GB2028086A

GB2028086A - Combine harvester with straw chopper

Info

Publication number: GB2028086A
Application number: GB7925477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Claas Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Claas Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Priority date: 1978-08-17
Filing date: 1979-07-20
Publication date: 1980-03-05
Also published as: DE2836099B2; DE2836099A1; DE2836099C3; GB2028086B; FR2433280A1; FR2433280B1

Abstract

In a combine harvester with a rigidly mounted straw chopper arranged at the end of a straw discharge channel, a portion 8 of the wall of the straw discharge channel is pivotable so that in a first position it covers straw discharge aperture 7 in the straw hood of the harvester housing, whilst in a second position (as shown) it covers the inlet aperture to the chopper. A wall portion 9 of the straw discharge hood is pivotable to increase the size of the straw discharge aperture (as shown) when wall portion 8 of the straw discharge channel is in its second position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Combine harvester The invention relates to a combine harvester with a straw chopper arranged at the end of a straw discharge channel.

It is already known to provide combine harvesters with straw choppers, which reduce the size of the discharged straw before it drops out onto the field, so that it can subsequently be ploughed in well. With a view to providing for the straw to be ejected either chopped or unchopped as desired, some known combine harvesters have a chopper, arranged at the end of the straw discharge channel, which can be swung forwards or backwards from the downwardly directed opening of the channel. Since the chopper is a relatively heavy piece of apparatus and also requires a driving connection with the combine harvester, the pivotable arrangement of the chopper is expensive, and conversion of the harvester from operation with a chopper to operation without it and vice versa requires a more than negligible amount of energy and time.

According to the present invention there is provided a combine harvester with a straw chopper arranged at the end of a straw discharge channel, wherein a portion of the wall of the straw discharge channel is pivotable so that in one position it covers a straw discharge aperture in the straw hood of the harvester housing, while in the other position it covers the inlet aperture to the chopper, which is mounted rigidly in relation to the hood, and wherein a wall portion of the straw discharge hood, which corresponds to the pivotable wall portion in the chopping position, is also pivotable to increase the size of the straw discharge aperture when said wall portion of the straw discharge channel is in said other position.

In this way the straw chopper can be mounted rigidly on the frame of the straw hood and remains in this rigidly mounted position in every type of operation. In order to convert the harvester to chopping or nonchopping operation a wall portion of the straw channel merely has to be swung, using simple means and without a large amount of energy, so that the straw dropping from the straw walkers of the harvester can no longer pass into the inlet aperture of the chopper.

However, particularly when there is a large throughput of straw to be ejected unchopped, the discharge aperture may be inadequate and for this reason a wall portion of the straw discharge hood is made pivotable.

The pivoting spindles or hinges for the two pivotable wall portions are advantageously arranged at the ends of the wall portions remote from one another. A further preferred feature of the invention is that the wall portion which is also pivotable has an arresting pin, which can engage in one of two holes provided in the hood. To prevent the walls of the holes from being damaged, the wall of the hood may be reinforced by fitted rings around the holes. In order to facilitate operation the two pivotable wall portions may be arranged to be swung jointly, for example by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic actuating device.

An embodiment of the invention will now be explained in greater detail by way of example with reference to two drawings which illustrate it diagrammatically. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a combine harvester with the chopper in operation, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a combine harvester with the chopper inoperative and, Figure 3 shows the locking mechanism for a pivotable opening flap.

The rear end of a combine harvester is shown at 1. Its casing has a so-called straw hood 2, covering staw walkers 3 which are partly visible in Figs. 1 and 2. A chopper 5 is fixed rigidly to the end of the lower frame 4 and has a cutter rotor 1 0. It is arranged directly below the straw discharge channel 6, which is formed by the extreme rear of the straw hood 2. The rear end of the hood 2 has a straw discharge aperture 7 which is open partly towards the rear and partly downwardly. In the position where the chopper is operative (Fig. 1) this is closed by the wall portions 8 and 9. Thus the straw dropping from the straw walkers 3 falls into the inlet aperture of the chopper 5, is reduced in size by the cutter rotor 10 and drops onto the field in the form of short chopper material.The wall portion 8 is mounted for pivoting movement about a spindle 11, which extends along its lower edge and also along the lower edge of the straw discharge aperture 7. The wall portion 8 can thus be swung from the Fig. 1 to the Fig. 2 position and vice versa either by hand or by mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic actuating means (not shown). For example, it may be swung from one position to the other by means of a cable line, operated from the driver's seat of the combine harvester, against the force of returning springs or by means of a rod system. In the position shown in Fig. 2 the wall portion 8 prevents the straw from dropping into the chopper 5. The straw which drops from the straw walkers 3 falls onto the relatively steeply inclined wall portion 8 and slides over it to the discharge aperture 7. In this case, therefore, the straw is thrown out onto the field unchopped through the aperture 7 in the hood 2 located behind the chopper 5. In order to obtain the largest possible discharge aperture 7, the wall portion 9 can be pivoted, about pivot 1 3 from the Fig. 1 to the Fig. 2 position and vice versa.

The wall portion 9 can be fixed in either position by means of arresting pins 13' e.g.

spring-loaded slidable pins, which can engage in either the hole 14 or the hole 1 5.

Rings 1 6 and 1 7 are fitted around these holes to reinforce their edges.

Claims

1. A combine harvester with a straw chopper arranged at the end of a straw discharge channel wherein a portion of the wall of the straw discharge channel is pivotable so that in one position it covers a straw discharge aperture in the straw hood of the harvester housing, while in the other position it covers the inlet aperture to the chopper, which is mounted rigidly in relation to the hood, and wherein a wall portion of the straw discharge hood, which corresponds to the pivotable wall portion in the chopping position, is also pivotable to increase the size of the straw discharge aperture when said wall portion of the straw discharge channel is in said other position.

2. A combine harvester according to claim 1 wherein the pivots of the two pivotable wall portions are arranged at the ends of the wall portions remote from one another.

3. A combine harvester according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivotable hood wall portion has an arresting pin, which can be selectively engaged in one of two holes provided in the straw discharge hood.

4. A combine harvester according to claim 3, wherein the wall of the straw discharge hood is reinforced by rings around the holes.

5. A combine harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the two pivota ble wall portions are arranged to be swung jointly.

6. A combine harvester according to claim 5, wherein the two pivotable wall portions may be swung by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic actuating device.

7. A combine harvester substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.