Crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement for a combine

The invention relates to a crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement for a combine, with a straw chopper (60) and two distribution blowers (100) arranged laterally alongside one another, on the periphery of which is provided a respective first shield (144), adjustable about axis of rotation (108) for modifying the distribution characteristics, that can be brought into an active position. It is proposed that the first shields (144) are respectively mounted on a rotary holder (176) rotatable about axis of rotation (84) of the associated distribution blower (100) and additionally carrying a second shield (146), which has a smaller dimension in the circumferential direction than first shield (144), so that second shield (146) can selectively be brought into an active position instead of first shield (144).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement for a combine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Agricultural combines are large machines that harvest, thresh, separate and clean agricultural crops that bear grain. The clean grain obtained is stored in a grain tank arranged on the combine. The threshed straw is generally either chopped and spread out on the field across the width of the chopping mechanism, or diverted around the straw chopper and deposited unchopped in a swath in order to be subsequently taken up in a baler. The remaining crop residue at the rear outlet of the cleaning device, such as chaff and small pieces of straw, is distributed on the field by a chaff scattering device, or directed through the straw chopper and spread on the field.

DE 199 08 111 C1 describes a combine with a straw chopper and two distribution blowers following the straw chopper, arranged one alongside the other, for strewing the straw widely across the field. For the purpose of a material transfer that does not change direction, the outlet of the straw chopper and the inlet of the distribution blowers, which are arranged in a housing and have paddles rotating about a roughly vertical axis, are arranged in a single plane. Partial casings that join one another between the distribution blowers in a tip pointing toward the straw chopper are arranged around the distribution blowers. In the rear area, the partial casings transition into shields with openings, in order to emit the straw onto the field through the openings. The shields are rotatable or height-adjustable to adjust the distribution width.

No operating mode is provided in DE 199 08 111 C1 in which only the chaff is led through the straw chopper, while the straw is deposited in the swath on the ground, as is described, for example, in DE 10 2008 001 460 A1. Accordingly, the adjustment range of DE 199 08 111 C1 does not comprise a position in which the crop residue is deposited only to the side, but not exactly toward the back. In the swath-laying mode, however, it is desirable in many cases to emit the chaff to the side some distance away from the straw in order to be able to gather and further use the latter without chaff content.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem underlying the invention is to provide a distribution blower arrangement for a combine that allows an unproblematic adaptation of the lateral distribution of crop residue to a swath-laying and a chopping operating mode.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the teaching of claim1, while characteristics that further develop the invention in an advantageous manner are specified in the additional claims.

A crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement for a combine comprises a straw chopper and two distribution blowers arranged downstream of the straw chopper in the direction of material flow. In the harvesting mode, the straw chopper comminutes the crop residues fed to it, in particular straw.

It can also convey other crop residues such as chaff with its blades and optional additional conveying paddles, whether in common with the straw in the chopping mode, or selectively, only those residues in a straw swath-laying mode, in which the straw is led around the straw chopper.

The crop residues conveyed by the straw chopper are taken up by the two distribution blowers and spread across the field. For this purpose, the distribution blowers rotate in opposite directions, with the areas of the distribution blowers facing the straw chopper rotating toward one another.

The distribution blower on the left in the forward direction accordingly rotates clockwise as viewed from above, whereas the distribution blower on the right rotates counterclockwise as viewed from above.

In addition, a first, longer shield and a second, shorter shield are mounted on the rotating plate, supported rotatably about the axis of rotation of the distribution blower. By rotation of the rotary plate about the axis of rotation, the first shield can be selectively brought into an active position in which it causes the crop residues conveyed by the distribution blower to be emitted outward farther to the side, by initially hindering the free emission thereof, and then emitting it only downstream of the first shield.

This first shield serves particularly in the swath-laying mode to dispose of the crop residues other than the straw (such as chaff) relatively far to the outside, and therefore separate from the swath. Instead of the first shield, the second, shorter shield can also be brought into an active position in which it causes the crop residues conveyed by the distribution blower to be emitted sooner and thus farther inward than in the case of an active first shield, by allowing it to be emitted freely radially outward only via a smaller angle than the first shield. The second shield serves in particular to distribute the crop residues as uniformly as possible across the field in the chopping mode.

This enables an unproblematic modification of the distribution characteristics for the distribution blowers.

In the active position, the shields are preferably in the tapered area between the distribution blowers and behind their rotational axes. They therefore prevent the distribution blowers, which are rotating backward and outward, from ejecting the crop residues in the direction toward the central longitudinal plane of the combine and its vicinity.

In one embodiment of the invention, a rigidly mounted partial casing that covers the distribution blower externally and in the circumferential direction extends around a part of the periphery of the distribution blower. In particular, these partial casings can cover the front half of the distribution blowers if the crop residues are fed to the distribution blowers in the axial direction, whether exactly axially or at an acute or obtuse angle. In case the crop residues are fed radially, on the other hand, the partial casings can cover the distribution blowers outward toward the side and/or toward the middle.

A respective drive unit can be associated with each rotary plate that is operated by external power. It can be controlled by an operator of the combine from his seat or automatically. It is particularly beneficial to couple the drive unit with a flap that can selectively guide the straw into the straw chopper or around it, so that the drive unit brings the first shield into the active position in swath-laying mode, and the second shield into the active position in chopping mode. In chopping mode, the second shields of both distribution blowers can be adjusted independently of one another by the operator or a suitable automatic mechanism in order to compensate for influences from side winds or slopes, for example.

In particular, the shields can be mounted diametrically opposite one another on the rotary plate, so that the respective inactive shield impairs operation as little as possible.

With respect to the mounting of the shields on the distribution blowers, there are different possibilities within the scope of the inventive concept. It would be conceivable, for example, to mount the rotary holder above or below a housing of the distribution blower, but that leads to problems in many cases. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the rotary holder be provided in its central area with a central opening that is coaxial to the axis of rotation of the distribution blower. A shaft for driving the distribution blower, or a hydraulic motor for driving the distribution blower, or its supply line, can pass through this opening. The central area can be arranged axially between a cover (or bottom) of the distribution blower housing and a mounting disk connected to the cover (or bottom), and thus be fixed in the axial direction. The radial fixation is achieved in such a manner that the central opening rests against retaining elements (e.g., screws) connected to the cover (or the bottom) and/or the mounting disk, and is therefore fixed in the radial direction. The above-described slide bearing, which can also be refined by rolling contact bearings, is distinguished by a simple structure.

The drive unit for rotating the rotary plate about the axis can comprise a gear wheel meshing with external radial teeth of the central area of the rotary plate.

The distribution blowers can be partially surrounded by partial casings in the tapered area behind the axes of rotation, which, together with the second shields (and if desired a passage left free in the center between the distribution blowers through which a central part of the crop residue stream can freely reach the field from the straw chopper), bring about a desired, optimally uniform distribution of the crop residues on the field. This distribution can be achieved in particular by the fact that the second shields are lower than the first shields.

In their active positions, the second shields are preferably arranged outside the partial casings described here. The first shields, on the other hand, are arranged in the active position inside the partial casings in order to prevent the particularly finely comminuted and thus dangerous chaff from creating a blockage between the partial casing and the shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Directional terms in this specification such as “front” or “forward” refer to the forward direction of travel of combine10, which is toward the left inFIG. 1. Directional terms such as “back” or “rear” refer to the reverse direction of travel of the combine—the direction opposite the forward direction, which is toward the right inFIG. 1.

FIG. 1shows an agricultural combine10with a chassis12with wheels14engaged with the ground that are mounted on chassis12and serve to propel combine10in the forward direction, which runs to the left inFIG. 1. The operation of combine10is controlled from the operator cab16. A cutting mechanism18is used to harvest a crop containing grain and supply it to an inclined conveyor20. The harvested crop is supplied by inclined conveyor20to a guide drum22. Guide drum22directs the crop through a transitional section24to an axial crop processing device26.

Crop processing device26comprises a rotor housing34and a rotor36arranged therein. Rotor36comprises a hollow drum38on which crop processing elements for a loading section40, a threshing section42and a separation section44are mounted. Loading section40is disposed at the front end of the axial crop processing device26.

Threshing section42and separation section44lie downstream and to the rear of loading section40in the longitudinal direction. Drum38has the shape of a truncated cone in loading section40.

Threshing section42of drum38has a front section and a rear section. The front section has a truncated conical shape and the rear section has a conical shape. The cylindrical separation section44of drum38is situated at the end of axial crop processing unit26. In place of an axial crop processing unit26, a tangential threshing drum with an axial separation device or straw shaker following it can also be used.

Grain and chaff, which fall through a threshing basket associated with threshing section42and a separation grating associated with separation section44, are fed to a cleaning system28with a fan46, sieve48, and chaffer50that can be set into a vibrating motion. Cleaning system28removes the chaff and feeds the clean grain via a screw conveyor52to an elevator for clean grain (not shown). The elevator for clean grain deposits the clean grain in a grain tank30. The clean grain in grain tank30can be discharged by a discharge screw conveyor32onto a grain wagon, trailer or truck. Crop remaining at the rear end of the chaffer50is fed by means of a screw conveyor54and a return conveyor (not shown) back to crop processing unit26. The crop residues deposited at the rear end of sieve48, which consist essentially of chaff (husks) and small straw particles, are conveyed by a vibrating conveyor56backward into an inlet58of a straw chopper60.

Threshed straw exiting from separation section44is ejected from crop processing unit26by an outlet62and fed to a throw drum64. The throw drum64, cooperating with a floor66arranged underneath it, ejects the straw to the rear.

To the rear of throw drum64and roughly at the vertical height of its axis of rotation, there is an additional conveyor in the form of an overshot drum conveyor68. Drum conveyor68runs horizontally and transverse to the forward direction, and can be set by a suitable drive unit into rotation about its shaft70, with which it is mounted rotatably on chassis12, in a direction in which it operates in an overshot manner and rotates clockwise inFIG. 1, as indicated by the arrow.

A hydraulic motor is generally used to drive drum conveyor68. Drum conveyor68corresponds in construction to throw drum64and comprises a rotationally symmetric drum72with drivers74distributed about its periphery and rigidly mounted thereon. A trough94is arranged underneath drum conveyor68.

Above throw drum64and drum conveyor68, an upper wall76is arranged that extends forward horizontally and closes off an engine compartment78above it from the rear. At the front end of wall76facing drum conveyor68, a flap80is pivotably articulated between an upper swath-laying position in the swath-laying mode and a lower chopping position in the chopping mode about a shaft82extending horizontally and transverse to the forward direction. Flap80is curved concavely, the radius of the flap's curvature being matched to drum conveyor68.

Underneath the lower and rear end of flap80(with flap80in the chopping position), a metal sheet84, fixedly connected to chassis12, continues without a gap, running backward and downward at an incline and connected to an adjoining slide86, on which the straw can slide onto the ground in the field during swath-laying mode. The straw swath can be brought into a desired form by runners or straw guides (not shown) arranged on the upper side of slide86.

Flap80can be pivoted about shaft82between the chopping position, in which it is shown with solid lines inFIG. 1, and the swath-laying position, in which flap80is shown with dashed lines in the figure, extending backward above the flow of straw.

Underneath the sheet84is the straw chopper60, composed of a stray chopper housing90and a rotor92arranged therein, rotatable about a shaft running transverse to the forward direction and horizontally, with swinging suspended chopper blades96distributed around the circumference of rotor92. Additional paddles (not shown) can be mounted on rotor92, or some or all of the chopper blades96can comprise paddles for air conveyance. Downstream of outlet98of straw chopper60, two distribution blowers100, of which only a single one is shown inFIG. 1, arranged side by side immediately under sheet84. Distribution blowers100comprise a number of paddles102, each capable of being set in rotation by a respective hydraulic motor106about its axis of rotation108(running roughly vertically, but slightly inclined backward and upward), to which straw chopper60feeds the crop residues axially from below at an obtuse angle to the axes of rotation of distribution blowers100.

The axis of rotation110of rotor92of straw chopper60runs horizontally and transverse to the forward direction. The distribution blowers100are arranged one alongside the other lateral to and behind straw chopper60. The distribution blowers100are situated inside the width of straw chopper60. The distribution blowers100are fixed by holders (not shown) to frame12of combine10and/or to slide86. It would also be possible to arrange straw chopper60and distribution blowers100in such a manner that straw chopper60acts on distribution blowers100from above. In another embodiment, the axes of rotation108of distribution blowers100are horizontal or exactly vertical.

In the swath-laying position of flap80(corresponding to the swath-laying mode) straw chopper60conveys the crop residues from cleaning system28only to distribution blowers100, which distribute them on the soil of the field across the width of cutting mechanism18.

In the chopping position of flap80(corresponding to the chopping mode), straw chopper60comminutes the straw at outlet62of crop processing unit26, which is thrown by throw drum64and drum conveyor68against flap80and then falls down into inlet58of straw chopper60.

We now refer toFIGS. 2 and 3, in which the crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement of combine10is illustrated in a side view (FIG. 2) and plan view (FIG. 3). The crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement comprises straw chopper60and distribution blowers100. Straw chopper housing90comprises a base112, two side walls114and additional transverse metal sheets116,118,120which, like base112, connect the side walls114to one another and surround rotor92. Base112is arranged on the underside of straw chopper housing90and encloses the envelope circle defined by chopper blades96, with a radius leaving relatively little clearance. Opposing blades (not shown) that are mounted on straw chopper housing90and penetrate into the envelope circle of chopper blades96in order to effectively comminute the crop residues can also be provided

A crop residue guide assembly121, shown in a perspective view inFIG. 4, includes a crop residue guide element122which adjoins base112in the flow direction of the crop residues. Crop residue guide element122is arranged between side wall extensions124that are joined to a respective side wall114of straw chopper housing90by threaded connectors and run parallel to it. Crop residue guide element122is itself flat (accordingly has a radius of infinity). Crop residue guide element122is angled downward at its front end in order to form a flange that is bolted to the flange on the rear side of base112that is likewise angled downward. Projecting edges at which the crop residues could collect are avoided by this connection. A cross plate126that delimits outlet98of straw chopper60toward the top is mounted on the top of side wall extensions124. The cross plate116of straw chopper housing90adjoins cross plate126at the top. It may additionally be noted that crop residue guide element122could be integrally produced with base112, just as side wall extensions124could be integrally produced with side walls114. The illustrated, two-part embodiment can, however, use straw chopper60without crop residue guide element122and inside wall extensions124(or with a different crop residue guide element and different side wall extensions, not shown) in combination with a distributor base with adjustable guide plates.

On the side wall extensions124(seeFIG. 4), outer guide elements141are fastened that extend inward and backward by roughly 45°. They are rectangular in a top view and can be bent over their entire length or only in a front area adjoining a plate connected to side wall extension124and running parallel to it. In the vertical direction, outer guide elements141are flat. It would also be possible to mount the outer guide elements141additionally or only on crop residue guide elements122. They could also be formed in the shape of a plowshare or a runner.

An angled bottom plate128that extends from a position just in front of the axes of rotation to the back end of the distribution blowers is arranged on the underside of distribution blowers100. Bottom plate128has a front section that runs in the plane of crop residue guide element122and rests with a flange bent downward against a downward-bent flange of crop residue guide element122. These flanges can either be bolted together or only rest against one another in order to make it easier for the distribution blowers100to be brought into the transport position separately from straw chopper60. The front section of bottom plate128extends from the aforementioned flange to just in front of rotational axis108of distribution blowers100and transitions there into a rear section that runs up to a position below the rear end of distribution blowers100and orthogonally to axis of rotation108. The paddles100of distribution blowers100are each mounted at their upper end on a plate130with a central opening. Paddles100likewise do not extend all the way up to their axis of rotation108, but instead leave sufficient free space to be able to position hydraulic motor106in their center. Upper ends of the hydraulic motors106are mounted on a cover132that is located above the plate130and covers distribution blowers100at the top, the motors106having lower output shafts136that are coupled for driving the drive paddles102via cross-links138. On the front side of the cover132are arranged two partial casings134enclosing a respective distribution blower100semicircularly toward the front. Additional partial casings140connect to the adjacent interior sides of the distribution blowers100, with gaps142remaining between partial casings134and partial casings140. The mounting of the hydraulic motors106inside the paddles102of distribution blowers100is an independent invention.

Between the two distribution blowers100, there is a two-part guide element150, comprising a front part152and a rear part154. The front part152is mounted on crop guide element122and adapted at its front tip156to the envelope circle of chopper blades96, so that it is formed across its tip156adjacent to the envelope circle of chopper blades96in a circular arc shape and this tip156is arranged a relatively short distance away from the envelope circle of the chopper blades96. This has the effect that crop residues collecting there, particularly in wet harvesting conditions, are removed by the chopper blades96, so that no undesired accumulations of crop material, which could possibly cause clogging, need be feared at tip156. On its rear side, front part152forms a slot158into which a flat front plate160of rear part154penetrates. Behind front plate160, rear part154widens and is hollow. Rear part154is mounted on the underside of cover132and on the upper side of bottom plate128, which with partial casings134,140and shields144,146forms a distribution blower housing.

Based onFIG. 3, it is clear that, between guide element150and the adjacent partial casings134,140of distribution blowers100, there are gaps162, through which a part of the crop residue flow emitted in the central area of straw chopper60can flow from straw chopper60backward all the way onto the field.

At the rear of rear part154of guide element150, a movable guide element164is provided, with a front tip168, situated in the tapered gap between distribution blowers100behind the axes of rotation108, and with two divergent straight lateral walls170, each arranged adjacent to a distribution blower100. Movable guide element164can be set into an oscillating motion about a front axis172running parallel to axes of rotation108of distribution blowers100by a drive unit174mounted above cover132to the rear of hydraulic motors106. In this regard, we refer to DE 10 2007 037 485 B3 and DE 10 2008 055 003 A1, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present document.

As is recognizable inFIGS. 5-7, partial casings140are furnished with a higher rear section and a lower front section, between which an inclined area is provided.

At their rearward ends, partial casings140can be provided selectively with shorter or longer angled areas by positioning first and second shields144,146with different dimensions in the circumferential direction at the rear ends of partial casings140by means of an adjusting drive148controlled manually by the operator from the cab16, or independently as a function of the position of the flap, in order to deflect the crop residues outward to a greater or lesser extent by covering distribution blowers100and preventing the free ejection of crop residues radially outward, so that the crop residues can only leave distribution blowers100after they have passed shields144or146. In swath-laying mode, the chaff can be deposited alongside the swath by moving the first, longer shield144to the rear inner end of partial casing140, or in straw chopping mode, the crop residues are uniformly spread across the field by moving the second, shorter shield146to the rear inner end of partial casing140. In addition, shields144,146of the two distribution blowers100can be adjusted independently of one another in order to compensate for side wind and/or slope effects.

The respective shields144,146are fixed jointly and diametrically opposite one another to roughly semicircular rotary holders176that are positioned between cover132and plates130. Rotary holders176comprise a central area178at the central opening through which the associated axis of rotation108of the associated distribution blower100runs. The central area178is axially seated, more particularly, slidingly seated, between cover132and a mounting disk180connected to cover132. The central opening of central area178radially contacts mounting elements186in the form of threaded fasteners connected to cover132and/or mounting disk180, and is therefore fixed in the radial direction. Central area178is furnished with teeth182on the outside that extend over a part of its periphery and mesh with a gear184coupled to drive148.

The first, longer shields144are roughly rectangular in shape, with an angled front lower edge. They can be positioned radially on the inside of partial casings140. Thereby one can avoid undesired edges on which the relatively small crop residues can become jammed if the first shields144are on the inside of the partial casings in their active position, since that is when the chaff, which is particularly critical in this regard, is conveyed. First shields144are substantially longer than partial casings140in the radial direction of axes108of distribution blowers100.

The second, longer shields146are likewise roughly rectangular in shape with a cutout lower rear corner. They can be positioned radially on the outside of partial casings140. The dimensions of the second shields146in the radial direction of axes108of distribution blowers100correspond roughly to the dimensions of partial casings140in the radial direction of the axes108of distribution blowers100.

In the distribution blower100drawn on the left inFIG. 5, second shield146is in the active position, in which it joins partial casings140at the rear. In the distribution blower100drawn on the right, second shield144is in the active position, in which it joins partial casings140at the rear. InFIG. 6, in which guide element164is also drawn in, the position of shield144of the right-hand distribution blower100is not changed with respect toFIG. 5, whereas the position of shield146of the left-hand distribution blower100has been displaced clockwise relative toFIG. 5, which has the effect that the crop residues are emitted onto the field to a larger extent in the vicinity of the central longitudinal plane of combine10. In this way, influences from side winds and slopes can be compensated by the operator or automatically, in order to distribute the crop residues as uniformly as possible on the field. InFIG. 7, the positioning of shields144,146is not changed with respect toFIG. 6, but plate130and paddles102are drawn in. Unlike what is shown inFIGS. 5-7, first shields144could also be brought into a position in which they directly adjoin partial casings134in order to close the gaps142and have the effect that the crop residues are only emitted to the outside.