Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ ~ n ~ ~ 7 9
~O 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03457
Self-propelled harves~er
Description
The invention concerns a self-propelled harvester, in particular
for crop harvesting including green fodder, according to the
description of claim 1.
Such a self-propelled harvester is, for example, known from the
European Patent Application 0 408 850 Al. In the case of the
harvester described and shown in this document, the harvested
crop is cut by a mower, treated by a processing device, collected
in a buffer space and moved on, metered by a feed-regulating
roller, to a pressing device where, from the processed harvested
crop by means of the pressing device, a mat is pressed which at
the end of the harvester is put down on the field. Such a
harvester realized in practice has indeed proven itself, however,
it has turned out that the construction cost for the buffer space
with the feed-regulating roller is high and that, due to the
metering, the throughput capacity was limited.
A process and a device to process harvested crops is ~nown
through EP-A 0 543 312. This is a harvester which picks up cut
and swathed together straws or leafy material, delivers it to a
processing device and passes this on afterwards to a pressing
device which is designed wider than the processing device. A
distribution arrangement is provided between the processing
device and the pressing device. The distribution arrangement
consists of rotary tines, spreader rollers, tine conveyers,
distribution screws or driven distribution tines. Common to all
these distribution elements though is that they carry out the
distribution by actively influencing the harvested crop. Since
power is required to drive these distribution elements, this
distribution arrangement is not optimally designed from the point
of view of energy.
Amended page
~0~7 9
.O 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03~57
- la -
The object of the invention is therefore to design a self-
propelled harvester in such a way that the passage of the
harvested crop takes place as trouble-free as possible through
the individual devices of the harvester and that, moreover, the
throughput capacity is improved and increased respectively
compared to the hitherto known harvester.
- Amended page
~n~7 9
WO 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03~57
This problem is solved by means of the features of the
distinguishing part of claim 1.
According to the invention, it is provided that the pressing
device is arranged directly behind the processing device,
omitting a feed-regulating device, so that the harvested crop,
after leaving the processing device, is fed directly to the
pressing device without substantial intermediate storage. By the
fact that, compared to the prior art, the feed-regulating device
is omitted, blockages which are caused by the feed-regulating
device in that the excess harvested crop that cannot be processed
by the pressing device is thrown back gain, are effectively
avoided. For this purpose, the pressing device is spatially
arranged directly behind the processing device in which case,
between the processing device and the pressing device, an
intermediate space can still be provided which serves as
temporary storage in which case, however, this temporary storage
is clearly smaller than the storage space known from the prior
art. Through the direct arrangement of the two devices behind
one another, the throughput of harvested crop is effectively
increased.
In a further development of the invention, the processing device
has a smaller width than the pressing device and, in addition, a
distribution arrangement is arranged between the processing
device and the pressing device in which case the distribution
arrangement is placed in such a way in the flow of harvested crop
and influences the latter in such a way that the harvested crop,
coming from the processing device, is distributed onto a width
corresponding to the greatest extent possible to the width of the
' ~2~Q7~
WO 96/08133 PCT/~P~5/03~57
pressing device. In the construction of the self-propelled
harvester, it proved to be practical to arrange the processing
device in an area below the driver's cabin where the driver'
cabin is above a front wheel unit (see also Fig. 1). Because of
this design fact, the processing device is arranged approximately
between the driven wheels of the front wheel unit so that due to
the inside sides of the front wheels and also due to the
laterally situated drive of the processing device, the width of
the processing device is limited Since the pressing device
essentially is arranged in an area above a rear wheel unit, of
which the wheels are steerable, the width of the pressing device,
compared to the width of the processing device, can clearly be
greater. In addition to this, it is therefore provided according
to the invention that between the processing device and the
pressing device, the distribution arrangement is located which
distributes the processed harvested crop coming from the
processing device on a width corresponding to the greatest extent
possible to the width of the pressing device in order to thus
utilize as much as possible the entire width of the pressing
device so that the highest possible efficiency of the pressing
device is achieved with the highest possible efficiency of the
processing device.
In a further development of the invention, the distribution
arrangement is designed as a screw in which case the pitch of the
spiral when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the screw
increases from the center to the two outer ends of the screw.
Thus, a first embodiment is provided for the distribution
arrangement which operates effectively and is of a simple design.
The spiral can be continuous or discontinuous where, in the case
of the discontinuous type, at least part of the spiral segments,
0 7 9
WO 96/08133 PCT/EP95~03457
-- 4 --
however, advantageously all spiral segments can be adjusted.
Alternatively to the screw, it is also conceivable to use a
roller with tines arranged on the surface where the tines are
arranged similarly to the spiral or uniformly on the surface. It
is here also conceivable to arrange part of the tines fixed (for
example, the center tines) and another part of the tines
adjustably, or to adjust all tines.
In a further development of the invention, the distribution
arrangement has a tine roller with a guiding device arranged
behind it, in which case this is another embodiment of the
distribution arrangement. Such a designed distribution
arrangement has moreover the advantage that the tine roller can
be manufactured simply and inexpensively, in which case the
proposed guiding device (as is still to be described in -the
Figures) is a standard component from the harvester-thresher
field so that here full use can be made of cost effective
savings.
In a further development of the invention, the distribution
arrangement can at least be partly, in particular completely,
swung out of the flow of harvested crop. In addition to this, it
is provided that the distribution arrangement can, as a function
of the volume of harvested crop, be swung out of the flow of
harvested crop, in particular swung out automatically. This has
the advantage that, depending on the volumes of harvested crop
that is cut, fed to the processing device and delivered by the
processing device, the harvested crop is, or is not, distributed
over the entire width of the pressing device. If only a small
volume of harvested crop is obtained because, for example, the
crop on the field is poor, or the harvester turns at the edge of
7 9
WO 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03457
-- 5 --
the field, the distribution arrangement is swung advantayeously
partly, or in particular completely, out of the flow of harvested
crop so that the processed harvested crop, coming from the
processing device, is processed on a width of the pressing device
which corresponds to the width of the processing device. Thus, a
mat is produced by the pressing device which has approximately
the width of the processing device. If a larger volume is
obtained, the distribution arrangement is again swung into the
flow of harvested crop so that by the pressing device, a mat is
produced which now essentially corresponds to the width of the
pressing device. To swing the distribution arrangement as a
function of the volume of harvested crop, a sensor can be
provided which registers, for example, the volume of the cut, or
also the volume of processed, harvested crop and triggers an
actuator (for example, a hydraulic cylinder) which swings the
distribution arrangement.
In a further development of the invention, a conveyer belt is
arranged, at least in the area between the end of the processing
device and the start of the pressing device, which transports the
harvested crop from the processing device towards the pressing
device and thus helps the flow of the harvested crop to increase
the throughput.
Over and above that, the conveyer belt presents a spatial limita-
tion in which case the conveyer belt is arranged below the
distribution arrangement.
In a further development of the invention, a device is provided
in the area of the conveying installation to adjust, in
particular to reduce, the width of a conveying area of the
7 ~
W0 96/08133 PCT/~P95/03457
conveying device. This has the advantage that in the case of
small quantities of harvested crop, the flow of harvested crop
can be reduced in its width already in the area before the
processing device in order to transport this with a smaller width
(smaller than the width of the processing device) through the
processing and the pressing device so that the reliable and
optimum processing and pressing is ensured also for small
quantities of harvested crop (harvesting short crops).
Conceivable here are, for example, slides in front of the inlet
of the conveyer or the processing device, or even tiltable or
slidable baffles in the area of the conveyer device, with which
the width of the flow of harvested crop can be adjusted, in
particular can be reduced, starting with the width of the
conveying device or the processing device. If a reduction of the
width takes place, it has to be ensured that the narrow flow of
harvested crop is not widened by the distribution arrangement.
In a further development of the invention, the guiding device,
having the cross-pieces arranged on the distribution plate, can
be put into an oscillating movement. This can take place in
particular if the distribution device is designed as distribution
plate with thereupon arranged cross-pieces. Such an oscillating
movement has the advantage that thereby a further distribution
and equalization of the flow of harvested crop is obtained, which
consists of processed harvested crop, and is fed to the pressing
device. Due to the equalization, an effective increase of the
throughput of harvested crop is provided. In addition, it is
thereby achieved that the processed harvested crop is fed more
uniformly to the pressing device whereby a uniform formation of
the mat is obtained, in particular with regard to the width and
the thickness of the mat. In this embodiment, it is provided
7 ~
WO 96/08133 P~Ti~P95~03~57
that the cross-pieces, which are arranged on the distribution
plate and are arranged either stationary or at least partly
rotatable on the distribution plate, are put into the oscillating
movement together with the distribution plate.
In a further development of the invention, at least part of the
cross-pieces can be put into an oscillating movement whereby the
effect described above is achieved in which case, however, tlle
distribution plate is arranged fixed or rotatably fixed (to swing
out of the flow of harvested crop). Thus, an alternative embodi-
ment to achieve the oscillating movement is provided.
In addition to the mentioned embodiments of the guiding device,
it is further provided that, seen in the direction of the flow of
harvested crop, behind the distribution arrangement, in
particular behind the guiding device, another device is arranged
to influence the flow of harvested crop. The arrangement of such
an additional device has for one thing the advantage, in case the
distribution arrangement is provided as distribution plate with
thereupon arranged fixed cross-pieces, that a more uniform
distribution of the processed harvested crop, which is fed to the
pressing device, is obtained. Moreover, through the additional
device the effect is achieved that in particular with large
quantities of harvested crop, the distribution, which is carried
out by the distribution arrangement, is improved by the
additional device so that also in this way an increase in the
throughput is provided. This additional device can, for example,
again be embodied as screw, as tine roller or vertically rotating
tines (as, for example, is known from the rotary hayers)
A self-propelled harvester as well as a concrete exemplified
7 ~
WO 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03457
embodiment for the distribution arrangement is described in tl~e
following and shown in the figures.
Here
Fiq. 1 shows a self-propelled harvester,~iq. 2 shows a distribution arrangement embodied according to
the invention,
Fiq. 3 shows embodiments of a guiding device,
Fiq. 4 shows embodiments of a variable guiding device,~iq. 5 shows another distribution arrangement embodied
according to the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a self-propelled harvester 1, in particular for
green fodder, which has a cutting device 2 (represented
schematically) to cut the crop, a processing device which
consists of a central roller 5.1 as well as several planetary
rollers 5.2, in which case the rollers have different peripheral
speeds and are driven in opposing directions to process the
harvested crop and a conveyer belt 6 which adjoins the processing
device and to (sic) a pressing device which consists of at least
two press rollers 7 forming a gap to press the harvested crop to
a mat and a device 8 to deposit the mat onto the field. The
cutting device 2 is advantageously a rotary grass cutter, which
is installed in a trough in addition to a feed screw 3, in which
case the trough advantageously is a component from the harvester-
thresher field. This trough can be attached to a not shown feed
channel in which a conveying device 4 is integrated in which case
the conveying device 4 advantageously is a chain conveyer, also
from the harvester-thresher field, which transports the harvested
crop cut by the cutting device 2 in the direction of tlle
Q ~ ~
WO 96/08133 P~T/EP95/03457
processing device. The removability of the trough at the start
of the feed channel has the advantage that in addition to the
rotary grass cutter, other mowers can also be attached, in whic
case the selection of the to-be-attached mower is a function of
the crop.
As shown in Fig. 1, the distribution arrangement is located
between the processing device (central roller 5.1 and planetary
rollers 5.2, the use of a processor according to the tandem
roller technique is also conceivable) and the pressing device
(press roller 7), in which case the processing device and the
pressing device are arranged directly behind one another, in
which case this distribution arrangement is designed as a
schematically represented distribution screw 9 where the arrow,
as also for the other rollers, indicates the direction of
rotation of the distribution screw 9.
The harvester 1 has moreover a driver's cabin 10, wheel units 11
and an internal combustion engine 12 as well as a fuel tan]~ 13.
The drive of the harvester 1 itself as well as the operation of
the individual devices of the harvester 1, possibly through the
intermediary of couplings and gears, takes place from the
internal combustion engine 12. The processing device shown in
Fig. 1 is, for improved representation, shown raised in the area
between the driver's cabin 10 and the front wheel unit 11 in
which case, however, in practice the processing device is
"deeper" so that the width of the central roller 5.1 and the
planetary rollers 5.2 is restricted due to the inwards directed
sides of the tires of the wheel unit 11 and the lateral drive
(belt drive) of the rollers of the processing device. If, as,
for example, shown in Fig. 1, there is no such restriction of the
WO 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03~57
-- 10 --
width, the processing device can be designed wider, in particular
in a width which corresponds to the width of the pressing device.
In such a case, it is conceivable to arrange a distribution
arrangement (for example, the distribution screw or a distributor
device as is described in the following) in the area between the
end of the conveying device 4 and the feed area of the processing
device so that in this location, the harvested crop is
distributed from the width of the conveying device 4 to the
greater width of the processing device. The proposed designs of
the distributor device can also be used here.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a distribution arrangement in which
case the distribution arrangement has a tine roller 20, on the
circumferential surface of which tines 21 are arranged which, for
example, have a triangular cross-section, with a guiding device
22 arranged behind it. The guiding device 22 consists of a
distribution plate 23 on which, vertical to the surface, cross-
pieces 24 are arranged. The distribution plate 23 extends at
least over the width of the processing device, advantageously,
however, over the width of the pressing device and the conveyer
belt 6 respectively. The harvested crop delivered by the
processing device, which forms at least together with the central
roller 5.1 and the planetary rollers 5.2 an independent unit 50
which can be replaced, is pic]~ed up by the tines 21 of the
rotating tine roller 20 and slung against the guiding device 22,
that is, against the bottom side of the distribution plate 23 on
which the cross-pieces 24 are arranged. Here, the rotational
speed of the tine roller 20 can be selected in such a way that
the velocity of the harvested crop, with which it leaves the
processing device, is increased, reduced or kept constant. The
arrangement of the cross-pieces 24 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4
~ ~ O ~ ~ 7 ~
WO 96/08133 PCT/~P95~03~57
-- 11 --
respectively.
In order to swing the guiding device 22 at least partly, in
particular completely, out of the flow of harvested crop, the
guiding device 22 is for one thing supported by a pivo-t 25 on an
arm 26 in which case the pivot 25 is in an elevator 27. It is
also conceivable to swing the guiding device 22 out of the flow
of harvested crop only by the pivot 25 or only by means of the
elevator 27. The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 operates as
follows: By means of the elevator 27, the guiding device 22 can
either be swung completely into the flow of harvested crop or
swung out of the latter as the dashed position indicates.
Moreover, intermediate positions of the elevator 27 are
conceivable. The adjustment of the elevator 27 takes place
manually or automatically, in particular as a function of the
picked up volume of harvested crop. In addition to this, the
guiding device 22 is mounted spring loaded (not shown) on the
pivot 25. By means of this spring tension (compression spring),
the guiding device is kept in a specific position in which case,
however, in case of an increased volume of harvested crop, the
guiding device 22 can at least partly be swung, around -the pivot
25 against the spring tension, out of the flow of harvested crop
Furthermore, it is shown in Fig. 2 that also the distribution
arrangement forms an independent unit 90 which, for example, can
be removed completely for maintenance work. The harvested crop
thus coming from the processing device (unit 50) is transported
by the tine roller 20 and the adjoining guiding device 22,
supporting the direction of movement of the conveyer belt 6,
towards the pressing device (indicated by the arrow with the
reference number 7 in Fig. 2). In this case, the pressing device
can also form an independent and not further described unit which
7 ~
WO 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03~57
- 12 -
likewise can be replaced. Moreover, it is practically feasible
that the conveyer belt is either led around two independent
rollers (as, for example, is shown in Fig. 1) or that a roller,
around which the conveyer belt 6 is led, is at least one of the
press rollers 7. At this point, it should be mentioned that the
pressing device can also have more than one pair of press
rollers 7.
Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the guiding device 22, in which
case in Fig. 3 the bottom side of the distribution plate 23 is
shown which points in the direction of the flow of harvested
crop. In the left part of Fig. 3 or of the distribution plate
23, the cross-pieces are of a straight design and in the right
part of an arch-shaped, curved design. Advantageously, the
cross-pieces 24, arranged on the distribution plate 23, are
either of only a straight design or only of an arch-shaped,
curved design. As is shown in Fig. 3, when viewed in the
longitudinal direction of the distribution plate 23, at least one
cross-piece 24, located in the center area, is essentially
arranged in the longitudinal direction (represented by the dashed
line) of the flow of harvested crop in which case the other
cross-pieces 24, arranged in the direction towards the two outer
areas of the distribution plate 23, deviate in such a way from
the longitudinal direction that the harvested crop, coming from
the processing device (in which case the width of the processing
device is denoted by BA) and the tine roller 20 respectively, is
distributed on a width corresponding to the greatest possible
extent to the width of the pressing device which is denoted by
the reference symbol BP. In addition to the embodiment in Fig.
3, it is conceivable to arrange on the distribution plate 23 more
or fewer than the six shown cross-pieces 24, in which case the
7 ~
WO 96/08133 PC~/EP95/03457
height of the cross-pieces 24 can also be varied, and cross-
pieces 24 can also be arranged at the outer longitudinal area of
the distribution plate 23. It is also c'onceivable to arrange a
straight aligned cross-piece exactly on the longitudinal axis.
To support the distribution effect, it is also conceivable -to
design at least part of the cross-pieces in the shape of a fan.
Another embodiment of the guiding device 22 is shown in Fig. 4.
In this embodiment, the cross-pieces 24 can be swiveled around a
swiveling point 28 in which case the swiveling can be carried out
by means of a swivel lever 29 (or by means of two swivel
levers 29). The swiveling can, in particular as a function of
the picked up volume of harvested crop, be automated hy that at
least one hydraulic cylinder 30 engages the swivel lever 29 and
the swiveling takes place continuously. In a simple embodiment,
the swiveling of the swivel lever 29 can ta]se place manually in
which case, for example, the cross-pieces 24, due to a click-stop
device, can be set in different discontinuous positions. On the
scale to the left, next to the distribution plate 23, the flow of
harvested crop is shown which passes in front of the distribution
plate 23, in the area of the distribution plate 23 and behind the
distribution plate 23 respectively. The harvested crop, which is
processed by the processing device (rollers 5.1 and 5.2), is
picked up by the tine roller 20 and slung against the guiding
device 22 in which case, as a function of the position of the
cross-pieces 24, the harvested crop is distributed by the guiding
device 22 on a width which essentially is between the width BA
and the width BP whereafter it is then fed to the pressing device
(rollers 7). The distribution device can, of course, be
constructed in such a way that the harvested crop is distributed
by the guiding device 22 onto a width which is smaller than the
7 ~
WO 96/08133 PCT~PS5~03457
- 14 -
width BA, whereafter it is then fed to the pressing device
(rollers 7). This has the advantage that also small quantities
of harvested crop can be pressed reliably to a mat Also this
embodiment is a feature of the invention.
Also the other device to influence the harvested crop, which is
located behind the distribution arrangement, can be designed in
such a way (for example, in a design as is ]~nown from hay
swathers) that the processed harvested crop, coming from ~he
processing device and the distribution arrangement respectively,
is distributed (brought together) onto a width which is smaller
than the width BA whereafter it is then fed to the pressing
device. This has in particular then the advantage if the
distribution arrangement is designed in such a way that i-t
distributes the harvested crop coming from the processing device
in fact onto a width BP which is greater than the width BA in
which case, however, there would be no reliable formation of mats
due to too small quantities of harvested crop. Thus, by means of
the additional device, the processed harvested crop can again be
brought together so that, on the one hand, the mat can be pressed
reliably and, on the other hand, for example, by swinging the
additional device in and out, all resulting quantities of
processed harvested crop (small as well as large quantities) can
be pressed reliably to a mat.
As is shown in Fig. 4, the cross-pieces 24 can be adjusted via
the swivel lever 29. Here, to achieve the oscillating movement,
it is conceivable that through an appropriate actua-tion of the
hydraulic cylinder 30 by a not shown control, this puts the
swivel lever 29 and thus the cross-pieces 24 in the oscillating
movement, pivot 28 (sic). Alternatively and/or in addition to
W0 96/08133 PCT/~P95/03~57
- 15 -
this, it is conceivable, by appropriate mountiny of the
distribution plate 23 on a not shown pivot, to put the
distribution plate 23 itself in the oscillating movement for
which the hydraulic cylinder 30 then engages tlle distribution
plate 23. This essentially vertical oscillating movement can be
replaced or supplemented by an essentially horizontal oscillating
movement which takes place by an appropriate hinging of the
distribution plate 23 via the arm 26 and the elevator 27
respectively. It is likewise conceivable that to equalize the
flow of harvested crop, the distribution plate 23 is put in the
oscillating movement, while the width, on which the processed
harvested crop is distributed, is set via the hydraulic cylinder
30 shown in Fig. 4. The oscillating movement of the distributio
plate 23 and/or the cross-pieces 24 ta]~es place advantageously,
leaving out, for example, the distribution screw 9 shown in Fig.
1 and the tine roller 20 shown in Fig. 2 respectively. But the
oscillating movement can also be provided with the mentioned
distribution devices.
To clean the tines of the tine roller and the cross-pieces
respectively, it is conceivable to draw, for example, at preset
time intervals or on putting into operation or after the use of
the harvester, a comb-like device across the tines (provided
these are arranged in a row in the circumferential direction and
are not staggered) and across the cross-pieces respectively and
thus to remove any dirt present.
Fig. 5 shows another distribution arrangement embodied accordiny
to the invention.
This further embodiment of the guiding device 22 consists in that
7 ~
WO 96/08133 PCT/EP95/03457
- 16 -
the distribution plate 23 already shown in Fig. 2 is hrought up
into the outlet area of the processing device and has again
cross-pieces 24 at its bottom side. In this embodiment, the
arrangement of the tine roller 20 is eliminated because the
processed harvested crop leaves the processing device at such a
speed as a result of which the processed harvested crop is slung
against the bottom side of the distribution plate 23, is distrib-
uted by the cross-pieces 24 onto a larger (in the case of adjust-
able cross-pieces also onto a smaller) width and is afterwards
fed to the pressing device. In Fig. 5, it is shown that the
distribution plate 23 is again attached to the elevator 27 on the
arm 26, in which case this distribution plate 23 can also be
arranged stationary in the area above the conveyer belt 6. It is
also conceivable to swivel the distribution plate 23 according to
Fig. 5 around a longitudinal axis at the end, facing the
processing device or the pressing device, so that this
distribution plate can be swung into the discharge area of the
processing device or swung out of the latter. An arrangemen-t of
the cross-pieces 24 on the distribution plate 23 can also here
take place according to the arrangements (fixed or adjustable)
shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
