Abstract:
An agricultural harvesting apparatus comprising a base frame, a pivotally mounted wing frame and a pivotally mounted outer wing frame. The outer wing frame is folded and unfolded into its operating and transport positions by an outer wing pivot drive. An outer wing pivot sensing hydraulic cylinder drives inner and outer pushing rods pivoting hydraulic cylinders and a pivot locking hydraulic cylinder so that the associated elements are placed in their respective transport or operating positions. After the outer wing frame is folded together with the associated elements into their transport positions a wing pivot hydraulic cylinder folds the wing frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is directed to an agricultural harvesting apparatus having a base frame and an outer wing frame. The outer wing frame has a transport position wherein the outer wing frame is folded and an operating position wherein the outer wing frame is unfolded. Movement of the outer wing frame actuates an outer wing sensing hydraulic cylinder which in turn drives the folding and unfolding of other elements on the harvesting apparatus.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    DE 3605933 A discloses a harvesting attachment for a harvesting machine comprising a base frame and two mowing and pick-up attachments that are mounted on the base frame such that they can be pivoted separately. When the harvesting attachment is moved from the operating position into the transport position in order to make it possible to drive the harvesting machine carrying the harvesting attachment on a roadway, hydraulic cylinders are successively actuated and the left and the right mowing and pick-up attachments are then successively moved into the transport position.  
           [0003]    DE 4322263 A discloses a mowing apparatus for mowing crop residue. This mowing device contains two lateral mower bars that are transverse to the driving direction and can be pivoted into a transport position. The three mower bars are equipped with rotatable mowing blades. The pivoting of the outer mower bars is realized with the aid of a double-action hydraulic cylinder, where the central mower bar is displaced upward into the transport position by a hydraulic cylinder assigned thereto. The hydraulic cylinders of the mower bars are provided with additional stroke volume in order to enable the lateral mower bars to yield opposite to the driving direction. The additional stroke volume is hydraulically connected to an operating cylinder for raising the lateral mower bars. In case of an overload, oil is displaced from the additional displacement of the hydraulic cylinder to drive the operating cylinder.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an agricultural harvesting apparatus wherein related elements are automatically folded and unfolded by the movement of an outer wing frame relative to the wing frame.  
           [0005]    The invention comprises an agricultural harvesting apparatus with a first element that can be moved from a transport position into an operating position and/or vice versa by means of a suitable drive. The drive of the first element may be an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or cylinder, a manual assembly or by the drive motor of a harvesting machine that carries the harvesting apparatus via a suitable drive train. The first element (and the respective drive) is mechanically coupled to a first hydraulic cylinder such that the latter is driven by the drive and acts as a pump for the hydraulic fluid when the first element is moved. The hydraulic fluid displaced from the first hydraulic cylinder serves to drive hydraulically a second hydraulic cylinder that is coupled to and moves the second element of the harvesting apparatus from the transport position into the operating position or from the operating position into the transport position. However, it would also be conceivable for the second element to carry out one of these movements under the influence of a different drive or the second element may be moved manually and with the support of gravity.  
           [0006]    This results in an agricultural harvesting apparatus, in which a second element is automatically moved into the transport position or into the operating position without requiring complicated controls for the second hydraulic cylinder. A hydraulic pump is no longer required for charging the second hydraulic cylinder with pressurized hydraulic fluid.  
           [0007]    If the second hydraulic cylinder moves the second element from the transport position into the operating position and back into the transport position, it is advantageous to design the first and the second hydraulic cylinder in the form of double-acting cylinders. The two pressure chambers of the first and the second hydraulic cylinder are hydraulically connected (directly or indirectly) such that the hydraulic fluid is pumped back and forth between the two hydraulic cylinders when the drive of the first element is moved.  
           [0008]    The invention also proposes to provide a third and preferably also a fourth element with corresponding third and fourth hydraulic cylinders, where said hydraulic cylinders are designed for moving the assigned element from the operating position into the transport position and vice versa. The hydraulic cylinders may be connected in parallel and directly supplied with hydraulic fluid by the first hydraulic cylinder. Alternatively, the hydraulic cylinders may practically be connected in series and acted upon indirectly by the first hydraulic cylinder, i.e., with other intervening hydraulic cylinders.  
           [0009]    It is particularly advantageous to arrange the hydraulic cylinders in a closed hydraulic circuit so that neither a sump nor a pump is required for supplying the hydraulic fluid. Here, it is preferred to connect the respective piston rod pressure chambers and the piston surface pressure chambers of two cylinders to one another. In this way, identical strokes can be achieved with the same type of hydraulic cylinders. This solution is particularly advantageous in instances in which an even number of hydraulic cylinders must be actuated. If an odd number of hydraulic cylinders is provided, one hydraulic cylinder may “run idle,” i.e., one hydraulic cylinder does not move an element but produces the proportional change in the volume flow required for coupling the last hydraulic cylinder. In an alternative solution for an odd number of hydraulic cylinders, one (or more) hydraulic cylinders with a continuous piston rod that extends through both pressure chambers is/are used, as described in US 5,450,908 A. One pressure chamber of such a hydraulic cylinder always discharges the same quantity of hydraulic fluid as that being pumped into the other pressure chamber.  
           [0010]    The invention is particularly suitable for a mowing attachment with intake and mowing devices. Mowing attachments of this type are usually realized in the form of an attachment for a combine-harvester or a field chopper. In one embodiment that is realized in the form of a corn harvester, they serve for harvesting the entire plant. In another embodiment, they serve as pickers for harvesting corn ears or other grain crops.  
           [0011]    According to one preferred additional refinement of the invention, the first element of the harvesting apparatus comprises an outer wing frame carrying an intake and mowing device of the mowing attachment. The outer wing frame is pivoted relative to a wing frame to which it is pivotally attached from and into a transport position of an operating position. The first element is usually pivoted upward or backward by a hydraulic cylinder from the operating position, where it is oriented horizontally and transverse to the forward driving direction into the transport position.  
           [0012]    The second and/or third element of the harvesting apparatus can be inner and outer pushing rods, which in the operating position, are arranged in front of and above the intake and mowing apparatus with respect to the forward driving direction. The inner and outer pushing rods are moved into and out of their transport or operating positions by second and third hydraulic cylinders that pivot the pushing rods forward or backward, and upward or downward.  
           [0013]    The fourth element of the harvesting apparatus may consist of a locking device that, in the transport position, blocks the pivoting movement of the harvesting apparatus relative to the harvesting machine carrying the harvesting apparatus about a pivot bearing arrangement. The locking device releases the pivoting movement in the operating position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1, a schematic top view of a harvesting apparatus.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2, a front view of the harvesting apparatus.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3, a schematic representation of the hydraulic system of the harvesting apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 1 and 2 show an agricultural harvesting apparatus  10  in the form of a mowing attachment equipped with a total of ten intake and mowing devices  12 . The intake and mowing devices  12  are symmetrically arranged relative to a vertical central plane M of the harvesting apparatus  10  and serve to draw in and cut off standing plants in a field. FIG. 2 shows that four intake and mowing devices are mounted to the base frame  26 , that two right intake and mowing devices  12  are mounted to the right wing frame  28 , and that one intake and mowing device  12  is mounted to the right outer wing frame  30 . The plants that are drawn in and cut off are conventionally transported to a harvesting machine (not shown), which is behind harvesting apparatus  10 .  
         [0018]    The harvesting apparatus  10  is mounted to the harvesting machine by a pivot bearing arrangement  14  that allows the harvesting apparatus  10  to pivot relative to the harvesting machine about a horizontal axis  16  that extends in the vertical central plane M and parallel to the forward driving direction V. The axis  16  is approximately arranged at the elevation of the center of the intake of the transport channel of the harvesting machine. The pivot bearing arrangement  14  contains a gantry-shaped support frame  18  that is mounted on the harvesting machine. Two forwardly extending rollers  20  that can be turned about a horizontal axis are arranged on the upper side of this carrying frame. Pipe sections  24  that are arranged on the upper side of a pivot frame  22  lie on the rollers  20 . The pivot frame  22  carries a base frame  26  that is oriented transverse to the forward driving direction V. Left and right wing frames  28  each carry two intake and mowing devices  12  and are pivotally mounted on the respective lateral ends of the base frame  26 . Left and right outer wing frames  30  each hold one intake and mowing device  12  and are pivotally mounted on the respective wing frames  28 . The pivot bearing arrangement  14  makes it possible for the relatively wide harvesting apparatus  10  to pivot about the axis  16  by an angle of approximately five degrees. During this process, the pipe sections  24  roll on the rollers  20 . Active control of the pivoting movement about the axis  16  is not provided because the harvesting apparatus  10  usually remains oriented parallel to the ground during ground contact. For example, when the harvesting machine drives over a furrow in the ground, the harvesting apparatus  10  pivots about the axis  16  and maintains normal ground contact. Torque caused by ground contact on the intake housing and the feeder house of the harvesting machine is prevented. Dampers (not shown in the figures) may be arranged on the pivot bearing arrangement  14  in order to prevent undesirable oscillations.  
         [0019]    In the operating position shown in FIG. 1, the harvesting apparatus  10  is relatively wide. In order to make it possible to transport the harvesting apparatus on a public road without having to remove the harvesting apparatus, the wing frames  28  are pivotally mounted to the base frame  26  about a horizontal wing pivot axis  32  that extends parallel to the forward driving direction V. Thus, the wing frames  28  can be pivoted approximately ninety degrees into the transport position by means of a wing pivot hydraulic cylinder  34 . In the transport position, the wing frames are oriented vertically. The outer wing frames  30  are pivotally mounted to the wing frames  28  such that they can be pivoted about a horizontal outer wing pivot axis  36  that extends parallel to the forward driving direction V. The outer wing frames  30  can be pivoted approximately one hundred twenty degrees. Thus, the outer wing frames can be pivoted into a transport position, where they are arranged above the base frame  26  with an inward and downward incline. An outer wing pivot drive  38  in the form of an outer wing pivot hydraulic cylinder is provided for pivoting the outer wing frames  30 . The control of the hydraulic cylinder  34  and the drive  38  is preferably realized in such a way that the outer wing frames  30  are initially pivoted from the operating position into the transport position by the outer wing pivot drive  38 . The wing frames  28  are then raised by the wing pivot hydraulic cylinder  34 . The lowering of the wing frames  28  and the outer wing frames  30  into the operating position takes place in the reverse sequence. A detailed description of the pivoting mechanism of the harvesting apparatus  10  is provided in EP 0,992,817 A.  
         [0020]    The outer wing frames  30  will now be defined as a first element that is moved from an operating position into a transport position or vice versa. In addition to the first element  30 , the harvesting apparatus  10  also contains a series of other elements that must be moved from the operating position into the transport position.  
         [0021]    An inner pushing rod  42  is arranged on either side of a divider rod  44  that lies on the vertical central plane M. In FIG. 2, the left hand inner pushing rod  42  is shown in its operating position transverse to the forward driving direction V, and the right hand inner pushing rod  42  is pivoted forward into its transport position parallel to the forward driving direction V. In order to pivot the inner pushing rods  42 , each is assigned an inner push rod hydraulic cylinder  46 , one end of which is coupled to the pivot frame  22  and the other end of which is coupled to the respective inner pushing rod  42 . The inner pushing rods  42  comprise a third element.  
         [0022]    Outer pushing rods  48  that can be pivoted backward into a transport position about a horizontal axis that extends transverse to the forward driving direction V are mounted on the wing frames  28 . This pivoting movement is realized with the aid of an outer pushing rod hydraulic cylinder  50  coupled to each of the wing frames  28  and the respective pushing rod  48 . The outer pushing rods are a second element.  
         [0023]    In the operating position, the pushing rods  42 , 48  are arranged in front of the frames  26 ,  28 ,  30  and above the intake and mowing devices  12  in order to push plants in the field downward such that they can be taken hold of by the intake and mowing devices. In the transport position, the inner pushing rods  42  are pivoted forward and the outer pushing rods  48  are pivoted backward in order to make it possible to pivot the wing frames  28  upward.  
         [0024]    During transport, the pivot frame  22  also must be locked on the support frame  18  so as to prevent an undesirable pivoting movement of the harvesting apparatus  10 . Double-action pivot locking hydraulic cylinders  52  are provided on either side of the pivot frame  22  for this purpose. These pivot locking hydraulic cylinders lock the pivot frame  22  on support frame  18  when a first pressure chamber of the pivot locking hydraulic cylinder  52  is charged with hydraulic fluid and allow the pivot frame  22  to pivot freely when its second pressured chamber is charged with hydraulic fluid. This locking assembly is a fourth element.  
         [0025]    The outer wing sensing hydraulic cylinder  54 , referred to as the first hydraulic cylinder below, is connected between the outer frame  30  and the central frame  28  and is mechanically extended or retracted by the outer wing pivot drive  38  during the pivoting of the outer wing frame  30 . FIG. 3 shows that the first hydraulic cylinder  54  is used to drive the outer pushing rod pivot hydraulic cylinder  50 , referred to as the second hydraulic cylinder below, which in turn, is used to pivot the outer pushing rod  48 , as well as to drive the inner pushing rod pivot hydraulic cylinder  46  referred to as the third hydraulic cylinder below, which, in turn, is used to pivot the inner pushing rod  42  and to drive the pivot locking hydraulic cylinder  52 , referred to as the fourth hydraulic cylinder below, which is used to lock the pivot bearing arrangement  14 . All of the aforementioned hydraulic cylinders  46 ,  50 ,  52  and  54  are realized in the form of double-acting cylinders. It should be noted that the hydraulic cylinders  46 ,  50 ,  52  and  54  which are shown in FIG. 3 are assigned to one half of the harvesting apparatus  10  which lies on one side of the vertical central plane M. Identical hydraulic cylinders are assigned to the other side of the harvesting apparatus  10 .  
         [0026]    The piston rod pressure chamber of the first hydraulic cylinder  54  is connected to the piston rod pressure chamber of the second hydraulic cylinder  50  via a line  56 . The piston pressure chamber of the second hydraulic cylinder  50  is connected to the piston pressure chamber of the third hydraulic cylinder  46  via a line  58 . The piston rod pressure chamber of the third hydraulic cylinder  46  is connected to the piston rod pressure chamber of the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  via a line  60 . In addition, the piston pressure chamber of the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  is connected to the piston pressure chamber of the first hydraulic cylinder  54  by line  62 . Piston rod pressure chambers must always be connected to piston rod pressure chambers, and piston pressure chambers must always be connected to piston pressure chambers, so that identical quantities of hydraulic fluid result in the same stroke. The first hydraulic cylinder of the chain is thus again filled with a quantity of hydraulic fluid that corresponds to its stroke.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 shows the hydraulic cylinders in the transport position. The first hydraulic cylinder  54  is extended because it is moved into the extended position by the outer wing pivot drive  38  for pivoting the outer frame  30 . The second hydraulic cylinder  50  is retracted, the third hydraulic cylinder  46  is extended, and the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  is retracted. The elements of the harvesting apparatus  10  which are actuated by the hydraulic cylinders, namely the second element, the outer pushing rods  48 ; the third element, the inner pushing rods  42 ; and the lock of the pivot bearing arrangement  14 , are in the transport position. Each given pressure chamber of the hydraulic cylinders  46 ,  50 ,  52  or  54  which is filled with hydraulic fluid is connected to an empty pressure chamber of another hydraulic cylinder.  
         [0028]    When the outer frame  30  is pivoted, hydraulic fluid is pumped, back and forth through the hydraulic system according to the invention, between the pressure chambers of the individual hydraulic cylinders  46 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 .  
         [0029]    The hydraulic system shown in FIG. 3 functions in such a way that the first hydraulic cylinder  54  is retracted when the outer frame  30  is pivoted into its operating position by the outer wing pivot drive  38 . This causes the piston pressure chamber of the first hydraulic cylinder  54  to become smaller, and the piston pressure chamber of the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  to become charged with pressurized fluid via the line  62 . The fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  is now extended and the lock of the pivot bearing arrangement  14  is released. The piston rod pressure chamber of the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  is simultaneously reduced, and the piston rod pressure chamber of the third hydraulic cylinder  46  is charged with hydraulic pressure via the line  60  such that the third hydraulic cylinder retracts and the inner pushing rod  42  is pivoted into the operating position. During the retraction of the third hydraulic cylinder  46 , its piston pressure chambers becomes smaller such that hydraulic fluid flows through the line  58  and charges the piston pressure chamber of the second hydraulic cylinder  50  with pressure. This causes the second hydraulic cylinder  50  to extend so that the outer pushing rod  48  pivots into the operating position. The hydraulic fluid pressed out of the piston rod pressure chamber of the second hydraulic cylinder  50  flows into the piston surface pressure chamber of the first hydraulic cylinder  54  via the line  56 .  
         [0030]    When the elements of the harvesting apparatus are pivoted from the operating position into the transport position, the function of the hydraulic cylinders  46 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  is reversed relative to the process described above. In this case, the first hydraulic cylinder  54  is extended by the upwardly pivoting outer frame so that the second hydraulic cylinder  50  retracts and the outer pushing rod  48  is pivoted backward into the transport position. During this process, the third hydraulic cylinder  46  is charged with pressure via the line  58 , which causes the third hydraulic cylinder to extend so that the inner pushing rod  42  is pivoted forward into the transport position. In addition, the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  is retracted so that the pivot bearing arrangement  14  is locked. The hydraulic fluid pressed out of the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52  flows into the piston pressure chamber of the first hydraulic cylinder  54 .  
         [0031]    The control of the wing pivot hydraulic cylinder  34  and the outer wing pivot drive  38  is preferably realized such that the outer wing pivot drive  38  is initially actuated when the harvesting apparatus is in the operating position. The hydraulic system shown in FIG. 3 moves the inner and outer pushing rods  42 ,  48  into the transport position, and the pivot bearing arrangement  14  is locked by the fourth hydraulic cylinder  52 . Once this sequence of movements is completed, the wing pivot hydraulic cylinder  34  is actuated in order to pivot the wing frame  28 . The transition from the transport position into the operating position takes place in the reverse sequence.  
         [0032]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.