NZ206003A - Seed lifter with flexible flails on rotating shaft - Google Patents

Description

206003 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No. 206003 dated 18 October 1983 "A SEED PICKER" I, GRANT MURRAY DRINNAN of 79 Totara Street, Christchurch, New Zealand, being a British subject and New Zealand citizen, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 206003 This invention relates to a seed lifter and more particularly to a picker/lifter for small seeds, for example, the seeds from rye grass, clover and the like crops.

A number of constructions of seed picker or lifter are available and one of these is the seed pick-up device described and claimed in New Zealand Patent Specification No. 158326. A disadvantage of the construction described in this specification is that whorl and vibration are inevitably created along the length of the main or first shaft 12 on which the flexible flail members 15 are mounted causing metal fatigue. Another disadvantage is that the helix configuration of the flexible members 15 on the shaft 12 can cause a build-up and loss of seed at one side of the picker.

An object of the present invention is to overcome at least in part the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide a seed lifter which offers to the public a useful alternative choice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to the present invention there is provided a seed lifter including a rotatable shaft which is supported horizontally on a frame for securement to a transporting vehicle, with the shaft parallel to the surface of the ground and transversely of the direction of travel of the transporting vehicle, the shaft having a plurality of flexible members extending radially from the shaft, the flexible members being positioned along the shaft in helical rows, the 2 206003 helical twist of the rows of flexible members being arranged so that from opposite ends of the shaft the directions of twist are different, the shaft being supported at each end by bearings and in some cases at a point or points between the outer ends thereof by a bearing or bearings, the arrangement being such that a crop is lifted by the rotating flexible members on the shaft and directed to the centre of the shaft and to a crop receiving station of the transporting vehicle.

The rows of flexible members on the shaft can be mounted so that the direction of twist of the rows at opposite ends of the shaft are different so that at the centre of the shaft they meet with a displacement of 45 degrees between adjacent rows.

The seed picker can be mounted on single point pivotable floating skids positioned at either side thereof.

The seed picker can include a shield over an upper forward part of the frame so that the crop is guided into contact with the rotating flexible members which guide the crop to the crop receiving station of the transporting vehicle.

The seed picker can also include a baffle plate beneath the shield and partly beneath the shaft which is arranged to minimise the loss of falling crop after it is initially raised by the flexible members.

Further aspects .of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

, PAl or-/ .c£ 1t SEP »86 received 206003 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows a perspective view from below the front of one side of a seed picker according to the invention Figure 2: shows a perspective view from below the rear at one side of the seed picker shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3: shows a section through the seed picker shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing same in position at the front of a harvester.

The seed picker includes a frame generally indicated by arrow 1 which is adapted for attachment to a transporting vehicle/harvester 14 only part of which is shown dotted. The frame 1 has side plates^2 joined by transverse frame members 15 which give torsional rigidity to the frame 1. For example, the frame members 15 can be transverse metal RHS frames. In addition a support bar (transverse) 27 is provided on which sleeves 16 are mounted on which mounting or connection brackets 17 are provided. The connections 17 can be moved on the bar 27 to allow the frame to be mounted relative to front mounting brackets 28 of a harvester 14.

The side plates 2 include mountings 3 for bearings 4 which support the ends of a shaft 5. The shaft 5 in the example is a length of a boiler tube on the periphery of which four flutes 6 are attached. The flutes 6 are fixed to the shaft 5 to form a double helix configuration as shown. That is the helix from opposite ends of the shaft 5 are 206663 arranged to direct any material caught thereon toward the centre of the seed picker. Optionally the shaft 5 if the picker is very wide can include at regular intervals along the length thereof anti-whorl bearings 7 which are supported within and relative to the frame 1.

The flutes 6 have fixed thereto a plurality of flexible members or fingers 8 which normally extend generally radially outward from the shaft 5.

The frame 1 is supported above ground by a pair of floating skids 9. The skids 9 are mounted at a single pivot point 10 relative to the plates 2. This allows the frame 1 to ride over uneven ground at a generally constant level aboveground.

The frame 1 can include means 20 on the plates 2 for adjusting the level of the frame 1 aboveground. The legs 18 are provided to stabilize the frame 1 on the ground with the skids 9 and the ends 19 of the legs 18 on the ground. The height of the pivot 10 can also be adjusted by varying the position of its mounts 20 relative to the plates 2.

The frame 1 can have positioned therebeneath a baffle 21 shaped to catch any crop initially carried by the flexible members 8 and dropped before it passes from the frame 1 to a crop receiving station 29 of the harvester 14.

The drive for the shaft 5 can be hydraulic or mechanical and in the example a Vee section transmission belt from the combine harvester 14 drives a shaft 11 which is mounted on the shaft 5 which in turn is connected by endless 206003 chain 12 to a sprocket 13 on a second shaft 25 also mounted between the plates 2. The input of drive to the shafts 5 and 25 can be varied by a number of means. For example (as shown in Figure 2) the end of the shaft 5 can have thereon the 5 changeable extension shaft 11 adapted to be connected to either end of the shaft 5 to facilitate drive from either end of the shaft 5. The extension shaft 11 can carry the drive pulley and is on mounting 26 which is adapted for connection to the stub shaft 5 at either side plate 2. 10 The second shaft 25 which is above the baffle 21 has a series of members 27 extending along its length. The members 27 may be lengths of flat iron welded or fixed to the shaft 25 and adapted to impel the crop picked up by main rotor 22 towards the crop receiving station of the transporter 14. 15 in use the seed picker is attached in front of the transporting vehicle 14 with the skids 9 on the ground. The level of the skids 9 relative to the frame 1 is adjusted to vary the level of the flexible members 8 relative to the ground. The beating or flailing action of the rotating 20 members 8 on the rotating shaft 5 which constitute the main rotor 22 moves and raises the crop to direct same toward the shaft 25 and its members 27 which direct the seed under the delivery flap 32 and over a transport plate 37 to the crop receiving station 29 of the transporting vehicle 14. The 25 baffle plate 21 if included catches any dropped crop and reintroduces same to the flow of crop.

The crop receiving station 29 may include a combine 206003 table 30 on which an auger 31 rotates to further deliver the picked seed to within the harvester. The harvester normally has a series of reels not shown which are supported on reel arms 35 the front 33 of which has connections for chains 36 5 which support the front of the sides 2 when the front of the harvester 14 is raised.

Thus by this invention there is provided a picker for small seeds.

A particular example of the present invention has been 10 described herein by way of example and improvements and modifications are contemplated without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

206003 WHAT I CLAIM IS

1. A seed lifter including a rotatable shaft which is supported horizontally on a frame for securement to a transporting vehicle, with the shaft parallel to the surface 5 of the ground and transversely of the direction of travel of the transporting vehicle, the shaft having a plurality of flexible members extending radially from the shaft, the flexible members being positioned along the shaft in helical rows, the helical twist of the rows of flexible members being 10 arranged so that from opposite ends of the shaft the directions of twist are different, the shaft being supported at each end by bearings and in some cases at a point or points between the outer ends thereof by a bearing or bearings, the arrangement being such that a crop is lifted by the rotating 15 flexible members on the shaft and directed to the centre of the shaft and to a crop receiving station of the transporting vehicle.

2. A seed lifter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seed lifter is mounted on single point pivotable floating skids 20 positioned at either side of the frame.

3. A seed lifter as claimed in claims 1 or claim 2 wherein the seed lifter includes a shield over an upper forward part of the frame so that the crop is guided into contact with the rotating flexible members which guide the crop towards the crop receiving station of the transporting vehicle.

4. A seed lifter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a baffle plate is positioned partly beneath the - 8 - 25 206003 shaft which is arranged to minimise the loss of falling crop after it is raised by the flexible members.

5. A seed lifter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the input drive to the shaft is via a changeable extension shaft for connection to either end of the shaft.

6. A seed lifter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the shaft is hydraulically or mechanically driven.

7. A seed lifter as claimed in claim 6 wherein the ends of the shaft act as stub shafts to which a driven extension shaft can be engaged, the driven extension shaft being mounted on a sub-frame which is mounted on either side of the frame.

8. A seed lifter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame includes side plates between which the shaft extends and which additionally support above and toward the rear of the frame a second shaft parallel to said shaft, the second shaft being driven from said shaft, the second shaft having rib members on its periphery to move the crop from the flexible members toward the crop receiving station of the transporting vehicle.

9. A seed lifter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. .2. PATENT OFFICE GRANT MURRAY DRINNAN By His Attorneys BALDWIN, SON & CAREY