Tine tube bushing for the reel of a crop harvesting header

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9936641-B2
Application number	US-201514692187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2015
Priority date	Apr 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A crop harvesting header includes a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of a header frame structure, a draper or auger transport arrangement for transporting the cut crop for further processing, and a reel with tines mounted on angularly spaced tine tubes each driven in a pivotal movement around its own bat axis as the reel rotates. The tine tubes are mounted on bearings where each bearing includes a cylindrical collar carried by support members on the reel and a cylindrical bearing member within the collar. The hollow tine tube has its peripheral wall punched to define an indented recess at each end of a transverse hole so that opposed projecting portions projecting on the bearing member are pulled into the recesses by a transverse fastener through the hole.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame structure for cutting the crop;
a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;
and a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter bar;
the reel being mounted on the header frame structure for movement with the header in the direction of movement;
a reel drive mechanism for driving rotation of the reel about a reel axis generally parallel to the cutter bar;
the reel having a plurality of reel bats at spaced positions around the reel axis;
each reel bat having a tine tube and a plurality of tines mounted on the tine tube, the tines projecting generally radially outwardly from an axis of the tine tube which axis is parallel to the reel axis;
the tine tube comprising a peripheral wall surrounding a hollow interior;
each of the reel bats being pivotal about its respective axis so as to vary the angle of the tines about the bat axis as the reel rotates;
the reel including a plurality of tine tube support members arranged at radially spaced positions around the reel axis and at axially spaced positions along the reel axis so that each tine tube is supported at its radial position around the reel axis at positions longitudinally spaced along the tine tube;
and a plurality of tine tube support bearings each connecting a respective one of the tine tube support members to a respective one of the tine tubes;
each of the tine tube support bearings comprising:
a cylindrical collar carried on the respective tine tube support member surrounding the bat axis and having an internal cylindrical bearing surface;
a cylindrical bearing member within the cylindrical collar and having an external cylindrical bearing surface in sliding bearing engagement with the internal bearing surface of the collar and an internal surface surrounding the tine tube;
the hollow tine tube at the bearing member having a transverse hole across the tube through the peripheral wall;
the peripheral wall having opposed indented recesses each at a respective end of the transverse hole;
the cylindrical bearing member having opposed projecting portions projecting inwardly from the internal surface thereof and each extending into a respective one of the indented recesses;
and at least one fastener member extending into the hole and the projecting portions so as to hold the projecting portions in the indented recesses;
said fastener member being axially aligned with the internal cylindrical bearing surface of the cylindrical collar;
outer ends of said at least one fastener member being recessed from the external cylindrical bearing surface of the cylindrical bearing member.

2. The crop harvesting header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one fastener member has at each end a head portion each received within a respective recess in the external cylindrical bearing surface.

3. The crop harvesting header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one fastener member comprises a single fastening member defined by a threaded coupling for tightening the fastener member across the cylindrical bearing member at the projecting portions.

4. The crop harvesting header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one fastener member has a shank at each end with an exterior diameter matching that of the holes.

5. The crop harvesting header according to claim 4 wherein said at least one fastener member comprises first and second portions where the shank includes a male threaded section on the first portion and a female threaded sleeve on the second portion.

6. The crop harvesting header according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical bearing member has a shoulder at one end for butting against one end face of the cylindrical collar and there is provided a surrounding circlip at an opposed end of the cylindrical bearing member for locating an opposed end of the cylindrical collar in position relative to the cylindrical bearing member.

7. The crop harvesting header according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical bearing member is formed in two sections divided longitudinally allowing the two sections to be applied onto the tine tube from opposed sides.

8. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame structure for cutting the crop;
a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;
and a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter bar;
the reel being mounted on the header frame structure for movement with the header in the direction of movement;
a reel drive mechanism for driving rotation of the reel about a reel axis generally parallel to the cutter bar;
the reel having a plurality of reel bats at spaced positions around the reel axis;
each reel bat having a tine tube and a plurality of tines mounted on the tine tube, the tines projecting generally radially outwardly from an axis of the tine tube which axis is parallel to the reel axis;
the tine tube comprising a peripheral wall surrounding a hollow interior;
each of the reel bats being pivotal about its respective axis so as to vary the angle of the tines about the bat axis as the reel rotates;
the reel including a plurality of tine tube support members arranged at radially spaced positions around the reel axis and at axially spaced positions along the reel axis so that each tine tube is supported at its radial position around the reel axis at positions longitudinally spaced along the tine tube;
and a plurality of tine tube support bearings each connecting a respective one of the tine tube support members to a respective one of the tine tubes;
each of the tine tube support bearings comprising:
a cylindrical collar carried on the respective tine tube support member surrounding the bat axis and having an internal cylindrical bearing surface;
a cylindrical bearing member within the cylindrical collar and having an external cylindrical bearing surface in sliding bearing engagement with the internal bearing surface of the collar and an internal surface surrounding the tine tube;
the hollow tine tube at the bearing member having a transverse hole across the tube through the peripheral wall;
the peripheral wall having opposed indented recesses each at a respective end of the transverse hole;
the cylindrical bearing member having opposed projecting portions projecting inwardly from the internal surface thereof and each extending into a respective one of the indented recesses;
and at least one fastener member extending into the hole and the projecting portions so as to hold the projecting portions in the indented recesses with outer ends of said at least one fastener member being recessed from the external cylindrical bearing surface of the cylindrical bearing member;
wherein the cylindrical bearing member has a shoulder at one end for butting against one end face of the cylindrical collar;
and wherein there is provided a surrounding circlip at an opposed end of the cylindrical bearing member for locating an opposed end of the cylindrical collar in position relative to the cylindrical bearing member.

9. The crop harvesting header according to claim 8 wherein said at least one fastener member has at each end a head portion each received withi

Assignees

• Macdon Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Remillard Rheal

Classifications

• A01D41/14

  Mowing tables · CPC title

• A01D57/02 Primary

  using reels · CPC title