Belt arrangement for an agricultural implement

Abstract

Belt arrangement (2) for an agricultural implement, in particular for a root crop harvesting or transporting machine, comprising at least one belt (4) and at least one connecting piece (12) arranged at one end of the belt (4), which connecting piece is fixed to the belt (4) via at least one fastening means and can be articulated to a further connecting piece of the same belt arrangement or to a connecting piece of a further belt arrangement, wherein the connecting piece (12) is connected in a force-transmitting manner to at least one toothing element (14) separate from the connecting piece (12), wherein the toothing element (14) has at least one tooth (16) in engagement with the belt (4), characterized in that the belt (4) comprises at least one fabric layer (6) arranged between an upper side (8) and an underside (10) of the belt, and the at least one tooth (16) is arranged extending through the at least one fabric layer (6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt arrangement for an agricultural implement, in particular for a root crop harvesting or transporting machine. The belt arrangement comprises at least one belt and at least one connecting piece arranged at one end of the belt. The connecting piece is secured to the belt by means of at least one fastening means. The connecting piece can be pivotally connected to another connecting piece of the same belt arrangement or to a connecting piece of another belt arrangement. The belt arrangement further comprises a toothed element connected to at least one of the connecting pieces in a force-transmitting manner, wherein the toothed element is separate from the connecting piece. A toothed element is separate from the connecting piece if it is not formed integrally with the connecting piece. The toothed element has at least one tooth that engages with the belt.

[0002] Such a belt arrangement, in which a toothed element with teeth ensures improved force introduction into the belt, is known, for example, from EP 3 771 847 A1.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a belt arrangement in which the force introduction into the belt is further improved.

[0004] According to the invention, this is achieved in that the belt arrangement comprises a belt with an upper side and a lower side, wherein at least one fabric layer is arranged between the upper side and the lower side, and in that the at least one tooth of the toothing element is arranged extending through the at least one fabric layer.

[0005] The fabric layer, which extends through the entire belt from end to end, reinforces the belt so that it can absorb tensile forces particularly well. The tensile forces are introduced into the belt particularly via the connecting piece. The tooth of the toothing element is incorporated into the belt material and thus improves force introduction. The at least one tooth of the toothing element, which extends through the fabric layer of the belt, enables improved force introduction of tensile forces in particular directly into the fabric layer or into the belt material immediately surrounding the fabric layer, whereby the fabric layer is increasingly activated to absorb corresponding forces, in particular tensile forces. Tensile forces in particular can be transmitted particularly well by a belt arrangement of this type.The improved force introduction also improves the load capacity and / or durability of the belt arrangement.

[0006] Because the toothed element is separate from the connecting piece, i.e., the toothed element including the teeth is not formed integrally with the connecting piece, a belt arrangement with at least one tooth extending through at least one fabric layer of the belt can be easily obtained. The toothed element can be manufactured separately from the connecting piece and can also be arranged on the belt separately from the connecting piece, provided that a force-transmitting connection is subsequently established between the connecting piece and the toothed element.

[0007] The toothing element with the at least one tooth is to be distinguished from the at least one fastening means with which the connecting piece is fixed to the belt, as well as from one or more possible further fastening means with which the toothing element is fixed to the belt.

[0008] Preferably, the fastening means completely penetrates the belt. For this purpose, the fastening means extends, in particular, through recesses in the connecting piece and / or in the toothed element as well as in the belt. In contrast, the at least one tooth of the toothed element does not extend completely, but only partially, through the belt. The tooth of the toothed element ensures a more even distribution of the tensile forces exerted on the belt by the connecting piece(s).

[0009] Preferably, the force-transmitting connection between the connecting piece and the toothing element is effected via at least one fixing means connecting the connecting piece and the toothing element.

[0010] The connecting piece preferably has an upper part, a lower part, and a hinge area, in particular forming a receptacle for a lock pin. Further preferably, the upper part, lower part, and hinge area are formed integrally with one another. Such a connecting piece is particularly robust and can absorb tensile forces particularly well and transmit them to the belt. Such a belt arrangement is particularly resilient and / or durable.

[0011] Further preferably, the upper and lower parts of such a connector piece have recesses in which a fastening means is arranged, with which the connector piece is secured to the belt. This allows the connector piece to be secured to the belt particularly easily and reliably. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt arrangement is further improved. Two or more recesses can also be provided, each of which houses a fastening means.

[0012] In particular, a connecting piece can be connected in an articulated manner to the connecting piece at the opposite end of the belt or to a connecting piece of another belt arrangement via a lock pin guided through the hinge area.

[0013] The belt arrangement preferably has at least one securing means connecting the toothed element, which is separate from the connecting piece, to the connecting piece. The toothed element, which is separate from the connecting piece, is connected to the connecting piece via the securing means in such a way that force can be transmitted from the connecting piece to the toothed element and thus, via the at least one tooth of the toothed element, into the belt of the belt arrangement.

[0014] Further preferably, the at least one toothed element separate from the connecting piece has at least one recess in which the securing means is arranged. The securing means is preferably the fastening means by means of which the connecting piece is fastened to the belt. For this purpose, at least one recess for a fastening means in the toothed element is designed to correspond to a corresponding recess for a fastening means in the connecting piece. The belt arrangement can then be manufactured particularly easily. Preferably, two or more recesses are provided in the toothed element, in each of which a securing means is arranged.

[0015] The belt may comprise a polymer material encasing the fabric layer. Such a belt may be referred to as consisting of a fabric layer-reinforced polymer material.

[0016] The belt preferably comprises at least two fabric layers spaced apart between the top and bottom of the belt. The use of multiple, spaced-apart fabric layers results in a belt that can absorb tensile forces particularly well. A corresponding belt arrangement is particularly resilient. In particular, the belt has exactly two, three, or four spaced-apart fabric layers.

[0017] Further preferably, the fabric layers extend through the belt in planes parallel to and spaced from the top and bottom.

[0018] Preferably, the at least one tooth extends through at least two of the fabric layers. Further preferably, all teeth of the toothed element extend through at least two of the fabric layers. This further improves the force transmission into the belt. Additional fabric layers can be activated more effectively to absorb tensile forces. The force transmission into the belt is further improved. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt arrangement is increased.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the at least one tooth extends through all fabric layers of the belt. Furthermore, particularly preferably, all teeth of a toothed element extend through all fabric layers of a belt. This further improves the force transmission into the belt. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly is further increased.

[0020] The toothing element preferably has a flat base section to which the at least one tooth is arranged at right angles. Such a toothing element can be manufactured particularly easily. Furthermore, the belt arrangement with such a toothing element can be maintained particularly easily. The toothing element can be pressed into the belt material via the base section with the tooth(s). In particular, the toothing element is then arranged with the flat base section adjacent to the top or bottom of the belt.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the toothed element has at least two teeth, each arranged on one side of the base section. In particular, the toothed element can have a U-shaped cross-section in a side view. The force can then be introduced more evenly via the two teeth on both sides of the base section.

[0022] The toothing element is particularly preferably designed as a stamped and bent part. Such a toothing element can be manufactured particularly easily. This applies in particular to a toothing element in which the tooth(s) and the base element are formed integrally with one another. The toothing element with the tooth(s) and the base section can first be punched out of a flat piece of sheet metal. The shape of the base section and of the tooth(s) can be easily specified during punching. The tooth(s) are then bent or folded over by 90° relative to the base section. Thanks to the integral design, the tooth(s) are attached to the base section particularly reliably. Such a toothing element is also easy to manufacture.

[0023] Further particularly preferably, the base section is elongated in plan view and has two long sides, on each of which at least one tooth is arranged. In particular, the long sides are arranged parallel to one another. Further particularly, the base section is rectangular. Because the base section is elongated with two long sides, on each of which at least one tooth is formed, the force introduction via the toothing element is further improved. In particular when the force is introduced into the belt via the base section, the arrangement of the teeth on the two long sides of the base section means that the forces can be introduced into the belt more evenly. In particular, the occurrence of torques between the tooth and the base section can be reduced or prevented in this way. The teeth therefore remain more reliably in the position they have assumed in the belt.The risk of damage to the belt is reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, two or more teeth are particularly preferably arranged on each longitudinal side of the base section. The use of additional teeth reduces the stress on the belt material around a single tooth. Furthermore, additional areas of the belt are activated for force transmission. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt arrangement is further improved.

[0025] Preferably, at least one recess through which a fastening means is guided is arranged in the base section. In particular, at least two spaced-apart recesses are arranged in the base section, each of which houses a fastening means. This prevents the toothed element from twisting relative to the belt, even if a torque is applied to the teeth via the teeth. The risk of damage to the belt is prevented or reduced. The force transmission is further improved. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt arrangement is further increased.

[0026] Preferably, the toothing element is U-shaped when viewed along the longitudinal sides.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the teeth arranged on the longitudinal sides of the base section are arranged opposite one another when viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section. This results in a particularly symmetrical, uniform force introduction into the belt.

[0028] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the teeth arranged on the two longitudinal sides of the base section are offset from one another when viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides. In particular, if all teeth are arranged extending through one or more fabric layers, in such a configuration the teeth arranged on the respective longitudinal sides act on different parts, in particular different parts of a fabric layer extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the belt. As a result, additional parts of the belt can be activated for force introduction. The resulting further improved force introduction further improves the load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt arrangement.

[0029] Preferably, the toothed element is arranged on the connecting piece with its longitudinal sides aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belt. In particular, if two or more teeth are arranged on each of the longitudinal sides of the toothed element, these teeth engage the belt material one behind the other, spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the belt. This further improves the force transmission via the teeth of the toothed element.

[0030] Further preferably, the at least one tooth or at least one of the teeth is approximately triangular in shape when viewed transversely to the long sides of the base section, wherein a leg of the triangle facing the belt end forms an angle of at least 90° with a leg of the triangle aligned parallel to the base section. The tooth thus forms a right-angled or obtuse-angled triangle. With a tooth designed in this way, the fabric layer is prevented from being subjected to a force component that moves the fabric layer away from the base section of the tension element and thus away from the respective tooth when a tensile force is applied. With a tooth that forms an obtuse-angled triangle, instead, the fabric layer is subjected to a force component that moves the fabric layer in the direction of the base section when a tensile force is applied.The tooth engages particularly securely with the fabric layer(s) of the belt. Force transmission is further improved. It is particularly preferred that all teeth of the toothed element be designed accordingly.

[0031] Preferably, at least one of the teeth is shark-fin-shaped when viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section. The tip of the shark fin faces the belt end. The tooth flank facing the belt end is curved. A fabric layer of the belt penetrated by the tooth is thereby particularly well secured to the tooth when a tensile force is applied to the belt. The force transmission is further improved. Particularly preferably, all teeth of a toothing element are correspondingly shark-fin-shaped.

[0032] Preferably, the toothed element has at least two teeth arranged one behind the other on each of the longitudinal sides and, when viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section, a rounded root region between the teeth. A portion of the fabric layer can be arranged in this root region and / or moved toward this root region when a tensile force is applied. The risk of damage to the portion of the fabric layer arranged between the teeth is reduced, and the transmission of a tensile force into the belt is further improved.

[0033] Preferably, the at least one tooth or at least one of the teeth of the toothed element is arranged within the connecting piece when viewed from above. The view from above refers to a viewing direction perpendicular to the top side of the belt. A tooth arranged within the connecting piece is pressed into the belt material by the connecting piece. This creates particularly good contact between the tooth and the belt, further improving force transmission.

[0034] Particularly preferably, all teeth of the toothed element are arranged within the connecting piece when viewed from above. This ensures that the belt with the fabric layer is aligned particularly well and reliably with the respective connecting piece. This further improves the force transmission into the belt. This further improves the load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly.

[0035] Preferably, the toothing element(s) arranged on the respective connecting piece are each arranged exclusively either on the top or on the bottom of the belt. The teeth of the toothing element(s) engage the belt only from one side. This reduces the risk of the belt being accidentally completely penetrated by the teeth of the toothing elements from both sides. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt arrangement is thereby further improved.

[0036] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures with exemplary embodiments of the invention. The figures show schematically: Fig. 1 shows a section of a belt arrangement according to the invention with a connecting piece arranged at one end of the belt in a partially sectioned view from the side; Fig. 2 the part of the belt assembly Fig. 1 in a view obliquely from above with a partially cut-out strap; Fig. 3 a cross-section through a belt arrangement in the area of ​​the belt end through a connecting piece and the toothing elements.

[0037] Parts with the same or similar functions are provided with identical reference numerals where appropriate. Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiment described below can be combined with the features of the independent claim as well as with the features of individual previously described exemplary embodiments to form inventive objects.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows one end of a belt arrangement 2 according to the invention, comprising a belt 4 and a connecting piece 12 arranged at one end of the belt 4. The belt 4 has a top side 8 and a bottom side 10. Between the top side 8 and the bottom side 10, three fabric layers 6 are arranged, which are arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another in the belt 4. A toothed element 14, separate from the connecting piece 12 and having teeth 16, is arranged in the connecting piece 12. The teeth 16 extend through all three fabric layers 6 of the belt 4.

[0039] However, for the realization of the invention it is already sufficient if the belt 4 has only a single fabric layer 6 and / or if a single tooth 16 of a toothing element 14 extends through a single fabric layer 6 of a belt 4.

[0040] In the exemplary embodiment, the teeth 16 are shark-fin-shaped, with the tips of the respective teeth facing the end of the belt 4. This prevents the fabric layers 6 from being subjected to a force component that would move them away from the teeth 16 when the belt 4 is subjected to a tensile force via the connecting piece 12. The fabric layers 6 are thus particularly well aligned to the respective tooth 16 for absorbing forces.

[0041] Alternatively, the teeth 16 can also be triangular, particularly in the side view according to Fig. 1. Preferably, the teeth 16 are then formed as a right-angled or obtuse-angled triangle, with one leg of the triangle oriented toward the end of the belt 4 and the other leg parallel to the top side 8 or the bottom side 10 of the belt 4. The tip of the tooth 16, which penetrates into the material of the belt 4, is then formed by an acute-angled corner of the triangle.

[0042] Fig. Figure 2 shows the situation in an oblique view from above. The belt 4 is partially cut away, so that the fabric layers 6 and the teeth 16 extending through the fabric layers 6 are visible.

[0043] Fig.Figure 3 shows that two parallel toothed elements 14 are arranged in the connecting piece 12. These elements have a rectangular base section 18. The teeth 16 are arranged on the two longitudinal sides of the base section 18. These are bent by 90° relative to the base section 18. Three teeth 16 are arranged one behind the other on each of the longitudinal sides. Each toothed element 14 has six teeth 16.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment, the toothing element 14 is arranged such that the teeth 16 are arranged one behind the other parallel to a longitudinal direction of the belt 4. This improves the transmission of force into the belt 4 via the teeth 16.

[0045] In the exemplary embodiment, four rows of teeth 16 extend in the belt 4 through the use of the two toothing elements 14. All of these teeth 16 extend through all three fabric layers 6. However, the teeth 16 do not extend completely through the belt 4. All of the fabric layers 6 of the belt 4 can be activated for power transmission through the teeth.

[0046] However, the invention is also realized when only one toothing element 14 is used, on which only one tooth 16 is arranged. Thus, the invention can also be realized by other arrangements of the toothing element 14 and / or the teeth 16.

[0047] Recesses for fastening means are arranged in the belt 4. Corresponding recesses are arranged in the connecting piece 12. In the exemplary embodiment, they are located in an upper part and a lower part of the connecting piece 12, which are integrally connected to one another via a hinge area. The hinge area forms a receptacle for a lock pin, via which the connecting piece 12 can be articulated to another connecting piece, for example, the opposite connecting piece 12 of the belt assembly 2 or to a connecting piece of another belt assembly.

[0048] Two recesses for the fastening means are also arranged in the base sections 18 of each of the two toothed elements 14. In this case, the fastening means are designed as rivets that extend through the connecting pieces 12, the belt 4, and the toothed elements 14. The fastening means extending through the recesses in the toothed elements 14 form securing means 15.

[0049] The teeth 16 of the toothed elements 14, which extend through all fabric layers 6 of the belt 4, improve the introduction of forces via the connecting piece 12 into the belt 4. In particular, the fabric layers 6 of the belt 4 can thus be better activated to absorb tensile forces in particular. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 771 847 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Belt arrangement (2) for an agricultural implement, in particular for a root crop harvesting or transporting machine, comprising at least one belt (4) and at least one connecting piece (12) arranged at one end of the belt (4), which connecting piece is fixed to the belt (4) via at least one fastening means and is articulately connectable to a further connecting piece of the same belt arrangement or to a connecting piece of a further belt arrangement, wherein the connecting piece (12) is connected in a force-transmitting manner to at least one toothing element (14) separate from the connecting piece (12), wherein the toothing element (14) has at least one tooth (16) in engagement with the belt (4), characterized by that the belt (4) comprises at least one fabric layer (6) arranged between an upper side (8) and a lower side (10) of the belt and the at least one tooth (16) is arranged extending through the at least one fabric layer (6). [2] Belt arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the fastening means is arranged to completely penetrate the belt (4) and the at least one tooth (16) is arranged to extend only partially through the belt (4). [3] Belt arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the belt arrangement comprises at least one fixing means (15) connecting the toothed element (14) separate from the connecting piece (12) to the connecting piece. [4] Belt arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the belt (4) comprises at least two fabric layers (6) arranged spaced apart from one another between the upper side (8) and the underside (10) of the belt (4). [5] Belt arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by that the at least one tooth (16) is arranged extending through at least two of the fabric layers (6). [6] Belt arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the at least one tooth (16) is arranged extending through all fabric layers (6). [7] Belt arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the toothing element (14) has a flat base section (18) to which the at least one tooth (16) is arranged at right angles. [8] Belt arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the toothing element (14) is designed as a stamped and bent part. [9] Belt arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the base section (18) is elongated in plan view, in particular rectangular, and has two longitudinal sides, in particular arranged parallel to one another, on each of which at least one tooth (16) is arranged. [10] Belt arrangement according to claim 9, characterized by that the teeth (16) arranged on the two longitudinal sides are arranged opposite one another in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18). [11] Belt arrangement according to claim 9, characterized by that the teeth (16) arranged on the two longitudinal sides are arranged offset from one another in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18). [12] Belt arrangement according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by that the toothing element (14) is arranged on the connecting piece (12) with the longitudinal sides extending at least partially in the direction of a longitudinal extension direction of the belt (4). [13] Belt arrangement according to claim 12, characterized by that at least one of the teeth (16) is approximately triangular in shape when viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18), wherein a leg of the triangle facing the belt end in the longitudinal direction of the belt (4) forms an angle of at least 90° with a leg of the triangle aligned parallel to the base section (18). [14] Belt arrangement according to claim 12 or 13, characterized by that at least one of the teeth (16) is shark fin-shaped when viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18). [15] Belt arrangement according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized by that the toothing element (14) has at least two teeth (16) arranged one behind the other on each of the longitudinal sides and, in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18), has a rounded foot region (20) between the teeth (16). [16] Belt arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one tooth (16) of the toothing element (14) is arranged within the connecting piece (12) in a plan view of the connecting piece (12). [17] Belt arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the toothing element(s) (14) arranged on the respective connecting piece (12) are each arranged exclusively on the upper side (8) or on the underside (10) of the belt (4).

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