Adjustable stalk stomper/chopper curtain assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10945371-B2
Application number	US-201816000392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2018
Priority date	Jun 5, 2018
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

An adjustable stalk stomper and/or chopper curtain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester. The adjustable assembly comprises a control arm, at least one member connected to the control arm, wherein the at least one member is configured to knock down plant stalks and/or to shield the agricultural harvester from flying debris, and wherein the control arm is configured to provide for adjustment of the orientation of the at least one member relative to the ground and the header. An agricultural harvester header may include the above adjustable assembly and a frame having a toolbar. An agricultural harvester may include such header.

First claim

We claim:

1. An adjustable assembly for attachment to a header of an agricultural harvester comprising:
a control arm extending along a longitudinal axis, the control arm rotatable about the longitudinal axis between a first a first position and a second position; and
a plurality of members connected to the control arm and rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position to knock down plant stalks and shield against flying debris, the plurality of members comprising a plurality of first members, each comprising a curved lower portion and a planar upper portion, and a plurality of second members, each having a substantially planar shape,
wherein the control arm is configured to adjust an orientation of the plurality of members relative to ground, and
wherein the plurality of second members and the planar upper portion of each of the plurality of first members are vertical when the plurality of members are in the second position.

2. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of members is adjacent to another of the plurality of members.

3. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of members are aligned substantially in a single plane.

4. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of members area plurality of stalk stompers configured to knock down plant stalks and wherein the second plurality of member are a plurality of chopper curtains configured to shield against flying debris.

5. The adjustable assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of stalk stompers are alternatingly arranged with the plurality of chopper curtains along a length of the control arm.

6. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal extent of a lateral edge of one of the plurality of members extends substantially a length of an entire longitudinal extent of a lateral edge of at least one other of the plurality of members.

7. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of members has a longitudinal length greater than a longitudinal length of at least another of the plurality of members.

8. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of members comprises a metal, a high density polymer, an elastomer, or a composite, and wherein another of the plurality of members comprises another of a metal, a high density polymer, an elastomer, or a composite.

9. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein an orientation of a first sub-plurality of members of the plurality of members connected to the control arm is adjustable independent of an orientation of a second sub-plurality of members of the plurality of members connected to the control arm.

10. The adjustable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first and second sub-pluralities of members are removably connectable to the control arm independent of each other.

11. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of members is removably connected to the control arm.

12. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the control arm is rotatable about its longitudinal axis to adjust the orientation of the plurality of members relative to the ground.

13. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of members is quadrilateral in shape.

14. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of members is movable between a first position and a second position spaced from the first position.

15. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member biasing at least one of the plurality of members toward the ground.

16. The adjustable assembly of claim 15 , wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring, a polymer torsion block, a gas shock, or a leaf spring.

17. The adjustable assembly of claim 15 , wherein the biasing member is directly connected to the control arm and the at least one of the plurality of members.

18. A machine comprising the adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the machine is selected from the group consisting of combine harvesters, forage harvesters, flail mowers, and rotary mowers.

19. A header for an agricultural harvester comprising:
a frame having a toolbar having a longitudinal axis; and
an adjustable assembly comprising:
a control arm operatively connected to the tool bar, the control arm extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toolbar and offset from the longitudinal axis of the toolbar, the control arm rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and
a plurality of members connected to the control arm to knock down plant stalks or to shield against flying debris,
wherein the control arm is configured to adjust an orientation of the plurality of members relative to ground or the frame.

20. The header of claim 19 , further comprising an actuator operatively engaged with the tool bar for adjusting one of a translational position and an angle of the control arm relative to the frame.

21. The header of claim 19 , further comprising a row unit, and wherein at least one of the plurality of members is positioned about a lower rear end of the row unit.

22. An agricultural harvester comprising the header of claim 19 .

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Lauff Kyle
• Walker Eric Lee
• Farley Herb
• Crandall Robert D

Classifications

• A01D45/021 Primary

  Cornheaders · CPC title

• A01D65/08

  Guard attachments for the wheels · CPC title

• A01D75/18

  Safety devices for parts of the machines · CPC title

• A01F12/40

  Arrangements of straw crushers or cutters · CPC title

• A01D43/082

  Gathering units · CPC title