GB1322165A - Conditioning crops - Google Patents

Abstract

1322165 Apparatus for conditioning crops NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP 10 Sept 1970 [11 June 1969] 29667/69 Headings A1F and A1P A crop-conditioner, adapted to be mounted on the three-point linkage of a tractor 1, comprises a framework of end members 9 and transverse members 11 which carries a reciprocating cutter 3 driven from the power take-off of the tractor. A tubular member, driven by a hydraulic motor 21, is rotatably mounted on a dead shaft 13 and carries a plurality of sets of rubber flails 19, each set comprising four flails equiangularly spaced about the axis. Adjacent sets of flails 19 are so disposed that they abut or overlap each other, and each successive set of flails is equiangularly spaced from the previous, set. A plate 29 behind the cutter 3 causes the cut crop to be engaged by the flails 19 as they rotate in an anti-clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 2). The plate may contain ribs to increase the conditioning of the crop, and an alternative form of flail having enlarged tips could be used. After mowing and conditioning, the cutter may be disconnected and the implement used for re-conditioning the crop lying on the ground. For this purpose, the direction of rotation of the flail arrangement may be reversed. In the second embodiment (Fig. 7), the flails 97 are spaced around the tubular member 91 in a similar manner to the previous embodiment, but are made of metal and are hinged to the tubular member, so that in rotation the flails extend radially. The flails 97 have two fins 107 at their ends, and rotate in a clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 7). Mounted above the flails is an adjustable shroud 109 such that the crop cut by the reciprocating cutter 85 is carried into it. As the cut crop passes the first clearance 115, it undergoes conditioning and passes into a chamber 121 where it is tossed around before being carried through a smaller second clearance 117 for further conditioning. Baffles are provided to control the width of the swath. The height of the flail arrangement can be adjusted relative to the cutter, and other forms of resilient flails may be incorporated. The reciprocating cutter may be replaced by other forms of cutter, e.g. multiple-disc rotary mowers. The implement may be embodied in a forage harvester.