Cam action windguard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9681603-B2
Application number	US-201414214349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A windguard is provided that may be used with an agricultural harvester, such as around baler, waste baler, combine, sugarcane harvester or cotton harvester. More particularly, the windguard utilizes at least a first and a second pivot tab, each comprising a cam that is adapted for alignment into a slot along a first and second side arms of the windguard and that allows a upward or downward movement of the pivot tabs in the slot. The sliding motion of the cam in the slot allows the windguard to automatically adjust during operation without manual adjustment or pre-adjustment prior to operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A crop collection system comprising:
a pickup assembly comprising a pair of oppositely positioned sidewalls and a pickup guard,
wherein at least one sidewall comprises a cam positioned on the lateral face of the sidewall; and
a windguard comprising:
a first and a second side arm; and
a transverse member relative to the first and second side arms;

wherein the first and the second side arms comprise a first connector disposed at or proximate to its rearmost end, a second connector disposed at or proximate to its front end; and wherein the first and second side arms define a space within which the transverse member is rotatably mounted at the second connectors of the first and second side arms; and the first connectors of each of the first and second side arms are adapted for connection to the pickup assembly;
wherein the pickup assembly is attached to the windguard at the first connectors of the first and second side arms; and
wherein the first connectors of the first and second sidearms define a pivot point such that upon operation, the windguard can automatically adjust an angle of orientation of the windguard as a point of contact between the at least one cam and at least one sloped surface of the corresponding side arm is changed, such that a distance between the windguard and the pickup guard is controlled;
wherein a lower portion of the sidearm of the windguard comprising the sloped surface is shaped to have at least three separately shaped stages configured for corresponding contact with the cam when the pickup is in a lowered position, a raised position and a transition position therebetween.

2. The crop collection system of claim 1 , wherein the windguard further comprises:
a first and a second pivot tab; wherein the first and the second side arms comprise an elongate slot disposed proximate to the front end of the first and second side area and behind the second connector; and wherein the first and the second pivot tabs are affixed to, operably coupled or mechanically linked around opposite ends of the transverse member adjacent to the inside face of the first and second side arms and wherein the first and second pivot tabs comprise a windguard cam adapted to slide within the elongate slot of the first and second side arms.

3. The crop collection system of claim 1 , wherein the windguard further comprises a second transverse member rotatably mounted between a pair of laterally spaced end plates rigidly affixed to the front end of the first and second side arms.

4. The crop collection system of claim 1 , wherein the transverse member supports one or a plurality of tines extending rearwardly.

5. The crop collection system of claim 2 , wherein the elongate slots of the first and second side arms allow for radial movement of the first and second pivot tabs and rotational movement of the transverse member relative to an axis defined by the transverse member.

6. The crop collection system of claim 3 , wherein the second transverse member comprises a cylindrically shaped surface and one or a plurality of evenly spaced tread lines extending lengthwise on the cylindrically shaped surface.

7. The crop collection system of claim 3 , wherein the length of the first and second transverse members are substantially the same.

8. The crop collection system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second side arms comprise a bottom edge, and each bottom edge comprising a sloped surface of the at least one sloped surface and wherein the windguard can automatically adjust its position through rolling contact between the bottom edge of the first and second side arms and the cam to maintain a constant distance between the tines of the windguard and the pickup guard.

9. The crop collection device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second side arms have tapered bottom edges from front to back and both the first and second sidearms, which comprise the at least one sloped surface and are in operable contact with a pair of cams, each of which is positioned on the outside lateral face of the sidewalls of the pickup assembly, such that, upon operation, the wind guard can automatically adjust its position with the pickup assembly through rolling contact between: (i) the first and second side arms and (ii) the pair of cams to maintain a predetermined, unobstructed distance between the windguard and the pickup guard.

10. The crop collection system of claim 1 , wherein the pickup assembly and windguard are both rotatably mounted to a frame of an agricultural harvester.

11. The crop collection system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the shape of the sidearm of the windguard comprises the at least one sloped surface such that the raising and lowering of the pickup adjusts the position of the windguard with respect to the cam such that a distance is generally maintained between a lower surface of the tines and an upper surface of the pickup.

12. The crop collection system of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding side arm to the at least one cam is tapered such that the at least one sloped surface is sloped upwardly with respect to a crop flow direction.

13. An agricultural harvester comprising the crop collection system of claim 1 .

14. The agricultural harvester of claim 13 , wherein the agricultural harvester further comprises a pickup assembly adapted for attachment to the windguard by a fastener affixed through the first holes of each of the first or second side arms.

15. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the fastener allows pivotal movement of the side arm relative to the pickup assembly.

16. A method of harvesting crop material in an agricultural harvester of claim 13 comprising:
contacting crop material with the windguard comprising a cam and a first and second pivot tab, wherein the cam allows radial movement of at least the first pivot tab and the transverse member so that the distance between the windguard and the pickup mechanism can adjust automatically during operation.

17. A windguard comprising:
a first and second side arm, each first and second side arm comprising a bottom edge; and
a transverse member relative to the first and second side arms;

wherein the first and the second side arms comprise a first-connector disposed at or proximate to its rearmost end, a second connector disposed at or proximate to its front end; and wherein the first and second side arms define a space within which the transverse member is rotatably mounted at the second connector of the first and second side arms;
wherein the bottom edge of at least one of the first and the second side arms has a portion with a sloped surface with respect to a length of the arms and positioned for operable contact with at least one cam attached to a pickup assembly such that an angle of orientation of the windguard is changed as a point of contact between the at least one cam and the sloped surface is moved; and wherein the first connector of each of the first and second side arms are adapted for mechanical connection to the pickup assembly.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Mcclure John R
• Hotaling William Dale

Classifications

• A01D34/001 Primary

  Accessories not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A01D89/008 Primary

  Devices cooperating with the pick-up · CPC title