Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SWATH ROLLER
This invention relates to a swath roller apparatus for attachment behind
a swather tractor for rolling over the swath as it is discharged behind the
tractor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Swath rollers are commonly provided to be towed behind a swather
tractor to apply pressure onto the swath as after it is discharged from the
rear of the
tractor.
An example is shown in Canadian Patent No: 599,761 issued June
14th, 1960 by Hellegards which shows a simple cylindrical roller attached
behind a
towed swather.
Many manufacturers have provided towed swath rollers which
comprise a wheeled frame with a forwardly extending hitch pole which attaches
to
the rear of the swather tractor. One example is shown in a brochure by the
present
Applicants where a transverse beam carried on the ground wheels has a pair of
rearwardly extending arms between which is mounted a metal roller drum. The
drum has a cylindrical center section with flared frusto-conical ends. The
height of
the drum can be adjusted on the frame to adjust the pressure on the swath,
depending on the thickness of the swath. The ends of the drum can be closed by
circular end plates.
This type of swath roller has achieved considerable success and many
have been sold by various manufacturers.
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More recently the metal drum has been replaced by a plastic
rotationally molded drum. The has advantage that it does not rust and can be
manufactured cheaply but it has disadvantages that it slips on the crop and
therefore
may not properly rotate in a rolling action. Also the drum is very light so
that it may
not apply the required pressure.
One example of a roller of this type is shown in Canadian Patent
Application Serial No: 2,299,185 (Worms) of Koenders published August 23,
2001.
This provides longitudinally extending ribs on the drum to aid in causing the
drum to
properly rotate.
Another example is shown in Canadian Patent No: 2,311,692
(Cresswell) of Bourgault issued March 11, 2003. This shows in Figure 1 a
similar
arrangement of towed frame in which the width of the drum can be adjusted. In
Figure 2 is shown a different arrangement in which the roller is carried on a
pair of
arms extending rearwardly from the rear of the tractor. There are no ground
wheels
and the height of the drum is adjusted by a winch arrangement which lifts and
lowers
the drum frame at the rear of the arms. This arrangement manufactured by Free
Form Plastics has the disadvantage that the amount of pressure on the swath is
dependent only on the weight of the drum and this may be insufficient as the
drum is
a plastic molded drum.
In view of the disadvantages of this system, Free Form Plastics has
developed recently a system in which the winch suspension system is replaced
by a
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pair of double acting cylinders which allow the cylinders to press downwardly
on the
roller.
Swather tractors have in recent years become much larger and more
complex with some having independent suspension of the rear wheels. Such
tractors are of the type with front wheels which are independently driven to
provide a
steering action together with castor rear wheels which follow the direction
determined by the differential speeds of the front wheels. The towed swath
rollers
have become inadequate to provide a suitable convenient arrangement for the
operator. At the same time there has been an increased demand for swath
rolling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the invention to provide an improved swath roller.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a swath
roller for attachment to a swather tractor to follow the tractor along a
direction of
travel to roll a swath, comprising:
a roller;
a first frame for attachment to the tractor including two arms and a
transverse beam;
a pair of brackets, each for attachment to a rear member on the
swather tractor such that the brackets are located at spaced positions across
the
rear of the tractor;
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each arm having a hitch coupling at a forward end for connection to a
respective one of the brackets, the hitch coupling allowing at least up and
down
pivotal movement of the arm relative to the respective bracket;
the transverse beam being connected across the arms generally at
right angles to the direction of travel so as to be located transverse to the
tractor
behind the tractor;
a second frame for carrying the roller;
a pair of castor wheels on the second frame at positions thereon
spaced outwardly to respective sides of the roller such that the castor wheels
roll on
the ground and locate a height of the second frame and therefore the roller
carried
thereon relative to the ground;
the second frame being connected to the first frame by a coupling
arrangement arranged so that the second frame is pulled by the first frame
across
the ground behind the tractor to guide the roller in a rolling action and so
as to allow
side to side pivotal movement of the second frame and therefore the roller
relative to
the first frame about a pivot axis generally along the direction of travel.
Preferably the second frame includes a front beam and a pair of
rearwardly extending support arms each arranged to engage and support a
respective end of the roller.
Preferably the front beam extends outwardly to outer ends thereof
located beyond respective ends of the roller and wherein each castor wheel is
mounted on a respective one of the outer ends of the front beam.
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Preferably a height of the roller relative to the second frame is
adjustable.
Preferably the coupling arrangement includes a center pivot member
connecting the front beam of the second frame to the transverse beam of the
first
5 frame
and defining the pivot axis and a pair of load transfer elements for
transferring
a pulling force from the transverse beam to the front beam and spaced
outwardly of
the center pivot member.
Preferably the load transfer elements comprise a pair of parallel plates
connected to either the front beam or the transverse beam with the other of
the front
beam and transverse beam being located between and movable vertically relative
to
the parallel plates. Preferably the plates are on the transverse beam and the
front
beam slides between them, but this may be reversed.
Preferably the arms are adjustable longitudinally of the transverse
beam.
Preferably there is provided a hitch member for connection at one end
of the transverse beam to a towing vehicle arranged to pull longitudinally of
the
transverse beam for towing the roller in a transport position, wherein one of
the
castor wheels at the end of the roller opposite the hitch member includes a
locking
member by which the castor wheel can be locked in a rolling direction
longitudinal of
the transverse beam for use in the transport position, and wherein there is
provided
a mounting for an additional wheel at a position on a side of the roller
opposite to the
castor wheel at the end of the transverse beam opposite to the hitch member so
that
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the swath roller can be towed in the transport position in the direction
longitudinally
of the transverse beam while supported on the two castor wheels and the
additional
wheel.
Preferably the additional wheel is located so that the weight of the
roller is applied onto the additional wheel and the arms are supported spaced
from
the ground.
Preferably the height of the additional wheel can be adjusted to
support the hitch couplings on the arms at a required height for connection to
the
tractor.
Preferably the additional wheel is a castor wheel so that the device
when supported on the three wheels can be easily manoeuvred to a required
position to be hitched to the swather.
Preferably the additional wheel is mounted on a beam extending
rearwardly from the end of the front beam.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
swath roller for attachment to a swather tractor to follow the tractor along a
direction
of travel to roll a swath, comprising:
a roller;
a coupling for connection to the tractor by which the roller is towed
behind the tractor;
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a frame construction for carrying the roller and connected to the
coupling so as to be located generally at right angles to the direction of
travel
transverse to the tractor behind the tractor;
a pair of castor wheels on the frame construction at positions thereon
spaced outwardly to respective sides of the roller such that the castor wheels
roll on
the ground and locate a height of the frame construction and therefore the
roller
carried thereon relative to the ground;
wherein there is provided a hitch member for connection at one end of
the frame construction to a towing vehicle arranged to pull longitudinally of
the frame
construction for towing the roller in a transport position;
wherein one of the castor wheels at the end of the roller opposite the
hitch member includes a locking member by which the castor wheel can be locked
in
a rolling direction longitudinal of the frame construction for use in the
transport
position;
and wherein there is provided a mounting for an additional wheel at a
position on a side of the roller opposite to the castor wheel at the end of
the frame
construction opposite to the hitch member so that the swath roller can be
towed in
the transport position in the direction longitudinally of the frame
construction while
supported on the two castor wheels and the additional wheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
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Figure 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of swath roller
according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the swath roller of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the swath roller of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the swath roller of Figure 1.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The swath roller apparatus is generally indicated at 10 and includes a
swath roller 11 mounted on a frame arrangement 12 for transportation behind a
conventional swather tractor.
The roller 11 is formed of welded metal sheet and includes a central
cylindrical section 14 and two flared ends 15 which are themselves frusto
conical
extending to an outermost edge 16 at which is located an end circular plate 17
closing the end of the roller drum. The roller is mounted on bearings 18
carried on a
shaft 19 so that the shaft can be attached to the frame 12 allowing the roller
to roll
over the swath as the swath emerges from the rear of the tractor. The shape of
the
roller is a conventional shape with the central cylindrical section acting to
compress
the majority of the swath while the edges which are of reduced height are
pinched
downwardly to the ground by the frusto conical end sections.
The frame assembly includes a front frame section 20 and a rear frame
section 21. The front frame section is attached to the tractor and the rear
frame
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section carries the roller. The front frame section 20 comprises a main
transverse
beam 22 extending across the width of the apparatus to respective ends 23
spaced
outwardly from the roller. The transverse beam 22 is attached to the tractor
by a
pair of arms 24 which extend forwardly from the beam to the tractor at right
angles to
the beam and at spaced positions along the length of the beam. The arms 24 are
thus parallel and their spacing on the beam 24 can be adjusted by adjusting
mounting clamps 25. At the forward end of each arm 24 is provided a mounting
bracket 26 providing a hitch coupling 27 for receiving a corresponding
coupling at
the front of the respective arm. The height of the hitch coupling 27 can be
adjusted
by moving the bracket 26 on the tractor.
In the arrangement as shown and primarily used, the brackets
attached to the axle of the tractor at the rear of the tractor which axle
carries the
conventional castor wheel of the tractor. In some cases the rear axle is a
rigid
transverse axle and other cases independent axle portions are provided which
are
independently suspended relative to the tractor body.
In other cases the tractor may include a mounting assembly for
receiving the swath roller which provides mounting points for the forward end
of the
arms 24. In all cases the arms 24 can pivot upwardly and downwardly relative
to the
mounting on the tractor allowing the height on the beam 22 to move upwardly
and
downwardly relative to the tractor.
The roller frame 21 includes a front beam 30 which extends parallel to
and alongside the transverse beam 22. The front beam 30 extends outwardly to
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respective ends 31 which are located beyond the ends 23 of the transverse
beam.
The front beam 30 is coupled to the transverse beam 23 by a centre pivot
coupling
32 which allows the front beam to pivot about a horizontal axis longitudinally
of the
direction of movement so that the respective ends of the front beam can pivot
5 upwardly and downwardly allowing the roller to move in a similar pivoting
action.
Pulling force from the transverse beam is transferred to the front beam
by a force communication device generally indicated at 33 which comprises a
pair of
parallel plates 34 and 34A attached to the end 23 of the transverse beam.
Conveniently these two plates are held in parallel position by providing C-
shape at
10 the top and bottom thus defining horizontal flanges which are clamped
together to
hold the plates parallel and vertical. The front one of the plates is attached
to the
end 23 of the transverse beam thus holding the plates at spaced positions with
the
front beam 30 passing therethrough. Thus the front beam can slide upwardly and
downwardly within the channel defined by the parallel plates and pulling force
which
is mis aligned with the longitudinal direction, for example of course by
steering of the
tractor, is transmitted at positions spaced outwardly at the centre pivot by
the load
transmitting elements. In this way high loads at the center pivot are moved
outwardly to these load transmitting elements to ensure that sufficient force
can be
transmitted from the front frame to the frame carrying the roller.
The roller shaft 19 is carried on a pair of arms 35 which extend
rearwardly from the front beam 30. These arms are supported at a predetermined
height relative to the front roller by supporting the arms on a fixed
downwardly
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inclined support beam 36. An adjustable brace 37 extends between the fixed
beam
36 and the support arm 35 so that the operator can adjust the length of the
brace
thus moving the roller upwardly and downwardly relative to the fixed beam 37
and
therefore .relative to the front beam 30. The arms 35 extend beyond the shaft
of the
roller to provide a rear handle portion which can be lifted by the operator
thus
providing sufficient leverage for the operator to lift the weight of the
roller and
provide the necessary adjustment at the brace 37.
The length of the arms 24 is such that the beams are carried at a
position spaced rearwardly of the tractor sufficiently to clear the rear
castor wheels
of the tractor.
The ends of the front beam 30 as indicated at 31 are each carried on a
respective one of a pair of castor wheels 40 of a conventional construction.
Thus a
bracket 41 is mounted on the end of the front beam and this carries a vertical
support 42 for the arm 43 of the castor wheel 40. The arm is arranged so that
the
axis of the castor wheel when the roller system is operating in the field is
located
approximately in line with the axis of the roller 11. Thus the two castor
wheels are
located outwardly beyond the end of the roller and provide support for the
ends of
the roller so as to locate the height of the roller relative to the ground.
Thus in all
cases the roller is supported away from the ground and rolls on the swath with
sufficient pressure downwardly onto the swath to compress the swath while
avoiding
the roller contacting or running on the ground.
At one end of the transverse beam 22 is provided a receptacle 45 for a
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hitch bar 46 with a hitch coupling 47 for connection to a towing vehicle such
as
another tractor or a farm pickup vehicle. This defines therefore a front end
of the
roller system during transportation with the transportation taking place in a
direction
at right angles to the normal working direction. Thus in transport towing
takes place
along the direction of the beams with a hitch at the forward end and one of
the
castor wheels 40 at the forward end underneath the hitch.
At the other end which is the rear end in the towing position, there is
provided a mounting 50 for an additional wheel 51 also in the form of a castor
wheel
with a castor wheel arm 62. This is mounted on a bracket 53 carried on the and
of a
beam 54 rigidly attached to the end 31 of the front beam 30 at the rear end of
the
device in transport. The mounting 50 includes a bracket which allows the
mounting
53 to be adjusted vertically in height so as to lift the beam 54 at the end of
the beam
upwardly and downwardly relative to the front beam 30. It will be appreciated
that
this upward and downward adjustment of the beam 54 tilts the apparatus about
the
castor wheels 40 so as to raise and lower the hitch ends of the arms 24. With
the
additional wheel 51 in place, therefore, the arms 24 are maintained at a
height
spaced from the ground which is approximately equal to the height for
attachment to
the brackets 26. In the transport position, therefore, when the arms are
disconnected from the swather tractor the device is towed longitudinally of
the roller
with the arms projecting outwardly to the side on one side of the front beam
and the
roller projecting outwardly to the other side of the front beam. This
arrangement
provides a width of transportation which is sufficiently narrow to accommodate
most
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transportation situations.
In order that the system be towed stably, the rear castor wheel 40
includes a locking system 60 with a pin 61 which slides through a sleeve 62
and
engages into a hole in a flange 63 attached to the arm 43 of the castor wheel
40.
This acts to lock the wheel 40 at the rear in the transport position in the
longitudinal
transport direction. Similarly the additional wheel 51 can also be locked in
this
direction to provide a stable position at the rear. The front castor wheel 40
at the
hitch remains unlocked during transport so that it can turn from side to side
to
provide a steering action relative to the towing vehicle.
All of the wheels can castor in order that a single operator can push
the device up to the rear of the swather and manoeuvre it to the required
position to
locate it properly for connection. When in transport the rear two wheels are
locked
to prevent the c,astoring action.
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 all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
