CA3130541A1 - Zusammenfassung - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cutting device (2) for attachment to an agricultural harvesting machine, with stalk dividers (16) arranged on the opposite side ends (10) of the cutting device (2) and conveying aids (18) which can be rotatably driven and the lower ends of which are mounted on the stalk dividers (16).
To reduce the length of the cutting device (2) for road transport, it is proposed that the stalk dividers (16), together with the conveying aids (18) mounted thereon, are connected to the frame (4) so as to be movable about an at least approximately vertical axis of rotation (22) from the working position to a non-use position, and the drives (42) of the conveying aids (18) are designed as hydraulic or electrical drives which are connected to the frame (4) via flexible connecting cables.

Description

Cutting device with lateral conveying aids The present invention relates to a cutting device for attachment to an agricultural harvesting machine having a frame, at least one cutting element arranged on the side of the cutting device facing in the working direction and connected to the frame, stalk dividers arranged on the lateral opposite ends of the cutting device, which by their position determine a working width of the cutting device, rotationally drivable conveyor aids, which are mounted with their lower ends on the stalk dividers, a transfer opening arranged on the side of the cutting device opposite the working direction, at least one conveyor device for conveying cut crops from a cutting zone to the transfer opening, and drive devices for driving the at least one cutting element, the at least one conveyor device, and the conveyor aids.
A generic cutting device is known from GB 684 829. The stalk dividers positioned on the opposite ends of the cutting device plunge into the standing crop in the working direction as the harvesting machine to which the cutting device is attached during the harvesting operation advances to, on the one hand, feed the stems and stalks of the crops still to be grasped by the working width of the cutting device to the cutting elements and, on the other hand, to keep away from the cutting elements the stems and stalks of harvested crops which are at the cutting edge and which are no longer to be grasped by the cutting elements. If separation of the crops along the cutting edge is clean, the cutting elements cut the crops cleanly at the side edges and transfer them to the conveying elements without loss and without disturbances in the crop flow.
To avoid the build-up of crop in the area of the stalk dividers, rotatably driven conveying aids in the form of spirally bent rods are located on the stalk dividers in front of the front edges .. of the side walls facing in the working direction of the cutting device.
The conveying aids extend almost over the entire length of the cutting device and are mechanically driven by V-belts that are located on the rear of the cutting device frame. The rotatably driven conveying aids improve the placement of the cut conveyed crops on the conveying elements.
The cutting device disclosed in GB 684 829 has a length and width that are uncritical for road transport. The problem of reducing the length and/or width of the cutting device to comply with the limit values applicable for road traffic approval did not arise for this cutting device.
However, cutting devices of the newer design have working widths that far exceed the legal limit values for road traffic approval. It is therefore customary to transport the cutting devices with their own cutting device trailers on public roads on which the cutting devices are placed Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

2 in such a way that their working width extends along the longitudinal axis of the cutting device trailer. The length of the cutting devices in their working direction is dimensioned in such a way that they still comply with the legal requirements for the maximum width permitted for public transport. However, if the cutting devices are still provided with stalk dividers which protrude in the working direction over the cutting elements of the cutting device, such as a cutter bar, the length of such cutting devices exceeds the maximum width permitted for road traffic. To comply with the legal requirements, the stalk dividers are designed to be foldable, such that they can easily be swiveled up or folded over the side walls for road transport and, for example, placed against the cutter bar.
However, if the stalk divider is provided with a driven conveying aid, the problem arises that such a conveying aid cannot simply be pivoted because of the drives. Either the conveyor aid is therefore firmly attached to the cutting device in a position that is disadvantageous for its function and is set back to the rear, which ensures that the values for the maximum permissible width are complied with, or the drives must be separated from the conveyor aids each time before the conveyor aids can be swiveled into a position in which they comply with the maximum width permitted for public road traffic approval.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to find a solution for the configuration and arrangement of conveying aids with which the legal requirements regarding the maximum dimensions for road traffic approval can be complied with in the simplest possible way.
The object is achieved for a generic cutting device in that the stalk dividers, together with the conveying aids mounted thereon, are connected to the frame so as to be movable about an at least approximately vertical axis of rotation from the working position to a non-use position, and the drives of the conveying aids are designed as hydraulic or electrical drives which are connected to the frame via flexible connecting cables.
Despite the conveyor aids mounted on the stalk dividers, the length of a cutting device placed on a cutting device trailer for road transport can easily be reduced by pivoting the stalk dividers together with the conveyor aids in a simple pivoting movement from their working position into a non-use position. While the stalk dividers extend in the working direction when in the working position, they are in a position transverse to the working direction after being pivoted about the at least approximately vertical axis of rotation into the non-use position. Since the drives of the conveyor aids are designed as hydraulic or electrical drives, which are connected to the frame and supplied with drive power via flexible connecting cables, it is not necessary to separate any drives for the pivoting or to carry out separate assembly work, as would be necessary for mechanical drives. The flexible connecting cables such as hydraulic hoses or electrical cables simply adapt to the Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

3 respective new pivoting position when the stalk dividers pivot with the conveying aids, if they are long enough not to hinder the pivoting movement.
When installing a conveying aid on a stalk divider, there is the further advantage that the conveying aid can be attached to, or removed from, the cutting device in one operation together with the stalk divider. The connections between the frame of the cutting device and the stalk dividers can be designed for tool-free assembly and disassembly. The interface between the stalk dividers and the frame of the cutting device can also be designed in such a way that instead of a stalk divider, a rapeseed cutter or another attachment can also be attached to the interface, for example. The same connections as for the conveyor aids can then be used for driving the rapeseed cutter or other attachment.
The conveying aids on the stalk dividers, The height of the conveying aids is also guided via the stalk dividers if the conveying aids are supported and mounted on the stalk dividers.
No separate height guidance is required. Height guidance can for example be performed via a sanding shoe attached to the respective stalk divider. With a vertically movable articulation of the stalk divider on the frame of the cutting device, The stalk divider can then follow the ground contour via the ground scanning with the sanding shoe if the stalk divider is articulated for vertical movement to the frame of the cutting device. The conveying effect of the conveying aids remains unchanged even if there are deflection movements of the stalk divider. The conveying aids can be driven from above or from below.
If the present description and the claims refer to "front," this means with reference to the cutting device the area which, viewed in the working direction of the cutting device, is closest to the crop to be harvested, while "rear" means the area of the cutting device which is farthest away from the crop to be harvested on the opposite side of the cutting device. Width of the cutting device always refers to the extension of the cutting device transversely to the working direction, while the length of the cutting device means the extension in a direction parallel to the working direction.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the conveying aids have a basic shape of a cone or truncated cone with a closed jacket and are mounted on the stalk dividers with their slimmer ends pointing downwards. Due to the widening of the basic shape towards the top, an increasingly stronger force component acting in a lateral direction is generated with increasing height at which the grain stalks or stems are in contact with the surface of the conveying aid, through which force the grain stalks or stems are increasingly pushed away to the side, namely, either towards the conveyor elements of the cutting device or to the side away from the cutting device. If the grain stalks or stems have already been cut, the conveying aids generate a force pulse through which the grain stalks or stems are thrown Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

4 in the direction of the conveying units. The closed jacket prevents the crops from getting caught in any openings or components and then wrapping around the axle of the conveyor aid. The risk of a material build-up on the edges of the side walls pointing in the direction of travel is at least reduced as a result.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the conveying aids each rotate about an axis of rotation, which in the working position of the stalk dividers extends at least approximately in a direction parallel to the working direction, and the upper end of the axis of rotation is inclined in a direction opposite to the working direction. When the harvesting machine drives into the standing crops, the front end of the conveying aid plunges close to the ground into the crops, viewed in the working direction of the harvesting machine.
Particularly in the case of lodged grain, the stock is grasped from below. As the harvesting machine moves forward, the contact surfaces of the conveyor aid move upwards at the same point in the field. Flat-lying grain stalks and stems are increasingly lifted and separated from one another, particularly if they are transverse to the working direction of the harvesting machine. Due to the inclined position of the axis of rotation, a gentle separation of the crops lying in front of the cutting device between the crops to be cut and the crops not to be cut is possible.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the conveying aids are each held in a support frame which extends in an at least approximately parallel direction to the axis of rotation of the associated conveying aid, the lower end of which is rotsationally fixed on the associated stalk divider, but rotatably mounted in a pivot point, and which in a section remote from its front end is attached to the stalk divider or the frame with a coupling element, wherein the coupling element is connectable at different heights to the stalk divider or the frame. The conveying aids can be fixed and operated at different angles to the ground and to the stalk divider via the coupling elements that can be fastened at different heights.
Setting angles between 40 and 70 have proven to be particularly suitable. If the setting angle of the conveying aids is changed, the setting angle of the stalk dividers on the frame of the cutting device can remain constant. An operator of the harvesting machine can optimally adapt the conveying aids to the respective harvesting conditions by selecting and setting a suitable setting angle. It is also possible to adjust the setting angle of the conveying aids remotely by a motor, in that an adjusting element of variable length by motor engages the coupling element.
According to one embodiment of the invention, one or more continuous screwthreads are placed on the jackets of the conveying aids. The screwthreads protruding from the jackets of the conveying aids make the conveying aids more active. For example, lodged grain lying in mats on the field can be better broken down and divided up.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

5 According to one embodiment of the invention, the conveying aids are held in the stalk dividers for more than half, preferably more than three quarters of their length, more preferably for their full length over the length of the cutting device in the working direction in front of the cutting element. Mounting of the conveying aids in the stalk dividers enables the front ends of the conveying aids to start dividing the crop at an operating point which, viewed in the working direction of the cutting device, is clearly advanced in front of the cutting element. It is advantageous to move the working point so far forward that more than half, preferably more than three quarters of the length, more preferably the full length of the conveying aids is in front of the cutting element. By moving the conveying aids forwards, it is possible to complete the division of the crops before the crops are then cut by the cutting element such as a cutter bar. This design enables a clean cut along a cleanly separated crop edge, even with lodged grain.
According to one embodiment of the invention, only the lower ends of the conveying aids are cantilevered in the stalk dividers. For this purpose, a receiving shoe is formed in the stalk dividers, which shields the lower ends of the conveying aids from the outside in order to prevent material build-up and wrapping around of the crops there. The drive of the respective conveying aid can be arranged in the receiving shoe, which is then also protected from the outside by the receiving shoe. The only one-sided cantilevered mounting saves weight and costs. The only one-sided mounting is sufficiently functional and stable over the long term, because the forces acting on the conveying aids from the harvested crop are comparatively low.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the drives are arranged on the lower ends of the conveying aids in the stalk dividers. The screwthread of the conveyor aid can be designed to be continuous. The stalk divider can be constructed flat and light, it is not necessary to provide an upwardly protruding bracket for the drive. The drive can particularly be arranged in the receiving shoe, by means of which the drive can be shielded from contact with foreign bodies. The drive can be pivoted together with the stalk divider and the conveyor aid. Separate set-up work for converting the drive from the harvesting position to road transport and back into the harvesting position is not required. The adjustment takes place with the pivoting of the stalk divider.
Further features of the invention can be derived from the claims, the figures and the following objective description. The features and feature combinations mentioned in the description above as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the description of the figures below and/or merely shown in the figures may be used not only in Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

6 the combination specified, but also alone, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.
The invention will now be explained in more detail using a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Wherein:
Fig. 1: shows an oblique view from the front of a cutting device, Fig. 2: shows an enlarged view of a lateral end of the cutting device, and Fig. 3: shows a view of a lateral end of the cutting device from above, Fig. 1 shows an oblique view from the front of a cutting device 2. The cutting device 2 has a frame 4 which carries the components of the cutting device 2. The frame 4 can be used to attach the cutting device 2 to a harvesting machine, not shown in detail in the drawing, such as a combine harvester or forage harvester.
At least one cutting element 6 is located on the front side of the cutting device 2; in the exemplary embodiment, this is a cutter bar which extends over the working width 20 of the cutting device 2. The cutting device 2 is moved in the working direction 8 by the harvesting machine to cut off the harvested crops and convey them away. The crop is cut by the cutting element 6, picked up by the conveying devices 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and transported from the cutting zone 24 to the transfer opening 12, where the crops are then delivered to the harvesting machine. In the exemplary embodiment, the conveyor devices are the reel 14a and three endlessly rotating belt conveyors 14b, 14c and 14d, of which the two outer belt conveyors 14b and 14d convey the crops from the ends 10 of the cutting device 2 to the central belt conveyor 14c, which collects them there and then conveyes the harvested crops to the rear through the transfer opening 12 to the harvesting machine located behind it.
Instead of belt conveyors 14b, 14c, 14d, other types of conveyor devices 14 can also be used, for example screw conveyors and the like.
Stalk dividers 16a, 16b which protrude forwards in the working direction 8 over the front edge of the cutting element 6 are located at the lateral ends 10 of the cutting device 4. A
conveying aid 18a, 18b is placed on each of the two stalk dividers 16a, 16b.
In the embodiment shown, the conveying aids 18a, 18b consist of frustoconical bodies with a closed jacket, which bodies can be driven in rotation. The stalk dividers 16a 16b with the conveying aids 18a, 18b laterally limit the working width 20 of the cutting device 2.
In Fig. 1, the stalk divider 16a is shown in the working position in which the front tip of the stalk divider 16a points in the working direction 8. The stalk divider 16b is shown in a folded-in position in which the stalk divider 16b has been pivoted about a vertical axis of rotation 22 by 900 inward into a non-use position. By pivoting the stalk divider 16b into the non-use Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

7 position, the length of the cutting device 2 is shortened from the dimension L1 to the dimension L2. With the dimension L2, the legal requirements for the maximum permissible width of trailers in road traffic can be complied with.
It can be seen in Fig. 1 that the conveying aid 18b has also been pivoted by 900 with the stalk divider 16b. Since the conveying aids 18a, 18b are each mounted in the stalk dividers 16a, 16b, it is not necessary to pivot them separately from the stalk dividers 16a, 16b to reduce the length of the cutting device 2.
Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of a lateral end 10 of the cutting device 2. In this enlarged view, the stalk divider 16a with the conveying aid 18a mounted thereon can be clearly seen.
The conveying aid 18a has a basic truncated cone shape with a closed jacket.
It is mounted on the stalk divider 16a with its slimmer end pointing downwards. The conveying aid 18a rotates about an axis of rotation 26 indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 2, which axis in the working position of the stalk divider 16a shown in Fig. 2 extends at least approximately in a direction parallel to the working direction 8. The conveying aid 18a is positioned in its working position in such a way that its axis of rotation 26 inclines with its upper end in a direction opposite to the working direction 8.
It can also be seen in the enlarged view in Fig. 2 that the conveying aid 18a is held in a support frame 28 which extends in a direction at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation 26 of the associated conveying aid 18a. On its lower end, the support frame 28 is stationary on the associated stalk divider 16a, but is rotatably mounted at a pivot point 32.
In a section remote from its front end, the support frame 28 is fastened to the stalk divider 16 with a coupling element 30. The coupling element 30 can be connected to the stalk divider 16a at different heights, for example, via an elongated hole guide (not shown in more detail in the drawing). This makes it possible to align the conveying aid 18a in different angular positions in relation to the arable soil, as is indicated by the double arrow in Fig. 2.
It can also be seen in Fig. 2 that a continuous screwthread 34 is placed on the jacket of the conveying aid 18a. When the conveying aids 18 rotate, the screwthreads 34 support the separation of the crop into a fraction that is to be cut by the cutting element 6 and another fraction that is not yet to be cut as the cut edge of the crops as the harvester continues to advance.
The receiving shoe 40 with which the mounting of the conveying aid 18a in the stalk divider 16a is covered can still be seen in Fig. 2. A drive 42 for the conveying aid 18 is also located in the receiving shoe 40. The drive 42 is connected to the frame 4 of the cutting device 2 via flexible cables 44.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

8 Fig. 3 shows a view of a lateral end 10 of the cutting device 2 from above. It can be seen in the view from above that, in the working position of the stalk divider 16a, the overall length 36 of the conveying aid 18a is still in front of the line 38, which is applied to the front edge of the cutting element 6 and is guided laterally over the end 10 of the cutting device 2 in the figure. The view from above makes it clear in this way that the division of the crops located in front of the cutting device 2 between a fraction that is to be cut by the cutting element 6 and a second fraction that is to remain as the cutting edge is completed before the cutting element 6 reaches the respective grain stalks or stems as the harvesting machine advances.
A hydraulic block 46 is located on the frame 4, to which the hydraulic lines 44, which are hydraulic in the exemplary embodiment, can be connected to the hydraulic circuit of the cutting device 2.
The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty modifying the exemplary embodiments in a way that appears suitable to adapt it to a specific application.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

9 List of reference numerals:
2 cutting device 4 frame 6 cutting element 8 working direction ends of the cutting device 12 transfer opening 14 conveyor device 16 stalk dividers

10 18 conveying aid working width 22 vertical axis of rotation 24 cutting zone 26 axis of rotation (conveying aid) 15 28 support frame coupling element 32 pivot point 34 screwth read 36 overall length 20 38 line pick-up shoe 42 drive 44 cable 46 hydraulic block Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17

Claims (8)

Claims

1. A cutting device (2) for attachment to an agricultural harvesting machine with a frame (4), at least one cutting element (6) arranged on the side of the cutting device (2) facing in the working direction (8) and connected to the frame (4), stalk dividers (16) arranged on the lateral opposite ends (10) of the cutting device (2), which by their position determine a working width (20) of the cutting device (2), rotatably drivable conveying aids (18), the lower ends of which are mounted on the stalk dividers (16), a transfer opening (12) arranged on the side of the cutting device (2) opposite the working direction (8), at least one conveyor device (14) for conveying cut crops from a cutting zone (24) to the transfer opening (12), and drive devices for driving the at least one cutting element (6), the at least one conveyor device (14), and the conveying aids (18), characterized in that the stalk dividers (16), together with the conveying aids (18) mounted thereon, are each connected to the frame (4) so as to be movable about an at least approximately vertical axis of rotation (22) from the working position to a non-use position, and the drives (42) of the conveying aids (18) are designed as hydraulic or electrical drives which are connected to the frame (4) via flexible connecting cables.

2. The cutting device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying aids (18) have a basic cone or truncated cone shape with a closed jacket and are mounted on the stalk dividers (16) with their slimmer ends pointing downwards.

3. The cutting device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying aids (18) each rotate about an axis of rotation (26) which, in the working position of the stalk dividers (16), extends at least approximately in a direction parallel to the working direction (8), and the upper end of the axis of rotation (26) is inclined in a direction opposite to the working direction (8).

4. The cutting device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the conveying aids (18) are each held in a support frame (28) which extends in an at least approximately parallel direction to the axis of rotation (26) of the associated conveying aid (18), the lower end of which is fixed on the associated stalk divider (16), but rotatably mounted in a pivot point, and which in a section remote from its front end is attached to the stalk divider (16) or the Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17 frame (4) with a coupling element (30), wherein the coupling element (30) is connectable at different heights to the stalk divider (16) or the frame (4).

5. The cutting device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or multiple continuous screwthreads (34) are placed on the jackets of the conveying aids (18).

6. The cutting device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying aids (18) are held in the stalk dividers (16) for more than half, preferably more than three quarters of their length, more preferably for their full length over the length of the cutting device (2) in the working direction (8) in front of the cutting element (6).

7. The cutting device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only the lower ends of the conveying aids (18) are cantilevered in the stalk dividers (16).

8. The cutting device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drives (42) are arranged on the lower ends of the conveying aids (18) in the stalk dividers (16).
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-17