U.S. patent number RE31,064 [Application Number 06/184,599] was granted by the patent office on 1982-10-26 for adjustable width row crop header.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sperry Corporation. Invention is credited to Joe E. Shriver.
United States Patent |
RE31,064 |
Shriver |
October 26, 1982 |
Adjustable width row crop header
Abstract
A multi-row crop header for a harvesting machine has a plurality
of fore-and-aft extending row crop units, each having an elongated
passageway with a front inlet opening and a rear discharge opening.
The row crop units are pivotally mounted such that they can be
swung toward and away from one another so as to vary the lateral
distance between the inlet openings of adjacent units to thereby
accommodate crops planted in various width row spacings.
Inventors: |
Shriver; Joe E. (New Holland,
PA) |
Assignee: |
Sperry Corporation (New
Holland, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
26880303 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/184,599 |
Filed: |
September 5, 1980 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
714534 |
Aug 16, 1976 |
04086749 |
May 2, 1978 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
56/98; 56/106;
56/14.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D
43/082 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01D
43/08 (20060101); A01D 43/00 (20060101); A01D
014/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;56/14.2-14.6,51-119 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hirsch; Paul J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miller; Larry W. Seemar; Frank
A.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. A multi-row crop header for a harvesting machine comprising:
(a) a frame;
(b) a plurality of fore-and-aft row crop units adaptable to receive
respective rows of crop as the machine advances forwardly over a
field of crop planted in spaced apart rows, each row crop unit
having an elongated passageway with a front inlet opening for
receiving a row of crop and a rear discharge opening.Iadd., said
elongated passageway being defined by a channel member extending
between said front inlet opening and said rear discharge opening;
.Iaddend.
(c) means for pivotally mounting each row crop unit individually on
said frame for .[.laterally.]. .Iadd.lateral .Iaddend.movement
relative to the forward direction of travel whereby the lateral
spacing between said front inlet openings of said respective row
crop units may be varied to receive rows of crop planted in a
plurality of different row widths .[.and.]..Iadd., said means for
mounting including a mounting bracket affixed to said frame, each
said channel member having a rearward end adjacent to the
corresponding rear discharge opening, said rearward end of each
said channel member being pivotally attached to the corresponding
mounting bracket.Iaddend.;
(d) means for fastening said respective row crop units in a
plurality of laterally spaced positions corresponding to said
plurality of different row widths.[...]..Iadd.;
(e) gathering means associated with each of said row crop units for
conveying crop rearwardly toward said rear discharge opening, said
gathering means including a pair of drive sprockets, a pair of
driven sprockets and a pair of idler sprockets, said drive
sprockets being rotatably mounted on said frame and being disposed
on opposite sides of each of said elongated passageways proximate
to said rear discharge opening, said drive sprockets being mounted
in a fixed position relative to said frame, said driven sprockets
being mounted on opposite sides of each of said elongated
passageways adjacent said front inlet opening, each said gathering
means further including a pair of flexible elements operable
positioned on opposing sides of said elongated passageway, each
said flexible element cooperating with the corresponding drive
sprocket, driven sprocket and idler sprocket to engage crop
material and convey it rearwardly along said passageway; and
(f) drive means for powering said drive sprockets. .Iaddend.
.[.
2. A multi-row crop header as described in claim 1, further
comprising gathering means associated with each of said row crop
units, said gathering means including a pair of drive sprockets, a
pair of driven sprockets and a pair of idler sprockets, said drive
sprockets being mounted on said frame and being disposed on
opposite sides of each of said elongated passageways adjacent the
discharge openings, said driven sprockets being mounted on opposite
sides of said elongated passageways adjacent said inlet openings,
said gathering means further including a pair of gathering chains,
each chain being entraned around one of said drive sprockets and
one of said driven sprockets and further around one of said idler
sprockets..].
3. A multi-row crop header as described in claim 1, wherein said
idler sprockets are yieldably mounted so as to maintain a driving
relationship between said drive sprockets and said driven sprockets
as each of said row crop units is pivotably moved on said frame.
.[.4. A multi-row crop header as described in claim 1, wherein said
frame includes a front transverse frame member and a rear
transverse frame member, said row crop units being pivotally
mounted on said rear transverse frame member and said fastening
being operable for fastening said row crop unit to said front
transverse frame member at a plurality of spaced apart
positions..]. .[.5. A multi-row crop header for a harvesting
machine adapted to harvest rows of crop, said header
comprising:
(a) a plurality of generally fore-and-aft extending row crop units
each having an elongated passageway adapted to receive one of a
plurality of rows of crop planted in a predetermined row width;
(b) each of said row crop units being individually mounted about a
vertical axis for separately pivoting said unit in a generally
horizontal plane; and
(c) means for separately fastening each of said row crop units in
any one of a plurality of pivotally displaced positions whereby the
elongated passageway of each row unit it adapted to receive one of
a plurality of rows of crop planted in a row width different from
said predetermined row width..]. .[.6. The multi-row crop header as
described in claim 5 wherein said header includes a frame having a
front transverse member and a rear transverse member, said row crop
units being pivotally mounted at one end to said rear transverse
frame member..]. .[.7. The multi-row crop as described in claim 6
further comprising means for separately fastening said row crop
units at a plurality of spaced apart positions along said front
transverse frame member..]. .Iadd. 8. The multi-row crop header of
claim 3 wherein the pivot attaching each respective said channel
member to said mounting bracket is selectively laterally
positionable. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. The multi-row crop header of claim
8 wherein each said mounting bracket includes a slot-shaped hole
therein for receiving said pivot for selective lateral movement
therewithin, said pivot including means for locking said pivot into
a selected position within said slot-shaped hole. .Iaddend..Iadd.
10. The multi-row header of claim 8 wherein said frame includes a
front transverse member and a rear transverse member, said mounting
brackets being affixed to said rear transverse member.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 11. The multi-row header of claim 10 wherein said
front transverse frame member includes a plurality of holes
therein, each said row unit having at least one opening therein
alignable with at least one of said holes in said front transverse
frame member, said means for fastening including a locking member
cooperable with said at least one opening and any hole aligned
therewith to lock said row unit into a fixed position relative to
said front transverse frame member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. A
multi-row header for a mobile harvesting machine comprising:
a frame including a first transversely extending member;
least two fore-and-aft extending row crop units, each row crop
having a front inlet opening, a rear discharge opening and a
generally longitudinally extending channel member defining a
passageway between said front inlet opening and said rear discharge
opening, each row crop unit being operable to harvest a row of crop
material,
means for pivotally mounting each said row crop unit for
independent lateral movement such that each said front inlet
opening can be selectively positioned relative to an adjacent front
inlet opening to accommodate row crops planted in various row
widths without lateral displacement of said rear discharge opening,
said means for mounting including a mounting bracket affixed to
said first transverse frame member, each said channel member having
a rearward end proximate to the corresponding said rear discharge
opening, each respective said rearward end being pivotally attached
to the corresponding mounting bracket;
means for separately fastening each said row crop unit in any one
of a plurality of pivotally displaced positions corresponding to
said various row crop spacings;
gathering means corresponding to each said row crop unit for
conveying crop material along said passageway toward said rear
discharge opening; and
drive means for powering each said gathering means, said drive
means including a plurality of drive shafts connected to said
gathering means, said drive shafts being rotatably mounted on said
frame in a fixed relationship to said first transverse frame
member. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The multi-row header of claim 12
wherein each said channel member has a U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The multi-row header of claim 12
wherein each said gathering means includes a pair of drive
sprockets, a pair of driven sprockets, a pair of idler sprockets
and a pair of flexible elements, each said flexible element being
entrained around one of said driven sprockets, one of said idler
sprockets and one of said drive sprockets in a driving relationship
therewith, said flexible elements further being disposed on
opposite sides of said elongated passageway and at least partially
operable therewithin to convey crop material rearwardly toward said
rear discharge opening, each of said drive sprockets being affixed
to a corresponding drive shaft in a fixed relationship to said
first transverse frame member. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The multi-row
header of claim 14 wherein said idler sprockets are yieldably
mounted so as to maintain a driving relationship between said drive
sprockets and said driven sprockets. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The
multi-row header of claim 15 wherein the pivot attaching each
respective said channel member to the corresponding said mounting
bracket is selectively laterally positionable. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a row crop header for a
forage harvester, and, more particularly, to a multi-row crop
header having a plurality of row units which can be adjusted to
accommodate crops planted in various row widths.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is common practice for farmers to plant row crops such as corn,
maize, sorghum etc. in different row widths according to
established farming practices and to the preference of the
individual farmer. Consequently, it is advantageous for multi-row
crop headers for harvesting machines to be capable of accommodating
these various row width references.
Multi-row crop headers having means for changing the row spacing
between the multi-row crop units so as to accommodate such
variations in row width spacing have been known heretofore such as
disclosed and illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,936,760; 3,271,940;
3,520,121; 3,785,130 and 3,365,867; 3,400,524; 3,496,708; and
3,528,234. The headers disclosed in these patents are adaptable to
different row widths by either transversely sliding the separate
row crop units toward and away from one another to vary the row
spacing therebetween in the case of the headers illustrated in some
of these patents or by attaching guide components thereto to
accommodate for the various row spacings as shown in some of the
other patents.
However, these prior art devices are complex, inconvenient for the
operator to adjust, troublesome and expensive in their structure
and in the amount of time required for making the necessary row
width adjustments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention obviates the disadvantages associated with
the prior art devices by providing an improved multi-row crop
header having a plurality of row crop units which may be pivoted
toward and away from one another in order to change the spacing
therebetween in conformity with various row crop widths.
Accordingly, the present invention sets forth a multi-row crop
header for a harvesing machine, the header including a frame and a
plurality of fore-and-aft row crop units adaptable to receive
respective rows of crop as the machine advances forwardly over a
field of crop planted in spaced apart rows. Each of the row crop
units have an elongated passageway with a front inlet opening for
receiving a row of crop and a rear discharge opening.
The row crop units are pivotally mounted on the frame for pivotal
lateral movement of the row units toward and away from one another
such that the lateral spacing between the adjacent inlet openings
can be varied to thereby accommodate crops planted in various row
widths.
The header further includes means for fastening the row crop units
in a plurality of spaced row crop positions.
The present invention is also directed to the method of adjusting
the row spacing between a plurality of fore-and-aft extending row
crop units of a multi-row crop header to thereby accommodate the
harvest of crops planted in various row widths. The method of
adjusting the row spacing broadly comprises the steps of pivotally
mounting one end of the row crop units on a transverse frame
member, pivotally moving each of the row crop units toward and away
from one another so as to adjust the lateral distance between the
front inlet openings of adjacent row crop units, and fastening the
row crop units in one of a plurality of row crop width
positions.
Other advantages and attainments of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative
embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the course of the following detailed description, reference will
be frequently made to the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-row crop header embodying the
invention and being shown in its wide row width configuration.
FIG. 2 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 1, of the multi-row crop
header but depicted in its narrow row width configuration.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the header of FIG. 1
as seen along section line 3--3.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the header with the sheet metal
fenders removed to more clearly see the structure of the row crop
units, the right unit being disposed in the narrow row position
whereas the left row unit is displaced in the wide row
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, right hand and left hand references
are determined by standing at the rear of the machine and facing in
the direction of forward travel. Also, in the following
description, it is to be understood that such terms as "forward,"
"left," "upwardly," etc., are words of convenience and are not to
be construed as limiting terms.
HEADER FRAME
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a multi-row crop
header, being indicated generally by the numeral 10, incorporating
the principles of the present invention. The header 10 includes a
frame having a rear transverse frame member 12, a front transverse
frame member 14 and a pair of spaced apart fore-and-aft extending
support legs 16,18 which connect the front frame member 14 to the
rear frame member 12.
Secured to the front face of the rear transverse frame member 12 is
a pair of spaced apart mounting brackets 20,22, (best seen in FIGS.
3 and 4) the purpose for which will be discussed shortly.
Secured to the rear face of the rear transverse frame member 12 is
a pair of conventional attaching brackets 24,26 for attaching the
header 10 to a harvesting machine, such as a forage harvester or
the like.
ROW CROP UNITS
Pivotally supported on the rear transverse frame member 12 is a
pair of fore-and-aft extending row crop units 28,30, each having an
elongated passageway with respective front inlet openings 32,34 and
respective rear discharge openings, 36,38. As best seen in FIG. 4,
the row crop units 28,30 are each of a lobster claw configuration
formed by respective elongated channel members 40,42 with
respective inner and outer box-shaped structures 44,46 and 48,50
secured to the forward portion of the inner and outer walls of the
respective channel members 40,42. The channel members 40,42 are
pivotally attached at one end thereof to the respective mounting
brackets 20,22 by bolts 52,54 that passes through holes defined in
the bottom wall of the channel members and corresponding slots
defined in the top surface of the respective brackets 20,22. On the
underside of the brackets 20,22, securing nuts 53 are threaded on
the respective bolts to retain the members 40,42 and thus the row
crop units 28,30 on the respective mounting brackets 20,22. The
elongated channel members 40,42 extend generally fore-and-aft and
define the aforementioned respective passageways between the front
inlet openings 32,34 and the rear discharge openings 36,38 thereof
with depressions formed in the rear transverse frame member 12
serving as extensions of the rear discharge openings.
Operably associated with each of the row crop units 28,30 are
severing means for severing the crop from the ground as the crop
enters the inlet openings 32,34 of the respective aforementioned
passageways and gathering means for conveying the severed crop
rearwardly along the passageways to the respective discharge
openings 36,38. The components of the severing means and the
gathering means associated with the left row crop unit 28 are
identical to those components associated with the right row crop
unit 30, but are reversed as to their relative locations.
Therefore, for the sake of brevity and convenience, only the
severing and gathering components associated with the left row crop
unit 28 will be described in detail.
Now, in particular reference to FIG. 4, the severing means
preferably is in the form of two rotary discs 56,58 being disposed
within the inlet opening 32 in an overlapping relationship to sever
the crop as it enters the respective passageway. More specifically,
the disc 56 is supported on the lower end of shaft 60 and disc 58
is supported in the lower end of shaft 62. Shaft 60 is journalled
for rotation within a suitable bearing supported on the outer
box-shaped structure 48 whereas shaft 62 is journalled for rotation
within a suitable bearing supported on the inner box-shaped
structure 44.
In still referring to FIG. 4, the gathering means includes outer
and inner gathering chains 64,66 respectively disposed along the
outboard and inboard sides of the left aforementioned passageway
defined by channel member 40. The outer chain 64 is entrained
around drive sprocket 68, driven sprocket 70 and idler sprocket 72
whereas the inner chain 66 is entrained around corresponding drive
sprocket 74, driven sprocket 76 and idler sprocket 78. The drive
sprockets 68,74 are supported on the upper ends of respective
shafts 80,82 which are journalled within suitable bearings
supported on rear transverse frame member 12. The driven sprockets
70,76 are supported on the upper ends of respective shafts 60,62.
The idler sprockets 72,78 are supported within spring biased
brackets 84,86 secured to the respective outer and inner box-shaped
structures 48,44. The common function of the idler sprockets 72,78
is to take up the slack in respective chains 64,66 and thereby,
maintain driving relationships between the chains 64,66 and their
respective drive and driven sprockets 68,74 and 70,76. In order to
fulfill these functions, the sprockets 72,78 are yieldable in a
generally fore-and-aft direction as the respective row crop units
28,30 are pivoted in a horizontal plane about the vertical axes of
bolts 52,54.
The header 10 is further provided with left and right outboard
dividers or fenders 88,90 and a center divider 92 which is
adjustable in width as the row units 28,30 are swung toward and
away from one another to vary the row width spacing. The outboard
fenders 88,90 are sheet metal fabrications of well known
construction, sloping upwardly and rearwardly from the front to the
rear of the header 10. The left outboard fender 88, associated with
row unit 28, mates with the top edge of the outer wall of channel
member 40 and the right outboard fender 90, associated with row
unit 30, mates with the top edge of the outer wall of channel
member 42. Respective pointed snouts 94,96 are mounted on the front
of the outboard dividers 88,90 so as to ride along the ground
between the planted rows as the header 10 advances forwardly over a
field. Mounted on the adjacent inner sides of the respective
outboard dividers 88,90, adjacent the rear ends thereof, are a pair
of throat plates 98,100 projecting outwardly therefrom and defining
the discharge throat area of the header 10.
The center divider 92 is also of a sheet metal fabrication
comprised of a center pointed snout 102, front and rear sheet metal
panels 104,106 (associated with the respective passageway of row
unit 28) and front and rear sheet metal panels 108,110 (associated
with the respective passageway of row unit 30). As best seen in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the front panels 104,108 are disposed in an
overlapping relation and are provided with slots with fastening
elements extending therethrough to fasten the panels together.
Likewise, the rear panels 106,110 are disposed in an overlapping
relationship and are provided with slots and fastening elements to
hold them together. It is believed that a skilled artisan can
readily understand the structure and the operation of the sheet
metal panels 104-110 in the formation of the center divider 92.
Thus, it should suffice to say that as the row units 28,30 are
pivoted toward and away from one another, the corresponding front
and rear panels 104,108 and 106,110 scissor over one another in a
telescopic fashion to expand and contract the center divider 92 in
accordance with the lateral spacing between the row units
28,30.
DRIVE MEANS
The drive for the header 10 will now be discussed in reference to
FIGS. 3 and 4. The power for driving the various operating
components of the header 10 is transmitted from the harvester
machine to which the header 10 is to be attached through a chain
(not shown) entrained around a drive sprocket (not shown) on the
harvester machine and sprocket 112 supported on the left end of
transversely extending drive shaft 114. Drive shaft 114 extends
within transverse frame member 12 and supports vertical bevel gears
116 which driveably mate with horizontal bevel gears 118 supported
on the lower ends of shafts 80,82 that support drive sprockets
68,74. The drive is such that the chains 64,66 move rearwardly
along the elongated passageways and that the rotary discs 56,58 are
driven in opposite directions, inwardly toward the passageways.
ROW WIDTH ADJUSTING OPERATION
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the
header 10 may be adjusted to a plurality of row width spacings
between its wide row width spacing as shown in FIG. 1 and its
narrow row width spacing as shown in FIG. 2.
Due to the pivotal mounting of the row units 28,30, each one can be
pivoted or swung toward and away from one another so as to vary the
lateral spacing or distance between the inlet openings 32,34 while
the distance between the discharge openings 36,38 remains constant.
This row width adjustability feature readily adapts the header 10
for harvesting of crops planted in various predetermined row
widths.
The operation of adjusting the row width of the header 10 is a very
simple process in that the operator first loosens the fastening
elements that couple the front and rear sheet metal panels 104,108
and 106,110 together. He then removes the fastening bolts 120,122
which maintain the respective row units 28,30 in a predetermined
fore-and-aft disposition, the bolts being extended through holes
provided in the respective inner and outer box-shaped structures
44,46 and 48,50 and corresponding holes provided in the front
traverse frame member 14. The operator next moves or pivots the row
crop units 28,30 toward and away from one another to obtain the
desired spacing between the inlet openings 32,34. Once the desired
spacing is obtained, the operator inserts the fastening bolts
120,122 through the aforementioned holes and tightens the same to
secure and maintain the respective units 28,30 in their desired
fore-and-aft disposition and tightens the fastening elements on the
overlapping front and rear sheet metal panels 104-110.
It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it
will be apparent that various changes may be made in form,
construction and arrangement thereof without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its
material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a
preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.
* * * * *