AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

Abstract

An agricultural implement is described comprising a chassis, a rotor mounted thereon that is rotatable about an upright axis and comprises working tools, a hydraulic lifting device for raising the chassis between a work position and a transport position, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the rotor for the work position. The lifting device is arranged underneath the rotor and is connected to a hydraulic line that is run from top to bottom through the rotor. The adjustment mechanism comprising a tubular actuating element surrounding the hydraulic line or forming sections thereof with at least one axial adjustment thread mutually supporting the rotor and the chassis and an operating device arranged above the rotor for axially turning the actuating element.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement comprising: a chassis; a rotor mounted on the chassis that is rotatable about an upright axis and comprises one or more working tools; a hydraulic lifting device for lifting the chassis between a work position and a transport position, where the hydraulic lifting device is arranged underneath the rotor and connected to a hydraulic line that is run from top to bottom through the rotor; and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of the rotor for the work position, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises: a tubular actuating element surrounding the hydraulic line or forming sections thereof with at least one axial adjustment thread mutually supporting the rotor and the chassis; and an operating device arranged above the rotor for turning the tubular actuating element axially.

2. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic line is formed for mutual axial support of the rotor and the chassis.

3. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the tubular actuating element includes a threaded bushing surrounding the hydraulic line with an internal thread that interacts with an external thread formed at the hydraulic line.

4. The agricultural implement according to claim 3, wherein the threaded bushing further comprises an external thread in an opposite direction that interacts with an internal thread, and wherein the internal thread is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner at a rotor axis or a housing that is formed for mounting the rotor.

5. The agricultural implement according to claim 3, wherein the threaded bushing is mounted on an outer side so as to be rotatable at a fixed height on a rotor axis or a housing that is formed for mounting the rotor.

6. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic line is arranged so as to not co-rotate with said tubular actuating element.

7. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the tubular actuating element is configured in the form of a hollow spindle as a component of the hydraulic line, and wherein the hydraulic line comprises a first hydraulic rotary feedthrough at a first end and a second hydraulic rotary feedthrough at a second end.

8. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the operating device comprises a bevel gear or worm gear connected to the tubular actuating element.

9. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the operating device comprises an electric drive motor.

10. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the operating device comprises a hand wheel affixed coaxially to the tubular actuating element.

11. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured under a dead load of the rotor acting in the work position.

12. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises one or more front wheels and one or more rear wheels, and wherein the one or more rear wheels in the transport position make contact with the ground and the one or more front wheels are raised.

13. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the chassis comprises a rocker with one or more wheels mounted thereon, and wherein the hydraulic lifting device comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder for pivoting the rocker.

14. The agricultural implement according to claim 1, wherein the agricultural implement is a trailed gyro rake.

15. The agricultural implement according to claim 14, wherein the trailed gyro rake comprises a front rotor and a rear rotor, and wherein the chassis and the adjustment mechanism are associated separately with the rear rotor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention shall be illustrated by way of drawings, where:

[0026] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a side view of the agricultural implement in a work position and in a transport position;

[0027] FIGS. 2A to 2C show a first embodiment of the adjustment mechanism with the rotor and the chassis;

[0028] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a second embodiment of the adjustment mechanism with the rotor and the chassis; and

[0029] FIGS. 4A to 4C show a third embodiment of the adjustment mechanism with the rotor and the chassis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] As can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, agricultural implement 1, which is a trailed gyro rake in the example, comprises a chassis 2, a rotor 3 mounted thereon that is rotatable about an upright axis 3a and comprises working tools 3b which can be, for example, spring tines, and a hydraulic lifting device 4 for raising chassis 2 between a work position 5 shown by way of example in FIG. 1A and a transport position 6 shown by way of example in FIG. 1B. Rotor 3 is in particular the rear rotor of a dual gyro rake.

[0031] A drive 3c for rotor 3 arranged above rotor 3 in a gear head is furthermore visible. Direction of travel 1a (behind a tractor, not shown) is indicated schematically by an arrow in FIG. 1B.

[0032] Lifting device 4 is arranged beneath rotor 3 and is connected to a tubular hydraulic line 7 that is run from top to bottom through rotor 3, for example, by way of a pressure hose line.

[0033] Implement 1 furthermore comprises an adjustment mechanism 8 for adjusting the height of rotor 3 in work position 5 with respect to chassis 2. For this purpose, adjustment mechanism 8 comprises, firstly, a tubular actuating element 8a surrounding hydraulic line 7 or forming sections thereof and an operating device 8b arranged above rotor 3 for turning actuating element 8a about axis 3a. A work height 9 that is effective in work position 5 of rotor 3 can thus be set by linearly raising or lowering the latter with respect to the overall completely lowered chassis 2.

[0034] As can be seen in FIGS. 2A to 2C for a first preferred embodiment of adjustment mechanism 8, tubular actuating element 8a can be configured as a threaded bushing 10 surrounding hydraulic line 7 and having an internal thread (first adjustment thread) 10a which interacts with an external thread 7a formed at rigid hydraulic line 7. An M16×1.5_L thread, for example, is suitable for this.

[0035] Furthermore, threaded bushing 10 can comprise an external thread (second adjustment thread) 10b which interacts with an internal thread 11a formed on a rotor axis 11, a gear housing, or similar fixed structure for mounting rotor 3. An M22×1,5_R thread, for example, is suitable for this.

[0036] Chassis 2 and rotor 3 then mutually support each other via hydraulic line 7, threaded bushing 10, and non-co-rotating rotor axis 11, or a similar support structure.

[0037] Internal thread 10a and external thread 10b of threaded bushing 10 are formed in opposite directions for example a right-hand thread on the outside and a left-hand thread on the inside or vice versa). Turning threaded bushing 10 then simultaneously causes a first partial stroke 12a between hydraulic line 7 and threaded bushing 10 and a second partial stroke 12b between threaded bushing 10 and rotor axis 11. Partial strokes 12a, 12b therefore add up to an adjustment stroke 12 between, firstly, rotor axis 11 with rotor 3 affixed vertically thereon and, secondly, frame 2 with hydraulic line 7 fixed vertically relative thereto.

[0038] Hydraulic line 7 then does not co-rotate overall during the height adjustment so that pressure hoses or similar lines that are run on implement 1 can be directly connected in an uncomplicated manner.

[0039] Adjustment stroke 12 is, for example, 30 to 150 mm. This can be achieved by combining partial strokes 12a, 12b in a compact design.

[0040] In FIG. 2A, rotor 3 is illustrated in its uppermost position with respect to chassis 2 and therefore at maximum work height 9, in FIG. 2B in its lowermost position and therefore at minimum work height 9.

[0041] FIGS. 2A and 2B show that operating device 8b can comprise a hand wheel 13 which is attached coaxially with axis 3a to tubular actuating element 8a/threaded bushing 10. The hand wheel 13 is omitted in FIG. 2C for the sake of clarity.

[0042] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a second preferred embodiment of adjustment mechanism 8 which differs from the embodiment described above substantially in that threaded bushing 10 and rotor axis 11 do not support each other by way of threads, but by way of a vertically (axially) affixed bearing 14. Threaded bushing 10 then has no external thread (second adjustment thread) 10b.

[0043] Work height 9 of rotor 3 with respect to hydraulic line 7 and chassis 2 is then accordingly adjusted only by way of internal thread (first adjustment thread) 10a of threaded bushing 10 and of external thread 7a of rigid hydraulic line 7, which, however, then likewise does not co-rotate.

[0044] Accordingly, adjustment stroke 12 in this embodiment is identical to previously described first partial stroke 12a.

[0045] As can also be seen schematically in FIGS. 3A and 3B, operating device 8b can comprise a bevel gear 15 and/or a drive motor 16 for operating adjustment mechanism 8 by motor and possibly in an automated manner. However, this combination is only to be understood to be an example. In this way, drive motor 16 could also be connected to tubular actuating element 8a by way of a different type of gear. Bevel gear 15 could also be driven manually using a hand crank or the like.

[0046] Preferably associated with drive motor 16 is an electronic control unit 16a with which different work heights 9 can be approached in a selective and reproducible manner, for example, as a result of programming. Operation would then also be possible, for example, by radio from a tractor. It goes without saying that control unit 16a does not need to be arranged in the vicinity of drive motor 16.

[0047] One advantage of the second embodiment of adjustment mechanism 8 is that operating device 8b, for example, bevel gear 15 and drive motor 16, can be arranged at a fixed height relative to rotor 3 and rotor axis 11 or a similar support structure for rotor 3 due to a lacking second partial stroke 12b. This can be particularly advantageous when adjustment mechanism 8 is driven by a motor.

[0048] FIGS. 4A to 4C show a third preferred embodiment of adjustment mechanism 8 which differs from the embodiments previously described substantially in that tubular actuating element 8a is configured as a hollow spindle 17 forming a supporting section of hydraulic line 7 and in the height adjustment of rotor 3 described co-rotates about axis 3a.

[0049] Rigid hollow spindle 17 comprises an external thread (third adjustment thread as an alternative to the first and, possibly, second adjustment thread) 17a, which interacts during height adjustment in the manner described above with an internal thread 11a formed at non-co-rotating rotor axis 11 or similar support structure. Accordingly, adjustment stroke 12 in this embodiment is identical to previously described second partial stroke 12b.

[0050] In this embodiment, hydraulic line 7 comprises rotary feedthroughs 18 at the upper and lower end of rigid hollow spindle 17 which each produce a pressure-tight connection to pressure hoses or similar lines that do not co-rotate during the height adjustment. As indicated in FIG. 4A, hollow spindle 17 is supported towards the bottom by an axial bearing 20 on carrier 2a.

[0051] Operating device 8b can comprise, for example, a worm gear 19 which is indicated only schematically and by way of example in FIGS. 4A to 4C. It could be driven, for example, using a hand crank (not shown) or by a motor.

[0052] It goes without saying that the embodiments of operating device 8b described can be combined with all of the embodiments of tubular actuating element 8a described. The decisive factor there is that operating device 8b be arranged respectively above rotor 3 and therefore be easily and ergonomically accessible for an operator or allow for a simple motorized drive. In all of the embodiments, tubular actuating element 8a additionally causes linear height adjustment of rotor 3 with respect to chassis 2 without changing the rotor inclination so that step-by-step verification and correction of the height adjustment performed are unnecessary.

[0053] In addition, adjustment threads 10a and possibly 10b, on the one hand, or 17a, on the other hand, depending on the embodiment each allow for adjustment of work height 9 when chassis 2 has been lowered to work position 5 and is therefore under the dead load caused by rotor 3. Chassis 2 therefore no longer has to be raised and the load taken off for adjusting work height 9. Adjustments made to work height 9 by way of adjustment mechanism 8 can instead be verified immediately in work position 5 and corrected if necessary.

[0054] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1B, agricultural implement 1 is, for example, a gyro rake, where rotor 3 is associated with a separate chassis 2 which comprises a carrier 2a for mounting rotor 3 on chassis 2 and a rocker 2b that is pivotable relative thereto with rear wheels 2c mounted thereon. These front wheels 2d, which are associated in the sense of a four-wheel chassis, however, are preferably mounted at a fixed height relative to carrier 2a.

[0055] Chassis 2 comprises lifting device 4 with at least one hydraulic cylinder 4a which is coupled to rocker 2b for positioning the latter with respect to carrier 2a. When rocker 2b is strutted away, carrier 2a is raised with front wheels 2d and rotor 3 to transport position 6, where rear wheels 2c make permanent contact with the ground. Such lifting devices 4 are tried and tested and can be easily combined with adjustment mechanism 8 according to the present disclosure.

[0056] Such a combination of adjustment mechanism 8 and lifting device 4 on a possibly rear rotor 3 and chassis 2 of a trailed gyro rake with at least one rotor 3 is particularly advantageous. In this case, a rotor 3 that is comparatively far away from an associated tractor (not shown) can, firstly, be placed in transport position 6 in a tried and tested manner using lifting device 4 and, secondly, its working height 9 in lowered work position 5 can be adjusted easily and ergonomically.

[0057] As an alternative to the gyro rake described, adjustment mechanism 8 described could also be used on other agricultural implements with respective implements rotating about substantially upright axes and a hydraulic line that is coaxial in this respect, for example, on a gyro tedder. It can have features described, for example, in EP 0 627 878 A1, DE 29 30 152 A1 and/or DE 196 19 172 A1.