Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02803715 2013-01-28
HARVESTING HEADER BAT WITH ADJUSTABLY SPACED
QUICK RELEASE FINGERS
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to agricultural implements for harvesting crops, and
more particularly to
harvesting headers having bats with replaceable fingers.
Background of the Invention
It is known in the field of crop harvesting equipment to employ harvesting
headers to cut
standing crops for various purposes, such as feeding a combine harvester or
swathing crop
material. Such harvesting headers commonly comprise a forwardly disposed
cutter bar assembly
for cutting the crop material, a draper deck or auger assembly rearward of the
cutter bar
assembly for transporting the cut crop material to a desired location (e.g.
the intake for a
combine harvester), and a generally cylindrical reel assembly parallel to the
length of the cutter
bar assembly for controlling the movement of cut crop against the cutter bar
assembly and onto
the draper deck assembly or into an auger assembly. The reel comprises a
central rotatable shaft
and a plurality of bats at a set distance from the central shaft, spaced apart
from each other, each
of the bats containing fingers or other members for engaging and guiding the
crop material. The
fingers may be composed of any suitable material given the particular crop and
application, such
as steel or molded plastic. In operation, the implement is driven into the
standing crop, with the
cutter bar assembly and reel assembly at the leading edge of the implement.
After the cutter bar
assembly cuts the crop material, the crop material falls and/or is moved
rearwardly with the
assistance of the reel assembly onto the generally horizontal draper deck
assembly or horizontal
auger assembly and then transported perpendicular to the direction of travel
by the draper deck
assembly or auger assembly and deposited either on the ground or at an intake
for subsequent
processing. Such an arrangement has many known benefits and has achieved wide
acceptance
and use.
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However, a long-standing problem with conventional reel assemblies is that the
fingers are
commonly thin and provided with little structural support and accordingly are
subject to
significant wear and even breakage. It is costly and time-consuming to repair
such damage in a
conventional arrangement, particularly where fingers are welded or otherwise
attached to the bat
in a like manner.
There have been some attempts in the past to address this problem. For
example, it is known in
the art to releasably mount the fingers on the bat, to enable a less expensive
and time-consuming
repair solution. Fingers have been designed to bolt onto a bat, for example,
and this has gained
some popularity among implement users. United States Patent No. 6,324,823
teaches a finger
that attaches to a mounting collar, which collar is in turn bolted to the bat,
and the collar can be
unbolted and the finger repaired or replaced.
Alternative prior art solutions include the use of molded plastic fingers that
can releasably
engage a bat. For example, United States Patent No. 4,776,155 teaches a bat
formed using sheet
metal, the bat provided with spaced apart holes for receiving the mounting
ends of fingers. The
fingers themselves are molded plastic and provided with a button at the base
to mate with a hole
in the bat.
While various solutions have been proposed, there still remains a desire in
the technical field for
a bat-finger arrangement that is simple, reliable and easy to repair. Also,
the prior art solutions
fail to address another noted problem in the field, namely the need for
different finger spacings
for different crops or applications. For example, prior art bats are provided
with holes for
receiving bolts or finger buttons, with the obvious result of set spacings.
What is required,
therefore, is a bat that provides for both simple finger repair or replacement
and varied finger
spacings.
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Summary of the Invention
An embodiment of the present invention seeks to provide a bat that
incorporates a channel to
removably receive alternating quick-release fingers and spacers, the spacers
being capable of
production in different lengths to support different applications of the
harvesting header.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention there is
provided a bat for a
harvesting header, the bat comprising an elongate channel extending
substantially the length
of the bat and configured to removably receive alternating crop-engaging
fingers and spacers.
The channel comprises spaced apart flanges extending toward each other across
the channel.
Each of the fingers is provided with projections configured for interference-
fit engagement
with each of the flanges, such that the finger can be inserted between the
flanges and into the
channel in a first orientation and subsequently rotated into a second
orientation to mate the
projections and the flanges and thereby releasably lock the finger in the
channel. Each of the
spacers is also configured to engage the flanges of the channel and may be
provided in
different lengths to adjust the spacing between the fingers on the bat.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention there is a
provided a
harvesting header comprising a frame and a reel assembly mounted on the frame,
the reel
assembly comprising a plurality of bats disposed about a central shaft, each
of the plurality of
bats comprising an elongate channel extending substantially the length of the
bat and
configured to removably receive alternating crop-engaging fingers and spacers.
The channel
comprises spaced apart flanges extending toward each other across the channel.
Each of the
fingers is provided with projections configured for interference-fit
engagement with each of
the flanges, such that the finger can be inserted between the flanges and into
the channel in a
first orientation and subsequently rotated into a second orientation to mate
the projections and
the flanges and thereby releasably lock the finger in the channel. Each of the
spacers is also
configured to engage the flanges of the channel and may be provided in
different lengths to
adjust the spacing between the fingers on the bat.
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In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the finger is composed of a
molded
plastic of sufficient strength to be rotated into and out of the locking
orientation without
breaking. The bat comprises an elongate tube which is preferably composed of
extruded
aluminum.
In one illustrative embodiment, a bat for a harvesting header reel assembly
includes a tube
having an elongate open channel therein extending parallel to a long axis of
the tube, and a
plurality of fingers removably retained in spaced apart positioning in the
channel. The fingers
are configured for insertion into the channel in a first orientation and
rotation to a second
orientation for retention in the channel. Each of the fingers includes
projections on opposite
sides of the finger. The channel includes flanges extending partially across
the channel
toward each other. The projections are configured for interference-fit
engagement with the
flanges once the finger has been rotated into the second orientation.
In another illustrative embodiment, a harvesting header includes a frame and a
reel assembly
mounted on the frame, the reel assembly includes a plurality of bats disposed
about a central
shaft. Each of the plurality of bats includes a tube having an elongate open
channel therein
extending parallel to a long axis of the tube, and a plurality of fingers
removably retained in
spaced apart positioning in the channel. The fingers are configured for
insertion into the
channel in a first orientation and rotation to a second orientation for
retention in the channel.
Each of the fingers includes projections on opposite sides of the finger. The
channel includes
flanges extending partially across the channel toward each other. The
projections are
configured for interference-fit engagement with the flanges once the finger
has been rotated
into the second orientation.
In another illustrative embodiment, a bat assembly for a harvesting header
includes a bat
holder defining a channel, and one or more fingers, each of the one or more
fingers including
a finger connector operable to be received in the channel and rotated relative
to the bat holder
such that the finger connector cooperatively engages with a portion of the
channel to cause the
finger connector to be retained in the channel. The bat holder is operable to
receive each of
the one or more finger connectors at a plurality of locations along the
channel.
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In another illustrative embodiment, a method of retaining one or more fingers
in a bat
assembly for a harvesting header involves receiving a finger connector of each
of the one or
more fingers at one of a plurality of locations in a channel defined by a bat
holder, each of the
plurality of locations being operable to receive the finger connector of each
of the one or more
fingers, and rotating the finger connector of each of the one or more fingers
relative to the bat
holder such that the finger connector cooperatively engages with a portion of
the channel to
cause the finger connector to be retained in the channel.
In another illustrative embodiment, a bat assembly for a harvesting header
includes a bat
holder defining a channel, and one or more fingers, each of the one or more
fingers including
a finger connector integral with the finger and operable to be received in the
channel and
rotated relative to the bat holder to cause the finger connector to engage a
recess in the
channel and be retained in the channel, the recess extending along a length of
the channel.
A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
given in the
following. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be
construed as being
limited to this embodiment.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the
present
invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a header bat according to an embodiment of
the
present invention;
Figure 2a is a side elevation view of a quick release finger according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2b is a rear elevation view of the quick release finger of Figure 2a;
Figure 3a is a top plan view of a spacer according to an embodiment of the
present
invention;
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Figure 3b is a side elevation view of the spacer of Figure 3a;
Figure 4a is a side elevation view of a bat tube according to an embodiment of
the
present invention;
Figure 4b is a top plan view of the bat tube of Figure 4a;
Figure 5a is a side elevation view of a finger being positioned into the
channel of the
bat tube;
Figure 5b is a side elevation view with the finger of Figure 5a rotated to
lock into
place in the channel; and
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of a spacer in position in the channel of
the bat tube.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with
reference to
the accompanying drawings.
..
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Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiment
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a novel reel bat and
associated fingers and
spacers, and a header incorporating such a novel reel bat. Only those parts of
the header as are
necessary for description of the reel bat are discussed herein, and the
remaining parts and
functions of the header will not be discussed as they are conventional and
well known to those
skilled in the art.
Turning to Figure 1, a partial reel bat 10 is shown. The bat 10 comprises a
tube 11
incorporating a channel 16, a plurality of fingers 12, and a plurality of
spacers 14 alternating
with the fingers 12. Only a portion of the bat 10 is illustrated, as the
pattern of alternating
fingers 12 and spacers 14 would preferably continue the length of the tube 11.
The tube
comprises a connector 18 and a slot 20 therein. The channel 16 is defined by
the tube 11 walls
and the connector 18, and it is open at an upper end. The upper opening of the
channel 16 is
bordered by flanges 22 which run the length of the channel 16 and extend
toward each other
but leave a gap therebetween. The open end 44 of the bat 10 would be mounted
to a bat
support arm (not shown) of a reel assembly (not shown) in a conventional
manner well known
to those skilled in the art. As would be obvious to those skilled in the art,
each paired
finger/spacer could be manufactured in a unitary design for insertion into the
open end 44, but
the exemplary embodiment will discuss them as separate elements with the
fingers 12
rotatable within the channel 16 between insertion and locking orientations.
The manner in
which the fingers 12 and spacers 14 are locked into the channel 16 is
discussed below.
Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a finger 12 according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
The finger 12 comprises a curved portion 24 ending in a distal tip 25 and a
connecting portion
29 at the opposite end of the finger 12. The connecting portion 29 comprises
spaced apart
upper and lower members 26, 28, with the gap between the upper and lower
members 26, 28
defined by a lower surface 32 of the upper member 26 and an upper surface 34
of the lower
member 28 and configured to accept the flanges 22 therebetween in a manner
discussed
below. The finger 12 also comprises a base 30 that is configured for retention
in the slot 20 of
the connector 18. The finger 12 is preferably composed of a molded plastic
material of
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sufficient strength for the specific application and to be twisted into and
out of locking
orientation as discussed below.
Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a spacer 14 according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
Like the finger 12, the spacer 14 is preferably composed of a molded plastic
material. The
spacer 14 is provided with grooves 40 at the edges for removably attaching to
the flanges 22
of the tube 11, as can best be seen in Figures 3b and 6. The spacer 14 is also
provided with
notches 42 to assist in flexibility when attaching or detaching the spacer 14
from the flanges
22.
Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a tube 11 according to an embodiment of the
present invention,
and is shown in perspective view in Figure 1. The tube 11 is preferably
composed of extruded
aluminum, but may be of any alternative suitable material known to those
skilled in the art.
The tube 11 comprises a connector 18 and spaced apart flanges 22, which
collectively define
a channel 16. The flanges 22 each comprise an upper surface 36. The connector
18
incorporates a slot 20, and the channel 16 is further defined by upper and
lower surfaces 38,
46.
Turning now to Figures 5a, 5b and 6, the attachment of a finger 12 and spacer
14 to a tube 11
is illustrated. To insert the finger 12 in the tube 11, the finger 12 is held
in a first orientation
as shown in Figure 2b, with the protruding edges of the upper and lower
members 26, 28
parallel to the long axis of the channel 16. The finger 12 is then lowered
into the channel 16
until the base 30 is received in the slot 20. This is shown in Figure 5a. Once
the base 30 has
been thus received, the finger 12 is then rotated 90 degrees to a second
orientation, as shown
in Figure 5b, such that the lower member 28 rotates into the gap under the
flanges 22 between
the lower and upper surfaces 38, 46. The lower member 28 is thus held firmly
between the
lower and upper surfaces 38, 46, and the upper member 26 rests on the upper
surface 36 of
the flanges 22. Once rotated into the second orientation, the finger 12 is
thus locked into the
channel 16.
Once the finger 12 has been locked into the channel 16, a spacer 14 can be
inserted into the
channel 16, as is shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figures 3b and 6, the spacer
14 is provided
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with grooves 40 that are configured to engage the inner edges of the flanges
22. The spacer 14
is provided with notches 42 to provide flexibility that may aid in the
insertion of the spacer
14. The spacer 14 can either be inserted from above the channel 16 or from the
open end 44 of
the tube 11 and slid into position against the finger 12. The spacer 14 can be
manufactured at
any desired length, depending on the optimal or desired finger 12 spacing for
the particular
implement or application. Once the spacer 14 is in position against the finger
12, another
finger can be inserted, followed by another spacer, and continuing until the
channel 16 of the
tube 11 has been filled.
In some embodiments, if a finger becomes worn or otherwise damaged, the finger
can be
removed without removing the tube from the implement. For example, in some
embodiments, a spacer adjacent to a damaged finger may be removed and then the
finger may
be removed. In some embodiments, the tube can be easily removed from
implement, fingers
and spacers can be removed from the channel to arrive at the target finger,
and the target
finger can be easily and quickly removed and replaced.
As can be readily seen, then, there may be numerous advantages provided by
embodiments of
the present invention. As mentioned above, in some embodiments it may be
simple and quick
to replace worn or broken fingers. In some embodiments, the tube, fingers and
spacers can be
composed of any material suitable to the particular application. Also, in some
embodiments
the spacers can be of any length and therefore provide for adjustability, such
that fingers can
be positioned at any desired spacing. In some embodiments, the spacers may be
provided for
ease of evenly mounting fingers at fixed spacings and the spacers may not be
required to
retain fingers.
While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such
embodiments should
be viewed as illustrative only, and not as limiting the invention as defined
by the
accompanying claims.
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