U.S. patent application number 11/583452 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for drawn cotton picker.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey Robert Fox, Daniel John Johannsen, Kent Cleo Mckee, Mark Samuel Philips.
Application Number | 20080092506 11/583452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39316572 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080092506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Philips; Mark Samuel ; et
al. |
April 24, 2008 |
DRAWN COTTON PICKER
Abstract
One or two conventional picking units are mounted on a
two-wheel, high clearance running gear or frame. A two-point hitch
is coupled to the draft links of a tractor or an equal-angle hitch
is coupled to the tractor drawbar. Hitch and tongue interface on
the harvester facilitates sharp turn angles between the implement
and the tractor through use of a pivoting member containing the
driveline powering the units from the tractor. A center pivot
tongue allows offset for appropriate row alignment and provides
improved maneuverability and implement steering on headlands and
turn rows. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the tongue or a
crossed four-bar linkage structure controls tongue angle. A basket
is supported at the rear of the frame and the row units are located
forwardly of the frame to provide counterbalancing forces about the
wheel axis.
Inventors: |
Philips; Mark Samuel;
(Grimes, IA) ; Fox; Jeffrey Robert; (Minburn,
IA) ; Johannsen; Daniel John; (Ankeny, IA) ;
Mckee; Kent Cleo; (Mingo, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEERE & COMPANY
ONE JOHN DEERE PLACE
MOLINE
IL
61265
US
|
Family ID: |
39316572 |
Appl. No.: |
11/583452 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
56/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 46/081 20130101;
A01D 46/082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
56/28 |
International
Class: |
A01D 46/08 20060101
A01D046/08 |
Claims
1. A cotton harvester adapted for forward movement over rows of
cotton plants by a towing vehicle, comprising: a support frame
including a main transverse beam having a horizontally extending
central portion and upright outer portions extending downwardly
from the central portion; first and second transversely spaced
wheels connected to lower ends of the outer portions for rotation
about an axis located below the horizontally extending central
portion, the wheels supporting the support frame above the ground;
an adjustable angle tongue having an aft end connected to the
support frame and a forward end with a towing vehicle connector; a
basket carried by the support frame rearwardly of the wheels, the
basket extending upwardly above the tongue rearwardly of the
central portion and rockable about a pivot located outwardly of the
tongue, and including basket support structure comprising upper
horizontal tubes having a forward ends connected to the central
portion and aft ends, lower transversely spaced diagonal tubes
extending forwardly and downwardly from the aft ends to connection
with the upright outer portions below the horizontal tube adjacent
the wheels to define a plant receiving area between the diagonal
tubes and below the main transverse beam; and at least one cotton
harvesting row unit connected to the support frame forwardly of the
wheels.
2. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 1 wherein the basket
is cantilevered rearwardly from the support frame, the row unit and
the basket tending to bias the support frame in opposite directions
about the wheels.
3. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame,
basket and the cotton harvesting row unit are supported above the
ground substantially entirely on the first and second wheels and
the tongue, and wherein the frame and the basket provide opposing
moments about the wheels.
4. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tongue
is pivotally connected to a central portion of the support frame
for pivoting about an upright axis.
5. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 4 including an angle
adjusting member connected between the frame and the tongue for
positively angling the tongue relative to the forward direction for
steering of the harvester and for positioning of the row unit
relative to the rows of cotton.
6. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 4 wherein the tongue
is supported above the row unit.
7. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 3 wherein the towing
connector comprises a vertically adjustable connector for adjusting
fore-and-aft angular orientation of the harvester generally about
an axis of the wheels.
8. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 7 wherein the basket
is cantilevered rearwardly from the frame.
9. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 4 wherein the basket
is pivotally connected to the frame for pivoting upwardly from a
working position about the pivot outwardly on one side of the
tongue and wherein the row unit is offset on a side of the tongue
opposite the one side to counterbalance weight of the basket as the
basket is pivoted upwardly.
10. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 1 including tongue
angle adjusting structure connected to the tongue for adjusting the
angle of the tongue about an upright axis relative to the main
frame.
11. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 10 wherein the
tongue angling structure includes a variable length member
connected between the frame and the tongue.
12. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 10 further
comprising a vertically adjustable row unit frame connected to the
support frame.
13. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 12 wherein the row
unit frame includes adjusting structure for tilting the row unit
relative to the support frame, and wherein the towing vehicle
connector is vertically adjustable for adjusting fore-and-aft
angular orientation of the harvester generally about an axis of the
wheels.
13. (canceled)
14. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 1 including a drive
extending between the forward end of the tongue and the cotton
harvesting row unit for powering the row unit and a conveying fan
located on the support frame and connected to the drive.
15. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 14 wherein the drive
comprises a right angle drive extending upwardly from the towing
vehicle connector and rearwardly adjacent the tongue.
16. A cotton harvester adapted for forward movement over a field of
cotton plants by a towing vehicle, comprising: a two wheel high
clearance running gear having first and second transversely spaced
wheels and a lowermost main transverse beam extending between the
transversely spaced wheels and offset above axes of the wheels to
provide plant clearance under the running gear; an adjustable angle
hitch having an aft end connected to the running gear and a forward
end with a vertically adjustable towing vehicle connector; a basket
extending above and rearwardly of the main transverse beam and
including a basket support structure carried by the support frame
substantially entirely behind the wheels, the basket support
structure comprising upper horizontal tubes having a forward ends
connected to the main transverse beam and aft ends, lower
transversely spaced diagonal tubes extending forwardly and
downwardly from the aft ends to connections with the main
transverse beam below the horizontal tubes adjacent the wheels to
define a plant receiving area between the diagonal tubes and below
the main transverse beam; and at least one cotton harvesting row
unit connected to the support frame forwardly of the wheels.
17. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 16 wherein the
basket is cantilevered rearwardly from the chassis, the row unit
and the basket tending to bias the support frame in opposite
directions about the wheels, wherein the first and second wheels
carry substantially all the weight of the basket and material in
the basket.
18. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 17 wherein the
towing connector is movable vertically to adjust the angle of the
harvester about an axis of the first and second wheels.
19. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 16 wherein the hitch
is pivotally connected to the running gear, and a hitch angle
adjusting assembly connected to the hitch for adjusting the angle
of the hitch relative to the chassis for steering the harvester
relative to the cotton plants.
20. The cotton harvester as set forth in claim 16 wherein the
wheels on the high clearance running gear comprise adjustable hub
structure for changing wheel tread.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to cotton harvesters
and, more specifically, to a tractor-drawn cotton picker
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Much of the world cotton crop is harvested by hand, and
cotton growers in many of the hand harvest regions are experiencing
scarcity of laborers and rising labor costs. Often the cotton
harvesting operations include a mix of hand labor and basic
mechanization. Most cotton growers in the hand harvest regions
cannot justify the capital required for self-propelled machines,
and available small to medium sized tractors have insufficient
capacity for a tractor-mounted harvester. Therefore, an efficient,
low-cost cotton harvester powered by a small row-crop tractor is
desirable to alleviate the burden of hand labor and shortage of
labor in the many harvest regions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In an embodiment of the invention, one or two conventional
picking units are mounted on a special two-wheel, high clearance
running gear. Tread spacing is adjustable for different row
spacing. A two-point hitch is coupled to the draft links of a
tractor or an equal-angle hitch is coupled to the tractor drawbar.
Hitch and tongue interface on the harvester facilitates sharp turn
angles between the implement and the tractor through use of a
pivoting member containing the driveline powering the units from
the tractor. An engine can be mounted on the implement to avoid the
driveline.
[0004] A center pivot tongue allows offset for appropriate row
alignment and provides improved maneuverability and implement
steering on headlands and turn rows. A hydraulic cylinder connected
to the tongue controls tongue angle, either automatically or
manually. Alternatively, a crossed four-bar linkage structure can
provide automatic steering that eliminates the need for an operator
to manually steer the implement on the headlands or on the row.
[0005] Conventional picking units are mounted on a lift arm and
frame structure. The frame structure provides adjustable unit
location and adjustable spacing when more than one unit is carried
on the running gear. The mounting also provides adjustable row unit
pitch. A conventional hydraulic/mechanical height control system
maintains each unit at the proper height above ground.
[0006] An air system conveys cotton from the picking units to a
basket mounted behind the two running gear wheels. The contents of
the basket can be conveniently unloaded into a trailer, accumulator
or other cotton receiver for bagging or further processing. The
basket is cantilevered rearwardly from the frame, and the forwardly
mounted row units and tongue offset the weight of a full basket to
provide a balanced full-basket condition.
[0007] These and other objects, feature and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the description below
in view of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towed cotton harvester and
towing vehicle.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the harvester and vehicle of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the harvester and vehicle of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the harvester
of FIG. 1 with parts removed to better show the support frame and
basket.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the row unit lift
frame for the harvester of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, therein is shown a cotton
harvester 10 having a main support frame or chassis 12. First and
second transversely spaced wheels 14 and 16 are mounted on the
frame 12 for rotation about an axis 16a located below a lowermost
transverse main frame beam 12a. Tongue or hitch structure 20 is
adjustably connected at an aft end to a central portion of the
frame 12. The hitch structure 20 extends forwardly to a connecting
end 22 adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle such as tractor
24 for forward movement over rows of cotton plants. The lowered
offset axle axis 16a, as best seen in FIG. 3, provides good plant
clearance under the main frame beam 12a.
[0014] A basket 26 is supported in cantilever fashion from the
frame 12 by a rearwardly extending basket support frame 28 having
upper horizontal tubes 30 and lower diagonal tubes 32 angling
downwardly and forwardly from the aft end of the harvester 10. The
forward end of each diagonal tube 32 is connected to the main
support frame 12 adjacent the corresponding wheel 14 or 16.
[0015] As shown, mast assemblies 36 and 38 extend upwardly and
outwardly from the main support frame 12 and the basket support
frame 28 and pivotally connect the basket 26 for pivoting about a
fore-and-aft extending basket axis 26a between a working position
(shown) and a raised dumping position by hydraulic cylinders.
[0016] One or two cotton picker row units 40 are supported
forwardly of the main frame 12 and forwardly of the wheels 14 and
16 generally below the hitch 20 by a unit support frame 42. The row
unit or units 40 are transversely adjustable on the unit support
frame 42 to accommodate different row spacings and different
harvester alignment positions relative to the cotton rows. As
shown, the row unit or units 40 are offset towards one side of the
centerline of the machine, and the basket axis 26a is offset
towards the opposite side of the centerline so that the row units
provide a counterbalance for the basket 26 as the basket is pivoted
outwardly about the axis 26a during unloading. Also, the row units
40 are located forwardly of the wheel axis 16a of the wheels 14 and
16, and the center of gravity of the basket 26 is located
rearwardly of the wheel axis to provide opposing counterbalance
forces or rotational moments about the axis to help balance the
machine fore-and-aft. The wheels 14 and 16 support most of the
weight of the harvester 10 and contents of the basket 26, and the
elongated hitch 20 maintains the desired angular position of the
harvester 10 relative to the rotational axis of the wheels 14 and
16. As shown, the tractor 24 includes a vertically adjustable
two-point hitch 44 which can be raised and lowered to change the
working and transport angles of the harvester 10 about the wheel
axis 16a. In addition, the row unit attitude can also be adjusted
by changing the angle of the unit support frame 42 as described in
detail below.
[0017] The wheels 14 and 16 include adjustment hubs 46 facilitating
changing the spacing of the wheels and the location of the wheels
relative to the frame 12. The aft end of the hitch structure 20 is
pivotally connected to an upright pivot post 50 (FIG. 4) for
rotation about an upright axis 50a. Hitch angle adjusting structure
52 positively controls the angle of the hitch structure 20 relative
to the frame 12 to help steer the harvester 10 relative to the rows
of cotton plants and to improve maneuverability and implement
steering on headlands and turn rows. As shown, a hydraulic cylinder
56 connected between the hitch structure and the frame 12 controls
tongue angle, either automatically or manually from a conventional
hydraulic control on the tractor 24. Alternatively, a crossed
four-bar linkage structure (not shown) or other mechanical steering
arrangement can be utilized to provide automatic steering that
eliminates the need for an operator to manually steer the implement
on the headlands or on the row.
[0018] Fan structure indicated generally at 60 provides a source of
air to air ducts 62. The ducts extend upwardly from the row unit or
units 40 and convey cotton from the units to an upper forward
cotton inlet 62 located rearwardly and above the right wheel
14.
[0019] Drive structure 70 is supported rearwardly of the hitch
structure 20 and is connected to a drive shaft 72 that extends
forwardly under a main fore-and-aft hitch beam 20b to an angle
drive 74. The angle drive 74 operably connects drive shaft 72 to a
tractor power take off 76 and facilitates pivoting of the forward
end of the hitch structure 20 about an upright axis 74a of the
angle drive. The drive structure 70 powers the fan structure 60 and
a row unit driveshaft 78 connected to harvesting structure on the
row units 40. Alternatively, an engine can be supported on the
frame 12 to drive the row units 40 and the fan structure 60.
[0020] The row unit support frame 42 is connected to forward ends
of lift arms 82. Aft ends of the lift arms 82 are pivotally
connected to the frame 12, and cylinder structure 86 is connected
between the lower portion of the frame 12 and the lift arms 82 to
raise and lower the frame 42. Turnbuckles 88 are connected between
the frame 12 and the support frame 42 to provide attitude control
for the row units 40. The frame 42 includes forward and aft
transverse rails 90 and 92 connected by end plates 94 and mast
structure 96 which, in turn is connected to the forward ends of the
lift arms 82 and the turnbuckles 88. The row units 40 depend from
and are movable along the rails 90 and 92 to adjust row spacing and
row unit placement relative to the frame 12 and wheels 14 and 16.
The adjustability of the row units along the frame 42, the
adjustability of the wheels 14 and 16 relative to the main support
frame 12, and the positive angular adjustability of the hitch
structure 20 provide the ability to accommodate a wide variety of
row spacings and patterns. Tractor wheels (see for example 102 and
104 of FIG. 3) and harvester frame wheels 14 and 16 can be
positioned as necessary to prevent crop and tire damage.
[0021] Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become
apparent that various modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *