Combine harvester with feed drum and inlet segment for improved crop flow division into two axial flows

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a feed drum of a self-propelled combine harvester according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A combine harvester with a feed drum is known from WO2010 / 086063 A1.

[0003] The combine harvester comprises a threshing unit operating on the tangential flow principle and a separating device operating on the axial flow principle, which has two axial rotors arranged parallel to each other. The threshing unit includes a threshing drum and a downstream feeder drum, which feeds the crop discharged from the threshing drum to the downstream separating device operating on the axial flow principle. The threshing drum has a drum body formed from several cylindrical base elements, on the circumferential surface of which several spaced-apart threshing bars are arranged, extending across the width of the drum body and projecting radially beyond it in sections. A separating concave is also associated with the threshing drum, through which the threshed crop is separated.The feed drum is located in the inlet area of ​​the separating device and serves to feed the crop into the separating device. WO2010 / 086063 A1 addresses the distribution of the crop feed to the respective axial rotor of the separating device by the feed drum. At low peripheral speeds and / or high crop throughputs, the feed drum reaches its limits with regard to the distribution of the crop flow. For example, blockages or obstructions of the feed drum can occur. Another combine harvester with a feed drum is known from EP 0 591 688 A2.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a feed drum that achieves an improved distribution of the harvested crop onto the axial rotors.

[0005] This problem is solved in a combine harvester according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0006] According to claim 1, a self-propelled combine harvester is proposed with a separation device comprising two axial rotors, each with an upstream inlet area and an upstream inlet segment, and a feed drum with a cylindrical surface arranged upstream of the separation device and provided for feeding a crop flow into the separation device, wherein the feed drum is designed as a separation drum which divides a crop flow into two partial flows, wherein the feed drum has, on its cylindrical surface, guide elements in its central region circumferentially shaped in a substantially V-shape, wherein the feed drum has, on its cylindrical surface, further lateral guide elements in its outer region which extend substantially obliquely to the feed direction of the crop, wherein the feed drum has, on its cylindrical surface, further guide elements extending substantially longitudinally over its cylindrical surface.which are arranged essentially between the V-shaped guide elements and the lateral guide elements. According to the invention, it is provided that at least the V-shaped guide elements and / or the lateral guide elements are arranged at a distance from the guide elements which extend essentially longitudinally.

[0007] The spaced arrangement of the V-shaped guide elements and / or the lateral guide elements from the essentially longitudinally extending guide elements allows a crop flow that flows between the V-shaped guide elements and the essentially longitudinally extending guide elements, and / or a crop flow that flows between the lateral guide elements and the essentially longitudinally extending guide elements. This prevents crop accumulation in front of the longitudinally extending elements and thus reduces the risk of the feed drum becoming blocked.

[0008] Furthermore, the spaced arrangement between the V-shaped guide elements and the essentially longitudinally extending guide elements and / or between the lateral guide elements and the essentially longitudinally extending guide elements enables a material flow directed towards the inlet area of ​​the respective axial rotor, extended at least by the distance between the respective guide elements.

[0009] Preferably, all guide elements can be spaced apart from each other to further reduce the risk of crop accumulation and thus the risk of blockage of the feed drum.

[0010] According to the invention, the guide elements are each designed as a support element firmly connected to the outer surface of the feed drum and a wear element detachably associated with it in the direction of rotation, wherein the wear element essentially covers the surface of the support elements in the direction of rotation. The use of detachable wear elements, which are provided for replacement after a corresponding wear, leads to an increased service life of the feed drum.

[0011] In particular, the support elements have support elements that are arranged on the side of the support elements opposite to the direction of rotation in order to absorb forces acting on the support elements in the direction of rotation and thus increase the stability of the support elements.

[0012] An advantageous further development provides that the support elements extend essentially in the direction of rotation across the outer surface of the feed drum, wherein the support elements are arranged at an angle to the carrier element so that they approach the axis of symmetry of the carrier element in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation. This prevents the support elements from obstructing the flow of material.

[0013] Furthermore, the support elements are designed to taper in the opposite direction to the rotational axis of the feed drum. This also serves to prevent the support elements from obstructing the flow of material.

[0014] It is advantageous if the support elements and / or bracing elements are welded to the outer surface of the feed drum. This ensures sufficient attachment of the support elements and / or bracing elements to the outer surface. Complex fastening elements such as screws, which increase the weight of the feed drum, are avoided, and assembly effort is reduced.

[0015] According to the invention, the inlet segment is arranged below the feed drum, and the inlet segment and / or parts thereof are interchangeable and / or adjustable. By replacing the inlet segment, the combine harvester can be adapted to different crops, changing harvesting conditions, special harvesting circumstances, and / or wear of the inlet segment or its parts. Adjusting the inlet segment or its parts, by increasing the gap between the feed drum and the inlet segment, improves crop conveyance and thus the crop flow into the separating device. This prevents crop blockages, particularly at the front inlet of the separating device. A gap that is too small can also lead to increased stress on the crop and poor straw quality, and requires higher drive power.

[0016] According to the invention, the replaceable and / or adjustable parts of the infeed segment are designed as one or more, in particular, inclined or V-shaped guide elements, ramps, and / or cutting elements. Replacing or adjusting such parts, for example, replacing a ramp with a V-shaped guide element or raising a cutting element, can also lead to improved material separation.

[0017] According to the invention, the feed drum has at least two parallel knives extending in the direction of rotation in the central region of its outer surface. These knives, when the drum rotates, longitudinally enclose a cutting element on the inlet segment. The parallel knives serve to separate the crop in the central region, and in particular separate the straw, which is guided along the central region of the feed drum. This results in a better separation or division of the crop into two partial streams, which are fed to the two axial rotors.

[0018] As the feed drum rotates, the parallel knives encircle the cutting element on the feed segment along its length, creating a scissor-like cut in the crop, resulting in improved cutting performance. Furthermore, the cutting element on the feed segment can be pivotally mounted, allowing it to adapt to varying harvesting conditions. Two parallel knives can be positioned in the direction of rotation, extending from the V-shaped guide elements, so that the crop cut by the knives is immediately directed towards the feed area of ​​the axial rotors.

[0019] Furthermore, the parallel blades are designed to taper in the direction of rotation with respect to their distance from the axis of rotation of the feed drum. This results in an effective area for the blades in the direction of rotation that extends radially along the feed drum essentially over the entire height of the V-shaped guide element.

[0020] It is advantageous if the parallel blades are attached in a replaceable manner, so that dull or worn blades can be easily replaced.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the guide elements, which extend essentially longitudinally across the outer surface of the feed drum, are arranged one behind the other in the direction of rotation, with each of these being formed in three essentially adjacent rows of guide elements arranged one behind the other between the V-shaped guide elements and the lateral guide elements. This structured arrangement enables a uniform feeding of the harvested crop to the axial rotors.

[0022] The guide elements of the outer rows, arranged in groups of three adjacent rows, can be parallel to each other in the direction of rotation, and the guide elements of the two outermost rows can be arranged alternately with those of the middle row in the direction of rotation. This alternating arrangement ensures that crop material flowing between two spaced guide elements is captured by a guide element located behind and beside them in the direction of rotation.

[0023] Preferably, a support element is located at each end region of the V-shaped guide elements in the opposite direction of rotation, wherein at least one vector between the end regions of the two support elements intersects the parallel blades. The effective area of ​​the parallel blades is thus at least partially enclosed by the support elements located downstream in the direction of rotation, which are associated with the downstream V-shaped guide elements.

[0024] Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of further dependent claims and are described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in several figures. These show: Figure 1 shows a section of a self-propelled combine harvester according to the invention with a separating device in a side view; Figure 2 shows a front view of a feed drum according to the invention; Figure 3a shows a side view of the infeed segment with a cutting element arranged thereon and a section of the lower area of ​​the feed drum; Figure 3b shows a side view of the infeed segment with the knives swung out and the feed drum; Figure 3c shows a side view of the infeed segment with the knives swung in and the feed drum; Figure 4 shows a front view of the infeed segment with the downstream infeed areas of the axial rotors.

[0025] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a section of a self-propelled combine harvester 1 according to the invention, which has a separation device 2 with two axial rotors 3 arranged side by side. An arrow FR indicates the direction of travel of the combine harvester 1. The separation device 2 and the axial rotors 3 are aligned in the direction of travel FR.

[0026] The combine harvester 1 has a front side 4 on which a driver's cab 5 for an operator (not shown) is arranged. A header (not shown) is also arranged on the front side 4, which receives the crop (not shown). The header directs the crop into a feed chute 6 located below the driver's cab 5, through which the crop is conveyed as a crop flow 7 in the conveying direction 8 into a threshing unit 9 of the combine harvester 1.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the threshing unit 9 has three drums 10, 11, and 12: an acceleration drum 10, which is located upstream of a threshing drum 11; the threshing drum 11; and a feed drum 12, which is located downstream of the threshing drum 11. The acceleration drum 10 is designed to accelerate and pre-thresh the crop and to feed the crop to the threshing drum 11. The threshing drum 11 threshes the crop. The drums 10-12 of the threshing unit 9 are arranged transversely to the direction of travel FR. A concave 13 is located below the acceleration drum 10 and the threshing drum 11. The concave 13 separates loosened grain (not shown) from the crop stream 7.

[0028] The feed drum 12 according to the invention, which will be described in more detail below, transfers the harvested crop to a downstream separation device 2, which comprises two axial rotors 3. For this purpose, the feed drum 12 is designed as a separation drum 14, which divides the crop flow 7 into two partial flows 24, each of which is fed to one of the two axial rotors 3. Furthermore, an inlet segment 15 is arranged below the feed drum 12. The inlet segment 15 has a larger diameter (not specified) than the feed drum 12 and at least partially surrounds the feed drum 12. It forms an inlet area into the separation device 2. The combine harvester 1 is designed here as a hybrid machine. However, the invention also relates to axial rotor machines that do not have a separate threshing unit 9, but in which the axial rotor 3 is also designed for threshing the harvested crop.

[0029] The special design of the feed drum 12 is explained by means of Fig. 2described in detail. In this case, the feed drum 12 has a closed outer surface 16.

[0030] On the lateral surface 16, essentially V-shaped guide elements 18 are fixedly connected to the lateral surface 16 in its central region 17, tapering to a point in the direction of rotation 19 of the feed drum 12. Each V-shaped guide element 18 is arranged on the lateral surface 16 such that it has an axis of symmetry 20 in the direction of rotation 19.

[0031] Furthermore, on the outer surface 16, 21 additional lateral guide elements 22 are permanently connected to the outer surface 16, which extend essentially obliquely to the crop flow 7.

[0032] The lateral guide elements 22 and the V-shaped guide elements 18 serve to deflect the crop flow 7, which is fed essentially tangentially to the feed drum 12, towards the inlet areas 23 of the two axial rotors 3, which are each located in an area downstream of the feed drum 12, extending in the opposite direction to the direction of travel FR essentially between the V-shaped guide elements 18 and lateral guide elements 22.

[0033] The crop flow 7, which is fed essentially tangentially to the feed drum 12, is diverted into two partial flows 24 by the V-shaped guide elements 18 of the feed drum 12. Furthermore, the crop flow 7 from the central area 17 and the outer areas 21 of the feed drum 12 is diverted by the lateral guide elements 22 and the V-shaped guide elements 18 to achieve optimal feeding of the crop to the axial rotors 3.

[0034] Guide elements 25 extending longitudinally over the surface 16 are essentially arranged between the lateral and V-shaped guide elements 18 and are fixedly connected to the surface 16 and serve to accelerate the harvested material in the direction of rotation 19 of the feed drum 12.

[0035] According to the invention, the longitudinally extending guide elements 25 are arranged at a distance from the lateral guide elements 22 and from the V-shaped guide elements 18 in order to allow the flow of the harvested material 7 between the V-shaped guide elements 18 and the longitudinally extending guide elements 25, as well as between the lateral guide elements 22 and the longitudinally extending guide elements 25. This prevents the harvested material from accumulating in front of the guide elements 18, 22, 25 and thus reduces the risk of the feed drum 12 becoming blocked.

[0036] Furthermore, the spaced arrangement between the V-shaped guide elements 18 and the substantially longitudinally extending guide elements 25, as well as between the lateral guide elements 22 and the substantially longitudinally extending guide elements 25, enables a material flow 29 directed towards the inlet area 23 of the respective axial rotor 3, which is extended at least by the distance between the respective guide elements 18, 22, 25.

[0037] The longitudinally extending guide elements 25 are also spaced apart from each other, so that the harvested material also flows between the individual longitudinally extending guide elements 25 and the risk of the harvested material accumulating in front of the guide elements 18, 22, 25 and thus the risk of the feed drum 12 becoming blocked is further reduced.

[0038] The individual guide elements 18, 22, 25 each consist of a support element 26 welded to the outer surface 16 and a wear element 27 detachably arranged upstream of it in the direction of rotation 19. The wear element 27 substantially covers the surface of the respective support element 26 in the direction of rotation 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the support elements 26 are screwed to the wear elements 27.

[0039] On the side of the support elements 26 opposite to the direction of rotation 19 of the feed drum 12, support elements 28 are assigned to the support elements 26. The support elements 28 extend substantially in the direction of rotation 19 across the outer surface 16 of the feed drum 12 and are arranged at an angle to the support element 26, such that they approach the axis of symmetry 20, 30, 31 of the respective support element 26 opposite to the direction of rotation 19, in order to reduce their influence on the material flow. Furthermore, the support elements 28 taper in their distance from the axis of rotation 32 of the feed drum 12 opposite to the direction of rotation 19, in order to further reduce their influence on the material flow. In the illustrated embodiment, the support elements 28 are welded to the outer surface 16 and the support elements 26.However, alternative connection methods are also conceivable, such as screwing or riveting. In a further, alternative embodiment, the support elements 26 and support elements 28 can also consist of a continuous structure, which is, for example, cast or formed into the appropriate shape. In addition to the one described in the... Fig. 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the invention allows any number of support elements 28 to be assigned to the support elements 26 in a symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangement.

[0040] The longitudinally extending guide elements 25 are formed between the V-shaped guide elements 18 and the lateral guide elements 22 in three adjacent rows 33-35, each consisting of longitudinally extending guide elements 25 arranged one behind the other in the direction of rotation 19. The longitudinally extending guide elements 25 of the outer rows 33, 35 of the guide elements 25 formed in three adjacent rows 33-35 are arranged parallel to each other in the direction of rotation 19 and alternating with the guide elements 25 of the middle row 34.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinally extending guide elements 25 of the middle row 34 of the three adjacent rows 33-35 have a greater longitudinal extension along the outer surface 16 than the guide elements 25 of the two outer rows 33, 35. In an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal extension along the outer surface 16 of the guide elements 25 of the middle row 34 can be adapted to the size of the feed drum 12, so that it increases or decreases with the size of the feed drum. This allows the use of many identical parts for different sizes of the feed drum 12.

[0042] In the direction of rotation 19, two parallel knives 36 are arranged interchangeably, extending from the V-shaped guide elements 18. The parallel knives 36 extend in the direction of rotation 19 over the outer surface 16 of the feed drum 12 and taper in the direction of rotation 19 with respect to their distance from the axis of rotation 32 of the feed drum 12. The parallel knives 36 cut the crop, in particular the straw, which is guided along the central area 17 of the feed drum 12.

[0043] In Fig. 3a Figure 1 shows a side view of the inlet segment 15 with a cutting element 37 arranged on it, as well as a section of the feed drum 12. Fig. 3aAs shown, the cutting element 37 extends in the direction of rotation 19 of the feed drum 12 and is positioned centrally on the inlet segment 15, so that when the feed drum 12 rotates, the parallel knives 36 of the feed drum 12 longitudinally enclose the cutting element 37. This results in a scissor-like cutting of the crop, thereby achieving an improved cutting effect.

[0044] The cutting element 37 is pivotably arranged on the inlet segment 15. By means of a pivoting device 38 (not further described), it is possible, as Fig. 3b and Fig. 3c This allows the cutting element 37 to pivot towards the feed drum 12. Depending on the harvesting conditions, the distance between the parallel knives 36 and the cutting element 37 can be varied.

[0045] How Fig. 4As shown, in a further advantageous embodiment, the inlet segment 15 can, in addition to the cutting elements 37, have V-shaped crop flow dividers or other inclined or arcuate guide elements 40. Furthermore, the V-shaped crop flow dividers or other inclined or arcuate guide elements 40 can be height-adjustable. To influence the crop flow 7, the inlet segment 15 can additionally or alternatively have a ramp 41. The ramp 41 is height-adjustable in and against an adjustment direction r. This involves adjusting the height h1 of the ramp 41 relative to the top surface 42 of the inlet segment 15. For this purpose, adjustment means (not shown) are arranged on a bottom surface 43 of the inlet segment 15, to which an adjustment mechanism (not shown) can be attached. The height h1 of the ramp 41 is adjusted depending on the crop and / or the harvesting conditions.A central positioning of the V-shaped material flow dividers or other inclined or arc-shaped guide elements 40 and / or ramp 41 on the inlet segment 15 is provided, so that they interact with the V-shaped guide elements 18 and parallel knives 36. Reference symbol list:

[0046] 1 combine harvester 33 row of guide elements arranged one behind the other 2 Separation device 34 row of guide elements arranged one behind the other 3 Axial rotors 35 row of guide elements arranged one behind the other 4 Front 36 Parallel knives 5 Driver's cab 37 Cutting element 6 intake channel 38 Swivel device 7 Harvested crop power 39 Guide element inlet segment 8 Direction of flow 40 V-shaped current divider, guide element 9 threshing machine 41 ramp 10 Acceleration drum 42 Top 11 threshing drum 43 bottom 12 feed drum 44 13 threshing basket 45 14 Separating drum 46 15 Inlet segment 47 16 Surface area 48 17 central area 49 18 V-shaped guide element 50 19 Direction of rotation 51 20 axis of symmetry V-shaped guide element 52 21 Outer area feed drum 53 22 Lateral guide elements 54 23 Entrance area 55 24 Substreams 56 25 Longitudinally extending guide elements 57 26 Support element 58 27 Wear element 59 28 Support elements FR Direction of travel 29 Directed flow of goods r Adjustment direction 30 Axis of symmetry longitudinally extending guide element h1 Ramp height 31 axis of symmetry, lateral guide element 32 Rotary axis feed drum

Claims

1. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) with a separator (2) which has two axial rotors (3) each with a front intake region (23) and an intake segment (15) upstream of the intake region (23), and a feed drum (12) with an envelope surface (16) that is upstream of the separator (2) and is provided for feeding a crop flow (7) into the separator (2), wherein the feed drum (12) is formed as a separation drum (14) which divides a crop flow (7) into two sub-flows (24), wherein the feed drum (12) on its envelope surface (16), in its central region (17), has guide elements (18) which are designed to be substantially V-shaped in the circumferential direction, wherein the feed drum (12) on its envelope surface (16), in its outer region (21), has additional lateral guide elements (22) which extend substantially obliquely to the crop flow (7) of the crop, wherein the feed drum (12) on its envelope surface (16) has additional guide elements (25) which extend substantially longitudinally over the envelope surface (16) of said feed drum and are disposed substantially between the V-shaped guide elements (18) and lateral guide elements (22), wherein at least the V-shaped guide elements (18) and / or the lateral guide elements (22) are disposed so as to be spaced apart from the substantially longitudinally extending guide elements (25), wherein the intake segment (15) is disposed below the feed drum (12), characterized in that the guide elements (18, 22, 25) are in each case formed as a carrier element (26) which is fixedly connected to the envelope surface (16) of the feed drum (12) and as a wearing element (27) which is releasably assigned to said carrier element in the direction of rotation (19), wherein the wearing element (27) substantially covers the surface of the carrier elements (26) in the direction of rotation (19), wherein the intake segment (15) and / or parts thereof are disposed so as to be replaceable and / or adjustable, wherein the replaceable and / or adjustable parts of the intake segment (15) comprise one or a plurality of cutting elements (37) and, preferably additionally, in particular oblique or V-shaped guide elements (40) and / or ramps (41), wherein the feed drum (12) in the central region (17) of the envelope surface (16) has at least two blades (36) which are disposed in parallel and extend in the direction of rotation (19) and during rotation of the drum enclose the at least one cutting element (37) on the intake segment (15) longitudinally.

2. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that all guide elements (18, 22, 25) are disposed so as to be mutually spaced apart.

3. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the carrier elements (26) have support elements (28) which are disposed on that side of the carrier elements (26) that is opposite to the direction of rotation (19).

4. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the support elements (28) extend substantially in the direction of rotation (19) over the envelope surface (16) of the feed drum (12), wherein the support elements (28) are disposed at an angle to the carrier element (26) in such a way that they approach the axis of symmetry (20, 30, 31) of the carrier element (26) in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation (19).

5. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the support elements (28) in terms of their spacing from the rotation axis (32) of the feed drum (12) taper in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation (19).

6. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the carrier elements (26) and / or support elements (28) are welded to the envelope surface (16) of the feed drum (12).

7. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that two blades (36) which are disposed in parallel are in each case designed as extensions of the V-shaped guide elements (18) in the direction of rotation (19).

8. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the blades (36) which are disposed in parallel, in terms of their spacing from the rotation axis (32) of the feed drum (12), taper in the direction of rotation (19).

9. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the blades (36) which are disposed in parallel are fastened so as to be replaceable.

10. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the guide elements (25) which extend substantially longitudinally over the envelope surface (16) of the feed drum (12) are disposed behind one another in the direction of rotation (19), wherein these are in each case formed between the V-shaped guide elements (18) and the lateral guide elements (22) in three rows (33-35) which are located so as to be substantially next to one another and consist of guide elements (25) disposed behind one another.

11. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the guide elements (25) of the outer rows (33, 35) of the guide elements (25), which are in each case disposed in three rows (33-35) located next to one another, are disposed so as to be mutually parallel in the direction of rotation (19), and the guide elements (25) of the two outer rows (33, 35) are formed so as to alternate with those of the central row (24) in the direction of rotation (19).

12. Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that one support element (28) is in each case located in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation (19) on the respective end regions of the V-shaped guide elements (18), wherein at least one vector between the end regions of the two support elements (28) intersects the blades (36) disposed in parallel.