Harvesting machine

Abstract

It was desired that the cooling fan could be reversed at the appropriate timing. [Solution] A harvesting machine comprising an engine, a threshing device for threshing harvested grain stalks, a dustproof section provided on the side of the machine body relative to a cooling device for cooling the engine, a dustproof mesh that prevents the passage of dust while allowing outside air to circulate, a cooling fan that generates cooling air to cool the cooling device, and a control device that controls the rotation of the cooling fan, wherein the control device can switch the rotation of the cooling fan between forward rotation that draws outside air towards the cooling device and reverse rotation that discharges inside air, and the control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the threshing device stopped.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a combine harvester, and more particularly to a combine harvester provided with an engine located on the lower side of the operator's cab, a radiator for cooling the engine, a cooling fan for sucking outside air to cool the radiator through a dust-proof net, and a dust-removing mechanism for removing dust adhering to the dust-proof net.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a combine harvester has been known which is provided with an engine, a radiator for cooling the engine, and a cooling fan for sucking outside air to cool the radiator through a dust-proof net, in a power unit located on the lower side of the operator's cab. And such a combine harvester can remove the dust adhering to the dust-proof net by rotating the cooling fan in the reverse direction at regular time intervals.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When dust adheres to the dust-proof net, the intake of outside air is hindered and the cooling capacity decreases. From this point of view, it is desired to increase the frequency of reverse rotation of the cooling fan. However, when the cooling fan rotates in the reverse direction, outside air is not sent to the radiator, and the temperature of the coolant rises, so the frequency of reverse rotation cannot be increased arbitrarily.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a combine harvester capable of removing dust adhering to a dust-proof net at an appropriate timing and appropriately performing cooling by a cooling device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The characteristic configuration of the present invention comprises a drive source, a threshing device for threshing harvested grain stalks, a dustproof section provided on the side of the machine body relative to a cooling device for cooling the drive source, a dustproof mesh that prevents the passage of dust while allowing outside air to circulate, a cooling fan that generates cooling air to cool the cooling device, and a control device that controls the rotation of the cooling fan. The control device can switch the rotation of the cooling fan between forward rotation, which draws outside air towards the cooling device, and reverse rotation, which discharges inside air. The control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the threshing device stopped.

[0007] When the threshing machine stops, the engine load decreases. By reversing the rotation of the cooling fan at this time, the temperature rise of the cooling system during reverse rotation can be suppressed compared to when the threshing machine is operating. In addition, since the amount of dust around the machine decreases after the threshing machine stops, there will be less dust accumulation after the dust has been removed by reversing the rotation of the cooling fan, and the intake of outside air will not be obstructed. Therefore, according to the present invention, dust adhering to the dust screen can be removed at the appropriate timing, and cooling by the cooling system can be performed appropriately.

[0008] In the present invention, the cooling device cools the drive source by allowing a coolant to flow through a cooling path, and includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the coolant. Preferably, if the temperature of the coolant detected after a predetermined temperature determination time has elapsed since the cooling fan reversed rotation exceeds a temperature threshold, the control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan.

[0009] The rise in coolant temperature indicates that the dust filter is clogged, resulting in insufficient intake of outside air.

[0010] In this configuration, if the temperature of the coolant exceeds the temperature threshold after the temperature determination time has elapsed, the cooling fan reverses direction. This prevents clogging of the dust filter and ensures proper cooling of the cooling device.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan after a predetermined waiting period has elapsed since the threshing device was driven.

[0012] When threshing begins, dust around the machine increases, making the dust screen prone to clogging. In this configuration, the cooling fan reverses direction after the threshing device has been turned on and a standby time has elapsed. This allows dust to be removed from the dust screen at an early stage after the threshing operation begins, making it easier to maintain high cooling efficiency in the cooling system.

[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that the device includes a timer for measuring the elapsed time since the cooling fan began to rotate in reverse, and that when the timer's measured value exceeds a time threshold, the control device reverses the cooling fan, and if the control device reverses the cooling fan before the timer's measured value exceeds the time threshold, the timer's measured value is reset.

[0014] While the cooling fan is rotating in reverse, the cooling efficiency of the cooling system tends to decrease. With this configuration, the timer is reset when the cooling fan rotates in reverse, preventing the cooling fan from rotating in reverse continuously. This prevents a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the cooling system due to excessive reverse rotation of the cooling fan. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a right-side view of the entire combine harvester. [Figure 2] This is an overall plan view of the combine harvester. [Figure 3] This is a front cross-sectional view of the power unit. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the rotation state switching mechanism. [Figure 5] This is a front cross-sectional view of the rotation state switching mechanism. [Figure 6] This is a side view of the rotation state switching mechanism in the forward rotation state. [Figure 7] This is a side view of the rotation state switching mechanism in the reverse rotation state. [Figure 8] It is a block diagram showing a control mechanism by a control device. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing a control mechanism by a control device.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0016] In this embodiment, when defining the front - rear direction of the machine body, it is defined along the traveling direction of the machine body in the working state, and when defining the left - right direction of the machine body, the left and right are defined in the state seen from the traveling direction of the machine body. That is, the direction indicated by the symbol (F) in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the front side of the machine body, and the direction indicated by the symbol (B) in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the rear side of the machine body. The direction indicated by the symbol (L) in FIG. 2 is the left side of the machine body, and the direction indicated by the symbol (R) in FIG. 2 is the right side of the machine body.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the combine according to the present invention includes a scraping-in part 7 for scraping in cereal straws and a cutting part 6 for cutting planted cereal straws at the front part of a traveling machine body equipped with a pair of left - right crawler traveling devices 10. A driving part 5 is provided on the right front side of the traveling machine body, and at the rear part of the traveling machine body, a threshing device 4 for threshing the cereal straws cut by the cutting part 6 and a grain tank 9 for storing the grains obtained by the threshing process are provided side by side in the horizontal direction. A prime mover 2 is provided in a state of being located below the driving part 5 of the traveling machine body. Although not described in detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the grain tank 9 is configured to be swingable around the vertical axis X1. Thereby, it is easy to perform maintenance inside the machine body in the grain tank 9.

[0018] 〔Rotation State Switching Mechanism〕 As shown in Fig. 3, the prime mover 2 includes an engine 13 (corresponding to the "driving source" according to the present invention), a cooling device 72 for cooling the engine 13, a dust-proof part 21 provided on the outer side of the machine body laterally with respect to the cooling device 72, which blocks the passage of dust and allows the ventilation of outside air by means of a dust-proof net 21a, and a cooling fan 20 for generating cooling air for cooling the cooling device 72. The cooling device 72 has a radiator 19, and the engine 13 is cooled by sending the cooling air generated by the cooling fan 20 to the radiator 19.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, inside the prime mover 2, there is provided a rotation state switching mechanism 26 that can be switched between a normal rotation state in which the cooling fan 20 is rotationally driven in the normal rotation direction for cooling to remove the dust adhering to the dust-proof net 21a, and a reverse rotation state in which it is rotationally driven in the reverse rotation direction for dust removal.

[0020] The rotation state switching mechanism 26 includes a first transmission belt 27 as a driving-side endless rotating body that rotates by the power of the engine 13, a normal rotation pulley 28 that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the first transmission belt 27, a reverse rotation pulley 29 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the first transmission belt 27, a second transmission belt 31 that is wound around each of the normal rotation pulley 28, the reverse rotation pulley 29, and the fan driving pulley 30, and a switching member 32 that supports the normal rotation pulley 28 and the reverse rotation pulley 29.

[0021] The first transmission belt 27 is wound around an idle pulley 34 rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 33 supported on the side surface of the engine 13, an output pulley 35 of the engine 13, and an input pulley 37 of an alternator 36. A tension pulley 38b is supported at the tip of a tension arm 38a that is swingably supported around a horizontal axis core P1 on the upper part of the case of the alternator 36. Further, a spring (not shown) for biasing the tension arm 38a toward the first transmission belt 27 is provided, and due to the biasing force of the spring, the tension pulley 38b is always pressed against the outer surface of the first transmission belt 27 to apply a tension force to the first transmission belt 27.

[0022] The fan drive pulley 30, around which the second transmission belt 31 is wound, is externally fitted and supported on the rotating shaft 33 so as to be rotatable relative to it. The base of the cooling fan 20 is attached to the boss portion of this fan drive pulley 30. Therefore, the cooling fan 20 rotates integrally with the fan drive pulley 30.

[0023] The switching member 32 is formed in a roughly triangular flat plate shape when viewed from the side, and one corner of the switching member 32 is rotatably supported on the rotating shaft 33 via a boss. The forward rotation pulley 28 and the reverse rotation pulley 29 are rotatably supported on support shafts 39 and 40 located at the other two corners of the switching member 32, respectively. As shown in Figure 5, the forward rotation pulley 28 and the reverse rotation pulley 29 each have a first contact portion 28a, 29a that contacts the first transmission belt 27 and a second contact portion 28b, 29b that contacts the second transmission belt 31 integrally formed.

[0024] As shown in Figure 6, the output pulley 35 of the engine 13 rotates in conjunction with the operation of the engine 13, and the first transmission belt 27 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure. When the switching member 32 is swung to the forward rotation position A1 shown in Figure 6, the cooling fan 20 enters a forward rotation state, which drives it to rotate in the forward direction for cooling. That is, in Figure 5, the first contact portion 28a of the forward rotation pulley 28 is pressed against the inner surface of the first transmission belt 27, and the power of the first transmission belt 27 is transmitted as forward rotation power to the fan drive pulley 30 via the second contact portion 28b of the forward rotation pulley 28 and the second transmission belt 31, and the cooling fan 20 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction shown in Figure 6.

[0025] When the cooling fan 20 is driven in the forward direction in this manner, the suction action of the cooling fan 20 causes outside air to flow as cooling air through the dust screen 21a, through the radiator 19, and towards the engine 13, resulting in normal ventilation.

[0026] When the switching member 32 is swung to the reverse position A2 shown in Figure 7, the cooling fan 20 enters a reverse state, which drives it to rotate in the reverse direction for dust removal. Specifically, in Figure 5, the first contact portion 29a of the reverse pulley 29 is pressed against the outer surface of the first transmission belt 27, and the power of the first transmission belt 27 is transmitted as reverse power to the fan drive pulley 30 via the second contact portion 29b of the reverse pulley 29 and the second transmission belt 31, causing the cooling fan 20 to be driven in the counterclockwise direction shown in Figure 7.

[0027] When the cooling fan 20 is driven in reverse in this manner, the air blown out by the cooling fan 20 flows in the opposite direction to the normal ventilation state, blowing away any dust and debris attached to the surface of the radiator 19 and the dustproof mesh 21a.

[0028] [Drive system] A drive device 41 is provided that allows the forward rotation pulley 28 and the reverse rotation pulley 29 to be moved and their positions changed together. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the drive device 41 is provided at a position spaced apart above the switching member 32 and comprises an electric motor 42 as an actuator, a large-diameter driven gear 44 driven by a small-diameter output gear 43 driven by the electric motor 42, a rotating operating member 45 that rotates integrally with the driven gear 44, and a mounting member 46 that supports them. The drive device 41 is detachably attached to the cover that covers the upper part of the drive unit 2 by the mounting member 46.

[0029] The gear case portion 42a of the electric motor 42 is bolted to the vertical plate portion 48. The rotating shaft 42b of the electric motor 42 passes through the vertical plate portion 48 and protrudes to the opposite side, and an output gear 43 is provided on the protruding portion of the rotating shaft 42b. A large-diameter driven gear 44 that meshes with the output gear 43 is supported on a left-right oriented fixed shaft 50 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis P2. The fixed shaft 50 is fixed to the side of the mounting member 46 opposite to the side of the vertical plate portion 48 where the electric motor is installed. A rotating operating member 45 that rotates integrally with the driven gear 44 is attached to the lateral side of the driven gear 44.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6, a substantially fan-shaped winding member 58 that rotates integrally with the switching member 32 and a wire 59 that connects the winding member 58 and the rotation operating member 45 are provided. One end of the wire 59 is connected to a pin 45a provided on the rotation operating member 45, and the other end is connected to a pin 58a provided on the winding member 58.

[0031] Although not shown in the diagram, the winding member 58 has a wire guide section that guides the wire 59 in a wound state so that it bypasses the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 33 in an arc shape as the switching member 32 is oscillated. A pin 45b is provided at a position circumferentially spaced apart from the wire connection pin 45a of the rotation operating member 45. A connecting rod 60 having a stroke-absorbing spring is connected between this pin 45b and a pin 32a provided on the oscillating end side of the switching member 32.

[0032] When the electric motor 42 is driven to rotate the rotation operating member 45 to the forward rotation position, that is, clockwise in Figure 4, the switching member 32 is also rotated clockwise via the linkage rod 60. As shown in Figure 6, when the switching member 32 is positioned at an angle corresponding to the forward rotation position A1, and the tension on the first transmission belt 27 is in the correct forward rotation state, the pin 45b passes the dead point, and the tensile force applied via the linkage rod 60 due to the tension of the first transmission belt 27 switches to acting in the opposite direction, that is, in the direction of rotation by the electric motor 42. The electric motor 42 then stops operating, and that state is maintained.

[0033] The electric motor 42 has a built-in worm gear reduction mechanism, and even without the driving force of the electric motor 42, rotation is prevented by the driving reaction force from the output side. Therefore, even if a rotational force is applied from the driven gear 44 side by the tension of the first transmission belt 27 after the rotational operation of the electric motor 42 has been stopped, that rotation will be prevented.

[0034] Next, when the electric motor 42 rotates the rotating operating member 45 counterclockwise by approximately 180°, the wire 59 is pulled, causing the switching member 32 to swing counterclockwise, and the switching member 32 is moved to the reverse position A2. Then, as shown in Figure 7, when the switching member 32 is positioned at the angle corresponding to the reverse position and the tension on the first transmission belt 27 is in the correct reverse state, the pin 45a passes over the dead point, and the pulling force applied via the wire 59 due to the tension of the first transmission belt 27 switches to acting in the opposite direction, that is, in the direction of rotational operation by the electric motor 42, and the electric motor 42 stops operating and this state is maintained.

[0035] In this case, when the switching member 32 is swung from the forward position A1 to the reverse position A2, the linkage rod 60 is pulled towards the switching member 32 as the switching member 32 swings. At the same time, the pin 45a of the rotational operating member 45 to which the linkage rod 60 is connected also moves towards the switching member 32. Therefore, the linkage rod 60 does not create significant resistance to the swinging operation of the switching member 32 from the forward position A1 to the reverse position A2. In this way, the forward and reverse states can be alternately switched by rotating the electric motor 42 in the forward and reverse directions.

[0036] A potentiometer-type operating position sensor 61 is provided located below the alternator 36 to detect the swinging position of the switching member 32. This operating position sensor 61 is configured to output a detected value corresponding to the swinging position of the switching member 32 by linking the swinging end of the operating arm 61b, which is provided on the sensor body 61a so as to be able to swing freely around the horizontal axis P3, with the swinging end of the switching member 32 via a link 62.

[0037] A control device 71 is provided to control the operation of the electric motor 42. The control device 71 controls the operation of the electric motor 42 based on the detection information from the operating position sensor 61. In this way, the control device 71 controls the rotation state switching mechanism 26, thereby controlling the rotation of the cooling fan 20. That is, the control device 71 can switch the rotation of the cooling fan 20 between forward rotation, which draws in outside air toward the cooling device 72, and reverse rotation, which discharges inside air.

[0038] [Cooling device] As shown in Figure 3, the cooling system 72 cools the engine 13 by the flow of coolant through a cooling path. The cooling system 72 is located on the right side of the aircraft. The radiator 19 receives cooling air blown by the cooling fan 20, which allows it to release the heat from the coolant to the outside air. In this embodiment, a water-cooled cooling system 72 using a radiator 19 is provided, but it is not limited to this. For example, an oil-cooled system in which lubricating oil circulates may also be used.

[0039] As shown in Figure 8, the cooling device 72 is equipped with a temperature sensor 70 for detecting the temperature of the coolant. The temperature of the coolant detected by the temperature sensor 70 is input to the control device 71.

[0040] [Control device] The control device 71 reverses the rotation of the cooling fan 20 under predetermined conditions. The control flow by the control device 71 will be explained below with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

[0041] First, the mobile unit is equipped with a timer 74 that measures the elapsed time since the cooling fan 20 began to rotate in reverse. The control device 71 performs the following control based on the measured value input from the timer 74.

[0042] As shown in Figure 9, in step S01, the control device 71 determines whether a time threshold has elapsed since the cooling fan 20 began to reverse rotation. If the measured value of the timer 74 exceeds the time threshold (step S01: Yes), the control device 71 reverses the rotation of the cooling fan 20 and resets the timer 74 (step S06). The time threshold is a predetermined amount of time, and in this embodiment, the time threshold is several minutes. In other words, regardless of whether the machine is operated or whether the operating state changes, the control device 71 reverses the rotation of the cooling fan 20 at least every few minutes, which is the time threshold. Once the cooling fan 20 has reversed rotation and the control flow has ended, the control device 71 controls the rotation state switching mechanism 26 again according to the same control flow. If the measured value of the timer 74 does not exceed the time threshold (step S01: No), the process proceeds to step S02.

[0043] In step S02, the control device 71 determines whether the temperature determination time has elapsed since the cooling fan 20 began to reverse rotation. If the measurement value from the timer 74 exceeds the temperature determination time (step S02: Yes), the process proceeds to step S03; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S04. The temperature determination time is several tens of seconds, which is shorter than the time threshold.

[0044] In step S03, the control device 71 obtains the temperature of the coolant from the temperature sensor 70. If the coolant temperature detected after a predetermined temperature determination time has elapsed since the cooling fan 20 reversed rotation exceeds the temperature threshold (step S03: Yes), the control device 71 reverses the rotation of the cooling fan 20 (step S06). If the coolant temperature is below the temperature threshold (step S03: No), the cooling fan 20 does not reverse rotation, and the process proceeds to step S04. In this embodiment, the temperature determination time is several minutes, and the temperature threshold is 105°C. That is, if the coolant temperature exceeds 105°C several minutes after the cooling fan 20 reversed rotation, the cooling fan 20 reversed rotation again. Also, as shown in Figure 9, when the cooling fan 20 reversed rotation (step S06), it returned to the start, so this operation was repeated until the coolant temperature dropped.

[0045] In step S04, the control device 71 determines whether the drive standby time has elapsed since the threshing device 4 started to drive. If the drive standby time has elapsed (step S04: Yes), the control device 71 reverses the rotation of the cooling fan 20 (step S06). In this embodiment, the drive standby time is a few seconds, which is shorter than the time threshold. That is, when the threshing device 4 is driven, the cooling fan 20 reverses rotation a few seconds later. The timing when the threshing device 4 started to drive refers to the time when the threshing device 4 changed from a stopped state to a driven state. Therefore, in step S04, the timing when the threshing device 4 started to drive refers to, for example, the time when the threshing clutch for transmitting power from the engine 13 to the threshing device 4 was connected. The determination of Yes in step S04 and the resulting reverse rotation of the cooling fan 20 (step S06) are performed only once after the threshing device 4 started to drive. If No is determined in step S04, the process proceeds to step S05.

[0046] In step S05, the control device 71 determines whether the stop waiting time has elapsed since the threshing device 4 stopped. If the stop waiting time has elapsed (step S05: Yes), the control device 71 reverses the rotation of the cooling fan 20 (step S06). The stopping of the threshing device 4 refers to the state in which the threshing device 4 has stopped from a state in which it was running, and includes, for example, when the threshing clutch is disengaged. In this embodiment, the stop waiting time is several tens of seconds, which is shorter than the time threshold. The determination of Yes in step S05 and the subsequent reverse rotation of the cooling fan 20 (step S06) are performed only once after the threshing device 4 has stopped.

[0047] As described above, in this embodiment, the cooling fan 20 may rotate in reverse before the measured value of the timer 74 exceeds the time threshold (step S01: No) (step S03: Yes, step S04: Yes, step S05: Yes), at which point the measured value of the timer 74 is reset (step S06).

[0048] Following the above processing flow, the control device 71 reverses the rotation of the cooling fan 20.

[0049] [Alternative Embodiment] (1) After the temperature determination time has elapsed, the control device 71 does not need to reverse the rotation of the cooling fan 20.

[0050] (2) After the operating standby time has elapsed, the control device 71 does not need to reverse the rotation of the cooling fan 20.

[0051] (3) Timer 74 is not required. For example, in step S03, when the temperature of the coolant rises above a temperature threshold, the control device 71 may reverse the rotation of the cooling fan 20.

[0052] (4) The rotation state switching mechanism 26 is not required. In this embodiment, a configuration is shown in which the rotation direction of the cooling fan 20 is changed by a pulley or the like, but for example, a configuration in which the rotation direction is switched by changing the hydraulic fluid supply state using a hydraulic motor and a control valve is also acceptable. Any configuration is acceptable as long as the direction of airflow can be switched.

[0053] (5) The timer 74 measures the elapsed time from the start of the engine 13, and may also measure each timing of the elapsed time measurement from step S01 to step S05, such as the driving of the threshing device 4 or the reverse rotation of the cooling fan 20, as lap times.

[0054] Furthermore, the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no inconsistencies arise. In addition, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the object of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0055] This invention can be applied not only to conventional combine harvesters but also to harvesting machines such as self-propelled combine harvesters. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 4: Threshing device 20: Cooling fan 21: Dustproof section 21a: Dustproof net 70: Temperature sensor 71: Control device 72: Cooling device 74: Timer

Claims

1. Power source and A threshing device for threshing harvested grain stalks, A dustproof section is provided on the side of the machine body relative to the cooling device that cools the aforementioned drive source, and which prevents dust from passing through with a dustproof mesh while allowing outside air to circulate. A cooling fan that generates cooling air to cool the aforementioned cooling device, The system includes a control device that controls the rotation of the cooling fan, The control device is capable of switching the rotation of the cooling fan between forward rotation, which draws in outside air towards the cooling device, and reverse rotation, which expels inside air. The control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan after a predetermined waiting period has elapsed since the threshing device stopped.

2. The cooling device cools the drive source by allowing a cooling liquid to flow through the cooling path. The system includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the coolant, The harvesting machine according to claim 1, wherein if the temperature of the cooling liquid detected after a predetermined temperature determination time has elapsed since the reverse rotation of the cooling fan exceeds a temperature threshold, the control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan.

3. The harvesting machine according to claim 1, wherein the control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the threshing device was driven.

4. The system includes a timer that measures the elapsed time since the cooling fan started rotating in reverse. When the timer's measurement exceeds the time threshold, the control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan. The harvesting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the timer's measured value is reset when the control device reverses the rotation of the cooling fan before the timer's measured value exceeds the time threshold.

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