Machine for harvesting fodder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338259-A1
Application number	US-201615227558-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 3, 2016
Priority date	Jul 17, 2013
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A machine for the harvesting of plants, movable in a direction of advance, comprises an arm movable between work and transport configurations, a tool comprising lateral ends and being able to occupy a work position and another position, a connecting device via which the tool is connected to the arm and enabling a first movement of the tool relative to the arm, during which the lateral ends move vertically relative to the arm in the same vertical direction relative thereto, the connecting device comprising means making it possible to operate a second transverse and horizontal movement of the tool relative to the arm and making it possible to operate this second movement independently of the first movement. The connecting device comprises an arm oriented in the direction of advance when the support arm is in the work configuration, this arm is articulated on the support arm about a first transverse and horizontal axis when the support arm is in the work configuration, and this arm can, by pivoting about the first axis, move vertically relative to the support arm in the work configuration.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 : An agricultural machine for the harvesting of plants, said machine being movable in a direction of advance and comprising:
a chassis; at least two support arms, each articulated on the chassis and movable with respect to the chassis between a work configuration in which the support arm extends laterally with respect to the chassis, and a transport configuration in which the support arm is folded such that the overall dimension of the agricultural machine is reduced considering a direction of advance; and at least two work tools for processing crop, each work tool being articulated on the chassis by a corresponding support arm situated on a respective side of the chassis, each work tool including an inner lateral end, and being able to occupy a work position in which the work tool acts on plants lying on the ground, wherein each work tool farther includes a frame which is connected through a respective connecting device to the corresponding support arm, said connecting device allowing, at least when the support arm is in the work configuration, a first movement of the respective work tool with respect to the support arm in a vertical direction, this connecting device allowing a second movement of the work tool to be operated with respect to the support arm when the support arm is in the work configuration, the second movement enabling to move the inner lateral end of the work tool towards or away from the inner lateral end of the other work tool, and the second movement configured to be allowed to be operated independently of the first movement, wherein the connecting device includes at least one arm articulated on one hand on the corresponding support arm through an articulation with a first axis oriented horizontal and transversal to the direction of advance and a vertically oriented second axis, and on the other hand on the frame of the work tool through an articulation with a first axis oriented horizontal and transversal to the direction of advance and a vertically oriented second axis, and wherein the connecting device further includes means for operating the second movement.

3 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the arm is oriented at an angle between 0° and 45° with respect to the direction of advance when the support arm is in the work configuration.

4 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the arm extends in front of the support arm.

5 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the connecting device includes two arms distant from one another and not connected to one another.

6 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the connecting device includes a rod articulated on the support arm about a first connecting axis oriented transversely to the direction of advance and substantially horizontally when the support arm is in the work configuration, and the rod is configured to, by pivoting about this first connecting axis, move vertically with respect to the support arm in the work configuration.

7 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the means for operating the second movement includes a first actuator to move the work tool with respect to the support arm.

8 : The machine according to claim 7 , wherein the first actuator connects two elements from a group consisting of the arm, the connecting device, and the frame of the work tool.

9 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein a second actuator connects two elements from a group consisting of the support arm, the connecting device, and the frame of the work tool, the second actuator configured to operate the first movement of the respective work tool.

10 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the work tool extends, in its work position, in a substantially horizontal plane, the work tool is movable between this work position and a transport position, in which the work tool extends in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of advance, and
wherein a third actuator arranged between the support arm and the chassis is configured to operate a movement of the support arm, with respect to the chassis, towards an intermediate configuration with respect to the chassis, situated between the work configuration and the transport configuration.

11 : The machine according to claim 10 , wherein in the intermediate configuration of the support arm, an outer end of the support atm is situated at a greater height above the ground than an inner end of the support arm.

12 : The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the support arm is moved from its work configuration towards its transport configuration by pivoting upwards and towards the rear with respect to the chassis.

Assignees

• Kuhn Sa

Inventors

• Schwer Michael
• Wilhelm Joel

Classifications

• A01B63/24

  Tools or tool-holders adjustable relatively to the frame · CPC title

• A01D87/02 Primary

  with conveyor belts {or conveyor chains, with or without pick-up means} · CPC title

• A01B73/02

  Folding frames · CPC title

• A01B63/32 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control} · CPC title

• A01B73/044 Primary

  the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title