Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADJUSTMENT OF A PICKUP REEL OF A CROP HARVESTING HEADER
This invention relates to a crop harvesting header of the type
comprising a frame for mounting on a crop harvesting machine for movement
across
ground carrying a crop to be harvested, the frame defining a working width of
the
header, a table mounted on the frame across the width of the header for
receiving
the crop when cut for transportation along the header, a cutting knife along a
front
edge of the table for cutting the crop and a pickup reel comprising a main
elongate
support beam, a plurality of bats at angularly spaced positions around the
main
beam, a pair of support arms carried on the frame and extending forwardly
therefrom
for supporting the beam at a forward end of the arms and means for adjusting
the
position of the main longitudinal axis of the beam and relative to the cutter
knife for
different crop conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A reel of this type is shown in U.S. Patents 5,768,870 - 4,776,155 and
4,752,809 all of which are assigned to the present assignee.
The second of the above patents is particularly directed to the bat
angle adjustment system which controls the angle of the bats as they rotate
about
the main longitudinal axis of the beam so as to maintain an angle of the bats
relative
to a vertical plane through the bat substantially constant as the bats move
through
the region adjacent the cutting knife. This bat control system includes an
eccentrically mounted control disc which is shaped and arranged to provide the
necessary advancement and retardation of the fingers of the bat as the bat
rotates
about the main longitudinal axis of the beam.
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The first of the above patents shows that it is well known that the reel
is adjustable so as to vary the height of the reel by pivoting the support
arms about
their point of connection to the frame. Furthermore the position of the reel
along the
length of the support arms is adjustable so as to move the reel and
particularly the
bats forwardly and rearwardly relative to the cutting knife for different crop
conditions. Yet further, it is also possible to adjust the angle of the
fingers, relative
to a vertical plane passing through each bat axis, which is maintained
constant as
the bat passes through an arc adjacent the knife.
The slope of the main part of the reel support arm is arranged
generally parallel to the slope of the table and draper from the knife so that
the
height of the reel above the cutter bar and draper is controlled by the slope
during
the fore and aft movement in order that the reel does not contact the knife
and
cutter-bar or the draper conveyor as the reel is moved fore aft.
However, when cutting with the knife off the ground (for example rice)
it is desirable to move the reel forward of the knife and downwardly in front
of the
knife to pick up the rice and leave as much of the wet stem on the ground as
possible.
To the contrary, when cutting with the knife on the ground (soybeans)
the reel is moved forward to pick up down plants ahead of the cutter-bar. It
is then
necessary to raise the reel to prevent the reel from contacting the ground and
possibly damaging the reel or breaking fingers.
These two controls of the fore and aft movement and the height of the
reel are independently operable by the operator who then has the
responsibility of
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ensuring that the reel takes up the required position for the most efficient
harvesting
of the crops concerned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved header
which allows the position of the reel on the header relative to the knife to
be adjusted
more effectively.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a crop
harvesting header comprising:
a frame for mounting on a crop harvesting machine for movement
across ground carrying a crop to be harvested, the frame defining a working
width of
the header;
a table mounted on the frame across the width of the header for
receiving the crop when cut for transportation along the header;
a cutting knife along a front edge of the table for cutting the crop;
and a pickup reel comprising:
a main elongate beam extending along the header generally parallel to
the cutting knife;
at least two reel support arms spaced along the width of the frame,
each having a rear end mounted on the frame for vertical pivotal movement
providing adjustment for raising and lowering the reel relative to the cutting
knife and
a forward end for supporting the main elongate beam;
means mounting the main beam for rotation about a main longitudinal
axis thereof;
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a plurality of elongate bats;
means mounting the bats at angularly spaced positions around the
main elongate beam for rotation therewith;
beam support members mounting the main elongate beam on the
support arms for sliding adjustment movement forwardly and rearwardly on the
support arms so as to adjust the horizontal position of the beam relative to
the
cutting knife;
and a linkage responsive to the forward sliding movement of the main
elongate beam along the support arms for simultaneously and automatically
causing
a raising movement of the reel support arms.
Preferably the linkage is arranged to effect the raising movement only
over a forward part of the sliding movement beyond a predetermined position
and
not over a part of the sliding movement rearward of the predetermined
position. In
this way the reel follows the slope of the arms behind the predetermined
position so
as to follow the slope of the table down to the knife and in front of the
knife the arms
are raised as the reel moves forwardly.
Preferably the linkage is arranged to be readily dis-engageable and re-
engageable such that, when disengaged the reel support arms are not raised as
the
beam undergoes the forward sliding movement. In this way, the reel can
continue to
follow the slope of the arms downwardly and forwardly as it moves in front of
the
knife for use in crop where the knife is raised and the bats need to move
downwardly
to a position in front of and below the height of the knife.
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Preferably the linkage is arranged relative to the forward and
downward slope of the arms such that the beam moves in the forward part
substantially horizontally so as to follow the ground.
Preferably the arms are straight so as to define a constant slope
5 forwardly and downwardly since this avoids undesirable changes in finger
angle of
the bats as explained in the above prior patent.
Preferably each arm is lifted by an actuator having a first end
connected to the frame and a second end connected to the arm and wherein the
linkage includes a member connected between one of the first and second ends
and
the respective one of the frame and the arm so as to increase the effective
length of
the actuator. This is one simple way to effect the movement but it will be
appreciated
that many alternative arrangements can be designed to fulfil this function.
Other
mechanical linkages could be provided or even hydraulic coupling arrangements
could be used to effect the function of automatically raising the arms as the
beam
moves forward beyond the predetermined location which is aligned with the
knife.
In the above example, the member connected between one of the first
and second ends and the respective one of the frame and the arm is a bell
crank.
Preferably the linkage includes a cable which is slack rearward of the
predetermined position and becomes tensioned at the predetermined position.
According to a second more limited definition of the invention there is
provided a crop harvesting header comprising:
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a frame for mounting on a crop harvesting machine for movement
across ground carrying a crop to be harvested, the frame defining a working
width of
the header;
a table mounted on the frame across the width of the header for
receiving the crop when cut for transportation along the header;
a cutting knife along a front edge of the table for cutting the crop;
and a pickup reel comprising:
a main elongate beam extending along the header generally parallel to
the cutting knife;
at least two reel support arms spaced along the width of the frame,
each having a rear end mounted on the frame for vertical pivotal movement
providing adjustment for raising and lowering the reel relative to the cutting
knife and
a forward end for supporting the main elongate beam;
means mounting the main beam for rotation about a main longitudinal
axis thereof;
a plurality of elongate bats;
means mounting the bats at angularly spaced positions around the
main elongate beam for rotation therewith;
beam support members mounting the main elongate beam on the
support arms for sliding adjustment movement forwardly and rearwardly on the
support arms so as to adjust the horizontal position of the beam relative to
the
cutting knife;
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the support arms having a forward and downward slope such that the
beam moves downwardly as it slides forwardly;
and a linkage responsive to the forward and downward sliding
movement of the main elongate beam along the support arms for simultaneously
and automatically causing a raising movement of the reel support arms only
over a
forward part of the sliding movement beyond a predetermined position;
the linkage being arranged not to effect the raising movement over a
part of the sliding movement rearward of the predetermined position;
the linkage being arranged relative to a forward and downward slope of
the arms such that, over the forward part of the movement, the beam moves
substantially horizontally;
the linkage being arranged to be readily dis-engageable and re-
engageable such that, when disengaged the reel support arms are not raised as
the
beam undergoes the forward sliding movement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration taken from US Patent 5768870
issued June 2311998 of a pickup reel of the type to which the present
invention
relates showing the reel and the support arms therefor.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the bat angle control
system of the reel of Figure 1.
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Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the header according to the present
invention in a retracted position of the reel axis relative to the support arm
pivot, the
bat angle control system being modified relative to that of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a partial side elevational view similar to that of Figure 3
showing the reel axis in a forward position relative to the support arm pivot
in which
the axis is moved forwardly and downwardly and the finger angle is increased.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4.
Figure 6, 7 and 8 are side elevational views of the header according to
the present invention showing the reel respectively at the predetermined mid
position, in the rearward or retracted position and in the forward position.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show schematically the general layout of the header
of the type to which the present invention relates. Thus the header comprises
a
main frame generally indicated at 10 including a main longitudinal beam which
extends across the full width of the frame and defines the width of the
header. The
frame further includes a table 11 which 'is mounted downwardly and forwardly
of the
main tube 10A and supported on the main tube by a plurality of braces 12
(omitted in
Figure 1 for convenience of illustration). On top of the table 11 is mounted a
draper
or other conveyor 13 which carries the cut crop material along the header for
discharge. At the front of the table is provided a knife support bracket 14 in
the form
of a generally U-shaped channel facing forwardly of the table. On the bracket
14 is
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mounted a sickle knife 15 which extends across the full width of the table and
acts to
cut a standing crop as the header is moved across the ground carrying the
crop.
The construction of the reel is also substantially the same as that
shown and described in U.S. Patent 4,776,155 of the present Assignees and a
part
of Figure 2 herein is taken from that patent for convenience of illustration
and to
provide a brief description of the construction of the reel. However the reel
can vary
in design and is well known to one skilled in the art and therefore will not
be
described in full detail.
The reel comprises a main elongate beam 30 in the form of a
cylindrical tube which is mounted on an axle 31 which is mounted so as to
allow
rotation of the beam 30 about a main longitudinal axis 32 of the beam. The
beam
carries a plurality of star-shaped support elements 33 at spaced positions
along the
length of the beam with each support element having a number of arms equal to
a
number of bats 34 carried by the main beam 30. Each bat includes a support
shaft
35 which is mounted in a bearing at the end of a respective arms. On the shaft
is
mounted a bat comprising an elongate body which supports a number of fingers
36
at longitudinally spaced positions along the length of the bat which project
from the
bat generally outwardly away from the axis 32.
The bat shafts 35 and their longitudinal axis thus rotate about the axis
32. At the same time each bat pivots about its respective shaft 35 so as to
provide a
variation in the angle of the fingers 36 relative to an axial plane 37 joining
the axis 32
and the shaft 35. The intention in the movement is to maintain the bat fingers
mutually parallel at least as they move through the working zone in which they
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contact the crop and more preferably throughout the full rotation around the
reel
axis. In order to achieve this, it is of course necessary that the bat fingers
constantly
adjust in angle relative to the axial plane passing through the respective bat
axis.
The control in the movement of the bats is provided by an eccentric
5 drive system generally indicated at 40. In Figures 1 and 2, the eccentric
drive
system comprises a disc 41 carried on a plurality of cams 42 which are located
eccentrically relative to the axis 32 on a suitable support member. The disc
41 is
thus free to rotate around its axis 43 which is offset from the axis 32. The
disc
carries a plurality of links 44 which extends from a pivot pin 45 on the disc
to a pivot
10 coupling 46 at an inner end of a bat pivot arm 47 rigidly connected to the
bat for
rotation therewith. Thus each link 44 pulls and pushes on the arm 47 of the
respective bat to pivot the bat about its shaft 35.
In Figure 2 the star shaped supports 23 are omitted for convenience of
illustration. In Figure 3 the links and bat crank arms 47 are omitted for
convenience
of illustration. Tie links 48 are connected between each link 44 and the disc
so as to
hold the link against forward and rearward movements beyond predetermined
limits
with the links 48 having a slot shaped connection to the disc allowing a
change of
angle of the link relative to the disc to accommodate the movement of the
bats.
As previously described in the above patent, this bat angle control
system generally indicated at 40 provides advancement and retardation of the
angle
of the fingers 36 at different positions around the axis 11. In Figure 2, the
bat
control system includes the rotating disk 41 mounted on the plurality of guide
rollers
42 so that the disk in effect forms a rotating cam mounted on stationary cam
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followers defined by the rollers. In Figure 3, the arrangement is in effect
reversed in
that a stationary cam guides rotating cam followers 41 A with those cam
followers or
rollers acting to drive the links 44 and 47 (shown only schematically).
Figure 3 shows the different angles of the bats at twenty positions
around the axis 32. The number of bats can vary but generally a pickup of this
type
will have a number of bats of the order of five or six. In Figures 1 and 3
five such
bats are shown. In Figure 2, six bats are shown.
It will be noted therefore from Figure 3 that the eccentric location of the
axis 43 of the cam 41A causes the fingers to be at a maximum advanced position
at
the position indicated at 50 and that a maximum retarded position at the
position
indicated at 51. In between these positions the fingers remain substantially
parallel
as the bats move or sweep between these two positions. Thus it will be noted
that
the bats have an angle B as indicated at the line 52 relative to a vertical
plane 53
extending through the bat at each position around its movement. The angle B
remains substantially constant between the positions 50 and 51. The position
50 is
located forwardly of the knife 15 and the position 51 is rearward of the
position 50
and generally rearward of the knife 15.
Each end of the shaft 31 is mounted in a bearing 32A. The cam 41A
includes a flat disk 41 B which is circular and is carried on bearing 32A so
as to
remain stationary as the shaft 31 rotates, the disk 41 B being attached to the
bearing
32A via an adjustment plate 54 fixed to the bearing. The position of the cam
41A
relative to the axis 32 of the shaft 31 can be adjusted manually by rotating
the
adjustment plate 54 relative to the disk 41B. Thus the cam 41A is rotated
about the
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axis 32 by selecting one of the slots in the plate 54 and locating a pin in
that selected
slot to hold the disk 41 B connected to the plate 54 in fixed position when
the
adjustment is complete. This adjustment, which is a manual adjustment and
intended to be effected prior to entry into the field with the equipment,
adjusts the
angular orientation of the bat angle control system 40 about the axis 32. This
adjustment therefore varies the locations of the positions 50 and 51 and also
varies
the angles B of the fingers as they sweep over the area of the cutting knife.
The pickup reel 16 is carried on the main frame 10 by a pair of
forwardly extending arms 17 and 18 which support the pick up reel in position
generally above the knife 15. The support arms 17 and 18 are pivoted at their
rear
end 19 on the main tube 10A by a pair of clevises 20 and a transverse pin 21
with
the pivotal movement being effected by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 17A.
Each of the arms 17 and 18 includes the rear generally horizontal
coupling portion 19 which connects to the support frame and a main forwardly
and
downwardly inclined portion 22.
The support arm 17 defines a support surface for a slide member 60
movable along the support arm. As illustrated the support surface is defined
by an
upper surface 61 of an inverted channel member defining the support arm. The
slide member 60 is thus supported on the upper surface 61 so the weight of the
reel
is applied through the slide plate 60 onto the upper support surface 61.
As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the slide member 60 comprises an
end plate 70 which forms a vertical plate parallel to one side wall of the
channel
member forming the respective support arm. The plate 70 carries on its inside
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surface the bearing 32A for the shaft 32 so that the shaft 32 projects through
a hole
in the plate above the support surface 61 of the support arm. The bearing 32A
is
carried in a pair of support plates 71 and 72 which have an upper end attached
to
the bearing 32A and extend downwardly and outwardly therefrom to form lower
curved ends 71A and 72A which sit on the top surface 61 of the support arm.
Thus
the lower end 71A of the plate 71 is positioned forwardly of the axis 32 of
the shaft
31 and the lower end 72A of the plate 72 is positioned rearwardly of the axis
32.
These lower ends therefore provide support points for resting on the surface
61 and
communicating forces from the bearing and the plate 70 downwardly onto the
support surface 61.
The slide member defines a forward contact point 71A and a rearward
contact point 72A which define points of engagement with the support surface
61.
Two retaining pins 64, 65 located underneath the support arm hold the
structure in
position on the support arm. The slide member thus provides two top points of
contact with the support arm with the orientation of the slide member being
controlled by the height of the contact points on the side member.
The support surface 61 is defined along a major part of the main
portion 22 of the arm and also along an upper surface of the downwardly
inclined
forwardmost portion 23 of the arm. The slide member is moved forwardly and
rearwardly by a hydraulic cylinder 66 with a piston rod 67 located on the
support arm
within the channel shape for engaging and sliding the slide member along the
support arm. The end of the rod 67 is attached to the pin 65 by a clevis 68
and the
pin 65 carries a bushing 69 to run against the underside of the support arm
17. It
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will be appreciated that each of the arms includes a slide member 60
substantially of
the arrangement described above. In one arrangement, both slide members
include
a cam 41A and related elements as described. In another arrangement, the cam
is
located only at one side and the opposed slide member is thus less complicated
but
still acts to support the bearing as described. In this arrangement, the drive
to the
shaft (not shown ) can be located at the opposed end.
The position of the reel can then be adjusted in the field condition by
actuating the cylinder 66 to move the slide member forwardly and rearwardly.
As
the slide member moves forwardly and rearwardly over the main portion 22 of
the
arm, the slide member follows the upper support surface 61 so that it is moved
forwardly and downwardly as it slides along the main portion. The angle of the
main
portion 22 is arranged to follow approximately the angle of the table
including the
draper 13 so that the fingers remain at a constant spacing from the table up
to the
knife 15.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8 there is shown the arrangement of the present
invention in which there is provided a linkage between the slide member 60 and
the
cylinder 17A. In the example shown, this comprises a cable (or other flexible
element) 100 which pulls on a bell crank 101. The end of the bell crank is
located
between the upper end of the cylinder and the arm 17 so that pulling on the
cable
acts to increase the effective length of the cylinder 17A and thus raise the
arm 17.
In Figure 7 showing the retracted position of the reel and in movement
of the reel up to a predetermined position above the knife, the cable is slack
so that
the bell crank remains in its rest position with the arm not raised. Thus the
reel
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moves through the same height above the cutter bar and conveyor as when the
reel
is over the header.
However, as the reel is pushed forward of the predetermined position
above cutter bar shown in Figure 6, the cable pulls on the bell crank and
5 simultaneously and automatically acts to raise the support arm at a rate
relative to
the forward movement along the support arm so that the reel moves
substantially
horizontally, that is parallel to the ground, as shown in Figure 8.
This is required when cutting crops with the cutter-bar on the ground
since othervvise the reel fingers could come into contact with the ground
causing
10 potential damage.
The slope of the reel support arm controls the height of the reel above
the cutter bar and draper so that the reel does not contact the cutter-bar or
conveyor
as the reel is moved fore and aft. When cutting off the ground (for example
for
harvesting rice) the reel is moved forward and down to pick up the rice and
leave as
15 much of the wet stem on the ground as possible. When cutting on the ground
(for
example when harvesting soybeans) the reel is moved forward to pick up down
plants ahead of the cutter-bar. It is then necessary to raise the reel to
prevent the
reel from contacting the ground and possibly damaging the reel or breaking
fingers.
The present invention allows the reel to follow the slope of the reel
support arm as it moves forward, but raises the support arm before the reel
contacts
the ground. The reel moves forward approximately parallel to the ground ahead
of
the cutter-bar. This allows the same support arm to be used for all crops. The
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raising means provided by the cable can be simply and readily disconnected for
rice
and reconnected for soybeans.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
_.
