Shield fixed over crop conveyor wheel of machine for mowing stalk-like crops

#The invention pertains to a machine for mowing stalk-type crops which contains a conveyor wheel that can be put into rotation about an approximately vertical axis and which is provided with recesses distributed over its circumference and designed as receptacles for plant stalks, wherein a stationary shield that shields a region of the conveyor wheel surface is arranged above the conveyor wheel.

#A device for mowing stalk-type crops is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,737. This device includes coaxially arranged cutting and conveyor wheels that rotate about an approximately vertical axis, with the conveyor wheels being above the cutting wheels and provided with a series of pocket-like recesses distributed over their circumference. The cutting wheels rotate and cut off the stalks of the plants to be harvested, for example corn stalks. The conveyor wheels that rotate in opposite directions transport the plants rearward in the pocket-like recesses. The plants are subsequently removed from the recesses by means of bow-shaped clearing devices arranged on the upper side of the conveyor wheels and transported to the feed rollers of a field chopper. In the intake region, the clearing devices are arranged at a distance from the pocket-like recesses, but extend outward to such an extent in the delivery region that they press the stalks out of the recesses. The cutting wheels are equipped with upwardly protruding ribs that serve for directing the cut plant stalks inward and holding said stalks within the effective range of the pocket-like recesses of the conveyor wheels. The conveyor wheels have a smooth upper side. Except for the clearing devices, the conveyor wheels are not provided with a shield.

#Another mowing device is disclosed in GB 2 012 154 A. This mowing device is also composed of cutting wheels and conveyor wheels coaxially arranged above the cutting wheels. An upwardly open channel is defined by shields situated above, and adjacent to, the conveyor wheels. The upright plants are transported rearward through this channel and transported to the feed rollers of a field chopper. In one embodiment, the conveyor wheels are flat and provided with pocket-like recesses on the outer circumference. In another embodiment, the conveyor wheels contain prongs that are distributed over their circumference and that extend approximately in the radial direction, wherein said prongs are bent rearwardly, opposite to the direction of rotation, over approximately half their length.

#The sole FIGURE is a somewhat schematic top view of a machine for mowing stalk-type crops and having stationary shields located over rotary crop conveyors and constructed in accordance with the present invention.

#Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a machine for mowing stalk-type crops including a main frame 10 supporting right- and left-hand mowing and conveying or gathering devices 12 and 14, respectively, as considered standing behind the machine and facing in the direction of forward movement V. The devices 12 and 14 are constructed in a conventional manner and include three disc-like conveyor wheels 16, 18, 20 that are spaced vertically, one from another and can be put into rotation about a common, approximately vertical axis by means of a drive. Each device 12 and 14 includes a cutting wheel, which is not shown in the FIGURE in order to provide a better overview, mounted beneath, and for rotation together with, the wheels 16, 18, 20. The circumference of the conveyor wheels 16, 18, 20 contains pocket-like recesses that serve for receiving plant stalks that are cut off by operation of the cutting wheels. The right-hand conveying and mowing device 12 rotates counterclockwise, while the left-hand conveying and mowing device 14 rotates clockwise, as indicated by the arrows. These conveying and mowing devices transport the cut plants rearward, opposite the forward driving direction V. The plants are then removed from the conveyor wheels 16, 18, 20 by means of suitable clearing devices (not shown in the FIGURE) and drawn in by pre-compressing rollers 22 of a field chopper that carries the frame 10. The frame 10 may also support more than the two conveying and mowing devices 12, 14 shown. When a plurality of conveying and mowing devices are arranged side by side, the lateral transport of the plants to the pre-compressing rollers 22 conventionally takes place along the rear wall of the frame 10 or by means of a screw. The conveyor wheels 16,18, 20 and the cutting wheels are powered by the prime mover of the field chopper that transports the machine over a field in the forward driving direction V while harvesting.

#A first shield 26 is connected to the frame 10 and is arranged above the top conveyor wheel 16 of the right-hand conveying and mowing device 12. The shield 26 includes an inner shield region 27, which shields a hub of the conveyor wheel 16 and includes an almost semi-circular edge 25. The hub is supported on the inner shield region 27. In addition, the shield 26 includes an arcuate outer shield region 30 arranged above the top conveyor wheel 16 on the front side of the conveying and mowing device 12. The arcuate outer shield region 30 terminates at an end 36 situated above the side of the conveyor wheel 16 and includes an inner edge 31 disposed substantially concentric to the edge 25 of the inner shield region 27. The inner shield region 27 and the outer shield region 30 are connected by a central shield region 28. The central shield region 28 includes a leading edge 29 (relative to the direction of rotation of the conveyor wheel 16) which extends outwardly over the radial dimension of the conveyor wheel 16, approximately tangentially from the inner shield. The leading edge 29 is slightly curved opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveyor wheel 16. The inner shield region 27, the central shield region 28 and the outer shield region 30 are realized integrally in the embodiment shown; however, they may also be realized in the form of discrete elements.

#The inner shield region edge 25 and the inner edge 31 of the outer shield region 30 cooperate to define an upwardly open arcuate cutout 32 between the inner shield region 27 and the outer shield region 30 (above the parts of the conveyor wheel 16 which are not shielded by the central shield 28). This cutout 32 is concentric to the arcuate edge 25 of the inner shield region 26 and is open on its end that lies downstream as viewed in the direction of rotation of the conveyor wheels 16 and closed on the upstream end. A small vertical gap in which only a few plant parts can accumulate remains between the shield 26 and the upper side of the top conveyor wheel 16. The shield regions 27, 28 and 30 are preferably curved or inclined in such a way that plant parts falling thereon are able to slide into the cutout 32.