Hydraulic beet harvester

• US 4,116,279 A
• Filed: 04/20/1977
• Issued: 09/26/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HFE, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HFE, Inc.
• Inventors: Kilburn, Ronald Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Kinsey, Russell R.
• Application Number:
  US05/789,077
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 171/55-62, 198/101
• US Class Current: 171/58
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 17/06 with rollers or disc screens
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 27/00 Machines with both topping and lifting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 33/12 Driving mechanisms, with or without motor

Abstract

A novel beet harvesting machine is disclosed having a rectangular frame with a front yoke and longitudinal and transverse support beams and being pulled by a tractor at the yoke for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck. The beet harvesting machine of the present invention utilizes hydraulic motors for powering the flailing of the dug beets rearwardly into the machine, the conveying of the flailed beets further rearwardly in the machine, the delivering of the beets laterally and the elevating of the beets upwardly and into the truck. The reservoir for the hydraulic fluid is integral with and disposed in the center of one of the longitudinal and transverse beams. A pump is provided for delivering the fluid from the reservoir and into the hydraulic motors of the present invention. A cooler for dissipating heat in the fluid is further provided.

Claims

1. In a beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame with longitudinal and transverse support beams and a front yoke, said machine being pulled at said yoke by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck having means located on said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground, means located on said frame operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly, means located on said frame receptive of said rearwardly directed beets for conveying said beets further rearwardly in said machine, means located on said frame receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine, and means located on said frame receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck, the improvement to said machine comprising:

a reservoir disposed in the interior of one of said beams and substantially coextensive therewith for containing hydraulic fluid,

first means, in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor, for pumping a first portion of said fluid from said reservoir to drive said elevating means,

second means, in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor, for pumping a second portion of said fluid from said reservoir to drive said flailing means and said conveying means, and

third means, in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor, for pumping a third portion of said fluid from said reservoir to drive said delivering means.

2. In a beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame with longitudinal and transverse support beams and a front yoke, said machine being pulled at said yoke by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck having means located on said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground, means located on said frame operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly, means located on said frame receptive of said rearwardly directed beets for conveying said beets further rearwardly in said machine, means located on said frame receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine, and means located on said frame receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck, the improvement to said machine comprising:

a reservoir disposed in the interior of one of said beams and substantially coextensive therewith for containing hydraulic fluid,

means in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor, for pumping said fluid out of said reservoir,

a cooler on said machine receptive of at least a portion of said pumped fluid for cooling said pumped fluid,

first means receptive of at least a portion of said pumped fluid for driving said flailing means,

second means receptive of at least a portion of said pumped fluid for driving said conveyed means,

third means receptive of at least a portion of said pumped fluid for driving said delivery means, and

fourth means receptive of at least a portion of said pumped fluid for driving said elevating means.

3. A beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame with a front yoke and transverse beams, said machine being pulled at said yoke by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck, said beet harvesting machine comprising:

a reservoir connected to said machine for containing hydraulic fluid,

means in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor for pumping said fluid from said reservoir,

a cooler connected to said machine and in fluid communication with said pumped fluid for cooling said fluid,

means attached to said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground,

first means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly, said first means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

second means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly flailed beets for conveying said beets rearwardly, said second means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

third means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine, said third means being in fluid communication with said reservoir, and

fourth means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck, said fourth means being in fluid communication with said reservoir.

4. A beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame with a front yoke and transverse beams, said machine being pulled at said yoke by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck, said beet harvesting machine comprising:

a reservoir connected to said machine for containing hydraulic fluid,

means in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor for pumping said fluid from said reservoir,

a cooler connected to said machine and in fluid communication with said pumped fluid for cooling said fluid,

means attached to said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground,

first means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly, said first means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

second means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly flailed beets for conveying said beets rearwardly, said second means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

third means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine, said third means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

fourth means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck, said fourth means being in fluid communication with said reservoir, and

fifth means responsive to said pumped fluid for propelling air through said cooler.

5. A beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame with a front yoke and transverse beams, said machine being pulled at said yoke by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck, said beet harvesting machine comprising:

a reservoir connected to said machine for containing hydraulic fluid, wherein said reservoir is disposed in the interior of one of said beams, said reservoir being further integral and substantially coextensive with the aforesaid beam,

means in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor for pumping said fluid from said reservoir,

a cooler connected to said machine in fluid communication with said pumped fluid for cooling said fluid,

means attached to said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground,

first means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly, said first means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

second means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly flailed beets for conveying said beets rearwardly, said second means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

third means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine, said third means being in fluid communication with said reservoir, and

fourth means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck, said fourth means being in fluid communication with said reservoir.

6. A beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame with a front yoke and transverse beams, said machine being pulled at said yoke by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck, said beet harvesting machine comprising:

a reservoir connected to said machine for containing hydraulic fluid,

means in fluid communication with said reservoir and cooperative with the power-take-off of said tractor for pumping said fluid from said reservoir,

a cooler connected to said machine in fluid communication with said pumped fluid for cooling said fluid,

means attached to said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground,

first means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly, said first means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

second means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly flailed beets for conveying said beets rearwardly, said second means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

third means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine, said third means being in fluid communication with said reservoir,

fourth means attached to said frame responsive to said pumped fluid and receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck, said fourth means being in fluid communication with said reservoir, and

means in fluid communication with said reservoir responsive to the pressure of the pumped fluid from said pumping means for delivering said pumped fluid into said reservoir when said pressure exceeds a predetermined amount.

7. A beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame with a front yoke and transverse support beams, said machine being pulled at said yoke by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck, said beet harvesting machine comprising:

means attached to said frame for digging upwardly from the ground,

means attached to said frame and operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly,

means attached to said frame and receptive of said rearwardly directed beets for conveying said beets further rearwardly in said machine,

means attached to said frame and receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine,

means attached to said frame and receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck,

a reservoir on said frame for containing hydraulic fluid,

a cooler on said frame for cooling said fluid,

a pump cooperative with the power-take-off from said tractor for pumping said fluid from said reservoir,

a first hydraulic motor connected to said pump for operating said elevation means,

a second hydraulic motor connected in series with the fluid from said first hydraulic motor for propelling air through said cooler so that heat in said fluid in said cooler is dissipated,

means interconnected with the fluid output of said second motor for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said cooler,

a third hydraulic motor connected to said pump for operating said flailing means,

a fourth hydraulic motor connected in series with the fluid from said third hydraulic motor for driving said conveying means,

means interconnected with the fluid output of said fourth motor for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir,

a fifth hydraulic motor connected to said pump for propelling said delivery means,

means interconnected with the fluid output of said fifth motor for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir, and

means interconnected with the fluid output of said cooler for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir.

8. The machine of claim 7 further comprising means interconnected with the fluid input of said first motor for selectively by-passing the fluid flowing through said first motor.

9. The machine of claim 7 wherein said reservoir is disposed in the interior of one of said beams, said reservoir being integral and substantially coextensive with the aforesaid beam.

10. The machine of claim 7 further comprising means connected with the input to said reservoir for filtering said fluid.

11. The machine of claim 7 further comprising a check valve mounted on said cooler interconnected in parallel with the fluid flow entering said cooler for selectively bypassing the flow of the aforesaid fluid when said cooler becomes plugged, said bypassed fluid being delivered into said reservoir.

12. A beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame comprising a front yoke and transverse support beams said machine being pulled by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck, said beet harvesting machine comprising:

means attached to said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground,

means attached to said frame and operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly,

means attached to said frame and receptive of said rearwardly directed beets for conveying said beets further rearwardly in said machine,

means attached to said frame and receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine,

means attached to said frame and receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck,

a reservoir disposed in the interior of one of said beams and substantially coextensive therewith for containing hydraulic fluid,

a cooler on said machine for cooling said fluid,

a pump cooperative with the power-take-off from said tractor for pumping said fluid from said reservoir,

a first hydraulic motor connected to said pump for operating said elevation means,

a second hydraulic motor connected in series with the fluid from said first hydraulic motor for propelling air through said cooler so that heat in said fluid in said cooler is dissipated,

means interconnected with the fluid output of said second motor for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said cooler,

a third hydraulic motor connected to said pump for operating said flailing means,

a fourth hydraulic motor connected in series with the fluid from said third hydraulic motor for driving said conveying means,

means interconnected with the fluid output of said fourth motor for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir,

a fifth hydraulic motor connected to said pump for propelling said delivery means,

means interconnected with the fluid output of said fifth motor for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir,

means interconnected with the fluid output of said cooler for delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir,

means interconnected between said reservoir and said delivery means interconnected with said cooler for filtering said fluid,

means interconnected between said reservoir and said pump for filtering the fluid flowing from said reservoir to said pump, and

a check valve interconnected in parallel with the fluid flow through said cooler for selectively bypassing the flow of the aforesaid fluid when said cooler becomes plugged, said bypassed fluid being delivered into said reservoir.

13. In a beet harvesting machine having a rectangular frame comprising a front yoke and transverse side beams, said machine being pulled by a tractor for harvesting and delivering beets into a truck, said beet harvesting machine having means located on said frame for digging beets upwardly from the ground, further means located on said frame operative on said dug beets for flailing said beets rearwardly, means located on said frame receptive of said rearwardly directed beets for conveying said beets further rearwardly in said machine, means located on said frame receptive of said rearwardly conveyed beets for delivering said beets laterally in said machine, and means located on said frame receptive of said laterally delivered beets for elevating said beets into said truck, the improvement to said machine comprising:

a reservoir operatively position on one of said transverse beams for storing hydraulic fluid,

a pump operatively positioned on said aforesaid transverse beam for pumping said fluid from said reservoir,

means interconnecting the power-take-off from said tractor with said pump for transferring the rotation of said power-take-off to said pump,

a first hydraulic motor operatively positioned on said elevator and connected to said pump for operating said elevation means,

a cooler operatively positioned on said machine and receptive of air for cooling said fluid,

a fan mounted in front of said cooler,

a second hydraulic motor operatively positioned on said cooler for rotating said fan so that air is propelled through said cooler thereby removing heat from the fluid flowing through said cooler, said second hydraulic motor receiving fluid from said first motor and delivering the aforesaid fluid into said cooler,

a third hydraulic motor mounted on the front of said machine for operating said flailing means, said third motor receiving fluid from said pump,

a fourth hydraulic motor mounted on the front of said machine for driving said conveying means, said fourth motor receiving fluid from said third motor and delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir, and

a fifth hydraulic motor mounted on a mid-portion side of said machine opposing said elevator for propelling said delivery means, said fifth motor receiving fluid from said pump and delivering the aforesaid fluid into said reservoir.

14. The improvement for the machine of claim 13 wherein said reservoir is disposed within the interior of said transverse beam, said reservoir being integral and substantially coextensive with the aforesaid beam.

15. The improvement for the machine of claim 13 further comprising a bypass valve interconnected between said first motor and said pump for selectively bypassing the fluid from said first motor.

16. The improvement for the machine of claim 15 further comprising means mounted on said tractor for activating said bypass valve.

17. The improvement for the machine of claim 13 wherein said pump comprises:

a first pump stage for delivering fluid from said reservoir into said first motor,

a second pump stage for delivering fluid from said reservoir into said third motor, and

a third pump stage for delivering fluid from said reservoir into said fifth motor.

18. The improvement for the machine of claim 13 wherein said third pump stage delivers substantially twice the flow rate of said first pump stage, said flow rate of said first pump chamber being substantially equal to the flow rate of said second pump stage.