STRUCTURAL SET FOR ASSEMBLY OF A HEADER AND HARVESTING MACHINE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a structural set for the assembly of a header intended for harvesters, comprising technical, constructive and functional aspects capable of promoting the tilting adjustment of the header in order to improve the accuracy levels of the angle of attack of the cutting discs during harvesting. More particularly, the present invention refers to a structural set for the assembly of a header in agricultural machines comprising a girder formed by a central beam on which a support is provided for suitable fitting of the structure of the header, the central beam being anchored to the chassis of the agricultural machine by an actuator device and further connecting at least two support columns, which are pivoted on the chassis of the agricultural machine by fastening device(s).

Claims

1. A STRUCTURAL SET FOR ASSEMBLY OF A HEADER comprising a girder formed by a central beam on which a support is arranged for the engagement and fastening of said structure of the header, said central beam being anchored to the chassis of the agricultural machine by an actuator device and further connecting at least two support columns, the at least two supporting columns being pivoted on the chassis of said agricultural machine by at least one fastening device.

2. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one said fastening device includes a plurality of pivoting shafts arranged on the base of said support columns, which fit into holes provided in the bottom of the chassis input.

3. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 1, wherein said actuator device is a hydraulic, electrical, mechanical mechanism or a combination thereof.

4. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 1, wherein said actuator device is a hydraulic piston driven by the hydraulic system of the agricultural machines.

5. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 1, wherein said actuator device is a thread driven by an electric or hydraulic motor.

6. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 1, wherein said actuator device is controlled by a processing unit (CPU) which receives sensor signals from sensors arranged on the header.

7. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 6, wherein said sensors are sensors measuring the height between the structure of the header and the ground.

8. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 6, wherein said sensors are pressure sensors coupled to row dividers of said header.

9. The STRUCTURAL SET, according to claim 6, wherein said sensors are pressure sensors installed on base cutting discs of said header (P).

10. A HARVESTING MACHINE for tall stem plant harvesting, comprising; a chassis assembled on conveyor belts or wheels, a drive motor, a cabin for operation and control, primary and secondary cleaning extractor systems, a billet elevator, and a structural set for the assembly of the cutting header, the structural set comprising: a girder formed by a central beam on which a support is arranged for the engagement and fastening of said structure of the header, said central beam being anchored to the chassis of the agricultural machine by an actuator device and further connecting at least two support columns, the at least two supporting columns being pivoted on the chassis of said agricultural machine by at least one fastening device (15).

11. The HARVESTING MACHINE, according to claim 10, wherein the harvesting machine is intended for sugarcane and/or sweet sorghum harvesting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The characteristics, advantages and technical effects of the present invention, as set forth above, will be better and more suitably understood by one skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken by way of example, and not limiting, of preferred embodiments, and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sugarcane harvesting machine;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the header assembled in the structural set, according to the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the structural set, according to the present invention, coupled to the chassis of the harvesting machine;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the structural set, uncoupled from the cutting head and the chassis of the harvesting machine;

[0035] FIG. 5A shows a side view of the structural set, fastened to the chassis of the harvesting machine and holding the cutting header in the horizontal position;

[0036] FIG. 5B shows a side view of the structural set, fastened to the chassis of the harvesting machine and holding the cutting header in the tilted position;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a partially sectional bottom perspective view of the structural set, according to the present invention, duly assembled on the chassis of the harvesting machine and holding the header; and

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of the control mechanism of the actuator devices of the structural set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The particular embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the appended figures. These figures are schematic and their sizes and/or proportions may not correspond to reality, given that they aim at describing the invention in a didactic manner. Moreover, certain known and common constructive details may have been omitted for greater clarity and conciseness of the description which follows. The used reference numerals are repeated throughout the figures to identify identical or similar parts. Possibly used terms as: above, below, front, rear, left, etc. and their variations must be construed according to the guidance provided in FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an agricultural machine (A) of the sugarcane harvester type. Although the present specification relates to a sugar cane harvester, it is clear that the machine may also be employed for the harvesting of other tall stem plants such as sorghum. A harvesting machine (A) may be, for instance, a machine known in the state of the art, made available by CNH Industrial N.V. marketed under the trademark Case IH.

[0041] The harvesting machine (A) comprises a chassis (E) mounted on conveyor belts (R) or wheels, a drive motor (M), an operation and control cabin (C), a primary cleaning extractor system (L1), a billet elevator (T) with secondary cleaning extractor system (L2) transferring the billets to, for instance, an overboard or prilling bucket (not shown). Furthermore, the harvesting machine (A) is designed to receive a front cutting header (P) through the assembly structural set, object of the present invention.

[0042] The machine (A) moves along the ground (S) in a harvesting direction, represented by the arrow (X) in FIG. 1, towards one or more rows of plants planted at regular spacings (not shown).

[0043] A harvester and header as above are described in greater detail, for instance, in US 2014/0174048 and BR 10 2015 0159226, respectively, both incorporated as a reference for the present invention.

[0044] Particularly with reference to FIG. 2, the header (P) comprises a structure 4, into which the basic cutting elements such as row dividers 1d, 1e, base cutting discs 2d, 2e, knock-down roller 3 are inserted and/or incorporated, the header being mounted, fitted and fastened to the chassis of the harvesting machines through the structural set 10.

[0045] By way of example only, and as mentioned above, some models of sugarcane or sweet sorghum harvesting machines comprise suspension mechanisms capable of promoting the height adjustment of the front of the machines, as indicated by the representative arrow Y in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Furthermore, as previously discussed with reference to WO2015/003058, there are some equipment featuring a technology capable of vertically moving the sets of base cutting discs to position them independently and according to the planting row being cut, particularly applied in the case of multi-row harvesters, and thus to achieve height control between the base cutting discs 2d, 2e and the ground (S).

[0046] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the assembly structural set 10, consists of a beam formed by a central beam 11 on which a support 12 is arranged for the engagement and fastening of the structure 4 of the header (P), the central beam (11) being anchored to the chassis (E) of the agricultural machine (A) by way of an actuator device 13 and further connecting at least two support columns 14, which are pivoted on the chassis (E) of the agricultural machine (A) by fastening device(s) 15.

[0047] The fastening device(s) 15 preferably include pivoting shafts 15a provided on the base of the support columns 14 fitting into holes 15b provided in the bottom of the chassis input (E).

[0048] According to the present invention, the actuator device 13 can be a hydraulic, electrical, mechanical device or even a combination of these technologies. By way of example of one embodiment, the actuating device 13 may be a hydraulic piston which is driven by the hydraulic system itself of the agricultural machines (A). The actuator device may be a thread driven by an electric or hydraulic motor.

[0049] As shown in the appended Figures, especially in FIGS. 3, 5A and 5B, the actuator device 13 promotes the withdrawal of the central beam 11 and, due to the fastening promoted by the fastening device(s) 15, the girder supporting the structure 4 of the header (P) performs the tilting movement, as indicated by the representative arrow Z. In this way, the angle of attack of the blades of the base cutting discs 2d, 2e can be precisely adjusted.

[0050] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the actuator device 13 is controlled by a processing unit (CPU) receiving signals from sensors 16 provided on the header (P) responsible for measuring the height of the structure 4 of the header (P) in relation to the ground (S). The sensors 16 may optionally also be coupled at the ends of the row dividers 1d, 1e, such as in the skid of the row dividers, to measure the pressure exerted by the header relative to the ground (S). Furthermore, a further alternative form of the sensors 16 is their arrangement on the base cutting discs 2d, 2e, particularly in their motors, in order to obtain the measurement of the pressure exerted by the blades during plant stems cutting.

[0051] Obviously, nothing prevents all of these sensor models 16 from working simultaneously, causing the processing unit (CPU) to receive and process a series of signals and thereby be able to position more precisely the angle of attack of the blades of the base cutting discs 2d, 2e.

[0052] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, with the assembly structural set 10, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the base cutting discs 2d, 2e in relation to the plant stems. More particularly, it is noted that the present assembly structural set 10 is able to adjust the angle of attack of the blades of the base cutting discs 2d, 2e, so as to obtain a quality cut mainly considering the tilted position that the plants are arranged by virtue of the action of the knock-down rollers 3 of the headers (P), thereby providing a cut executed substantially perpendicular to the plant stems.

[0053] In addition, as mentioned above, the present invention also relates to a harvesting machine, for example the machine (A) for harvesting tall stem plants, which is designed to comprise a structural set 10, according to the present invention, intended for the assembly and fastening of a header (P), which comprises a structure 4 where the basic front cutting elements are arranged, such as the row dividers 1d, 1e, sets of base cutting discs 2d, 2e and the knock-down roller 3.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the harvesting machine (A) is intended for sugarcane and/or sweet sorghum harvesting.

[0055] Thus, considering all of the above, it is noteworthy that the structural set 10 for assembling the headers (P) of the harvesting machines (A), as defined by the present invention, allows to obtain agricultural equipment of high productivity, since it manages to obtain a better cutting of the plant stems, mainly in order to more accurately adjust the angle of attack of the blades of the base cutting discs 2d, 2e, thereby eliminating the risks of material loss due to improper cutting of plant stems.

[0056] Finally, considering the above, it should be pointed out that the purpose of the present description is only to disclose and define in an exemplary way possible embodiments of the structural set for assembling headers of agricultural machines capable of promoting the precise adjustment of the angle of attack of the base cutting discs. Thus, as will be clear to those skilled in the art, numerous modifications and adaptations of elements and equivalent technical/construction details are possible without thereby departing from the scope of protection delimited by the appended claims.

[0057] These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it is to be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.