FINGER ASSEMBLY FOR A FEED DRUM CONVEYOR OF AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTING HEAD

Abstract

A finger support for the fingers of a rotating drum conveyor (e.g. feed drum) and agricultural harvesting head includes first and second finger supports with interleaved ri

Claims

1. A finger assembly (144) for mounting on offset shaft (142) of a feed drum (122) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) comprises: a first finger support (300) including a first ring portion (304) and a second ring portion (308), wherein both ring portions are configured to be supported and retained on the offset shaft (142) for rotation about the offset shaft, and a first finger mount portion (312) fixed to the first ring portion (304) and the second ring portion (308) and configured to support and retain a first finger (124b); and a second finger support (302) including a third ring portion (310), wherein the third ring portion (310) is configured to be supported and retained on the offset shaft (142) for rotation about the offset shaft, and second finger mount portion (320) fixed to the third ring portion (310) and configured to support and retain a second finger (124c); wherein the first ring portion (304) and the second ring portion (308) are fixed together and define a gap (G) into which the third ring portion (310) is received and supported.

2. The finger assembly (144) of claim 1 further comprising the first finger (124b) and the second finger (124c).

3. The finger assembly (144) of claim 1 wherein the gap (G) retains the third ring portion (310) yet also permits the third ring portion (310) to pivot about the axis of the offset shaft (142) with respect to the first ring portion (304) and the second ring portion (308).

4. The finger assembly (144) of claim 1, wherein the first finger support (300) is provided in two halves that are hinged with respect to each other by a hinge (318) such that the first finger support (300) can be opened about the hinge (318) and removed from the offset shaft (142).

5. The finger assembly (144) of claim 4, wherein the second finger support (302) is provided in two halves such that the second finger support (302) can be separated into its halves and thereby removed from the offset shaft (142).

6. The finger assembly (144) of claim 2, wherein the first finger support (300) further includes a retainer (324) and fastener (326) arrangement that hold the first finger support (300) to the offset shaft (142) and retain the finger (124b) on the first finger support (300).

7. The finger assembly (144) of claim 1, wherein the second finger support (300) further includes a retainer (328) and fastener (330) that hold the second finger support (302) to the offset shaft (142) and retain the finger (124c) on the second finger support (302).

8. The finger assembly (144) of claim 1 wherein the first finger support (300) and the second finger support (302) are comprised of plastic.

9. The finger assembly (144) of claim 5, wherein the two halves of the first finger support (300) are comprised of plastic and wherein the hinge (318) comprises a steel pin.

10. The finger assembly (144) of claim 4, wherein half of the first ring portion (304) and half of the second ring portion (308) are provided on each half of the first finger support (300).

11. The finger assembly (144) of claim 5, wherein half of the third ring portion (310) is provided on each half of the second finger support (302).

12. The finger assembly (144) of claim 2, wherein the first finger support (300) and the second finger support (302) are aligned to hold the first finger (124b) and the second finger (124c) in a common plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the offset shaft (142) in all possible rotational positions of the two fingers with respect to the offset shaft (142).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an agricultural harvesting head in accordance with the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the right end of the feed drum of the agricultural harvesting head of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 3 is fragmentary detail view of a finger mount and fingers located inside the feed drum of FIG. 2.

[0031] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the finger mount and fingers of FIG. 3.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the finger mount and fingers of FIGS. 3-4 taken through the center line of the stationary shaft and along section line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, an agricultural combine 100 is configured to travel through an agricultural field harvesting crops. The combine 100 comprises a chassis 102 supported on wheels 104. A harvesting head 106 (shown here is a draper header) is supported on a feeder house 108. The feeder house 108 is supported on the chassis 102.

[0034] As the agricultural combine 100 is driven through the field in a direction V harvesting crops, a reciprocating knife 107 fixed across the leading edge of the harvesting head 106 severs crop plants adjacent to the ground and conveys them to the feeder house 108. The feeder house 108 has an internal conveyor (not shown) of conventional arrangement that carries the cut crop material upward and into the front of the agricultural combine 100 body. The cut crop material is threshed and separated in the agricultural combine 100, and the grain is further cleaned in the agricultural combine 100 and is deposited in a grain tank 110. An unloading auger 112 receives the clean grain from the grain tank 110 and conveys it to a grain cart or grain wagon that travels alongside the agricultural combine 100.

[0035] The agricultural harvesting head 106 includes a frame 114 that extends laterally, generally perpendicular to the direction of travel V of the agricultural combine 100. The reciprocating knife 107 severs the crop, which falls on a left side endless belt conveyor 116, a center endless belt conveyor 118, and a right side endless belt conveyor 120.

[0036] The endless belt of the left side endless belt conveyor 116 supports the cut crop material and carries it to the right and inwardly towards a central region of the agricultural harvesting head 106 as indicated by the arrow superimposed on the endless belt. The endless belt of the right side endless belt conveyor 120 supports the cut crop material and carries it to the left and inwardly toward the central region of the agricultural harvesting head 106 as indicated by the arrow superimposed on the endless belt. The endless belt of the center endless belt conveyor 118 supports the cut crop material and carries it rearwardly and underneath a feed drum 122 as indicated by the arrow superimposed on the endless belt. Multiple fingers 124 extending from the feed drum stick into and engage the mat of cut crop material carried on the center endless belt conveyor 118. As the feed drum 122 rotates it pulls the fingers 124 underneath the feed drum and rearward toward the feeder house 108. A conveyor (not shown) in the feeder house 108 carries the crop upward and rearward into the body of the agricultural combine 100.

[0037] In FIG. 2, the right end of the feed drum 122 is shown in partial cutaway. The feed drum 122 is symmetric about a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal centerline. Thus the left end of the feed drum 122 is constructed identically as the right. All except two of the fingers and finger mounts have been removed in FIG. 2 for clarity of illustration.

[0038] The feed drum 122 has a generally circular cylindrical center section 126 to which truncated cones 128, 130 are attached at opposite ends of the center section 126. The center section 126 is defined by a cylindrical wall that has a plurality of holes 132 extending therethrough. The fingers 124 are supported in these holes and are rotated by the feed drum 122 as it rotates about its longitudinal axis.

[0039] The feed drum is supported on bearings 136 at each end of the feed drum 122. Two hexagonal stub shafts 138 are fixed at their outer ends outside the feed drum 122. These shafts extend into the feed drum through the bearings 136. The shafts 138 are stationary and do not rotate. A cantilevered arm 140 is fixed to the inside end of each stub shaft 138. These cantilevered arms extend forward inside the feed drum 122 from the stub shaft 138 and (like the stub shaft 138) are stationary and fixed with respect to the drum as the drum is driven in rotation. A drive motor (not shown) is coupled to the left end (not shown) of the feed drum and drives the feed drum in rotation. An offset shaft 142 extends parallel to the stub shafts 138 and parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed drum. The offset shaft 142 is located inside the feed drum and is coupled to the forward ends of cantilevered arms 140.

[0040] A finger assembly 144 is supported on the offset shaft 142. The finger assembly 144 includes mounts for two fingers and the fingers 124 (shown here as 124a, 124b, 124c) that are fixed to the mounts and extend outward at their outer ends through holes 132 in the wall of the feed drum 122.

[0041] As the feed drum 122 is driven in rotation, the stub shafts 138, the cantilevered arms 140, and the offset shaft 142 are stationary. The holes 132 in the feed drum 122 push against the side of the fingers 124 and cause the fingers 124 and the finger mounts 146 (to which the fingers are attached) to rotate about the offset shaft 142.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3-5, the finger assembly 144 comprises a first finger support 300, and a second finger support 302. The first finger support 300 supports finger 124b for rotation around the offset shaft 142. The second finger support 302 supports finger 124c for rotation around the offset shaft 142.

[0043] The first finger support 300 has a first ring portion 304 that extends around the offset shaft 142 and a second ring portion 308 that also extends around the offset shaft 142.

[0044] The first ring portion 304 and the second ring portion 308 are fixed together, side-by-side in a spaced-apart relation to provide a gap G therebetween into which a ring portion 310 of the second finger support 302 is fitted. The first ring portion 304 and the second ring portion 308 define a circular and cylindrical aperture 306 that is the same size as the offset shaft 142. The aperture 306 of is sized sufficiently to permit the first finger support 300 to rotate freely about the offset shaft 142 with a small clearance.

[0045] The first finger support 300 has a finger mount portion 312 that is integrally formed with the first ring portion 304 and the second ring portion 308. The finger mount portion 312 is generally cylindrical and defines a circular and cylindrical aperture 314. The aperture 314 has a longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 316 of the offset shaft 142. The aperture 314 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the finger 124b. By this arrangement, the first finger support 300 supports the finger 124b for rotation about the offset shaft 142 and also holds the finger perpendicular to the offset shaft 142.

[0046] The first finger support 300 is provided in two halves that are hinged together at a hinge 318. The hinge 318 is positioned on the opposite side of the offset shaft 142 as the finger mount portion 312. The hinge 318 includes a steel pin that extends through it relieved holes in the two halves of the first finger support 300. One half of the first ring portion 304, one half of the second ring portion 308, and one half of the finger mount portion 312 are provided on each half of the first finger support 300. The hinge permits the first finger support 300 to be opened and wrapped around the offset shaft 142. This permits the finger support 300 and the finger 124b to be removed from the offset shaft without requiring the offset shaft to be unbolted and removed from the feed drum 122.

[0047] The second finger support 302, like the first finger support 300, has a ring portion 310 that defines an aperture 322. The aperture 322 is sized to extend around the offset shaft 142 and be supported on the offset shaft 142 for rotation about the offset shaft 142.

[0048] The second finger support 302, like the first finger support 300, has a finger mount portion 320. Like the first finger support 300, the finger mount portion 320 is generally cylindrical and defines a circular aperture 323 into which finger 124c is inserted. The finger mount portion 320 and the aperture 322 also extend perpendicular to the offset shaft 142. This arrangement ensures that the finger 124b is held perpendicular to the offset shaft 142 and is free to rotate about the offset shaft 142.

[0049] The ring portion 310 is positioned in the gap G between the first ring portion 304 and the second ring portion 308. The first ring portion 304 and the second ring portion 308 straddle the ring portion 310, abutting the ring portion 310 on both sides of the ring portion 310 but permitting the ring portion 310 to pivot about offset shaft 142 with respect to the first ring portion 304 and the second ring portion 308.

[0050] This arrangement also permits the finger 124b to pivot with respect to the finger 124c as both fingers rotate about the offset shaft 142. This arrangement permits both the fingers to change their relative angular orientation as they are rotated around the offset shaft 142 by the feed drum 122. This change in relative angular orientation is necessary since the fingers are mounted on a shaft that is offset within the feed drum 122, and therefore the feed drum 122 as it rotates will change the angular orientation between the two fingers. This arrangement permits both of the fingers to lie in the same perpendicular plane of the offset shaft and thus provide a more compact finger arrangement with a greater number of fingers than was previously possible. Having additional fingers, more closely spaced, permits the feed drum 122 and fingers 124 to grab the crop mat and pull it with greater strength.

[0051] The second finger support 302, like the first finger support 300, is provided in two halves, each half having one half of the ring portion 310 of the second finger support 302 and half of the finger mount portion 320. Unlike the first finger support 300, these two halves are not hinged together. Instead, they are fitted into the gap G between the first ring portion 304 and the second ring portion 308.

[0052] The two halves of the first finger support 300 are held in a closed position around the offset shaft 142 by a retainer 324. The retainer 324 is a generally cylindrical ring that is installed around the two halves of the finger mount portion 312 when the two halves of the finger mount portion 312 are wrapped around the offset shaft 142 and held together. The retainer 324 is retained on the first finger support with a fastener 326, such as a nut, bolt, screw, pin, or spring pin (as illustrated herein).

[0053] The spring pin 326 passes through aligned holes in the finger mount portion 312 as well as a hole in the finger 124b. In this manner, the spring pin 326 retains the two halves of the first finger support 300 together and attaches the finger 124b to the first finger support 300 as well.

[0054] Likewise the two halves of the second finger support 302 are held in a close position around the offset shaft 142 by retainer 328. The retainer 328 is a generally cylindrical ring that is installed around the two halves of the finger mount portion 320 when the two halves are wrapped around the offset shaft 142 and held together. The retainer 328 is retained on the first finger support the fastener 330, such as a nut, bolt, screw, pin, or spring pin (as illustrated herein).

[0055] The spring pin 330 passes through aligned holes in the finger mount portion 320 as well as a hole in the finger 124c. In this manner, the spring pin 330 retains the two halves of the second finger support 302 together and attaches the finger 124c to the second finger support as well.

[0056] The device described above is provided to illustrate the invention. The invention, however, is defined by the claims below, and is not limited to the particular device illustrated and described herein.