Harvesters – Motorized harvester – Including plural operating units and drive
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-15
2002-04-02
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
Including plural operating units and drive
C056S013300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06363700
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for ordering rows of sugarcane, removing an upper stalk portion and cutting the cane at its base for harvesting of the cane. The cane is transported through the apparatus and the cane is separated from debris by a network of feed rolls and choppers. The cut cane is further separated from debris by a series of blowers or a single strategically placed variable speed blower and an elevator system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sugarcane (saccharum officinarum) is a giant, thick, perennial grass cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world for its sweet sap. The plant grows in clumps of solid stalks and has sword-shaped leaves and many jointed stems. Mature canes can grow to 10 to 26 feet in height and 1 to 2 inches in diameter.
Although several cane-cutting machines have been used with some success, most of the sugarcane in the world is harvested by hand where labor costs are low. Cane is cut at or near the surface of the ground, stripped of its leaves by a knife, and trimmed at the top near the last mature joint. The cane is then piled in rows along the ground until picked up by hand or machine, and transported by cart or truck to a sugar factory, where a grinding mill extracts the sugar from the cane.
In industrialized countries, in many cases, cane is burned to get rid of leaves that hinder harvesting and processing. Upright cane is then harvested by machines that straddle a row, cutting and topping the stalks, stripping the leaves, and loading the crop into trailers. The longer, thicker, leaning cane that grows in some areas is piled in windrows by hand or by bulldozer and then loaded with huge, grab forks into trucks for transport to a sugar mill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The harvester apparatus of the present invention can produce cane pour rates of 80 to 100 tons per hour or effectively 50 to 70 tons per hour in burned cane, depending on field conditions, cane varieties, and densities. In green cane, pour rates will be approximately 80 tons per hour or effective rates of approximately 50 tons per hour. The capacity of the wide throat of the harvester of the present invention is capable of harvesting cane in excess of 80 tons per acre.
The single row/tire version of the harvester weighs approximately 25,000 pounds and has a ground pressure of 10 PSI. The two-row version weighs approximately 33,000 pounds and has a ground pressure of approximately 5 PSI. Normal operating speed of the unit is approximately up to 7 mph and transport speed of the unit is approximately up to 14 mph.
The topper is of a shredder type, reducing cane tops to small pieces for easy incorporation in field soils during post harvest cultivation processes. This type of topper provides aggressive cutting action, as compared to an auger system, to totally eliminate tops.
The sugarcane gathering system of the present invention includes crop lifters which are set forward on the head of the apparatus at a steep angle to actively separate and lift downed or lodged cane with comb-like action. Abrasive-resistant materials are used on skid plates for increased service life. The mounting system for the crop lifters uses a “floating” skid which acts independently from the cutting discs to follow the contour of the ground and reduce the loss of cane stalks passing under the skids.
The knock-down roller is positioned forward from and above the base-cutter discs to orient cane for feeding into the feed rollers before the discs cut the stalks. The knock down roller uses large fins to assist in cane separation. The adjustable positioning of the knock-down roller can handle varying harvesting conditions and cane varieties.
A high capacity “throat” to the cutter head of approximately 54″ wide provides minimal obstruction for good cane flow, especially in green cane and/or high density conditions. This is ideal for harvesting two-rows of cane on 0.9, 1.0, or 1.1 meter row-spacings or a single row on 1.4, 1.5, or 1.6 meter spacing.
A drive system for the cutters discs includes direct drives from an overhead position. This allows opening up the width of the throat for increased production.
The location of the discs allows for visibility of the blades from the operator's cab. The position of the system with respect to front tires provides direct, ground contouring capability to reduce losses under the harvester as well as damage to future growth by “scalping” ratoons. The base cutter discs are adjustable to maintain optimum cutting angle on rows ranging up to 15″ in height.
An open feed roller system acts as a preliminary cleaning mechanism by removing dirt and extraneous materials before it can enter the harvester. This also increases the life of components such as floors, slats, chains, and guide rails. The motor/shaft design, with direct interconnection and protective housing and cover, reduces potential damage to seals and bearings.
The chopping mechanism has triple-bladed drums provided for better cleaning of extraneous material and increased transport density on wagons and trailers. Optionally, double-bladed drums may be used. The direct drive system of the drums eliminates belts and pulleys. The disposable, quick-change blades save time and reduce costs.
The cleaning system includes a main blower of self-cleaning design to reduce clogging with leaves and debris. The blower provides constant flow through of air to the cleaning chamber located immediately behind the chopper drums. This location provides best cleaning potential under severe, green or heavy crop conditions. A secondary blower provides additional airflow through the cleaning chamber to remove extraneous material.
Alternatively, the chopping mechanism may have an increased speed of 125 to 200 rpm, and preferably 200 rpm to initiate throwing of the chopped cane far into the air towards a cleaning chamber rear wall. While moving through the air towards the cleaning chamber rear wall, a single variable speed blower moves air and material in the cleaning chamber in as close to a vertical direction as possible, and preferably at an angle of 60 to 75 degrees. The variable speed blower operates at a speed range of 0 to 2100 rpm, preferably 1800 to 2100 rpm and more preferably 1800 rpm. The variable speed blower has a diameter of 30 inches for increased cfm and a rotor diameter of 24 to 26 inches.
The length of the rear wall of the cleaning chamber and the speed of the single variable speed blower dictate the amount of cleaning of the cane which can be accomplished without blowing the cut cane out through the cleaning chamber. The rear wall of the cleaning chamber may be pivotable to vary the angle of inclination and also may be of a telescoping construction so as to vary in length between 5 to 7 feet.
The speed of the variable speed blower is varied according to the type of cane being harvested. With light cane, of 20 to 25 tons per acre, a fan speed of 1200 rpm may be used. However, in the case of heavy cane collected at a rate of 125 tons per acre, a faster fan speed of 2100 rpm may be required. These fan speeds maximize the amount of debris separated from the cane. The cane is allowed to fall to a loading elevator dependent on the blower speed and based on the cane barrel (diameter of the cane).
The angle of the rear wall of the cleaning chamber must be great so that no debris or cane pieces will adhere to the rear wall even under wet conditions. The length of the rear wall is increased to suit crop conditions for maximum cleaning and minimum cane loss.
A blower of the discharge elevator provides additional airflow through cane cascading downward from the elevator's end for more effective removal of extraneous material. The discharge elevator is double folding to reduce overall dimensions of the unit for transport purposes. A level (horizontal) discharge point eliminates the loss of cane from wrapping. Sprockets are used to reduce wear on guide rails and chains. The slat/chain design is light-weight and allows for lateral adjustment to increase chain l
Inter-American Vanguard Corporation
Pezzuto Robert E.
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