Independent drum drive system for a cotton harvester row unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10219436-B2
Application number	US-201615281153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A picking unit of a cotton harvester row unit includes a drum rotatable about an axis and a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton. The plurality of spindles is coupled to the drum. A first drive unit rotatably drives the plurality of spindles. A second drive unit produces electrical power to drive a drive shaft. An output gear is coupled to the drive shaft, and a drum drive gear is coupled to the output gear. The drum drive gear rotatably drives the drum such that the output gear operably transfers power from the drive shaft to the drum drive gear. The drum is operably controlled independently of the plurality of spindles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A picking unit of a cotton harvester row unit, comprising:
a drum rotatable about an axis;
a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton, the plurality of spindles coupled to the drum;
a first drive unit for rotatably driving the plurality of spindles;
a second drive unit for producing electrical power;
a drive shaft electrically driven by the second drive unit;
an output gear coupled to the drive shaft; and
a drum drive gear coupled to the output gear and rotatably driving the drum, where the output gear operably transfers power from the drive shaft to the drum drive gear;
wherein, the drum is operably controlled independently of the plurality of spindles;
further wherein, the second drive unit comprises an inverter and an electric motor, wherein the inverter operably receives an input from the electric motor related to either torque or speed during a picking operation, the inverter operably compares the input to a torque limit threshold or a speed limit threshold, and the inverter detects a plugged or torque overload condition when the input exceeds the torque limit threshold or speed limit threshold.

2. The picking unit of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of doffers rotatably driven by the first drive unit.

3. The picking unit of claim 1 , further comprising a second drum rotatable about a second axis and spaced from the first drum, the second drum being rotatably driven by the second drive unit.

4. The picking unit of claim 3 , wherein the second drum is mechanically coupled to the first drum.

5. The picking unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second drum rotatable about a second axis and spaced from the first drum;
a third drive unit for producing electrical power;
a second drive shaft electrically driven by the third drive unit;
a second output gear coupled to the second drive shaft; and
a second drum drive gear coupled to the second output gear and rotatably driving the second drum, where the second output gear operably transfers power from the second drive shaft to the second drum drive gear;
wherein, the second drum is operably controlled independently of the plurality of spindles.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Goering Kevin J
• Schreiner Joel M
• Oenick John N

Classifications

• A01D46/085 Primary

  Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for cotton harvesters · CPC title

• A01D69/025

  Electric hybrid systems · CPC title

• A01D46/081

  with harvesters characterised by transversally adjustable row units · CPC title

• A01D69/06

  Gearings · CPC title

• A01D69/02

  electric · CPC title