Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CROP HARVESTING HEADER WITH ROTARY DISKS AND IMPELLERS FOR
TRANSFERRING THE CROP INWARDLY TO A DISCHARGE OPENING
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.
This application relates to the subject matter disclosed in the following
documents:
US Published Application 2008/0066440 filed September 15th, 2006
and published March 23, 2008 which corresponds to Canadian application
2,559,353 and entitled CROP HARVESTING HEADER WITH ROTARY DISKS AND
IMPELLERS FOR TRANSFERRING THE CROP INWARDLY TO A DISCHARGE
OPENING;
US Published Application 2008/0066441 filed September 15th, 2006
and published March 23, 2008 which corresponds to Canadian application
2,559,217 and entitled CROP HARVESTING HEADER WITH ROTARY DISKS AND
A TRANSFER ROLLER CARRYING THE CUT CROP TO THE NIP OF A PAIR OF
CONDITIONING ROLLS;
US Published Application 2008/0066439 filed February 15th, 2007 and
published March 23, 2008 which corresponds to Canadian application 2,578,907
and entitled CROP HARVESTING HEADER WITH ROTARY DISKS AND
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IMPELLERS FOR TRANSFERRING THE CROP INWARDLY TO A DISCHARGE
OPENING.
The disclosures of the above published applications are incorporated
herein by reference or the disclosures may be referred to by the reader for
further
detail of the subject matter disclosed herein.
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 patent 5,463,852 (O'Halloran) issued November 7th, 1995 and US
5,433,064 issued July 18th, 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 6,581,362 issued June 24th, 2003 and US patent 6,718,743 issued
April 13th 2004 (Rosenbalm) assigned to Deere and Company both disclose 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. Over the end cutters is arranged an impeller
system.
US 5,768,865 (Rosenbalm) issued June 23rd' 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.
US 5,852,921 (Neuerberg) issued December 29th, 1998 to Kuhn
discloses impellers behind a row of cutting disks.
US 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 3rd, 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 centre. In the region between each of the disks of each
pair is
a further cylindrical impeller which assists in transporting the crops to the
centre.
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German 32 24 170 (Mortl) 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
5 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 12 th, 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.
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
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
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upwardly and rearwardly from the cutting plane to the nip to convey the crop
cut by
the cutting disks toward the nip. The cutters are arranged in three pairs with
each
pair rotating in opposite direction so as to tend to feed the material between
the pair.
Behind the pairs is located an auger type converging system which carries the
cut
crop over the auger tube while tending to move the crop material inwardly to
the
discharge opening.
US 4,224,163 (Gantzer) issued January 13th 1981 and assigned to
Kuhn discloses a series of rotary cutters arranged in pairs with each pair
rotating in
opposite direction so as to tend to feed the material between the pair. On top
of the
end pair is located a vertical belt type converging system with an end roller
coaxial
with the end cutter and a second vertical roller spaced inwardly and
rearwardly from
the end roller so that the belt carries the cut crop inwardly to the discharge
opening.
EP 0,524,668 (van der Lely) published January 27th, 1993 and
assigned to Van Der Lely discloses a series of rotary cutters arranged in
pairs with
each pair rotating in opposite direction so as to tend to feed the material
between the
pair. Behind the end pair is located a rotary crop displacing member which
carries
the cut crop inwardly to the discharge opening. This is formed by a plurality
of tines
which extend radially from a horizontal shaft mounted along the line of travel
and
above the cutters. The end disk also carries a drum type impeller.
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
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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 26th, 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 6t', 1997 discloses a disc
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.
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.
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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.
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.
US published Patent Application 2005/0126142 (Rosenbalm) now US
Patent 7,165,381 assigned to Deere discloses three cage type impellers
arranged
across the outermost three disks where the bottom disk of the impeller is
formed as
a frusto-conical member converging upwardly and inwardly to the cage bars.
The 995 disk mower of Deere as disclosed in US published Patent
Application 2008/0016837 (Rosenbalm) 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
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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.
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 impeller arrangement for assisting in transferring crop
inwardly
from one or more outer disks toward 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
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 through which the cut
crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the header;
in front of the discharge opening there being located a plurality of the
cutter disks arranged in a plurality of pairs of disks with each pair arranged
to rotate
in opposite directions;
10 the plurality of the cutter disks in front of the discharge opening
including a first end disk located such that an imaginary line extending
forwardly
from a first end of the discharge opening intersects the first end disk, and a
second
end disk located such that an imaginary line forwardly from a second end of
the
discharge opening intersects the second end disk;
the first end disk and the second end disk being arranged to rotate in
respective directions so that a front of each of the first and second cutter
disks
moves outwardly of the respective end of the discharge opening;
a first one of the plurality of disks, which is mounted outwardly of the
first end of the discharge opening, forming a first pair with the first end
disk so as to
rotate in a direction opposite thereto such that at least some of the crop
tends to be
swept into a first zone between the first pair of disks and to pass through
that zone;
a second one of the plurality of disks, which is mounted outwardly of
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the second end of the discharge opening, forming a second pair with the second
end
disk so as to rotate in a direction opposite thereto such that at least some
of the crop
tends to be swept into a second zone between the second pair of disks and to
pass
through that zone;
a crop converging structure located behind the first zone and tending
to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening;
a crop converging structure located behind the second zone and
tending to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening;
wherein the crop converging structures each comprise at least one
impeller having an outer periphery rotatable about a generally upstanding
axis.
Preferably there is provided in the discharge opening a pair of
conditioning rollers forming a nip through which the crop passes and a
transfer roller
carrying the crop to the nip and wherein said at least one impeller is located
outwardly of and adjacent an end of the transfer roller.
Preferably there is provided in the discharge opening a pair of
conditioning rollers forming a nip through which the crop passes and a
transfer roller
carrying the crop to the nip and wherein the inner impeller is located
outwardly or an
adjacent an end of the transfer roller.
Preferably the transfer roller has an end mounting housing and the
inner roller is mounted outwardly of the housing with a front periphery of the
inner
roller projecting forwardly of a vertical plane transverse to the header and
containing
a front face of the housing.
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Preferably said at least one impeller is located such that an outer
surface of said at least one impeller does not intersect an imaginary circle
defined a
cutting path of movement of the pair of cutting disks.
Preferably said at least one impeller has a height such that a bottom
end thereof is below a cutting plane defined by the cutting disks.
Preferably the crop converging structures each comprise two impellers
generally side by side.
Preferably an inner one of the impellers is inward and rearward of an
outer one of the impellers.
Preferably behind the impellers is provided a generally upstanding rear
wall which is inclined rearwardly and inwardly.
Preferably the impeller has a generally cylindrical peripheral surface.
Preferably there is provided in the discharge opening a pair of
conditioning rollers forming a nip through which the crop passes and a
transfer roller
carrying the crop to the nip.
Preferably there is provided in the discharge opening a pair of
conditioning rollers forming a nip through which the crop passes and a
transfer roller
carrying the crop to the nip and wherein the inner impeller is located along
side an
end of the transfer roller in the discharge opening.
Preferably there is provided a first extra cutter disk outside the first one
of the disks and second extra cutter disk outside the second one of the disks,
each
turning inwardly toward the discharge opening.
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Preferably each of the first and second extra cutter disks carries an
impellers thereon.
Preferably there is provided a series of three impellers in a row at the
disks.
Preferably there are 12 cutter disks.
Preferably the first and the second end disks are arranged with their
axis of rotation outward of the discharge opening.
According to a second aspect of the invention disclosed herein, 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 through which the cut
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crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the header;
in front of the discharge opening there being located a plurality of the
cutter disks arranged in a plurality of pairs of disks with each pair arranged
to rotate
in opposite directions;
the plurality of the cutter disks in front of the discharge opening
including a first end disk located such that an imaginary line extending
forwardly
from a first end of the discharge opening intersects the first end disk and a
second
end disk located such that an imaginary line forwardly from a second end of
the
discharge opening intersects the second end disk;
the first end disk and the second end disk being arranged to rotate in
respective directions so that a front of each of the first and second cutter
disks
moves outwardly of the respective end of the discharge opening;
a first one of the plurality of disks, which is mounted outwardly of the
first end of the discharge opening, forming a first pair with the first end
disk so as to
rotate in a direction opposite thereto such that at least some of the crop
tends to be
swept into a first zone between the first pair of disks and to pass through
that zone;
a second one of the plurality of disks, which is mounted outwardly of
the second end of the discharge opening, forming a second pair with the second
end
disk so as to rotate in a direction opposite thereto such that at least some
of the crop
tends to be swept into a second zone between the second pair of disks and to
pass
through that zone;
a crop converging structure located behind the first zone and tending
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to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening;
a crop converging structure located behind the second zone and
tending to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening;
wherein there is provided a first extra cutter disk outside the first one of
5 the disks and second extra cutter disk outside the second one of the disks,
each
turning inwardly toward the discharge opening.
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
10 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
15 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 through which the cut
crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the header;
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in front of the discharge opening there being located a plurality of the
cutter disks arranged in a plurality of pairs of disks with each pair arranged
to rotate
in opposite directions;
the plurality of the cutter disks in front of the discharge opening
including a first end disk located such that a first imaginary line extending
forwardly
from a first end of the discharge opening intersects the first end disk and a
second
end disk located such that a second imaginary line forwardly from a second end
of
the discharge opening intersects the second end disk;
the first end disk and the second end disk being arranged to rotate in
respective directions so that a front of each of the first and second cutter
disks
moves outwardly of the respective end of the discharge opening;
a first one of the plurality of disks, which is mounted outwardly of the
first end of the discharge opening, forming a first pair with the first end
disk so as to
rotate in a direction opposite thereto such that at least some of the crop
tends to be
swept into a first zone between the first pair of disks and to pass through
that zone;
a second one of the plurality of disks, which is mounted outwardly of
the second end of the discharge opening, forming a second pair with the second
end
disk so as to rotate in a direction opposite thereto such that at least some
of the crop
tends to be swept into a second zone between the second pair of disks and to
pass
through that zone;
a crop converging structure located behind the first zone and tending
to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening;
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a crop converging structure located behind the second zone and
tending to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening;
wherein the first end disk is arranged with its axis of rotation outward of
the first imaginary line and the second end disk is arranged with its axis of
rotation
outward of the second imaginary line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a header according to the present
invention showing in general the construction concerned.
Figure 2 is an isometric view of a one end of the header of Figure 1
showing the components of the header with which the present invention is
concerned.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the end of the header of Figure 2
showing the components of the header with which the present invention is
concerned.
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the end of the header of Figure 2
showing the components of the header with which the present invention is
concerned.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of header 2
showing the components of the header with which the present invention is
concerned.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
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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
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.
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 24. The side wall is vertical and the front edge 23 lies 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
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mounted a respective one of a pair of flails 27 each for pivotal movement
about a
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 cutting plane generally parallel
to the
plane of the cutter bar in a cutting action.
The disks are intermeshed so as to driven synchronously and they are
arranged at 900 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.
As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the cutter bar 24 is wider than a
discharge opening 30 with a conditioning system 31 mounted in the discharge
opening 30. Thus the crop material passes over and between 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
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.
In Figures 2, 3 and 4 only one end of the header is shown but it will be
appreciated that the opposite end is identical and symmetrical to the end
shown.
The discharge opening 30 has two side walls 32 which confine the
crop material to pass through the discharge opening over a width less than the
width
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of the header so that the side walls 32 are spaced inwardly from the
respective end
walls 15 and 16 of the header. A crop conditioning system 31 is arranged to
span
the width of the crop discharge opening so that the width of the conditioning
system
is equal to the width of the discharge opening. The conditioning system
comprises a
5 top roller 34 and a bottom roller 35 which have flutes 36 arranged in a
meshing
arrangement so that the crop material passing through the discharge opening
passes through a nip 37 between the conditioning rolls and is discharged from
the
rear of the conditioning system as a swath of material to be discharged onto
the
ground or to be collected as required.
10 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 56 and 61 with the
disk 61
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
15 shown in Figure 1 to carry the crop material which is cut by those disks
inwardly
toward the discharge opening.
Each of the disks 56 and 61 carries a respective one of a plurality of
impellers. Thus the disk 56 carries an impeller 40 and the disk 61 carries an
impeller 41. In between these two impellers is mounted a third impeller 42.
20 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
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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.
While the impellers 40 and 41 are mounted on the respective disks to
be driven thereby, in an alternative arrangement, the impellers may be hanging
impellers in the style of arrangement shown at impeller 42.
The impellers 40 and 41 are directly co-axial with the respective disk,
56 and 61. 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 56 and
61 to a
rear bulkhead panel which could cause collection of the crop material and
eventual
blockage of the system.
The arrangement and construction of the impellers is described in
detail in the above US Published Application 2008/0066439 and Canadian
application 2,578,907, to which reference may be made for those details.
CA 02783567 2012-07-16
22
The top conditioning roller 34 is located above the bottom conditioning
roller 35. These define between them the nip 37 through which the crop
material is
controlled to pass. In order to assist the crop material from the cutting
disks to flow
to the nip 37, there is provided a crop transfer roller 75 which is located in
the area
between the rear of the disks and the nip of the conditioning roller system.
The top conditioning roll 34 and the bottom conditioning roll 35 are
parallel and arranged such that the crop passes through the nip 37 between the
top
and bottom conditioning rolls. The top and bottom conditioning rolls are
arranged
such that the nip 37 is raised above the common cutting plane and is located
behind
the disks 26. The transfer roller 75 is mounted behind the disks and in front
of the
nip for transferring the crop upwardly and rearwardly from the disks to the
nip. The
top and bottom conditioning rolls 34, 35 each comprising a cylindrical body
77,
mounted for rotation about an axis 78, 79 thereof. In one example, on the
cylindrical
body 77 is mounted a series of longitudinally extending, angularly spaced
flutes 36
arranged such that the flutes 36 of the top roll 34 mesh with the flutes of
the bottom
roll 35 in the conditioning action, as is well known.
However the present invention is also applicable to conditioning rolls of
the type which have no flutes or ribs so that the conditioning action is
effected by a
high crushing force between two plane rollers. The rollers can be smooth or
may
include grooves or indentations which are not intended to mesh in the crushing
action. Crushing conditioner rolls of this type are well known to persons
skilled in
this art and different designs may be selected and used as will be known to
such
CA 02783567 2012-07-16
23
persons.
In addition the present invention can be used in an arrangement in
which the conditioning roller and transfer roller are omitted.
The transfer roller 75 also comprises a cylindrical body 80 having a
cylindrical outer surface mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. On
the body
80 is mounted a series of longitudinally extending, angularly spaced ribs 82.
The arrangement and construction of the conditioning rollers and the
transfer roller is described in detail in the above US Published Application
2008/0066441 and Canadian application 2,559,217, to which reference may be
made for those details.
In a ten or twelve disk mower shown in Figure 5, in front of the
discharge opening there are located eight of the cutter disks arranged in four
pairs of
disks with each pair arranged to rotate in opposite directions such that the
crop
tends to pass between the pair of disks. The pairs of the cutter disks in
front of the
discharge opening include a first end disk 50 located in line with the first
end 32 of
the discharge opening and a second end disk (at the opposite end not
illustrated)
located in line with the second end of the discharge opening. That is an
imaginary
line 55 extending forwardly from the end 32 intersects the disk 50 at a
position
thereon spaced inwardly from its axis 51. The axis 51 and main body of the end
disks 50 are mounted outboard of the line 55 of the opening so that the next
adjacent disks 53 define a cutting circle 54 which is closely adjacent or at
the line 55.
Thus the majority of the end disks are outboard of the line 55.
CA 02783567 2012-07-16
24
The end disk 50 is arranged to rotate so that a front of the first disk
moves outwardly of the respective end of the discharge opening as marked at
direction arrow D. A first outer disk 56, which is mounted outwardly of the
end line
55 of the discharge opening and outwardly of the end disk 50, forms a pair
with the
end disks 50 so as to rotate in a direction D opposite thereto such that at
least some
of the crop tends to be swept into a first zone 57 between the first pair of
disks and
to pass through that zone as shown schematically at arrow 58.
A crop converging structure 59 is located behind the zone 57 and
tends to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening 30. The crop
converging structure comprises at least one and preferably two impellers 60
and
60A each having an outer periphery rotatable about an upstanding axis and
arranged generally side by side with an inner one 60 of the impellers inward
and
rearward of an outer one 60A of the impellers. Each impeller has a generally
cylindrical peripheral surface.
In the arrangement shown in the figures there is a second outer disk
61 outboard of the disk 56. However in some cases the extra outer disk 61 can
be
omitted and the same construction can be used with the disks 50 and 56
rotating in
the directions as shown so that the crop passes through to the crop converging
system 59.
It will be noted that the two outer disks 56 and 61 both rotate in the
direction of the arrow D so as to turn inwardly toward the discharge opening.
This
causes additional crop to be passed into the zone 57 along the direction 58
between
CA 02783567 2012-07-16
the disks 50 and 56.
As previously described the crop at the two outer disks 50 and 56 is
converged using the three impeller system defined by the impellers 40, 41 and
42.
Behind the disks 56 and 61 is provided an upstanding rear wall 62
5 which forms part of the end wall defined by the end 16 of the header so that
the end
wall converges rearwardly and inwardly into the rear wall 62 behind the
outermost
disk 61. The rear wall 62 extends inwardly behind the disk 56 extending along
the
line generally transverse to the header. Behind the axis 56A of the disk 56,
the rear
wall 62 includes a rear turned portion 63 which extends at right angles to the
rear
10 wall portion 62 to a further rear wall portion 64 parallel to the rear wall
portion 62 and
recessed therefrom.
The transfer roller 75 is carried in bearings (not visible) mounted in a
housing 65. The housing 65 is shaped as best shown in Figure 2 with a lower
portion 66 engaged around the bearing of the roller 75 so that an upper part
of the
15 portion 66 extends rearwardly and a further portion 67 which extends
upwardly
toward a top of the header. Thus the housing is recessed as much as possible
around the roller 75 so as to expose as much of the inside surface of the
inner
impeller 60 on the inside surface of that impeller.
The recess section of the rear wall is provided to receive the impellers
20 60 and 60A. Each of the impellers 60 and 60A comprises a cylindrical drum
having
a vertical axis standing upwardly along the rear wall. Each of the impellers
extends
from a bottom plate which is below the cutting plane to a position at the top
of the
CA 02783567 2012-07-16
26
header. Thus each of the impellers is available to engage crop passing between
the
disks 50 and 56 over the full height of the available crop.
Each of the impellers 60 and 60A includes crop engaging elements on
the outside surface which are parallel to the axis. Crop engaging elements 68
of the
impeller 60 are formed by rods extending along the outer surface of the
impeller and
connected to the top and bottom plates of the impeller where the top plate is
visible
in Figure 2 and illustrated at 69. The drum following the impeller 60 is
smaller than
that of the drum following the impeller 60A. The impeller 60A has on its
outside
surface as crop engaging elements flanges 70 which project radially outwardly
so
they have an increased crop engaging action relative to the bars 68 of the
inner
impeller 60. The outer impeller 60A is larger and hence is slightly forward of
the
inner impeller 60 thus tending to carry the crop outwardly across the front of
the two
impellers to the discharge opening. In the embodiment shown the axis of the
impeller 60 is aligned with the axis of the impeller 60A so that the plane
containing
those axes lies parallel to the wall 64. However an alternative arrangement
(not
shown) can be provided in which the outer impeller 60A is moved forwardly and
slightly inwardly so as to be positioned more closely behind the zone 57.
In a typical example, the inner impeller has a drum of 5 inch diameter
with the outer rods providing an effective outermost diameter of 6 inches. In
the
typical example, the outer impeller has a drum diameter of 6 or 7 inches with
the
flanges providing an outermost diameter of the order of 10 inches.
In order to prevent crop from wedging between the inner impeller 60
CA 02783567 2012-07-16
27
and the housing 66 of the transfer roller, the front face of the inner
impeller is
arranged to project forwardly from the housing portion 66 so that a front face
66A of
the housing is aligned with a 9:00 o'clock position on the inner impeller 60.
Thus the
whole of the front face projects forwardly to engage the crop and carry the
crop
across the front face 66A into the area on top of the transfer roller 75.
As the impellers 60 and 60A extend through the cutting plane, it is
necessary that the circulars paths defined by the blades of the cutting disks
50 and
56 do not intersect with the outermost periphery of the impellers. Thus the
impellers
are positioned as far forwardly as possible while providing just sufficient
clearance
between the outer periphery of the impellers and the path of the blades to
avoid
impact and damage.
The positioning of the impellers behind the zone 57 allows the use of a
disk at the outermost end of the discharge opening which is disk 50 which
rotates
outwardly rather than inwardly. This can provide a better crop transfer action
in that
the crop is more effectively cut and passed through and over the disks to a
position
behind the disks and then is converged inwardly behind the disks. Thus the
cutting
action is more effective than a cutting action using 3 outermost disks which
all turn
inwardly. The provision of the impellers behind the disks but outboard of the
discharge opening maintains the effective cutting action while transferring
the crop
effectively into the discharge opening. The impellers operate entirely
differently from
impellers which co-operate with disks turning inwardly since in the present
arrangement the crop material passes through the cutting action before
engaging
CA 02783567 2012-07-16
28
the impellers behind the disks. The impellers are located wholly behind the
disks
and beyond the cutting path of the disks.
Turning now to Figure 5, there is shown an alternative arrangement
which is substantially the same as that described above but in this
arrangement the
crop converging structures behind the disks 50 and 56 are provided in the form
of
frusto-conical member 240 having a generally horizontal axis 241 extending
forwardly from the vertical wall 224. The member is located at a height on the
wall
224 above the respective cutter disks with a rear face 245 at the wall 224 and
a
frusto-conical outer periphery 242 thereof rotating about the axis 241 and
extending
to a front face 243 parallel to the wall 224. In this arrangement the wall 224
is
inclined rearwardly and inwardly rather than having the recess as shown in the
previous embodiment.
Other converging arrangements can be used with the configuration of
the disks as described above in which the disk 50 rotates outwardly and the
two
outermost disks 56 and 61 rotate inwardly.
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.
