Attachment for a self-propelled combine harvester

Description

[0001] The present application relates to a front attachment for a self-propelled combine harvester according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the present application relates to a self-propelled combine harvester according to the preamble of claim 12.

[0002] The header is designed and equipped for harvesting corn plants. For this purpose, it comprises a frame, at least one harvesting unit for picking corn cobs from the corn plants, and a transverse conveyor, which is generally equipped with counter-rotating conveying sections. Typically, the header includes multiple harvesting units arranged side-by-side in a row along the width of the header. The at least one harvesting unit is mounted on the frame so that both its own weight and operating forces can be transferred to the frame. The transverse conveyor serves to gather the harvested corn cobs in the center of the header's width, allowing them to be transferred to an inclined conveyor connected to the center of the header.

[0003] For harvesting corn cobs from corn plants, the harvesting system comprises a intake unit and a picking unit. The intake unit serves to draw in the corn plants in an orderly manner and to transport corn cobs picked by the picking unit to the cross conveyor or a conveying channel associated with the cross conveyor. The picking unit consists of two picking rollers arranged parallel to and next to each other. During operation, the picking rollers are typically driven in opposite directions and together define a working gap. The corn plants are guided into this working gap and gripped there by the picking rollers. Within the working gap, the plants are pulled downwards by the rotation of the picking rollers and can be cut by them.The corn cobs, which protrude radially from a plant stem of a respective corn plant, do not enter the working gap, but are separated or "picked" above the working gap and then conveyed further towards the transverse conveyor by means of the intake unit.

[0004] As explained above, the at least one harvesting unit is mounted on the frame of the header. For this purpose, the harvesting unit is connected to the frame at a connection point. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a clamping connection, where, for instance, a frame profile has a rectangular cross-section to which the harvesting unit is attached. The harvesting unit can, for example, have two bolts, one extending along each side of the frame profile, which interact with a clamping bar located behind the frame profile. In this way, the two bolts and the clamping bar jointly encircle the frame profile, and due to the angular design of the latter, in addition to transferring vertical and horizontal bearing forces, a bearing moment can also be transmitted.In this way, the harvesting device can project forwards relative to the frame when viewed in the direction of travel of the combine harvester, and is located at least essentially entirely on this side of the frame profile.

[0005] The self-propelled combine harvester includes a header designed for harvesting corn plants. This enables the combine harvester to harvest corn kernels attached to the cobs of corn plants. In addition to the header, the combine harvester also includes a number of working components by means of which the corn cobs picked from the corn plants can be processed in a manner known per se.

[0006] Attachments of the type described above are already known in the prior art. For example, DE 30 29 424 A1 discloses an attachment with a rectangular frame profile to which the harvesting devices are each attached by means of two multi-part clamping connections.

[0007] Document US 2018 / 0317389 A1 discloses a device for harvesting stem fruits.

[0008] The known designs have the disadvantage that the respective frame profile, to which at least one harvesting unit is attached, must be capable of absorbing not only the bearing forces but also a bearing moment. This necessitates that the frame profile have a certain minimum cross-section in order to absorb the acting forces and torques on its own and transfer them to a higher-level frame profile. However, designing the frame profile with a comparatively large cross-section competes with the transverse conveyor and other components of the header, which, like the attachment point of the respective harvesting unit, are located at a rear end of the harvesting unit. Consequently, the installation space at the rear end of the harvesting unit is limited, which regularly leads to design problems.

[0009] After all this, the purpose of the present application is to provide a front attachment device that at least improves the existing space problems in the area of ​​the rear end of the at least one harvesting unit.

[0010] The underlying problem is solved according to the invention by means of an attachment device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0011] In the attachment according to the invention, the at least one harvesting unit is supported directly or indirectly on the frame, in addition to being attached to it. Two options for force dissipation are available for mounting the harvesting unit on the frame of the attachment: attachment and support. This allows, in particular, a bearing moment to be dissipated into the frame by forming a force couple. Preferably, a lever arm exists between the bearing forces transmitted at the attachment and support, so that a bearing moment can be absorbed particularly easily by means of the bearing forces. Furthermore, the magnitude of the forces acting independently at the attachment and support is reduced compared to the prior art, where all bearing forces had to be dissipated at a single attachment point.

[0012] After all this, the attachment device according to the invention has the particular advantage that the transfer of the bearing forces and the bearing moment is distributed, so that, compared to the prior art, smaller forces are transmitted at the connection point and have to be transferred from the frame profile. This opens up the possibility of designing the frame profile on which the connection point is located to be slimmer compared to the prior art, i.e., in particular with a smaller cross-section. As a result, the frame profile occupies a smaller volume and consequently requires less installation space than in the prior art. This makes the attachment device easier to design, and the greater freedom in the installation space also allows for better handling, especially during maintenance work.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the header, the support of the at least one harvesting unit to the frame is provided at a support point that differs from the attachment point. In other words, the forces transmitted when the harvesting unit is attached to the frame are introduced into the frame at a different point ("attachment point") than at the support point ("support point"). This results, among other things, in the advantage already explained above that the transfer of a bearing moment transferred from the harvesting unit to the frame is simplified. The bearing forces acting at the support point and at the attachment point for transferring the bearing moment are lower the greater the distance—and thus the effective lever arm—between the attachment point and the support point.

[0014] Accordingly, it can be particularly advantageous if the support point and the connection point are spaced apart from each other in a vertical section perpendicular to the width direction of the attachment device, both vertically and / or horizontally. An effective distance between the support point and the connection point, corresponding to the shortest distance between the support point and the connection point in the aforementioned vertical section, is preferably at least 20 cm, more preferably at least 30 cm, and further preferably at least 40 cm. Such a distance allows the frame at the connection point to be dimensioned with comparatively small cross-sectional dimensions of the respective frame profile, thus saving a considerable amount of installation space compared to the prior art.Preferably, the support point is shifted rearward in the horizontal direction relative to the connection point in the longitudinal direction of the attachment device, since there is typically sufficient installation space available there to, for example, arrange an additional frame profile on which the support point can be formed.

[0015] The front attachment comprises a first frame profile and a second frame profile. One or both frame profiles can extend parallel to the width of the front attachment. Preferably, the two frame profiles are oriented parallel to each other and spaced apart. Furthermore, one or both frame profiles can have a square or round cross-section, for example, formed from a square or round tube profile. Preferably, one of the frame profiles has a square cross-section and the other a round cross-section. Preferably, at least the frame profile with a square cross-section is the one that is located at a greater distance from the at least one harvesting unit than the other frame profile.

[0016] Preferably, the attachment point of the at least one harvesting unit is arranged on the first frame profile. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the support point, where the at least one harvesting unit rests against the frame, is also arranged on the second frame profile. By designing the frame with two frame profiles, the application and support of the at least one harvesting unit on the frame at different locations (attachment point and support point) is particularly easy to implement. The two frame profiles can be spaced apart from each other as described, so that bearing forces can be transferred into the frame at the support point and at the attachment point, as also described, with a lever arm relative to each other.

[0017] According to the invention, the frame of the attachment device has, in addition to the first and second frame profiles, at least one connecting profile that is connected to both frame profiles. For example, the connecting profile can extend in a direction perpendicular to the parallel longitudinal axes of the two frame profiles and thus bridge a gap between the two frame profiles. Preferably, the connecting profile is welded to at least one of the frame profiles and / or formed monolithically with at least one of the frame profiles. Preferably, the design of the connection of the connecting profile to the two frame profiles is the same for both frame profiles.

[0018] The connecting profile has the particular advantage of stiffening the frame, allowing forces to be transferred between the frame profiles via the connecting profile. Preferably, the connecting profile is arranged in the area of ​​a connection point and / or a support point of the at least one harvesting unit. This is based on the consideration that the forces acting on the frame profiles are expected to be greatest at the support point or connection point, so connecting the two frame profiles there with the connecting profile can offer the greatest advantages in terms of force dissipation.

[0019] According to the invention, the support point of the at least one harvesting unit is arranged on the connecting profile. In this configuration, bearing forces are directly transferred to the first frame profile and the connecting profile, while the second frame profile is not directly connected to the harvesting unit. Nevertheless, due to the connection of the connecting profile to the second frame profile, the bearing forces of the harvesting unit are transferred to the second frame profile, thus achieving the advantages described above. The advantage of arranging the support point on the connecting profile is that the second frame profile can be positioned at a greater distance from the at least one harvesting unit, since the harvesting unit does not need to extend to the second frame profile to be directly supported there.

[0020] For the design of the support for the at least one harvesting unit, it can be particularly advantageous if this support is provided by a gearbox assembly of the harvesting unit. The gearbox assembly includes a gearbox for the intake unit and / or the picking unit. The gearbox assembly is typically located at the rear end of the harvesting unit and can be a reason for the limited installation space in this area, which, in addition to the gearbox assembly, is typically also occupied by a frame profile and the cross conveyor. The housing of the gearbox assembly is inherently suitable for absorbing the forces acting on the harvesting unit and transferring them to the frame.

[0021] If the support of the at least one harvesting unit is provided via the gearbox assembly or its housing as described, it is particularly advantageous if the gearbox assembly itself is connected to a second frame profile of the frame or to a connecting profile of the frame as explained above. In this way, the bearing forces of the at least one harvesting unit can be transferred to the frame particularly easily via the gearbox assembly.

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one harvesting unit has a support element for direct connection to the support point, which is pivotally connected to the support point and / or pivotally connected to the rest of the harvesting unit. In particular, the support element can be connected to a housing of a gear assembly of the harvesting unit described above. The pivotal connection of the support element on at least one side has the advantage that the harvesting unit can move relative to the frame, at least within a certain range of motion. This allows the alignment of the harvesting unit relative to the frame of the header to be changed.

[0023] Further developing the header, the harvesting unit includes at least one chopping unit located below the picking unit. This chopping unit is designed and configured to chop and shred the plant residue from the corn plants that is passed downwards from the picking unit as a result of the counter-rotating two picking rollers. This facilitates the biodegradation of the plant residue left in the field, allowing the nutrients contained within to be more readily absorbed by the soil.

[0024] The underlying problem is further solved by a combine harvester with the features of claim 12.

[0025] The combine harvester is characterized in that the header is designed according to the present invention. The advantages resulting from this have already been explained above in connection with the header.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. These show: Fig. 1: A cross-section through a combine harvester according to the invention, Fig. 2: A cross-section through a front attachment of the combine harvester according to the invention. Figure 1 , Fig. 3: A view of a harvesting device of the attachment according to Figure 1 , which are attached to a frame of the attachment device according to Figure 1 is stored, Fig. 4: A perspective view of the harvesting device according to Figure 3 , Fig. 5: A detail of a storage system for the harvesting equipment according to Figure 3 on the frame of the attachment device, Fig. 6: An alternative design of the bearing according to Figure 4 .

[0027] One embodiment, which is described in the Figures 1 to 6 The illustration comprises a combine harvester 2 according to the invention, which is configured for harvesting maize plants 3. For this purpose, the combine harvester 2 includes a header 1 according to the invention, which is arranged at a front end of the combine harvester 2 as viewed in the direction of travel 19. In particular, the header 1 can be suspended from an inclined conveyor 24 of the combine harvester 2. The latter is designed and configured to convey maize cobs picked from the maize plants 3 by means of the header 1 towards a threshing unit 25, by means of which the maize cobs can be further processed. The combine harvester 2 also includes further working elements, which are known per se and do not require further explanation here.

[0028] In the example shown, the header 1 comprises a plurality of harvesting units 5, which are arranged side by side in a row along the width 11 of the header 1. Each harvesting unit 5 comprises a intake unit 7, which includes a circulating conveyor belt. Projecting cams are arranged on the conveyor belt, by means of which corn plants 3 are grasped as the combine harvester 2 moves and drawn towards a picking unit 8 of the respective harvesting unit 5. The picking units 8 each comprise two picking rollers, which are aligned parallel to each other and together define a working gap. During operation of the header 1, the picking rollers are driven in opposite directions of rotation, so that they grasp a respective corn plant 3 and, working together, pull it downwards through the working gap.Since the corn cobs protrude radially from the stalk of the respective corn plant 3, they are separated from the stalk by the picking rollers of the picking unit 8 and transported by the intake unit 7 towards a transverse conveyor 6. Below the picking unit 8, the harvesting equipment 5 also has a chopping unit 18, which includes a rotatable blade. This enables the chopping unit 18 to chop the corn stalks 3, which are separated downwards by the picking rollers, before they are deposited in the field.

[0029] The transverse conveyor 6 extends in the width direction 11 of the header 1 and comprises two counter-rotating conveying sections. These can be designed, in particular, in the form of screw flights, whereby the transverse conveyor 6, due to the counter-rotating design of the conveying sections, is suitable for bringing the corn cobs, transported by the harvesting devices 5 into a conveying channel of the transverse conveyor 6, together in a central area of ​​the header 1. From there, the corn cobs are transferred to the downstream inclined conveyor 24 and transported further by the latter.

[0030] The harvesting units 5 are each connected to a frame 4 of the header 1. This means that the bearing forces and operating forces of each harvesting unit 5 are transferred to the frame 4 of the header 1. From the header 1, these forces, as well as other forces, can be transferred, for example, to the inclined conveyor 24 and from the latter to a main frame of the combine harvester 2. As can be seen particularly well from the following: Figure 2As a result, the harvesting devices 5 extend forward from the frame 4 in the direction of travel 19 of the combine harvester 2 or in the longitudinal direction 20 of the header 1. In other words, the harvesting devices 5 cantilever forward from the frame 4, so that, in addition to vertical and, if applicable, horizontal bearing forces, a bearing moment is transmitted to the frame 4 and must be absorbed accordingly. In particular, the axis of action of a weight force of a respective harvesting device 5 has a lever arm relative to the frame 4, which causes the bearing moment of the harvesting device 5.

[0031] To absorb the bearing forces and the bearing moment, the frame 4 in the example shown comprises two frame profiles 14, 15 and a plurality of connecting profiles 16. This is particularly evident from the Figures 3 to 5The harvesting devices 5 are each connected or supported on the frame 4 at both a connection point 9 and a support point 10 that is different from the connection point 9.

[0032] The connection point 9 is arranged on the first frame profile 14, which in the example shown is formed by a rectangular square tube. The first frame profile 14 extends in the width direction 11 of the header 1. The force-transmitting connection between a respective harvesting unit 5 and the first frame profile 14 is established in the example shown by means of a clamping connection, wherein the harvesting unit 5 laterally engages the first frame profile 14 by means of two bolts 26 and has a clamping bar 27 on a side of the first frame profile 14 facing away from it, which is clamped against the first frame profile 14. This is particularly evident from the following: Figure 5 .

[0033] The second frame profile 15 is also formed from a rectangular square tube, with the second frame profile 15 extending parallel to the first frame profile 14. In the example shown, the two frame profiles 14, 15 are connected to each other by means of a plurality of connecting profiles 16, wherein the connecting profiles 16 are arranged in a row spaced apart from each other in the width direction 11 of the attachment 1 and thereby bridge a gap between the first frame profile 14 and the second frame profile 15. In the example shown, the connecting profiles 16 are each welded to the first frame profile 14 and the second frame profile 15. In this way, the connecting profiles 16 are suitable for transferring forces into the two frame profiles 14, 15.

[0034] As explained above, each harvesting unit 5 is supported on the frame 4 at a support point 10 in addition to the connection point 9. The support point 10 is arranged at a distance from the connection point 9, with the support point 10 being located on the connecting profile 16. In the Figure 3In the depicted vertical section, the support point 10 has both a vertical distance 12 and a horizontal distance 13 relative to the connection point 9. In the example shown, distance 12 is approximately 30 cm, and distance 13 is approximately 40 cm. Accordingly, forces from the respective harvesting unit 5 can be transferred into the frame 4 at both the connection point 9 and the support point 10. Since these two points 9 and 10 are spaced apart, they are particularly well suited to absorbing bearing moments of the harvesting unit 5. This results in the described advantage that the first frame profile 14 can be dimensioned smaller than is usual in the prior art. Considering the limited installation space in the area of ​​the rear end of the respective harvesting unit 5, this is particularly advantageous.

[0035] In the example shown, the harvesting units 5 each comprise a gear assembly 17, which includes both a gear for the intake unit 7 and a gear for the picking unit 8. The gear assembly 17 is arranged at a rear end of the respective harvesting unit 5. In the example shown, the harvesting units 5 are supported by the gear assembly 17, with the forces introduced into the frame 4 at the support point 10 being transferred via a housing of the respective gear assembly 17. In the example shown, the housing of the gear assembly 17 is connected to the connecting profile 16 by means of a support element 21. This is particularly evident from the Figures 5 and 6 .

[0036] In this way, the forces of each harvesting unit 5 are transferred both at the connection point 9 on the first frame profile 14 and at the support point 10 on the connecting profile 16. Since the latter is connected to the second frame profile 15, the forces are transferred from the connecting profile 16 to the second frame profile 15. The harvesting units 5 are thus reliably mounted on the frame 4 of the header 1, and due to the distribution of forces, the first frame profile 14 in particular can be dimensioned smaller than is usual in the prior art.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment of the frame 4, the first frame profile 14, unlike the variant described above, has a round cross-section instead of a rectangular one. This variant is particularly well suited to the following: Figure 6It has the advantage that the harvesting unit 5 can be rotated about a pivot axis 22 of the first frame profile 14 at least within a certain range in the area of ​​the connection point 9. This is further made possible by the fact that the harvesting unit 5 uses the described support element 21 for connection with the connecting profile 16 at the support point 10, which is pivotally mounted on the connecting profile 16. In this way, the support element 21 can be rotated about a pivot axis 23 formed at the support point 10. This design allows a certain degree of adjustability of the angle of the respective harvesting unit 5 relative to a longitudinal direction 20 of the header 1. It is also conceivable to replace the support element 21 with an alternative support element 21 that has different dimensions.

Claims

1. Attachment (1) for a self-propelled combine harvester (2), wherein the attachment (1) is configured for harvesting corn plants (3), the attachment (1) comprising - a frame (4), - at least one harvesting device (5) for harvesting corn cobs of corn plants (3), - a cross conveyor (6), wherein the harvesting device (5) comprises a draw-in unit (7) and a picking unit (8) with two picking rollers, wherein the harvesting device (5) is attached to the frame (4) at an attachment point (9), wherein the cross conveyor (6) extends in the width direction (11) of the attachment (1), wherein harvested corn cobs can be brought together by means of the cross conveyor (6) in a central area of the attachment (1), wherein the at least one harvesting device (5) is supported, in addition to its attachment to the frame (4), directly or indirectly on the frame (4), wherein the frame (4) comprises a first frame profile (14) and a second frame profile (15), wherein preferably the attachment point (9) is arranged on the first frame profile (14), wherein the two frame profiles (14, 15) are connected to each other by means of at least one connection profile (16), wherein preferably the connection profile (16) is welded to both frame profiles (14, 15) and / or is connected monolithically to the two frame profiles (14, 15); characterized in that a support point (10), at which the at least one harvesting device (5) is supported on the frame (4), is arranged on the connection profile (16).

2. Attachment (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support of the at least one harvesting device (5) on the frame (4) takes place at a support point (10) different from the connection point (9).

3. Attachment (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the connection point (9) and the support point (10) are at a vertically measured distance (12) and / or a horizontally measured distance (13) from each other as viewed in a vertical section guided perpendicularly with respect to the width direction (11) of the attachment (1).

4. Attachment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support point (10) is arranged on the second frame profile (15).

5. Attachment (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the second frame profile (15) has a rectangular cross section.

6. Attachment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a frame profile (14) of the frame (4), on which the connection point (9) is arranged, has a rectangular or round cross section.

7. Attachment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one harvesting device (5) has a gear assembly (17) which comprises a gear unit for the draw-in unit (7) and / or the picking unit (8), wherein the support of the at least one harvesting device (5) on the frame (4) takes place via the gear assembly (17).

8. Attachment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one harvesting device (5) comprises a chopping unit (18).

9. Self-propelled combine harvester for harvesting corn plants, comprising an attachment (1) which is configured for harvesting corn plants (3), a plurality of working members for processing corn cobs picked from the corn plants (3), characterized in that the attachment (1) is designed according to any one of Claims 1 to 8.