Row divider for a corn head assembly having a hood with a structured surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675006-B2
Application number	US-201313859081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2013
Priority date	Apr 9, 2013
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A corn head assembly for a combine harvester capable of reducing grain loss. The corn head assembly includes a frame, a plurality of row units and a hood. The frame is mounted to a forward end of the combine harvester. The plurality of row units extends forward from the frame. The hood extends between an adjacent pair of row units. The hood includes a first end proximal to the frame, a second end distal to the frame and opposite the first end, and an outer surface extending between the first and second ends. The outer surface has a plurality of structures configured to inhibit a flow of grain in a forward direction along the outer surface.

First claim

We claim:

1. A corn head assembly for a combine harvester comprising:
a frame for mounting to a forward end of the combine harvester;
a plurality of row units extending forward from the frame;
a hood extending between an adjacent pair of the plurality of row units, the hood comprising:
a first end proximal to the frame,
a second end distal to the frame and opposite the first end, and
an outer surface extending between the first and second ends; and

a plurality of elongated structures on the hood, each of the plurality of elongated structures comprising a surface facing the first end of the hood, the surface of each of the plurality of elongated structures extending laterally between a longitudinal midline of the hood and a lateral side of the hood and posteriorly between the second end and the first end of the hood.

2. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated structures are each configured as at least one of a corrugation, a rib, a recess, and a protrusion.

3. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated structures are aligned in a row extending from the first end to the second end.

4. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures are configured to slope towards the frame.

5. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures extends in a straight line such that the surface of each of the plurality of elongated structures extends in a straight line.

6. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures extends along a curved line such that the surface of each of the plurality of elongated structures extends along a curved line.

7. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hood is positioned in front of a conveyor extending across the frame.

8. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures is an elongated recess formed on the hood.

9. The corn head assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures extends from the longitudinal midline laterally and posteriorly to the lateral side of the hood.

10. A corn head assembly for a combine harvester comprising:
a frame for mounting to a forward end of the combine harvester;
a plurality of row units extending forward from the frame;
a hood extending between an adjacent pair of the plurality of row units, the hood comprising a first end proximal to the frame and a second end distal to the frame and opposite the first end; and
a plurality of elongated structures on the hood, each of the plurality of elongated structures comprising a surface facing the first end of the hood, the surface of each of the plurality of elongated structures extending laterally between a longitudinal midline of the hood and a lateral side of the hood and posteriorly between the second end and the first end of the hood.

11. The corn head assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures extends in a straight line such that the surface of each of the plurality of elongated structures extends in a straight line.

12. The corn head assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures extends along a curved line such that the surface of each of the plurality of elongated structures extends along a curved line.

13. The corn head assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures is an elongated recess formed on the hood.

14. The corn head assembly of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated structures extends from the longitudinal midline laterally and posteriorly to the lateral side of the hood.

15. A row divider for an agricultural combine header comprising:
a front portion for guiding crop material into the header; and
a rear portion for covering a part of the header, the rear portion includes an outer surface having a plurality of recessed elongated structures each tapering in depth from a longitudinal midline of the rear portion towards a lateral side of the rear portion to inhibit a flow of grain in a forward direction along the outer surface.

16. The row divider of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of recessed elongated structures are each configured as a corrugation.

17. The row divider of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of recessed elongated structures is spaced apart and extends from a forward end toward a rearward end of the rear portion.

18. The row divider of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of recessed elongated structures sweeps rearwardly from about a longitudinal midline of the rear portion to about a lateral side of the rear portion.

19. The row divider of claim 15 , wherein the rear portion is positioned above an adjacent pair of row units of the header.

20. The row divider of claim 15 , wherein the rear portion is positioned in front of a conveyor extending across the header.

Assignees

• Cnh America Llc
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Walker Eric L
• Crow Brian Patrick
• Gessel James Michael
• Hubach Frederick Robert

Classifications

• A01D45/021 Primary

  Cornheaders · CPC title