Flail chopper assembly for an agricultural combine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10405498-B2
Application number	US-201615359904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2016
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine may include a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end. The chopper assembly may also include a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft. Each flail blade may be configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, with the flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft. In addition, the chopper assembly may include one or more features configured to improve the performance of the chopper assembly during low speed operation. For example, the feature(s) may correspond to one or more fixed blades coupled to the rotor shaft and/or one or more torsional springs provided in operative association with one or more of the flail blades.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine, the chopper assembly comprising:
a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end;
a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft, each flail blade configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, the plurality of flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft; and
a plurality of fixed blades non-pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft, the plurality of fixed blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft,
wherein each fixed blade is axially aligned with a respective flail blade of the plurality of flail blades, and
wherein each fixed blade is non-pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft at a location that is circumferentially offset from the respective flail blade.

2. The chopper assembly of claim 1 , wherein each fixed blade is circumferentially offset from the respective flail blade by an offset angle ranging from 60 degrees to 120 degrees.

3. The chopper assembly of claim 2 , wherein the rotor shaft is configured to be rotated in a rotational direction about the rotational axis, each fixed blade being circumferentially offset from the respective flail blade by the offset angle in a direction opposite the rotational direction of the rotor shaft.

4. The chopper assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flail blades is configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft from a radially oriented position to a maximum pivot position, wherein each fixed blade is circumferentially offset from the respective flail blade such that the respective flail blade does not contact the corresponding fixed blade when the respective flail blade pivots towards the fixed blade to the maximum pivot position.

5. The chopper assembly of claim 1 , wherein each flail blade comprises a first blade member and a second blade member pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft about a common pivot axis.

6. The chopper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member coupled to at least one flail blade of the plurality of flail blades, the biasing member being configured to apply a biasing force against the at least one flail blade that urges the at least one flail blade to pivot relative to the rotor shaft in a rotational direction of the rotor shaft.

7. The chopper assembly of claim 6 , wherein the biasing member comprises a torsional spring.

8. A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine, the chopper assembly comprising:
a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis, the rotor shaft being configured rotate about the rotational axis in a rotational direction;
a plurality of flail blades coupled to the rotor shaft, each flail blade including at least one blade member pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft at a pivot axis such that the at least one blade member is configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about the pivot axis; and
a torsional spring coupled to the at least one blade member, the torsional spring being configured to apply a biasing force against the at least one blade member that urges the at least one blade member to pivot relative to the rotor shaft in the rotational direction of the rotor shaft.

9. The chopper assembly of claim 8 , wherein the torsional spring includes a coiled portion positioned relative to the at least one blade member such that the pivot axis for the at least one blade member extends through the coiled portion.

10. The chopper assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pivot axis is defined by a pivot bolt extending through the at least one blade member, the coiled portion extending around at least a portion of the pivot bolt.

11. The chopper assembly of claim 8 , wherein the torsional spring includes a coiled portion and first and second spring arms extending from the coiled portion, the first spring arm configured to be engaged against the rotor shaft and the second spring arm configured to be engaged against the at least one blade member.

12. The chopper assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one blade member comprises a first blade member and a second blade member, the torsional spring including first and second coiled portions, a first spring arm extending from the first coiled portion, a second spring arm extending from the second coiled portion, and a connector spring arm extending between the first and second coiled portions.

13. The chopper assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first and second blade members are pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft via a pivot bolt extending axially along the pivot axis, the first coiled portion being positioned adjacent to the first blade member at one end of the pivot bolt and the second coiled portion being positioned adjacent to the second blade member at an opposed end of the pivot bolt.

14. The chopper assembly of claim 13 , wherein the pivot axis extends through both the first coiled portion and the second coiled portion.

15. The chopper assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first and second spring arms are configured to engage the rotor shaft and the connector arm is configured to engage the first and second blade members.

16. An agricultural combine, comprising:
a threshing system configured to separate crop residue from another crop material received by the threshing system; and
a crop residue distribution system configured to receive the crop residue discharged from the threshing system, the crop residue distribution system including a chopper assembly, the chopper assembly comprising:
a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end, the rotor shaft being configured rotate about the rotational axis in a rotational direction;
a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft, each flail blade including at least one blade member configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, the plurality of flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft;
a fixed blade non-pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft, the fixed blade being axially aligned with a corresponding flail blade of the plurality of flail blades; and
a torsional spring coupled to the at least one blade member of a given flail blade of the plurality of flail blades, the torsional spring being configured to apply a biasing force against the at least one blade member that urges the at least one blade member to pivot relative to the rotor shaft in the rotational direction of the rotor shaft.

17. The agricultural combine of claim 16 , wherein the fixed blade is non-pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft at a location that is circumferentially offset from the corresponding flail blade.

18. The agricultural combine of claim 16 , wherein the torsional spring includes a coiled portion and first and second spring arms extending from the coiled portion, the first spring arm configured to be engaged against the rotor shaft and the second spring arm configured to be engaged against the at least one blade member.

19. The agricultural combine of claim 18 , wherein the coiled portion is positioned relative to the at least one blade member such that the pivot axis for the at least one blade member extends through the coiled portion.

20. A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine,

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Montenguise Justin L
• Desmet Stefaan
• Murray Craig E
• Shane Nicholas S

Classifications

• A01F12/40 Primary

  Arrangements of straw crushers or cutters · CPC title

• A01F29/06

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

• A01D41/1243 Primary

  Devices for laying-out or distributing the straw · CPC title

• A01F29/095 Primary

  Mounting or adjusting of knives · CPC title