AU756453B2

AU756453B2 - A mowing machine

Info

Publication number: AU756453B2
Application number: AU42736/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Maarten Koorn
Original assignee: Maasland NV
Current assignee: Maasland NV
Priority date: 1996-07-29
Filing date: 2000-06-28
Publication date: 2003-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-11
Also published as: AU4273600A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: be r Priority Related Art: be b bb b b Name of Applicant: Maasland N.V.

Actual Inventor(s): MAARTEN KOORN Address for Service: IP Australia Documents received on: 2 8 JUN 2000 3 3 Batch No: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: A MOWING MACHINE Our Ref: 619905 POF Code: 1556/253487 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 2 A MOWING MACHINE The invention relates to a mowing machine.

According to the invention there is provided a mowing machine which in use is drawn by a tractor, the mowing machine including: a cutter bar, and a groundengaging motor-driven wheel; wherein the wheel is hingedly connected with the cutter bar via a supporting bar to accommodate unevennesses in the ground.

By means of the motor-driven wheel there can be obtained, in the direction of travel of the mowing machine, a force by which the torque exerted on the tractor by the mowing machine is compensated entirely or partially. Because of this, the tractor driver does hardly need to apply a course correction, if at all, to move the mowing machine straight ahead over the plot. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel is disposed near the free end of the cutter bar. By disposing the wheel at the free end of the cutter bar, the "arm" will be maximum with respect 15 to the centre of rotation of the mowing machine, so that, by the force of the wheel, there can be obtained a counter torque which is as large as possible. According to again another preferred feature, the mowing machine comprises coupling points for l"its connection to the three-point hitch of a tractor.

According to another preferred aspect, the wheel is driven by a hydraulic 0 20 motor. In a preferred embodiment, the wheel is capable of deflecting with respect to the cutter bar against spring action.

oo. In accordance with a further preferred feature, the motor-driven wheel is provided with a further control mechanism for driving the wheel. According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the further control mechanism may comprise adjusting means by means of which the number of revolutions and/or the torque of the wheel can be adjusted. In this manner, depending on the working conditions, it is possible to adjust an optimum number of revolutions and/or an optimum torque. In order to give the farmer an indication regarding the number of revolutions and/or the torque to be adjusted, according to a feature of the invention, the further control mechanism comprises measuring means with the aid of which it is possible to determine the force which, during operation and with respect to the direction of travel of the mowing machine, is exerted by the cutter bar on the vehicle by which the mowing machine is moved forward. In ideal conditions, this force should be negligible.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the further control mechanism comprises measuring means with the aid of which it is possible to determine the angle at which, during operation, the cutter bar is located relative to the vehicle by which the mowing machine is moved forward. In ideal conditions, the angle between the vehicle and the cutter bar, during operation as well as out of operation, will be equal. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the measuring means include strain gauges which are disposed on S* the frame.

In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the invention, the measuring means comprise a clinometer.

CC C

C.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention, t-ne measuring means ccmprlse a slip meter Dy means or wnicn the slip of the driven wheel can be determined.

The invention will now be further explained with reference to an exemplary embodiment as represented by the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the mower-conditioner Figure 2 shows a side view of the mowing machine depicted in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the mowing machine according to the invention, and *Figure 4 shows a side view of the mowing- machine depicted in Figure 3.

L5 The mowing machine 1 represented in the drawings ,ooo comprises a mowing unit 2 and a crushing device 3 including a rotor 4 and crushing elements 5, as well as an element 7 constituting, in conjunction with this crushing device 3, a crop feed-through channel 6.

The mowing unit 2 comprises a cutter bar 8, above which there are arranged a half-dozen mowing discs 9 which are capable of rotation about vertical axes and are provided with cutting blades 10. A suspension beam 11 is fitted above and parallel to the cutter bar 8. The connection between the cutter bar 8 and the suspension beam 11 is constituted at one end by a ":.gearbox 12 (see Figure' 2) and at the other by a supporting element 13 extending from the suspension beam 11 obliquely rearwards and downwards, and connected to this supporting element 13 near the foot of the latter, a connecting element 14, extending essentially horizontally, which is also connected with the cutter bar 8.

The mowing machine is in the usual way capable of being swung about an approximately horizontal pivot shaft which extends in the direction of travel in operative condition and is connected with a carrying arm 16 comprising a carrying frame 17 which enables the mowing machine to be coupled to a three-point hitch of a tractor or a similar vehicle. The drive of the mowing machine is effected from a power-take-off shaft 18 of a (non-shown) tractor through various transmission elements in a gearbox 12 connected to the carrying arm 16, from which gearbox 12 the mowing unit 2 is driven by a belt transmission drive 19 and the various transmission elements in the gearbox 12, and the drive of the crushing device 3 is effected by means of an intermediate shaft 21 provided with universal joints The outermost mowing disc on the side where the elements 13 and 14 form the connection between the cutter bar 8 and the suspension beam 11 is provided with a hat-shaped crop guide device 22.

There is provided a frame 23 slidably connected with the suspension beam 11, which frame 23 comprises supporting beams 24, a bracket 25 fixed in position under each of these, and an angle plate 26 fixed in position under this bracket. The crushing device 3 is pivot-mounted between the angle plates 26. In addition, top-plate parts 27 and sidee plate parts 28 and 29 are attached to the slidable frame 23, with the rear side-plate parts 29 being slanted inwardly in rearward direction and being bent outwardly at the bottom side. At the inside of the side-plate parts 29 there are provided further side plates 30, which have at their bottom side a part 31 extending inwardly and which can be moved further inwardly by means of a grip 32 to enable a desired swath limitation to be obtained.

Further, a first support 33 and a second support 34 are fixed in position on the supporting beams 24. A connecting strip 35 pivot-mounted in the second support 34 is capable of being fixed in position in the first support 33 by means of a shaft 36 and holes 37 such that the position of this connecting strip element 35 and, with that, the strip 38 which is fixedly fastened to the latter and extends in the longitudinal direction of the crushing device 3, with the beater bar 39 being attached to it, determines the desired size of the crop feed-through channel 6 (see Figure 2).

The rotor 4 of the crushing device 3 comprises a cylindrical carrier 40 on which the crushing elements 5 are disposed in mutually staggered positions. The crushing elements 5 are tapered, they have an I-section and they also protrude from the roller outwards. The outermost crushing elements 41 at either side of the cylindrical carrier 40 are flat, tapered and also protruding from the roller outwards.

Thus, the outermost crushing elements are dagger-shaped and preferably made from a flat strip of spring steel having a thickness of approximately 3 mms. Viewed from above, the outermost crushing elements 41 are disposed at a distance of about one centimetre from the side-plate parts 28. Because, during operation, the dagger-shaped outermost flat crushing elements 41 move relatively close along the side-plate parts 28, any material for crushing which has adhered to the sideplate parts 28 or which has accumulated in the corners of the crop feed-through channel 6 is cut up. Since the cut-up crop winds less easily and is better removable, the rotor 4 is prevented from dragging, and the crop feed-through channel 6 and possibly the rotor 4 is/are prevented from getting clogged with crop. The application of a relatively thin strip of spring steel for the outermost crushing elements 41 offers S: the advantage that the crushing elements 41, when viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotor 4, are relatively rigid, whereas the crushing elements 41 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the rotor 4 are capable of easily deflecting and springing back again. The latter may be the case when, for instance, foreign matter such as a piece of wood or stone lands in the rotor 4. It will be obvious that more than two dagger-shaped crushing elements 41 can be placed on the cylindrical carrier 40, and that the crushing elements 41 can be made of a different material having the same properties as spring steel, such as e.g. a synthetic material.

As has been set forth hereinbefore, it is possible to shift the frame 23, wherein the crushing device 3 is rotatably suspended, with respect to the cutter bar 8 and to fix it again in position. For this purpose, the two supporting beams 24 comprise, near the front, a U-section part 42 provided with a hole 43 in which a bolt 44 is inserted, which bolt 44 is optionally inserted in any one of a series of holes 45 in a strip 46 fixedly connected with the suspension beam 11 of the cutter bar 8. Near the end of the strips 46 there is also provided a clamping bracket 47, through which the box-like supporting beams 24 are fed and by means of which the supporting beams 24 can be clamped onto the strip 46.

The distance between the circle 48 described by the crushing elements 5, 41 and the cutter bar 8 can be adjusted by slightly loosening the clamping brackets 47 and removing the bolts 44 and shifting the supporting beams 24 with respect to the strips 46. When the correct distance has been set, the frame 23,can be fixed again by means of the suspension beam 11 of the cutter bar 8 by tightening the clamping brackets 47 and mounting the bolts 44. It will be obvious that the adjustment of the crushing device 3 in relation to the mowing unit 2 can also take place in a way different from what has been set forth hereinbef ore. A continuous adjustment of the crushing device 3 with respect to the mowing unit 2 can be obtained, for instance, by adjusting the crushing device 3 by means of a spindle or a cylinder.

a igures 3 and 4 drw an edxodinat of tbemamig radur axxrdirqj to tlie irva-ticn,Q4,kh nrwiMr machine comprises measuring means with the aid of which it is possible to determine the number of revolutions and/or the .701. force by which the crushing device 3 is driven. As shown in Figure 4, the measuring means comprise dynamometers 49 disposed on the bearings 50 in which the rotor 4 is located.

The dynamometers 49 include (non-shown) strain gauges by means of which the force can be determined which is exerted by the shaft 51 of the rotor 4 on the bearings 50. The force exerted by the shaft 51 on the bearings 50 of the rotor 4 then constitutes an indication of the amount of material supplied by the mowing unit 2 to the rotor 4.

Via lugs 52, rotatable cylinders 53 are arranged on the brackets 25. At their other ends, the cylinders 53 are rotatably disposed on lugs 54 which are connected with the angle plates 26 in which the rotor 4 is located. Viewed in the direction of travel, there are disposed (non-shown) slotted holes in the brackets 25, which slotted holes constitute a guide means for having the angle plates 26 and consequently the rotor 4 moved by means of the cylinders 53.

For this purpose, the angle plates 26 are disposed in the slotted holes via longitudinal guide means 55. When the dynamnometer 49 has established that the rotor 4 is overloaded because too much material is supplied thereto, the cylinders 8 53 are activated by a (non-shown) further control mechanism, so that the distance between the rotor 4 and the mowing unit 2 is increased.

To the outer supporting beam 24 of the mowing machine 1 there is furthermore attached a motor-driven wheel 57 via a rearwardly extending arm 56. The arm 56 is made of a T-section so as to be torsion-rigid. Near the wheel 57 there is further arranged a controllable hydraulic motor 58 by means of which the wheel 57 can be driven at a variable speed and/or torque. The other end of the arm 56 is hinge-connected about a horizontal shaft 59 with the supporting beam 24 of the frame 23. Furthermore, a (non-shown) torsion spring is disposed around the shaft 59, the arrangement being such that the wheel 57 is movable in height against spring action so as to be capable of adapting itself to unevennesses of the soil.

The mowing machine 1 further comprises a (nonshown) further control mechanism for driving the wheel 57. By means of the further control mechanism the number of revolutions and/or the torque of the wheel 57 can be ad- 20 justed. For this purpose, the further control mechanism comprises measuring means 60 disposed on the suspension beam 11, with the aid of which measuring means it is possible to determine the force which, during operation and with respect to the direction of travel of the machine, is exerted by the cutter bar 8 on the vehicle by which the mowing machine 1 is moved forward. The measuring means 60 comprise (non-shown) strain gauges which are adapted to measure the bending of the suspension beam 11, which is a measure for the above-mentioned force.

Claims

1. A mowing machine which in use is drawn by a tractor, the mowing machine including: a cutter bar; and a ground-engaging motor-driven wheel; wherein the wheel is hingedly connected with the cutter bar via a supporting bar to accommodate unevennesses in the ground.

2. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel is disposed near the free end of the cutter bar. o

3. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mowing machine includes coupling points for its connection to the three-point hitch of a tractor.

4. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wheel is driven by a hydraulic motor.

5. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheel is capable of deflecting with respect to the cutter bar against spring action.

S S6. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the motor-driven wheel is provided with a further control mechanism for driving the wheel.

7. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the further control mechanism includes adjusting means by means of which the number of revolutions and/or the torque of the wheel can be adjusted.

8. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the further control mechanism includes measuring means with the aid of which it is possible to determine the force which, during operation and with respect to the direction of travel of the machine, is exerted by the cutter bar on the vehicle by which the mowing machine is moved forward.

9. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the measuring means include strain gauges which are disposed on the frame.

A mowing machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the further control mechanism includes measuring means with the aid of which it is possible to determine the angle at which, during operation, the cutter bar is located relative to the vehicle by which the mowing machine is moved forward.

11. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the measuring means include a clinometer. 15

12. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the measuring p. S.means include a slip meter by means of which the slip of the driven wheel can be determined. DATED: 24 January 2002 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: MAASLAND N.V. g o p p. p.