Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01B—SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
  • A01B59/00—Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements
  • A01B59/04—Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements for machines pulled or pushed by a tractor
  • A01B59/042—Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements for machines pulled or pushed by a tractor having pulling means arranged on the rear part of the tractor
  • A01B59/043—Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements for machines pulled or pushed by a tractor having pulling means arranged on the rear part of the tractor supported at three points, e.g. by quick-release couplings
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01B—SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
  • A01B69/00—Steering of agricultural machines or implements; Guiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track
  • A01B69/003—Steering or guiding of machines or implements pushed or pulled by or mounted on agricultural vehicles such as tractors, e.g. by lateral shifting of the towing connection
  • A01B69/004—Steering or guiding of machines or implements pushed or pulled by or mounted on agricultural vehicles such as tractors, e.g. by lateral shifting of the towing connection automatic
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
  • A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
  • A01F15/08—Details
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/14—Draw-gear or towing devices characterised by their type
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
  • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
  • B60D1/24—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions
  • B60D1/42—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for being adjustable
  • B60D1/44—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices characterised by arrangements for particular functions for being adjustable horizontally

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a towing apparatus for agricultural machines, of the type of balers, round balers and the like.
• the bales can in fact be easily transported and stored (or more generally, enable a simpler management of the agricultural products that make them up, as a function of the specific purposes for which they are destined).
• bales In order to form the bales, the use is frequent of agricultural machines, called “balers” or “forage presses”, which are first of all provided with a pick-up apparatus, which is capable of picking up the agricultural products that the machine progressively encounters during its advancement.
• such machines are further provided with a chamber for the compression of the agricultural products (which are received from the pick-up apparatus), so as to be able to carry out the formation of the bale.
• balers are substantially constituted by a an operating unit (provided with the pick-up apparatus and the chamber) that has to be towed by an independent tractor, which in turn is driven by a driver.
• a towing device which according to methods that are now widely consolidated comprises a towbar arranged according to the direction of travel, which extends at the front of the operating unit and is typically rigidly coupled thereto.
• the towbar At its free end the towbar is provided with means of fixed rotatable engagement with the tractor, and, in the latter case, such means usually comprise a ring-shaped element, called “towing eye", which can accommodate, rotatably, a pin that is rigidly coupled to the rear portion of the tractor.
• windrows sometimes do not have a regular and linear progression (or constant width), and/or the agricultural products are not evenly distributed along them.
• the aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems by providing a towing apparatus for balers, round balers, and similar agricultural machines, that ensures the optimal formation of the bale, even in the event of uneven distribution on the ground of the agricultural products to be picked up and compressed.
• an object of the invention is to provide a towing apparatus that ensures the optimal formation of the bale, without requiring constant corrections to the course of the tractor, in order to follow any irregularities of the windrow.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a towing apparatus that ensures the optimal formation of the bale, without requiring the driver to constantly check the distribution of the agricultural products on the ground, in order to make the necessary corrections.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a versatile towing apparatus, that can be effectively coupled to tractors of different types and/or destined for different markets, in compliance with local regulations governing the sector.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a towing apparatus that ensures a high reliability of operation.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a towing apparatus that can be easily implemented using elements and materials that are readily available on the market.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a towing apparatus that is low cost and safely applied.
• a towing apparatus for agricultural machines of the type of balers, round balers and the like which comprise at least one device for gathering previously-cut agricultural products, of the type of grass, wheat, maize, hay, forage, and the like, and a chamber for the accommodation and compression of the agricultural products, which are received from the gathering device, for the formation of a bale, characterized in that it comprises at least one first member, which can be coupled to the agricultural machine and is associated with a second member, said second member being in turn associated with a third member, which can be coupled to a tractor for towing the agricultural machine, either or both of said first member and said second member being controlled by at least one respective actuator, for the movement of the agricultural machine at least partially independently of the advancement of the tractor.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the towing apparatus according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a side view of the towing apparatus in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a view from above of the towing apparatus in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the towing of an agricultural machine by a tractor, by way of the apparatus in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the towing of an agricultural machine, using a different mounting arrangement, by a tractor, by way of the apparatus in Figure 1 ;
• Figures 6 to 8 are schematic views from above of the towing of an agricultural machine by a tractor by way of the apparatus according to the invention, and show the operation thereof.
• the reference numeral 1 generally designates a towing apparatus for agricultural machines A of the type of balers, round balers and the like: as is known, the machines A comprise first of all at least one device B for gathering previously-cut agricultural products, of the type of grass, wheat, maize, hay, forage, and the like.
• the agricultural machine A comprises a chamber C for the accommodation and compression of the agricultural products, which are received from the gathering device B, in order to thus be capable of forming a bale (which is usually, but not exclusively, cylindrical).
• the apparatus 1 is intended for the towing of machines A of the substantially known type described above, for the purpose of moving them along a piece of agricultural land and first of all gathering the above mentioned agricultural products, which usually have already been cut and are on the ground, piled so as to form one or more ordered rows, called windrows.
• the gathering device B picks up the agricultural products, usually by way of a plurality of torsion springs that are made to rotate about a horizontal axis by a shaft facing the ground, and, with the aid of adapted cowlings, feeds those agricultural products into the chamber C, in which they are compressed according to conventional methods until the desired bale is formed.
• the agricultural machine A is of the type of a roto- baler and the like, adapted to the formation of a usually cylindrical bale A, it should be noted however that the possibility is not ruled out of adopting the apparatus 1 according to the invention for towing other types of agricultural presses, or even for other agricultural machines A, while remaining within the scope of protection claimed herein.
• the towing apparatus 1 comprises first of all at least one first member 2, which can be coupled to the agricultural machine A and is associated with a second member 3. Furthermore, the second member 3 is in turn associated with a third member 4; the latter can be coupled to a tractor D (which is also for example conventional), when it is desired to perform the towing of the agricultural machine A.
• either or both of the first member 2 and the second member 3 is controlled by at least one respective actuator 5, in order to move the agricultural machine A at least partially independently of the advancement of the tractor D and so be able to follow the irregularities of distribution of the agricultural products, while maintaining a constant advancement direction E for the tractor D (and thus achieving, from this point onward, the set aim).
• first member 2 which can be coupled rigidly to the agricultural machine A (according to methods that will be explained in the following pages for the purposes of non-limiting example), is pivoted at the opposite end to the second member 3 about a first substantially vertical rotation axis F.
• the third member 4 which can be coupled rigidly to the tractor D according to methods that will also be explained in the following pages for the purposes of non-limiting example, is pivoted to the second member 3 about a second substantially vertical rotation axis G (and thus parallel to the first axis F).
• the actuator 5 is constituted substantially by a hydraulic cylinder, which comprises first of all a substantially cylindrical jacket 6, which is articulated with one of its ends to at least one contoured tab 7, protruding from the third member 4. Furthermore, the cylinder comprises a piston 8, which is at least partially slideable within the jacket 6 and is articulated, with its free end, to a contoured crest 9 protruding from the second member 3.
• the sliding of the piston 8 in the jacket 6, which can be driven according to the methods that will for example be described below, determines the rotation of the second member 3 about the second axis G and, consequently, the rotation about the first axis F of the first member 2, and, with the latter, of the agricultural machine A.
• the towing apparatus 1 comprises automatic means of control and management of the actuator 5 (or of the actuators 5, in embodiments that have two or more thereof), in order to be able to automatically activate it, and thus obtain, as a consequence, the automatic movement of the agricultural machine A independently of the advancement direction E of the tractor D.
• the automatic means of control and management comprise at least one detection sensor, direct or indirect, of the pressure, which can be arranged in the chamber C of the agricultural machine A.
• the automatic means comprise an electronic unit for driving the actuator 5, which is associated with the sensor (or sensors), and which can be arranged on board the tractor D or on board the agricultural machine A, according to specific requirements.
• control unit a controller or a PLC for example
• the control unit can act on hydraulic valves that are connected to the hydraulic cylinder (or hydraulic cylinders).
• the sensors can be selected from any type, and be adapted to detect the pressure value in one or more conveniently selected points of the chamber C (the value being directly correlated to the progressive filling of the chamber C with the agricultural products).
• each sensor can be a potentiometer, capable of monitoring the pressure, and thus the filling of the chamber C, by way of the measurement of the movement or of the oscillation (depending, as noted, on the pressure value) of a respective reference plate, which is conveniently arranged in the chamber C.
• the first member 2 comprises a first fork 10, which defines a first rotatable accommodation seat for a first pivot 11 that is arranged according to the first rotation axis F and is coupled to the second member 3.
• the first fork 10 of the first member 2 is rigidly fixed, according to a configuration selected from a plurality of different configurations (which can be obtained according to the methods that will be explained in the paragraphs below), to a supporting bracket 12 for a pair of contoured bars 13.
• the contoured bars 13 can be rigidly anchored to the agricultural machine A so as to obtain the coupling between the towing apparatus 1 according to the invention and the agricultural machine A.
• the supporting bracket 12 and the first fork 10 have a plurality of respective slots 14: thus, at least some selected such slots 14 can be mutually aligned
• first fixing elements therein, of the type of nails, rivets, screws, and the like.
• the third member 4 comprises a second fork 15, which defines a second rotatable accommodation seat for a second pivot 16 that is arranged along the second rotation axis G and is coupled to the second member 3.
• the second fork 15 is fixed to a pair of contoured plates 17, which can be rigidly anchored to the tractor D (according to methods that will be explained in the paragraphs below), so as to obtain the coupling between the tractor D and the towing apparatus 1 according to the invention.
• the plates 17 support, according to an arrangement selected from a plurality of different arrangements, a rigid support 18 of a towing eye 19, which can be coupled rotatably to a fixed pin that is integral with the tractor D.
• the plates 17 and the support 18 have a plurality of respective holes 20: in a substantially similar fashion as that for the first fork 10 and the bracket 12, at least some selected such holes 20 can be mutually aligned, in order to insert second fixing elements therein, of the type of nails, rivets, screws, and the like.
• the holes 20 and the slots 14 thus make it possible to obtain repeated course corrections, corresponding to mutual deployments of the three members 2, 3 and 4, and thus offer a first possibility of adapting the apparatus 1 according to the invention to the specific dimensions of the machine A and of the tractor D that is to tow it.
• each sheet 21 is in fact welded to a respective plate 17 and, at the opposite end, defines an orifice 22 that can be aligned with a respective slit that is provided on a corresponding beam H that protrudes from the rear of the tractor D, so as to allow the insertion of a locking element.
• one of the plates 17 defines a pair of protruding tabs 7, mutually parallel, which rotatably support the jacket 6 of the hydraulic cylinder.
• the second member 3 is constituted substantially by a profiled element that defines, at its mutually opposite end portions 3a, 3b, the first pivot 11 and the second pivot 16.
• the profiled element is substantially made up of the two above mentioned end portions 3a, 3b, mutually parallel, and of an intermediate portion 3 c, inclined (and in any case aligned, in the longitudinal direction, with the two end portions 3a, 3b).
• the first pivot 11 is arranged at a higher vertical height with respect to the second pivot 16, and consequently with respect to the towing eye 19, and it is thus possible to use the towing apparatus 1 according to the invention in order to tow agricultural machines A by way of tractors D that have the fixed pin (and more generally the towing elements) at a low height from the ground.
• the first pivot 11 is arranged at a lower vertical height with respect to the second pivot 16, and consequently with respect to the towing eye 19.
• the towing apparatus 1 in order to tow agricultural machines A by way of tractors D which have the fixed pin (and more generally the towing elements) at a high distance from the ground.
• the towing apparatus 1 can be sold with two different second members 3, each one of which is provided with a respective protruding crest 9 and can be coupled rotatably with a same first member 2 and a same third member 4.
• each second member 3 can as needed provide a respective mounting option, of the two described above.
• the (same) second member 3 defines two protruding crests 9, which, as can be seen from the accompanying figures, are arranged at the mutually opposite sides of the intermediate portion 3 c.
• the free end of the piston 8 can be articulated to a respective protruding crest 9 of the (same) second member 3.
• the members 2, 3 and 4 (and optionally the actuator 5) are mutually coupled in a different manner to that outlined above, so as to obtain further mounting arrangements.
• second members 3 and/or optionally first members 2 and third members 4 of different shapes and dimensions, for the express purpose of ensuring, in the assembly step, the possibility to choose further mounting options.
• each one of the two mounting options described in detail corresponds on its own in effect to innumerable modes of mutual fixing between the supporting bracket 12 and the first fork 10 (thanks to the slots 14), as with between the plates 17 and the support 18 (thanks to the holes 20), and this, on the basis of just the two mounting options shown, makes it possible to obtain a virtually infinite number of configurations.
• the machine A can be towed by the tractor D in order to be moved along a piece of agricultural land: the tractor D follows a rectilinear course, usually defined by the windrows that were provided previously, and behind it the gathering device B picks up the agricultural products, to feed to the chamber C and progressively form the bale.
• the members 2, 3 and 4 are substantially aligned along the advancement direction E (as in Figure 6) and the agricultural machine A, towed by the tractor D, continues in turn along the advancement direction E.
• control unit When the control unit detects anomalies in the bale formation process (according to the methods described previously), owing to, as has been seen, an uneven distribution of the agricultural products on the ground, it activates the actuator 5.
• the sliding of the piston 8 within the jacket 6 thus determines the rotation, about the second axis G, of the second member 3 with respect to the third member 4 (which is integral with the tractor D and thus, in fact, fixed) and, consequently, the rotation of the first member 2 with respect to the second member 3 about the first axis F.
• the agricultural machine A is forced to perform a translational motion at right angles to the advancement direction E (proportionally to the extent, variable at will, of the rotation imposed on the second member 3 by the piston 8), thus bringing itself for example into one of the two positions illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 (which correspond to the rotations in the two directions of the second member 3, which in turn depend on the sliding of the piston 8 in the two opposite directions).
• the towing apparatus 1 ensures the correct formation of the bale under all operating conditions, in that it enables the machine A to follow the irregularities of formation of the windrow and/or move toward the region of the ground on which the agricultural products are piled the most, without requiring any course correction of the tractor D, which can thus freely proceed in its rectilinear motion along the advancement direction E.
• the feeding of the chamber C can thus still occur with sufficient evenness, even when, by contrast, the distribution of the agricultural products is not uniform (a situation that, as has been seen, with conventional agricultural machines results in an inadequate filling of the chamber and the formation of uneven bales). Moreover, such result is obtained entirely automatically (thanks to the sensors and to the control unit), without requiring any intervention of the driver or other operator, who can in fact ignore the distribution of the agricultural products on the ground.
• towing apparatus 1 is undoubtedly versatile, thanks to the numerous possibilities (described previously) for adjustment and adaptation of the three members 2, 3 and 4, to the specific dimensions of the machine A and of the tractor D, and to the specific requirements (and to the regulations).
• the various mounting options that can be obtained make it possible to adapt the towing apparatus 1 according to the invention to the different operating conditions under which the agricultural machines A and the tractors D must operate in each instance, in relation in particular to the vertical height at which to perform the coupling between the various components involved in the towing and more generally in relation to the different tow hook systems that various national regulations impose.
• the towing apparatus in practice it has been found that the towing apparatus according to the invention fully achieves the set aim and objects in that the use of a first member, which can be coupled to an agricultural machine and is associated with a second member, which in turn is associated with a third member that can be coupled to a tractor, for towing the agricultural machine, with either or both of the first member and the second member being controlled by at least one respective actuator, makes it possible to move the agricultural machine at least partially independently of the advancement of the tractor and therefore ensures the optimal formation of the bale, even in the event of uneven distribution on the ground of the agricultural products to be picked up and compressed.
• the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Agricultural Machines (AREA)
• Harvesting Machines For Specific Crops (AREA)
• Harvester Elements (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-10-15 EP EP14425131.1A patent/EP3008985B1/en active Active
• 2015
  • 2015-10-12 WO PCT/EP2015/073601 patent/WO2016059008A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-10-12 RU RU2017116541A patent/RU2695463C2/ru active
  • 2015-10-12 AU AU2015332838A patent/AU2015332838B2/en active Active
  • 2015-10-12 NZ NZ731747A patent/NZ731747A/en unknown
  • 2015-10-12 US US15/519,605 patent/US10462953B2/en active Active
  • 2015-10-12 CA CA2964580A patent/CA2964580C/en active Active
  • 2015-10-12 JP JP2017539507A patent/JP6937239B2/ja active Active

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