LU502497B1 - A sugarcane harvester with half-track assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a sugarcane harvester with half‐track assembly (4). The half track assembly (4) includes a driving sprocket (6), guide wheels (7 & 8). The half‐track harvester of the present invention removes the rear axle of the wheeled harvester and replaces it with a halftrack type and converts the rear wheels of the existing agricultural harvester into a half‐track harvester. Due to such track system, the sugarcane harvester is able to float when travelling over terrain, that is to say the ability to keep the harvester at or near the surface and avoid its tendency to sink deeply into soft ground.     

Description

202021049661 LUS02497

A SUGARCANE HARVESTER WITH HALF-TRACK ASSEMBLY

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to a sugarcane harvester and moré particularly it relates to a sugarcane harvester with half track that gives more traction to the harvester whereby the harvester moves easily in the places with great inclines and places where stabilization is difficult.

Background and prior art of the invention

There are several types of sugarcane harvesters are on field which harvest the growing sugarcane stalks by cutting the cane at its base, and then transferring the cut sugarcane to a collector vehicle such as a cane wagon or cane cart. The sugarcane harvester may include different types of harvesting devices. The harvesting devices for a sugarcane harvester can include assemblies for cutting, chopping, sorting, transporting, and gathering and processing sugarcane plants. Generally, the harvesting devices include topper assembly, crop divider assembly, knockdown roller assembly, base cutter assembly, chopper assembly, extractor fan assembly and so on. However, such harvesting machines are equipped with the pneumatic tires which are not capable of efficient 1

202021049661 0502487 operation on such soft surfaces, as they tend to burrow into the surface, rather than riding across the surface.

Hence, it is desperate need to develop a sugarcane harvester that can efficiently translate in normal soil condition as well as in wet field.

Object of the invention

The main object of present invention is to provide a sugarcane harvester with half-tracks assembly that is completely free from above mentioned drawbacks associated with prior arts.

Another object of present invention is to provide a sugarcane harvester which having a half-tracks assembly that enables the sugarcane harvester to mobile in sleepy and wet field.

Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a half track assembly that is able to give the sugarcane harvester adequate flotation when travelling over such terrain, that is to say the ability to keep the harvester at or near the surface and avoid its tendency to sink deeply into soft ground.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a half track assembly that reduces the pressure on any given area of the ground by 2

202021049661 LUS02497 spreading the sugarcane harvester's weight over a larger area, which gives it greater mobility over soft terrain with mud and better soil compaction depending upon the condition of the field.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a half track assembly that provides greater ability to travel up and down steep grades and field with uneven terrain due to pits and bumps.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a half track assembly that creates better traction with the ground and provides smooth agility and better stability to the machine.

Summary of the Invention

The present application overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art, to provide half track for the harvester. The present invention is generally related to a sugarcane harvester comprising a pair of track units at the rear side of the harvester. Each half track assembly includes an axle rotatably mounted to the chassis and operatively coupled to the engine and a drive wheel mounted to the axle. A guide wheel assembly is mounted to the chassis independently of the axle and a track is wrapped around the driving sprocket wheel and guide wheel assembly.

The guide wheel assembly supports all weight applied to the track such that no weight of the vehicle is supported by engagement of the drive 3

202021049661 0502487 wheel with the axle. The triangular track device is provided with a rubber/metal track, a driving sprocket wheel, a connecting rod shaft, a guide wheels, a fixing frame, a tightening screw, a track frame, a bearing wheel shaft.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further objects, advantages and features of the apparatus according to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a particular embodiment, given by say of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the structure of the sugarcane harvester according to present invention.

Fig.2 shows a perspective view of the half track assembly according to present invention.

Fig. 3 shows the exploded view of the connection of halftrack assembly according to present embodiment.

Detailed description of the Invention 4

202021049661 0502487

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompany drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, as depicted in different figures as described above and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numbers in different figures denote the same or similar elements, and as such perform similar functionality. Also, descriptions and details of well - known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well - known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure. 5

202021049661 0502487

Now, as shown in Fig. 1, the sugarcane harvester (1) having a frame (2) supported by steering wheels (3) at the front and a half track assembly (4) mounted at rear side of the harvester in lieu of the rear wheels. The half track assembly (4) comprises tracks (5, 5’) being connected through a pivot shaft (13) as discussed below.

Now as shown in Fig. 2 and 3, each track (5, 5") comprises a front guide wheel (8), a rear guide wheel (7) being connected with a front guide wheel through an undercarriage (9), a driving sprocket (6) being pivoted at the undercarriage (9) of the guide wheels (7, 8), auxiliary rollers (19) positioned between the front and rear guide wheels (7, 8), an endless belt (20) that is fitted around the guide wheels (7, 8) and the driving sprocket (6). The tracks (5, 5’) are provided with a rubber ground-contacting tread component of a lug and grooves.

The central driving sprocket (6) is driven by the power source of the harvester through a suitable drive mechanism (not shown). The track is pivotable about the rotation axis (10) of the driving sprocket (6), so that the front and rear portions of the track may be tilted up and down. This arrangement has the advantage that during operation the resultant thrust that passes through the pivot axis (10) has no effect on the pressure distribution of the track. Additionally it prevents the tracks from tilting under load. As shown, the driving sprocket (6) includes 6

202021049661 0502497 teeth (11) that engage corresponding lugs on the track (5, 5’) in order to transfer torque to the tracks (5, 5’). The configuration of the teeth (11) and corresponding lugs or other features of the track engaged by the teeth (11) may be according to any approach known in the art for implementing a track system. The undercarriage (9) is movably connected with the auxiliary rollers (19) and the front and rear guide wheels (7, 8) sequentially from front to back. The front end of the undercarriage (9) is movably connected with the guide wheels (8) through a shaft (not shown in figure). The driving sprocket (6), the front guide wheel (8), the auxiliary rollers (19) and the rear guide wheel (7) are covered with the endless belt (20), and the inner surface of the endless belt (20) is provided with teeth that mesh with the driving sprocket (6).

Fig. 3 shows the connection of halftracks (5, 5’) according to present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, said tracks (5, 5’) are connected through a pivot shaft (13) with a cover (13’) being longitudinally located within a support shaft (12) of the machine. Two- cross beams (14) are each installed at end of the pivot shaft (12) with screw (15 & 16) and washer (17 & 18). When the track assembly (4) is operated such as to move in a forward direction, driving sprocket (6) will rotate in a counterclockwise direction. The rotation of the driving sprocket (6) will pull on the portion of the endless track (20) located 7

202021049661 0502697 behind the driving sprocket (6). This pulling will impart an upward motion to the guide wheels (7 and 8) and respected rollers.

The half track of the present invention replaces the rear wheels into a crawler type and converts the rear wheel of the existing sugarcane harvester into a half track sugarcane harvester, which has low conversion cost.

The sugarcane harvester according to present invention is capable to move on roads with soft soil and adhesion. Further, the present invention can be used in special places, such as paddy fields, hills (climbing), pastures, etc., for protective farming and safe driving. The invention is concerned with the provision of improved track assemblies especially suitable for use on the sugarcane harvester that are intended to travel over wet surfaces.

The invention has been explained in relation to specific embodiment. It is inferred that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited or restrictive thereto. Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. All substitution, alterations and 8

202021049661 LUS02497 modification of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims are to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined not with reference to the above description but should be determined with reference to appended claims along with full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

List of Reference Numerals:

Sugarcane harvester (1)

Frame (2)

Front wheels (3)

Track assembly (4)

Half tracks (5, 5”)

Driving sprocket (6)

Guide wheels (7 and 8)

Undercarriage (9)

Pivot axis (10)

Teeth (11) 9

202021049661 LU502497

Support (12)

Pivot shaft (13)

Cover (13)

Cross beams (14)

Screw (15 & 16)

Washer (17 & 18)

Rollers (19)

Endless belt (20) 10

Claims (3)

202021049661 LUS02497 We Claim,

1. A Sugarcane harvester with half track assembly; the half track assembly (4) comprises tracks (5, 5’) being connected through a pivot shaft (13); Characterized by, each track (5, 5’) comprises a front guide wheel (8) , a rear guide wheel (7) being connected with a front guide wheel through a undercarriage (9), a driving sprocket (6) being pivoted at the undercarriage (9) of the guide wheels, auxiliary rollers (19) positioned between the front (8) and rear guide wheels (7), an endless belt (12) that is fitted around the guide wheels (7, 8) and the driving sprocket

(6).

2. The Sugarcane harvester with half track assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot shaft (13) is longitudinally located with a support shaft (12). 11

202021049661 LUS02497

3. The Sugarcane harvester with Half-tracks as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross beams (14) is installed at each end of the pivot shaft (13) through screw (15 & 16) and washer (17 & 18). 12