Patent GB-1384410-A (GB)
Title: Root crop cleaning and conveying device
IPC: A01D33/08
Filed: 1972-12-14
Abstract: 1384410 Root crop harvesters DEERE & CO 14 Dec 1972 [17 Dec 1971] 57843/72 Heading A1F [Also in Divisions A4 B2 and B8] Cleaning and conveying device: A root crop cleaning and conveying device for use in a harvester comprises a substantially horizontal auger 84, 86, Fig. 1, operative in a trough which is partially defined by a plurality of rollers 78 positioned closely adjacent the flight 86 of the auger and spaced apart a distance less than their diameters and equidistant from its axis, a conveyer to convey the root crop to the auger, and drive means adapted to rotate the auger to advance the crop along the trough, to rotate adjacent rollers 78 in opposite directions and clean dirt off the advancing crop. Harvester: A beet harvester 18 includes an embodiment of the invention mounted on frame members 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 supported at the rear by a pair of wheels 26 journalled on forks 28 which are releasably secured to the frame member 14 by clamps 30, Fig. 2, such that the spacing between the wheels 26 can be altered. The frame is supported at the front by a hitch 32 adapted to be connected to a tractor drawbar. The hitch 32 is movable vertically and laterally by means of a vertical pivot shaft 34 at whose ends pivot blocks 40, 42 are secured. One end of the hitch 32 is connected to the pivot block 42 such that it can pivot in a vertical plane about a pin 44. A hydraulic cylinder 46 connects the pivot block 40 to the other end of the hitch 32 and controls its vertical movement. Lateral movement of the hitch 32 is controlled by a row finder unit. A plurality of digger wheels is secured to the member 12 and each includes a paddle 52 and a pair of lifter wheels 50 each of which is mounted on a standard 54 which is releasably secured to the member 12 so that the spacing of the digger wheels may be adjusted. The paddles 52 are mounted on a non-circular shaft 56 which is rotatably supported between plates 58, 60 such that their spacing can be adjusted. Conveyers: A chain conveyer 70 is supported by rotatable shafts 64, 66 in a position for receiving beets from the digger wheels and convey them to the auger 84, 86 which comprises a core 84 and a helical flight 86, mounted closely above the plurality of rollers 78 which may be smooth or fluted. The auger 84, 86 conveys the beets to a vertical auger comprising a core 74 and a helical flight 76 in a cylindrical housing 72 having a plurality of openings 73 forming a cleaning grating. The housing 72 is closed except for a lateral opening at the lower end for receiving the beets and a rear opening at the top for discharge of the beets to a belt or chain conveyer 95 which delivers the beets to a trailer. A hydraulic motor 110, coupled by lines 112, 114 to the hydraulic system of the tractor, drives the conveyer 95. Drive Trains: The drive train for the rotatable components of the harvester 10 includes a drive line 116 connected by a U-joint 126 to a drive line 124 which extends rearwardly from the tractor. The other end of the line 116 is journalled in a transfer box 118 which transfers power to a gear box 128 which drives a shaft 130 and sprocket wheels 138, 140 counter clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. The gear box 128 also drives a shaft 132 and a sprocket wheel 136 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. A chain 142 is trained about the sprocket wheel 144 on the shaft 56 and drives the paddle wheels 52. A chain 146 is trained about the sprocket wheel 140 and drives a sprocket wheel 148 mounted on a shaft 150 which extends to a right-angled gear box (152), Fig. 3, (not shown) which drives the vertical auger 74, 76. A sprocket wheel 156 on the shaft 150 is connected by a chain 160 to a sprocket wheel 158 which drives the horizontal auger 84, 86. The horizontal and vertical augers are driven synchronously since they are both driven by the shaft 150. The conveyer 70 is driven by a shaft 162 which has sprocket wheels 164, 166 and a sprocket wheel 168 mounted on opposite ends. A chain. 170 is trained across the sprocket wheels 136, 164. The sprocket wheel 168 is connected by a chain 178 to sprocket wheels 176 mounted on the ends of the rollers 78. The lower flight of the chain 178 passes alternately over and under consecutive rollers 78 to rotate adjacent rollers in opposite directions. The rollers 78 can, alternatively, be rotated in the same direction. Operation: The tractor driver energises the drive shaft 124 and the hydraulic motor 110 to set all the conveyers in operation. The hydraulic cylinder 46 is retracted to lower the lifter wheels 50 until they are properly positioned to raise the beets and throw them on the conveyer 70 which conveys them rearwardly and deposits them on the rollers 78. Rotation of the rollers 78 scrubs the beets, and the foreign matter so removed falls through the openings between the rollers 78. During the scrubbing action the beets are conveyed by the horizontal auger toward the vertical auger which moves them upwardly and transfers them to the conveyer 95 which deposits the beets into a trailer. In muddy conditions, the flight 86 of the horizontal auger cleans mud off the rollers 78 and thereby prevents too aggressive an action of the rollers 78 on the beets.