WO2009062209A2

WO2009062209A2 - Cane cutter

Info

Publication number: WO2009062209A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2008/000103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Roger Hammond; Barend Jacobus Van Der Merwe
Original assignee: Walter Roger Hammond; Barend Jacobus Van Der Merwe
Priority date: 2007-11-07
Filing date: 2008-11-07
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: WO2009062209A3; WO2009062209A8; ZA201003702B; BRPI0818889A2

Abstract

A crop harvester (10) which includes a chassis (12) and a cutting mechanism (24) attached to the chassis, for cutting stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes, which has at least one blade (48A, 48B, 48C) and which is movable about at least one pivot point (40) to vary the inclination of the blade relatively to the chassis.

Description

CANE CUTTER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to a crop harvester and more specifically to a crop harvester for harvesting a crop such as sugar cane.

[0002] Traditionally sugar cane has been manually harvested by initially burning off the foliage of the cane and then harvesting the cane by hand by individually cutting the cane stalks, near the base, with a machete. The removal of the foliage is necessary to make access to the cane stalks, by a person wielding a machete, easier.

[0003] The disadvantages of harvesting the sugar cane in this manner are numerous. Not least of all, the burning of the cane emits smoke which is an environmental pollutant which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and the cutting of the crop by hand is a hot, back-breaking job fraught with occupational hazards.

[0004] A variety of mechanical methods are also used to harvest sugar cane. The harvesters used in these methods are unable to accommodate the variability in the angle at which a cutting mechanism of the harvester has to approach the stalks in order to cut the stalks at an optimal height above the ground due to the uneven lay of the land caused by tillage. It is important when harvesting a crop such as sugar cane that the stalks are cut at this optimal height as the sucrose content of the stalk is concentrated near the base. [0005] The harvesting of a cane crop which still includes the foliage, to avoid burning the crop, is another problem a harvester must contend with. The foliage can impede the progress of the harvester through the crop and the progress of the cane stalks through the harvester.

[0006] Another hurdle associated with the use of mechanical harvesting techniques is the difficulty in gathering the cut stalks which, after being cut and collected aboard the harvester, tend to be deposited somewhat randomly on the ground. Gathering these randomly orientated stalks is a time consuming exercise which often also involves the simultaneous collection by a gathering device of unwanted material such as soil.

[0007] The present invention at least partially addresses the afore-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY QF INVENTION

[0008] The invention provides, in a first aspect, a crop harvester which includes a chassis and a cutting mechanism attached to the chassis, for cutting the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes, which has at least one blade and which is movable about at least one pivot point to vary the inclination of the blade relatively to the chassis.

[0009] The chassis may comprise a tubular metal frame.

[0010] The cutting mechanism may include a base which is attached to and which underlies the blade and which is engageable with a ground surface to support the blade at a predetermined height above the ground. [0011] The base may have a dome shape which rests on the ground.

[0012] The predetermined height may be varied, thus varying the height at which the crop stalks are cut, by varying the configuration and dimensions of the dome shaped base.

[0013] The cutting mechanism may include an arm which is attached at a first end to the chassis and at an opposing end to the blade.

[0014] The pivot point, about which the blade moves to vary its inclination, may be located at the first end. Alternatively the pivot point may be located at the opposing end. Preferably, a first pivot point is located at the first end and a second pivot point at the opposing end.

[0015] The arm may be pivotal, relatively to the chassis, in a first plane and the cutting mechanism may be pivotal, relatively to the arm, in a second plane which is transverse to the first plane.

[0016] A second aspect of the invention provides a crop harvester which includes a chassis, a cutting mechanism attached to the chassis which cuts the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes and a conveyor mounted to the chassis which gathers the stalks cut by the cutting mechanism and which removes the stalks to a location remote from the cutting mechanism.

[0017] The conveyor may include a pair of parallel endless belts spaced apart from each other to form therebetween a stalk-receiving passage. [0018] Each belt may include a plurality of U-shaped formations which project outwardly from each belt. Preferably the U-shaped formations are resilient.

[0019] Each U-shaped formation which projects into the passage may interlock with opposing formations forming an interlocking array.

[0020] The interlocking array may include a plurality of stalk retaining spaces formed between an apex of each formation and an opposing belt surface.

[0021] The conveyor may be moved vertically relatively to the chassis to accommodate stalk length variability.

[0022] The conveyor may at least partly overlie the cutting mechanism.

[0023] The conveyor may include a guiding formation, which overlaps the cutting mechanism, for gathering and guiding the stalks towards a mouth of the conveyor and the cutting mechanism.

[0024] The guiding formation may include a pair of pincer-like belt extenders each of which extends from a respective endless belt.

[0025] Each belt extender may be movable independently of the other, at least in a planar respect.

[0026] Each belt extender may include a plurality of U-shaped projections which project outwardly therefrom for snagging the stalks before guiding the stalks towards the mouth of the conveyor. Preferably the U-shaped projections are resilient. [0027] The cutting mechanism may include a disc with a cutting edge located at a peripheral edge of the disc.

[0028] The cutting mechanism may include a guiding projection which extends above an upper surface of the disc to guide lower severed ends of the crop stalks towards the conveyor.

[0029] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a crop harvester which includes a chassis, a cutting mechanism attached to the chassis to cut the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes and a mill engaged with the chassis for shredding an upper portion of each stalk.

[0030] The upper portion of each stalk may be a leafy portion.

[0031] The mill may include a plurality of bladed rotors, vertically spaced from each other, each of which rotates at a high rotational velocity to shred the upper portion into a plurality of segments.

[0032] The segments may be dispersed over the ground as a mulch.

[0033] The bladed rotors may be scimitar-shaped.

[0034] The mill may include a housing in which the bladed rotors are housed.

[0035] The mill may be vertically adjustable relatively to the chassis to accommodate the specific characteristics of the crop to be harvested. [0036] The crop harvester may include a shaft mounted to the chassis to which the mill is movably vertically and movably rotationally engaged facilitating adjustment of the mill's orientation relatively to the chassis.

[0037] The crop harvester may include a conveyor mounted to the chassis which gathers the stalks cut by the cutting mechanism and which delivers the stalks to the mill.

[0038] In another aspect of the invention there is provided a crop harvester which includes a chassis having a cutting mechanism for cutting the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes, a collection bin for collecting the stalks, cut by the cutting mechanism, in a bundle before depositing the bundle on the ground to laterally extend from a line of travel of the crop harvester, and a means for delivering the stalks from the cutting mechanism to the collection bin.

[0039] The collection bin may include a rear panel which rotates downwardly about a lower edge thereof, to allow the bundle of collected stalks to fall from the collection bin to the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates isometrically, a crop harvester according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates in plan the crop harvester;

Figure 3 illustrates isometrically, a cutting mechanism of the crop harvester;

Figure4 illustrates in plan a portion of a conveyor of the crop harvester; and Figure 5 illustrates, isometrically, a mill of the crop harvester.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0041] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings show a sugar cane harvester (10), according to the invention, which includes a tubular metal chassis (12), a means (14) for attaching the harvester to a vehicle such as a tractor (partially shown in dotted outline in Figure 2) to convey the harvester through a sugar cane crop to be harvested, a first wheel (16) and a second wheel (18), both of which are pivotally movable about respective pivot points to facilitate alignment of the wheels in a direction of travel of the harvester.

[0042] The wheels (16,18) include a disc braking system (not shown) which applies a braking force to the respective pivot points to prevent the pivot points from pivoting when the harvester (10) is conveyed across sloping ground, thus preventing the wheels from aligning in the direction of the slope and causing the harvester to slip sidewardly.

[0043] The harvester (10) further includes a seat (22) upon which an operator (not shown) can be seated to operate the various functional components of the harvester. The functional components of the harvester are hydraulically powered by a hydraulic system (not shown), initiated by the operation of respective actuator mechanisms (not shown).

[0044]The harvester (10) includes a cutting mechanism (24) which has a blade arrangement (26) attached to an arm (28) which links the blade arrangement to the chassis (12), a mill (30) slidably attached to a shaft (32), which is attached to and which projects vertically from the chassis, and a collecting bin (34), attached to the chassis at a side opposing that to which the cutting mechanism is attached.

[0045JA conveyor (36), which is fixed to the chassis vertically above the cutting mechanism and the collecting bin but below the mill, transports stalks of sugar cane, cut by the blade arrangement from the crop, from the blade arrangement to the mill and then onward to the connecting bin. The conveyor lies transversely to a longitudinal axis (38) (see Figure 2) of a harvester vehicle combination.

[0046] Figure 3 illustrates the cutting mechanism (24) showing the arm (28), which forwardly projects from the chassis (12) at substantially a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis (38) (see Figure 2) to present the blade arrangement (26) to the cane crop being harvested. The arm is pivotally attached at a pivot point (40) to the chassis (12) and at a universal joint (44) to the blade arrangement (26) to allow the angle and height at which the blade arrangement is presented to stalks of the cane crop to vary.

[0047] The blade arrangement includes a disc (46), which revolves about the universal joint (44), and a plurality of perimeter blades, respectively designated 48A, 48B and 48C, attached to the disc which radiate outwardly therefrom.

[0048] The arm (28) can be hydraulically powered under control of the operator to move vertically upward and downward about the pivot point (40) (see Figure 3), depending on operational requirements.

[0049] The cutting mechanism (24) includes a dome shaped base plate (48) which is attached to an underside of the blade arrangement (26). When the arm pivots downwardly about pivot point (40), the base plate engages with the ground, elevating the blades (44) at a predetermined height above the ground. This configuration allows the blades, in operation, to "float" above the ground. In this regard the dome shape of the base plate, with no angular surfaces, minimises the extent to which soil and grit are able to catch and collect on it as it passes over the ground.

[0050] The blade arrangement (26) can be hydraulically powered by the operator, to tilt about the universal joint (44) from side to side and forwardly and backwardly to vary the blade arrangement's inclination relatively to the chassis (12). The ability to move the blade arrangement in this manner allows the blades (44) to be presented to the base of each sugar cane stalk and to cut the stalk at this point irrespective of the undulations in the crop land caused previously by tillage. Cutting the cane stalk at the base is advantageous as the highest concentration of sucrose in a cane stalk is located towards the base.

[0051] The conveyor (36) includes a pair of parallel chassis beams, respectively designated 5OA and 5OB, which are horizontally spaced apart from each other to form a passage (52) there between (see Figure 1). To each chassis beam, an endless belt, respectively designated 54A and 54B, is mounted. A series of pulleys connects each endless belt to the respective chassis beam and guides movement of the endless belts about the respective chassis beams. The movement is powered hydraulically under control of the operator.

[0052] At a forward end (56) of the conveyor, the belts overlie the cutting mechanism (24), and at a trailing end (58) of the conveyor, they overlie the collecting bin (34). [0053] The outer surface of each of the belts (54A, 54B) is convoluted to form a plurality of U-shaped formations, respectively designated (6OA, 6OB, ....60N) (see Figure 4). In the passage (52), adjacent projecting formations mesh with each other forming an interlocking array (62).

[0054] Stalks of sugar cane are guided towards a mouth (64) of the passage (52) by a pair of pincer-like belt extenders, respectively designated 64A and 64B (see Figure 4), each of which is independently movable relatively to the other horizontally inwardly and outwardly. This movement, which is once again hydraulically powered, allows the operator a degree of flexibility in dealing with the specific characteristics of the crop of sugar cane that is being harvested. Should a particular cane crop be grown in relatively thick rows then the operator can move the belt extenders outwardly allowing the thicker rows of cane stalks to be efficiently guided towards the mouth.

[0055] The belt extenders (64) overlap the underlying blade arrangement (26) to extend, in use, into the crop of sugar cane being harvested.

[0056] Each belt extender (64A, 64B) includes a conveyor belt, respectively designated 68A and 68B, each of which is mounted to a respective brace, respectively designated 7OA and 7OB. Each brace, in turn, is pivotally attached to the respective chassis beam (5OA, 50B). Like the endless belts (54A, 54B), the conveyor belts (68A, 68B) are similarly convoluted to form a plurality of gathering formations, respectively designated (72A, 72B 72N), which act to snag the stalks before guiding the stalks towards the mouth (64), to be gripped, and the underlying blades (44) to be cut. [0057] It is at the mouth (67) that a stalk is first captured, and held vertically upright, within the interlocking array, between a crest of a projecting formation (60) and an opposing trough.

[0058] Substantially simultaneously with the capture of the stalk at the mouth, a lower portion of the stalk is presented to the blades (44) to be severed. The stalk, now severed, is held stationary relatively to the conveyor (36) as the endless belts (54A, 54B) move in tandem to convey the stalk, through the passage (52), from the forward end (54) to the trailing end (56) and in so doing, presenting an upper foliage portion of the stalk to the mill (30).

[0059] The mill (30) includes a plurality of scimitar shaped rotors, respectively designated 74A, 74B, ....74N, housed within a housing (76) which, in use, are hydraulically powered to rotate in unison about a rotor shaft (78) (see Figure 5).

[0060] The mill is slidably attached to the shaft (32) to enable it to move, powered hydraulically under control of the operator, vertically upwardly or downwardly relatively to the chassis (12). The vertical movement of the mill is necessitated by variations in the height of a particular cane crop, especially the height at which the stalks start to sprout foliage.

[0061] The rotors (74), rotating at high speed, shred and particularise the upper foliage portion of the stalk, widely dispersing the particulate foliage matter across the ground. The upper foliage portion of each stalk is often not wanted in a harvested cane crop and by shredding and dispersing this portion, a waste matter now provides a mulch to the soil. [0062] Also, removing the upper foliage portion enables the cane crop to be harvested without the need to burn off the foliage of this portion prior to harvesting. This obviates reduces greenhouse gas emission and prevents the immolation of resident wildlife.

[0063] Once the mill has shredded the upper foliage portion, the remaining portion of each stalk, still held vertically upright within the interlocking array (62), is conveyed to the trailing end (56) before being released from the interlocking array and dropped into the collecting bin (34).

[0064] The collecting bin (34) is substantially "L" shaped in cross section and has a back panel (74) connected to the chassis (12), a base plate (76), pivotally attached at a basal axis (80) to the back panel, and an outer side wall (78) fixedly attached to the base plate.

[0065] Under operation of the operator, when the collecting bin (34) is substantially filled with a load of cane stalks, the base plate (76) and outer side wall (78) drop away, rotating downwardly about the basal axis (80), to deposit the load onto the ground, at a substantially 90° angle relatively to the axis (18). This allows a vehicle to collect the load with relative ease in a single collecting motion.

Claims

1. A crop harvester which includes a chassis and a cutting mechanism attached to the chassis, for cutting the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes, which has at least one blade and which is movable about at least one pivot point to vary the inclination of the blade relatively to the chassis.

2. A crop harvester according to claim 1 in which the chassis comprises a tubular metal frame.

3. A crop harvester according to claims 1 or 2 in which the cutting mechanism includes a base which is attached to and which underlies the blade and which is engageable with a ground surface to support the blade at a predetermined height above the ground.

4. A crop harvester according to claim 3 in which the base is dome shaped.

5. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the cutting mechanism includes an arm which is attached at a first end to the chassis and at an opposing end to the blade.

6. A crop harvester according to claim 5 in which the at least one pivot point is located either at the first end or the opposing end.

7. A crop harvester according to claim 5 or 6 in which the arm is pivotal, relatively to the chassis, in a first plane and the cutting mechanism is pivotal, relatively to the arm, in a second plane which is transverse to the first plane.

8. A crop harvester which includes a chassis, a cutting mechanism attached to the chassis which cuts the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes and a conveyor mounted to the chassis which gathers the stalks cut by the cutting mechanism and which removes the stalks to a location remote from the cutting mechanism.

9. A crop harvester according to claim 8 in which the conveyor includes a pair of parallel endless belts spaced apart from each other to form therebetween a stalk-receiving passage.

10. A crop harvester according to claim 9 in which each belt includes a plurality of U-shaped formations which project outwardly from each belt.

11. A crop harvester according to claim 10 in which each U-shaped formation which projects into the passage interlocks with opposing formations forming an interlocking array.

12. A crop harvester according to claim 11 in which the interlocking array includes a plurality of stalk retaining spaces, formed between an apex of each formation and an opposing belt surface.

13. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 8 to 12 in which the conveyor is vertically moveable relatively to the chassis to accommodate stalk length variability.

14. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the conveyor at least partly overlies the cutting mechanism.

15. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein the conveyor includes a guiding formation which overlaps the cutting mechanism for gathering and guiding the stalks towards a mouth of the conveyor and the cutting mechanism.

16. A crop harvester according to claim 15 in which the guiding formation includes a pair of pincer-like belt extenders, each of which extends from a respective endless belt.

17. A crop harvester according to claim 16 in which each belt extender is movable independently of the other.

18. A crop harvester according to claim 16 or 17 in which each belt extender includes a plurality of U-shaped projections which project outwardly therefrom.

19. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 8 to 18 in which the cutting mechanism includes a disc with a cutting edge located at a peripheral edge the disc.

20. A crop harvester according to claim 19 in which the cutting mechanism includes a guiding projection which extends above an upper surface of the disc to guide lower severed ends of the crop stalks towards the conveyor.

21. A crop harvester which includes a chassis, a cutting mechanism attached to the chassis to cut the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes and a mill engaged with the chassis for shredding an upper portion of each stalk.

22. A crop harvester according to claim 21 in which the mill includes a plurality of bladed rotors, vertically spaced from each other, each of which rotates at a high rotational velocity.

23. A crop harvester according to claim 22 in which each of the bladed rotors are scimitar-shaped.

24. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 21 to 23 in which the mill includes a housing in which the bladed rotors are housed.

25. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 21 to 24 in which the mill is vertically adjustable relatively to the chassis to accommodate the specific characteristics of the crop to be harvested.

26. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 21 to 25 which includes a shaft mounted to the chassis to which the mill is movably vertically and movably rotationally engaged.

27. A crop harvester according to any one of claims 21 to 26 which includes a conveyor mounted to the chassis which gathers the stalks cut by the cutting mechanism and which delivers the stalks to the mill.

28. A crop harvester which includes a chassis having a cutting mechanism for cutting the stalks of a crop through which the crop harvester passes, a collection bin for collecting the stalks cut by the cutting mechanism in a bundle before depositing the bundle on the ground to laterally extend from a line of travel of the crop harvester, and a means for delivering the stalks from the cutting mechanism to the collection bin.

9. A crop harvester according to claim 28 in which the collection bin includes a rear panel which rotates downwardly about a lower edge thereof to allow the bundle of collected stalks to fall from the collection bin to the ground.