Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to harvesters utilized for removing onions
and other types of crops which must be uprooted from the soil prior to har-
vesting.
Several rod weeder mechanisms have been suggested in the past. U.S.
patent No. 2,355,229, issued August 8, 1944, to Miller, shows the basic
concept of the use of a rod weeder for harvesting crops which form below the
soil surface. U.S. patent No. 2,954,085, issued September 27, 1960, to
Roberts, shows a bean vine cutter which uses the rod weeder concept. The
Roberts device includes a cleaner bar disposed immediately behind the rotating
rod for clearing away cut weeds. The cleaner bar of Roberts is disposed at an
angle to the horizontal and Roberts does not discuss the criticality of
spacing between the cleaner bar and the rotating rod. U.S. patent No.
3,283,830, issued November 8, 1966, to Hamby, shows a rod weeder which uses a
plurality of vertically disposed shanks with each shank being slidably attached
to a tool bar assembly composed of two parallel, transverse square bars. The
rotating rod of ~amby is attached to a plurality of shanks through the use of
flangettes which are bolted to the shanks thereby requiring a great deal of
effort in replacing the bearings. U.S. patent No. 3,340,934, issued September
12, 1967, to Wycoff, shows an agricultural implement which includes a soil
agitator mechanism used for loosening soil. The soil agitator operates from a
rotating offset pin through an oscillating bell crank which alternatingly
raises and lowers a plurality of tines. The alternating operation of the
tines of Wycoff would hinder its use in harvesting crops as the pressure
created by the one tine alone would tend to damage crops when attempting to
loosen them from the soil.
The present invention includes a tool bar comprising a pair of
transverse, parallel, square bars which are connected to the three-point hitch
of a tractor for raising and lowering the entire harvester. The transverse
rods are interconnected by a plurality of tool bar extensions to which are
welded depending shanks. The tool bar extensions are vable longitudinally
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along the tool bar for allowing the harvester to be adjusted to accommodate
crop rows having various widths. On the front of each shank is attached a
curved, downwardly extending chisel tooth for breaking the soil between crop
rows. At the rear of each shank is an elongated skid for determining the
depth of penetration of the harvester. The center shank has a gear box
assembly which is attached to the power takeoff of the tractor. The drive
assembly includes two drive sleeves for receiving one end of two oppositely
extending square rods. The square rods extend through bearings included in
each of the other shanks. Each rod is held in place by a strap which is
attached to the outermost shank and bears against the end of the rod holding
it in place in the drive sleeve. The straps may be easily removed for changing
rods, and the bearings in the shanks can be easily replaced by simply twisting
the bearings by 90 and sliding them from grooves in the shanks. Connected
between each pair of adjacent shanks and spaced not more than 1/16" behind the
rotating rod is a wiper bar. Each wiper bar can be welded or bolted to two of
the shanks and provides lateral support for the shanks as well as effecting
cleaning of the rotating rod. An agitator is also connected through the
shanks and driven by the drive assembly. The agitator contains a plurality of
rearwardly extending tines which are moved in a vertical oscillatory motion in
unison for removing dirt from the produce which has been uprooted by the
rotating rod weeder.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a
unique harvester with mechanical rod weeder and soil agitator which is produced
with a minimum number of components, yet is rugged and reliable in use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a harvester
with mechanical rod weeder and soil agitator wherein the individual components
of the harvester can be easily replaced in a minimum amount of time by using a
minimum number of bolts for assembly of the harvester.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
harvester with mechanical rod weeder and soil agitator incorporating a cleaner
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bar which not only provides cleaning for the rotating rod, but also adds to
the lateral rigidity of the harvester.
An additional further object of the present invention is to provide
a harvester with mechanical rod weeder and soil agitator which incorporates
the use of a plurality of skids for defining the depth of penetration of the
harvester, rather than using conventional wheels which are expens *e and can
cause severe problems.
One still further additional object of the present invention is to
provide a harvester with mechanical rod weeder and soil agitator which can not
only uproot a crop being harvested, but is also capable of agitating soil
loose from the crop for reducing the amount of manual labor necessary in the
harvesting process.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the harvester with mechanical
rod weeder as attached to the three-point hitch of a farm tractor.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the harvester with mechanical rod
weeder of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a side sectional elevational view taken substantially
along a plane passing through section line 3--3 of Fig. 2 showing the gear
and chain drive assembly of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along
a plane passing through section line 4--4 of Fig. 3 showing the chisel teeth
of the present invention.
` Figure 5 is a top plan sectional view taken substantially along a
plane passing through section line 5--5 of Fig. 1 showing the keeper strap of
the present invention.
Figure 6 is a elevational sectional view taken substantially along
a plane passing through section line 6--6 of Fig. 5.
Figure 7 is a fragmental perspective view of the harvester with
mechanical rod weeder and soil agitator.
Figure 8 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along a plane
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passing through section line 8--8 of Fig. 7.
Figure 9 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along
a plane passing through section line 9--9 of Fig. 7.
Now with reference to the drawings, a harvester with mechanical rod
weeder incorporating the elements of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described in detail. With
specific reference to Figs. 1 through 4, it will be seen that the harvester 10
includes a tool bar assembly 12 which is attached to a plurality of shanks 14
which in turn mount the rotating weeder rods 16 and the cleaner bars 18.
The tool bar assembly 12 itself comprises a pair of transverse
parallel square bars 20 which are interconnected by a plurality of tool bar
extensions 22 of conventional construction. It should be noted that the tool
bar extensions 22 are movable longitudinally along the bars 20 for providing
desired lateral spacing between the individual extensions. Also mounted to ~`
the parallel transverse bars 20 is the mounting structure 24 which comprises a
pair of spaced vertical plates 26 which are connected to one of the bars 20 by
clamps 28. Each plate 26 is hingedly connected to one of the lower struts of
the three-point hitch of tractor 30. A frame member 32 interconnects the two
plates 26 and mounts a pair of spaced plates 34 which are hingedly connected
to the third member of the three-point hitch of tractor 30.
Welded to the lower portion of each tool bar extension 22 is one
shank 14. Accordingly, it can be seen that by repositioning the extensions
22, the spacing between the shanks 14 will be adjusted. Each shank is substan-
tially planar in configuration and preferably formed from 3/4" plate steel 14"
in width. With such dimensions, flexing of the shanks in the direction of
travel of the harvester is severely limited. In order to insure that no
flexing will occur, the parallel transverse bars 20 should be chosen to
provide adequate stability. The contemplated invention utilizes 2-1/4" by
2-1/4" square bars thereby eliminating an such undesirable flexing. In the
lower forward portion of each shank, an incurved surface 36 is formed. Welded
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into the surface 36 is a half chisel po;nt 38 which extends downwardly and
curves forwardly of the shank. The half chisel points are hard surfaced with
any known metal alloy over, around and under all cutting edges. Welded to the
bottom of each shank 14 and rearwardly thereof is a skid 40. Skids 40 are
preferably formed from hardened plate steel and are approximately 1/2" by 2"
by 6". Each skid is attached to the bottom surface of its respective shank
and extends rearwardly thereof. The skids effectively contrcl depth and pitch
of the shanks while they are in the operational mode. Furthermore, the skids
are situated in such a manner as to not interfere with the crop harvesting
process.
The centermost shank 14 of the harvester is positioned directly
behind tractor 30 and is specially adapted to contain the rod drive 42. Rod
drive 42 includes a gear box 44 which is driven through universal joint 46
by the power take off of tractor 30. Gear box 44 drives the chain and
sprocket assembly 48 which is located centrally of the shank and covered on
each side by housing halves 50. Lower sprocket 52 of the chain and sprocket
drive 48 is connected to a pair of drive sleeves 54 which can most clearly
be seen with reference to Figs. 2 through 4. Drive sleeves 54 are supported
and journaled in apertures in housing halves 50. These apertures are
covered by flangettes 56 which bolt to the respective housing halves to
allow access to the interior of the housing for changing bad bearings or
replacing the chain of the chain and sprocket drive 48. Likewise, a cover
58 is bolted over the gear box 44 for allowing access to the interior
thereof.
It will be noted that a square aperture is formed in each of the
drive sleeves 54 for slidably receiving one end of each weeder bar 16 and
operatively engaging the bars with the power take off of the tractor. Bars 16
are caused to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the
harvester thereby uprooting any crop with which contact is made. The bars
16 extend longitudinally of the parallel bars 20 through each of the shanks
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14. Each shank 14 has a bearing 60 slidably received therein, as shown most
clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. Bearings 60 are aligned for receiving rods 16.
In order to perfectly align the bearings and to avoid the use of bolts for
holding the bearings in place, a plurality of disks 62 are first machined to
snugly receive the bearings. The bearings are then properly aligned and the
disks are welded in place on the respective shanks 14. As can easily be seen
in Fig. 5, the machined opening is circular in circumference and axially con-
cave to receive bearing 60 which is also circular in circumference but axially
convex. In this manner, the cooperating concave and concex surfaces hold the
bearing in place when weeder rod 16 is inserted in the bearing. To facilitate
insertion and removal of bearing 60, a pair of aligned slots 67 are formed in
disk 62. The slots have a width sufficient to receive the bearing. Once the
bearing is inserted, it can be twisted by 90 to engage the concave and convex
surfaces. In like manner, to remove a bearing 60, rod 16 should be removed and
the bearing should be twisted by 90 as indicated by arrow 64 in Fig. 5. At
this time, the bearing can easily be slid through slots 67. Also, due to the
tight frictional fit between the outer bearing periphery and the machined open-
ing, the outer race of the bearing will not rotate with the rod as it rotates.
Inasmuch as all bearings are inserted in this manner, it can easily be seen
that the bearings can be quickly and easily removed for replacing malfunction-
ing or defective bearings, thereby reducing down time of the machine.
Furthermore, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, it can be seen that the
ends of rod 16 opposite to those received in sleeves 54 extend outward past
the end of the last shank 14. An inward force is applied to maintain the
rod 16 in contact with the sleeves by use of retainer straps 68. Each
retainer strap 68 is mounted on a pair of bosses 70 which extend laterally
away from the outermost shanks 14. A pair of bolts 72 extend through the
retainer straps 68 and threadedly engage the respective bosses 70 for holding
the retainer strap in plæce. Welded to the inner surface of retainer strap 68
is a hardened abutment plate 74 which actually contacts the free end of rod 16
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to apply a slight amount of inward force thereon. When it i8 desired to
remove rod 16 for replacement due to some defect in the rod, all that need be
done is to loosen one of the bolts 72, remove the other of the bolts 72, let
the retainer strap 68 dangle from the loosened bolt and simply apply an
outward force on the rod 16. It will easily slide from its mountings.
Now again with reference to Figs. 1 and 4, it can be seen that
cleaner bars 18 are mounted to the rear of rod 16. Each cleaner bar is a
substantially flat member having its major surfaces parallel to the ground.
The cleaner bar is 1/2" x 2" and extends between any two of the shanks 14.
10 It is welded to the shanks in a posit ion not more than 1/16" behind the
1" x 1" square weeder rod 16. Gussets 76 may be welded to the cleaner bars as
shown, if additional strength is needed. When welding the cleaner bars to
the shanks, it should be noted that sufficient room must be maintained for
allowing the removal of bearings 60. As shown in Fig. 4, the cleaner bars
18 which extend to housing halves 50 are supported at their inner ends by
angled support members 78 which are welded to the shank. This is necessary
since additional room must be left for the removal of flangettes 56. Inserts
80 are bolted on the angled supports to fill in the open area between the ends
of the cleaner bars and the housing. The inserts can easily be removed to
~0 provide sufficient room for removal of flangettes 56. The cleaner bars serve
two purposes. First, by virtue of their spacing 1/16" or less behind the high
point of rod 16, the cleaner bars act to inhibit the wrapping of weeds or
roots or the accumulat ion of dirt on or around the rotating rod 16. In
addition, by virtue of their connection between adjacent shanks, the cleaner
bars provide needed lateral support to the shanks, thereby insuring a rigid
construction for the harvester. It should also be noted that cleaner bars 18
can be bolted to the shanks 14. However, welding is preferred as it leaves no
bolt heads to catch and accumulate debris.
Now with reference to Figs. 6 through 8, the soil agitator attach-
30 ment for the harvester will be described in detail. The soil agitator
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includes agitator bar 82 which extends for the entire longitudinally dimen-
sion of the harvester and is supported and journaled in each of the shanks
14. The agitator bar has a plurality of tines 84 which extend rearwardly
therefrom. Each tine 84 is caused to oscillate in a vertical plane thereby
separating any vegetation which has been uprooted by rod 16 from the surround-
ing soil in order to facilitate the manual harvesting thereof. The oscilla-
tion of bar 82 and tine 84 is produced through gear 86 which is included in
the aforementioned chain and sprocket drive 48 and housed in expanded
housing halves 50' as seen in Fig. 8. Gear 86 is mounted on shaft 88 which
also mounts offset drive element 90 which drives connecting rod 92. Connect-
ing rod 92 transfers motion to connecting rod 94 thrugh bell crank 96.
Connecting rod 94 in turn is mounted on offset mount 98 which is attached
to agitator bar 82. Accordingly, whenever the power take off of tractor 30
is set in motion, tines 84 will be caused to oscillate vertically thereby
loosening dirt from the produce being harvested. By making connecting rods 92
and 94 adjustable in length by any known method, both the throw and depth of
penetration of tines 84 can be easily adjusted to accommodate varying soil
conditions and various types of produce to be harvested. It should be noted
that the most effective position for mounting agitator bar 82 is directly
behind the cleaner bar 18. In this manner, the agitator bar 82 will be
assured of moving under the uprooted vegetation left by rotating rod 16, yet
will not contact undisturbed soil as would be the case if the agitator bar
were positioned below rod 16. If bar 82 were positioned above rod 16, it
might contact and damage vegetation which otherwise would be harvestable.
Furthermore, it will be noted that the tines 84 have an upwardly curved
configuration. This is to insure the removal of dirt and other debris from
the harvestable produce. As the produce is uprooted by the rotating weeder
rod and as it travels across the cleaner bar, a certain degree of vibration is
imposed upon the produce and soil particles in the immediate vicinity. The
produce continues to travel rearwardly and comes in contact with the soil
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agitator. When the produce contacts the agitator, the curved tines catch it
and the produce is retained on top of the tines for a few seconds allowing
the soil particles or other debris to shake loose from the produce. As the
produce is held by the upwardly curved tines, additional produce travels
across the cleaner bar and causes an instantaneous mass collection of the
articles of produce with the soil and other debris falling free and separated
therefrom. In this regard, it should also be noted that the tines are
formed from round rods to further facilitate the dropping off of dirt and
debris. Also, the spacing between the tines 84 is critical as this spacing
should be close enough to accommodate the specific produce being harvested
but not so close as to inhibit the separation of dirt therefrom.
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