WO2004089060A1

WO2004089060A1 - Corn harvester

Info

Publication number: WO2004089060A1
Application number: PCT/SI2004/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sebastjan HAJN�EK
Original assignee: Sip Strojna Industrija D.D. �Empeter V Savinjski Dolini
Priority date: 2003-04-08
Filing date: 2004-04-05
Publication date: 2004-10-21
Also published as: SI21441A

Abstract

The purpose of the invention is to create a simple maize harvesting device, which should be towed by means of a tractor and would enable essentially higher exploitation rate as by any of the previously known devices. The harvester according to the invention consists of a mobile chassis (1), which in addition to appropriate coupling (2) for connection with a tractor comprises also a collecting container (15) as well as a desired number of the detaching units (6', 6'), adjacent to which a collector (7) is placed, which serves for collecting the maize cobs upon detaching them from the maize culms and the driving unit (5) of which is driven by means of appropriate transmission (3), which is available on the said chassis (1) and adapted for connection with the driving shaft of a tractor. According to the invention, the said mobile chassis (1) is adapted for attachment of alternatively either a peeling unit (9) or a thresher (8). In such a way, the exploitation rate of the harvester is essentially increased, since the harvester may be used both for harvesting the maize during the early ripe-stage in order to obtain appropriately peeled maize cobs, and on the basis of simple and modification also during the subsequent season of a final ripe-stage of the maize in order to obtain exclusively the kernel with relatively low content of humidity.

Description

MAIZE HARVESTER

The present invention relates to agriculture, in particular to maize harvesters without autonomous driving unit, which are pulled by means of appropriate towing device, especially a corresponding tractor.

Harvesting of maize has to be performed in accordance with appropriate targets, by which also each time available conditions have to be taken into account. Firstly, this is a season activity, which has to be realized in a relatively short time period in as much as effective manner. Various devices are available for this purpose, but each of them is used only several days in each year and is therefore obviously not exploited in a sufficiently effective manner.

When bearing in mind the features of the maize depending on ripe and harvesting period, there are two basic concepts of harvesting, where each of them depends on the ripe-stage of the maize i.e. on content of moisture in the kernel i.e. maize grains on the cobs. In the earlier ripe-stage the content of moisture is relatively high, so that the maize is harvested together with cobs. By such approach, the cobs are detached from the culms, which is then followed by peeling, which means removing the husks from the cob. The product of such harvesting are then the cobs together with kernel being still present on the cobs and correspondingly transported together with cobs. In the later ripe-stage of the maize the relative humidity of the kernel is decreased under certain level, harvesting in the first step also includes collecting cobs, which is however followed by removing husks from the cobs, and after that - still during harvesting - also the kernel is removed from the cobs. The product of harvesting in such case is exclusively the kernel without the cobs and also without the husks, which are still during harvesting cut and spread along the stubble-field.

By taking into account the previously described circumstances, especially the said harvesting concepts depending on the ripe-stage, and also a relatively short time period, in which such devices are used, the invention is based on a problem, how to create a relatively simple harvester, which should be driven by means of appropriate towing device, in particular by means of a tractor, and which would enable achieving essentially higher exploitation rate as known towed devices, since such device should be applicable both, for harvesting maize in order to obtain peeled cobs, and by means of a simple modification also for harvesting in order to obtain exclusively a maize grains with relatively low moisture content in a period of higher ripe-stage.

Various attempts in course of improving the exploitation rate by such devices are already known. DE-OS 1 934 418 describes a maize harvester, namely a so-called combine harvester, which is equipped with autonomous driving unit i.e. a corresponding engine, and comprises a harvesting unit, which is arranged in front of the device, when taking into account the driving direction. In order to avoid the need on using an additional cutter for culms, i.e. a straw-cutter, for the purpose of removing the culms from the field and to prepare the field for ploughing, it has been proposed, that and adapted straw-cutter should be added to the said harvester adjacent to the harvesting unit. The exploitation rate of such device, which is by the way also very complicated, is extremely low despite to the said proposal. The use of such device is reasonable only by harvesting and extremely large areas, which are however available only in several countries or region. Nevertheless, the said device does not solve the previously mentioned technical problem at all, but is mentioned exclusively for the purposes of illustrating the need on rationalization of harvesting, which obviously exists.

Still further, YU 272681 and FR 19820019292 describe a maize harvester without autonomous driving unit, which is therefore intended for being towed. Such a device is intended for coupling to a tractor, and its constituent parts are then driven by means of a cardan shaft, which is available on the tractor and normally serves for driving various agricultural machines when being towed by such tractor. The said device comprises a chassis, on which the detaching means are available, which are directed in a driving direction and intended for detaching maize cobs from the culms. Culms are then crushed in a crushing unit. The detached cobs are transported to a peeling unit, which consists of appropriate rollers, which are directed in the driving direction and rotated in opposite directions each to other. Furthermore, the said device comprises a ventilator, which serves for directing the cobs and transporting the husks upon being removed from the cobs. The peeled cobs, which still include kernel, are then transported to a collector by means of a transporting unit, which is also included in the said device. Although the said device was really modern and essentially improved with respect to other devices known in that time, various deficiencies may result from the use thereof. First of all, the device includes only a peeling unit and may therefore be used exclusively for harvesting during the early ripe- stage. This means at the one hand, that complete quantity of maize has to be harvested within a very short time period, and on the other hand, that due to such short time period of operating in a complete year the exploitation rate of such device is also extremely low. In addition, the capacity of the collector is relatively small, and storage of maize grains on the cobs requires much more volume as e.g. storage of the kernel as such. Correspondingly less economical is also transporting and distribution of harvested maize cobs.

In parallel, various devices are known, which are intended for detaching the kernel from the maize cobs i.e. for the so-called threshing. One of them is described in EP 0 396 968 Bl. Such device enables the so-called tangential threshing, which means that the cobs, which are intended for threshing, are moved through the device in the tangential direction. The device includes a cylinder, which is rotated around its longitudinal axis and comprises ribs i.e. essentially sinusoidal protrusions and cavities, which in form of slightly rounded ribs and grooves extend in the longitudinal direction of the said cylinder. In its adjacency there is a rough sieve screen, which is bent and placed at a desired distance there-from. Between the cylinder and the screen there is a wedge-like intermediate space, so that the distance between the circumference of the cylinder and the screen is decreasing in the turning direction of the cylinder from the value, which essentially correspond to a diameter of an average maize cob with kernel, to the value, which correspond to a diameter of an average cob without kernel. When the cob is transported into the area adjacent to the rotating cylinder it is then inserted into a recess between two neighboring ribs and transported along the circumference of the cylinder until resting against the said screen. Due to the contact with the said screen in the area of the said wedge-like space, the cob is then rotated around its longitudinal axis, by which the kernel is removed from its surface. After that, the kernel and also any other possible particles of cobs fall down through the said rough screen onto the fine screen, which is placed below and is adapted for passing-through exclusively the kernel without any other larger particles of the cobs. During the said falling-down, the said particles are exposed to intensive air flow, which results from the corresponding ventilator and is intended for purification of kernel and transporting the cobs and residues thereof towards a crushing unit, in which the cobs are crushed in order to be distributed along the stubble-field. The kernel is then transported to appropriate collector by means of appropriate worm gear or elevator. The main advantage of such device is, that the final product is kernel, which may be stored and transported much more rationally like e.g. the kernel together with cobs. The major deficiency of such appliance is, that the device may be used exclusively during the late ripe-stage of the maize, when the relative moisture of the maize kernel becomes relatively low, so that the kernel is already sufficiently hard in order to avoid destroying thereof during detaching from the cob. Also in this particular case, duration of the time period, in which the device is used, is very short and is moreover connected with relatively high risk with respect to weather conditions, which enable such harvesting at all.

The present invention relates to a maize harvester, which is adapted for connection to appropriate towing device by means of adequate coupling and towed after that by means of such device. Accordingly, the harvester is not equipped with autonomous motor, so that its operating elements are driven by means of an appropriate driving shaft, which is available on the said towing device. Such harvester consists of a mobile chassis, on which in addition to the said coupling also a collector is foreseen, which serves for collecting and directing maize cobs after being detached from the maize culms in the area of detaching units and which is equipped with a driving unit, which is turned by means of a transmission, which is available on the said chassis and is by means of an appropriate shaft or any other means connected with the said driving shaft of the towing device. In accordance with the invention, the mobile chassis is adapted for alternatively mounting either a peeling unit or a thresher thereto, and by the preferred embodiment also an external conveyer is placed between the each time available peeling unit or thresher and the collecting container. By this, appropriate position for alternative attachment either of a peeling unit or a thresher is foreseen on the mobile chassis behind the collector, when observed in a harvester driving direction. Generally speaking, the mobile chassis is adapted for alternative attachment either of a peeling unit together with the belonging external conveyer for transporting maize cobs towards the collecting container or a thresher together with the belonging conveyer for transporting the maize kernel towards the collecting container. The said peeling unit includes at least one internal conveyer as well as appropriate peeling means, which are arranged below the said conveyer and both is driven by means of a transmission unit, which is arranged on the mobile chassis. A preferred embodiment of the peeling unit includes at least one internal conveyer as well as appropriate peeling means arranged there-below and moreover also at least one external conveyer, which is adapted for transporting maize cobs from the area of the said peeling unit towards the collecting container, by which the said peeling means and the said conveyers may be driven by means of a transmission unit, which is arranged on the mobile chassis. A thresher of the harvester according to the invention includes at least one internal conveyer and a rotational threshing means, which is arranged closely to the said conveyer and adjacent to which, in particular below which, a rough screen is placed and below this last also a fine screen, while the preferred embodiment includes also a crushing means, in particular a rotational crushing and transporting means, which is arranged behind the said rotational threshing means, when observed in a harvester driving direction. By this, the internal conveyer and closely thereto arranged rotational threshing means of the thresher may be driven by means of the transmission unit, which is arranged on the mobile chassis. In a most preferred embodiment the said thresher includes, in addition to the external conveyer, which is intended for transporting maize kernel from the thresher towards the collecting container, also at least one crushing means as well as at least one rotational threshing means, adjacent to which, namely at least essentially below which, a rough screen is placed, and below this last also a fine screen. Still further, the preferred harvester according to invention comprises appropriate means for generating the required air-flow in the opposite direction with respect to a harvester driving direction, at least in the area between the rough screen and the fine screen, which is arranged below the rough screen, by which also the said means may be driven by means of a transmission unit, which may be arranged on the said mobile chassis.

Now the invention will be described on the basis of an embodiment and in corelation with the attached drawing, wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile chassis of the harvester;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile chassis according to Fig. 1 together with a peeling unit, during placing or removing thereof on/from the said chassis;

Fig. 3 shows one of both alternative configurations of the harvester, namely with included peeling unit, which is placed onto a mobile chassis and shown in a cross-section along this unit;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a mobile chassis according to Fig. 1 together with a threshing unit, during placing or removing thereof on/from the said chassis; Fig. 5 shows the other of both alternative configurations of the harvester, namely with included threshing unit, which is placed onto a mobile chassis and presented in a cross- section along this unit.

Fig. 1 shows a mobile chassis 1, which is adapted for being towed by means of a /non- shown/ towing device, especially a tractor, and at the same time also for coupling and driving of desired units, which are attached thereto and will be described in more detail subsequently. The said driving is regularly enabled by means of a cardan shaft or any other means, which is for this purpose foreseen on the towing device.

The said chassis 1 comprises a towing coupling 2, which is arranged on the end portion, which is faces towards the towing device, as well as appropriate transmission means 3, which is driven by means of its connection with the said shaft of the towing device, in this particular case via the shaft 4, which is schematically shown in Fig. 1 by dotted line'. The said coupling 2 is placed on the inward side of the said chassis, quite behind the central longitudinal line of a towing device. On the outward side of the said chassis 1, i.e. at a corresponding distance from the said longitudinal line - when observed in the transversal direction - two detaching units 6', 6" are foreseen on the said chassis 1, in this particular case two units, which extend parallel each to another and each of them is formed as a pair of two beams, which extend parallel in the driving direction at certain distance each from another. Accordingly, each detaching unit 6', 6" is equipped with appropriate gap or recess, which is larger than the average diameter of the culms (not shown) and narrower than the diameter of an average diameter of the (also not shown) maize cob, and at the same time it is inclined downwards, when observed in the driving direction. During the harvesting, the chassis 1 is moved in a driving direction, while the culms are successively inserted into the said gaps, by which the cobs are detached from the culms.

Quite behind the said detaching units 6', 6" there is a worm collector 7 mounted onto the chassis 1, the driving unit 5 of which is driven by means of the said transmission unit 3. The purpose of the said collector 7 is collecting cobs after being detached from the culms, by which the cobs are simultaneously oriented in such a manner, that the longitudinal axis of each cob extends in the transversal direction of the chassis 1 i.e. rectangular with respect to the driving direction in the plane, which is at least essentially parallel with the ground. The said chassis is also equipped with a collecting container 15, which is shown in Figs. 2 to 5, and intended for collecting and transporting the cobs and/or the kernel.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the first alternative configuration of the harvester according to the invention. Such configuration is adapted for detaching cobs from the culms, and thereafter also appropriate peeling i.e. removing husks from the cob. A peeling unit 9 is foreseen for this purpose, which may be simply and easily mounted onto the said chassis 1 before each use, and after that also simply and easily removed from the said chassis. Assembling the peeling unit 9 also means connecting this peeling unit 9 with the transmission unit 3, by which also a required driving of all active parts of the peeling unit 9 is ensured.

The peeling unit 9 is shown in Fig. 2 in the state before mounting onto the chassis 1 or upon being removed there- from. Position for attaching the peeling unit 9 onto the chassis 1 is marked with 19, and such attaching may be realized in any reasonable manner, which is known to those skilled in the art, e.g. by means of screwing.

The peeling unit 9 comprises an internal transporting means i.e. conveyer 17 as well as appropriate peeling means 18, especially cylinders, which are turned in opposite directions, and in this particular embodiment also an external transporting means i.e conveyer 16'. Driving of peeling means 18 and both transporting means 16', 17 is achieved by means of the transmission unit 3 of the chassis 1, either via the said driving unit 5 of the collector 7 or directly.

After detaching each cob from the belonging culms, the cob is moved into a collector 7, where it is oriented transversally with respect to the driving direction and after that rolled towards the peeling unit 9. The internal conveyer 17 is intended for uniformly distributing the cobs on the peeling means 18 i.e. along the complete width thereof, by which the husks are removed from the cobs. Then the peeled cobs - which still include kernel, but not also the husks - are transported by means of the external conveyer 16' into the collecting container 15. Accordingly, by means of such configuration of the harvester according to the invention, the cobs together with kernel, which is still attached thereto, are collected within the collecting container 15.

Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate another alternative configuration of the harvester according to the invention. This particular configuration enables detaching the cobs from the culms and after that also peeling with simultaneously threshing, which means removing the kernel from the cob, which is followed by separating kernel from the husks and cobs. For this purpose a thresher 8 is simply and easily mounted onto the said chassis 1 before the use, and after that, simply and easily removed from the said chassis 1.

The said thresher 8 includes an internal conveyer 10, a rotational threshing means 11, a rotational crushing and transporting means 13 as well as a rough screen 12 and a fine screen 14, and in addition in this particular embodiment also an external conveyer 16". The said means 11, 13 are driven by means of a transmission unit 3, also in this case either via the driving unit 5 of the collector 7 or directly.

When the maize cob is detached from the culms and arrives into the collector 7, it is oriented transversally with respect to the driving direction and then rolled towards the internal conveyer 10 of the thresher 8, by means of which the cobs are then by their unchanged orientation moved towards the operation area of the rotational threshing means 11, adjacent to which i.e. below which a rough screen 12 is arranged. Behind of this threshing cylinder 11, when observed in a driving direction, a crushing transporting means 13 is arranged, which is intended for crushing and cutting of previously threshed cobs together with removing and transporting of residual particles of cobs and when required also the husks away from the thresher 8. Threshing, namely removing the kernel from the cobs, is achieved due to ensuring appropriate contact of cobs with the rough screen 12, by which the husks and also the kernel are removed from the cobs. The purpose of threshing is to obtain exclusively the kernel, while the husks and cobs are foreseen for throwing them away. The kernel is falling down through the rough screen 12 onto the fine screen 14, where the kernel is collected and displaced towards the external conveyer 16", which is adapted for transporting the kernel into the collecting container 15. Separating the husks and other particles of cobs from the kernel is partially performed already in the area between the threshing means 11, 13, which is then completed in the area above the fine screen 14 i.e. below the rough screen 12. One of possible methods of splitting the kernel from the said waste is separation by using appropriate air-flow, which may e.g. be obtained by appropriate ventilator, which is not shown in the drawing, but may be driven by means of the said transmission unit 3, also in this case either via the driving unit 5 of the collector 7 or directly. The said air-flow is directed opposite with respect to the harvester driving direction, and by dropping the kernel together with husks and particles of the cobs from the rough screen 12 onto the fine screen 14, everything except the kernel is removed due to such blowing.

In the disclosed embodiment of the harvester according to the invention, there is a difference between the external conveyer 16', 16" of the peeling unit 9 and a thresher 8, which is however in common not necessary. The conveyer 16' of the peeling unit 9 according to Fig. 3 is namely in this particular case adapted for transporting crucial particles like cobs, while the conveyer 16" according to Fig. 5 serves merely for transporting small particles like kernel. However, generally speaking, the external conveyers 16', 16" might be unified in such a way, that each of them would enable transporting either/both crucial particles or/and small particles, whereupon by removing the peeling unit 9 or a thresher 8 removing of such conveyer 16', 16" would not be necessary at all.

As already mentioned, the maize may only be peeled its early ripe-stage and not also threshed. In such season, a mobile chassis 1 with the belonging collecting container 15 may be used for mounting a peeling unit 9 thereon, together with the belonging external conveyer 16', which during harvesting serves for transporting peeled cobs from the peeling unit 9 into the collecting container 15. Later-on, in the final ripe-stage of the maize, the said peeling unit 9 is removed from the chassis 1, whereupon the thresher 8 maybe placed onto the same chassis 1. When desired, the external conveyer 16', 16" may also be replaced, while the other parts including the collecting container 15 may stay in their place and remain completely unchanged.

It is therefore obvious to those skilled in the art, that such concept of the harvester according to the invention by means of alternatively replacement the peeling unit 9 with a thresher 8 or vice versa enables exploitation of such device along the complete harvesting season, starting with the early ripe-stage and including the final ripe-stage of the maize, and is in such a way exploited in a maximum rate. The starting investment is no doubt essentially lower than the investment related to purchasing two special harvesters, which are moreover useful only during essentially shorter time-period. Advantages are obvious also in respect to maintenance and repair, supplying of spare parts and also in several other respects.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Maize harvester without autonomous motor, adapted for connection to appropriate towing device by means of adequate coupling (2) and towed after that by means of such device, while the operating elements thereof are also driven by means of an appropriate driving shaft, which is available on the said towing device, and such harvester consists of a mobile chassis (1), on which in addition to the said coupling (2) also a collector (7) is foreseen, which serves for collecting and directing maize cobs after being detached from the maize culms in the area of detaching units (6 6") and which is equipped with a driving unit (5), which is driven by means of a transmission (3), which is available on the said chassis (1) and is by means of an appropriate shaft (4) or any other means connected with the said driving shaft of the towing device, characterized in that the mobile chassis (1) is adapted for alternatively mounting either a peeling unit (9) or a thresher (8) thereto.

2. Harvester according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mobile chassis (1) is adapted for alternatively mounting either a peeling unit (9) or a thresher (8) thereto, by which an external conveyer (16', 16") is placed between the each time available peeling unit (9) or thresher (8) and the collecting container (15).

3. Harvester according to Claim 1, characterized in that, a position (19) of alternative attachment either of a peeling unit (9) or a thresher (8) is foreseen on the mobile chassis (1) behind the collector (7), when observed in a harvester driving direction.

4. Harvester according to Claim 1, characterized in that, the mobile chassis (1) is adapted for alternative attachment either of a peeling unit (9) together with the belonging external conveyer (16') for transporting maize cobs towards the collecting container (15) or a thresher (8) together with the belonging conveyer (16") for transporting the maize kernel towards the collecting container (7).

5. Harvester according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the peeling unit (9) includes an internal conveyer (17) as well as appropriate peeling means (18) arranged there-below.

6. Harvester according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the peeling unit (9) includes an internal conveyer (17) as well as appropriate peeling means (18) arranged there-below, both driven by means of the transmission unit (3), which is arranged on the mobile chassis (1).

7. Harvester according to Claim 5, characterized in that the peeling unit (9) includes at least an internal conveyer (17) and appropriate peeling means (18) arranged there-below and moreover also at least one external conveyer (17), which is adapted for transporting maize cobs from the area of the said peeling device (9) towards the collecting container (15).

8. Harvester according to Claim 7, characterized in that the peeling unit (9) includes at least an internal conveyer (17) and appropriate peeling means (18) arranged there-below and moreover also at least one external conveyer (16'), which is adapted for transporting maize cobs .from the area of the said peeling unit (9) towards the collecting container (15), by which the said peeling means (18) and the said conveyers (16', 17) are driven by means of the transmission unit (3), which is arranged on the mobile chassis (1).

9. Harvester according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the thresher (8) includes at least one internal conveyer (10) and a rotational threshing means (11) arranged adjacent thereto, adjacent to which, in particular below which, a rough screen (12) is j placed and below this last also a fine screen (14).

10. Harvester according to Claim 9, characterized in that the thresher (8) comprises a crushing means (13), which is arranged behind the said rotational threshing means (11), when observed in a harvester driving direction.

11. Harvester according to Claim 9, characterized in that the internal conveyer and adjacent thereto arranged rotational threshing means (11) of the thresher (8) are driven by means of the transmission unit (3), which is arranged on the mobile chassis (1).

12. Harvester according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the thresher (8) includes, in addition to the external conveyer (16"), which is intended for transporting maize kernel from the thresher (8) towards the collecting container (15), also at least one crushing means (13) as well as at least one rotational threshing means (11), adjacent to which, namely at least essentially below which, a rough screen (12) is placed, and below this last also a fine screen (14).

13. Harvester according to one of Claims 9 to 12, comprising appropriate means for generating jthe required air-flow in the opposite direction with respect to a harvester driving direction, at least in the area between the rough screen (12) and a fine screen (14) arranged there-below.

14. Harvester according to one of Claims 9 to 12, comprising appropriate means for generating the required air-flow in the opposite direction with respect to a harvester driving direction, at least in the area between the rough screen (12) and a fine screen (14) arranged there-below, wherein the said means is driven by means of a transmission unit (3) arranged on the said mobile chassis (1).

15. Harvester according to Claim 10, characterized in that the said thresher (8) includes a rotational crushing and transporting means (13), which is arranged behind the rotational threshing means (11), when observed in a harvester driving direction.