GB1560173A

GB1560173A - Mowing machine

Info

Publication number: GB1560173A
Application number: GB5011777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-12-02
Filing date: 1977-12-01
Publication date: 1980-01-30
Also published as: NL7613411A; YU283277A; FR2372587A1; DE2751429A1; FR2372587B1; IT1090449B; CS209445B2; BE861328A

Description

(54) MOWING MACHINE (71) I, PETRUS WILHELMUS ZWEEGERS, a Netherlands subject of Nieuwendijk 46, Geldrop, The Netherlands, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a mowing machine comprising at least one pair of cutter assemblies adapted to rotate in opposite senses about upright shafts and each having a plurality of cutting knives fastened to a support member, above which striking members are arranged at intervals around the circumference, and including a guide member extending between the cutter assemblies.

A similar mower has been proposed in which the striking members are formed by small beams extending parallel to the rotary axes and fastened to the shafts by chains, whilst the guide members are arranged on the outer sides of the two cutting members substantially concentrically therewith. This machine does not provide a satisfactory delivery and spreading of the mown crop across the field and the object of the inven tion is to provide an improvement in this respect.

Accordingly the present invention pro vides a mowing machine having at least one pair of rotary cutter assemblies arranged to rotate in use in opposite directions about respective generally vertical axes, each cutter assembly comprising a frusto-conical support member, a plurality of cutter blades fastened to the support member, and a drum positioned above the support member and having striking members arranged thereon and a guide member for mown crops extend ing between said cutter assemblies across the line joining the axes of the pair of rotary cutters.

Thus the striking members arranged on the drums cooperate with the guide member to distribute the crop in the direction determined by the guide member across the field.

The crop is, in addition, crushed so that drying is accelerated.

In order to promote a fuller understanding of the above, and other aspects of the present invention, an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mower; and Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the mower shown in Figure 1, several parts being shown in a sectional view.

In the mower shown in the drawings, a main frame beam 1, which may be attached to the rear of a tractor to extend laterally thereof to be substantially horizontal and transverse of the direction of movement of the machine over the ground, indicated by the arrow A. Below the frame beam 1 two cutter assemblies 2 and 3 are arranged side by side and arranged to rotate on substantially vertical shafts 4 and 5. The shafts 4 and 5 are driven in opposite directions so that at the front of the machine the cutter assemblies 2 and 3 rotate with their peripheries moving towards one another (see the arrows B and C in Figure 2). Each cutter assembly 2,3 comprises a drum-shaped body 6 and 7 respectively which, in this embodiment, is flattened on two opposite sides. The flattening is, however, not essential. To the lower part of each drum 6, 7 is fastened an annular support member 8 and 9 respectively. At least the outermost parts of the annular support members 8 and 9 extend downwards in frusto-conical fashion. A plurality of project- ing cutters 10, for example three, are fastened to the periphery of each support member 8 and 9. The paths of the cutters 10 of the supports members 8 and 9 overlap one another and the support members 8 and 9 themselves are disposed so as to nearly touch. Above each drum 6, 7 is arranged a stationary cover 11, which is secured to the frame beam 1 and prevents dirt from penetrating into the drums 6 and 7 respectively.

Beneath each support member 8, 9 is provided a dish-shaped sliding body 12 arranged to engage the ground in use.

The frame beam 1 has secured to it, midway between the cutter assemblies 2 and 3, a pair of forwardly extending supports 13 and 14. The foremost portions 15 of the supports 13 and 14 are inclined downwards and have at their free ends a support rod 16 and 17 respectively directed towards the front of the machine. A transverse rod 18 is rotatably arranged between the two support rods 16 and 17. To the centre of the transverse rod 18 is fastened a tube 19, which extends downwards and is then bent rearwards in a 90" arc of a circle. The lower end of the tube 19 is located approximately at the level of the top of the frusto-conical part of the support members 8 and 9 and slightly behind the foremost point of the circumference thereof.

The transverse rod 18 is connected with the forwardly extending support rods 16 and 17 so as to be adjustable in the direction of travel, since the latter rods have a series of fastening holes for the transverse rod 18.

A vertical guide plate 20 is secured to the tube 19 and extends rearwardly between the two cutter assemblies 2 and 3 to a point just beyond the plane going through the axes 4 and 5 of the cutter assemblies 2 and 3. For stiffening purposes a peripheral fillet 21 is provided along the top side of the guide plate 20. By means of an upwardly extending supporting pin 22 hinged to the peripheral fillet 21, the guide plate 20 is suspended from a tie member 23 arranged between the supports 13 and 14. The supporting pin 22 has screwthreads and is connected with the tie member 23 so as to be adjustable in a direction of height. Therefore, the guide plate 20 can be adjusted in a vertical direction pivotting about the axis of the transverse rod 18 with respect to the forwardly extending rods 16 and 17.

To the vertical rear edge of the guide plate 20 are fastened two end plates 24 and 25 each curved outwardly in accordance with the curvatures of the adjacent cutter assemblies 2 and 3 to make a V formation. The vertical rear edges of the end plates 24 and 25 are located near the edges of the neighbouring support members 8 and 9 approximately midway between that part of their circumference which is located in the plane going through the two axes 4 and 5, and the rear point of the circumference thereof, this being shown in Figure 2.

Each flattened part of the drums 6 and 7 is provided at the centre with a respective fillet 26, 27, 28, 29 extending parallel to the axes of the drums. To the lower parts of these fillets are fastened respective chain portions 30, 31, 32 and 33. The side elevation of Figure 1 shows the chain 32 of the drum 7 to be attached at a small distance above the support member 9 and the chain 33 at a slightly higher level. The chains 30 and 31 are arranged on the other drum 6 so that the chains (such as 31 and 32 shown in Figure 2) passing simultaneously across the space between the two drums 6 and 7 are located at different levels. The chain 31 may be located at the same level as the chain 33, whereas the chain 30 is at the level of the chain 32. The chains 30, 31, 32 and 33 extend from the drums 6 and 7 just beyond the mid point of the annular width of the associated support members 8 and 9 respectively.

During operation the chains 30, 31, 32 and 33 are flung radially outwards under centrifugal force. The crop cut at the front of the machine by the cutter assemblies 2 and 3 is conducted away by the effect of the rotating support members 8 and 9 and drums 6 and 7 across the space between the drums 6 and 7 to the rear, whilst the chains 30, 31, 32 and 33 crush the crop so that it will dry more rapidly. The crop is engaged by the rotating chains and captured by the guide plate 20.

During the rearward delivery the crop is spread by the guide plate 20 behind the cutter assemblies across the field. The end plates 24 and 25 are preferably shaped in a curved form such that the crop ejected to the rear covers just the full width behind the cutter assemblies. It has been found that the form of the end plates described above provides an even distribution of the crop throughout the field.

Other embodiments are possible as well.

For example, the end plates 24 and 25 may be united to form a single member by filling out the space between them. The curved tube 19, which operates as a crop separator, may be replaced by or supplemented with a different type of crop separator. The drums 6 and 7 may have a different, for example, cylindrical or polygonal form. Moreover, one drum may be turned, for example, through 90" with respect to the other drum so that the chains 30 to 33 will pass successively with intervals of, for example, 90" across the space formed between the drums 6 and 7. In this case the resultant crushing and distribution remain practically the same. Although striking members in the form of separate chain portions are preferred, other striking members may be used, for example, protruding pins or a different number of striking members may be provided for each drum.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A mowing machine having at least one pair of rotary cutter assemblies arranged to rotate in use in opposite directions above respective generally vertical axes, each cutter assembly comprising a frusto-conical support member, a plurality of cutter blades fastened

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. stationary cover 11, which is secured to the frame beam 1 and prevents dirt from penetrating into the drums 6 and 7 respectively. Beneath each support member 8, 9 is provided a dish-shaped sliding body 12 arranged to engage the ground in use. The frame beam 1 has secured to it, midway between the cutter assemblies 2 and 3, a pair of forwardly extending supports 13 and 14. The foremost portions 15 of the supports 13 and 14 are inclined downwards and have at their free ends a support rod 16 and 17 respectively directed towards the front of the machine. A transverse rod 18 is rotatably arranged between the two support rods 16 and 17. To the centre of the transverse rod 18 is fastened a tube 19, which extends downwards and is then bent rearwards in a 90" arc of a circle. The lower end of the tube 19 is located approximately at the level of the top of the frusto-conical part of the support members 8 and 9 and slightly behind the foremost point of the circumference thereof. The transverse rod 18 is connected with the forwardly extending support rods 16 and 17 so as to be adjustable in the direction of travel, since the latter rods have a series of fastening holes for the transverse rod 18. A vertical guide plate 20 is secured to the tube 19 and extends rearwardly between the two cutter assemblies 2 and 3 to a point just beyond the plane going through the axes 4 and 5 of the cutter assemblies 2 and 3. For stiffening purposes a peripheral fillet 21 is provided along the top side of the guide plate 20. By means of an upwardly extending supporting pin 22 hinged to the peripheral fillet 21, the guide plate 20 is suspended from a tie member 23 arranged between the supports 13 and 14. The supporting pin 22 has screwthreads and is connected with the tie member 23 so as to be adjustable in a direction of height. Therefore, the guide plate 20 can be adjusted in a vertical direction pivotting about the axis of the transverse rod 18 with respect to the forwardly extending rods 16 and 17. To the vertical rear edge of the guide plate 20 are fastened two end plates 24 and 25 each curved outwardly in accordance with the curvatures of the adjacent cutter assemblies 2 and 3 to make a V formation. The vertical rear edges of the end plates 24 and 25 are located near the edges of the neighbouring support members 8 and 9 approximately midway between that part of their circumference which is located in the plane going through the two axes 4 and 5, and the rear point of the circumference thereof, this being shown in Figure 2. Each flattened part of the drums 6 and 7 is provided at the centre with a respective fillet 26, 27, 28, 29 extending parallel to the axes of the drums. To the lower parts of these fillets are fastened respective chain portions 30, 31, 32 and 33. The side elevation of Figure 1 shows the chain 32 of the drum 7 to be attached at a small distance above the support member 9 and the chain 33 at a slightly higher level. The chains 30 and 31 are arranged on the other drum 6 so that the chains (such as 31 and 32 shown in Figure 2) passing simultaneously across the space between the two drums 6 and 7 are located at different levels. The chain 31 may be located at the same level as the chain 33, whereas the chain 30 is at the level of the chain 32. The chains 30, 31, 32 and 33 extend from the drums 6 and 7 just beyond the mid point of the annular width of the associated support members 8 and 9 respectively. During operation the chains 30, 31, 32 and 33 are flung radially outwards under centrifugal force. The crop cut at the front of the machine by the cutter assemblies 2 and 3 is conducted away by the effect of the rotating support members 8 and 9 and drums 6 and 7 across the space between the drums 6 and 7 to the rear, whilst the chains 30, 31, 32 and 33 crush the crop so that it will dry more rapidly. The crop is engaged by the rotating chains and captured by the guide plate 20. During the rearward delivery the crop is spread by the guide plate 20 behind the cutter assemblies across the field. The end plates 24 and 25 are preferably shaped in a curved form such that the crop ejected to the rear covers just the full width behind the cutter assemblies. It has been found that the form of the end plates described above provides an even distribution of the crop throughout the field. Other embodiments are possible as well. For example, the end plates 24 and 25 may be united to form a single member by filling out the space between them. The curved tube 19, which operates as a crop separator, may be replaced by or supplemented with a different type of crop separator. The drums 6 and 7 may have a different, for example, cylindrical or polygonal form. Moreover, one drum may be turned, for example, through 90" with respect to the other drum so that the chains 30 to 33 will pass successively with intervals of, for example, 90" across the space formed between the drums 6 and 7. In this case the resultant crushing and distribution remain practically the same. Although striking members in the form of separate chain portions are preferred, other striking members may be used, for example, protruding pins or a different number of striking members may be provided for each drum. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A mowing machine having at least one pair of rotary cutter assemblies arranged to rotate in use in opposite directions above respective generally vertical axes, each cutter assembly comprising a frusto-conical support member, a plurality of cutter blades fastened

to the support member, and a drum positioned above the support member and having striking members arranged thereon and a guide member for mown crops extending between said cutter assemblies across the line joining the axes of the pair of rotary cutters.

2. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 1, in which said guide member extends at least from said line to a point in front, in the direction of travel of the machine, of the pair of cutter assemblies.

3. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 1 in which the striking members are each formed by a chain portion secured at one end to a respective drum.

4. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which each drum is provided with two chain portions fastened at opposite sides of the drum.

5. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the chain portions associated with each drum are fastened thereon at different heights.

6. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the striking members are secured to axial fillets provided respectively on the drums.

7. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the striking members extend in use radially just beyond the mid-point in the annular width of the support members.

8. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the guide member is provided with a thickened portion at the front edge.

9. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 8 in which the thickened portion of the guide member is formed by a tube curved downwardly and rearwardly in an arc of a circle over approximately 90".

10. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 in which the guide member is adjustable relative to the cutter assemblies in height and/or in the fore and aft direction in use.

11. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 in which the edge of the guide member located at the rear in use is provided with two end plates disposed in V-formation and each is directed rearwardly and outwardly towards the neighbouring cutter assembly.

12. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 11 in which the end plates are each curved to complement the curvature of the neighbouring cutter assembly.

13. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 in which the two end plates are formed integrally.

14. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 11, 12 or 13 in which the rear edges of the end plates are located near the periphery of the respective frusto-conical support member at a point in front of the rearmost point of the circumference of the support members.

15. A mowing machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.