TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a tractor-harvester combine and in particular, relates to a chassis of the tractor-harvester combine.

BACKGROUND

A harvester combine is a commonly used machine in agricultural practice for harvesting food grains. The harvester combine combines the actions of reaping, threshing and chaffing of the food grains in one pass of the machine. A typical harvester combine includes a reaping section, a threshing section, and a straw walker. The crop is first reaped in the reaping section and is then carried over by a conveyor to the threshing section where the reaped crops undergo a threshing treatment. The crops then pass over the straw walker, where the grains are completely separated from the chaff.

Some harvester combines are propelled and operated by using engines of their own while some are powered by the tractors to which the harvesters are combined. A tractor, in the latter types, can provide substantially high levels of power to a harvester combine. Apart from providing motion to the harvester, the tractor can also drive various units of the harvester combine through its power-take off (PTO) unit. Further, the harvester can also be controlled by making use of the controls of the tractor. Such a harvester operated by a tractor is called a tractor-harvester combine. Harvester combines having integrated power units are expensive and are difficult to transport from one place lo another due to their sheer size and weight and absence of wheels which are appropriate for road-transport. On the other hand, a tractor-harvester combine can be transported easily and the tractor can be used independently for other activities once harvesting is over.

There are various ways through which a tractor can be combined with a harvester. In certain variants of the tractor-harvester combine, the harvester unit is mounted parallel to the tractor, while in some the harvester unit is attached either to the rear or to the front of the tractor. Another method of combining the tractor and the harvester is to mount the
tractor on top of the harvester. In such an arrangement, the wheels of the tractor are removed and a sprocket wheel is provided for transmitting power to the rear wheels of the harvester through a chain drive in the above mentioned 'tractor on top' arrangement of the harvester, the front wheels of the harvester are driven by a rear axle of the tractor through a diagonally connected chain drive. This does not leave enough space for connecting another oppositely placed diagonal chain drive from the front axle of the tractor to the real wheels of the harvester. Hence, a four-wheel drive implementation in a tractor-harvester combine with the tractor on top can not be achieved. In addition, in such a configuration of the tractor-harvester combine, the front wheels are susceptible to sinking in wet fields. In such cases, in absence of a means to lift the front wheels, external efforts are needed to pull the wheels out. Another common issue in such an arrangement is that the driver cabin is at a substantial height from the ground, making it difficult for an operator to control the harvesting operation happening below.

SUMMARY

The present subject matter relates to a tractor-harvester combine comprising a harvester chassis, a tractor chassis to support an engine and a drive assembly, a reaping section, an operator area, and a transmission system. The tractor chassis is mounted below the harvester chassis in such a way that the tractor-harvester combine operate as a four-wheel drive tractor-harvester combine. The four wheel drive provides an additional traction, that is pulling force, for an operation of the harvester.
The reaping section is mounted in front of the tractor chassis and the operator area is positioned at an elevated position with respect to the reaping section. The transmission system transmits power from the drive assembly to components of the tractor-harvester combine.
The harvester chassis comprises an L-shaped bend in its central section. The L-shaped bend provides space for attachments, such as a blower, on one side of the chassis and an additional space for an additional radiator on the other side. The additional radiator increases an efficiency of a cooling system of the tractor engine. The additional radiator can be accommodated along the harvester chassis without affecting the maneuverability of harvester machine.

The tractor-harvester combine, according to the present subject matter, is further provided with a vertical hydraulic lifter, and is positioned towards a front end of the tractor chassis. While operating in wet and soggy land conditions, sinking of the front wheels of the tractor can be removed or pulled out overcome by means of the vertical hydraulic lifter.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present subject matter will be better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary tractor-harvester combine with a harvester mounted on top of a tractor, according to the present subject matter.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front view of the tractor-harvester combine as shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of the tractor harvester combine as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a drive assembly of the tractor-harvester combine in a detailed rear
view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates a left side view of the tractor harvester combine as shown in Fig. 1, with respect to an operator facing towards the front.

Fig. 6 illustrates a detailed view of a left side mounting assembly for a harvester chassis of the tractor-harvester combine shown in Fig.5.

Fig. 7 illustrates a right side view of the tractor harvester combine shown in Fig. 1, with respect to an operator facing towards the front.

Fig. 8 illustrates a detailed view of a right side mounting assembly for the harvester chassis of the tractor-harvester combine as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 illustrates a vertical hydraulic lifting system mounted in front of the tractor-harvester combine as shown in Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A tractor-harvester combine with a harvester mounted on top of a tractor includes a harvester chassis designed in such a way that a tractor chassis is accommodated underneath the harvester chassis. A modified mounting design and a design of drive assembly of the tractor-harvester combine ensure efficient harvester operation. Moreover, the power for harvester operation can be obtained from a transmission system of the tractor. Such a harvester-on-top configuration allows the tractor-harvester combine to be a four-wheel drive vehicle. The four-wheel drive ensures a better power availability to the tractor-harvester combine.

Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a tractor-harvester combine 100 with a harvester mounted on top of a tractor. As used herein, the terms "front", "rear", "left", and "right" correspond to the positions assumed by an operator or driver of the tractor-harvester combine 100 while he is seated during an operation.

In one embodiment, the tractor-harvester combine 100 includes a harvester chassis 102 mounted on top of a tractor chassis 104. The tractor-harvester combine 100 further includes a reaping section 106, an operator area 108, a combine body 110, and a grain storage tank 112. The reaping section 106 attached to the front side of the tractor chassis 104. The operator area 108 is also positioned towards the front portion of the tractor-harvester combine 100 and is situated at an appropriate elevated position with respect to the reaping section 106. Behind the operator area 108, the grain storage tank 112 can be placed. The position of the operator area 108 in front of the grain storage tank 112 and above the reaping section 106 facilitates a better view to the operator so as to easily accomplish operations occurring at the ground level, for example, crop cutting.

Further, in one implementation, the combine body 110 is located below the grain storage tank 112. The grain storage tank 112 stretches from one end of the operator area 108 to the rear end of the tractor-harvester combine 100. The combine body 110 can have various components including, but not limited to, a threshing drum, a drum, sieves, elevators, and a straw walker.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front view 200 of the tractor-harvester combine 100. As seen from the front, the tractor-harvester combine 100 has the operator area 108 on the top. The reaping section 106 is located in front of the operator area 108 and includes an auger shaft 202 and a pick-up reel 204. The reaping section 106 further includes cutter blades (not shown in the figure) to cut the crop.

The pick-up reel 204 of the reaping section 106 assists in accommodating the crop into the auger shaft 202. The crop is cut by the cutter blades and then transferred by the auger shaft 202 into a conveyer 206. In an embodiment, the conveyer 206 is located inbetween the reaping section 106 and the combine body 110. The conveyer 206 is responsible for carrying the cut crop into the combine body 110 for a threshing operation. An operator sitting in the operator area 108 can supervise the cutting operation.

The tractor-harvester combine 100 also includes front wheels 208-1 and 208-2. The tractor can be a four-wheel drive tractor and the front wheels 208-1 and 208-2 of the tractor-harvester combine 100 can be designed to be substantially large in size. Such large wheels are less prone to sinking in wet fields.

Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view 300 of the tractor-harvester combine 100. In an embodiment as shown, the tractor-harvester combine 100 has a straw and chaff outlet 302 on top of the tractor-harvester combine 100. Straws and chaff are by-products of the harvesting operation and they are released through the straw and chaff outlet 302. During the harvesting operation, the crop enters the tractor-harvester combine 100 from the front portion through the reaping section 106, and the final product, i.e., grains, gets stored in the grain storage tank 112. The left over residue, i.e., the chaff and the straws, is thrown out from the rear portion of the tractor-harvester combine 100 through the straw and chaff outlet 302.

Further, as seen from the rear end, the tractor-harvester combine 100 includes a drive pulley 304, a drive shaft 306, a bevel converter 308, a rear axle 310, and rear wheels 312-1 and 312-2. The drive pulley 304 is connected to the bevel converter 308 through the drive shaft 306. The drive pulley 304 transmits power from the drive shaft 306 to other components of the harvester in the combine body 110 such as the thresher
drum, the drum, and the straw walker. In an implementation, the bevel converter 308 derives power from the transmission system of the tractor and further transmits the power to the drive pulley 304 through the drive shaft 306.
Fig. 4 illustrates a detailed rear view 400 of a drive assembly incorporated in the rear section of the tractor-harvester combine 100. The drive pulley 304 is connected to the bevel converter 308 through the drive shaft 306 and is responsible for transmission of power to other components such as the harvester drum and the sieves, in the combine body 110, A connecting rod 402 connects the bevel converter 308 to a power take-off (PTO) shaft 404 of the tractor. The connecting rod 402 has a universal joint at one of its ends, for example, the end facing the PTO shaft 404. The bevel converter 308 obtains power from the PTO shaft 404 of the tractor via the connecting rod 402. A differential (not shown in the figure) of the tractor provides power to the rear wheels 312-1 and 312-2 through the rear axle 310. Such an arrangement facilitates the drive assembly to derive power for the harvester from the transmission system of the tractor.

Fig. 5 illustrates a left side view 500 of the tractor-harvester combine 100. The left side view 500 indicates the relative positioning of the various components of the tractor-harvester combine 100. The harvester chassis 102 is designed for the purpose of mounting onto the tractor chassis 104. The harvester chassis 102 includes an L-shaped bend in its central section. Such a design allows a blower 502 to be placed on a top-right side of the harvester chassis 102, beside the L-shaped bend. The harvester chassis 102 is mounted on the tractor chassis 104 with the help of a mounting assembly, which includes a first L-shaped mounting 504.

Furthermore, the tractor-harvester combine 100 includes a horizontal hydraulic lifter 506, a cam pulley 508, a drive belt 510, a large first pulley 512, and a sieve pulley 514. In one implementation, the position of the reaping section 106 is controlled with the help of the horizontal hydraulic lifter 506. The horizontal hydraulic lifter 506 ensures proper positioning of the reaping section 106 during reaping of the crop.

As mentioned earlier, the drive assembly of the harvester obtains power from the drive pulley 304 for the transmission. Towards the rear of the tractor-harvester combine 100, the drive pulley 304 is connected to the large first pulley 512 through a belt The shaft of the large first pulley 512 is connected to a small second pulley (not shown in the figure) on the other side (i.e., right side of the tractor-harvester combine 100). Belt drives from the small second pulley are taken to other components such as the harvester drum, the drum etc., of the tractor-harvester combine 100.

Further, the sieve pulley 514 is connected to a sieve shaft (not shown in the figure). The sieve shaft is driven by deriving power from the power take-off (PTO) shaft 404 of the tractor. Power is transmitted to the sieve shaft from the PTO shaft 404 via the large first pulley 512, a small second pulley 706 and a drum pulley 710 (shown in figure 7). The sieve pulley 514 transmits power to the drive belt 510 which further drives the conveyer 206. The drive belt 510 also drives the cam pulley 508 through a pulley-chain assembly (not shown in the figure). In one implementation, the reaping section 106 including the pick-up reel 204, the auger shaft 202 and the cutter blades are operated by the cam pulley 508.

Fig. 6 illustrates a mounting detail 600 of a left-side mounting assembly for the harvester chassis 102 of the tractor-harvester combine 100. In one implementation, the harvester chassis 102 is mounted onto the first L-shaped mounting 504 through a first super structure mounting 602. The first L-shaped mounting 504 is connected to the tractor chassis 104 by fasteners, for example, nuts and bolts. Further, a V-shaped mounting 604 ensures support for a clutch lever 606. A drive rod 608 engages and disengages the four-wheel drive of the tractor. As per an operational requirement, such as during an operation in a wet field, the operator can engage the four-wheel drive through the drive rod 608. Further, the clutch lever 606 can be actuated through a linkage 610 and a PTO disengagement lever (not shown in the figures) is actuated by a linkage 612.

Fig. 7 illustrates a right side view 700 of the tractor-harvester combine 100. Apart from a first radiator (not shown in the figure), the tractor-harvester combine 100 includes an additional radiator 702, a second L-shaped mounting 704, a small second pulley 706, a thresher drum pulley 708, a drum pulley 710, a grain carrying elevator 712, and a chaff carrying elevator 714. The additional radiator 702 is incorporated in between the front wheel 208-1 and the rear wheel 312-2. The mounting details of the additional radiator 702 are discussed in the description of figure 8. In one implementation, a fan of the additional radiator 702 and the blower 502 are driven by a common shaft (not shown in the figure), which is connected to the fan of the additional radiator 702 on one side and the blower 502 on the other side. This common shaft is rotated by power indirectly derived from the PTO shaft 404 of the tractor. The harvester chassis 102 is accordingly extended so that the additional radiator 702 can be mounted over it. Similar to the left side view 500, the harvester chassis 102 is mounted onto the tractor chassis 104 using the second L-shaped mounting 704 on the right side of the tractor-harvester combine 100.
In an implementation, the small second pulley 706, which is connected to the large first pulley 512, transmits power to the drum pulley 710. The drum pulley 710 drives the thresher drum pulley 708, the grain carrying elevator 712, and the chaff carrying elevator 714. During operation, the conveyer 206 carries the crop into the thresher drum. Threshing of the crop occurs in the thresher drum and the straws are guided through the thresher drum to the straw walker. As mentioned in the description of a previous figure, the thresher drum, the drum, the sieves, and the straw walker are located inside the combine body 110, and are therefore not visible from the outside. The straw walker carries the straws to the rear of the tractor-harvester combine 100 and finally throws them out from the straw and chaff outlet 302.
Meanwhile, the grains and the chaff go through the sieves. There are two different sieves, a first and a second sieve, which separate the chaff from the grains with the help of the blower 502. The un-separated chaff is carried back from the first sieve to the thresher drum through the chaff carrying elevator 714 for further threshing. Also, the grains from the second sieve are carried by the grain carrying elevator 712 to the grain storage tank 112.
While operating in a wet field, the front wheels 208-1 and 208-2 of the tractor-harvester combine 100 may sink and get stuck. During such a situation, to pull the wheels out, a vertical hydraulic lifting system is used. This vertical hydraulic lifting system is housed in a cylinder support 716, which is mounted on the tractor chassis 104.

Fig. 8 illustrates a mounting detail 800 for a right side mounting assembly of the harvester chassis 102 of the tractor-harvester combine 100, Similar to the left side mounting detail 600, the right side mounting is achieved by the second L-shape mounting 704. The additional radiator 702 is mounted on the harvester chassis 102 through a radiator mounting 802. The harvester chassis 102 is mounted on the second L-shaped mounting 704 through a second superstructure mounting 804.

Fig. 9 illustrates a vertical hydraulic lifting system 900 mounted on the front side of the tractor-harvester combine 100. The vertical hydraulic lifting system 900 includes a hydraulic piston cylinder 902, the cylinder support 716, a hydraulic supply unit 904, and a lifter thrust 906. The hydraulic piston cylinder 902 is controlled by a lever provided in the operator area 108. The hydraulic piston cylinder 902 is supported by the cylinder support 716. The cylinder support 716 and the horizontal hydraulic lifter 506 are mounted onto the tractor chassis 104. The hydraulic supply unit 904, for example, a hose receives a hydraulic fluid from a network of such hydraulic supply units. The supply of the hydraulic fluid can be controlled by the operator, as per the operational needs.

In the event of sinking of the front wheels 208-1 and 208-2 of the tractor-harvester combine 100, the hydraulic piston cylinder 902 actuates the lifter thrust 906. The broad base of the lifter thrust 906 applies force on the ground. This lifts the entire front section of the tractor harvester combine.

Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. As such, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained therein.

I/We claim:

1. A tractor-harvester combine (100) comprising:

a tractor chassis (104) to support an engine and a drive assembly;

a harvester chassis (102) mounted over the tractor chassis (104), wherein the harvester chassis (102) comprises an L-shaped bend in its central section; and

a transmission system to transmit power from the drive assembly to components of the tractor-harvester combine (100), wherein the tractor-harvester combine (100) has at least one radiator (702) mounted over the L-shaped bend.

2. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tractor-harvester combine (100) is a four-wheel drive vehicle.

3. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tractor-harvester combine comprises a vertical hydraulic lifting system (900) to lift front wheels (208-1 and 208-2) of the tractor-harvester combine (100).

4. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vertical hydraulic lifting system (900) comprises:

a hydraulic piston cylinder (902);

a hydraulic supply unit (904) to supply a hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic piston cylinder (902); and

a lifter thrust (906); wherein the hydraulic piston cylinder (902), on receiving the hydraulic fluid, actuates the lifter thrust (906) to apply a force on ground.

5. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a blower (502) is disposed above the harvester chassis (102).

6. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the blower (502) and the radiator (702) mounted over the L-shaped bend are powered by a power-lake off shaft of the tractor-harvester combine (100).

7. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
wherein the transmission system comprises:

a drive pulley (304) driven by a drive shaft (306) of the tractor; a first pulley (512) driven by the drive pulley (304) through a belt;

a second pulley (706) attached to a shaft of the first pulley (512); a drum pulley (710) driven by the second pulley (706); a thresher drum pulley (708) driven by the drum pulley (710);

and a sieve pulley (514) driven by the power take-off (PTO) shaft (404) of the tractor-harvester combine (100).

8. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tractor-
harvester combine (100) comprises a conveyor (206) to carry reaped crops to a threshing
section, and wherein the conveyor (206) is driven by the sieve pulley (514).

9. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tractor-
harvester combine (100) further comprises a grain carrying elevator (712) and a chaff
carrying elevator (714), both elevators (712 and 714) being driven by the drum pulley (710).

10. The tractor-harvester combine (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reaping
section (106) is operated by a cam pulley (508), the cam pulley (508) being driven by the
conveyor (206).