MODULAR PLATFORM FOR CUTTING SUGAR CANE

Abstract

An agricultural harvesting machine for harvesting sugar cane, with means for working coupled to a tractor or any self-propelling machine, by using mechanic power (TDP) converted into hydraulic power (pump) to activate different devices of a set, so that it may form a wire cutting front for lanes of plants which are cut and thrown behind over the soil and organized in rows for later collecting and processing.

Claims

1. A modular platform for harvesting sugar cane plants, comprising: (A) a triangle-shaped modular structure, constructed and arranged to be coupled to a tractor or a self-propelled automotive machine; having a lower horizontal assembly plane, a sloped rear assembly plane and a sloped front assembly plane; two external sides; and having wheels assembled on each external side adjacent to the sloped rear assembly plane; (B) a mouth structure attached and hinged to the sloped rear assembly plane of the modular structure, the mouth structure having coupling means for the platform to be connected fixedly to corresponding parts of the tractor or the self-propelled automotive machine, and allowing the modular structure to create a pendulum movement; (C) a continuous cutting wire device mounted under the lower horizontal assembly plane of the modular structure, the cutting wire device having a continuous steel cable cutting wire assembled forming a horizontal cutting line extending throughout the width of the modular structure, and at least two parallel traction pulleys, the pulleys constructed and arranged to move the cutting wire to cut the plants at a base portion; (D) multiple lane dividers, mounted on the sloped front assembly plane, each comprising rotating helical rollers, constructed and arranged to separate interlaced sugar cane plants between adjoining lanes to be harvested, wherein the plants from each lane are guided towards inlet gaps, having two extremities and located between the multiple lane dividers, by guiding sets, allowing the plants to be sloped forwardly for harvesting; (E) a vertical pulling set, comprising at least two rotating units for each plant lane, vertically positioned on each of two extremities of each inlet gap, with each rotating unit having toothed rules and formed by a lower disc positioned parallel to and above the cutting wire device; and a horizontal pulling set, having at least a pair of upper pulling rollers and a pair of lower pulling rollers axially aligned in pairs and with each pulling roller having toothed rulers; wherein the vertical and horizontal pulling sets, constructed and arranged to direct the harvested plants by pulling towards inside the platform, and moving the plants behind the structure in rows; wherein all moving parts of the structure are activated by hydraulic pumps; and the modular structure is able to balance by raising and lowering the structure, and wherein the structure constructed and arranged to form a harvesting front for sugar cane plants with the balance of the modular structure shifting in a manner that the cutting front remains parallel to the ground.

2. The modular platform according to claim 1, wherein the modular case further comprising an intermediate structural case, a right structural case and a left structural case; each structural case having a triangular prism shape, with bases formed of rectangular frames forming the lower horizontal assembly plane; and wherein the rear assembly plane and the front assembly plane are joined at upper edges by a top crossbar, forming an apex of the modular structure, with two segmented crossbar-shaped links below the top crossbar configuring fixing points for a rear structural extension having two parallel beams linked by perpendicular supports behind the top crossbar, wherein the said parallel beams are interleaved in their middle between reinforcement plates crossed by a short central tube, configuring a hinged coupling point with the mouth structure.

3. The modular platform according to claim 1, wherein the fixed mouth structure having a first and a second side; and is connected to the modular structure by a hinged joining pin between the modular structure and the mouth structure, and having a crossbeam, including a pair of vertical tubes on each of the first and second sides and a lower tube, forming a frame, with four additional tubes projecting horizontally and backwards, having free edges interlinked by other vertical tubes and an upper horizontal tube, forming two side panels with sustaining hooks on their top side, engaging points along each panel on their bottom side, and side U-shaped supports with tears forming fixing points and an angle movement limit between the modular structure and the mouth structure.

4. The modular platform according to claim 1, wherein the cutting wire device is located between the two traction pulleys, with one traction pulley located on each side of the cutting wire, a right traction pulley and a left traction pulley, and a third tensioning pulley located centrally on one side of the cutting wire, wherein each traction pulley is parallel and below the lower horizontal assembly plane, and wherein the right traction pulley is below the corresponding structural case on the corresponding side, the left traction pulley is below the left structural case, and the intermediate tensioning pulley is located below the intermediate structural case of the modular structure, and wherein each pulley is attached to a rolling hub, the intermediate tensioning pulley rolling hub being assembled over a support fixed to the rectangular frame of the intermediate structural case, and the left and right traction pulleys being assembled over rolling hubs with each hub attached to hydraulic engines, and wherein the right traction pulley is also fixed to the right structural case, and wherein the left traction pulley and corresponding rolling hub are fixed to an edge of an L-shaped swing arm, and wherein another edge of the L-shaped swing is radially fixed to a rolling bearing located over a support attached inside the frame of the left structural case of the modular structure, and wherein a hydraulic damper is hinged at its edges to both the L-shaped swing arm and to the modular structure

5. The modular platform according to claim 1, wherein the lane dividers are each further comprising: a pair of lane opener rotating cylinders each activated by a pair of hydraulic engines turning in opposite directions, the lane openers each having a pantographic support with a hydraulic cylinder, having an upper edge hinged to the top crossbar of the modular structure, and a lower edge hinged to a middle of a rectangular plate-shaped support having a rear edge hinged between sloped parts of the rectangular frames of the modular structure; and the lane openers having second rectangular plate-shaped support freely crossed by the hydraulic cylinder, with its rear edges hinged to an upper edge of the rectangular frame of the modular structure; wherein the second rectangular plate-shaped supports have front edges interconnected by a hinged arm connecting two hinged points at the edges of the second plates-shaped supports, forming hinged couplings for a lying V-shaped plate body, having a sloped frontward-facing apex and a lower sliding side combined with an internal structure and external supports, wherein the external supports form assembling means for the pair of lane opener rotating cylinders.

6. The modular platform according to claim 1, wherein the guiding sets are each further comprising a horizontal tube fixed at each end to an adjustable radial support located in opposition over additional radial supports located on the segmented crossbar-shaped links of the modular structure, wherein the adjustable radial support forms a point adjusting for height and positioning of the horizontal tubes above and before the pulleys of the cutting wire device.

7. The modular platform according to claim 1, wherein the vertical pulling sets are each further comprising four rotating units, two rotating units corresponding to each lane, wherein one rotating unit is vertically positioned on each side limits of each inlet spacing, each rotating unit formed by a lower disc positioned parallel and above the cutting wire device, and wherein the lower disc is centered and solidary to a lower edge of a vertical axis having radial jaws comprised of a toothed ruler extending throughout the height of the vertical axis, the vertical axis being coupled at its upper edge to a bearing interlinked to an upper hydraulic engine, the bearing also having two side plate supports for fixing the vertical pulling set to other plate supports welded and distributed between beams of the modular structure.

8. The modular platform according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal pulling sets are each further comprising: a first group of four pulling rollers axially aligned in pairs, comprising a pair of upper pulling rollers and a pair of lower pulling rollers, wherein the upper pulling rollers and lower pulling rollers each have, at their edges, bearings and hydraulic engines assembled to side walls of plates on the respective intermediate, right, and left structural cases, and wherein all four pulling rollers have lengthwise jaws comprised of toothed rules equally distributed, and wherein the pair of upper pulling rollers are floating and having their bearings slidably provided in oblong tears; a second group of three pulling rollers, comprised of a horizontal pulling roller and two vertical pulling rollers, coupled to each other by transmission cases at 90°, each pulling roller having lengthwise jaws comprised of toothed rules equally distributed, wherein the horizontal pulling roller is aligned behind the pair of lower pulling rollers, and the two vertical pulling rollers are positioned at edges limits of the edges of the first group pairs of pulling rollers, the vertical pulling rollers having their edges and respective bearings and hydraulic engines fixed to the modular structure below the crossbeams, and a third group of two parallel horizontal pulling rollers, having an upper floating pulling roller and a lower fixed pulling roller, wherein the upper and lower pulling roller are both and aligned to the pulling rollers (61A), (61B) and (66A) and wherein each pulling roller has lengthwise jaws comprised of toothed rules equally distributed, and having their edges with respective bearings integrated with hydraulic engines, wherein the bearings are fixed to the side panels of the mouth structure and are floating and slidably assembled in oblong tears.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] For better understanding of the present invention, its detailed description is subsequently presented with reference to the attached drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows, respectively, an isometric view and a side view of the full platform.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows another isometric view, but without one of the usual lane dividers for visualization of one of the guiding sets tilting the plants before they are cut.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view showing the platform in a rear lower angle, highlighting the wire cutting device.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the platform in a rear upper angle without one of the wheel sets, highlighting the pulling devices for cut plants.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view showing only the modular structure of the platform in a front upper angle.

[0025] FIG. 6 also shows a perspective view of only the modular structure of the platform, but in a rear upper angle.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view in a rear upper angle showing a rear part of the modular structure, where the mouth structure for coupling the platform is hinged to the tractor or self-propeller.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows the same arrangement of the front view, but, in a perspective with a different angle, highlighting the mouth structure for coupling the platform to the tractor or self-propeller.

[0028] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view just of the wire cutting set.

[0029] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view just of the modular structure with the wire cutting set, highlighting its assembly to the lower part of said structure.

[0030] FIG. 11 shows another perspective view just of the modular structure with the wire cutting set, but in a rear upper angle.

[0031] FIG. 12 shows another perspective view just of the modular structure with the wire cutting set, highlighting its assembly to the lower part of said modular structure.

[0032] FIG. 13 shows a partially exploded perspective view in a front upper angle and an enlarged detail of the same perspective, highlighting the arrangement of usual lane dividers for plants to be cut.

[0033] FIG. 14 also shows a partially exploded perspective view, just like the previous one, but in a front upper angle, showing other embodiment details for the usual lane dividers for plants to be cut.

[0034] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the platform as partially disassembled, highlighting the guiding sets tilting the plants before and after their cutting.

[0035] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the platform as partially assembled, highlighting the assembly of the set of vertical pullers for cut canes.

[0036] FIG. 17 shows an exploded perspective view of the previous view, also highlighting the assembly of the vertical traction set of cut canes.

[0037] FIG. 18 is a perspective view and a magnified detail of the structure, highlighting the first group of rollers of the horizontal pulling devices for the cut canes.

[0038] FIG. 19 are the same views as above, but in a different angle, also highlighting the first group of rollers of the vertical pulling devices for cut canes.

[0039] FIG. 20 is a perspective view and a magnified detail of the structure, highlighting the second group of rollers of the pulling devices for the cut canes.

[0040] FIG. 21 is a perspective view and a magnified detail of the structure, highlighting the third group of rollers of the pulling devices for the cut canes.

[0041] FIG. 22 are the same views as above, but in a different angle, also highlighting the third group of rollers of the horizontal pulling devices for cut canes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] According to these illustrations and their details, more particularly FIGS. 1 to 4, the present invention, a modular platform for cutting sugar cane, is characterized by comprising, the following characteristics. [0043] a modular structure (1) extending throughout the width of the set and, seen on its side, presenting triangular geometry, having a lower horizontal side and an apex oriented upwards, forming three distinct assembly planes, being a lower and horizontal assembly plane (L1), a sloped rear assembly plane (L2) and a sloped front assembly plane (L3); [0044] on each external side of the modular structure (1) and next to its rear corner, usual wheels (R) are assembled; [0045] on the sloped and rear assembly plane (L2), a mouth structure (2) is added, receiving coupling means for the set with the corresponding parts of a usual tractor or a usual self-propeller (not shown); [0046] the modular structure (1) reciprocates, is hinged to the mouth structure (2), the latter being solidary to the tractor or self-propeller and granting to the first one a pendulum movement following slopes and inclinations on the soil; [0047] under the lower and horizontal assembly plane (L1) of the modular structure (1), the cutting wire device (3) is assembled, forming a horizontal cutting line extending throughout the width of the modular structure (1); [0048] on the sloped and rear assembly plan (L3) of the modular structure (1), usual lane dividers (4) are located, being one in the middle and two at the edges, between which inlet spaces (E) are formed for each lane of plants to be cut; [0049] between usual lane dividers (4), guiding sets (5) for the canes in cutting process are assembled; and [0050] after the guiding sets (5), vertical pulling sets (6) and horizontal pulling sets (7) for the cut plants are located.

[0051] Therefore, the platform is coupled to a tractor or self-propeller by means of its mouth structure (2), and thus, the whole device is displaced against two planting lanes, one lane for each inlet gap (E). Under this condition, the plants are reached by the usual lane dividers (4), which are rotating helical rollers turning in such a sense to separate interlaced canes between one lane and the other, allowing only the canes from the lane to be cut to be correctly guided towards the inlet gap (E) against the corresponding guiding sets (5) which, on the other hand, even before the cut, allow the plants to be sloped ahead until a given angle and, at that moment, the wire cutting device (3) cuts the bases of the plants, at which time they are cut down. On that moment, its cut edge is already directed to inside the platform, where it is pulled by the vertical pulling sets (6) and horizontal pulling sets (7). Cut plants are thrown behind and prepared in rows for later collecting. This situation occurs when the platform is operated on a usual tractor, but, if the set is coupled to a self-propeller, it receives the canes and performs other processing steps, such as: chopping into billets and cleaning (removal of leaves and other disposable parts).

[0052] The modular structure (1), shown in detail by FIGS. 5 and 6, comprises three structural cases, being one intermediate structural case (8A), a right structural case (8B) and a left structural case (8C), all of them with the same geometry of a triangular prism, with bases in the form of rectangular frames (9) forming the lower horizontal assembly plane (L1), which also happens with the sloped assembly planes (L2) and (L3), which are defined by other rectangular frames (10), these having their upper edges joined with a top crossbar (11) forming the apex of said modular structure (1), with other similar segmented crossbar-shaped links (12) and (13) being below said top crossbar (11), configuring fixing points for rear prolonging defined by two beams (14A) and (14B) away from each other in parallel and also from the crossbar (13), to which it is linked by various perpendicular supports (15). The crossbar (14A) is interleaved in the middle between reinforcement plates (17A) pierced by a short central tube configuring a hinged coupling point (17B) with the mouth structure (2).

[0053] The mouth structure (2), as shown by FIGS. 7 and 8, is formed by a crossbeam (16) equally reinforced in the middle by other reinforcement plates (17C) including another short tube, also configuring a hinged coupling point (17D) in axial alignment with the rear one (17B) to receive a hinged joining pin (18) between the modular structure (1) and the mouth structure (2), and the crossbeam (16) also includes vertical tubes (19), a pair on each side, and a lower tube (20), forming a frame with other four tubes horizontally projected behind (21), having the free edges interlinked by other vertical tubes (22) and an upper horizontal tube (23), forming two side panels (24) which, on their top, have sustaining hooks (25A) and, on the bottom, aside each panel (24), engaging points (25B) and side “U”-shaped supports (26A) with tears (26B) forming fixing points and an angle movement limit between the modular structure (1) and the mouth structure (2), thus finishing the required means, also for the set to be positioned and coupled to a usual tractor or self-propeller by means of sustaining hooks (25A) and engaging points (25B), highlighting the fact that the mouth structure (2) is fixed, while the modular structure (1) is liable to swing as a pendulum, i. e. it may balance by raising and lowering its side edges according to an angle limited by the “U”-shaped supports (26A) and respective tears (26B), thus allowing the set to follow the slopes of the soil and the tractor or self-propeller itself, and the cutting front is consequently always kept parallel to the soil.

[0054] The cutting wire device (3) is shown in detail by FIGS. 9 to 12, wherein we verify that it comprises a continuous cutting wire (27) (steel wire rope), extending throughout the width of the modular structure (1), being also located between at least two traction pulleys (28A) and (28B), one on each side, and a third tensioning pulley (29), all of them located in parallel below the lower horizontal assembly plane (L1) and in the respective structural cases (8A), (8B) and (8C) of the modular structure (1), wherein the intermediate tensioning pulley (29) has a rolling hub (30) duly assembled on a support (31) fixed to the rectangular frame (9) of the middle structural case (8A).

[0055] The traction pulleys (28A) and (28B) are equally assembled over rolling hubs (32) with the respective hydraulic engines (33), and also the pulley (28A) is fixedly assembled to the corresponding support formed by the rectangular frame (9) of the compartment (8C).

[0056] The traction pulley (28B) is assembled so to reciprocate with a single alternate movement, to keep the tension of the continuous cutting wire (27), and thus its rolling hub (32) is fixed to the edge of an “L”-shaped swing arm (34), which other edge is radially fixed to a rolling bearing (35) which, on the other hand, is located over a support (36) fixed to inside the frame (9) of the left structural case (8C) of the modular structure (1), including a hydraulic damper (37) which edges are hinged, respectively, to said “L”-shaped support (34) and to said modular structure (1). Under this condition, the continuous cutting wire (27) may suffer impacts which are neutralized by the floating effect of the traction pulley (28B) and the respective hydraulic damper (37).

[0057] The usual lane dividers (4) are shown in detail by FIGS. 13 and 14, wherein we verify that each one of them has a pantographic support (38) including a hydraulic cylinder (39), with its upper edge hinged (40) to the crossbeam (11) of the modular structure (1), while its lower edge is hinged to the middle part of a support in the form of a rectangular plate (41A), which rear edge is hinged (42A) between the sloped parts of the rectangular frame (10) of the modular structure (1), including another support in the form of a rectangular plate (41B), similar to the first one which, besides being freely crossed by the hydraulic cylinder (39), also has its rear edges hinged (42B) to the upper edge of the rectangular frame (10) of the modular structure (1).

[0058] Both supports in the form of rectangular plates (41A and 41B) have their front edges interlinked by a hinged arm (43), also defining two hinged points (44) at the edges of said plates (41A and 41B), where they form hinged couplings for the respective parts of a laid down “V”-plate body (45), which sloped apex is turned frontwards and includes a lower sliding side (46) combined with an internal structure (47) and different external supports (48), the latter ones forming the assembly means for a pair of usual rotating lane-opener cylinders (49A) activated by the respective hydraulic engines (49B), turning in opposite senses, so that the canes from the lane to be cut may be guided towards the corresponding inlet space (E) between said lane dividers (4).

[0059] FIG. 15 shows the details of the guiding sets (5), each one formed by a horizontal tube (50), which edges are fixed to adjustable radial supports (51) opposed to each other over other radial supports (52) in existence over the crossbeam (12) of the modular structure (1), cooperating to regulate the height and position of said tubes (50) above and before the pulleys of the cutting wire device (3), so that both tubes (50) may form a barrier and push the plants over a given slope occurring before the cutting operation, thus facilitating tumbling and alignment of said cut plants towards vertical pulling sets (6) and horizontal pulling sets (7).

[0060] The vertical pulling set (6) is shown in detail by FIGS. 16 and 17, on which we can verify that it comprises four rotating units (53), two for each lane and vertically positioned on the side limits of each inlet spacing (E), and each rotating unit (53) is formed by a lower disc (54) positioned in parallel, near and above the cutting wire device (3), where it is centered and solidary to the lower edge of a vertical axis (55) provided with radial jaws in the form of a toothed ruler (56) extending throughout the height of said vertical axis (55), which upper edge is coupled to a bearing (57) interlinked to an upper hydraulic engine (58), and said bearing also includes side plate supports (59) for fixing said set to other plate supports (60) which are welded and distributed between the beams (12) and (13) of the modular structure (1).

[0061] Rotating units (53) for each inlet space (E) turn in opposite senses to align and guide cut canes inside the inlet space (E). The discs (54) force the canes to the center of the inlet space (E) and, at the same time, toothed rulers (56) work as jaws displacing the plants behind, towards horizontal pulling sets (7).

[0062] Horizontal pulling sets (7) are initially shown by FIGS. 18 and 19, where we can verify that these comprise a first group of four pulling rollers, axially aligned in pairs, a pair of upper pulling rollers (61A) and a pair of lower pulling rollers (61B), respecting the height limit of the vertical pulling set (6), and said upper pulling rollers (61A) and lower pulling rollers (61B) have, at their edges, bearings (62A-62B) and their respective hydraulic engines (63) assembled to the side walls of plates of the respective structural cases (8A), (8B) and (8C) and also, all pulling rollers (61A) and (61B) are equally provided with lengthwise jaws in the form of toothed rulers (64).

[0063] The pair of upper pulling rollers (61A) is floating and, for that purpose, their bearings (62A) are slidably located in oblong tears (65) cooperating for the set to be freely and automatically displaced below and above, defining self-regulation for passage according to the volume of cane pulled between said pulling rollers (61A) and (61B).

[0064] Concerning FIG. 20, an integral part of the horizontal pulling sets (7) is a second group of three pulling rollers, a horizontal pulling roller (66A) and two vertical pulling rollers (66B), coupled to each other by means of transmission cases at 90° (67) and all of them are equally provided with lengthwise jaws in the form of toothed rulers (68), wherein the horizontal pulling roller (66A) is also aligned just behind the lower pair of pulling rollers (61B), combining with it in its length, while the other two vertical pulling rollers (66B) are positioned at the limits of the edges of said pairs of pulling rollers (61A) and (61B).

[0065] Vertical pulling rollers (66B) have their edges with the respective bearings (69) and hydraulic engines (70) fixed to the modular structure (1) and below the crossbeams (14A) and (14B).

[0066] By observing FIGS. 21 and 22, horizontal pulling sets (7) are formed by a third group of two horizontal and parallel pulling rollers, being one upper floating pulling roller (71A) and a lower fixed pulling roller (71B), both positioned one after the other and aligned to the pulling rollers (61A), (61B) and (66A), and also, just like the previous ones, are equally provided with lengthwise jaws in the form of toothed rulers (72), having their edges with the respective bearings (73) and (74) integrated with hydraulic engines (75) and (76), wherein the bearings (74) are fixed to the side panels (24) of the mouth structure (2) and, on those same side panels (24), bearings are slidably assembled in oblong tears (77), to allow the upper floating pulling roller (71A) to self-adjust itself by being displaced above and below, according to the volume of cane passing through the cutting platform.

[0067] Vertical (6) and horizontal (7) pulling sets sum a quantity of pulling rollers allowing to form a true tunnel with rectangular section and variable height, wherein the plants are pulled behind and, from that point, if the set is assembled over a usual tractor, cut canes are thrown over the soil and organized in rows, so to be later collected, but, if the set is assembled over a self-propeller, it directly receives canes from the platform and makes a complementary process which, despite being able to vary, performs at least two further steps: chopping and cleaning, transforming canes into leaf-free billets, to then accumulate them for transshipment or for any transport vessel.

[0068] As stated, the platform at issue has been built to simultaneously cut two lanes of plants, but, keeping the same embodiment concept, it is possible to manufacture platforms with a larger number of modules, practically changing just the sizing of the structure (1), by increasing its modular parts to assemble a larger wiring cut device and increasing the number of other devices, which is a significant advantage for the process for manufacturing the set.