GB1604892A - Mowing machines - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MOWING MACHINES (71) We, PATENT CONCERN N.V., of Willemstad, Curaçao, 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 mowing machines.

According to the present invention there is provided a mowing machine comprising a frame member carrying a crop displacing rotor having a supporting member which is rotatable about an upwardly extending main axis, the supporting member being disposed at the bottom of the rotor and supporting a mowing element having cutting means, which mowing element is rotatable with respect to the supporting member about an upwardly extending axis which is spaced from, and rotatable about, the main axis, drive means being provided adjacent the top of the rotor and the frame member for transmitting drive from the rotor to the mowing element, thereby to rotate the mowing element with respect to the supporting member.

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 a mowing machine attached to a tractor, Figure 2 is a sectional view of part of the mowing machine taken on the line II-II in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines Ill-Ill in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the lines IV-IV in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines V-V in Figure 3, The mowing machine illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a main frame beam 1 extending substantially transversely of the intended direction of operative travel of the machine, indicated by an arrow A. The beam 1 is connected near one end with two parallel plates 2, through which a pivotal shaft 3 passes in the direction A, this shaft 3 establishing a pivotal joint between the main frame beam 1 and an intermediate frame beam 4 which is in line with the beam 1. The beam 4 has, at the opposite end from the beam 1, a gearbox 5, which supports the beam 4 on a supporting frame 6 on the rear of a three-point trestle 7. During operation, the trestle 7 is coupled with the three-point lifting device of a tractor 9. The frame 6 is held with respect to the gearbox 5 by a pin 10 which allows movement of the mowing machine from the operational position shown, in which it extends laterally of the tractor, to a transport position in which it lies behind the tractor. This is done by pivoting the machine through about 90" about an axis 11. The gearbox 5 is connected at the front, in a manner not shown in detail, with the power take-off shaft of the tractor, the gear box 5 comprises a bevel gear wheel transmission connected with a driving shaft 12 located in the beam 4, which is hollow. The shaft 12 is provided near the pivotal shaft 3 with a universal joint 14. The main frame beam 1 supports a gear box 14 connected with the plates 2 and fastened to the top of the beam 1. The gear box 14 is coupled with the driving shaft 12. The gear box 14 comprises a bevel pinion transmission and drives spur wheels 15 located in the beam 1.

The gear wheel 15 located beneath the gear box 14 is the first of a sequence of ten identical pinions arranged side by side in a row, so that four pinions 15A of this row are located above rotors 16 and drive these rotors, there being two intermediate pinions 1 SB of the row disposed between each pair of pinions 15A such that every two adjacent rotors 16 rotate in opposite senses as indicated by an arrow B in Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows that the main frame beam 1 comprises a top plate 17 and a bottom plate 18, which are formed by pressing, interconnected by bolts. The plates 17 and 18 constitute an upper bearing housing or gear wheel housing for the underlying rotor 16.

The rotor 16 comprises a main shaft 19, which is rigidly secured at the top of the plate 17 to a bearing cover 21 by means of splines 20. The cover 21 is fixed to the top ofthe plate 17. The cover 21 accommodates a ball bearing 22 which surrounds a hollow shaft 23. The hollow shaft 23 is provided with splines for receiving the gear wheel 15A, and a sleeve 24 is arranged between the gear wheel 15A and the bearing 22. A further sleeve 24 is also located between the lower face of the gear wheel 15A and a bearing 25 which is located near the lower side of the beam 1 and is accommodated in a cover 26 which is secured to the bottom of the plate 18. In this way the hollow shaft 23 is supported both at the top and at the bottom of the beam 1. The hollow shaft 23 is completely free for rotation with respect to the main shaft 19 and has a flange 27 near the bottom of the plate 18. The flange 27 is bolted to the top of a lower gear casing 28 having a circular outer periphery, as viewed in a direction parallel to the centreline 19A of the main shaft 19. Neighbouring gear casings 28 have a diameter of some 35cms such that they are spaced apart only by a small distance. Each gear casing 28 is arranged at a distance of 30-50cm, preferably some 40cms above the underside of the machine.

The casing 28 comprises a top plate 29 and a bottom plate 30 which are formed by pressing and are bolted together at their peripheries. The casing 28 serves as on oil bath for a sun wheel which is rigidly connected by a wedge 31 with the main shaft of a planetary gear arrangement accommodated in the casing 28. Beneath the sun wheel 32 there is a bearing 33 surrounded by a cap 35, which is connected with the bottom plate 30. An arrester ring 35 surrounds the main shaft 19 to seal the casing 28. The gear wheel casing 29 supports two drive shafts 36 which are disposed diametrically opposite each other, one on each side of the centreline 19A. The arrangement now to be described is symmetrical about a plane containing the rotary axis afforded by the centre-line 1 9A and extending perpendicular to the line connecting the two drive shafts 36. Because of this, the arrangement on only one side of that plane will be described.

The shaft 36 is preferably made from spring steel and has a diameter of about 6 mms. At the top it is provided with splines co-operating with the top portion of a holder 37 which is supported on a bearing 38 connected by means of a bearing cap 39 with the top of the plate 29. The shaft 36 is conveniently mounted by passing it from above downwardly through the holder 37. At the bottom, the holder 37 is clear of the shaft 36 and is connected in a similar manner by means of a bearing 40 and a cap 41 with the bottom of the plate 30. Between the bearings 38 and 40 the holder 37 is formed with a pinion 42 which constitutes a planetary gear arrangement already referred to and meshes permanently with the sun wheel 32. To the bottom of the cap 34 is welded a tube 43, which is coaxial with the shaft 19 and extends downwardly from the cap 34. The lower end of the tube 43 is welded to a ring 44, which surrounds a bearing 45 on the shaft 19, this bearing being axially fixed with respect to the shaft 19 by a locking ring 46..

The ring 44 constitutes a fastening member for a supporting member comprising two parallel mowing element carriers 47 and 48, formed by top and bottom plates respectively. The two plates have a substantially identical, elliptical circumferential shape.

The carriers 47 and 48 support a pivotal axis 49 afforded by a bolt passing through the plates, on which bolt a holder 50 is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the carriers. The holder 50 is inclined rearwardly with respect to a radial line passing through the pivotal axis 49 and has a widened portion which constitutes a bearing housing for two bearings 51 and 52 one above the other.

Between these bearings is journalled a mowing element 53 which is connected to the driving shaft 36 by splines co-operating with corresponding splines in a central portion 54 of the cutting member, which permit axial displacement of the shaft 36. The top portion of the central portion 54 between the bearings 51 and 52 is clear of the shaft 36. The central portion 54, as viewed in a direction parallel to the shaft 36, is substantially circular and is located in a recess 55 in the top plate 47. The lower side of the central portion 54 is provided with three pins 56 affording a bayonet connection for a cutter disc 57 (see also Figure 4), which disc has a uniformly serrated edge forming teeth 58.

The serrations of the edge are such that the deepest part of the serration, as shown in Figure 3, coincides substantially with the periphery of the plate 47. The diameter of the disc 57 is preferably about 15 cms and the relative positions of the two discs 57 are such that the overall diameter of the rotor 16 with the discs 57 is about 44 cms. Since the disc 57 is located between the two plates 47 and 48, these plates constitute a guard member for the cutter disc. The pivotable arrangement on the shaft 49 permits the cutting member to move within the guard member by displacement of the flexible shaft 36. During this movement the lower portion of the shaft 36 can deflect owing to its shape, whereas the top portion of the shaft is fixed with respect to the rotor 16.

The plates 47 and 48 are symmetrical about a plane containing the two axes 36A with regard to the desired screening effect.

As viewed on plan (Figure 3) the operative portion of the disc 58 projects beyond the periphery of the locally arcuate disc 47 over an arc of preferably not more than 120 with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor indicated by the arrow B, this operative portion projecting, with respect to the arrow B, at the front and at the radially outer edge of the plate 47. The planetary gear drives the mowing element 53 in the direction of the arrows C, which corresponds at the periphery of the rotor with the arrow B. The disc 57 then moves beneath the plate 47 at a point where the periphery of the plate 47 curves away from the shaft 36, to form a slight cavity. The holder 50 has a projecting portion 59 which can turn with the holder 50 about the pivotabl axis 49 between two stops 60 and 61 provided near the periphery of the plate 47, the central portion 54 then moving in the recess 55. This pivotal movement, resulting in resilient deflection of the shaft 36, is possible over an arc of preferably about 8. Owing to initial stressing of the shaft 36, the portion 59 bears on the stop 61 in the operative position shown. In the deflected position, the disc is located, as viewed on plan, substantially wholly within the boundary of the guard member. The free end porton 59 then bears on the stop 60.

Between the gear wheel casing 28 and the plate 47, above each mowing element 53, is a screen 62, which is fastened at the bottom by two tags 63 to the ring 44 and in a similar manner at the top side to the cap 34. The screen 62 is preferably made from sheet material and has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, the broader side lying near the shaft 19 and the narrower side being located just beyond the widened portion of the holder 50. The screen 62 surrounds the widened portion of the holder 50 so that the holder 50 can turn unhindered about the pivotal axis 49 between the stops 60 and 61.

The screen 62 protects the driving shaft 43 at least in the circumferential direction. The screen 62 also acts as a fastening member for two crop displacing members constituted by tines 64, which are positioned at regular intervals one above the other; they are preferably made from spring steel. Each pair of tines 64 is made from a single length of material, the central portion being fixed by a bolt 65 to the trailing face of the screen 62.

Between the fastening portion and the free end, each tine 64 has one or more coils 66, the axis of which extends substantially parallel to the shaft 36. The tines 64 all have substantially equal lengths and, as viewed on plane, the free end of each tine 64 extends as far as the circular path 67 described by the discs 57 during rotation of the rotor 16.

To the lower end of the shaft 19 is fastened, by a bolt 68, a dish-shaped supporting disc 69, the bolt 68 being located in a central cavity. As viewed on plan, the supporting disc is substantially circular and, as shown in the sectional view of Figure 2, its diameter is about 40% of the diameter of the disc 57.

Figure 1 shows that the two ends of the frame beam 1 are provided each with a laterally inclined support 70 extending rearwardly with respect to the direction A, and to each support 70 is fastened a swath forming member 71. The swath forming members 71 are pivotable about respective upwardly extending pivotal axes 71A and can be adjusted and fixed by a fixing member in any one of two or more positions by turning it about the pivotal axis 71A. The two swath forming members 71 converge to the rear in the position shown.

The mowing machine described above operates as follows.

During operation the rotors 16 are driven from the power take-off shaft of the tractor through the driving shaft 12 and the pinions 15. The transmission ratio of the gear box 5 and of the gear box 14 is such that the pinions 15 preferably have a speed of about 1200 rev/min. The rotors 16 are driven at this speed in opposite senses as indicated by the arrows B. Since the gear wheel casing 28 is rigidly secured to the rotor 16, the planetary wheels 42 revolve around the sun wheel 32, which is fixed with respect to the frame by its connection with the shaft 19. The diameters of the sun wheel 32 and of the pinion 42 are chosen so that the speed of each driving shaft 36 is about 10,000 rev/min. Through the flexible shafts 36 this speed is transferred to the mowing elements 53. Owing to the very small thickness of the disc 57 (about 2 mms) the mowing element 53 is capable, at this very high speed, of perforing an effective mowing operation. Owing to the possible pivotable movement of the mowing element 53 about the pivotal axis 49, the mowing element is protected against damage. If the mowing element strikes an obstacle, it will deflect against resilient force of the shaft 36 in the direction indicated by the arrow D in Figure 3, thus moving into the space between the two protecting plates 47 and 48. Thus the mowing element can avoid the obstacle.

After the obstacle has been passed, the lower portion of the shaft 36 and the mowing element will turn back in the direction opposite the arrow D owing to the centrifugal force on the mowing elements 53 and to the resilience of the shaft 36 so that it is again the operative position.

The construction described, with driving gear at a high level and with a comparatively long, flexible shaft between each mowing element and the driving gear, provides a driving mode in which reactive forces produced may be kept within limits owing to the deflectability of the mowing element.

The crop cut by the disc 57 is engaged almost immediately after cutting, before it has had time to fall over, by the tines 64 and displaced laterally to the rear by co-operation of the two screens 62 of each rotor 16.

Figure 1 shows that adjacent paths 67 overlap one another to some extent so that satisfactory co-operation between neighbouring rotors 16 is achieved. The crop is thus slightly tedded and deposited airily, whilst, in dependence upon their setting, the swath forming members 71 can deposit the crop in a sharply defined swath.

Figure 4 illustrates how the disc 57 can be replaced in a simple manner. A wrench 72 is inserted into a recess 73 in the proximity of the central portion 54, whilst at the same time a wrench 74 is inserted into an aperture 75 in the disc 57. With these, the disc 57 sandwiched between the plates 47 and 48, can be turned with respect to the central portion 54 so that the disc 57 is released from the three pins 56 and can be removed. The insertion of a new disc 57 is performed in the reverse order of operations.

The machine disclosed herein is also disclosed and claimed in our copending patent application No. 20901/78 (Serial No.

1604893).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A mowing machine comprising a frame member carrying a crop displacing rotor having a supporting member which is rotatable about an upwardly extending main axis, the supporting member being disposed at the bottom of the rotor and supporting a mowing element having cutting means, which mowing element is rotatable with respect to the supporting member about an upwardly extending axis which is spaced from, and rotatable about, the main axis, drive means being provided adjacent the top of the rotor and the frame member for transmitting drive from the rotor to the mowing element, thereby to rotate the mowing element with respect to the supporting member.

2. A mowing machine is claimed in claim 1, in which the frame member comprises a bearing housing located above the rotor and accommodating a pinion for transmitting drive to the rotor.

3. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the rotor is one of a plurality of rotors, adjacent ones of which, in operation, are driven by means of the respective pinions in opposite senses to each other.

4. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the drive gear for the mowing element comprises a gear wheel which is coaxial with the rotor and which is vertically spaced from, but near to, the pinion for transmitting drive to the rotor.

5. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the driving gear comprises a planetary gear arrangement accommodated in a gear wheel casing connected with the rotor.

6. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 5 when appendant to claim 4, in which the gear wheel constitutes a sun wheel of the planetary gear arrangement and is rigidly secured to a main shaft which is fixed to the frame member and coaxial with the rotor.

7. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the gear wheel casing is.

secured to a hollow shaft, which is coaxial with the rotor.

8. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 7, in which the hollow shaft is journalled by means of two bearings in the frame member.

9. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 7 or 8, when appendant to claim 2, in which the pinion for transmitting drive to the rotor is secured to the hollow shaft in the upper bearing housing.

i0. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, in which the rotor is rigidly secured to the hollow shaft.

11. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, in which the mowing element is driven, in operation, by a planet wheel which is disposed at the periphery of the sun wheel and is coaxial with the mowing element.

12. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, in which a supporting disc is arranged at the lower end of the main shaft mounted coaxially with the main axis.

13. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 12, in which the supporting disc is fixed to the main shaft.

14. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 13, in which the mowing element extends downwardly and parallel to the main axis from the gear wheel casing.

15. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 14, in which a plurality of crop displacing members are arranged between the mowing element and the gear wheel casing.

16. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 15, in which the gear wheel casing for the planetary gear arrangement is connected on the lower side by means of a tube with the supporting member.

17. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 16 when appendant to claim 6, in which the tube surrounds the fixedly arranged main shaft.

18. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 16 or 17, in which, at the lower end of the tube, the supporting member is jour nalled with respect to the main shaft.

19. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the supporting member comprises two plates disposed one about the other, between which the operative part of the mowing element is disposed.

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

Claims (23)

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

   displaced laterally to the rear by co-operation of the two screens 62 of each rotor 16.

   Figure 1 shows that adjacent paths 67 overlap one another to some extent so that satisfactory co-operation between neighbouring rotors 16 is achieved. The crop is thus slightly tedded and deposited airily, whilst, in dependence upon their setting, the swath forming members 71 can deposit the crop in a sharply defined swath.

   Figure 4 illustrates how the disc 57 can be replaced in a simple manner. A wrench 72 is inserted into a recess 73 in the proximity of the central portion 54, whilst at the same time a wrench 74 is inserted into an aperture 75 in the disc 57. With these, the disc 57 sandwiched between the plates 47 and 48, can be turned with respect to the central portion 54 so that the disc 57 is released from the three pins 56 and can be removed. The insertion of a new disc 57 is performed in the reverse order of operations.

   The machine disclosed herein is also disclosed and claimed in our copending patent application No. 20901/78 (Serial No.

   1604893).

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A mowing machine comprising a frame member carrying a crop displacing rotor having a supporting member which is rotatable about an upwardly extending main axis, the supporting member being disposed at the bottom of the rotor and supporting a mowing element having cutting means, which mowing element is rotatable with respect to the supporting member about an upwardly extending axis which is spaced from, and rotatable about, the main axis, drive means being provided adjacent the top of the rotor and the frame member for transmitting drive from the rotor to the mowing element, thereby to rotate the mowing element with respect to the supporting member.
2. 2. A mowing machine is claimed in claim 1, in which the frame member comprises a bearing housing located above the rotor and accommodating a pinion for transmitting drive to the rotor.
3. 3. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the rotor is one of a plurality of rotors, adjacent ones of which, in operation, are driven by means of the respective pinions in opposite senses to each other.
4. 4. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the drive gear for the mowing element comprises a gear wheel which is coaxial with the rotor and which is vertically spaced from, but near to, the pinion for transmitting drive to the rotor.
5. 5. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the driving gear comprises a planetary gear arrangement accommodated in a gear wheel casing connected with the rotor.
6. 6. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 5 when appendant to claim 4, in which the gear wheel constitutes a sun wheel of the planetary gear arrangement and is rigidly secured to a main shaft which is fixed to the frame member and coaxial with the rotor.
7. 7. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the gear wheel casing is.

   secured to a hollow shaft, which is coaxial with the rotor.
8. 8. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 7, in which the hollow shaft is journalled by means of two bearings in the frame member.
9. 9. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 7 or 8, when appendant to claim 2, in which the pinion for transmitting drive to the rotor is secured to the hollow shaft in the upper bearing housing.
10. i0. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, in which the rotor is rigidly secured to the hollow shaft.
11. 11. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, in which the mowing element is driven, in operation, by a planet wheel which is disposed at the periphery of the sun wheel and is coaxial with the mowing element.
12. 12. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, in which a supporting disc is arranged at the lower end of the main shaft mounted coaxially with the main axis.
13. 13. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 12, in which the supporting disc is fixed to the main shaft.
14. 14. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 13, in which the mowing element extends downwardly and parallel to the main axis from the gear wheel casing.
15. 15. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 14, in which a plurality of crop displacing members are arranged between the mowing element and the gear wheel casing.
16. 16. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 15, in which the gear wheel casing for the planetary gear arrangement is connected on the lower side by means of a tube with the supporting member.
17. 17. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 16 when appendant to claim 6, in which the tube surrounds the fixedly arranged main shaft.
18. 18. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 16 or 17, in which, at the lower end of the tube, the supporting member is jour nalled with respect to the main shaft.
19. 19. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the supporting member comprises two plates disposed one about the other, between which the operative part of the mowing element is disposed.
20. 20. A mowing machine as claimed in any

    one of the preceding claims, in which the mowing element is one of two mowing elements carried by the supporting member of the rotor.
21. 21. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the mowing element rotates, in operation, in the same sense at the rotor.
22. 22. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the supporting member affords a guard member for the mowing element.
23. 23. A mowing machine substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.