GB2182232A - Improvements relating to root crop harvesting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A root crop harvesting machine having lifting means comprising a disc lifter 4 arranged to penetrate the soil and to lift roots from the soil, and a cooperating kicker wheel 5 arranged generally alongside the disk lifter, the kicker wheel having a generally curved outer rim and being arranged to run on or close to the surface of the ground so that roots lifted by the disc lifter fall directly into the rim of the kicker wheel for transportation to a conveyor means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to root crop harvesting machines This invention relates to root crop harvesting mach ines and, in particular, is concerned with machines for the harvesting of sugar-beet. The invention could also be applied to machines for the harvesting of other root-crops of a similar nature, for example machines for the harvesting of swedes, turnips, and the like.

The harvesting of root crops, such as sugar-beet is generally achieved in three phases: the stem and other leaf matter, known as the "top", is removed, following which the root is lifted from the soil onto a collecting conveyor means from which it is subsequ entlytransported to a storage area, for example a separate trailer. Ofthese operations the most critical is the lifting operation as it is desirable to liftthe root from the ground onto a conveyor means without damaging the root and with the collection of a min imum amount of excess soil, etc.

There are currentlythree common forms of lifting means used on root crop harvesters. Of these, the digging share and the disc lifter both work by lifting the roots, together with all soil between roots in a single row, on to an adjacent surface ofthe soil for subsequent collection by a cooperating conveyor means, such as a cyclone wheel, which also acts as a primary cleaner, for transporting the roots to a further conveyor such as a web, whilst allowing a majority of the soil tofall through the tines ofthe cyclone wheel to return to the ground surface. Such an arrangement suffers from the significant disadvantage that in moving the lifted roots from the groundsurfacetothe primaryconveyormeansa substantial amount of unwanted soil, etc., is also lifted.

The other common form of root lifter is known as a lifter wheel arrangement, in which arrangement a pair of lifting wheels which are oppositely inclined to a vertical plane generally aligned with respect to their path of motion penetrate the ground so that, owing to the convergence of those wheel parts penetrating the ground, the opposite sides of a root are engaged and thus lifted from the ground. As the lifted root is moved to a divergent part ofthe wheel pair the root is displaced onto a collecting conveyor such as a web.

Again, this lifting arrangement involves not onlythe lifting of the desired root but also of a substantial amount of unwanted soil which must be separated from the root.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a root crop harvester having lifting means which at least mitigate the problems associated with prior art lifting means.

Accordingly, the invention provides a root crop harvesting machine having lifting means comprising a disc lifter arranged to penetrate the soil, and to lift roots from the soil, and a cooperating kicker wheel arranged generally alongside the disc lifter, the kicker wheel having a generally curved outer rim and being arranged to run on or close to the surface ofthe ground so that roots lifted by the disc lifterfall dir ectly into the rim ofthe kicker wheel fortransporta- tion to a conveyor means.

The term "kicker wheel" as used herein is intended to include any wheel means which is specifically adapted to knock, kick or flip a root impacting the wheel for example, having an open network or radial fingers or projections.

Such a root crop harvesting machine provides significant advantages in that only a minimal amount of excess soil is transferred from the lifting disc to the kicker wheel, so that the primary cleaning operation is facilitated.

Preferably, the kicker wheel comprises a plurality of radially extending tines, each tine being curved at its outer end, the outer ends together defining the generally curved outer rim of the kicker wheel.

The kicker wheel may be manufactured from any suitable material or combination of materials. Forex ample, thetines may be of metal, rubber, nylon ora suitable plastics material. The design ofthe kicker wheel may be varied in dependence on the particular material or combination of materials used.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, the tines areformed in pairsfrom aunitaryelement,saidunitary element having each of its ends appropriately curved and being bent about a central region to a generally V-shape, a plurality of such tine pairs being mounted to extend radially from a central dise por- tion ofthe wheel.

The positioning of the kickerwheel relative to the ground and to the cooperating disc lifter is preferably, adjustable. Conveniently the kicker wheel is driven in the same direction as the direction of movement of the harvester.

Means, such as a flail, may be associated with the case wheel to facilitate movement of lifted roots from the kicker wheel to the conveyor means.

The driving means may be hydraulic or, alternatively, may be by way of direct drive from the harvester propulsion unit. The harvester may be self propelled or be coupled with a tractor or like propulsion unit.

Preferably the harvesterfurther comprises a guide bar positioned forwardly of the or each lifter disco breakthe root awayfrom the soil.

Desirably, the conveyor means comprises a centering arrangement whereby lifted roots dropped onto the conveyor from a number of generally aligned lifting means are transported through a centrally located collection region for transportation to a storage trailer, or the like. The conveyor means may comprise a plurality of cooperating centering rollers.

Alternatively, a conveyor web or webs, or a cyclone wheel may be used.

In a particularly preferred arrangement the harvester is adapted for harvesting a plurality of rows of root crop simultaneously, a plurality of disc lifter and kicker wheel arrangements being provided suspended from a frame member.

Conveniently, such frame member issupported freely from the bodyofthe harvesterto allow a degree of horizontal and vertical movement ofthe frame member in supporting the element.

Where guide bars are provided, in such a multiple row harvester, the guide bars are arranged to impart a self steering capability to the harvester.

In orderthatthe invention may be more readily understood, and so that fu rther features thereof may be appreciated, an embodimentofa root crop harvesting machine embodying the invention will now be described, byway of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is schematic elevational view of part of a root crop harvesting machine ofthe invention, illustrating a disc lifter, kicker wheel and guide bar, but with parts thereof omitted for clarity; Figure2 is an enlarged front elevation of the arrangement of Figure 1,with further parts omitted for clarity; Figure 3 is a more detailed side elevational view of the harvester of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates one preferred conveyor means; and Figure 5illustrates, schematically, with many parts omitted for clarity, a multi-row harvester embodying the invention.

The drawings illustrate, schematically, the impor tantelements of a root crop harvesting machine. The illustrated embodiment is adapted fortowing, or pushing, by a separate powered vehicle, such as a tractor. However, it will be appreciated that the harvester may be self-propelled. The provision of suitable towing or pushing means, or a self-propulsion unit are well known in the art and will be described in detail herein. The invention is equally applicable to single row and multiple row harvesting machines.

Referring to Figure 1, the harvester is generally indicated 1 and comprises a frame member 2, adapted for supporting a forward guide bar 3, a generallycen- trally positioned disc lifter 4 and cooperating kicker wheel 5 and a rearwardly positioned conveyor means 6. A position adjusting unit 7 is provided on the frame member 2 for supporting adjustablythe guidebar3andthedisclifter4.

Considering each element in more detail, the guide bar3 is of type generally known in the artand comprises a blade portion 8 having a generally curved forward region 9. The guide bar 3 is suspended from the adjustment means 7 via pivotally mounted sup port rods 10,11. The guide bar3 is so mounted so that the angle at which the guide bar penetrates the ground, relative to a vertical plane parallel with the direction of motion ofthe harvester (the rake angle) and relative to a plane perpendicular to that plane can be adjusted. In use the guide bar is set at an app ropriate angleto allowthe skid to penetrate the ground to a depth sufficientto loosen the root crop from its position in the soil and thus to facilitate lift ing thereof.

The disc lifter4 is again of a type generally well known in the art and comprises a disc plate 12 moun tedforfree rotation about an axle and hub member 13. The member 13 is connected via a support rod 14 with the position adjusting means 7. As best seen in Figure 1 ,the disc lifter4 is positioned in use, to lie slightly rearwardly of the guide bar3 and to pen etratethe soil to a depth of slightly less than the max imumdepthofpenetration oftheguidebar3.The disc lifter4 is mounted to be adjustable aboutthever tical and horizontal planes so that the desired angle for cutting free the roots and for lifting these upwardly out of the ground can be selected.

Referri n g now to Fig u re 3, the kicker wheel 5 is mounted for driven rotation about an axle point 15 defined in a support bush 16 at the outer end of a support rod 17. The support rod 17 is pivotally mounted upon a carrier block 1 8fixed adjustably to the frame member 2. The carrier block 18 is mounted generally rearwardly on the frame member 2 and the support rod 17 extends forwardly so that the kicker wheel 5 is supported for rotation in a position generally alongside the disc lifter 4. The support arm 17 is adapted for adjustment so that the positioning of the kickerwheel 5 relative both to the surface of the ground andtothe disc lifter4can be adjusted.

The kicker wheel 5 is formed from a generally open network of radially extending tines 19 each tine being curved at its outer end 20 to define a generally curved rim ofthe wheel 5. The wheel 5 is mounted so thatthe curved rim extends in the direction of the disc lifter4 (see Figure 2). Whilst any suitable construction of the kicker wheel 5 may be used, in the embodiment illustrated the tines 19 are supported on a central disc member 21, a pair of tines being formed as a unitary element bent about a central region 22 with a curved region at each end of the unitary element. In orderto facilitate rotation of the kicker wheel Sin close proximity with the surface ofthe ground, the curved regions ofthe tines 19 are angled in a slight rearwardly direction.

As will be explained in detail below, the positioning of the kicker wheel 5 alongside the dise lifter4,for cooperation therewith, is an essential feature of the present invention. The cooperation of the disc lifter and kicker wheel acts to liftthe harvested roots clear ofthesurfaceofthegroundtoallowtheprimaryconveyor means to be positioned clear of the surface of the ground.

The primary conveyor means 6 is desirably supported from the frame member 2 as shown in the Figures. The illustrated conveyor means 6 is in the form of a plurality of centering rollers 23. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable conveying means, such as a web or webs or a cyclone wheel, may be used.

The kicker wheel 5 is adapted for powered rotation in the forward direction via hydraulic drive means (not shown in detail). Any suitable drive means, such as, for example, direct drive from a self-propulsion unit, may be used.

Referring in particular to Figure 2, the cooperation of the disc lifter 4 and kicker wheel 5will now be described in more detail. In use, the disc lifter4 ispositioned to penetrate the ground surface, indicated generally at 24, to a depth and at an anglesufficientto lifta rootfromtheground. Inthe absence ofthe kicker wheel 5, as occurs in known harvesters, the lifted root would, owing to its generally conical shape, topple sideways onto the ground surface 24.

However, because the kicker wheel 5 is positioned generally alongside the disc lifter4,the lifted root topples sideways into the curved rim region ofthe kicker wheel 5, as defined by the curved outer re gions 20 of the tines 19. As the kicker wheel 5 is driven during operation ofthe harvesting machine the lifted root is transported rearwardly and up wardlyawayfrom the disc lifter4 and, duetothefor- ward momentum of the harvester, is caused to drop onto the conveyor means 6.

In some circumstances it may also bedesirableto provide means for assisting movement ofthe lifted roots from the kicker wheel 5to the conveyor means 6.Forexample,aflail (notshown)maybeconnected with the drive shaft of the wheel, the flail acting to knock lifted roots rearwardly onto the conveyor means.

It will be appreciated that the angle of penetration ofthe disc lifter 4, and the spacing and general orientation of the kicker wheel 5 relative to the dise lifter4 and to the surface of the ground may be varied in dependence upon soil conditions, the specific root crop being harvested and the average size ofthe roots being harvested.

It is generally preferred for a root crop harvesting machine to be capable of harvesting a crop from a plurality of rows of that crop simultaneously. Figure 5 illustrates schematically a six-row harvesting machine incorporating a lifter arrangement of the present invention. The combination of guide bars 3, disc lifter4 and kicker wheel Sfor lifting andtrans- porting harvested roots to a primary conveyor means 6 for each row is identical to that described above and will not be described in detail.

Theframe member 2 is supported forsliding horizontal movement beneath a central support member 25, which may, for example, be a part of the chassis of a self-propelied vehicle or may be adapted for connection to a propulsion unit, such as a tractor. In this arrangement the guide bars 3 are arranged about a central axis of the machine in such a fashion that those skids on one side of the axis are positioned for cutting their respective row at one selected angleto the central axis whilst those guide bars on the other side of the axis are arranged at generally the same anglewith respectto the central axis and sothatthe cooperation of the guide bars with the respective rows of root being harvested will act to provide the harvester with a self-steering capability. A single conveyor means 6, for example comprising a plurality of centering rolls 23 is provided to receive lifted rootssimultaneouslyfrom each ofthe kickerwheels 5, the centering rolls acting to collect the roots at a central location fordischargeto a collecting means 26, for example a conveying web. Conventional con veyorwebs, or a cyclone wheel arrangement, may be used in place of the centering rolls 23.

The conveyor means is conveniently powered hydraulically but may be driven directly from a self propulsion unit or by coupling to a separate propulsion unit.

Claims (23)

1. A root crop harvesting machine having lifting means comprising a disc lifter arranged to penetrate the soil and to lift roots from the soil, and a cooperating kicker wheel arranged generally alongside the disc lifter, the kicker wheel having a generally curved outer rim and being arranged to run on or close to the surface of the ground so that roots lifted by the disc lifterfall directly into the rim of the kicker wheel for transportation to a conveyor means.

2. A harvesting machine according to Claim 1, wherein, in use, the disc lifter is arranged to pen etrate the surface of the ground at an angle relative to the direction of movement of the harvesting machine and the kicker wheel is arranged to run parallel with the direction of movement of the harvesting machine.

3. Aharvesting machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the relative positions of the disc lifter and/or kicker wheel are adjustable.

4. A harvesting machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the kicker wheel comprises a plurality of radially extending tines, each tine being curved at its outer end, the outer ends together defining a generally curved outer rim of the kicker wheel.

5. A harvesting machine according to Claim 4, wherein the tines of the kicker wheel are constructed from metal, rubber, nylon, or suitable plastics material orcombinationsthereof.

6. A harvesting machine according to Claim 4 or 5, further comprising means associated with the kicker wheel to facilitate movement of lifted roots from the kicker wheel to the conveyor means.

7. A harvesting machine according to any one of Claims 4,5 or 6, wherein the tines are formed in pairs from a unitary element, said unitary element having each of its ends appropriately curved and being bent about a central region to define a generally V-shape, each end of the element being curved and a plurality of such tine pairs being mounted to extend radially from a central disc portion ofthe kicker wheel.

8. A harvesting machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the kicker wheel is hydraulically driven for rotation in the direction of movement ofthe harvesting machine.

9. A harvesting machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, further comprising a guide bar posi tioned forwardly of the lifter disc.

10. Aharvesting machine according to Claim 9, wherein the positioning of the guide bar is adjustable.

11. A harvesting machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, further comprising a conveyor means positioned spaced from the surface of the ground and positioned to receive harvested roots directly from said kicker wheel.

12. Aharvesting machine according to Claim 11, wherein the conveyor means comprises a plurality of cooperating rollers.

13. A harvesting machine according to Claim 11, wherein said conveyor means comprises at least one endless web.

14. A harvesting machine according to Claim 13, wherein said endlessweb is formed from interconnected chains or the like.

15. Aharvesting machine according to Claim 11, wherein said conveyor means comprises at least one cyclone wheel.

16. Aharvesting machine according to anyone of Claims 1 to 15, wherein a plurality of disc lifters and cooperating kicker wheels are provided inside-by- side arrangement, a guide bar being provided forwardly of each disc lifter, the arrangement being such that a plurality of rows of root crop can be bar vested simultaneously.

17. Aharvesting machine according to any of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the disc lifter(s) and kicker wheel(s) are supported, adjustably, from a frame member.

18. Aharvesting machine according to Claim 16, further comprising a centering conveyor means adapted to receive harvested roots from each said kicker wheel and to transfer the collected roots to a central location forfurthertransportation.

19. Aharvesting machineaccordingtoClaim 18, wherein the centering conveyor means comprises a plurality of centering rollers, conveyor webs or a cyclone wheel arrangement.

20. A harvesting machine according to any one of Claims 17to 19, wherein guide bars are arranged to provide the harvesting machine with a self-steering capability,theframe member being supported for sliding horizontal movement with respect to a chassis element.

21. A harvesting machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 20, wherein the harvesting machine comprises a self-propulsion unit.

22. A harvesting machine substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein.