Patent Abstract:
Tines ( 1 ) attached to a supporting body ( 2 ) have a gripping element ( 3 ) and a fastening element ( 4 ). The gripping element ( 3 ) has a bar-shape design and is made from plastic. The fastening element ( 4 ), made from spring steel, has a connecting section ( 11 ) connected to the gripping device ( 3 ). Also, the fastening element ( 4 ) has a fastening section ( 12 ) that fastens to the supporting body ( 2 ). An elastically resilient spring section ( 13 ) is arranged between the fastening section ( 12 ) and connecting section ( 11 ).

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2006/009568, filed Oct. 4, 2006, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102005052394.3-23, filed Oct. 31, 2005. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a tine for an agricultural implement or a self-propelled working machine and, especially, to a tine attached on a support body of a reel. For example, it is used in connection with a harvesting machine. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The reel of a harvesting machine generally includes several support bodies that are radially distanced to and circumferentially distributed around a central tube. The support bodies can be formed as tubes or in any other profile. The support bodies are rotatably supported by corresponding support arms that are connected to the central tube. The reel is rotatable around the axis of the central tube. Commonly, at least 40 tines are attached on a reel for each support body to provide a working width of 6 metres. The design of the tine depends on the application of the harvesting machine. Tines made from spring steel wire are known. These tines are preferentially used with harvesting goods that are difficult to grip and to pull into the cutting trough, for example, cereals or grass, especially when they, because of the harvesting situation, rest on the ground. The tines generally have two or more spring windings between their attachment portion, with which they are attached on the support body, and the rod like gripping area. The tines contact the harvesting goods, via the windings, so that the gripping area can get out off the way, when it is heavily loaded. 
         [0004]    For other harvesting goods, especially leguminous plants, for example beans, tines made from a plastic material are preferably used. These harvesting goods have to be cut very close to the ground, to collect all the fruit. Here, very wide cutting tables are used on the harvesting machines, for example, a combine harvester, that has a flexible cutter bar. The cutter bar is guided with ground contact in front of the cutting table. When the ground is uneven, these flexible cutter bars carry out a vertical movement relative to the cutting table. Thus, the cutter bar is lifted off the ground and approaches the tine moving above the same. In this case interferences are produced so that the tines can get between the reciprocatingly moving knife blades. If tines made from steel are used, the blades rip off. In this case the cutter bar can break and the cutter drive can be overloaded. The resulting repair times are undesirable during the harvesting work which depends on the weather. 
         [0005]    Further, the loss of time has a larger effect than the cost for the repair. Because of this reason, tines are used in flexible cutter bars or for such application conditions that consist of an elastic material, for example, a nylon material, so that when such a tine gets into the cutting area of the knife, the tine is cut or shortened, respectively, by the knife blades. In this case, no damage is produced on the mower knife or on the knife drive. Such a tine can, for example, be exchanged during schedule maintenance. 
         [0006]    Several embodiments of reel tines that are made from a plastic material are described in EP 0 475 405 A2. The tine is formed with a slotted eye-let for attachment onto the support body. The slotted eye-let is elastically expanded so that the tine, with its attachment area, can spring back after being pushed on. In this condition, attachment of the tine can be achieved by attachment bolts, or if necessary, additionally in connection with clamps and pins, to achieve locking, as via the support body a torque is introduced into the tine. The danger exists that, when harvesting goods accumulate on or when the tine hits a rigid object, an overload is produced. Different from a tine made from spring steel wire, a tine made from a plastic material has to be sufficiently elastic. During larger loadings, excessive bending and a non-regular circumferential position relative to the support body may be produced. This can lead, in the final effect, to breaking of the tine. 
         [0007]    Tines are, however, also used in agricultural implements other than harvesting machines and reels, for example, in hay turning machines. 
         [0008]    DE 177 83 79 U1 discloses, for example, a spring tine for a grass tedder, that is attached to a support body, for example an arm. The tine is bent from an integral steel rod. It has a rod-like gripping portion that contacts the grass. Furthermore, it has an attachment portion, bent into an eye-let, that attaches it, by means of a screw, onto the support body. A spring portion, an extending coil, is provided between the gripping portion and the attachment portion. In the opening, formed by the coil-like path of the spring portion, a sleeve, also mounted on the support body, engages the spring. Therefore, the tine is secured on the support body in a double manner. The rod-like gripping portion can avoid an obstacle in a pivoting manner around the spring axes determined by the retainment of the spring portion. 
         [0009]    DE 178 20 043 U1 describes a tine for a spreading device, a tedder or rake, respectively. The rod-like tine includes a plastic material. Depending on the strength requirements, the rod-like tine can have reinforcement inserts. The required bending properties can, however, also be achieved by a corresponding design of the cross-sections. The tine is retained by screws on a carrying strap or similar support body. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present disclosure provides a tine that is made from a plastic material. Accordingly, damages to a mower blade can be prevented. The tine can be made from a relatively rigid plastic material and enables deflection during a corresponding loading without overloading occurring on the part made from the plastic material. 
         [0011]    According to an aspect of the disclosure, a tine for an agricultural implement or self-propelled working machine to be attached onto a support body comprises a separate gripping element made from a plastic material. A separate attachment element is connected to the gripping element. The attachment element is made of a spring steel. The attachment element has a connection portion that is connected to the gripping element. The attachment element has an attachment portion it onto the support body. The attachment element has an elastic deflectable spring portion arranged between the attachment portion and the connection portion. 
         [0012]    An advantage of the disclosure is that the common tine is made by combining a plastic material and a spring steel wire. This combination provides a rod-like gripping element made from a plastic material that can be used in the area where the danger exists that the tine may come into contact with other machine components, such as a mower sickle. Accordingly, no damages occur since cutting of the gripping element is possible without any adverse effect on the mower sickle. The plastic material can be cut through in an advantageous manner by the mower sickle. 
         [0013]    At the same time overloading is prevented. Here the attachment element provides an elastic area that, in the case of a large loading, ensures that the gripping element can deflect. Preferably the attachment element is formed from a wire. 
         [0014]    Advantageously, the spring portion of the attachment element, formed from a wire, is wound into the form of a coil. Wire portions projects from both ends of the coil. A first wire portion forms the attachment portion. The coil enables deflection. Also, since the coil is designed from a spring steel wire, it has a higher endurance. A second wire portion represents a connection portion to connect the gripping element. Alternatively, the second wire portion forms together with the spring portion to connect with the gripping element. 
         [0015]    The connection portion of the attachment element is embedded in the gripping element. Thus, it is non-detachably connected to the gripping element. The connection portion can be inserted into the injection mold when manufacturing the gripping element. Thus, the connection portion is molded into the gripping element. Thus, the connection portion automatically forms a recess in the gripping element, which accommodates the connection portion, and thus at this portion a close connection is achieved. 
         [0016]    The gripping element may be detachably connected to the connection portion of the attachment element. Thus, it is possible to exchange the plastic gripping element, without any problems, in the case that it is damaged. Accordingly, one can still use the attachment element that is made from spring steel. Such an exchange is possible in a simple manner. Furthermore, the plastic gripping element represents a cost-effective component. The costs for the exchange are correspondingly low. 
         [0017]    In the detachable embodiment, the gripping element has a recess at one end. The connection portion engages the recess and is detachably held by a fixation mechanism. 
         [0018]    The recess comprises a first recess portion that engages the wire portion. A second recess portion at least partially accommodates the coil that forms the spring portion. In this case it is possible for the second accommodation portion to hold the spring portion at its ends transversally to the axis generated by the coil via wall portions. If necessary, the wall portions have, respectively, a bore. A fixing bolt is guided through the bore and through the spring portion. The fixing bolt can be represented by a screw with or without a nut. 
         [0019]    Alternatively, the wall portions include elastic latch arms that have latch projections to engage within the spring portion to provide a fixing assembly. A further attachment possibility for the gripping element on the attachment element is a clamping body arrangement. Here, the second wire portion, forming the connection portion, extends in a straight line. The gripping element recess has a first recess portion, in the form of a bore, adapted to receive the second wire portion. A pocket-like second recess portion receives the clamping body arrangement to retain, by a screw or directly themselves, the connection portion. 
         [0020]    Spring steel wire can be used to form the attachment element. Here, the wire forming the connection portion is bent into a U. A screw or a pin is passed between the two legs forming the U and rests in bores of the gripping element crossing the recess. Thus, an advantageous attachment is achieved. Besides the fixation by a screw, also the possibility exists to form one of the legs in an elastic manner. The leg engages an indentation in the recess and thus provides fixation. If, then, for example, this indentation is accessible from outside, via a bore, a tool can be inserted from the outside into the bore and press one of the legs towards the other so that a pulling-off of the gripping element is possible. 
         [0021]    The fixation portion of the attachment element is bent into an eye-let. A screw or a pin or any other means can be passed through the eye-let to retain the reel tine on the support body of the reel. Additionally, two tines can be combined in such a manner with each other, that they have a joint attachment portion. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, it is possible, to manufacture the attachment element from a flat material, such as a flat spring elastic material. Thus, the spring portion is provided in the form of a leaf-spring. The attachment portion can, in this case, be bent relative to the spring portion and to the connection portion and have a hole. A screw or a different fixation mechanism can be passed through the hole to retain the attachment portion and, thus, the tine on the support body of a reel. 
         [0023]    In order to retain the plastic gripping element on the flat attachment element, the connection portion of the attachment element can have a through bore. A screw or a pin is passed to engage in the bores of the gripping element. Thus, the screw crosses the recess where the attachment element is accommodated with its connection portion. 
         [0024]    The gripping element may, depending on the application case, in the area that contacts the harvesting goods, extend straight with portions arranged under an angle relative to each other or be bent and have a convex and a concave side. Contours can be provided to achieve a stiffer construction of the plastic gripping element. As the spring properties are arranged to the attachment element, a stiffer construction is possible without the positive properties of the plastic gripping element being lost. However, any type of contour shape, leading to a stiff construction, can be selected. 
         [0025]    The recess for accommodating the connection portion of the attachment element is preferably arranged in a thickened portion of the gripping element. 
         [0026]    Depending on the application, the gripping element can be rod-like or flat according to a paddle-leaf type. Such leaf-like gripping elements are used with sensitive harvesting goods, for example sun flowers. 
         [0027]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of a tine attached onto a support body. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the tine according to  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a tine. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view in the direction of the arrow A of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a third embodiment of a tine. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is an elevation view in the direction of the arrow B of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a fourth embodiment of a tine. 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of a fifth embodiment of a tine. 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is plan view of a sixth embodiment with two tines combined to a double tine. 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of a seventh embodiment of a tine. 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of an eighth embodiment of a tine. 
           [0043]      FIG. 15  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 16  is a side elevation view of a ninth embodiment of a tine. 
           [0045]      FIG. 17  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 18  is a side elevation view of a tenth embodiment of a tine. 
           [0047]      FIG. 19  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 20  is a side elevation view of an eleventh embodiment. 
           [0049]      FIG. 21  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 20 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0050]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
         [0051]    Following a first embodiment of a tine is described in detail using  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0052]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a tine  1  is shown arranged onto a support body  2 . The support body  2  is a tube, which is, for example, rotatably mounted on the support element of a reel with a radial distance to the rotational axis of the reel. Due to the rotational movement of the support body  2 , the position of the tine  1 , in relation to the ground, can be changed along the rotational path of the reel. Also, the position can be changed with respect to the harvesting goods. The support body can also have a different shape for other applications of the tine. 
         [0053]    The tine  1  includes a gripping element  3  and attachment element  4 . In the present embodiment, according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the two are non-detachably connected to each other. The gripping element  3  has a first end  5  facing the attachment element  4  and, thus the support body  2  forms a thickened portion. The gripping element  3  extends like an elongated rod from the first end  5  to the second end  8 . The gripping element  3  is, in this embodiment, slightly bent, so that it has a concave side  6  that contacts the harvesting goods. A convex side  7  faces away from the concave side  6 . Profiles  10  can be provided starting from the first end  5  in a direction towards the second end  8 . The profiles  10  end, however, in front of the second end  8 . For a stiffer design and also for saving material, the gripping element  3  can be formed T-like, U-like, H-like or have a similar profile. 
         [0054]    Towards the first end  5 , the gripping element  3  forms a recess  9  that engages a connection portion  11  of the spring steel wire attachment element  4 . The connection portion  11  and the gripping element  3  are, therefore, non-detachably connected to each other. In the manufacture of the gripping element  3 , plastic can be injection molded around the connection portion  11  of the attachment element  4  in the mold to embed it into the gripping element  3 . To improve the retainment of the connection portion  11  with the gripping element  3 , formations or projections, roughening the upper face of the connection portion  11  can be provided. A significant length portion of the plastic gripping element  3  extends from the attachment element  4  so that a sufficient length of the plastic gripping element projects from the connection portion  11 . Accordingly, in an application in a harvesting implement, if relative positional changes occur between the cutter bar and the reel, the gripping element  3  can be sheared off. 
         [0055]    Furthermore, the attachment element  4  has an attachment portion  12 , which forms, for example, an eye-let. A screw can pass through the eye-let to fix the tine  1  onto the support body  2 . In the area between the connection portion  11  and the attachment portion  12 , the attachment element includes a spring portion  13 . This spring portion  13  is represented by a helical spring, which generating axis is generally aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support body  2  or extends at a right angle to the extension of the gripping element  3 . Thus, it is possible that excessive loading or impact loading that acts on the gripping element  3  can be elastically absorbed by the spring portion  13 . The gripping element  3  can deflect and it is thus protected against overstressing. Thus, it is also possible not to have to manufacture the gripping element  3  from a flexible plastic material but to manufacture it from a relative stiff plastic material and to design it in a stiffer manner. The elastic properties are provided by the attachment element  4  made from spring steel. 
         [0056]    A transition portion  14  is provided between the spring portion  13  and the eye-let-like formed attachment portion  12 . The transition portion  14 , in the shown embodiment, serves to provide the necessary distance between the spring portion  13  and the attachment portion  12 , to accommodate the support body  2  therebetween. The support body  2  may have any shape. It is not limited. A strip shape or any shape can also be used. In this case, the attachment portion  12  needs to be adapted to its shape, if necessary. In other connection types relative to the support body, such a transition portion can be eliminated. 
         [0057]    A second embodiment of a tine  101  according to the disclosure is described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The essential difference between the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  is that the gripping element  103  of the tine  101 , made from a plastic material, is a separate component. The gripping element  103  is detachable from the attachment element  104 , which is made from spring steel. The tine  101  includes two elements formed separately from each other, namely the gripping element  103  and the attachment element  104 . The gripping element  103  is formed differently in the area of its first end  105 , formed as a thickened portion. In this area, a recess  109  is provided. The attachment element  104  is detachably accommodated by its connection portion  111  in the recess  109 . The attachment element  104  has a U formed in the area of the connection portion  111 . The spring steel wire that forms the attachment element  104  is bent into a U shape to form a first leg  111   a  and a second leg  111   b . The legs  111   a ,  111   b  extends parallel to one another and are connected to each other by a web of the U. 
         [0058]    The intermediate space between the two legs  111   a ,  111   b  is used to receive a screw  15  when the connection portion  111  is inserted into the recess  109 . The gripping element  103  has a bore  16  intersecting the recess  109 . At both sides of the recess  109 , bore portions are formed like pockets so that the shaft of the screw  15  passes between the two legs  111   a  and  111   b  and is arranged close to the web of U. Thus, generally zero backlash is provided. Furthermore, the two legs  111   a  and  111   b  extend with respect to one another so that a biasing of the legs  111   a ,  111   b  acts on to the boundary of the recess  109  to hold the gripping element  103  essentially without play in the recess  109 . The screw  15  can be formed as a head screw with a self-cutting thread. The screw cuts its thread into the bores  16  at both sides of the recess  109 . Thus, it is possible, in the case, where a partial portion of the gripping element  103  is sheared off in the direction towards the second end  108 , to only exchange the gripping element  103 . This simply happens by detaching the screw  15  and fixing a new gripping element  103  onto the connecting portion  110 . 
         [0059]    Furthermore, the remaining components and portions of the gripping element  103  as well as of the attachment element  104  correspond to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Accordingly, comparable parts relative to  FIGS. 3 and 4  have been given reference numerals corresponding to like parts of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  that are increased by the numerical value of 100. For their description, refer to the description of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0060]    Incidentally, for the attachment of the gripping element  103  designs other than a screw  15  are possible. Thus, it is possible to have the two legs  111   a  and  111   b  extend under an angle relative to each other and to provide an undercut in the recess  109  behind which the end of the leg  111   b  is received so that a retainment against pulling-out is provided. Thus, a screw driver can be inserted into a notch in the gripping element  103  to deform the leg  111   b  to move it in the direction towards the leg  111   a  and thus out of engagement with the undercut. Accordingly, the gripping element  103  then can be pulled off the attachment element  104 . 
         [0061]    A third embodiment of a tine  201  is described according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The gripping element  203  corresponds to the gripping element  103  according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , reference numerals are selected that are increased by a numerical value of 100 to those of the embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Thus, for their description, refer to the description in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0062]    In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the attachment element  204  of the tine  201  is formed differently from the embodiment according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this embodiment, the attachment element  204  is formed from spring steel as a leaf-type spring. It has a connection portion  211  with a through bore  17 . The connection portion  211  enters the recess  209  of the gripping element  203 . The fixation mechanism  215 , formed as a screw, enters the bore  216  and is passed through the bore  17 . Thus, the gripping element  203  is retained on the attachment element  204 . Starting from the connection portion  211  extending into the recess  209 , a leaf-spring-like acting spring portion  213  is provided in the direction towards the attachment portion  212 . The cross-section of the attachment element  204  in the area of the spring portion  213  is such, that, when loading the gripping element  203  in the area of the concave side  206 , an elastic bending of the spring portion  213  is achieved. The cross-section in the direction from the concave side  206  to the convex side  207  of the attachment element, has in the crosswise area of the spring portion  213 , a smaller material thickness. In the area between the spring portion  213  and the attachment portion  212 , a curved transition portion  214  is provided. The transition portion  214  is adapted to the support body formed correspondingly to  FIG. 1 . Instead of the eye-let design of the attachment portion in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a hole  18  is provided in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . A fixation element is passed through the hole  18  to retain the reel tine  201  on a support body. In the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , flexibility of the spring portion is provided when loading the concave side  206 , and transversally thereto. Thus, a lateral deflection of the gripping element  203  is possible. In the embodiment according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a deflection is essentially only provided when loading the concave side  206  in the drawing plane of  FIG. 5 . Thus, a deflection is only achieved in the lateral direction, to the left and right, using the spring properties of the spring portion  213 . 
         [0063]    In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a fourth embodiment of a tine  301  according to the disclosure is shown. Tine  301  differs from the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  only in the modified design of the gripping element  303 . Parts and portions of the components, which correspond to those of the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are identified with reference numerals that are increased by the numerical value  300 , compared to those according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For their description, refer to the description of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0064]    The gripping element  303  is rod-like in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Profiles  310 , instead of the ribs, are arranged on the convex side as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The profiles  310 , in cross-section, lead to an H-shape of the gripping element  303 . The profiles  310  also lead to a stiffened connection with the web arranged therebetween. In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the gripping element  303  is, as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , non-detachably connected to the attachment element  304 . 
         [0065]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show views of a fifth embodiment of a tine  401 . The parts and portions that correspond to those of the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6  include reference numerals increased by the numerical value  200  compared to those of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In the tine  401  according to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the construction of the attachment element  404  corresponds to that of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Also, it includes a hole  18  at the attachment portion  412 , as in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , visible in  FIG. 5 . Additionally, it includes the connection portion through bore  17 , according to  FIG. 5 , to detachably connect the gripping element  403  to the attachment element  404  by the screw  415 , that serves as a fixation mechanism. The attachment element  404  is also leaf-spring-like, as in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The design of the gripping element  403  differs from that according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . No ribs are provided on the gripping element  403  arranged on the convex side. Here, the gripping element  403  includes a profile  410  with an H-like cross-section. 
         [0066]      FIG. 11  illustrates a sixth embodiment. Here, two tines  501  are coupled to each other so that they can be mounted together on a support body  2 . The two gripping elements  503  correspond to the gripping elements of  FIGS. 3 and 4  with the modifications described in connection with  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In the embodiment according to  FIG. 11  the construction of the attachment element  504  corresponds to that described in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 4  for the attachment element  104 . The difference is that two attachment elements  504  are connected to each other by a bridging portion  19 . This bridging portion  19  also has the attachment portion  512 . The attachment portion  512  is formed like an eye-let. Thus retainment of the so-called double tine, which includes two reel tines  501 , can be achieved by a screw on the support body  2 . The bridging portion  19  is dimensioned so that the two reel tines  501  are held with necessary distance between them. 
         [0067]    The design of the two attachment elements  504  otherwise corresponds to the attachment element  104  according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Thus, for its description, refer to the description of these Figures. This is also valid for the embodiment of the connection between the attachment element  504  and the respective gripping element  503 . 
         [0068]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate a seventh embodiment of a tine  601 . The gripping element  603  in contrast to the gripping element, according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is formed as a flat paddle leaf type. 
         [0069]    The connection between the attachment element  604  and the gripping element  603  corresponds to the embodiment described in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Thus, concerning its description, refer to the description of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0070]    The attachment element  604  differs from that according to  FIGS. 3 and 4  only in the design of the attachment portion  612 . In the embodiment according to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , an eye-let is chosen for the attachment onto the support body  2 . The screw that fixes the attachment element  604  on the support body  2  is passed through the attachment portion  612  in form of an eye-let. The attachment portion  612  is arranged as the lengthening of the connection portion  611 . 
         [0071]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate an eighth embodiment of a tine. The attachment element  704  differs from  FIGS. 3 and 4  in that it has a straight extending connection portion  711 . In order to achieve a tight connection between the gripping element  703  and the attachment element  704 , a clamping member arrangement  20  is provided. The clamping member arrangement  20  is tightened by a screw  715  against the connection portion  711 . The gripping element  703  has a recess  709  with a first recess portion  709   a  that accommodates an end portion of the connection portion  711 . A second recess portion  709   b  accommodates the clamping member arrangement  20 . The clamping member arrangement  20  has a threaded bore  21 . In the second recess portion  709   b  a bore  716  ends, through which the screw  715  can be inserted into the threaded bore  21  of the clamping body arrangement  20 . The connection portion  711  of the attachment element  704  is inserted into the first recess portion. It is held in a clamped manner between the clamping member arrangement  20  by tightening of the screw  715 . 
         [0072]      FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate a ninth embodiment of a tine  801 . The tine  801  differs from to the tine in  FIGS. 14 and 15  in that a deflector  22  is added. The deflector  22  is arranged in front of the coil-like spring portion  813  of the attachment element  804 . The deflector  22  should prevent the harvesting goods from entering between the windings of the spring portion  813 . Further, the essential portions and components are provided with reference numerals increased by a numerical value of 100 to 800 compared to those according to  FIGS. 14 and 15 . For their description, refer to  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
         [0073]      FIGS. 18 and 19  illustrate a tenth embodiment of a tine  901 . The attachment element  904  corresponds to that of the eighth and ninth embodiment. However, the connection between the gripping element  903  and the attachment element  904  is different. The gripping element  903  has a recess  909  with a first recess portion  909   a  and second recess portion  909   b . The first recess portion  909   a  is represented by a bore to accommodate the connection portion  911 . The second recess portion  909   b  is limited laterally by two wall portions, the first wall portion  23  and the second wall portion  24 . Each wall portion  23 ,  24  has an elastic latch arm  25  with a latching projection  26 , projecting into the second recess portion  909   b . The attachment element  904  is accommodated with a part of the spring portion  913  between the two wall portions  23 ,  24 . The latching projections  26  engage in the through opening  27  of the spring portion  913 . 
         [0074]    An eleventh embodiment of a tine  1001  is illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . The embodiment differs from the tenth embodiment in that instead of the latch arms  25  and the latching projections  26  an attachment bolt  1015 , in the form of a socket pin or a screw is used. The bolt  1015  is retained in the bores  1016  in the two wall portions  1023 ,  1024  of the gripping element  1003 . The bolt  1015  is passed through the through opening  1027  of the attachment element  1004 . 
         [0075]    The present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alternations will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the present disclosure be construed to include all such alternations and modifications insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0