WO2006065032A1

WO2006065032A1 - Power transmission device for agricultural working apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2006065032A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sunmyung Choi
Original assignee: Sunmyung Choi
Priority date: 2004-12-17
Filing date: 2005-12-06
Publication date: 2006-06-22
Also published as: KR20060069535A; KR100646013B1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a power transmission device for transmitting driving power to a working apparatus mounted on an agricultural machine such as a tractor or a cultivator. The power transmission device includes: a flexible shaft body having a power shaft coupling part disposed at one end of a flexible shaft for coupling with a power shaft of an agricultural machine and a driving shaft coupling part disposed at the other end of the flexible shaft for coupling with a driving shaft of the agricultural working apparatus; and a shaft mount having a flexible shaft coupling part for coupling the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft body, and a driving shaft supporting part for supporting the driving shaft, whereby rotational driving power of the power shaft is transmitted to the driving shaft via the flexible shaft body.

Description

POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR AGRICULTURAL

WORKING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a power transmission device for transmitting driving power to a working apparatus mounted on an agricultural machine such as a tractor or a cultivator, and more particularly, to a power transmission device of an agricultural working apparatus, which can easily transmit driving power to various auxiliary working apparatuses using a flexible shaft whose both ends are coupled with coupling devices.

[2]

Background Art

[3] In general, various working apparatus can be installed on an agricultural machine such as a tractor, a cultivator and a self-propelled sprayer. Conventionally, such working apparatus is operated by receiving driving power from the agricultural machine such as the tractor, the cultivator and the self-propelled sprayer without self- power. When the working apparatus is installed on the agricultural machine, a power transmission device is also connected to the working apparatus.

[4] There are a mechanical type power connection and a hydraulic type power connection between the agricultural machine and the working apparatus.

[5] The mechanical type power connection has a structure that a power shaft of the agricultural machine and a driving shaft of the working apparatus are directly connected with each other or indirectly connected via a belt or a chain, and has several advantages in that a great driving power can be transmitted to the working apparatus in safe since the driving power is mechanically transmitted, and in that a speed rate between the power shaft of the agricultural machine and the driving shaft of the working apparatus can be set correctly. However, the mechanical type has several disadvantages in that a connection structure among a shaft, a bearing and a joint for extending the shaft for the power connection is complicated, it is expensive, and there is a loss of driving power due to resistance of the shaft. Moreover, the mechanical type has another disadvantage in that accidents may occur since rotational elements are exposed to the outside.

[6] The hydraulic type has a structure that the working apparatus is operated using a hydraulic motor. At this time, its power connection is fulfilled by connecting a hydraulic unit mounted on the agricultural machine and the hydraulic motor with each other via a flexible hose. The hydraulic type has an advantage in that the power connection is free and easy, but has a disadvantage in that it can be used only to a tractor in which a hydraulic unit is embedded. Furthermore, the hydraulic type has other disadvantages in that since the tractor is designed in such a way as to obtain hydraulic pressure suitable for an intermittent straight motion like a cylinder even though the tractor has the hydraulic unit, an apparatus such as the hydraulic motor which obtains rotational force by continuously circulating hydraulic pressure may cause errors of a hydraulic system such as a loss of oil, oil leakage, or abrasion, has a short life, and may cause lowering of output due to heat generation, a uneven rotational speed, and difficulty in control.

[7] Besides the above, as another power connection type, the working apparatus can be operated by supplying electricity generated by a self-power generator mounted on the agricultural machine to a D/C motor. However, such power connection type has several disadvantages in that its output is not high, and it is deteriorated in efficiency and may cause an electric leakage since most of work is fulfilled outdoor.

[8] Therefore, a rotary working apparatus which is low in load uses the mechanical power connection type, a fertilizer distributor whose rotational wings are operated by low load uses the hydraulic power connection type. Furthermore, in case where a user has to carry out multiple operations such as rotary work and fertilizer distribution work, the mechanical power transmission type and the hydraulic power transmission type are used together. However, since the two types respectively have the above problems in power transmission, the power transmission is not ineffective, causes damage of the apparatus, and deteriorates durability of the agricultural machine which is a driving power source.

[9] For instance, a manure spreader mounted on the tractor spreads manure in a state where it is mounted on the tractor. As shown in FIG. 5, in the manure spreader, a hopper 502 is mounted on an L-shaped frame 501, a conveyer belt 503 is mounted beneath an opened portion of the hopper 502 to convey manure contained in the hopper backward, and a spreading fan 504 is mounted at one end of the conveyer belt to spread lowering manure. Therefore, the manure spreader includes a conveyer driving device and a spreading fan driving device independently, and the driving devices receive driving power from the tractor which is the driving power source.

[10] The driving devices may be operated by the hydraulic motor, but, typically, the tractor cannot operate the two driving devices at the same time since the tractor provides a single hydraulic port. In this case, each hydraulic motor can be operated by using separate distributors, but it is difficult to obtain output capable of simultaneously operating the two hydraulic motors since the hydraulic unit of the tractor is an auxiliary device and is not high in output. So, generally, in the manure spreader, as shown in the drawing, the spreading fan is operated by a connection shaft 505 connected to the power shaft of the tractor, an elongated shaft 506 connected to the connection shaft 505 and a two way gear box 507, and the conveyer 503 is operated by hydraulic pressure of the tractor by using a hydraulic motor 508.

[11] Therefore, such power connection type for operating the spreading fan is deteriorated in efficiency of driving power and may cause accidents by using the elongated shaft 506 which is large in self-weight and the connection shaft 505 rotating in a state where it is exposed to the outside. Moreover, the power connection type may cause a severe abrasion of bearing elements and the internal gear elements of the two way gear box 507 which is connected to the spreading fan shaft due to vibration by the rotation of the elongated shaft, and cause accidents since the rotational elements are exposed to the outside.

[12] Not only an agricultural working apparatus which simultaneously operates two independent devices like the manure spreader but also an agricultural working apparatus which fulfills multiple operations such as rotary work and fertilizer distribution work, and rotary work and seeding work must be power-connected with the agricultural machine such as the tractor and the cultivator, and the above problems in the power connection are caused whenever the working apparatus is power-connected with the agricultural machine.

[13] Additionally, since the existing power connection structure by a shaft enables the power connection only in a straight line, it needs a very complicated power connection structure according to the position of driving devices or a separate motor since it is impossible in power connection.

[14]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[15] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power transmission device for an agricultural working apparatus, which provides driving power necessary for operating various working apparatuses installed on an agricultural machine such as a tractor or a cultivator, thereby providing convenience in power connection of main driving power and auxiliary driving power and in use, and providing a free connection without any restriction to the position and direction of a driving shaft.

[16]

Technical Solution

[17] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a power transmission device for an agricultural working apparatus comprising: a flexible shaft body having a power shaft coupling part disposed on an end of a flexible shaft for coupling with a power shaft of an agricultural machine and a driving shaft coupling part disposed on the other end of the flexible shaft for coupling with a driving shaft of an agricultural working apparatus; and a shaft mount having a flexible shaft coupling part for coupling the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft body, and a driving shaft supporting part for supporting the driving shaft, whereby rotational driving power of the power shaft is transmitted to the driving shaft via the flexible shaft body.

[18] The power shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft body includes a socket coupled to a power shaft and coupled to an end of the inner shaft of the flexible shaft, and a rotation preventor coupled to the outer covering part of the inner shaft, and the driving shaft coupling part includes a plug formed at the other end of the inner shaft of the flexible shaft so as to be coupled with the driving shaft, and a separation preventing ring formed on the outer circumference of the outer covering part.

[19] The shaft mount includes the flexible shaft coupling part formed at one end thereof for connecting and fixing the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft, and the driving shaft is coupled to the inside of the shaft mount.

[20] In the power transmission device for the agricultural working apparatus, the driving shaft of the agricultural working apparatus and the plug of the flexible shaft body are coupled inside the shaft mount, the socket of the flexible shaft is coupled to the power shaft of an agricultural machine. Driving power of the agricultural machine is transmitted to the agricultural working apparatus in a state where the rotation preventing ring prevents that the outer covering part is rotated with the inner shaft and the separation preventing ring keeps the coupled state between the driving shaft coupling part and the shaft mount. Therefore, the present invention can freely transmit driving power via the flexible shaft without regard to directions and locations of the driving shaft of the agricultural working apparatus. Moreover, the present invention can mechanically transmit driving power of heavy load and auxiliary driving power of light load by using a distribution gear.

[21]

Advantageous Effects

[22] As described above, the present invention is easy in the power connection and in use, and allows the user to work in safe since the rotating parts are not exposed to the outside.

[23] Furthermore, compared with the conventional power connection structure using heavy and long shafts, the present invention can reduce a loss of driving power since it uses light shafts, improve durability since it reduces abrasion and damage of coupled portions, transmit driving power without regard to power transmission directions and locations, be easily used to the self-propelled sprayer or the cultivator which does not have a hydraulic device, and transmit driving power substituted fro hydraulic pressure which is low in efficiency and frequently causes defects. [24]

Brief Description of the Drawings [25] FlG. 1 is a structural view of a power transmission device according to the present invention.

[26] FlG. 2 is a structural view of a stopper mounted on a socket.

[27] FlG. 3 is a view showing a state where the present invention is applied to a manure spreader. [28] FlG. 4 is a view showing an example where a distributor is used for multiple operations.

[29] FlG. 5 is a structural view of a conventional manure spreader.

[30]

[31] <Explanation of essential reference numerals in drawings>

[32] 100: flexible shaft body 110: flexible shaft

[33] 111: outer covering part 112: inner shaft

[34] 120: power shaft coupling part 121: socket

[35] 122: rotation preventor 123: stopper

[36] 130: driving shaft coupling part

[37] 131: plug

[38] 132: separator preventing ring 200: shaft mount

[39] 210: flexible shaft supporting part

[40] 211: stopper

[41] 220: driving shaft supporting part

[42] 230: frame mounting part

[43] 400: distributor 410: input shaft

[44] 420: output shaft

[45]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [46] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [47] FlG. 1 shows a fundamental structure of the present invention. The present invention includes a flexible shaft body 100 and a shaft mount 200. [48] The flexible shaft body 100 includes a flexible shaft 110, a power shaft coupling part 120 and a driving shaft coupling part 130. [49] The flexible shaft 110 includes an outer covering part 111 which is a flexible tube, and an inner shaft 112 having a body part 112a, which is a spring inserted into the outer covering part 111, and a shaft center 112b coupled to both ends thereof. The inner shaft 112 can be rotated even in a flexibly bent state.

[50] The power shaft coupling part 120 is to be coupled with a power shaft 505 of an agricultural machine such as a tractor or a cultivator, and includes a socket 121 coupled to an end of the inner shaft 112 of the flexible shaft and a rotation preventor 122 coupled to the outer covering part 111.

[51] The socket 121 is forcedly fit on the power shaft 505 having a spline structure, coupled to an end of the inner shaft of the flexible shaft, and has a stopper 123 mounted therein in such a way that the socket 121 can be easily attached to and detached from the power shaft in an one-touch type.

[52] FlG. 2 shows an example of the stopper. A pin hole 123a is formed in such a way as to pass a part of a spline groove 121a formed in the socket 121 at right angles. A pin 123c which receives elasticity of a spring 123b is protrudingly mounted in the pin hole 123a. The pin 123c has a groove 123d formed in the pin 123c in such a way that the power shaft is freely inserted into the groove 123d since the groove is located at the spline groove 121a when a user presses the protruding pin 123c. When the user removes the user's hand from the pin in a state where the power shaft is inserted into the groove 123d, the pin 123c is caught to a groove formed on the power shaft so as to prevent separation of the socket, whereby the flexible shaft can be easily attached to and detached from the power shaft.

[53] The rotation preventor 122 is to prevent that the outer covering part is spun free when the inner shaft of the flexible shaft is rotated. That the outer covering part is spun free can be prevented only by grasping the outer covering part. Therefore, the rotation preventor 122 has a simple structure to fasten the outer covering part of the flexible shaft to an end of a wire and fasten the other end of the wire to a fastening portion. Alternatively, as shown in the drawing, the rotation preventor 122 may include a ring 122a surrounding the outer covering part, a chain 122b connected to the ring, and a hook 122c connected to an end of the chain 122b. The hook 122c is held and fixed on the power shaft.

[54] The power shaft coupling part 120 has a structure that the socket 121 and the inner shaft 112 are removably coupled with each other via a screw in such a way that sockets of various sizes can be replaced according to the outer diameter of the power shaft. The screw is a left handed screw so as not to get loose when it is rotated in a clockwise direction.

[55] The driving shaft coupling part 130 is formed at a side of the flexible shaft 110 to be connected with a driving shaft 509 of an agricultural working apparatus installed on the agricultural machine. The driving shaft coupling part 130 includes a plug 131 formed at the other end of the inner shaft 112 of the flexible shaft 110, and a separation preventing ring 132 formed on the outer circumference of the outer covering part 111.

[56] The plug 131 is directly connected to the driving shaft 509, and has a rectangular plate structure integrally formed on an extension line of the shaft center 112b of the inner shaft 112. The plug 131 is inserted and coupled with a hole 509a formed in the driving shaft 509, whereby the plug 131 is coupled with the driving shaft 509. The width of the plug 131 is not deviated from the shaft center 112b. When the inner shaft is pulled out from the power shaft coupling part, the outer covering part and the inner shaft are separated from each other, so that the user can inspect the status of the spring of the inner shaft or replace the damaged inner shaft with a new one.

[57] The separation preventing ring 132 surrounds the outer covering part in such a way as to be integrated with the outer covering part, and has a slot 132a formed on a body part thereof, which is caught to the stopper formed on the flexible shaft coupling part of the shaft mount 200 which will be described later.

[58] In this embodiment, the driving shaft coupling part has the ring and the plug as connection means, but may be a socket type like the power shaft coupling part. In this case, the driving shaft protrudes in the form of a plug or spline, and separation preventing means may be properly coupled to the driving shaft.

[59] The shaft mount 200 is to fix an end of the flexible shaft 110 and keep the connected state with the driving shaft 509. The shaft mount 200 includes a flexible shaft coupling part 210 formed at one end thereof for connecting and fixing the driving shaft coupling part 111 of the flexible shaft 110, a driving shaft supporting part 220 formed at the other end thereof for inserting and supporting the driving shaft, and a frame mounting part 230 formed on the outer circumference thereof.

[60] The flexible shaft coupling part and the driving shaft supporting part are in a continuously cylindrical form. The frame mounting part 230 is in a plate form and has a number of bolt holes so as to be fastened to the frame 240 located on an operating part of the agricultural working apparatus via bolts 250.

[61] The flexible shaft coupling part 210 has a stopper 211 coupled to the slot 132a of the separation preventing ring 132 formed on the outer circumference of the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft. The stopper 211 includes a spring 21 Ia, a pin 211b supported by the spring 211a and protruding to an inner groove 212 of the flexible shaft coupling part 210, and a pin grip 211c exposed to the outside. The stopper 211 moves backward from the inner groove 212 when the user pulls out the pin grip 211c. After the user inserts the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft into the shaft mount in a state where the user pulls out the pin grip to move the pin backward, when the user lets the pin grip loose, the stopper 211 protrudes by resilient force of the spring 211a and held to the slot 132a of the separation preventing ring 132, whereby the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft can be detachably mounted to the shaft mount in easy.

[62] The shaft mount 200 may be formed integrally with the agricultural working apparatus in such a way as to achieve power connection by easily connecting the flexible shaft. As shown in the drawing, the shaft mount 200 is mounted on the frame of the agricultural working apparatus. Therefore, the driving shaft means a shaft of an operating device and on the agricultural working apparatus in order to receive the external driving power from the working apparatus and provide it to the shaft of the operating device.

[63] FlG. 3 shows a manure spreader for a tractor to which the present invention is applied. A hopper 502 is mounted on the upper portion of an L-shaped frame 501, and a conveyer belt 503 which is operated by a hydraulic motor 508 is mounted beneath an opened lower portion of the hopper 502 in such a way as to convey manure contained in the hopper backwardly. A spreading fan 504 is mounted at one end of the conveyer belt, and a shaft of the spreading fan 504 is inserted and fixed into the driving shaft supporting part 220 of the shaft mount 200 fixed on the frame 501. The driving shaft coupling part 130 of the flexible shaft body 100 is coupled to the flexible shaft coupling part 210 located beneath the shaft mount 200. The power shaft coupling part 120 of the flexible shaft body 100 is coupled to the power shaft 505 of the tractor.

[64] The manure spreader for the tractor has a simple structure since driving power for operating the spreading fan is simply transmitted to the spreading fan by the flexible shaft, can effectively manage driving power since a loss of driving power due to heavy shafts is reduced, and is used in safe since a rotating portion of the shaft is not exposed to the outside.

[65] In the above structure, the hydraulic motor is used for operating the conveyer belt.

However, it is also possible that the conveyer belt and the spreading fan are operated by the flexible shaft by forming two power shafts on the tractor or using a power distributor 400 having an input shaft 410 coupled with the power shaft of the tractor and a number of output shafts 420 for distributing driving power of the input shaft by the internal gear elements.

[66] FlG. 4 shows an example where the power distributor 400 is used. The input shaft

410 of the power distributor 400 is coupled to the power shaft 505 of the tractor. An elongated shaft 506 is coupled to one of the output shafts 420 of the power distributor 400 so as to operate a heavy load operating device, and the flexible shaft body 100 is coupled to the other output shaft 420 of the power distributor 400 so as to operate a light load operating device.

[67] The power distributor can expand a usable field of the power transmission device according to the present invention. For instance, a rotary working apparatus is installed on a tractor, a cultivator or a self-propelled sprayer, and a fertilizer sprayer and/or a seeder are installed on the rotary working apparatus. A straight line shaft is coupled to one of the output shafts 420 in order to operate the rotary working apparatus which has heavy load, and the flexible shaft body of the present invention is coupled to the other output shaft for the power connection. Therefore, the present invention can obtain driving power necessary for multiple operations using only the mechanical type power transmission device.

[68] Furthermore, the present invention can simply transmit driving power even when the agricultural working apparatus is apart from a driving power source such as a pump, a thrasher or a bed soil making device.

[69]

[70]

Industrial Applicability

[71] As described above, the present invention is easy in the power connection and in use, and allows the user to work in safe since the rotating parts are not exposed to the outside.

[72] Furthermore, compared with the conventional power connection structure using heavy and long shafts, the present invention can reduce a loss of driving power since it uses light shafts, improve durability since it reduces abrasion and damage of coupled portions, transmit driving power without regard to power transmission directions and locations, be easily used to the self-propelled sprayer or the cultivator which does not have a hydraulic device, and transmit driving power substituted fro hydraulic pressure which is low in efficiency and frequently causes defects.

[73] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[74]

[75]

Claims

[1] A power transmission device for an agricultural working apparatus comprising: a flexible shaft body having a power shaft coupling part disposed at one end of a flexible shaft for coupling with a power shaft of an agricultural machine and a driving shaft coupling part disposed at the other end of the flexible shaft for coupling with a driving shaft of the agricultural working apparatus; and a shaft mount having a flexible shaft coupling part for coupling the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft body, and a driving shaft supporting part for supporting the driving shaft, whereby rotational driving power of the power shaft is transmitted to the driving shaft via the flexible shaft body.

[2] A power transmission device for an agricultural working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft mount is formed integrally with an operation part of the agricultural working apparatus.

[3] A power transmission device for an agricultural working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft body includes a socket coupled to a power shaft and coupled to an end of the inner shaft of the flexible shaft, and a rotation preventor coupled to the outer covering part of the inner shaft, and the driving shaft coupling part includes a plug formed at the other end of the inner shaft of the flexible shaft so as to be coupled with the driving shaft, and a separation preventing ring formed on the outer circumference of the outer covering part, and wherein the shaft mount includes the flexible shaft coupling part formed at one end thereof for connecting and fixing the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft, the driving shaft supporting part formed at the other end thereof, and a frame mounting part formed on the outer circumference thereof, whereby rotational driving power transmitted from the flexible shaft is transmitted to the driving shaft in a state where the shaft mount is attached to a frame of the agricultural working apparatus, so that the agricultural working apparatus is operated.

[4] A power transmission device for an agricultural working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft body includes a socket coupled to a power shaft and coupled to an end of the inner shaft of the flexible shaft, and a rotation preventor coupled to the outer covering part of the inner shaft, and the driving shaft coupling part includes a plug formed at the other end of the inner shaft of the flexible shaft so as to be coupled with the driving shaft, and a separation preventing ring formed on the outer circumference of the outer covering part, and wherein the shaft mount includes a flexible shaft coupling part formed at one end thereof for connecting and fixing the driving shaft coupling part of the flexible shaft, and the other end of the shaft mount is integrally attached to an operating device of the agricultural working apparatus, whereby rotational driving power is directly transmitted to a shaft of the operating device by the flexible shaft. [5] A power transmission device for an agricultural working apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the socket and the end of the inner shaft are coupled with each other via a left handed screw in such a way that the socket is detachable from the flexible shaft.