Abstract:
A device ( 1 ) for mowing agricultural, stalk-like material and forming a windrow from the mown stalk-like material, which is to be deposited next to the device, the device having a mowing unit ( 10 ), a preparer ( 11 ) and a transverse conveyor ( 12 ), the transverse conveyor ( 12 ) comprising a spiral conveyor ( 13 ) and a casing ( 23 ) surrounding the spiral conveyor ( 12 ) at least regionally and the end region of the transverse conveyor ( 12 ), lying in the conveying direction of the spiral conveyor, forming a free ejection end ( 37 ), is constructed so that the spiral conveyor ( 13 ) is undergrasped in a lower region ( 32 ) at a little distance, trough-like, by the casing ( 23 ) and expanded in hood-shaped fashion in an upper region ( 33 ) of the casing ( 23 ) opposite the radial extent of the spiral conveyor ( 13 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for mowing agricultural, stalk-like material and forming a windrow from the mown stalk-like material, which is to be deposited next to the device. 
     Such a device is used for mowing and working up grass or similar stalk-like material, which has been grown in meadows or fields, in one working process and for forming or placing together the largest possible windrows of stalk-like material for the succeeding equipment. 
     For example, a chopper, equipped with a pick-up drum as succeeding equipment, which is also used for chopping corn in order to prepare it for silage feed, is designed, in practice, for a large throughput of stalk-like material and, so that it is used utilized fully, requires corresponding by large portions of stalk-ike material that is large windrows. This can be achieved, for example, by placing together the stalk-like material of two working surfaces by changing the direction of travel (by 180°) of the mowing equipment or by placing together the stalk-like material of several devices, which are mounted on a mowing device. 
     From the British patent 2,088,684, a pulled device is known, which is equipped with running and supporting wheels and for which a cutter bar in the form of a drum cutter bar, a preparer with a rotating rotor and a transverse conveyer as suspended consecutively in an equipment frame. The rotor of the preparer transfers the prepared stalk-like material to the transverse conveyer, which comprises a spiral conveyer, which is mounted at both ends, is aligned at right angles to the working direction of the device and has a driving mechanism, which permits the spiral walks to rotate from the top towards the front and downward. The spiral conveyer is surrounded by a casing, the end of which at the ejection side is shortened, so that the inner body of the spiral conveyer is exposed in the shortened region of the casing up to the bearing support in a bracket. In the direction of the preparer, the casing is also open and, at the bottom, has a bottom part, which is directed tangentially to the spiral conveyer in the working direction of the device as a lower cover for the spiral conveyer. It is a disadvantage of this known embodiment of the device that the flow of stalk-like material, already accelerated during the preparation by the preparer, which may be equipped, for example, with a pronged rotor, is thrown onto the transverse conveyer and subsequently in a straight line against the casing ofthe spiral conveyer and against the spiral conveyer rotating inthe opposite direction to the flow of material and decelerated here to a value of “zero”. The worked-up harvested material from the spiral conveyer ofthe transverse conveyer must then be accelerated once again and conveyed conversely. Furthermore, from bearing to bearing, the inner body ofthe spiral conveyer, viewed from the cross section, continuously has the same construction so that the ejection region of the transverse conveyer is very constricted and therefore deceleration of the harvested material, accelerated once more by the spiral conveyer, also take place here. Such an interruption or impairment of the flow of the material leads to an irregular deposition of the windrow. All forces, directed against the flow of material must be rated as a loss and must be debited to the engine output of the pulling and/or driving machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the device of the type mentioned so that the acceleration, once imparted to the flow of stalk-like material by an equipment unit of the device, is retained approximately on the way to the deposition in the window on the ground of the field or meadow or decelerated as little as possible. 
     Due to the inventive device, an increase in the throughput by the transverse conveyor, associated with a wide ejection, is attained. Due to the hood-shaped expansion, atransporting space is formedbetweenthe casing andthe spiral conveyor, so that the stalk-like material, striking the spiral conveyor, need not be decelerated and instead can be conveyed further at ahigh throughput. The stalk-like material does not have to rotate completely about the axis of the spiral conveyor; it can, instead, be transported rapidly between the upper flanks of the screw and the hood-shaped expansion. By these means, the rate, at which the stalk-like material is conveyed further, is increased as a whole and, because of the high conveying speed, the throwing width at the ejection end is enlarged, so that such a device can also find use, for example, as a lateral component of mowing equipment and ejects the windrow in the central region of the mowing equipment, where it can be placed on a windrow previously formed by a front attachment of the mowing equipment. By these means, it is possible to form very large windrows, which are far apart. 
     The ejection is furthermore improved if the casing, in its rear region at the ejection end, has a recess and if the axle beam if the spiral conveyor tapers and, in particular, tapers conically towards its bearing end at the ejection end. 
     The conveying of stalk-like flow in the transverse conveyer is particularly good if a stripper and guiding bar is provided in the transition regions of the casing from the trough-like lower region to the hood-shaped upper region between the casing and outer periphery of the spiral conveyer. By these means, the proportion of stalk-like material, which does not revolve around the axis of the spiral conveyer and, instead, is transported at a high rate in the transporting space between the upper region of the spiral conveyer and the hood-shaped expansion, is increased clearly. 
     In particular, it is furthermore advantageous to have the preparer, for example, a pronged rotor, rotate in the same direction as the screw conveyer, the flow of stalk-like material being transferred overhead to the transverse conveyer. Because the upstream pronged rotor is rotating in the same direction, the spiral conveyer supports the conveying flow and imparts an additional acceleration to the flow of stalk-like material by means of flanks of the screw and as a result of the continuous pitch. In particular, the stripping and guiding bar contributes in the transition region of the casing from the lower rear to the upper hood-shaped region to the fact that the flow of stalk-like material can not be pulled under the spiral conveyer in the trough-like region. The stalk-like material is conveyed largely in the upper region between the hood and the axle beam of the spiral conveyer. In addition, the stripper and guiding bar provide wrapping protection for the spiral conveyer. Since the casing of the transverse conveyer and the housing of the preparer, especially of a pronged rotor, form a unit, the air flow, generated by the pronged conveyer, supports the conveying of the stalk-like material, so that the latter experiences a high overall acceleration, so that the stalk-like material is deposited significantly further then in the case of a conventional transverse conveyer next to the device or within the inner region of a lane of a mower. 
     A reduction in the cross section of the axle beam of the spiral conveyer, for example, in a construction as a cone, supports the conveying process of the flow of the stalk-like material in that more free space with fewer obstacles is created in the ejection region. Depending on the nature of the stalk-like material that is to be processed, a spiral walk on the conical part of the inner body in the ejection region can support a selective guidance on the flow of stalk-like material. 
     Further advantages and details arise out of an example of the object of the invention, which is described in the following and shown in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of mowing equipment in plan view with inventive devices in a construction as working aggregates in practical, use mounted on both sides for piling together several windrows of stalk-like material, 
     FIG. 2 shows a partially truncated and enlarged representation of a device in plan view, as shown in FIG. 1, at a mower as a working unit, mounted at the right side as seen in the working direction, 
     FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation of the device along the line III—III in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 show a perspective representation of a device without a cutter bar for illustrating the closed unit of the casing of the pronged rotor and of the transverse conveyer. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIGS. 1 to  4 , a device  1  is shown, similar to those disposed as a working aggregate  2  on either side of the mowing device  3 , constructed as a self propelled carrier vehicle between the front and rear wheels  4 ,  5 . The device  1  at the left side of the carrier vehicle  3  is constructed here as the mirror image of the device  1  at the right side. In their finction, the two constructions are identical. A further working aggregate  6  which is assembled from a mowing device and a preparer in combination is mounted in front of the front wheels  4  in the front attachment. The windrow  7  is deposited by the working aggregate  6  behind the preparer and between the front wheels  4  of the carrier vehicle. The devices  1 , disposed on either side of the carrier vehicle  3 , are connected with the latter over extension and supporting arms  8  held pivotably at the carrier vehicle  3  and can be transferred from an approximately horizontal working and operating position into an approximately vertical transporting position and vice versa. Over driving means, which can be coupled with extension and supporting arms  8 , the device  1  is driven from the carrier vehicle  3 . The device  1  itself is composed of a cutter bar unit  10 , a preparer  11  and a transverse conveyer  12  with a spiral conveyer  13 , which are held consecutive in an equipment frame. The cutting bar  10  is constructed, for example, as a disk mowing unit and has working tools, which rotate about an approximately vertical axis of rotation  14  and are constructed as cutting elements  15 . The cutting elements  15  are mounted next to one another in a lower spar  16 , accommodating the driving mechanism, and are driven by the carrier vehicle  3  over spur wheels  17  in the spar  16 . The preparer  11 , which is also held by the equipment frame  9 , is behind the cutter bar  10 , as seen in the working direction A. The preparer  11  consists of a pronged rotor  19 , which rotates about a horizontal axis  18  in the direction of the arrow “a”and is surrounded by a housing  20 , which from a housing  20 , which is surrounded by lateral guiding organs  21  and by an upper, adjustable guiding organ  22  (TRANSLATOR&#39;S NOTE: sic!). The preparer  11  in turn is followed by the transverse conveyer  12  with the spiral conveyer  13 . The latter is connected with removable connections, which are not shown, with a casing  23  with the housing,  20  of the preparer  11 . The side parts  24 ,  25  of the transverse conveyer  12  likewise form extended side parts of the device  1  with the guiding organs  21 . The spiral conveyer  13 , mounted at both ends  26 ,  27  either at the side part  25  or at a bracket  28  supported at the side part  24 , consists of an axle beam  29 , on which the actual endless screws are fastened with their endless screw flanks  30 , for example, by awelded connection. The endless screws are mounted on the axle beam  29  so that the spiral conveyer  13 , when rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow b, passes on the stalk-like material in the conveying direction B. As shown particularly in FIG. 3, the spiral conveyer  13  is now surrounded by a casing  23 , which, to begin with, embraces the spiral conveyer  13  trough-like in its lower region  32 , directed towards the ground and at a close distance. In its rear upper region  33 , the casing  23  expands hood-like with respect to the spiral conveyer  13 , so that space for transporting the stalk-like material results between the casing  23  and the spiral conveyer  13  and, at the casing  23 , upright guiding cross members  34  can be held between the casing  23  and the spiral conveyer  13  at a distance from one another. The guiding cross members  34  can be seen from above in FIG.  2 . In the left part of FIG. 2, they are shown as invisible under the casing. In the right part of FIG. 2, the casing  23  is shown truncated so that the guiding cross members  34  appear to be shown freely visible lying in the space. In plan view, the guiding cross members  34  can be formed arc-shape or also be formed by bending from several adjoining angles. In any case, the front end of a guiding cross member  34 , as seen in the driving direction, is disposed at a smaller angle to the driving direction A, than is the rear end. The stalk-like material appearing is therefore taken up by guiding plates, which are almost parallel to the direction of conveying or are directed at an acute angle thereto, and carried along in their deflection angles, as a result of which it reaches a position almost parallel to the conveying direction B of the spiral conveyer  13 . The deflection angle for the stalk-like material over the guiding cross members  34  should be between 70° and 90°. 
     The front upper region  35  ofthe casing  23  leaves a supplying and transferring opening  36  free. The stalk-like material, conveyed overhead by the pronged rotor  19  of the preparer  11 , reaches the transverse conveyer  12  through this supplying and transferring opening  36 . The size or the length of the supplying and transferring opening  36  in the transverse direction, corresponding to the conveying direction B, of the transverse conveyer  12 , depends on the construction of the preparer. The casing  23  can therefore also be closed partially in the upper front region  35 . In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the transverse conveyer  12  is extended in the ejection region  37  opposite the housing  20  of the pronged rotor  19 , and the casing has an ejection opening  38  or is shortened in some cases. However, the axle beam  29  of the spiral conveyer  13  continues to extend to the bearing  39 , but is constructed in this region without a continuous screw. So that the space, occupied by the axle beam  29 , is reduced in size for a better flow of a stalk-like material, it is constructed conically at the end and thus experiences a reduction in cross section in this area. The angle α, as shown in FIG. 2 at the axle beam  29 , should be about 5° to 15° and preferably 10°. In the embodiment shown, the guiding cross members  34  are fastened with screws  40  to the casing  23 . However, the possibility also exists of constructing these so that they can be adjusted over additional boreholes in the casing  23  which are not shown. Likewise, the possibility exists of constructing the guiding cross members  34  so that they are hinged pivotably at one side at the casing  23  and can be adjusted and locked adjustably in an arc-shaped slot guide (not shown) in the casing  23 . By these means, the user of the device  1  can have an influence on the guidance of the flow of stalk-like material, depending on the nature and the moisture condition of the stalk-like material. Already the identical directions of rotation of the spiral conveyer  13  and the pronged rotor  19  result a in continuous conveying of the flow of stalk-like material, since dust formation is avoided by these means. 
     Since an adjustable stripping and guiding element  24  is brought in between the casing  23  and the spiral conveyer  13  approximately in the transition region  41  of the casing  23  ofthe transverse conveyer  12  from the lower rear region  32  to the upper hood-shaped region  33 , it is achieved that the flow of stalk-like material (stalk-like material) is not pulled under the spiral conveyer in the trough-like region. Because of the presence of the stripping and guiding element  42 , the stalk-like material is conveyed largely in the upper region  33  between the hood and the inner body  29  of the spiral conveyer  13 . At the same time, the stripping and guiding element  42  functions as a wrapping protection. Wrapping protection is also achieved by a further stripping and guiding element  43  in the front lower transition region  44 . Already at the start of the supplying and transferring opening  36 , a guiding body  23 . 1 , directed to the ground  31 , as guiding device for the stalk-like material, can adjoin the troughlike region  32  of the casing  23 . However, this guiding body  23 . 1  is a component of the transverse conveyor. 
     The device  1  of the transverse conveyor  12  can also be constructed in such a manner, that the transverse conveyor  12  can be removed from the device  1  over fasteners, which are not shown. The flow of stalk-like material is then deposited broadly directly in prepared form on the ground. Furthermore, as shown in the British patent 2,088,684, the transverse conveyor  12  can also be swiveled away from the preparer  11  or constructed displaceably. The transverse conveyor  12  then reaches a resting position, in which it no longer interferes with the course of mowing and preparation. 
     When used practically in accordance with FIG. 1, the stalk-like material  45 , cut off by the cutter bar  10 , which is constructed as a disk cutter bar  10 , is taken hold of by the pronged rotor  19  and prepared and accelerated during an overhead conveying and transferred as a flow of stalk-like material  46  to the transverse conveyor  12 . In so doing, the flow of stalk-like material  48  is selectively deflected over the guiding cross members  34 , which are disposed in a distributed manner, and conveyed by the spiral conveyor  13  because of their rotation in the direction of the arrow b, which is also the direction of rotation of the pronged rotor  19  in the conveying direction B largely inthe rear and upper region  33  to the ejection opening  38 . The flow of stalk-like material  46  leaves the transverse conveyor  12  here and is deposited as a windrow  47  within the inner region of the rear wheels  5  of the carrier vehicle  3 . As shown in FIG. 1, initially a windrow  7  is deposited by the front working aggregate  6  between the front wheels  4  and a further windrow is then supplied to it by the laterally disposed and inventively equipped devices  1 . In this way, a total windrow  48  is deposited on the ground behind the carrier vehicle  3 . The total windrow  48  comprises stalk-like material  45 , which was cut to a total width of about 10 meters in one working cycle, so that even large choppers, in front of which pick-up drums are disposed, can appropriately be charged to capacity. 
     In use, the mowing equipment can deposit a central windrow  48  while traveling in one direction and, after turning, while traveling in the other direction,form a further windrow  48 , parallel to the first one, from the stalk-like material mown during this return trip. The two windrows  48  are then spaced apart by twice the width of a lateral extension arm. As a result, a particularly advantageous working procedure results, with large windrows, which are spaced far apart.