Lowerable roller set of a secondary cutting unit for a combine harvester

Abstract

A header for a combine harvester has a primary implement and a secondary implement with a roller unit. The roller unit has a frame element, an outer roller set with a rotatably supported roller and a central roller set with a rotatably supported roller. The central roller set is guided on the frame element to be lowerable relatively to the external roller set.

Claims

1. A header for a combine harvester comprising: a primary implement; and a secondary implement comprising a roller unit, the roller unit comprising: a pair of frame elements, each comprising a guiding slot; an outer roller set comprising a rotatably supported roller; and a central roller set comprising: a rotatably supported roller; a pair of side plates; a guide element mounted on a first portion of each side plate, the guide element of each side plate engaging in the guiding slot of one of the pair of frame elements and thus defining a path of movement of the central roller set; and a bearing mounted on a second portion of each side plate, the bearing rotatably supporting the central roller set, wherein the central roller set is guided on the pair of frame elements to be lowerable relative to the outer roller set.

2. The header according to claim 1, wherein the central roller set is supported and guided on the pair of frame elements to automatically take a lowered position, when the rotatably supported roller of the central roller set is released from a ground surface during lifting of the header.

3. The header according to claim 2, wherein the central roller set is supported and guided on the pair of frame elements such that it is lowerable by gravity.

4. The header according to claim 1, wherein the guiding slot forms an arc of a circle.

5. The header according to claim 1, wherein: the primary implement comprises a cutting unit, the secondary implement comprises a second cutting unit, and the central roller set is rotatably supported by a bearing, that is arranged under the second cutting unit, at a distance from the central roller set.

6. The header according to claim 1, wherein: the side plates are generally L-shaped and each has a first limb and a second limb, and the guide element of each side plate is mounted on the first limb and the bearing of each side plate is mounted on the second limb.

7. The header according to claim 1, wherein the outer roller set is a first outer roller set, wherein the rotatably supported roller of the outer roller set is a first rotatably supported roller, and wherein the roller unit further comprises a second outer roller set comprising a second rotatably supported roller.

8. The header according to claim 1, wherein the outer roller set and the central roller set each further comprises a second rotatably supported roller.

9. The header according to claim 1, further comprising: a link that is connected with the secondary implement; and a lifting device with a slide element that is configured and connected with the link such that a translational movement of the slide element causes a lifting of the secondary implement relative to the primary implement.

10. The header according to claim 9, wherein the lifting device has a safety device that prevents an unwanted lifting of the secondary implement relative to the primary implement.

11. The header according to claim 1, wherein the primary implement is the main cutting unit of the combine harvester.

12. The header according to claim 11, wherein the secondary implement is a mowing unit, a chopping unit, or a swathing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the following, the invention is further detailed and described on the basis of the depicted preferred embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the new header for a combine harvester in its operational position.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the header according to line A-A in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the header in its lifted position.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the header according to line A-A in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the header in its lifted position with the secondary implement lifted relative to the primary implement.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the header according to line A-A in FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the header and a part of the combine harvester.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the new lifting device of the new header with a safety device in the safety position.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the lifting device according to FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a side view of the lifting device according to FIG. 8.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the lifting device according to line A-A in FIG. 9.

(13) FIG. 12 shows a rear view of the header in its lifted position with the secondary implement lifted relative to the primary implement.

(14) FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of the header according to line A-A in FIG. 12.

(15) FIG. 14 shows a rear view of the secondary implement with the central roller set in a non-lowered position.

(16) FIG. 15 shows a sectional view of the header according to line A-A in FIG. 14.

(17) FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of the secondary implement according to line B-B in FIG. 14.

(18) FIG. 17 shows a rear view of the secondary implement with the central roller set in the lowered position.

(19) FIG. 18 shows a sectional view of the secondary implement according to line C-C in FIG. 17.

(20) FIG. 19 shows a sectional view of the secondary implement according to line D-D in FIG. 17.

(21) FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of the secondary implement with the central roller set in the lowered position.

(22) FIG. 21 shows the detail B of FIG. 20.

(23) FIG. 22 shows another perspective front view of the secondary implement with the lowered roller set.

(24) FIG. 23 shows another perspective rear view of the secondary implement with the lowered roller set.

(25) FIG. 24 shows a perspective front view of a central roller set.

(26) FIG. 25 shows a top view of the central roller set according to FIG. 24.

(27) FIG. 26 shows a side view of the central roller set according to FIG. 24.

(28) FIG. 27 shows a top view of the secondary implement with the central roller set in a non-lowered position.

(29) FIG. 28 shows a sectional view according to line A-A in FIG. 27.

(30) FIG. 29 shows the detail B of FIG. 28.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(31) FIGS. 1-7 show various views of an exemplary embodiment of a combine harvester 1 with a new header 2. When the respective figure shows a rear view or view from the rear, then it is to be understood that the respective view is seen when looking in the direction of travel 4 from the rear. This is applies to the other Figures. Only the front portion of the combine harvester 1 is shown, as the remainder of the combine harvester 1 has no importance for this invention.

(32) The combine harvester 1 can be driven, and for this purpose has several wheels of which these figures only show the front wheels 3. In order to carry out its work, the combine harvester 1 travels in the direction of travel 4 over the ground 5. As the wheels tend to sink into the ground 5 and the tires deform, the depiction is simplified in such a manner that the lower part of the front wheels 3 are shown here as being below the ground 5.

(33) The combine harvester 1 has a primary implement 6, which is its main cutting implement and serves for the actual harvesting process. The primary implement 6 defines the working width 7 of the combine harvester 1 perpendicularly to the direction of travel 4. The primary implement 6 itself is not an object of the present application and is thus not described in detail below.

(34) FIGS. 1-7 show various views of the operating conditions of the header 2. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the operational position, FIGS. 3 and 4 a partly lifted position, and the FIGS. 5 and 6 the completely lifted position. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the header 2 in its operational position.

(35) In order to improve the legibility of the drawings, not all reference signs have been reproduced in all drawings. This concerns mainly the repeated representation of identical components in different positions.

(36) Secondary Implement

(37) Besides the primary implement 6, the combine harvester 1 has a, in particular modularly designed, secondary implement 8. In this embodiment, it is designed as a cutting unit and serves for cutting the crop stubbles of the cut crop left standing by the primary implement 6 on the ground 5. When moving the combine harvester 1 in the direction of travel 4, therefore, the crops are first cut by the primary implement 6 at a greater height above the ground 5. Then during the further travel all the remaining stubbles are cut down and/or up by the secondary implement 8 nearer to the ground 5.

(38) The secondary implement 8 has a roller unit 9 with a pluralityhere, threeof roller sets 10. In the present case, each roller set 10 has two rollers 11, but could also have more or fewer rollers 11. The secondary implement 8 therein is supported on the ground 5 by means of the roller unit 9 and/or is moved by this unit during the harvesting operation of the combine harvester 1. The rollers 11 are designed in a cage-like manner and, in particular, consist of metal. The rollers 11 provide the secondary implement 8 with a good guidance, also in the case of difficult soil conditionse.g. rocks, holes, slopes, etc.

(39) The secondary implement 8, here configured as a cutting unit, has knife bars with blades 12 attached thereto. The cutting unit, and particularly the blades 12, can be easily damaged, which, however, is prevented by what is described below.

(40) The secondary implement 2 is connected to a link 13. The link 13 here is shown as an upper link 14. Also a lower link 15 is provided for further fixing.

(41) Lifting Device

(42) The new header 2 has a lifting device 16 that is designed and connected by means of a link bearing 17 to the link 13, such that a translational movement of the link bearing 17 causes a lifting of the secondary implement 8 relative to the primary implement 6.

(43) For this purpose, the lifting device 16 has an actuating device 18 which is designed here as a piston-cylinder unit 19. The piston-cylinder unit 19 has a piston 35 that is driven to make a reciprocating movement in a cylinder 36. This piston-cylinder unit 19, through the translational movement of the piston 35, causes a translational movement of the secondary implement 8 so that it is lifted up.

(44) From FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that, in the operating condition of the combine harvester 1 shown here, the secondary implement 8 is located substantially below primary implement 6 and thus nearer to the ground. This enables the cutting down of the stubbles left standing by the primary implement 6.

(45) Now, if the header 2 is brought into the lifted position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, then the distance between the lower surface of the primary implement 6 and the ground 5 is sufficient for passing over trenches and similar impediments. But, as the secondary implement 8 is situated much lower, there is a risk of damage.

(46) In order to prevent this type of damage, the secondary implement 8 can now be lifted relative to the primary implement 6 and brought into its lifted position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this position, the sensitive part of the cutting unit and, in particular, the blades 12 are positioned at a level above the lower exterior surface of the primary implement 6, so that the blades 12 are protected when crossing impediments by this lower exterior surface.

(47) FIGS. 8-10 show various views of an embodiment of the lifting device 16. In the described example, the header 2 has two lifting devices 16 of this type, which are provided to the header 2. But it could also be provided with only one lifting device 16, or also three or more lifting devices 16.

(48) The lifting device 16 has a slide element 20 and a stop or contact point 21 that is here formed as a pin. The gravity dependent contact with the link 13 passes over said contact point 21. The permanently rotatable connection between the link 13 and the lifting device 16 is achieved by means of a coupling part 22 and the link bearing 17. The coupling part 22 is rotatably connected via the link bearing 17 to the slide element 20.

(49) The slide element 20 has guide elements 23 that are designed here as guide rollers 24. But, for example, these could also be pins. The guide elements 23 engage in a guiding slot 25 of a guide component 26. The guide component 26 is fastened to the rear side of the primary implement 6.

(50) Safety Device

(51) The lifting device 16 further has a safety device 27. The safety device 27 has a safety latch 28, a safety slot 29 and a safety spring 30. The safety spring 30 presses the safety latch 28 into the safety slot 29, while the safety latch 28 is rotatably connected via a bearing 31 with the slide element 20. Herein, the safety latch 28 is connected to a safety pin 32, which then finally sits in the safety slot 29.

(52) The slide element 20 further has a track-shaped release slot 33 which guides a pin 34. The pin 34 is connected with the actuating device 18 as well as with the safety latch 28.

(53) FIGS. 8-11 show the safety position of the safety device 27 of the lifting device 16.

(54) The secondary implement 8 touches the ground 5 and the link 13 is not touching the contact point 21. In this way, no weight force is transferred. The safety spring 30 presses the safety latch 28 with its safety pin 32 into the safety slot 29. The actuating device 18 is situated in its lowered position and the pin 34 is situated in the lower region of the release slot 33.

(55) The safety device 27 further has a release position, a released position, a partly lifted position and a maximal lifted position, but these are not described in more detail in the present application.

(56) Lowerable Central Roller Set

(57) As shown in particular in FIGS. 12-26, the new header 2 for the combine harvester 1 is designed to lower the central roller set 10 with respect to thein this embodimenttwo outer roller sets 10, when the header is lifted.

(58) The secondary implement 8 has several frame elements 37, which, collectively, form a frame 38 of the roller unit 9 and are connected to the primary implement 6 by means of the links 13, 15 and the lifting device 16. In addition to the roller unit 9, the secondary implement 8 has a cutting unit 39. Here the cutting unit 39 is formed exactly by a knife bar with upper and lower knives, extending over the entire working width 7 of the secondary implement 8. But, the knife bar also could be modular. The implement 8 may also comprise another processing unit.

(59) As shown in particular in FIG. 15, the central roller set 10 has two side plates 40, with the rollers 11 arranged in between. Hence, these side plates 40 limit and define the respective roller set 10. Between the rollers 11 of the roller set 10 an intermediate plate 41 has been mounted (see FIG. 16). Both side plates 10 are generally L-shaped and have a first limb 42 and a second limb 43. On the first limb 42, a guide element 44 is mounted, that, for instance, can be designed as a guide pin or as a guide roller. On the second limb 43, a bearing 45 is mounted, that, for instance, can be designed as a pivot bearing. In this way, the bearing 45 is arranged under the cutting unit 39 and at a certain distance from the rollers 11.

(60) The segment of the frame element 37 provided near both side plates 40 has a guiding slot 46. The guiding slot 46 has the form of an arc of a circle, but, it also could have another shape. The guide element 44 engages in the guiding slot 46 of the frame element 37 and can be moved therein under certain conditions. Doing this, the roller unit 10 pivots about the bearing 45. In FIG. 15 it can be seen that the guide element 44 has been positioned at the upper end stop of the guiding slot 46. This means that the roller set 10 is not lowered, as is the case when the roller unit 9 of the secondary implement 8 is resting on the ground 5.

(61) Now, FIGS. 17-23 show the roller set 10 in its lowered position. It can be seen that the guide element 44 now is at the lower stop of the guiding slot 46. This means that the guide element 44 has traversed the guiding slot 46, while the roller unit 10 has pivoted about bearing 45 and has been lowered with respect to the other roller sets 10. This is the case when the secondary implement 8 has been lifted and the roller unit 9 is not supported on the ground anymore.

(62) FIG. 22 shows in its left half the left end of an outer roller set 10seen from the frontand in its right half, the nearby arranged right end of the lowered central roller set 10.

(63) FIG. 23 shows in its left half the right end of the lowered central roller set 10seen from the rearand, nearby, in its right half, the left end of the outer central roller set 10.

(64) In FIGS. 27-29 and in FIG. 29 in particular, it can also be seen that the neighbouring roller sets 10 are connected together by means of a buffer element 47. Preferably, the buffer element 47 is made of rubber, plastic or another elastic material to allow some relative movement between the roller sets 10 without causing damage.