AXLE BODY WITH COVER PLATE AND CORRESPONDING COVER PLATE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an axle body, in particular for an agricultural machine, with a base body and adjusting elements arranged on both sides in the base body, which can be attached to the base body in different positions to change the track width.

[0002] An example of an agricultural machine is a combine harvester, forage harvester, or tractor. These machines are typically equipped with an axle assembly. The axle assembly comprises a base body that is mounted on the frame of the agricultural machine. Adjustable axle stubs are mounted at the ends of this base body. Each adjustable axle stub has at least one wheel attached, which guides the machine over the ground. The adjustable axle stub can be fixed in various positions within the base body to adjust the track width. In these different positions, the adjustable axle stub protrudes from the base body to varying degrees.

[0003] When the adjusting elements are designed as welded components, they are generally rectangular and, due to their design, have a recess on their upper surface. During harvesting, crop components, including both grains and non-grain parts of the plants being harvested, collect in these recesses. These crop components migrate into the axle body when the machine is in operation and accumulate there. In combination with moisture, the grains within the axle body begin to grow, making simple cleaning with compressed air impossible and necessitating time-consuming disassembly of the adjusting elements for cleaning.

[0004] An axle body comprising a base body and adjusting elements arranged in the base body is known from DE 1 068 498 B. Another axle body is known from KR 2020 0129574 A.

[0005] The object of the invention is to avoid the described disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to create a cost-effective axle body with a base body and adjusting bodies arranged therein, in whose base body the accumulation of crop components is avoided.

[0006] According to claim 1, an axle body for an agricultural machine is proposed, comprising a base body and adjusting elements arranged on both sides in the base body, which can be attached to the base body in different positions for changing the track width, and a cover plate, wherein a cover plate is arranged on the axle body, the cover plate partially covering the base body and an adjusting element.

[0007] The invention offers many advantages. The cover plate prevents crop particles from accumulating on the adjusting bodies and migrating into the base body. This significantly reduces the cleaning effort required for the base body. The proposed cover plate is particularly easy to install and is therefore also suitable as a retrofit part. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for costly and complex axle body designs or complex seals for telescopically mounted adjusting bodies, as an axle body with the proposed cover plate provides a cost-effective solution for preventing the accumulation of crop particles in a less complex axle design.

[0008] According to the invention, the cover plate has a first and second adjacent main surface, with a hinge axis formed between the main surfaces. Preferably, the cover plate is arranged on the axle body such that a clamping force acts between the adjusting element and the cover plate. This clamping force prevents the cover plate from rattling during the intended operating state of such an axle body, particularly during the operation of an agricultural machine. The hinge axis can be designed as a bend that acts as a pre-tensioned spring between the two main surfaces and thus generates the clamping force.

[0009] A further advantageous embodiment provides that the longitudinal sides of each main surface have a bend, wherein the first main surface, extending from the bends on the respective longitudinal side, has at least one tab with at least one circular recess. The bends can extend laterally along the axle body and additionally prevent crop particles from accumulating on the upper side of the adjusting body. Tabs are preferably arranged extending from the bends on the longitudinal sides of the first main surface. The tabs can have recesses. Preferably, the tabs can enclose fastening elements located on the base body to secure the cover plate.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the cover plate can be attached to the base body in a first and second position by means of the tabs, so that the position of the cover plate can be adapted to different positions of the adjusting elements which are telescopically mounted in the base body.

[0011] It is particularly advantageous if one end face of the first main surface opposite the bending axis has a recess, preferably a rectangular recess. This prevents a collision with a projection located on the base body.

[0012] It is particularly advantageous if the end face of the second main surface opposite the bending axis has a recess, preferably a semicircular recess. This allows the structure of the second main surface to be adapted to the structure of the adjusting body in a particularly advantageous way.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the second main surface can taper from the bending axis towards an end face opposite the bending axis, preferably continuously. In this embodiment, the second main surface can be trapezoidal. Such a design of the cover plate adapts particularly advantageously to a similarly trapezoidal surface of the adjusting body, thus preventing the accumulation of crop particles on the surface of the adjusting body.

[0014] Preferably, the base body and the adjusting body can have a rectangular profile, with the cover plate extending section by section along a top surface of the base body and a top surface of the adjusting body, the adjusting body preferably being designed as a welded component. Adjustable bodies designed as welded components, in particular, represent a particularly preferred solution for telescopic axle bodies from a cost perspective and with regard to their strength. However, due to the rectangular profile, such axle bodies tend to accumulate crop particles or impurities on their top surface, which then migrate into the base body during operation. Accordingly, the arrangement of a cover plate is particularly advantageous in such an axle body to prevent the accumulation of crop particles or impurities within the axle body.

[0015] 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 is a schematic side view of a combine harvester; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a section of an axle body; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an axle body with a cover plate and adjusting elements in a first position; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an axle body with a cover plate and adjusting elements in a second position; Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a cover plate.

[0016] Figure 1Figure 1 shows an agricultural machine 1 designed as a combine harvester 2. The basic structure of a combine harvester 2 is known per se. A cutting unit 3 for taking crops from a field is arranged at the front of the combine harvester 2. The harvested crop is transferred via an inclined conveyor 4 to the threshing unit 5 of a threshing and separating device. The threshing and separating device comprises the threshing unit 5, which may have one or more drums, a separating device 6 downstream of the threshing unit 5, and a sieve assembly 7. Front wheels 9 are arranged on a front axle 8 of the combine harvester 2. Tracked tracks can also be used instead of the front wheels 9. The rear wheels 11 of the combine harvester 2 are arranged on a rear axle 10.

[0017] Figure 2 shows a section of the rear axle housing 10. The axle housing 10 is in the Figures 3 and 4The rear axle body 10 is designed as a steering axle, wherein the wheels 11 arranged on this axle body 10 are pivotable about an essentially vertically extending axis 12. The axle body 10 comprises a base body 13 and adjusting elements 14 arranged on both sides in the base body 13.

[0018] The base body 13 is formed by a rectangular support. A pendulum suspension 14 is arranged centrally on the base body 13, by means of which the base body 13 is mounted to a frame of the combine harvester 2. At each of the free ends of the base body 13, an adjusting element 14 is arranged to be telescopically displaceable and lockable in various positions. The adjusting elements 14 each comprise a plurality of bores (not shown) by means of which the adjusting elements 14 can be locked in the base body 13 in various positions. The adjusting elements 14 have a rectangular profile which is arranged in the base body 13. In other words, the adjusting elements 14 are partially enclosed by the base body 13. The adjusting element 14 is formed as a welded component. At the free end of the respective adjusting body 14, a wheel hub 19 for receiving the wheels 11 is arranged pivotably about a vertically extending axis 12.How . Fig. 2 As shown in more detail, a recess 17 is located on the upper side 16 of the adjusting body 14 due to its design. The upper side 16 refers to the side of the adjusting body 14 that faces away from the ground when the combine harvester 2 is in operation. During harvesting, crop components collect in this recess 17 and migrate from there into the base body 13. In combination with moisture, the grains contained in the crop components begin to grow in the base body 13, making it more difficult to clean.

[0019] As the Figures 3 and 4To prevent the accumulation of crop components in the trough 17, a cover plate 18 is arranged on the axle body 10. The cover plate 18 partially covers the base body 13 and the adjusting body 14. In other words, the cover plate 18 extends partially along the top surface 16 of the adjusting body 14 and the base body 13. Here, and preferably, the cover plate 18 extends over the length of the trough 17 of the adjusting body 14.

[0020] Figure 5Figure 1 shows the cover plate 18 in its disassembled state. The cover plate 18 has two adjacent main surfaces 21, 22. A bend axis 23 is formed between the main surfaces 21, 22. The bend axis 23 is formed as a bend. The bend or bend axis 23 extends linearly transversely to the axial extent of the cover plate 18. The longitudinal sides of the main surfaces 21, 22 each have a bend 24. The bends 24 adjoin the respective main surfaces 21, 22 at right angles. Here, and preferably, the bends 24 are formed by folding over a lateral surface portion of the respective main surface 21, 22. A first main surface 21 of the two main surfaces 21, 22 has three tabs 25 on each of its longitudinal sides, extending from the bends 24 located on its longitudinal sides.Each of the tabs 25 has a circular recess 26 formed as a bore, by means of which the cover plate 18 can be fastened to the axle body 8. In an alternative embodiment, a tab 25 with three bores 25 each can also be provided on each of the longitudinal sides of the first main surface 21. Furthermore, the first main surface 21 of the cover plate 18 includes a rectangular recess 27 at its free end face. The first main surface 21 has a rectangular shape. The second main surface 22, opposite the first main surface 21, tapers from the bending axis 23 towards its end face. Here, and preferably, the second main surface 22 is trapezoidal. A semicircular recess 28 is provided at the free end face of the second main surface.

[0021] The Figures 3 and 4 The cover plate 18 is shown in its installed state. Figures 3 and 4represent different positions of the adjusting elements 14 in the base body 13. In the Figure 3 The first position of the adjusting body 14 shown is a narrower track gauge than in the Figure 4 The adjusting elements 14 are set to the second position shown. In this position, the adjusting elements 14 are pushed further into the base body 13 than in the second position ( Figure 4The cover plate 18 can be fastened to the axle body 10 in the first and second positions of the adjusting elements 14 by means of the bores 26 provided in the tabs 25. For this purpose, the bores 26 provided in the tabs 25 enclose fastening elements 29 located laterally on the base body 13. The fastening elements 29 can be designed as screws and form a positive-locking connection with the base body 13 and the adjusting element 14. The number of bores 26 provided on the first main surface 21 allows the cover plate 18 to be fastened to the base body 13 in different positions. The cover plate 18 can be fastened to the base body 13 in both the first and second positions of the adjusting elements 14 such that in both positions the cover plate 18 completely covers the recess 17 located on the upper side of the adjusting element 14.This prevents harvested crop components from accumulating in the trough 17 and migrating into the base body 13.

[0022] In the disassembled state, the positions of the first and second main surfaces 21, 22 of the cover plate 18 are adjusted relative to each other by the hinge axis 23 such that the angle α formed between them is smaller than the angle β formed between the base body 13 and the respective adjusting body 14. This results in a clamping force acting between the cover plate 18 and the axle body 10 when the cover plate 18 is assembled. The bend of the hinge axis 23 thus acts like a pre-tensioned spring and prevents the cover plate 18 from rattling during the intended operating state of the agricultural machine 1. The flanges 24 enclose the base body 13 and the adjusting bodies 14 laterally, thus preventing crop particles from entering the trough 17 laterally. Here, and preferably, the bends 24 and / or the tabs 25 lie laterally against the axle body 10, so that lateral movement of the cover plate 18 is also avoided.The end face of the second main surface 22 abuts flush with a cylindrical bushing 30 via the semicircular recess 28. The bushing serves for the pivotable mounting of the wheel hub 19 about the vertical axis 12. The square recess 27 provided on the first main surface 21 prevents the cover plate 18 from colliding with a projection 31 located on the base body 13. Reference symbol list:

[0023] 1 Working machine 2 Combine harvester 3 Cutting unit 4 Inclined conveyor 5 Threshing unit 6 Separation device 7 Sieve arrangement 8 Axle body 9 Wheels 10 Axle body 11 Wheels 12 Axle 13 Base body 14 Adjusting body 15 Pendulum suspension 16 Top 17 Trough 18 Cover plate 19 Wheel hub 20 Bearing 21 First main surface 22 Second main surface 23 Articulation axis 24 Bend 25 Tab 26 Bore 27 Recess 28 Recess 29 Fastening device 30 Bushing 31 Projection α Angle β Angle

Claims

1. Axle body (10) for an agricultural working machine (1), having a base body (13), and having adjustment bodies (14) arranged in the base body (13) on either side that, for the purpose of track-width modification, are fastenable to the base body (13) in different positions, and having a cover plate (18), characterized in that the cover plate (18) is arranged on the axle body (10), wherein the cover plate (18) covers an adjustment body (14) and the base body (13) sectionally, wherein the cover plate (18) has first and second mutually adjacent main surfaces (21, 22), wherein an articulation axis (23) is formed between the main surfaces (21, 22), wherein preferably the cover plate (18) is arranged on the axle body (10) in such a way that a clamping force acts between the adjustment body (14) and the cover plate (18).

2. Axle body (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal sides of each main surface (21, 22) have respective bent edges (24), wherein the first main surface (21) has at least one tab (25) with at least one circular cutout (26) as an extension of the bent edges (24) on the respective longitudinal sides.

3. Axle body (10) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the cover plate (18) is fastenable to the base body (13) in a first and a second position by means of the tabs (25).

4. Axle body (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an end side of the first main surface (21) that is situated opposite the articulation axis (23) has a cutout (27), preferably a rectangular cutout (27).

5. Axle body (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that end side of the second main surface (22) which is situated opposite the articulation axis (23) has a cutout (28), preferably a semi-circular cutout (28).

6. Axle body (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second main surface (22) tapers, preferably tapers continuously, from the articulation axis (23) towards an end side situated opposite the articulation axis (23).

7. Axle body (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base body (13) and the adjustment body (14) have a rectangular profile, wherein the cover plate (18) extends along a top side (16) of the adjustment body (14) and a top side (16) of the base body (13) sectionally, wherein preferably the adjustment body (14) is designed as a welded part.