MXPA00005211A - Constant pressure scraper system with adjustment - Google Patents

Abstract

A disk scraper system for an agricultural implement includes a tubular member slidably supported by the implement frame adjacent a gang assembly having a plurality of disks. Scrapers are fixed to the member and project into scraping relationship with the disks to remove dirt and debris from the surfaces of the disks. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the frame and the tubular member and connected through a pressure control valve assembly to a source of fluid under pressure to bias the member so the scrapers are urged into scraping relationship relative to the disks. The pressure control valve assembly may be remotely adjustable to vary the scraper pressure on-the-go as conditions change. The system maintains the selected scraper bias even as the gang assembly moves vertically and from side to side relative to the frame with changing contour and soil conditions

Description

CONSTANT PRESSURE SCRAPER SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1) Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to a cultivating equipment and, more specifically, to a disc scraper system for a threshing or other implement having a plurality of discs. 2) Related Art Typically, the disc threshing machines include a main frame with several disc band assemblies suspended by limited flexibility with respect to one another and the main frame. Each band assembly comprises a plurality of equally spaced discs mounted on an axis for rotation relative to a common axis. The shaft is supported at the opposite ends by the C-shaped spring elements to allow the disc bands to flex with the sight contour as the implement was pulled by a tractor. Depending on the soil conditions and planting, an accumulation of garbage and debris will adhere to the discs and adversely affect the operation of the disc. To eliminate the accumulation of debris and debris, a disk scraper which is often mounted on the main frame is inclined by a spring in contact with the surface of the disk. As the disc rotates, the scraper continuously removes trash / debris accumulations.

During the operation of the disc in the field, the disc bands flex with changes in the contour of the ground and oscillate laterally while different lands act on the disc surfaces. When lateral oscillations occur, the disk mounting arrangement causes the disk scraper pressure against the discs to increase or decrease depending on the magnitude and direction of the oscillation. Because the scrapers of the disk and the tilt means are mounted from the main frame and the disk bands move with respect to said frame, the pressure of the disk scraper can vary considerably. As the disc band moves laterally past or toward the scrapers, the spring tipping force is reduced resulting in an uncleaned disc surface. As the disc band moves laterally in the opposite direction, excessive force is applied to the disc surface. The force is usually more than necessary to scrape the disc cleanliness and results in excessive wear and aggregate stretching requirements. Also, while the disc band moves laterally beyond or towards the scrapers, the preferred angular relationship between the scraper and the blade is not maintained.

Attempts to address the problems of the disc scraper include mounting the scrapers directly to the disk band assembly so that the scrapers move with the assembly. However, such a design requires mounting the brackets and tools connected between the disk scrapers and the disk band, thereby preventing the flow of dirt and debris and providing additional surfaces where the material can accumulate. Additionally, in current disc scraper mounting designs, changing the scraper inclination requires changing the springs or increasing or decreasing the number of springs. These changes can be very time-consuming and require parts and additional expenses.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved disc scraper system which overcomes most or all of the aforementioned problems. It is another object to provide such a system which maintains a constant scraper inclination, even when the disc moves relatively to the implement frame and which is easily adjusted to vary the scraper inclination.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved disc scraper system which does not require tilting springs. It is yet another object to provide such a system which generally provides a constant scraper pressure, that pressure being adjustable from a remote location of the scrapers.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved scraper system which does not require springs and which is easily adjustable to changing conditions. It is another object to provide such a system where the setting of the scraper pressure can be adjusted in the field during use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved scraping system which generally provides a constant scraper pressure against a disk band assembly, even when the disk band assembly moves relative to the frame of the disk. disk in changing terrain contours and soil and garbage conditions. It is yet another object to provide such a system which provides constant pressure without the need to connect the scrapers directly to the disk band assembly.

A scraper system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a tubular member slidably supported by an implement frame adjacent to a band assembly having a plurality of discs. The scrapers are fixed to the member and project within the scraping ratio with the discs to remove debris and debris from the surfaces of the discs. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the frame and the tubular member and connected through a pressure control valve assembly to a source of fluid under pressure to tilt the member so that the scrapers are urged toward the discs. The pressure control valve assembly is adjustable to remotely vary the pressure of the scrapers as conditions change. The system maintains a pre-selected scraper inclination independently of the relative movement between the frame and the band assembly, for example, of the type that commonly occurs when a C-supported springboard band assembly moves vertically and from one side to the other. another side to the frame.

A constant pressure is maintained by a scraper system without the need to mount the scrapers directly to the disk band assembly, thereby eliminating assembly of tools that may otherwise present additional surfaces that prevent the flow of debris and debris. waste and garbage and waste collection. The tilt springs are eliminated, and the scraper pressure can be changed easily and very quickly in the field, without requiring spring changes or other time-consuming adjustments. The constant scraper pressure is maintained, even when there is considerable relative movement between the disk band assembly and the implement frame. The system is simple in easy construction the attached and adjust.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one with an ability in the art to read the following detailed description in view of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a part of a disk threshing with a scraper system attached.

Figure 2 is an elongated side view of a disk threshing portion shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of a disk threshing portion of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic of a hydraulic control of the scraper system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figure 1, where a portion of a disk threshing 10 having a tubular frame 12 adapted for frontal movement on land where crop residues or other debris is present is shown. The springs C 16 and 18 are connected by brackets 22 and 24 to the frame 12 and support a disk band assembly 30 of the frame 12. The assembly 30 includes a shaft 32 extending generally parallel to the frame 12 and supporting a plurality of frames. disc blades 34 spaced apart to rotate in unison with the shaft. While the assembly 30 is moving forward through the ground, garbage and debris tend to accumulate on the surfaces of the blades 34 and between the blades. This garbage and debris must be removed to maintain a good working area and size characteristics of the garbage.

To remove garbage and debris, a scraper system, generally shown at 40, is supported by frame 12 including scrapers 42 projecting toward the concave surface of disk blades 34 near the outer periphery of the blades. Each scraper 42 is connected by a U-bolt assembly 44 or in another conventional mounting structure to a tubular member 46. The tubular member 46 is slidably received by a pair of backward, transversely spaced support brackets 48 connected to each other. at its front ends of the frame 12. The support bracket 48 includes a front angle portion 50 which is fastened to the rest of the support and to a compartment 52 (FIG. 2) to reduce friction and wear between the member 46 and the support. The scrapers 42 are attached to the member 46 in a uniform transverse relationship with spaces generally equal to the spaces between the blades of the disc 34. The assembly can then be clamped by first rotating the angled portion 50 of the position shown, placing the member 46 on the support supports, and then resubbing the portions at an angle. The supports 50 and the sliding compartments 52 support the member 46 and prevent rotation of the member about its elongated shaft which, under normal operating conditions, extends generally parallel to the axis of the shaft 32.

An engine which is shown as a small double-acting hydraulic cylinder 60 that includes a base end connected to a frame 12 by a support 62 and a rod end connected by a support 66 to a tubular member 46. The cylinder 60, which is oriented generally parallel to member 46, slides the member longitudinally into supports 48 with extension and retraction.

An adjustable motor or cylinder control 70 (Figure 4) is conveniently located in relation to the operator and is connected between a source of hydraulic fluid on the towing vehicle and the cylinder 60. A hydraulic supply side line 72 of the control valve Selective Tractor (SCV) feeds an adjustable pressure valve 74 which, in turn, provides adjustable pressure by means of a line 76 to the end of the base of the cylinder 60 causing the cylinder to extend and tilt the scrapers 42 in a ratio scraping with the blades 34. When the scraping ratio is achieved, the cylindrical control valve 70 will maintain a constant pressure of cylinders 60. This allows the scraping blades 42 to move laterally with the disc blades 34 and maintain a pressure constant between the scrapers 42 and the disc blades 34. By rotating a pressure adjustment knob 78 on the valve 74, the operator can conveniently change the inclination to match the field conditions. The rod end of the cylinder 60 is connected via line 80, valve 74 and return line 82 to be supplied through the selective control valve. The additional cylinders 60 'are connected in parallel with the cylinder 60 to control the additional scraper systems 40. A pressure indicator 84 provides a visual indication to the operator of the inclination of the scraper. By reversing the pressure with the selective control valve or by placing the selective control valve in the float position, the scrapers can be moved to a non-contact position to reduce drag and wear when disc scraping is not needed. as is the case, for example, when turning in loose and dry soil conditions. After this, placing the selective control valve in the detent position to pressurize the line 76 again extends the cylinder 60 to slide the member 46 to the scraping position with the inclination of the scraper determined by the adjustment of the knob 78. While the disk band assembly rocks relative to the frame, the cylinder 60 and the control 70 maintain a generally constant inclination, sliding the member 46 as necessary. If the scraper pressure begins to exceed the set level, the valve 74 allows the cylinder to retract and the member 46 to slide to the left (as seen in Figure 1). If the scraper pressure begins to decrease, the valve 74 extends to the cylinder 60 until the pressure reaches the selected level. The valve 74 can be positioned for easy access by the operator for adjustment during the movement of the constant scraper pressure adjustment to adjust the scrapers for varying field conditions. Alternatively, a modified valve 74 can be placed on the implement and electronically controlled from the tractor cab for adjustment during movement.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it may be more apparent that the various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. An agricultural implement that includes a plurality of discs supported to rotate about an axis from a disc frame to cultivate the soil and pack the garbage, a slidably mounted support of the frame adjacent to the discs and movable relative to the discs, a plurality scrapers connected to the support and extending towards the discs, a motor operably connected to the support and tilting the scrapers in a scraping relationship with the discs to thereby remove the dirt and debris from the discs, and an adjustable motor control connected to the motor to vary the inclination of the scrapers against the disk of the remote location of the disks.

2. The implement as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the motor comprises a hydraulic cylinder and the adjustable motor control comprises a hydraulic pressure control.

3. The implement as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the adjustable motor is hydraulically operated and the motor control includes an adjustable constant pressure valve.

4. The implement as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the support includes a tube, and further includes a support connected to the frame and slidably supporting the tube and wherein the motor is connected between the tube and the frame.

5. The implement as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the engine comprises a hydraulic cylinder and the adjustable motor control includes a pressure selection control, the motor control provides a constant tilt to move the tube in a direction to restrict the scrapers against the discs, the constant pressure adjustable with the pressure selection control, wherein the motor maintains a generally constant positional relation of the scrapers relative to the discs while the discs move relative to the disc frame.

6. The implement as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the tube is slidable within a portion of the support for movement in a direction parallel to the axis for rotation of the discs.

7. An agricultural implement that includes a plurality of discs supported for rotation about an axis from a disc frame for ground cultivation and garbage disposal, a cushioned support member that provides limited movement of the discs relative to the disc frame with changes in the conditions of the earth and the contour of the earth, an elongated scraper support mounted from the frame adjacent to the discs and movable relative to the frame and the discs, a plurality of scrapers connected to the scraper support and restrained in a scraping relationship with the disks, a motor operatively connected to the scraper support, a motor control connected to the motor and maintaining a previously selected inclination of the scrapers against the disks while the disks move relative to the disk frame.

8. The implement as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the motor control includes a constantly adjusted pressure control.

9. The implement as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the motor comprises a hydraulic cylinder connected between the scraper support and the disk frame and the motor control comprises a constantly adjusted pressure control.

10. The implement as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the motor control is remotely located relative to the scrapers and provides a tilt in adjustment movement of the scrapers against the disks.

11. The implement as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that it includes a pressure indicator that provides an indication of the inclination.

12. The implement as claimed in clause 9, further characterized in that it comprises a second cylinder connected in parallel with the hydraulic cylinder.

13. The implement as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the discs are supported to rotate about the axis and the scraper support is movable in a path that extends generally parallel to the axis.

14. The implement as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the disks are supported in a disk array arrangement and the acoustic support comprises a C-shaped spring connected between the frame and the disk band array, the The spring provides the disk band arrangement with flexibility in both vertical and side-to-side directions, the motor and motor control generally maintaining constant pressure of the scrapers against the discs while the disk band arrangement is flexed. SUMMARY A disc scraper system for an agricultural implement including a tubular member slidably supported by the implement frame adjacent to a band assembly having a plurality of discs. The scrapers are fixed to the member and project into the scraper relationship with the discs to remove dirt and debris from the surfaces of the discs. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the frame and the tubular member and connected through a pressure control valve assembly to a source of fluid under pressure to restrain the member so that the scrapers are incited in a scraping ratio relative to the discs. The pressure control valve assembly can be remotely adjusted to vary the scraper pressure during movement as conditions change. The system maintains the inclination of the scraper selected even if the belt assembly moves vertically and from side to side relative to the frame with changes in the contour and earth conditions.