GB2048190A

GB2048190A - Method and apparatus for lifting the forward part of a self- propelled combine harvester

Info

Publication number: GB2048190A
Application number: GB8011668A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Claas KGaA mbH
Current assignee: Claas KGaA mbH
Priority date: 1979-04-10
Filing date: 1980-04-09
Publication date: 1980-12-10
Also published as: FR2453591A1; DE2914371A1; FR2453591B1; DE2914371C2; GB2048190B

Abstract

A method of lifting the forward part of a combine harvester for the purposes of fitting and removing the drive wheels, wherein the inclined conveyor 7 is pivoted towards the ground to such an extent that the distance of the front axle 3 from the ground is greater than the radius of the drive wheels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for lifting the forward part of a self-propelled combine harvester The invention relates to a method of lifting the forward part of a self-propelled combine harvester for the purposes of fitting or removing the drive wheels, and apparatus for carrying out the method.

For the purposes of railway transportation, particularly in the case of self-propelled combine harvesters of larger size, it is necessary for both the front drive wheels and also the rear steering wheels to be removed so that the machine does not exceed the so-called permitted track profile, either in height or in width. This is necessary because otherwise the machine can no longer be sure of successfully negotiating bridges and tunnels. Therefore, for the purposes of loading, a combine harvester is first driven on to a railway -truck. Thereupon, the axles are raised in succession, the wheels are removed and the axles are connected to bracket stands in order firmly to hold the combine harvester during transportation' thereof.When the machine arrives at its destination, the axles are lifted again in succession, the wheels are fitted and the combine harvester is pulled off the railway truck or driven off under its own power. Even if it is comparatively simple for the rearward part of a combine harvester to be lifted by means of lifting jacks, this being because of the low weight loading the rear axle, the operation of raising the forward and much heavier part of the combine harvester again on each occasion requires a substantial amount of care, caution and work. The present invention is therefore based on the problem of providing a method of the kind indicated in greater detail hereinbefore, which satisfactorily fulfiis the requirements to be made thereon, in particular in regard to quickly and safely raising the forward part of the combine harvester.According to the invention, the inclined conveyor is pivoted towards the ground to such an extent that the distance of the front axle from the ground is greater than the radius of the drive wheels.

Apparatus for carrying out this method is characterised in that at least one means operating in a traction mode, preferably a piston-cylinder unit, is connected on the one hand to the forward part of the combine harvester and on the other hand to the lower part of the inclined conveyor passage, which is at the front in the direction of travel of the harvester. In this arrangement, the piston-cylinder units are advantageously so arranged as to be easily interchangeable. The piston-cylinder units can be easily connected by way of conduits to oil supply means which are provided in any case on the inclined conveyor. In the event that the hydraulic equipment on the combine harvester cannot be operated, the piston cylinder units are to be actuated by way of a separate pressure medium supply which is independent of the combine harvester, for example from a tractor.In accordance with a further desirable feature of the invention, the piston-cylinder units which are provided for raising the inclined conveyor during operation of the combine harvester are of double-acting kind.

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings which show diagrammatic views of an exemplary embodiment and in which: Figure 1 shows a combine harvester loaded on to a railway truck, Figure 2 shows the combine harvester of Figure 1, shortly before the unloading operation, Figure 3 shows a plan view of the forward part of a combine harvester with drive wheels, and Figure 4 shows a side view of the Figure 3 part of a combine harvester.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a self-propeiled combine harvester whose forward drive wheels and rearward steering wheels have been removed.

This is generally necessary so that the combine harvester 1 which is loaded on to the truck 2 is within the so-called track profile which is prescibed by the railway authorities, in respect of width and height, so as to be able to negotiate bridges, tunnels or the like. Both the front axle 3 and the rear axle 4 of the combine harvester 1 are screwed to brackets 5 and 6 which are connected to the base of the truck. The inclined conveyor passage 3 which is mounted pivotally to the forward part of the combine harvester 1 bears by way of its free end on the base of the truck 2.In addition to the two hydraulic piston-cylinder units 9 and 10 which serve for raising the inclined conveyor passage during operation of the combine harvester and which operate only in a compression mode, there are two further pistoncylinder units 11 and 12 which operate in a traction mode and which can be connected to the hydraulic quick-action connections (not shown) for winch adjustment, which are secured to the inclined conveyor passage 7.If now for the purposes of unloading the truck 2, the front drive wheels 13 which had been removed for transportation by rail are to be fitted to the combine harvester, the rear, light part of the combine harvester is firstly raised by means of a jack, the brackets 6 are removed and the steering wheels 14 are screwed into place; thereupon, the piston-cylinder units 11 and 1 2 are connected to the connections for winch actuation and supplied with oil after the combine harvester engine has been started. This causes the inclined conveyor passage 7 to move into the position shown in Figure 2, from the position shown in Figure 1.

During this movement, the brackets 5 are lifted from the base of the truck 2, to such an extent that they can be removed and the drive wheels 1 3 can be re-fitted. A necessary condition for carrying out this lifting operation is that the steering wheels are initially fitted, as, when the machine is lifted, the steering wheels move towards the forward point of support of the machine, in the region of the inclined conveyor. This procedure therefore eliminates the laborious operation of jacking up the forward and heavy part of the combine harvester by means of lorry jacks, for the purposes of fitting the front wheels 13. After the wheels have been fitted, the locking pins 1 5 and 1 6 are released and the hydraulic piston-cylinder units 11 and 12 are fitted to the next combine harvester which is to be unloaded from a truck. It is also possible for the piston-cylinder unit which is provided in any case on any self-propelled combine harvester, for lifting the inclined conveyor 7, to be in the form of a double-acting unit so that there is then no need to fit separate cylinders.

Claims

1. A method of lifting the forward part of a combine harvester for the purposes of fitting and removing the drive wheels, wherein the inclined conveyors pivoted towards the ground to such an extent that the distance of the front axle from the ground is greater than the radius of the drive wheels.

2. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1 wherein at least one means operating in a traction mode, preferably a piston cylinder unit, is connected on the one hand to the forward part of the combine harvester and on the other hand to the lower part of the inclined conveyor passage, which is at the front in the direction of travel of the harvester.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the piston-cylinder units are arranged so as to be easily interchangeable.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the piston-cylinder units are connectable by way of conduits to oil supply means which are provided in any case on the combine harvester.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the piston-cylinder units are connectable by way of conduits to pressure medium producers which are independant of the combine harvester.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the piston-cylinder units which are provided for lifting the inclined conveyor during operation of the combine harvester are of double-acting kind.

7. A combine harvester comprising apparatus according to any one of claims 2-6.

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