GB1591867A

GB1591867A - Digging device for use on beet harvesting machines

Info

Publication number: GB1591867A
Application number: GB24942/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wilhelm Stoll Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Wilhelm Stoll Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Priority date: 1977-06-16
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-06-24
Also published as: SE7806125L; FR2394238B1; FR2394238A1; SE438236B; NL7806417A; DK269078A

Description

(54) DIGGING DEVICE FOR USE ON BEET HARVESTING MACHINES (71) We, WILHELM STOLL MASCHINENFABRIK GmbH, a body corporate organised under the laws of the German Federal Republic of 3325 Lengede Broistedt, Germany, 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 to a digging device for use on beet harvesting machines, comprising a digging member which defines a lifting region and rotatably drivable conveying wheels, positioned at a V-angle to each other to form a beet conveying channel between them, and provided in the region above the digging member. The digging member may comprise two half digging blades which together define the lifting region.

Such digging devices are known, for instance, from the book "Root crop harvesting machines" by Dr. Ing.

Karwowski, published by VEB Verlag Technik Berlin, page 208. In these digging devices, the conveying wheels have the effect of conveying onwards beet lifted by the digging member and also of cleaning it to remove earth.

A disadvantage in this known digging device is that the roots of beet when dug are pressed alternatively sidewards by these wheel-like conveying elements and are thus damaged; in addition there is also a risk of roots jamming between the conveying wheels and thus being so severely damaged that squashed pieces of beet are left on the field resulting in very unsatisfactory digging.

Fairly large stones can also result in blocking of these known conveying wheels.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to create a digging device for use on beet harvesting machines, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages of known devices and operates satisfactorily under very widely varying conditions without requiring special conversion measures.

According to the invention there is provided a digging device for use on beet harvesting machines, comprising a digging member which defines a lifting region, and rotatably drivable conveying wheels, positioned at a V-angle to each other to form a beet conveying channel between them, and provided in a region above the digging member, wherein the wheels are resilient at least in a radially outer or peripheral region thereof, which wheels are located nearer each other in their lower region in the lifting region of the digging member and further apart in their upper region and, wherein as the beet is dug out, the wheels are arranged to fit closely to the sides of the beet.

Due to the form of the conveying wheels of a digging device according to the present invention, the result is achieved that, because of their resilience, these conveying wheels adapt themselves to substantially every form and size of the individual roots of beet during the conveying operation, so that a substantially uniform and trouble-free conveying and also cleaning of the beet is achieved. When the beet is energetically conveyed and cleaned by the conveying wheels which grip it on both sides, substantially no damage at all occurs to the beet, since the conveying wheels which are resilient in their radially outer or peripheral region fit the sides of the beet during the lifting operation and lift, clean and convey the beet.

The conveying wheels may have resilient entraining fingers which extend to the periphery of the wheels. These entraining fingers may be of an elastomeric material extending to the region of the hub of the wheel into a disc-shaped mounting component, but the entraining fingers may also be individually mounted. The cleaning of the beet in the region where it is lifted from the ground is especially thorough, since the elastic entraining fingers scrape away the dirt from the roots in the manner of a milling tool, the beet itself however being undamaged. This milling action, which causes little or no damage to the beet, is especially effective in cleaning it, if the entraining fingers have edges on the side towards the conveying channel and in particular if they have a sharp-edged, preferably square or rectangular crosssection.

A further embodiment of the invention provides for the conveying wheels to possess entraining devices or fingers disposed in a star-shaped manner. This arrangement gives an especially simple form of embodiment.

In one embodiment, in order to obtain a reasonably trouble-free flow even of large roots of beet in the region of the conveying wheels, each wheel is in the form of a frustoconical dish interconnected by a common hub and the V-angle between the wheels is such that the width of the beet conveying channel increases in the radially inward direction towards the region of the hub, so that a larger width is obtained for the beet conveying channel in the hub region of the wheels.

A further preferred and advantageous form of embodiment of a beet harvesting machine comprising a digging device is one in which, the conveying wheels being laterally immovable relative to the device, the digging member itself is mounted on the frame of the machine so that it can automatically displace sideways to suit the roots of beet in the ground. Due to the laterally immovable arrangement of the conveying wheels, an especially easy capability for lateral movement of the digging member is achieved, the advantage of the entraining and conveying wheels being however retained, since these wheels, on account of their flexibility in the peripheral functional region, still grip the off-centre beet as the digging member deflects sideways and thereby completely fulfil their function, namely the cleaning and conveying of the roots of beet, so that a satisfactory digging operation is guaranteed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows diagramically in side view a beet harvesting machine comprising a digging device equipped with conveying wheels, Fig. 2 shows the digging device with conveying wheels in an enlarged lateral view, Fig. 3 shows the conveying wheels of the digging device of Fig. 2, seen from the front, partly in section, Fig. 4 shows in lateral view, a digging device with digging blade holders pointing towards the rear and conveying wheels mounted laterally immovable and Fig. 5 shows in front view, a digging device for a two-row beet harvesting machine.

Fig. 1 shows diagramically a beet harvesting machine which may be attached to a tractor, not shown, the harvesting device for the leaves or tops of the beet being omitted for the sake of clarity.

On the frame 2 of the machine in its rear region, a support bearing 3 is attached, in which a digging blade support frame 4 is mounted to be pivotably movable about a horizontal axis and preferably capable of being pivoted and fixed by an adjusting cylinder, not shown. On the digging blade support frame 4, in its central;egion, at least one sieving and conveying device, in particular a sieve wheel 5 is rotatably mounted and, in front of this, at least one digging blade 7 consisting of two blade plates or two digging half blades 6 is provided on the beet blade support frame 4, frusto-conical dish-shaped conveying wheels 8, 9 being associated with this digging blade 7 as can be seen especially from Figs. 2 and 3. These conveying wheels 8, 9 possess, in their radially outer or peripheral region, elastically or flexibly constructed entraining fingers 10, preferably of elastomeric construction, which during the digging operation adapt to the sides of the beet as it is dug and lift, clean and convey it.

The dish-shaped conveying wheels 8, 9 define a V-angle between the wheels such that the width of the beet conveying channel increases in the radially inward direction, so that a free passage is ensured between the conveying wheels 8, 9 even for fairly large roots of beet.

The conveying wheels 8, 9 have, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, bearings 14 and a rigid hub portion 11 and also an entraining component of elastomeric material 12 (preferably an integral rubber moulding in the form of a star wheel) which is fixed by means of screws 13 to the rigid hub component 11. In order to adapt to differing soil and beet conditions, interchangeable entraining components 12 of elastomeric material of differing shore hardnesses may be used in the conveying wheels 8 and 9.

The fingers 10 are formed in the component 12 in this embodiment.

The bearings 14 of the conveying wheels 8, 9 are fixed by support straps 15, 16 to a digging blade support frame 17, which in turn is mounted, in a preferred form of embodiment, so that it can move sideways in the frame of the machine.

The entire digging unit, consisting of the digging blades 7 including holders 18 and also the conveying wheels 8, 9, is mounted so that it can slide sideways without tilting, preferably on a polygonal shaft, in particular a square shaft 33.

The drive to the conveying wheels is provided by a belt drive 19, such as a chain or V-belt drive, which is driven by a drive shaft 20. For a multi-row machine, a common drive shaft 20 may be provided, on which, if the digging device is constructed to slide sideways, the chain wheels or V-belt wheels 21 can also be arranged to slide sideways. The coupling of the conveying wheels 8, 9, as can be seen especially in Fig 3, is provided by a universal joint 22, on the central component 23 of which a V-belt pulley 24 is mounted. This gives an especially simple embodiment for the arranging of the drive and the coupling of the conveying wheels 8 and 9.

The V-shaped slope of the conveying wheels 8 and 9 relative to each other is so adapted that, seen from the side, a straight line 26 (Figure 2) passing through the rotational axis 25 of the conveying wheels 8, 9 and through the point at which the conveying wheels 8 and 9 are nearest together, is oriented with its lower end away from the direction of travel towards the rear. The angle a between the straight line 26 and the vertical through the rotational axes 25 of the wheels 8 and 9 is from 10 to 25 degrees.

A preferred form of embodiment for the construction of the entraining devices or entraining fingers 10 in their end region is shown in Fig. 3. The entraining fingers 10 possess here a chamfer shown by the broken line 28, which gives in the radially outer or peripheral region of the conveying wheels a better transference or taking over of the beet. In order to achieve a sufficient height for transference as the beet is taken over, guide rods 27, preferably attached to the digging blades 7, are provided over an arc of a circle at a short distance from the conveying wheels 8, 9 (Fig. 2).

For especially difficult digging conditions, in particular where there is a large proportion of leaf or the ground is particularly sticky, the device of Fig. 4 is especially suitable due to its easy running properties. In this form of embodiment, the blade plates 6' of the digging blade 7' are fixed at their rear end to a digging blade holder 29, conducted rearwards in the region above the digging blade 7', this holder possessing a guide portion 30 which ascends towards the rear and passes beneath the associated conveying wheel (8 or 9), and also an adjoining holding bar 31, leading to a fixing point higher up. The transition from the guide component 30 to the holding bar 31 is at a considerable distance from the ground, and the forward digging blade region is free from any support or holding components, so that substantially no dirt can build up there and lead-to blockages.

This rearward digging blade holder may be used for both halves of one digging blade or, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, may be provided only on one half of a digging blade.

A particular advantage is that, as a result of this particular form of holder for the digging plates, beet tops, dirt or the like cannot accumulate between the digging blade and thereby the resistance is reduced to a minimum and the optimum conditions for easy lateral movement of the digging blade are provided.

In particular for the two-row machines, it is of advantage if the half digging blades of two adjacent rows which are nearest to one another are fixed to rearward digging blade holders 32, 32'. The forward region between the adjacent digging blades is thereby kept free of blade mounting rods and any support straps, since all the components are situated above the region in which beet tops, leaf or dirt can accumulate on the ground, so that substantially no stoppages due to weeds and remaining pieces of beet leaf can occur there.

In the two-row or multi-row construction as shown in Fig. 4, the digging blades 7 can be arranged either to move sideways together (as shown) or to move sideways individually.

Instead of the laterally displaceable arrangement of the digging blades 7' shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a pivotal connection of the blade rods (holding rods) which carry the blade plates 6' is also possible. This is possible in various ways. The blade rods of the digging blade can be pivoted on a common pivoting journal. It is however also possible for the digging blade rods of each blade plate to be individually pivoted to a separate pivoting journal.

The blade rods are than connected to one another by a coupling linkage, preferably of variable length, situated in a region in front of or behind the pivot journals. As a result of the variable-length linkage between the blade rods, a change in the distance between the blade plates is possible, so that a simple adjustment to differing digging or beet conditions can be achieved.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A digging device for use on beet harvesting machines, comprising a digging member which defines a lifting region, and rotatably drivable conveying wheels, positioned at a V-angle to each other to form a beet conveying channel between them, and provided in a region above the digging member, wherein the wheels are resilient at least in a radially outer or peripheral region thereof, which wheels are

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. also the conveying wheels 8, 9, is mounted so that it can slide sideways without tilting, preferably on a polygonal shaft, in particular a square shaft 33. The drive to the conveying wheels is provided by a belt drive 19, such as a chain or V-belt drive, which is driven by a drive shaft 20. For a multi-row machine, a common drive shaft 20 may be provided, on which, if the digging device is constructed to slide sideways, the chain wheels or V-belt wheels 21 can also be arranged to slide sideways. The coupling of the conveying wheels 8, 9, as can be seen especially in Fig 3, is provided by a universal joint 22, on the central component 23 of which a V-belt pulley 24 is mounted. This gives an especially simple embodiment for the arranging of the drive and the coupling of the conveying wheels 8 and 9. The V-shaped slope of the conveying wheels 8 and 9 relative to each other is so adapted that, seen from the side, a straight line 26 (Figure 2) passing through the rotational axis 25 of the conveying wheels 8, 9 and through the point at which the conveying wheels 8 and 9 are nearest together, is oriented with its lower end away from the direction of travel towards the rear. The angle a between the straight line 26 and the vertical through the rotational axes 25 of the wheels 8 and 9 is from 10 to 25 degrees. A preferred form of embodiment for the construction of the entraining devices or entraining fingers 10 in their end region is shown in Fig. 3. The entraining fingers 10 possess here a chamfer shown by the broken line 28, which gives in the radially outer or peripheral region of the conveying wheels a better transference or taking over of the beet. In order to achieve a sufficient height for transference as the beet is taken over, guide rods 27, preferably attached to the digging blades 7, are provided over an arc of a circle at a short distance from the conveying wheels 8, 9 (Fig. 2). For especially difficult digging conditions, in particular where there is a large proportion of leaf or the ground is particularly sticky, the device of Fig. 4 is especially suitable due to its easy running properties. In this form of embodiment, the blade plates 6' of the digging blade 7' are fixed at their rear end to a digging blade holder 29, conducted rearwards in the region above the digging blade 7', this holder possessing a guide portion 30 which ascends towards the rear and passes beneath the associated conveying wheel (8 or 9), and also an adjoining holding bar 31, leading to a fixing point higher up. The transition from the guide component 30 to the holding bar 31 is at a considerable distance from the ground, and the forward digging blade region is free from any support or holding components, so that substantially no dirt can build up there and lead-to blockages. This rearward digging blade holder may be used for both halves of one digging blade or, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, may be provided only on one half of a digging blade. A particular advantage is that, as a result of this particular form of holder for the digging plates, beet tops, dirt or the like cannot accumulate between the digging blade and thereby the resistance is reduced to a minimum and the optimum conditions for easy lateral movement of the digging blade are provided. In particular for the two-row machines, it is of advantage if the half digging blades of two adjacent rows which are nearest to one another are fixed to rearward digging blade holders 32, 32'. The forward region between the adjacent digging blades is thereby kept free of blade mounting rods and any support straps, since all the components are situated above the region in which beet tops, leaf or dirt can accumulate on the ground, so that substantially no stoppages due to weeds and remaining pieces of beet leaf can occur there. In the two-row or multi-row construction as shown in Fig. 4, the digging blades 7 can be arranged either to move sideways together (as shown) or to move sideways individually. Instead of the laterally displaceable arrangement of the digging blades 7' shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a pivotal connection of the blade rods (holding rods) which carry the blade plates 6' is also possible. This is possible in various ways. The blade rods of the digging blade can be pivoted on a common pivoting journal. It is however also possible for the digging blade rods of each blade plate to be individually pivoted to a separate pivoting journal. The blade rods are than connected to one another by a coupling linkage, preferably of variable length, situated in a region in front of or behind the pivot journals. As a result of the variable-length linkage between the blade rods, a change in the distance between the blade plates is possible, so that a simple adjustment to differing digging or beet conditions can be achieved. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A digging device for use on beet harvesting machines, comprising a digging member which defines a lifting region, and rotatably drivable conveying wheels, positioned at a V-angle to each other to form a beet conveying channel between them, and provided in a region above the digging member, wherein the wheels are resilient at least in a radially outer or peripheral region thereof, which wheels are

located nearer each other in their lower region in the lifting region of the digging member and further apart in their upper region and, wherein as the beet is dug out, the wheels are arranged to fit closely to the sides of the beet.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the conveying wheels have resilient entraining fingers which extend to the periphery of the wheel.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the entraining fingers have sharp-edged cross-sections.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the fingers have square or rectangular crosssections.

5. A device according to one or more of Claim I to 4, wherein each wheel is in the form of a frusto-conical dish, interconnected by a common hub, and wherein the V-angle between the wheels is such that the width of the beet conveying channel increases in the radially inward direction towards the region of the hub.

6. A device according to one or more of Claims I to 5, wherein the V-setting of the conveying wheels relative to each other is adjustable.

7. A beet harvesting machine comprising a device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the conveying wheels are laterally immovable relative to the device and wherein the digging member is arranged to displace sideways automatically on the frame of the machine to adapt to the position of the beet in the soil.

8. A beet harvesting machine according to Claim 7, wherein the digging member is journalled so as to be laterally displaceable on the frame of the machine.

9. A beet harvesting machine according to Claim 8, wherein the digging member is mounted with forwardly pointing digging member holders so as to be laterally slidable upon a shaft of prismatic cross-section.

10. A beet harvesting machine according to Claim 9, wherein the shaft is of square cross-section.

11. A beet harvesting machine according to Claim 7, wherein the digging member is journalled with digging member holders so as to be laterally pivotally movable by means of a bearing bushing on a journal fixed to the machine frame.

12. A beet harvesting machine according to any one of Claims I to 11, wherein the digging member comprises two half digging blades which together form the lifting region.

13. A beet harvesting machine according to Claim 12, wherein one half digging blade is fixed to a forward digging blade holder disposed at the forward end of the device, while the other half digging blade is fixed to a rearward digging blade holder extending towards the rear at least in the region near to the digging member.

14. A beet harvesting machine according to Claim 13, wherein the rearwardly mounted half digging blade comprises a digging blade holder, which possesses a guide portion ascending towards the rear below the associated digging wheel and also a holding rod, adjoining thereto and leading to a fixing point higher up, the transition from the guide portion to the holding rod being at a fairly large distance from the ground, that is above the zone in which leaves and tops of beet and piles of dirt can accumulate on the ground.

15. A device according to one or more of Claims 12 to 14, wherein at the rear end of each half digging blade at a short distance from the outer peripheral circle of the conveying wheels at least one guide rod is provided.

16. A digging device for use on beet harvesting machines, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.