GB1597853A

GB1597853A - Arrangement for chaning drive direction

Info

Publication number: GB1597853A
Application number: GB824478A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Current assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Priority date: 1977-03-23
Filing date: 1978-03-02
Publication date: 1981-09-16
Also published as: FR2384439B1; FR2384439A1; ATA44578A; DE2712671C2; DE2712671A1; AT377413B

Description

(54) AN ARRANGEMENT FOR CHANGING DRIVE DIRECTION (71) We, KLOECKNER-HUMBOLDT DEUTZ AG ZWEIGNIEDERLASSUNG FAHR of 7702 Gottmadingen, Federal Republic of Germany; a German body corporate 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:- The present invention relates to an arrangement for changing the direction of rotation of a cutting element of a forage harvester including a propeller shaft of the forage harvester engageable with a first drive stub of a cylinder shaft or for any drive shaft connected before the cylinder shaft of the harvester, or with driving engagement with a second drive stub arranged parallel to the first one to change the direction of rotation of the cutting element, said arrangement further comprising a spur gear arranged on the first drive stub comes into mesh with another spur gear mounted on the second drive stub, as soon as the propeller shaft is connected to the second drive stub.

Changing the rotational direction of the cutting element of a forage harvester is required when, for example, the cutting blades require sharpening.

This so-called "reverse sharpening" method, which requires the cylinder or the flywheel of a harvester to rotate contrary to the normal working direction of rotation, has proved particularly advantageous and simple.

Such an arrangement for reverse sharpening of the cutting blades of a cylinder-type harvester has become known through the German Offenlegungsschrift 24 47 044 wherein the rotating shaft of the cutting cylinder has a drive stub which is provided with external splines. The propeller shaft is connected to this drive stub to drive the cutting cylinder. A spur gear is fixed to the drive stub of the cylinder shaft. A further spur gear is located on the sliding piece of the propeller shaft, which is pushed onto this drive stub.

Parallel to the cylinder shaft drive stub, a second drive stub, provided with similar external splines, runs freely rotatable in bearings. To reverse the direction of rotation of the cylinder shaft, the sliding piece of the propeller shaft is removed from the first drive stub and pushed onto the second drive stub. In this process the spur gear of the propeller shaft engages with the spur gear of the cylinder shaft drive stub.

Because of the spur gear transmission, the cylinder shaft now rotates in the reverse direction, thus enabling sharpening of the cutting blades to be effected.

The disadvantage of this known construction is the need to make the second spur gear as part of the propeller shaft which prevents the use of a commercially available propeller shaft. An expensive, specially designed propeller shaft or sliding piece is required.

For this reason the invention is based on the task of producing an arrangement of the kind mentioned earlier on but whose construction is both simple and economical, allowing easy and quick handling, and, most of all, permitting the use of a commercially available propeller shaft.

According to the present invention there is provided an arrangement for changing the direction of rotation of the cutting element of a forage harvester including a propeller shaft of the forage harvester engageable with a first drive stub for a cylinder shaft or for any drive shaft connected before the cylinder shaft of the harvester or with a second drive stub arranged in parallel to the first one to change the direction of rotation of the cutting element, said arrangement further comprising a spur gear arranged on the first drive stub of the cylinder shaft capable of meshing with another spur gear mounted on the second drive stub, characterised by the fact that the second spur gear is non-rotatably mounted on the second drive stub but axially displaceable therealong and biassed out of mesh with the first spur gear by a spring, and that the second spur gear is displaceable until it engages with the first spur gear upon engagement of the propeller shaft on the second drive stub.

In one simple constructional embodiment of the invention, a sliding sleeve is arranged on the second drive stub and has one face which contacts the second spur gear whilst the other face rests on the propeller shaft when engaged with the second dnve stub.

According to a constructional arrangement of the invention, the axial movement of the sliding sleeve is restricted in one direction by the spring and, in the other direction, by a cotter pin driven through the second drive stub; the ends of which pin engage in longitudinal slots of the sliding sleeve.

It has proved desirable for the second spur gear, supported by the second drive stub to be rendered non-rotatably mounted but axially displaceable by external splines.

The arrangement according to the invention provides the advantage that, in case of damage, a propeller shaft can be readily replaced with a new readily available commercial propeller shaft in the shortest space of time. Season and weather dependent farming operation requires that failure periods be knept as short as possible.

The use of commercially available parts is therefore of particular importance.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of an arrangement or device for changing direction of rotation during normal operation of the cutting cylinder; and Fig. 2 the device according to Fig. 1, however, with reversed direction of rotation of the cutting cylinder.

A cylinder shaft 1 of a cylinder or flywheel harvester (not shown) protrudes laterally from its support bearing 2 and ends in a drive stub 3. The drive stub 3 has external splines 4 for accommodating a splined sliding piece 5 of a propeller shaft 6. A safety clamping bolt or pressure pin lock 7 commonly employed with propeller shafts serves to lock the sliding sleeve 5 on the drive stub 3 against axial displacement.

A fixed spur gear 8 is arranged on the rear end of the drive stub. As is conventional practice, the cylinder shaft 1 is driven by the power take-off shaft of a tractor (not shown) - via the propeller shaft 6.

A second drive stub 9 is arranged parallel to and at a distance from drive stub 3 and is freely rotatable in a bearing mounting 10.

The drive stub 9 has similar external splines as the drive stub 3.

An axially slideable spur gear 11 is arranged on the external splines of drive stub 9. The spur gear 11 is positively connected in circumferential direction to the drive stub 9 by the external splines. The distance of the drive stub 9 from drive stub 3 is so chosen that the spur gear 11 can be brought into mesh with the spur gear 8 of the drive stub 3 by axially sliding said gear 11. A compression spring 12 is arranged between the mounting 10 and the spur gear 11 and forces the spur gear 11 against the face of a sliding sleeve 13.

The sliding sleeve 13 is supported by the drive stub 9 and can be axially displaced.

The two ends of cotter pin 14, driven through the drive stub 9 and protruding over its circumference, engage in corresponding longitudinal slots 15 of the sliding sleeve 3. The end of the longitudinal slots 15 is formed by a stop edge, which, under the pressure of the spring 12, bears against the ends of the cotter pin 14 so as to restrict the sliding travel of the sliding sleeve 13 in one direction. Axial movement of the sliding sleeve 13 is restricted in the other direction by the spring 12.

For a cutting operation, of a harvester, the cylinder shaft 1 is driven, the spur gear 11 of the drive stub 9 being out of mesh with spur gear 8 of the drive stub 3 (see Fig. 1).

To reverse the direction of rotation of the cylinder shaft 1, the propeller shaft 6 and sliding piece 5 is removed from drive stub 3 and pushed onto the drive stub 9. When the sliding piece 5 of the propeller shaft 6 is pushed onto the drive stub 9, the face of the sliding piece 5 bears against the face of the sliding sleeve 13. The sliding sleeve 13, together with spur gear 11, is pushed in an axial direction against the force of the spring by the sliding piece 15 until the spur gear 11 engages with spur gear 8 (see Fig. 2). At the same time the sliding piece 5 of the propeller shaft 6 is locked to the drive stub 9 in this position by the pressure pin lock 7.

If the drive via the propeller shaft is actuated, the cylinder shaft 1 is driven in the other direction of rotation by the transmission 11 and 8. When the propeller shaft 6 is removed from drive stub 9, the spur gear 11 is automatically moved out of mesh with spur gear 8 by the spring 12.

The arrangement according to the invention can be arranged in any location in the drive leading to the cylinder shaft of the cutting element.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An arrangement for changing the direction of rotation of the cutting element of a forage harvester, including a propeller shaft of the forage harvester engageable with a first drive stub for a cylinder shaft, or for any drive shaft connected before the cylinder shaft of the harvester, or with a second drive stub arranged in parallel to the first one to change the direction of rotation of the cutting element, said arrangement further comprising a spur gear arranged on the first drive stub of the cylinder shaft capable of meshing with another spur gear mounted on the second drive stub, charac

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In one simple constructional embodiment of the invention, a sliding sleeve is arranged on the second drive stub and has one face which contacts the second spur gear whilst the other face rests on the propeller shaft when engaged with the second dnve stub. According to a constructional arrangement of the invention, the axial movement of the sliding sleeve is restricted in one direction by the spring and, in the other direction, by a cotter pin driven through the second drive stub; the ends of which pin engage in longitudinal slots of the sliding sleeve. It has proved desirable for the second spur gear, supported by the second drive stub to be rendered non-rotatably mounted but axially displaceable by external splines. The arrangement according to the invention provides the advantage that, in case of damage, a propeller shaft can be readily replaced with a new readily available commercial propeller shaft in the shortest space of time. Season and weather dependent farming operation requires that failure periods be knept as short as possible. The use of commercially available parts is therefore of particular importance. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of an arrangement or device for changing direction of rotation during normal operation of the cutting cylinder; and Fig. 2 the device according to Fig. 1, however, with reversed direction of rotation of the cutting cylinder. A cylinder shaft 1 of a cylinder or flywheel harvester (not shown) protrudes laterally from its support bearing 2 and ends in a drive stub 3. The drive stub 3 has external splines 4 for accommodating a splined sliding piece 5 of a propeller shaft 6. A safety clamping bolt or pressure pin lock 7 commonly employed with propeller shafts serves to lock the sliding sleeve 5 on the drive stub 3 against axial displacement. A fixed spur gear 8 is arranged on the rear end of the drive stub. As is conventional practice, the cylinder shaft 1 is driven by the power take-off shaft of a tractor (not shown) - via the propeller shaft 6. A second drive stub 9 is arranged parallel to and at a distance from drive stub 3 and is freely rotatable in a bearing mounting 10. The drive stub 9 has similar external splines as the drive stub 3. An axially slideable spur gear 11 is arranged on the external splines of drive stub 9. The spur gear 11 is positively connected in circumferential direction to the drive stub 9 by the external splines. The distance of the drive stub 9 from drive stub 3 is so chosen that the spur gear 11 can be brought into mesh with the spur gear 8 of the drive stub 3 by axially sliding said gear 11. A compression spring 12 is arranged between the mounting 10 and the spur gear 11 and forces the spur gear 11 against the face of a sliding sleeve 13. The sliding sleeve 13 is supported by the drive stub 9 and can be axially displaced. The two ends of cotter pin 14, driven through the drive stub 9 and protruding over its circumference, engage in corresponding longitudinal slots 15 of the sliding sleeve 3. The end of the longitudinal slots 15 is formed by a stop edge, which, under the pressure of the spring 12, bears against the ends of the cotter pin 14 so as to restrict the sliding travel of the sliding sleeve 13 in one direction. Axial movement of the sliding sleeve 13 is restricted in the other direction by the spring 12. For a cutting operation, of a harvester, the cylinder shaft 1 is driven, the spur gear 11 of the drive stub 9 being out of mesh with spur gear 8 of the drive stub 3 (see Fig. 1). To reverse the direction of rotation of the cylinder shaft 1, the propeller shaft 6 and sliding piece 5 is removed from drive stub 3 and pushed onto the drive stub 9. When the sliding piece 5 of the propeller shaft 6 is pushed onto the drive stub 9, the face of the sliding piece 5 bears against the face of the sliding sleeve 13. The sliding sleeve 13, together with spur gear 11, is pushed in an axial direction against the force of the spring by the sliding piece 15 until the spur gear 11 engages with spur gear 8 (see Fig. 2). At the same time the sliding piece 5 of the propeller shaft 6 is locked to the drive stub 9 in this position by the pressure pin lock 7. If the drive via the propeller shaft is actuated, the cylinder shaft 1 is driven in the other direction of rotation by the transmission 11 and 8. When the propeller shaft 6 is removed from drive stub 9, the spur gear 11 is automatically moved out of mesh with spur gear 8 by the spring 12. The arrangement according to the invention can be arranged in any location in the drive leading to the cylinder shaft of the cutting element. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An arrangement for changing the direction of rotation of the cutting element of a forage harvester, including a propeller shaft of the forage harvester engageable with a first drive stub for a cylinder shaft, or for any drive shaft connected before the cylinder shaft of the harvester, or with a second drive stub arranged in parallel to the first one to change the direction of rotation of the cutting element, said arrangement further comprising a spur gear arranged on the first drive stub of the cylinder shaft capable of meshing with another spur gear mounted on the second drive stub, charac

terised by the fact that the second spur gear is non-rotatably mounted on the second drive stub but axially displaceable therealong and biassed out of mesh with the first spur gear by a spring, and that the second spur gear is displaceable until it engages with the first spur gear upon engagement of the propeller shaft on the second drive stub.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which a sliding sleeve is arranged on the second drive stub and has one face which bears against the second spur gear and the other face which contacts a sliding piece of the propeller shaft when engaged with the second drive stub.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the axial movement of the sliding sleeve is restricted in one direction by the spring and in the other direction by a cotter pin driven through the drive stub; the protruding ends of said cotter pin extending into longitudinal slots of the sliding sleeve.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the second spur gear is rendered non-rotatably mounted but axially displaceable by the external splines on the second drive stub.

5. An arrangement constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accomPanving drawings.