Multi mode crop forming shield adjustment mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10772257-B2
Application number	US-201815894373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2018
Priority date	May 12, 2017
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A crop forming assembly having a top plate with a first side and a second side, an arc-shaped cutout defined through the top plate, a forming shield pivotally coupled to the top plate and positioned on the second side, and a motor removably coupled to the top plate and configured to engage the forming shield. Wherein, the motor engages the forming shield to reposition the forming shield along the arc-shaped cutout.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A crop forming assembly, comprising:
a frame member;
a cutout defined through a portion of the frame member;
a forming shield pivotally coupled to the frame member;
a blocking plate repositionable along the cutout; and
a motor removably coupled to the frame member and configured to engage the forming shield;
wherein, the motor engages the forming shield to reposition the forming shield along the cutout;
further wherein, the blocking plate is repositioned along the cutout as the forming shield is repositioned.

2. The crop forming assembly of claim 1 , further wherein the blocking plate is coupled to the forming shield through the cutout at a first end.

3. The crop forming assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pinion gear coupled to the motor; and
a rack gear coupled to the forming shield;
wherein, teeth of the pinion gear mesh with the rack gear.

4. The crop forming assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a plurality of couplers that selectively couple the motor to the frame member;
wherein, when more than one of the plurality of couplers are coupled to the frame member, the pinion gear at least partially contacts the rack gear;
further wherein, when only one of the plurality of couplers are coupled to the crop frame member, the pinion gear of the motor is pivotable away from the rack gear.

5. The crop forming assembly of claim 1 , further wherein the motor is a linear actuator coupled to the frame member on a first end and coupled to the forming shield on a second end.

6. The crop forming assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a clamping member coupled to the forming shield through the blocking plate and the slot and selectively coupled to the frame member;
wherein when the clamping member is clamped to the frame member, the forming shield and blocking plate are not repositionable.

7. The crop forming assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller in communication with the motor; and
a user input that provides a desired position of the forming shield;
wherein the controller selectively repositions the forming shield with the motor to the desired position.

8. The crop forming assembly of claim 3 , wherein the rack gear is formed from a portion of the blocking plate.

9. A crop forming shield system, comprising:
a first forming shield that is pivotal about a first forming shield axis;
a second forming shield that is pivotal about a second forming shield axis;
a first motor configured to selectively reposition the first forming shield;
a second motor configured to selectively reposition the second forming shield;
a swath flap selectably positioned by a swath flap actuator; and
a user control in communication with the first and second motor and the swath flap actuator;
wherein, the user control selectively engages the first and second motor and the swath flap actuator to reposition the corresponding forming shield and swath flap.

10. The crop forming shield system of claim 9 , further wherein the first motor is a first linear actuator and the second motor is a second linear actuator.

11. The crop forming shield system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first rack gear coupled to the first forming shield;
a second rack gear coupled to the second forming shield;
a first pinion gear coupled to the first motor; and
a second pinion gear coupled to the second motor;
wherein, the first pinion gear selectively meshes with first rack gear and the second pinion gear selectively meshes with the second rack gear to reposition the corresponding first and second forming shield.

12. The crop forming shield system of claim 9 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller receives a user input from the user control and automatically repositions the first and second forming shield and swath flap actuator responsive to the user input.

13. The crop forming shield system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first arc-shaped cutout defined through a plate, the first arc-shaped cutout being concentric with the first forming shield axis;
a first arced blocking plate positioned adjacent to the first arc-shaped cutout;
a second arc-shaped cutout defined through the plate, the second arc-shaped cutout being concentric with the second forming shield axis; and
a second arced blocking plate positioned adjacent to the second arc-shaped cutout.

14. The crop forming assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a plurality of couplers that selectively couple each of the first motor and the second motor to a top plate;
wherein, when either of the first or second motor are coupled to the top plate with more than one of the plurality of couplers, the corresponding first or second pinion gear at least partially contacts the corresponding first or second rack gear;
further wherein, when either of the first or second motors are coupled to the top plate with only one of the plurality of couplers, the corresponding first or second pinion gear is pivotable away from the corresponding first or second rack gear.

15. A method for controlling the shape characteristics and location of a windrow, comprising:
providing a first forming shield, a first motor, a swath flap, swath flap actuator, and user controls;
selectively coupling the first motor to the first forming shield; and
altering an angular position of the first forming shield and the swath flap responsive to a change in the user controls.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
providing a sensor coupled to the crop forming assembly and configured to identify an orientation of the first forming shield;
providing a controller in communication with the user controls and the sensor;
wherein, the user controls indicate a desired position of the first forming shield to the controller;
further wherein, the controller engages the first motor to reposition the first forming shield until the sensor indicates the first forming shield is in the desired position.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
providing a second forming shield and a second motor;
selectively coupling the second motor to the second forming shield; and
altering an angular position of the second forming shield responsive to a change in the user controls.

18. The method of claim 15 further wherein the first motor is selectively coupled to the first forming shield with a clamping member, further wherein the clamping member has a clamped position that maintains the angular position of the forming shield and a loose position that does not maintain the angular position of the forming shield.

19. The method of claim 18 , further wherein when the first motor is not coupled to the first forming shield and the clamping member is in the loose position, the angular position of the forming shield is adjustable.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising communicating a geographic location to a controller and selectively altering at least one of the swath flap or the first forming shield with the controller based on the geographic location.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Rotole David V
• Conrad Ethan C

Classifications

• A01D43/10 Primary

  with means for crushing or bruising the mown crop · CPC title

• A01D57/26

  Plates arranged behind the cutter-bar for guiding the cut grass or straw · CPC title

• A01D57/24

  Grass-boards · CPC title

• A01D34/43

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle · CPC title

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title