Single fastener attachment for chopper knives

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10225992-B2
Application number	US-201514879162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2015
Priority date	Oct 9, 2015
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A chopper knife assembly for use by an agricultural harvester. The chopper knife assembly includes a mounting lug with a fulcrum, wedge, and counterwedge; and at least one bladed knife attached to the mounting lug between the wedge and counterwedge; the assembly is held in place by an attachment means. The bladed knives are able to pivot on the fulcrum of the mounting lug during use, thereby forcing the knife blades onto the counterwedges to provide a more secure retention means.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
a chassis;
a threshing and separating system for processing harvested material carried by the chassis; and
a straw chopper assembly downstream of the harvested material flow from the threshing and separating system, the straw chopper including at least one chopper knife assembly and a rotating shaft, the at least one chopper knife assembly being coupled to the rotating shaft, each chopper knife assembly having:
a mounting lug coupled to the rotating shaft and including a wedge with at least one opening;
at least one bladed knife component coupled to the mounting lug and including a tapered edge;
a counterwedge with at least one opening coupled to the at least one bladed knife component such that a portion of the bladed knife component contacts a respective portion of said at least one opening of the counterwedge; and
a fastener coupling the counterwedge to the mounting lug, wherein at least one of the at least one opening of the wedge and the at least one opening of the counterwedge is tapered for receiving the tapered edge of the at least one bladed knife component.

2. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the mounting lug includes at least one fulcrum.

3. The agricultural harvester of claim 2 , wherein the at least one bladed knife component includes a base in contact with the at least one fulcrum.

4. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening of the wedge or counterwedge is radiused for receiving a beveled edge of the at least one bladed knife component in a manner which prevents edge loading.

5. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a threaded bolt.

6. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the straw chopper includes a plurality of chopper knife assemblies, each of the chopper knife assemblies having two bladed knife components.

7. A chopper knife assembly for use on an agricultural harvester, the chopper knife assembly comprising:
a mounting lug including a wedge with at least one opening;
at least one bladed knife component coupled to the mounting lug and including a tapered edge;
a counterwedge with at least one opening coupled to the at least one bladed knife component such that a portion of the bladed knife component contacts a respective portion of said at least one opening of the counterwedge; and
a fastener coupling the counterwedge to the mounting lug, wherein at least one of the at least one opening of the wedge and the at least one opening of the counterwedge is tapered for receiving the tapered edge of the at least one bladed knife component.

8. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the mounting lug includes at least one fulcrum.

9. The chopper knife assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one bladed knife component includes a base in contact with the at least one fulcrum.

10. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one opening of the wedge or counterwedge is radiused for receiving a beveled edge of the at least one bladed knife component in a manner which prevents edge loading.

11. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the fastener is a threaded bolt.

12. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the mounting lug includes at least one boss.

13. The chopper knife assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one bladed knife component is in pivotal contact with the at least one boss.

14. The chopper knife assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one boss is comprised of a hardened steel pin pressed into the mounting lug.

15. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the chopper knife assembly includes two bladed knife components.

16. A method of assembling a chopper knife assembly for use on an agricultural harvester, the method comprising the steps of:
mounting at least one bladed knife component on a mounting lug, the mounting lug including a wedge with at least one opening;
moving the bladed knife component along the mounting lug until it is stopped by the wedge, the bladed knife component including a tapered edge;
placing a counterwedge on the opposite side of the at least one bladed knife component contacting the wedge, said counterwedge includes at least one opening such that a portion of the bladed knife component contacts a respective portion of said at least one opening of the counterwedge; and
attaching the counterwedge to the mounting lug with a fastener, wherein at least one of the at least one opening of the wedge and the at least one opening of the counterwedge is tapered for receiving the tapered edge of the at least one bladed knife component.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Dilts Mark D
• Issac Nathan E

Classifications

• A01F29/095 Primary

  Mounting or adjusting of knives · CPC title

• A01F12/40

  Arrangements of straw crushers or cutters · CPC title

• A01D34/8355 Primary

  for cutting up or crushing remaining standing stalks, e.g. stubble (mowers combined with means for cutting up, crushing or bruising, the mown crop A01D43/08, A01D43/10; apparatus for crushing or bruising mown stalks A01D82/00; apparatus for cutting up the mown crop A01F29/00) · CPC title

• A01F29/02

  having rotating knives with their cutting edges in a plane perpendicular to their rotational axis · CPC title

• A01D41/12

  Details of combines · CPC title