FR3024015A1 - ROTOR CUTTING MACHINE ASSOCIATED WITH ARTICULATED SHUTTERS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cutting machine comprising at least one cutting unit (9) and at least one rotor (19) which is equipped with knives (25) and which is pivotally mounted on a frame (14) of the cutting unit. section, the frame comprising a housing which is integral with the frame and which is arranged on the frame so as to surround laterally at least partly the knives. According to the invention, the frame comprises a flap (31) pivotally mounted on the casing along a pivot axis (C) and arranged on the casing so as to surround at least partially the knives laterally, and control means (36). ) of the flap to control a relative position of the flap relative to the housing along said pivot axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a cutting machine including a plant cutting machine such as a grinder-brush cutter particularly suitable for fallow land.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order to ensure the cutting of plants over a large area, a cutting machine called a grinder-brushcutter is often used which is hitched to the rear of a tractor. These machines may be carried, semi-mounted, towed or pushed, depending on whether they are cantilevered at the rear of the tractor, that they are coupled to the rear of the tractor by their forward end and rest by their rear ends on the ground by means of pads or wheels, or that they rest entirely on the ground by wheels being simply towed or pushed by the tractor. It is thus known from FR 2 912 870 of the Applicant a cutting machine comprising three cutting units, namely a central unit and two lateral units articulated to this central unit along axes extending along two opposite edges of the unit. central unit substantially parallel to the direction of advance of the machine. Each unit comprises a frame supporting at least one rotor equipped with rotating knives. Each rotor is associated with a housing which is integral with the frame and which is arranged on the frame so as to laterally surround the rotor and its knives. The vegetation cut by the rotor blades is driven by suction in an upward motion until it sticks against the frame. Due to the centrifugal effect, the cut vegetation then plates against the casing surrounding the knives and naturally falls, in a downward movement, on the ground sliding along said housing.

The actual shape of the casing thus influences the flow of vegetation cut in the cutting machine and in particular the speed of ejection of the cut vegetation. Therefore, if it is desired to change said flow, it is necessary to change the dimensions of one or more of the casings of the machine which leads to important maintenance and a long downtime of the machine. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a cutting machine that makes it easier and faster to modify a flow of cut products, such as vegetation, in said machine. GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve this object, there is provided a cutting machine comprising at least one cutting unit and at least one rotor which is equipped with knives and which is pivotally mounted on a frame of the cutting unit, the frame comprising a housing which is integral with the frame and which is arranged on the frame so as to surround at least partially the knives laterally. According to the invention, the frame comprises: at least one flap pivotally mounted on the casing along a pivot axis and arranged on the casing so as to surround at least part of the knives laterally, and shutter control means to control a relative position of the flap relative to the housing along said pivot axis.

Thus, a simple pivoting of the flap relative to the casing makes it possible to modify the shape of said casing and thus a flow of the product cut in the machine. In fact, the flap makes it possible to modify the height of the casing, which changes the speed of ejection of the cut product and thus modifies the flow of said product in the machine.

3024015 3 It is therefore easy and fast to change the flow of the cut product, such as vegetation, in the machine. In addition, the modification of the flow, by modifying the geometry of the casing via the flap, can be implemented directly in service without it being necessary to unhook the machine from the motor vehicle to which it is connected. In addition, this modification can be implemented by the driver of the motor vehicle itself, via the control means, without a technical operator needing to intervene on the machine. Of course, throughout the present application, the terms "superior", "lower" ... should be understood according to the operating position of the machine that is to say the position in which the machine is based on the soil on which it is intended to roll. The terms "front" and "rear" must therefore be understood according to the operating position of the machine and the direction of advance of the machine on said floor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings, which illustrate particular embodiments of the invention. Reference will be made to the figures in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a cutting machine according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a portion of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view in partial section of a part of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, the section plane passing through a direction of advance of the machine and an axis of rotation of the rotor, the shutter said portion being in a first position; FIG. 5 is a view identical to that of FIG. 4, the flap of said portion being in a second position; FIG. 6 is a view identical to that of FIG. 4, the flap of said portion being in a third position; FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of a portion of a cutting machine according to a second Embodiment of the invention, the flap of said portion being in a first position, - Figure 8 is a view identical to that of Figure 7, the flap being in a second position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the cutting machine according to the first embodiment of the invention is here a mill-cutter with the general reference 1. The mill-cutter 1 has at its end before a stirrup 2 which ends with a rocket 3, which rocket 3 is connected to a rebar-shaped armature 4 which is intended to be coupled to the three-point hitch of a tractor not shown here. For this purpose, the arch-shaped armature carries two low attachment points 5 intended to be hingedly connected to the ends of the associated arms of the tractor, and a high attachment point 6 intended to be connected to a hinge at the end of a tractor drawbar. A transmission shaft 7, of variable length, extends between an input gimbal 8 of the mill-cutter and an output shaft of the tractor.

The grinder-brushcutter 1 here comprises five cutting units of which: a central unit 9, two intermediate units 10, 11 hinged to this central unit 9 along axes that extend along two opposite edges of the unit; the central unit substantially parallel to a forward direction A, two end units 12, 13, each end unit 12, 13 being hinged to the adjacent intermediate unit 11, along an axis extending along the considered edge of the intermediate unit 11, 10 substantially parallel to the direction A of advancement. Each unit 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 comprises a frame, respectively 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 which here each support a single rotor, respectively 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 equipped with knives 25 (including only one is numbered in Figure 2 and Figure 3) such as rotating knives. The input gimbal 8 is arranged to directly drive the rotor 19 of the central unit 9 in rotation and to drive, by means of transmission shafts 24, the rotors 20, 21, 22, 23 each of the intermediate units 10, 11 and ends 12, 13. The rotors are thus pivotally mounted on the associated frame along axes of rotation B all parallel to each other and orthogonal to the direction of advance A. Each frame 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 comprises a casing, respectively 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, which is associated with the rotor 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 carried by said frame.

The casing 26 of the frame 14 of the central unit 9 will now be described. The housing 26 is rigidly fixed to the frame 14 of the central unit 9 and more particularly rigidly fixed to a lower wall of said frame which is facing the floor on which the grinder-brush cutter is based. The 3024015 6 housing 26 is in one piece. The housing 26 is arranged on said frame 14 so as to laterally surround the knives 25. More precisely here, the casing 26 has a circular section, 5 in a sectional plane having normal rotation axis B of the rotor, and is concentric with the rotor 19. The casing 26 thus has a tubular shape. The housing 26 is thus formed into a closed circular wall circumferentially surrounding the knives 25. Said circular wall is closed at an upper end by the bottom wall which together define a box inside which are arranged the knives 25 carried by the rotor 19. If the casing 26 is cut in two portions, in a sectional plane of normal the direction of advance A and comprising the axis of rotation B of the rotor, the casing 26 then consists of a first portion 26a and a second portion 26b so that the first portion 26a is arranged at the front of the knives 25 relative to the direction of advance of the mill-cutter (symbolized by an arrow on the direction of advance A ) and that the second portion 26b is arranged behind the knives 25 with respect to said forward direction. In particular, the first portion 26a is symmetrical with respect to the direction of advance A. Typically, the first portion 26a here has a constant height h1, height defined along the axis of rotation of the rotor B. In particular, the second portion 26b is symmetrical 30 in the direction of advance A. Typically, the second portion 26b here has a height gradually increasing in the direction of advance of the crusher breather so as to have a maximum height h2max at its junction with the first portion 35 26b and a minimum height h2min behind the knives 3024015 7 25 as more visible in Figure 4. The maximum height h2max of the second portion 26b here corresponds to the height h1 of the first portion 26a which avoids a step between the two portions.

The casing 26 of the frame 14 of the central unit 9 has been described. This description applies here to the other casings of the frames of intermediate units 10, 11 and end units 12, 13. According to the invention, each frame 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 10 comprises a single flap, respectively 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 which is associated with the housing 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 integral with said frame 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and shutter control means (only those of the central unit 9 are shown in Figures 3 to 6).

The flap 31 of the casing 26 rigidly fixed to the frame 14 of the central unit 9 and the control means associated with said flap 31 will now be described. The flap 31 is pivotally mounted on the casing 26, here along a pivot axis C substantially orthogonal to the direction of advance A and the axis of rotation of the rotor B. Typically the pivot axis C coincides with a geometric axis of the housing 26 fictitiously separating the first portion 26a and the second portion 26b. Preferably, the flap 31 is pivotally mounted on the casing 26 so as to be arranged at the rear of the knives 25 with reference to the direction of advance of the mill-cutter. In particular, the flap 31 is pivotally mounted on the housing 26 so as to be further arranged outside the casing 26. The flap 31 is arranged on the housing 26 to surround laterally and in part the knives 25. More precisely here, the flap 31 has a semicircular section, along the plane of section having normal axis of rotation of the rotor B, and is concentric to the rotor 19. In this way the flap 31 is shaped into a circular wall circumferentially surrounding the second portion 26b of the casing 26 and the knives 25. The flap 31 thus allows here to modify the shape of the second portion 26b of the casing 26 that is to say the shape of the rear half of the In particular, the flap 31 is shaped so that its height hv corresponds to the difference 10 between the maximum height h2max and the minimum height h2min of the second portion 26b. Typically, the control means are arranged to be able to cause the flap 31 to pivot about the pivot axis C between a retracted position, an intermediate position and an extended position. The flap 31 is here arranged so that, in its retracted position illustrated in Figure 4, the flap 31 does not protrude from the rest of the casing 26. The flap 31 is thus hidden by the casing 26 when we look at the casing 26 in the opposite direction to the advancement of the mill-cutter. The flap 31 is for example arranged so as to rest against the bottom wall. The flap 31 is furthermore arranged so that, in its intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 5, the flap 31 extends in the extension of the first portion 26a. The flap 31 thus makes it possible to increase the height of the rear half of the casing 26 so that the casing 26 has a constant height all around its circumference.

The flap 31 is furthermore arranged so that, in its extended position shown in FIG. 6, the flap 31 extends in a direction inclined towards the ground. The flap 31 thus partially exceeds the rest of the casing 26. The flap 31 thus makes it possible to increase the height of the rear half of the casing 26 so that, in the opposite direction of advancement of the breather mill, the housing 26 has a constant height up to the pivot axis B and a progressively increasing height. The casing 26 thus has a minimum height at its first portion and a maximum height at the back of the knives 25. The arrangement of the flap 31 and the casing 26 thus makes it possible to define three distinct casing shapes: a first wherein the rear half of the housing 26 has a height less than the front half of the housing 26, a second in which the rear half of the housing 26 has a height identical to the front half of the housing 26 and a third in which the half The rear of the casing has a height greater than 26 at the front half of the casing. By a simple articulation of the flap 31 around the casing 26, it is therefore possible to redefine the geometry of the housing 26 and thus to change the flow of cut plants in the mill-brush cutter.

In particular, the control means of the flap 31 comprise a control member 36 whose first end 36a is shaped as a handle that can be grasped by a user and whose second end 36b is rigidly fixed to the flap 31.

More specifically here, the second end 36b is secured to the center of the flap 31 in the circumferential direction. The control member 36 has three notches 37 for defining each respectively the retracted position, the intermediate position and the extension position of the flap 31, the notches 37 being able to cooperate with a stopper pin 38 integral with the frame 14 to lock the flap 31 in the corresponding position.

In this way, when the user wishes to modify the shape of the housing 26, he grasps the first end 36a of the control member 36 to move said member 36 in order to separate the stop pin 38 from one of the notches 37. Then it raises or lowers 5 the control member 36 to secure the stopper pin 38 with another of the notches 37. The flap 31 is thus moved from one of its positions to another of its positions very simply and very quickly.

The flap 31 of the housing 26 rigidly fixed to the frame 14 of the central unit 9 and the control means associated with said flap 31 have just been described. This description applies here to the other flaps and associated control means of the frames of the intermediate units 10, 15 11 and end units 12, 13. Preferably, the control means of the different flaps of the mill-cutter are separated from the each other so that each flap 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 can be moved relative to the associated casing 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 independently. This makes it possible to have casings of distinct shapes in the same mill-cutter and thus to define separate flows at different locations of said mill-cutter.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. The elements in common with the first embodiment retain the same numbering increased by one hundred. Unlike the flap 31 of the first embodiment, the flap 131 of the second embodiment is not integral but has a plurality of sub-flaps which are nested within each other so as to allow a telescopic deployment of the flap 131. More precisely here, the flap comprises a first sub-flap 141, a second sub-flap 142 and a third sub-flap 143 which are articulated on the casing 126 on the pivot axis C to allow extension and telescopic retraction of the flap 131 about said pivot axis C.

For example, the control means are arranged to be able to cause the flap 131 to pivot about the pivot axis C between a retracted position and an extended position. The flap 131 is here arranged so that in its retracted position, illustrated in FIG. 7, the three sub-flaps 141, 142, 143 are all nested within each other. The flap 131 then has a minimum height hvmin- The flap 131 is further arranged here so that it rests against the bottom wall. The flap 131 does not protrude from the remainder of the casing 126 since it is masked by the casing 126 when the housing 126 is viewed in the opposite direction to the advancement of the crusher. The flap 131 is furthermore arranged so that, in its extended position illustrated in FIG. 8, the flap 131 is fully deployed, the three sub-flaps 141, 142, 143 no longer being retracted into each other. other. The flap 131 then has a maximum height hvmax. The flap 131 is further arranged to extend in a direction inclined towards the floor. The flap 131 thus partly exceeds the rest of the housing. The flap 131 thus makes it possible to increase the height of the rear half of the casing 126 so that, in the opposite direction of the mill-cutter, the casing 126 has a constant height up to the pivot axis B. then a height gradually increasing. Compared to the first embodiment, thanks to the interlocking of the various sub-flaps 141, 142, 143, it is therefore possible to modify the shape of the casing 126 without a larger amount of flange. 131 is of a bulky volume. Here, when the sub-flaps 141, 142, 143 are nested, the flap 131 has a sufficiently low height so as not to exceed the housing 126 and, when the sub-flaps 141, 142, 143 are deployed, the flap 131 has a height much greater than in the first embodiment. The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, but on the contrary covers any variant within the scope of the invention. In particular, although here the machine comprises five cutting units, the machine may comprise a different number of cutting units such as three cutting units with a central unit and two lateral units articulated on the central unit. Although the rotors and associated knives are all of the same size, the rotors and knives associated may be of different sizes. For example, the rotor of the central unit and the associated knives 20 may be larger than those of the intermediate and end units. The housings may be of a different form from those described. The housings can thus only partially surround the knives. The housings may be asymmetrical depending on the direction of advance of the machine. The casings may be of a constant height over their entire length as is illustrated for example in Figures 7 and 8. Only a portion of the rotors and knives may be associated with a housing.

Although here the flap is hinged to the housing according to a pivot axis orthogonal to the direction of travel, the flap may be articulated on the housing according to another axis. The flap may then be offset circumferentially from the second portion of the housing.

The flap may be arranged at the front of the knives instead of being arranged at the rear of the knives in order to allow a modification of the shape before the casing. Although here each casing is associated with a flap, only part of the casings may be provided with a shutter. Some or all of the housings may be associated with a greater number of components such as two components. The two flaps can be articulated on the housing on the same pivot axis or 10 on a different pivot axis. One of the flaps can for example be arranged at the front of the knives and the other flaps can be arranged at the back of the knives to allow a modification of the rear shape but also the front form of the housing. Alternatively, the two flaps may be hinged to the housing so that both are arranged at the same level, for example both of which are arranged behind the knives. According to one option, the first flap will be articulated so as to be arranged between the knives (or the casing according to the form thereof) and the second flap and the second flap will be articulated so as to be arranged outside the flap. first part. By combining the movements of the two flaps it will thus be possible to modify the shape of the casing by a greater amplitude, by extending the flaps in the extension of one another, without the flaps being each one of a volume. cumbersome. We will then be in a configuration similar to that of the second embodiment described in the present application with the difference that the two flaps will be independent of one another while in the second embodiment there is only one component composed of several sub-components that depend on each other. In particular, although here the control means are actuated manually, the control means 3024015 14 may be operated differently for example electrically or hydraulically. Although here the various control means are disconnected from each other, it can be envisaged that the various control means are partially or completely secured to each other. For example, only the control means of the shutter associated with the central unit may be independent, the control means associated with the other cutting units being controlled centrally to allow an identical modification of the relative position of each shutter relative to each other. to the associated casing.

Claims (14)

REVENDICATIONS1. Cutting machine comprising at least one cutting unit (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) and at least one rotor (19, 20, 21, 22, 23) which is equipped with knives (25) and which is pivotally mounted on a frame (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 114) of the cutting unit, the frame comprising a housing (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 126) which is integral with the frame and which is arranged on the frame so as to surround laterally at least partly the knives, the machine being characterized in that the frame comprises: - at least one flap (31, 32, 33, 34, 35; 131) pivotally mounted on the housing according to a pivot axis (C) and arranged on the housing so as to surround at least partially the knives laterally, and - control means (36) of the flap for controlling a relative position of the flap relative to the housing along said axis of pivoting. 2. Cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the flap (31, 32, 33, 34, 35; 131) is arranged such that the pivot axis (B) is substantially orthogonal to a direction of advancement ( A) of the machine. 3. Cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the flap (31, 32, 33, 34, 35; 131) is pivotally mounted on the housing (26, 27, 28, 29, 30; 131) so as to be arranged outside the housing. 4. Cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means are arranged to allow pivoting of the flap (31, 32, 33, 34, 35; 131) along the pivot axis (C) between a retracted position. and an extension position, the flap being arranged so that in the retracted position the flap does not increase a crankcase height. 5. Cutting machine according to claim 1, 3024015 16 in which the flap (31, 32, 33, 34, 35; 131) is arranged behind the knives (25) relative to a direction of advance of the machine. 6. Cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the frame (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) comprises two flaps pivotally mounted on the housing, one of the flaps being arranged at the rear of the knives relative one direction of advancement of the machine and the other flaps being arranged at the front of the knives with respect to said 10 senses. A cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the housing (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 126) has a closed periphery so as to completely enclose the knives. 15 8. Cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the housing (26, 27, 28, 29, 30) consists of a first portion (26a) and a second portion (26b), according to a section plane. of normal a direction of advancement of the machine and comprising a rotational axis of the rotor, the first portion being arranged at the front of the knives with respect to a direction of advance of the machine and the second portion being arranged at the rear of the knives with respect to said direction. 9. A cutting machine according to claim 8, wherein the first portion (26a) has a constant height. 10. Cutting machine according to claim 9, wherein the first portion (26a) is symmetrical in the direction of advance of the machine. 30 11. Cutting machine according to claim 8, wherein the second portion (26b) has a gradually increasing height in the direction of advance of the machine. Cutting machine according to claim 11, wherein the second portion (26b) is symmetrical in the direction of advance of the machine. Cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the housing (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 126) has a circular section and the flap (31, 32, 33, 34, 35; semicircular, the casing and the flap being both concentric to the rotor. 14. The cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the flap (131) comprises several sub-flaps (141, 142, 143) nested in each other in a telescopic movement.