WO2007140520A1 - Adjustable feed train for sugarcane harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

A double row came harvester has two separate feed trains which are side by side each feed train being adjustable such that the base cutters that are attached to each feed train are 'tuned' to the mound height in the paddock.

Description

Adjustable Feed Train for Sugarcane Harvester

Field of the Invention.

The present invention is directed to a harvester (typically a sugarcane harvester) of the type that can harvest two or more rows of crops at the same time, and which can take into account the different ground heights of each row.

Background Art.

Most sugarcane harvesters are a single row harvester and these harvesters are extremely well known. It is also known to provide harvesters that are specifically designed to harvest two or more rows of sugarcane at the same time.

Thus, it is known to provide an attachment that can be attached to the front of a single row harvester to convert the single row harvester into a two row harvester. This attachment is particularly useful in a poor season where a single row harvester would be able to collect multiple rows.

Dedicated and purpose built two row harvesters are also known, hi most cases, these harvesters still have a single feed train. The feed train is usually positioned behind the collectors of the harvester and functions to clean and chop the sugar cane into billets. These purpose-built two row harvesters usually have two collectors to collect two rows of sugarcane; these two rows are then combined and fed through a single feed train. This type of harvester is limited in throughput because of the existence of a single feed train.

Therefore, it is also known to provide purpose-built two row harvesters which have two feed trains next to each other with each train processing a separate row of sugarcane.

These harvesters suffer from a particular type of problem. The problem arises because sugarcane is planted on mounds which are separated by a "ditch". The mounds typically have a height of between 10-50 cm. It is common for adjacent mounds to have different heights. This is where the problem arises with respect to dual row harvesters. To explain, the sugarcane on each row is initially straightened and is then cut adjacent the ground by base cutters. These base cutters are positioned behind the straighteners and in front of each feed train. It is important that the base cutters are positioned such that they cut as close as possible to the base (stool) of the sugarcane (to maximise harvest amount) but that they do not cut into the mound itself.

Some dual row harvesters have the base cutters fixed in place and these cutters cannot adjust to any difference in height between adjacent rows of sugarcane.

It is known to provide height adjustment to the front of the harvester typically by providing some sort of ram or similar device on the front wheel of the harvester. Activation of the ram can raise or lower the harvester relative to the front wheel. Figure 1 illustrates schematically this known type of adjustment which is known for single row harvesters. However, for dual row harvesters having side-by-side feed trains, this type of adjustment will only adjust the base cutters together which does not solve the problem with different mound heights on adjacent rows.

One attempt has been made to provide some form of differential height adjustment between the base cutters in a dual row harvester. To do so, the harvester is supported by a pair of spaced apart caterpillar tracks, and each track can be adjusted using a particular track frame and suspension. Thus, the harvester can tilt to the left or to the right by raising or lowering one track compared to the other track. It is considered quite expensive to build a harvester with this type of track adjustment. Also, the tilting only goes part way to solving the problem as it does not allow the base cutters to be at the exact correct height on the particular mound and with the leading cutting edge of the base cutter being substantially parallel to the top of the mound as opposed to tilted to the left or the right (in practice, the base cutters are angled towards the mound but it is not considered satisfactory to tilt the base cutters to the left or to the right of the mound).

There is an advantage in being able to cut more sugarcane per unit time and the standard system of harvesting payment rewards high speeds of operation. One seemingly simple way of doing so is to increase the speed of travel of the harvester as it harvests the sugarcane. However, it is found that increased harvester speed also increases the amount of dirt gathered during the harvesting process. High dirt levels in the cane adversely affect the milling process and create other losses in the industry. For instance, increasing the cutting speed range from about 4 km per hour to about 9 km per hour creates much higher dirt levels in the cane which is undesirable. Therefore, there would be an advantage if it were possible to cut more cane per unit time but without needing to increase the cutting speed range dramatically.

Increased ground speed also decreases the component life of the harvester due to increased wear and tear.

Sugarcane harvesters also create undesirable soil compaction during use, and there would be an advantage if it were possible to reduce soil compaction during harvesting.

Higher throughput in a sugarcane harvester also results in an increased loss in cane and, traditionally, a loss in cane from harvesting has always been accepted as unavoidable. The higher throughput can occur with a double row harvester using a single feed train as described above. Higher throughput can also occur with a traditional single row harvester moving at a higher ground speed. It would be desirable if the cane loss could be reduced.

Harvesting large green cane crops has always presented difficulties due to the larger throughput of cane material. Large green cane crops can occur with irrigated crops.

There would be an advantage if it were possible to harvest large green cane crops as a commercially viable rate.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Object of the Invention. It is an object of the invention to provide a harvester, and particularly a dual row sugarcane harvester having a pair of feed trains and which may overcome at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages or provide a useful or commercial choice.

hi one form, the invention resides in a harvester (typically a sugarcane harvester) comprising: a. a main frame assembly, b. an engine, c. wheels and/or tracks to allow the harvester to move along the ground, d. a first feed train having a front intake area and a rear outlet, e. a second feed train having a front intake area and a rear outlet f. the first feed train and the second feed train being in a side by side relationship, g. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the first feed train relative to the ground, h. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the second feed train relative to the ground, i. base cutters in the intake area of the first feed train and the second feed train, the height adjuster also adjusting the height of the base cutters relative to the ground, j. at least one chopper adjacent the rear of the feed train, k. an elevator to elevate cane exiting the chopper, and

1. crop dividers in the front of the first feed train and the second feed train.

Suitably the first feed train is pivotally mounted relative to the main frame adjacent the rear outlet.

Suitably the second feed train is pivotally mounted relative to the main frame adjacent the rear outlet.

Suitably the height adjuster comprises a ram having one end fixed relative to the main frame and the other end fixed relative to the intake area of the feed train.

Suitably the spacing between the first feed train and the second feed train is adjustable to suit different crop row spacings.

Suitably at least one of the feed trains is modular in design and can be removed from the harvester e.g for maintenance.

Suitably the height adjuster comprises two rams on each feed train.

Suitably the base cutters are attached relative to the intake area of each feed train to rise and fall with the rise and fall of the intake area of each feed train by the height adjusters.

Suitably each feed train comprises the base cutters, feed rollers and a said chopper .

Suitably the harvester has a primary extractor to remove trash and which is positioned in the chopper area of each feed train, the harvester thereby having two primary extractors.

Suitably the harvester has a single secondary extractor adjacent the upper end of the elevator.

The main frame assembly may comprise a relatively lightweight frame made of any suitable members such as steel box section and the like. The main frame assembly may comprise a top platform. The platform may support the engine and may also support a cabin. The main frame assembly may comprise an upper substantially horizontal platform and a number of depending vertical frame members. The wheels and/or tracks of the harvester may be attached to or supported by one or more of these vertical frame members. The height adjuster (which is usually a hydraulic adjustment ram) may have one end attached to the upper horizontal platform. The, or each, primary extractor may be supported by the main frame assembly. The crop dividers may be supported by a front portion of the main frame assembly. The, or each, feed train may be pivotally attached relative to the main frame assembly and preferably at a rear portion of both the, or each, feed train and the main frame assembly (that is, rear pivot mounting). The elevator may also be supported by a rear portion of the main frame assembly.

The harvester is usually self propelled and therefore contains an engine which usually comprises a diesel engine or a petrol engine.

The harvester will contain either wheels and/or tracks and, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, the sugarcane harvester contains crawler tracks. These tracks may be of conventional design and may be attached to a lower portion of the main frame assembly and may be operatively connected to the engine by any suitable means which may comprise the use of hydraulics (one of the wheels on the crawler tracks may be driven by a hydraulic motor), or the use of drive chains, drive belts and the like. The harvester will typically steer using a skid steer arrangement which is quite well known with tracked vehicles.

The first feed train and the second feed train will typically comprise modular assemblies that can be attached or removed from the harvester. Each feed train will typically comprise a conveyor to convey the harvested material (e.g. sugarcane) from the intake area to the rear outlet and the conveyer may comprise a number of feed rollers. The feed train will therefore typically comprise a pair of spaced apart side plates to support the rollers etc, the side plates typically being made from steel plate. An interconnecting rear member (which could be another steel plate, rod, strut, etc) and an interconnecting front member (again which could be another steel plate, rod, strut, etc), will typically be present to provide a rigid carcass or chassis for the adjustable feed train.

If the harvester is a dual row harvester, there will be a first feed train and a second feed train which will be in a side-by-side relationship, and the spacing between the feed trains will correspond to the distance between crop rows. This distance may be between 1-3 m. The spacing between the feed trains can be adjusted if necessary and depending on the distance between crop rows. Thus, spacing means may be provided and the spacing means may comprise struts, rods, spacing panels, spacing blocks and the like. It is also envisaged that there may be some form of hydraulic adjustment to adjust the spacing between the side-by-side feed trains.

Each feed train will typically be inclined from a lower front intake area to a higher rear outlet. This is typical for sugarcane harvesters.

A height adjuster is provided to enable the distance between the intake area and the ground to be adjusted. Thus, by making a suitable adjustment, there is very little likelihood that excess amounts of dirt etc will be taken in by the harvester. The adjustment also enables the height of the intake area from one feed train to be different to the adjacent feed train and this may occur when adjacent crop row mounds are of different heights. The height adjuster will typically be such that the intake area can be raised or lowered relative to the ground but in a substantially horizontal manner such that the intake area remains horizontal or level and does not become tilted. Any tilting of the intake area may result in the base cutters becoming uneven and may result in improper harvesting.

The height adjuster may comprise a ram and it is envisaged that each feed train will have a pair of spaced apart rams to lift or lower the front edge (intake area) of each feed train. The adjustments can be made by an operator in the cabin of the harvester. Each ram may have one end connected to part of the feed train and the other end connected to the main frame assembly such that operation of the rams will raise and lower the front intake area of each feed train. If the feed train is pivotally connected at the rear of the feed train, operation of the rams will cause the feed train to pivot between the raised and lowered positions.

The height adjuster may comprise other mechanisms or devices such as lifting chains/ropes which may be connected to a winch or something similar, pulleys, a rack and pinion arrangement, a worm gear and the like. It is also envisaged that there may be circumstances where a simple manual or mechanical adjustment may be provided and this may be achieved using a pin in slot arrangement, clamps and the like. It is envisaged that each feed train will have its own height adjuster (e.g. ram). This enables each feed train to be operated independently from each other feed train. The height adjuster may also comprise pneumatic rams.

The harvester will have base cutters in the intake area to cut the crop (typically sugarcane). Base cutters are quite conventional on sugarcane harvesters and typically comprise a pair of counter rotating cutting disks which can be hydraulically driven and which function to cut the base of the cane. The type and size of cutting disks may vary to suit and the mechanism or means by which the cutting disk is driven may also varied to suit.

The base cutters will typically be attached relative to the feed train and typically attached adjacent the front end of the feed train such that raising and lowering of the feed train will also raise and lower each base cutter. However there may be circumstances where it is desirable for the height of each base cutter to be adjustable relative to the feed train.

A chopper is provided adjacent the rear end of the feed train. The chopper may comprise a chopper drum which is known on sugarcane harvesters and which functions to chop the cane stalks into shorter lengths which are usually called "billets". These billets will typically be between 20-60 cm in length. It is considered that any suitable type of chopper drum may be provided which may be a conventional chopper drum or a specially designed chopper drum. It is preferred that each feed train will have its own chopper which enables each feed train to be relatively modular in design and relatively "self-contained".

It is desired that a primary extractor is provided adjacent each chopper. The primary extractor will typically comprise a powerful blower which will blow trash (leafy material) away from the cane billets and usually through an extraction hood or something similar. Thus, for a dual row harvester, it is desired that a pair of primary extractors will be provided.

The harvester will typically include an elevator which functions to elevate cane billets from the chopper drum such that the billets can be thrown or dropped into an adjacent cane hauler (usually a large bin which may be towed by a tractor or part of a truck. The elevator may be of conventional design or special design and typically comprises some form of conveyor to convey the cane billets from a lower part of the elevator to the upper outlet of the elevator. A secondary extractor may be provided adjacent the upper outlet of the elevator and which may comprise a powerful blower to blow further trash away from the cane billets prior to the cane billets being dropped into the bin.

The harvester will typically be provided with front crop dividers which are quite well- known in the sugarcane harvesting industry and which function to divide and lift the sugarcane plants prior to being cut and fed into the harvester. The crop dividers usually comprise large rotating tapered "screws". The crop dividers will typically be attached to the main frame assembly and will typically comprise a central divider and a left-hand divider and a right-hand divider (for a dual row harvester). These dividers can be removed if not required and therefore for a single row harvester, either the left- hand divider or the right-hand divider can be removed.

In another form the invention comprises an adjustable feed train for a sugarcane harvester, the feed train comprising a front intake area and a rear exit area, base cutters in the front intake area, feed rollers and a chopper drum in the rear exit area, a pivot in the rear exit area to pivotally attach the feed train to the frame of the harvester, and an attachment to enable the height adjustor to be attached to the feed train via the attachment.

Suitably the feed train is modular and is attachable to a sugarcane harvester.

In another form, the invention resides in a multiple row harvesting apparatus, the apparatus comprising a first feed train and a second feed train, the first feed train adapted to process one row of material to be harvested, and the second feed train adapted to process another row of material to be harvested, each feed train having an inlet into which the material to be harvested can pass, the inlet of one feed train being adjustable with respect to the inlet of the other feed train. Thus, each feed train can be adjustable relative to each other and the operator of the harvester can adjust each feed train to the mound height of the material to be harvested, and once this has been done, multiple rows can be harvested even if the mound height of the rows are different to each other.

In a simple manner, a ram or similar lifting and lowering device can be associated with each feed train to lift or lower the front of each feed train to the desired height.

The harvesting apparatus will typically comprise a sugarcane harvester.

The harvesting apparatus will typically be able to harvest two adjacent rows of material such as sugarcane.

If the apparatus is a sugarcane harvester, the feed train will typically comprise an assembly of rollers, a base cutter and chopper drums.

The base cutter will typically be attached relative to the remainder of the feed train such that adjustment of the feed train will adjust the base cutter.

The feed train may comprise a supporting framework assembly to support the rollers, the base cutter and chopper drums. The framework assembly may be hinged to a rear part of the harvester.

An adjustment means, typically to raise or lower the front of the feed train may be provided adjacent a front portion of the harvester. The adjustment means may comprise a ram such as a pneumatic ram or a hydraulic ram, but may also comprise a gear arrangement, lifting and lowering chains and the like.

Although the invention finds particular suitability with a multiple row sugarcane harvester, the pivoting or adjustable feed train may also find suitability with single row sugarcane harvesters as this can also reduce the ingress of dirt with the cane especially if the mound heights are different in different rows. Therefore, another form of the invention may comprise a single row harvester having the following features: a. a main frame assembly, b. an engine, c. wheels and/or tracks to allow the harvester to move along the ground, d. a feed train having a front intake area and a rear outlet, e. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the feed train relative to the ground, f. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the feed train relative to the ground, g. base cutters in the intake area of the feed train the height adjuster also adjusting the height of the base cutters relative to the ground, h. a chopper drum adjacent the rear of the feed train, i. an elevator to elevate cane exiting the chopper, and j. crop dividers in the front of the feed train .

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:.

Figure 1. Illustrates a known harvester design which can be lifted or lowered at the front by a ram on the front wheel.

Figure 2. Illustrates schematically a harvester according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3. Illustrates schematically the front of the harvester showing a pair of side-by-side feed trains each feed train having a pair of base cutters; and the mounds which are of different heights. Figure 4. Illustrates a dual row a sugarcane harvester according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5. Illustrates in greater detail a first and second adjustable feed train in a side-by-side relationship and attached to the mainframe of the harvester.

Figure 6. Illustrates a front view of the first and second adjustable feed train of figure 5.

Best Mode.

Referring to the drawings and initially to figure 1, there is illustrated schematically, and in side elevation, a known type of harvester. The harvester contains a feed train which comprises a forward base cutter 11, an arrangement of rollers 12 inside the feed train, and rear chopper drums 13 which cut the lengths of sugarcane into smaller billets and fling the billets into an elevator 14. Elevator 14 elevates the billets such that they can be flung into an adjacent container which is then transported to the sugar mill for crushing. This arrangement is very well-known.

Base cutters 11 are somewhat inclined as illustrated in figure 1 and the leading edge of the cutters is designed to be just above the height of the mound 14 in which the sugarcane 15 is grown. In this manner, the base cutters cut the sugarcane off the stool without leaving an excessive amount of sugarcane stalks behind (which will reduce yield). To adjust the height of base cutters 11, it is known to provide a ram 15A on the front wheel 16 of the harvester. Operation of the ram will raise and lower the front of the harvester and therefore the positioning of base cutters 11 relative to the mound 14. Again, this is known.

The harvester of the present invention is illustrated schematically in figures 2 and 3. Referring to the figures, and initially to figure 2, harvester 20 contains a pair of side- by-side feed trains 21, 22 the positioning being best illustrated in figure 3. Each feed train 21, 22 comprises base cutters 23, rollers 24, and chopper drums 25 this being quite similar to a conventional feed train. The inlet of the feed train is adjacent the base cutters 23, and the outlet of the feed train is behind chopper drums 25. However, in the present invention, the entire feed train is not rigidly fixed to the remainder of the harvester. Instead, the feed train is hinged and, in the present embodiment, this is illustrated by pivot point 26 in figure 2. The feed train can include a supporting framework to support the various components such as the base cutter 23, rollers 24 and chopper drums 25, and the framework is "separate" to the remainder of the harvester and is attached by pivot point 26. This enables the feed train to be lifted or lowered relative to the remainder of the harvester. In the preferred embodiment, this is achieved by a hydraulic ram 27 which is positioned adjacent the front of the feed train. Operation of the ram can then lifts or lowers the feed train. As the base cutter is supported by the feed train, operation of the ram will also raise and lower the base cutter.

hi figure 3, (a front view), a pair of mounds 28 is illustrated and it can be seen that the left-hand mound is lower than the right-hand mound. To compensate, the ram on the left-hand feed train 21 has been lowered more than the ram on the right-hand feed train 22. Consequently, the base cutters on each feed train are in the correct position to the heights of the mound.

The feed train can be operated by a power supply from the harvester and this may be quite conventional. Drive means will typically be provided to drive the feed train (that is the base cutters, rollers, and chopper drums), and this may be similar to known and devices. Thus, drive belts/chains, electric motors, hydraulic motors, pneumatic motors, or other types of drive means may be provided.

The apparatus does not require any complicated adjustment of the tracks, and there is no requirement to provide a ram on the front wheel (track) as illustrated in the known apparatus of figure 1.

The rams 27 may comprise "active rams" to continuously compensate for the height of the mound. Thus, an operator on the harvester may operate the rams to suit. Alternatively, a sensor can be provided to constantly monitor the mound height and to adjust the rams accordingly. The sensor may comprise a mechanical sensor or an optical sensor, a distance reading sensor and the like.

Referring to figures 4-6 there is illustrated a sugarcane harvester in greater detail. Harvester 20 comprises forward crop dividers which, in the particular embodiment, comprise a left-hand pair of dividers 30, a central pair of dividers 31 , and a right-hand pair of dividers 32 each of which can be removably attached to the remainder of harvester 20 and which can be powered by hydraulics on harvester 20. A cabin 34 is provided in front of the engine 33 and supported on a top platform 35. Platform 35 is supported by, or forms part of, the main frame assembly of the harvester. The main frame assembly is better illustrated in figure 5 and comprises a front transverse frame component 36, a pair of side parallel frame components 37, 38, and a rear transverse frame component 39. These can all be made from steel box section and welded or otherwise is attached together to form a strong rigid unit.

Crawler tracks 40 are positioned on each side of harvester 20 and driven by hydraulic motors. The crawler tracks are attached to vertical frame members 41 of the main frame assembly (although any other types of construction may also be suitable).

hi the particular embodiment illustrated in figure 4, figure 5 and figure 6, the harvester contains a first feed train 41 and a second feed train 42. Each feed train has a front intake area 43, 44 and a rear outlet 45, 46. The front intake area 43, 44 is lower than the rear outlet 45, 46 so each feed train is inclined.

Each feed train 41, 42 comprises a rigid chassis formed from a pair of opposed parallels side plates 47, 48 and an interconnecting front plate 49 and back plate 50. A plurality of feed rollers 51 is rotatably mounted between the side plates 47, 48 to form a conveyor or feed train. The feed rollers may be driven by a hydraulic motor or any other type of drive means (e.g. drive chains, belts, pulleys, cogs, gears etc) to assist in moving the sugarcane from the intake area to the rear outlet. The feed rollers feed the cane uniformly into the top system and allow removal of dirt and debris from the cane mat as there are gaps between adjacent feed rollers. Floating upper rollers enable even feeding of increased volumes of sugarcane. Each feed train is associated with a pair of base cutters 52-55. Each base cutter may be a conventional type arrangement comprising a circular cutting disk with each pair of base cutters moving in an oppositely rotating direction (counter rotation). Paddles may be attached to the substantially vertical shaft on each base cutter this being quite conventional. Each base cutter is powered by a hydraulic motor in a conventional manner. The function of the base cutters is to cut the cane at ground level and to feed the cane (butt end first) into the feed roller train. Each base cutter has four knives attached to the each disk.

The front end of each feed train has a butt lifter roller 70, 71 (see particularly figure 6) which lifts the cane from the base cutter disks and feeds the cane into the feed rollers. The butt lifter roller is driven by a hydraulic motor but can also be driven by chains, belts or a universal joint.

The rear of each feed train 41, 42 is associated with a chopper 56, 57 which chops the sugarcane stalks into shorter lengths (billets). The chopper typically comprises a pair of counter rotating transversely extending elongate cylinders each cylinder being provided with at least one longitudinal blade ( knife) (and usually between 3-4 knives ), the cylinders being "tuned" such that the blade of one cylinder meets the blade of the other cylinder to cut the sugarcane into billets. The choppers can be driven by a gearbox and hydraulic motor but may also be driven by other means such as chain, belts, universal joint etc.

Each feed train is of modular design which means that each feed train can be removed and comprises the base cutters, the chassis, the rollers and the chopper.

The rear of each feed train is pivotally attached to the main frame assembly through pivot points which comprises an axle and bearings. The pivot points 58, 59 of one feed train are illustrated in figure 5. The other feed train will similarly be pivotally attached at the rear portion. The axle can be removed to remove the feed train for maintenance, repair etc.

The front of each feed train is attached to a pair of height adjusters which in the preferred embodiments comprise hydraulic rams 60, 61. These rams have one end attached to small mounting lugs on the front of each feed train and the other end attached to mounting points on the main frame assembly. Operation of the rams will cause the front of each feed train to rise or fall. Also, operation of the rams is such that the front of each feed train will rise and fall in a substantially horizontal manner which means that the attached base cutters 52-55 also retain the correct orientation for cutting. The rams allow the base cutters to be aligned with the formation of the hill or the ground on which the crop is grown. The rams can also be adjusted during operation to accommodate contours in the terrain.

Behind each chopper 56, 57 is a primary extractor 62, 63 which comprises a strong blower (not illustrated) which blows as the billets fall from the chopper onto the lower part of the elevator 64 and which blows trash through the exhaust hoods. The extractors 62, 63 can be mounted to a mounting plate 65 (see figure 5) on the rear of the main frame assembly. The extractor fan may be driven by a hydraulic motor but can also be driven by a belt, chain or by other means.

Elevator 64 is usually attached to the rear of the main frame assembly using a pivot or swivel joint which means that the elevator 64 can move from side to side if required. The elevator comprises a closed chute (usually formed from thin sheet metal) containing an internal conveyor (not illustrated but which comprises a chain and flights) which conveys the billets from the lower part of the elevator up along the conveyor to the upper outlet 66 of the elevator, where the billets can be dropped into an adjacent towed bin (not illustrated). A secondary extractor 67 is provided at the top of the elevator 64 and comprises a strong blowing fan (not illustrated) which removes further trash from the billets blows trash through the hood 68.

The harvester can have each feed train adjusted to the row it is cutting. The harvester allows the feed train and other major components to become modular. The feed train can be removed from the harvester for maintenance and repair. This may also improve or assist with transportation to locations. The harvester can now harvest two rows of crop (e.g. sugarcane) and if desired, the spacing between the feed trains can be "tuned" to the particular row spacing in the paddock by using a set spacer. The harvester has a double extraction system that provides better cleaning of the chopped sugarcane leading to increased productivity. With the dual extraction system, there is the benefit of using two extractor hoods, which is an advantage compared to a single hood design as it would be able to have some degree of movement. With this movement in the hoods, the operator will be able to direct the trash from the next cut avoiding double processing of unwanted material. Increasing the overall width of the harvester permits a straight feed chain compared to a bent feed chain in single row models. A straight feed train allows the sugarcane to have a more natural flow through the feeding rollers avoiding the need to direct cane around the bend.

Throughout the specification and the claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention . Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims.

1. a sugarcane harvester comprising: a. a main frame assembly, b. an engine, c. wheels and/or tracks to allow the harvester to move along the ground, d. a first feed train having a front intake area and a rear outlet, e. a second feed train having a front intake area and a rear outlet f. the first feed train and the second feed train being in a side by side relationship, g. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the first feed train relative to the ground, h. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the second feed train relative to the ground, i. base cutters in the intake area of the first feed train and the second feed train, the height adjuster also adjusting the height of the base cutters relative to the ground, j. at least one chopper adjacent the rear of the feed train, k. An elevator to elevate cane exiting the chopper, and

1. crop dividers in the front of the first feed train and the second feed train.

2. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the first feed train is pivotally mounted relative to the main frame adjacent the rear outlet.

3. The harvester of claim 2, wherein the second feed train is pivotally mounted relative to the main frame adjacent the rear outlet.

4. The harvester of claim 2, wherein the height adjuster comprises a ram having one end fixed relative to the main frame and the other end fixed relative to the intake area of the feed train.

5. The harvester of claim 2, wherein the spacing between the first feed train and the second feed train is adjustable to suit different crop row spacings.

6. The harvester of claim 2, wherein at least one of the feed trains is modular in design and can be removed from the harvester to convert the harvester to a single row harvester.

7. The harvester of claim 4, wherein the height adjuster comprises two rams on each feed train.

8. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the base cutters are attached relative to the intake area of each feed train to rise and fall with the rise and fall of the intake area of each feed train by the height adjusters.

9. The harvester of claim 8, wherein each feed train comprises the base cutters, feed rollers and a said chopper .

10. The harvester of claim 9, comprising a primary extractor to remove trash and which is positioned in the chopper area of each feed train, the harvester thereby having two primary extractors.

11. The harvester of claim 10, comprising a single secondary extractor adjacent the upper end of the elevator

12. An adjustable feed train for a sugarcane harvester, the feed train comprising a front intake area and a rear exit area, base cutters in the front intake area, feed rollers and a chopper drum in the rear exit area, a pivot in the rear exit area to pivotally attach the feed train to the frame of the harvester, and an attachment to enable the height adjustor to be attached to the feed train via the attachment .

13. The feed train for claim 12, which is modular and is attachable to a sugarcane harvester.

14. A multiple row harvesting apparatus, the apparatus comprising a first feed train and a second feed train, the first feed train adapted to process one row of material to be harvested, and the second feed train adapted to process another row of material to be harvested, each feed train having an inlet into which the material to be harvested can pass, the inlet of one feed train being adjustable with respect to the inlet of the other feed train. 5

15. A single row harvester comprising: a. a main frame assembly, b. an engine, c. wheels and/or tracks to allow the harvester to move along the ground, O d. a feed train having a front intake area and a rear outlet, e. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the feed train relative to the ground, f. height adjuster to adjust the height of the intake area of the feed train relative to the ground, 5 g. base cutters in the intake area of the feed train the height adjuster also adjusting the height of the base cutters relative to the ground, h. a chopper drum adjacent the rear of the feed train, i. an elevator to elevate cane exiting the chopper, and j. crop dividers in the front of the feed train . 0

END OF CLAIMS