Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an agricultural
machine of a type having a tractor unit and a number of
heads, two side heads of which swing rearwardly to
a transport position.
In harvesting equipment, such as swathers, it
has been known to utilize a number of heads so as to cut
a wide swath on each pass. A number of these types of
swathers have three heads which are transversely aligned
and wherein the two outer heads swing upwardly about their
inner ends during transport. It has normally been proposed
when the heads are transversely aligned to drive the knives
and reels from a common drive. Generally, the known types
of multi-head swathers have experience difficulties in the
drive systems which are of a complex design. When the heads
are in a transport position the machine is awkward to handle
and is restricted as to relatively wide roadways and high
overhead obstructions.
According to the present invention, there is
provided a self-propelled swather including a tractor unit
having a prime mover, a central head and a~pair of side
heads. The central head is mounted in front of the tractor
unit and has a front edge cutting means extending between
opposite end edges. Cne each of the side heads is disposed
Oll either side of the tractor unit, and each side head has
a front edge cutting means extending between an inner end
adjacent the tractor unit and an outer end, the inner ends
of the side heads being behind and substantially aligned one
each with opposite end edges of the central head when the
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side heads are in a work position. Pivot means connects
the side heads to the tractor unit at the inner ends of the
side heads and permit swinging rearwardly of each head to a transport
position. In the transport position, the front edges of
the side heads are substantially parallel to the normal
direction of travel of the tractor unit.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, the
central head is supported solely by the tractor unit, and
each side head is supported at its inner end by the tractor
unit and at its outer end by ground engaging means, such
as a caster wheel.
Also in a specific embodiment of the invention
each head has lndividual cutting height adjusting means,
and the cutting means of each head is driven by separate
power transmitting means from the tractor unit.
In the accompanying drawings, which show one
embodiment as an example;
Figure 1 is a plan view of the swather in a working
mode;
Figure 2 is a plan view the same as Figure 1, but
with the heads in a transport position;
Figure 3 is an enlarged vie~of a pivot means between a side
head and the tractor as seen from the line 3--3 of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a view as seen from line 4--4 of
Figure 1 illustrating a height adjustment means;
Figure 5 is a view of a ground engaging means of
the head as seen from line 5--5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a side view of the ground engaging
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means shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a partial plan view showing an alternative
connection between the tractor and side head; and
Figure 8 is a rear view of an embodiment of a transfer
conveyor mounted below the tractor unit.
The reference number 10 generally denotes the
swather of the present invention, the swather 10 including a
tractor unit 11, a central cutting head 12, and a pair of side
cutting heads 13 and 14. The tractor unit 11 includes a body
having a chassis with main frame members 36,36 carried by front
drive wheels 37,37 and rear steering wheels 38,38. The drive
wheels 37,37 are larger than the rear wheels 38,38 and the
rear wheels may include a standard automotive type steer
controlled from a operators position 42 in a cab near the front
of the tractor unit. The tractor unit has a transversely
disposed prime mover, such as a Diesel engine 40, with drive
means 41 extending to the front wheels and controlled by a
transmission system from the operators position 42. The tractor
unit is also provided with power-take-off means in the form of
a transversely extending shaft 43, the shaft 43 being driven
from the engine 40 and the rotation of which is controllable
from the operators position. The ends 44,44 of the shaft extend
from opposite sides of the tractor unit. The tractor unit
includes other structural features, many of which will be further
described below.
l`he central head 12 has a main framel~*~r 15 extending across
the-f~il wi*~h of the head at the back thereof, and the frame ~ember 15 is
carried at the front of the tractor unit by brackets 16,16. me central head
12 has a front edge cutting means 17 extending full width of the head between
opposite end edges 18,18 of the central
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head. The front edge cutting means includes the conventional
reciprocating knife 20 and a rotating reel 21 disposed
above the knife. The knife 20 and reel 21 are both driven
by a main drive shaft 22 which extends the width of the
head; a belt drive 23 being shown at the left hand end of
the head for driving the reel, and pitman crank mechanism
(not shown) being provided for reciprocating the knife.
Rearwardly of the front edge cutting means.17 is a
transversely extending conveying means 24 which is also
driven by main drive shaft 22, the conveying means 24
for the central head including two endless belts, the
upper flights of which are shown at 25 and 26. The drive
mechanism (not shown) for the belts is adapted to drive
the belts so that the upper flights 25 and 26 both travel
in the same direction as indicated by arrows A and B.
Alternatively, the belt having upper flight 25 can be driven
so that the upper flight thereof travels in the opposite
direction, i.e. the direction indicated by the arrow C. The
- central head 12 has a pair of outlets 27~28, one each being
located inside of each of ends 18,18. When the conveyor
belts are driven so that the upper flights 25 and 26 travel
in opposite directions, as indicated by arrows C and B,
the vegetation cut b-y the front edge cutting means 17 is
divided and exits through both ol~tlets 27 and 28. I~ the belts
are driven so that the upper flights 25 and 26 travel in
the same directions, as indicated by arrows A and B, all
the vegetation cut by the front edge cutting 17 of the
central head is discharged via outlet 28 in a single
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windrow as indicated at 30.
Eacll of the side heads 13 and 14 has a main frame member 55 and
65, respectively; a front edge cutting means 57 and 67, respectively; a
reciprocating knife 60 and 70, respectively; a rotating reel 61 and 71,
respectively; a main drive shaf* 62 and 72, respectively; and a belt drive
63 and 73, respectively; which correspond substantially to the frame member
15, front edge cutting means 17, reciprocating knife 20, rotating reel 21,
main drive shaft 22 and belt drive 23 of the central head 12. Unlike the
central head 12, the side heads 13 and 14 are carried only at inner ends
56 and 66, respectively, by the tractor unit 11, this being done through
pivot mlans 58 and 68, which will be described in more detail below. The
outer ends of the side heads 13 and 14 are carried on ground engaging means
69 and 79 respectively. Each of said heads 13 and 14 have oonveyor means 75
and 76 immediately behind the front edge cutting means 57 and 67 thereof
and driven by means (not shown) from the main drive shaft 62 and 72 of the
respective side head. Unlike the central head, side head 13 has a single
outlet opening 64 at its inner end 56, and the conveyor means 75 and may
include a single endless belt which has a top flight 77 adapted to travel in
an inwardly direction towards outlet opening 64, as indicated by arrow D.
~le conveyor means 75 and 76 of the side heads may include two endless belts
the same as that described in connection with the central head, but adapted to
drive in the same direction, i.e., towards the tractor unit. With the use of
exceptional long heads the use of the two endless belts may be more satisfactory
than one very long belt. m e conveyor means 76 of the right hand head
includes a top flight 78 which is driven towards outlet opening 74 at the
inner end of the right head, as indicated by arrow E.
When the side heads 13 and 14 are in their work
position, as shown in Figure 1, the inner ends 56 and 66 are
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behind the central head 12 and substantially aligned with
the opposite end edges 18,18 of the central head so that
the width of the swath taken by the swather 10 is
substantially equal to the total lengths of the three
heads. For example, if each head is 25 feet in length,
the total width of the swather is approximately 75 feet.
If the conveyor means of the central head is operated so
that the travel of the upper flights 25 and 26 are opposite,
the discharged veqetation is layed in two windrows which are jointed
by the discharge of the two side heads. Two parallel wind~ows of
substantially the same size are laid at a spacing sli~htly less than
the total width of the central head.
The tractor has brackets 80,80 extending from
opposite sides thereof and forming a bifurcated portion
defining a pair of arms 89,89 terminating in vertically
spaced ends 81,81 which provide journal openings 82,82
(Figure 3) in the pivot means 58. The journals receive
the outer bearing ends 83,83 of a cross shaped member 84.
The member 84 has outer bearing ends 85,85 which project
perpendicular to the outer end 83,83, and ends 85,85 are
received in journal openings 86,86 of a bifurcated portion
provided by arms having horizontally spaced ends 87,87, the
bifurcated portion being a part of a bracket 90 which is
provided at the inner end of main frame 55. The pivot means
58 thus forms a universal type joint between brackets 80
on the tractor unit and bracket 90 on the inner end of the
main frame 55 of the left hand head 13. The pivot means
58 permits the tractor unit 11 to carry the inner end of
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the head 13, while permitting the outer end of the head
to pivot upwardly and downwardly as the ground engaging
means 69 trave,ls over terrain which is at a different
level than the tractor, this pivoting motion taking
place about horizontal axis H~-H provided by bearing
ends 85,85 of the member 84 ~Figure 3). The head is
also permitted to swing to the transport position shown
in Figure 2 because of the vertical axis of pivot V--V
provided by bearing ends 83,83 of the member 84. The
pivot means 68 connecting head 14 to the tractor unit is
of the same construction as pivot means 58 and requires
no further description.
Attached to frames 36,36 of tractor unit 11
are brackets 95,95 which project transversely from the
side of the tractor unit and are forward of brackets
80,80. Projecting forwardly from main frame members 55
and 65 of the side heads 13 and 14 are brackets 96,96.
A piston and cylinder type motor 97 is pivotally connected
at opposite ends between bracket 95 and 96 at each side of
the tractor. When the motors 97,97 are contracted from
the extended position shown in Figure 2 to the contracted
position shown in Figure 1, the side heads are swung from
a travel position to a work position. The engine 40 is
preferably equipped with a hydraulic pump (not shown) which
may be used for various power assist units, such as the
steering of the tractor unit 11, as is customary; and
a control valve (not shown) may be provided at the operators
position 42, whereby the flow of pressurized fluid of the
motors 97,97 by way of conduits (not shown) is controlled so as to swing
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the side heads 13 and 14 between the transport 2nd work
positions from within the tractor cab.
A 2air of rigid members or struts 98,98
having pin connecting means at opposite ends thereof may
be removably connected between the main frames 55 and 65
of the side heads and the tractor unit 11 rearwardly of
brackets 80 so that the motors 97,97 are not required to
hold the side heads 13 and 14 in the work position (Figure 1).
The side heads are prevented from swinging rearwardly during
operation by struts 98,98, which may be readily removed
whenit is desired to allow the side heads to swing to the
trailing or transport positions (Figure 2).
Connected between the inner ends of the main drive
shafts 62 and 72 of the side heads 13 and 14 and the outer
ends 44,44 of the transverse power shaft 43 there are provided,
a telescopic drive sections 101 (Figure 2) including a spaced pair of
universal joints 102,102, this drive mechanism being of
the type normally used between a P.T.O. shaft and an
implement equipped with a power driven shaft. The drive
shafts 62 and 72 are thus driveable by the transverse
power shaft 43 of the tractor unit so that the knives,
reels and conveyors are thus driven when the side heads
are in the work position and the power shaft 43 .is placed
in gear. The drive section 101 and universal joints 102,102
permit the side heads to swing to the transport position
without disconnection of the drive.
On the left hand side of the tractor unit 11,
the power shaft 43 is provided with.a belt sheave 103 (Fiqure 1). A
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belt sheave 104 is also secured on main drive shaft 22
of central head 12, and a drive belt 105 encircles the
sheaves 103 and 104 for transmitting rotary drive to
main drive shaft 22 simultaneously with drive transmission
to main drive shafts 62 and 72 of the side heads 13 and
14.
As was explained above, the upper flights 77 and
7~3 of the conveyor means in the side heads 13 and 14 are
driven in direction of arrows D and E, and the pair of
upper flights 25 and 26 of the conveyor means 24 in the
central head may operate in opposite directions, as
indicated by arrows B and C,whereby two parallel windrows
of substantially the same size are formed. If the upper
flights 25 and 26 of conveyor means 24 are operated in
the same direct, the cut vegetation of the
central head 11 and side head 14 are dumped in a single
windrow 30, an addition conveyor means 106 may be provided
to transfer the cut vegetation being discharged by head 13
from outlet opening 64 to the same windrow 30. The conveyor
means 106 may include a frame 107, which is secured below
frame members 36,36, and extends transversely relative to
the direction of travel of the tractor unit 11. I'he conveyor
means 106 further includes a continuous belt, which may be
driven by a drive means (not shown) from power shaft 43,
the continuous belt having an upper flight 108 travelling
in the direction of arrow F. The cut vegetation is thus
Carried under the chassis of the tractor unit 1 from the left
hand to the right hand side thereof. The type of crop being
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harvested and its heaviness may determine whether a single
windrow or double windrows are formed.
Figure 8 illustrates a conveyor means 106' which includes two
conveyor sections 205,206 having upper flights 207,208 both driven in the
direction oE arrows M by means (not shown). Conveyor section 207 is mounted
at opposite ends beneath frame n~mber 36,36 by mounting members 209,210 with
a fixed ground clearance. Conveyor section 208 is pivotally connected to
mounting member 210 adjacent the end of conveyor section 207 and has an outer
end which rests on an extension 212 of a member 211 carried by head 13 below
conveyor means 75. m us as head 13 is adjusted upwardly and downwardly, a
smooth transfer of the cut vegetation is assured between conveyor means 75
and conv~yor means 106'. Moreover, when the swather is prepared for
transportation and the head 13 is swung to the transporting position, the
conveyor æction 208 can be swung upwardly about its pivot axis and held up
by an adjustable chain means 214 or similar arrangement.
Referring to Figure 4, the body portion 110 of the head 13 ~hich
carries the front edge cutting means 57, i.e. knife 60 and reel 61, and the
conveyor means 75, is connected at its rear side to the main frame 55 by way
of a pivot connection 111. A height adjusting cylinder means 112 is provided
adjacent the outer end of the head 13, and a like cylinder means 112 (not
shown) is provided adjacent the outer end. The cylinder means 112 is pivotally
connected at opposite ends to the frame 55 and the body portion 110 so that
as ~le cylinder means 112 is expanded the front edge cutting means 57 is raised
because the body portion is caused to pivot upw ædly about connection 111.
Pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder means via fluid
conduits (not s~own) from the hydraulic system of the tractor unit through
a control val~7e located adjacent the operators position 42. Control of ~
pressurized fluid to cylinder means 112 to cause its contraction brings about
lowering of the front edge cutting means. Each of heads 12 and 14 may be
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similarly equipped with cylinder means (not shown) and may be controlled by
separate control valves in the tractor cab so that the cutting height of each
of the three heads may be individually controlled. me central head 12,
behind which the windrow(s) are formed, may be set lower, for example, than
the two side heads 13 and 14.
The two ground engaging means 69 and 79 of the two side heads 13
and 14 may be of slightly different contruction for reasons which will become
apparent. m e ground engaging means 69 and 79 each may include dual wheels
115,115 mounted for rotation about a com~on axis on aligned axles 116,116
projecting horizontally from a central member 117. An upwardly extending
vertical spindle 118 is fixed to central member 117 and is freely journalled
in a bracket 119 which is fixed to a rear side of the main frame member of
the head. me central member 117 and spindle may form a caster angle relative
to the vertical so that the dual wheels will automatically swing to the
direction of travel, i.e. through 90 as illustrated in the two positions
shown in Figures 1 and 2.
m e ground engaging means 79 is shown as including a crank arm
- 122 fixed to the upper end of spindle 118. A piston and cylinder type motor
123 is pivotally connected at one end to the frame 65. A piston rod 124 of the
tor 123 is pivotally connected by connecting means 129 to the crank arm 122.
m e tor 123 is double acting and receives pressurized fluid via conduits
125,125 so as to cause the motor to contract or expand and thus turn the
spindle 118 and thereby steer the dual wheels 115,115 of the ground engaging
means 79. The connecting means is of a type to permit ready attachment to the
crank arm when the head 14 is in the transport position; otherwise, the piston
rod 124 is not connected to the crank arm 122, and the motor 123 is simply
carried behind main frame 65 when the head 14 is in its work position. The
flow of pressurized fluid to the motor 123 through conduits 125,125 is supplied
by the hydraulic system of the tractor unit 11, preferably by a control valve
which is activated by a foot pedal at the operators position 42.
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When in the transport position, the piston and
cylinder type motors 97,97 are allowed to float so that the
side heads 13 and 14 can freely trail. When negotiating a
tight corner steer of head 14 is effected by activating the
foot pedal controlling flow of fluid to the motor 123 so that
the caster wheels 115,115 are turned. A tie bar 130 having a
pin type connector at opposite ends may be provided to transfer
the steer force from head 14 to head 13 (Figure 2).
From the above description of the swather 10, it
can be appreciated that very few manipulations are required
to alter the swather from a working condition to a transport
condition and vice versa. For example, when entering a field
after travel, the tie bar 130 is removed and the motor 123 is
disconnected from the crank arm 122. The motors 97,97 are
then activated to swing the side heads to the work positions,
and~the struts 98,98 are placed in the positions shown in
Figure 1. The drive systems for all of the heads require no
set-up at thls time, and therefore, the height of the front
edge cutting means 17, 57 and 67 can be adjusted by activating
the cylinder means 112 of each head as the cutting is col~menced.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention,
shown in Figure 7, the motors 97,97 and struts 98,98 are
replaced by an arrangement which permits the side heads to
be swung from the transport position to the work position from
within the tractor cab without having to manually remove the
struts. The arrangement includes struts 98', each of which
is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the side head and
the tractor unit but is formed by two rigid sections 200, 201
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connected by an intermediate hinge joint 203 so that each
strut can be folded. A piston and cylinder type motor 204,
which is provided in place of motor 97 for each head, is
pivotally connected at one end to the main frame of the head
and at the other end to the section of the strut connected
to the main frame. Thus, when the side head is to be swuny
to the work position (shown in chain dotted lines) the motor
204 is activated to move the folded strut to a straight line
condition wherein the strut is capable of holding the side
head in its work position. The movement of the strut from
its folded to straight line condition provides the force for
swinging the side head from its trailing to its transversely
projecting position. The control valve (not shown), through
which the fluid is supplied to the motor 204, is located in
the cab and this valve has a float position which is utilized
when the heads are in the transport position.
The mountings of the three heads on the tractor
unit 11 are relatively simple so that ready removal is
possible whereby the tractor unit could be equipped with
other means, such as spraying booms to thereby permit use
of the tractor other than during the swathing season.
The specific embodiments of the invelltion are
described above to give examples of the invention, it being
readily apparent that various modifications within the
spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying
claims could be made by one skilled in the ar-t.
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