Cutting reel adjusting system

Abstract

A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector.

1 . A cutting reel unit, comprising:
 a first frame portion supported on at least one support element that is supported on, and is movable along, the ground;   a second frame portion movably mounted on said first frame portion;   a cutting reel driven into rotation by a cutting reel drive and supported by said second frame portion;   a bedknife arranged adjacent to said cutting reel and supported by said second frame portion;   at least one first actuator connected between said first frame portion and said second frame portion and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of said second frame portion with respect to said first frame portion to set cutting height;   at least one second actuator operatively connected between said reel and said bedknife and arranged to adjust the clearance between said reel and said bedknife;   a controller signal-connected to said first and second actuators;   a first position sensor that determines actual cutting height;   a second position sensor to detect contact between said reel and said bedknife, said first and second position sensors being signal-connected to said controller; and   an operator input station in signal-communication with said controller and configured to receive a first input signal corresponding to a selected gap between said reel and said bedknife and a second input signal corresponding to a selected cutting height.   
   
   
       2 . The cutting reel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second actuator comprises two second actuators each located at an opposite end of the reel, and comprising two housings, one housing supporting each end of said reel, said housings movably carried on said second frame portion, and said second actuators each having a first portion connected to the second frame portion and a second portion connected to a respective one of said two housings, wherein relative positions of said first and second portions are adjustable to set a gap between said reel and said bedknife. 
   
   
       3 . The cutting reel unit according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one first actuator comprises two first actuators each located at an opposite end of the reel, and said first actuators each having a first portion connected to the first frame portion and a second portion connected to said second frame portion, wherein relative positions of said first and second portions are adjustable to set a height of cut. 
   
   
       4 . The cutting reel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one first actuator comprises two first actuators each located at an opposite end of the reel, and said first actuators each having a first portion connected to the first frame portion and a second portion connected to said second frame portion, wherein relative positions of said first and second portions are adjustable to set a height of cut. 
   
   
       5 . The cutting reel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said cutting reel drive comprising an electric motor drive. 
   
   
       6 . The cutting reel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said second position sensor comprises a sound sensor. 
   
   
       7 . The cutting reel unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said cutting reel drive is operable to drive said cutting reel into rotation in a first rotary direction for cutting operation and a second, reverse direction for a reel gap setting operation. 
   
   
       8 . A cutting reel assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of cutting reel units, each comprising a first frame portion supported on at least one support element that is supported on, and is movable along, the ground; a second frame portion movably mounted on said first frame portion; a cutting reel driven into rotation by a cutting reel drive and supported by said second frame portion; a bedknife arranged adjacent to said cutting reel and supported by said second frame portion; at least one first actuator connected between said first frame portion and said second frame portion and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of said second frame portion with respect to said first frame portion to set cutting height; at least one second actuator operatively connected between said reel and said bedknife and arranged to adjust the clearance between said reel and said bedknife; a first position sensor that determines actual cutting height; a second position sensor to detect contact between said reel and said bedknife; and   a central controller signal-connected to said first and second actuators and said first and second position sensors of each cutting reel unit and an operator input station in signal-communication with said controller and configured to receive a first input signal corresponding to a selected gap between said reel and said bedknife and a second input signal corresponding to a selected cutting height.   
   
   
       9 . The cutting reel assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein for each cutting reel unit: said at least one second actuator comprises two second actuators each located at an opposite end of the reel, and comprising two housings, one housing supporting each end of said reel, said housings movably carried on said second frame portion, and said second actuators each having a first portion connected to the second frame portion and a second portion connected to a respective one of said two housings, wherein relative positions of said first and second portions are adjustable to set a gap between said reel and said bedknife. 
   
   
       10 . The cutting reel assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein for each cutting reel unit: said at least one first actuator comprises two first actuators each located at an opposite end of the reel, and said first actuators each having a first portion connected to the first frame portion and a second portion connected to said second frame portion, wherein relative positions of said first and second portions are adjustable to set a height of cut. 
   
   
       11 . The cutting reel assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein for each cutting reel unit: said at least one first actuator comprises two first actuators each located at an opposite end of the reel, and said first actuators each having a first portion connected to the first frame portion and a second portion connected to said second frame portion, wherein relative positions of said first and second portions are adjustable to set a height of cut. 
   
   
       12 . The cutting reel assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein for each cutting reel unit: said cutting reel drive comprising an electric motor drive. 
   
   
       13 . The cutting reel assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein for each cutting reel unit: said second position sensor comprises a sound sensor. 
   
   
       14 . The cutting reel assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein for each cutting reel unit: said cutting reel drive is operable to drive said cutting reel into rotation in a first rotary direction for cutting operation and a second, reverse direction for a reel gap setting operation.