SIDE CUTTING UNIT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a side cutting unit for a cutting unit of an agricultural harvesting machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is well known in the art to equip grain headers, which are usually mounted on combine harvesters, with side cutters. These side cutters serve to vertically clear the grain crop being harvested by the header, allowing the cutting and conveying elements of the header to easily cut and convey the crop. Side cutters are particularly useful when harvesting rapeseed, as mature rapeseed plants are extremely intertwined. They are typically mounted on either both sides or just one side of the grain header.

[0003] Typically, side cutting units are designed such that oscillating cutting blades are supported by a beam structure, a so-called beam rail. Examples of beam rail structures are known from DE 31 39 601 C2 and EP 2 407 019 B1. These beam rail structures consist of a box-section structure to provide the necessary stability for the side cutting unit and a web-like structure to support the oscillating cutting blades. Such beam rail structures have the disadvantage of a large transverse dimension, which, on the one hand, introduces high bending moments into the box-section structure due to the cutting force, and on the other hand, results in an extremely high mass.

[0004] To counteract the disadvantage of the deformation-prone, web-like structure, it is also known, as shown for example in EP 2 647 276, to do without the web-like structure and to detachably attach the oscillating cutting blades directly to the box profile structure via retaining tabs.

[0005] Such structures also have the disadvantage that the cutting forces must be introduced into the box structure via a long lever arm, meaning that the respective box structure must be designed to be extremely stable, which ultimately significantly increases the mass of the entire side cutting unit.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to avoid the described disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to create a side knife structure that has a compact design, which enables a lower overall mass of the respective side cutting unit.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0008] Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of further dependent claims and are described below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in several figures. These show: Figure 1 a schematic representation of the side cutting unit according to the invention Figures 2a , 2b Detailed views of the side cutting unit after Figure 1 Figures 3a-d Detailed views of the beam rail according to the invention

[0009] In Fig. 1A partial view of a cutting unit 1 with at least one side cutter 4 attached to it is shown schematically and by way of example. The cutting unit 1 is mounted on and driven by an agricultural harvesting machine (not shown), preferably a combine harvester. For this purpose, the cutting unit 1 is coupled to a mechanical drive train of the combine harvester. In addition, the cutting unit 1 can be connected to a hydraulic system of the combine harvester in order to hydraulically drive components of the cutting unit 1, such as a reel. The cutting unit 1 comprises a frame 2 and a cutting unit trough attached to it. In a manner known per se and therefore not shown, a cutting table is arranged upstream of the cutting unit trough, and the reel is guided on the cutting unit trough by means of support arms and is adjustable relative to it in or against a cutting direction.An oscillatingly driven knife bar 3 is arranged on the cutting table.

[0010] The at least one side cutting unit 4 is detachably arranged at its end on the frame 2. The side cutting unit 4 extends essentially vertically to the cutter bar 3. The side cutting unit 4 comprises a beam rail 6, which is arranged on a support frame 5 according to the invention and will be described in more detail below. The side cutting unit 4 can be detachably attached to the frame 2 of the cutting unit 1 by means of the support frame 5. The beam rail 6 supports at least one oscillatingly driven cutting knife 7 in the longitudinal direction by means of knife holding devices 8, in a manner to be described in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, two cutting knives 7 are arranged parallel to each other. A drive 9 is arranged at at least one outer end of the cutter bar 3, which receives the oscillating drive movement of the cutter bar 3. In the case of side cutting units 4 arranged on both sides of the frame 2 of the cutting unit 1, a drive 9 is provided for each side.

[0011] The beam rail 6 is coupled at one end to the output 9, which effects the oscillating drive movement of the at least one separating knife 7 on the knife bar 3, by a drive device 10. Preferably, the drive device 10 is arranged at the lower end of the beam rail 6 facing the knife bar 3. This keeps the power transmission path between the output 9, via the drive device 10, and the beam rail 6 short.

[0012] The support frame 5 is essentially triangular in shape. Here, and preferably, the support frame 5 has the form of a right-angled triangle. The support frame 5 comprises a frame segment 13, which is arranged at an angle to the separating blade 7. The frame segment 13 extends from a lower pivot point 14 towards an upper attachment point 15 on the frame 2 of the cutting unit 1. The illustration in Fig. 1Figure 1 shows the side cutting unit 4 in its locked position on the cutting unit 1. For this purpose, a quick-release fastener 16 is arranged on the support frame 5, which is detachably connected to the frame 2 of the cutting unit 1. The quick-release fastener 16 has a hook-shaped section 17 which can be engaged with a corresponding recess 18 in the frame 2. The quick-release fastener 16 can be designed as a type of toggle lever. The hook-shaped section 17, which engages in the recess 18 to fix the support frame 5, enables a backlash-free and torque-resistant connection of the support frame 5 to the frame 2.

[0013] The support frame 5 has a frame section 19 extending substantially in a horizontal direction, above which the components of the drive device 10 are located. A further frame section 20 extends perpendicular to frame section 19. Frame segment 13 is connected at its end to frame section 19 and frame section 20, respectively. The quick-release fastener 16 is pivotally attached to frame section 20, which extends substantially in a vertical direction, at an upper pivot point 21. The upper pivot point 21 is located above the area where frame segment 13 is connected at its end to frame section 20.

[0014] The side cutting unit 4 takes on at least one first bearing element 11 (see Figure 2) and a second bearing element 12. The at least one first bearing element 11 is designed to distribute forces occurring on the at least one oscillating cutting blade 7 along the length of the beam rail 6 and transfer them into the support frame 5. The at least one second bearing element 12 is designed to at least dampen the vibrations transmitted from the cutter bar 3 to the side cutting unit 4.

[0015] The output 9 has an output shaft 45 at the end of which a first coupling element 47 of a first coupling 46 is arranged. The drive device 10 has a corresponding second coupling element 48 of the first coupling 46, which can be engaged with the first coupling element 47. Preferably, the first coupling element 47 and the second coupling element 48 have axial recesses or radially outwardly extending projections arranged at an angle to each other in the circumferential direction. In particular, the projections of the first coupling element 47 and the recesses of the second coupling element 48 are arranged at an angle of approximately 120° to each other. Thus, the two coupling elements 47, 48 of the first coupling 46 can only be engaged in a specific position of the drive shaft 23 and output shaft 45.The drive device 10 has a second clutch 49, which is designed as an overload clutch. The second clutch 49 comprises a first clutch element 50 and a second clutch element 51, which are arranged in alignment on a common shaft, here and preferably the drive shaft 23. A compression spring 52 is arranged coaxially on the drive shaft 23 adjoining the second clutch element 51. The compression spring 52 is supported on a radial shoulder on the drive shaft 23 and on a housing section of the second clutch 49. The compression spring 52 pre-tensions the second clutch 49 when the side cutter 4 is attached.

[0016] The representation in Fig. 2Figure 1 schematically and exemplarily shows a perspective partial view of a lower section of the support frame 5 of the side cutter 4. A double-sided lever 24 is arranged on a drive shaft 23 of the drive device 10. Two connecting rods 25 are spaced apart from each other and eccentrically to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 23 at the free ends of the lever 24, with each of the oscillating separating blades 7 being assigned a connecting rod 25. A transmission element 22 is arranged at the opposite end of each connecting rod 25, which serves to transmit the oscillating drive movement to the beam rail 6. The at least one first bearing element 11 is designed as a linear guide running parallel to the beam rail 6. The transmission element 22 and the connecting rod 25 are guided axially by the first bearing element 11.The first bearing element 11 has a guide rod 26 arranged parallel to the beam rail 6. The transmission element 22 and the connecting rod 25 slide up and down axially along the guide rod 26. For this purpose, a guide element 27 is provided, which positively engages the guide rod 26. The connecting rod 25 is articulated to the guide element 27 at an axis perpendicular to the guide rod 26. The guide rod 26 is fixed to the support frame 5 at its opposite ends. For this purpose, the first bearing element 11 includes two attachment points 28, between which the guide rod 26 is arranged. The attachment points 28 are arranged on the support frame 5 at a distance 29 from each other, the distance 29 between the attachment points 28 being greater than the amplitude of the oscillating movement of the separating blade 7.

[0017] The side cutting unit 4 according to Fig. 2a ,b The device has two separating blades 7 arranged as double blades, each of which is assigned a first bearing element 11. The respective first bearing element 11 limits the number of degrees of freedom of the connected connecting rod 25, and thus of the transmission element 22 and the beam rail 6 arranged thereon, to two translational degrees of freedom.

[0018] Figure 3 The beam rail 6 according to the invention is shown in detail.

[0019] According to the Figures 3a and bThe side cutting unit 4 according to the invention is associated with a cutting unit 1 in the manner already described. The beam rail 6 according to the invention forms the support frame 30 of the oscillatingly driven separating knives 7, wherein, depending on the design of the side cutting unit 4, either separating knives 7 arranged in pairs, so-called double knives, or a single separating knife 7 can be provided. The separating knives 7 are attached to the beam rail 6 by means of knife holding devices 8 in a manner to be described in more detail below. In the manner already described, the separating knives 7 are coupled at one end, here on the underside, to a drive 31, consisting of the output 9 and the drive device 10, which effects the oscillating movement of the at least one or the paired separating knives.According to the invention, the beam rail 6 is designed as a one-piece profile tube 32, the one-piece shape preferably being achieved by extrusion, so that the profile tube 32 is preferably designed as an extruded profile tube 33. From a lightweight construction perspective, the profile tube 32, and in particular the extruded profile tube 33, is preferably made of aluminum.

[0020] In the Figures 3c and dDetails of the profile tube 32 are shown. For the sake of simplicity, the following text refers only to the profile tube 32, although this always includes the design as an extruded profile tube 33. The profile tube 32 comprises internal stiffening webs 34, which divide the cross-section 35 of the profile tube 32 into a central region 36 and first and second receiving regions 37, 38 associated with it on the outside. The first receiving region 37 is designed as a guide rail 39. A retaining element 40, designed as a handle 41, can be moved and fixed in this guide rail 39 in an adjustable position, so that the handle 41 can be positioned in a way suitable for assembly and disassembly depending on the user. The second receiving region 38 is designed as a receptacle 42 for the knife holding devices 8, as will be described in more detail later.

[0021] The central section 36 of the profile tube 32 forms a U-profile structure 43 with at least one of the stiffening webs 34, for example, the stiffening web 34 associated with the first receiving section 37, so that the beam rail 6 exhibits high stiffness. Furthermore, the central section 36 is designed such that it transitions into converging flanks 44 towards the further stiffening web 38. This has the particular effect that the shear forces to be transferred from this receiving section are introduced into the beam rail 6 without abrupt deflection.

[0022] A force- and manufacturing-friendly structure of the profile tube 32 also results from the fact that the first receiving area 37 of the position-adjustable holding element 40, designed as a guide rail 39, also has converging flanks 53 in cross-section and includes a guide cavity 54 inside for the positionally variable receiving of connecting elements 55, which in the simplest case are screw heads.

[0023] The convergence of the respective converging flanks 44, 53 is also directed in the direction of material flow 56, so that the flow of the material at the beam rail 6 is supported and at the same time material blockages in the area of ​​the beam rail are avoided.

[0024] The second receiving area 38, designed to accommodate the knife holding devices 8, forms a box profile 57 with the adjacent stiffening web 34 for accommodating the knife holding devices 8.

[0025] Furthermore, the wall thickness of the horizontal sections 58 of the central region 36 is greater than the wall thicknesses of the other cross-sectional sections 59, wherein the wall thickness of the horizontal sections 58 of the central region 36 is preferably 4 mm and all other wall thicknesses are preferably 3 mm.

[0026] If the separating knives 7 are designed as double knives as already described, each separating knife 7 is positioned on a flank 60 of the second receiving area 38 receiving the separating knives 7 by means of screw connections 61 that detachably attach the respective knife holders 8 to the second receiving area 38.

[0027] The side cutting unit 4 according to the invention can be positioned either on one side or on both sides of a cutting unit, wherein the cutting unit is preferably used on an agricultural harvesting machine designed as a combine harvester, as described. Reference symbol list 1 Cutting unit 34 stiffening bridge 2 Frame 35 cross-section 3 Knife bar 36 central area 4 Side cutting unit 37 first recording area 5 support frame 38 second recording area 6 Beam rail 39 Guide rail 7 Separating knife 40 retaining element 8 Knife holding device 41 Handle 9 Drive 42 Recording 10 drive device 43 U-profile structure 11 first bearing element 44 converging flank 12 second bearing element 45 Output shaft 13 Frame segment 46 first clutch 14 pivot point 47 first coupling element 15 Mounting point 48 second coupling element 16 Quick-release clamping device 49 second clutch 17 Hook-shaped section 50 first coupling element 18 Exclusion 51 second coupling element 19 Frame section 52 Compression spring 20 Frame section 53 converging flank 21 pivot point 54 Guide cavity 22 Transmission element 55 Connecting elements 23 drive shaft 56 Direction of flow of material 24 lever 57 Box profile 25 Stabilizer link 58 Horizontal sections 26 guide rod 59 Other cross-sectional sections 27 Guide element 60 flank 28 Mounting point 61 screw connection 29 Distance 30 support frame 31 drive 32 one-piece profile tube 33 Extruded profile tube

Claims

1. Side header forming part of a header of an agricultural harvester, at least comprising a supporting frame designed in the form of a bar rail, wherein the bar rail supports at least one oscillating cutting blade in the longitudinal direction by means of blade-holding devices and, at one end, is coupled to a drive which gives rise to the oscillation movement of the at least one cutting blade, characterized in that the bar rail (6) is in the form of a single-piece profile tube (32), in particular an extruded profile tube (33), wherein the profile tube (32, 33) comprises stiffening crosspieces (34) on the inside and the stiffening crosspieces (34) subdivide the cross section (35) of the profile tube (32, 33) into a central region (36) and receiving regions (37, 38) assigned thereto on the outside.

2. Side header according to Claim 1, characterized in that the one receiving region (37) is in the form of a guide rail (39) of an adjustable-position holding element (40), preferably a handle (41), and the further receiving region (38) is in the form of a mount for the blade-holding devices (8).

3. Side header according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central region (36) of the profile tube (32, 33) forms a U-profile structure (43) with one of the stiffening crosspieces (34) and merges in the direction of the other stiffening crosspiece (34) by way of converging flanks (44).

4. Side header according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving region (37) for an adjustable-position holding element (40), this receiving region being in the form of a guide rail (39), has cross-sectionally converging flanks (53) and, in its interior, comprises a guide cavity (54) for receiving connecting elements (55) in alterable positions.

5. Side header according to either of Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the convergence of the respectively converging flanks (44, 53) is directed in the material-flow direction (56).

6. Side header according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving region (38) in the form of a mount for the blade-holding devices (8) forms, with the adjacent stiffening crosspiece (34), a box profile (57) for receiving the blade-holding devices (8).

7. Side header according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar rail (6), which is in the form of a single-piece profile tube (32), in particular an extruded profile tube (33), consists of aluminium.

8. Side header according to Claim 7, characterized in that the wall thickness of the horizontal portions (58) of the central region (36) is greater than the wall thicknesses of the rest of the cross-sectional portions (59), wherein the wall thickness of the horizontal portions (58) of the central region (36) is preferably 4 mm and all the other wall thicknesses are preferably 3 mm.

9. Side header according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting blade (7) is in the form of a double blade and each of the double blades is positioned on a flank of the receiving region (38) which receives the cutting blades (7).

10. Use of a side header (4) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 in a header (1), wherein one or both side regions of the header (1) receive a side header (4).

11. Use of a side header according to Claim 10, characterized in that the header (1) is assigned to an agricultural harvester designed in the form of a combine harvester.