GB2110513A - Harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

A harvester for cutting stems and tying cut stems or sticks of willow or similar biomass material into bundles comprises a basically parallelepipedal openwork frame (10) adapted mechanically to be progressed along a row of biomass material to be cut. The frame (10) has therethrough an upwardly-open horizontal passage (11) extending initially rearwardly from the leading end of the frame (10) when progressed and continuing therethrough, the frame mounting sequentially along the length of said passage (11) means (15) for guiding the stems thereinto as the frame (10) is progressed, means (19) for cutting the stems, means for bundling the cut stems, and means for discharging the bundled stems laterally of the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Harvester This invention relates to a harvester for cutting stems and tying cut stems or sticks of willow or similar biomass material into bundles. Willow stems are grown in spaced rows as a coppiced crop to be harvested or cut every two to four years leaving stools for regrowth of further stems, the stems at the time of harvesting being greater than five feet (1.5 metres) in height.

According to the present invention, a harvester comprises a basically parallelepipedal openwork frame adapted mechanically to be progressed along a row of willow stems or of stems of similar biomass material and having therethrough an upwardly-open horizontal passage extending initially rearwardly from the leading end of the frame when progressed and continuing therethrough the frame mounting sequentially along the length of said passage means for guiding the stems thereinto as the frame is progressed, means for cutting the stems, means for bundling the cut stems, and means for discharging the bundled stems laterally of the frame.

Preferably, two oppositely-positioned, counterrotatable elongate feeders are provided adjacent to the said intake end of the passage with one on each lateral side thereof and on each of which means to feed the stems forward into the passage is provided. The feeders are mounted on axial shafts which may be power driven by hydraulic motors coupled to the hydraulic fluid supply of the tractor.

Preferably also, the cutting means comprises a circular saw substantially horizontally disposed and driven through a power transmission mechanism from a power-take-off of the tractor, the blade of the saw being to cut the stems at a predetermined height above the ground, the cut sticks then being supported on top of the blade.

Preferably also, first packer means are provided to move the sticks forward along the passage and off and away from the saw blade. Second packer means are preferably provided to compact the sticks together and move them further forward along the passage to deliver them to the bundling means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a harvester according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the harvester showing particularly a passage intake with other parts therebehind omitted for clarity; Fig. 3 is a side view of the harvester showing particularly the passage discharge and a second packer means with other parts therebehind omitted for clarity; and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the harvester with parts omitted for clarity.

Referring to the drawings, the harvester which is to be hitched to a three-point-linkage of a tractor and moved to harvest stems by reversing the tractor, comprises a basically parallelepipedel openwork frame 10 rearwardly of which hitch attachment points 9 are provided, the frame having therethrough an upwardly-open horizontal passage 11 , the opposite sides of which taper inwardly from an intake end towards packing means.

The intake end of the passage 11 is at the leading end of the frame when progressed and extends initially rearwardly at a position offset towards one side thereof and continuing through a right-angled bend into a straight opening from the other side thereof. Between the intake end and discharge end of the passage 11 and in the direction of travel, the frame mounts sequentially along the length of said passage 11 means for guiding the stems thereinto as the frame is progressed, means for cutting the stems to form sticks, means for bundling the cut stems or sticks, and means for discharging the bundled stems laterally of the frame.

At the intake end of the passage 11 , the guiding means is located with one extending forwardly beyond each lateral side of the passage 11. Two oppositely-positioned, counter-rotatable elongate feeders are provided adjacent to the intake end (as shown). The feeders are both inclined rearwardly from bottom to top in the direction of progression of the frame and taper inwardly from bottom to top. The feeders are mounted on shafts 13 (Fig. 2) journalled for lowfriction rotation at or adjacent to their upper and lower ends in bearings 14 with one feeder on each lateral side of the passage 11. Each feeder has a similarly disposed cylindrical member 1 5 to the outside periphery of which means for feeding the stems forward into the passage 11 are provided.

The feeding means are raised spiral flights 16 standing proud of the periphery of each tubular member. The top of the feeders may be movable apart to increase the intake area when a large volume of stems enter the harvester, either by means of a spring loaded slide 1 2A or by means of a spring loaded pivoted arm 1 2B. The shafts are power driven by hydraulic motors 17 coupled to the hydraulic fluid supply of the tractor (not shown). The hydraulic motors are mounted on pivots to facilitate the angular movement of the shafts. At the bottom of the passage 11, on both sides, guide plates 1 8 are provided.

The cutting means is a circular saw blade 19 substantially horizontally disposed and driven through power transmission mechanism from a power input shaft 20 to be coupled to a powertake-off shaft secured to the P.T.O. of the tractor.

The saw blade 19 is positioned at a predetermined height above ground, and the cut stems or sticks are standing upright and supported on the blade after being cut.

First and second packer means are provided: the first packer means moves the cut sticks forward along the passage 11 and off and away from the blade 1 9 into a floor provided thereafter in the passage 11. The sticks are kept upright throughout and the first packer means comprises two vertically disposed sets of rotating tines 21, the lower set of which is near the butts or bottoms of the stocks, and the higher set of which is thereabove and located above the balance point of the sticks. Each set comprises two solid tines 21 mounted on a double throw crankshaft 22. The tines 21 have semi-Watt's linkage arms so that their motion through the passage approaches a parallel action. The direction of rotation of the saw blade 1 9 is in the same direction as rotation of the first packer means so that it assists the movement of the cut crop.The second packer means comprises a rotating packer having a verticallyoriented elongate plate 23A and rotating tine 23B adapted to move the sticks into the bundling means. The plate 23A is mounted on linkage means 24A including a semi-Watt's linkage to give a semi-parallel action similar to the first packer means. A single plate 23A is used to ensure that the bundling system ties all the sticks into a single bundle since if some sticks are missed at top or bottom, they will be tied into the next consecutive bundle with the result that adjacent bundles will be tied together. Moving on conjunction with plate 23A is rotating tine 23B including a semi-Watt's linkage 24B. The tine 23B moves the butts of the sticks into the tying chamber.

Spring-loaded checks 26 of metal bars or plates shaped as shown in Fig. 1 are provided just above and below this plate 23A to prevent sticks springing back in the passage from the bundling means in the passage after the plate 23A has withdrawn.

At the bundling means, each bundle of sticks is tied with two twines, one above and one below the top and bottom edges of the plate 23A. This is achieved by a pair of needle/knotter units 25A/25B similar to conventional needle/knotter units used in straw baling apparatus. Two sets of two spring members 27 similarly located above and below the plate 23A when extended and serving as a bundle density control, are provided and converge towards the discharge end of the passage 11. At any one tirne, when the harvester is in use, there will be about three bundles of stems in the passage. The spring members 27 acting on the bundles which have been tied produces a restriction necessary for the plate 23A to pack a tight bundle for the needle/knotters 25A/25B to tie.The size of the bundles is determined by the movement of the tied bundles out of the machine. This movement causes a metering wheel 28 to rotate and after a predetermined amount of movement (adjustable as required) the tying mechanisms are triggered off. The triggering system is similar to a conventional triggering system/mechanism used in straw baling apparatus. The bundle of sticks are ejected out of the side discharge.

The first and second packing means and tying mechanism are, like the saw, driven from the power input shaft 20. The power transmission mechanism for the saw includes a Vee-belt and gear box system and gives a speed increase greater than that obtained directly from the P.T.O.

of the The drive of the packer means and bundling means is taken through a reduction chain driven to a reduction gear box from which the two packer means and the needle units 25A are chain driven.

These three means are timed together with the second packer means beginning to convey the sticks just as the tines of the first packer means are withdrawing. When the needles 25A are triggered they come in behind the plate 23 so that they have a clear entry path.

For use, the harvester is mounted on the tractor as above-described and the power input shaft is coupled by a P.T.O. shaft to the tractor P.T.O. and the hoses of the hydraulic fluid supply. By reversing the tractor and harvester along the row of willow stems, the stems are harvested and discharged in tied bundles from the harvester.

In a modification, the harvester may be selfpropelled.

Claims (7)

1. A harvester comprising a basically parallelepipedal openwork frame adapted mechanically to be progressed along a row of willow stems or of stems of similar biomass material and having therethrough an upwardlyopen horizontal passage extending initially rearwardly from the leading end of the frame when progressed and continuing therethrough the frame mounting sequentially along the length of said passage means for guiding the stems thereinto as the frame is progressed, means for cutting the stems, means for bundling the cut stems, and means for discharging the bundled stems laterally of the frame.

2. A harvester as claimed in Claim 1, wherein two oppositely-positioned, counter-rotatable elongate feeders are provided adjacent to the said intake end of the passage with one on each lateral side thereof and on each of which means to feed the stems forward into the passage is provided.

3. A harvester as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the feeders are mounted on axial shafts which are power driven by hydraulic motors coupled to the hydraulic fluid supply of a tractor.

4. A harvester as claimed in Claim 1,2, or 3, wherein the cutting means comprises a circular saw substantially horizontally disposed and driven through a power transmission mechanism from a power-take-off of the tractor, the blade of the saw being to cut the stems at a predetermined height above the ground, the cut sticks then being supported on top of the blade.

5. A harvester as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein first packer means are provided to move the sticks forward along the passage and off and away from the saw blade.

6. A harvester as claimed in Claim 5, wherein second packer means are provided to compact the sticks together and move them further forward along the passage to deliver them to the bundling means.

7. A harvester substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.