GB2323010A

GB2323010A - Suspended windrower

Info

Publication number: GB2323010A
Application number: GB9804909A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerard Chomat
Original assignee: Agram SAS
Current assignee: Agram SAS
Priority date: 1997-03-10
Filing date: 1998-03-10
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-10
Also published as: GB2323010B; DE19809368C2; DE19809368A1; FR2760315B1; FR2760315A1; GB9804909D0

Abstract

Windrower comprising a rotor (1) carrying rakes rotating about a substantially vertical shaft (231), - a main chassis (2) provided with coupling members (22, 24) and carrying the substantially vertical shaft of the rotor(s), - a running chassis (3) connected to the shaft of the rotor (1). The running chassis (3) comprises a longitudinal limb (31), a transverse limb (32) which is integral with one end of the longitudinal limb, and a pivoting cross-member (34) (Fig.2) connected by means of an articulation having a longitudinal axis (XX) to the other end of the longitudinal limb (31). The vertical shaft (232) carrying the rotor (1) is connected to the longitudinal limb (31) by an articulation (7) having a transverse axis (YY).

Description

1 2323010 The present invention relates to a windrower comprising at least

one rotor carrying rakes rotating about a substantially vertical axis, a main chassis provided with coupling members and carrying the drive shaft of the rotor(s), - an auxiliary running chassis which is associated with each rotor and which is connected to the drive shaft of a respective rotor.

Such windrowers, especially according to documents EP-O 332 835, EP-O 383 120 and EP-415 301, are already known.

In the case of each of those windrowers, the running chassis has to impart a high degree of stability to the machine for accurate working. The expression "vertical" or "substantially vertical,, axis means that the axis/shaft is substantially perpendicular to the surface on which the machine runs.

In general, those known machines have the disadvantage of having a relatively complicated running chassis.

The present invention aims to overcome those disadvantages and sets out to provide a suspended windrower which has excellent stability and which is simple to produce.

To that end, the invention relates to a windrower of the type defined above, characterised in that the running chassis is in the form of a cross comprising a longitudinal limb, a transverse limb which is integral with one end of the longitudinal limb, 2 - a pivoting cross-member connected by means of an articulation having a longitudinal axis to the other end of the longitudinal limb, - the vertical shaft carrying the rotor being connected to the longitudinal limb by an articulation having a transverse axis.

Owing to its double articulation, on the one hand, between the main chassis and the auxiliary chassis and, on the other hand, in the auxiliary chassis itself, in the region of the cross-member and the longitudinal limb, the windtower permits excellent adaptation to and absorption of the irregularities in the terrain by levelling the lifting movements transmitted to the shaft carrying the rotor. This embodiment is relatively simple and space-saving, so that it can be accommodated well under the rotor.

According to another feature, the transverse limb of the running chassis is the rear limb and the pivoting cross-member is at the front of the chassis.

The present invention will be described hereinafter in a more detailed manner with the help of the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a windrower according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the running chassis of the windrower according to the invention.

According to Figure 1, the windrower is composed of a rotor 1 having arms 11 provided with rakes 12. The rakes are generally caused to pivot about their respective axis in order to move into a raking position such as that 3 illustrated or into a raised position when the rake passes to the rear into the region of terrain already worked.

The rotor 1 is carried by a main chassis 2 formed, for example, by a bar 21 provided at one of its ends with coupling arms 22 and at the other end with a transmission box 23 for driving the rotor. The upstream end of the bar 21 of the chassis carries the mouth 24 which is to be connected, for example, by a propeller shaft, to the power take-off of the tractor in order to drive the transmission shaft (not shown) accommodated in the chassis 2.

The rotor 1 rotates about a geometric axis ZZ which IS substantially vertical in the sense defined above. The rotor 1 is carried by the shaft 231 projecting from the transmission box 23.

In the case of a windrower having several rotors, the transmission box comprises several vertical outputs, each of which corresponds to one rotor.

The shaft 231 is hollow and is extended under the hub 13 of the rotor by a non-rotary shaft 232 carrying the auxiliary running chassis 3.

The structure of the auxiliary running chassis 3 can best be seen in Figure 2. This running chassis according to the invention is in the form of a cross. It is composed of a longitudinal limb 31 carrying, at the rear, a transverse limb 32 which is integral therewith. This is shown by gussets 33.

The other end of the longitudinal limb 31 of the chassis 3 carries a cross-member 34 which is pivotably mounted by 4 means of the socket bearing 341 cooperating with the end 311 of the limb 31. The pivoting cross-member 34 can pivot about the longitudinal axis (XX) in the sense of the double arrow The pivoting cross-member 34 carries at its two side ends, by means of articulations 342, 343 having a vertical axis (ZM), (Z2Z2), arms 41 of a respective hub 4 carrying trailing wheels 5.

The trailing wheels 5 are shown only by circles.

The rear limb 32 also carries wheels 6, which cannot pivot.

The running chassis 3 is connected to the substantially vertical shaft 232 by means of an articulation 7 having a transverse axis (YY). The articulation 7 is formed by a U-shaped stirrup piece 71 receiving the shaft 312 which is integral with the longitudinal limb 31 in order to enable the running chassis 3 to pivot in the sense of the double arrow C about the transverse axis (YY).

The carriage moves in the direction of the longitudinal axis (XX).

According to the embodiment illustrated, the fixed transverse limb 32 corresponds to the rear of the chassis 3 and the pivoting cross-member 34 to the front. Under those circumstances, the trailing wheels 5 are the front wheels.

It is also possible to reverse the configuration of the running chassis 3. In that case, the fixed transverse limb is arranged at the front and carries the trailing wheels while the pivoting transverse limb is provided only with wheels that do not trail.

6

Claims

1. Windrower comprising at least one rotor carrying rakes rotating about a substantially vertical axis, - a main chassis (2) provided with coupling members (22, 24) and carrying a drive shaft (231) of the rotor(s) (1), an auxiliary running chassis (3) which is associated with each rotor (1) and which is coupled with the drive shaft (231, 232) of the rotor (1), characterised in that the running chassis (3) is in the form of a cross comprising a longitudinal limb (31), a transverse limb (32) which is integral with one end of the longitudinal limb (31), - a pivoting cross-member (34) connected by means of an articulation (311, 341) having a longitudinal axis (XX) to the other end of the longitudinal limb (31), the upright shaft (231, 232) under the rotor (1) being connected to the longitudinal limb (31) by an articulation (7) having a transverse axis (YY).

2. Windrower according to claim 1, characterised in that the transverse limb (32) of the running chassis (3) is at the rear of the chassis (3) and the pivoting cross-member (34) is at the front.