Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 This invention relates to methods and apparatus for
2 harvesting crops standing in a field.
In the harvesting of stemmed crops, such as dry
4 beans, it is conventional to mount a so-called bean puller on
a tractor which may be driven through a field in which the
~ crop has matured and dried on the vine. ~ bean puller conven-
7 tionally includes blades which project forwardly of the
8 tractor and are partially embedded in the ground so as to
~ sever the plant stems from their roots. The tractor also
conventionally has mounted thereon a windrower which engages
11 the severed plants and rakes them into windrows. Thereafter,
12 a combine is driven through the field, and collects the
13 windrowed plants, and separates the beans or the like from the
14 stems and other foliage.
The crop harvesting apparatus and method referred to
1~ above are quite inefficient for a number of reasons. First,
17 underground severing of the stems from their roots requires
18 frequent sharpening, as well as replacement, of the cutting
19 knives due to their engagement with stones and other debris.
2~ Further, the falling of the plants following severing of the
21 stems, coupled with the windrowing operation and the subse-
22 quent gathering for combining, results in multiple handling of
23 the plants with consequent loss of beans. In addition, the
~4 necessity of having to drive the combine through the field
after the pulling and windrowing operations requires at least
~6 two passes of motorized equipment through the field with
~7 consequent relatively high fuel consumption.
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Accordingly, the present invention seeks to overcome or
~0 greatly minimize the disadvantages and inefficiencies referred
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1 to above.
2 The invention in one aspect provides crop harvesting
3 apparatus comprising a housing having walls forming a chamber, one
4 of the walls having a crop inlet therein and another of -the walls
having a crop outlet therein, a crop receiver in communica-tion
6 with the chamber via the outlet for receiving crops -Erom the
7 chamber, and conduit means having an opening at one end thereof
8 for the reception of crops and being in communication at its other
9 end with the inlet. Fan means is in communication with the
chamber for establishing subatmospheric pressure in the chamber
11 and an air stream through the conduit means of such velocity,as to
12 entrain crops and deliver them into the chamber via the inlet.
13 Crop discharge means engages crops in the chamber and discharges
14 them to the receiver via the outlet, the crop discharge means
forming a sufficient seal of the outlet to ensure the maintenance
16 of a crop-entraining air stream through the conduit means. There
17 is also means for engaging crops in the receiver and conducting
18 them from the receiver.
19 Another aspect of the invention provides a method of
harvesting crops standing in a field and supported by stems, the
21 method comprising severing the crops from the stems, entraining
22 the severed crops in an air stream and delivering them via an
23 inlet into a chamber having an outlet therein through which the
24 crops may be discharged to a crop receiver, engaging the crops in
the chamber and driving them out of the chamber via the ou-tlet and
26 into the receiver, maintaining at all times a sufficient seal of
27 the outlet to ensure the maintenance of a sufficient velocity of
28 the air stream to effect entrainment and delivery of the crops
29 into the chamber, decelerating the air stream in the chamber an
amount sufficient to enable -the entrained crops to fall by gravity
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1 to the bottom of the chambex, and removing crops frorn the
2 receiver.
3 More particularly, the harvesting of beans or similar dry
4 crops standing in a field is accomplished in accordance with the
invention by an attachment that may be mounted at the forward end
6 of a combine and which is provided with a cutter for severing the
7 plant stems slightly above ground level. The plant cutter is
8 located at the leading end of a concluit -through which a strearn of
9 air flows rearwardly, thereby enabling each severed plant to be
entrained in the air stream for transport rearwardly through the
11 conduit. The conduit communicates via an inlet with a chamber
12 formed in a housing tha-t is detachably supported at the leading
13 end of a conventional combine. In communication with the charnber
14 is a fan which generates the aforementioned air stream. The cross
sectional area of the chamber is substantially greater than that
16 of the conduit, ~hereby enabling the air constituting the air
17 stream to expand and decelerate as it passes through the inlet to
18 the chamber. The plants entrained in the air stream thus no
19 longer can be supported by such air stream and are deposited on
the bottom of the chamber.
21 The chamber has an outlet at its lower, trailing end
22 which communicates with the leading end of a receiver carried
23 by the combine in a conventional manner. Rotary crop
24 discharge means is mounted in the housing so as at least
partially to occupy the discharge opening, thereby ensuring
26 that most of the air entering the chamber arrives via the
27 crop-entraining air stream referred to earlier. The crop
28 discharge means is provided with crop engaging fingers and is
29 rotated in a direction to enable the fingers to engage and
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1 ¦ effect discharge of the crop from the chamber to the receiver
2 ¦ of the combine. The crop di6charged to the combine is
3 ¦ delivered in a conventional manner to the threshiny apparatus
4 ¦ of the combine so as to separate the bean crop from the plant
¦ stems, foliage, and pods.
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7 ¦ Apparatus constructed in accordance with the
8 ¦ invention is disclosed in the following description and the
~ ¦ accompanying drawings, wherein:
19 ¦ Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the harvesting
11 ¦ apparatus attached to the leading end oE a conventional
12 I combine;
13 ¦ Figure 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view
14 ¦ taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure l;
¦ Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly
1~ ¦ sectional view of the attachment and the leading end of the
17 ¦ combine;
18 ¦ Figure 4 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the
19 ¦ apparatus shown in Figure 2;
¦ Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged side elevational view,
21 ¦ with parts broken away, as viewed on the lines 5-5 of Figure 4;
2Z ¦ Figure 6 is a sectional view taken generally along
2~ ¦ the lines 6-6 of Figure 5; and
~4`1 Figures 7-9 are diagrammatic plan views, with parts
¦ broken away, of alternative forms of crop discharge means.
~6 1
~7 ¦ Harvesting apparatus constructed in accordance with
~8 ¦ the invention is designated generally by the reference
¦ character 1 and is adapted for removable attachment to the
¦ leading end of a conventional, wheeled grain combine
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1 ¦ desi~nated 2. As is conventional, tbe combine 2 supports at
2 ¦ its leading end a receiver 3 having spaced side walls 4, a
3 ¦ bottom 5, and a rear wall 6 within which is an opening 7 in
4 ¦ communication with a passage 8 which leads rearwardly of the
¦ combine to the threshing mechanism ~not shown). Journaled in
~ ¦ suitable bearings (not shown) supported by the end walls 4 of
7 ¦ the receiver 3 is an auger shaft 9 provided with a pair of
8 ¦ vanes 10~ one of which is pitched to feed articles in the
9 ¦ receiver 3 from one end wall 4 toward the center and the other
¦ of which is pitched to feed materials in the receiver from the
11 ¦ opposite end wall toward the center, as is conventional.
12 ¦ The harvester attachment 1 comprises a housing 11
13 ¦ having end walls 12, a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, a top
1~ ¦ wall lS, and a bottom wall 16. The width of the housing 11
¦ corresponds to that of the combine receiver 3, thereby
lB ¦ enabling the housing 11 to be detachably mounted on the
17 ¦ receiver 3 by suitable brackets 17 or other appropriate means
18 I secured to the side walls 4 and 12, respectively.
19 ¦ Internally of the housing 11 is a plurality of Eore
2P ¦ and aft extending, transversely spaced partitions 18 which
21 ¦ divide the housing into a plurality of side-by-side chambers
~2 ¦ 19. The upper wall 15 of each chamber has an air exhaust
23 ¦ opening 20 therein in which is fitted the outlet end of a
~4~¦ powerful fan 21 having its inlet opening 22 in communication
¦ with the associated chamber 19. Each fan 21 may be mounted in
¦ its chamber in any suitable, conventional manner. Between the
~7 ¦ bottom wall 16 and the upper wall 15 of each chamber and
~8 adjacent the wall 15, is mounted a screen 23 for a purpose
a~ presently to be explained~
Each fan has a rotor 24 fixed on a shaft 25 that
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1 ¦ spans all of the chambers and is driven via a belt 26 ~rom a
2 ¦ hydraulic or other suitable motor 27 carried by a bracket 28
S ¦ fixed to one end wall 12 oE the housing.
4 ¦ At the leading end of the housing 11 the front wall
¦ 13 is provided with a plurality of inlet openings 29 corre-
~ ¦ sponding in number and spacing to the number and spacing o~
7 ¦ the chambers 19. Fitted into each opening 29 is one end of a
8 ¦ tubular conduit 30 having at its trailing end a downwardly
¦ inclined section 31 which projects into the associated chamber
¦ 19. Each conduit 30 also has a forwardly extending section 32
11 ¦ that is inclined downwardly and terminates in a collar 33 at
12 ¦ the leading end of which is a bell-like mouth 34. As is shown
13 ¦ in Figure 5 the lower surface of the conduit 32 is provided
14 ¦ adjacent the leading end of the conduit with a forwardly
¦ extending, substantially horizontal section 35 in which is
1~ ¦ journaled a stub shaft 36 to which is fixed a rotary cutting
17 ¦ blade 37. A pulley 38 also is fixed to the shaft 36 and is
18 ¦ coupled to a hydraulic or other suitable driving motor 39 by a
lg ¦ drive transmitting belt 40. The motor 39 is mounted on a
¦ bracket 41 that is secured to the associated conduit 30.
21 ¦ Overlying the drive transmitting belt 4~ is a cover
22 I 42 having a leading edge 43 to which is secured a plurality of
23 ¦ forwardly extending, transversely spaced stone deflecting
~4~1 teeth 44, each of which has a slot 44a in its trailing edge
25 ¦ (see Figure 5) through which the cutter 37 extends. As is
~6 ¦ best shown in Figure 6, not all o~ the teeth 44 are of equal
~7 ¦ length. Instead, one tooth is longer than all the others, and
¦ the others on opposite sides of the longest tooth are progres-
¦ sively shorter so that, in plan view, the leading edges of the
~0 teeth converge toward the central tooth.
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1 ¦ At the leading end of each conduit 30 is one or more
2 ¦ supports 45 each of which has a vertical sleeve 46 fixed to
3 ¦ the associated conduit section 32 and each of which receives a
4 ¦ vertical stem 47 of an adjustable ground clearance bar having
¦ a substantially horizontal, ground engaging runner 48 that iB
¦ adapted to bear against the surface 49 of the ground and
7 provide clearance between the ground and the cutter 37. See
Figure 5. The sleeve 46 is provided with adjusting screws 50
~ by means of which such clearance may be adjusted.
At the trailing end of each chamber 19 the rear wall
7 1 14 of the housing is provided with a crop outlet opening 51.
12 Substantially occupying each opening 51 is a crop discharge
13 rotor 52 comprising a roller 53 fixed on a shaft 54 that spans
14 the width of the housing 11. Each roller 53 preferably is
provided with radially extending r circum~erentially spaced
lB fins 55 formed of flexible, rubbery material~ The combined
17 radius of the roller and each fin 55 is greater than one-half
18 ¦ the height of the opening 51 so that the roller and fins 55
19 ¦ can effect a partial seal of the opening 51. If desired, the
¦ fins 55 may be helically arranged on the roller. All of the
21 ¦ discharge rotors 52 are driven simultaneously by a hydraulic
22 ¦ or other suitable motor 56 mounted on one of the walls 12 via
23 ¦ a driving belt 57 trained around pulleys 58 and 59 fixed on
~4 ~¦ the motor shaft and the rotor shaft 54, respectively.
25 ¦ Preferably, the discharge rotor 52 in each chamber 19
¦ underlies a shelf 60 which is forwardly and downwardly
~7 ¦ inclined. The spacing between the shelf 60 and the rotor
~8 ¦ shaft 54 is such that the fins 55 engage the lower surface of
¦ the shelf during rotation of the rotor, as is shown in Figure
~0 ¦ 3. This arrangement also assists in effecting a partial seal
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1 ¦ of the opening 51.
2 ¦ Figure 7 discloses an alternative discharye rotor
3 ¦ crop discharge means 62. In this embodiment a pair of rollers
4 ¦ 63 are fixed ~n shafts 6~ that are journaled in the upper and
¦ lower housing walls 15 and 16 for rotation about vertical
~ ¦ axes. The rear wall 14 of the housing has a crop outlet
r ¦ opening 65 therein within which is partially occupied by the
8 ¦ rollers 63. The rollers are spaced by a gap but have radially
9 I extending fins 66 lilce the fins 55 which occupy the gap and
¦ assist in effecting a partial seal oE the opening 65.
11 ¦ The shafts 64 are coupled in any suitable manner to
12 ¦ hydraulic or other driving motors (not shown) like the motor
13 ¦ 56 to effect rotation of the respective shafts in such
14 ¦ directions, indicated by the arcuate arrows, that the
¦ confronting surfaces of the rollers rotate in the same
13 ¦ direction.
17 ¦ Figure 8 discloses another embodiment of crop
18 ¦ discharge means 67 comprising two pairs o~ rolls 68~ 69
19 ¦ journaled on shafts 70 and 71, respectively~ The rolls 69
¦ partially occupy a crop outlet opening 72 formed in the rear
21 ¦ wall 14 of the housing at the trailing end of each chamber 19.
22 ¦ Trained around one pair of rolls 68 and 69 is an
23 ¦ endless belt 73 and trained around the other pair of rolls 68,
~4 ¦ 69 is a similar endless belt 74. The shafts 69, 70 are driven
¦ by suitable hydraulic drive motors ~not shown) in such
a6 ¦ directions, indicated by the arcuate arrows, that the
27 ¦ confronting runs of the belts 73 and 74 travel in the same
~8 ¦ direction and converge toward the trailing end of the chamber
¦ 19. Preferably, the trailing rollers 69 are formed of
~0 ¦ relatively soft, rubbery material so as to enable materials in
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1 the nip between the belts 73, 74 easily to pass the rolls 69.
2 In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9 the crop
3 discharge means 75 comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced
4 shafts 76 on which are fixed rollers 77 that are driven by
suitable hydraulic motors (not shown) for rotation about
~ horizontal axes in the direction indicated by the arcuate
7 arrows. Trained around the rollers 77 is an endless belt 78
8 provided with spaced fins or cleats 79. The trailing roller
~ 77 partially occupies a crop outlet openiny 30 formed in the
trailing wall 14 of the housing. Preferably, a shield ~1 is
11 mounted in the chamber 19 and overlies the discharge means 75.
12 To condition the apparatus for operation, the attach-
13 ment 1 is fitted to the combine receiver 3 so as to project
14 forwardly of the latter. The ground clearance runners 48 are
adjusted to locate the leading end of the conduit 30, and
1~ particularly the cu-tter 37, at an appropriate height to enyage
17 and sever, above ground level, the stems of plants standing in
18 rows in a field. The combine then is oriented with respect to
19 the rows of plants so that each of the conduits 30 is aligned
with a different row of plants. The motors 39 then may be
21 started so as to drive the cutters 37 and the motor 27 started
22 so as to drive the fans 21. The motor 56 also is started so
Z3 as to drive the crop discharge rotors 52.
24~ When the combine 1 is driven through the field, the
cu~ter 37 at the leading end of each conduit 30 will sever suc~
~6 cessively the stem of each plant in a row. Stones and other
27 large, loose objects in the path of the cutters will be
~8 deflected by the deflector teeth 44. Operation of each fan
will reduce the pressure in the associated chamber 19 to a
~O level below atmospheric pressure sufficient to establish in
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1 ¦ each conduit 30 an air stream flowing t:hrough the assoc.iated
Z ¦ conduit from the leading end thereof toward the chamber 19.
¦ The velocity of the air s~ream is sufficient that each severed
4 ¦ plant will be entrained in the air stream and transported to
¦ the associated chamber 19.
~ ¦ The cross sectional area of each chamber 19 is
7 ¦ considerably greater than that of the associated conduit 30.
8 ¦ Consequently, as the stream of air enters the chamber via the
~ ¦ inlet 29 the air expands and decelerates, thereby enabling the
¦ entrained plant to fall by gravity to the bottom of the
11 ¦ chamber 19. ~owever, to ensure that air will be exhausted
12 ¦ from the chamber 19 via the outlet 20 of the fan 21, and to
13 ¦ ensure that leaves and other light debris may not enter and
14 ¦ clog the fan, the screen 23 is provided.
¦ The plants that are delivered to the chamber 19 enter
16 ¦ the latter with a rear~ard and downward trajectory due to the
17 ¦ inclination of the conduit section 31. In most instances the
18 ¦ plant thus is within reach of the fins 55 of the rotor 52
19 ¦ which rotates in such direction as to cause the fins to engage
¦ and sweep the plant rear~ardly through the opening 51 and into
21 ¦ the combine receiver 3 for delivery by the conveyor auger to
22 ¦ the threshing mechanism in the usual manner.
23 ¦ Although the discharge rotor 52 does not occupy the
~4`1 opening 51 completely, and thus cannot effect an air tight
¦ seal of the opening, the unoccupied cross sectional area of
2~ ¦ the opening 51 is materially less than that of the inlet 29,
~7 ¦ thereby ensuring establishment of an air stream of sufficient
~8 ¦ velocity to effect entrainment and transport of the severed
~9 ¦ plants.
~0 ¦ If desired, the discharge means 52 may be replaced by
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1 ¦ any of the discharge means 62, 67, and 75, all of which
2 ¦ function in a manner analogous to that in which the discharge
3 ¦ means 52 operates.
4 ¦ In the use of the apparatus disclosed herein t a
¦ single traverse of the field by the combine results in
8 ¦ severing of all the plants in as many rows as there are
7 ¦ cutters and conduits 30, immediate transport of the severed
8 ¦ plants to the chambers 19, and the immediate discharge of the
9 ¦ severed plants to the combine for separation of the beans or
¦ other crop from the pods, stalks, and other debris. As a
11 ¦ consequence, resharpening of the cutters is required much less
12 ¦ frequently than is the case with the cutting knives of
13 ¦ conventional bean harvesters, the plants need not be windrowed
14 ¦ or handled multiple times, and not more than one traverse of
¦ the field by the combine is required for the harvesting of
1~ ¦ crops in the affected rows.
17 ¦ The apparatus and methods disclosed herein are
18 ¦ representative of preferred embodiments of the invention, but
19 ¦ are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive
thereof ~he invention i6 defined in the claims.
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