GB2104765A

GB2104765A - Mowing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2104765A
Application number: GB08223146A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Maier; Hermann Ruprecht
Original assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Current assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Priority date: 1981-08-31
Filing date: 1982-08-11
Publication date: 1983-03-16
Also published as: BE894235A; PL130625B1; YU195182A; CS616982A2; PL238081A1; FR2511834A1; GB2104765B; NL8203358A; CS241119B2; DE3134390A1

Abstract

A mowing machine is disclosed having a mowing-mechanism beam (4) pivotally connected to a support beam (3) and with at least one rotary moving cutter or tool (6, 7) mounted thereon. The support beam (3) when viewed in the direction of travel of the machine, is arranged both in front of and also above the mowing mechanism beam (3) and the center of the motion (14) for the swivelling movement of the mowing-mechanism beam (4) is inside this latter beam. The mowing-mechanism beam (4) is, moreover, adjustably displaceable relative to at least a part (3a) of the support beam (3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mowing machine This invention relates to mowing machines of the type having a mowing-mechanism beam, the said beam bearing at least one rotary mowing tool on its underside, and a support beam to which the mowing-mechanism beam is pivotally connected and which is pivotally connected or connectable to a mounting frame.

A machine of this type is known, for example from DE-OS 15 82 356. In the case of the machine described therein the support beam, which is pivotally linked to the mowingmechanism beam, is linked toward its middle with the mowing-mechanism beam and is braced at its upper side opposite the towing tractor's threepoint mounting frame. The swivelling movement of the mowing-mechanism beam relative to the support beam is limited by stop-motion devices, while the design of the mowing mechanism itself is such that it can be locked in place. The centre of motion for the oscillating movement of the mowing-mechanism beam fitted with drum-type mowing tools is, in this known machine, inside the support beam. This very high-level centre of motion and pulling point is, however, detrimental to a good mowing action.

Another machine is known from DE-OS 24 23 039, the support beam of which, seen in the machine's direction of travel, is arranged in front of and above the mowing-mechanism beam.

With this machine too the centre of motion for the oscillating movement of the mowing mechanism is above the mowing-mechanism beam, resulting in the same disadvantage of a high-level centre of motion and pulling point. With the majority of mounted protective coverings for the drum-type mowing tools this configuration facilitates only quite negligible oscillating movement and an accordingly negligible capacity to adapt to uneven terrain.

Furthermore, a machine is known from DE-OS 29 17 738 of which the support beam, seen in the direction of travel of the machine, is arranged in front of the mowing-mechanism beam. The centre of motion in this machine is on a level with the mowing-mechanism beam, but similarly this has the disadvantage that the protective covering in the area of the support beam must be cut away and that only limited oscillating movements are possible. Here, too, the result is a failure to realise the optimum capacity to adapt to uneven terrain.

The underlying aim of this invention is to produce a mowing machine, which avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages, facilitates particularly good adaptation to terrain.

The present invention provides a mowing machine comprising a mowing-mechanism beam, at least one rotary mowing tool mounted on an underside of the mowing-mechanism beam, and a support beam to which the mowing-mechanism beam is pivotally connected and which is pivotally connected or connectable to a mounting frame, the support beam, when viewed in the direction of travel of the mowing machine in its working position, being arranged both in front of and above the mowing-mechanism beam, and the centre of motion about which the mowing-mechanism beam complete with its mowing tools, can pivot being inside the mowing-mechanism beam.

Preferably the mowing-mechanism beam is linked to the support beam by means of a support bracket fixedly secured to the support beam and set obliquely to the ground and in the direction of travel of the machine, together with a spindle which mates with the mowing-mechanism beam.

In a preferred embodiment the support bracket is arranged displaceably on the support beam and pin or other suitable means is provided for securing the support bracket in adjusted position on the support beam.

In another preferred embodiment the support beam consists of two relatively displaceable parts, one inserted inside the other, so as to be telescopically adjustable, which can be locked in adjusted position by bolts or other suitable means.

The machine according to the invention, with its especially low-level centre of motion inside the mowing-mechanism beam, offers the advantage that the oscillating movement of the mowingmechanism with the attached protective covering is greater and that the protective covering need not be cut away. The stability of the machine is consequently greater.

The displaceable arrangement of the mowingmechanism relative to the support beam facilitates adaption to varying tractor track gauges while retaining the advantage that varying mowingmechanism widths can be set with the same support beam and three-point frame.

The invention is explained more fully below with the aid of the accompanying drawings representing advantageous embodiments. The following figures are shown: Figure 1 a side view of a mowing machine according to the present invention in the working position; Figure 2 a plan view of the machine in the working position and; Figures 3 and 4 enlarged details of the machine according to the invention.

In these figures 1 designates a mounting frame which serves as a means of coupling to a tractor, not shown, and to which the mowing machine is fastened about a vertical pivot axis 1 3.

A mowing mechanism beam 4 bears mowing tools in the traditional manner, the latter consisting of, for example, two drums 5 with accompanying cutting discs 6 and sliding discs 7.

The cutting discs are fitted with knives and are set in contra-rotation by means of a drive shaft 9 (which may be telescopically extensible) and also by bevel gears which are not shown in detail. The entire mowing machine can be swung, about the vertical axis 13, into a transport position corresponding to the direction of travel of the tractor.

The mowing-mechanism beam 4 is pivotally connected to a support beam 3 through a support bracket 15 and a shaft 14. The support beam 3, seen in the direction of travel of the tractor, is placed in front of and above the mowingmechanism beam 4 and can consist of two relatively displaceably arranged parts 3a and 3b, one inserted inside the other so that they are telescopically adjustable. The free end of the support beam 3b is then enclosed in the support bracket 15, which also is arranged on it displaceably and in such a way that it can be locked in adjusted position as by bolts 1 6. The support bracket 1 5 at its lower end is rigidly linked with the shaft 14 which mates with the mowingmechanism beam 4, extends horizontally, and about which the mowing-mechanism beam can execute oscillating movements.

The numeral 12 designates a flat spiral spring forming part of a locking device, and 8 designates a protective covering for the mowing tools.

In the machine according to the invention, as will be seen, the centre of motion about which the mowing-mechanism beam executes its oscillating movements is arranged in that same beam, since the axis of rotation is the shaft 14 which is rigidly linked with the support bracket 1 5. This low-level centre of motion and pulling point affords greater oscillating movement of the mowing-mechanism complete with its protective covering 8 than is the case with traditional machines. Furthermore, there is no longer any need to cut away the protective covering, with the result that the stability of the machine is enhanced.

As a result of the greater facility for the displacement of the mowing-mechanism beam relative to the support beam, that is, as a result of the displacement of one part 3b of the support beam relative to the other part 3a or of the support bracket along the support beam 3, greater adaptation to differing tractor gauges is afforded while the possibility of using a conventional three-point frame for mounting is retained. The result is that differing mowingmechanism widths can be set.

Claims

1. A mowing machine comprising a mowingmechanism beam, at least one rotary mowing tool mounted on an underside of the mowingmechanism beam, and a support beam to which the mowing-mechanism beam is pivotally connected and which is pivotally connected or connectable to a mounting frame, the support beam, when viewed in the direction of travel of the mowing machine in its working position, being arranged both in front of and above the mowingmechanism beam, and the centre of motion about which the mowing-mechanism beam complete with its mowing tools, can pivot being inside the mowing-mechanism beam.

2. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the mowing-mechanism beam is linked to the support beam by a support bracket and a shaft rigidly linked to the support bracket and mating with the mowing-mechanism beam.

3. A mowing-machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the support bracket is displaceably arranged on the support beam and means is provided for securing the support bracket in adjusted position relative to the support beam.

4. A mowing machine as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the support beam consists of two relatively displaceable parts one inserted inside the other and which can be locked in adjusted position, and in that the support bracket is arranged on the outer displaceable part of the support beam.

5. A mowing machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.