GB2181934A

GB2181934A - Beet topping assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2181934A
Application number: GB08526357A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bo Ljungdahl
Original assignee: SVERNSKA SOCKERFABRIKS AB
Current assignee: SVERNSKA SOCKERFABRIKS AB
Priority date: 1985-10-25
Filing date: 1985-10-25
Publication date: 1987-05-07
Also published as: GB2181934B; GB8526357D0

Abstract

A beet topping assembly (1) for beet harvesting machines, especially for harvesting sugar beets, is disclosed. The assembly (1) comprises a number of parallel runners (2) which are welded together so as to form a lifting grid which is fixed to a telescopic rod (4) adapted to be pressed upwardly allowing vertical displacement of the rod, by the tops of the beets. Each runner (2) has an initial lifting angle alpha of about 65 DEG (Figure 2) in relation to the horizontal plane, and this lifting angle is located on a height (A) substantially equal to 115 mm above the lowest point of the runner. Thus, since the distance (B) between ground level and the lowest point of the runner generally is about 50 mm, it is theoretically possible to top beets of a height of about 165 mm without any part of the assembly (1) upsetting the beets. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Beet Topping Assembly The present invention relates to a beet topping assembly for beet harvesting machines, especially machines for harvesting sugar beets. The invention also relates to a runner for such a beet topping assembly.

The harvesting of beets or like root-crops by means of harvesting machines starts by a topping operation in which the leaves and the tops of the beets are cut off. This is carried out by means of a topping assembly which is generally disposed in front of and/or in association with the harvesting machine.

A known type of topping assembly has a substantially horizontal knife which is movable in the vertical direction and the upward movement or lifting of which is controlled by runners which are assembled into a lifting grid and which during harvesting slide up on the beets and lift the topping knife to the proper level for topping.

The runners hitherto used suffer from the drawback of often upsetting large beets before harvesting. By designing the runners with an initial lifting angle a of at most about 65" in relation to the horizontal plane, this problem has been alleviated, however not essentially reduced.

The object of the present invention is to provide e beet topping assembly which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned inability of the prior art beet topping assemblies to top beets of different size in a reliable manner. According to the invention, this object has been achieved by a beet topping assembly as recited in claim 1 and by a runner as recited in claim 2.

The invention is based on the unexpected discovery that not only the lifting angle a but also the vertical level or height thereof on the runner significantly affect the ability of the runner to correctly slide up on beets of different size.

According to the invention, this height, counting from the lowest point of the runner, exceeds 100 mm, and preferably is 115 mm. The known runners have a substantially smaller height. The invention makes it possible to raise the level of the lifting angle a without affecting the overall length of the runner and its stabilizing length. The invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow in a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a beet topping assembly according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a runner according to the invention.

The beet topping assembly 1 in Fig. 1 has a number of parallel lifting runners 2 which are welded together so as to form a lifting grid. The lifting grid and a topping knife are attached to a rod 4 which is telescopically, vertically movable in a tube of which only a part is shown. Each runnner 2 of the lifting grid is designed as illustrated in Fig. 2, where the angle a is the lifting angle which according to the invention is on a height A, counting from the lowest point of the runner, that exceeds 100 mm, and preferably is 115 mm. C designates the overall length of the runner and D the stabilizing length of the runner. The distance B between ground level E and the runner 2 generally is about 50 mm, which theoretically makes it possible to top beets of a height of A+B=165 mm.

Thus, the solution according to the invention means that it will be possible, buy a design modification consisting in lessening the inclination of the runner, to top beets of different size in a reliable manner without the risk of upsetting larger beets before harvesting, which means a considerable increase in productivity.

In practical tests, it has been established that the curvature of the underside of the runner 2 in a coordinate system follows the general formula y=e(axb/x2+o) where, in a particularly preferred embodiment, a=0.0227 b=348 c=0.4357.

1. Beet topping assembly for beet harvesting machines, especially for harvesting sugar beets, which assembly comprises a number of parallel runners assembled into a lifting grid for a topping knife, characterized in that each runner has an initial lifting angle a of about 65" in relation to the horizontal plane, and that this lifting angle is located on a vertical level or height (A) above the lowest point of the runner, that exceeds 100 mm and preferably is 115 mm.

2. Runner for a beet topping assembly for beet harvesting machines, especially for harvesting sugar beets, characterized in that the runner has an initial lifting angle a of about 65" in relation to the horizontal plane, and that this lifting angle is located on a vertical level or height (A) above the lowest point of the runner, that exceeds 100 mm, and preferably is 115 mm.

3. A beet topping assembly as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described in the accompanying drawings.

4. Each and every novel feature herein set forth either separately or in combination.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Beet Topping Assembly The present invention relates to a beet topping assembly for beet harvesting machines, especially machines for harvesting sugar beets. The invention also relates to a runner for such a beet topping assembly. The harvesting of beets or like root-crops by means of harvesting machines starts by a topping operation in which the leaves and the tops of the beets are cut off. This is carried out by means of a topping assembly which is generally disposed in front of and/or in association with the harvesting machine. A known type of topping assembly has a substantially horizontal knife which is movable in the vertical direction and the upward movement or lifting of which is controlled by runners which are assembled into a lifting grid and which during harvesting slide up on the beets and lift the topping knife to the proper level for topping. The runners hitherto used suffer from the drawback of often upsetting large beets before harvesting. By designing the runners with an initial lifting angle a of at most about 65" in relation to the horizontal plane, this problem has been alleviated, however not essentially reduced. The object of the present invention is to provide e beet topping assembly which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned inability of the prior art beet topping assemblies to top beets of different size in a reliable manner. According to the invention, this object has been achieved by a beet topping assembly as recited in claim 1 and by a runner as recited in claim 2. The invention is based on the unexpected discovery that not only the lifting angle a but also the vertical level or height thereof on the runner significantly affect the ability of the runner to correctly slide up on beets of different size. According to the invention, this height, counting from the lowest point of the runner, exceeds 100 mm, and preferably is 115 mm. The known runners have a substantially smaller height. The invention makes it possible to raise the level of the lifting angle a without affecting the overall length of the runner and its stabilizing length. The invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow in a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a beet topping assembly according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a runner according to the invention. The beet topping assembly 1 in Fig. 1 has a number of parallel lifting runners 2 which are welded together so as to form a lifting grid. The lifting grid and a topping knife are attached to a rod 4 which is telescopically, vertically movable in a tube of which only a part is shown. Each runnner 2 of the lifting grid is designed as illustrated in Fig. 2, where the angle a is the lifting angle which according to the invention is on a height A, counting from the lowest point of the runner, that exceeds 100 mm, and preferably is 115 mm. C designates the overall length of the runner and D the stabilizing length of the runner. The distance B between ground level E and the runner 2 generally is about 50 mm, which theoretically makes it possible to top beets of a height of A+B=165 mm. Thus, the solution according to the invention means that it will be possible, buy a design modification consisting in lessening the inclination of the runner, to top beets of different size in a reliable manner without the risk of upsetting larger beets before harvesting, which means a considerable increase in productivity. In practical tests, it has been established that the curvature of the underside of the runner 2 in a coordinate system follows the general formula y=e(axb/x2+o) where, in a particularly preferred embodiment, a=0.0227 b=348 c=0.4357. CLAIMS