FR2813163A1 - Cutting bar carriage for agricultural harvester has chassis with supports for bar which tilt to accommodate different bar types - Google Patents

Abstract

The cutting bar carriage for an agricultural harvester has a chassis (1) and supports (20,30) for the bar spaced longitudinally. The carriage has fixed supports on one side (20) and tilting supports (30) to accommodate different cutting bars and bars with extensions. The tilting supports carry different bar configurations when raised or lowered.

Description

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Combine cutter bar transport cart or similar. The present invention relates to a cutter bar transport cart for a combine harvester or the like.

The present invention is in the field of agricultural equipment and relates to a cutter carriage, in other words a cutter bar transport cart of combine harvester. It is recalled here that a cutter bar generally consists of a sort of casing having a very enlarged U shape, the wings of which constitute the lateral flanks and the bottom of the U constitutes the bottom of the cutter bar, the front edge forms, in cooperation with transversely movable cutting means, a cutting edge. This casing is arranged at the front of the harvester to which it is connected by removable fixing means. Furthermore, this casing supports a sort of drum having a polygonal section, and driven in rotation about its axis, parallel to the cutting edge, to drive the cut plants backwards and collect them in the combine harvester. .

Combine harvesters are now equipped with a wide cutter bar (4 m to 9 m) which cannot be moved on the road in the working position. For such transport, the cutter bar as a whole, that is to say the casing, the cutting means and the drum, can be separated from the combine harvester.

For road transport, these cutter bars are placed lengthwise on trailers designed for this purpose.

These trailers, called cutter wagons, generally consist of a central beam, installed on one or two axles, and surmounted by two

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 or three cutter bar supports. These supports, adjustable as desired depending on the models and manufacturers, conform as precisely as possible to the shape of the bottom of the cutter bar, to carry it in the best conditions.

However, as the crops are more and more diverse, it is often necessary to add accessories which are placed in front of the cutter bar in use, to allow the harvesting of certain plants such as rapeseed or sunflower. These accessories are attached to the cutter bar and must be able to be assembled and disassembled in a few moments as required. It is also important that these accessories can follow the machine at each change of plot.

For example, for rapeseed harvesting, cutting extensions are installed at the front of the cutter bars and can considerably improve the throughput of the machines. However it is common to mow rapeseed for example in the morning, then wheat in the afternoon and return to rapeseed at the end of the day. In this case, the driver must hang and unhook the cutting extension twice during the day and, if he does not have a suitable support, he is forced to leave the extension on site, without being able to move it with the harvester harvester.

Currently no equipment allows this possibility, and the invention therefore aims to solve this problem.

With these objectives in view, the subject of the invention is a cutter bar transport carriage for a combine harvester, comprising a carrying frame and cutter bar supports distributed longitudinally, characterized in that, in order to be able to selectively ensure the transport of a cutter bar only, of a cutter bar equipped with a

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 cutting extension, or a separate cutting bar and cutting extension, the carriage has fixed supports on one side and retractable supports, movable between a high position and a low retracted position , the retractable supports being adapted to support and maintain said extension, so that, when the retractable supports are in the high position, the carriage can receive, bearing on the one hand on the fixed supports and on the other hand on the supports retractable, the cutter bar only or the cutter bar equipped with the extension, and when the retractable supports are in the low position, they only support the extension, the cutter bar being supported, overhanging the extension, by the fixed supports and complementary supports.

As will be understood, the originality of the invention resides in the modularity of a cutting carriage allowing the transport of a cutting bar alone, or of a cutting extension coupled to the cutting bar or else another cutting extension and a cutting bar placed separately on the supports.

According to particular provisions of the invention - each retractable support comprises a support bar extending transversely, carried by an arm pivotally mounted, around a transverse axis, on a chair linked to the chassis.

- The chair is pivotally mounted, along a longitudinal axis, on a plate rigidly fixed to the chassis.

- The carriage includes means for adjusting the angular position of the chair relative to the plate.

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 - The arm is pivotally mounted around a shaft secured to the chair, and means for controlling the pivoting of the arm are mounted between said arm and a leg of the chair.

- the support bar is pivotally mounted in a sleeve at the end of the arm.

- - The support bar is slidably mounted in said sheath, and the carriage comprises locking means in the longitudinal position of the bar relative to the sheath.

- The bar carries at its outermost end anchoring means to maintain the extension by its front edge.

- The bar carries at its innermost end a support bar, to support either the rear edge of the extension, or the cutter bar.

- The fixed supports include anchoring means to hold the cutter bar by its rear edge.

- the additional supports are removable, adaptable to the chassis.

Other characteristics and advantages will appear in the description which will be given of a cutter bar carriage according to the invention.

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which - FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the carriage, with the retractable supports in the high position, - FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the carriage, with the retractable supports in the low position, - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a support assembly comprising a fixed support and a

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 retractable support, removed from the chassis, the retractable support being in the high position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same support assembly as in FIG. 3, the retractable support also being in the high position, but seen in a direction opposite to that of FIG. 3.

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a support assembly comprising a fixed support and a retractable support, removed from the chassis, the retractable support being in the low position.

- Figure 6 is a perspective view, three-quarter rear, showing the carriage with the retractable supports in the high position, during transport of the cutter bar assembly and extension assembly.

- Figure 7 is a front view showing the carriage with the retractable supports in the high position, for the transport of the cutter bar assembly and extension assembly.

- Figure 8 is a perspective view, from the same angle as Figure 6, showing the carriage with the retractable supports in the low position, when transporting a separate cutter bar and extension.

- Figure 9 is a front view showing the carriage with the retractable supports in the low position, for the transport of a cutter bar and a separate extension.

- Figure 10 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the anchoring means for holding the extension by its front edge. The carriage comprises a chassis formed by a longitudinal beam 1 of rectangular section, rigidly assembled on an axle 2 provided with wheels. The front of the chassis carries an assembly flange 3 to which various fastening systems can be fixed, for example

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 example a drawbar with a ring, to attach the cart to a combine that will pull the cart.

On the beam 2 are mounted several assemblies 10, for cutting blade support, distributed over the length, for example two support assemblies in the carriage shown.

These supports, called "two-station" supports, are made in two parts - a part located most rearward in the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 3, constitutes a fixed support 20 intended to support the rear of the cutter bar, as can be seen in Figures 7 and 9.

- a part located most forwards in FIGS. 1 to 3, carries the retractable support 30, which is adjustable in height and in inclination to adapt to the front part 4 "of the bottom of the cutter bar.

The fixed support 20 comprises an arm 25, for example made of stamped and welded sheet metal, and a heel 26 fixed to the end of the arm by a lower bolt 27 forming the pivot axis of the heel relative to the arm 25, and a spindle upper 28 easily removable. The heel piece 26 is equipped with means for anchoring the rear part of the cutter bar, such as the broaching bolt 21. These broaching locks 21 are provided for passing through the fixing holes of the cutter bar, made of manner known per se on ears of said bar to ensure normal attachment of the cutter bar on the combine.

The shape of the heel is designed to receive the lower rear bottom angle 4 ′ of the cutter bar 4, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9. Its shape is made to adapt to the majority of existing cutter bars , and additional holes 29 are

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 provided in the heel to allow the pin 21 to be placed there as required. The spindle 21 is also axially locked by stop tabs 21 'fixed on the heel.

The removable spindle 28 makes it possible to pivot the heel piece 26 downward relative to the arm 25 around the bolt 27, after removal of the said spindle, to facilitate positioning of the cutter bar when it is placed on the carriage or of its withdrawal.

Each retractable support 30 comprises a support bar 70 extending transversely, carried by an arm 60 pivotally mounted, around a transverse axis A, on a chair 50 linked to the chassis.

The support bar 70 is pivotally mounted in a sheath 61 of the end of the arm 60, and it comprises locking means in the longitudinal position of the bar 70 relative to the sheath 61, for example stop pins 71 with elastic locking , possibly being able to be placed in a series of holes distributed longitudinally on the tube 70, and leaving the free tube to rotate in the sleeve 61.

The bar 70 carries at its innermost end a support bar 73, to support the rear edge 5 "of the extension 5. Furthermore, the bar 70 carries towards its outermost end anchoring means 72 to maintain the extension 5 towards its front edge 5 ′. To this end, the anchoring means 72 comprise a ring 73 fixed to the tube 70, which can optionally be adjusted in position axially thereon, and which carries a socket 74 able to receive an anchoring pin 75, with an axis parallel to the support bar 73. This pin 75 is designed to also pass through ears 76 fixed beforehand permanently below the extension 5, for example by means of of screwed inserts 77,

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 as seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, the plates 77 and ears 76 being shown disassembled from the extension in FIGS. 1 to 5.

In addition, the tube 70 also carries a second ring 78 provided with a stop plate 79, and also fixed to the said tube by a bolt and optionally also adjustable in axial position. The stop plate is intended to hold the cutting extension in position when it is simply placed on the support bar.

According to an alternative embodiment, represented in FIG. 10, the means for anchoring the extension comprise a retaining tab 172 bent and fixed to the end of a secondary tube 173 slidably mounted in the bar 70 and adjustable in position by means of 'a pin or bolt 174 passing through the two tubes. This adjustment allows you to adapt the support to the geometry of the extension used. To maintain the edge 105 of the extension, this is placed under the retaining tab 172 and a ring 178 carrying a stop plate 179 is slidably mounted on the tube 70, so as to come to bear behind the edge 105 of the extension . The stopper 179 is approached behind the edge of the extension after it has been inserted under the retaining tab, and the said stopper 179 is thus held against the edge of the extension by a locking system comprising a pulling bar 175 actuated by a handle 176 articulated on the ring 178, the draw bar also anchoring on a hook 177 fixed to the end of the secondary tube 173. The arm 60 is pivotally mounted around a shaft 51 secured to the chair 50 , and means for controlling the pivoting of the arm are provided, for example a hydraulic cylinder 52 mounted between flanges of extension 62 of said arm and a tab 53 of the chair 50, or

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 another cable system connected to a winch.

The jack could also be mounted differently, for example with one end articulated directly on the arm 60 above its pivot axis, and the other end articulated on a lug similar to the lug 53 but located towards the rear of the carriage, that is to say substantially opposite to the arrangement illustrated in the figures, thus making it possible to arrange the support assembly closer to the axle 2.

 The retractable assembly 30 is thus articulated around a pivot axis A, allowing it to descend, for example, about fifty centimeters by pivoting rearward, as in the example shown, or forward. The pivoting movement is autonomous and does not require connecting the system to the hydraulic system of the combine.

A rotation stop -63, integral with the pivoting arm 60 limits the rotation of the arm and ensures its positioning in the raised position, coming into contact against a wing 54 of the chair 50.

The chair 50 is pivotally mounted, along a longitudinal axis B, on a plate 40 rigidly fixed on a box 22 formed integrally with the arm 25 of the fixed support 20 and surrounding the chassis, so that each support assembly 20 can be mounted on the chassis and fixed on it in the correct position.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the plate 40 has several fixing holes 44 for studs 23 and bolts 24 for fixing the plate to the box 22. It is thus possible to assemble the plate on the box in several respective positions in height, which makes it possible to adapt the height of the retractable assembly relative to chassis 1 as required.

In addition, means for adjusting the angular position of the chair 50 relative to the plate 40 are provided, for example one or more series of

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 holes 43 made on a wing 41 of the plate 40, and in one of which a bolt 42 or the like can be placed as required, the bolt 42 being screwed onto the chair 50. Thus according to the chosen position of the bolt in the holes 43, the inclination of the entire retractable support can be adapted, that is to say the inclination of the arm 60 relative to the vertical and therefore the inclination of the tube 70 relative to the horizontal, to the shape from the bottom of the cutter bar and the extension. It will be noted that, in order to increase the number of possible adjustment positions, the holes 43 are preferably made intersecting, to be closer to each other, and thus constitute elongated openings in the wing of the plate 40.

To support the bottom of the cutter bar when the retractable supports are in the low position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, additional supports 80 are provided, these supports being preferably removable. These supports 80 comprise for example a rod 81 of rectangular section adaptable to the chassis 2 by fitting into a tube 82 of corresponding section provided for this purpose on the chassis, for example welded on the upper part of the box 22. The rod carries an element cylindrical 83 serving as support for the cutter bar, this cylindrical element being offset with respect to the rod, as shown in FIG. 9, so as to provide a possibility of additional adjustment of the position of the support point, by simple half turn of the rod 81 in the tube 82. When the cutter bar 4 is alone, the retractable support 30 can be in the high position, the rear edge 4 ′ of the cutter bar resting on the heel 26 of the fixed support 20 and the front part of the bar resting on the support bar 73 carried by the lower end of the orientable tube 70.

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 Alternatively, the front part of the cutter bar could rest on the removable supports 80.

When the cutter bar 4 is equipped with the cutter extension 5, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, where we also see the rotary drum 4111 equipping the cutter bar, the retractable support is also in the high position. The cutter bar resting as above, the rear 5 "of the extension resting on the bar 73 and the front 5 'of the extension being connected to the upper end of the tube 70 by the pin 75, as described above .

When the cutter bar and the cutter bar are installed on the carriage separately, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the cutter bar originally attached to the cutter bar is first deposited on the support bar 70 of the support retractable 30 in its high position. By spindle 75, the cutting extension is moored in place. I1 then suffices to disengage the cutter bar from the extension and to pivot the retractable support so that the extension descends for example by about 50 cm while moving back. This maneuver makes it possible to free the part of the carriage located on the side of the retractable support and to make free the space necessary for the removal of the cutter bar. Thus the cutter bar always remains in the same position, the divider tips remaining on the cutter bar, and it is even possible to leave installed ear lifters without discomfort for removal.

Of course, it is also possible to transport the extension alone on the carriage, the retractable supports being either in the high position or in the low position.

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Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Cutter bar transport cart for combine harvester, comprising a carrying frame (1) and cutter bar supports (20, 30) distributed longitudinally, characterized in that, in order to be able to selectively transport the '' a cutter bar (4) alone, a cutter bar equipped with a cutter extension (5), or a separate cutter bar (4) and a cutter extension (5), the carriage comprises on one side of the fixed supports (20) and on the other side of the retractable supports (30), movable between a high position and a low retracted position, the retractable supports being adapted to support and maintain said extension (5 ), so that, when the retractable supports are in the high position, the carriage can receive, on the one hand on the fixed supports and on the other hand on the retractable supports, the cutter bar alone or the cutter bar equipped with the extension, and when the retractable supports are have in the low position, they only support the extension, the cutter bar being supported, overhanging with respect to the extension, by the fixed supports (20) and complementary supports (80). 2. Trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that each retractable support (30) comprises a support bar (70) extending transversely, carried by an arm (60) pivotally mounted, around a transverse axis (A) , on a chair (50) linked to the chassis. 3. Trolley according to claim 2, characterized in that the chair (50) is pivotally mounted, along a longitudinal axis (B), on a plate (40) rigidly fixed on the chassis. <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  4. Trolley according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises adjustment means (42, 43) of the angular position of the chair (50) relative to the plate (40). 5. Trolley according to claim 2, characterized in that the arm (60) is pivotally mounted around a shaft (51) secured to the chair (50), and in that it comprises control means (52) pivoting arm, mounted between said arm and a leg (53) of the chair (50). 6. Trolley according to claim 2, characterized in that the support bar (70) is pivotally mounted in a sleeve (61) of the end of the arm (60). 7. Trolley according to claim 2, characterized in that the bar (70) carries at its outermost end anchoring means (72) to hold the extension (5) by its front edge (5 '). 8. Trolley according to claim 2, characterized in that the bar (70) carries at its innermost end a support bar (73), to support the rear edge (5 ") of the extension (5). 9. Trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed supports (20) comprise anchoring means (21) for holding the cutter bar (4) by its rear edge. 10. Trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary supports (80) are removable, adaptable to the frame (2).