Patent Application
20100108413
The present invention relates to drive systems for work machines such as agricultural balers, and, more particularly, to a jog drive to advance performance systems in the machine in a slow, controllable manner for service and adjustment.
Work machines, including many agricultural work machines such as balers, are known to use a single drive source to power multiple performance systems each designed to accomplish a task within the overall function of the machine. The performance systems may require periodic maintenance or adjustment for proper operation. Performing the maintenance or adjustment procedure can require precise positioning of the components in the performance system and/or advancing the components through an operating cycle of the system in a slow, controlled manner for observation of the operation of individual components.
An agricultural baler, for example, is known to be powered via the power take-off (PTO) system of a farm tractor used to pull the baler through the field. One performance system in the baler is a knotter system which guides twine to surround a bale being formed, ties the twine and severs the twine to individualize the bale. It is recommended that various components in the knotter system be adjusted frequently for optimum performance. As part of the adjustment or maintenance function, it can be necessary to first move components of the knotter system to prescribed positions for adjustment, and then to rotate the system through a full operating cycle to observe positions and operations of the components during the performance cycle. For example, when adjusting a needle protection linkage in a baler knotter system the baler flywheel is rotated first to position the protection linkage at a precise position for adjusting the needle protection linkage, and then to complete an operating cycle of the knotter system to observe that the protection linkage gap at all times is between prescribed minimum and maximum clearances. Similar procedures are followed for making adjustments to other components of the knotter system, such as the tucker arms, twine fingers and needles.
Rotating the flywheel on small balers can be difficult and, for large square or round balers in which the flywheel can weigh several hundred pounds, two people may be needed for rotating the flywheel manually, while a third person observes the components of the knotter system and communicates to the others when the system is in the proper position for initial adjustment. It can be difficult to have those rotating the flywheel stop the rotation at the precise position desired for components being adjusted. It is necessary for additional people to be available when adjustments are required. An individual operator of the equipment faced with having to make field adjustments may not be able to do so without obtaining help from others.
What is needed in the art is a system that can jog the drive system of the work machine slowly and for minimal distances to move operating components of a performance system in the machine to exact positions required for maintenance or adjustment or to slowly operate the system while being observed.
The present invention provides a jog drive as an alternative drive source to be used when making adjustments to a performance system of a work machine.
The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural work machine having a performance system for performing a function of the work machine and a primary drive system connectable to a primary power source conveying power to the performance system for operating the performance system at an operating speed. A jog drive system is connectable within the primary drive system for operating the performance system at a maintenance speed slower than the operating speed.
The invention in another form is directed to a work machine having a performance system operating in an operating cycle and a primary drive system connectable to a power source for moving the operating system through the operating cycle at an operating speed. A jog drive system for moving the performance system through at least a portion of the operating cycle at a maintenance speed slower than said operating speed is arranged on the machine.
The invention in still another exemplary form is directed to a method of adjusting a performance system in an agricultural work machine having a primary drive system providing operating power to the performance system, the method having steps of drivingly engaging a jog motor to a component of the primary drive system; operating the jog motor to move a component of the performance system to an adjusting position; and stopping the jog motor when the component reaches the adjusting position.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Various performance systems in baler 12 are all powered from a primary drive system 24 coupled to tractor PTO 18. One such performance system is a knotter system 26, partially shown in
With reference to
A jog drive system is drivingly connected within primary drive system 24 and serves as a source of power to the various performance systems in baler 12, including knotter system 26, when movement of components within the performance system is required for maintenance or adjustment. A first exemplary embodiment of a jog drive system 50 includes a jog motor 52 having a drive gear 54 drivingly coupled with gear teeth 56 formed at the perimeter of flywheel 32. Jog motor 52 can be a hydraulic motor, an electric motor or other suitable drive mechanism for slowly rotating flywheel 32 and thereby advancing all performance systems in baler 12, including knotter system 26, slowly through the operating cycles thereof. In some applications, a linear actuator can be used as a jog drive motor or power input device. Jog motor 52 can be connected to a hydraulic system of tractor 14, to an electric system of tractor 14 or can be provided with other sources of power input.
Jog motor 52 is illustrated in the operating position thereof, with drive gear 54 engaged with gear teeth 56; however, it should be understood that jog motor 52 can be installed on a movable mechanism for moving jog motor 52 into and out of the position shown in
Jog motor 52 of jog drive system 50 can be activated and deactivated by a switch 60 (
Connecting a jog drive system through the primary drive system allows for a single jog drive motor or the like to be used to position all the different performance systems that are connected to the primary drive system. The jog drive system can be operated more slowly than the primary power source, similarly to rotating the flywheel by hand, and can be operated under greater control. In addition to use for making adjustments, a jog drive system can be used also for other purposes, such as, for example and not limitation, during routine maintenance and lubrication of drive chains and bearings to facilitate access by moving movable components as necessary to improve access to the bearings or chains. As a still further example, in some applications and uses a jog drive system can be used for unplugging a work machine by running the machine backward slowly. As a still further example, a jog drive system in some applications of its use can be used as a brake against the flywheel rotation.
Jog drive systems can be connected to the primary drive system of a work machine in other ways than in a direct gear couple engagement as illustrated in
Still other embodiments for jog drive systems are contemplated hereby.
Yet another embodiment for a jog drive system is shown in
Exemplary jog drive systems have been shown and described herein operable on agricultural balers. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein that the agricultural balers shown herein are merely exemplary in nature. Jog drive systems as disclosed can be used on other agricultural work machines, including agricultural work machines such as balers of other types and agricultural work machines for other purposes. Jog drive systems also can be used on non-agricultural work machines such as, for example and not limitation, work machines for construction or other industrial purposes.
Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
