Row unit for a corn head assembly having a top plate with a structured surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10130035-B2
Application number	US-201514937132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	Nov 10, 2015
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A row unit of a corn head assembly for an agricultural harvester capable of reducing grain loss is provided. The row unit includes a frame and first and second spaced apart row unit arms mounted to the frame, and a top plate. The top plate is positioned about a rear end of the frame and includes an outer surface having a retaining structure configured to inhibit a flow of grain in a forward direction along the outer surface.

First claim

We claim:

1. A row unit of a corn head assembly, comprising:
a frame;
first and second spaced apart row unit arms mounted to the frame, each row unit arm having a forward end and a rear end, each said row unit arm includes a gathering chain assembly having a drive sprocket about the rear end, a driven sprocket about the forward end, and an endless chain extending between the drive and driven sprockets; and
a top plate positioned about a rear end of the frame, the top plate including an outer surface having a structure configured to inhibit a flow of grain in a forward direction along the outer surface, wherein the structure includes a forward, linear portion extending parallel to and along a forward end of the top plate, and a pair of rearwardly extending, curved portions extending from the forward portion such that each said rearwardly extending curved portion extends along a path which corresponds to a respective travel path of said endless chains.

2. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the top plate extends across the rear end of the first and second row unit arms.

3. The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of spaced apart deck plates mounted to the frame and positioned adjacent a forward end of the top plate, and wherein the structure is an elongated structure that extends along the forward end of the top plate.

4. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the structure is an elongated structure.

5. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the structure is configured as at least one of a corrugation, a rib and a protrusion.

6. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the top plate includes a plurality of structures.

7. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the structure includes a sloped anterior extent and a vertical posterior extent.

8. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the structure is mounted to the top plate.

9. The row unit of claim 1 , wherein each row unit arm includes a gathering chain assembly having a drive sprocket about the rear end, a driven sprocket about the forward end, and an endless chain extending between the drive and driven sprockets, and wherein the structure is an elongated structure having: a curved first portion extending along a path adjacent a travel path of the endless chain of the first row unit arm, a curved second portion extending along a path adjacent a travel path of the endless chain of the second row unit arm; and a third portion extending along a forward end of the top plate.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Crow Brian Patrick
• Walker Eric L
• Gessel James Michael

Classifications

• A01D45/023

  Gathering chains of belts · CPC title

• A01D41/14 Primary

  Mowing tables · CPC title

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• A01D57/22 Primary

  for standing stalks · CPC title

• A01D45/021 Primary

  Cornheaders · CPC title