Floating base-cutter assembly for use on sugar-cane harvesters
AssigneeMarchesan Implementos e Maquinas Agricolas Tatu S.A.
InventorValter Palmute
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a floating base-cutter assembly (16) for use on sugar-cane harvesters, the assembly being formed by two base-cutters. Each of the base-cutters (16) comprises a set of cutting knives (9). The base-cutter assembly (16) comprises an adjustable set of cutting knives (9) that may be selectively adjustable with respect to the ground. The base-cutter assembly (16) is also mounted on the harvester body via a set of articulated rods (2, 5). The base-cutter assembly (16) also includes an electric switch (7) and an inverted-shell-shaped component (8) that collectively control a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (4) to articulate the rods (2,5) and maintain the set of cutting knives (9) at a redetermined distance relative to the ground surface, regardless of variations in the ground surface.
Claims4
A floating base-cutter assembly (16) for use on a sugar-cane harvester, the assembly comprising:
- two base-cutters, each of the two base-cutters comprising:
- a vertical axle (13) having a lower portion and an upper portion;
- a bearing assembly comprising a lower bearing (11) positioned adjacent the lower portion of the vertical axle and an upper bearing (14) positioned adjacent the upper portion of the vertical axle;
- a C-shaped support (6) having two opposing ends, each of the two opposing ends being mounted adjacent the lower bearing and the upper bearing, respectively;
- a pair of articulated rods (2, 5) mounted to a frame of the sugar-cane harvester and to the C-shaped support (6);
- an arm (17) linking the pair of articulated rods (2, 5) relative to one another;
- an actuator (4) mounted to the arm (17) and a portion of the C-shaped support (6) intermediate the mounting portions for the pair of articulated rods (2, 5) such that the actuator extends between the arm (17) and the portion of the C-shaped support (6) to which the actuator is mounted;
- an electric switch (7) mounted adjacent the lower bearing (11) and selectively commanding movement of the actuator (4);
- an inverted-shell-shaped component (8) mounted adjacent the lower bearing (11), being in electric contact with the electric switch (7), and being in physical contact with a ground surface adjacent the sugar cane harvester;
- and
- an adjustable set of cutting knives (9) connected to the vertical axle (13),
- wherein:
- a change in pressure exerted on the inverted-shell-shaped component (8) by the ground surface actuates the electric switch (7);
- the commanded movement of the actuator (4) via the actuated electric switch (7) imposes movement of the articulated rods (2, 5) that vertically moves the base-cutters (16) and adjusts a position of the adjustable set of cutting knives (9) relative to the ground surface such that, despite variations in the ground surface, the set of cutting knives (9) remains always at a predetermined distance from and do not contact the ground surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.