Patent Description:
Agricultural harvesting machines may include self-propelled windrowers or pull-type mower conditioners. Farmers may operate such mowing devices to cut crop material, such as hay or grass, from a field and subsequently deposit the cut crop into windrows on the field. The windrows may be left on the field to dry out the crop in the sun. Thereafter, farmers may bale the cut crop material with a baler, such as a large square baler or round baler, which straddles the windrows and travels along the windrows to pick up the crop material and form it into bales.

A typical self-propelled windrower includes a chassis, a prime mover, wheels, and a detachable header. The header generally includes a cutter bar and a conditioner assembly. The cutter bar can be a rotary cutter bar with rotating discs or a sickle-type cutter bar with reciprocating knives.

A typical pull-type mower conditioner includes a frame, a hitch coupled to the towing vehicle, a cutter bar, and a conditioner assembly. The mower conditioner may further include other elements such as a reel to assist crop feeding and an auger or belts to convey crop to a central discharge point.

A conditioner assembly of a self-propelled windrower or pull-type mower conditioner generally includes two or more conditioning rolls for conditioning the crop material. The conditioning rolls are located adjacent to one another such that a gap forms therebetween. This gap in between the paired conditioning rolls helps to define the size of the crop mat which passes therethrough. As the crop passes through this gap, the conditioning rolls apply opposing tangential forces that condition or otherwise crush the crop material. The extent of conditioning is based in part on the size of the gap and the tension holding the conditioning rolls in place. Over time, the surface of the conditioning rolls will wear, thus increasing the size of the gap and causing suboptimal conditioning of the crop material. As can be appreciated, suboptimal conditioning may negatively impact the drying time of the cut crop, tonnage, and/or feed quality.

Current conditioning assemblies require an operator to manually set the gap size and tension of the conditioning rolls. The gap size can be set by adjusting a nut on a limiting rod coupled to one of the conditioning rolls. The tension can be set by turning a crank that variably biases one conditioning roll toward the other conditioner roll. However, it may be difficult for the operator to manually adjust these parameters, especially if certain components have become corroded or stuck due to crop buildup. Also, such adjustments may not be able to be accurately verified since the operator may not be able to visually inspect the gap size or roll tension. Thereby, the manual adjustment of the conditioning rolls can be difficult, time-consuming, and potentially inaccurate. In the European patent published as <CIT>, actuators are mentioned for adjusting a gap between the conditioning rolls and a bias of one conditioning roll to the other. However, no details of these actuators and their coupling to the conditioning rolls are provided.

What is needed in the art is a cost-effective and easy-to-adjust crop conditioner.

In one exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a crop conditioning device for an agricultural harvesting machine. The crop conditioning device includes a frame, a first conditioning roll connected to the frame, and a second conditioning roll pivotally connected to the frame such that the second conditioning roll is movable relative to the first conditioning roll.

The second conditioning roll is located at a distance away from the first conditioning roll for defining a roll gap in between the first conditioning roll and the second conditioning roll. The second conditioning roll includes a pair of lateral ends. The crop conditioning device also includes an elongate tension member operably connected and substantially parallel to the second conditioning roll.

The tension member is configured for applying a tension force on the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension actuator operably connected to the tension member. The tension actuator is configured for adjusting the tension force applied by the tension member. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of control rods respectively connected to the pair of lateral ends of the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of roll-gap actuators respectively and operably connected to the pair of control rods. The pair of roll-gap actuators are configured for pivoting the second conditioning roll to adjust the roll gap.

In yet another exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an agricultural harvester that includes a chassis and a header connected to the chassis. The header includes a cutter bar configured for cutting a crop material from a field and a crop conditioning device configured for conditioning the crop material. The crop conditioning device includes a frame, a first conditioning roll connected to the frame, and a second conditioning roll pivotally connected to the frame such that the second conditioning roll is movable relative to the first conditioning roll. The second conditioning roll being located at a distance away from the first conditioning roll for defining a roll gap in between the first conditioning roll and the second conditioning roll. The second conditioning roll includes a pair of lateral ends. The crop conditioning device also includes an elongate tension member operably connected and substantially parallel to the second conditioning roll. The tension member is configured for applying a tension force on the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension actuator operably connected to the tension member. The tension actuator is configured for adjusting the tension force applied by the tension member. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of control rods respectively connected to the pair of lateral ends of the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of roll-gap actuators respectively and operably connected to the pair of control rods. The pair of roll-gap actuators are configured for pivoting the second conditioning roll to adjust the roll gap.

In yet another exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mower conditioner configured for being towed behind an agricultural vehicle. The mower conditioner includes a cutter bar configured for cutting a crop material from a field and a crop conditioning device configured for conditioning the crop material. The crop conditioning device includes a frame, a first conditioning roll connected to the frame, and a second conditioning roll pivotally connected to the frame such that the second conditioning roll is movable relative to the first conditioning roll. The second conditioning roll is located at a distance away from the first conditioning roll for defining a roll gap in between the first conditioning roll and the second conditioning roll. The second conditioning roll includes a pair of lateral ends. The crop conditioning device also includes an elongate tension member operably connected and substantially parallel to the second conditioning roll. The tension member is configured for applying a tension force on the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension actuator operably connected to the tension member. The tension actuator is configured for adjusting the tension force applied by the tension member. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of control rods respectively connected to the pair of lateral ends of the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of roll-gap actuators respectively and operably connected to the pair of control rods. The pair of roll-gap actuators are configured for pivoting the second conditioning roll to adjust the roll gap.

One possible advantage of the exemplary embodiment of the crop conditioning device is that the tension force and the roll gap size can be automatically adjusted without manual intervention.

Another possible advantage of the exemplary embodiment of the crop conditioning device is that the upper conditioning roll can float during operation while still being efficiently and independently tensioned and pivoted due to the geometry of the system, wherein the roll-gap actuators are respectively operably connected to the tension arms through the control rods.

The terms "forward", "rearward", "left" and "right", when used in connection with the agricultural harvester or mowing device and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel, but they should not be construed as limiting. The terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the agricultural vehicle or mowing device and are equally not to be construed as limiting. The terms "downstream" and "upstream" are determined with reference to the intended direction of crop material flow during operation, with "downstream" being analogous to "rearward" and "upstream" being analogous to "forward. " The term "agricultural harvesting machine" may refer to any desired machine which cuts crop material from a field, such as a self-propelled windrower or a mower conditioner. The term "crop conditioning device" may refer to a roll-type conditioner that is usable in a self-propelled windrower, a pull-type mower conditioner, or any other desired crop conditioning machine.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to <FIG>, there is shown an agricultural harvester <NUM> which generally includes a chassis, a prime mover, wheels and/or tracts, a cab for housing the operator, an optional reel, and a header <NUM> removably connected to and supported by the chassis. The agricultural harvester <NUM> may be in the form of any desired agricultural vehicle, such as a self-propelled windrower.

The header <NUM> may cut the crop from the field, condition the crop material, and deposit the conditioned crop material back onto the field in a windrow or swath. The header <NUM> generally includes a main frame <NUM>, a cutter bar <NUM>, a crop conditioning device <NUM>, and an exit gate with swath forming shields.

The cutter bar <NUM> cuts the crop from the field. The cutter bar <NUM> may be located at the front of the main frame <NUM>. The cutter bar <NUM> may be in the form of any desired cutter bar <NUM>, such as a sickle bar or rotary disc cutter bar. For example, cutter bar <NUM> may be in the form of a rotary disc cutter bar with multiple cutting disc heads.

The crop conditioning device <NUM> may condition or otherwise crush the crop material to decrease the drying time of the crop material on the field. The crop conditioning device <NUM> may be located rearwardly, i.e., downstream, of the cutter bar <NUM>. The crop conditioning device <NUM> generally includes a subframe <NUM>, at least two conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM> connected to the subframe <NUM>, a tension mechanism <NUM>, and a roll-gap mechanism <NUM>. The crop conditioning device <NUM> may also include one or more sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> which may measure the tension force on the conditioning roll <NUM> and the size of the roll gap RG in between the paired conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM>, and a controller <NUM> that can automatically set and/or adjust the tension force on the conditioning roll <NUM> and the roll gap RG.

The subframe <NUM> may be connected to the main frame <NUM>. The subframe <NUM> mounts the conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM>. The subframe <NUM> may comprise one or more sheet metal panels, including a top panel and lateral side panels. However, the subframe <NUM> may comprise any desired material. It should be appreciated, the subframe <NUM> may be a monolithic or a multicomponent frame.

The at least two conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM> may rotate in opposite directions for guiding a mat of crop material through the roll gap RG, as most clearly shown in <FIG>. The lower conditioning roll <NUM> may be rotatably and rigidly connected to the subframe <NUM>. In other words, the lower conditioning roll <NUM> may rotate relative to the subframe <NUM> but its axis of rotation remains fixed at a given location since it is rigidly connected to the subframe <NUM>. The upper conditioning roll <NUM> may be rotatably and pivotally connected to the subframe <NUM>. In other words, the upper conditioning roll <NUM> may rotate relative to the subframe <NUM> about its axis of rotation, and the upper conditioning roll <NUM> may also pivot such that that its axis of rotation translates upwardly or downwardly in order to adjust the size of the roll gap RG. Thus, the upper conditioning roll <NUM> is movable relative to the lower conditioning roll <NUM>. As can be appreciated, the lateral distance in between the surfaces of the lower and upper conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM> defines the size of the roll gap RG. Each lateral end of the upper conditioning roll <NUM> has an end bracket <NUM>, which pivotally mounts the upper conditioning roll <NUM> to the subframe <NUM> at a pivot axis PA (<FIG>). Each end bracket <NUM> also includes a one-way slider coupling <NUM> for operably connecting the upper conditioning roll <NUM> to the roll-gap mechanism <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the lower conditioning roll <NUM> may be movable instead of or in addition to the upper conditioning roll <NUM>.

The tension mechanism <NUM> generally includes a tension member <NUM>, tension arms <NUM>, <NUM>, a tension actuator <NUM> operably connected to the tension member <NUM> by a linkage mechanism <NUM>, and a biasing member (unnumbered). The tension mechanism <NUM> sets and adjusts the tension force on the upper conditioning roll <NUM>.

The tension member <NUM> may be rotated by the tension actuator <NUM> for applying a desired tension or biasing force onto the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM>, which in turn transmits the tension force onto the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The tension member <NUM> is operably connected to the upper conditioning roll <NUM> by way of the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM>. The tension member <NUM> may be located above the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The tension member <NUM> is substantially parallel to the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The tension member <NUM> may be in the form of a tension or torsion tube. The tension member <NUM> is in the form of an elongated member, such as a multi-section bar. Since the tension member <NUM> couples the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> together, the tension member <NUM> controls the rotational position of the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM>. The tension member <NUM> may comprise any desired material, such as stainless steel.

The tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> operably connect the tension member <NUM> to the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> may include rigid arms <NUM> and pivot arms <NUM>. The rigid arms <NUM> are respectively connected to each end of the tension member <NUM>. The pivot arms <NUM> are respectively and pivotally connected in between the rigid arms <NUM> and the lateral ends, i.e., end brackets <NUM>, of the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> may be in the form of any desired arms, links, or bars. The tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise any desired material.

The tension actuator <NUM> rotates tension member <NUM> in order to adjust the tension force applied by the tension member <NUM> onto the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The tension actuator <NUM> is operably connected to the tension member <NUM> via the linkage mechanism <NUM>. The tension actuator <NUM> may dually adjust the tension force on the upper conditioning roll <NUM> and the roll gap RG. In other words, due to the geometry of the tension mechanism <NUM>, tension actuation may rotate the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> from a maximum roll tension position to a minimum roll tension position, i.e., maximum roll gap opening setting. In the maximum roll tension position, the conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM> are pushed together with maximum tension member <NUM> rotation which may in turn minimize the roll gap RG. In the minimum roll tension position, the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> are rotated to pull the conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM> away from one another which may in turn fully open the roll gap RG. Hence, the tension actuator <NUM> may rotate the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> in a first direction to apply roll tension to the conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM> or a second direction to lift the upper conditioner roll <NUM> to the position of maximum roll opening, which may be equal to the maximum roll opening possible. This maximum roll opening may be greater than the typical opening from standard operational settings. The tension actuator <NUM> may be in the form of any desired actuator such as a linear actuator or rotary motor. For example, the tension actuator <NUM> may be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder <NUM>.

The linkage mechanism <NUM> converts a linear movement of the tension actuator <NUM> into a rotational movement for rotating the tension member <NUM>. The linkage mechanism <NUM> may include one or more links <NUM>. For instance, the linkage mechanism <NUM> may include a single link <NUM> that is pivotally connected to the tension actuator <NUM> at one end and rigidly connected to the tension member <NUM> at the other end. The link <NUM> may include an approximate "L"-shape. It should be appreciated that the one or more links <NUM> may comprise any desired linkage members and any desired material.

The roll-gap mechanism <NUM> generally includes control rods <NUM> and roll-gap actuators <NUM> that are operably connected to the control rods <NUM> via linkage mechanisms <NUM>. The roll-gap mechanism <NUM> sets and adjusts the size of the roll gap RG.

The control rods <NUM> control the sliding or floating movement of the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The control rods <NUM> extend vertically in between the linkage mechanisms <NUM> and the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The control rods <NUM> are respectively pivotally connected to the linkage mechanisms <NUM> at their upper ends. The control rods <NUM> are respectively and slidably connected to the lateral ends, i.e., end brackets <NUM>, of the upper conditioning roll <NUM> at their lower ends. More particularly, each control rod <NUM> extends through an opening of a respective slider coupling <NUM>. Furthermore, each control rod <NUM> has an end member <NUM> that engages with the bottom of the respective slider coupling <NUM>. Hence, each end member <NUM> defines a mechanical stop for setting a bottom limit of travel of the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. In this regard, the structural relationship between the slider couplings <NUM> and the end members <NUM> define a one-way floating or sliding movement of the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. Thus, the control rods <NUM> allow the upper conditioning roll <NUM> to upwardly float relative to its end members <NUM> and independent of the roll-gap actuators <NUM> (<FIG>). Yet, the substantially vertical travel of control rods <NUM>, through actuation of the roll-gap actuators <NUM>, allows the end members <NUM> to raise or lower the slider couplings <NUM> and thereby pivot the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. The control rods <NUM> may be in the form of any desired rods, bars, or links. The end members <NUM> may be in the form of any desired members that have a greater width or circumference than the body of control rods <NUM> for engaging with the slider couplings <NUM>. For example, the end members <NUM> may be in the form of nuts or bulbous end-caps. The control rods <NUM> may comprise any desired material.

The roll-gap actuators <NUM> may pivot the upper conditioning roll <NUM> about its axis PA in order to adjust the roll gap RG. Thereby, the roll-gap actuators <NUM> may pivot the upper conditioning roll <NUM> in between a maximum roll gap size (<FIG>) and a minimum roll gap size (<FIG>). Each roll-gap actuator <NUM> is mounted on the subframe <NUM> at one end and is operably connected to a respective control rod <NUM> via a linkage mechanism <NUM> at the other end. The roll-gap actuators <NUM> are respectively connected to the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM> only through the control rods <NUM>. The roll-gap actuators <NUM> are located above, i.e., vertically upward of, the tension arms <NUM>, <NUM>. The roll-gap actuators <NUM> are independently movable for tilting the upper conditioning roll <NUM> in a non-parallel configuration relative to the lower conditioning roll <NUM>. In other words, the roll-gap actuators <NUM> can set the roll gap RG to be at different positions on the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, the roll-gap actuators <NUM> may accommodate an uneven wear on one or both of the conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM>. Each roll-gap actuator <NUM> may be in the form of any desired actuator, such as a linear actuator or a rotary motor. For example, each roll-gap actuator <NUM> may be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder <NUM>.

As can be appreciated, if the actuators <NUM>, <NUM> are configured as hydraulic cylinders <NUM>, <NUM>, the crop conditioning device <NUM> may further include a hydraulic system <NUM> to independently control the extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinders <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>). Hence, the hydraulic system <NUM> can be fluidly connected to the actuators <NUM>, <NUM> of the tension and roll-gap mechanisms <NUM>, <NUM>. The hydraulic system <NUM> may also be operably connected to the controller <NUM>. The hydraulic system <NUM> may include one or more proportional valves, blocking valves, fluid reservoirs, such as tanks and/or accumulators, and/or hydraulic lines.

The one or more sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include at least one tension sensor <NUM>, <NUM> associated with the tension actuator <NUM> and at least one roll-gap sensor <NUM>, <NUM> associated with each roll-gap actuator <NUM> (<FIG>). For example, the at least one tension sensor <NUM>, <NUM> may include a position sensor <NUM> located within the tension actuator <NUM> and/or a position sensor <NUM>, e.g. potentiometer <NUM>, operably connected to the tension member <NUM> via a link <NUM> (<FIG>). The position sensor <NUM> may sense the position of the tension actuator <NUM>. The potentiometer <NUM> may measure the rotation of the tension member <NUM>. Also, for example, the at least one roll-gap sensor <NUM>, <NUM> may include a position sensor <NUM> located within each roll-gap actuator <NUM> and/or a position sensor <NUM>, e.g. potentiometer <NUM>, operably connected to each rigid arm <NUM>, via a link <NUM>. Each position sensor <NUM> may sense the position of its respective roll-gap actuator <NUM>. Each potentiometer <NUM> may measure the rotational movement of the rigid arm <NUM>, and thereby the translational movement of the upper conditioning roll <NUM>. Upon receiving the signals from the potentiometers <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may calculate the distance, i.e., roll gap RG, between the conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM> based upon the measured rotation of the rigid arms <NUM>. As can be appreciated, the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be in the form of any desired sensors. It should be appreciated that the one or more sensors may only include the potentiometers <NUM>, <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may be operably connected to the tension actuator <NUM>, the roll-gap actuators <NUM>, and the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may automatically adjust the tension actuator <NUM> to set the tension force and the roll-gap actuators <NUM> to set the roll gap RG upon receiving an input command from the operator and/or a signal from one or more of the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the operator may input a desired amount of tension force or size of the roll gap RG, and the controller <NUM> may automatically and accordingly adjust the actuators <NUM>, <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may include a memory <NUM> for storing known tension forces and roll gap sizes associated with an operator's preferences and/or kind of crop being harvested. The controller <NUM> may be in the form of any desired controller. The controller <NUM> may be a standalone controller or incorporated into the existing hardware and/or software of the harvester <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a pull-type mower conditioner <NUM> that is towable by an agricultural vehicle <NUM>. The pull-type mower conditioner <NUM> may include a main frame <NUM>, a cutter bar <NUM>, wheels <NUM>, and a tongue <NUM> for removably connecting to the agricultural vehicle <NUM>. The pull-type mower condition <NUM> may also include a crop conditioning device <NUM>, which is substantially similar to the crop conditioning device <NUM>. Like elements between the crop conditioning device <NUM> and the crop conditioning device <NUM> have been identified with like reference characters, except with the <NUM> series designation. Thereby, the crop conditioning device <NUM> may generally include a subframe <NUM>, at least two conditioning rolls <NUM>, <NUM>, a tension mechanism <NUM>, a roll-gap mechanism <NUM>, one or more sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the mower conditioner <NUM> may also include a hydraulic system, as discussed above.

It is noted that due to the structural differences between the mower conditioner <NUM> and the header <NUM>, the tension mechanism <NUM> may include a linkage mechanism <NUM> with one or more links <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The upper link <NUM> is pivotally connected to the tension actuator <NUM>. The upper link <NUM> may also be pivotally connected to the main frame <NUM>. The upper link <NUM> may be in the form of a bell crank <NUM>. The intermediary link <NUM> is pivotally connected in between the upper link <NUM> and the lower link <NUM>. The lower link <NUM> is pivotally connected in between the intermediary link <NUM> and the tension member <NUM>. Also, each linkage mechanism <NUM> of the roll-gap adjustment device <NUM> may include one or more links <NUM>, for example one link <NUM> which is pivotally connected to the main frame <NUM>, its respective roll-gap actuator <NUM>, and its respective control rod <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A crop conditioning device (<NUM>, <NUM>) for an agricultural harvesting machine (<NUM>), comprising:
a frame (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a first conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the frame;
a second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) pivotally connected to the frame (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) such that the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) is movable relative to the first conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>), the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) being located at a distance away from the first conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) for defining a roll gap (RG) in between the first conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>), the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a pair of lateral ends (<NUM>);
a tension member (<NUM>, <NUM>) operably connected to the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>), the tension member (<NUM>, <NUM>) being configured for applying a tension force on the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a tension actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>) operably connected to the tension member (<NUM>, <NUM>), the tension actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>) being configured for adjusting the tension force applied by the tension member (<NUM>, <NUM>); the crop conditioning device being characterized by the tension member (<NUM>, <NUM>) being an elongated tension member being substantially parallel to the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a pair of control rods (<NUM>, <NUM>) respectively connected to the pair of lateral ends of the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a pair of roll-gap actuators (<NUM>, <NUM>) respectively and operably connected to the pair of control rods (<NUM>, <NUM>), the pair of roll-gap actuators (<NUM>, <NUM>) being configured for pivoting the second conditioning roll (<NUM>, <NUM>) to adjust the roll gap (RG).