U.S. patent application number 10/726348 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-09 for method and apparatus to reduce stalk shear.
Invention is credited to Calmer, Marion.
Application Number | 20050120695 10/726348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34522999 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050120695 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Calmer, Marion |
June 9, 2005 |
Method and apparatus to reduce stalk shear
Abstract
The invention provides four (4) methods to reduce stalk shear in
a corn head row unit that utilizes a non-variable or dependent
drive system. The four methods described include altering the
gearbox ratio, increasing the lengths of the fluted portion of the
stalk roll, increasing stalk roll diameter or reducing the size of
the gathering chain drive sprocket. The invention allows for a more
balanced application of multi directional energy to be applied to
the corn plant. The resultant effect is to reduce stalk shear which
reduces trash intake to the harvester. This novel idea provides the
first means and method to which genetically improved taller and
healthier corn plants can be harvested with minimal amounts of
material other than ears ultimately being transferred to the
threshing unit.
Inventors: |
Calmer, Marion; (Alpha,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF JAY R. HAMILTON, PLC.
331 W. 3RD ST.
NEW VENTURES CENTER SUITE 100
DAVENPORT
IA
52801
US
|
Family ID: |
34522999 |
Appl. No.: |
10/726348 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
56/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 45/021 20130101;
A01D 45/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
056/051 |
International
Class: |
A01D 045/02 |
Claims
1. An improved method of processing corn plants with a corn head
row unit compromising the steps of: a. engaging the corn plant with
a plurality of stalk rolls, b. pinching the corn plant between said
stalk rolls, c. pulling the corn plant stalk down with said stalk
rolls, d. separating said ear of corn from the corn plant stalk, e.
engaging said ear of corn with at least one gathering chain paddle,
f. having the speed of said stalk rolls and gathering chain paddles
fixed during operation; g. wherein the maximum velocity of said
gathering chain paddle creates minimal stalk shear; and, h. wherein
the maximum ear separation substantially vertical velocity creates
minimal damage to the ear of corn upon impact with the stripper
plates.
2. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit comprising: a. a
source of power for rotation, b. at least one stalk roll for
engagement with a corn plant stalk, c. said stalk roll having at
least one flute, d. a stripper plate, e. at least one gathering
chain having paddles, f. a gearbox fixing the speed of said
gathering chain paddles and said stalk roll flute during operation,
g. wherein the gearbox ratio is selected to create minimal stalk
shear; and, h. wherein the resulting maximum ear separation
velocity creates minimal damage to the ear of corn upon impact with
the stripper plates.
3. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 2 having two opposing stalk rolls for engagement with a corn
plant stalk.
4. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 2 wherein said stalk rolls have an enlarged length to
minimize stalk shear.
5. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 2 wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket size has been
reduced to minimize stalk shear.
6. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 2 wherein said stalk roll diameter has been increased to
minimize stalk shear.
7. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 3 wherein said stalk rolls have an enlarged length to
minimize stalk shear.
8. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 3 wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket size has been
reduced to minimize stalk shear.
9. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 3 wherein said stalk roll diameter has been increased to
minimize stalk shear.
10. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claims 7, 8, or 9 wherein said row unit has a shear point with a
rounded edge.
11. An improved method of processing corn plants with a corn head
row unit compromising the steps of: a. engaging the corn plant with
a plurality of rotational elements, b. pinching the corn plant
between said rotational elements, c. pulling the corn plant stalk
down with said rotational elements, d. separating said ear of corn
from the corn plant stalk, e. engaging said ear of corn with at
least one horizontal element, f. said horizontal element
substantially moving only ears of corn for collection and further
processing within the threshing unit of a combine, g. wherein the
velocity of said horizontal element minimizes the occurrence of
corn plant stalk separation due to corn plant stalk movement
restrictions created by said rotational and horizontal elements;
and, h. wherein the speed of said rotational and horizontal
elements is fixed during operation.
12. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit comprising: a.
a source of power for rotation, b. at least one stalk roll for
engagement with a corn plant stalk, c. said stalk roll having at
least one flute, d. a stripper plate, e. at least one gathering
chain having paddles, f. a gearbox fixing the speed of said
gathering chain paddles and said stalk roll flute during operation,
g. wherein the gearbox ratio is selected to produce a gathering
chain paddle velocity which minimizes the occurrence of corn plant
stalk separation due to corn plant stalk movement restrictions
created by said stalk rolls and gathering chain paddles; and, h.
wherein the resulting maximum ear separation velocity creates
minimal damage to the ear of corn upon impact with the stripper
plates.
13. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 12 having two opposing stalk rolls for engagement with a corn
plant stalk.
14. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 12 wherein said stalk rolls have an enlarged length to
minimize stalk shear.
15. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 12 wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket size has been
reduced to minimize stalk shear.
16. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 12 wherein said stalk roll diameter has been increased to
minimize stalk shear.
17. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 13 wherein said stalk rolls have an enlarged length to
minimize stalk shear.
18. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 13 wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket size has been
reduced to minimize stalk shear.
19. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 13 wherein said stalk roll diameter has been increased to
minimize stalk shear.
20. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claims 17, 18 or 19 wherein said row unit has a shear point with a
rounded edge.
21. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit according to
claim 20 wherein said shear point is removable allowing for
replacement.
22. An improved arrangement of a corn head row unit compromising:
a. means for engaging a corn plant with a plurality of rotational
elements, b. means for pinching a corn plant between said
rotational elements, c. means for pulling the corn plant stalk down
with said rotational elements, d. means for separating the corn
plant ear from the corn plant stalk, e. wherein the maximum ear
velocity allowed creates minimal damage to the ear of corn upon
impact with said separation means, f. means for engaging an ear of
corn for horizontal movement to an ear collection means and further
processing within the threshing unit of a combine, g. wherein the
maximum velocity of said means for engaging an ear of corn for
horizontal movement creates minimal stalk shear; and, h. a power
source for said engaging, pinching, pulling and horizontal movement
means wherein the speed of said means is fixed during operation.
Description
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT
[0001] No federal funds were used to develop or create the
invention disclosed and described in the patent application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to corn harvesting machinery and more
particularly the corn row unit of the corn head commonly used with
modern self-propelled combines. Corn heads include individual row
units normally designed for harvesting a single row of crop
material. To accommodate various spacings between rows of crops,
these row units are usually adjustably attached to a horizontally
disposed frame member. The modern trend in corn headers appears to
be one of placing the row units at a low profile to the ground,
closer together and providing for increasingly larger
throughputs.
[0003] Each row unit contains a row crop divider, a row unit hood,
gathering/conveying chain(s), two stripper plates, two stalk rolls,
a row unit frame, and a gearbox. The gearbox powers the row unit
for gathering corn plants then stripping, separating, and conveying
ears of corn from the corn plant.
[0004] The transversely disposed power input shaft is powered by
the combine and delivers rotational power to the individual row
units. As can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,110, for example, this
power input shaft is commonly placed within the gearbox and
continues therethrough from one gearbox to the next. To save costs,
reduce complexity, and provide constant lubrication the internal
gears are contained in a sealed gearbox. The slip clutch for each
respective gearbox is seen affixed to a member contained within the
gearbox and movable therewith. Typically the operating speed
relationship of the stalk rolls and gathering chains is fixed as is
the size of the external sprockets and stalk rolls.
[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, corn heads are provided with several row
crop dividers for retrieving, lifting, and directing the rows of
corn stalks toward there respective ear separation chambers.
[0006] FIG. 2 shows a top isolated view of the row crop divider and
more particularly the gathering chains and stalk rolls of the corn
row unit as typically found in the prior art.
[0007] FIG. 3 shows the side view of a row unit found in the prior
art. The stalk rolls are powered by a gearbox. As the stalk rolls
rotate, the flutes on the stalk rolls pull the corn stalk downward.
Two stripper plates located above the stalk rolls and on both sides
of the corn row are spaced wide enough to allow to the corn plant
to pass between them but narrow enough to retain the ear of corn
which contain grain. This causes the ears of corn to be separated
from the corn plant as it is pulled downward through the stripping
plates. The stalk rolls continue to rotate ejecting the unwanted
portions of the corn plant below the corn head thereby returning
the unwanted portions to the field. The cooperative interaction of
the stalk rolls, the stripping plates and the gathering chains of
the row unit are defined as the ear separation chamber.
[0008] In the past 30 years four (4) external factors have impacted
corn harvesting: (1) Corn stalk harvest heights have continued to
increase. (2) Corn yields have doubled through improved genetics,
fertilization, populations, and row spacings. (3) Genetics also
improved insect resistance, which improved plant health, stalk
vigor, and increase height at harvest time. (4) Harvesting machines
are larger with increased horsepower, capacity, ground speed and
utilize corn heads with more row units. These factors in
combination require that during ear separation modem row units
must: (1) Increase the rate of ear separation. (2) Ensure that the
corn plant is not severed from its roots system. (3) Increase the
speed at which corn stalks are ejected from the row unit. (4)
Retain minimal amounts of MOTE (material other than ears) in the
heterogeneous material being delivered to the combine for
threshing.
[0009] Through research, operations, and testing, applicant has
found that a major evolving problem in harvesting today's corn
hybrids is a large build up of plant material (MOTE plus ears) in
front of the cross auger during operation of the corn head. Combine
operators commonly refer to this mass of material as "trash",
"muskrat huts", "hair ball", or simply "a pile of fluff". The
accumulation of MOTE reduces the efficiency of the corn head. Many
times operators claim this accumulation of trash or fluff will
occur during the best operating times of the day. This is
especially the case when the corn is extremely dry as may be found
on fall afternoons with low humidity. The appearance of this fluff
or trash may be severe enough to require harvesting equipment to
shut down.
[0010] During field testing, several kill stop examinations of this
large pile of trash confirmed that it is composed of long pieces or
the top portion of the corn plant, which had been sheared off or
broken off by the gathering chain paddles. When harvesting down
corn it was also noticed that root balls were unnecessarily being
pulled out of the ground and dragged into the corn head due to
excessive gathering chain speed.
[0011] Previous to this invention, the prior art in this field has
taught that to increase row unit capacity, travel speeds and reduce
trash intake the gathering chain speed should be increased. U.S.
Pat. No. 3,462,928 ('928) teaches a dependent drive system
employing an eight (8) tooth gathering chain drive sprocket. As
taught by '928, the gear means within the gear housing drives not
only the stalk rolls but also the endless gathering chains. Based
on applicant's experience, this (8) tooth gathering chain sprocket
appears to be the predominate size still in use with John Deere
dependent drive systems.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,070 issued to Chamberlain
("Chamberlain") teaches that the optimum gathering belt speed is
approximately equal to the ground speed of the harvester. If the
ground speed of the harvester needs to be decreased due to crop or
environmental conditions, the gathering belt speed must be
decreased. According to Chamberlain to meet this challenge, an
independent drive system allowing independent speed control of both
the gathering belts and stalk rolls is required.
[0013] There are numerous disadvantages and weaknesses in the
teachings found in Chamberlain. A corn head with both variable
knife and gathering belt speed requires additional elements such as
motors, gearboxes and driveshafts. This increase in equipment
increases the weight of the corn head and the power required to
drive the head, increasing both the cost of manufacture and
operation. Additionally, Chamberlain does not teach a method to
convert an existing corn head having a dependent drive system.
Furthermore, Chamberlain teaches that for high ground speed
operations, the gathering belt speed must be higher to match the
ground speed.
[0014] Field testing and experimentation by the applicant have
shown that in fact reduction of gathering chain speed reduces stalk
shear allowing increased ground speed operations through improved
ear separation and threshing efficiencies. It has been found that
when the gathering chain paddle and the corn plant enter the row
unit at the same time, the stalk roll flutes are going to start
pulling the corn plant downward. At the same time the gathering
chain paddle is pushing the stalk up the ear separation chamber. At
this point the corn stalk is simultaneously moving both laterally
and vertically. If the corn stalk reaches the end of the ear
separation chamber before the stalk roll consumes the majority of
the corn stalk, lateral movement stops because the corn plant stalk
has reached the end of the stalk rolls and is lodged against the
gearbox. The gathering chain paddle then shears the upper portion
of the corn stalk off with the corn plant ear attached and pushes
both into the cross auger.
[0015] The problem at its most basic is that the stalk roll flutes
and the gathering chain paddles are applying energy to the stalk in
different directions producing a shearing effect. When the corn
stalk reaches the end of the stalk rolls and stops moving
horizontally, the movement of the corn stalk becomes restricted.
This then allows the stalk to be sheared by the gathering chain
paddle resulting in the separation of the stalk from itself.
Analysis of stripper plates indicates pronounced wear at the
stripper plate separation point. This would indicate there is
significant pressure and wear at this point due to stalks
separating against the stripper plate.
[0016] Additionally, field testing indicates the node below the ear
may be weaker than other nodes in the stalk. The weakness in this
node accentuates the tendency of the prior art to separate the
stalk from itself when the stalk is subjected to shear. Recently
improved agronomic technology and corn genetics have produced
taller corn stalks at harvest time further highlighting this
problem.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] It is an objective to teach a method and apparatus that may
allow existing corn head row units with dependent drive systems to
reduce the intake of trash or material other than ears (MOTE) and
increase harvester ground speed.
[0018] It is another objective to teach a method and apparatus that
minimizes the corn plant stalks reaching the end of the ear
separation chamber with an ear thereby allowing the gathering chain
paddles to shear both the upper portion of the stalk and the corn
plant ear. Shearing the upper portion of the corn plant stalk with
the ear increases the amount of material other than ears (MOTE)
reaching the threshing unit of the combine.
[0019] It is another objective of this invention to teach a method
and apparatus to improve harvesting speeds and increase the bushels
and acres a farmer may harvest per day.
[0020] It is another objective of this invention to teach a method
and apparatus to reduce the intake of trash (or MOTE) in standing
corn while also improving the harvesting of down or lodged
corn.
[0021] It is another objective of this invention to teach a method
and apparatus that reduces the loss of grain in the separation and
threshing areas of a combine.
[0022] It is another objective of this invention to teach a method
and apparatus that lowers horsepower requirements and reduces fuel
consumption.
[0023] Through field testing it has been the found that the larger
the number of inches of corn stalk consumed by the stalk rolls and
ejected on the ground prior to the gathering chain paddle
contacting the stalk, the less trash or MOTE being processed by the
combine threshing system. Through testing and calculation, the
inventor was able to establish the following formula to calculate
the vertical and horizontal pull upon the corn stalk.
[0024] The formula states that the number of revolutions of a stalk
roll during gathering chain paddle travel across the exposed fluted
area of stalk roll multiplied by the outside circumference of the
stalk roll approximates the inches of corn stalk consumed by the
stalk roll while a gathering chain paddle moves from the start of
the stalk roll flute to the end of the stalk roll flute.
[0025] R=number of revolutions of stalk roll during chain lug
travel of the exposed fluted area of stalk roll
[0026] D=diameter of stalk roll (inches)
[0027] C=circumference of stalk=D*Pi (inches)
[0028] R.times.C=Inches of Corn Stalk Consumed
[0029] Applicant has found that one of the best ways to avoid corn
stalk shear while the ear is attached to the stalk is to install a
smaller gathering chain drive sprocket in a row unit using a
dependent drive system. This slows down just the gathering chain or
chains while allowing the rest of the corn head to operate at its
normal operating speed.
[0030] During field tests it was found that when gathering chain
paddle speed was reduced by twenty percent (20%) in the Case/IH 800
and 1000 series corn heads, the amount of measured MOTE (by weight)
was reduced by as much fifty percent (50%). In field tests on John
Deere 40 and 90 series corn heads, MOTE was decreased by almost
seventy-five percent (75%) when the gathering chain speed was
reduced by thirty-seven point five percent (37.5%). On average,
field tests in which a direct comparison was made between the eight
(8) tooth gathering chain drive sprocket and a five (5) tooth
sprocket, a sixty (60%) reduction in MOTE was produced.
[0031] The formula above also allows the calculation of an ear
separation speed. This speed represents how fast the ear and the
corn stalk move down towards the stalk rolls and stripper plates.
Ear separation speed is important because it provides an upper
limit to how large the actual stalk roll velocity can be.
Increasing ear separation speed reflects the increased ability of
the stalk rolls to consume the necessary feet of corn stalk
corresponding to both the height of the stalks and the ground speed
of the combine. The upper limit for ear separation speed is reached
when the ear of corn has enough kinetic energy to actually damage
the ear or start the kernel shelling process upon impact with the
stripper plates (e.g. butt-shelling). The upper limit of ear
separation speed is dependent upon hybrid characteristics and crop
conditions. Applicant has operated at ear separation velocities in
the range of six to thirteen (6.0-13.0) miles per hour with good
results. Equivalent ear separation velocities over thirteen (13)
miles per hour have produced damage and premature shelling.
[0032] A second way to avoid corn stalk shear while the ear is
attached is to change the actual number of teeth used on the
internal gears of the gear box that drive the stalk engaging
components.
[0033] A third way to allow unrestricted simultaneous vertical and
horizontal pull and reduce corn stalk shear would be to lengthen
the exposed fluted area (i.e. area of engagement) of the stalk
roll.
[0034] A fourth way to allow unrestricted simultaneous vertical and
horizontal pull and reduce corn stalk shear would be to increase
the diameter of the stalk roll used to engage the stalk of the
plant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 Top View of Corn Head (Prior Art)
[0036] FIG. 2 Exploded Top View of Row Unit and Ear Separation
Chamber (Prior Art)
[0037] FIG. 3 Side view of Row Unit (Prior Art)
[0038] FIG. 4 Row Unit Engaged with Corn Stalk--Prior to Ear
Separation (Prior Art)
[0039] FIG. 5 Row Unit Engaged with Corn Stalk--Ear Separation
Point (Prior Art)
[0040] FIG. 6 Row Unit Engaged with Corn Stalk--Post Ear-Separation
(Prior Art)
[0041] FIG. 7 Row Unit Engaged with Corn Stalk--Prior to Ear
Separation
[0042] FIG. 8 Row Unit Engaged with Corn Stalk--Ear Separation
Point
[0043] FIG. 9 Row Unit Engaged with Corn Stalk--Post
Ear-Separation
[0044] FIG. 10 Row Unit of Invention--Snapshot of Complete
Process
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045]
1 Listing of the Elements Description Number Corn head 80 Row unit
90 Row unit dividers 100 Gathering chain paddles 110 8 tooth
gathering chain drive sprocket (Prior Art) 112 5 tooth gathering
chain drive sprocket 115 Gathering chain 120 Stripper plates 130
Row unit shear point 135 Ear Separation Chamber 140 Row unit covers
150 Gearbox 160 Transport vanes 170 Stalk Roll flutes 180 Stalk
rolls 190 Cross Auger Trough 200 Cross Auger 220 Corn plant ear 300
Upper Portion of Corn Plant Stalk 325 Lower Portion of Corn Plant
Stalk 330
[0046] The general operation of corn heads incorporating this
invention in FIGS. 1 through 9 are similar to that of the operation
of corn heads of the prior art as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, corn heads are provided with several row crop
dividers 100 for retrieving, lifting, and directing the rows of
corn stalks toward there respective ear separation chambers 140. In
FIGS. 1 and 3 the corn stalks are lifted and guided toward the row
unit 90 by row unit dividers 100. Row unit cover 150 lifts and
separates the corn plants.
[0047] FIG. 2 shows a top isolated view of the ear separation
chamber 140 with row crop divider 100 and more particularly the
gathering chains 120 and stalk rolls 190 of the corn row unit as
typically found in the prior art. The power to drive this corn head
row unit arrangement is provided from a main drive shaft through a
gearbox 160 as described in the prior art. See U.S. Pat. No.
3,462,928.
[0048] FIG. 3 shows the side view of a row unit 90 found in the
prior art from view A-A found in FIG. 1. The stalk rolls 190 are
typically powered by a gearbox 160. In FIG. 4 as the stalk rolls
190 rotate, the flutes on the stalk rolls 180 contact the sidewalls
of the lower portion of the corn stalk 330 and pull the corn stalk
downward. Two stripper plates 130 located above the stalk rolls 190
and on both sides of the row of corn are spaced wide enough to
allow the corn plant to pass between them but narrow enough to
retain the ear of corn 300 containing the kernels of corn or grain.
This causes the ears of corn 300 to be separated from the corn
plant as it is pulled downward through the stripping plates 130.
The stalk rolls 190 continue to rotate ejecting the unwanted
portions of the corn plant below the corn head 80 thereby returning
the unwanted corn stalk portions to the field. The gathering chain
paddles 110 contact the ears of corn 300 and convey them to the
cross auger trough 200. Where cross auger 220 conveys the ears of
corn 300 towards the center of the corn head 80 for further
conveyance through the combine feeder house and into the threshing
area of the combine.
[0049] FIGS. 4-6 show an exploded cut-away view of the ear
separation process as taught by the prior art from view B-B found
in FIG. 1. In these drawings, the row unit cover 150 and a portion
of the stripper plate 130 have been removed to allow a better
representation of the process. FIG. 4 shows the corn row unit 80 of
the prior art engaged with a corn plant. As shown by FIGS. 3 and 4
of the prior art, the corn plant first enters the stalk rolls 190
through the transport vanes 170 at the ends of the stalk rolls 190.
The stalk roll flutes 180 contact the lower portion of the corn
plant stalk 330 and begin to pull the corn plant stalk down towards
the stripper plates 130. At the same time the gathering chain
paddles 110 also enter the row unit 90.
[0050] In FIG. 5 the corn plant stalk is simultaneously moving both
laterally and vertically. As taught by the prior art, a substantial
number of corn plant stalks typically reach the end of the stalk
rolls 190 before the stalk roll 190 has consumed the upper portion
of the corn plant stalk 325 above the ear 300. The corn plant stalk
hits row unit shear point 135 effectively stopping or restricting
the lateral movement of the corn plant stalk and positions the
upper portion of the corn plant stalk 325 to be sheared along with
the corn plant ear 300 by the gathering chain paddles 110.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, when the lateral movement of the corn
plant stalk has stopped at the end of the ear separation chamber
140, the gathering chain paddle 110 moves into contact with and
shears off the upper portion of the corn plant stalk 325 while the
corn plant ear 300 is still attached to the corn plant stalk 325.
Both the upper portion of the corn plant stalk 325 and the corn
plant ear 300 are then conveyed into the cross auger trough 200. As
shown in drawings 4-6, the corn stalk point of restricted movement
in the ear separation chamber 140 is defined as row unit shear
point 135. Contact between the upper portion of corn stalks 325 and
the row unit shear point 135 increases the amount of material other
than ears (MOTE) that must be processed by the combine, reducing
separation efficiencies and increasing horsepower requirements.
[0052] FIGS. 7-9 shows a similar sequence of events for the present
invention with an improved result. FIG. 7 shows the side view of
the improved row unit 90 powered by a gearbox 160. As the stalk
rolls 190 rotate, the flutes on the stalk rolls 180 contact the
sidewalls of the lower portion of the corn plant stalk 330 and
upper portion of the corn plant stalk 325 downward. The gathering
chain paddles 110 enter the ear separation chamber 140 at a lower
velocity than in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 8, the rotation of
the stalk rolls 190 pulls the corn plant stalk down towards the
stripper plates 130 with less interference from the slower speed
gathering chain paddles 110 allowing the ear of corn 300 to
separate from the corn plant. After ear separation the integrity of
the corn plant stalk is substantially maintained so that both the
upper portion 325 and lower portion of the corn plant stalk 330 are
processed through the stalk rolls 190. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
the gathering chain paddles 110 are substantially for engagement
and conveyance of the corn plant ear 300 through the ear separation
chamber 140 and to auger trough 200. In operation, substantially
fewer corn stalks contact the row unit shear point 135 and the
gearbox 160 at the end of the ear separation chamber 140 thereby
reducing the incidence of the corn stalk shear which reduces MOTE
and increases separation efficiencies.
[0053] FIG. 10 provides a final view of the present invention and
presents all three steps of the ear separation process as described
in FIGS. 7-9 in one view. As in FIGS. 7-9 the row unit covers 150
and row unit dividers 100 have been removed from the drawings to
allow a better view of the process and do not represent a change to
the equipment or process. In this particular figure, the invention
is applied to a dual gathering chain 120 system. The figure shows
the corn plants entering the stalk rolls 190 from the left side of
the figure and reflect the pre-ear separation step. The next corn
plants to the right in the figure represent corn plants in the ear
separation process. The post-ear separation process is represented
both by the upper portion of the stalk 325 barely visible above the
stripper plate 130 and row unit shear point 135. Throughout the
process of the invention, contact between the corn plant stalk and
gathering chain paddles 110 is minimized. The slower speed
gathering chain paddles 110 primarily contact ears 300 separated
from the corn plant stalks for conveyance to the cross auger 220
and combine harvester reducing the possibility that a gathering
chain paddle 110 will push into the upper portion of the corn plant
stalk 325 and produce a shearing of the stalk against either the
gearbox 160 or row unit shear point 135.
[0054] Having described the preferred embodiment, other features of
the present invention will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the
art, as will numerous modifications and alterations in the
embodiments of the invention illustrated, all of which may be
achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *