Belt arrangement for an agricultural implement

Abstract

The invention relates to a belt arrangement for an agricultural implement, in particular for a root crop harvesting or transport machine, the belt arrangement comprising at least one belt and at least one connecting piece which is arranged at a belt end, is secured to the belt by means of at least one fastening element, and can be articulatedly connected to a further connecting piece of the same belt arrangement or to a connecting piece of a further belt arrangement, wherein the connecting piece is force-transmittingly connected to at least one toothed element separate from the connecting piece, wherein the toothed element comprises at least one tooth in engagement with the belt, and wherein the belt comprises at least one fabric layer arranged between a top side and a bottom side of the belt, and the at least one tooth is arranged so as to extend through the at least one fabric layer.

Description

[0001] Belt arrangement for an agricultural implement

[0002] The present invention relates to a belt assembly for agricultural implement, in particular for a root crop harvester or transporter. The belt assembly comprises at least one belt and at least one connecting piece arranged at one end of the belt. The connecting piece is fixed to the belt by means of at least one fastening element. The connecting piece is pivotally connectable to another connecting piece of the same belt assembly or to a connecting piece of another belt assembly. The belt assembly further comprises a toothed element connected to at least one of the connecting pieces in a force-transmitting manner, wherein the toothed element is separate from the connecting piece. A toothed element is separate from the connecting piece if it is not formed integrally with the connecting piece. The toothed element has at least one tooth that engages with the belt.

[0003] Such a belt arrangement, in which a toothed element with teeth provides improved force transmission into the belt, is known, for example, from EP 3 771 847 A1.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a belt arrangement in which the force transmission into the belt is further improved. According to the invention, this is achieved by the belt arrangement comprising a belt with a top and a bottom, wherein at least one layer of fabric is arranged between the top and the bottom, and in which the at least one tooth of the toothing element is arranged to extend through the at least one layer of fabric.

[0005] The fabric layer, which extends through the entire belt from end to end, reinforces the belt, enabling it to absorb tensile forces particularly well. These tensile forces are introduced into the belt primarily via the connecting piece. The tooth of the toothing element is embedded in the belt material, thereby improving force transmission. The at least one tooth of the toothing element, which extends through the fabric layer of the belt, allows for improved force transmission, especially of tensile forces, directly into the fabric layer or into the material of the belt immediately surrounding the fabric layer. This enhances the fabric layer's ability to absorb such forces, particularly tensile forces. Tensile forces, in particular, can be transmitted very effectively by such a belt arrangement.The improved force transmission also enhances the load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly.

[0006] Because the toothed element is separate from the connector, meaning that the toothed element, including the teeth, is not formed integrally with the connector, a belt assembly with at least one tooth extending through at least one layer of the belt's fabric can be easily achieved. The toothed element can be manufactured separately from the connector and also arranged separately on the belt, provided that a force-transmitting connection is subsequently established between the connector and the toothed element.

[0007] The toothed element with at least one tooth is to be distinguished from the at least one fastening means by which the connecting piece is fixed to the belt, as well as from one or more possible further fastening means by which the toothed element is fixed to the belt.

[0008] Preferably, the fastening element penetrates the belt completely. For this purpose, the fastening element extends, in particular, through recesses in the connector and / or the toothed element, as well as in the belt itself. In contrast, at least one tooth of the toothed element does not extend completely, but only partially, through the belt. The tooth of the toothed element ensures a more even distribution of the tensile forces applied to the belt by the connector(s) within the belt.

[0009] Preferably, the force-transmitting connection between the connector and the toothed element is achieved via at least one fixing element connecting the connector and the toothed element. Preferably, the connector has an upper part, a lower part, and a hinge area, which in particular forms a receptacle for a locking pin. More preferably, the upper part, lower part, and hinge area are formed integrally. Such a connector is particularly robust and can absorb tensile forces very effectively and transfer them into the belt. Such a belt assembly is particularly resilient and / or durable.

[0010] Preferably, the upper and lower parts of such a connector have recesses in which a fastening element is arranged for securing the connector to the belt. This allows the connector to be attached to the belt particularly easily and reliably. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly is further improved. Two or more recesses, each containing a fastening element, may also be provided.

[0011] In particular, a connecting piece can be articulated to the connecting piece at the opposite end of the belt or to a connecting piece of another belt arrangement via a locking pin guided through the hinge area.

[0012] Preferably, the belt assembly has at least one fixing means connecting the toothed element, which is separate from the connecting piece, to the connecting piece. The toothed element, which is separate from the connecting piece, is connected to the connecting piece via the fixing means in such a way that force can be transmitted from the connecting piece to the toothed element and thus, via the at least one tooth of the toothed element, into the belt of the belt assembly.

[0013] Preferably, the at least one toothed element, separate from the connecting piece, has at least one recess in which the locking element is arranged. Preferably, the locking element is the fastening element by which the connecting piece is attached to the belt. For this purpose, at least one recess for a fastening element is formed in the toothed element corresponding to a corresponding recess for a fastening element in the connecting piece. The belt assembly can then be manufactured particularly simply. Preferably, two or more recesses are provided in the toothed element, each containing a locking element.

[0014] The belt may have a polymer material encasing the fabric layer. Such a belt can be described as consisting of a fabric-reinforced polymer material.

[0015] Preferably, the belt comprises at least two layers of fabric spaced apart between the top and bottom surfaces. The use of multiple spaced-apart layers of fabric results in a belt that is particularly well-suited to withstand tensile forces. Such a belt arrangement is especially resilient. In particular, the belt has exactly two, three, or four separate layers of fabric. More preferably, the layers of fabric extend through the belt in planes parallel to and spaced apart from the top and bottom surfaces.

[0016] Preferably, at least one tooth extends through at least two of the fabric layers. More preferably, all teeth of the toothing element extend through at least two of the fabric layers. This further improves the force transmission into the belt. Additional fabric layers can be activated to better absorb tensile forces. The force transmission into the belt is further improved. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly is increased.

[0017] Preferably, at least one tooth extends through all layers of the belt. Furthermore, and especially preferably, all teeth of a toothed element extend through all layers of the belt. This further improves the force transmission into the belt. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly is further increased.

[0018] Preferably, the toothed element has a flat base section to which at least one tooth is arranged at right angles. Such a toothed element can be manufactured particularly easily. Furthermore, the belt assembly using such a toothed element can be achieved with particular simplicity. The toothed element can be pressed into the belt material via the base section with the tooth(s). In particular, the toothed element is then arranged with its flat base section in contact with the top or bottom surface of the belt.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the gear element has at least two teeth, each arranged on one side of the base section. In particular, the gear element can have a U-shaped cross-section in a side view. The force can then be applied more evenly via the two teeth on both sides of the base section.

[0020] The gear element is preferably designed as a stamped and bent part. Such a gear element can be manufactured particularly easily. This is especially true for a gear element in which the tooth(s) and the base element are formed in one piece. The gear element, with the tooth(s) and the base section, can first be stamped from a flat piece of sheet metal. The shape of the base section and the tooth(s) can be easily predetermined during stamping. Subsequently, the tooth(s) are bent or folded over by 90° relative to the base section. Due to the one-piece construction, the tooth(s) are particularly reliably fixed to the base section. Such a gear element is also easy to manufacture.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the base section is elongated in plan view and has two longitudinal sides, each with at least one tooth. In particular, the longitudinal sides are arranged parallel to each other. Furthermore, the base section is rectangular. Because the base section is elongated with two longitudinal sides, each with at least one tooth, the force transmission via the toothed element is further improved. Especially when the force is transmitted into the belt via the base section, the arrangement of the teeth on the two longitudinal sides of the base section ensures that the forces are transmitted more evenly into the belt. In particular, this reduces or prevents the occurrence of torques between the tooth and the base section. As a result, the teeth remain more reliably in their assigned position in the belt.The risk of damaging the belt is reduced.

[0022] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred to have two or more teeth arranged on each longitudinal side of the base section. The use of additional teeth reduces the stress on the belt material around a single tooth. In addition, further areas of the belt are activated for force transmission. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly is thus further improved.

[0023] Preferably, at least one recess is arranged in the base section through which a fastening element is guided. In particular, at least two spaced-apart recesses are arranged in the base section, each containing a fastening element. This prevents the toothed element from twisting relative to the belt, even when torque is applied to it via the teeth. The risk of belt damage is prevented or reduced. Force transmission is further improved. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly is further increased.

[0024] Preferably, the gearing element is U-shaped when viewed along its longitudinal sides.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the teeth arranged on the longitudinal sides of the base section are positioned opposite each other in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides of the base section. This results in a particularly symmetrical, uniform force transmission into the belt.

[0026] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the teeth arranged on the two longitudinal sides of the base section are offset from each other in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides. Particularly when all teeth extend through one or more layers of fabric, in such a configuration the teeth arranged on the respective longitudinal sides act on different parts, especially different parts of a fabric layer running transversely to a longitudinal direction of the belt. This allows further parts of the belt to be activated for force transmission. The resulting improved force transmission further enhances the load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly. Preferably, the toothed element is arranged on the connecting piece with its longitudinal sides aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belt.In particular, when two or more teeth are arranged on each of the longitudinal sides of the toothed element, these teeth engage the belt material one after the other, spaced apart along the belt's longitudinal direction. This further improves the force transmission via the teeth of the toothed element.

[0027] Preferably, at least one tooth, or at least one of the teeth, is formed in an approximately triangular shape when viewed from a perspective perpendicular to the longitudinal sides of the base section, with one leg of the triangle facing the belt end forming an angle of at least 90° with a leg of the triangle parallel to the base section. The tooth thus forms a right-angled or obtuse-angled triangle. With a tooth designed in this way, it is prevented that, when a tensile force is applied, the fabric layer is subjected to a force component that moves the fabric layer away from the base section of the tensioning element and thus from the respective tooth. With a tooth forming an obtuse-angled triangle, the fabric layer is instead subjected to a force component when a tensile force is applied, which moves the fabric layer in the direction of the base section.The tooth engages particularly securely with the fabric layer(s) of the belt. Force transmission is further improved. Preferably, all teeth of the toothing element are designed accordingly. Preferably, at least one of the teeth, viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section, is shaped like a shark fin. The tip of the shark fin faces the belt end. The tooth flank facing the belt end is curved. This ensures that a fabric layer of the belt penetrated by the tooth is particularly well secured to the tooth when a tensile force is applied to the belt. Force transmission is further improved. Preferably, all teeth of a toothing element are designed in a shark fin shape.

[0028] Preferably, the toothed element has at least two teeth arranged one behind the other on each of its longitudinal sides and, viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section, a rounded foot area between the teeth. A portion of the fabric layer can be located in this foot area and / or moved towards it when a tensile force is applied. This reduces the risk of damage to the portion of the fabric layer located between the teeth and further improves the transmission of a tensile force into the belt.

[0029] Preferably, at least one tooth, or at least one of the teeth of the toothed element, is arranged within the connector when viewed from above. "View from above" refers to a direction perpendicular to the top of the belt. A tooth arranged within the connector is pressed into the belt material by the connector. This creates particularly good contact between the tooth and the belt, further improving force transmission.

[0030] Preferably, all teeth of the toothed element are arranged within the connector when viewed from above. This ensures that the belt and its fabric layer are aligned particularly well and reliably with the respective connector. This further improves the force transmission into the belt. The resulting improved force transmission, in turn, further enhances the load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly.

[0031] Preferably, the toothed element(s) arranged on the respective connecting piece are located exclusively on either the top or the bottom of the belt. The teeth of the toothed element(s) engage the belt from only one side. This reduces the risk of the belt being unintentionally pierced completely from both sides by the teeth of the toothed elements. The load-bearing capacity and / or durability of the belt assembly is thus further improved.

[0032] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures, which include exemplary embodiments according to the invention. The figures schematically show: Fig. 1 a section of a belt arrangement according to the invention with a connecting piece arranged at one end of the belt, in a partially cutaway side view;

[0033] Fig. 2 shows the part of the belt arrangement from Fig. 1 in a view obliquely from above with a partially cut-out belt;

[0034] Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through a belt arrangement in the area of ​​the belt end through a connecting piece and the toothing elements.

[0035] Parts that function identically or similarly are, where appropriate, provided with identical reference numerals. Individual technical features of the embodiment described below can be combined with the features of the independent claim as well as with the features of individual previously described embodiments to form articles according to the invention.

[0036] Fig. 1 shows one end of a belt arrangement 2 according to the invention comprising a belt 4 and a connecting piece 12 arranged at one end of the belt 4. The belt 4 has a top 8 and a bottom 10.

[0037] Between the upper surface 8 and the lower surface 10, three layers of fabric 6 are arranged, parallel to each other and spaced apart within the belt 4. A toothed element 14, separate from the connecting piece 12, is arranged in the connecting piece 12 and has teeth 16. The teeth 16 extend through all three layers of fabric 6 of the belt 4.

[0038] However, for the realization of the invention it is already sufficient if the belt 4 has only a single layer of fabric 6 and / or if a single tooth 16 of a toothing element 14 extends through a single layer of fabric 6 of a belt 4.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment, the teeth 16 are shaped like shark fins, with the tips of each tooth facing the end of the belt 4. This prevents the fabric layers 6 from being subjected to a force component that would move them away from the teeth 16 when the belt 4 is subjected to a tensile force via the connecting piece 12. The fabric layers 6 are thus particularly well aligned to absorb forces towards the respective tooth 16.

[0040] Alternatively, the teeth 16 can also be triangular, particularly as seen in the side view shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, the teeth 16 are then formed as a right-angled or obtuse-angled triangle, with one leg of the triangle oriented towards the end of the belt 4 and the other leg parallel to the top 8 or bottom 10 of the belt 4. The tip of the tooth 16, which penetrates the material of the belt 4, is then formed by an acute-angled corner of the triangle. Fig. 2 shows the situation in a top-down oblique view. The belt 4 is partially cut away so that the fabric layers 6 and the teeth 16 extending through the fabric layers 6 are visible.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows that two parallel gear elements 14 are arranged in the connecting piece 12. These have a rectangular base section 18. The teeth 16 are arranged on each of the two longitudinal sides of the base section 18. These sides are bent at a 90° angle to the base section 18. Three teeth 16 are arranged one behind the other on each longitudinal side. Each gear element 14 has six teeth 16.

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment, the toothed element 14 is arranged such that the teeth 16 are arranged one behind the other parallel to one longitudinal direction of the belt 4. This improves the force transmission into the belt 4 via the teeth 16.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment, the use of the two toothed elements 14 results in a total of four rows of teeth 16 extending into the belt 4. All these teeth 16 extend through all three fabric layers 6. However, the teeth 16 do not extend completely through the belt 4. The teeth allow all fabric layers 6 of the belt 4 to be activated for power transmission. The invention is also realized when only one toothed element 14 is used, on which only one tooth 16 is arranged. Thus, the invention can also be realized by other arrangements of the toothed element 14 and / or the teeth 16.

[0044] The belt 4 has recesses for fastening elements. Corresponding recesses are arranged in the connector 12. In the exemplary embodiment, they are located in an upper part and a lower part of the connector 12, which are integrally connected to each other via a hinge area. The hinge area forms a receptacle for a locking pin, by means of which the connector 12 can be pivotally connected to another connector, for example, the opposite connector 12 of the belt assembly 2 or to a connector of another belt assembly.

[0045] In the base sections 18 of the two toothed elements 14, two recesses for the fastening means are also arranged. The fastening means are designed as rivets that extend through the connecting pieces 12, the belt 4, and the toothed elements 14. The fastening means extending through the recesses in the toothed elements 14 form fixing means 15. The teeth 16 of the toothed elements 14, which extend through all fabric layers 6 of the belt 4, improve the transmission of forces via the connecting piece 12 into the belt 4. In particular, this allows the fabric layers 6 of the belt 4 to be better activated for absorbing tensile forces.

Claims

Claims 1 .Belt arrangement (2) for an agricultural implement, in particular for a root crop harvesting or transporting machine, comprising at least one belt (4) and at least one connecting piece (12) arranged at one end of the belt (4), which is fixed to the belt (4) by at least one fastening means and is pivotally connectable to another connecting piece of the same belt arrangement or to a connecting piece of another belt arrangement, wherein the connecting piece (12) is force-transmittingly connected to at least one toothed element (14) separate from the connecting piece (12), wherein the toothed element (14) has at least one tooth (16) in engagement with the belt (4), characterized in that the belt (4) comprises at least one layer of fabric (6) arranged between a top (8) and a bottom (10) of the belt and the at least one tooth (16) is arranged extending through the at least one layer of fabric (6).

2. Belt arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means is arranged to completely penetrate the belt (4) and the at least one tooth (16) is arranged to extend only partially through the belt (4).

3. Belt arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the belt arrangement comprises at least one fixing means (15) connecting the toothed element (14) separate from the connecting piece (12) to the connecting piece.

4. Belt arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the belt (4) comprises at least two layers of fabric (6) spaced apart from each other between the top (8) and the bottom (10) of the belt (4).

5. Belt arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one tooth (16) is arranged extending through at least two of the fabric layers (6).

6. Belt arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one tooth (16) is arranged extending through all layers of fabric (6).

7. Belt arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toothed element (14) has a flat base section (18) to which the at least one tooth (16) is arranged at right angles.

8. Belt arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the toothing element (14) is designed as a stamped and bent part.

9. Belt arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the base section (18) is elongated in plan view, in particular rectangular, and has two longitudinal sides, in particular arranged parallel to each other, on each of which at least one tooth (16) is arranged.

10. Belt arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the teeth (16) arranged on the two longitudinal sides are arranged opposite each other in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18).

11. Belt arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the teeth (16) arranged on the two longitudinal sides are arranged offset from each other in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18).

12. Belt arrangement according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the toothing element (14) is arranged on the connecting piece (12) with its longitudinal sides extending at least partially in the direction of a longitudinal extension direction of the belt (4).

13. Belt arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one of the teeth (16) is approximately triangular in shape when viewed transversely to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18), wherein a leg of the triangle facing the end of the belt in the longitudinal direction of the belt (4) forms an angle of at least 90° with a leg of the triangle aligned parallel to the base section (18).

14. Belt arrangement according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that at least one of the teeth (16) is shaped like a shark fin when viewed in a transverse view to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18).

15. Belt arrangement according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the toothing element (14) has at least two teeth (16) arranged one behind the other on each of the longitudinal sides and, viewed in a view transverse to the longitudinal sides of the base section (18), a rounded foot area (20) between the teeth (16).

16. Belt arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one tooth (16) of the toothing element (14) is arranged inside the connecting piece (12) in a top view of the connecting piece (12).

17. Belt arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toothed element(s) (14) arranged on the respective connecting piece (12) are arranged exclusively on the top (8) or on the bottom (10) of the belt (4).

Images