AU2012100333A4 - Knife and counter knife in machine disk - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: A rectangular counter knife (1) with a larger diameter hole (I-B), the counter knife has (1) two lateral, longitudinal, parallel, rectangular and vertical walls (I-C) inferiorly forming a rectangular recess (I-D), the two rectangular, inferior and transversal guides (2-B) of the rotating disk (2), support the rectangular knife (1), adjusting a hex-nut (4) in a larger diameter hole (2-C), coincident to the hole (1-B), receiving these holes on inferior-superior direction (I -B,2-C), a hex head screw (5) initially by-pass one of the two holes (6-A) centralized along one rectangular knife (6)with two side cutting edges (6-B)and their ends have (6-C), a constructive variant comprising a rectangular knife (7) with a longitudinal, central and oblong opening (7-A), with two central, opposite and semi-circular projections (7-Al) forming a circular central opening in the middle of the knife; the rectangular knife (7) has two side cutting edges (7-B) and two cutting edges on the ends (7-C). Error! Unknown document property name.

Description

P/00/009A Section 29 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: KNIFE AND COUNTER KNIFE IN MACHINE DISK Applicant: Blount Industrial LTDA The invention is described in the following statement: 1 7019 KNIFE AND COUNTER KNIFE IN MACHINE DISK Cross-reference to related applications The present application is a divisional application from Australian Patent Application No. 2010258112 filed 1 June 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical field The present patent refers to a utility model of configuration applied in rotating cutting disc, in counter knife and knife of sugar cane harvesting machine, and said counter knife and knife allow the increase of speed in the cut of sugar cane and economy in manufacturing of the cutting components. Background Art A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims. Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof. As known among the sugar cane producers, the sugar cane harvesting machines are currently equipped with rotating discs that have coupled to their circumference steel knives which are responsible for cutting the sugar cane. However, due to the intense cutting activity, executed closely to the ground, the conventional blades manufactured with hardened steel, have 2 Error! Unknown document property name.

considerable wear on the cutting edges, forcing the machine operator to make constant replacements. During the replacements of conventional knives, occurs undesirable machine shutdown, because each knife is fixed on the rotating disc by two bolts, and the operator has to lay below the rotating disc in order to take off the two bolts and the knife with a wrench, in situation which usually happened in unfavorable places, i.e., in the cane field, with poor lighting because of the position of the operator. Then the operator has to fix the new knife on the disc with the respective bolts, and do the same operation on the other knives with dull cutting edges. It should be emphasized that during these replacements normally occur losses of bolts in the vegetation. So, because of these inconveniences, the blade replacements cause machine shutdowns and end up reducing the productivity of sugar cane cutting operation. Another concern is that the existing steel knives have considerable size, weighting approximately 1,0 kg and constituting an one-piece, which is a non-economical feature, since short term replacements are inevitable because of the wear of the cutting edges, increasing the cost of the sugar cane cutting operation. Disclosure of invention The configuration applied in set of knife and counter knife connected in disk of sugar cane harvesting machine, subject of this present utility model patent, was developed and designed to remedy the disadvantages mentioned on the report of the state of the art, being mainly for industrial application, presenting a new configuration that involves inventive act, and resulting in functional improvement on its utilization and its manufacturing, therefore, the proposed configuration encompasses a main model and a constructive variant, consisting the main model of a counter knife that is permanently coupled by bolts on the circumference of the rotating disc, with the respective knife coupled to the counter knife through one single bolt, noticing that the 3 Error! Unknown document property name.

counter knife forms a cradle for safety attachment of the knife, which will be adjusted gradually by one single bolt, i.e., by fixing the bolt in one of the two holes longitudinally centered on the knife, feature that allows the use of all four cutting edges on the two sides and two ends. The constructive variant of the main model consists in the fact that the knife is coupled to the counter knife without the need to remove the fastener component, i.e., the bolt that is loosened for the replacement of the knife with worn cutting edges, which operation is extremely simplified by the fact that the knife has a longitudinal, central and oblong opening, which has two central and opposite projections, each one being semicircular, and forming a central circular opening in the middle of the knife, and this central circular opening allows the fixing or removal of the knife to the counter knife, once the mentioned central circular opening forms a diameter bigger than the bolt head. So, during the assembly, the knife is positioned under the counter knife, and the adjustment to fix the two parts is made by tightening the bolt on one end of the longitudinal and oblong opening. With this feature on the knife the cutting adjustment is possible, enabling the use of the two sides and two ends of the existing cutting edges. So, the proposed design disposition i.e., the set of knife and counter-knife, of the main model and constructive variant, provides significant downtime reduction of the sugar cane cutting machine, due to the fast replacement of the knife set, as described above, allowing for better ergonomic conditions during the knife replacement, resulting in saving of steel used in manufacturing of the knives and better cutting performance. It is important to note that the counter-knife provides a support for the knife, and with the special design proposal of the knife, it is possible to have smaller dimensions than conventional blades, both in width and in length, and therefore the knife is 50% lighter in weight compared with the conventional knife, and production cost is lower. It is the smaller size of the knife in width and length that provides a power reduction of the 4 Error! Unknown document property name.

harvester machine, due to less friction of the cut with the cane. Note that the rotating disc has specific holes for the attachment of the counter-knives and knives. Brief description of drawings The present patent may be better understood through the attached drawings and respective comments, which include: Figure 1., shows the upper view of the main model, showing the disc with the knife and counter knife. Figure 2., shows the lower view of the main model, showing the disc with the knife and counter knife. Figure 3., shows the exploded perspective view of the disc, knife and counter knife and fixing components, related to the main model. Figure 4., shows the perspective view of the knife and counter knife, related to the main model. Figure 5., shows the upper view of the constructive variant, showing the disc with the knife and counter knife. Figure 6., shows the lower view of the constructive variant, showing the disc with the knife and counter knife. Figure 7., shows the exploded perspective view of the disc, knife and counter knife and fixing components, related to the constructive variant. Figure 8., shows in perspective the knife and counter knife, related to the constructive variant. According to the drawings I to 4, it is shown the main model of knife and counter knife set, containing a rectangular counter knife (1) with four holes (I-A) formed symmetrically in the upper surface, being two holes along one side and the other two holes along the opposite side, and, provided with a larger diameter hole (I-B) transversally centralized and longitudinally 5 Error! Unknown document property name.

decentralized, that counts with a circular inner recess (1-B ) forming a hole with smaller diameter (1-B2), and the counter knife (1) has two lateral, longitudinal, parallel, rectangular and vertical walls (1-C) inferiorly forming a rectangular recess or cradle (l-D), being the counter-knife (1) fixed on rotating disc (2) through hex-head bolts (3) on by-pass holes (I-A) which are adjusted in four holes in the inferior-superior direction (2-A) on the disc surface (2), matching the four holes (I-A), while the two rectangular, inferior and transversal guides (2-B) of the rotating disc (2), support the rectangular counter knife (1), a hex-nut sits on the top of the disc (4) in a larger diameter hole (2-C) with hexagonal inner shape (2-Cl) on the rotating disc surface (2), coincident to the hole (I-B), receiving these holes in inferior-superior direction, (I-B, 2-C), a hex-head bolt (5) initially passing one of the two holes (6-A) provided centralized along one rectangular knife (6) that has two side cutting edges (6-B) and two cutting edges at the ends (6 C), adjusting such six-head bolt (5) on the hexagonal nut (4). According drawings 5 to 8, it is shown the constructive variant of main model of the knife and counter knife set, containing, the constructive variant one rectangular knife (7) with longitudinal, central and oblong opening (7-A), which has two central, opposite and semi-circular projections (7-Al) which form a central circular opening in the middle of the knife, and the rectangular knife (7) has two side cutting edges (7-B) and two end cutting edges (7-C). Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents. 6 Error! Unknown document property name.

Claims (3)

1. Configuration applied in knife integrated in counter knife connected in disk of sugar cane harvesting machine, which is coupled on the rotating disc of the sugar cane cutting machine, described as main model that include a rectangular counter knife with four holes formed symmetrically on the upper surface, being two holes along one side and the other two holes along the opposite side, provided with a larger diameter hole transversally centralized and longitudinally decentralized, that counts with a circular inner recess forming a hole with smaller diameter, and the counter knife has two lateral, longitudinal, parallel, rectangular and vertical walls inferiorly forming a rectangular recess or cradle, being the counter knife fixed on rotating disc through hex-head bolts on by-pass holes and that on inferior-superior direction are adjusted on four holes from the disc surface, matching the four holes, while the two rectangular, inferior and transversal of the rotating disc, support the rectangular counter knife, a hex-nut sits on the top of the disc in a larger diameter hole with hexagonal inner shape of the rotating disc surface, coincident to the hole, receiving these holes on inferior-superior direction, hex-head bolts initially by-pass one of the two holes provided centralized along one rectangular knife that has two side cutting edges and two cutting edges at the ends, adjusting such six-head bolt to the hexagonal nut.

2. Configuration applied in set of knife and counter knife connected in disk of sugar cane harvesting machine, according to Claim 1, described as constructive variant, comprising one rectangular knife provided with longitudinal, central and oblong opening, which has two central, opposite and semi-circular projections that form a circular central opening in the middle of the knife, and the rectangular knife has two side cutting edges and two ends cutting edges. 7 Error! Unknown document property name.

3. Configuration applied in set of knife and counter knife connected in disk of sugar cane harvesting machine substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 8 Error! Unknown document property name.