GB1578401A

GB1578401A - Agricultural machine having apron conveyor assembly

Info

Publication number: GB1578401A
Application number: GB3167377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sperry Corp
Current assignee: Sperry Corp
Priority date: 1976-08-05
Filing date: 1977-07-28
Publication date: 1980-11-05
Also published as: FR2360484B1; AU2559177A; FR2360484A1; CA1055305A

Description

(54) AGRICULTURAL MACHINE HAVING IMPROVED APRON CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY (71) We, SPERRY CORPORATION formerly Sperry Rand Corporation, a Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement This invention relates agricultural machines particularly to crop material roll forming machines, having apron conveyor assemblies.

The present invention aims to provide an agricultural machine having an apron conveyor assembly for facilitating formation of a crop material roll at a roll forming region of the machine, such as a large round baler, which constitutes an improvement over that disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No.

3,915,084.

The prior assembly disclosed in the afore said U.S. patent specification includes a pair of endless flexible chains having transition (or mounting) members mounted at spaced location therealong. The transistion members are rigidly secured on oppositely facing sides of the chains and have spaced portions extending away from the chains. A plurality of rigid elongated members (for engaging crop material at the roll forming region of the baler) rigidly interconnect opposite transition members such that the elongated members span the chains at the aformentioned locations theralong. During manufacture, the ends of the elongated members are formed so as to be easily inserted between the spaced projecting portions of the transition members. Once the ends of the elongated members are inserted into the transition members, they are welded to the latter, thereby rigidly attaching the elongated members to the links of the chains. Further, the transistion members provide a rigid mounting which will prevent failure of the elongated members when the members are connected to the chains.

This prior apron conveyor assembly has proved to be highly satisfactory from the standpoint of strength of the permanent connection between the elongated members and the chains. However, sections of the chains of the apron assembly sometimes wear out before the rigid elongated members.

When this happens, both must be replaced due to the permanent connection provided between the chains and elongated members.

Also periodically, one or more of the elongated members may become bent which necessitates repair or replacement thereof.

The permanent connection makes it necessary to break apart the endless chains in order either to repair bent members or replace the members and the sections of the chains connected thereto.

According to the invention an agricultural machine for handling materials includes an apron conveyor assembly comprising a first series of members linked to form a first endless chain, a second series of members linked to form a second endless chain, a plurality of elongated members for engaging the material to be conveyed by the conveyor assembly, and securing means detachably securing the ends of the elongated members to the two endless chains so that the elongated members interconnect the chains at spaced locations around the endless loops of the chains, the securing means providing a readily detachable, but substantially rigid, connection between the members of the chains and the elongated members, wherein the securing means comprise, at each end of each elongated member, a male part and a female part, the parts being detachably interengaged with the male part within the female part, one of the parts being secured to the end of the elongated member and the other part to the corresponding chain.

Thus, the improved apron conveyor assembly of the machine of the present invention obviates the aforementioned problems of repair or replacement experienced with the prior assembly disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,915,084, by providing a readily detachable connection between the elongated members and the chains. This makes it possible to replace worn sections of the chains and reuse the elongated members, thereby achieving a considerable saving in replacement cost. Also, ready detachment of the elongated members from the chains saves time and makes it extremely convenient for the operator to repair or replace bent or damaged elongated members since it is not necessary to break apart the endless chains in order to make such repair or replacement. At the same time, the detachable connection maintains the degree of structural strength of the apron conveyor assembly achieved hitherto.

Preferably, the securing means detachably secure ends of the elongated members to facing sides of the chains.

A crop material roll forming machine according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the left-hand side of the machine, Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of the apron conveyor assembly as seen on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view as seen on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 Figure 4 is a top view of one of the male connecting parts of the assembly of Figure 2, but on a somewhat larger scale than that of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a side view of the male part as seen on the lines 5-5 of Figure 4, Figure 6 is an end view of the male part as seen on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, Figure 7 is a top view of one of the female connecting parts of the assembly of Figure 2, but on a somewhat larger scale than that of Figure 2, and Figure 8 is an end view of the female part as seen on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

In the following description, reference to "right-hand" and "left-hand" relate to an observer standing at the rear of the machine :and facing in the direction of forward travel, which is towards the left in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the crop material roll forming machine 10 has a base frame 12 between the sides of which extends a roll forming region 14. Parts of the left-hand side of the machine are omitted from Figure 1 for clarity. In Figure 1 a completed roll R is illustrated in the region 14. The frame 12 is supported and made mobile by right-hand and left-hand ground-engaging wheels (only the right-hand wheel 16 being shown) rotatably mounted on respective spindles (only the right-hand spindle 18 being shown). The spindles are connected to and extend outwardly from respective sides of the frame 12.

The machine 10 is adapted to be connected to a tractor (not shown) for towing the machine forwardly across a field in field operation or road transport. For this purpose, a tongue 20 is connected at its rear end to a transverse horizontal beam 22 of the frame 12.

Extending forwardly from the front lower portion of the frame 12 of the machine 10 is a pick-up 24. The pick-up 24 is adapted to engage, elevate and rearwardly feed a swath or windrow of crop material into the roll forming region 14 of the machine 10. The crop material supplied by the pick-up 24 is passed rearwardly to the front end of a lower apron conveyor 26.

The lower apron conveyor 26 comprises a series of endless flexible lug-bearing chains which are transversely spaced and which extend around front drive sprockets 30 mounted on a front shaft 32 rotatably supported between the sides of the frame 12 at the front thereof. The chains of the conveyor 26 also pass around rear idler sprockets 34 mounted on a shaft 36 rotatably supported between the sides of the frame 12 at the rear thereof.

Mounted upon two longitudinally spaced transverse members 38 of the base frame 12 is a floor 40. The floor 40 is rigid and generally horizontally-disposed. The upper courses of the lower apron conveyor 26 move in a rearward direction across the floor 40 to convey the crop material received from the pick-up 24 towards the rear of the machine 10.

The lower course of an upper apron conveyor assembly 42 engages and directs the material reaching the rear end of the frame 12 into an upward and forward direction to effect, in combination with the lower apron conveyor 26, rolling of the crop material into the roll R in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1. During roll forming, as the lower and upper courses of the upper apron conveyor assembly 42 move respectively in the directions of the arrows A and B in Figure 1, the lower course of the assembly 42 is capable of moving outwardly as the roll R expands in diameter. This is achieved by idler sprockets 44, 46 which movably support portions of the upper course of the assembly 42 and which are mounted on arms 48, 50 at the sides of the frame 12. The arms 48, 50 are supported on a transverse shaft 52 rotatably mounted between the sides of the frame 12. The arms 48, 50 are biased by extension springs (not shown) which are mounted along the frame sides and which normally position the upper assembly 42 in a contracted condition wherein the lower course thereof is adjacent the lower apron conveyor 26. The springs yield to allow the aforementioned outward movement or expansion of the lower course of the conveyor 42 during roll formation.

The conveyor 42 also extends about front drive sprockets 54 mounted on a shaft 56 rotatably supported between the sides of the frame 12 at the front portion thereof.

The base frame 12 also includes a rear upper frame portion 58 which is pivotally connected at 60 to the upper portions of the sides of the frame and extends transversely therebetween. The upper frame portion 58 is pivotally moved counterclockwise from its lower, roll forming position, as shown in Figure 1, to an upper discharge position (not shown) by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 62 (only the right-hand cylinders 62 being shown) respectively mounted on and extending along the sides of the frame 12. The upper frame portion 58 rotatably supports upper and rear idler sprockets 64, 66 about which the assembly 42 also extends.

In order that the roll R may be stabilised when discharged from the machine 10, the machine is provided at 68 with a supply of twine or the like which is applied to the roll R by a wrapping mechanism 70, just before the upper frame portion 58 is pivoted to its upper position for discharge of the roll R from the machine 10.

For providing rotary power to the pick-up 24, the conveyor 26 and the conveyor assembly 42, an input driveline 72 is provided along the tongue 20, being adapted for connection at its forward end to the power take-off (pto) shaft of the tractor. The hydraulic cylinders 62 and wrapping mechanism 70 may be suitably connected to respective hydraulic and electrical sources of power on the tractor.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the assembly 42 includes a pair of endless flexible chains 74, 76 mounted on opposite sides of the frame 12 by the sprockets 44, 46, 54, 64, 66, previously mentioned. The chains 74, 76 comprise rollers 78 which contact the teeth of the sprockets and are driven by the drive sprockets 54. The assembly 42 further includes a plurality of elongated members 80 which engage the crop material roll at the region 14 and securing means 82 for detachedly securing ends of the elongated members 89 to the chains 74, 76 with the members 80 extending transversely of the chains 74, 76.

Each of the elongated members 80 is a rigid hollow steel tube which can be of any suitable shape in cross-section (such as circular or square) provided it is stiff enough to resist bending when engaging the periphery of the roll R. In the preferred form--of the assembly 42, each tube 80 is circular in cross section.

The securing means 82 comprise male parts 84, female parts 86 and detachable fastening means in the form of bolts 88 and associated nuts for connecting the parts 84, 86 together.

As seen in Figures 2 and 3, and more clearly in Figures 4 to 6, each male part 84 has a generally cylindrical but bifurcated spigot end 90 which merges into a generally Ushaped outer end 92. The part 84 is fonned from a flat rectangular blank, being fabricated in a progressive die-fonning operation. First, opposite end portions of the flat steel blank are each formed into a semi-cylindrical shape. Next, pairs of transverely spaced openings 94, 96 are punched through the blank. Finally, the blank is bent width-wise approximately 90" at two locations just inwardly of the pairs of openings 94, 96 so as to bring the opposite semi-cylindrical opposite end portions of the blank close together.

Such bending of the blank also forms generally flat legs 100, 102 interconnected by a base 98. The outside diameter of the tubular spigot end 90 is slightly less than the inner diameter of each elongated member 80.

The spigot end 90 of each male part 84 is inserted into one of the hollow ends of the corresponding elongated member 80 and welded therein so that a permanent connection is provided therebetween, with the outer end 92 of each part 84 projecting from the end of the member 80. If the elongated members 80 are other than circular in crosssection, e.g. square, then the spigot end 90 would be of a matching shape.

Referring still to Figures 2 and 3, but seen with greater clarity in Figures 7 and 8, the female part 86 is generally U-shaped, being fabricated from a flat metal blank in a known manner to form a central mounting portion 104 with upper and lower generally parallel flanges 106, 108 projecting from the central portion 104. The flanges 106, 108 are spaced apart a predetermined distance sufficient to allow insertion (or removal) of the U-shaped outer end 92 of one of the male parts 84, this being achieved by moving the male part 84 relative to the female part 86 in the general plane of movement of that part of the apron conveyor assembly. The flanges 106, 108 have upper and lower pairs of openings 110, 112 which may be aligned with the corresponding upper and lower pairs of openings 94, 96 of the male part 84. The side edges of each of the projecting flanges 106, 108 taper so as to conform to the tapering transisition of the outer end 92 into the inner end 90 of the male part 84, as clearly seen in Figure 2. Further, the mounting portion 104 of each female part 86 has a pair of spaced apart holes 114 which register with and accommodate the inner ends -of two adjacent pins 116 of the chains 74, 76.

The inner ends of these pins 116 are swaged to retain the pins 116 within the holes 114. The mounting portion 104 of each female part 86 is thus rigidly secured to the side of a respective one of the chains 74, 76 which faces toward the other one of the chains. Indeed, the mounting portions 104 serve also as links in the chains 74, 76.

When the outer end 92 is received and fitted between the projecting flanges 106, 108 of the female part 86 with the openings 94, 96 and 110, 112 aligned, the parts 84, 86 are rigidly but detachably secured together by bolts 88 passed through the aligned openings. When the bolts 88 are fastened, the base 98 of the outer end 92 is disposed closely between the bolts 88 and the mounting portion 104 of the female part 86. Consequently, any tendency for the base 98 of the male part 84 to buckle due to the forces imposed thereon upon tightening the bolts 88 is resisted.

Thus, a readily detachable, but rigidly secure, connection is provided by the abovedescribed parts 84, 86 and bolts 88. This connection optimises the serviceability of the assembly 42 and, at the same time, retains sufficient structural strength for the assembly 42 to be used in the crop material roll forming machine 10.

While the invention has specific application to a roll forming machine as hereinbefore described, other possible applications are envisaged, such as the material conveying apron in a manure spreader or a forage wagon box.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An agricultural machine for handling materials, including an apron conveyor assembly comprising a first series of members linked to form a first endless chain, a second series of members linked to form a second endless chain, a plurality of elongated members for engaging the material to be conveyed by the conveyor assembly, and securing means detachably securing the ends of the elongated members to the two endless chains so that the elongated members interconnect the chains at spaced locations around the endless loops of the chains, the securing means providing a readily detachable, but substantially rigid, connection between the members of the chains and the elongated members, wherein the securing means comprise, at each end of each elongated member, a male part and a female part, the parts being detachably interengaged with the male part within the female part, one of the parts being secured to the end of the elongated member and the other part to the corresponding chain.

2. An agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the securing means detachably secure ends of the elongated members to facing sides of the chains.

3. An agricultural machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the male parts are secured to the ends of the elongated members and the female parts to the chains.

4. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the securing means further include detachable fastening means for fastening the interengaged parts together so as to provide said readily detachable, but substantially rigid, connections.

5. An agricultural machine according to claim 3, or claim 4 as appendant on claim 3, wherein each female part includes a mounting portion secured to the corresponding chain and a pair of spaced, generally parallel flanges projecting from said mounting portions, and each male part includes a pair of spaced legs secured to and projecting from the corresponding end of the associated elongated member and a base interconnecting the outer ends of said legs, said base being disposed between and generally perpendicular to said flanges and closely adjacent said mounting portion when said parts are interengaged.

6. An agricultural machine according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the base and legs of each male part can, on release of the fastening means, be moved into or out of the space between the flanges of the corresponding female part, such movement being in the general plane of movement of that part of the apron conveyor assembly.

7. An agricultural machine according to claim 4, claims 4 and 5, or claim 6, wherein the detachable fastening means extend through registering apertures in the flanges and legs.

8. An agricultural machine according to claim 7, wherein the fastening means comprise, at each end of each elongated member, a pair of bolts and associated nuts.

9. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, as appendant on claim 3, wherein each of said elongated members is a rigid hollow tube transverse to the chains, and each male part includes a tubular spigot fixed within the corresponding end of the associated tube.

10. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims and in the form of a crop material roll forming machine having a mobile frame adapted to travel across a field, and a roll forming region extending between opposite sides of the frame, the apron conveyor assembly being supported on the frame for movement around a predetermined path of travel for facilitating formation of a crop material roll in the region.

11. A crop material roll forming machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The inner ends of these pins 116 are swaged to retain the pins 116 within the holes 114. The mounting portion 104 of each female part 86 is thus rigidly secured to the side of a respective one of the chains 74, 76 which faces toward the other one of the chains. Indeed, the mounting portions 104 serve also as links in the chains 74, 76. When the outer end 92 is received and fitted between the projecting flanges 106, 108 of the female part 86 with the openings 94, 96 and 110, 112 aligned, the parts 84, 86 are rigidly but detachably secured together by bolts 88 passed through the aligned openings. When the bolts 88 are fastened, the base 98 of the outer end 92 is disposed closely between the bolts 88 and the mounting portion 104 of the female part 86. Consequently, any tendency for the base 98 of the male part 84 to buckle due to the forces imposed thereon upon tightening the bolts 88 is resisted. Thus, a readily detachable, but rigidly secure, connection is provided by the abovedescribed parts 84, 86 and bolts 88. This connection optimises the serviceability of the assembly 42 and, at the same time, retains sufficient structural strength for the assembly 42 to be used in the crop material roll forming machine 10. While the invention has specific application to a roll forming machine as hereinbefore described, other possible applications are envisaged, such as the material conveying apron in a manure spreader or a forage wagon box. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An agricultural machine for handling materials, including an apron conveyor assembly comprising a first series of members linked to form a first endless chain, a second series of members linked to form a second endless chain, a plurality of elongated members for engaging the material to be conveyed by the conveyor assembly, and securing means detachably securing the ends of the elongated members to the two endless chains so that the elongated members interconnect the chains at spaced locations around the endless loops of the chains, the securing means providing a readily detachable, but substantially rigid, connection between the members of the chains and the elongated members, wherein the securing means comprise, at each end of each elongated member, a male part and a female part, the parts being detachably interengaged with the male part within the female part, one of the parts being secured to the end of the elongated member and the other part to the corresponding chain.