GB2172484A - Automotive harvesting or mowing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An automotive agricultural machine is provided with a cutting mechanism and with deposit control means to ensure that a deposited harvest stock layer extends uniformly over the width of the cutting mechanism but clear of the wheel tracks of the machine. For this purpose, separating blades, which are substantially upright and cutting edges of which are enclosed in fork shape by stripping fingers (18; 18') mounted on tine carriers (14), are arranged centrally of the tracks of the wheels (7; 7') and closely behind a cutter bar (2) of the cutting mechanism. The end regions of the cutting edges project into the region of a tine reel (5) and are surrounded at both sides by strip segment pairs (17; 17') arranged on tine carriers (14) of the reel (5). The separating blades are mounted in mountings and have cutting surfaces which point arcuately upwards. Partition walls (12, 12'), which extend as far as a trough prolongation (8) or as far as guide plates (9), are arranged behind the separating blades. Two embodiments are shown in figure 1 the first with cross section A-A, the second B-B. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automotive harvesting or mowing machine The present invention relates to an automotive harvesting or mowing machine, especially a machine with a frontal cutting mechanism from which mowed harvest stock is deposited in a width which approximately corresponds to the width ofthe cutting mechanism while maintaining paths clear of stock for wheels ofthe machine.

In DD-PS 135148 there is disclosed a cutting mechanism for an automotive agricultural machine for wide deposit of harvested stock. A rear wall of a cutting mechanism trough is provided with passage openings outside the drive region ofthe wheels. A transverse conveyor worm extending overthe entire cutting mechanism is so arranged in front of each passage opening that oppositely disposed left-handed and right-handed worms are provided and respectively reach as far as the middle of the openings so as to convey harvested stock to the middle ofthe openings.

In this machine there is the disadvantagethatthe harvested stock is deposited in a swath shape which is higher in the middle. Due to this heaping-up in the middle, longer drying times forthe harvested stock result. After cutting, the harvested stock is conveyed transversely in differentdirections by the worms and mixed up so that the stock receives relatively rough handling.

Afurthercutting mechanism for an automotive agricultural machine with wide deposit is described in DD-PS 139682. In place of the transverse conveyor worms conveying the harvested stock into the passage openings, there is provided a tine reel on which strip-likeworm segments are fastened in the track region of the wheels and in the region ofthe side walls.

In this cutting mechanism, the disadvantage arises that harvest stock losses occur at the places where the worm segments are mounted at the periphery ofthe reel. Stock separation for keeping the wheel tracks clear is not possible solely by the arrangement of the worm segments in opposite sense. In the case of crops with long stalks or in the nature of a mulch, appreciable blockages often arise in this region ratherthan separation of the stock.

Yet another machine with wide deposit is disclosed in DD-application A01 D267 3152. In this case a respective metal separating plate is arranged within a cutting mechanism trough in the region of the wheel tracks. These separating plates extend from a front transverse tube ofthe cutting mechanism and possess edges which point obliquely downwards, are guided in front of the mower bar and end below this. The separating plates possess an opening for the mower bar and are connected with the trough wall towards the rear.

Firmly mounted on the reel shaft in the regions of the separating plates are discs, the diameter of which is slightly greaterthan the openings ofthe separating plates. Mounted at both sides ofthe separating plates are guide plates which project overthe reel trough rearwardly and deflect harvested stock away from the wheel tracks of the machine. The problem of harvest stock separation in the wheel track regions should be solved by this equipment in that the separating plates projecting overthe mower bar push bytheirfront edges between the harvest stalks and separate these.

The cutting starts thereafter. The cut stock is conveyed by the reel tines and guided rearwardly to the left and right of the separating plate in separate streams and deposited by the guide plates while keeping the wheel track regions clear. Due to thefactthatthe separating plates at their lower edges extend as far as immediately below the mower bar, the disadvantage arises that the front edges, protruding in front of the mower bar, ofthe plates pressthe stockdown to the ground before the cutting operation ofthe mower bar. It cannot be cut off, because wiping tracks of uncut stock form underthe plates. This can lead to blockages in the region ofthese plates, even if they were to end shortly above the mower bar.These difficulties can cause not only stock losses but also standstill times four the elimination of blockages or even repairs.

GB-PS 1178781 disclosesafront-mounted cutting mechanism which is arranged in front of a tractor, is composed of two cutting mechanisms arranged one besidetheotheranddepositsaswath at both sidesof the tractor. The two cutting mechanisms are equipped with a respective tine reel and a respective transverse conveyor chain, which conveys from both sides towards the middle and possesses controllable conveying tines in the delivery region. In orderthatthe two cutting mechanisms can operate independently of each other and no blockages arise between the inner side walls, a vertically extending double blade cutting mechanism orthe like is mounted between the two cutting mechanisms.

This allows only one swath deposit on both sides of the tractor. Afurther disadvantage is thatthe reel, the tra nsverseconveyo r worm and the mower blade of each cutting mechanism as well astheseparating cutting mechanism arranged vertically between the two cutting mechanisms must possess a special drive derived from the tractor and the required drive transmission means.

There is thus a need for a cutting mechanism able to deposit harvest stock in a layer which extends relatively uniformly ofthe width of the cutting mechanism and which keeps the track regions of the wheels ofthe machine substantially clear, in particular by providing a clean separation ofthe cut stock in the wheel track regions during the cutting without additional drive elements.

According to the present invention there is provided an automotive harvesting or mowing machine provided at the front thereof with a cutting mechanism including a cutter bar, with a tine reel which comprises tines carried by carriers and which is rotatable to effect rearward conveying of material cut by the cutter bar towards discharge openings for discharge there through and deposit in a swath substantially corresponding in width to that ofthe cutting mechanism, and with deposit control means to control the deposit The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

to be clearofpaths for wheels of the machine, the deposit control means comprising a respective substantially upright blade which is disposed behind and closely adjacentto thecutterbarsubstantially in alignmentwith each such path and which has a cutting edge, extending at an end portion thereof into the region ofthe tine reel, a plurality ofstripperfingers mounted on the tine carriers to embrace the cutting edges ofthe blades, and pairs of segmental strips arranged between the tine carriers to extend closely to said cutting edge end portions at both sides thereof.

Preferably, the blades are detachablyfastened in mountings and have upwardly directed cutting edges which start atthe cutter bar and the cutting surfaces of which can be smooth, corrugated or serrated.

Mounted in the mountings are partition wall members which startfrom the near sides ofthe blades and point substantially centrally towards the wheel tracks.

Oppositely curved worm segments can be fastened on the strip segment pairs arranged between the tine carriers and trough prolongations, which conceal the wheels and on which stripper bars are fastened, which at both sides of the partition wall members extend forward as far as the rotating worm segments, can be provided in front ofthe wheel tracks between discharge openings formed in the trough at both sides and inthe middle. Guide plates,which coverthe wheels at both sides, can also be fastened at the ends of the partition wall members facing the wheels and between the delivery openings The stock cut by the cutter bar ofthe cutting mechanism ofthe machine is conveyed by the tines of the tine reel into the trough and from therethrough the discharge openings.In the region ofthe separating blades arranged for keeping the wheel tracks or paths clear, the stripperfingers, which surround the cutting edges ofthe blades in fork shape, press the cut stock against the cutting edges of the blades extending nearly vertically. The strip segments pairs, which are disposed between the tine carriers and which during rotation ofthetine reel enclose the upper region ofthe cutting edges at boths sides, in conjunction with the stripperfingers counterholding the harvested stock effect a clean separating cut. Through this arrangement and in conjunction with the partition wall members extending behind the blades, an exact separation is provided for all harvested stock. The lateral guiding away ofthe stock divided bythe blades can take place in differentways.In the case ofthe construction with worm segments curved in opposite sense and fastened on the strip segment pairs, the previously separated stock is conveyed to both sides ofthe partition wall members, pastthetrough prolongations and through the discharge openings.

The stripper bars fastened on thetrough prolongations preventfurtherentrainment ofthe stock bythe rotating worm segments. In the other embodiment, the guide plates, projecting overthewheelsfor deflection ofthe stock from the wheel tracks, are fastened atthe ends ofthe partition wall members pointing towards the wheel tracks between the lateral and the central discharge openings.

A machine embodying the present invention may havetheadvantagethata clean and loss-free harvest stock sepa ration and keeping clear of the wheel tracks can be achieved by the arrangement ofthe stationary separating blades without additional drive means or the like. A uniformly distributed, more easily dried harvest stock layer is deposited through all discharge openings. There are no pressed-down and unmowed harvest stock strips or high stubble strips left in the region of the drive tracks.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. is a schematic plan view of a cutting mechanism of an agricultural machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line A-A of Fig. 1, with worm segments arranged art a separating place; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line B-B of Fig. 1, with metal guide plates arranged at a separating place.

Referring nowto the drawings, there is shown part of an automotive harvesting or mowing machine provided at its front with a cutting mechanism 1 which consists of a cutter bar2, a reel trough 3 and a tine reel 5, which is mounted in side walls 4 and 4' 4' ofthe cutting mechanism 1 and extends overthe length ofthe mechanism. Three delivery openings 6,6' and 6", which extend overthe entire width ofthe cutting mechanism 1, are provided in the rear wall ofthe trough 2 and eithertrough prolongations 8 covering the wheel tracks or metal guide plates 9' fulfilling the same purpose are arranged in front of the wheels 7 and 7' ofthe machine.Separating blades 10 and 10' standing upright are detachably fastened in mountings 11 and 11' in the trough 3 closely behind the cutter bar2 and centrally in front of the prolongations 8 or ofthe plates 9 in the region ofthe wheels 7 and 7'.

The blades have cutting edges, which startfrom the cutter bar2 and point arcuately upwards, the cutting edges having smooth, corrugated or serrated cutting surfaces and extending into the circumference of the tine reel 5. Partition walls 12 and 12', which are fastened centrally on the prolongations 8 orthe plates 9and reach asfarasthe mountings 11 and 1 1', are arranged behind the blades 10 and 10'.The tine carriers 14, mounted in arms 13 ofthetine reel 5, are equipped throughoutwith spring tines 15 and are controlled in their conveying movement by way of a guide cam 16 mounted atthesidewall4. In the region ofthe blades 10 and 10' projecting closelytowardsthe rotating tine carriers 14, strip segment pairs 17 and 17', which extend between the tine carriers 14 at both sides closely to the blades 10 and 10' and over the upper region oftheircutting edges, arefastened to the arms 13. In the gaps between the strip segment pairs 17 and 17', stripperfingers 18 and 18', which encompass the blades 10 and 10' at both sides in fork shape, are arranged in place ofthe spring tines 15 on the carriers 14. These stripperfingers 18 and 18' are also controlled byway ofthe guide cam 1 6.The cutting mechanism 1 can be equipped with different deflecting devices for deflection of cut stock to either side of each wheel track in conjunction with the separating equipment. In Fig. 1, a variant with worm segments 19 of opposite sense is illustrated in the plane of section A-A and a variant with metal guide plates 9' deflecting the harvested stock is illustrated in the plane of section B-B.

The strip segment pairs 17 and 17' are constructed to be wider for the first variant, because worm segments 19, which are curved in opposite sense outwardlyfrom the separating blade 10 and extend overthe width ofthe prolongations 8, a re fastened thereto. Horizontally or obliquely extending stripper bars 20 are fastened to the prolongations 8 to both sides ofthe walls 12 and 12' arranged centrally and extending towards the mountings 11 and 11' ofthe separating blades 10 and 10'. The stripper bars 20 prevent an entrainment of the stock by the segments 19. In the second variant, the strip segment pairs 17' are constructed to be narrow and the plates 9', which cover or project over the width ofthe wheels 7 and 7', arefastened behind the blades 10' to both sides atthe partition wall 12'.

Whetherthe construction with worm segments 19 fastened on the strip segment pairs 17 and 17' orthe construction ofthe guide plates 9 and 9' fastened at the partition walls 12 and 12' is used, in conjunction with the separating blades 10 and 10', a relatively carefully-conducted, cleanly separating and troublefree transfer ofthe harvested stock to both sides ofthe partition wall 12 into the delivery openings 6 and 6' and at both sides ofthe partition wall 12' into the delivery openings 6' and 6"should be provided.

Claims (7)

1. An automotive harvesting or mowing machine provided atthefrontthereofwith a cutting mechanism including a cutter bar, with a tine reel which comprises tines carried by carriers and which is rotatable to effect rearward conveying of material cut by the cutter bar towards discharge openings for discharge there- through and deposit in a swath substantially corresponding in width to that ofthe cutting mechanism, and with depositcontrol meanstocontrolthedeposit to be clear of pathsforwheels of the machine, the deposit control means comprising a respective sub- stantially upright blade which is disposed behind and closely adjacent to the cutter bar substantially in alignmentwith each such path and which has a cutting edge extending at an end portion thereof into the region ofthetine reel, a plurality of stripperfingers mounted on the tine carriers to embrace the cutting edges ofthe blades, and pairs of segmental strips arranged between the tine carriers to extend closely to said cutting edge end portions at both sides thereof.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each ofthe blades is detachably mounted on mounting means and the cutting edgethereof extends upwardly from the cutter bar, a respective partition wall member being mounted on the mounting meansfor each blade and being arranged to extend rearwardly from that blade substantially in alignment with the associated wheel path.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cutting edge of each blade is smooth, corrugated or serrated.

4. A machine as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the discharge openings are formed in a trough which receivesthetine reel and which is provided between the openings and in front of the wheels with extensions which maskthewheels, oppositely curved conveying flights being mounted on the segmental strips and stripper bars being arranged on the extensions to extend on either side of each partition wall member and to project forwardly asfarasthe conveying flights.

5. A machine as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3, comprising guide plates mounted on the partition wall members remotelyfromthe bladesto mask the wheels and to guide cut material awayto either side of each wheel.

6. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe accompanying drawings.

7. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto Figs. 1 and 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.