Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"STRAW CHOPPER AND SPREADER ASSEMBLY"
BACKGROUND OF TIE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
mints in straw choppers and spreaders including means to
collect and spread chaff, and is adapted to be secured under
the rear, substantially horizontal, discharge area of a
threshing machine such as a combine or the like.
An efficient chopper and spreader device should
satisfy several criteria. Firstly, of course, it should
chop the straw received from the straw walkers, readily and
easily and distribute same behind and to the sides of tune
machine with little chance of jamming or clogging occurring.
In other words the choppers or flails should chop and disk
tribute the straw in such a way that encountering a tempo
aridly heavy stand will not cause the straw to back up in
the mischarge area.
Secondly, it is preferable that it should also
collect and distribute the chaff rather than just dump it
in the swath immediately behind the discharge.
I It is also desirable that some control be pro-
voided for controlling tune area of distribution of the chop-
pod straw both rearwardly and sideways.
A further desirable feature is the provision of
means whereby, if desired, the straw chopper can be made
inoperative and adjusted readily so that the straw can be
dumped from the discharge of the combine into a window
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immediately there behind in the usual manner without the
straw being chopped.
Conventional straw chopping devices merely no-
chive the straw which is then chopped and spread with
little control being provided. An example is shown in
United States patent 4,292,795.
The present device overcomes disadvantages in-
hornet with conventional straw chopping and spreading de-
vices and satisfies the above mentioned enumerated require-
mints in a satisfactory manner.
In accordance with the invention there is pro-
voided a straw chopper and spreader assembly for connection
to a rear discharge area of a threshing machine of the
type which moves forwardly across a field to be harvested
and includes means for feeding harvested straw to said
discharge area, the assembly comprising a casing, means
for mounting the casing adjacent to the rear discharge
area, a pair of contra-rotating flail assemblies each have
in a plurality of blades, means mounting each flail asset-
I by in said casing for rotation about a substantially Yen-
local axis in a substantially horizontal plane, said flail
mounting means being arranged such that the blades of one
overlap and pass vertically above the other in an area
between the axes and such that the blades pass a line
joining the axes from the forward side thereof to a rear-
ward side thereof in phase so as to provide a shearing
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action between the blades in the area without any inter-
vexing stationary shearing surfaces, said casing mounting
means being arranged such that straw from said discharge
area enters the area between said flail assemblies for-
warmly of said line and is discharged from said area rear-
warmly of said line and means for directing the discharge
owe chopped straw from said flail assemblies rearwardly and
to each side of said assembly, force on said straw disk
charge from said casing being provided solely by said
flail assemblies.
In accordance with another aspect of the invent
lion there is provided a straw chopper and spreader assume-
lye for connection to a rear discharge area of a threshing
machine of the type which moves forwardly across a field
to be harvested and includes means for feeding harvested
straw to the discharge area, the said assembly comprising
a casing, means for mounting the casing adjacent the rear
discharge area for receiving straw therefrom, first and
second flail means in the casing for receiving straw and
I for chopping same, each flail means being arranged for
rotation about a substantially vertical axis in a sub Stan-
tidally horizontal plane to discharge said chopped straw,
and means for directing the discharge of chopped straw
from said casing in a direction outwardly and downwardly
of the rear discharge area of said threshing machine to
the sides and rear of the machine and including adjustable
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chute means positioned only at the sides for redirecting
the movement of the chopped straw at the sides from said
downward and outward direction to an upwardly and outward-
lye direction.
In accordance with a yet further aspect of the
invention there is provided a chaff spreading apparatus
for attachment to a combine harvester comprising support
means arranged for attachment to the combine at a craft
discharge outlet thereof, a pair of blade assemblies
means mounting each assembly on the support means for no-
station about a substantially vertical axis in a sub Stan-
tidally horizontal plane such that the axes are in use
spaced transversely of the combine with the blade asset-
bites arranged side by side and such that the blade asset-
bites receive chaff discharged from said outlet and a
guide wall mounted on the support so as to lie transverse-
lye of the combine at a position to receive and direct at
least some of the chaff from said blade assemblies outward-
lye to respective sides of the combine.
Another advantage of the invention is that it is
designed to be secured by mounting brackets, to the disk
charge area of varying makes of harvester combine machines.
A yet further advantage of the invention is to
provide a device of the character here within described
which, if desired, can readily be inactivated so that the
straw and chaff can be deposited from the discharge area
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of the combine harvester, in a swath, in the usual manner.
Another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a device of the character here within described which
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is simple in construction, economical in operation and
otherwise well suited to tune purpose for which it is de-
signed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages
as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which
this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the
invention is herein described by reference to the accompany-
in drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a de-
ascription of the best mode known to the applicant and of
the preferred typical embodiment of the principles ox the
present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE RINKS
Figure 1 is an isometric view, partially broken
away, of the straw chopper secured to the rear end of a
harvester combine.
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the beater asset-
by per so.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 1 but with
the beater assembly removed.
Figure is a fragmentary end elevation showing
one method of attachment of the straw chopper and spreader
to the side of the discharge area of a harvester combine.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of Figure 1, par-
tidally broken away, and with the beater assembly removed
for clarity.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation sub Stan-
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tidally along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of part of the
straw chopper assembly showing the winch assembly for the
front pan.
Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of
the winch spindle showing one method of attaching tune dead
end of the cable.
inure 9 is a front elevation of the skirt per so
situated at the rear end of the assembly.
In the drawings like characters of reference in-
dilate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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Proceeding therefore to describe the invention
in detail, reference should first be made to Figures 1 and
3 in which 10 illustrates the lower side of the discharge
area at the rear of the combine, the side of which is in-
dilated by reference character if. Within the side if, is
shown the rear end of the conventional sieve component 12
above which is situated the conventional straw walkers (not
I illustrated) which deposits the straw over and downwardly
in the direction of arrow 13, into the straw chopper and
spreader assembly collectively designated 14 and which is
secured adjacent the rear of the discharge area of the come
brine.
The assembly 14 is enclosed within a casing got-
electively designated 15 including side plates 16, front
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plate Lo, a rear casing area 18 and base 19 forming a box-
in secured to tune side plates 20 of the discharge area by
means of braclcets 21 secured by bolts 22 and having a con-
figuration similar to that shown in Figure 4. This attach-
mint construction may vary depending upon the combine to
which it is attached.
Figures 1 and 5 show a pair of flail assemblies
23 in side by side relationship each consisting of four
blade assemblies 24 having pivotal flails 25 secured to and
extending radially therefrom and mounted upon vertical
spindles 26 extending downwardly from gear boxes 27 which
in turn are driven by cross shaft 28 from pulley 29 and con-
netted to a source of power from the combine (not illustrate
Ed via belt AYE (see Figure 1).
The outer ends of the cross shaft 28 are enclosed
within guard and lifting handle assemblies 30 as clearly
illustrated in Figures 3 and 5.
The gear boxes ensure that the flail assemblies
rotate in the direction of arrows 31 thus ensuring that all
I straw dumped downwardly through the open upper side of the
spreader and chopper casing 15, pass through the areas be-
tweet the overlapping flails, the ends of which overlap as
clearly shown. In this connection, the horizontal planes
of rotation of the two flails are slightly misaligned so
that there is no chance of interception one by the other
yet at the same time the overlapping relationship is such
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that a shearing action is provided thus giving a good chop-
ping action to the straw passing downwardly through the
flails. The lower ends of the spindles 26 are supported
within bearings 32 within the lower wall 15 of the casing
(see Figure 3).
A vertically situated adjustable skirt 34 is
situated at the rear of the casing, said skirt having horn-
zontal outer portions 35 and inwardly and forwardly curved
portions 36 which terminate in a common apex 37 when view-
Ed in plan as shown in Figure 5 and the curvature of the portions 36 is similar to the swept curvature pain of the
tips 38 of the flail assemblies as shown in dotted line in
Figure 5 and these tips just clear this curved area once
again ensuring that the straw is caught by the flails prior
to being expelled outwardly after chopping. The skirt is
adjustable vertically through means such as vertical slots
AYE shown in Figure 9 and bolts (not illustrated) passing
there through securing the skirt to the rear of the casing
and it will be observed that the lower edges 39 of the
I slcirt inclines upwardly and outwardly from the aforemention-
Ed apex 37. Reference to Figure 3 will show that this
skirt is adjLIstable so that the lower edges thereof are ad-
just able from a position shown in phantom in Figure 3 to a
position shown in full line thus varying the distance from
the lower edge 39 and an extension lea of the base of the
casing. This, together with the sloping configuration of
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tune edges 39, controls the volume of cropped straw being
spread rearwardly and the volume of the remainder of the
straw which is ejected sideways through the two side chutes
collectively designated 40. These chutes 40 (shown in rear
elevation in Figure 6) include downwardly and outwardly ox-
tending upper plates or walls 41, lower plates 42 which ox-
tend downwardly, then horizontally and then upwardly as
shown at 43, with this outer portion 43 inclining upwardly
beyond the outer edge 45 of the upper wall 41 thus directing
the chopped straw being discharged there through, upwardly
and outwardly to each side of the combine. The bottom or
lower wall 42 can be removed, if so desired, so that the
chopped straw being ejected is directed outwardly and down-
warmly by the upper wall 41 end thus terminates closer to
the sides of the combine so that the vertical positioning
of the skirt together with the use of the lower wall 42 of
the chutes give considerable control to the distribution of
the chopped straw depending upon the desires of the opera-
ion, together with the density of the straw passing through
the combine.
The sieves 12 reciprocate in the direction of
double headed arrow 44 (see Figure 3) and a transversely eon-
rugated chaff conveying tray AYE is pivotal secured by the
upper end thereof across the rear end of the sieves by means
of pivot 46. This tray, which spans the discharge area, in-
dines rearwardly and downwardly and is supported at the
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lower end thereof by means of a pivoted hanger bracket 46'
at each side thereof pivoted by the lower end to the lower
end of the tray by means of pivot pins 47 and by the upper
end thereof to the rear 14 of the casing lo by means of
pivot pins 48.
A pair of chaff spreading discs collectively de-
signaled 49 are detachably secured to the lower ends of
spindles 50 supported in bearings 51 and extending down-
warmly below the casing 14 and just forwardly of the flails
lo 23. These discs include a disc-like face 52 and vertical-
lye situated spreader bars or blades 53 extending radially
from the center thereof and the lower end 54 of the tray 45,
dumps the chaff onto the discs just forwardly of the spindles
50. A pulley 55 is provided on the lower end of the shafts
26 and a corresponding pulley 56, of a slightly larger
diameter, is secured to the shafts 50 in horizontal align-
tent with pulleys 55 and a V-belt shown schematically by
reference character 57 (see Figure 5) extends around t7nese
pulleys and supplies rotational drive to the spreader disc
I assemblies 49 so that the ctlaff is distributed by these discs
as Lo is clumped from the reciprocating try, onto the
upper surfaces of the discs.
Adjustable shrouds or deflectors 49B may be situate
Ed rearwardly of these discs supported from the casing 15.
These angle rearwardly from the center and assist in deflect-
in the chaff outwardly.
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Occasionally, it may be desirable to lay the swath
of straw (together with the chaff) in the conventional manner
without chopping same so that it may be picked up and used
for other purposes, same being picked up by conventional
means at a later time.
Uncier these circumstances, the drive to the flails
is disconnected, the chaff spreading discs are retnoved
from the spindles 50 and the lower front side portion or
pan of the casing shown in phantom and indicated by refer-
once character 58, is unhitched from the main casing 14 and
is hinged rearwardly around pivot point 59 to take up the
position shown in phantom and to be detachably held in this
position by means of a detachable link 60. The hinged port
lion or pan includes the base lea, side portions AYE, and
front wall portions AYE. This allows the straw to be dump-
Ed straight through the casing 15 and onto the ground without
being chopped by the flails.
While this hinging of the pan 58 may be undertaken
manually, Figures 7 end 8 show the preferred embodiment
which includes a winch assembly collectively designated 61.
The front pan portion 58, is hinged around the
pivot point 59 herein before described and the winch asset-
by 61 is secured to tune front wall AYE of tune pan portion
58, being mounted upon a pair of brackets 62 which extend
forwardly from the front wall AYE adjacent the other side
thereof. These brackets are aperture and receive a winch
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shaft 63 and support same for rotation. However it will
be noted that this shaft, together with a handle 64 on one
end thereof, relay be end snifter in the direction of arrow
65 and against pressure of a spring 66 surrounding the shaft
and reacting between one bracket 62 and an adjustable spring
tension collar acquired to the shaft. A winch stop 67
extends from a boss or collar 68 secured to the shaft adja-
cent the other bracket 62 and normally engages the front
of the bracket and prevents rotation of the shaft by means
of handle 64 as clearly shown in Figure 7.
However when it is desired to rotate the shaft 63
by means of the handle 64, the shaft is moved in the direct
lion of arrow 65 against pressure of spring 66 thus clear-
in the stop 67 from the brackets 62 and permitting rota-
lion of the shaft. When the shaft is released, tune spring
66 returns the shaft to the position shown in Figure 7 so
that the stop 67 engages the bracket 62.
A winch cable 69 engages around the portions of
the shan't outboard of brackets 62 and this cable is secured
I by the dead or inner end thereof to the snafu Figure 8
shows one method of such Sacramento in which the tail end
or dead end portion engages through an aperture 70 drilled
diametrically through the shaft, wraps around the snail as
indicate by reference character AYE and then passes upward-
lye through the shaft through the aperture 70 terminating
in the end portion 69B. This anchors the cable to the shaft.
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The cable is wound around the end portions of
the shaft as clearly shown and the free end 69C is provided
with a loop (not illustrated) which is detachably securable
over a pin 71 extending upon each side of the side walls 16
of the fixed portion of the casing and adjacent the upper
front corners thereof as clearly shown in Figure 7. Hairpin
clips 72 detachably engaged within the ends of pins 71 to
retain the loops on the pins and to permit removal of these
loops as will hereinafter be described.
lo When in the position shown in Figure 7, the pan
portion 58 is normally held in this position by nut and bolt
assemblies 73 winch pass through the sides 16 of the fixed
portion and through the sides AYE of the pan portion.
However when it is desired to move the pan portion
from the position shown in Figure 7 to the rearwardly hinged
position, shown port way in phantom in Figure 3, then
these nut and bolt assemblies 73 are removed. The winch
shalt 63 is end snifter in the direction of arrow 65 thus
disengaging the catch or latch 67 from the adjacent brag-
I kit 62. The winch shaft is then rotated by means of Handel against the weight of tune pan portion 58 thus unwinding
tune cables which support the front of the pan trough the
winch shaft. The weight of true pan moves it to the sub Stan-
Shelley vertical position (not illustrated in these drawings)
whereupon the looped ends of tune cable portions 69C are no-
moved from the pins 71 and reattached to similar pins I
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(see Figure 3) extending upon each side of the rear of the
fixed portion of the casing. Once again the shaft is end
shifted to disengage the latch 67 and rotation of the shaft
continues by means of handle 64 thus winding the cables
upon the shaft and swinging the pan portion 58 rearwardly
clear of the discharge area.
To reconvert the assembly, the procedure is no-
versed bringing the pan up to the position shown in Figure
7 whereupon bolts 73 are reinserted and of course the drive
reconnected to the flail assemblies together with the chaff
spreading discs.
Reference to Figures l and 2 show a beater asset-
by collectively designated 75 which assists in urging the
straw from the discharge area, into the flail assemblies
in conjunction with a deflector collectively designated 76.
The beater assembly is situated transversely
across the discharge area below the discharge of the straw
walkers and above the entrance to the casing above the
front portions of the flail assemblies. It consists of a
shaft 77 supported within bearings 78 which in turn are
supported in brackets 79 secured to or forming part of the
brackets 21 attaching the assembly to the discharge area.
A plurality of transversely situated, beater blades
80 extend radially from the shaft 77 and these blades or
bats are angulated transversely as indicated by reference
character 81 with the trailing edges 82 being angulated for
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stiffness.
A pulley 83 is secured to one end of shaft 77 and
V belt 84 extends around this pulley and forwardly to the
spreader drive (not illustrated) on the harvester or come
brine.
The beater assembly is designed to rotate in the
direction of arrow 85 as indicated in Figure 2, the deflector
panel 76 extends transversely across the discharge area and
is adapted to be bolted to the rear panel of the rear come
brine hood defining the upper wall of the discharge area.
In this connection, an angulated upper edge 86 is aperture
to receive the bolts (not illustrated) so that the deflector
inclines downwardly and forwardly just clear of the beater
blades and directs the straw downwardly to the beater
blades whereupon it is forced into the flail assemblies.
It should be understood that the majority of the straw
passes directly under the beater assembly to the flail as-
sublease and the deflector deflects any of the discharging
straw which is not first caught by the beater assembly.
Since various modifications can be made in my in-
mention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely
different embodiments of same made within the spirit and
scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the act
companying specification shall be interpreted as illustra-
live only and not in a limiting sense.
