IE86816B1

IE86816B1 - Self-loading wagon

Info

Publication number: IE86816B1
Application number: IE20140278A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Edlabauer Karl
Original assignee: Alois Pöttinger Maschf Ges M B H
Priority date: 2013-11-08
Filing date: 2014-11-06
Publication date: 2017-08-23
Also published as: NL2013729B1; IE20140278A1; FR3012940A1; FR3012940B1; NL2013729A; DE202013010165U1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-loading wagon for collecting and transporting crop, comprising a pick-up apparatus for picking the crop up from the ground and a support chassis for supporting the pick-up apparatus at the ground, wherein the support chassis has a pair of side jockey wheels arranged next to the pick-up apparatus as well as at least one rear jockey wheel which is arranged behind the pick-up apparatus in the direction of travel. In accordance with the invention, the at least one rear jockey wheel is suspended independently of the suspension of the side jockey wheels and is vertically adjustable relative to the named side jockey wheels. <Figure 1>

Description

Self-loading wagon The present invention relates to a self-loading wagon for collecting and transporting crop, comprising a pick-up apparatus for picking the crop up from the ground and a ground tracking or support chassis for supporting the pick-up apparatus at the ground, wherein the ground tracking or support chassis has a pair of side jockey wheels arranged next to the pick-up apparatus as well as at least one rear jockey wheel which is arranged behind the pick-up apparatus in the direction of travel.

Self-loading wagons typically have a pick-up with a rotating spiked roller or tine rotor as the pick-up apparatus, said pick-up being guided over the ground by means of jockey wheels so that the spiked roller travels over bumps and the like. The jockey wheels as a rule run to the right and the left side next to the pick-up apparatus, with them being able to be arranged in the direction of travel a little behind the spiked roller, at the level of the spiked roller or preferably a little in front of the spiked roller. The latter variant has the advantage that the pick-up is raised in good time before bumps. It has been disadvantageous with such side jockey wheels for the pick-up to date that they run in the track of the tractor and said track can be depressed with damp ground not resistant to pressure. In addition, only centrally formed bumps can run between the jockey wheels without an elevating of the pick-up resulting.

DE 76 10 226 shows a self-loading wagon in which the jockey wheels of the pick-up are displaceably fastened to a cross-member extending transversely over the width of the pick-up so that the tread of the jockey wheels can be set. It can hereby be avoided that the jockey wheels of the pick-up of the self-loading wagon travel in the track of the tractor. However, so that these inwardly displaced jockey wheels do not run over the crop to be picked up, they have to be arranged behind the pick-up, which has the result that the spiked roller of the pick-up apparatus runs in front of the jockey wheels over or even on bumps.

It has furthermore already been proposed to provide both side jockey wheels displaced slightly to the front with respect to the spiked roller and jockey wheels displaced centrally inwardly behind the spiked roller. It can admittedly hereby be prevented that the pick-up apparatus runs too low if the side jockey wheels run in the track of the tractor. However, problems result in the crop pick-up in bumpy terrain. The pick-up apparatus is in particular held too high by the trailing jockey wheels on traveling into depressions to pick up the crop cleanly.

It is furthermore known from DE 82 01 903 U1 to support the jockey wheels for the collection drum of a self-loading wagon at pivotable swing arms whose angular position can be set via a control arm. The height of the jockey wheels relative to the pick-up apparatus can hereby be set very simply. However, this apparatus also does not solve the previously named problems.

A self-loading wagon is known from the document AT 008 160 U1 having a pick-up which is supported on the ground via side jockey wheels as well as a further jockey wheel additionally arranged behind the pick-up. The side jockey wheels as well as the rear jockey wheel should be supported on a common jockey wheel carrier in order to be jointly adjustable in the manner of a tandem chassis and to allow a simple vertical adjustment of the jockey wheels relative to the pick-up. It is, however, difficult in this respect to change the distribution of the contact pressure on the different jockey wheels in order, for example, to apply more pressure to the rear jockey wheel with soft ground and to apply more pressure to the side jockey wheels with harder ground. Too high a contact pressure on the rear, central jockey wheel can in particular also occur.

It is therefore the underlying object of the present invention to provide an improved self-loading wagon of the initially named kind which avoids disadvantages of the prior art and further develops the latter in an advantageous manner. An improved ground sensing by the jockey wheels should in particular be achieved with a more variable adaptation of the contact pressure of the jockey wheels to different ground conditions and the contact pressure of the rear jockey wheel should be reduced.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a self-loading wagon in accordance with claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention form the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed to suspend the rear jockey wheel independently of the side jockey wheels and to configure them as vertically adjustable relative to the side jockey wheels so that the support pressure adopted at the individual jockey wheels can be simply varied. In accordance with the invention, the at least one rear jockey wheel is suspended independently of the suspension of the side jockey wheels and is adjustable in height relative to the said side jockey wheels. If the rear jockey wheel is, for example, moved into a higher position, more support pressure is applied to the side jockey wheels, whereby, for example, the sinking depth of the side jockey wheels in boggy ground can be set. If conversely the rear jockey wheel is traveled more deeply, the support pressure at the side jockey wheels can be reduced, while the support pressure at the rear jockey wheel conversely increases.

In an advantageous further development of the invention, the at least one rear jockey wheel can be suspended by means of a suspension apparatus which has no pivot points behind the collection apparatus, preferably in the total tread of the collection apparatus. The pivot points of the suspension of the rear jockey wheel can in particular be arranged at the side next to or at the pick-up apparatus. Such a pivot point-free suspension of the rear jockey wheel behind the pick-up apparatus, in particular in the region of a cutting unit, facilitates a blade change at a cutting apparatus for comminuting the crop to be picked up, said cutting apparatus being able to be moved out to the rear in a manner known per se from a conveying passage of the pick-up apparatus.

The at least one rear jockey wheel can advantageously be supported at a jockey wheel carrier which extends transversely to the direction of travel and which is preferably fastened at both sides to pivotably supported swing arms. In this respect, a rigid, in particular torsionally stiff, connection can advantageously be provided between the jockey wheel carrier and the named swing arms, with the swing arms optionally also being able to be an integral, one-piece component of a jockey wheel carrier configured in U shape overall. In principle, a swing arm support at only one side in the manner of a so-called cantilever suspension can also be provided in which the jockey wheel carrier is supported only by means of a swing arm arranged at the side. In order, however, to be able to take up the rising torsional loads with light and thin-walled sections or sections with a small cross-section, the transversely extending jockey wheel carrier can be arranged at both sides at a respective pivotably supported swing arm.

The pivot axle of the named swing arms can advantageously extend horizontally transversely to the direction of travel and/or can be positioned approximately centrally with respect to the pick-up apparatus supported at the ground. If the pickup apparatus comprises, for example, a pick-up having peripheral collection prongs, the pivot axle can be arranged approximately centrally with respect to the orbit of the named collection tools.

The working height of the named rear jockey wheel can be set by adjusting the pivot position of the named swing arms. A central force introduction can be effected by the pivotal connection of the swing arm at the side, preferably approximately centrally, at the lateral end faces of the pick-up apparatus.

The control of the pivot position of the named swing arms and thus the vertical setting of the rear jockey wheel can generally take place in different manners, in an advantageous further development of the invention, the swing arms can be pivotally connected to a frame part or to a chassis part of the self-loading wagon by means of connection control arms. If the pick-up apparatus, in particular its section to which the swing arms are pivotally connected, is vertically adjustable with respect to the named frame part or chassis part - as is already known per se - such a pivotal connection of the jockey wheel carrier swing arm at the frame part or chassis part can effect an automatic co-adjustment of the jockey wheel carrier and thus of the jockey wheel height when the pick-up apparatus is elevated or lowered. The swing arm, more precisely its pivot axle, moves up and down together with the pick-up apparatus, while the connection control arm remains fixedly pivotally connected to the frame part so that a pivot movement is adopted.

In an advantageous further development of the invention, the kinematics of the pivotal control arm connection of the named swing arm are designed such that on an elevation of the pick-up apparatus, the rear jockey wheel is automatically also elevated, while conversely the named rear jockey wheel is lowered when the pickup apparatus is lowered. The rear jockey wheel so-to-say travels out automatically when the pick-up apparatus is lowered and travels in automatically when the pickup is elevated. A sufficient ground clearance in the region of the rear jockey wheel is hereby achieved automatically, e.g. during road transport.

The named swing arm at which the transversely extending jockey wheel carrier is suspended can in particular be configured in the manner of a rocker which extends beyond its pivot axle or which comprises swing arm sections or rocker sections arranged at both sides of the pivot axle. In this respect, the aforesaid connection control arm can in particular be pivotally connected to a rocker section or a swing arm section which, viewed from the jockey wheel carrier, projects beyond the pivot axle or is disposed on the side of the pivot axle remote from the jockey wheel carrier so that the jockey wheel carrier and the connection control arm - more precisely the pivotal connection point of the connection control arm - move up and down in opposite directions in the manner of a rocker when the pick-up apparatus and thus the pivot axle of the swing arm are moved up and down.

The named swing arm configured as a rocker and the pivotal connection of the connection control arm and the jockey wheel carrier can in particular be designed such that the rear jockey wheel travels upwardly, in particular into a recess provided below the self-loading wagon base or into a reception space provided there, when the pick-up apparatus is moved upwardly, whereas, conversely, the jockey wheel is rocked downwardly when the pick-up apparatus is lowered.

To be able to adapt the vertical adjustment of the pick-up apparatus for the pick-up operation to the respective crop and to the ground, a height adjustment apparatus is provided for adjusting the level of the jockey wheel carrier of the rear jockey wheel relative to the pick-up apparatus and relative to the side jockey wheels.

To be able to adjust the vertical position of the rear jockey wheel variably relative to the side jockey wheels, for example, when the pick-up apparatus on the side jockey wheels is supported at the ground, in an advantageous further development of the invention, the aforesaid connection control arm with which the swing arm carrying the jockey wheel carrier is pivotally connected to a frame part or chassis part can be configured as longitudinally variable, for example in the form of an adjustment spindle or of a telescopic carrier which can be fixed in different positions which can, for example, be set out by a hole pattern with plug-in pins or in the form of a pressure medium cylinder which can be blocked in different positions. Alternatively or additionally to such a length-variable configuration of the connection strut, the connection strut can also have a displaceable pivotal connection point; for example, it can be pivotally connected to the named frame part or chassis part at different positions, for example by displacement in an elongate hole with a corresponding fixing in intermediate positions.

The contact forces at the rear jockey wheel can be considerably reduced by the aforesaid rocker-like configuration and pivotal connection of the swing arm supporting the jockey wheel carrier since a portion of the weight of the pick-up apparatus is taken up over the named connection strut so that only a portion of the load of the pick-up apparatus to be supported is actually taken up by the rear jockey wheel. In this respect, the named swing arm can advantageously be configured such that the swing arm extends approximately horizontally in a normal operating position, i.e. in a lowered position of the pick-up apparatus ready for operating, and/or the rocker limb supporting the connection control arm approximately has a comparable or also somewhat shorter length with respect to the rocker limb supporting the jockey wheel carrier. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the support load incident on the jockey wheel can be taken up via the connection control arm and can be introduced directly into the frame part or chassis part of the self-loading wagon.

The side jockey wheels can advantageously likewise be adjusted in height relative to the pick-up apparatus, wherein the height adjustability of the side jockey wheels is advantageously configured independently of the vertical adjustability of the at least one rear jockey wheel. For example, the side jockey wheels can be suspended at pivot arms whose pivot position can be blocked in different angular positions relative to the pick-up apparatus, for example by a plug-in pin and an 10 associated hole pattern. Alternatively or additionally, longitudinally adjustable or telescopic or longitudinally displaceably guided jockey wheel carriers can be provided for the side jockey wheels to be able to carry out a vertical adjustment of the side jockey wheels in the desired manner.

To achieve greater ground clearance with a raised pick-up apparatus, the rear jockey wheel can have a smaller diameter than the side jockey wheels. The diameter of the rear jockey wheel can correspond only to half the diameter of a side jockey wheel or less.

The rear jockey wheel can advantageously be formed as a roller whose diameter is smaller than its width, with the roller width being able to be at last twice as large as the width of the side jockey wheels.

The named roller can in this respect be produced from an elastically resilient plastic material or from a rubber-like material or from rubber to be able to remove adhering contaminants by deformation. Alternatively or additionally, the rear jockey wheel and/or also the front side jockey wheel can be provided with a grime-repellent coating, for example a plastic coating or a rubber coating.

It would in principle likewise be possible not to configure the rear jockey wheel and/or the side jockey wheels in the sense of an actually rolling wheel, but rather in the form of a runner or of another sliding element such as sliding plates so that the term jockey wheel can generally be understood widely in the context of the present application.

The rear jockey wheel can advantageously be arranged such that, on the raising of the pick-up apparatus, it moves into a contour depression in the lower side of the self-loading wagon behind the pick-up apparatus and/or in front of an adjoining conveyor rotor optionally having a cutting unit. The rear jockey wheel can hereby be moved sufficiently far upwardly to ensure the required ground clearance.

In principle, a jockey wheel behind the tine rotor of the pick-up apparatus can be sufficient. In a further development of the invention, two or more rear jockey wheels can also be provided which run within the track swept over by the pick-up apparatus and are inwardly displaced with respect to the side jockey wheels.

To avoid a scraping of the jockey wheels when cornering, the side jockey wheels can be configured as trailing wheels and can be pivotably connected to the jockey wheel frame about an upright axle. The rear jockey wheels can in principle likewise be configured as trailing wheels. In order, however, to achieve a compact arrangement which can be moved beneath the lower side of the self-loading wagon in a space-saving manner on an elevation of the pick-up apparatus, the rear jockey wheels are expediently not configured as trailing wheels, but are rather seated nonsteerably on the jockey wheel carrier.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to a preferred embodiment and to associated drawings. There are shown in the drawings: Fig. 1: a perspective representation of the pick-up of a self-loading wagon and of the jockey wheel chassis supporting it at the ground: Fig. 2: a side view of the pick-up apparatus along with the jockey wheel chassis of the self-loading wagon of Fig. 1: Fig. 3: a perspective rear view of the pick-up apparatus and of the jockey wheel chassis which shows the jockey roller arranged behind the pick-up; and Fig. 4: a rear view of the pick-up apparatus.

The Figures only show the pick-up apparatus of a self-loading wagon with the aid of which a crop or forage swath can be picked up from the ground and can be transferred by a subsequent conveying apparatus through a conveying passage into the crop store of the self-loading wagon. The crop store of the self-loading wagon as well as its chassis is not shown.

The pick-up apparatus 1 is configured as being able to be raised and lowered, optionally via pivotably connected guide elements, about a pivot axle 3 extending transversely to the direction of travel 2. Stroke pivot arms or guide elements 4 are supported at the right and at the left rotatably about the pivot axle 3 and between them support a rotating spiked roller or tine roller 7 not shown in detail in the Figure.

The pick-up apparatus 1 is supported at the ground by a ground tracking or support chassis which has a pair of side jockey wheels 5 and a rear jockey wheel 6. The side jockey wheels 5 are arranged beside the pick-up apparatus 1 and are disposed a little in front of the spiked roller 7 received between the stroke pivot arms 4 in the direction of travel 2.

The rear jockey wheel 6, in contrast, is displaced inwardly and is disposed behind the spiked roller of the pick-up apparatus 1, i.e. it runs in the track which is swept over by the pick-up apparatus 1, preferably approximately centrally.

As Fig 3 shows, the rear jockey wheel 6 can in this respect be configured as a jockey roller which has a considerably smaller diameter than the side jockey wheels 5, but which in turn has a considerably larger width than the named jockey wheels . The roller width can, for example, be more than twice as large as the roller diameter.

The named rear jockey wheel 6 in the form of the jockey roller can be rotatably supported at a jockey wheel carrier 10 which extends transversely to the direction of travel 2, which is orientated horizontally, which can be configured as a bar-like carrier section and can have a certain crank or an arcuate development with an indentation provided in the region of the jockey wheel 6. Alternatively, the named jockey wheel carrier 10 can, however, also have a substantially straight development and/or be configured as a tube section.

Alternatively or additionally to a rotatable support of the jockey wheel 6 at the jockey wheel carrier 10, the jockey wheel carrier 10 can be rotatably supported overall, with in this case the jockey wheel 6 also being able to be rigidly, i.e. rotationally fixedly, connected to the jockey wheel carrier 10.

The jockey wheel carrier 10 in this respect extends substantially over the total width of the pick-up and is supported at its ends - and thus approximately in the region of the side end faces of the pick-up apparatus 1 - at two swing arms 11 which can extend approximately in a plane parallel to the direction of travel and are advantageously orientated approximately horizontally in the lowered working position of the pick-up apparatus 1.

The named swing arms 11, which are provided at the right and at the left at the pick-up apparatus 1, can advantageously be pivotably supported at the side panels of the pick-up apparatus, in particular approximately centrally with respect to the orbit of the collection prongs of the pick-up. The pivot axle 12 of the swing arms 11 can extend horizontally transversely to the direction of travel 2, with the pivot axles 12 of the two swing arms 11 being able to extend coaxially to one another.

The named pivot axles 12 form the pivotal connection points 9 of the suspension apparatus 8 of the rear jockey wheel 6.

As Fig. 2 shows, the swing arms 11 are configured as rockers which comprise rocker limbs 11a and 11b extending at oppositely disposed sides of the pivot axle 12. The rocker limb 11a leading to the rear from the pivot axle 12 supports the jockey wheel carrier 10, while the rocker limb 11b extending to the front from the pivot axle 12 is connected to a connection control arm 13 which is pivotally connected to a frame part or chassis part 14 which can be located above the pivot axle 12.

The contact pressure of the rear jockey wheel 6 is reduced by the rocker-like configuration of the suspension apparatus 8 since a portion of the weight of the pick-up apparatus 1 is taken up via the named connection control arm 13 at the frame or chassis of the self-loading wagon. Depending on the choice of the lever ratios, i.e. on the longitudinal and angular orientation of the rocker limbs 11a and 11b, the weight portion taken up via the connection control arm 13 at the chassis can be larger or smaller. As Fig. 2 shows, it can be advantageous if the front rocker limb 11b has a length of approximately 2/3 to 3/3, in particular approximately 3/4, of the length of the rear rocker limb 11a.

To be able to set the vertical position of the rear jockey wheel 6 independently, the named connection control arm 13 can be configured as longitudinally variable, for example as an adjustment spindle, as Fig. 2 shows. If the connection control arm 13 is shortened - or if the pivotal connection point at the chassis part 14 is displaced upwardly - the rear jockey wheel 6 is moved lower. If the connection control arm 13 is lengthened, the named jockey wheel 6 is moved higher.

The front side jockey wheels 5 can also be vertically set independently of the vertical position of the named rear jockey wheel 6. As Fig. 1 shows, the side jockey wheels 5 can each be suspended at a jockey wheel carrier 15 which can, for example, be pivotably connected to a chassis part or frame part and can fixed in different positions by a plug-in pin with an associated hole pattern to be able to set the level of the jockey wheels 5 relative to the spiked roller 7.

Claims

1. A self-loading wagon for collecting and transporting crop, comprising a pickup apparatus (1) for picking up the crop from the ground as well as a support chassis (7) for supporting the pick-up apparatus (1) at the ground, wherein the support chassis (7) has a pair of side front jockey wheels (5) arranged next to the pick-up apparatus (1) as well as at least one rear jockey wheel (6) which is arranged behind the pick-up apparatus (1) in the direction of travel, characterized in that the at least one rear jockey wheel (6) is suspended independently of the suspension of the side jockey wheels (5) and is adjustable in height relative to the named side jockey wheels (5).

2. A self-loading wagon in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein the at least one rear jockey wheel (6) is held at a suspension apparatus (8) which is configured free of pivotal connection points behind the pick-up apparatus (1) and only has pivotal connection points (9) arranged to the side of the pick-up apparatus (1) and/or outside the travel track of the pick-up apparatus (1).

3. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear jockey wheel (6) is supported at a jockey wheel carrier (10) which extends horizontally transversely to the direction of travel (2) and is fastened to at least one swing arm (11) which is arranged to the side of the pick-up apparatus (1), with the named jockey wheel carrier (10) preferably being fastened at both sides to a respective one such swing arm (11).

4. A self-loading wagon in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein the at least one swing arm (11) is pivotably connected to the pick-up apparatus (1) about a horizontal pivot axle (12) which extends transversely to the direction of travel (2), wherein the named pivot axle (12) is preferably arranged within an orbit, in particular approximately centrally with respect to an orbit, of the pickup tools of the pick-up apparatus (1).

5. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one swing arm (11) is pivotably connected by means of a connection control arm (13) to a frame part and/or chassis part (14), with respect to which the pick-up apparatus (1) can be elevated and lowered, such 5 that, on the elevation and lowering of the pick-up apparatus (1), the named swing arm (11) rotates or pivots relative to the pick-up apparatus (1).

6. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, wherein the swing arm (11) is configured as a rocker which has a rocker 10 section (11b) which extends beyond the pivot axle (12), is remote from the jockey wheel carrier (10) and is pivotally connected to the frame part and/or chassis part (14) by the named connection control arm (13) such that, on the elevating of the pick-up apparatus (1), the jockey wheel carrier (10) is pivoted upwardly and, on the lowering of the pick-up apparatus (1), the jockey wheel 15 carrier (10) is pivoted downwardly.

7. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the two preceding claims, wherein the connection control arm (13) is longitudinally variable and/or has a displaceable pivot point.

8. A self-loading wagon in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein the connection control arm (13) is configured as an adjustment spindle.

9. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, 25 wherein the swing arm (11) extends at least approximately horizontally and/or in a lying orientation in a lowered working position of the pick-up apparatus (1) and a spacing of the pivotal connection point of the connection control arm (13) from the pivot axle (12) of the swing arm (11) is in the range from 25% to 200%, preferably 50% to 150%, in particular approximately 60% to 100%, of 30 the spacing of the jockey wheel carrier (10) from the pivot axle (12).

10. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the side jockey wheels (5) are configured adjustable in height independently of the rear jockey wheel (6) relative to the pick-up apparatus (1).

11. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one rear jockey wheel (6) has a smaller diameter than the side front jockey wheels (5).

12. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear jockey wheel (6) is configured as a roller whose width is greater than its diameter.

13. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear jockey wheel comprises an elastic material, in particular a rubber-elastic material, and is resilient such that the jockey wheel deforms under the support pressure of the pick-up apparatus (1).

14. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension of the rear jockey wheel (6) is configured such that the named jockey wheel (6) moves into a contour depression in the lower side of the self-loading wagon behind the pick-up apparatus (1) on the elevation of the pick-up apparatus (1).

15. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein two or more rear jockey wheels (6) are provided which are supported on the common jockey wheel carrier (10).

16. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the side jockey wheels (5) are configured as trailing wheels.

17. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one rear jockey wheel (6) is rotatably supported on the jockey wheel carrier (10) and/or the jockey wheel carrier (10) is rotatably supported at the at least one swing arm (11).

18. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, 5 wherein the rear jockey wheel (6) has a grime-repellant coating, in particular a rubberized surface coating.

19. A self-loading wagon in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein instead of the side jockey wheels (5), jockey runners or jockey slide elements are provided and/or instead of the rear jockey wheel (6) a jockey runner and/or a sliding element is provided.