Claas Cougar
Encyclopedia
The Claas Cougar is a self-propelled mower
produced by the German agricultural machinery
manufacturer Claas
. The mower, which is named after the cougar, a large American cat, was first presented in 2003. Due to its maximum cutting width of 14 metres (45.9 ft) it is classified as the largest self-propelled mower in the world.
machine has four large wheels of equal size, it has a four-wheel steering system and also features crab steering mode. The special purpose tractor
-like vehicle has a travel length of 11.5 metres (37.7 ft), and a travel height of about 3.96 metres (13 ft). Its road transport width depends on tire dimensions, and takes up from just 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft).
The massive machine needs a big engine so it has a Daimler (Chrysler)/Mercedes-Benz
OM 457 LA 6-cylinder diesel engine with a maximum output of 350 kW. The large fuel tank can hold up to 960 litres (253.6 US gal) of diesel fuel. The Cougar's weight is – depending on equipment and the amount of loaded fuel – approximately 18500 kilograms (40,785.5 lb). The machine operates at speeds up to 21 kilometres per hour (13 mph), or up to 40 kilometres per hour (24.9 mph) while moving between fields on roads.
Five pendulum suspended mowing units are fitted to every Claas Cougar, a triple combination at the front and one outrigger unit on each side in the middle of the machine. The two side mowers are mounted on telescoping booms between the axles. Each mowing unit can be individually controlled and maneuvered up, down, left, and right in order to mow narrow plots or smaller areas with less than five mowers, to adjust the mowers to uneven ground, and to help the operator avoid encountering obstacles. Additionally the Cougar is equipped with active hydropneumatic mower unit balancing, and the two outrigger units are equipped with hydraulic collision protection devices; they automatically swing back when they meet with obstacles.
With its five mowers the Claas Cougar can cut at widths up to 14 metres (45.9 ft), and it has a working capacity of up to 22 hectares (220,000 m²) per hour.
To fold the mower decks for transport and to unfold them into operating position Claas uses a special hydraulic folding design. For road transport the Cougar's cab is rotated 180°, so that the lifted and folded front and side mowers are located at the vehicle's rear then. Both, folding and cab rotating operations, are automatically managed and can easily be activated by the driver from within the cab. They only take a few seconds or minutes.
The cab is air-conditioned and has airride seats, each window has its own wiper.
In 2006 Claas presented a Cougar 1400 fitted with five flail mower
s (mulching units) instead of disc mowers. The machine has a working width of 12.6 metres (41.3 ft) then, and can be used e.g. for mulching corn stubble. The flail mower supplier Spearhead Machinery (based in Salford Priors
, England) calls the combination Trident 12600 HD. This naming follows other models of their Trident range of flail mowers. The five Trident decks for the Cougar have a weight of 4700 kilograms (10,361.7 lb).
Also, Claas added roller conditioners
to the Cougar lineup. The mowing units of the Cougar 1400RC are equipped with roller conditioners, whereas the mowers of the Cougar 1400C have tine (roller) conditioners.
, on October 30, 2006.
Mower
A mower is a machine for cutting grass or other plants that grow on the ground. Usually mowing is distinguished from reaping, which uses similar implements, but is the traditional term for harvesting grain crops, e.g...
produced by the German agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery is machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.-Hand tools:The first person to turn from the hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming probably did so by using his bare hands, and perhaps some sticks or stones. Tools such as knives, scythes, and wooden...
manufacturer Claas
CLAAS
Claas is an agricultural machinery manufacturer founded in 1913, now based in Harsewinkel, Germany, in the state of North Rhine Westphalia. Their agricultural products are usually sold under the Claas name, except in North America where combines are distributed under the Lexion brand by Caterpillar...
. The mower, which is named after the cougar, a large American cat, was first presented in 2003. Due to its maximum cutting width of 14 metres (45.9 ft) it is classified as the largest self-propelled mower in the world.
Dimensions and technology
The base model Cougar 1400 is available in different equipment variants. Generally the 4WDFour-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
machine has four large wheels of equal size, it has a four-wheel steering system and also features crab steering mode. The special purpose tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
-like vehicle has a travel length of 11.5 metres (37.7 ft), and a travel height of about 3.96 metres (13 ft). Its road transport width depends on tire dimensions, and takes up from just 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft).
The massive machine needs a big engine so it has a Daimler (Chrysler)/Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
OM 457 LA 6-cylinder diesel engine with a maximum output of 350 kW. The large fuel tank can hold up to 960 litres (253.6 US gal) of diesel fuel. The Cougar's weight is – depending on equipment and the amount of loaded fuel – approximately 18500 kilograms (40,785.5 lb). The machine operates at speeds up to 21 kilometres per hour (13 mph), or up to 40 kilometres per hour (24.9 mph) while moving between fields on roads.
Five pendulum suspended mowing units are fitted to every Claas Cougar, a triple combination at the front and one outrigger unit on each side in the middle of the machine. The two side mowers are mounted on telescoping booms between the axles. Each mowing unit can be individually controlled and maneuvered up, down, left, and right in order to mow narrow plots or smaller areas with less than five mowers, to adjust the mowers to uneven ground, and to help the operator avoid encountering obstacles. Additionally the Cougar is equipped with active hydropneumatic mower unit balancing, and the two outrigger units are equipped with hydraulic collision protection devices; they automatically swing back when they meet with obstacles.
With its five mowers the Claas Cougar can cut at widths up to 14 metres (45.9 ft), and it has a working capacity of up to 22 hectares (220,000 m²) per hour.
To fold the mower decks for transport and to unfold them into operating position Claas uses a special hydraulic folding design. For road transport the Cougar's cab is rotated 180°, so that the lifted and folded front and side mowers are located at the vehicle's rear then. Both, folding and cab rotating operations, are automatically managed and can easily be activated by the driver from within the cab. They only take a few seconds or minutes.
The cab is air-conditioned and has airride seats, each window has its own wiper.
History
The Cougar 1400, equipped with five Claas disc mower units per default, was first presented at Agritechnica 2003 in Germany and was awarded "Machine of the Year" there. At SIMA 2005 in Paris, it was awarded a silver medal.In 2006 Claas presented a Cougar 1400 fitted with five flail mower
Flail mower
A flail mower is a type of PTO driven implement that can attach to the three-point hitches found on the rear of most tractors. This type of mower is best used to provide a rough cut to taller grass where contact with loose debris may be possible such as roadsides.The flail mower gets its name from...
s (mulching units) instead of disc mowers. The machine has a working width of 12.6 metres (41.3 ft) then, and can be used e.g. for mulching corn stubble. The flail mower supplier Spearhead Machinery (based in Salford Priors
Salford Priors
Salford Priors is a rural, agricultural village and civil parish about six miles south-west of Alcester, Warwickshire, England. It is on the Warwickshire border with Worcestershire....
, England) calls the combination Trident 12600 HD. This naming follows other models of their Trident range of flail mowers. The five Trident decks for the Cougar have a weight of 4700 kilograms (10,361.7 lb).
Also, Claas added roller conditioners
Conditioner (farming)
A conditioner is an agricultural machine that crimps and crushes newly cut hay to promote faster and more even drying. Drying the hay efficiently is most important for first crop hay, which consists of coarse stalks that take a longer period of time to draw out moisture than finer textured hays,...
to the Cougar lineup. The mowing units of the Cougar 1400RC are equipped with roller conditioners, whereas the mowers of the Cougar 1400C have tine (roller) conditioners.
Appearances in media
The Claas Cougar was featured in season 10 of the UK television magazine Fifth GearFifth Gear
Fifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
, on October 30, 2006.