GB1601894A

GB1601894A - Crop working machines

Info

Publication number: GB1601894A
Application number: GB16147/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Patent Concern NV
Current assignee: Patent Concern NV
Priority date: 1977-08-10
Filing date: 1978-04-24
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: FR2399792A1; NL7708801A; GB1601895A; DE2834831A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CROP WORKING MACHINE (71) We, PATENT CONCERN N.V., of Willemstad, Curacao, The Netherlands Antilles, a Limited Liability Company organised under the laws of The Netherlands Antilles, 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 crop working machine, and particularly, although not exclusively, to a mowing machine.

According to the present invention there is provided a crop working machine having an upwardly extending main axis and comprising a crop working element mounted for rotation about an upwardly extending axis which is spaced from the main axis, a supporting member being provided, for supporting the crop working element on the ground, that has a dish-like supporting surface and that is arranged underneath the crop working element.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of crop working machine, constituted by mowing machine, hitched to a tractor; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the mowing machine taken on the line II--II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partly sectional view taken on the line III--III in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a plan view of part of an alternative embodiment of mowing machine.

The mowing machine shown in Figure 1 comprises a main frame beam 1, which is connected by an intermediate frame 2 and a trestle 3 to a three-point lifting device 4 of a tractor 5. The trestle 3 has a substantially triangular shape, as viewed in the intended direction of operative travel, indicated by an arrow A, and is provided near its lower side with a substantially horizontal supporting plate 6, on which the intermediate frame 2 is arranged. The intermediate frame is furthermore connected with the three-point trestle 3 by means of a shear-pin device (not shown) 7 in a manner such that, if the machine encounters excessive resistance during operation, the intermediate frame 2 can turn relatively to the trestle 3 about an upwardly extending pivotal shaft.

The intermediate frame 2 accommodates two pulleys 8 with V-belts 9 passing over them.

On the rear side of the intermediate frame 2 is disposed a supporting rod 10, whose end away from the intermediate frame 2 is connected to a pivotal shaft 11. The pivotal shaft 11 coincides with the rotary axis of the outermost pulley 8 (i.e. the one furthest from the trestle 3); this outermost pulley 8 is connected to a bevel gear wheel 12 forming part of a bevel gear wheel transmission located in a gear box 13 fastened to the top side of the main frame beam 1. From the gear box 13 is driven an underlying, substantially straight cylindrical gear wheel 14, journalled in a gear box, which is enclosed by the main frame beam 1. The gear wheel 14 is the first of a series of four gear wheels 14 to 17 lying side-by-side and being all rotatably arranged in an oil bath. The rotary axis of the gear wheel 14 constitutes the rotary axis 18 of a first crop working assembly constituted by a mowing assembly 19. In a similar manner the rotary axis of the gear wheel 17 constitutes a substantially vertical rotary axis 20 of a second mowing assembly 21. The transmission through the gear wheels 14 to 17 results in the mowing assemblies 19 and 21 rotating in opposite senses, as indicated by arrows B and C respectively.

The mowing assemblies 19 and 21 are structurally identical and so only the mowing assembly 21 will be described in detail.

The rotary axis 20 of the mowing assembly coincides with the centreline of a shaft 22, which is supported near the top of the beam 1 in a fastening portion 23. This fastening portion 23 is fastened by bolts to a cover 24 of the main frame beam 1. The reduced diameter portion 25 of the shaft 22 located in the beam 1 supports a bearing 26 at its lower end, this bearing 27 being disposed in the gear wheel 17. An externally partly cylindrical sleeve or ring 27 is bolted to the lower side of the gear wheel 17 concentrically with the shaft 22, this sleeve extending beneath the beam 1, the lower part being directed outwardly. The ring 27 is surrounded at the circumference by an oil arrester 28 fastened to the bottom of the beam 1. The ring 27 constitutes the suspension part for the rest of the mowing assembly 21, and to this end the outwardly directed lower part of the ring 27 is fastened to the top of a substantially conical casing 29. The vertex of the conical surface of the casing 29 is located on the rotary axis 20 just above the fastening portion 23. The angle that this conical surface makes with the rotary axis 20 is preferably about 20 .

Near its lower side, the casing 29 is connected with a housing 30 which supports the shaft in a bearing 31 and which flares downwardly from the bearing 31. The angle between the surface of the housing 30 and the main axis 20 is preferably about 75". Near the circumference of the mowing assembly the housing 30 is directed downwardly to form a cylindrical portion 32 of the housing 30. Beneath the portion 32 the housing 30 has an outwardly directed rim 33 serving as a fastening means for a cover plate 34, which closes the housing 30 at the bottom and extends substantially perpendicular to the rotary axis 20. The cover plate 34 has four arcuate segments or screening plates 35 which constitute upper covers for respective crop working elements constituted by mowing elements 36 to 39, which are identical in structure to each other, and so only the mowing elements 36 will be described in detail. The mowing element 36 is rotatable about a substantially vertical rotary axis 40 which coincides with the centreline of a stub shaft 41. This stub shaft 41 is journalled in the cover plate 34 by means of two bearings 42 disposed one above the other. The disposition is such that dirt or soil cannot penetrate into the housing. The rotary axis 40 intersects the conical upper wall of the housing 30 approximately midway along the radial distance between the cylindrical part 32 and the place where the conical surface of the casing 29 meets the upper wall of the housing 30. The four shafts 40 are preferably located on a circle centred on the shaft 20. On the top end of the stub shaft 41 is arranged a substantially cylindrical, straight gear wheel 43, which is drivably connected with a ring gear 44. The ring gear 44 has a hub 45, which is fitted by means of a wedge just beneath the bearing 31 on the shaft 22.

The ring gear 44 comprises an internally toothed cylindrical part 46 which is drivably in mesh with teeth on the gear wheel 43. Since the housing 30 is closed by the plate 34, the gear wheels 43 and the wheel 44 can rotate in an oil bath.

Beneath the cover plate 34 the stub shaft 41 is connected with a carrier 47 shaped as a substantially circular disc being provided at the top near the circumference with two substantially diametrically op?ositely disposed cutting members 48 comprising steel knives. The knives 48 are pivotable about upwardly extending pivotal shafts 49 so that the knives can turn freely through an angle of 360". As is shown in Figure 2, the arcuate screening plate 35 extends outwardly so that, as viewed on plan, the outer edge of the plate 35 substantially coincides with the circumference of the disc 37; preferably it slightly projects beyond the disc 47. Thus the knives 48 are covered vertically over substantially half their length by the plate 35. The diameter of the mowing element 36 is preferably about 30 cms and the diameter of the entire mowing assembly 21 is preferably about 85 cms.

At the bottom end of the stub shaft 41 there is a bearing 50 which serves to carry a supporting member comprising a convex circular supporting dish 51. The dish 51 extends substantially to the circumference of the disc 47 and is covered on top by a flat cover plate 52 which surrounds the bearing 50. The mowing machine shown in Figures 1 to 3 operates as follows.

During operation the mowing machine is driven from the power take-off shaft 53 of a tractor 4 through an intermediate shaft 54, so that the respective casings 29, the housings 30 and the cover plates 34 rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows B and C respectively. The speed of rotation is preferably about 500 rev/min. Since the ring wheel 44 is rigidly secured to the stationary shaft 22 and the cutting members 36 to 39 rotate bodily with the carrier or casing 29, the respective gear wheels 43 will roll along the teeth of the part 46 of the wheel 44. The rotation of the mowing element of each mowing assembly takes place in the direction of the arrows D and E respectively (Figures 1 and 3), this rotation thus being in the direction opposite that of the rotation of the casing 29 of that mowing assembly.

For satisfactory operation, the speed of each mowing element should be more than twice that of the casing 29. This ratio is preferably at least 1:8 and most preferably 1:10. Thus a preferable speed is about 5000 rev/min. By the choice of the diameter of the housing 30 with respect to the diameter of the mowing elements 36-39, the planetary gear wheel system comprising the wheels 43 and 46 provides, in absolute terms, a high cutting speed for the cutting members so that, for example, grass-like crops can be received in the upright state by the casings 29, which convey the crop upwardly in the direction of the arrow C by virtue of the conical shape. If desired, unevennesses (not shown), for example ribs or protrutions, may be provided on the outer surface of the casing.

The cutting members act with a scything action, i.e. there are no counter-m=mbers to provide a scissor action. The relative dispositions of the conical outer surfaces of the housing 30 and of the casing 29 may be advantageous. The opposite directions of rotation of the mowing elements with respect to the directions of rotation of the casings may be advantageous in mowing downcast, long-stalk crop, since under given conditions an elevating effect can be obtained.

At the rear of the mowing machine the crop is deposited in an airy, yet sharply defined swath. The mowing machine shown permits of using small and comparatively light mowing elements with a comparactively large mowing assembly for high-speed operation.

The disposition of the four mowing elements 36 to 39 provides satisfactory balancing of each moving assembly. The comparatively simple planetary driving system permits, in addition of using a considerably slower, crop conveying rotary drum.

The plan view of Figure 1 shows that the mowing elements of the neighbouring mowing assemblies are relatively off-set through an angle of about 45" so that the mowing elements have a satisfactory overlap.

The mowing elements are each supported in an effective manner by a separate supporting dish, which is preferably freely rotatable on the stub shaft 41 of the mowing element.

Owing to the presence of this light support readily matching the unevennesses of the ground in the region where the cutting effect takes place that is to say, near the circumference of the mowing assembly, a uniform cutting effect can be obtained even on an irregular ground surface.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 only one mowing element is provided on each mowing assembly, this mowing element being preferably constructed as shown in the preceding embodiment; corresponding parts are therefore given the same reference numerals.

In the cover plate 34 are arranged two shafts 55, the shafts 55 and the stub shaft 41 being regularly disposed about the main shaft 20, the arc between the two shafts 55 being, therefore, about 1200. Beneath the shafts 55 are provided supporting dishes 51 which are freely rotatable in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 but do not have cutting members. During operation the embodiment of the mowing machine shown in Figure 4 operates in the manner described for the first embodiment. The variant shown in Figure 4 is particularly suitable for very high speed use, whilst the regular disposition of the shafts 41 and 55 ensures satisfactory balancing of the mowing assembly. As a further alternative (not shown) two mowing elements may be disposed diametrically opposite each other, one on each side of the main shaft 20, and two diametrically oppositely disposed supporting dishes 51 may be arranged in positions off-set from the mowing element by 90".

It is furthermore possible to use the construction which a planetary gear wheel transmission in mowing machines having a row of three, four, or more mowing assemblies, whilst it is also possible to attach the mowing machine not to the rear but to the front of a tractor, or to both the front and the rear.

Machines such as described above are also described and claimed in Application No. 8024369 (Serial No. 1601895) which has been divided out of this Application, and in Application No. 16144178 (Serial No.

1601893), to each of which reference is accordingly directed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A crop working machine having an upwardly extending main axis and comprising a crop working element mounted for rotation about an upwardly extending axis which is spaced from the main axis, a supporting member being provided, for supporting the crop working element on the ground, that has a dish-like supporting surface and that is arranged underneath the crop working element.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the machine is provided with two crop working elements, the distance from the axis of rotation of each of these crop working elements to the main axis being the same.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, in which each crop working element is supported by a respective supporting member that is arranged underneath the crop working element that it supports.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, in which the or each supporting member is connected with a shaft embodying the axis of rotation of the crop working element it supports.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, in which the or each supporting member is mounted for rotation on the shaft.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the or each supporting member is freely rotatable.

7. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the or each supporting member is circular as viewed in a direction parallel to the shaft.

8. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is a mowing machine and in which the or each crop working element is a mowing element and comprises a carrier on which a cutting member is pivotally secured.

9. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 8, in which the or each cutting member is secured to the top of its carrier.

10. A mowing machine as claimed in

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

Claims

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

action, i.e. there are no counter-m=mbers to provide a scissor action. The relative dispositions of the conical outer surfaces of the housing 30 and of the casing 29 may be advantageous. The opposite directions of rotation of the mowing elements with respect to the directions of rotation of the casings may be advantageous in mowing downcast, long-stalk crop, since under given conditions an elevating effect can be obtained.

At the rear of the mowing machine the crop is deposited in an airy, yet sharply defined swath. The mowing machine shown permits of using small and comparatively light mowing elements with a comparactively large mowing assembly for high-speed operation.

The disposition of the four mowing elements 36 to 39 provides satisfactory balancing of each moving assembly. The comparatively simple planetary driving system permits, in addition of using a considerably slower, crop conveying rotary drum.

The plan view of Figure 1 shows that the mowing elements of the neighbouring mowing assemblies are relatively off-set through an angle of about 45" so that the mowing elements have a satisfactory overlap.

The mowing elements are each supported in an effective manner by a separate supporting dish, which is preferably freely rotatable on the stub shaft 41 of the mowing element.

Owing to the presence of this light support readily matching the unevennesses of the ground in the region where the cutting effect takes place that is to say, near the circumference of the mowing assembly, a uniform cutting effect can be obtained even on an irregular ground surface.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 only one mowing element is provided on each mowing assembly, this mowing element being preferably constructed as shown in the preceding embodiment; corresponding parts are therefore given the same reference numerals.

In the cover plate 34 are arranged two shafts 55, the shafts 55 and the stub shaft 41 being regularly disposed about the main shaft 20, the arc between the two shafts 55 being, therefore, about 1200. Beneath the shafts 55 are provided supporting dishes 51 which are freely rotatable in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 but do not have cutting members. During operation the embodiment of the mowing machine shown in Figure 4 operates in the manner described for the first embodiment. The variant shown in Figure 4 is particularly suitable for very high speed use, whilst the regular disposition of the shafts 41 and 55 ensures satisfactory balancing of the mowing assembly. As a further alternative (not shown) two mowing elements may be disposed diametrically opposite each other, one on each side of the main shaft 20, and two diametrically oppositely disposed supporting dishes 51 may be arranged in positions off-set from the mowing element by 90".

It is furthermore possible to use the construction which a planetary gear wheel transmission in mowing machines having a row of three, four, or more mowing assemblies, whilst it is also possible to attach the mowing machine not to the rear but to the front of a tractor, or to both the front and the rear.

Machines such as described above are also described and claimed in Application No. 8024369 (Serial No. 1601895) which has been divided out of this Application, and in Application No. 16144178 (Serial No.

1601893), to each of which reference is accordingly directed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A crop working machine having an upwardly extending main axis and comprising a crop working element mounted for rotation about an upwardly extending axis which is spaced from the main axis, a supporting member being provided, for supporting the crop working element on the ground, that has a dish-like supporting surface and that is arranged underneath the crop working element.
2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the machine is provided with two crop working elements, the distance from the axis of rotation of each of these crop working elements to the main axis being the same.
3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, in which each crop working element is supported by a respective supporting member that is arranged underneath the crop working element that it supports.
4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, in which the or each supporting member is connected with a shaft embodying the axis of rotation of the crop working element it supports.
5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, in which the or each supporting member is mounted for rotation on the shaft.
6. A machine as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the or each supporting member is freely rotatable.
7. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the or each supporting member is circular as viewed in a direction parallel to the shaft.
8. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is a mowing machine and in which the or each crop working element is a mowing element and comprises a carrier on which a cutting member is pivotally secured.
9. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 8, in which the or each cutting member is secured to the top of its carrier.
10. A mowing machine as claimed in

claim 8 to 9, in which the or each mowing element is provided with two diametrically opposite cutting members.
11. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the or each cutting member is disposed such that approximately half its length is disposed within the periphery of its carrier.
12. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, in which the or each cutting member is freely pivotable.
13. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, in which the or each cutting member is capable of turning through 360".
14. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each crop working or mowing element is covered at its top by a screening plate.
15. A machine as claimed in claim 14 in which the or each screening plate projects outwardly of the periphery of a crop working or mowing assembly comprising the or each crop working or mowing element, as viewed in a direction parallel to said main axis.
16. A machine as claimed in claim 14 or 15, in which the or each screening plate is disposed in the lower region of a casing.
17. A machine as claimed in claim 16, in which the casing comprises drive means for the or each crop working or mowing element.
18. A machine as claimed in claim 17, in which the casing is mounted for rotation about said main axis and, in operation, rotates in a direction opposite the direction of operative rotation of the or each crop working or mowing element about its axis of rotation.
19. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, in which the casing accommodates driving gear for the or each crop working or mowing element.
20. A machine as claimed in claim 19, in which the driving gear comprises a ring wheel which is fixed against rotation about the main axis.
21. A machine as claimed in claim 20, in which the ring wheel has internal teeth along which rolls, in operation, a respective gear wheel connected with the or each crop working or mowing element.
22. A machine as claimed in claim 21, in which the casing constitutes a closed gearbox providing an oil bath in which the ring wheel and the gear wheel(s) connected with the or each crop working or mowing element are disposed.
23. A machine as claimed in claim 21 or 22, in which the transmission ratio between the ring wheel and the or each gear wheel is greater than 1:2.
24. A machine as claimed in claim 23, in which said transmission ratio is at least 1:8.
25. A machine as claimed in claim IS or in any one of claims 16 to 24 as appendant directly or indirectly to claim 15, in which, in operation, the speed of rotation of the crop working or mowing assembly is about 500 rev/min and the speed of rotation of the or each crop working or mowing element is about 5000 rev/min.
26. A crop working machine substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, or Figure 4, of the accompanying drawings.