TOOL FOR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT

Abstract

Tool for agricultural equipment to collect agricultural products, such as forage or straw, said tool comprising at least an oblong bar shaped to define at least one tooth with an increased capacity for collecting the agricultural products.

Claims

1. Tool for agricultural equipment to collect agricultural products, such as forage or straw, said tool comprising at least an oblong bar shaped to define at least one tooth, and wherein at least one longitudinal portion of said bar is provided with a plurality of surface irregularities to increase the action of collecting said agricultural products, wherein said longitudinal portion in which said surface irregularities are made extends from a free end of said bar toward the inside of the latter and for a length comprised between 10 mm and 250 mm, wherein said surface irregularities are chosen from either knurls or threading, they are uniformly distributed along the entire longitudinal portion of the bar and have a roughness comprised between 0.1 mm and 2.0 mm.

2. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said surface irregularities are reciprocally disposed along the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal portion with a maximum reciprocal distance of about 8 mm.

3. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal portion where there are said surface irregularities extends for a length comprised between 50 mm and 150 mm.

4. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said surface irregularities are uniformly distributed on the entire perimeter of the longitudinal portion.

5. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said surface irregularities are made by removing material from said bar.

6. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said surface irregularities are defined by knurls with an inclination with respect to the axis of said bar comprised between 10 and 170.

7. Tool as in claim 6, wherein said knurls are located parallel to each other and distanced by a pitch comprised between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm.

8. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said tool is defined only by said bar having a circular cross section and in which said surface irregularities are made in a single body on the external surface of said bar.

9. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said bar comprises an oblong central core and a covering body attached externally on at least part of said central core, said plurality of surface irregularities being provided on said covering body.

10. Tool as in claim 9, wherein said covering body has a substantially tubular shape and is inserted on said central core.

11. Tool as in claim 9, wherein said covering body is integrally attached to said central core by welding.

12. Tool as in claim 9, wherein said covering body is attached to said central core by gluing.

13. Tool as in claim 9, wherein said covering body is attached to said central core by mechanical connections.

14. Agricultural equipment provided with a plurality of tools as in claim 1 associated with at least one support body.

15. Agricultural equipment as in claim 14, wherein said support body is defined by a support disk on which said tools are attached with attachment elements.

16. Agricultural equipment as in claim 15, wherein said tools are installed angularly distanced from each other along the development of said support disc and extend radially from the latter.

17. Agricultural machine comprising at least one piece of agricultural equipment as in claim 14.

18. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said surface irregularities are reciprocally disposed along the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal portion with a maximum reciprocal distance of about 5 mm.

19. Tool as in claim 1, wherein said surface irregularities are defined by knurls with an inclination with respect to the axis of said bar comprised between 45 and 135.

20. Tool as in claim 19, wherein said knurls are located parallel to each other and distanced by a pitch comprised between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm.

21.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a front view of a tool in accordance with the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the tool of FIG. 1 resting on a plane;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 4 is an enlargement of a free end of a tool in accordance with the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a variant of FIG. 4;

[0043] FIG. 6 is another variant of FIG. 4;

[0044] FIG. 7 is another variant of FIG. 4;

[0045] FIG. 8 is another variant of FIG. 4;

[0046] FIG. 9 is another variant of FIG. 4;

[0047] FIG. 10 is a view from above of a possible piece of agricultural equipment provided with tools in accordance with the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 11 is a section view of a possible variant embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a possible solution of FIG. 11;

[0050] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the present invention in accordance with another variant embodiment;

[0051] FIG. 14 is a section view of a variant of FIG. 11.

[0052] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0053] We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

[0054] Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

[0055] With reference to the attached drawings, a tool for agricultural equipment 20 according to the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the reference number 10, 110.

[0056] The tool 10, 110 comprises at least one oblong bar 11 shaped to define at least one tooth 19.

[0057] By way of example only, the bar 11 can be made, or at least partly made, of a metal material such as steel, preferably harmonic steel suitable to resist the stresses of bending fatigue to which these tools are normally subjected during use.

[0058] According to a variant embodiment, the bar 11 can be made of a composite material, for example comprising reinforcement fibers such as, by way of example only, glass, carbon, boron, basalt, or aramid fibers, immersed in a polymerized binder resin.

[0059] According to a possible solution of the invention, the bar 11 can be made, or at least partly made, of carbon.

[0060] In particular, the bar 11 extends along an axis A which can have a rectilinear, curved or mixed rectilinear and curved development.

[0061] According to a possible solution of the invention, the tool is defined only by the bar 11.

[0062] According to another aspect of the invention, the bar 11 is made in a single body with a metal material.

[0063] The bar 11 can have a circular or polygonal cross section.

[0064] Moreover, by way of example only, the bar 11 can have a diameter, or equivalent diameter, D comprised between about 4 mm and about 15 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm.

[0065] According to one aspect of the present invention, the tool 10, 110 comprises at least a longitudinal portion 15 of the bar 11 provided with a plurality of surface irregularities 18.

[0066] According to another aspect of the present invention, the surface irregularities 18 are uniformly distributed along the entire longitudinal portion 15 of the bar 11.

[0067] In particular, the surface irregularities 18 can be uniformly distributed over the entire perimeter of the longitudinal portion 15.

[0068] According to a possible solution, the surface irregularities 18 are reciprocally disposed along the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal portion with a maximum reciprocal distance of about 8 mm, preferably about 5 mm.

[0069] In accordance with a possible solution (FIGS. 1, 3-9), the surface irregularities 18 can be made in a single body on the external surface of the bar 11.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the longitudinal portion 15 in which the surface irregularities 18 are made extends from a free end 12 of the bar 11 toward its inside.

[0071] In fact it is known that the end portion is the one most affected by the passage of the agricultural product, and this positioning of the surface irregularities prevents the agricultural product from slipping/sliding, thus escaping the action of retaining/moving the agricultural product.

[0072] According to possible embodiments, the surface irregularities 18 can have a roughness greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.

[0073] In some embodiments, the surface irregularities 18 have a roughness comprised between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, even more preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.7 mm.

[0074] Advantageously, the surface irregularities 18 of the at least one longitudinal portion 15 allow to increase the friction, during use, between the longitudinal portions 15 and the agricultural products, improving the grip of the tools 10, 110 on the agricultural products.

[0075] In accordance with possible solutions, the surface irregularities 18 are made by removing material from the bar 11. This solution allows to make surface irregularities 18 on the surface of the longitudinal portion 15 of extremely small size and such as to ensure an effective collecting action, but also the subsequent release of the agricultural product once collected.

[0076] The present invention, therefore, allows to increase the efficiency and productivity of the agricultural equipment provided with the tools 10, 110.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the longitudinal portion 15 where the surface irregularities 18 are present extends for a length L1 comprised between 10 mm and 250 mm. According to a preferential embodiment, the longitudinal portion 15 where the surface irregularities 18 are present extends for a length comprised between 50 mm and 150 mm.

[0078] According to possible embodiments, shown merely by way of non-restrictive example in FIG. 1, the tool 10 can be substantially flat, that is, its shaped development lies on a single plane.

[0079] According to a variant, shown in FIG. 2, the tool 10 is shaped in a three-dimensional manner and can have a deviation S of the axis A with respect to an abutment plane 13 which can be comprised between 5 mm and 50 mm.

[0080] According to a possible solution, the bar 11 can be made in a single body. This solution allows to optimize the sizes and resistance of the tool 10, 110.

[0081] According to an alternative, the bar 11 can be made in two or more components, reciprocally connected to each other.

[0082] According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the longitudinal portion 15 is a separate component of the tool and can be selectively coupled therewith by mechanical connections, for example by threaded connections.

[0083] According to possible embodiments, the tools 10, 110 can be provided with an attachment portion 16 which allows to connect the tool 10, 110, for example, to a support body of agricultural equipment, as will be described hereafter.

[0084] The attachment portion 16 can be obtained by shaping the bar 11.

[0085] According to possible embodiments, the attachment portion 16 can define a hook 17, as shown merely by way of example in FIG. 1.

[0086] The attachment portion 16 can be provided in correspondence with one end of the bar 11, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1.

[0087] According to a variant, shown in FIG. 3, the attachment portion 16 can be provided in correspondence with an intermediate zone of the bar 11.

[0088] According to possible embodiments, shown in FIG. 3, the tool 110 can be provided, along its longitudinal development, with one or more elastic portions 14.

[0089] The elastic portions 14 can have a substantially helical, or spring-like development.

[0090] According to one solution, the elastic portions 14 are made in a single body, for example by shaping the bar 11.

[0091] The elastic portions 14 allow to confer on the tooth 19 or teeth 19 a sufficient elastic deformation capacity suitable to allow the tool not to break in the event of collision with bodies.

[0092] In accordance with a possible solution, shown merely by way of example in FIG. 1, the tool 10 is shaped so as to define the attachment portion 16, a rod-like portion 23 and a hook portion 24 that extends as far as the free end 12 of the tooth 19. The portions 16, 23, 24 are made in a single body one after the other. The hook portion 24 extends angled with respect to the rod-like portion 23, for example by an angle comprised between 60 and 120.

[0093] The hook portion 24 can be L-shaped to define the tooth 19.

[0094] According to possible embodiments, shown only by way of example in FIG. 3, the bar 11 can be shaped so as to define at least two teeth 19, each provided with a free end 12 as described above.

[0095] According to possible embodiments, shown merely by way of example in FIG. 3, the bar 11 can be U-shaped, having two parallel segments defining the teeth 19, and a connection segment connecting the parallel segments in correspondence with respective ends. The connection segment defines the attachment portion 16 in correspondence with which the tool 110 is connected to a support body 21 of the agricultural equipment 20.

[0096] The elastic portions 14 can be provided between the parallel segments and the connection segment.

[0097] Each of the teeth 19 can have a substantially rectilinear development.

[0098] In accordance with the solution shown in FIG. 3, at least one of the teeth 19 is provided with the longitudinal portion 15 in which the surface irregularities 18 are made.

[0099] In particular, the teeth 19 can extend for a length L2 and the longitudinal portion 15, in which the surface irregularities 18 are provided, extends for a length L1 equal to or less than the length L2 of the teeth 19.

[0100] If two or more teeth 19 are provided with respective longitudinal portions 15, the lengths of the latter, and possibly the position, can be different from one another.

[0101] According to possible embodiments, shown merely by way of non-restrictive example in FIG. 4, the surface irregularities 18 can be obtained by a stapling operation.

[0102] By way of non-restrictive example only, the stapling operation provides to plastically deform zones of the bar 11, generating ridges which develop radially to the axis A.

[0103] The surface irregularities 18 obtained as a result of a stapling operation can be defined as spurs, or pins, 18a, having a height H1 and an extension E.

[0104] Advantageously, the height H1 can be comprised between 0.05 and 0.4 times the diameter D of the bar 11.

[0105] By way of example only, the height H1 can be comprised between about 1 mm and about 15 mm.

[0106] Advantageously, the extension E of the pins 18a can be comprised between 0.05 and 0.3 times the length L1 of the longitudinal portion 15.

[0107] By way of example only, the extension E can be comprised between about 1 mm and about 15 mm.

[0108] According to possible embodiments, shown only by way of example in FIG. 5, the surface irregularities 18 can be obtained by means of one or more threads of the bar 11, or part of it.

[0109] According to possible embodiments, the threads can overlap and cross each other.

[0110] The surface irregularities 18 therefore comprise threads 18b having a pitch P1 and a height H2.

[0111] The pitch P1 can be comprised between 0.05 mm and 5 mm.

[0112] The height H2 can be comprised between 0.02 and 0.2 times the diameter D of the bar 11. The profiles of the threads 18b can be triangular, trapezoidal, saw-toothed, or suchlike.

[0113] According to possible embodiments (FIG. 6), the surface irregularities 18 can be defined by a plurality of surface incisions obtained for example by an operation of abrasion of the bar 11, such as a sanding, grinding or suchlike, or by a chemical engraving with one or more solvents, or suchlike.

[0114] According to other possible embodiments (FIGS. 7 and 8), the surface irregularities 18 can be obtained by one or more knurling operations, for example.

[0115] It is not excluded, however, that the surface irregularities 18 can be obtained by molding operations.

[0116] In particular, if the bar 11 is metal, or at least partly metal, the surface irregularities 18 can be made by molding, or by plastic deformation of the material that makes up the bar 11.

[0117] If the bar 11 is made of a composite material, it can be provided that the surface irregularities 18 are made directly in the production mold, that is, when the bar 11 is formed.

[0118] Consequently, the surface irregularities 18 are defined by knurls 18c. The knurls 18c can have an inclination a with respect to the axis A which is comprised between about 10 and about 170, preferably comprised between about 45 and about 135.

[0119] According to possible embodiments, the knurls 18c can be located parallel to each other and distanced by a pitch P2, uniform or variable from one another.

[0120] The pitch P2 can be comprised between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm.

[0121] According to other solutions (FIG. 8), the knurl 18c is defined by a first series of knurls 18c located substantially parallel to each other and by at least a second series of knurls 18c transverse to the first series.

[0122] According to other variant embodiments (FIG. 9), the surface irregularities 18 can be defined by a plurality of holes 18d, made transversely to the axis A.

[0123] According to possible embodiments, the holes 18d can have a diameter B comprised between about 2 mm and about 5 mm.

[0124] According to possible embodiments, the holes 18d can be through or blind.

[0125] It is understood that the surface irregularities 18 can be made, in replacement or in addition, in various other ways, for example by laser engraving.

[0126] According to the present invention, moreover, the longitudinal portion 15 of the bar 11 can also have a combination of types of surface irregularities 18 as described above.

[0127] In accordance with possible solutions, described merely by way of example with reference to FIGS. 11-13, the bar 11 comprises, or is defined by, an oblong central core 25 and a covering body 26 externally attached on at least part of the central core 25.

[0128] The central core 25 has a structural function and the function of resisting the mechanical stresses to which the bar 11 is subjected during use.

[0129] According to a possible solution, the central core 25 can be made of metal material, for example steel as described above, or alternatively it can be made of a composite material.

[0130] According to a possible solution, the central core 25 can be made from a metal stem obtained in a single body.

[0131] The plurality of surface irregularities 18 described above are provided on the covering body 26. The surface irregularities 18 can be made on the covering body 26 according to one or the other of the methods described above, for example with reference to FIGS. 2-9.

[0132] The covering body 26 can define the longitudinal portion 15 of the bar 11, and can therefore be provided, on its entire external surface, with the surface irregularities 18.

[0133] According to a variant embodiment, the central core 25 can develop for the entire longitudinal extension of the bar 11.

[0134] The covering body 26 can be made of a metal material which is integrally attached to the central core 25.

[0135] In accordance with a possible solution, the covering body 26 is integrally attached to the central core 25 by welding, for example with weld points 29 as shown in FIG. 11.

[0136] According to a possible solution, the covering body 26 can be made of a polymer material, for example polyethylene, or polyamide.

[0137] According to this embodiment, it can be provided that the surface irregularities 18 are made by molding, or by incision of the external surface of the covering body 26.

[0138] According to a variant embodiment, the surface irregularities 18 are defined by fragments, for example as described below, incorporated in part of the thickness of the covering body 26 and protruding on its external surface to define the surface irregularities 18.

[0139] According to a variant embodiment, the covering body 26 is attached to the central core 25 by gluing.

[0140] According to another variant embodiment, the covering body 26 is attached to the central core 25 by mechanical connections, for example by threaded connections.

[0141] According to one solution, the covering body 26 is attached to the central core 25 by means of a pin inserted in a through hole made in the central core 25 and in the covering body 26.

[0142] According to a possible variant embodiment, the covering body 26 can be attached integrally to the core by means of a plastic deformation thereof against the central core 25.

[0143] According to another embodiment, the covering body 26 can be constrained to the central core 25 by mechanical interference.

[0144] The covering body 26 can have a substantially tubular shape and is inserted on the central core 25 (FIG. 12).

[0145] According to a possible solution, the covering body 26 can be defined by two or more shells (FIG. 13) attached to the central core 25, for example by welding and/or gluing.

[0146] According to a possible solution, the shells can be first connected to each other, by gluing or welding, and subsequently connected to the central core 25.

[0147] According to a possible variant embodiment (FIG. 14), the bar 11 comprises an oblong central core 25 covered, for at least part of its length, with a covering layer 27. The covering layer 27 is also provided with fragments 28, at least some of which protrude from the covering layer 27 and define the surface irregularities 18.

[0148] The covering layer 27 can be made of a polymer material such as, by way of example only, a polyester, phenolic, epoxy, ethylene, amide or vinylester resin, or suchlike.

[0149] According to a possible solution, it can be provided that the covering layer 27 is applied on at least part of the length of the central core 25, in a resinous form, for example by immersion, or by spraying and, afterward, and before the covering layer 27 is polymerized, the fragments 28 are applied, which are therefore at least partly incorporated in the covering layer 27.

[0150] According to an alternative, the covering layer 27 can be provided in resinous form and incorporates the fragments 28 inside it. The covering layer 27 is applied on part of the central core 25 and the subsequent cross-linking of the resin puts the fragments 28 in a surface protruding position so as to define the surface irregularities 18.

[0151] The fragments 28 can be defined by mineral particles, glass, metal oxides, or suchlike.

[0152] Embodiments of the present invention also concern agricultural equipment 20 provided with one or more tools 10,110 as described above associated with at least one support body 21 provided to support the one or more tools 10, 110.

[0153] In particular, it can be provided that the tools 10, 110 are attached to the support body 21 by means of their attachment portions 16. In this way each tool 10, 110 has one end protruding cantilevered with respect to the support body 21 and defining the free end 12 of the tooth 19.

[0154] FIG. 10 shows, by way of non-restrictive example only, a stellar wheel 20 of a stellar swather in which the support body 21 is defined by a supporting disk on which the tools 10 are attached by attachment elements 22.

[0155] In particular, the tools 10 are installed angularly distanced from each other along the development of the support disk and protrude radially from the latter.

[0156] By way of example only, the tool 110 shown in FIG. 3 can be associated with a belt swather, a tedder, or loading systems for agricultural presses or forage carts.

[0157] Furthermore, it is not excluded that the present invention can also be applied in agricultural machines other than a swather. The present invention can also refer to an agricultural machine (not shown) which comprises one or more pieces of agricultural equipment 20. By way of example only, the agricultural machines can be chosen from a group comprising haymaking machines, baling presses for round or square bales, stellar or belt swathers, tedders, threshers, forage carts, or suchlike.

[0158] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the tools for agricultural equipment as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

[0159] By way of example only, it is possible to provide that the bar 11 can be subjected to a heat treatment, for example to a hardening treatment, in order to increase the mechanical resistance to the stresses to which the tool is subjected.

[0160] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of tools for agricultural equipment, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0161] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.