Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CROP HARVESTING HEADER WITH ROTARY DISKS AND CONVERGING
SYSTEM FOR FORMING A SWATH
This invention relates to a crop harvesting header which has a cutter
bar across the width of the header which carries and drives a plurality of
transversely
spaced rotary disks and particularly to an improved impeller for transferring
the cut
crop inwardly from outer disks to a discharge opening.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Crop harvesting headers which use rotary cutters in replacement for
the more conventional sickle knife systems have been available for many years.
It is
well known that such rotary cutters include a cutter bar or gear train which
provides
the main structural and drive communication components of the cutter. The
cutter
bar provides a series of longitudinally spaced vertical drive members each of
which
drives a respective one of a plurality of cutting disks at spaced positions
along the
cutter bar. The disks are mounted for rotation about a vertical axis standing
upwardly from the cutter bar. The disks carry at a point on their outer edge a
plurality, generally two, of flail type blades which rotate with the disk
around the
vertical axis in a cutting action.
The construction of the cutter bar itself including the suitable gear train
is well known and a number of different designs are available which can be
used by
a person skilled in this art.
Examples of such rotary type cutters are shown in the following
documents.
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US 5,272,859 (Pruitt) issued December 28th 1993 discloses a
mower/conditioner including a cutter bar and rotating disks feeding to a rear
discharge opening containing a pair of conditioning rollers. The outermost
disk
carries a generally cylindrical impeller in the form of an upright cylindrical
cage. In
front of the discharge opening is a series of disks arranged in counter-
rotating pairs.
US published Patent Application 2005/0126142 (Rosenbalm) assigned
to Deere which discloses a cage type impeller where the bottom disk of the
impeller
is formed as a frusto-conical member converging upwardly and inwardly to the
cage
bars.
US patent 5,768,865 (Rosenbalm) issued June 23d 1998 assigned to
Deere and Company discloses a rotary cutter system which has two end disks
outboard of the central discharge opening with a conditioner arranged at the
discharge opening for receiving the cut crop and providing a conditioning
action.
The conditioner can be either of a flail type or of a fluted roller type. The
arrangement acts to transfer crop from outer cutters to the discharge opening
using
a drum type impeller on the outermost disk and guide surFaces of a particular
shape
behind the impeller and leading to the discharge opening
US 6,581,362 (Rosenbalm) issued June 24th 2003 and assigned to
Deere which discloses an arrangement for transferring crop from outer cutters
to the
discharge opening using an outer drum type impeller on the outermost disk and
a
second hanging drum type impeller rearward of the outer impeller and located
at a
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3
position so that both the outermost disk and the next adjacent disk pass
underneath
the second impeller.
US 6,718,743 (Rosenbalm) issued April 13th 2004 and assigned to
Deere which is a divisional of the above patent and discloses a particular
construction for the drum type impellers.
US patent 5,463,852 (O'Halloran) issued November 7th 1995 and US
5,433,064 issued July 18"' 1995 (Schmitt) assigned to Hay and Forage
Industries of
Hesston both show a construction of such a rotary cutter system in which there
is a
series of the cutter disks at spaced positions across the cutter bar with, at
each end,
two of the cutter disks extend beyond a central area in front of a discharge
opening.
In this arrangement the two end disks are driven by a mechanical drive system.
The
two end disks each carry a rotary transfer element in the form of a series of
posts
arranged at the periphery of a cylinder surrounding a vertical axis standing
upwardly
from the disk. The transfer elements act to carry the crop material which is
cut by
the disks inwardly toward the discharge opening. A conventional crop
conditioner 'in
the form of a pair of counter-rotating rollers is mounted across the crop
discharge
opening.
U.S. 6,158,201 (Pruitt) issued December 12th 2000 also assigned to
Hay and Forage Industries discloses a modification to the above 852 and 064
patents of HFI where a crop transport roller is added in the crop discharge
opening
and is arranged to carry crop up to the nip of the conditioner rollers.
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US patent 4,809,488 (Neuerburg) issued March 7th 1989 assigned to
Kuhn discloses a rotary cutter system which has a frusto-conical cage as the
impeller on an end disk where a drive shaft extends into the top of the cage.
EP 358,045 (Ungruh) assigned to Niemeyer Sohne GmbH published
November 3d 1993 discloses a mower which has at least four cutting disks
arranged
in two pairs rotating in the same direction and feeding to the center. Above
each
disk carries a cylindrical impeller which has a surface running inwardly to
carry the
crop towards the center. In the region between each of the disks of each pair
is a
further cylindrical impeller which assists in transporting the crops to the
center.
German 32 24 170 (Morti) published December 29th 1983 discloses a
header having a discharge opening behind the outermost cutters of a group
which
includes four cutters. The group is arranged in two pairs with each pair
rotating in
opposite directions. Thus the outer cutter of the group rotates inwardly.
Outboard of
this cutter is provided a further cutter which also rotates inwardly as shown
by the
arrows. This reference also includes a pair of impellers, each mounted on a
respective one of the two outer cutters which act as a conveying device for
carrying
the crop inwardly. The impeller is generally an upwardly tapered element of
triangular cross section.
EP 0 016 661 (Maier) published November 12th 1986 and assigned to
Deutz Fahr discloses a cutter bar formed by a series of cutting disks where
the end
two disks at one end each carry a respective cylindrical impeller for carrying
the cut
crop to a discharge opening where there is located a conditioner.
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German 35 01 133 (Schulze-Selting) published July 17th 1986 also
assigned to Deutz Fahr discloses a cutter bar formed by a series of cutting
disks
where the end disk at one end carries a respective cylindrical impeller for
carrying
the cut crop to an opening and there is provided an intermediate suspended
impeller
5 over the next disk where the suspended impeller is frusto-conical.
US 4,330,982 (Vissers) issued May 25th 1982 and assigned to
Multinorm discloses a series of rotary cutters with a pair of conditioning
rollers which
extend transversely or laterally across the mower narrower than the cutting
zone and
located in a discharge opening. A roller defines a portion or surface that
moves
upwardly and rearwardly from the cutting plane to the nip to convey the crop
cut by
the cutting disks toward the nip.
US 2,906,077 (Hale) issued September 29th 1959 discloses conditioner
rollers in front of which is mounted a rotating roller which rotates to feed
crop
upwardly and rearwardly into the nip. Forwardly of the roller is located a
sickle blade
type cutter.
US 3,014,324 (McCarty) issued December 26 th 1961 discloses a pair
of conditioner rollers feeding into a nip therebetween. A roller is located in
front of
and below the nip of the conditioner roller and rotates in a direction to feed
crop into
the nip.
Canadian 2,166,671 (Savoie) published April 6th 1997 discloses a disk
cutter and a conveyor roller which feeds into the nip between a pair of
conditioning
rolls located in a discharge opening behind and narrower than the cutter.
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From the above prior art patents, it will be noted that it is well known
and widely used that each of two outermost disks carries a respective impeller
body
carried on the disk and driven by the disk about a common generally upright
axis.
These impeller bodies or members act to carry the crop as it is cut inwardly
toward
the discharge opening so that the crop can better enter the discharge opening
with
less chance of blocking or collecting in the area in front of the disks or
within the
discharge opening.
In many cases the discharge opening contains a conditioner for
engaging and breaking or fracturing the crop to improve drying action as the
swath is
left in the field. Such conditioners can be of a number of different types but
one
common type uses a pair of fluted rollers which form a nip so that the crop is
bent as
it passes between the flutes.
Where a crop conditioner is used, a transfer roller is commonly used to
lift the crop from the cutting zone to the nip of the conditioner rollers.
The different types of impellers used commonly at the outer cutting
disks include drums which are of closed outer wall and cages which are formed
of
bars at angularly spaced positions around the axis. In most cases the
impellers are
cylindrical so that the cross section of the impeller is constant along the
height of the
impeller. In other cases the impeller is tapered so that its diameter
decreases as the
height increases so that it is either frusto-conical if circular in cross
section or frusto-
pyramidical if of square or triangular cross section.
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In many cases the impellers are carried on and driven by the disks but
in addition intermediate impellers, which are located at a position which is
not
aligned with one of the disks, can be supported and driven from above as a
suspended or hanging impeller. These hanging impellers have the same shapes
and construction, that is cylindrical or tapered, as the standing impellers at
the disks.
Where no conditioner is used in the discharge opening, it is desirable
to engage the crop with guide elements which act to consolidate the crop as
the crop
passes through the discharge opening to provide an improved structure of the
swath
which is laid on the ground behind the discharge opening.
Krone show in their brochure for the "Easycut" disk mower an
arrangement of a seven disk machine and a six disk machine in which there is
no
conditioner and no discharge opening. In the seven disk machine the crop is
carried
on each side inwardly from behind the outer three disks by a pair of driven
swath-
forming drums mounted behind the disks and driven for rotation about a
vertical axis.
The pair includes a larger drum which is mounted behind the outer two disks
and a
smaller drum which is mounted in the region aligned with the space between the
second and third disks. The axes of the larger and smaller drums are arranged
on a
line parallel to the cutter bar with their positions being fixed. The
outermost disk
carries a converging impeller in the form of a frusto-conical drum. In the six
disk unit
the inner smaller drums are omitted. The drums are connected with the disks
mechanically by gears which act to communicate a drive input into one of the
larger
drums then across the disks to the opposite larger drum. This arrangement
appears
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to be limited to the relatively narrow 6 and 7 disks machine and is clearly
unsuitable
for an 8, 10 or 12 disk machine.
The 995 disk mower of Deere has a converging system of the type
shown in the above patent of Rosenbalm which acts to carry the crop to the
discharge opening where the conditioner when provided is located. When the
conditioner is omitted, a vertical converging roller is mounted immediately
inward of
the outer edge of discharge opening with a textured outer surface to transport
the
crop material inwardly of the width of the discharge opening. A second roller
is also
provided which has its axis inclined upwardly inwardly across the top of the
swath so
as to attempt to act to compress the side edges of the swath downwardly and
inwardly for improved consolidation. This arrangement is designed for an 8 or
10
disk machine but is ineffective at providing a properly consolidated swath of
a
required width.
Neither of these arrangements is therefore entirely satisfactory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the invention to provide a crop harvesting header of
the type having a series of rotary cutting disks on a cutter bar and
particularly to
provide an improved arrangement for forming a consolidated swath at the
discharge
opening.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a crop
harvesting header comprising:
a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which
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there is a standing crop for harvesting;
a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header
for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop;
a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar
at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted.on
the
cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced
along
the cutter bar;
each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from
the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of
the disk
about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates
around the
axis on the disk;
the header frame defining a discharge opening defined by spaced
upstanding side walls located at a spacing narrower than a width of the cutter
bar
through which the cut crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the
header;
the header frame including two walls each located at a respective end
of the header frame and each extending behind at least one of the disks from a
respective one of the side walls of the discharge opening outwardly toward the
respective end of the header frame such that the cut crop material is
converged
inwardly in front of the wall to the discharge opening;
and a swath converging apparatus mounted at the discharge opening
for converging sides of the swath to be laid on the ground behind the header;
the swath converging apparatus comprising two assemblies each of at
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least two rollers with each assembly mounted at a respective side wall of the
discharge opening;
said at least two rollers of each assembly each having an upstanding
axis with an innermost one of the rollers being mounted with its axis inwardly
of an
5 outermost one of the rollers and at least the innermost one of the rollers
being
mounted so as to be located wholly inwardly of the respective side wall of the
discharge opening;
the rollers of each assembly each being driven for rotation about its
axis in a direction to carry the crop inwardly of the discharge opening.
10 The number of rollers used in each assembly is preferably two but in
some cases only a single roller or more than two rollers can be used.
Preferably each of the rollers has a substantially solid peripheral wall
as this tends to reduce the possibility of wrapping but other constructions
and
shapes of a rotating member which defines the roller can be used..
Preferably each of the rollers is cylindrical but other shapes can be
used such the "hour glass shape" described in the application referred to
hereinafter.
Preferably each of the rollers has a plurality of longitudinal ribs on the
outer wail.
Preferably the rollers have a height greater than that of the discharge
opening.
Preferably at least the inner one of the pair is adjustable in a direction
inwardly and outwardly of the discharge opening
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Preferably the pairs are connected for common adjustment movement
of the inner rollers.
Preferably the common adjustment movement is effected by a
hydraulic cylinder.
Preferably the inner one of the pair is mounted for pivotal movement
about an axis at or adjacent to the axis of the outer one.
Preferably the inner and outer rollers of the pair are mounted on a
common support.
Preferably the common support includes a top mounting plate and a
parallel bottom mounting plate.
Preferably the axis of the inner roller is inward and rearward of the axis
of the outer roller.
Preferably the rollers are driven by an adjustable hydraulic drive motor
and each is preferably driven by a separate hydraulic motor independently of
the
others.
Preferably the inner and outer rollers of the pair are mounted on a
common support including a top mounting plate and a parallel bottom mounting
plate
and wherein each of the rollers is connected rigidly to a motor shaft at a top
end of
the shaft at the top plate with a motor flange mounted at the top plate for
floating
movement relative to the top plate and with single spherical bearing
connecting the
shaft to the bottom plate at bottom to hold radial and thrust load.
Preferably the cutter bar includes a floor plate extending rearwardly to
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a position adjacent the pair of rollers.
Preferably the pair of roilers is mounted on a bottom plate which
extends forwardly from the rollers to provide a guide surface tending to
reduce the
possibility of the crop hitting the ground in front of the rollers and
preferably the
bottom plate overlaps the floor plate.
Preferably the bottom plate converges to a front apex between the
inner and outer rollers.
Preferably at least the outer one of the disks includes an impeller
mounted thereon, upstanding therefrom and rotatable therewith to engage crop
and
provide contact therewith tending to carry the crop inwardly to the discharge
opening.
Preferably on each side of the discharge opening, there are two outer
disks arranged outwardly of the discharge opening and wherein there are three
impellers at the outer disks arranged in a row across the outer disks so as to
engage
crop and provide contact therewith tending to carry the crop inwardly to the
discharge opening.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a crop
harvesting header comprising:
a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which
there is a standing crop for harvesting;
a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header
for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop;
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a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar
at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted on
the
cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced
along
the cutter bar;
each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from
the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of
the disk
about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates
around the
axis on the disk;
the header frame defining a discharge opening defined by spaced
upstanding side walls located at a spacing narrower than a width of the cutter
bar
through which the cut crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the
header;
the header frame including two walls each located at a respective end
of the header frame and each extending behind at least one of the disks from a
respective one of the side walls of the discharge opening outwardly toward the
respective end of the header frame such that the cut crop material is
converged
inwardly in front of the wall to the discharge opening;
and a swath converging apparatus mounted at the discharge opening
for converging sides of the swath to be laid on the ground behind the header;
the swath converging apparatus comprising two assemblies each of at
least two rollers with each assembly mounted at a respective side wall of the
discharge opening;
the rollers of each assembly each being driven for rotation about its
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axis in a direction to carry the crop inwardly of the discharge opening;
said at least two rollers of each assembly including an innermost one
of the rollers mounted inwardly of an outermost one of the rollers and at
least the
innermost one of the rollers being mounted so as to be located wholly inwardly
of the
respective side wall of the discharge opening;
at least the innermost one of the rollers of each assembly being
mounted for adjustment movement in a direction inwardly and outwardly of the
respective side wall of the discharge opening;
wherein the swath converging apparatus includes an actuator and a
linkage driven by the actuator and connected between the two assemblies for
effecting common adjustment movement of the innermost rollers of the two
assemblies.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a crop
harvesting header comprising:
a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which
there is a standing crop for harvesting;
a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header
for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop;
a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar
at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted on
the
cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced
along
the cutter bar;
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each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from
the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of
the disk
about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates
around the
axis on the disk;
5 the header frame defining a discharge opening defined by spaced
upstanding side walls located at a spacing narrower than a width of the cutter
bar
through which the cut crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the
header;
the header frame including two walls each located at a respective end
of the header frame and each extending behind at least one of the disks from a
10 respective one of the side walls of the discharge opening outwardly toward
the
respective end of the header frame such that the cut crop material is
converged
inwardly in front of the wall to the discharge opening;
and a swath converging apparatus mounted at the discharge opening
for converging sides of the swath to be laid on the ground behind the header;
15 the swath converging apparatus comprising two assemblies each of at
least two rollers with each assembly mounted at a respective side wall of the
discharge opening;
the rollers of each assembly each being driven for rotation about its
axis in a direction to carry the crop inwardly of the discharge opening;
said at least two rollers of each assembly including an innermost one
of the rollers mounted inwardly of an outermost one of the rollers and at
least the
innermost one of the rollers being mounted so as to be located wholly inwardly
of the
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respective side wall of the discharge opening;
wherein each of the rollers is driven by a separate hydraulic motor
independently of the others of the rollers.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a crop
harvesting header comprising:
a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which
there is a standing crop for harvesting;
a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header
for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop;
a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar
at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted on
the
cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced
along
the cutter bar;
each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from
the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of
the disk
about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates
around the
axis on the disk;
the header frame defining a discharge opening defined by spaced
upstanding side walls located at a spacing narrower than a width of the cutter
bar
through which the cut crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the
header;
the header frame including two walls each located at a respective end
of the header frame and each extending behind at least one of the disks from a
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respective one of the side walls of the discharge opening outwardly toward the
respective end of the header frame such that the cut crop material is
converged
inwardly in front of the wall to the discharge opening;
and a swath converging apparatus mounted at the discharge opening
for converging sides of the swath to be laid on the ground behind the header;
the swath converging apparatus comprising two assemblies each
mounted at a respective side wall of the discharge opening and each including
at
least one roller;
said at least one roller of each assembly each being driven for rotation
about its axis in a direction to carry the crop inwardly of the discharge
opening;
said at least one roller being mounted so as to be located wholly
inwardly of the respective side wall of the discharge opening;
wherein the cutter bar is arranged undemeath the cutter disks for
driving the cutter disks;
and wherein there is provided a floor plate extending rearwardly from
the cutter bar to a position adjacent said at least one roller and arranged to
prevent
cut crop from falling to the ground in front of said at least one roller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view showing generally a header of the type
with which the present invention is preferably concerned.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the header of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the header of Figure 1 on an
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enlarged scale showing one end only of the header, the other end being
symmetricaf.
Figure 3A is view similar to that of Figure 3 showing more detail of the
drive components shown onEy schematically in Figure 3.
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the impeller 40 of Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 4A is an isometric view of the impeller 41 of Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 4B is an isometric view of an alternative impeller for use in
replacement for the impeller 41 of Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of a swath convergence system to be
mounted in the discharge opening of the rotary mower shown in the above
figures.
Figure 6 is an isometric view of the system of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of one pair of convergence rollers of
Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of one pair of convergence rollers of
Figure 5.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In Figure 1 is shown schematically a header for attachment to
conventional swather tractor of the well known type having driven ground
wheels
and rear castor wheels. A front support assembly of the tractor carries the
header
14 including left and right lift arms which carry the header in a floating
action across
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19
the ground along skid plates (not shown) of the header. The header includes
side
walls 15 and 16 forming part of a frame 17 attached to the conventional
transport
system of the tractor. The frame carries top covers 18 which support a front
skirt 19
in front of the cutter bar so as to provide protection for persons in the
vicinity of the
header which could be impacted by objects accelerated by the high speed rotary
cutting assembly described hereinafter. Two doors and associated shields are
not
shown to provide a view inside the header.
The frame 17 includes a main transverse beam which is attached to
the tractor. The main beam carries the side walls 15 and 16. The side walls
each
comprises a vertical wall extending forwardly to a front edge 23 in front of
the cutter
bar which is generally indicated at 24. The side wall is vertical and provides
the front
edge 23 lying in a vertical plane of the side wall so as to confine crop
material to the
interior of the header between the side walls for cutting action effected by
the cutter
bar 24.
Within the cutter bar 24 is provided a gear train (not shown) of meshing
gears carried on suitable bearings so as to provide communication of drive of
a
number of vertical shafts carried on the cutter bar each for rotating a
generally
horizontal disk 26 about a vertical axis of the shaft. The disks are
substantially
identical. The disks are generally elliptical in shape so that a length
between two
ends 26A and 26B is significantly greater than a distance between the side
edges in
a direction at right angles to the length. At each of the ends 26A and 26B is
mounted a respective one of a pair of flails 27 each for pivotal movement
about a
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flail mounting pin 27A. The mounting pins are arranged at the ends and thus at
the
maximum extent of the disk so that the flails project outwardly beyond the
edges of
the disk for rotation in a common horizontal plane generally parallel to the
plane of
the cutter bar in a cutting action.
5 The disks are intermeshed so as to driven synchronously and they are
arranged at 90 phase difference so that adjacent pairs of the disks are at 90
offset
as they rotate to avoid interference between the disks and the blades 27
carried
thereby.
The cutter bar is wider than a discharge opening 30 with rear walls 301
10 and 302 behind the outer disks and the impellers on respective sides of the
discharge opening 30. Thus the crop material passes over the disks when cut
and
also must be converged from the full cut width into the discharge opening 30.
The cutter bar of this general construction is of a conventional nature
and many examples of a commercial arrangement of this type are available in
the
15 market place. Thus the details of the cutter bar and its mounting are well
known to
one skilled in the art and further details can be obtained from such
commercial
devices.
The discharge opening 30 has two side walls 32 and 33 which confine
the crop material to pass through the discharge opening over a width less than
the
20 width of the header so that the side walls 32 and 33 are spaced inwardly
from the
respective end walls 15 and 16 of the header.
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21
The disks 26 mounted on the cutter bar 24 include a series of disks
which are located in front of the discharge opening 30. Outward of these disks
and
either side is provided a pair of outer disks indicated at 26A and 26B with
the disk
26B outermost. These disks are arranged to rotate inwardly so that the front
extremity and the blade carried thereby rotates in the direction indicated at
the
arrows D as shown in Figure 1 to carry the crop material which is cut by those
disks
inwardly toward the discharge opening.
Each of the disks 26A and 26B carries a respective one of a plurality of
impellers. Thus the disk 26A carries an impeller 40 and the disk 26B carries
an
impeller 41. In between these two impellers is mounted a third impeller 42.
Thus in the embodiment shown there are three impellers arranged to
engage the crop material during or slightly after the cutting action so as to
carry the
crop material inwardly toward the end wall of the discharge opening. The
number of
impellers can be increased or decreased depending upon particular requirements
or
particular designs. Thus there may be only two impellers or there maybe more
impellers. The impellers 40 and 41 are mounted on the respective disk so as to
be
carried thereby and driven thereby. The impeller 42 is carried on the frame 17
at a
position above the cutter bar 24 so as to be a hanging impeller supported from
a
mounting system 44 above the impeller wherein there is provided a suitable
bearing
and also a suitable drive system within a frame member of the frame 17.
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While the impellers 40 and 41 are mounted on the respective disks to
be driven thereby, in an altemative arrangement, the impellers may be hanging
impellers in the style of arrangement shown at impeller 42.
An alternative construction of impeller is shown in Figure 4B which has
been built with a substantiaily solid peripheral wall to reduce aggressiveness
and
reduce build-up of crop on the converging member. This impeller has a solid
peripheral wall which is cylindrical as shown at 41X and angularly spaced ribs
or
bars 41Y are attached to the wall 41X. Each bar 41X is formed of two parts 41Z
which tapers in height and width from the end wall of the impeller to
approximately a
mid height of the impeller. Thus the bars 41Z lie on a larger circle at the
ends of the
impeller than at the mid height of the impeller thus simulating the "hour
glass" shape
of the cage type impeller shown in Figure 4A but with the wall between the
bars
being closed or solid.
The impellers 40 and 41 are directly co-axial with the respective disk,
26A and 26B. Hanging impellers to replace these impellers may be also co-
axially
arranged with the corresponding disk or the axes of the impellers may be
offset from
the axes of the disks. It will be appreciated that the disks and the impellers
co-
operate to assist in carrying the crop material inwardly toward the discharge
opening
and to resist the crop material from moving rearwardly over the disks 26A and
26B
to a rear bulkhead panel which could cause collection of the crop material and
eventual blockage of the system.
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
23
As shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 3A, the frame 17 includes a
frame member 45 within which is mounted a drive shaft and drive system
generally
indicated at 46 and shown in more detail in Figure 3A. This drive system 46
provides drive through a gear box 46A to a drive shaft 46B and drive link 47
to the
end disk 26B to provide drive into an end gear of the cutter bar 24. The drive
46
also provides a drive iommunication by a pulley 46C and belt 46D to a drive
coupling 48 which is connected to a drive shaft 49 of the hanging impeller 42.
The
mounting 44 of the hanging impeller 42 includes a base plate 50 attached to
the
frame member or plate 45 together with a bearing arrangement 51 through which
the
shaft 49 passes.
The hanging impeller comprises a top plate 52 and a bottom plate 53
defining top and bottom ends of the impeller 42 respectively. Between these
end
plates 52 and 53 is provided a series of bars 54 at spaced positions around an
axis
55 of the impeller 42.
The impeller 40 shown in Figure 4 similarly comprises a bottom plate
56 and a top plate 57. In this arrangement the bottom plate 52 is bolted
directly onto
the top of the respective disk 26A. The top plate 57 is thus supported at a
spaced
position from the bottom plate 56 by the upstanding bars 58 which connect the
top
and bottom plates. The bars 54 are substantially identical to the bars 58
providing
impellers 42 and 40 which are substantially identical in height and diameter.
However this relationship is not essential and these impellers may be of
different
dimensions and constructions.
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
24
The impeller 41 shown in Figure 4A is similar to the impeller 40 in that
it includes a base plate 60 bolted to the top of the end disk 26B. The
impeller further
includes a top plate 61 and a series of bars 62. The height of the impeller,
41 that is
the distance between the top and bottom plate, is equal to the height of the
other
impellers. In this way the top and bottom plates of the impeller 40 and 41 are
aligned in height across the width of the header.
However the impeller 41 is oval in that it is larger in dimension in a
direction D1 than the diameter of the impeller 40 relative to its axis 63 and
is equal in
dimension, in a direction D2 at right angles to the first direction D1, to the
diameter
of the impeller 40. The bars 58 on the impeller 40 58 are angularly spaced
around
the respective axis 64 with the distance between the bars being substantially
equal
in many cases although the distances between bars is not necessarily equal as
there can be at the end impellers a large spacing for installation of the
driveline
aligned with the blades of the discs where there is less requirement to engage
crop.
The bars 62 on the impeller 41 are located at a greater diameter from
the axis 63 than the bars 58 on the impeller 40 and there are a larger number
of the
bars 62 than bars 58. Thus the impeller 40 as shown in more detail in Figure 4
has
only four bars at 90 spacing whereas the impeller 41 has six bars at 450
spacing at
a larger diameter. As the impeller 41 is oval in plan, the bars 62 are not
equidistantly spaced around the full periphery but are arranged in groups of
three at
the ends of the larger dimension with a larger spacing along the sides at the
smaller
dimension.
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
As best shown in Figures 4 and 4A, each of the bars 58 and 62 of the
impellers 40 and 41 has a top end 66 at the top plate 57 and a bottom end 67
at the
bottom plate 56. The top and bottom ends are suitably fastened to the top and
bottom disks and in the embodiment shown this is effected by providing a hole
in the
5 respective disk within which the respective end is located. In the
embodiment
shown each of the bars 58 is formed by a tubular member of circular cross
section.
Each of the bars is bent at a central location 68 so as to form two inclined
portions
69 and 70 which extend from the bent center section 68 upwardly to the top end
and
downwardiy to the bottom end respectively. The bend is located so that the
center
10 of the bar is spaced inwardly toward the axis relative to the corresponding
top and
bottom ends. Each of the bars lies in an axial plane of the impeller. This
forms for
the impeller in effect a waist at the mid height between the top and bottom
ends.
The waist thus forms in effect a circle surrounding the impeller which is
narrower
than the bars at the top and bottom extremity. In this way the impeller is
"hour-
15 glass" shape with the waist formed at the mid height. This hour glass shape
can be
provided in the cage type impeller as shown in Figure 4A or in the solid type
of
impeller as shown in Figure 4B.
As the top and bottom plates of the impellers 40 and 41 are at the
same height, the waist at the center is similarly located at the same height.
20 The impeller 42 is identical in size and construction to the impeller 40
but is located in a hanging arrangement from the upper rail 45 with the top
and
bottom plates raised slightly relative to the top and bottom plates of the
impellers 40
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
26
and 41. Thus the central waist of the impeller 42 is at a raised height
relative to the
waists of the impellers 40 and 41.
In one example of the impeller 40 the amount of bending of the bars is
such that a circle surrounding the bars at the waist is of the order of 15.5
cm in
diameter as opposed to a circle surrounding the bars at the top and bottom
ends
which is 19 cm in diameter.
The bars are not necessarily circular in cross section and can be of
different shapes to provide a more aggressive engagement with the crop. The
circular cross section bars provide an action on the crop which is relatively
non-
aggressive so that it reduces the tendency of the impeller to grasp and hold
portions
of the crop which provides a tendency for wrapping of the crop around the
impeller
as it rotates. The smooth surfaces provided by the bars allow the crop to
sweep
over those surfaces as it moves inwardly away from each of the impellers
toward the
discharge opening. There are no sharp edges on the impeller bars which could
act
to cut into the crop and cause an engagement point tending to hold the crop
against
its required movement away from the impeller.
As the crop moves inwardly toward the discharge opening, the crop
tends to lie with the stalks across the front of the header. The shaping of
the
impeller with the narrower waist thus tends to cause the crop to be cupped
within the
outer surface of the impeller so that less tendency for the crop materials to
climb
above the impellers. The crop material thus is cradled by the bars of the
impellers
as the crop material moves inwardly with the crop material tending to center
at the
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
27
central waist of the impellers. This arrangement has therefore provided an
improved
crop flow across the front of the impellers as the impellers rotate inwardly
across
their front surfaces toward the discharge opening.
Turning now to Figures 5 through 8, there is shown a converging
apparatus generally indicated at 70 which is mounted in the discharge opening
30
between side walls 32 and 33 of the discharge opening. The apparatus 70 is
thus
located in the discharge opening that across the width of the discharge
opening so
as to be narrower than the width of the cutter bar and the header. The
apparatus 70
comprises a first side wall 71 which is shaped to mount into the discharge
opening at
the side wall 32 of the discharge opening with flanges 72 which engage onto
the
construction of the header at the side wall 32. Symmetrically, a second end
wall 73
includes flanges 74 which engage onto the end wall 33 of the discharge
opening.
The apparatus 70 further includes a converging wall assembly 75
including a top wall 76 and side walls 77 and 78. Side walls 77 and 78 include
a first
rearwardly extending portion 79 which are parallel and thus parallel to the
direction
of movement of the header and at right angles to the cutter bar. The side
walls 77
and 78 further include a rearwardly and inwardly inclined portion 80 which
converges
rearwardly and inwardly to a rear edge 81 which is spaced inwardly from the
width of
the discharge opening and inwardly from the side walls 72 and 73.
The top wall 76 includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front
portion 76A and a horizontal portion 76B which extends rearwardly to a rear
edge
76C lying in a common plane with rear edges 81. A protective curtain at the
rear
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
28
edge 76C may be provided.
The assembly 70 further includes a pair of floor plates 83 and 84 which
have a front edge 85 attached to the cutter bar. These floor plates are also
attached
at side flanges 86 to the side wafls 71 and 73 so that an outer side edge 87
of the
floor plate 83 lies along the inside edge at the bottom of the side plate 71
and
symmetrically an outside edge 88 of the floor plate extends along side the
bottom
edge of the side wall 73. The floor plates 83 and 84 also have an inside edge
89
which is spaced partway along the width of the discharge opening from the
outside
edges of the discharge opening so that the inner edges 89 are spaced by a
central
opening at which the swath is intended to be formed. This opening therefore is
opened to the ground allowing the crop material discharging from the rear of
the
cutter bar in this area to fall downwardly to the ground to form a swath on
the
ground.
The apparatus 70 further includes two pairs 90 and 91 of swath
converging rollers. The two pairs are symmetrical and arranged oppositely at
opposite ends of the discharge opening so as to engage opposite sides of the
swath
passing through the discharge opening. Each pair as best shown in Figure 7
comprises an outer roller 92 and an inner roller 93. Each of these rollers has
an
upright axis so that the axes are parallel and each of the rollers has a solid
or
imperforate peripheral wall so as to define in effect a drum which rotates
around the
axis of the roller. The drum has a series of longitudinally extending ribs 94
projecting outwardly from the outer surface 95. The ribs provide engagement
with
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
29
the crop so as to assist in frictional engagement with the crop so as to tend
to carry
the crop around the roller in the direction of rotation of the roller. The
rollers are
closely adjacent in the area between the rollers so that crop material can be
transferred from the outer roller to the inner roller as the rollers rotate in
a common
direction tending to transfer the crop inwardly of the discharge opening from
the
outside wall 32, 33 inwardly to the opening between the edges 89.
The rollers 92 and 93 are supported on a bottom plate 95 and a top
plate 96 which are spaced by the height of the rollers. The top plate 96
covers the
top end of each of the rollers so that it has semi-circular ends 96A and
joining sides
96B. The bottom plate 95 is similarly shaped to engage around the bottom end
of
the roller but also includes a forwardly projecting portion 95 which converges
toward
an apex 95B symmetrically located between the rollers in front of the rollers.
Each of the rollers is driven by a respective hydraulic motor 97 so that
all of the rollers are driven independently of one another. Control of the
speed of the
rollers can therefore be effected using a central control system which
supplies fluid
at a predetermined rate to each of the rollers to provide independent control.
Thus
for example the inner rollers may be driven at a different speed from the
outer
rollers.
As best shown in Figure 8, the motors 97 are rigidly attached to an
upper end 98A of a motor drive shaft 98. The motor drive shaft 98 connects to
the
peripheral wall of the respective roller by top and bottom plates 99 and 99A
attached
to the shaft at an inner opening and extending outwardly so that a peripheral
edge of
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
the respective plate attaches to the peripheral wall to communicate drive from
the
shaft to the wail.
The shaft 98 is carried at its lower end 98B in a spherical bearing 98C
attached to and carried by the bottom plate 95. The spherical bearing mounts
the
5 bottom plate of the motor shaft 98B so that the respective roller is mounted
for
rotation about the axis defined by the spherical bearing at the bottom plate
95. At
the upper end the motor and shaft are attached to a motor flange 100 which is
carried in the top plate 96 in a manner allowing slight floating movement of
the plate
100 relative to the top plate 96. In this way slight side to side movement of
the roller
10 can occur relative to the top piate to accommodate twisting. In this way
the roller is
mounted for rotation about the axis defined by the bottom spherical bearing
98C in
an effective inexpensive manner requiring only a single bearing and allowing
the
necessary flexing movements to occur.
The top plate 96 includes a down-tumed flange 96D which surrounds a
15 top flange 93A of the roller 93 and a top flange 92A of the roller 92. This
inter-
engagement between the flanges 92A and 93A which are horizontal to the
vertical
flange 96D inhibits the entry of crop or other materials which may reach the
top of
the roller. Symmetrically the bottom of the roller includes an out-turned
horizontal
flange 93B, 92B which co-operates with an uptumed vertical flange 95D of the
20 bottom plate.
The rollers 92 and 93 are essentially the same height as the maximum
verticai height under the frame. This height is rarely required, except when
tall,
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
31
lodged bushy crops enter the header "heads frrst".
As best shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pairs of rollers are arranged so
that the outer roller 92 of the pair is closely adjacent the side wall 73, 72.
A front
edge of the roller is just behind the front edge of the side plate 73. Thus
crop
material passing around the front edge into the discharge opening firstly
engages
the surface of the outer roller 92 which is moving inwardly relative to the
opening.
The roller 93 which is the inner roller is positioned so that its axis 93X
is located inwardly and rearwardly relative to the axis 92X of the roller 92.
Thus the
crop material crossing across the front face of the roller 92 then encounters
the roller
93 which is rotating in the same direction that is inwardly and rearwardly of
the
discharge opening so that the crop material is carried by both of the rollers
inwardly
into the area between the edges 89 where the swath is formed.
The motor flange 100 of the outer roller 92 is carried in a mounting
plate 101 fixed to the end wall 72, 73. This mounting plate therefore extends
across
the top of the structure underneath the top housing wall 76 and provides a
fixed
position for the top end of the roller 92. The top and bottom plates of the
pair of
roliers are then free to swivel around the axis defined by the motor shaft 98
of the
outer roller. In this way the top plate can move inwardly and outwardly as
indicated
by the direction of arrow D to provide an adjustment of the position of the
inner roller
93 relative to the outer roller 92.
During this adjustment movement, the forward extension portion 95A
of the bottom plate 95 sweeps across the top of the floor plate 83, 84 so as
to
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
32
provide an inter-engagement between these plates which prevents the crop
material
from dropping downwardly in this area and downwardly between the rear of the
cutter bar and the pair of rollers. Thus any crop moving rearwardly behind the
cutter
at this area in front of the pair of rollers is carried by the bottom plates
and is
engaged onto the rollers which tend to move the crop material inwardly and
rearwardly over the surfaces of the rollers into the swath discharge area
between the
inner edges 89.
As best shown in Figure 5, common adjustment of the angle of the pair
of rollers around the axis 92X is effected by a lever system generatly
indicated at
102 and including a pair of levers 102A and 102B together with a central crank
102C
operated by a hydraulic cylinder 102D. Operation of the hydraulic cylinder
therefore
acts to commonly and symmetricaliy move the pairs of rollers around the axis
of the
respective outer roller so as to move the inner roller inwardly or outwardly
depending
upon the operation of tha cylinder
With the conditioning system therefore removed from the header
described in the above previous patent applications identified above, the
conditioning roller system can be replaced by the swath converging system 70
described above. This swath converging system can be simply bolted into place
into
the discharge opening. The swath converging system therefore co-operates with
the
impeller converging system on the cutter bar so that the crop material is
initially
converged inwardly to enter the discharge opening whereupon the crop material
encounters the crop converging rollers of the two pairs of rollers. These are
CA 02596627 2008-10-30
33
adjusted so that the crop material is properly engaged by the rollers and
carried by
the rollers to a required width of the eventual swath with the rollers acting
to
compress and converge the crop material to a swath width.
Typically the width of the discharge opening may be in the range 3000
mm between end panels of discharge opening and the eventual swath width can be
reduced to a with in the range 1200 to 2000 mm by adjusting the position of
the
inner roller around the axis of the outer roller. Width control can also be
effected by
both position and speed.
The crop is thus controlled in its movement through the system and
discharges in the central discharge area between the edges 89 of the floor
plates as
a properly controlled and compressed structure.
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 department from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that a{l matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
