Sugar cane harvester

Abstract

To provide a sugar cane harvester capable of preventing crops from falling on travel transmission mechanism arranged below a transport device, even if the bottom of the transport device is open.SOLUTION: A sugar cane harvester comprises: a traveling machine body; driving wheels for supporting the traveling machine body; a transport device 4 which is provided on the traveling machine body in a rear up inclined posture and transports crops reaped from a field toward the rear side of the traveling machine body; travel transmission mechanism 50 installed below the transport device 4 to transmit a driving force to the driving wheels; and a cover member 60 which is positioned between the traveling machine body 4 and the travel transmission mechanism 50 and covers the lower part of the transport device 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sugarcane harvester equipped with a transport device that transports crops harvested from a field toward the rear of a traveling machine body. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional sugarcane harvesters include, for example, those described in Patent Document 1, which are equipped with a conveying device (referred to as a "feeder" in Patent Document 1) that conveys crops harvested from a field toward the rear of the traveling body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-101185 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the sugarcane harvester described in Patent Document 1, harvested crops are transported by rotating multiple rotors provided in a transport device. In a transport device with such a configuration, harvested crops may fall downward between the rotors and remain at the bottom of the transport device. To prevent this, some conventional sugarcane harvesters have an open bottom for the transport device. In such a sugarcane harvester, because the bottom of the transport device is open, crops that fall downward between the rotors do not remain in the transport device but instead fall directly to the ground.

[0005] However, some sugarcane harvesters have a travel transmission mechanism such as a transmission located below the conveyor, as described in Patent Document 1. Such sugarcane harvesters have the disadvantage that crops that fall from the conveyor end up on the travel transmission mechanism.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sugarcane harvester that can prevent crops from falling onto a travel transmission mechanism located below a conveying device, even if the conveying device has an open bottom. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The sugarcane harvester of the present invention comprises a running body, drive wheels supporting the running body, a transport device mounted on the running body in a rearward tilted position and transporting crops harvested from the field toward the rear of the running body, a running transmission mechanism mounted below the transport device for transmitting driving force to the drive wheels, and a cover member positioned between the transport device and the running transmission mechanism and covering the underside of the transport device.

[0008] According to this invention, a cover member is provided between the conveying device and the travel transmission mechanism, so that the cover member can prevent crops that have fallen from the conveying device from falling onto the travel transmission mechanism.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the upper surface of the cover member is an inclined surface positioned upward toward the rear.

[0010] This configuration allows crops that have fallen onto the cover member to slide down the inclined surface of the cover member. Furthermore, the cover member is provided between the conveyor device and the travel transmission mechanism, and the front end of the cover member is configured to be located forward of the travel transmission mechanism in the vertical direction, which makes it possible to prevent crops that have slid off the cover member from falling onto the travel transmission mechanism.

[0011] Furthermore, since the cover member is inclined so that it is positioned higher toward the rear, similar to the case of a transport device that is inclined rearward, the configuration of the transport device and the cover member can be made more compact than in a case where this is not the case, which makes it possible to secure a large space for arranging, for example, a travel transmission mechanism.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the angle of inclination of the inclined surface relative to the horizontal plane be larger than the angle of inclination of the inclined posture of the transport device relative to the horizontal plane.

[0013] According to this configuration, the cover member has a slope that is steeper than the inclination of the conveying device, which allows crops that fall onto the slope to slide off easily, thereby efficiently preventing the crops from remaining on the slope.

[0014] In the present invention, it is preferable that the traveling machine body has an opening located in front of the cover member, through which crops that have slid down the inclined surface can fall to the ground.

[0015] With this configuration, crops that fall onto the inclined surface of the cover member slide down to the ground through the opening, thereby reducing the chance of crops that fall onto the inclined surface of the cover member remaining inside the sugarcane harvester.

[0016] In the present invention, it is preferable that a support frame is provided for supporting the transport device, and the cover member is detachably attached to the support frame.

[0017] With this configuration, the cover member is supported by the strong support frame that supports the transport device, so that the cover member can be firmly fixed. Also, because the cover member is detachably attached, it is possible to easily remove any crops remaining on the cover member.

[0018] In the present invention, it is preferable that the cover member be separable into an upper member and a lower member.

[0019] According to this configuration, the cover member can be separated into an upper member and a lower member, so that even if the cover member is made of a heavy material, it can be easily removed and attached.

[0020] In the present invention, it is preferable that the lower member is provided with a support portion for supporting the upper member.

[0021] According to this configuration, when removing and installing the upper member, the upper member can be supported by a support portion of the lower member located below the upper member, thereby making it possible to easily perform the removing and installing operations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a sugarcane harvester. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the transport device and the travel transmission mechanism. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the transport device and the travel transmission mechanism. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the conveying device. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a cover member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the direction of arrow F in the drawings will be referred to as "front," the direction of arrow B as "rear," the direction of arrow L as "left," and the direction of arrow R as "right." Furthermore, the direction of arrow U in the drawings will be referred to as "up," and the direction of arrow D as "down."

[0024] [Overall configuration of sugarcane harvester] As shown in FIG. 1, the traveling body, which is the entire sugarcane harvester, is supported by left and right front wheels 1 which are traveling devices and left and right rear wheels 2 which are also traveling devices.

[0025] The running body is provided with a reaping unit 3, a conveying device 4 arranged in a rear-up inclined position, a separation device 5 which is a post-processing device connected to the rear of the conveying device 4, a conveyor 6 which is a post-processing device extending upward in an inclined position from a location below the separation device 5, a driving unit 7 arranged above the reaping unit 3, and an engine 8.

[0026] With the above configuration, as the traveling machine body advances, the cutting blade 9 of the cutting unit 3 cuts the base of the crops in the field and cuts the crops. The crops cut by the cutting blade 9 are transported upward and rearward by the transport device 4.

[0027] When the crop reaches the end of the conveying device 4, it is chopped at the end and fed to the separating device 5. The chopped crop passes downward inside the separating device 5 and falls to the front of the conveyor 6. Inside the separating device 5, sorting air is fed to the crop, blowing away debris, which is then separated and discharged.

[0028] The crops that fall to the front of the conveyor 6 are transported upward and rearward by the conveyor 6, and are then discharged from the discharge section at the top of the rear of the conveyor 6 onto the loading platform of an accompanying transport vehicle such as a truck (not shown) for collection.

[0029] [Frame structure] Next, the frame structure of the traveling vehicle body will be described.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the body frame is provided with left and right first frames 11 located on the upper side of the body, extending in the fore-and-aft direction and supporting the engine 8, left and right second frames 12 located on the lower side of the body, extending in the fore-and-aft direction, and located behind and below the engine 8, extending in the fore-and-aft direction, and left and right third frames 13 connected to the front of the left and right second frames 12, extending further forward than the second frames 12 and passing on the left and right sides of the lower part of the conveying device 4.

[0031] The left and right first frames 11 are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and connected by a plurality of horizontal frames (not shown) extending in the left-right direction, and the engine 8 is mounted and supported on the horizontal frames.

[0032] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second frame 12 is equipped with a front horizontal frame 14 extending in the left-right direction and provided in the central portion of the second frame 12 in the front-to-rear direction, left and right rear vertical frames 15 extending in the up-down direction and provided at the rear end portion of the second frame 12, and a conveyor support portion 16 provided between the lower portions of the left and right rear vertical frames 15 and supporting the conveyor 6 so that it can swing left and right.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper ends of the left and right rear vertical frames 15 are provided with support frame portions 40 (corresponding to the "support frame" of the present invention) that support the transport device 4 from below.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4, the support frame portion 40 includes left and right side frame portions 41 formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the side, a rear horizontal frame 42 provided between the rear portions of the left and right side frame portions 41, and an upper horizontal frame 43 provided between the upper ends of the left and right side frame portions 41.

[0035] 2 and 3, below the transport device 4, a transmission case 51 and axle cases 52 provided on both the left and right sides of the transmission case 51 are provided as a travel transmission mechanism 50 for transmitting driving force to the rear wheels 2. The travel transmission mechanism 50 is supported by the left and right second frames 12.

[0036] A hydraulic motor M1 is attached to the side of the transmission case 51. The hydraulic motor M1 outputs driving force when hydraulic oil is supplied from a hydraulic pump (not shown). The transmission case 51 has a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission as a speed change mechanism that changes the speed of the power output from the hydraulic motor M1, a gear-type transmission mechanism (not shown) that branches and transmits the power to the left and right rear wheels 2, and the like. With this configuration, the left and right rear wheels 2 are configured as drive wheels.

[0037] Left and right reduction cases 53 each having a gear-type reduction mechanism are provided on the outer lateral sides of the left and right axle cases 52. The left and right reduction cases 53 are connected by a cylindrical member 53a.

[0038] 3, the transmission case 51 is disposed between the left and right second frames 12 when viewed in the vertical direction. The transmission case 51 is supported by the second frames 12 via an axle case 52.

[0039] 4, a lower rear cover 54 is provided behind the transmission case 51 and is disposed between the conveyor support portion 16 and the support frame portion 40. Also, an upper rear cover 55 is provided above the lower rear cover 54 and is disposed between the rear horizontal frame 42 and the upper horizontal frame 43 of the support frame portion 40.

[0040] [Configuration of the transport device] As shown in Figure 4, the conveying device 4 has left and right side walls 22, and multiple frames 23 are connected across the upper and lower parts of the left and right side walls 22, so that the side walls 22 and the frames 23 form a box-shaped structure.

[0041] Six sets of rotating body units 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 are supported inside the aforementioned structure. The front part of the side wall 22 is connected to the rear part of the reaping part 3, and the rear part of the side wall 22 is connected to the separating device 5 (see FIG. 1).

[0042] Each of the rotor units 31 to 36 has an upper rotor 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a, or 36a that can rotate about an axis along the left-right direction, and a lower rotor 31b, 32b, 33b, 34b, 35b, or 36b that can also rotate about an axis along the left-right direction. The rotor units 31 to 36 are arranged at intervals along the direction in which the crops are transported.

[0043] The upper rotating bodies 31a to 36a are driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the driving force of a hydraulic motor M2 (see FIG. 2) which is a driving source. The lower rotating bodies 31b to 36b are driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2 by the driving force of a hydraulic motor M2 (see FIG. 2) which is a driving source. With this configuration, the upper rotating bodies 31a to 36a and the lower rotating bodies 31b to 36b are driven to rotate in opposite directions to each other. For convenience, FIG. 2 shows only the hydraulic motor M2 provided on the left side of the conveying device 4, but a hydraulic motor M2 is also provided on the right side of the conveying device 4. As a result, the upper rotating bodies 31a to 36a and the lower rotating bodies 31b to 36b are all provided with hydraulic motors M2.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 4, the upper rotors 31a to 35a and the lower rotors 31b to 35b each include a cylindrical main body 25 and a plurality of sweeping members 26. The sweeping members 26 are radially connected to the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 25. For convenience, only rotor 32b is denoted by the reference numerals "25" and "26" in Fig. 4, but the same applies to the other rotors.

[0045] Swing support members 28 that support the upper rotors 31a to 35a so that they can swing up and down are provided for the rotor units 31 to 35. The swing support members 28 are supported by the left and right side walls 22 so that they can swing up and down around axes P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 that extend in the left-right direction.

[0046] In the rotor unit 36 ​​located at the end of the conveying path of the conveying device 4, the upper rotor 36a and the lower rotor 36b have a plurality of horizontally elongated chopping blades 27 radially connected to the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 25. The rotors 36a and 36b of the rotor unit 36 ​​are so-called choppers that cut the crops.

[0047] With the above configuration, when the base of a crop harvested by the harvesting unit 3 is supplied to the transport device 4, the base of the crop is pulled in between the upper rotor 31a and the lower rotor 31b. The crop is transported while being sandwiched between the upper rotors 31a to 35a and the lower rotors 31b to 35b, with the base of the crop leading ahead of the top of the crop.

[0048] When the crop reaches the end of the conveying device 4, it is clamped between the upper rotor 36a and the lower rotor 36b, shredded by the shredding blade 27, and supplied to the top of the separating device 5.

[0049] [Configuration of cover member] 4, a cover member 60 that covers the conveyance device 4 from below is provided between the conveyance device 4 and the travel transmission mechanism 50. The cover member 60 is made of a plate-shaped member.

[0050] The cover member 60 is provided from the upper horizontal frame 43 of the support frame portion 40 to the tubular member 53a located above the front horizontal frame 14. With this configuration, the upper surface 60a of the cover member 60 is provided as an inclined surface that is positioned upward as it approaches the rear.

[0051] In FIG. 4, angle θ1 is the inclination angle of the inclined posture of the conveying device 4 with respect to the horizontal plane. Furthermore, angle θ2 is the inclination angle of the inclined surface (upper surface 60a) of the cover member 60 with respect to the horizontal plane. As shown in FIG. 4, angle θ2 is larger than angle θ1. With this configuration, when a portion of the crop being conveyed by the conveying device 4 or a portion of the crop cut by the rotator unit 36 ​​of the conveying device 4 falls onto the inclined surface (upper surface 60a) of the cover member 60, the crop easily slides down the inclined surface (upper surface 60a). Furthermore, compared to when the cover member 60 is directly attached to the lower edge of the conveying device 4 (left and right side walls 22), a larger distance can be secured between the rotator units 31-35 and the cover member 60, which more effectively prevents crops from getting stuck below the rotator units 31-35.

[0052] 3 and 4, an opening 17 is formed in the area surrounded by the rear of the front horizontal frame 14 and the left and right second frames 12. The opening 17 is located in front of the cover member 60, and allows crops that have slid down the inclined surface (upper surface 60a) to fall to the ground.

[0053] [Support structure of cover member] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover member 60 is configured to be separable into an upper member 61 and a lower member 62.

[0054] The left and right side frame portions 41 of the support frame portion 40 are each provided with a plurality of protrusions 44 extending inward in the left-right direction of the traveling body. Also provided are a front extension member 45 extending forward from the upper horizontal frame 43 and a rear extension member 46 extending rearward from the upper horizontal frame 43.

[0055] The upper member 61 is fastened to the protrusions 44 on both the left and right sides of the central portion in the front-rear direction with bolts Bo. In addition, the rear end portion of the upper member 61 is fastened to the front extension member 45 with bolts Bo. With this configuration, the upper member 61 is detachably supported on the support frame portion 40.

[0056] The lower member 62 has both left and right sides of its rear end fastened to the protrusions 44 with bolts Bo. Furthermore, the front end portion of the upper member 61 and the rear end portion of the lower member 62 are also fastened with bolts Bo. With this configuration, the lower member 62 is detachably supported on the support frame 40. The lower member 62 is further fastened with bolts Bo to a support portion 48 provided on the upper portion of the tubular member 53a.

[0057] 5, the front end portion of the upper member 61 is disposed so as to overlap the rear end portion of the lower member 62. Contact portions 64 are formed at two locations on the front end portion of the upper member 61 by bending the front end portion of the upper member 61.

[0058] When the abutment portion 64 of the upper member 61 abuts against the rear end edge 62a of the lower member 62 (corresponding to the ``support portion'' of the present invention), the front end portion of the upper member 61 is supported by the rear end portion of the lower member 62.

[0059] Here, when all the bolts Bo that fasten and fix the upper member 61 are untightened, the upper member 61 can be swung downward with the rear end side edge 62a of the lower member 62 as the swing fulcrum.

[0060] With this configuration, even if all of the bolts Bo that fasten and secure the upper member 61 are untightened, the front end portion of the upper member 61 is supported by the rear end portion of the lower member 62, so that an operator can easily prevent the upper member 61 from falling by supporting the rear portion of the upper member 61 with one hand.

[0061] Furthermore, when attaching the upper member 61, the front end portion of the upper member 61 is placed on the rear end portion of the lower member 62, and the abutting portion 64 of the upper member 61 is brought into contact with the rear edge 62a of the lower member 62, whereby the front end portion of the upper member 61 is supported by the rear end portion of the lower member 62. Therefore, if the worker supports the rear portion of the upper member 61 with one hand, he or she can use the other hand to fasten the bolt Bo. As a result, the attachment and removal of the upper member 61 can be easily performed.

[0062] [Another embodiment] Hereinafter, another embodiment in which the above embodiment is modified will be exemplified.

[0063] (1) In the above embodiment, the inclined surface (upper surface 60a) of the cover member 60 is inclined so that the rear side is positioned higher, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the cover member 60 may be inclined so that the inclined surface (upper surface 60a) is horizontal, or may be inclined so that the rear side is positioned lower.

[0064] (2) In the above embodiment, the angle θ2 of the inclined surface (upper surface 60a) of the cover member 60 relative to the horizontal plane is larger than the angle θ1 of the inclined posture of the transport device 4 relative to the horizontal plane. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the angle θ1 and the angle θ2 may be configured to be the same.

[0065] (3) In the above embodiment, an example configuration including the opening 17 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and a configuration without the opening 17 may be used. In this case, the crops that fall onto the upper surface 60a of the cover member 60 may fall to the side of the traveling body.

[0066] (4) In the above embodiment, the cover member 60 is described as being removably attached to the support frame portion 40. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the cover member 60 may be welded to the support frame portion 40 and not be detachable.

[0067] (5) In the above embodiment, the cover member 60 is described as being separable into an upper member 61 and a lower member 62, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the cover member 60 may be configured as a single unit.

[0068] (6) In the above embodiment, the upper member 61 is described as having the contact portion 64 that contacts the rear end edge 62a of the lower member 62, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The lower member 62 may be configured to have a portion that contacts the front end edge of the upper member 61, similar to the contact portion 64. Alternatively, the lower member 62 may not be configured to have the contact portion 64.

[0069] (7) In the above embodiment, the travel transmission mechanism 50 is provided below the transport device 4, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, instead of the travel transmission mechanism 50, the engine 8 may be provided below the transport device 4.

[0070] The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, unless a contradiction arises. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the purpose of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0071] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in a sugarcane harvester equipped with a transport device that transports crops harvested from a field toward the rear of the traveling machine body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 4:Transportation device 17: Opening 23: Frame 40: Support frame part (support frame) 50: Travel transmission mechanism 60: Cover member 60a:Top surface 61: Upper member 62: Lower member 62a: Rear edge of the lower member (support portion)

Claims

1. A running body and Drive wheels that support the traveling machine body; a conveying device provided on the traveling machine body in a rearwardly upwardly inclined position and configured to convey crops harvested from the field toward the rear of the traveling machine body; a travel transmission mechanism provided below the transport device for transmitting a driving force to the drive wheels; a cover member positioned between the transport device and the travel transmission mechanism and covering the bottom of the transport device.

2. 2. The sugarcane harvester according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the cover member is an inclined surface that is positioned upwards towards the rear.

3. 3. The sugarcane harvester according to claim 2, wherein the angle of inclination of the inclined surface relative to the horizontal plane is greater than the angle of inclination of the inclined posture of the transport device relative to the horizontal plane.

4. 4. The sugarcane harvester according to claim 2, wherein the traveling body is provided with an opening located in front of the cover member, through which crops that have slid down the slope can fall to the ground.

5. a support frame for supporting the transport device; The sugarcane harvester according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is detachably attached to the support frame.

6. 6. The sugarcane harvester according to claim 5, wherein the cover member is separable into an upper member and a lower member.

7. 7. The sugarcane harvester according to claim 6, wherein the lower member is provided with a support portion for supporting the upper member.

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