SUSPENSION UNIT FOR AGRICULTURAL ROLLERS

Abstract: A suspension unit in agricultural rollers, for elastically connecting the frame of the roller to a roller set including a shaft and a plurality of roller rings. An outer axially extending housing (4) is connected to the frame (2) of the roller (1) with the aid of an attachment (3). An inner mounting (5) carries the end of the roller set shaft. On either side of the inner mounting (5) there are axially arranged horizontal abutments (6), of elastic material, e.g. rubber, connecting the housing (4) to the mounting (5). Through openings (7, 8) are formed at the upper side (7) and under side (8) of the inner mounting. There is thus obtained low stiffness vertically, and the inner mounting (5) is allowed large movement vertically, whereby the roller set is given great adaptability to ground irregularities. By having large stiffness in the horizontal direction, the roller set is only allowed small movement in the travelling direction of the roller.

Description: SUSPENSION UNIT FOR AGRICULTURAL ROLLERS The present invention relates to a suspension unit for ag¬ ricultural rollers, intended to provide elastic connection of the roller frame to a roller set including a shaft and roller rings. Such suspension units are already known. They have the ob¬ ject of permitting movement in the vertical plane for a roller set so that the roller set can adjust itself to ir¬ regularities in the ground during work with the roller when the latter has several sections. Known suspension units comprise a plurality of parts, which often have a complicated shape or are expensive to manufacture. Such drawbacks are avoided by the invention, which provides an elastic unit in a very simple and cheap manner, and is achieved by the distinguishing features disclosed in the accompanying claims. The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the accompanying drawing, where Figure 1 il¬ lustrates the unit from one side and Figure 2 is a perspec¬ tive view seen from one side. In the Figures the numeral 1 denotes a roller, 2 the frame of the roller and 3 an attachment on an outer housing 4. The numeral 5 denotes an inner mounting carrying the outer end of the shaft of the roller set. The numeral 6 denotes two elastic rubber abutments connecting the housing 4 to the inner mounting 5 such that the inner mounting can move inside the outer housing 4 when the roller is in operation. Openings 7 and 8 are made respectively on the upper sides and under sides of the abutments 6. In this way the stiff- ness of the unit will be less vertically than horizontally. The roller set can then adapt to ground irregularities without any great movement taking place in the travelling direction. It has been found that the best result is obtained if the abutments are given an axial extension attaining to 40 to 50 % of the diameter of the outer housing. To mitigate shock forces occurring when rolling over stones or other hard irregularities in the ground, a ridge can be formed at the upper side of the inner mounting 5, this ridge coming into contact with the inner surface of the outer housing 4 after a given movement of the inner mount¬ ing 5. This ridge can to advantage be made cuneiform to obtain progressive force. By placing the inner mounting 5 eccentrically and below the centre of the outer housing 4, the elastic material may be allowed to form a thicker layer between the inner mounting 5 and the ridge 9. There is thus obtained a larger elastic volume between the inner mounting and the ridge so that larger shock energy can be taken up in the movement of the inner mounting 5 towards the housing 4. Where there are rollers having several sections, where outer sections are folded upwards during transport to re¬ duce the transport width, it is advantageous for the abut¬ ments 6 to be long in the axial direction of the roller set, since in the folded up position of the sections the entire weight of the roller set, which can attain to sever¬ al hundred kilograms, is then carried solely by the elastic portions 6 of the suspension unit. One skilled in the art is capable of implementing a suspen- sion unit in accordance with the invention in several ways within the scope of the claims, depending on the function desired. For example, the opening 7 may be given a V-shape with the apex directed downwards. In such a case there is obtained more elastic material for absorbing shocks and in this connection the ridge 9 can be dispensed with. Other modifications are also possible , the abutments may have shape of two or more pairs having openings in between the pairs.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 15 March 1988 (15.03.88) original claim 4 amended; claims 10 and 11 renumbered as claims 8 and 9 (1 page)] faces of the elastic abutments (6) are situated above the inner mounting (5). 5. Unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that above the inner mounting (5) there is formed an upstanding ridge (9) directed towards the inner surface of the outer housing (4) of elastic material. 6. Unit as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the ridge (9) has decreasing width towards the inner surface of the outer housing. 7. Unit as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the ridge (9) is cuneiform. 8. Unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the length of the unit is less than the diameter of the outer housing. 9. Unit as claimed in claim 8 » characterized in that the length of the unit is between 40 % and 50 % of the di¬ ameter of the outer housing.

Inventors: STARK CRISTER, STARK, CRISTER
Applicants: STARK CRISTER, STARK, CRISTER
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01B29
IPC codes: A01B29, B60G11, F16F1