Pickup unit with a windrow conditioning roll for an agricultural baler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028438-B2
Application number	US-201615088769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2016
Priority date	Apr 3, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A pickup unit for an agricultural baler. The pickup unit includes a frame; a pickup roll carried by the frame; and a windrow conditioning roll carried by the frame and positioned in front of the pickup roll when in an operating position. The windrow conditioning roll includes a center core and a pair of counter-rotating flightings surrounding the center core. The counter-rotating flightings are connected together in a manner such that wrapping of crop material around the windrow conditioning roll is inhibited.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pickup unit for an agricultural baler, the pickup unit comprising:
a frame;
a pickup roll carried by the frame; and
a windrow conditioning roll carried by the frame and positioned in front of the pickup roll when in an operating position, the windrow conditioning roll comprising a center core and a pair of counter-rotating flightings surrounding the center core,
wherein each of the counter-rotating flightings has a laterally inner end,
wherein the laterally inner end of one of the counter-rotating flightings extends longitudinally past the laterally inner end of another of the counter-rotating flightings, such that the counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other; and
wherein the laterally inner end of the one of the counter-rotating flightings is directly connected with the other of the counter-rotating flightings.

2. The pickup unit of claim 1 , wherein the laterally inner end of the other of the counter-rotating flightings is directly connected with the one of the counter-rotating flightings.

3. The pickup unit of claim 1 , wherein the laterally inner end of the one of the counter-rotating flightings is connected with the other of the counter-rotating flightings at a first connection, and the laterally inner end of the other of the counter-rotating flightings is connected with the one of the counter-rotating flightings at a second connection, wherein the first and second connections are on opposite sides of the center core.

4. The pickup unit of claim 1 , wherein the laterally inner end of the one of the counter-rotating flightings is metallurgically bonded with the other of the counter-rotating flightings, and the laterally inner end of the other of the counter-rotating flightings is metallurgically bonded with the one of the counter-rotating flightings.

5. The pickup unit of claim 1 , wherein each of the counter-rotating flightings has a pitch defining a complete revolution of the each counter-rotating flighting, and wherein the counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other a predetermined portion of a revolution.

6. The pickup unit of claim 5 , wherein the counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other for approximately half of the revolution of each of the counter-rotating flightings.

7. The pickup unit of claim 6 , wherein the counter-rotating flightings have a combined overlap with each other of approximately a complete revolution.

8. The pickup unit of claim 5 , wherein the counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other in a neutral region in which the counter-rotating flightings move crop material in opposite directions.

9. The pickup unit of claim 8 , wherein the neutral region has a width extending in a longitudinal direction of the windrow conditioning roll, the width depending on an extent of overlap of the counter-rotating flightings.

10. The pickup unit of claim 1 , wherein the counter-rotating flightings are connected together with an absence of any hooked arrangement which would cause wrapping of crop material around the windrow conditioning roll.

11. A pickup unit for an agricultural baler, the pickup unit comprising:
a frame;
a pickup roll carried by the frame; and
a windrow conditioning roll carried by the frame and positioned in front of the pickup roll when in an operating position, the windrow conditioning roll comprising a center core and first and second counter-rotating flightings surrounding the center core,
wherein each of the first and second counter-rotating flightings has a laterally inner end,
wherein the laterally inner end of the first counter-rotating flighting extends longitudinally past the laterally inner end of the second counter-rotating flighting, such that the first and second counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other; and
wherein the laterally inner end of the first counter-rotating flighting is directly connected with the second counter-rotating flighting.

12. The pickup unit of claim 11 , wherein the laterally inner end of the second counter-rotating flighting is directly connected with the first counter-rotating flighting.

13. The pickup unit of claim 11 , wherein the laterally inner end of the first counter-rotating flighting is connected with the second counter-rotating flighting at a first connection, and the laterally inner end of the second counter-rotating flighting is connected with the first counter-rotating flighting at a second connection, wherein the first and second connections are on opposite sides of the center core.

14. The pickup unit of claim 11 , wherein the laterally inner end of the first counter-rotating flighting is metallurgically bonded with the second counter-rotating flighting, and the laterally inner end of the second counter-rotating flighting is metallurgically bonded with the first counter-rotating flighting.

15. The pickup unit of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second counter-rotating flightings has a pitch defining a complete revolution of the each counter-rotating flighting, and wherein the first and second counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other a predetermined portion of a revolution.

16. The pickup unit of claim 15 , wherein the first and second counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other for approximately half of the revolution of each of the first and second counter-rotating flightings.

17. The pickup unit of claim 16 , wherein the first and second counter-rotating flightings have a combined overlap with each other of approximately a complete revolution.

18. The pickup unit of claim 15 , wherein the first and second counter-rotating flightings overlap with each other in a neutral region in which the first and second counter-rotating flightings move crop material in opposite directions.

19. The pickup unit of claim 18 , wherein the neutral region has a width extending in a longitudinal direction of the windrow conditioning roll, the width depending on an extent of overlap of the first and second counter-rotating flightings.

20. The pickup unit of claim 11 , wherein the first and second counter-rotating flightings are connected together with an absence of any hooked arrangement which would cause wrapping of crop material around the windrow conditioning roll.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Boone Wouter
• Claeys Danny

Classifications

• A01D89/002 Primary

  Rotors · CPC title

• B65G65/46

  using screw conveyors · CPC title

• A01F15/0825

  Regulating or controlling density or shape of the bale · CPC title

• A01D89/007

  Devices for preparing the picking-up of the windrow · CPC title

• B65G33/00

  Screw or rotary spiral conveyors · CPC title