BEET HARVESTER

Abstract: A beet harvester has separate digging members (1) and lifting members (2). According to the embodiment of the invention the digging member is tilting forward in the direction of motion (B) and is given an oscillatory movement crosswise to the direction of motion. The loosened and lifted beets (5) are grasped by a set of spider wheels (2), which convey them on to traditional further treatment. Digging members (1) are carried by carrying members (3), so that they clasp the beet with its tip disposed between the digging members.

Description: BEET HARVESTER This invention relates to the type of beet harvester which has dig¬ ging as well as lifting members. Beet harvesters are known which are equipped with a wheel which pushes the soil underneath and upwards in relation to a number of beets in a row, so as to permit the lifting members connected thereto to lift the beets in a facilitated and less energy-consum¬ ing way. Such a construction is shown in FR 2443.194 (1980). The disadvantage of this construction is that the soil is compacted around the beet at the same time access to it is facilitated. This results in a big amount of soil being lifted at the same time. This is a disadvantage v/hich the said construction shares with a number of other beet harvesters, cf. an article by W. Brinkmann: "Verrin- gerung des Erdanteils in der Zuckerrubenerntemaschine", Zuckerin- dustrie, Vol. 110, Nr. 12 (1985). FIG. 5 therein shows part of a beet harvester with lifting members consisting of curved guiding rods in combination with a spider wheel (sometimes termed "oppel" wheel) , being disposed directly over the guiding rods. The guiding rods end up in shares in the direction of travel. Although, as per the article, such types of beet harvesters rank the highest com¬ pared with other beet harvesters mentioned in the article, practi¬ cal experience proves that even such types bring along an unecono¬ mic quantity of soil during beet lifting. Similar constructions are known from DE813908 (1951), DE2041595 (1972), DE2059414 (1971), US962880 (1910), US1299825 (1919), which all describe that the dig¬ ging members are disposed directly in front of the lifting members which moreover are only partly operating underground. US2626497 (1949) shows corresponding lifting members directly related to a complete^ underground, horizontal digging member, and it is exact¬ ly the disadvantage of this construction that a large amount of soil is brought along. It is the object of the present invention to provide a beet har¬ vester which avoids the disadvantages of the types hitherto known, and this is obtained with a beet harvester of the nature defined in the characterizing part of claim 1. Claim 2 indicates an advantageous embodiment of a digging member with a view to passage through the soil. Claim 3 indicates an advantageous embodiment of a digging member in accordance with the present invention with a view to removing soil from a beet. Claim 4 indicates an advantageous embodiment of a digging member in accordance with the present invention with a view to a further re- moving of soil from a beet. Claims 5 and 6 indicate means for the reduction of the resistance to movement through the soil. Claim 7 indicates an advantageous carrying member for the digging members as set forth in the previous claims. Claim 8 indicates an advantageous embodiment of a carrying member with a view to reducing the soil pressure against a beet. Claim 9 indicates an embodiment of a carrying member which consti¬ tutes a compromise between the resistance to movement through the soil and the reduction of soil pressure against a beet. Claim 10 indicates an embodiment of a carrying member which is ad¬ vantageous because the amount of soil compacted has been mini¬ mized. Claim 11 indicates an advantageous pattern of motion of a digging member with a view to loosening a beet. Claim 12 indicates a further improvement of the loosening ability of a digging member by its moving at an appropriate frequency. Claim 13 indicates an advantageous lifting member as set forth in the present invention. Claim 14 indicates an advantageous embodiment of a lifting member as set forth in claim 13. Claim 15 indicates an appropriate propulsion of the lifting member which does not necessitate any particular propelling means. Claim 16 indicates an appropriate rotation of the lifting member by only a limited contribution of specific propelling means. Claim 17 indicates a manner of bringing about rotation of the lift¬ ing member which is advantageous when used in loose soil. Referring now to the drawing, the invention will be described in details in the following: FIG. 1 shows those members that are essential for a beet harvester in accordance with the present invention, shown in operation while lifting beets, and FIG. 2 shows a front view of the digging and the carrying members surrounding a beet, and FIG. 3 shows an isometric representation of the digging and carry¬ ing members in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, digging members (1) and a succeeding lifting member (2) are shown. The digging members (1) are carried by support members (3) in such a way that the rear part (6) is located higher in the ground (E) than the front part (7) . The lifting of a beet (5) is succeeded by it being grasped by a lifting member which is consti¬ tuted by a pair of spider wheels (2) . During the lifting operation each beet is thus retained by means of four fingers (9) ; two from each wheel. The wheels are mounted in an oblique fashion with an acute angle opposite the direction of motion (B) , and at the point where the grasp of a beet is loosening, because the peripheries of the two wheels separate again, the beet is acted on by a rubber beater, disposed on a horizontal shaft (11) . The function of the rubber beater is that of throwing the beet onto a carousel wheel (12) which forms part of beet transportation means which may per se be generally known. In FIG. 1 it is furthermore shown that the support members (3) are firmly mounted onto an arm (13) which in the shown embodiment has been mounted onto a horizontal shaft (14) . A reciprocating member (15) is connected to the arm (13) so as to make the digging member oscillate vertically during operation. Such cyclic movement during lifting has proved to be highly effective as to increasing the action of the digging member (1) in loosening and disengaging a beet from soil. Tests have proved that frequencies between 3 and 15 Hz are effective. FIG. 2 shows a front illustration of digging members (4) and sup¬ port members (3a, 3b) surrounding a beet (5) . The embodiment shows the support members approaching the shape of a beet so as to mini- mize the quantity of soil adhering to the beet. One object of the invention is to avoid soil compacting around the beet during loosening and lifting, and this is obtained by allowing both dig¬ ging and lifting members to push away soil from the beet during operation, with the result that the soil next to the beet is ex ¬ posed to tensile stress which will loosen it. FIG. 3 shows the details of an embodiment of digging and carrying members in accordance with the present invention. It will be ob¬ served that the digging members (4) as well as the support members (3a, 3b) are pointed anteriorly in the direction of motion so as to most efficiently push away the soil on the outsides and underside rather than between the members where a beet will be. The distance between the two surfaces (8) , facing each other, of the digging members (4) is least at the front edge (7) , however so large as to permit the tip of a beet to pass through. This posterior increase of width contributes to reducing the soil pressure against the tip of the beet so as to avoid damage and a subsequent loss of beet ma¬ terial. The actual rounding on those edges facing forward in the direction of motion will be dependant on the acceptable amount of resistance to the digging and carrying members, and from an energy viewpoint this must be balanced against the advantage of reduced work in removing soil from the beets. It is evident that there will be numerous details in the embodi¬ ments which those skilled in the art can deduce from the teaching given in the present description and claims. For example, it should be mentioned that it is immaterial for the result how the digging members are given their cyclic movement.

Claims: W H A T IS C L A I ME D IS : 1. Beet harvester with digging members (1) and lifting members (2) c h a r a c t e r i z e d in thai: the digging members are formed by two beams (4) carried by support members (3) — which during operation are pulled on either side of a beet (5) at its underside, that the rear part of each beam (6) is positioned higher in the ground than the front part (7), and that the digging members (1) are disposed far ahead, and individu ¬ ally adjustable in relation to the lifting members (2) . 2. Beet harvester according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the outer edges of the beams are parallel to the direction of motion (B). 3. Beet harvester according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the top side of each beam is plane, and that the under side of each beam forms an acute angel (with the top side at the front part (7) ). 4. Beet harvester according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the distance between the two surfaces of the beams (8) , facing each other, is constant or increasing towards the rear part (6). 5. Beet harvester according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the front part of the beams (7) are rounded which rounding ends tangentially to the outer and inner side of the beams. 6. Beet harvester according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the front part of the beams (7) are rounded, which rounding ends tangentially to the top and bottom of the beams. 7. Beet harvester according to claims 1 - 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the carrying members (3a, 3b) of the beams are formed mainly by vertically disposed elements with a flat outer and inner side. 8. Beet harvester according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the flat inner side of the carrying members (3a, 3b) is paral¬ lel to the inner edges of the beams, whereas the outer side forms an angle with the inner side, thereby forming a sharp edge in the direction of motion (B) . 9. Beet harvester according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that as well the inner side as the outer side of the carrying mem¬ bers (3a, 3b) are parallel to the direction of motion (B) . 1C. Beet harvester according to claim 8 or 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the shape of the carrying members approaches to the outline of a beet (5) . 11. Beet harvester according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the digging members (4) during operation make a cyclic move¬ ment mainly perpendicularly to the direction of motion (B) . 12. Beet harvester according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the digging members perform a plurality of cycles over the di¬ stance between two subsequent beets (5) in a row. 13. Beet harvester according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lifting members are constituted by a pair of spider wheels (2) the planes of which are mainly vertical and which form an acute angle opposite the direction of motion. 14. Beet harvester according to claim 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spider wheels (2) are constructed from elastic material the elasticity of the fingers (9) being mainly the same in the tan¬ gential and axial directions. 15. Beet harvester according to claim 13 or 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spider wheels (2) are driven by engagement with the soil (E) during operation. 16. Beet harvester according to claim 13 or 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that one of the spider wheels (2) is positively driven. 17. Beet harvester according to claim 13 or 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that both of the spider wheels (2) are positively driven.

Inventors: FOENS JOHNSEN AKSEL, JENSEN JENS HERMAN, FOENS, JOHNSEN, AKSEL, JENSEN, JENS, HERMAN
Applicants: DANSKE SUKKERFAB, AKTIESELSKABET DE DANSKE SUKKERFABRIKKER
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A01D25
IPC codes: A01D25