Crop conditioner hood with integrated swathboard

A harvesting apparatus includes a crop conditioning element and an associated hood for conditioning crop material. The hood is moveably mounted to a frame of the harvesting apparatus, at a position located above the crop conditioning element. The hood is moveably mounted to the frame for movement toward and away from the crop conditioning element to adjust a gap therebetween. A swathboard is attached to and moveable with the hood. The swathboard is moveable relative to the hood between a plurality of operating positions. The swathboard is operable to maintain its position relative to the hood during movement with the hood toward and away from the crop conditioning element to form a consistent swath while moving the hood relative to the crop conditioning element to adjust the gap therebetween.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a harvesting apparatus for an agricultural machine, and more particularly to a crop conditioning system for the harvesting apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A harvesting apparatus is coupled to an agricultural machine, and is used to cut and condition crop material, such as but not limited to hay and forage. The harvesting apparatus may be attached to a forward end of the agricultural machine, such as a windrower, which pushes the harvesting apparatus. In other embodiments, the harvesting apparatus may be attached to a rearward end of the agricultural machine, such as a tractor, which pulls the harvesting apparatus.

The harvesting apparatus includes a crop conditioning system that conditions the cut crop material. As used herein, “crop conditioning” or “conditioned crop material” includes processing the cut crop material to bend, crimp, and/or crack open stem and stalk portions of the cut crop material, and at least partially remove a wax material from the cut crop material, for the purpose of releasing moisture from the cut crop material and reducing dry-down time of the crop material. Once the crop conditioning system has conditioned the cut crop material, a swathboard at least partially forms the crop material into a swath having a desired width and/or depth.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a harvesting apparatus for an agricultural machine is provided. The harvesting apparatus includes a frame, and a cutting mechanism that is coupled to the frame. The cutting mechanism is operable to cut crop material. The harvesting apparatus further includes a crop conditioning system. The crop conditioning system includes a crop conditioning element and an associated hood. The crop conditioning element is coupled to the frame, and is positioned relative to the frame at a location rearward of the cutting mechanism. The crop conditioning element receives the cut crop material from the cutting mechanism. The crop conditioning element is operable to condition the cut crop material. The hood is moveably mounted to the frame, at a position located above the crop conditioning element. The hood is moveably mounted to the frame for movement toward and away from the crop conditioning element to adjust a gap therebetween, which affects an amount or degree of crop conditioning between the hood and the crop conditioning element. A swathboard is attached to and moveable with the hood. The swathboard is positioned relative to the frame at a location rearward of the hood, forms the cut crop material from the crop conditioning system into a swath. The swathboard is operable to maintain a operating position relative to the hood during movement with the hood toward and away from the crop conditioning element.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the swathboard is rotatably attached to the hood for movement about a swathboard axis. The swathboard moves about the swathboard axis, between a plurality of operating positions relative to the hood. The swathboard is moveable relative to the hood between the plurality of operating positions to change a shape of the swath. When disposed in each respective one of the plurality of operating positions, the swathboard is operable to maintain its position relative to the hood during movement with the hood toward and away from the crop conditioning element. Accordingly, regardless of which one of the plurality of operating positions the swathboard is positioned in, the swathboard maintains that operating position relative to the hood during movement with the hood toward and away from the crop conditioning element. As such, when an operator positions the swathboard in a respective one of the operating positions that provides a desired shape for the swath, movement of the hood toward or away from the crop conditioning element to change the gap therebetween does not change the relative position of the swathboard, such that the shape of the swath remains constant. In other words, because the relative position between the hood and the swathboard remains constant while moving the hood, the position of the hood may be adjusted without affecting the shape of the swath.

In one aspect of the disclosure, an adjustment mechanism is attached to and moveable with the hood. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the swathboard, and is operable to rotate the swathboard relative to the hood and about the swathboard axis between each of the plurality of operating positions.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the adjustment mechanism includes a handle that is rotatable about a handle axis. A support bracket interconnects the hood and the handle. The support bracket is fixedly attached to the hood and rotatably supports the handle. A position plate is attached to and moveable with the hood. The position plate defines a plurality of notches, with the handle engaged with a respective one of the plurality of notches to position the swathboard in a respective one of the plurality of operating positions.

In one aspect of the disclosure, the adjustment mechanism includes a connecting link that extends between and interconnects the handle and the swathboard. The connecting link is attached to the handle at an upper connection location, which is radially offset from the handle axis. The connecting link is attached to the swathboard at a lower connection location, which is radially offset from the swathboard axis. Because the upper connection location is radially offset from the handle axis, thereby forming an eccentric connection, rotation of the handle generates linear movement of the connecting link. Because the lower connection location is radially offset from the swathboard axis, thereby forming an eccentric connection, linear movement of the connecting link generates rotation of the swathboard about the swathboard axis, which moves the swathboard, relative to the hood, between the plurality of operating positions.

In one aspect of the disclosure, an actuating system interconnects the frame and the hood. The actuating system is controllable to move the hood toward and away from the crop conditioning element. In one exemplary embodiment, the actuating system includes a multiple linkage system having a plurality of links interconnect the hood, the frame, and each other, for moving the hood.

The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a harvesting apparatus is generally shown at20. The exemplary embodiment of the harvesting apparatus20shown in the Figures is configured for mounting to a forward end of an agricultural machine, such as a self-propelled windrower. However, it should be appreciated that the teachings of this disclosure may be applied to other platforms, such as but not limited to, the harvesting apparatus20being configured for connection to a conventional tractor, i.e., the harvesting apparatus20being a mower-conditioner drawn behind the tractor.

The harvesting apparatus20is operable to mow and collect standing crop material in a field, condition the cut crop material as it moves through the harvesting apparatus20to improve is drying characteristics, and then return the conditioned, cut crop material to the field in a windrow or swath.

Referring toFIGS. 2-5, the harvesting apparatus20includes a frame38. The frame38may include, but is not limited to, the various members, panels, supports, braces, beams, etc., necessary to support the various components and systems of the harvesting apparatus20as described below. In one embodiment, the frame38may be attached to a forward end of the agricultural machine. In other embodiments, the frame38may be attached to the agricultural machine with a drawbar and drawn behind the agricultural machine.

The harvesting apparatus20further includes a cutting mechanism40. The cutting mechanism40is coupled to the frame38, and is operable to cut standing crop material in a field. The cutting mechanism40may include any mechanism that is capable of cutting the crop material. As shown in the Figures, the cutting mechanism40is embodied as a rotary disc cutter bar42. However, the cutting mechanism40is not limited to the exemplary embodiment of the rotary disc cutter bar42. As such, it should be appreciated that the cutting mechanism40may vary from the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures and described herein.

The exemplary embodiment of the cutting mechanism40includes a cutter bar42supported by the frame38. The cutter bar42extends along an axis that is disposed generally transverse to a direction of travel44of the harvesting apparatus20. The cutter bar42includes a plurality of cutting discs46spaced along the cutter bar42for rotation about respective vertical axes. Each of the cutting discs46is coupled to an upright drive shaft to which power is coupled for causing them to rotate in appropriate directions, for delivering cut crop material to an auger48disposed rearward of the cutting mechanism40.

Referring toFIGS. 2-5, the auger48is rotatably mounted to the frame38, and passes in front of a crop conditioning system50. In particular, the auger48is positioned in front of and lower than the crop conditioning system50. The auger48includes a central cylindrical drum64with a central portion and outer ends. The outer ends of the auger48include flighting, and a plurality of fins is attached to the central portion. In operation, the design of the auger48enables the delivery of cut crop material into the crop conditioning system50.

The cutting mechanism40delivers cut crop material to the auger48, which in turn delivers the cut crop material rearward for further processing by the crop conditioning system50. The conditioned crop material is expelled rearward by the crop conditioning system50, and is formed into a windrow or swath by upright right and left forming panels and a swathboard52.

The crop conditioning system50includes a crop conditioning element54and a hood56associated therewith. The hood56is disposed above the crop conditioning element54to form a gap58therebetween. The crop conditioning element54is coupled to the frame38, and is positioned relative to the frame38at a location rearward of the cutting mechanism40, relative to the direction of travel44of the harvesting apparatus20, for receiving cut crop material from the cutting mechanism40. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the crop conditioning element54is embodied as a crop conditioning impeller. However, it should be appreciated that the crop conditioning element54may be embodied as some other device, such as abut not limited to a crop conditioning roll. The crop conditioning element54is rotatably driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed on the page ofFIGS. 2-5, about an impeller axis60. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures and described herein, the crop conditioning element54(e.g., the impeller shown in the Figures) may be formed as an elongated cylindrical drum64having a plurality of tines62or arms coupled to the drum64at a radial distance from the impeller axis60. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures and described herein, each of the plurality of tines62is disposed substantially tangentially with respect to the cylindrical drum64.

The crop conditioning element54may be coupled to the harvesting apparatus20rearward and upward relative to the auger48. The crop conditioning element54is rotatably driven such that the cut crop material is received from the auger48, and directed around the crop conditioning element54, between the hood56and the crop conditioning element54, thereby conveying and/or conditioning the crop. As noted above, the terms “crop conditioning” or “conditioned crop material” include the processing of cut crop material to bend, crimp, and/or crack open stem and stalk portions of the cut crop material, and at least partially remove a wax material from the cut crop material, for the purpose of releasing moisture from the cut crop material and reducing dry-down time of the crop material.

As noted above, the hood56is disposed above the crop conditioning element54to form the gap58between the hood56and the crop conditioning element54. The hood56is moveably mounted to the frame38above the crop conditioning element54for movement relative to the crop conditioning element54. The hood56is moveable toward and away from the crop conditioning element54for adjusting the gap58therebetween. As is understood by those skilled in the art, adjusting the gap58changes the amount of crop conditioning and/or the volume of cut crop material that may be processed. For example, increasing the gap58distance for a given volume of cut crop material decreases the friction between hood56and the crop conditioning element54, which decreases the amount of crop conditioning. In contrast, decreasing the gap58distance for a given volume of cut crop material increases the friction between the hood56and the crop conditioning element54, which increases the amount of crop conditioning. The gap58distance may further be adjusted to maintain a given amount of crop conditioning when the volume of cut material passing through the crop conditioning system50changes. For example, a higher volume of cut crop material may require that the gap58distance be increased to maintain a desired amount of crop conditioning, whereas as lower volume of cut crop material may require that the gap58distance be decreased to maintain a desired amount of crop conditioning.

The swathboard52is attached to and moveable with the hood56. The swathboard52is shown in a first operating position relative to the hood56inFIGS. 2-3, and is shown in a second operating position inFIGS. 4-5. The swathboard52is attached to the hood56such that the swathboard52maintains a operating position relative to the hood56during movement with the hood56toward and away from the crop conditioning element54. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures and described herein, the swathboard52is rotatably attached to the hood56for movement about a swathboard axis66, between a plurality of operating positions relative to the hood56. The swathboard52is adjustable between the plurality of operating positions, relative to the hood56, based on how the conditioned crop material is to be discharged rearwardly form the harvesting apparatus20. For example, the swathboard52may be adjusted such that the conditioned crop material is discharged laterally rearwardly in a direction opposite the direction of travel44of the harvesting apparatus20. In another example, the swathboard52may be adjusted such that the conditioned crop material is discharged rearwardly and downwardly toward the ground surface. The swathboard52may further be adjusted to discharge the conditioned crop material based on a desired width and/or depth of the windrow or swath.

When the swathboard52is disposed in any of the plurality of operating positions, the swathboard52maintains its position relative to the hood56during movement with the hood56toward and away from the crop conditioning element54. Accordingly, because the swathboard52maintains its position relative to the hood56as the hood56moves relative to the crop conditioning element54, the desired swath shape may be maintained while adjusting the gap58distance between the hood56and the crop conditioning element54.

The crop conditioning system50includes an adjustment mechanism68attached to and moveable with the hood56. The adjustment mechanism68is coupled to the swathboard52, and is operable to rotate the swathboard52relative to the hood56and about the swathboard axis66, between each of the plurality of operating positions. Because the adjustment mechanism68is attached to and moves with the hood56, instead of the frame38, the position of the swathboard52relative to the hood56remains constant as the hood56moves relative to the crop conditioning element54.

The adjustment mechanism68may include a mechanism capable of controlling movement of the swathboard52relative to the hood56between the plurality of operating positions. An exemplary embodiment of the adjustment mechanism68is shown in the Figures and described herein. However, the it should be appreciated that the adjustment mechanism68may include a mechanism other than described herein. The exemplary embodiment of the adjustment mechanism68shown and described herein includes a handle70that is rotatable about a handle axis72. A support bracket74interconnects the hood56and the handle70. In other words, the support bracket74mounts the handle70to the hood56. The support bracket74is fixedly attached to the hood56and rotatably supports the handle70.

The adjustment mechanism68further includes a position plate76. The position plate76is attached to and moveable with the hood56. For example, the position plate76may be attached to the support bracket74, which in turn connects the position plate76to the hood56. Alternatively, the position plate76may be directly attached to the hood56. The position plate76defines a plurality of notches78. The handle70is positioned within and/or engages a respective one of the plurality of notches78to position the swathboard52in a respective one of the plurality of operating positions. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that moving the handle70into a different one of the plurality of notches78, changes the operating position of the swathboard52relative to the hood56.

The adjustment mechanism68includes a connecting link80. The connecting link80extends between and interconnects the handle70and the swathboard52. The connecting link80is attached to the handle70at an upper connection location82, and is attached to the swathboard52at a lower connection location84. The upper connection location82is radially offset from the handle axis72to form an eccentric connection relative to the handle axis72. Due to the eccentricity of the upper connection location82relative to the handle axis72, rotation of the handle70about the handle axis72generates linear movement of the connecting link80. The lower connection location84is radially offset from the swathboard axis66to form an eccentric connection relative to the swathboard axis66. Due to the eccentricity of the lower connection location84relative to the swathboard axis66, linear movement of the connecting link80at the lower connection location84generates rotation of the swathboard52about the swathboard axis66, which moves the swathboard52, relative to the hood56, between the plurality of operating positions.

The harvesting apparatus20further includes an actuating system86for moving the hood56. The actuating system86interconnects the frame38and the hood56. The actuating system86is controllable to move the hood56toward and away from the crop conditioning element54. The hood56is shown in a fully raised, first position inFIGS. 2 and 4. The hood56is shown in a fully lowered, second position inFIGS. 3 and 5. It should be appreciated that the hood56may be positioned in an infinite number of positions between the first position and the second position shown in the Figures.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures and described herein, the actuating system86includes a multiple linkage system having a plurality of links interconnected for moving the hood56. The linkage system may be actuated by an electric motor, hydraulic motor, hydraulic cylinders, or some other device capable of controlling movement of the linkage system.

Referring toFIG. 6, the actuating system86includes an actuating arm88rotatable about a central axis90. The actuating arm88includes a first end92, and an opposing second end94. The central axis90intersects the actuating arm88at an approximate midsection of the actuating arm88, between the first end92and the second end94. A first support block96is attached to the frame38forward of the actuating arm88relative to the direction of travel44of the harvesting apparatus20. The first support block96defines a first slot98. A first control link100is rotatably coupled to the first end92of the actuating arm88. The first control ink is rotatably coupled to a first cross link102through the first slot98of the first control block. The first cross link102is rotatably coupled to the hood56at a location rearward of the actuating arm88relative to the direction of travel44of the harvesting apparatus20.

A second support block104is attached to the frame38rearward of the actuating arm88relative to the direction of travel44of the harvesting apparatus20. The second support block104defines a second slot106. A second control link108is rotatably coupled to the second end94of the actuating arm88. The second control ink is rotatably coupled to a second cross link110through the second slot106of the second control block. The second cross link110is rotatably coupled to the hood56at a location forward of the actuating arm88relative to the direction of travel44of the harvesting apparatus20. The first cross link102and the second cross link110each include a respective central slot112disposed at an approximate midsection of the first cross link102and the second cross link110respectively. The first cross link102and the second cross link110are rotatably pinned together through their respective central slots112.

Rotation of the actuating arm88about the central axis90in a clockwise direction as viewed on the page ofFIG. 6moves the first end92of the actuating arm88forward and the second end94of the actuating arm88rearward. This motion in turn moves the first control link100and the end of the first cross link102attached to the first control link100forward, and the second control ink and the end of the second cross link110attached to the second control link108rearward. This causes the first cross link102and the second cross link110to operate in a scissor motion, such that the hood56is raised in an upward direction indicated by arrow114, and away from the crop conditioning element54.

Rotation of the actuating arm88about the central axis90in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed on the page ofFIG. 6moves the first end92of the actuating arm88rearward and the second end94of the actuating arm88forward. This motion in turn moves the first control link100and the end of the first cross link102attached to the first control link100rearward, and the second control ink and the end of the second cross link110attached to the second control link108forward. This causes the first cross link102and the second cross link110to operate in a scissor motion, such that the hood56is lowered in a downward generally indicated by arrow116, and toward the crop conditioning element54.

While the above describes example embodiments of the present disclosure, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.