Chopper mechanism for stalked crop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10076082-B2
Application number	US-201615019316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A chopper mechanism for chopping stalk-like plant wherein the chopper mechanism includes a plurality of chopping elements that are removably mounted on the pair of chopper drums via associated holders. The chopping elements are mounted on the chopper drums circumferentially spaced apart and define a predetermined radial angle (α) therebetween. Each of the chopping elements having a pair of substantially parallel cutting edges spaced apart by substantially parallel mounting surfaces. One of the cutting edges is selectively engaged in the chopping while the other cutting edge is enclosed within the holder. The parallel cutting edge of the chopping elements facilitates in reversing each chopping element depending on the degree of abrasion of the cutting edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chopper mechanism for chopping stalk plants, the chopper mechanism comprising:
a plurality of chopping elements having a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel cutting edges and planar mounting surfaces, each of the cutting edges being along at least one of the mounting surfaces, each of the cutting edges being selectively engaged in chopping;
a plurality of chopper drums defined by a plurality of positioning provisions circumferentially spaced apart; and
at least one holder cooperating with each of the positioning provisions, the holder defining a profiled recess to removably mount the chopping element there within via the mounting surfaces along a mounting plane (A), at least one of the cutting edges adapted to be enclosed within the holder,
wherein, with respect to each of the chopper drums, the chopping elements are spaced circumferentially about that chopper drum to define a predetermined radial angle (a) therebetween, and
wherein each chopping element comprises:
a first end and a second end, between which the cutting edges of the chopping element extend lengthwise of the chopping element;
each chopping element comprises a mounting recess extending from the first end of the chopping element toward the center of the chopping element and through the chopping element, from one mounting surface to the other mounting surface.

2. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the chopping elements are defined with a support complementing a seat defined within the holder, the support adapted to be at least one of an integrally formed structure and a discretely formed structure.

3. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the holder and the positioning provisions are at least one of integrally formed or discreetly formed.

4. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each of the cutting edges of the chopping elements define at least one of an obtuse angle and an acute angle to the mounting surfaces.

5. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined radial angle (α) is in the range of 0 degrees to 120 degrees.

6. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the selective engagement of each of the cutting edges correspond to a degree of abrasion of the cutting edges, the chopping elements are adapted to chop the stalk plants into predetermined sized billets.

7. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a set of the chopping elements are arranged in at least one of an inline configuration and a staggered configuration, a plurality of the set of chopping elements being adapted to be circumferentially arranged on the chopper drums, defining the predetermined radial angle (α) therebetween.

8. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each of the chopper drums are arranged along respective substantially parallel rotational axis (X-X, Y-Y), the chopping elements associated with at least one of the chopper drums being adapted to pinchingly chop the stalk plants in a chopping operation.

9. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the chopping elements are arranged on each of the chopper drums in at least one of an inline configuration and a staggered configuration, the cutting edge being adapted to define a cutting plane substantially perpendicular to the mounting plane (A).

10. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the chopping elements of each of the chopper drums are engaged with a complementary chopping element mounted on a surface complementary to the chopping drums for chopping the stalk plants, the chopping elements are mounted within the holder with at least one of a fastener, a dowel, a wedge arrangement, and a spring-loaded arrangement.

11. The chopper mechanism of claim 2 , wherein each support is configured as a lip.

12. The chopper mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the lip is positioned within the holder such that, when the chopping element is inserted in the holder, the cutting edge positioned within the profiled recess is restricted from contacting any surface of the chopper drum.

13. The chopper mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the lip extends outwardly from one of the mounting surfaces.

14. The chopper mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each chopping element defines a central plane, the cutting edges of the chopping element are positioned on radially opposite sides of the central plane relative to a rotational axis of one of the chopper drums, and the cutting edges are asymmetrical about the central plane.

15. The chopping mechanism of claim 1 comprising a plurality of mounting devices, wherein the at least one holder comprises a plurality of holders, each mounting device extends through a respective one of the holders and the mounting recess of a respective one of the chopping elements.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Fattepur Surfraj
• Burch Guy

Classifications

• A01F29/095

  Mounting or adjusting of knives · CPC title

• A01F29/06 Primary

  having rotating knives with their cutting edges on a cylinder surface, e.g. of the helical-type · CPC title

• A01D45/10 Primary

  of sugar cane {(for digging sugar cane A01D31/00)} · CPC title

• A01D43/08

  with means for cutting up the mown crop {, e.g. forage harvesters} · CPC title