights 115 and an upper cross member 116. But in this embodiment, the lower branch 114 is a section tube more important than that of the rail 131 for 5 overlapping the rail 131. Between the lower branch 114 of the frame 1 1 Ob and the rail 1 1Oa, one can have, as in the first embodiment, elastic members 121 forming buffers and damping the movement relative tilting / sliding between these parts 1 1Oa and 1l1 Ob. The relative translation of the rail 131 relative to the lower branch 114 is there 0o further limited by two end stops 120, 121 which may, for example, be rods or pins carried detachably by the

  lower branch 114 and passing through oblong holes in the rail 131.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the pick-up 101 consists of two parts that can be folded relative to each other, namely 15 of a part 10la said to be fixed and of a folding mobile part 10lb, the folding of this part by relative to the fixed part being made around an articulation shown diagrammatically by the circle 101lC. The junction plane of the two parts of the pickup is marked Z Z. This junction plane is off-center with respect to the me20 dian (M M) plane of the frame or the pickup. According to Figure 13, it is located next to

  from the right fixing point 131 of the rail 1 O10a. Thus, the realization of the pickup in two parts does not interfere with the coupling means of the pickup on the forage harvester.

  On the left side according to FIG. 13, the rail 1 O10a is extended 25 by a part 1 10aa, itself fixed to the pick-up by the attachment point 133 similar to the attachment points 131 or 132. The extension 1Oaa of the rail 110 is such that the frame 1 10b can slide under the conditions which will be seen below, transversely along the rail 110a so as to come substantially in the median plane (Mo Mo) of the fixed part 0lla of the massager ra30, or more exactly in the plane passing through the center of gravity of the assembly formed by the fixed part 0lla and the mobile part 0llb in the folded position, so that the collector in the folded state is substantially in equilibrium position relative to the frame 1 lO1b or at its median plane (M

  M) thus placed in the position (Mo Mo).

  In the case of the rail 1 lO1a provided with its extension 1 lOaa, it is advantageous to provide an intermediate fixing point corresponding to the fixing point 132 of the rail 110a described above, to facilitate the transmission of the forces exerted by the pickup by the 'intermediate o10 rail on the frame 1 10b in the working position. The fixing point 132 can be removable and be used only while the pick-up 101 is in a working position. The fixing points 131, 132 can also serve as translation stops for the relative movement between the frame 1 Ob 5 and the rail 1 10a in the working position, which makes it possible to remove in this

case the stops 120.

  Finally according to a variant, the fixing point 132 is final, with a reduced height (less than that of the rail) and the tube 114 has a Q section, open longitudinally on the side facing the massager ra10 to pass over the fixing point 132, the fixing points 131 and 133 having a dimension greater than this opening to limit

  the relative translational travel between the frame 1 lO1b and the frame 1 10a.

Claims (8)

RESELL I CATIONS   1) Pick-up intended to be attached to a forage harvester by a coupling means comprising - a first part connected integrally to the rear and in the middle of the pick-up, at the level of the product outlet window, - a second, mobile part of limited manner with respect to the first part and intended to be hung on the forage harvester, this second part in the form of a frame surrounding the exit window of the picker 10 (entry window of the forage harvester) having * a bearing at the bottom receiving the first part, * a hooking means for two connecting springs connecting each side of the frame to a point of attachment of the pick-up, these attachment points being separated towards the two sides of the pick-up, characterized in that - the first part (10a) of the coupling means (10) is a horizontal guide fixed to the rear of the pickup (1) under its outlet (5), - the second part (10b) of the coupling means (10) is a frame whose horizontal branch the lower ale (14) cooperates by pivoting with the guide (10a) and in transverse sliding relative to the guide between two stops (20).   2) Pick-up according to claim 1, characterized in that - the horizontal guide 10a is in the form of a tube (10a) receiving the lower branch (14), - the section of the tube (10a) is greater in height than that of the branch lower (14) to allow relative pivoting between the lower branch (14) of the frame and the tube (10a). 3) Pickup according to claim 1, characterized in that   the two stops (20) are fixed on the lower branch (14) of the frame.   4) Pick-up according to claim 1, characterized by elastic elements (21) interposed between the lower branch (14) of the frame and guide (10a).    ) Pick-up according to claim 1, characterized in that pivoting supports (22> 23) are provided between the horizontal guide   (10A) and the lower branch (14) of the frame (10B).   6) Pick-up according to claim 2, characterized in that   the tube (10Oaa) is a U-section tube open on the rear side to receive horizontally the lower branch (14) retained by pins (2 la) in the opening of the tube (l Oaa).   7) Pickup according to claim 2, characterized in that   the tube (10ab) is a U-section tube open in its lower part 15 and the lower branch of the frame engages in the tube from below.   8) Pick-up according to claim 2, characterized in that   the tube (10a) is of closed section and the lower branch (14) of the frame therein 20 is engaged before the end of the assembly of the frame (10b).   9) pick-up according to claim 1, characterized in that - the lower branch (114) is a tube receiving the horizontal guide 25 (1Oa) and the lower branch section (114) is greater in height than that of the guide (l1 Oa ) to allow relative pivoting between the branch   lower (114) and the guide (1 1Oa).   10) Pick-up according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a fixed part (101la) and a foldable movable part (10lb) relative to the fixed part (101la) for the transport position, the horizontal guide (110a) is extended (110aa) on the side of the fixed part 35 (0lla) of the pickup (101) to allow the frame (11Ob) to come into the median equilibrium position (Mo Mo) of the fixed part (10la) or of the '' consisting of the fixed part (101la) and the mobile part (10lb) folded in transport position.