Abstract:
A swath roller is attached to a tractor and includes a first frame with two arms each independently connected to the tractor on an adjustable bracket allowing at least up and down movement of the arm relative to its bracket and a transverse bean across the arms. A second frame carries the roller and is supported on a pair of castor wheels spaced outwardly to respective sides of the roller. The second frame includes a front beam connected to the first frame by a center pivot so as to allow side to side pivotal movement of the second frame and two force transmitting members spaced outwardly of the pivot. Conversion to transport is provided by adding a hitch at one end of the frame and an additional wheel behind the roller at the opposite end and by locking one or more of the wheels against castoring.

Description:
This invention relates to a swath roller for attachment behind a swather tractor for rolling over the swath as it is discharged behind the tractor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Swath rollers are commonly provided to be towed behind a swather tractor to apply pressure onto the swath as after it is discharged from the rear of the tractor. 
     An example is shown in Canadian Patent No: 599,761 issued Jun. 14, 1960 by Hellegards which shows a simple cylindrical roller attached behind a towed swather. 
     Many manufacturers have provided towed swath rollers which comprise a wheeled frame with a forwardly extending hitch pole which attaches to the rear of the swather tractor. One example is shown in a brochure by the present Applicants where a transverse beam carried on the ground wheels has a pair of rearwardly extending arms between which is mounted a metal roller drum. The drum has a cylindrical center section with flared frusto-conical ends. The height of the drum can be adjusted on the frame to adjust the pressure on the swath, depending on the thickness of the swath. The ends of the drum can be closed by circular end plates. 
     This type of swath roller has achieved considerable success and many have been sold by various manufacturers. 
     More recently the metal drum has been replaced by a plastic rotationally molded drum. The has advantage that it does not rust and can be manufactured cheaply but it has disadvantages that it slips on the crop and therefore may not properly rotate in a rolling action. Also the drum is very light so that it may not apply the required pressure. 
     One example of a roller of this type is shown in Canadian Patent Application Serial No: 2,299,185 (Worms) of Koenders published Aug. 23, 2001. This provides longitudinally extending ribs on the drum to aid in causing the drum to properly rotate. 
     Another example is shown in Canadian Patent No: 2,311,692 (Cresswell) of Bourgault issued Mar. 11, 2003. This shows in  FIG. 1  a similar arrangement of towed frame in which the width of the drum can be adjusted. In  FIG. 2  is shown a different arrangement in which the roller is carried on a pair of arms extending rearwardly from the rear of the tractor. There are no ground wheels and the height of the drum is adjusted by a winch arrangement which lifts and lowers the drum frame at the rear of the arms. This arrangement manufactured by Free Form Plastics has the disadvantage that the amount of pressure on the swath is dependent only on the weight of the drum and this may be insufficient as the drum is a plastic molded drum. 
     In view of the disadvantages of this system, Free Form Plastics has developed recently a system in which the winch suspension system is replaced by a pair of double acting cylinders which allow the cylinders to press downwardly on the roller. 
     Swather tractors have in recent years become much larger and more complex with some having independent suspension of the rear wheels. Such tractors are of the type with front wheels which are independently driven to provide a steering action together with castor rear wheels which follow the direction determined by the differential speeds of the front wheels. The towed swath rollers have become inadequate to provide a suitable convenient arrangement for the operator. At the same time there has been an increased demand for swath rolling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the invention to provide an improved swath roller. 
     According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a swath roller for attachment to a swather tractor to follow the tractor along a direction of travel to roll a swath, comprising: 
     a roller; 
     a first frame for attachment to the tractor including two arms and a transverse beam; 
     a pair of brackets, each for attachment to a rear member on the swather tractor such that the brackets are located at spaced positions across the rear of the tractor; 
     each arm having a hitch coupling at a forward end for connection to a respective one of the brackets, the hitch coupling allowing at least up and down pivotal movement of the arm relative to the respective bracket; 
     the transverse beam being connected across the arms generally at right angles to the direction of travel so as to be located transverse to the tractor behind the tractor; 
     a second frame for carrying the roller; 
     a pair of castor wheels on the second frame at positions thereon spaced outwardly to respective sides of the roller such that the castor wheels roll on the ground and locate a height of the second frame and therefore the roller carried thereon relative to the ground; 
     the second frame being connected to the first frame by a coupling arrangement arranged so that the second frame is pulled by the first frame across the ground behind the tractor to guide the roller in a rolling action and so as to allow side to side pivotal movement of the second frame and therefore the roller relative to the first frame about a pivot axis generally along the direction of travel. 
     Preferably the second frame includes a front beam and a pair of rearwardly extending support arms each arranged to engage and support a respective end of the roller. 
     Preferably the front beam extends outwardly to outer ends thereof located beyond respective ends of the roller and wherein each castor wheel is mounted on a respective one of the outer ends of the front beam. 
     Preferably a height of the roller relative to the second frame is adjustable. 
     Preferably the coupling arrangement includes a center pivot member connecting the front beam of the second frame to the transverse beam of the first frame and defining the pivot axis and a pair of load transfer elements for transferring a pulling force from the transverse beam to the front beam and spaced outwardly of the center pivot member. 
     Preferably the load transfer elements comprise a pair of parallel plates connected to either the front beam or the transverse beam with the other of the front beam and transverse beam being located between and movable vertically relative to the parallel plates. Preferably the plates are on the transverse beam and the front beam slides between them, but this may be reversed. 
     Preferably the arms are adjustable longitudinally of the transverse beam. 
     Preferably there is provided a hitch member for connection at one end of the transverse beam to a towing vehicle arranged to pull longitudinally of the transverse beam for towing the roller in a transport position, wherein one of the castor wheels at the end of the roller opposite the hitch member includes a locking member by which the castor wheel can be locked in a rolling direction longitudinal of the transverse beam for use in the transport position, and wherein there is provided a mounting for an additional wheel at a position on a side of the roller opposite to the castor wheel at the end of the transverse beam opposite to the hitch member so that the swath roller can be towed in the transport position in the direction longitudinally of the transverse beam while supported on the two castor wheels and the additional wheel. 
     Preferably the additional wheel is located so that the weight of the roller is applied onto the additional wheel and the arms are supported spaced from the ground. 
     Preferably the height of the additional wheel can be adjusted to support the hitch couplings on the arms at a required height for connection to the tractor. 
     Preferably the additional wheel is a castor wheel so that the device when supported on the three wheels can be easily manoeuvred to a required position to be hitched to the swather. 
     Preferably the additional wheel is mounted on a beam extending rearwardly from the end of the front beam. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a swath roller for attachment to a swather tractor to follow the tractor along a direction of travel to roll a swath, comprising: 
     a roller; 
     a coupling for connection to the tractor by which the roller is towed behind the tractor; 
     a frame construction for carrying the roller and connected to the coupling so as to be located generally at right angles to the direction of travel transverse to the tractor behind the tractor; 
     a pair of castor wheels on the frame construction at positions thereon spaced outwardly to respective sides of the roller such that the castor wheels roll on the ground and locate a height of the frame construction and therefore the roller carried thereon relative to the ground; 
     wherein there is provided a hitch member for connection at one end of the frame construction to a towing vehicle arranged to pull longitudinally of the frame construction for towing the roller in a transport position; 
     wherein one of the castor wheels at the end of the roller opposite the hitch member includes a locking member by which the castor wheel can be locked in a rolling direction longitudinal of the frame construction for use in the transport position; 
     and wherein there is provided a mounting for an additional wheel at a position on a side of the roller opposite to the castor wheel at the end of the frame construction opposite to the hitch member so that the swath roller can be towed in the transport position in the direction longitudinally of the frame construction while supported on the two castor wheels and the additional wheel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of swath roller according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the swath roller of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of the swath roller of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the swath roller of  FIG. 1 . 
       In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The swath roller apparatus is generally indicated at  10  and includes a swath roller  11  mounted on a frame arrangement  12  for transportation behind a conventional swather tractor. 
     The roller  11  is formed of welded metal sheet and includes a central cylindrical section  14  and two flared ends  15  which are themselves frusta conical extending to an outermost edge  16  at which is located an end circular plate  17  closing the end of the roller drum. The roller is mounted on bearings  18  carried on a shaft  19  so that the shaft can be attached to the frame  12  allowing the roller to roll over the swath as the swath emerges from the rear of the tractor. The shape of the roller is a conventional shape with the central cylindrical section acting to compress the majority of the swath while the edges which are of reduced height are pinched downwardly to the ground by the frusta conical end sections. 
     The frame assembly includes a front frame section  20  and a rear frame section  21 . The front frame section is attached to the tractor and the rear frame section carries the roller. The front frame section  20  comprises a main transverse beam  22  extending across the width of the apparatus to respective ends  23  spaced outwardly from the roller. The transverse beam  22  is attached to the tractor by a pair of arms  24  which extend forwardly from the beam to the tractor at right angles to the beam and at spaced positions along the length of the beam. The arms  24  are thus parallel and their spacing on the beam  24  can be adjusted by adjusting mounting clamps  25 . At the forward end of each arm  24  is provided a mounting bracket  26  providing a hitch coupling  27  for receiving a corresponding coupling at the front of the respective arm. The height of the hitch coupling  27  can be adjusted by moving the bracket  26  on the tractor. 
     In the arrangement as shown and primarily used, the brackets attached to the axle of the tractor at the rear of the tractor which axle carries the conventional castor wheel of the tractor. In some cases the rear axle is a rigid transverse axle and other cases independent axle portions are provided which are independently suspended relative to the tractor body. 
     In other cases the tractor may include a mounting assembly for receiving the swath roller which provides mounting points for the forward end of the arms  24 . In all cases the arms  24  can pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the mounting on the tractor allowing the height on the beam  22  to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the tractor. 
     The roller frame  21  includes a front beam  30  which extends parallel to and alongside the transverse beam  22 . The front beam  30  extends outwardly to respective ends  31  which are located beyond the ends  23  of the transverse beam. The front beam  30  is coupled to the transverse beam  23  by a center pivot coupling  32  which allows the front beam to pivot about a horizontal axis longitudinally of the direction of movement so that the respective ends of the front beam can pivot upwardly and downwardly allowing the roller to move in a similar pivoting action. 
     Pulling force from the transverse beam is transferred to the front beam by a force communication device generally indicated at  33  which comprises a pair of parallel plates  34  and  34 A attached to the end  23  of the transverse beam. Conveniently these two plates are held in parallel position by providing C-shape at the top and bottom thus defining horizontal flanges which are clamped together to hold the plates parallel and vertical. The front one of the plates is attached to the end  23  of the transverse beam thus holding the plates at spaced positions with the front beam  30  passing therethrough. Thus the front beam can slide upwardly and downwardly within the channel defined by the parallel plates and pulling force which is mis aligned with the longitudinal direction, for example of course by steering of the tractor, is transmitted at positions spaced outwardly at the center pivot by the load transmitting elements. In this way high loads at the center pivot are moved outwardly to these load transmitting elements to ensure that sufficient force can be transmitted from the front frame to the frame carrying the roller. 
     The roller shaft  19  is carried on a pair of arms  35  which extend rearwardly from the front beam  30 . These arms are supported at a predetermined height relative to the front roller by supporting the arms on a fixed downwardly inclined support beam  36 . An adjustable brace  37  extends between the fixed beam  36  and the support arm  35  so that the operator can adjust the length of the brace thus moving the roller upwardly and downwardly relative to the fixed beam  37  and therefore relative to the front beam  30 . The arms  35  extend beyond the shaft of the roller to provide a rear handle portion which can be lifted by the operator thus providing sufficient leverage for the operator to lift the weight of the roller and provide the necessary adjustment at the brace  37 . 
     The length of the arms  24  is such that the beams are carried at a position spaced rearwardly of the tractor sufficiently to clear the rear castor wheels of the tractor. 
     The ends of the front beam  30  as indicated at  31  are each carried on a respective one of a pair of castor wheels  40  of a conventional construction. Thus a bracket  41  is mounted on the end of the front beam and this carries a vertical support  42  for the arm  43  of the castor wheel  40 . The arm is arranged so that the axis of the castor wheel when the roller system is operating in the field is located approximately in line with the axis of the roller  11 . Thus the two castor wheels are located outwardly beyond the end of the roller and provide support for the ends of the roller so as to locate the height of the roller relative to the ground. Thus in all cases the roller is supported away from the ground and rolls on the swath with sufficient pressure downwardly onto the swath to compress the swath while avoiding the roller contacting or running on the ground. 
     At one end of the transverse beam  22  is provided a receptacle  45  for a hitch bar  46  with a hitch coupling  47  for connection to a towing vehicle such as another tractor or a farm pickup vehicle. This defines therefore a front end of the roller system during transportation with the transportation taking place in a direction at right angles to the normal working direction. Thus in transport towing takes place along the direction of the beams with a hitch at the forward end and one of the castor wheels  40  at the forward end underneath the hitch. 
     At the other end which is the rear end in the towing position, there is provided a mounting  50  for an additional wheel  51  also in the form of a castor wheel with a castor wheel arm  52 . This is mounted on a bracket  53  carried on the end of a beam  54  rigidly attached to the end  31  of the front beam  30  at the rear end of the device in transport. The mounting  50  includes a bracket which allows the mounting  53  to be adjusted vertically in height so as to lift the beam  54  at the end of the beam upwardly and downwardly relative to the front beam  30 . It will be appreciated that this upward and downward adjustment of the beam  54  tilts the apparatus about the castor wheels  40  so as to raise and lower the hitch ends of the arms  24 . With the additional wheel  51  in place, therefore, the arms  24  are maintained at a height spaced from the ground which is approximately equal to the height for attachment to the brackets  26 . In the transport position, therefore, when the arms are disconnected from the swather tractor the device is towed longitudinally of the roller with the arms projecting outwardly to the side on one side of the front beam and the roller projecting outwardly to the other side of the front beam. This arrangement provides a width of transportation which is sufficiently narrow to accommodate most transportation situations. 
     In order that the system be towed stably, the rear castor wheel  40  includes a locking system  60  with a pin  61  which slides through a sleeve  62  and engages into a hole in a flange  63  attached to the arm  43  of the castor wheel  40 . This acts to lock the wheel  40  at the rear in the transport position in the longitudinal transport direction. Similarly the additional wheel  51  can also be locked in this direction to provide a stable position at the rear. The front castor wheel  40  at the hitch remains unlocked during transport so that it can turn from side to side to provide a steering action relative to the towing vehicle. 
     All of the wheels can castor in order that a single operator can push the device up to the rear of the swather and manoeuvre it to the required position to locate it properly for connection. When in transport the rear two wheels are locked to prevent the castoring action. 
     Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.