WO2020194333A1

WO2020194333A1 - A sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2020194333A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/050243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kaushik Anilbhai DAMANI
Original assignee: Tirth Agro Technology Pvt. Ltd.
Priority date: 2019-03-26
Filing date: 2020-03-17
Publication date: 2020-10-01
Also published as: AU2020250174A1; CN113645834A; BR112021018912A2; MX2021011562A

Abstract

A Sugarcane Harvester with Modular Knockdown Assembly The present invention relates to a sugarcane harvester with a modular 5 chain driven knockdown roller assembly (21). The modular knockdown assembly implements single hydraulic motor (2) located at either side of the support arm (18) and covered with motor cover (4). A centered shaft (10) carries shaft sprocket (12) and the hydraulic motor (2) carries motor sprocket (11) at its shaft which transmits the rotational power through drive chain (8) 10 to drum centered shaft (10), where drive chain (8) located inside support arm (18). The single hydraulic motor (2) substantially saves hydraulic energy of whole hydraulic system of machine. The present invention further discloses mechanical control system and method for adjusting orientations of knockdown rollers (21A) for sugarcane harvesters by mechanical linkage (19). 15 Furthermore, the design of modular knockdown roller assembly is in such a way that it eases out task of the technicians to have maintenance at scheduled intervals.

Description

A Sugarcane Harvester with Modular Knockdown Assembly

Field of invention The present invention relates to a sugarcane harvester and more particularly it relates to a sugarcane harvester with a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly which saves hydraulic energy.

Background of invention

There are several types of sugarcane harvesters are on field which harvest the growing sugarcane stalks by cutting the cane at its base, and then transferring the cut sugarcane to a collector vehicle such as a cane wagon or cane cart. The sugarcane harvester may include different types of harvesting devices. The harvesting devices for a sugarcane harvester can include assemblies for cutting, chopping, sorting, transporting, and gathering and processing sugarcane plants. Generally, the harvesting devices include topper assembly, crop divider assembly, knockdown roller assembly, base cutter assembly, chopper assembly, extractor fan assembly and so on.

For dynamic crop harvesting, a harvester may move along a field with abovementioned harvesting devices, where the harvesting devices perform collecting and processing of material from rows of crop plants. The knockdown roller is mounted at or near the front of the sugarcane harvester in order to assist in aligning the crop plants for feed into the throat of sugarcane harvester. In order to harvest sugarcane from a field, a sugarcane harvester move along a sugarcane field in order to gather sugarcane plants for further processing for which the knockdown roller is mounted at or near the front of the harvester. In conventional sugarcane harvesters, the knockdown roller uses two hydraulic motors to rotate the dual cylindrical drums of the rollers, which in turn uses more hydraulic energy and hence results into a higher cost of overall machine output. However, the knockdown roller may be oriented at a relatively forward and upward position, and a finned roller may be oriented at a relatively rearward and downward position. Accordingly, as the harvesters move along a sugarcane field, the sugarcane plants may be aligned for further processing by one or both of the rollers.

Various prior arts have been disclosed describing the knockdown roller assembly of sugarcane harvester. The prior art documents US2018/0177129A1 and US2018/0177132A1 describing about the position of a knockdown roller of a sugarcane harvester. The sugarcane harvester of US2018/0177129A1 comprises a frame, a knockdown roller, and a telescopic roller support mounted to the frame and to which the knockdown roller is mounted. The roller support is configured to telescope to cause linear movement of the knockdown roller relative to the frame. The sugarcane harvester of US2018/0177132 A1 comprises a frame, a basecutter coupled to the frame for translation relative to the frame, a knockdown roller mounted for translation relative to the frame, and a synchronizer configured to translate the knockdown roller in unison with the basecutter so as to maintain a position of the knockdown roller relative to the basecutter upon translation of the basecutter relative to the frame.

The feed section of both the abovementioned prior arts comprises feed rollers driven to advance the sugarcane to the chopping section. Each feed roller has an axis of rotation about which the feed roller is rotatable. Each feed roller is driven to rotate about its axis of rotation by a respective hydraulic motor. The another prior art document US6076340A describing about a knock-down roller positioned forward from and above the base-cutter discs to orient cane for feedling into the feed rollers before the discs cut the stalks. The knockdown roller uses large fins to assist in cane separation. The adjustable positioning of the knockdown roller can handle varying harvesting conditions and cane varieties. The further prior art document US3945177A describing about an apparatus for cutting sugarcane comprising, mounted on a propelling vehicle, two upwardly extending combing elements spaced apart across the width of the vehicle, a flattening element extending transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle and spaced above the ground to the rear of the combing elements with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle, a cutter mounted on the propelling vehicle to the rear of the flattening element, and means for transmitting a powered drive to the cutter, which cutter is adapted to sever, adjacent the ground, sugar cane flattened by the flattening element. However, abovementioned conventional knockdown roller assemblies of sugarcane harvester having simple structure, but do not apparently describe about the implementation of single hydraulic motor to save the hydraulic energy. Hence, there is a desperate need for inventing a sugarcane harvester with an improved knockdown roller assembly to overcome limitations of conventional knockdown roller assembly of sugarcane harvesters which is cost effective and saves the hydraulic energy.

Object of Invention

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the limitations associated with conventional knockdown roller assembly of sugarcane harvester by providing a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly for effective crop guiding towards further process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly which is cost-effective and saves hydraulic energy. Further object of the present invention is to provide a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly which controls the orientation of the knockdown roller. Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly to ease out service maintenance.

Summary of invention

The present invention relates to a sugarcane harvester with a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly. The modular knockdown assembly implements a single hydraulic motor located at either side of the support arm and covered with a motor cover. A centered shaft carries a shaft sprocket and the hydraulic motor carries a motor sprocket at its shaft which transmits the rotational power through a drive chain to drum centered shaft, where the drive chain located inside the support arm. The single hydraulic motor substantially saves the hydraulic energy of whole hydraulic system of machine. The present invention further discloses a mechanical control system for adjusting orientations of the knockdown rollers for sugarcane harvesters by a mechanical linkage. Furthermore, the design of modular knockdown roller assembly is in such a way that it eases out task of the technicians to have maintenance at scheduled intervals.

The modular knockdown assembly of present invention provides multifold benefits which are described in the following pages of specification. Brief description of drawings

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a sugarcane harvester according to the present invention. Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly of sugarcane harvester according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic view of aspects of knockdown roller movement as implemented by a knockdown roller control system according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Invention Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompany drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiment, as depicted in different figures as described above and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

It is to be also understood that the term "comprises" and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article "comprising" (or "which comprises") components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components.

The present invention discloses a sugarcane harvester with a modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly. Now, according to the present invention, the sugarcane harvester particularly relates with improving the functional overview of the knockdown roller assembly as shown in accompanying drawings. In Fig.l, a sugarcane harvester is shown which comprising a topper assembly to cut leafy materials of sugarcane stalks, a gathering area, a crop divider assembly for lifting and straddling a row of sugarcane stalks, a modular knock down roller assembly (21) located at downstream of the crop divider assembly to assist in aligning the plants for feed into the throat of harvester, a pair of basecutter to cut the sugarcane stalks from the field, a feeding area including a feed roll system to move the cut sugarcane stalks further in a rear upward direction without spoiling or crushing the cane, a chopping system or chopper drum to cut the sugarcane stalks into small pieces in the form of billets, an improved cleaning chamber having an extractor fan assembly viz. primary extractor fan to remove dirt and extraneous material from the billets by blowing air on to the billets, an elevator system including a secondary extractor fan to remove the remaining loose materials as the cane falls from the end of the transport, an operator cabin to operate and control the harvester machine, a pair of hydraulic cylinders, and a discharge area to discharge the harvested sugarcane stalk billets.

Now, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sugarcane harvester particularly relates with the modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly (21) as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, an exploded view of the modular chain driven knockdown roller assembly (21) is shown which comprises a knockdown roller (21A) having a pair of cylindrical drums (6) with a plurality of teeth (15) attached thereto, a castle nut (1), a support arm (18) installed at centre for pivotally supporting the knockdown roller (21A) with respect to the frame at a pivot mount (17), a hydraulic motor (2) located at either side of the support arm (18) for operating the knockdown roller (21A), a motor cover (4) installed to cover the hydraulic motor (2), a bearing plate (3), a bearing plate cover (5), a plurality of bearings (7), a key way (9), a centered shaft (10) extended across the support arm (18) to align the cylindrical drums (6), a drive chain (8) located inside the support arm (18) to transmit the rotational power to the centered shaft (10), a motor sprocket (11) located inside the support arm (18) and being rotatably connected with the hydraulic motor (2) through a motor shaft (not shown), a shaft sprocket (12) located inside the support arm (18) and being rotatably mounted on the centered shaft (10), a male splined flange adapter (13), a female splined flange adapter (14), and an innermost point of indents (16). The cylindrical drums (6) are generally metal drums of various known configurations, or drums of various other designs and materials. The teeth (15) are laser-cut metal teeth, or teeth of various other types, and are attached to the cylindrical drums (6) in various known ways. The teeth (15) are generally help to engage sugarcane plants in order to appropriately align the plants for further processing by the sugarcane harvester. In certain embodiments, the outer-most tips of the teeth (15) are viewed as defining an outer diameter for the knockdown roller (21A) as the tips generally define the outermost points of the knockdown rollers (21A) that contact the sugarcane plants. Furthermore, the innermost point of indents (16) between the teeth (15) is viewed as defining another outer diameter for the knockdown rollers

(21A), as the indents (16) generally define the innermost points of the teeth (15) that contact the sugarcane plants. In certain embodiments, the cylindrical drums (6) have the outer diameter, measured at the tips of the teeth (15), of approximately 14 inches.

Continuously referring to Fig. 2, the cylindrical drums (6) are mounted to the frame in various ways such that the knockdown roller (21A) is rotatably supported with respect to the frame of the sugarcane harvester, but move along a particular adjustment path with respect to the frame. In certain embodiments, both the cylindrical drums (6) are aligned through the centered shaft (10), load centered over the bearings (7) located at end of the shaft (10). The centered shaft (10) carries the shaft sprocket (12) and the hydraulic motor (2) carries the motor sprocket (11) at its shaft which transmits the rotational power through the drive chain (8) to the centered shaft (10), wherein the shaft of the hydraulic motor (2) is mechanically connected to the centered shaft (10) through the drive chain (8). The present invention of the modular knockdown roller assembly (21) characterizes the installation of the single hydraulic motor (2), which substantially saves the hydraulic energy of whole hydraulic system of the sugarcane machine. Furthermore, the design of the modular knockdown roller assembly (21) is in such a way that it eases out the task of the technicians to have the maintenance at scheduled intervals.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mechanical control system for adjusting the orientations of the knockdown rollers (21 A) is described and shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the knockdown roller (21A) with a mechanical linkage assembly (19) is configured such that the knockdown roller (21A) moves along a general arcuate path similar to an adjustment path (20), or is configured such that the knockdown roller (21A) moves along the adjustment path of a different configuration. A finned roller (22) is fixed and maintains a specific path with reference to the tip of a pair of basecutter blades (26). A substantially tangential alignment is maintained for the outer diameter of the knockdown roller (21A) and an outer diameter of the finned roller (22) with respect to a reference point along a cutting path of a basecutter assembly (23), during or after movement of the knockdown rollers (21 A) and the finned rollers (22).

Further referring to Fig. 3, the knockdown roller (21A) moves along the first adjustment path (20) using the mechanical linkage (19) adjustment bar. In certain embodiments, one such linkage assembly (19) is configured such that the knockdown roller (21A) moves along the generally arcuate path similar to the adjustment path (20), or is configured such that the knockdown roller (21A) moves along the adjustment path (20) of the different configuration. In certain embodiments, various mechanical or other stops i.e. adjustment linkage are provided in order to limit the range of movement of the knockdown roller (21A) along the adjustment path (20), or to mark various intermediary positions along the adjustment path (20). As mentioned above, for certain operations, it is useful to ensure that tangent lines between the outer diameters of the knockdown rollers (21A) and the finned rollers (22), respectively, and a common reference point are substantially co-linear. Referring continuously to Fig. 3, in certain implementations, the basecutter assembly (23) provides an appropriate common reference point (24) for aforesaid tangent lines. For instance, with respect to a generally extended and nominally straight sugarcane stalk, if tangent lines between the outer diameters of the rollers and a portion of the basecutter assembly (23) are substantially co-linear, the sugarcane stalk is contacted by both of the rollers at approximately the same time that the sugarcane stalk is severed from the ground by the basecutter assembly (23). This results in favorable alignment and guidance of the sugarcane stalk by the rollers for further processing by the harvester. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, a point within a path of cutting blades of the basecutter assembly (23) provides the appropriate reference point (24) for the tangential alignment of the rollers. In certain embodiments, as described in greater detail below, such a reference point change locations, with regard to the frame of the harvester, when the basecutter assembly (23) itself adjusted to different orientations, or when different blades or blade configurations are utilized, and so on.

Referring in particular to Fig. 3, a first orientation of the basecutter assembly (23) is depicted, in which the basecutter assembly (23) is inclined forward at approximately 17 degrees. The basecutter assembly (23) includes a pair of basecutter legs (25) oriented on either side of a front-to-back axis of the sugarcane harvester, where each basecutter leg (25) includes a set of basecutter blades (26), such that the basecutter blades (26) of both the basecutter legs (25) generally trace overlapping cutting paths as the basecutter blades (26) are rotated by the basecutter assembly (23). The most forward point of these cutting paths is utilized as a reference point for determining tangential alignment of the knockdown roller (21A) and the finned roller (22). However, the other reference points are also be utilized, including various other reference points within the general cutting paths of the basecutter blades (26) such as the intersection point of the cutting paths of the two basecutter legs (25).

As discussed above, the knockdown roller (21A) is mounted to the frame such that the knockdown roller (21A) moves on the adjustment path

(20) by one of the means e.g. engagement of the mechanical linkages (19). However, the knockdown roller (21A) is elongated about pivot point along the arcuate adjustment path between a farthest rearward endpoint position and a farthest forward endpoint position. The particular endpoint positions of the adjustment path (20) of the knockdown roller (21 A) e.g. endpoint positions are selected based upon various factors and considerations. In certain embodiments, for instance, the inner endpoint position of the knockdown roller (21A) is selected so that the roller tends to contact sugarcane plants in a field before the plants strike the cab (not shown) or other portions of the harvester. In certain embodiments, the outer endpoint position is selected so that the roller (21A) cannot be positioned along the adjustment path (20) in an orientation in which the knockdown roller (21A) is too aggressively contact sugarcane plants. Similar considerations are additionally informing the selection of the endpoint positions of the finned roller (22).

The sugarcane harvester with a modular knockdown roller assembly

(21) of the present invention has vast advantages over traditional knockdown roller assembly. The modular chain drive knockdown roller (21A) implements the single hydraulic motor (2) and transmits the power to the shaft (10) housed inside the dual cylindrical drums (6) which substantially saves the power consumption from the whole hydraulic system power consumption at circuit system. Also, the service maintenance parameters at assembly ease out for the technicians to have the maintenance at scheduled intervals due to its designed access of reach at shaft and chain drive locations.

The invention has been explained in relation to specific embodiment. It is inferred that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited or restrictive thereto. Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. All substitution, alterations and modification of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims are to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined not with reference to the above description but should be determined with reference to appended claims along with full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

List of Reference Numerals

1 castle nut

2 hydraulic motor

3 bearing plate

4 motor cover

5 bearing plate cover

6 cylindrical drums

7 bearings

8 drive chain

9 key way

10 centered shaft

11 motor sprocket

12 shaft sprocket

13 male splined flange adapter

14 female splined flange adapter

15 teeth

16 innermost point of indents

17 pivot mount

18 support arm

19 mechanical linkage assembly

20 adjustment path

21 modular knockdown roller assembly 21A knockdown roller 22 finned rollers

23 basecutter assembly

24 reference point

25 basecutter legs

26 basecutter blades

Claims

We Claim:

1. A sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly, comprising: a topper assembly to cut leafy materials of sugarcane stalks;

a crop divider assembly for lifting and straddling a row of sugarcane stalks; a modular knock down roller assembly (21) located at downstream of the crop divider assembly to assist in aligning the plants for feed into the throat of harvester;

a pair of basecutter to cut the sugarcane stalks from the field;

a feeding area including a feed roll system to move the cut sugarcane stalks further in a rear upward direction without spoiling or crushing the cane; a chopping system or chopper drum to cut the sugarcane stalks into small pieces in the form of billets;

a cleaning chamber to separate the extraneous matter, leaves and dirt from the chopped sugarcane by blowing air on to the billets;

an elevator system including a secondary extractor fan to remove the remaining loose materials as the cane falls from the end of the transport;

an operator cabin to operate and control the harvester machine; and a discharge area to discharge the harvested sugarcane stalk billets, the modular knock down roller assembly (21) having a knockdown roller (21A), a support arm (18) for pivotally supporting the knockdown roller (21A) with respect to the frame at a pivot mount (17), the knockdown roller (21A) consisting of a pair of cylindrical drums (6) with a plurality of teeth (15) attached thereto,

characterized in that, a hydraulic motor (2) is located at either side of the support arm (18) for operating the knockdown roller (21A).

2. The sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a centered shaft (10) extended across the support arm (18) to align the cylindrical drums (6).

3. The sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shaft of the hydraulic motor (2) is mechanically connected to the centered shaft (10) through a drive chain (8).

4. The sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a motor cover (4) is installed to cover the hydraulic motor (2)·

5. The sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the centered shaft (10) carries a shaft sprocket (12) and the hydraulic motor (2) carries a motor sprocket (11) at its shaft which transmits the rotational power through the drive chain (8) to the centered shaft (10).

6. The sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mechanical control system is implemented for adjusting the orientations of the knockdown roller (21A).

7. The sugarcane harvester with modular knockdown assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein a mechanical linkage assembly (19) is configured such that the knockdown roller (21A) moves along a general arcuate path similar to an adjustment path (20), or is configured such that the knockdown roller (21A) moves along the adjustment path of a different configuration.