Knife roller assembly with triple articulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a knife roller assembly with triple articulation applied to a machine or implement, wherein the articulations behave individually depending on the soil profile on which the assembly is operating. A first articulation promotes the movement in the horizontal plane of the knife roller assembly (10) relative to an arm (40), a second articulation is provided by an actuator (A2) in conjunction with a load compensation mechanism (A1) and an amplitude variation mechanism, and a third articulation allows the lateral arms (Blat) to follow the irregularities of the soil.

Description

[0001] TRIPLE JOINT KNIFE ROLLER ASSEMBLY FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002]

[0001] This invention patent describes a triple-jointed knife roller assembly. Thus, the knife roller assemblies applied to a machine or implement exhibit individual behaviors, depending on the soil profile in which the assembly is operating, ensuring that all rollers are in effective contact with the ground, even on uneven terrain.

[0003] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004]

[0002] The knife roller is a fundamental tool for managing agricultural cover crops. This is especially true when it comes to no-till techniques, which seek to perform as few operations as possible and only alter the soil structure when absolutely necessary.

[0005]

[0003] The knife roller is used to flatten cover crops or crop residue from the previous crop, keeping all the straw on the soil. This is one of the pillars of no-till farming, where keeping the straw on top of the soil improves its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. However, the knife roller can also be used for chopping corn stubble, destroying cotton stalks, managing vegetation, and other applications.

[0006]

[0004] The prior art describes several technical solutions applied to knife rollers. Among the construction requirements for this type of equipment, in addition to the blades, the knife roller must adapt to the irregularities of the terrain in order to avoid discontinuity in contact with the ground.

[0007]

[0005] Document MU9003046 describes an arrangement in an articulated relief copying knife roller with a joint that allows copying the ground relief, adapting more effectively to the irregularities of the terrain.

[0008]

[0006] Document BR202020003340 describes a construction arrangement applied to an articulated knife roller with pantographic arms and a set of springs, allowing the knife roller to move upwards / downwards transversely to the upwards / downwards movement of the pantographic arms, enabling contact of said knife roller with the ground, allowing the monitoring of irregularities and various reliefs in the cultivated field.

[0009]

[0007] Document BR202019001397 describes an articulated knife roller that has a pivoting central frame in relation to the header, and from this central frame a left side support, a right side support and the rear support are articulatedly linked, where each of these supports contains its respective knife roller, and the left side supports and the right side support can be mechanically tilted upwards by means of the joints and the rear support can be mechanically tilted upwards by means of the joints.

[0010]

[0008] In agricultural implements or machines that incorporate several knife rollers, generally more than three, one of the difficulties concerns adapting this set to the soil profile. Therefore, load compensating elements, springs, among other technical solutions, are provided to ensure that all knife rollers will be in continuous contact with the soil.

[0011]

[0009] In order to offer a solution, the Applicant developed a triple-jointed knife roller that, associated with the load compensating mechanism as well as the amplitude variator mechanism, both protected by a patent from the same holder (documents BR20201 800971 3 and BR2020220061 88), guarantees constant and uniform pressure of the tool in contact with the ground.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013]

[0010] Figure 1A shows an agricultural implement equipped with knife roller assemblies (Cn a t) coupled to the structure of the side arms (Biat) and a central knife roller assembly (Cr c ) coupled to the chassis (C) of the implement and figure 1 B shows details of the coupling of the knife roller sets.

[0014]

[0011] Figure 2A shows the exploded view showing the knife roller support structure and the arm that is coupled to the chassis of the implement or agricultural machine; figure 2B shows the assembled view; figure 2C shows the side view of the knife roller support structure, the arm and the arrangement of the pin (P1); figure 2D shows details of the arrangement of the pin (P1); figure 2E shows the first articulation point, showing the movement in the horizontal plane achieved by the compression springs associated with the support with eyes of the support structure and figure 2F shows the same construction as 2E, with more accentuated movement.

[0015]

[0012] Figure 3A shows a representation of the vertical articulation of the knife roller assembly from the working position to the transport position, by activating the actuator (A2); figure 3B shows the actuator (A2) extended and locked, showing the knife roller (10) positioned on the ground and figure 3C shows the situation identical to that represented in figure 3B, showing the range of movement of the knife roller assembly provided by the load compensating mechanism (A1) and the amplitude variator mechanism.

[0016]

[0013] Figure 4A shows the knife roller assemblies connected to the chassis and connected to the side arms with movement achieved through triple articulation and figure 4B shows the representation of the movement achieved by the knife roller assemblies coupled to the structure of the side arms.

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]

[0014] The triple-jointed knife roller assembly, which is the subject of the present invention patent, comprises a knife roller (10) equipped with an axis (11) to which a connector (20) is attached, to which the support structure (30) of the knife roller (10) is fixed.

[0019]

[0015] The support structure (30) of the knife roller (10) includes a rear beam (31) with a central portion provided with a through hole (31 1) flanked by eyes (312). In the middle portion of the beam (31) an arm (40) is fixed that couples the knife roller assembly (10) to the chassis of the machine or implement (C) or to the structure of the side arms (Biat), as shown in figure 1A.

[0020]

[0016] As shown in figure 1A, it is possible to view a pair of knife roller assemblies (Criat) coupled to the structure of the implement's side arms (Biat) and a central knife roller assembly (Cr c) fixed to the chassis (C) of the implement, and this configuration can be changed. The structure of the side arms (Biat) and the chassis (C) is supported by wheels.

[0021]

[0017] In the arm (40) there is a linear slot with a lower opening (41) that has on the opposite faces a linear channel (41 1) with an opening on the front face of the arm (40). The linear slot (41) surrounds the beam (31) at the top, so that the pin P1 passes through the through hole (311) of the beam (31) and fits into the linear channel (411) of the arm (40).

[0022]

[0018] Immediately above the linear channel (41) there is a tab with an eyelet (42) where a compression spring (50) is arranged, the free end of which is engaged with the sockets with eyes (312) arranged on the beam (31).

[0023]

[0019] In this condition, with the arm (40) fixed to the support structure (30) by means of the pin (P1), the compression springs (50) move in the eyelets of the flap (42), favoring the movement in the horizontal plane of the knife roller assembly in relation to the arm (40), as represented in figures 2E and 2F. This articulation in the horizontal plane configures the first articulation point of the knife roller assembly.

[0024]

[0020] As shown in figure 1 B, at the end of the arm (40) opposite the linear slot (41) a tubular extension (401) is provided, associated by means of pins (not shown). At the free end of the extension (401), through holes (401 1) are provided for fitting pins (P2) that associate the knife roll assemblies (Cn a t) or (Cr c ), respectively, to the side arm structure (Biat) or to the chassis (C) of the implement. These pins (P2) allow rotation articulation only around their axis of rotation.

[0025]

[0021] A load compensating mechanism (A1), claimed in document BR20201 8009713, is installed on the tubular extension (401) and on the arm (40). For installation, on the tubular extension (401) a tab (402a') is arranged where a first connector (402a) is fixed. On the arm (40) an intermediate tab (402b') is arranged where a second connector (402b) is fixed, shown in figure 2C, and a third tab (402c) positioned on the front portion of the arm (40) and in alignment with the connectors (402a) and (402b), shown in figure 2D. The load compensating mechanism (A1) is fixed to the connector (402b) and on the third tab (402c), so that the load compensating mechanism (A1) ensures constant pressure of the roller (10) against the ground.

[0026]

[0022] Between the first connector (402a) and the second connector (402b) there is an articulated tie rod (403), shown in figure 3A. This arrangement is claimed in document BR202022006188, and is called an amplitude variator mechanism. An actuator (A2) is fixed to the first connector (402a) and to the structure of the side arm (Biat) or the chassis (C).

[0027]

[0023] When the actuator (A2) is actuated with maximum extensions and locked, the knife roller (10) is positioned on the ground, so that the load compensating mechanism (A1) and the amplitude variator mechanism, which comprises the first connector (402a), the second connector (402b) and the articulated rod (403), allow a large range of movement of the knife roller (10) when subject to the irregularities of the terrain, represented in figures 3B and 3C. The amplitude variator, even subject to the irregularities of the terrain, with minimal movement of the spring of the load compensating mechanism (A1), maintains constant pressure of the knife roller (10) with the ground.

[0028]

[0024] As shown in figure 3A, to change from the working position to the transport position, the actuator (A2) is actuated to vertically articulate the knife roller assembly (Cn at ) or (Cr c ) in relation, respectively, to the structure of the side arm (Bi at) or chassis (C) of the implement. In this situation, the center of mass of the support structure (30) is positioned misaligned from the articulation point of the extension (401) with the chassis, so that the knife roller assembly (Cn at ) or (Cr c ) is kept supported on the structure to which it is fixed (side arms (Bi at ) or chassis (C)). In this condition, the load compensating mechanism (A1) does not affect the position variation of the roller assembly (Crl at ) or (Cr c).

[0025] As shown in figure 1 B, the structure of the side arms (Biat) is coupled to the chassis (C) of the implement by means of an arm (404) with a vertical pin (P3). The vertical pin (P3) rotates around its axis, allowing the arms (Biat) to open in relation to the chassis (C), to the working position, or the closing of the side arms (Biat) to the transport position. The arm (404) is solidified to the structure of the side arms (Biat) by means of a horizontal pin (P4) that provides the vertical articulation of the side arm (Biat), configuring the third articulation point. This pin (P4) allows the side arms (Biat) to follow the irregularities of the ground, as shown in figure 4B.

[0029]

[0026] The triple articulation of the knife roller assemblies allows the chassis (C), the side arms (Biat) and the knife roller assemblies (Cn) to be modulated. a t) and (Cr c) to the irregularities of the ground, both in the horizontal plane, performing a pendulum movement from right to left and vice versa, and in the vertical plane, ensuring that each set adapts to the surface on which it is located.

Claims

CLAIM:

1. TRIPLE ARTICULATION KNIFE ROLLER ASSEMBLY comprising a knife roller (10) provided with an axis (11) to which a connector (20) is attached to which the support structure (30) is fixed, which includes a rear beam (31) with a central portion provided with a through hole (31 1) flanked by eyelets (312); an arm (40) provided with a linear slot with a lower opening (41) that presents on the opposite faces a linear channel (411), said linear slot (41) that surrounds the rear beam (31) at the top and a pin P1 passes through the through hole (31 1) of the beam (31 ) and fits into the linear channel (41 1) of the arm (40); a tab with an eyelet (42) arranged immediately above the linear channel (41); a compression spring (50) arranged on the eyelet tab (42) and with the free end coupled to the eyelet fittings (312);a tubular extension (401) associated by means of pins (not shown) at the end of the arm (40) opposite the linear slot (41), with the free end provided with through holes (4011) for fitting a pin (P2) that associates the lateral (Crlat) or central (Crc) knife roller assemblies, respectively, to the structure of the lateral arm (Blat) or to the chassis (C) of the implement; a tab (402a') arranged on the tubular extension (401) where a first connector (402a) is fixed, an intermediate tab (402b') on the arm (40) where a second connector (402b) is fixed and a third tab (402c) positioned on the front portion of the arm (40) and in alignment with the connectors (402a) and (402b), characterized by presenting: a) a load compensating mechanism (A1) fixed to the connector (402b) and to the third tab (402c); b) an articulated rod (403) arranged between the first connector; (402a) and the second connector (402b); c) an actuator (A2) fixed to the first connector (402a) and to the structure of the side arm (Blat) or the chassis (C); d) an arm (404) with a vertical pin (P3) that couples the structure of the side arms (Blat) to the chassis (C) and a horizontal pin (P4) that couples said arm (404) to the structure of the side arms (Blat).

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