AGRICULTURAL WORK MACHINE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural working machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] An agricultural work machine according to the preamble of claim 1 in the form of a combine harvester is known from EP 3 603 374 A1. The combine harvester comprises a crawler undercarriage having two tracks, which are arranged on an axle of the work machine. Each crawler undercarriage has a support frame, a front deflection roller and a rear deflection roller, as well as at least one intermediate support roller, which are enclosed by a continuously rotating crawler belt. Each crawler undercarriage comprises several hydraulic cylinders and at least one valve unit, which influence the driving behavior. Each of these valve units is connected to lines arranged along a machine structure of the combine harvester in order to connect them to a hydraulic pump, a tank, and a control unit for transmitting control signals. The two crawler undercarriages are hinged to the axle so that they can oscillate around the axle.In addition to the oscillating or pivoting movements of the crawler tracks, vibrations are transmitted to the lines, which lead to wear. Replacing worn lines is particularly time-consuming, as the lines routed along the machine structure are difficult to access. The wear on the lines usually occurs in the area of the respective crawler track. Various hydraulic connection units are known, for example, from the following documents: WO 2020 / 194877 A1, JP H10 17274 A, and WO 2010 / 069393 A1.

[0003] Based on the above-mentioned prior art, the object of the invention is to further develop an agricultural working machine of the type mentioned at the outset, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular that the effort for replacing worn lines is minimized and that the wear that occurs is locally limited.

[0004] This object is achieved by an agricultural working machine having the features of independent patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0005] According to claim 1, an agricultural work machine, in particular a self-propelled harvesting machine, is proposed, comprising at least one crawler undercarriage having two crawler tracks, which is arranged on at least one axle of the work machine, wherein each crawler track has a support frame, a front deflection roller and a rear deflection roller as well as at least one intermediate support roller, which are enclosed by an endlessly circulating crawler belt, wherein each crawler track comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder and at least one valve unit, which are each connected to lines arranged running along a machine structure of the work machine.According to the invention, a connection unit with connections is arranged on the respective support frame, to which connecting lines are connected which connect the lines leading to the respective crawler track with the at least one hydraulic cylinder and the at least one valve unit. The arrangement of a connection unit provided on the respective support frame of a crawler track represents a centralized connection of the lines leading to the respective crawler track. The respective connection unit is arranged on the support frame facing the axis of the work machine, in particular detachably. The area between the respective crawler track and the work machine is easier to access than areas within the crawler track or along and / or within the machine structure of the work machine.By using connecting lines that bridge the area between the respective crawler track and the axle of the work machine, any wear that occurs is essentially limited to the connecting lines, which significantly simplifies replacement. The machine structure of the work machine includes at least the axle, from which the lines lead to the respective crawler track. In particular, the valve unit can be hydraulically and / or electrically controlled.

[0006] Preferably, connection units with corresponding connections can be provided on both sides of the axle of the work machine, with the connection unit of the respective crawler track being connected to the corresponding connection unit on the axle via the connecting lines. Providing a corresponding connection unit on the axle has the advantage that the lines coming from the machine are also converged at a central connection point.

[0007] It is particularly advantageous if the connecting lines are designed as flexible cables. Flexible connecting lines are less susceptible to vibrations. In particular, the flexible design of the connecting lines prevents the transmission of vibrations to the lines coming from the machine. This is particularly advantageous if the lines are fixed to the machine, for example, by brackets, cable clamps, or the like. The length of the connecting lines is selected so that any movements of the crawler track during travel, such as a pendulum movement around the axle, are compensated for without leading to overstretching of the connecting lines.

[0008] In particular, the respective connection unit can have a connection side and a connection side opposite the connection side. In particular, the connection unit is designed for this purpose as a plate-shaped component, at least in sections. The connection side of the connection unit arranged on the respective crawler track faces the axis of the work machine. The connection side of the connection unit opposite the connection side faces away from the work machine. The connecting lines which connect the respective crawler track to the lines coming from the work machine are connected to the connection side of the connection unit. On the connection side, the lines within the respective crawler track are connected to the connection unit, which connect the at least one hydraulic cylinder and the at least one electrically and / or hydraulically controlled valve unit to the connection unit.The connecting cables connected on the connection side bridge the distance between the axle and the crawler track.

[0009] Preferably, the respective connection unit arranged on the support frame can extend in sections in the longitudinal direction of the crawler track. In particular, the connection unit arranged on the support frame can be designed as a profiled sheet metal component. The connection unit can be releasably attached to a roof plate arranged on the support frame. The roof plate is preferably attached to the support frame above the at least one support wheel and extends substantially parallel to the contact surface of the crawler track. The connection unit can thus be arranged below the roof plate, thereby partially shielding the connection unit and its connections.

[0010] Furthermore, rigid lines can be laid within the respective crawler track, extending from the connection side of the connection unit. Instead of pressure-resistant flexible hydraulic lines, rigid pipes can be laid within the crawler track, connecting the connection unit to at least one hydraulic cylinder.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting lines can be detachably connected to the respective connection unit using bulkhead fittings or quick-release couplings. Connection using quick-release couplings, in particular, has the advantage of reducing the time required to replace individual connecting lines.

[0012] To protect the connecting lines from weather influences and dirt, a coiled hose can be attached to one of the connecting lines. The coiled hose can enclose the other connecting lines, at least in sections.

[0013] Furthermore, the respective connecting unit can have a flat section extending parallel to the track, which at least partially covers the connections located on the connecting side of the connecting unit. This design is advantageous when the connecting unit is attached directly to the supporting frame of the tracked undercarriage, i.e., without the roof plate.

[0014] Alternatively, the respective connection unit can have a flat section inclined at an angle relative to the crawler belt, which at least partially covers connections located on the connection side of the connection unit.

[0015] In particular, the connections of the respective connection unit can be designed for connection to lines of the work machine designed as hydraulic lines, electrical lines and lubricant lines.

[0016] The connections of the connection units and / or the connecting lines can be individually labeled or designed according to their function as hydraulic lines, electrical lines, or lubricant lines. In particular, the connections on the connection side of the connection units should be individually labeled or designed to prevent, for example, mistaken confusion between pressure lines and tank lines when connecting the connecting lines. Different colors and / or connection geometries can be used for individual markings.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the invention, spacers can be arranged between the axle and the respective crawler track, which serve to adjust the required distance depending on the width of the crawler tracks. Thus, identical parts can be used for the cables within the crawler track, regardless of the width of the crawler tracks. The distance between the crawler track and the axle specified by the spacer can be more easily bridged using the flexible connecting cables.

[0018] This allows rigid cables to be laid up to the connection units on both the crawler and machine sides and connected on the connection sides. The required distance between the connections of the opposing connection units is bridged by the easily adjustable length connecting cables. This also reduces the effort required for installation and cable routing compared to the state of the art.

[0019] A preferred further development provides that the axle is designed as a front axle of the working machine, to which two hydraulic cylinders are articulated between fastening sections extending in pairs in the longitudinal direction, wherein the respective connection units on the working machine are integrated into the respective fastening section on the axle facing the crawler track.

[0020] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an agricultural work machine; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective partial view of a front axle with a crawler track arranged thereon; Fig. 3 is a schematic further perspective partial view of the front axle with the crawler track arranged thereon; Fig. 4 is a schematic view obliquely from above of the crawler track according to Fig. 3 without crawler belt; and Fig. 5 schematically shows a simplified partial view of the area between the front axle and one of the crawler tracks.

[0022] The present invention relates to an agricultural working machine 1 which is designed in particular as a self-propelled harvesting machine, for example as a combine harvester, as in Fig. 1shown, or a forage harvester. The agricultural work machine 1 according to the illustrated embodiment is designed as a so-called half-tracked vehicle and has a front axle 2, which is covered by a crawler track 5, and a rear steerable axle 3. A crawler track 4 is arranged on the front axle 2. The crawler track 4 comprises crawler tracks 5 arranged on both sides of the front axle 2. Wheels 6 are arranged on the steerable rear axle 3. An alternative embodiment (not shown) provides for differently designed crawler tracks 4 to be arranged on both the front axle 2 and the rear axle 3. The agricultural work machine 1 further comprises a control device 7.A steering wheel 9 is arranged in a cabin 8 of the work machine 1, the steering movements of which can be detected and evaluated by the control device 7 in order to control the at least one crawler track 4. Thus, in an agricultural work machine 1 designed as a forage harvester, a steering movement of the crawler track can be used to protect the soil during headland travel, particularly during grass harvesting.

[0023] The respective crawler track 5 comprises a front deflection roller 10 and a rear deflection roller 11. At least one support roller 12 is arranged between the front deflection roller 10 and the rear deflection roller 11. Here, and preferably, two support rollers 12 are provided. The front and rear deflection rollers 10 and 11 are enclosed by a crawler belt 13. Extending between the front deflection roller 10 and the rear deflection roller 12 is a support frame 14, which is in particular made up of several parts and connects the front deflection roller 10 and the rear deflection roller 11. The front deflection roller 10 and the rear deflection roller 11 are each rotatably mounted on the support frame 14.

[0024] The crawler tracks 5 are mounted on flange sections 15 located on both sides of the front axle 2. A spacer 16 or distance piece is located between the flange section 15 and a mounting section on the support frame 14 of the crawler track 5. The dimensioning of the spacer 16 depends on the width of the crawler belt 13.

[0025] Each crawler track 5 comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder 17 and at least one valve unit (not shown), each of which is connected to lines 18 arranged along a machine structure of the work machine 1. The valve unit can be electrically controlled. The front axle 2 forms part of the machine structure, along which the lines 18 run. The lines 18 are arranged on and / or in the front axle 2. The lines 18 running along the machine structure are also referred to as machine-side lines 18.

[0026] On the front axle 2, which can be designed in particular as the drive axle of the work machine 1, two hydraulic cylinders (not shown) are articulated between two essentially plate-shaped fastening sections 19, each of which is parallel to one another and extends in the longitudinal direction of the work machine 1. A connection unit 20 with a plurality of connections 21 can be arranged on the outer fastening section 19 facing the crawler track 5. The connection units 20 arranged at both ends of the front axle 2 are detachably fastened to the outer fastening section 19 by means of screw connections 22.

[0027] Alternatively, the respective machine-side connection units 20 on the working machine 1 can be integrated into the respective fastening section 19 on the front axle 2 facing the crawler track 5.

[0028] A connection unit 23 with a plurality of connections 24 is detachably mounted on the respective support frame 14 of the crawler track 5. Connecting lines 25 are connected to the connections 24 of the connection unit 23, which connect the machine-side lines 18 leading to the respective crawler track 5 with the at least one hydraulic cylinder 17 and the at least one electrically controlled valve unit of the respective crawler track 5. The connecting lines 25 are here and preferably designed as flexible lines.

[0029] The connection unit 23 is in accordance with the Fig. 2 In the embodiment shown, the connecting unit 23 is detachably attached to a so-called roof plate 26. The roof plate 26 is attached to the support frame 14 and extends in sections in the longitudinal direction of the crawler belt 13 and transversely thereto. The connecting unit 23 can also be attached directly to the support frame 14.

[0030] The machine-side connection units 20 and the crawler-side connection units 23 are preferably designed as identical parts. The connection units 20 and 23 are identical, at least with regard to the connection options, and have a matching number of connections 21 and 24, respectively. The respective connection unit 20, 23 has a connection side 27 and a connection side 28 opposite the connection side 27. The connection side 27 of the connection unit 23 arranged on the respective crawler track 5 faces the front axle 2 of the work machine 1. The connection side 28 of the connection unit 23 opposite the connection side 27 faces away from the work machine 1.The connection unit 20 on the front axle 2 is arranged in a mirror image to the opposite connection unit 23, so that the connection side 27 of the connection unit 20 faces away from the work machine 1 and the connection side 28 faces the front axle 2. On the respective connection side 27, the connecting lines 25 are connected to the connection units 20, 23. On the connection side 28 of the connection unit 23, the lines 29 running within the respective crawler track 5 are connected to the connection unit 23, which connect the at least one hydraulic cylinder 17 and the at least one electrically controlled valve unit to the connection unit 23. On the respective connection side 27, the connecting lines 25 are connected, which connect the respective crawler track 5 to the machine-side lines 18 coming from the work machine 1.

[0031] The cables 29 extending from the connection side 28 of the connection unit 23 and laid within the respective crawler track 5 are preferably designed as rigid cables.

[0032] The connecting lines 25 can be detachably connected to the connection side 27 of the respective connection unit 20, 23 by means of bulkhead screw connections or quick-connectors as connecting means 31. To protect the connecting lines 25, a wound hose (not shown) can be attached to one of the connecting lines 25, which encloses this connecting line 25 and the other connecting lines 25 to protect them from external influences.

[0033] The machine-side lines 18 or the crawler-side lines 29 and the connecting lines 25 connecting them between the connection units 20, 23 are designed as hydraulic lines, lubricant lines or electrical lines, in particular control lines, depending on their function.

[0034] The respective connection unit 20, 23 can have a flat section 30 extending parallel to the crawler belt 13, which at least partially covers connections 24 located on the connection side 28 of the respective connection unit 20, 23, as in Fig. 3 shown.

[0035] The representation in Fig. 4 shows schematically a view from above of the crawler track 5 according to Fig. 3 without the crawler belt 13 surrounding the deflection wheels 10, 11.

[0036] In Fig. 5A simplified partial view of the area between the axle 2 and one of the crawler tracks 5 is shown schematically, with individual components of the crawler track 5 not shown for clarity. The area between the axle 2 and one of the crawler tracks 5 is bridged by the flexible connecting lines 25. The arrangement of the connection units 23 provided on the respective support frame 14 of the crawler track 5 represents a centralized connection of the lines 18 leading to the respective crawler track 5. The area between the crawler track 5 and the work machine 1 is more easily accessible than areas within the crawler track 5 or along and / or within the machine structure, in particular the axle 2, of the work machine 1.By using flexible connecting lines 25, which bridge the area between the respective crawler track 5 and the axle 2, it is achieved that any wear that occurs is essentially limited to the connecting lines 25, which considerably simplifies any replacement that may become necessary. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1Working machine 2Front axle 3Rear axle 4Crawler track 5Crawler undercarriage 6Wheel 7Steering device 8Cabin 9Steering wheel 10Deflection pulley 11Deflection pulley 12Support roller 13Crawler belt 14Support frame 15Flange section 16Spacer 17Hydraulic cylinder 18Line 19Fastening section 20Connection unit 21Connection 22Screw connections 23Connection unit 24Connection 25Connecting line 26Roof plate 27Connection side 28Connection side 29Line 30Section 31Fasteners

Claims

1. An agricultural working machine (1), in particular a self-propelled harvesting machine, comprising at least one crawler chassis (4) which is disposed on at least one axle (2) of the working machine (1) and which has two crawler track units (5), wherein each crawler track unit (5) has a support frame (14), a front guide roller (10) and a rear guide roller (11) as well as at least one support roller (12) therebetween, which are surrounded by a continuously revolving crawler belt (13), wherein each crawler track unit (5) comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder (17) as well as at least one valve unit which are respectively coupled to lines (18) disposed to run along a machine structure of the working machine (1), characterized in that a connection unit (23) with connectors (24) is disposed on the respective support frame (14), to which coupling lines (25) are connected which couple the lines (18) leading to the respective crawler track unit (5) to the at least one hydraulic cylinder (17) as well as with the at least one valve unit.

2. The agricultural working machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that connection units (20) constructed with corresponding connectors (21) are provided on the axle (2) of the working machine (1) on both sides, wherein the connection unit (23) of the respective crawler track unit (5) is coupled to the connection unit (20) on the axle (2) via the coupling lines (25).

3. The agricultural working machine (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the coupling lines (25) are configured as flexible lines.

4. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the respective connection unit (20, 23) has a coupling side (27) and a connection side (28) lying opposite to the coupling side (27).

5. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the respective connection unit (23) disposed on the support frame (14) extends in sections in the longitudinal direction of the crawler track unit (5).

6. The agricultural working machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that rigid lines (29) are laid inside the respective crawler track unit (5) from the connection side (28) of the connection unit (23).

7. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling lines (25) are detachably coupled to the respective connection unit (20, 23) by means of bulkhead fittings or by means of quick-release couplings as coupling means (31).

8. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stripwound hose is fastened to one of the coupling lines (25).

9. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the respective connection unit (20, 23) has a laminar section (30) which extends parallel to the crawler belt (13) which at least partially covers connectors (21, 24) located on the coupling side (28) of the connection unit (20, 23).

10. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the respective connection unit (20, 23) has a laminar section (30) which is inclined at an angle with respect to the crawler belt (13), which at least partially covers connectors (21, 24) located on the coupling side (27) of the connection unit (20, 23).

11. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connectors (21, 24) of the respective connection unit (20, 23) are configured for coupling to the lines (18) of the working machine (1) constructed as hydraulic lines, electrical lines as well as lubricant lines.

12. The agricultural working machine (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the connectors (21, 24, 29) of the connection units (20, 23) and / or the coupling lines (25) are individually distinguished in accordance with their function as hydraulic lines, electrical lines as well as lubricant lines.

13. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that spacers (16) are disposed between the axle (2) and the respective crawler track unit (5,) which serve to set a separation as a function of the width of the crawler belts (13) which is to be maintained.

14. The agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axle (2) is configured as the front axle of the working machine (1), on which two hydraulic cylinders are articulated respectively between pairs of fastening sections (19) extending in the longitudinal direction, whereby the respective connection units (20) on the working machine (1) are integrated into the respective fastening section (19) on the axle (2) facing the crawler track unit (5).