GB2456780A

GB2456780A - Combine harvester

Info

Publication number: GB2456780A
Application number: GB0801183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen John Heard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-22
Filing date: 2008-01-22
Publication date: 2009-07-29
Also published as: GB0801183D0

Abstract

A combine harvester 1 includes a combine header 2 for cutting a crop, a delivery means for delivering crop residue to the ground and a cultivation apparatus 8 for cultivating the ground before it is covered by crop residue. The cultivation apparatus is located between the combine header 2 and the delivery means. Preferably the delivery means is a spreader 6 mounted at the rear of the combine harvester. Optionally the cultivation apparatus is attached to the combine header. Advantageously the need for a separate cultivator is eliminated.

Description

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TITLE

Combine harvesters

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a combine harvester, and in particular to a combine harvester that includes a cultivator apparatus.

Background Art

Combine harvesters are commonly used to harvest a growing crop such as wheat.

The crop is cut using a combine header that is mounted at the front of the combine harvester. The cut crop is then fed into the main body of the combine harvester where it is processed to separate out the edible parts. For example, in the case of wheat the grains are separated from the ears of the stalks using a threshing dnjm. The grains are collected and stored while the stalks (straw) are chopped into small pieces and spread on the ground behind the combine harvester.

After a crop has been harvested, the land is often lightly cultivated to encourage any crop residue or weed seeds to germinate so that they can be killed by a subsequent spray application or a further cultivation before the next crop is sown. This cultivation process is normally carried out using a cultivator apparatus that is pulled behind a tractor and will only disturb the soil to a shallow depth so that any weed seeds are able to germinate and grow quickly. However, in practice the cultivation process is made more difficult by the presence of the chopped crop residue that has been spread on the ground during the harvesting operation. In cases where the crop residue has been removed by baling then the compaction of the soil and wheel ruts caused by the baling machine and the carting of the bales also complicates the cultivation process.

uminary of the Invefltion The present invention seeks to overcome the problems mentioned above and provides a combine harvester comprising a combine header for cutting a crop, delivery means

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* S * * S S a S S. S* * . . . * S * * S S * S * S *** * S * S * * . S *** * S S.. *SS for delivering crop residue (e.g. straw) to the ground, and a cultivation apparatus located between the combine header and the delivery means for cultivating the ground before it is covered by crop residue.

The cultivation apparatus will be attached to the combine harvester (optionally to the combine header mounted at the front of the combine harvester) and is prefeiably located forward of the front wheels of the combine harvester. However, in practice the cultivation apparatus can be attached at any location behind the combine header as long as it is forward of the delivery means.

It will be readily appreciated that the location of the cultivation apparatus results in the ground being cultivated immediately after the crop has been cut and before the ground is covered by the crop residue. This means that the cultivation process does not suffer from the problems of crop residue or wheel rutting and compaction mentioned above. The undisturbed ground within a crop is well-weathered and relatively easy to cultivate. Any moisture in the ground (e.g. from the shadowing of the standing crop just harvested) is also retained. The cultivation process improves seed-to-soil contact for any seeds deposited at the rear of the combine harvester and germination is actually fuither enhanced by the spreading of the chopped crop residue, which helps to seal in any moisture and provides a micro-climate for seed germination.

The cultivation apparatus preferably includes at least one suitable cultivation element that contacts and disturbs the ground. Such cultivation elements are well known to the skilled person.

The cultivation apparatus will preferably have a low power requirement so that it does not affect the perfomiance of the combine harvester. It will also be designed such that it does not slow or in any way hinder the harvesting process.

The present invention further provides a method of harvesting a crop and cultivating the ground using a combine harvester, the method comprising the steps of harvesting

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* S * * S S S * S. ** S S * S * S * * S * S S * S *. * . S. * * S S *** * S S.. .55 the crop thereby producing crop residue, cultivating the ground using a cultivation apparatus of the combine harvester, and covering the cultivated ground with the crop residue.

Drawing Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a combine harvester according to the present invention.

The combine harvester I shown in Figure 1 includes a combine header 2 mounted at a front position. The combine header 2 is used to cut a growing crop such as wheat WT and its configuration will depend on the particular crop that is being harvested. The cut crop is fed into the main body 4 of the combine harvester where the grains are separated from the ears of the stalks using a threshing drum (not shown). A spreader 6 is mounted at a rear position of the combine harvester I and spreads chopped crop residue CR (i.e. the stalks of the wheat from which the grains have been removed by the threshing drwn) onto the ground behind the combine harvester.

A cultivation apparatus Sis mounted to the combine header 2 and is located between the combine header and the front wheels 10 of the combine harvester.

When the combine harvester 1 is operating and moving in a forward direction (i.e. from right to left as shown in Figure 1), the wheat WT is cut by the combine header 2 to reveal undisturbed and well-weathered ground. This undisturbed ground is then lightly cultivated by the cultivation apparatus 8. Finally, the cultivated ground is covered by the crop residue CR tolp seal in any moisture and further promote the gennination of any seeds.

Claims

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1. A combine harvester comprising: a combine header for cutting a crop; delivery means for delivering crop residue to the ground; and a cultivation apparatus located between the combine header and the delivery means for cultivating the ground before it is covered by crop residue.

2. A combine harvester according to claim!, wherein the cultivation apparatus is attached to the combine header.

3. A method of harvesting a crop and cultivating the ground using a combine harvester, the method comprising the steps of: harvesting the crop thereby producing crop residue; cultivating the ground using a cultivation apparatus of the combine harvester and covering the cultivated ground with the crop residue.

4. A combine harvester substantially as herein described and with reference to the drawing.