Disc coupling reaps benefits at harvest time

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 10, 2003

Lovejoy has discovered an unexpected application for its disc coupling and mounting, to improve equipment reliability and performance during soybean harvest time.

In the grain belts across America and Canada, soybean farmers battle time and weather conditions to harvest their crops at peak maturity and moisture content, for maximum yield.

With more than 70 million acres to harvest in the USA alone, continuous, reliable operation makes a big difference in both yield and profit.

Lovejoy has discovered an unexpected application for its disc coupling and mounting, to improve equipment reliability and performance during soybean harvest time.

The soybean harvest depends on the beans' moisture content.

According to the University of Arkansas Agricultural Extension, harvesting or combining is the most costly operation of soybean production.

"Any adjustment to the harvesting equipment can literally translate into dollars per bushel for the farmer if his crop is harvested at peak efficiency".

With a vine or bean crop, like soybeans, getting all of the soybeans into the header is a challenge.

Research (Agricultural Extension) shows that beans lost at the header account for more than 90% of total crop loss.

Improper reel speed and reel position cause more shattered soybeans than any other adjustment on the combine.

Or, bean pods may set low on the stalk close to the ground.

Dry soybeans, especially those that are dry and then get a rain, tend to shatter.

Logan Farm Equipment 1988, based in Mitchell, Ontario, Canada, with more than 20 years experience designing improvements for farm equipment, created its own advanced wind-reel system to provide an even flow of soybeans into the combine with less crop damage.

Consistent feeding allows operation of the combine at full capacity with increased ground speed, better separation and more even residue distribution.

The soybeans might hang as low as a half-inch above the ground, and a wind reel system creates a curtain of air that sweeps the crop from the knife, to greatly reduce shatter loss.

Mike DeCorte, engineer for Logan, says: "During harvest the combines run continuously, almost 24 hours a day and we need to get our customer through this period without having the equipment break down or perform at substandard levels".

Based on customer complaints related to unreliability, costly maintenance time or performance issues, he turned to his engineering skills to design a better wind reel to solve these problems.

He found the solution in an unexpected place, with a Lovejoy disc coupling.

"This is definitely not a standard application for that coupling", says DeCorte, "but the engineering challenges we face don't always allow us to go by typical rules.

Basically, with the idea to use the Lovejoy disc coupling on the mechanical reel, we're improving on the best of two other designs that have been around for years".

Instead of a traditional U-joint attachment, DeCorte mounted a SU132-6 hub and SU132-6 disc pack from Lovejoy to a flange plate, which then bolts to an existing gear box sheave.

Drive details on the particular case model selected for their first test run involved a 30hp, 4300rev/min fan load driven by a 14in sheave at 780rev/min.

Fred McWilliams, Sales Engineer for Lovejoy Canada, out of Toronto, says of the Lovejoy disc coupling: "Two of the main problems with existing connections were backlash and downtime due to maintenance.

The disc coupling has zero backlash, and as a metal coupling with a powerful hold, gets instant reaction to turn the shaft and instant stream flow.

This disc coupling is practically maintenance free, reducing downtime".

"In addition, the secure hold provided by this metal coupling reduces both vibration and noise levels in the cab, to help reduce operator fatigue".