Patent GB-1206451-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to agricultural vehicles
IPC: F26B17/02
Filed: 1967-10-12
Abstract: 1,206,451. Crop harvesters. TEXAS INDUSTRIES Inc. 12 Oct., 1967 [13 Oct., 1966], No. 46673/67. Heading A1F. [Also in Division B8] An agricultural vehicle comprises a wheeled frame, a crop gathering mechanism, and a load carrying space, various crop treating means being alternatively positionable above the floor of the load carrying space. Crop Pick-up: A frame 1 is supported on driven front wheels 2 and steerable rear wheels 3; a pick-up device comprising a supporting frame 3A, formed from beams 4, is mounted at the forked ends 5 on lugs 6 provided on each side of the machine, by means of pins 7, a ground wheel 9 supporting the lower end of the frame 3A. A tined drum mounted between the beams 4 forms a pick-up mechanism 10. A feeding device 11 mounted on a shaft 13 comprises discs 14 to which is pivotally coupled a pipe 15 by means of arms 15A and stub-shafts 16, the pipe 15 supporting regularly spaced tines 17. Arms 18 are linked by a pivoted lever arrangement to supports 12, and cause the tines 17 to follow a kidney-shaped path above a plate 24 as the shaft 13 is rotated. From the feeding device 11 the crop is drawn up a plate 25 by a conveyer 26 comprising a series of parallel supports 27 mounting tines 28, and operated by crankshafts 29. Fans 32, 33 each in two portions (36) (37), Fig. 6 (not shown), blow a drying stream of air through the load carrying space 55, slides 46, 47 pivoting about shafts 44, 45 respectively and being adjustable to control the volume of the air stream entering through inlets 42, 43. A third fan 50 supplies air, heated by a burner (51) to these inlets via a duct 49A. A rolling floor 56 displaces the crop collected to the rear of the charging space 55, where it is readily removed on detaching a grating (57), Fig. 1 (not shown). A modified pick-up construction, Fig. 3, comprises a frame 60 supporting a mowing platform 61 and a threshing mechanism 62. A cutting mechanism 63 feeds a worm conveyer 64 below a reel 65, a threshing drum (67) co-operating with a threshing sheath (68). The conveyer 26 has a horizontal extension (70) with a screening (75) formed by strips (74), Fig. 5 (not shown), and connected to a similar screening (33A) below the inclined portion 26 of the conveyer. Drying: A unit (78), Fig. 5 (not shown), provided with conveyers 84-86, Fig. 3, may be inserted into the charging space 55, parts (81) co-operating with guides (79) in the upright walls of the space 55 and locking screws (96) being provided. Threshed material displaced along an apertured plate (83) forming the top of the unit (78) falls on to the conveyer 84. It is then passed along each conveyer in turn until it reaches the rolling floor 56, being extensively exposed to the drying air stream from the fans. Grain Cleaning: A unit (102), Figs. 8-10 (not shown), which cleans and separates seeds from tailings may be mounted within the charging space 55. The top plate (104) of the unit (102) comprises perforated strips (105), (106), (107) having openings (108), (109), (110) of different diameters located below the conveyer 70 and forming a sieve. A gutter (125) and a plate (112) guide the crop, most of which accumulates in a hopper (124) formed by the plate (112) and an adjustable plate (122), after penetrating the openings (108), (109), (110), into a sieve (113). This sieve is supported between plates (111) so that together with the upper sieve formed by the plate (104) it may be vibrated through a rod and crank system (114), (115), (119) operated by an engine 53 driving an eccentric (120). Seeds falling through the sieve (113) enter a grain tank (135) formed by a curved plate (134) and the side walls (103) of the unit (102) and may be discharged through a worm conveyer (138) and an elevator 139. Ears and chaff are blown by the air current produced by the fans 32, 33 into a collecting space (127) at the end of a gutter (126), and are returned via a worm conveyer (128) through an outlet (129) located above a feeder (130), Fig. 10 (not shown), to the threshing mechanism. A transverse gutter (131) opening through an outlet (132) returns the crop failing to enter the charging space 55 to the threshing mechanism via a feeder (133). Drying may be intensified by returning the grain collected in the tank (135) to the hopper via the elevator 139 and an opening 140 to repeat the exposure to the hot air current.