DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION: “A Sugarcane Harvester with Improved Gearbox Assembly of Chopper”
2. APPLICANTS:

(a) Name : Tirth Agro Technology Pvt. Ltd.
(b) Nationality : Indian
(c) Address : Shaktiman, Survey No. 108/1, Plot No. B,
NH- 27, Nr. Bharudi Toll Plaza,
Bhunava (Village),Taluka- Gondal,
Dist- Rajkot - 360 311, Gujarat, India

PROVISIONAL

The following specification describes the invention. þ COMPLETE

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a sugarcane harvester and more particularly it relates to a sugarcane harvester with an improved gearbox assembly of chopper.

Background of invention

There are several types of sugarcane harvesters are on field which harvest the growing sugarcane stalks by cutting the cane at its base, and then transferring the cut sugarcane to a collector vehicle such as a cane wagon or cane cart. The sugarcane harvester may include different types of harvesting devices. The harvesting devices for a sugarcane harvester can include assemblies for cutting, chopping, sorting, transporting, and gathering and processing sugarcane plants. Generally, the harvesting devices include crop divider assembly, knockdown roller assembly, base cutter assembly, feed rollers, cutting drums, and so on.

For dynamic crop harvesting, a harvester may move along a field with above mentioned harvesting devices, where the harvesting devices perform collecting and processing of material from rows of crop plants. The steering arrangement on a typical front wheel steered, rubber tired sugarcane chopper harvester includes steerable wheels mounted to axles supported for pivoting about respective upright pivot structures located outboard of transversely spaced, fore-and-aft extending main frame members. A pair of crop dividers is respectively mounted to the main frame ahead of the pair of steerable wheels. In order to avoid interference with the frame members during steering operation, a large space is provided between each pivot axis and the adjacent frame member.

With the chopper gearbox of prior art, at cane harvesters had spur-gears whose surfaces have rolling contact, but the teeth are cut straight across on a face; one or two teeth are always in contact with another gear. This incomplete face engagement means spur gears are noisier and vibrate more than helical gears. Moreover, chopper gear box with spur gears are less expensive, they have much shorter life spans than helical gears. After about three years they are usually replaced. And frequent replacement requires more capital and drives up maintenance, downtime, and waste-disposal costs.

Yet, another way to compare performance and efficiency is to look at quality. There are two common gear-quality indicators. One is that too much noisy and produces vibration means low precision and limited life. Rotating machines that are noisy and vibrate can have any number of quality issues which are improperly balanced rotating components; mating components with excessive tolerances; and components that are not rigid enough, flexing under load and leading to misalignment.

One of prior art has been disclosed describing the chopper roller assembly of sugarcane harvester. The prior art document US005622034A describing about a slip clutch and cutter blade apparatus for cane stalk harvesters provides a machine frame with a cutting mechanism in the form of cutter shafts powered by hydraulic motors. The cutter shafts have a plurality of knives thereon that pinch the cane there between as the shafts rotate to chop the cane whole stalks into billets. A flywheel is mounted on a flywheel shaft. A gearbox interfaces the flywheel and cutter blades. A flywheel clutch is used as an overload protection device for the chopper system. If overloading occurs, the flywheel slips and therefore limits the torque. The flywheel is placed on the bushing and clamped between the friction linings with the aid of the thrust plate, the cup springs, brake plate, brake plate cover, and bolts. The more the cup springs are compressed by the bolts; the higher the torque at which the flywheel slips.

Hence, there is a desperate need for inventing a sugarcane harvester with an improved chopper gearbox assembly to provide high efficiency gear mesh compared to traditional chopper gearbox assembly of sugarcane harvester.

Object of Invention

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the problem associated with conventional chopper gearbox assembly of sugarcane harvester by providing an improved gearbox assembly of chopper for proper harvesting at fields.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved gearbox assembly of chopper to alleviate the load on each tooth.

Further object of the present invention is to provide an improved gearbox assembly of chopper to create a smooth transition of forces from one tooth to the next.

Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide an improved gearbox assembly of chopper which uses an optimum helix angle designed to sustain.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sugarcane harvester and more particularly it relates to a sugarcane harvester with an improved gearbox assembly of chopper. An improved gearbox assembly of chopper comprises chopper unit. The chopper unit includes a gearbox, with input interfaces. The input interface is a broached keyway connector, configured to receive the output shaft of the hydraulic motor. The input interface is configured such that the rotational power received at the interface causes the input chopper driving gear to rotate. The chopper driving gear rotate the two main gears and one chopper flywheel pinion shaft that stores the energy through a interfaced flywheel to absorb the load fluctuations received through load surge gained during cane chopping operations.

Brief Description of Drawings

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic line diagram of a chopper gearbox assembly for a sugarcane harvester according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic line diagram of various parts of a chopper gearbox assembly for a sugarcane harvester according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic line diagram of various parts of a chopper assembly and gearbox assembly for a sugarcane harvester according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Invention

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompany drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiment, as depicted in different figures as described above and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

It is to be also understood that the term "comprises" and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article "comprising" (or "which comprises") components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components.

The present invention discloses a sugarcane harvester with an improved chopper assembly. Now, according to the present invention, the sugarcane harvester particularly relates with improving the functional overview of the chopper assembly as shown in accompanying drawings. A sugarcane harvester which comprises a topper assembly to cut leafy materials of sugarcane stalks, a gathering area, a crop divider assembly for lifting and straddling a row of sugarcane stalks, a modular knock down roller and finned roller to assist in aligning the plants for feed into the throat of harvester, a pair of base cutter to cut the sugarcane stalks from the field, a feeding area including a feed roll system to move the cut sugarcane stalks further in a rear upward direction without spoiling or crushing the cane, a chopper assembly to cut the sugarcane stalks into small pieces in the form of billets, a cleaning chamber having an extractor fan assembly viz. primary extractor fan to remove dirt and extraneous material from the billets by blowing air on to the billets, an elevator system including a secondary extractor fan to remove the remaining loose materials as the cane falls from the end of the transport and an operator cabin to operate and control the harvester machine.

Now, the present invention particularly relates to the improved chopper assembly that comprises a chopper unit (2) and a chopper gearbox assembly (1) for operating the chopper unit as shown in fig. 1.

Now, according to fig. 2, the chopper gearbox assembly comprises a hydraulic motor (24), a chopper gear housing (3), a driving gear (7) being operatively connected with hydraulic motor (24) through an input interface, main gear (9, 10) being operated by the driving gear (7), a hub (18), a bearing housing (14) being bolted with the hub and a flywheel pinion gear (5). Said gears (9,10) are accommodated within the gearbox housing (3). Further, the gears (9, 10) having an optimum helix angle designed to sustain and alleviates the load on each tooth and creates a smooth transition of forces from one tooth to the next. Hence, less vibration, wear and noise and longer life.

Referring continuous with fig. 2, the input interface is a broached keyway connector, configured to receive the output shaft of the hydraulic motor (24). The input interface is configured such that the rotational power received at the interface causes the input chopper driving gear (7) to rotate. The chopper driving gear (7) in turns rotate the two main gears (9, 10) and one chopper flywheel pinion shaft (5) that stores the energy through a interfaced flywheel to absorb the load fluctuations received through load surge gained during cane chopping operations. Further, a bearing housing (14) is assembled over the hub (18). In between these two elements, a spherical roller bearing (13) is located that allows the smooth transition of dynamic load. Once the bearing is assembled, a top ring (12) bolted over the said bearing housing (14). The input interface is configured such that the rotational power received at the interface by a hydraulic motor (24) which causes the input driving gear (7) to rotate. The driving gears (7) in turns rotate the two main gears (9, 10) and one chopper pinion shaft (5).

Now referring back to fig. 1, the chopper unit comprises chopper rollers (6) having thread interface being bolted with hub (18). Above this top ring (12), an adapter (11) gets bolted in line with the hub section (18). The main gears (9, 10) then gets in bolted over these adapters (11).

Referring the above illustration at fig.2, the constructional features of rollers (6) allows the roller to get assembled with chopper gear housing (3) output interfaces which allows these rollers (6) to rotate. These two rollers (i.e. upper roller and lower roller) are contra-rotating to each other. The end section of these rollers gets in bolted with hub (18), which then assembled with hub (18) of chopper housing. Mechanical face seal (25) housing gets in assembly with the end extremities of chopper roller (6). There again a hub (18) which gets in bolted with another extremity of chopper roller (6) and rests over the bearing section.

Further, the chopper driving gear (7) rotates the two main gears (9, 10) and one chopper pinion shaft (5) that store or release the energy through an interfaced flywheel (23) by absorbing the load fluctuations received through the load surge gained during cane chopping operations.

Now, according to fig. 3, the said pinion (5) rests over the spherical roller bearing (13), where its gear teeth get in mesh with the two main driving gears (9, 10). The spherical roller bearing (13) arranged at the inner section of chopper housing plate which is then housed with an adapter (11) and the seal (25) housed at its inner diameter. The pinion shaft (5) is then backed with clutch plate (19) and wear plates (26, 27) making the flywheel (23) sandwiched in mid section. There used to be spring washers (20) sat end of the section backed with the nylon lock nut (21). Whenever there is load surge at chopper rollers (6), the motion of flywheel (23) slips between the wear plates (26, 27) to release the fluctuating load surges.

The invention has been explained in relation to specific embodiment. It is inferred that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited or restrictive thereto. Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. All substitution, alterations and modification of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims are to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined not with reference to the above description but should be determined with reference to appended claims along with full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

List of Reference Numerals:
Gearbox assembly (1)
Chopper unit (2)
Gearbox housing (3)
Ring (4)
Chopper pinion shaft (5)
Rollers (6)
Chopper driving gear (7)
Gearbox cover (8)
Main gears (9, 10)
Adapters (11)
Top ring (12)
Spherical roller bearing (13)
Bearing housing (14)
Bearing Housing w/o bearing (15)
Gear holes (16)
Cylindrical roller bearing (17)
Hub (18)
Clutch plate (19)
Spring washer (20)
Nylon lock nut (21)
Cover (22)
Flywheel (23)
Hydraulic motor (24)
Face seal (25)
Wear plates (26, 27)
Bearing section (28)
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A sugarcane harvester with improved gearbox assembly of chopper unit comprising a chopper unit (2) and a chopper gearbox assembly (1) for operating the chopper unit (2);

Characterized by the chopper unit comprises chopper rollers (6) having thread interface being bolted within hub (18);

the chopper gearbox assembly comprises a hydraulic motor (24), a chopper gear housing (3), a driving gear (7) being operatively connected with hydraulic motor (24) through an input interface, a hub (18), a bearing housing (14) being bolted with the hub (18) and a flywheel pinion gear (5); said gears (9, 10) are accommodated within the gearbox housing (3);

2. The sugarcane harvester with improved gearbox assembly of chopper unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gears (9, 10) having an optimum helix angle designed to sustain and alleviates the load on each tooth and creates a smooth transition of forces.

3. The sugarcane harvester with improved gearbox assembly of chopper unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an adapter (11) bolted in line with the hub section (18) and the said main gears (9, 10) bolted over the free end of said adapters (11).
4. The sugarcane harvester with improved gearbox assembly of chopper unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said pinion shaft (5) rests over the spherical roller bearing (13), where its gear teeth get in mesh with the two main driving gears (9, 10).

5. The sugarcane harvester with improved gearbox assembly of chopper unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the said spherical roller bearing (13) the coupled with the said top ring (12) and the free end of the said spherical roller bearing (13) bolted over the said bearing housing (14).

Dated this on 7th January, 2020