Patent Application
20150101303
The subject application relates generally to a corn header for use with combine harvesters. In particular, the subject application relates to a non-row-sensitive row divider for corn headers.
Combines that harvest corn are provided with row dividers, also generally known as snouts, for directing rows of corn stalks to ear separation chambers including snapping rolls and stripping plates and then to an auger for conveying the harvested corn to a feederhouse of the combine. Harvested corn is then processed to the combine's inner chambers for downstream processing.
During harvesting operations, when a corn header is properly aligned with rows of corn stalk, a pair of row dividers straddles each row of corn stalk being harvested and the corn ears are directed to the snapping rolls and stripping plates and are stripped from their stalks generally without incident. However, as the combine traverses a corn field it is not uncommon for the row dividers and corn stalk rows to become misaligned. As used herein, a row of stalks is considered misaligned with a row divider when the row of stalks is not positioned substantially between a pair of adjacent row dividers or when the row of stalks is substantially inline with a sagittal plane of a row divider. When this occurs, the row dividers may not properly engage the corn stalks and the combine may not extract some or all of the corn from the stalks. This is due at least in part to the construction of conventional row dividers. Typical row dividers include vertical sidewall surfaces and/or large planar bottom ends which cause the row dividers to induce severe bending and possible shearing of the corn stalks that are misaligned with respect to the row dividers. Consequently, a certain portion of the available ears of corn do not undergo stripping from the stalks and are left in the field which results in a less than optimal crop harvest.
Thus, there is still a need for a combine harvester that is capable of preventing crop loss at the corn header location. Such a need is satisfied by the subject row divider for a corn header of a combine harvester.
In accordance with a first aspect, the subject application provides a row divider for corn headers adapted for use with a combine harvester. The row divider is specifically contoured to address the problems associated with conventional row dividers which may deflect stalks away from the header's stripping means when not properly aligned between adjacent rows of stalk. By engendering specific contours for the overall shape of the row divider, such row dividers do less harm to the corn stalks that are misaligned with the row dividers as the combine traverses a field of corn. In particular, the row dividers have beveled or non-vertical sidewalls which operate to effectively guide misaligned stalks to the corn header's stripping means by urging the stalks to moderately bend during harvesting.
In accordance with a second aspect, the subject application mitigates an occurrence wherein the corn stalk is pushed beneath the snapping rolls of agricultural equipment that hosts the row divider. To this end, the row divider of the subject application can facilitate a movement of the corn stalk above the snapping rolls for an efficient corn harvesting operation.
In accordance with a third aspect, the subject application provides for a row divider operable to effectively manipulate stalks which are misaligned with respect to the row divider during harvesting by a combine harvester. The row divider includes an aft portion adapted for connection to a corn header and a fore portion. The fore portion tapers in size from the aft portion. An upper surface extends across the aft and fore portions. The row divider further includes a pair of opposing non-vertical sidewalls depending from the upper surface and tapering inwardly defining a narrow bottom end. The shape of the row divider sidewalls reduces severe bending and shearing of stalks which are misaligned with respect to the row divider during harvesting by the combine harvester. It will be understood that severe bending includes any circumstance where a corn stalk is bent to such a degree and/or orientation that it fails to be engaged by the stripping plates and snapping rolls, including without limitation any forward or lateral bending of such magnitude that causes the stalk to avoid the stripping plates and snapping rolls.
In accordance with a fourth aspect, the subject application provides a row divider for a corn header for addressing the problems of conventional row dividers by engendering a row divider configured with a fore portion having a substantially hull-shaped cross-section and a non-planar bottom end for non-destructively engaging corn stalks as the combine traverses a corn row that is misaligned with the row divider.
In accordance with a fifth aspect, the subject application provides for a row divider operable to effectively manipulate stalks which are misaligned with respect to the row divider during harvesting by a combine harvester. The row divider includes a bulbous aft portion connectable to a corn header and a fore portion tapering in size from the aft portion. An upper surface extends across the aft and fore portions. The fore portion has a pair of opposing sidewalls depending from the upper surface and tapering inwardly defining a narrow bottom end having an overall width less than an overall width of the row divider. The shape of the row divider advantageously reduces severe bending and shearing of stalks which are misaligned with respect to the row divider during harvesting by the combine harvester.
In accordance with a sixth aspect, the subject application provides for a corn header adapted for use with a combine harvester. The corn header includes a plurality of row units each of which includes snapping rolls and stripping plates having an aperture for receiving stalk, gathering chains for conveying stalk toward the snapping rolls and stripping plates, and a plurality of row dividers. Each row divider includes an aft portion adapted for connection to at least one of a plurality of row units of the corn header, a fore portion that tapers in size from the aft portion, an upper surface extending across the aft and fore portions, and a pair of opposing non-vertical sidewalls depending from the upper surface and tapering inwardly defining a narrow bottom end. The fore portion extends forward of the snapping rolls and stripping plates and above a forward most end of the row unit. So constructed and arranged, the non-vertical sidewalls of the row divider provide shielding for the leading regions of the gathering chains of the row units while inducing non-destructive bending of corn stalks that are gathered by the row unit.
Advantages of row dividers constructed according to the subject application include less damage to misaligned corn stalks, less product being left in the field, less trash (stalk residue) entering the combine, and less plugging of the header row units, and improved feeding of corn stalks to the header's stripping means. Consequently, harvest yield and overall productivity is improved.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of several aspects of the subject application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the subject application there are shown in the drawings several aspects, but it should be understood that the subject application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the various aspects of the subject application illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or like reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like features. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form and are not drawn to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, above, below and diagonal, are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Such directional terms used in conjunction with the following description of the drawings should not be construed to limit the scope of the subject application in any manner not explicitly set forth. Additionally, the term “a,” as used in the specification, means “at least one.” The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein aspects of the subject application are shown,
In a first aspect, the subject application provides a corn head assembly 10 for a combine harvester 1 having improved row dividers for preventing crop loss without inhibiting crop flow. The corn head assembly 10 includes a frame 12 for mounting to a forward end of the combine harvester 1, a conveyor 14 (such as an auger) extending lengthwise across the frame 12 for conveying crop material to a combine feeding location or feederhouse 15, and a plurality of row units 16 extending forwardly from the frame 12. Such row units 16 are known in the art and a further detailed description of their structure, function and operation is not necessary for a complete understanding of the subject application. However, typical row units applicable to the subject application are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,286,410, 7,913,480, 7,874,134 and 7,373,767, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The frame 12 is configured as a substantially rectangular frame, as shown. However, the frame 12 may be configured as any shape suitable for the foregoing intended use. The frame 12 includes a rear wall 18, a bottom wall 20 and a pair of side walls 22, 24. As shown in
Referring to
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Turning to
The row divider 28 is formed as a unitary shell. Specifically, the fore and aft portions define a shell of unitary construction. However, the row divider can optionally be configured and constructed from separate components that may be joined by suitable fastening mechanisms.
As is known, the snapping rolls and stripping plates 215 have an elongate aperture for receiving stalk and gathering chains 251 extend adjacent each side of the snapping rolls and stripping plates for conveying stalk toward the snapping rolls and stripping plates. A tine wheel 252 is also positioned on each side of the row unit. The tine wheels 252 gather and deliver the stalk to the gathering chains 251 which in turn deliver the stalk to the snapping rolls and stripping plates and an unillustrated conveyor similar to conveyor 14 of
In another aspect, the fore portion 30 is positioned to lie completely above a forward most end of the tine wheels 252 and forward of the row unit except for the leading edges of the tine wheels 252. The leading edges of the tine wheels 252 is positioned to extend slightly forward of an anterior surface of the bulbous aft portion 32. In doing so, the fore portion 30 can advantageously manipulate stalk engaging the fore portion while the tine wheels direct the stalk to the stripping plate and snapping rolls before the stalk engages the aft portion 32. Alternatively, the leading edges of the tine wheels can be positioned in line with the anterior surface of the aft portion 32 or slightly rearward thereof so long as the tine wheels can sufficiently direct stalk to the stripping plates prior to the aft portion 32 sheering the stalk or redirecting the stalk in an adverse manner.
Referring back to
The row divider 28 also includes an upper surface 38 extending across the fore and aft portions 30, 32 and a pair of opposing sidewalls 40 which taper inwardly to define a narrow bottom end 42. The opposing sidewalls in one aspect are non-vertical sidewalls depending from the upper surface and tapering inwardly defining a narrow bottom end. The overall width is less than the overall width of the row divider. At least one of the sidewalls is configured to be substantially planar, concave or convex and extends substantially the entire length of the fore portion 30. The outside surface of the sidewalls 40 each define an acute angle relative to a horizontal ground surface, such as from about 30 to 60 degrees.
As seen in
Referring to
The row divider 128 is configured with a narrow bottom end 142 having a non-planar geometry in order to further the productive manipulation of a corn stalk, as described below. The non-planar bottom geometry includes an apex defined by the sidewalls of the row divider.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is to be understood, therefore, that the subject application is not limited to the particular aspects disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the subject application as defined by the appended claims.
