Plunger and Pre-Compression Chamber Link

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295805-A1
Application number	US-201615094692-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 8, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural baler. The baler includes a baling chamber with a plunger that is provided to reciprocally move in the baling chamber. The baler further includes a pre-compression chamber with a slice pushing mechanism provided for periodically pushing a slice of crop material into the baling chamber. The plunger and the slice pushing mechanism are mechanically linked via respective driving systems to ensure synchronization, wherein a coupling means or coupling element is mounted in the mechanical link. The coupling means or coupling element is provided to adjust a synchronization timing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An agricultural baler comprising:
a baling chamber comprising a plunger configured for reciprocally moving in the baling chamber; a plunger driving mechanism configured for driving the plunger; a pre-compression chamber comprising a slice pushing mechanism configured for periodically pushing a slice of crop material into the baling chamber; a slice pushing driving mechanism configured for driving the slice pushing mechanism, the plunger driving mechanism and the slice pushing driving mechanism being linked by a mechanical link to ensure synchronization; a first rotating shaft connected to the plunger driving mechanism; a second rotating shaft connected to the slice pushing driving mechanism; and a coupling element comprising an intermediary element linking the first and second rotating shafts, the coupling element mounted in the mechanical link and being provided to adjust a synchronization timing, the intermediary element movable between a first position and a second position, the first and second rotating shafts having a relative angular position with respect to each other, wherein the relative angular position of the first and second shafts when the intermediary element is in the first position is different from the relative angular position of the first and second rotating shafts when the intermediary element is in the second position.

2 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein a position of the intermediary element determines the synchronization timing.

3 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the intermediary element is movable to adjust the relative position of the first and second rotating shafts, thereby adjusting the synchronization timing.

4 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator, wherein the intermediary element is a planetary gearbox comprising an outer gear, at least two planet gears, and a central gear, wherein the plunger driving mechanism is coupled to one of the outer gear, the two planet gears, and the central gear, wherein the slice pushing driving mechanism is coupled to another of the outer gear, the two planet gears, and the central gear, and wherein the actuator is coupled to yet another of the outer gear, the two planet gears, and the central gear to displace the latter, thereby adjusting a relative position of the plunger driving mechanism and the slice pushing driving mechanism.

5 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the intermediary element has a first end being provided with a straight gear and a second end being provided with a helical gear.

6 . The agricultural baler of claim 5 , wherein the coupling element further comprises an input gear and an output gear, wherein the intermediary element is mounted between the input gear and the output gear, wherein the input gear comprises a helical inner shape matching with the helical gear, and wherein the output gear comprises a straight inner shape matching with the straight gear, the input gear being mounted at a fixed distance with respect to the output gear so that moving the intermediary element or input gear in the direction of its axis results in a change of rotational position of the input gear with respect to the output gear.

7 . The agricultural baler of claim 6 , wherein the input gear is connected to one of the plunger driving mechanism and the slice pushing driving mechanism, and wherein the output gear is connected to another of the plunger driving mechanism and the slice pushing driving mechanism.

8 . The agricultural baler of claim 5 , further comprising an actuator connected to the intermediary element or input gear for displacing the latter along its longitudinal axis, thereby amending a relative angular position of the input gear with respect to the output gear.

9 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises a controlling mechanism for repetitive control of the coupling element.

10 . The agricultural baler of claim 9 , further comprising an actuator connected to the controlling mechanism to be controllable in a repetitive movement.

11 . An agricultural baler comprising:
a baling chamber comprising a plunger configured for reciprocally moving in the baling chamber; a plunger driving mechanism configured for driving the plunger; a pre-compression chamber comprising a slice pushing mechanism configured for periodically pushing a slice of crop material into the baling chamber; a slice pushing driving mechanism configured for driving the slice pushing mechanism; a mechanical link linking the plunger driving mechanism and the slice pushing driving mechanism to ensure synchronization, the mechanical link comprising:
a first rotating shaft connected to the plunger driving mechanism;
a second rotating shaft connected to the slice pushing driving mechanism, the first and second rotating shafts having a relative angular position with respect to each other; and
a coupling element comprising an intermediary element linking the first and second rotating shafts, the coupling element configured for adjusting a synchronization timing, the intermediary element movable between a first position and a second position,
wherein the relative angular position of the first and second shafts when the intermediary element is in the first position is different from the relative angular position of the first and second rotating shafts when the intermediary element is in the second position.

12 . The agricultural baler of claim 11 , wherein a position of the intermediary element determines the synchronization timing.

13 . The agricultural baler of claim 11 , wherein the intermediary element is movable to adjust the relative position of the first and second rotating shafts, thereby adjusting the synchronization timing.

14 . The agricultural baler of claim 11 , further comprising an actuator, wherein the intermediary element is a planetary gearbox comprising an outer gear, at least two planet gears, and a central gear, wherein the plunger driving mechanism is coupled to one of the outer gear, the two planet gears, and the central gear, wherein the slice pushing driving mechanism is coupled to another of the outer gear, the two planet gears, and the central gear, and wherein the actuator is coupled to yet another of the outer gear, the two planet gears, and the central gear to displace the latter, thereby adjusting a relative position of the plunger driving mechanism and the slice pushing driving mechanism.

15 . The agricultural baler of claim 11 , wherein the intermediary element has a first end being provided with a straight gear and a second end being provided with a helical gear.

16 . The agricultural baler of claim 15 , wherein the coupling element further comprises an input gear and an output gear, wherein the intermediary element is mounted between the input gear and the output gear, wherein the input gear comprises a helical inner shape matching with the helical gear, and wherein the output gear comprises a straight inner shape matching with the straight gear, the input gear being mounted at a fixed distance with respect to the output gear so that moving the intermediary element or input gear in the direction of its axis results in a change of rotational position of the input gear with respect to the output gear.

17 . The agricultural baler of claim 16 , wherein the input gear is connected to one of the plunger driving mechanism and the slice pushing driving mechanism, and wherein the output gear is connected to another of the plunger driving mechanism and the slice

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Verhaeghe Didier
• Van Gaeveren Filip

Classifications

• A01F2015/102

  the pressing chamber is fed from the bottom side · CPC title

• A01F15/0825

  Regulating or controlling density or shape of the bale · CPC title

• A01F15/101

  Feeding at right angles to the compression stroke (A01F15/106 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01F15/0841 Primary

  Drives for balers · CPC title

• A01F15/042

  Plungers · CPC title