WO1999033332A1

WO1999033332A1 - Mower for cutting standing crop

Info

Publication number: WO1999033332A1
Application number: PCT/GB1998/003796
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peder Pedersen
Original assignee: Kverneland Taarup A/S
Priority date: 1997-12-23
Filing date: 1998-12-22
Publication date: 1999-07-08
Also published as: AU1676799A; GB9727083D0

Abstract

A mower having a transversely extending cutter bar (14) for mowing a standing crop, a discharge arrangement (20) for discharging mown crop to a discharge position, and a guide (22) arranged behind the cutter bar (14) to receive the mown crop and to guide the crop to the discharge arrangement (20) in which the discharge arrangement comprises a reversible conveyor (20) which is pivotally mounted on the frame of the mower to allow it to be adjusted between first and second modes of operation, to permit lateral discharge of the mown crop in one direction, or an opposite direction, with respect to the mowing direction, so that either one of two laterally spaced deposition zones can be obtained.

Description

MOWER FOR CUTTING STANDING CROP

This invention relates to a mower for cutting a standing crop.

Conventional tractor drawn mowers for cutting standing crops typically comprise a series of cutter heads located along the front edge of the mower and a discharge chute located at the rear. In use, the cutter heads cut the crop and direct it to the discharge chute which, in turn, deposits the crop to the side or rear of the mower. As the mower moves forward a windrow of cut crop is formed.

Mowers are known which can vary the position of discharge of cut crop relative to the mower. Such mowers are suitable for creating double windrows by discharging cut crop so as to form a windrow which lies alongside the windrow laid down in a previous pass of the mower through the crop.

EP 0406766B1 discloses a mower having a discharge conveyor pivotable relative to the mower by way of a hydraulic piston cylinder unit about a horizontal pivot between working and non-working positions. In the non-working position the conveyor is away from the crop pat! allowing the crop to fall to one side of the mower. In the working position the crop falls onto the conveyor and is then diverted to the opposite side of the mower. However, such a mower is relatively complex and expensive to manufacture.

According to the invention there is provided a mower having a transversely extending cutter bar for mowing a standing crop, a discharge arrangement for discharging mown crop to a discharge position, and a guide arranged behind the cutter bar to receive the mown crop and to guide the crop to the discharge arrangement: in which the discharge arrangement has first and second modes of operation, the arrangement being adjustable between the two modes to provide lateral discharge of the mown crop in one direction, or an opposite direction, with respect to the

SHEET RULE 26) mowing direction, so that either one of two laterally spaced deposition zones can be obtained.

A mower of the invention hε-s the advantage that its construction is simpler than that of L e mower described in EP 0406766B1.

Preferably, the discharge arrangement can comprise a reversible conveyor, or a reversible screw or auger. Such a screw is suitable for conveying crop in either direction, irrespective of the angle between the discharge screw and the horizontal plane.

The discharge arrangement can be inclined to the horizontal, the receiving end being lower than the discharge end. This improves the catching of the crop by the discharge chute .

The discharge arrangement can be pivotable at a point substantially mid-way between the first and second ends. This reduces the moment of inertia about the pivot axis so reducing the energy required to adjust it between the first and second modes of operation.

Preferably, the discharge arrangement, when viewed in plan view, does not extend laterally beyond the support wheels of the mower. This enables the mower to be transported by road without having to disassemble it or adjust it to a transport configuration.

The cutter of the mower can comprise an arrangement of mower discs.

The discharge arrangement can be pivotable generally in a vertical plane so as to optimise the catching of the crop from the cutter.

The discharge arrangement can be pivotable about a generally vertical axis between the first and second positions.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a mower according to the present invention;

Figure la is a similar view showing more detail of the mower;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a mower according to the present invention with the conveyor shown in a first position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a mower according to the present invention with the conveyor shown in a second position;

Figure 4 shows a first method of using a mower of the invention to cut crop and produce a double windrow;

Figure 5 shows a second method of using a mower of the invention to cut crop and produce a double windrow; and,

Figures 6 to 8 show further modes of operation of a mower according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the mower 1 as shown in Figure 1 comprises a substantially vertical central frame 2 indirectly mounted on a pair of wheels 3, 4. The frame is drawn by a tractor (not shown) by way of a drawbar 5. The drawbar 5 is connected to the frame by a pivot 6. The angle between the drawbar 5 and the frame 2 can be adjusted by a hydraulic mechanism (not shown) and, when correctly aligned they can be locked in position by a locking mechanism 7. In the embodiment shown the pivot 6 is located at a corner of frame 2. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the pivot 6 can be located at a point between corners of the frame, substantially along the central axis of the mower 1 when viewed in plan view.

The frame 2 is connected to the wheels 3, 4 by substantially horizontal suspension bar 8. The suspension members 9,10 connected between the frame 2 and the suspension bar 8 resiliently maintain the bar 8 and frame 2 in fixed spatial alignment.

Supports 11 and 12 extend forwardly from the frame 2 to the front of the mower 1. Suspended from supports 11,12 is a cutter bar 13 which runs laterally across the front of the mower 1. Attached to the underside of the cutter bar 13 are a number of cutter heads 14 (disc mowers) . The height of the

ISWUTE SHEET (RULE 26) cutter heads 14 above the ground can be altered by adjusting supports 11 and 12.

Located above and behind the cutter heads 14 is a guide in the form of a hood 15 having a discharge outlet 16 for discharging the cut crop rearwardly, to be received by a lateral discharge arrangement which is adjustable between first and second modes of operation in order to discharge mown crop in one direction, or in an opposite direction, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mower. This permits either one of two laterally spaced deposition zones to be obtained.

Extending rearwardly from a central portion of the top edge of frame 2 is a support bar 17 (shown in dashed outline in Figure 2) . Located at the rear end of support bar 17 is a pivot 18. Attached to pivot 18 and pivotable about a vertical axis is pivot arm 19. Attached to pivot arm 19 and located below the support bar 17 is a reversible conveyor 20, which is a preferred form of lateral discharge arrangement for use in the embodiment of the invention. Alternatively a reversible screw or auger (not shown) may be provided. The conveyor 20 is shown in a horizontal plane but can be pivoted about hinge 21 to alter the angle between the conveyor 20 and the horizontal plane to optimise the catching of the crop by the conveyor 20 during use.

Also extending rearwardly from frame 2 is a secondary hood 22. The secondary hood 22 extends from the frame 2 to partially cover conveyor 20. In use the secondary hood 22 collects cut crop from the discharge outlet 16 and directs it onto the conveyor 20.

Figure 2 shows the mower 1 of the invention in plan view. At the connection between the frame 2 and the support bar 17, the support bar 17 is wider than at the rear end, and this spreads the weight of the conveyor 2.0 applied to the frame 2 so increasing the stability of the mower 1 in use.

The support bar 17 tapers towards its rear end. The pivot 18 is located along the axis of symmetry of the mower 1 when viewed in plan view. Again, this increases the stability of the mower 1.

The secondary hood 22 has tapering side walls 23, 24 which are shaped to direct the cut crop received from the discharge outlet 16 to the conveyor 20. The side walls 23, 24 are adjustable in order to vary the guidance of grass to the conveyor 20 when required. The conveyor 20 has opposed ends 25 and 26 which form the discharge ends of the conveyor depending respectively upon the conveying direction.

The conveyor 20 is shown in Figure 2 in a first adjusted position. On receiving cut crop from the secondary hood 22, the conveyor 20 conveys this crop in a direction from end 26 towards its discharge end 25 and then discharges it at a first point relative to the mower 1.

Shown in figure 3 is the mower 1 of the invention with the conveyor 20 in a second adjusted position (pivoted anticlockwise about the axis of pivot 18 through about 45°) . On receiving cut crop from the secondary hood 22, the conveyor 20 conveys this crop in a direction from tne end 25 towards the discharge end 26 and then discharges it at a second point relative to the mower 1. The second point is laterally spaced with respect to the first point.

The direction of travel of the conveyor 20 when in the first position is opposite to the direction of travel when in the second position. The directions of travel of the conveyor 20 when in the first and second positions are shown by arrows in figures 2 and 3.

A method of using the mower 1 to produce double windrows as shown in Figure 4. The mower 1 is aligned parallel to, but laterally displaced from a tractor 27. The conveyor 20 is arranged in the first position to discharge cut crop to the side of the mower 1 remote from the tractor (see the left hand part of Figure 4) . Once correctly aligned the mower 1 is passed through the crop to form a first windrow 28. Once the first windrow 28 is complete the conveyor 20 of the mower 1 is rotated from the first position to the second position for discharging cut crop to the side of the mower 1 adjacent to the tractor 27 (see right hand side of Figure 4) . The mower 1 is passed through the crop in the same direction as the first pass but along a path parallel to and spaced laterally from the first path. The spacing between the paths of the first and second passes is chosen so that the windrow 29 produced by the second pass lies adjacent to the first windrow, so forming a double windrow (as shown) .

Shown in Figure 5 is a second method of using the mower 1 of the invention. As in the previous method the mower 1 is aligned parallel to the tractor 27 with the conveyor 20 arranged in the first position for discharging crop to the side of the mower 1 remote from the tractoi via discharge end 25. The mower 1 is pulled through the crop along a first path to form a windrow 28a. On reaching the end of the crop the angle between the tractor and the mower 1 is reversed so that the mower 1 lies on the opposite side of the tractor. Unlike the previous method the conveyor 20 is not rotated to a second position at the end of the first pass but remains in the first position. The mower 1 is then passed through the crop in an opposite direction along a line parallel to and laterally displaced from the first. The lateral displacement is such that the windrow 28b produced by the second pass lies adjacent to the windrow 28a produced by the first pass so forming a double windrow.

The first method is suitable for use by a number of mowers 1 simultaneously whereas the second method is suitable for use by a single mower 1.

Figure 6 shows another mode of operation, in which the conveyor 20 is adjusted to the second position for lateral discharge via end 26, to form windrow 28c when mowing in one direction, and to form laterally spaced windrow 28d when mowing in the opposite direction.

Figure 7 shows a mode of operation in which two mowers are used, both travelling in the same mowing direction (or successive passes of one mower in the same direction) . A windrow 30 is formed, of a width less than the space between the tractor wheels, and a similar width windrow 31 is formed subsequently which is closely spaced to windrow 30.

Figure 8 shows a still further mode of operation, and utilising a modified embodiment of mower according to the invention. In this embodiment, designated generally by reference 101, there is a different conveyor arrangement 120, which is pivotally suspended from a suspension point 121 located substantially mid-way along the length of the conveyor, and in which the conveyor arrangement can again be adjusted angularly about an upright pivot axis between first and second operating positions as shown in Figure 8.

However, the suspension point 121 is provided on one end of an adjustable support arm 122, and which also is adjusted during conversion of the conveyor arrangement 120 to move between its two operating positions. This allows adjacent windrows 123 to be formed, when mowing in the same direction as show .

Claims

1. A mower having a transversely extending cutter bar (14) for mowing a standing crop, a discharge arrangement (20) for discharging mown crop to a discharge position, and a guide (22) arranged behind the cutter bar (14) to receive the mown crop and to guide the crop to the discharge arrangement: in which the discharge arrangement (20) has first and second modes of operation, the arrangement (20) being adjustable between the two modes to provide lateral discharge of the mown crop in one direction, or an opposite direction, with respect to the mowing direction, so that either one of two laterally spaced depositon zones can be obtained.

2. A mower according to claim 1, in which the discharge arrangement comprises a reversible conveyor (20) .

3. A mower according to claim 1, in which the discharge arrangement comprises a reversible screw or auger.

4. A mower according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the discharge arrangement 20 is pivotally adjustable about a generally upright axis (18) between the first and second modes of operation.

5. A mower according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the discharge arrangement (20) is inclined to the horizontal.

6. A mower according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the discharge arrangement (20) is pivotally adjustable about a suspension point arranged intermediate the opposed ends (25, 26) of the discharge arrangement.

7. A mower according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the discharge arrangement (20) , when viewed in plan view, does not extend laterally outwardly of support wheels (3, 4) of the mower.

8. A mower according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cutter bar (14) comprises an arrangement of mower discs.

9. A mower according to claim 2, in which the reversible conveyor (20) is suspended from a mounting point (18) via a suspension arm (19) .

10. A mower according to claim 9, in which the suspension arm (19) is pivotally suspended from a pivot suspension point (121) arranged at one end of a swing arm (122) , which also is adjustable pivotally relative to the frame of the mower during conversion of the mower between its first and second modes of operation

SHEET (RULE 26)