GB1566976A

GB1566976A - Device for engagement and desengagement of the drive of a cutting machine to a combine harvester

Info

Publication number: GB1566976A
Application number: GB47881/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gronbergs Gjuteri & Kvarnfab
Current assignee: Gronbergs Gjuteri & Kvarnfab
Priority date: 1976-11-18
Filing date: 1977-11-17
Publication date: 1980-05-08
Also published as: SE7612873L; FI773398A; DK509777A; FR2371134A1; FI56469B; NO773928L; FR2371134B3; SE402517B; FI56469C

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THE DRIVE OF A CUTTING MACHINE TO A COMBINE HARVESTER (71) We, GRÖNBERGS GJUTERI OCH KVARNFABRIK, REKORDVER KEN AB, a Swedish Company of Ottum L6, 530 20 Kvanum, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a device for engaging and disengaging drive to a cutting machine for combine harvester or the like. Cutting machines are often arranged adjacent the straw outlet of a combine harvester and incorporate a rotor with radially arranged knives and a number of stationary knives, the rotor being adapted to be driven by the motor of the combine harvester.

The cutting machine serves to chop straw ejected from the combine harvester, for example, when the straw is to be ploughed into the ground rather than collected up.

However, it should be possible to displace the cutting machine from the straw outlet of the combine harvester when it is desired that the straw be placed in a swath. If the straw is to be disintegrated in order to be ploughed in later on, the cutting machine is moved to a position below the outlet of straw and it is connected by way of a driving belt to the driving device of the combine harvester. The engagement of the cutting machine is brought about by a handle arranged on the cutting machine.

For the sake of safety it is undesirable to effect the engagement and disengagement of the cutting machine at a position so close to the knife-provided rotor, which is driven at a very high speed. The purpose of the invention is therefore to offer the possibility of engaging and disengaging the cutting machine at a safe distance from its fast rotating rotor knives. Furthermore the engagement and disengagement device should preferably be supported in such a manner that the coupling elements are not subjected to uneven loads which might cause high frictional heating.

The present invention provides a device for engaging and disengaging drive to a cutting machine for a combine harvester, which cutting machine is adapted to be arranged adjacent a straw outlet of the combine harvester and incorporates stationary knives and a rotor with radially arranged knives; the rotor being adapted to be driven by a motor of the combine harvester via a belt drive; the device having a common shaft carrying a first pulley drivable by the motor, a second pulley for driving the rotor, and provided between said first and second pulleys with a disengageable coupling gear; a first coupling element of the coupling gear and said first pulley being freely rotatable on the shaft and a second coupling element of the coupling gear and the second pulley being nonrotatably mounted on the shaft; said second coupling element being movable along the shaft; the engagement and disengagement of the coupling gear being controlled by a control unit adapted for transferring pushing and pulling forces; said control unit, at an end connected to the coupling gear, having a transfer means which is pivotably supported by the combine harvester and is provided with a link to which is pivotably connected a sliding member adapted to bring about the engagement and disengagement of the coupling elements; the transfer means being such that displacement of the control unit in a direction generally perpendicular to the shaft will result in displacement of said second coupling element along the shaft; the link attached to the combine harvester supporting the transfer means, part of the control unit and the sliding member.

The invention will now be described with reference to some exemplary embodiments shown in the enclosed drawings.

Figure I is a view from below of the coupling device according to one embodiment, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the coupling device shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view from below of another embodiment of the coupling device, and Figure 4 is a front elevation of the coupling device shown in Figure 3.

A first and second pulley 11 resp. 12 are arranged on a common shaft 10. The first pulley 11 is driven by the motor of the combine harvester and it is rotatable about the shaft 10, whereas the second pulley 12 drives the cutting machine rotor (not shown) and is nonrotatably attached to the shaft 10. A disengageable coupling device is arranged between the two pulleys 11 and 12, which coupling device includes a first coupling element 13 connected to the first pulley 11, and a second coupling element 14 displaceably arranged on the shaft 10 and nonrotatably fitted to the shaft.

The engagement and disengagement of the coupling elements 13 and 14 is controlled from the driving compartment of the combine harvester via a control unit, e.g. a cable 15, which can transfer both tractive and push forces. According to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 there is, at the end of the cable 15 towards the coupling device, displaceably arranged a transfer means 9 including a couple of links 16 and 17. The first link 16 has one end pivotally attached to a fixed part 18 on the combine harvester, and the other link 17 is at a remote end pivotally attached to a sliding member 19 which is slideably guided in a groove 14a in the second coupling element 14. The pivot axes 20, 21 and 22 of the links 16 and 17 are arranged essentially parallel to each other.

Engagement and disengagement of the coupling elements 13 and 14 can also be brought about by means of a handle 23.

which is fixedly or detachablv fitted to the sliding member 19.

When the cable 15 is pulled the links 16 and 17 form a V-like position relative to each other, whereby the distance between their ends remote from the cable 15 is reduced. The second coupling element 14 is thereby displaced along the shaft 10 to a position where it engages the first coupling element 13, wherebv the second pulley 12 takes up the drive and consequently the cutting machine is started.

The described arrangement of the links 16 and 17 ensures that no uneven loads on the second coupling element 14 arise, since the entire load from these links, the control unit 15 and the sliding member 19, is carried by the link attached to the combine harvester.

According to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 the transfer means 9 includes a double-armed crank. At the angle between the lever arms 16a and 17a the crank is pivoted on a nonmoveable part 18 of the combine harvester. The arm 16a at its free end is pivoted to the end of the cable 15, and the free end of the arm 17a is pivoted to the sliding member 19. The pivot axis 22 of the arm 17a is displaceable in an oblong hole in the arm 17a as shown in Figure 3, where the coupling device is shown in continuous lines in its disengaged position and in its engaged position with dash-and-dot lines.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments shown but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

The control unit 15 can for example include a hydraulic or a pneumatic transmission unit instead of a cable or rod.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for engaging and disengag ing drive to a cutting machine for a combine harvester, which cutting machine is adapted to be arranged adjacent a straw outlet of the combine harvester and incorporates station ary knives and a rotor with radially arranged knives; the rotor being adapted to be driven by a motor of the combine harvester via a belt drive; the device having a common shaft carrving a first pullev drivable by the motor. a second pulley for driving the rotor, and provided between said first and second pulleys with a disengageable coupling gear; a first coupling element of the coupling gear and said first pulley being freely rotatable on the shaft and a second coupling element of the coupling gear and the second pulley being nonrotatably mounted on the shaft, said second coupling element being movable along the shaft; the engagement and disen gagement of the coupling gear being con trolled by a control unit adapted for trans ferring pushing and pulling forces; said control unit, at an end connected to the coupling gear, having a transfer means which is pivotally supported by the combine harvester and is provided with a link to which is pivotably connected a sliding mem ber adapted to bring about the engagement and disengagement of the coupling ele ments: the transfer means being such that displacement of the control unit in a direc tion generally perpendicular to the shaft will result in displacement of said second cou pling element along the shaft: the link attached to the combine harvester support ing the transfer means, part of the control unit and the sliding member.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transfer means comprises a pair of pivotally connected links, the first link of -which is pivotally attached to the combine harvester at an end remote from the control unit; the second link at an end remote from the control unit being pivotally connected to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. shown in the enclosed drawings. Figure I is a view from below of the coupling device according to one embodiment, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the coupling device shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view from below of another embodiment of the coupling device, and Figure 4 is a front elevation of the coupling device shown in Figure 3. A first and second pulley 11 resp. 12 are arranged on a common shaft 10. The first pulley 11 is driven by the motor of the combine harvester and it is rotatable about the shaft 10, whereas the second pulley 12 drives the cutting machine rotor (not shown) and is nonrotatably attached to the shaft 10. A disengageable coupling device is arranged between the two pulleys 11 and 12, which coupling device includes a first coupling element 13 connected to the first pulley 11, and a second coupling element 14 displaceably arranged on the shaft 10 and nonrotatably fitted to the shaft. The engagement and disengagement of the coupling elements 13 and 14 is controlled from the driving compartment of the combine harvester via a control unit, e.g. a cable 15, which can transfer both tractive and push forces. According to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 there is, at the end of the cable 15 towards the coupling device, displaceably arranged a transfer means 9 including a couple of links 16 and 17. The first link 16 has one end pivotally attached to a fixed part 18 on the combine harvester, and the other link 17 is at a remote end pivotally attached to a sliding member 19 which is slideably guided in a groove 14a in the second coupling element 14. The pivot axes 20, 21 and 22 of the links 16 and 17 are arranged essentially parallel to each other. Engagement and disengagement of the coupling elements 13 and 14 can also be brought about by means of a handle 23. which is fixedly or detachablv fitted to the sliding member 19. When the cable 15 is pulled the links 16 and 17 form a V-like position relative to each other, whereby the distance between their ends remote from the cable 15 is reduced. The second coupling element 14 is thereby displaced along the shaft 10 to a position where it engages the first coupling element 13, wherebv the second pulley 12 takes up the drive and consequently the cutting machine is started. The described arrangement of the links 16 and 17 ensures that no uneven loads on the second coupling element 14 arise, since the entire load from these links, the control unit 15 and the sliding member 19, is carried by the link attached to the combine harvester. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 the transfer means 9 includes a double-armed crank. At the angle between the lever arms 16a and 17a the crank is pivoted on a nonmoveable part 18 of the combine harvester. The arm 16a at its free end is pivoted to the end of the cable 15, and the free end of the arm 17a is pivoted to the sliding member 19. The pivot axis 22 of the arm 17a is displaceable in an oblong hole in the arm 17a as shown in Figure 3, where the coupling device is shown in continuous lines in its disengaged position and in its engaged position with dash-and-dot lines. The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments shown but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims. The control unit 15 can for example include a hydraulic or a pneumatic transmission unit instead of a cable or rod. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for engaging and disengag ing drive to a cutting machine for a combine harvester, which cutting machine is adapted to be arranged adjacent a straw outlet of the combine harvester and incorporates station ary knives and a rotor with radially arranged knives; the rotor being adapted to be driven by a motor of the combine harvester via a belt drive; the device having a common shaft carrving a first pullev drivable by the motor. a second pulley for driving the rotor, and provided between said first and second pulleys with a disengageable coupling gear; a first coupling element of the coupling gear and said first pulley being freely rotatable on the shaft and a second coupling element of the coupling gear and the second pulley being nonrotatably mounted on the shaft, said second coupling element being movable along the shaft; the engagement and disen gagement of the coupling gear being con trolled by a control unit adapted for trans ferring pushing and pulling forces; said control unit, at an end connected to the coupling gear, having a transfer means which is pivotally supported by the combine harvester and is provided with a link to which is pivotably connected a sliding mem ber adapted to bring about the engagement and disengagement of the coupling ele ments: the transfer means being such that displacement of the control unit in a direc tion generally perpendicular to the shaft will result in displacement of said second cou pling element along the shaft: the link attached to the combine harvester support ing the transfer means, part of the control unit and the sliding member.

the second coupling element; the lengths of the links being such that the two links are positioned essentially in each other's extension when the coupling gear is disengaged and at an angle to each other and to the control unit, when the coupling gear is engaged.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transfer means is a doublearmed crank which at the angle between the arms is pivotally attached to the combine harvester and the end of one arm to the control unit and at the end of the other arm to the sliding member.

4. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit comprises a mechanical power transmission.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the mechanical power transmission is a cable, rod or system of levers.

6. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is a hydraulic or pneumatic power transmission unit.

7. A device as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a handle for effecting engagement and disengagement of said coupling elements by direct actuation is fixedly or detachably attached to the sliding member.

8. A device for engagement and disengagement of drive to a cutting machine for a combine harvester substantially as shown on and described in connection to Figures 1 and 2 of the enclosed drawings.

9. A device for engagement and disengagement of drive to a cutting machine for a combine harvester substantially as shown on and described in connection to Figures 3 and 4 of the enclosed drawings.