Inclined conveyor and self-propelled harvester with an inclined conveyor

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an inclined conveyor with a housing having opposing housing side walls in which a drive shaft and a deflection shaft are rotatably mounted, wherein at least three drive wheels are arranged on the drive shaft and at least three deflection wheels are arranged on the deflection shaft for conveying crops into a self-propelled harvesting machine, wherein each drive wheel has a hub extending concentrically to the drive shaft with drivers arranged coaxially to the drive shaft, which are designed for the positive and / or non-positive transport of a respective toothed belt, wherein adjacent belts are connected to each other by means of conveyor bars arranged parallel to the drive axis, wherein two drive wheels are arranged on the outside of the drive shaft and that the at least one further drive wheel is arranged internally between these on the drive shaft.Furthermore, the invention relates to a self-propelled harvesting machine with an inclined conveyor.

[0002] Crops harvested by a header attached to a self-propelled harvester are conveyed via an inclined conveyor into another self-propelled harvester, such as a combine harvester, for processing. Currently, chain conveyors are most commonly used for this purpose. Such inclined conveyors have at least two parallel conveyor chains with conveying bars between them to transport the crop. However, the use of belts instead of conveyor chains is also known, for example, made of a fabric-reinforced, cross-linked polymer.

[0003] From DE 10 2016 116 548 A1, an inclined conveyor and a self-propelled harvesting machine with an inclined conveyor are known. The inclined conveyor has drive wheels arranged on a drive shaft, which have drivers that are evenly distributed on a hub of the respective drive wheel. The drivers extend from the hub to an open end and are designed for the positive and / or non-positive transport of a toothed belt. The drivers form the teeth of the drive wheel, which engage with the teeth of the belt. Adjacent belts are connected to each other by means of conveyor bars arranged parallel to the drive axis. Two drive wheels are arranged on the outside of the drive shaft adjacent to the housing side wall, and at least one further drive wheel is arranged internally between these on the drive shaft.The drive wheels on the drive shaft differ only in their position. Due to the inner arrangement of at least one additional drive wheel, the conveyor bars run along the entire width of this additional drive wheel. While the hub of the drive wheels located on the outer side of the drive shaft does not come into contact with the conveyor bars, as it is outside the engagement area and the outer dimension of the mounted belt, the axial end face of the hub of the at least one inner drive wheel makes contact with the conveyor bars. This results in undesirable noise. Furthermore, this contact between the conveyor bar and the hub leads to uneven running and wear.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an inclined conveyor for a self-propelled harvesting machine in which the occurrence of noise formation due to contact between the conveyor bars and the at least one internal drive wheel is avoided.

[0005] The problem is solved with an inclined conveyor having the features of independent claim 1 and a self-propelled harvesting machine having the features of dependent claim 11.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments and further developments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to claim 1, an inclined conveyor with a housing having opposing housing side walls is proposed, wherein a drive shaft and a deflection shaft are rotatably mounted in the housing side walls, wherein at least three drive wheels are arranged on the drive shaft and at least three deflection wheels are arranged on the deflection shaft for conveying crops into a self-propelled harvesting machine, wherein each drive wheel has a hub extending concentrically to the drive shaft with drivers arranged coaxially to the drive shaft, which are designed for the positive and / or non-positive transport of a respective toothed belt, wherein belts adjacent to each other are connected to each other by means of conveyor bars arranged parallel to the drive axis.wherein two drive wheels are arranged on the outside of the drive shaft and that at least one further drive wheel is arranged internally between these on the drive shaft. According to the invention, the hub of the at least one further drive wheel has a wave-shaped contour along its outer circumferential surface.

[0008] A key aspect of the invention is that the wave-like contour prevents the polygon effect of the belt, as well as the contact pressure exerted by the conveyed crop, from causing the conveyor runners to come into contact with the hub. This is achieved by allowing the conveyor runners to dip into the troughs or depressions of the hub, with a radial gap remaining between the lowest point of the wave-like contour on the outer circumferential surface of the hub and the conveyor runner on the belt, due to the belt's polygon effect. This radial gap is large enough to prevent any contact between the outer circumferential surface of the hub and the conveyor runner. Thus, in addition to preventing or at least reducing wear on the at least one other internal drive wheel, the noise generated by such contact is also avoided.

[0009] The wavy contour can have alternating raised and recessed areas.

[0010] Preferably, the hub of at least one further drive wheel can be reinforced in the radial direction in the area of ​​the projections. At the highest point of a projection, the hub can have a first outer diameter, while at the lowest point of a recess, the hub has a second outer diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the hub and larger than a drive diameter of the drive wheel, which is determined by the arrangement of the drive lugs.

[0011] In particular, the depressions spaced apart by the elevations can be arranged at regular intervals from each other across the outer circumferential surface of the hub.

[0012] The distance between the recesses can be selected depending on the distance between the conveyor runners. This ensures that the conveyor runners always fully engage in the recess of the hub of at least one internal drive wheel. This prevents unwanted contact with the raised sections.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the depressions can have a segmentally arcuate or polygonal shape. For example, two lateral flanks and a base area between the flanks of the depressions can each have an arcuate shape, with the flanks rising towards the two adjacent elevations. Alternatively, the lateral flanks can have an arcuate shape, while the base area of ​​the depressions is essentially straight. Another alternative is that both the lateral flanks and the base area of ​​the depressions are essentially straight.

[0014] In particular, the drive lugs can be connected to the hub of a respective drive wheel without backlash. For example, to achieve a backlash-free connection between the drive lugs and the hub, they can be joined by a tapered seat or an interference fit.

[0015] Preferably, the drive lugs can be connected to the hub of a respective drive wheel by means of a screw connection. The drive lugs can be secured against the hub by a locknut.

[0016] Preferably, the hub and the drive lugs can also be manufactured as a single unit. This unit, consisting of the hub and drive lugs, can be manufactured as a single cast component.

[0017] In particular, a drive lug can be arranged between two recesses of the wave-shaped contour. Specifically, the drive lugs can be cylindrical and made of round steel. Taking into account tolerances for the raw material, post-machining of the drive lugs across the entire width of the belt can be omitted. The drive lugs can be independent of each other, i.e., they can be designed as separate components attached to the hub.

[0018] The task set out at the beginning is further solved by a self-propelled harvesting machine with an inclined conveyor, which is designed according to one of claims 1 to 10.

[0019] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

[0020] They show: Fig. 1 schematically shows a section of a self-propelled harvesting machine in a side view; Fig. 2 shows a section of an inclined conveyor in the area of ​​its discharge end; Fig. 3 schematically shows a side view of an internal drive wheel according to Fig. 2 ; and Fig. 4 a partial view of the internal drive wheel according to Fig. 3 .

[0021] Fig. 1Figure 1 schematically shows a section of an arrangement with an inclined conveyor 2 and a self-propelled harvesting machine 1, in this case a combine harvester. The terms harvesting machine 1 and combine harvester are used synonymously in the following text.

[0022] The inclined conveyor 2 is detachably mounted on the harvester 1. It is positioned between a header 6 and the harvester 1. The header 6 is designed to receive the harvested crop 8. To enable the harvested crop 8 to be cut close to the ground, the inclined conveyor 2 is pivotally mounted on the harvester about a pivot axis (not shown), allowing the header 6 to be adjusted in height. The inclined conveyor 2 conveys the harvested crop 8 into the harvester 1 for processing. The harvested crop 8 is then processed in a threshing unit 7 of the harvester.

[0023] The inclined conveyor 2 has at least three drive wheels 4a, 4b and corresponding deflection wheels 3. Each deflection wheel 3 is located in the area of ​​a feed end 9 of the inclined conveyor 2. The header 6 is attached to the inclined conveyor 2 at the feed end 9. The crop 8 picked up by the header 6 is fed into the inclined conveyor 2 at the feed end 9.

[0024] The drive wheels 4a, 4b are arranged at a discharge end 10 of the inclined conveyor 2 opposite the feed end 9, at which the harvested crop 8 leaves the inclined conveyor 2. The harvested crop enters the harvesting machine 1, specifically the threshing unit 7, for further processing.

[0025] The respective drive wheels 4a, 4b are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a drive shaft 21 by means of a hub 22a, 22b extending concentrically to a drive axis 11. Likewise, the respective deflection wheel 3 is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on a deflection shaft 23 arranged on a deflection axis 12. Both the drive shaft 21 and the deflection shaft 23 are rotatably mounted in a housing 13, specifically in opposing housing side walls 14. The substantially vertical housing side walls 14 are connected to each other by a housing lower wall 15 and a housing upper wall 16, which extend horizontally between the housing side walls 14. Together, the housing side walls 14, the housing lower wall 15, and the housing upper wall 16 define an interior space 17 of the inclined conveyor 2, which is approximately cuboid in shape.To convey the harvested crop 8, a number of endless belts 5a, 5b or conveyor belts corresponding to the number of drive wheels 4a, 4b are provided, which wrap around the respective drive wheel 4a, 4b and the associated deflection wheel 3. Conveyor bars 18 are arranged equidistantly on the belts 5a, 5b, extending parallel to the drive axis 11 and serving to convey the harvested crop 8. The conveyor bars 18 extend between each pair of belts 5a, 5b and connect them to each other.

[0026] In the inclined conveyor 2, the harvested crop 8 is conveyed below ground level. This means that it is conveyed along the lower wall 15. For this purpose, the drive wheels 4a, 4b are driven in a direction of rotation 19 around the drive axis 11. One conveying direction 20 of the harvested crop 8 is shown schematically here by two arrows, one in the inclined conveyor 2 and one at the discharge end 10.

[0027] In Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a section of the inclined conveyor 2 in the area of ​​its discharge end 10. The drive shaft 21, which is mounted in the opposing housing side walls 14, has an outer drive wheel 4a at each of its outer ends, which is arranged directly adjacent to the respective housing side wall 14. At least one further inner drive wheel 4b is arranged between the outer drive wheels 4a. The conveyor bars 18 extend between two adjacent belts 5a, 5b, one belt 5a of which runs around one of the outer drive wheels 4a and the other belt around the adjacent, at least one inner drive wheel 4b. The drive wheels 4a, 4b are designed for the positive and / or non-positive transport of the belts 5a, 5b or the conveyor belts. For this purpose, the belts 5a, 5b have teeth 24.On the respective hubs 22a, 22b of a drive wheel 4a, 4b, drivers 25 are arranged at even distribution. For this purpose, the drivers 25 are arranged on an axial end face of the hub 22a, 22b. The drivers 25 are arranged coaxially with the drive shaft 11. The drivers 25 are preferably cylindrical in design. The drivers 25 are not interconnected, i.e., they are designed as separate components. In particular, the drivers 25 can be made of round steel. The drivers 25 extend from the hub 22a, 22b to an open end 26 of the drive wheel 4a, 4b. The drivers 25 are designed for the positive and / or non-positive transport of the belt 5 or webbing. The drivers 25 should be connected to the hub 22a, 22b without play. The drive lugs 25 can be connected to the hub 22a, 22b by a conical seat or a press fit for a backlash-free connection.The drive lugs 25 are connected to the respective hubs 22a, 22b by means of a screw connection 28.

[0028] Gaps are provided between the individual drive lugs 25, into which the teeth 24 of the respective belt 5a, 5b engage. The axial end face of the hub 22a, 22b forms a stop for the corresponding belt 5a, 5b, which limits displacement of the belt 5a, 5b in or against an axial direction of the drive axis 11.

[0029] As from Fig. 2As can be seen, the two drive wheels 4a arranged on the outside of the drive shaft 21 differ from the at least one drive wheel 4b arranged on the inside by the different design of the hub 22 of the outside drive wheel 4a and the hub 22b of the inside drive wheel 4b. While the conveyor bar 18, which is arranged at one end on the belt 5a, is flush with the belt at its edge, the other end of the conveyor bar 18 overlaps the belt 5b in the axial direction, i.e., in a direction parallel to the drive shaft 21.

[0030] The drive wheels 4a, 4b each have a drive diameter D_A, which is determined by the circular arrangement of the drivers 25 on the axial end face of the hub 22a, 22b. The drivers 25 are spaced apart from the respective outer circumferential surfaces 27a, 27b of the hub 22a, 22b, i.e., the drive diameter D_A of the drive wheels 4a, 4b is smaller than the outer diameter of the hub 22a, 22b.

[0031] The so-called polygon effect occurs in the belts 5a, 5b, which are positively driven by the drive wheels 4a, 4b. The traction elements, designed as belts 5a, 5b, cannot run up and down in a circular motion on the respective drive wheel 4a, 4b, resulting in angular deflection of the respective belt 5a, 5b. This transforms the circular arrangement of the drive lugs 25 on the drive wheel 4a, 4b into a polygon with a varying number of chords corresponding to the drive diameter D_A of the drive wheel 4a, 4b. The respective belt 5a, 5b dips deeper between two drive lugs 25. Since the strip 18 does not overlap the hub 22a of the outer drive wheels 4a in the axial direction, contact between the strip 18 and the hub 22a cannot occur.

[0032] In order to prevent the conveying bars 18 from being pressed against the outer circumferential surface 27b of the hub 22b during a revolution around the at least one inner drive wheel 4b due to the polygon effect occurring on the belt 5b and the high contact pressure of the conveyed crop, it is provided that the hub 22b of the at least one further drive wheel 4b has a wave-shaped contour 29 along its outer circumferential surface 27b.

[0033] The representation in Fig. 3 schematically shows a side view of at least one internal drive wheel 4b according to Fig. 2 In Fig. 4 is a partial view of the inner drive wheel 4b according to Fig. 3 depicted. The depiction shows in Fig. 4A view of the open ends 26 of the drive lugs 25. The contour 29 of the hub 22b, obscured by the belt 5b, is shown with dashed lines. The wave-shaped contour 29 has alternating raised areas 30 and recesses 31. At the highest point of a raised area 30, the hub 22b has a first outer diameter D_1, while at the lowest point of a recess 31, the hub 22b has a second outer diameter D_2, which is smaller than the first outer diameter D_1 of the hub 22b and larger than the drive diameter D_A of the drive wheel 4b.

[0034] A driver 25 is arranged between each of two recesses 31 of the wave-shaped contour 29. The hub 22b of at least one further drive wheel 4b is reinforced radially in the area of ​​the projections 30. This ensures that the respective driver 25 can be connected to the hub 22b without play and with sufficient strength. The recesses 30, spaced apart by the projections 30, are arranged at regular intervals across the outer circumferential surface 27b of the hub 22b. The distance between the recesses is selected based on the distance between the conveyor bars 18. The recesses 31 can have a partially arcuate or polygonal shape.

[0035] In Fig. 4The polygon effect occurring on the belt 5b is illustrated. The tooth of the inner toothing 24, which is inserted between the two depicted drivers 25, is opposite one of the conveyor bars 18 arranged on the outside of the belt 5b. This section of the belt 5b, which extends between the two protrusions 30, is represented by a dashed line, which is intended to clarify the flattening 32 of the belt 5b between two drivers 25 due to the polygon effect. The recess 31 in the area of ​​the flattening 32 of the belt 5b prevents the conveyor bar 18 from coming into contact with the outer circumferential surface 27b of the hub 22b.

[0036] This is achieved by allowing the conveyor bars 18 to immerse in the wave troughs or the recesses 31 of the hub 22b, whereby, due to the polygon effect of the belt 5b, a radial distance 33 remains between the lowest point of the wave-shaped contour 29 on the outer circumferential surface 27b of the hub 22b and the conveyor bar 18 on the belt 5b. This radial distance 33 is large enough to prevent contact between the outer circumferential surface 27b of the hub 22b and the conveyor bar 18. The radial distance 33 is determined by the intended second diameter D_2 of the recesses 31. Thus, in addition to preventing or at least reducing wear on the at least one other drive wheel 4b, the noise generated by contact is also avoided. Reference symbol list 1 Harvesting machine / combine harvester 30 Survey 2 inclined conveyor 31 in-depth 3 deflection wheel 32 flattening 4a Outer drive wheel 33 Radial distance 4b Internal drive wheel 5a belt D_A Drive diameter 5b belt D_1 First outer diameter 6 attachment D_2 Second outer diameter 7 threshing machine 8 Harvested crops 9 Feeding 10 Deadline 11 drive axle 12 deflection axis 13 Housing 14 Case side panel 15 housing underside 16 top of housing 17 Interior of 2 18 conveyor belt 19 Direction of rotation 20 Direction of flow 21 drive shaft 22a Hub of 4a 22b Hub of 4b 23 deflection shaft 24 Interlocking 25 drive 26 Open ending 27a External perimeter area of ​​22a 27b External perimeter area of ​​22b 28 screw connection 29 Wavy contour

Claims

1. Inclined conveyor (2) having a housing (13) with mutually oppositely situated housing side walls (14) in which a drive shaft (21) and a deflection shaft (23) are mounted rotatably, wherein there are arranged on the drive shaft (21) at least three drive wheels (4a, 4b) and on the deflection shaft at least three deflection wheels (3) for conveying crop (8) into a self-propelled harvester (1), and having a number of endless belts (5) corresponding to the number of drive wheels (4a, 4b), wherein the respective drive wheel (4a, 4b) has a hub (22a, 22b) extending concentrically with respect to the drive shaft (21) and having drivers (25) which are arranged coaxially with respect to the drive shaft (21) and which are configured for form-fitting and / or force-fitting transport of a respective belt (5) designed with a toothing (24), wherein mutually adjacent belts (5) are connected to one another by means of conveyor strips (18) that are arranged parallel to the drive axis (11), wherein two drive wheels (4a) are arranged on the outside of the drive shaft (21), and the at least one further drive wheel (4b) is arranged internally therebetween on the drive shaft (21), characterized in that the hub (22b) of the at least one further drive wheel (4b) has an undulating contour (29) along its outer circumferential surface (27b).

2. Inclined conveyor (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the undulating contour (29) has elevations (30) and depressions (31) in an alternating arrangement.

3. Inclined conveyor (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a driver (25) is arranged between two depressions (31) of the undulating contour (29).

4. Inclined conveyor (2) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the hub (22b) of the at least one further drive wheel (4b) is designed to be reinforced in a radial direction in the region of the elevations (30).

5. Inclined conveyor (2) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the depressions (31) spaced apart by the elevations (30) are arranged so as to be distributed over the outer circumferential surface (27b) of the hub (22b) spaced apart from one another at regular intervals.

6. Inclined conveyor (2) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the distance between the depressions (31) is selected according to the distance of the conveyor strips (18) from one another.

7. Inclined conveyor (2) according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the depressions (31) have a sectionally arcuate or polygonal profile.

8. Inclined conveyor (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (25) are of circular-cylindrical form and are manufactured from round bar steel.

9. Inclined conveyor (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (25) are connected in a play-free manner to the hub (22a, 22b) of a respective drive wheel (4a, 4b).

10. Inclined conveyor (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drivers (25) are connected to the hub (22a, 22b) of a respective drive wheel (4a, 4b) by means of a screw connection (28).

11. Self-propelled harvester (1) having an inclined conveyor (2) that is designed according to one of Claims 1 to 10.