WO2019138310A1

WO2019138310A1 - Cooler filter apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2019138310A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/050099
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederico ROSSATO; Matteo GARDIN
Original assignee: Agco International Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-01-11
Filing date: 2019-01-07
Publication date: 2019-07-18
Also published as: GB201800454D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a rotary filter apparatus (1) for a radiator (3) of an agricultural harvesting machine (10) having an engine (5), said rotary filter apparatus comprising: a rotary filter drum (11) for filtering cooling air (7) for the radiator (3), having a perforated surface (11a) and operable to be driven to rotate; a vacuum device (12) located such that at least a portion of the perforated surface passes by the vacuum device as the drum rotates so that particulate matter may be vacuumed from said surface by said vacuum device, wherein said vacuum device is powered by the driving of a vacuum driving shaft (12a); a primary drive shaft (13a), said primary drive shaft operably connected (13b, 14a, 11p) to drive the drum (11) and the vacuum driving shaft (12a) and further operably connected (13c, 14b, 5p) to be driven by the engine (5, 5s); characterised in that a clutch (15) is provided between the engine (5) and the vacuum drive shaft (12a) such that the vacuum drive shaft (12a) may be disconnected from the engine (5) when the engine (5) is in use and the rotary filter apparatus (1) is not required to be in operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION

COOLER FILTER APPARATUS

Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to agricultural harvesting machines such as combine harvesters and in particular, to a rotating cooling-air filter and associated cleaning apparatus for such a harvesting machine.

Background of invention

Agricultural machines / vehicles commonly require significant air cooling systems associated with radiators and similar heat exchange units for cooling engines, air conditioners and other systems. However such machines or vehicles typically operate in environments where a significant amount of dust, dirt, mud and other particulate matter is present, and so such machines are often provided with air filter systems for filtering the air before it passes over or through a radiator or other heat exchanger. Filters may easily become clogged or blocked in the dirty environments, and so typically a self-cleaning rotary filter screen is provided. The filter screen is generally in the form of a drum which rotates about a horizontal axis. Some particles fall away as the drum rotates. Such self-cleaning filters are often also provided with a vacuum system, typically in conjunction with a brush of some description, in order to further brush off and then vacuum away further material from the drum.

The provision of these self-cleaning filters, and the associated systems for performing the cleaning, results in a significant amount of vehicle power being diverted to maintain the operation of the self-cleaning filter system. This can approach a significant proportion of the total available power of the vehicle. In some instances, for example when a vehicle is on-road travelling between harvesting sites, the diversion of power can limit the speed at which the vehicle can move, meaning that the vehicle is spending more time travelling and less time harvesting, which is deleterious to the efficiency of a farming operation. Also, the self-cleaning filter draws power from the engine even when the amount of particulate in the air is low, meaning higher fuel consumption than is necessary, and hence higher costs. A self cleaning filter is also noisy and generates noise unnecessarily when it is not needed.

A solution to these problems would be desirable. Summary of Invention

Accordingly there is in an aspect provided a rotary filter apparatus (1 ) for a radiator (3) of an agricultural harvesting machine (10) having an engine (5), said rotary filter apparatus comprising: a rotary filter drum (1 1 ) for filtering cooling air (7) for the radiator (3), having a perforated surface (1 1 a) and operable to be driven to rotate; a vacuum device (12) located such that at least a portion of the perforated surface passes by the vacuum device as the drum rotates so that particulate matter may be vacuumed from said surface by said vacuum device, wherein said vacuum device is powered by the driving of a vacuum driving shaft (12a); a primary drive shaft (13a), said primary drive shaft operably connected (13b, 14a, 1 1 p) to drive the drum (1 1 ) and the vacuum driving shaft (12a) and further operably connected (13c, 14b, 5p) to be driven by the engine (5, 5s); characterised in that a clutch (15) is provided between the engine (5) and the vacuum drive shaft (12a) such that the vacuum drive shaft (12a) may be disconnected from the engine (5) when the engine (5) is in use and the rotary filter apparatus (1 ) is not required to be in operation.

It may be that the clutch is an electrically actuated clutch and disconnection of the clutch is in response to an electrical signal (Es).

The advantage of this apparatus is that when the harvesting machine is not in a dusty/ dirty/ particulate-laden environment, the self-cleaning rotary filter apparatus is not drawing power from the engine, meaning that more of the engine power is available for other purposes. This is useful as most particulates are in the air when a thresher is in action and a combine harvester is actually harvesting. The filter apparatus may then be turned off at any time when the thresher is inactive. Additionally, the filter apparatus may be deactivated at other times - for example, if the machine is travelling on roads between fields, there may well be less particulate in the air than when the machine is actually performing a harvesting operation or even just moving in a field. Accordingly, the clutch can be actuated / electromagnetically switched so as to disconnect the filter apparatus from the engine when the machine leaves one field and begins to travel via a tarmac road to another field. More of the engine power will then be available, for example, to drive the machine at speed to the next field. Alternatively, at the same speed, or at any other time the filter apparatus is deactivated, less fuel will be consumed, saving on fuel costs. Wear and tear on filter apparatus components will also be reduced. Further, when‘on the road’, or at other times when the use of the filter is unnecessary, the overall noise of the machine will be reduced. The skilled person will recognise that a number of clutch mechanisms and arrangements may readily be utilised to create embodiments of the invention. Hydraulic or mechanical options will be realisable.

In an embodiment, the clutch may be an electromagnetic pulley clutch comprising an outer pulley section and an inner shaft mount section, and may be mounted on the primary drive shaft. The outer pulley section may be belt-driven by the engine. Such electromagnetic pulley clutches are known in the art. It has an outer surface in the form of a pulley, to which a drive belt can be applied, and an inner section comprising a coaxial shaft-receiving portion or a shaft. It will be recognised that a shaft mount section and a shaft may be unitary. The clutch can engage and/or disengage between the inner section and the outer pulley. Drive can then be electrically facilitated and controlled in engagement and disengagement between a shaft and a belt drive which goes around the shaft.

In an embodiment the primary drive shaft is driven by the engine and the primary drive shaft is also the vacuum drive shaft. In other embodiments, the shafts may be separate items, and may be connected by any known means such as gears or belts in order that drive is transferred from the primary drive shaft to the vacuum drive shaft. In accordance with aspects of the invention, the connection between the primary drive shaft and the vacuum drive shaft may include an electrically auctuated clutch. Various clutches are known as alternatives to the electromagnetic pulley clutch noted above.

In an embodiment, the clutch may be a linear clutch disposed between the primary drive shaft and the vacuum driving shaft. The clutch may be directly connected to the shafts or may in other embodiments be in mechanical contact with one or other shaft via a drivetrain of some kind, for example via a set of gears or a belt drive or a hydraulic drive. A linear clutch is commonly known and is a clutch which allows for the engagement or disengagement of drive between two shafts which lie along the same axis. Such clutches are typically found in cars.

In embodiments, the primary drive shaft is driven by a belt which is driven by an engine pulley mounted to an engine shaft driven by the engine. It will be recognised that a number of other arrangements for transferring drive from the engine to the primary drive shaft may be made, and these may involve gears or hydraulic drive units or belt drives.

In embodiments, the rotary filter drum is provided with a pulley arrangement which is substantially circumferential around the drum - ie: a circumferential drum pulley, whereby a drive belt drives the drum and effectively drives the circumference of the drum. The driver for the drive belt may be a drum drive pulley, and this may be mounted on the vacuum driving shaft. Advantageously, mounting the drum drive pulley on the vacuum driving shaft means that both the drum and the vacuum are simultaneously powered by a single shaft - ie: the vacuum driving shaft.

In some arrangements, the electrically operated clutch (whether a pulley clutch or other type) is nominally closed but is open when a voltage is applied; in other arrangements, the clutch is nominally open but closes when a voltage is applied. When the clutch is open, drive to the drum and vacuum is disengaged; when the clutch is closed, drive is engaged. For a harvesting machine, which for purposes of efficiency will spend as much time as possible actually doing harvesting operations and the minimum of time possible running but not harvesting (for example, travelling between fields), a ‘nominally closed (engaged drive), open (disengaged) when voltage applied’ arrangement may be preferred. Similarly, such a‘nominally closed (engaged drive), open (disengaged) when activated’ arrangement may also be preferred if the clutch is hydraulic or mechanical.

This switching between closed/engaged and open/disengaged states of the clutch can be done manually by an operator of the machine, or may be done automatically as prompted by a processor on the machine in response to a number of potential inputs, which may come from, for example, a speed sensor, a navigation unit, an accelerometer or other device for measuring ride smoothness, a dust sensor, or a sensor on a harvesting system, particularly one which senses if the harvesting system is operational or not. The processor may actuate the clutch via any intermediary means known in the art whether the clutch is electric or a hydraulic or mechanical clutch; for example a hydraulic clutch may be actuated by the processor via an electrically controlled solenoid valve driven by the processor.

In an example, the processor may determine that the machine is travelling on a road. The processor may take an input from a navigation system to recognise that the machine is on a road rather than in a field and hence send a signal to open the clutch. In an example, the processor may recognise the vehicle is on a road by a determination that the speed of the vehicle is above a certain value. Road travel may be recognised by a determination of a smooth ride.

In an example, the processor may take an input from a dust sensor which monitors particulate levels in the air and opens the clutch when particulate levels fall below a predetermined level.

The input may be a determination that a demand for engine output from another system of the machine/vehicle, for example a transmission, is such that the filter apparatus must be deactivated so that the engine can fulfil the demand.

The input may be a determination that the machine is not currently performing a harvesting operation. This may be determined based on the non-operation of a harvesting system on the machine, such as a header or threshing drum.

It will be recognised that such a processor may form part of a larger processing unit anywhere where an appropriate such processing unit is present on the machine.

Specific Description

The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the attached Figures.

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a combine harvester machine with a rotary filter apparatus adjacent an engine of the machine.

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic pictorial view of elements of a prior art rotary filter apparatus.

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a rotary filter apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3p shows a schematic view of elements of the prior art rotary filter apparatus as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3a shows a schematic view of elements of a rotary filter apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a combine harvester (or machine) (10) about to leave a field F and join a road R. The machine is driven by an engine 5 which also supplies power to the harvesting equipment of the machine, such as header 31 which comprises a cutter bar and a feeder (not shown). It will be understood that other typical elements of a combine harvester, such as a thresher, straw walker, sieve, straw chopper etc, will typically be present, although these are not shown. Any of these items, such as the thresher, as well as the header, may be deemed to be a‘harvesting system’ of the machine, and may be supplied with sensors which indicate that they are or are not in operation.

The machine 10 is provided with a rotary filter apparatus 1 which can be seen, in this instance, high up on the right hand side of the machine. In particular, rotary filter drum 1 1 and vacuum device 12 can be seen, as well as drive belt 14a and vacuum outlet pipe 12e.

The machine 10 is also provided with a number of other systems and sensors. GPS navigation unit 21 is a satellite navigation receiver for receiving a signal 21 s from at least one satellite 21 st. Speed sensor 23 measures the speed of the vehicle. Transmission 29a is controlled by a central machine ECU 29, which is a processor. Dust sensor 27 measures an amount of particulates present in ambient air. Accelerometer 25 measures movement of the machine. Also present is a processor 17, which may be part of ECU 29. Location and exact type of these devices may, the skilled person will readily understand, vary by design, and the items and their locations as shown in this Figure are intended to be representative.

Figure 2 shows elements of a prior art rotary filter apparatus. Rotary Filter Drum 1 1 rotates in the direction Fr as air is drawn through perforations 1 1 a. Particulates which adhere to the outside surface of drum 1 1 are vacuumed off by vacuum device 12 which is located proximate a point on the outside surface of the drum 1 1. A brush 12d is also provided to assist in removal of the particulates. In this instance, vacuum device 12 comprises a nozzle element 12c and an axial compressor within casing 12b, which draw air in through the nozzle 12c and expels it via hosing 12e, which as can be seen in Figure 1 directs the expelled air 7e (and associated particulate matter) down towards the ground. The axial compressor is driven by a shaft 12a (vacuum driving shaft) which in this instance is unitary with primary drive shaft 13a. Primary drive shaft 13a is provided with a primary drive pulley 13c which is itself driven by a belt 14b which is driven, ultimately, by the engine (not shown in Figure 2). It will be readily understood that primary drive shaft 13a may be driven by other means from the engine, for example by a gear chain or by a hydraulic system. Conveniently in this case, the vacuum drive shaft 12a is also fitted with a drum drive pulley 13b which drives a belt 14a which, in turn, drives circumferential drum pulley 1 1 p which is an integrated part of drum 1 1.

With reference to Figure 3, drum 1 1 and vacuum device 12 are as seen in Figure 2. Engine 5 is cooled by a radiator 3 cooled by a fan 4 which draws air 7 through the filter drum 1 1. These elements are not shown in Figure 2 but would be likewise present in an installation. Figure 3 however shows that in accordance with the invention, the apparatus is now provided with a clutch 15, and pulley 13c is now an outer part of an electromagnetic pulley clutch 15a which is mounted on primary drive shaft 13a such that opening of the clutch 15/15a will disconnect engine drive from the primary drive shaft 13a and hence vacuum drive shaft 12a. Engine 5 is provided with an auxiliary drive shaft 5s on which is located pulley 5p for driving belt 14b and hence pulley 13c. Shaft 12a/13a is supported by a bracket 16 with a bush 16a. Electromagnetic pulley clutch 15a is also supported by a further bracket 18 and is provided with an electrical connection 15w to processor 17 which sends a control signal in the form of an electrical signal Es for instructing the clutch 15a to open or close.

Figure 3p shows a partial view of a similar schematic view as in Figure 3 where the pulley 13c is a standard prior art pulley mounted on shaft 13a/12a as in Figure 2.

Figure 3a shows a partial view of a similar schematic view as in Figure 3 of an embodiment of the invention where the pulley 13c is a standard prior art pulley but primary drive shaft 13a and vacuum drive shaft 12a are separate shafts, with a linear clutch 15b allowing them to be drivably engaged or disengaged.

Referring again to Figure 1 , the disengagement of clutch 15/15a/15b may be controlled by an operator (not shown), or may be controlled by processor 17, which may be part of a more general ECU 29. The processor may disengage the clutch 15 upon receipt of an input from the GPS 21 , which input may indicate that the vehicle is travelling on a road R. The processor may disengage the clutch upon receipt of an input from speed sensor 23 that the vehicle is travelling at a speed consistent with (relatively) high-speed road travel, as opposed to slow-speed travel across a field. The processor may disengage the clutch upon receipt of an input from accelerometer 25 that the machine is vibrating in a (relatively) minor manner and is thus on a road, as opposed to the greater vibrations associated with travelling across a field. The processor may disengage the clutch upon receipt of an input from dust sensor 27 that the air is not particularly dirty, ie: the amount of particulates in the air is relatively low, consistent with (for example) not performing a typical harvesting operation. The processor may disengage the clutch upon receipt of an input from ECU 29 that the machine is required to direct more engine power to, for example, the wheels via transmission 29a or a harvesting system 31 , and so the rotary filter apparatus must be deactivated in order to‘free up’ engine power. The processor may disengage the clutch upon receipt of an input from a harvesting system, such as header 31 or a thresher or another similar system, that the harvesting system is not in operation, and thus harvesting is not occurring and hence there is less requirement for the rotary filter apparatus to be in operation, where the assumption is that ambient air quality is generally worst during a harvesting operation where the vehicle is creating a lot of airborne particulate, which may include dust, mud, stones and various bits of crop (ie: seeds, stalks, chaff, etc). Clearly the skilled person will recognise that various aspects, embodiments and elements of the present application, including as illustrated in the figures, may be arranged in differing combinations, any and all of which may be considered to fall within the ambit of the inventive concept. The invention will be defined by the following claims.

Claims

1 . A rotary filter apparatus (1 ) for a radiator (3) of an agricultural harvesting machine (10) having an engine (5), said rotary filter apparatus comprising: a rotary filter drum (1 1 ) for filtering cooling air (7) for the radiator (3), having a perforated surface (1 1 a) and operable to be driven to rotate; a vacuum device (12) located such that at least a portion of the perforated surface passes by the vacuum device as the drum rotates so that particulate matter may be vacuumed from said surface by said vacuum device, wherein said vacuum device is powered by the driving of a vacuum driving shaft (12a);

a primary drive shaft (13a), said primary drive shaft operably connected (13b, 14a, 1 1 p) to drive the drum (1 1 ) and the vacuum driving shaft (12a) and further operably connected (13c, 14b, 5p) to be driven by the engine (5, 5s);

characterised in that a clutch (15) is provided between the engine (5) and the vacuum drive shaft (12a) such that the vacuum drive shaft (12a) may be disconnected from the engine (5) when the engine (5) is in use and the rotary filter apparatus (1 ) is not required to be in operation.

2. A rotary filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clutch is an electrically actuated clutch and disconnection of the clutch is in response to an electrical signal (Es).

3. A rotary filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the clutch (15) is an electromagnetic pulley clutch (15a) comprising an outer pulley section (13c) and an inner shaft mount section (15m) and wherein said shaft mount section (15m) is mounted on the primary drive shaft (13a) and wherein the outer pulley section (13c) is driven by a belt (14b) driven by the engine (5).

4. A rotary filter apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the primary drive shaft (13a) and the vacuum driving shaft (12a) are a unitary item.

5. A rotary filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the clutch (15) is a linear clutch (15b) disposed between the primary drive shaft (13a) and the vacuum driving shaft (12a).

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the primary drive shaft (13a) is driven by a belt (14b) which is in turn driven by an engine pulley (5p) mounted to an engine shaft (5s) driven by the engine (5).

7. An apparatus as claimed in any previous claim wherein the rotary filter drum (1 1 ) is provided with a circumferential drum pulley (1 1 p) and is driven by a drum drive pulley (13b) via a belt (14a).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the drum drive pulley (13b) is mounted on the vacuum driving shaft (12a).

9. An apparatus as claimed in any previous claim wherein the clutch (15) is controlled by an operator of the machine.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8 wherein the electrical signal (Es) for opening the clutch (15) is controlled automatically by a processor (17).

1 1. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the processor (17) is configured to open the clutch in response to one or more of the following:

A determination from an input to the processor from a navigation device (21 ) that the machine is travelling on a road (R);

A determination from an input from a speed sensor (23) of a speed of the machine that the machine is travelling on a road;

A determination from an input from a sensor (25) which measures a smoothness of the ride of the machine that the machine is travelling on a road;

A determination from an input of a dust sensor (27) that an amount of particulate in the surrounding air is below a predetermined level;

A determination from an input from an engine control system (29, 29a) of the machine that the apparatus must be deactivated so that engine power is not drawn by the apparatus;

A determination from an input from a harvesting system (31 ) of the machine that the machine is not currently performing a harvesting operation.