FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of sugarcane harvesting machine.

DEFINITION As used in the present disclosure, the following ter s are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.

Sugarcane Stalk -The term stalk refers to the long thin part of the sugarcane plant which contains juice Billet- The term billet refers to a cut piece of a sugarcane stalk

Lodged sugarcane - sugarcane crop fallen on the ground surface lying separated from the soil

Stubble - the term stubble refers to the part of the sugarcane left underground after harvesting

Buttlifter roller - The term butt lifter roller refers to lifting the butts of sugar cane sticks by a roller immediately after severing by the base cutter in a sugar cane harvester. BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

Conventional cane harvesters include dual crop lifters to align and gather and detangle canes. These dual crop lifters need four hydraulic motors. Further, the inner and outer crop lifters have different profiles for different functions. The inner crop lifters are configured to align and gather the cane stalks to a convenient cutting position. These conventional crop lifters have cylindrical bodies with constant pitch spirals welded thereon. These crop lifters are fitted at an angle of 60 degrees with reference to the ground. However, the conventional type of crop lifters is unable to lift and feed all the lodged cane. The conventional cane harvesters use circular discs for cutting the base of cane stalks. The edges of the round discs damage the cane stools during cutting. The round discs feed soil and stones along with cane stalk into the machine. The possibility of mud accumulation is also more in circular discs, particularly in moist field conditions.

In many conventional cane harvesters, blades of extractor fan have straight edges. This type of fan blade causes small cane billets to travel out of hood along with trash, resulting in cane loss. The shape of cleaning chamber in conventional harvesters is cylindrical which results in improper trash separation of stalks and trash. Smaller cane billets are blown out along with trash through the extractor fan and get chopped by the fan blades and get mixed with the trash

In conventional cane harvesters, the elevator is straight in shape with a cone shaped hopper boot at the bottom of the elevator. The cane billets get jammed at the bottom of the straight elevator boot. As a result, the billets are not uniformly transferred by the elevator into an infielder wagon into which harvested cane billets are collected. Moreover, in conventional cane harvesters, a knockdown roller is arranged to push the cane down towards base cutters. There is frequent wrapping of the cane leaves and creepers around this roller resulting in chocking and stalling of the cane harvester.

There is therefore felt a need for a sugarcane harvesting machine that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an efficient sugarcane harvesting machine.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a sugarcane harvesting machine that streamlines sugarcane harvesting operation.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a sugarcane harvesting machine that reduces cane loss during harvesting.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a sugarcane harvesting machine that prevents jamming of the harvester due to cane leaves and creepers.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a sugarcane harvesting machine that avoids mud accumulation on its butt-lifter roller.

Still another object of the present disclosure It is an objective of the present invention to provide a center feed roller arrangement in a sugarcane harvesting machine having improved performance as regards the feeding-in of cane stalks. Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses a sugarcane harvesting machine having a crop lifter assembly configured to receive sugarcane from an upstream front side and deliver cut sugarcane pieces on a downstream rear side of the machine. The crop lifter assembly has a crop lifter frame configured to be attached to the machine. The crop lifter assembly comprises a pair of crop lifters configured to be attached to the frame. The pair of crop lifters is configured to be rotatably driven. One crop lifter of the pair of crop lifters is positioned on an operative left side of the machine, and the other crop lifter of the pair of crop lifters is positioned on an operative right side of the machine. A front section and a rear section of each of the pair of crop lifters is configured to be oriented at an inclination to the ground surface. Front spirals are configured to be attached to the front section of each of the pair of crop lifters, and rear spirals are configured to be attached to the rear section of each of the pair of crop lifters. Shoes are configured to be attached to an operative bottom end each of the pair of crop lifters for lifting and receiving sugarcane, and a serrated rib is configured to be attached to the rear section of each of the pair of crop lifters for separating a row of sugarcane from another.

In a preferred embodiment, the front spirals having a variable pitch.

In a preferred embodiment, the rear spirals having a constant pitch.

In another embodiment, the angle of inclination of the front section with respect to the ground surface is different from the angle of inclination of the rear section with respect to the ground surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the inclination of the front section and the rear section with respect to the ground surface is in the range of-45 degrees.

In a preferred embodiment, the front section of each of the pair of crop lifters is conical in shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the rear section of each of the pair of crop lifters is cylindrical in shape.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of crop lifters is driven by a hydraulic motor coupled therewith. In a preferred embodiment, each of the shoes includes a hardened replaceable steel tip configured on the operative front end of each of the shoes; and a conically profiled plate configured to be attached to the hardened replaceable steep tip.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the shoes includes a bracket configured to be attached to the conical profile, the bracket being mounted with a bearing unit to support the shaft of each of the crop lifters.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of crop lifters is configured to rotate in an opposite sense of rotation.

In a preferred embodiment, the spirals on one of the pair of crop lifters are left handed spirals in relation to the longitudinal axis of the crop lifters.

In a preferred embodiment, the spirals on the other of the pair of crop lifters are right handed spirals in relation to the longitudinal axis of the crop lifters.

The sugarcane harvesting machine further includes a feed roller arrangement for conveying sugarcane there through. The feed roller arrangement comprises a center feed roller assembly configured to be attached downstream of a pair of crop lifters for receiving the sugarcane in an operative central portion of the machine, a knockdown roller assembly configured downstream of the center feed roller assembly for conveying the sugarcane received therefrom, and a buttlifter and top feed roller assembly configured downstream of the knockdown roller assembly to pick cut sugarcane.

In a preferred embodiment, the center feed roller assembly further comprises a central drum configured to be rotatably supported on a frame, spiral plates configured to be attached to the central drum, and beater bars configured to be attached to the circumferential surface of the central drum to align the sugarcane stalks towards the operative central portion of the machine.

In an embodiment, the beater bars are angularly interspaced in relation to the longitudinal axis of the central drum.

In a preferred embodiment, the beater bars are interspaced 180 degrees apart in relation to the axis of the central drum.

In a preferred embodiment, the spiral plates on one side of the central drum are oppositely orientated to the spirals on the other side of the central drum in relation to the central portion of the central drum, to direct the sugarcane towards the operative central portion of the central drum.

In a preferred embodiment, the spirals on one side of the central drum in relation to the central portion of the central drum are right hand spirals.

In a preferred embodiment, wherein the spirals on the other side of the central drum in relation to the central portion of the central drum are left hand spirals.

In a preferred embodiment, the knockdown roller assembly includes blades configured to be attached to the slats of the knockdown roller, each of the blades extending along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical knockdown roller, and fins configured to be attached to the circumferential surface of the knockdown roller. The fins are configured to be spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the roller to direct the sugarcane stalks towards a pair of base cutters.

In another embodiment, the spacing between the fins is adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment, the number of blades is variable.

The sugarcane harvesting machine includes a base cutter assembly for cutting the sugarcane fed thereto.

In a preferred embodiment, the base cutter assembly is rotatably supported on shafts having a pair of blade discs. The base cutter assembly comprises arms configured to extend from the circumferential portion of each of the blade discs, and chamfered edges configured on the operative ends of each of the arms.

In a preferred embodiment, the buttlifter and top feed roller assembly includes buttlifter and top feed rollers that are configured to be of open type having a gap between a center pipe and buttlifter plates, to prevent ingress of stones and soil therein.

In a preferred embodiment, the base cutter assembly further includes a chopper drum assembly, the chopper drum assembly further comprising a top chopper drum and a bottom chopper drum rotatably driven by individual motors and a set of blades configured to be attached to the top chopper drum and the bottom chopper drum to produce cut pieces of sugarcane.

The sugarcane harvesting machine includes a cleaning assembly for separating trash from the cut pieces of the sugarcane. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning assembly comprises a primary cleaning assembly configured to be mounted on the operative bottom end of a conveyor, and a secondary cleaning assembly configured to be mounted on the operative top end of the conveyor for separating trash from cut pieces of sugarcane.

In a preferred embodiment, the primary cleaning further includes a convergent-divergent chamber to produce a pressure-velocity gradient in the flow of the cut pieces of sugarcane and trash, a primary extractor fan configured on an operative top side of the convergent- divergent chamber, the primary extractor fan being rotatably mounted on the cleaning chamber. A primary extractor hood is configured on an operative top side of the primary extractor fan to separate trash from the cut pieces of the sugarcane. The primary extractor hood having the shape of a hemisphere. An outlet chute of the primary extractor hood is provided on the primary cleaning assembly which is in the shape of a circle-ellipse combination to enable an unobstructed free flow of trash separated from cut pieces of sugarcane.

In a preferred embodiment, the primary cleaning assembly further includes fan blades wherein each of the fan blades has a curved profile between a leading edge and a trailing edge spanning along the blade width.

In a preferred embodiment, the primary cleaning assembly includes fan blades, each of the fan blade having a negative pitch traversing from the leading edge to the trailing edge for retaining heavier pieces of cut sugarcane as the fan blade rotates, thereby separating trash from the cut pieces of the sugarcane.

In another embodiment, a rubber cover is configured to be attached to the operative top of the primary extractor hood to prevent possibility of electrocution of personnel working with the machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the secondary cleaning assembly further comprises a secondary extractor fan configured to be rotatably attached to the operative top side of the chain and slat elevator, a secondary extractor hood configured on an operative top side of the primary extractor fan to further separate trash from the cut pieces of the sugarcane. The secondary extractor hood has the shape of a hemisphere. An outlet chute is configured on the secondary extractor hood. The outlet chute is in the shape of circle-ellipse combination to enable an unobstructed free flow of trash separated from cut pieces of sugarcane. In an embodiment, the dimensions of the primary cleaning assembly are different from the dimensions of the secondary cleaning assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, a rubber cover is configured to be attached to the operative top of the secondary extractor hood to prevent possibility of electrocution of personnel working with the machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the sugarcane harvesting machine includes a chain and slat elevator conveyor for transferring cut sugarcane pieces to a storage location external to the machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the chain and slat elevator conveyor includesa chain and slat elevator oriented at an inclination to the ground surface, with the chain and slat elevator having an S-shaped construction traversing from the operative bottom end to the operative top end. An elevator boot is configured to be fitted at the operative bottom end, with the elevator boot having a perforated plate construction, to prevent jamming of sugarcane pieces.

In a preferred embodiment, a rubber cover is configured to be attached to the operative top of chain and slat elevator conveyor to prevent possibility of electrocution of personnel working with the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

A sugarcane harvesting machine of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a sugarcane harvesting machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 shows a front view of the sugarcane harvesting machine of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a front view of the crop lifter assembly;

Figure 4a shows a side view of the crop lifter assembly; Figure 4b shows an exploded view of the crop lifter assembly;

Figure 4c shows an isometric view of the crop lifter assembly;

Figure5a shows a front view of the center feed roller assembly of the sugarcane harvesting machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5b shows an isometric view of the center feed assembly; Figure 6 shows another isometric view of the center feed roller sub-assembly;

Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the anti-wrap knockdown roller assembly;

Figure 8a shows a schematic of the conventional base cutter gearbox having spur gears and wider base cutter gearbox (helical gears); Figure 8b shows a schematic of the wider base cutter gearbox having helical gears, of the present disclosure;

Figure 9a shows a front view of the base cutter assembly having open type base cutter discs and chamfered edged blades (straight profile);

Figure 9b shows a side view of the base cutter assembly and the open butt lift roller; Figure 9c and 9d show a conventional base cutter assembly having gearbox legs with ribs and serrated ribs on the legs with forward angle;

Figures 10a, 10b, and 10c show a side view, a top view and a rear view of an open type base cutter disc (with straight blade) of the present disclosure respectively;

Figure 11a shows a front view of the base cutter gearbox with open type base cutter discs having circular blades and open butt lift roller arrangement, of the present disclosure;

Figure lib shows a side view of a base cutter gearbox with open type base cutter discs (Circular Blades) and open butt lift roller arrangement, of the present disclosure;

Figure 12a, 12b, and 12c show a front view, top view and rear view of open type base cutter disc with chamfered edges; Figure 13a shows an isometric view of the open type butt lift roller of the present disclosure;

Figure 13b shows an isometric view of the butt lift roller of the prior art;

Figure 13c shows another isometric view of the open type butt lift roller of the present disclosure;

Figure 13d shows an isometric view of the open type top feed roller of the present disclosure;

Figure 14a-14f shows various views of the spreading rollers;

Figure 14g shows a side view of the spreading rollers and the chopper drum assembly, in the assembled condition on the sugarcane harvesting machine; Figure 15 shows side view of the cleaning chamber, the primary extractor fan and primary extractor hood;

Figure 15ashows a side view of the Figure 15 with the cane pieces(billets) and trash path in the cleaning chamber, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 16shows a side view of the air flow path in the cleaning chamber of the Figure 15a;

Figure 17a shows a front view of the extractor fan with hood arrangement;

Figure 17b shows a side view of the extractor fan with hood arrangement;

Figure 17c shows a top view of the extractor fan with hood arrangement;

Figure 18a shows a front view of a blade of the primary extractor fan with improved curved design having a negative pitch at the leading edge;

Figure 18b shows a top view of the blade of the Figure 18a;

Figure 18c shows a front view of the blade hub of the primary extractor fan with improved curved design;

Figure 18d shows a top view of the blade hub of the primary extractor fan with improved curved design;

Figure 18e shows a top view of the primary extractor fan;

Figure 18f shows anisometric view of the primary extractor fan;

Figure 19a shows an isometric view of primary extractor hood rotation arrangement;

Figure 19b shows a top view of primary extractor hood rotation arrangement; Figure 20a shows a side view of the elevator of the prior art;

Figure 20b shows an “s” shaped chain and slat elevator conveyor of the present disclosure;

Figure 20c shows a side view of the secondary extractor arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 20d shows a front view of the secondary extractor fan of the secondary extractor arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 20e shows a side view of the secondary extractor hood and fan assembly of the present disclosure;

Figures 20f and 20g show isometric views of the elevator outlet of the present disclosure; Figure 21a shows the primary extractor hood provided with a rubber lining;

Figure 21b shows the secondary extractor hood provided with a rubber lining;

Figures 21c and 21d show an AC guard for protecting the air conditioner provided with a rubber lining; Figures 21e and 21f show various views of the elevator outlet;

Figure 21g shows an isometric view of the muffler cage top provided with a rubber lining; and

Figure 21h shows the top roof of oil cooler provided with a rubber lining.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 - SUGARCANE HARVESTING MACHINE

12 - FRAME 20 - CANE TOPPER 22 - CROP LIFTER 22A - GROUND SHOES 22B - CROP LIFTER SPIRALS

22C - FRONT SPIRALS 22D - CROP LIFTER FRAME 22E - SERRATED RIB 22F -REAR SPIRALS 23 - CROP LIFTER ASSEMBLY

23A -FRONT SECTION 23B - REAR SECTION 24 - CENTER FEED ROLLER 24A - CENTRAL DRUM 24B - SPIRAL PLATES

24C - BEATER BARS

24D - SPROCKET AND CHAIN 24E - HYDRAULIC MOTORS

26 - ANTI-WRAP KNOCKDOWN ROLLER 26A - BLADE 26B - LINS 30 - BASE CUTTER OL THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

30’- BASE CUTTER OF THE PRIOR ART 30A -ARM

30B - CHAMFERED EDGES 32 - OPEN TYPE BUTT LIFTING ROLLER 32C - CONVENTIONAL BASE CUTTER GE ARB OX

32D - WIDER GEARBOX 34 - TOP FEED ROLLER

34A - OPEN TYPE BUTT LIFT ROLLER OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 34A’ - BUTT LIFT ROLLER OF THE PRIOR ART 34B - TOP FEED ROLLER OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

34C, 34D - FLANGE 34E - CENTER PIPE 34F - BUTTLIFTER PLATE 34G - GAP 34AS1 - BOTTOM FIXED FEED ROLLERS

34AS2 - TOP FLOATING FEED ROLLERS 36 - CHOPPER DRUM ASSEMBLY 36A - TOP CHOPPER DRUM 36B - BOTTOM CHOPPER DRUM 38 - HALF-TRACKS

40 - OPERATOR’S CABIN 50 - CLEANING CHAMBER

60 - PRIMARY EXTRACTOR FAN 60A - FAN BLADE 61a - LEADING EDGE 61b - TRAILING EDGE

62 - PRIMARY EXTRACTOR HOOD 62A - SPROCKET 62B -CHAIN

62D - HYDRAULIC MOTOR 62C - SPROCKET TEETH SEGMENTS

64 - CHAIN AND SLAT ELEVATOR CONVEYOR OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 64’ - ELEVATOR OF THE PRIOR ART 64 A - ELEVATOR HOPPER BOOT 66 - ELEVATOR END 66A - SECONDARY EXTRACTOR FAN

68 - SECONDARY EXTRACTOR HOOD 70 - FRONT WHEELS 80 - ENGINE COMPARTMENT 82 - AIR CONDITIONER GUARD 84 - ELEVATOR OUTLET

86 - MUFFLER CAGE TOP 88 - TOP OF OIL COOLER DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.

The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.

Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.

The present disclosure relates to a sugarcane harvesting machine 10 that will now be illustrated with reference to Figure lthrough Figure 21h. Some of the figures illustrate components available as per prior arts. The shape and visible dimensions as shown in figures are for examples only. Further optimization and fine tuning can be done as per actual field parameters such as type of crop and the condition of the crop (whether standing or lodged).

A problem faced in sugarcane harvesting is that the stalks or stems of cane are not always standing up straight when they are harvested. It is usual for some, if not all, of the crop being partially prostrate as a result of wind, rain or other factors. Furthermore, the stalks in a cane field tend to become tangled during the growing phase.

It will thus be appreciated that a mobile cane harvesting machine is frequently faced with the task of harvesting a tangled mass of cane stalks. When such a crop is heavy e.g. over 50 tons per acre, it presents a significant problem to get the cane stalks to the base cutter arrangement.

In order to harvest sugarcane from a field, the sugarcane harvesting machine moves along a sugarcane rows in the field to gather sugarcane stalks for further processing. In conventional cane harvesting machines, there is no additional feed roller to gather and feed the cane stalks towards middle of the base cutters. Due to lack of such a roller, quite often cane stalks get stuck in between the knockdown and finned roller end flanges and side walls which lead to cane damage. The present disclosure relates generally to sugarcane harvesting including a centre feed roller to align the sugarcane plants.

The conventional dual crop lifters that are used to align and gather the cane needing four hydraulic motors for operation and are unable to lift and feed lodged cane.

The present disclosure discloses a sugarcane harvesting machine 10. The sugarcane harvesting machine 10 is configured to receive sugarcane collected from the agricultural field from an upstream front side and deliver cut sugarcane pieces on a downstream rear side of the machine 10. The sugarcane harvesting machine 10 includes a frame 12 supported by a pair of half-tracks 38 and a pair of hydraulic front wheels 70 that can be steered. An internal combustion engine is mounted in an engine compartment 80 in the mid portion of the frame 12. An operator’s cabin 40 is mounted on the front portion of the frame 12 above the front wheels 70. The engine compartment 80 houses an internal combustion engine which drives the hydraulic pumps to drive a number of mechanisms on the sugarcane harvesting machine 10. The operator’s cabin 40 includes a roof, floor and walls a portion of which is transparent. The operator’s seat, steering wheel and appropriate controls (not shown in figures) are provided inside the cabin 40 for the operator to control the sugarcane harvesting machine 10 during operation.

The front wheels 70 are steered by being turned about the vertical axis by trunnions on the wheel support assemblies. Each wheel is connected to a hydraulic cylinder (not shown in figures) with the help of a mechanical link at each end. The steering wheel in the operator’s cabin 40 is connected to a steering circuit which consists of a steering motor that directs the hydraulic oil to or from the hydraulic cylinders to turn the vehicle in the desired direction.

The sugarcane harvesting machine 10 initially cuts the cane stalks at a lower level and in a subsequent step cuts the stalks into short pieces called billets and delivers the billets to an infielder wagon, which is the billets transport system.

The cane topper 20 is pivotally attached to a pair of parallel arms by pins. These arms are pivotally attached to the frame by pins. A hydraulic cylinder (not shown in figures) is attached to the frame 12 to control the height of the cane topper 20. Topper disc consists of a number of blades to cut the cane tops.

Figure l-4c show an improved crop lifter assembly23, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The crop lifter assembly 23 includes a pair of crop lifters 22. The crop lifters 22 are individual type and are configured to perform both the functions of separating and gathering of canes. One of the pair of crop lifters 22 is positioned on an operative left side of the machine 10 and the other is positioned on an operative right side of the machine 10. Each crop lifter 22 has a front section 23 A and a rear section 23B. The front section 23 A and the rear section 23B of each of the crop lifters 22 is inclined with respect to the ground surface. Each of the crop lifters 22 has front spirals (22C) and rear spirals (22F). The front spirals 22C are configured to be attached to the front section 23A of each of the pair of crop lifters (22). The rear spirals (22F) are configured to be attached to the rear section 23Bof each of the pair of crop lifters (22). In an embodiment, the bottom portion of each of the crop lifters 22 have three-fourth of the length formed in a conical shape with front spirals 22C welded clockwise at a variable pitch and the top portion of the crop lifters 22 is cylindrical in shape. The top portion has crop lifter spirals 22B set in counter-clockwise manner. The front spirals 22C with a variable pitch on the conical portion gives uniform feeding of cane stalks and spirals 22 on the top cylindrical portion throws away the cane stalks of the adjacent rows. In this embodiment, these crop lifters 22 are fitted at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the ground.

The crop lifter assembly 23 is mounted on the front portion of the sugarcane harvesting machine 10 and is vertically adjustable relative to the frame 12.

According to the present invention, the crop gathering arrangement comprises of laterally- spaced upright walls that define a crop feed passage extending longitudinally through the harvester. When referred from an operative bottom of the crop lifter assembly 23, a shoe 22 A which has a hardened replaceable steel tip followed by a smooth round conical shoe 22A.The crop lifter 22 shaft support bracket is provided with a round flange bearing unit (not shown in figures). A serrated rib 22E is welded on the top cylindrical portion intended for separation of next row stalks which are fallen on the cutting row. The crop lifter is mounted on a frame 22D at a shallow angle enabling pickup and aligning of cane stalks in a better way. The special design of round tapered ground shoes 22A penetrates the mat of lodged cane which fallen on the ground.

In an embodiment, the front spirals 22C have a variable pitch.

In another embodiment, the rear spirals 22C have a constant pitch.

In an embodiment, the angle of inclination of the front section (23A) with respect to the ground surface is different from the angle of inclination of the rear section (23B) with respect to the ground surface.

In an embodiment, the inclination of the front section (23A) and the rear section (23B) with respect to the ground surface is in the range of 35-45 degrees.

In an embodiment, the front section (23A) of each of the pair of crop lifters (22) is conical in shape.

In an embodiment, the rear section (23B) of each of the pair of crop lifters (22) is cylindrical in shape.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of crop lifters (22) is driven by a hydraulic motor coupled therewith.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the shoes (22A) includes a hardened replaceable steel tip configured on the operative front end of each of the shoes (22A), and a conically profiled plate configured to be attached to the hardened replaceable steep tip. Each of the shoes (22A) includes a bracket configured to be attached to the conical profile, with the bracket mounted with a bearing unit to support the shaft of each of the crop lifters (22).

In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of crop lifters (22D) is configured to rotate in an opposite sense of rotation.

In a preferred embodiment, the spirals on one of the pair of crop lifters (22) are left handed spirals in relation to the longitudinal axis of the crop lifters (22). The spirals on the other of the pair of crop lifters (22) are right handed spirals in relation to the longitudinal axis of the crop lifters (22). Unlike in a conventional one, the sugarcane harvesting machine lOhaving dual crop lifters on each side, the present disclosure discloses crop lifters that are individual type and designed to perform both the functions of gathering and separating of cane. A conventional sugarcane harvesting machine needs four hydraulic motors 2 LH+2 RH, while in the harvester of the disclosure there is a saving of two hydraulic motors by providing a single crop lifter unit on each side.

A hydraulic motor (not shown in figures) is mounted on the upper end of each crop lifter 22. The hydraulic motors rotate the crop lifters 22 to lift the cane stalks from the ground having the shoes 22A that penetrate the fallen cane mat.

The advantages of crop lifters 22 of the present invention are as follows:

• Elimination of two hydraulic motors which consequently reduces the hydraulic oil requirement.

• A shallow angle (45 degrees) facilitates proper picking and aligning of cane stalks even when the crop is lodged.

• The shoe 22A penetrates the lodged cane and lifts the lodged cane stalks.

• Elimination of two crop lifter assemblies reduces material and cost.

In conventional sugarcane harvesting machines, there is no center feed roller to feed the cane stalks towards an operative central portion of the base cutters. Due to lack of such a roller, quite often cane stalks get struck in between knockdown and finned roller end flanges and side walls which lead to cane damage.

The sugarcane harvesting machine (10) further comprises a feed roller arrangement configured to be attached to the sugarcane harvesting machine (10) for conveying sugarcane there through. The feed roller arrangement comprises a center feed roller assembly (24) configured to be attached downstream of the pair of crop lifters (22) for receiving the sugarcane in an operative central portion of the machine (10). The feed roller arrangement further comprises a knockdown roller assembly (26) that is configured downstream of the center feed roller assembly (24) for conveying the sugarcane received therefrom. The feed roller arrangement comprises a buttlifter and top feed roller assembly configured downstream of the knockdown roller assembly (26) to pick cut sugarcane.

The center feed roller assembly 24 mounted at front end of harvester crop feed passage promotes longitudinal alignment of canes with the passage. The center feed roller assembly 24 includes an arm mounted centrally in the passage and having driven by sprockets and a chain 24D. The center feed roller is driven by a two hydraulic motors 24E connected to one driven sprocket shaft. The other driven sprocket shaft is connected to the roller drums on either side. These drums have spiral plates to guide and align the cane stalks towards the center of the passage.

A center feed roller assembly 24 is rotatably supported between the two crop lifters 22. The center feed roller assembly includes a central drum 24A and spiral plates 24B with beater bars 24C placed radially at 180 degrees apart. The beater bars 24C mounted 180 degrees radially apart to comb cane stalks into alignment with the passage. The beater bars 24C are angularly interspaced in relation to the longitudinal axis of the central drum 24A.The center feed roller24 is driven by two hydraulic motors (not shown in figures) concurrently hung from the shaft with the help of a chain (not shown in figures). The center feed roller 24 helps to align the cane stalks to the middle of the two base cutter legs. The center feed roller assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the spiral plates (24B) on one side of the central drum (24A) are oppositely orientated to the spiral plates (24B) on the other side of the central drum (24 A) in relation to the central portion of the central drum (24 A), to direct the sugarcane towards the operative central portion of the central drum (24A). The spiral plates (24B) on one side of the central drum (24 A) in relation to the central portion of the central drum (24A) have right hand spirals. The right hand spirals are tilted towards right hand side i.e. from a bottom left end to a top right end when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the center feed roller assembly. More particularly, the right hand spirals are similar to right hand screw threads. The spiral plates (24B) on the other side of the central drum (24A) in relation to the central portion of the central drum (24 A) have left hand spirals. The left hand spirals are tilted towards left hand side i.e. from a bottom right end to a top left end when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the center feed roller assembly. More particularly, the left hand spirals are similar to left hand screw threads.

Advantages of the center feed roller:

• Directing cane towards middle of base cutter legs.

• No jamming of cane stalks at chassis side walls and knockdown and finned roller end flanges.

• Better gripping and feeding of cane stalks towards the knockdown and finned rollers. In conventional harvester, the knockdown roller which is in the forward position of cane feed passage are provided with fins to grip and push the cane down for bringing them to cutting position. In this arrangement the cane leaves and creepers in the cane field tend to wrap around the roller causing them to jam.

In this invention, after the center feed roller 24, cane stalks are fed by the knockdown roller assembly 26 which is an anti-wrap knockdown roller 26. The knockdown roller assembly 26 comprises blades 26 A and fins 26B. The blades are configured to be attached to the slats of the knockdown roller. The blades 26A extend along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical knockdown roller. The fins 26B are configured to be attached to the circumferential surface of the knockdown roller. The fins 26B are configured to be spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the roller to direct the sugarcane stalks towards the pair of base cutters. This improvement is characterized by providing a blade 26A fastened to each slat of this roller in such a way that it would cut the cane leaves and creepers that tend to wrap around the fins 26B of the roller. This facilitates a better feeding of the cane stalks towards the base cutters 30. In an embodiment, the number of blades 26A is variable. In an embodiment, the spacing between the fins 26B is adjustable.

Advantages of anti- wrap knockdown roller are as follows:

• No cane leaves and/or creepers wrap around this roller.

• Better feeding of cane.

In conventional harvester, in a basecutter gearbox the gap (throat area) between the two base cutter mounting legs is lesser than the width of the feed train. This causes a ventury affect, also the ribs welded on the basecutter legs are smooth in nature and the ribs are welded perpendicular to the direction of rotation. Further, the internal gears of the basecutter gearbox are spur gears. Due to the ventury affect caused by basecutter gearbox legs large number of cane stalks pass through the narrow opening causing obstruction and load. Also, it forces a large quantity of cane to pass through the middle of the feed train. The smooth ribs welded on the base cutter legs donor grip the cane properly causing improper feed of cane on to the feed train and it also causes the leafs to wrap around the basecutter gearbox legs. The spur gears provided inside the gearbox are noisy and cause excessive vibration.

In this invention, we have increase the gap between the basecutter gearbox legs to reduce the ventury affect this causes less obstruction and allows more cane to flow through the opening. The ribs on the gearbox legs are serrated and welded at forward angle causing proper gripping and conveyance of cane on to the feed train. Also, the serrated ribs prevent the cane leaves and creepers from wrapping around the gearbox legs. We have replaced the spur gears inside the gearbox with helical gears and this has reduced the noise and vibration of the gearbox. The helical gears also facilitate better power transmission.

Advantages of this invention:

• Allows the larger quantity of cane to flow through the legs enabling the machine to handle heavier crop.

• Prevents wrapping leaves and creepers on the gearbox legs.

• Silent and smooth operation.

• Efficient conveyance of cane on to the feed train.

In conventional harvester the base cutting apparatus tends to feed soil and stones into the harvester feed train causing substantial wear and damages to the base cutter discs and chopper drum blades.

The sugarcane harvesting machine 10 further comprises a base cutter assembly 30 for cutting the sugarcane fed thereto. The base cutter assembly 30 is rotatably supported on shafts having a pair of blade discs. The basecutter assembly 30 comprises a pair of contra rotating open type discs carrying projecting blades thereon. Each of the blade cutters 30 has a plurality of arms 30A configured to extend from the circumferential portion of each of the discs. These discs are rotatable around the legs of the base cutter gearbox (not shown in figures) which is driven by a hydraulic motor.

Chamfered edges 30B are configured on the operative ends of each of the arms 30A. The chamfered edges 30B are characterized by a large free area provided between successive blades for soil and stones to drop-off. In this particular invention, circular base cutter blades with chamfered edges 30B mounted on open base cutters 30 gives a clean cut at the base of cane stalks.

The advantages of incorporating the base cutters discs of the present disclosure are as follows:

• Minimum mud accumulation;

• Soil, sand and / or stones are dropped down thereby minimizing their feeding on to the feed train along with the cut cane. A conventional buttlift roller Fig.13b - 34A’ comprises of a solid plate 34G joining the two flanges 34C& 34D. The cut cane is fed on to the feed train rollers and in this conventional design soil accumulates on this roller as it is the bottom most roller and it comes in contact with the ground. This affects the proper feed of cane on to the feed train and in clay and moist soils, cleaning the accumulated mud on the buttlifter roller is time consuming causing delay of harvest.

The feed roller arrangement further comprises a buttlifter and top feed roller assembly to pick cut sugarcane pieces. In the present disclosure, the open type buttlifter 34A of the Fig.l3A is used and there is clear gap 34G between a centre pipe 34E and buttlifter plates 34F. This open type buttlifter34A allows the soil and stone to fall back on the ground and also reduces accumulation of soil on the buttlifter 34A.

Advantages of the present disclosure buttlifter and top feed roller assembly:

• Minimum chance of mud accumulation and easy & fast cleaning.

• Chance of soil or stone along with cane is minimized.

In conventional machines, since the space between the two legs of the base cutter gear box 32C is narrower than width of feed train rollers, the cane being cut gets on to the feed train, as wide as the space between the two legs of base cutter gear box 32C. This leaves the feed train near both ends empty. As a result, the cane is fed to the choppers as a bundle affecting the quality of the billets that are cut by the choppers.

In this disclosure, the cane stalks are fed on to the feed train that consists of Bottom fixed feed rollers 34A and top floating feed rollers 34B. This includes a set of spreading rollers 34AS1 and 34AS2, which have a special design plates on them to spread the cane stalks bundle uniformly across the feed roller width. This gives the better load distribution on the chopper blade as well as chopper motors. The spreading rollers are arranged before the choppers. The present invention gives a uniform load on the chopper unit and a uniform wear over the entire width of the chopper blades. These two spreading rollers 34AS1 and 34AS2 are provided to replace the two bottom rollers of the feed train so as to spread the cut cane more evenly on the feed train. This is then fed to the choppers to facilitate cutting of better quality billets.

The base cutter assembly further includes a chopper drum assembly 36. Cane stalks are fed to the chopper drum assembly 36 by the bottom feed train rollers 34A and top floating feed rollers 34B. There are two chopper drums i.e. Top chopper drum 36A and bottom chopper drum 36B that have a set of blades to cut cane stalks into short pieces called billets. These two chopper drums 36A and 36B are operated by individual hydraulic motors and connected to a gearbox mounted on to the chassis side. It is connected to a fly wheel to control the load fluctuations.

Sugarcane plants vary substantially from one location to another due to soil and climate conditions. However, the plant is characterized by having a cane stalk and large green leaves.

Leaves mix with cane billets during cutting and when these billets reach the mill, they result in reducing the amount of sugar obtained from each ton of cane processed in the mill. It is, therefore, very important to clean the billets as well as possible before the billets reach the mill.

The process of trash extraction or cleaning it is the removal of a relatively high proportion of cane leaves and other extraneous matter from a stream of cane with a minimum removal of cane billets through the extractor fan.

Sugarcane harvesting machines available today produce billeted cane with un-acceptable amount of trash and cane loss. Hence this attempt to get over this problem faced by the growers and sugar mills by providing an improved cleaning system that would enable the sugarcane harvesting machine to provide clean billets by giving a better separation and extraction of trash and extraneous matter while retaining billets thereby minimizing cane loss and giving cleaner cane in the bin.

The conventional cleaning chamber of a sugarcane harvesting machine is cylindrical. Improper trash separation takes place in the conventional cleaning chamber. Due to the cylindrical shape there are no pressure-velocity gradients from inlet to outlet. As a result, smaller cane billets are blown out along with trash through the extractor fan and get chopped by the fan blade and are thereby thrown in the field. A cleaning assembly of the sugarcane harvesting machine 10 is provided which comprises a primary cleaning assembly configured to be mounted on the operative bottom end of a conveyor, and a secondary cleaning assembly configured to be mounted on the operative top end of the conveyor for separating trash from cut pieces of sugarcane. The primary cleaning assembly is configured to be mounted on the operative bottom end of a conveyor, and a secondary cleaning assembly configured to be mounted on the operative top end of the conveyor for separating trash from cut pieces of sugarcane. In the present invention of the harvester, cleaning system has a divergent- convergent cleaning chamber 50 with a primary extractor fan 60 having specially designed fan blades 60A. A primary extractor hood 62 rotated by a chain 62B and sprocket 62A arrangement as described in figure 19a- 19b. This sprocket 62 A is driven by a hydraulic motor 62D. The chain 62B is connected to the sprocket 62A and hood circular area by sprocket teeth segment 62C. For 180-degree angular span, stoppers are provided at both sides of the hood.

A perforated hopper boot 64A is provided at the bottom of the elevator to collect the cane billets and transfer them over a chain & slat elevator 64 into the infielder wagon. These perforations or openings in the elevator hopper boot 64A give additional air inflow to the primary extractor fan 60 facilitating a better separation and extraction of trash and other extraneous matter.

The primary extractor fan 60 sucks a large volume of air through the bottom of the cleaning chamber 50 as well as through openings provided at the divergent portion of the cleaning chamber 50 and the perforated elevator hopper boot. When cane billets and trash enter the cleaning chamber 50, the air carries the lighter weight trash particles and extracts them through the fan and discharges the trash through the primary extractor hood 62 on to the cane field.

In an embodiment, specially designed fan blades 60A are provided in cleaning system. This reduces cane billet losses through the sugarcane harvesting machine cleaning system which allow lighter trash to flow away with airflow while retaining the heavier billets of cane that attempt to enter the fan hood. The key feature of the blade is the “0 to negative pitch” of the fan blade at the leading edge 61a. The leading edge 61a of the fan blade kicks back heavier small billets and sends out only the lighter leaf trash.

Conventionally, the fan blade leading edge 61a pitch is designed to match the air inflow velocity direction to minimize flow losses. However, with the design of the fan blade as per the present disclosure, the important advantage is the prevention of billets from being discharged out of the cleaning system.

Cane billets that exit the cleaning chamber are conveyed away from the chopper drums 36 by a chain and slat elevator conveyor 64 which is driven by a hydraulic motor at the outlet end of the elevator 64. The secondary cleaning assembly is configured to be mounted on the operative top end of the conveyor. The secondary cleaning assembly includes a secondary extractor fan 66A, a secondary extractor hood 68 and an outlet chute configured on the secondary extractor hood 68. For further cleaning there is the secondary extractor with a hood provided at the elevator end 66. From this elevator 64 billets are transferred into the infielder wagon that rides alongside of the sugarcane harvesting machine 10.

The cane harvesting machine 10 can travel in either direction through the cane field. A tractor hauls infielder wagon beside the sugarcane harvesting machine 10 on the side where cane is being harvested.

The extractor hood is positioned in such a way that the trash and other extraneous matter blows out on the empty field. To facilitate this Flood outlet should rotate away from the lines to be cut by turning the Extractor hood. A chain & sprocket arrangement is provided to turn the hood to the required position within 180-degree rotational span. This hood rotation arrangement facilitates the trash being blown in the desired direction by operating a lever in the cabin that operates a hydraulic motor.

The principal objective of the invention is to provide an improved cleaning system on a sugarcane harvester that will provide clean billets. Another objective is to provide a cleaning system which does not discharge billets with the trash. A further objective is to provide a cleaning system which directs leaves and other trash separated from the billets onto the ground and away from the uncut rows of cane. This is achieved at a lower RPM of fan.

All conventional cleaning chambers and extractor designs are with the primary extractor fan that rotates at a high RPM, resulting in a significant loss of sugarcane billets. This disclosure relates to a cleaning system which gives cleaner cane with minimum trash and other extraneous matter with minimum cane loss with a fan at lower RPM.

The ultimate objective of this invention is to give cleaner billets and minimum cane loss by using the divergent-convergent design cleaning chamber concept along with the extractor fan using a special design fan blades. Normally the fan blade leading edge pitch is designed to match the air inflow velocity direction to minimize flow losses but with this design the important feature is the saving of billets from discharging out of the cleaning system. The hood which is the trash outlet is mounted on top of the cleaning chamber. The hood directs air, leaves and other lighter extraneous matter out of the cleaning chamber on to the cane field.

The sudden enlargement of area at junction of divergent-convergent design cleaning chamber by variation of air velocities better separation of trash takes place as heavier particles of billet pieces fall down due to sudden enlargement of volume at the end of divergent area. This chamber enlargement facilitates 46% increase in area of the chamber, increasing residence time that helps drop more of the billets into the elevator boot where the lighter trash moves out through the hood. The divergent-convergent cleaning chamber design results in a better cleaning effect and at the same time it minimizes cane loss through the primary extractor fan 60.

The cleaning system of the current disclosure includes various features which contribute collectively or individually in successful trash, extraneous matter and cane separation leading to an efficient cleaning of the chopped sugarcane billets.

Cane billets exiting the cleaning chamber that are conveyed away by a chain and slat elevator conveyor 64 driven by a hydraulic motor at the outlet side of the elevator 64. Further, secondary extractor fan 66A is mounted at the end of the elevator. The secondary extractor fan 66A includes four curved designed blades similar to that of the primary extractor fan, but have smaller diameter. The design of secondary hood 68 is also similar to that of the primary extractor hood 62 but with a lesser volume. This facilitates the further cleaning of cane billets before exiting the elevator. The billets are transferred into an infielder wagon from the elevator 64.

The advantages of the billet rejecting fan blades are as follows:

• The fan operates at much lower RPM thereby needing lesser oil flow.

• More air flow rates possible at reduced RPM of the fan.

• Preventing small billets from being discharged out through the fan hood Advantages of the divergent-convergent type cleaning chamber are as follows:

• Better separation of trash from cane billets.

• Reduced cane loss.

The shape of extractor hood is hemi-spherical thereby giving a free path to blow-out the trash. This spherical shape ends in an outlet chute of circle-ellipse transition which enables a free flowing trash path.

Advantages of new extractor hood:

• hassle-free flow of trash out of the hood/cleaning system

The invention is an improvement to the conveying system. This improvement is characterized by the ‘S’ shape of the elevator in such a way that the bottom part and top part of the elevator are changed by a set of special design segments. This arrangement overcomes the jamming of cane billets at the elevator boot 64A. This elevator boot 64A is made using a perforated plate giving a better air flow to the primary extractor fan resulting in better separation of trash from cane billets.

Advantages of newly designed ‘S’- type elevator are as follows:

• No jamming of cane billets at bottom of the elevator.

• Perforated bin facilitates more air flow to the cleaning chamber.

• Better transfer of cane billets from elevator hopper to the infielder wagon.

In many cane fields, there are sagging electrical lines posing a big problem for working of sugarcane harvesting machine which is dangerous when the harvester components touch these lines. To reduce the risk of electrocution, a rubber lining is provided on the top of the parts which may accidentally touch electrical lines. This rubber lining ensures safety of the harvester, operator, driver, and labourers while harvesting and transportation.

Conventionally, all cane harvesters have tyres as drive wheels at rear. But, tyres do not give 100% stability of the machine 10 particularly in cane fields which have ridges and furrows all over. Due to usage of tyres, soil compaction is also more as entire load act on the soil with less ground contacting. Tyres slip when soil contains high moisture after rain and we do not harvest under these conditions.

The present disclosure discloses pivoted half-tracks 38 in place of rear tyres to improve the stability of the machine. Due to wider ground contact achieved by half-tracks, soil compaction is less. In addition, half-tracks 38 facilitate harvest when soil moisture is higher after rain.

A rubber lining is provided on AC guard 82 (Fig.21c & 2 Id), muffler cage top 86 (Fig.21g), top of oil cooler 88 (Fig.21h), primary extractor hood 62 (Fig.21a) and the secondary extractor hood (Fig.21b) along with the elevator outlet 84 (Fig.21e & 2 If). This prevents electrocution when any part of the harvester touches a sagging high tension electrical line.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a sugarcane harvesting machine that:

• eliminates two hydraulic motors;

• reduces hydraulic oil requirement;

• is capable to picking and aligning stalks even when the crop is lodged;

• eliminates two crop lifter assemblies thereby reducing overall material requirement and cost;

• provides cleaner cane with negligible trash and minimum cane loss.

• increases the efficiency of harvesting operation; and

• ensures safety from electrocution.

The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Any discussion of devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.