SUPPORT RAIL OF AN EAR LIFTER FOR CROPS

Abstract

A support rail of an ear lifter for crops, having a major direction of extension, wherein a portion formed as a skid is disposed between a first end and a second end of the support rail, the portion formed as a skid being adapted to be guided with an outer side over a ground; and an ear lifter for a mower of a harvesting machine, comprising a stalk lifter and a support rail supporting the stalk lifter.

Claims

1. A support rail of an ear lifter for crops, with a major direction of extension, wherein a section formed as a skid is arranged between a first end and a second end of the support rail, wherein the section formed as a skid is configured to be guided with its outer side over a ground, wherein the section formed as a skid comprises a bar, wherein the bar extends in the major direction of extension on an inner side opposite the outer side.

2. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the bar is connected on the inner side to the section formed as a skid.

3. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the bar is made of a different material than the section formed as a skid.

4. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the bar is inserted into a recess of the section formed as a skid.

5. The support rail according to claim 4, wherein the bar projects on the inner side beyond the section formed as a skid.

6. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the bar is formed in the shape of a rib, wherein the bar with the section formed as a skid has a T-shaped cross-section in a section transverse to the major direction of extension.

7. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the bar has a curvature along the major direction of extension which corresponds to a curvature of the section formed as a skid.

8. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the bar has a base plate, wherein the base plate is connected to the section formed as a skid.

9. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the section formed as a skid has lateral flanks, wherein the lateral flanks are angled towards the inner side.

10. The support rail according to claim 1, wherein the section formed as a skid has on the inner side, in addition to the bar, at least one further bar extending in the major direction of extension.

11. An ear lifter for a mowing unit of a harvesting machine, comprising the support rail according to claim 1 supporting a stalk lifter.

12. The ear lifter according to claim 11, wherein the stalk lifter is arranged at the second end of the support rail, wherein the section formed as a skid is adjacent to the second end and wherein the bar extends to the stalk lifter.

13. The ear lifter according to claim 12, wherein the stalk lifter has a V-shaped profile in cross-section, wherein the bar extends into the V-shaped profile.

14. A support rail of an ear lifter for crops, with a major direction of extension, wherein a section formed as a skid is arranged between a first end and a second end of the support rail, wherein the section formed as a skid is configured to be guided with its outer side over a ground, wherein the section formed as a skid comprises a bar, wherein the bar extends in the major direction of extension on an inner side opposite the outer side, wherein the bar is inserted into a recess of the section formed as a skid.

15. The support rail according to claim 14, wherein the bar is made of a different material than the section formed as a skid.

16. The support rail according to claim 14, wherein the section formed as a skid has on the inner side, in addition to the bar, at least one further bar extending in the major direction of extension.

17. A support rail of an ear lifter for crops, with a major direction of extension, wherein a section formed as a skid is arranged between a first end and a second end of the support rail, wherein the section formed as a skid is configured to be guided with its outer side over a ground, wherein the section formed as a skid comprises a bar, wherein the bar extends in the major direction of extension on an inner side opposite the outer side, wherein the bar has a base plate, wherein the base plate is connected to the section formed as a skid.

18. The support rail according to claim 15, wherein the bar is made of a different material than the section formed as a skid.

19. The support rail according to claim 15, wherein the section formed as a skid has on the inner side, in addition to the bar, at least one further bar extending in the major direction of extension.

20. An ear lifter for a mowing unit of a harvesting machine, comprising the support rail according to claim 15 supporting a stalk lifter.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the following, further features and advantages will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general idea of the invention.

[0021] In the Figures show

[0022] FIG. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of the ear lifter with a support rail;

[0023] FIGS. 2a and 2b two detailed perspective views of an embodiment of the support rail;

[0024] FIGS. 3a and 3b two perspective detail views of a further embodiment of the support rail;

[0025] FIGS. 4a and 4b two detailed perspective views of yet a further embodiment of the support rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an ear lifter with a support rail 5. A first end 8 of the support rail 5, which is made from a flat material as the starting material, is provided for attachment to a mower bar of a harvesting machine, which is not shown. At a second end 9 remote from the first end 8, a stalk lifter 10 is attached to the support rail 5 to form an acute angle with the support rail 5. The support rail 5 comprises a retainer 11, which is configured to rest on a finger guard, which is not shown. The support rail 5 extends along a major direction of extension X from the first end 8 to the second end 9, with an outer side 15 facing the ground during operation on a harvesting machine. The section 12 of the support rail 5, formed as a skid, is configured to slide over the ground, which is not shown, and is accordingly subject to considerable wear. Viewed from an inner side 18, the support rail 5 is concavely curved in the section of the skid 12, so that flanks 17 of the skid 12 enclose an acute angle with the ground during operation.

[0027] The section 12 formed as a skid is configured to be guided over the ground with the outer side 15. The section 12 formed as a skid comprises a bar 14, wherein the bar 14 extends in the major direction of extension X of the support rail 5 on the inner side 18 opposite the outer side 15. Since the major direction of extension X of the support rail 5 coincides with that of the bar 14, the term major direction of extension X hereinafter refers to both components. A secondary direction of extension Z of the bar 14 in the form of a rib is oriented substantially orthogonal to the major direction of extension X. The directional arrows are not to be understood as Cartesian coordinate axes, but are merely intended to illustrate the directions of extension in the slightly perspective view. In the further Figures, no direction arrows are indicated. The directions given in FIG. 1 apply mutatis mutandis to all Figures.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment of the ear lifter according to FIG. 1, the stalk lifter 10 is arranged at the second end 9 of the support rail 5, wherein the section 12 formed as a skid is arranged adjacent to the second end 9 and wherein the bar 14 extends all the way to the stalk lifter 10. The stalk lifter 10 has a V-shaped profile in cross-section, wherein the bar 14 extends into the V-shaped profile.

[0029] FIGS. 2a and 2b show two partial views of an embodiment of the support rail 5 for an ear lifter according to FIG. 1, of which the section 12 formed as a skid is shown in detail. Both Figures are described together. An extension of the bar 14 along the major direction of extension X in a secondary direction of extension Z (cf. FIG. 1) is constant. The bar 14 has a curvature along the major direction of extension X, which is adapted to the section 12 formed as a skid. In the embodiment shown, the bar 14 has a base plate 16 which is connected to the section 12 formed as a skid. The base plate 16 serves to connect the bar 14 to the section 12 formed as a skid, which is realized here by fasteners in the form of rivets 19.

[0030] FIGS. 3a and 3b show two partial views of a further embodiment of the support rail 5 for an ear lifter according to FIG. 1, of which the section 12 formed as a skid is shown in detail. Both Figures are described together. The embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b in that the base plate 16 is connected to the section 12 formed as a skid in a different manner, namely without fasteners. The base plate 16 is connected to the section 12 formed as a skid, for example, by an adhesive connection, a soldered connection or by a welded connection.

[0031] FIGS. 4a and 4b show two partial views of a further embodiment of the support rail 5 for an ear lifter according to FIG. 1, of which the section 12 formed as a skid is shown in detail. Both Figures are described together. The embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b in that the bar 14 is connected in a different manner to the section 12 formed as a skid. The bar 14 does not have a base plate, but is inserted into a slot-like recess 6 of the section 12 formed as a skid. The recess 6 runs along the major direction of extension X (cf. FIG. 1) and is provided through from the inner side 18 to the outer side 15. The bar 14 is flush with the outer side 15, for example. On the inner side 18 the bar 14 protrudes therefrom, for example.

[0032] The bar 14 is joined to the section 12 formed as a skid, for example by a welded connection (not shown). Alternatively, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, there is also the option of attaching the bar 14 to the section 12 formed as a skid by means of a riveted connection. For example, the rivets (not shown) are prefabricated as protruding portions on the bar 14. After the bar 14 is inserted into the recess 6, the protruding rivets are machined from the outer side 15 so that the bar 14 is firmly connected. In particular, the rivets are provided at the ends of the bar 14, which are driven into the ends of the recess 6 under deformation to form the connection. Another alternative is not to make the recess slot-like, but instead to provide a plurality of bores, wherein the rivets prefabricated as projecting portions on the bar 14 are inserted into the bores and riveted therein. In that case, with the exception of the rivets, the bar 14 is arranged on the inner side 15.

[0033] A further alternative of the embodiment according to FIGS. 4a and 4b is that the bar 14 protrudes on the outer side 15, in particular in the same way as on the inner side 18, so as to advantageously further reduce wear on the outer side 15.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0034] 5 Support rail [0035] 6 Slot-like recess [0036] 8 First end of support rail [0037] 9 Second end of support rail [0038] 10 Stalk lifter [0039] 11 Retainer [0040] 12 Section designed as skid [0041] 14 Bar [0042] 15 Outer side [0043] 16 Base plate [0044] 17 Flank [0045] 18 Inner side [0046] 19 Rivet [0047] X Major direction of extension, longitudinal axis [0048] Z Secondary direction of extension