A mowing machine

Abstract: A mowing machine comprises cutting members (6) which are rotatable about upwardly extending axes (7) and which are mounted on a carrying beam (8) pivotably connected to a carrying arm (15). The cutting members (6) are drivable via a transmission means. The machine has a drivable crushing member (52) which is driven via a transmission mechanism (43) having replaceable gear wheels (45, 46), so that the speed of the crushing member may be adjusted.

Description: This invention relates to a mowing machine comprising drivable cutting members and including a crushing device associated with a hood and having at least one drivable crushing member, the machine including a driving transmission for driving the cutting members and the crushing member, the driving transmission including transmission means for driving the cutting members and a transmission mechanism for driving the crushing member, the transmission mechanism for driving the crushing member being provided with control means by means of which the driving speed of the crushing member can be changed independently of the driving speed of the cutting members and can be driven optionally at either one of at least two different values. A mowing machine of this kind is known from the WO-A-8102966. In this known device the ratio of the crushing member can be changed and the degree of conditioning can be adjusted. For changing the drive ratio of the crushing member a sprocket with two teeth rings can be removed and replaced with the positions of the teeth rings reversed. One object underlying the present invention is to improve the machine of this kind and the crushing effect of the crushing member. According to the present invention the crushing member is drivable from a change-wheel casing having a readily removable cover and replaceable wheels replaceable by other wheels and the hood provided around at least a part of the circumference of the crushing member is co-operating with the crushing member and is movable and fixable at will in any one of at least two different positions relative to the crushing member. In this way the crushing effect can be optimized under different conditions. The crushing effect may be adjusted by changing the position of the hood relative to the crushing member and/or by changing the speed of the crushing member. For example, the speed of rotation of the crushing member can be adapted to the amount of crop that can be mown per unit of time by the mower. A very favourable crushing of many kinds of material may be chosen in this way. It is remarked herewith that the word crushing member also is covering a conditioning member with which the mown crop can be conditioned. An advantageous construction is obtained when the crushing device is mounted to a carrying beam on which the cutting members in the form of mowing discs are rotatably mounted about upwardly extending rotary axes, and whereby the carrying beam comprises transmission members for driving the cutting members. With the mowing discs different quantities of crop per unit of time and different kinds of crop can be mown and fed to the crushing member. The crushing effect can easily be adjusted to these kinds of mowing circumstances. A favourable construction of the machine according to the invention can be obtained when the hood is movable about a pivot axis which is substantially parallel to the axis of the crushing member and which is mounted parallel to a supporting beam disposed directly above the carrying beam. According to an advantageous construction of the invention the carrying beam is pivotably coupled with a carrying arm which is pivotably coupled with a fastening trestle for hitching the mowing machine to a lifting device of a tractor or a similar vehicle. Hereby, the mowing machine can be fastened easily to a lifting device of a tractor or a similar vehicle. In this way the mowing machine can be travelled over the field very easily and the speed of driving of the crushing member can be chosen for an optimal crushing or conditioning of the crop with regard to the travel speed of the machine over the ground. In an advantageous construction of the mowing machine according to the invention, the change-wheel casing is mounted on the carrying arm and the change-wheel casing is coupled by a coupling shaft to the crushing member. By mounting the change-wheel casing on the carrying arm, the weight of the mowing device can be borne easily by the tractor or the like vehicle, to which the mowing machine is coupled through the intermediary of the trestle. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a mowing machine; and Figure 2 is a rear view of the mowing machine of Figure 1, taken in the direction of the arrow II in Figure 1. The mowing machine 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is hitched to a lifting device 2 of a tractor 3. The particular mowing machine shown in the Figures comprises four cutting members in the form of mowing discs 6 which are rotatable about upwardly extending rotary axes 7. The discs 6 are mounted on a carrying beam 8. Each mowing disc 6 has two diametrically opposite blades 9, which are rotatable with respect to the mowing disc about blade axes 10 which are substantially parallel to the axes 7. In the horizontal position of the mowing discs 6, the axes 7 are vertical. The carrying beam 8, which is horizontal in the horizontal position of the machine, is connected near the end adjacent the tractor 3 to a gear box 11, which is perpendicular to the beam 8 and is rigidly connected to a gear wheel housing 12. The gear wheel housing 12 is pivotable about a pivotal axis 13, which is horizontal in the horizontal position of the machine, and is coupled with a fork 14 of a carrying arm 15. The carrying arm 15 is connected by a horizontal pivotal shaft 16 to a vertical frame beam 17. The frame beam 17 is connected by a vertical pivotal shaft 18 to a carrying trestle 19. The carrying trestle 19 is provided with fastening pins 20 for hitching the trestle, and hence the mowing machine, to the lower lifting members of the lifting device 2. The carrying trestle 19 also has coupling strips 21 for hitching the trestle to the upper lifting arm of the three-point lifting device, as is illustrated in Figure 1. There is a shear pin mechanism 22 between the trestle 19 and the carrying arm 15 to permit rotation of the carrying arm 15 with the carrying beam 8 about the pivotal shaft 18 upon overload. A lifting mechanism 23 is provided between the vertical beam 17 and the beam 8 to control the movement of the carrying arm 15 about the shaft 16. The lifting mechanism 23 can transfer at least part of the weight of the beam 8 to the beam 17. The mechanism 23 can cooperate with springs (not shown) in order to transfer at least part of the weight of the beam 8 in a resilient manner to the beam 17. The mowing discs 6 are coupled with transmission members accommodated in the carrying beam 8 so that the mowing discs can be rotated in the direction indicated by arrows 26, i.e. with adjacent discs rotating in opposite directions to each other. The transmission in the carrying beam 8 is constructed so that it is adjustable to enable the cutting members to be rotated in a manner differing from that shown in Figure 2. The transmission mechanism in the beam 8 is connected by gear wheels in the gear box 11 to bevel gear wheels (not shown in detail) in the gear wheel housing 12. One of the bevel gear wheels is connected to the gear wheels in the box 11, whereas the other bevel gear wheel is mounted on a driving shaft 27 which is journalled in the housing 12 and projects from the rear of the housing 12, with respect to the normal direction of operative travel of the mowing machine, indicated by an arrow 28. The projecting part of the shaft 27 is provided with a pulley 29. The pulley 29 is connected by belts 30 to a pulley 31 mounted on a shaft 32 which is journalled in a change-speed box 33 constituting a control mechanism. The change-speed box 33 is secured to the carrying arm 15 and has a forwardly extending input shaft 34, which can be connected by an auxiliary shaft 35 to the power take-off shaft of the tractor or of a similar vehicle to which the machine is hitched. The box 33 is situated, as viewed on plan, approximately centrally behind the trestle 19. The input shaft 34 is provided with a pulley 38, which is connected by belts 39 to a pulley 40 on a shaft 41 which is journalled in a bearing 42 mounted on the carrying arm 15. The shaft 41 extends rearwardly from the carrying arm 15 into a change-wheel casing 43, constituting a transmission mechanism, which is rigidly mounted on the carrying arm 15. The change-wheel casing 43 is disposed, as viewed on plan, behind the carrying arm 15 and the belts 30. A shaft 44 supported in the change-wheel casing 43 extends parallel to the shaft 41 and replaceable wheels 45 and 46 are mounted on the shafts 43 and 44. The shaft 44 is provided with a bevel gear wheel 47, which meshes with a bevel gear wheel 48 fastened to a laterally projecting output shaft 49. The mowing machine is equipped with a crushing or conditioning device comprising a crushing member 52 which is rotatable about a horizontal rotary axis 51. The crushing member is supported by a shaft 54 journalled in supports 53 which are fastened to the carrying beam 8. The shaft 54 of the crushing member is connected by an auxiliary shaft 55 to the output shaft 49 of the change-wheel casing 43. A supporting arm 56, disposed directly above the carrying beam 8, carries a screening hood 57 extending to a position ahead of the front of the mowing discs 6. A hood 58 extends to the rear of the supporting arm 56 to a position as viewed on plan, behind the crushing member 52. The hood 58 is movable upwardly and downwardly about pivotal pins 59 which extend parallel to the supporting arm 56 and the carrying beam 8 and can be optionally secured in any one of at least two different positions by means of a locking mechanism 60. To put the machine into operation, it is coupled with a tractor in the manner shown in the Figures. During operation, the mowing discs 6 and the crushing member 52 can be driven from the power take-off shaft of the tractor through the transmission members described above. The beam 8 extends laterally from the tractor. The mowing discs 6 are driven through the control mechanism 33 from the shaft 34, which is connected by the auxiliary shaft 35 to the power take-off shaft. The control mechanism 33 enables two different transmission ratios to be selected to drive the pulley 31 optionally at either one of at least two different speeds. Thus, because the transmission ratio between the pulley 31 and the mowing discs 6 is fixed, the mowing discs can be selectively driven at either one of at least two different speeds. Preferably, the control mechanism 33 enables at least three different transmission ratios to be selected. In the described embodiment, four different transmission ratios can be selected by means of the mechanism 33. The mechanism 33 is such that the mowing discs can be driven both more slowly and more rapidly with respect to the mean speed of the mowing discs for cutting crops in most cases, Thus, by reference to the mean speed of rotation of the mowing discs, the speed can preferably be reduced by, for example, 20% or raised by 20%. The ability to vary the speed of rotation of the mowing discs enables their speed of rotation to be adapted to different kinds of crop. The speed of rotation can also be adapted to the travel speed of the mowing machine during operation. This adaptability of the speed of rotation ensures an optimum cutting effect. The energy required to obtain this optimum cutting effect is minimised. In the illustrated embodiment, the mowing machine is equipped with the crushing device comprising the crushing member 52. The change-wheel casing 43 having the replaceable wheels 45 and 46 enables this crushing member 52 to be selectively driven at either one of at least two different speeds. An advantageous embodiment is obtained when the crushing member 52 can be driven optionally at any one of at least three speeds of rotation. Two different speeds of rotation of the crushing member can be obtained by interchanging the replaceable wheels 45 and 46. The replaceable wheels 45 and 46 can be replaced by one or more sets of other replaceable wheels, so that the driving speed of the crushing member 52 about the axis 51 can have various values. Preferably, the number of replaceable wheels provided is such that a selection can be made among six different speeds for the crushing member. It is advantageous to have the possibility of changing the speed of rotation of the crushing member to speeds 50% above and 50% below the mean speed. This adjustability of the speed of rotation of the crushing member enables the crushing effect to be optimised. In order to ensure the most desirable crushing effect, the crushing member 52 is preferably driven at different speeds for different kinds of crop. Even with the same kind of crop, it may be important under different conditions to be able to select the speed of rotation of the crushing member from at least two different values. The hood 58 associated with the crushing device cooperates with the crushing member. To adjust the crushing effect, the hood can be displaced and fixed at will in any one of a plurality of positions at different distances above the crushing member. Although in this embodiment a change-wheel casing 43 is used to change the speed of the crushing member, a different kind of transmission may be provided for this purpose. The replaceable wheels 45 and 46 can be readily interchanged or replaced by other wheels, since the cover 50 at the rear of the casing 43 is readily removable. The location of the casing 43 behind the belt transmission 29, 30, 31, as viewed on plan, ensures a satisfactory position of the auxiliary shaft 55. Also, the control mechanism 33, provided in this embodiment with an adjusting arm 36 for selecting the desired speed of the cutting members, may be constructed differently for varying the speed of rotation of the mowing discs. If desired, both the control member 33 and the change-wheel casing 43 may comprise a transmission member capable of continuously adjusting the speed of rotation of the mowing discs and the crushing member between given values. Although, in the illustrated embodiment, the mower is provided with a crusher, the principle of optionally adjusting the speed of rotation of the mowing discs between at least two different values can equally well be applied when the mower is not equipped with a crusher. It is also possible to drive a crushing member at will with any one of at least two different speeds in a crushing machine or conditioner not provided with cutting members drivable at will with different speeds. Adjustment of the hood 58 by means of the locking mechanism 60 between at least two different positions about the pivotal shaft 59 can be readily performed for controlling the influence of the crushing operation of the crushing member together with the hood. In particular, the position of the hood can be chosen in accordance with the speed of rotation of the crushing member. Although in this embodiment a crushing device having a crushing member rotatable about a horizontal axis is provided on the cutting member, the principle of optionally driving a crushing member at any one of at least two different speeds can also be applied when the mowing machine is provided with one or more crushing members rotatable about upwardly extending rotary axes. The principle of varying the speed of rotation of a crushing member may also be applied when the mowing machine is provided with two or more mutually cooperating crushing members rotatable about horizontal axes. Whilst various features of the mowing machine that have been described, and that are illustrated in the drawings, will be set forth in the following claims as inventive features, it is to be noted that the invention is not necessarily limited to these features and that it encompasses all of the features that have been described both individually and in various combinations.

Claims: A mowing machine comprising drivable cutting members (6) and including a crushing device associated with a hood (58) and having at least one drivable crushing member (52), the machine including a driving transmission for driving the cutting members (6) and the crushing member (52), the driving transmission including transmission means for driving the cutting members and a transmission mechanism for driving the crushing member, the transmission mechanism for driving the crushing member being provided with control means (43) by means of which the driving speed of the crushing member can be changed independently of the driving speed of the cutting members and can be driven optionally at either one of at least two different values, characterized in that the crushing member (52) is drivable from a change-wheel casing having a readily removable cover (50) and replaceable wheels (45 and 46) replaceable by other wheels and that the hood provided around at least a part of the circumference of the crushing member (52) is co-operating with the crushing member and being movable and fixable at will in any one of at least two different positions relative to the crushing member. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crushing device (52) is mounted to a carrying beam (8) on which the cutting members in the form of mowing discs (6) are rotatably mounted about upwardly extending rotary axes, the carrying beam (8) comprising transmission members for driving the cutting members (6). A mowing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hood (58) is movable about a pivot axis (59) which is substantially parallel to the axis of the crushing member and which is mounted parallel to a supporting beam disposed directly above the carrying beam. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the carrying beam (8) is pivotably coupled with a carrying arm (15) which is pivotably coupled with a fastening trestle (19) for hitching the mowing machine to a lifting device of a tractor or a similar vehicle. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission mechanism for driving the crushing member (43) is such that the speed of rotation of the crushing member can be, selectively, a mean driving speed or driving speeds which are 50% above or below the mean driving speed. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the replaceable wheels (45 and 46) are mounted on parallel shafts (43 and 44). A mowing machine as claimed in claim 4 or in claim 4 and 5 or 6, wherein the change-wheel casing (43) is mounted on the carrying arm (15) and the change-wheel casing is coupled by a coupling shaft (55) to the crushing member. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the change-wheel casing (43) is disposed, as viewed on plan, behind the carrying arm (15), with respect to the normal direction of operative travel of the mowing machine, the carrying arm (15) extending transversely to the direction of operative travel. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coupling shaft (55) is coupled to a supporting shaft (54) of the crushing member. A mowing machine as claimed in claim 9, as far as dependent to claim 2, wherein the supporting shaft (54) is journalled in supports (53) fastened to the carrying beam. A mowing machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, as far as dependent to claim 4, wherein the transmission means comprises a belt transmission (30) journalled in bearings mounted on the carrying arm (15), said belt transmission being disposed, as viewed on plan, behind the carrying arm and in front of the change-wheel casing (43) with respect to the normal direction of operative travel of the mowing machine.

Inventors: VAN DER LELY CORNELIS, VAN DER LELY, CORNELIS
Applicants: LELY NV C VAN DER, C. VAN DER LELY N.V.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A01D43
IPC codes: A01D43