GRAIN CONVEYOR CHAIN

Abstract

The invention relates to a grain conveyor chain for a harvesting vehicle having a chain made of standard chain elements, wherein the standard chain elements comprise inner plates, outer plates, pins and/or sleeves, and a plurality of scoops, wherein the scoops are fastened on the chain and wherein the chain has chain links, which are partially back-rigid, and to a method for operating the grain conveyor chain according to the invention in a harvesting vehicle.

Claims

1. A grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle, which has the following elements: a chain (100) having standard chain elements, wherein the standard chain elements have inner plates (110), outer plates (120), pins (140), and/or sleeves (130), a plurality of scoops (200) wherein the scoops (200) are fastened on the chain (100), characterized in that the chain (100) has chain links (150, 160) which are partially designed to be back-rigid.

2. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the chain (100) has back-rigid chain links (150, 160) at regular intervals.

3. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the chain (100) has back-rigid chain links (150, 160) at regular intervals relative to the scoops (200).

4. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 3 characterized in that the chain link (150, 160) below and/or above each scoop (200) is designed to be back-rigid.

5. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 3 characterized in that the two chain links (150, 160) immediately below and/or above each scoop (200) are designed to be back-rigid.

6. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the chain links (150, 160) are designed to be back-rigid by using additional chain elements (151, 161).

7. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 6 characterized in that the additional chain element (151, 161) is an additional plate.

8. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 7 characterized in that the additional plate (151, 161) can be brought into engagement with a pin (140) of the chain (100) to form the back-rigid chain link.

9. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 7 characterized in that the additional plate (151, 161) can be brought into engagement with a plate (120) of the chain (100) to form the back-rigid chain link.

10. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 7 characterized in that the additional plate (151, 161) can be brought into engagement with a further additional plate (151, 161) of the chain (100) to form the back-rigid chain link (150, 160).

11. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 7 characterized in that the additional chain element (151, 161) replaces a standard chain element.

12. The grain conveyor chain (1) for a harvesting vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that all chain links of the chain (100) are designed to be back-rigid.

13. A method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine, wherein the grain conveyor chain (1) comprises a chain and a plurality of scoops (200), comprising the following steps loading a scoop (200) attached to the grain conveyor chain (1) bringing a first additional chain element (150) of the chain (100) into abutment with a further standard chain element of the chain (100) and/or a second additional chain element (160) of the same type of the chain (100) characterized in that the first additional chain element (150) is brought into abutment with the further standard chain element and/or the second additional chain element (160) of the same type of the chain (100) by the loading of the scoop (200).

14. The method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the additional chain element (151,161) is brought into abutment with the further standard chain element and/or the second additional chain element (151,161) of the chain (100) by positive locking.

15. The method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the chain (100) is rigidified by the additional chain element (151, 161) abutting with the further standard chain element and/or the second additional chain element (151, 161).

16. The method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine according to claim 15, characterized in that each time a scoop (200) of the grain conveyor chain (1) is loaded, an additional chain element (151, 161) is brought into abutment with a further standard chain element of the chain (100), wherein each load on a scoop (200) of the grain conveyor chain (1) leads to a local rigidifying of the chain (100).

17. The method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine according to claim 16, characterized in that the additional chain elements (151, 161), which are respectively brought into abutment with a further standard chain element and/or further additional chain elements (151, 161) of the same type, are arranged at equal distances from the scoops (200).

18. The method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine according to claim 14, characterized in that the rigidifying of the chain (100) by the additional chain elements (150, 160), which are respectively brought into abutment with a further standard chain element and/or further additional chain elements (151, 161) of the same type, takes place only locally.

19. The method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the local rigid locations of the chain (100) are equidistant to the scoops (200).

20. The method for operating a grain conveyor chain (1) of an agricultural machine according to claim 14, characterized in that by rigidifying the chain (100), a tipping movement of the scoop (200) caused by the load is reduced.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention and of the method according to the invention for operating a grain conveyor chain are shown schematically in simplified form in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

[0037] In particular:

[0038] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention

[0039] FIG. 1b is a side view of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention

[0040] FIG. 1c is a plan view of a grain conveyor chain according to the invention

[0041] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention.

[0042] FIG. 2b is a side view of a further exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention

[0043] FIG. 2c is a plan view of a further exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention

[0044] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention

[0045] FIG. 3b is a side view of a third exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention

[0046] FIG. 3c is a plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain according to the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain 1 according to the invention. The grain conveyor chain 1 is typically a circulating endless chain, in this and the following figures only one region of the grain conveyor chain 1 being shown. The grain conveyor chain 1 has the chain 100. In this and the following exemplary embodiments, the chain 100 is designed as a roller chain having standard chain elements. The standard chain elements have alternating inner 110 and outer plates 120, which are connected to one another by chain pins 140 guided in chain sleeves. The rotatable rollers 130 enclose the chain sleeves and chain pins 140 and are operatively connected to the drive means, for example a sprocket (not shown).

[0048] A plurality of scoops 200 are fastened on the chain 100, wherein two scoops 200 are fastened on the chain spaced apart from one another in FIGS. 1a, b and a scoop 200 is fastened on the chain 100 in FIG. 1c. Each scoop 200 is rectangular in shape and has a scoop surface 250 on the upper side of the scoop body 260 for transporting the grain or other material. The scoop surface 250 has a depression 251 for better transport of the material. In the rear region, the scoop 200 has an edge 252 which prevents the transported material from falling off. At the same time, the edge 252 increases the structural integrity of the scoop 200.

[0049] The scoop body 260 is preferably made of a material producible in large quantities, for example a polymer. A recess 205 is also arranged in the middle in the rear region. The recess 205 is dimensioned in such a way that it encloses the chain 100 when installed on the chain 100. The flanks 201, 202, which have the fastening elements 211, 212 aligned with one another, are arranged around the recess 205 on the upper side. Flanks 203, 204 are arranged on the underside with fastening elements 213, 214, which are also aligned with one another. The scoop 200 has a second scoop surface reinforcement 230 on the lower side (FIG. 1c). This second scoop surface reinforcement 230 is designed as a support structure and effectively prevents deformation of the scoop 200 under load.

[0050] The scoop 200 is fastened on the chain 100, in such a way that the fastening elements 211, 212 are aligned with a further chain sleeve 130 and the fastening elements 213, 214 are aligned with another chain sleeve 130. A first pin 241 is guided through the fastening elements 211, 212 and the chain sleeve 130, a second pin 242 is guided through the fastening elements 213, 214. Thus, two pins 241, 242 fasten the scoop 200 directly on the chain 100, both pins 241, 242 are at the same time chain pins of the chain 100.

[0051] In this exemplary embodiment, the chain 100 has two chain links 150, 160 at regular intervals, which are designed to be back-rigid. The first back-rigid chain link 150 is arranged directly below the scoop 200, and the second back-rigid chain link 160 is arranged directly above (in the upward section of the chain 100) the scoop 200. The back-rigid chain links 150, 160 each have an additional plate 151, 161 which, when the chain 100 is stretched, engages in the upward section with an outer plate 120 designed as a standard chain element, thus reducing the freedom of movement in the respective chain link 150, 160 compared to a standard chain.

[0052] During operation, the scoop 200 attached to the chain 100 is loaded by its own weight and the weight of the material being transported on the scoop surface 250. As a result of the load, the additional chain elements 151, 161 are brought into a form-fitting abutment with an external plate 120 designed as a standard chain element. The load of the scoop 200 acts on the chain 100 in the direction in which the back-rigid chain 100 is back-rigid, that is, opposite to the direction in which the chain 100 is flexible. The local rigidifying around the additional chain elements 150, 160 effectively prevents the scoop 200 from tipping over.

[0053] An exemplary embodiment of the grain conveyor chain 1 according to the invention, in which all inner chain link elements 110 are designed to be back-rigid, is shown in FIG. 2. The chain 100 shown in this exemplary embodiment has inner plates 110 and outer plates 120, which are connected to each other by chain pins 140 guided in chain sleeves 130 (FIG. 2a). In this exemplary embodiment, the inner plates 110 are advantageously of identical construction (FIG. 2b). The chain 100 can therefore be manufactured very inexpensively in a manufacturing process, for example by stamping a large number of identical components. The rigidity of the back of the chain 100 is achieved by a geometric abutment contour of the inner plates 110. An inner plate 110 forms a positive connection with two adjacent inner plates 110 (FIG. 2c). The chain 100 is therefore designed to be completely back-rigid and prevents the scoop 200 from tipping over under load.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a variant of the grain conveyor chain 1 according to the invention, as shown in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1a-c). In this exemplary embodiment, the chain 100 has two chain links 150, 160, also at regular intervals, which are designed to be back-rigid. The first back-rigid chain link 150 is arranged directly below the scoop 200, and the second back-rigid chain link 160 is arranged directly above the scoop 200. The two back-rigid chain links 150, 160, above and below the scoop 200 respectively, have an additional plate 151, 161 which, when the chain 100 is in the stretched state, respectively engages with a chain pin 140 in the upward section. The additional plate is designed in one piece and is arranged on both sides of the chain. The local rigidifying around the additional chain elements 151, 161 prevents the scoop 200 from tipping under load.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0055] 1 grain conveyor chain [0056] 100 chain [0057] 110 chain inner plate [0058] 120 chain outer plate [0059] 130 roller [0060] 140 chain pin [0061] 150 back-rigid chain link below the scoop [0062] 151, 161 additional plate [0063] 160 back-rigid chain link above the scoop [0064] 200 scoop [0065] 201, 202 flank upper side [0066] 203, 204 flank lower side [0067] 205 recess [0068] 211, 212, 213, 214 fastening elements [0069] 230 reinforcement of the scoop surface [0070] 241, 242 fastening pins [0071] 250 scoop surface [0072] 251 depression [0073] 252 elevation [0074] 260 scoop body