Reel finger assembly for a harvesting reel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018242525-A1
Application number	US-201715443542-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 27, 2017
Priority date	Feb 27, 2017
Publication date	Aug 30, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A split reel assembly for a header of a combine harvester is provided. The split reel has two reel assemblies driven by a central support assembly. A pivotable reel finger assembly is incorporated into a medial end of each reel assembly to deflect crop material away from the central support assembly.

First claim

I/We claim:

1 . A harvesting reel for an agricultural harvester comprising:
a frame; a first reel assembly and a second reel assembly mounted to the frame in side by side relation and defining a gap therebetween, each reel assembly including:
a central rotating shaft,
a plurality of support members extending widthwise across the reel assembly and connected to the central rotating shaft for rotation therewith, and
a plurality of tines connected to each of the plurality of support members; and
a reel finger assembly pivotably connected to a medial side of one of the first and second reel assemblies, the reel finger assembly including:
an elongated finger having a proximal end pivotably coupled to the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies and moveable between a first position and a second position, and
a biasing member biasing the elongated finger toward the first position, wherein a distal end of the elongated finger extends beyond the medial side of the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies.

2 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of support plates, each support plate positioned about a medial end of a respective central rotating shaft.

3 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , wherein each reel assembly further includes end brackets connecting the plurality of support members to the central rotating shaft, and wherein the reel finger assembly is pivotably coupled to the end bracket.

4 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , wherein the reel finger assembly is pivotably coupled to one of the plurality of support members.

5 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , further comprising a central support arm extending from the frame into the gap and connected to the first and second reel assemblies to raise and lower the first and second reel assemblies.

6 . The harvesting reel of claim 5 , wherein the first position is an operating position for prohibiting crop material from entering the gap, and the second position is a retracted position for allowing rotation of the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies past the central support arm of the harvesting reel.

7 . The harvesting reel of claim 5 , wherein upon rotation of the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies, the elongated finger engages the central support arm to move the elongated finger to the second position.

8 . The harvesting reel of claim 5 , wherein upon rotation of the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies, the elongated finger extends over the gap.

9 . The harvesting reel of claim 5 , wherein upon rotation of the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies, a distal end of the elongated finger extends within the gap.

10 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , wherein the elongated finger is linear, curved or bent.

11 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , wherein the elongated finger is moveable between a plurality of positions.

12 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , wherein the reel finger assembly is pivotably connected to the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies by a pivot pin.

13 . The harvesting reel of claim 1 , wherein the reel finger assembly further includes a mounting bracket connected to the at least one of the first and second reel assemblies and the elongated finger.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Schwinn Kevin

Classifications

• A01D57/02 Primary

  using reels · CPC title

• A01D57/03

  with supplementary controlled movement of the crop-engaging members, e.g. of the tines {(A01D57/025 takes precedence)} · CPC title