Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02852575 2014-05-21
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HARVESTING CAM REEL WITH CONVERTIBLE TRANSPORT MODE
Honey et al.
This invention is in the field of harvesting equipment, and in particular for
rotary reels on
crop material harvesting or cutting headers and the drive systems used
therefore.
BACKGROUND:
It is known in the field of crop harvesting equipment to employ harvesting
headers to cut
crops for various purposes, such as feeding a combine harvester or swathing
crop material.
.15
At the front of a combine or swather is the portion referred to as the header.
A typical
header is equipped with a cutter bar, and a conveyor deck or surface behind
the cutter bar
onto which cut crop material will fall, and a rear wall of the header, which
extends up from
the rear of the crop catching surface_
The reel in a harvesting header is typically designed to be approximately the
same width
as the header. The reel shaft is mounted between two rotational mounts at
either end
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thereof', with a power drive attached to rotate the reel shaft. There is then
a plurality of reel
bats with fingers that are equally spaced about the reel shaft, and held in
position by a
plurality of radially extending arms out from the shaft. Rotation of the reel
shaft results in
the rotation of the reel bats and fingers through the crop in front of the
header, drawing the
crop material into the cutter bar and the remainder of the device.
Harvesting headers now manufactured with fingers attached to the reel bats
typically have
the reel bats themselves rotatablv mounted in relation to their attachment
points, and
include a cam mechanism that by selective or guided rotation of the reel bat
during the
rotation of the overall reel, allows the tips of the fingers to follow a more
complex path,
into, through and out of the crop material as the reel turns. The cams are of
different shapes
including circular or otherwise, dependent upon the path of travel that is
desired for the
fingers. Example of prior art patents in the area of the use of cam mechanisms
to orient or
adjust the orientation of the fingers on reel bats during the rotation of a
harvesting header
reel include U.S. Patent Nos. 4,008,558 (Mott) and 3,768,870 (Talbot et al.).
Often the header or reel is transported by loading the header onto a transport
trailer or other
platform designed to orient the header lengthwise so it can be trailered in
the direction of
travel of a power unit such as a tractor or a truck. The size of many headers
and their
associated reel is such that there are many protruding parts, particularly the
fingers along
the top and crop facing face of the reel. These fingers are often made of
plastic or other
shearable material, which allows for simpler maintenance of the reel.
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The design of prior art reels is such that the fingers, particularly those
facing the crop entry
and cutting area, are oriented in a fully outstretched or radial direction as
they need to be
in order to provide maximum engagement with crop material. However, this
creates a
3 problem during transport of the header since extended fingers are more
susceptible to
damage and breakage due to be exposed. As a result, many times following
transport the
first task that must be undertaken before the header can be used again is to
replace any
broken or bent fingers as a result of the transport. The same issue of
protruding components
exists in circumstances where the header and associated reel are transported
in operating
position on the harvesting unit.
Accordingly, a harvesting header reel that minimized the protruding profile of
the bat
fingers during transport would be desirable as a means of minimizing damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present disclosure is generally directed to the concept of a cam reel that
has a operating
mode and a convertible transport mode, whereby the reel bats can be moved to a
position
such that protrusion of fingers, and the risk of damage to the same, will be
minimized when
in the transport mode.
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The key differentiator of the present disclosure from prior art harvesting
header and cam
reel combinations in the prior art is in the cam system that is used. The crop-
harvesting
header as disclosed herein includes a reel for moving crop material into the
cutter bar and
onto the conveyor deck. The reel includes a reel shall that has a first end
and a second end
and a reel axis. The reel shaft is rotatably mounted to and between the reel
ends of the
fiame, and also has a rotational power source connected thereto for the
purpose of rotation
of the reel shaft in operation of the header. When rotational power is applied
to the reel
shaft during operation of the header, the reel rotates around the reel axis
defined by the
shaft to provide the sweeping action necessary to engage the crop being
harvested.
The reel will also include a plurality of reel bats that are mounted in spaced
apart positions
around the circumference of the reel shall. Each reel bat comprises a bat
member with a
bat axis, and a plurality of crop lingers attached thereto and extending
generally radially
outwardly from the reel shaft. The crop fingers will engage the crop material
as the header
and the reel on the front of the header are moved through a standing crop.
The reel bats as outlined are attached in spaced apart positions around the
circumference
of the reel shall. It is specifically contemplated that each reel bat is
attached by, and
corresponds to, a plurality of radial aims extending outwardly from the reel
shall. These
radial arms that attach the reel bats in a typical cam reel design are
sometimes
interchangeably refened to as "spiders" in the prior art as well. It is
specifically
contemplated that at least two radial aims would be required for the mounting
of each reel
Page 6
bat to the reel shaft, one of each pair of such at least two radial arms being
in proximity to
each end of the reel shaft and the bat member. For increased rigidity or
stability in the
construction of the remainder of the reel however, any number of radial arms
could be used
to attach each reel bat. The radial arms for all of the reel bats would be
generally the same
length as well of the bat arms for each reel bat, and the reel ends of the
radial arms would
define when viewed from the side a circular bat path through which the radial
arms
would move during rotation of the reel shaft.
The invention also provides that the cam assembly is adjustable between one or
more
operating positions, and a transport position. When in the transport position,
the cam will
be rotated such that the cam followers rotate the bats and fingers so that
fingers,
especially those at the front of the header and which are most susceptible to
damage, will
be rotated generally inwards, protecting them from damage and/or contact with
persons
or structures as can occur in prior art systems.
In accordance with one disclosed aspect there is provided a harvesting header
for
harvesting crop material as the header is driven. The harvesting header
includes an
aggregator operable to receive and aggregate the crop material, and a reel
rotatably
connected to the aggregator such that the reel is operable to be disposed
forward of the
aggregator when the header is driven and the crop material is harvested, the
reel being
rotatable with respect to the aggregator about a reel axis. The reel also
includes a
plurality of reel bats, each of the reel bats being spaced apart from the reel
axis and
pivotal about a respective bat axis. Each of the reel bats includes at least
one finger
extending generally away from the respective bat axis. The harvesting header
also
includes a reel bat positioner operable to vary an angular orientation of each
of the reel
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bats about the bat axis dependent upon an angular position of the reel bat
about the reel
axis, the reel bat positioner being configurable between an operating
configuration and a
transport configuration, the header operable such that when the header is
driven and the
reel bat positioner is in the operating configuration, the reel bat positioner
causes a first
reel bat of the plurality of reel bats, having an angular position about the
reel axis such
that the first reel bat is disposed forward of the reel axis, to have an
operating angular
orientation about the bat axis the at least one finger of the first reel bat
extends
substantially radially outwardly from and relative to the reel axis. The
header further
operable such that when the header is stationary and configured for
transportation above a
surface and the reel bat positioner is in the transport configuration, the
reel bat positioner
causes the first reel bat having the angular position about the reel axis to
have a transport
angular orientation about the bat axis which differs from the operating
angular
orientation, when the first reel bat is in the transport angular orientation,
the at least one
finger of the first reel bat is operable to extend upwardly relative to the
surface such that
the at least one finger is operable to be substantially protected from damage
during
transport of the header.
The operating angular orientation of the first reel bat may be a first reel
bat operating
angular orientation and the transport angular orientation of the first reel
bat may be a first
reel bat transport angular orientation and the header may be further operable
such that
when the header is driven and the reel bat positioner is in the operating
configuration, the
reel bat positioner causes the first reel bat to have the first reel bat
operating angular
orientation and further causes a second reel bat of the plurality of reel bats
to have a
second reel bat operating angular orientation about the bat axis where the at
least one
finger of the second reel bat extends substantially radially outwardly from
and relative to
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the reel axis, and when the header is stationary and configured for
transportation above
the surface and the reel bat positioner is in the transport configuration, the
reel bat
positioner causes the first reel bat to have the first reel bat transport
angular orientation
and causes the second reel bat to have a second reel bat transport orientation
about the bat
axis which differs from the second reel bat operating angular orientation, and
when the
second reel bat is in the second reel bat transport angular orientation, the
at least one
finger of the second reel bat is operable to extend upwardly relative to the
surface such
that the at least one finger is operable to be substantially protected from
damage during
transport of the header, the first reel bat transport angular orientation and
the second reel
bat transport angular orientation being substantially similar angles.
The header may be further operable such that when the header is stationary and
configured for transportation above the surface and the reel bat positioner is
in the
transport configuration, the reel bat positioner causes the fingers of the
first and second
reel bats to be substantially aligned.
The operating configuration may be a first operating configuration and the
reel bat
positioner is configurable into one or more further operating configurations.
The reel bat positioner may be rotatably connected to the aggregator and the
reel bat
positioner may be rotatable between a positioner operating orientation and
wherein the
reel bat positioner is in the operating configuration and a positioner
transport orientation
wherein the reel bat positioner is in the transport configuration.
The header may include a positioner lock operable to lock the reel bat
positioner in the
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positioner operating orientation when the reel bat positioner is in the
positioner operating
orientation and operable to lock the reel bat positioner in the positioner
transport
orientation when the reel bat positioner is in the positioner transport
orientation.
The positioner lock may include a locking pin operable to be extended through
first and
second lock-engaging holes of a plurality of lock engaging holes in the reel
bat positioner
to lock the reel bat positioner in the positioner operating orientation and
the positioner
transport orientation respectively.
The reel bat positioner may include a cam rotatably connected to the
aggregator and
rotatable between the positioner operating orientation and the positioner
transport
orientation, and respective cam followers engaged with the cam and coupled to
each of
the plurality of reel bats.
The cam may be a first cam disposed around a first end of the reel and the cam
followers
may be first cam followers, and the reel bat positioner may include a second
cam
rotatably connected to the aggregator at around a second end of the reel and
rotatable
between the positioner operating orientation and the positioner transport
orientation, and
respective second cam followers engaged with the second cam and coupled to
each of the
plurality of reel bats.
The header may include first and second positioner locks operable to lock the
first and
second cams respectively in the positioner operating orientation when the reel
bat
positioner is in the positioner operating orientation and operable to lock the
first and
second cams respectively in the positioner transport orientation when the reel
bat
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positioner is in the positioner transport orientation.
The reel may include a plurality of radial arms holding the plurality of reel
bats spaced
apart from the reel axis and when the reel bat positioner is in the transport
configuration,
the at least one finger of the first reel bat may be generally retracted into
a position within
a path defined by distal ends of the radial arms.
The header may include a reel lock operable to prevent rotation of the reel
about the reel
axis during transport.
The aggregator may include an auger or a draper conveyor.
A method of transporting a header as described above may involve causing the
reel bat
positioner to change configuration from the operating configuration to the
transport
configuration, and transporting the header.
Transporting the header may involve disconnecting the header from a harvesting
vehicle
and loading the header onto a transporter for transport.
The transporter may be operable to move in a travel direction and loading the
header onto
the transporter may involve causing the reel axis of the reel of the header to
be
substantially aligned with the travel direction.
In accordance with another disclosed aspect there is provided a harvesting
header for
harvesting crop material as the header is driven. The harvesting header
includes an
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aggregator operable to receive and aggregate the crop material, and a reel
rotatably
connected to the aggregator such that the reel is operable to be disposed
forward of the
aggregator when the header is driven and the crop material is harvested, the
reel being
rotatable with respect to the aggregator about a reel axis. The reel includes
a plurality of
reel bats, each of the reel bats being spaced apart from the reel axis and
pivotal about a
respective bat axis, each of the reel bats includes at least one finger
extending generally
away from the respective bat axis. The harvesting header also includes a reel
bat
positioner operable to vary an angular orientation of each of the reel bats
about the bat
axis dependent upon an angular position of the reel bat about the reel axis,
the reel bat
positioner being configurable between an operating configuration and a
transport
configuration, the header operable such that when the header is driven and the
reel bat
positioncr is in the operating configuration, the reel bat positioner causes a
first reel bat of
the plurality of reel bats, having an angular position about the reel axis
such that the first
reel bat is disposed forward of the reel axis, to have an operating angular
orientation
about the bat axis the at least one finger of the first reel bat extends
substantially radially
outwardly from and relative to the reel axis. The header is further operable
such that
when the header is stationary and configured for transportation across a
surface and the
reel bat positioner is in the transport configuration, the reel bat positioner
causes the first
reel bat having the angular position about the reel axis to have a transport
angular
orientation about the bat axis which differs from the operating angular
orientation, when
the first reel bat is in the transport angular orientation, the at least one
finger of the first
reel bat is operable to extend further from the surface when compared to the
at least one
finger of the first reel bat when the first reel is in the operating angular
orientation such
that the at least one finger is operable to be substantially protected from
damage during
transport of the header.
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In accordance with another disclosed aspect there is provided a method of
transporting a
harvesting header, the harvesting header operable for harvesting crop material
as the
header is driven, the header including a frame, a reel rotatably inter-
connected to the
frame and being rotatable about a longitudinally extending reel axis, the reel
including a
plurality of reel bats, each of the reel bats being spaced apart from the reel
axis and
pivotal about a respective bat axis, each of the reel bats including at least
one finger
extending generally away from the respective bat axis, and a reel bat
positioner operable
to vary an angular orientation of each of the reel bats about the bat axis
dependent upon
an angular position of the reel bat about the reel axis, the reel bat
positioner being
configurable between an operating configuration and a transport configuration.
The
header is operable such that when the header is driven and the reel bat
positioner is in the
operating configuration, the reel bat positioner causes a first reel bat of
the plurality of
reel bats, having an angular position about the reel axis such that the first
reel bat is
disposed forward of the reel axis, to have an operating angular orientation
about the bat
axis the at least one finger of the first reel bat extends substantially
radially outwardly
from and relative to the reel axis. The header is further operable such that
when the
header is stationary and configured for transportation above a surface and the
reel bat
positioner is in the transport configuration, the reel bat positioner causes
the first reel bat
having the angular position about the reel axis to have a transport angular
orientation
about the bat axis which differs from the operating angular orientation. The
method
involves causing the reel bat positioner to change a configuration of the
header from the
operating position to the transport configuration, and transporting the header
with the
header in the transport configuration.
When the first reel bat is in the transport angular orientation, the at least
one finger of the
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first reel bat is operable to extend upwardly relative to the surface such
that the at least
one finger is operable to be substantially protected from damage during
transport of the
header.
The operating angular orientation of the first reel bat may be a first reel
bat operating
angular orientation and the transport angular orientation of the first reel
bat may be a first
reel bat transport angular orientation and the method may further involve
driving the
header such that when the header is driven and the reel bat positioner is in
the operating
configuration, the reel bat positioner causes the first reel bat to have the
first reel bat
operating angular orientation and further causes a second reel bat of the
plurality of reel
bats to have a second reel bat operating angular orientation about the bat
axis where the at
least one finger of the second reel bat extends substantially radially
outwardly from and
relative to the reel axis, and when the header is stationary and configured
for
transportation above the surface and the reel bat positioner is in the
transport
configuration, the reel bat positioner causes the first reel bat to have the
first reel bat
transport angular orientation and causes the second reel bat to have a second
reel bat
transport orientation about the bat axis which differs from the second reel
bat operating
angular orientation, when the second reel bat is in the second reel bat
transport angular
orientation, the at least one finger of the second reel bat is operable to
extend upwardly
relative to the surface such that the at least one finger is operable to be
substantially
protected from damage during transport of the header, the first reel bat
transport angular
orientation and the second reel bat transport angular orientation being
substantially
similar angles.
The header may be further operable such that when the header is stationary and
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configured for transportation above the surface and the reel bat positioner is
in the
transport configuration, the reel bat positioner causes the fingers of the
first and second
reel bats to be substantially aligned.
The operating configuration may be a first operating configuration and the
reel bat
positioner is configurable into one or more further operating configurations.
The header may include a positioner lock operable to lock the reel bat
positioner in the
positioner operating orientation when the reel bat positioner is in the
positioner operating
orientation and operable to lock the reel bat positioner in the positioner
transport
orientation when the reel bat positioner is in the positioner transport
orientation, and the
method may further involve locking the reel bat positioner in the positioner
operating
orientation when the reel bat positioner is in the positioner operating
orientation, locking
the reel bat positioner in the positioner transport orientation when the reel
bat positioner
is in the positioner transport orientation.
The reel may include a plurality of radial arms holding the plurality of reel
bats spaced
apart from the reel axis and when the reel bat positioner is in the transport
configuration,
the at least one finger of the first reel bat may be generally retracted into
a position within
a path defined by distal ends of the radial arms.
The header may further include a reel lock operable to prevent rotation of the
reel about
the reel axis during transport, and the method may further involve operating
the reel lock
to prevent rotation of the reel about the reel axis during transport.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numerals, and where:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a prior art cam reel of a
harvesting
header;
Fig. 2 is a side schematic side demonstrating the normal extension of the
fingers when
the reel is configured in an operating position;
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Fig. 3 is a side view of a reel with a complex bat path with adjustable cam
mechanism that permits the reel to be configured between an operating position
(A)
and a transport position (13), and
Fig. 4 is a side view of a prior art reel made to be configurable in an
operating
position (A) and a transport position (B) using an adjustable cam system of
the
present invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive
subject
matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive
elements,
the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible
combinations of the
disclosed elements.
Harvesting headers, as outlined elsewhere herein and understood to those
skilled in the art
of crop harvesting technology are the cutting face attachment which is
typically used either
with a swather or windrowing machine, or with a combine harvester or the like.
The header
typically includes a reel rotatablv mounted approximately perpendicular to the
operating
direction of travel of the implement, which will when rotated feed crop
material from the
field into a cutter bar mounted along the front of the header, and once it
passes over the
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cutter bar and is cut, deposit that cut crop material into an auger or onto a
draper conveyor
which will feed it either to a discharge in the case of this water when
growing machine, or
into the throat of a combine harvester etc.
Different types of headers have been developed over the years that behave
differently in
different types of crop material as well as are of varying construction and
width. The width
of the header is one of the primary determining factors of the speed of
harvesting, since a
wider header can cut a wider windrow or swath such that fewer passes will be
required in
order to process a a crop in a field. As outlined above and as is understood
to those skilled
in the art of the manufacturing operation of harvesting equipment, over the
last number of
years red assemblies that use a cam construction at the ends of the reel to
rotatably orient
the reel bats and the fingers thereon during rotation of the reel have become
the norm.
Fig. 1 depicts a schematic side elevational view of a prior art cam reel of a
harvesting
header. This Figure has been extracted from Canadian Patent No. 2,338,883.
Many of the
components of the typical harvesting header are demonstrated in this figure
and it. is shown
for this purpose as well to inform the understanding of the reader in the
general state of the
art and the technology.
The general configuration of the header includes a frame structure, shown at
1, which
includes a main beam 2 extending across the width of the frame 1 and two end
frame 15
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members 3, which extend forward from the rear of the header and away from the
main
beam 2.
The frame structure 1 also includes a deck 4 onto which crop material after it
is cut is
placed. The deck 4 extends between the end frame members 3. There is a cutter
bar 5 shown
as well, along the front of the deck 4, which will cut the crop material as
the reel feeds it
therein. The harvesting header shown employs an auger 6 for the feeding of
crop material
to the discharge or throat across the deck 4. Other types of headers use a
draper conveyor
in place of or in addition to an auger 6 and both such approaches will be
understood to be
contemplated within the scope of the present invention in terms of utility or
applicability
of the cam reel configuration of the present invention.
In addition to the transverse conveyor deck 4, which extends between the end
frame
members 3, there is also a reel 7 that extends across the width of the header
above and
reaching forward of the cutter bar 5. This conventional reel 7 includes a
shaft 8 that is
rotationally attached to the end frame members 3 so that the position of the
shaft 8 is fixed
relative to the cutter bar 5. The reel 7 also includes a plurality of reel
bats 9 which are in
equally spaced positions around the axis 10 of the shaft 8. The reel bats 9
are rotatably
attached so that they can rotate within their mountings as the shaft 8 and the
reel 7 are rotated
during operation. In the embodiment shown, each of the bats 9 comprises a bat
tube 11 with a
plurality of fingers 12 attached thereto which extend radially outward from
the tube 11, and
the shaft 8, at a predetermined angle. The plurality of fingers 12 are spaced
in positions along
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the length of the bat 9, with all of the fingers being arranged at a similar
angle in relation to
the axis 13 of the bat 1L
The bat tubes 11 are mounted to a plurality of radial support arms 14,
extending outwardly
horn the shaft 8. In this particular case a support plate 15 is shown
attaching these radial
arms 14 to the shaft 8. The number of radial arms 14 spaced around the shaft 8
will vary
dependent upon the number of bats 9 which are used in the particular reel
configuration.
As well, the number of support plate and radial arm combinations spaced along
the length
of the shaft would be varied based upon the width of the header and the amount
of support
required by the reel bats 9.
The bat tubes 11 are rotationally mounted to their radial arms 14, so that
they can turn in
relation to their axis 13 While remaining attached thereto.
Each of the bat tubes 11 is attached to or includes a crank arm 16, which is
attached to the
tube 11 in such a way that the inner end of the crank arm 16 will rotate with
the tube 11
around the axis 13 of the tube. Each crank arm 16 includes a cam follower 17
and its outer
end, which is capable of engaging a cam track 18. The cam follower 17 itself
has a cam
follower axis 19 about which it can rotate. The crank arm 16 is attached to
provide the
application of rotational force to the tube 11 during the operation of the
reel 7.
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Many different types of cam followers and corresponding cam track
configurations or
pairings will be understood. The cam track 18 defines a path around the axis 8
of the reel
but is offset from the axis 8 and in this case is non-circular, so that the
crank arms 16 will
move and they will rotate around their respective bat axis 13 and generate a
particular
pattern of movement of the fingers 12 attached to that bat 9 as the reel 7
rotates. By
changing the shape of the cam track 18 the behavior of the fingers 12 during
rotation of the
reel 7 can be modified.
In operation when the shaft 8 is rotated the reel 7 will be actuated. As the
shaft 8 is rotated,
the radial arms 14 will rotate with the bat tubes 11 attached at their ends.
Those reel bats 9
will turn in a circle of constant radius defined by the distance between the
axis 10 of the
shaft 8 and the axis 13 of the reel bats 9. This is the bat path BP. The bat
path (BP) of this
particular reel design is shown by dotted circle in this Figure. Overall it
will be understood
that the behavior of the bats 9 in rotation of the reel 7 in this embodiment
and similar
embodiments will be that the bats 9 themselves will travel around circular bat
path BP and
the only change in behavior of the fingers 12 would be generated by the
rotation of the
tubes 11 of the bats 9 within their rotational attachments on the radial arms
14.
Operatina and Transport ContiEurations
There are a number of prior art reel and header combinations which include
fingers
mounted on rotatable bat tubes. For example, the example of a prior art cam
reel shown in
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Figure 1 provides for a plurality of fingers 12 mounted on bat tubes 11, which
are mounted
to be rotated in response to the operation of the cam as described above in
reference to
Figure 1. One limitation of these header designs is that by definition, those
rows of fingers
on bats positioned at the front of the reel will extend past the reel. This
can be easily seen
in Fig. 2, where the fingers 34 are most extended radially from the reel axis
at the front of
the reel [the left side of the drawing). This positioning is desirable in the
operating
configuration as it sets the fingers at an angle to more efficiently engage
and sweep the
crop towards the header table as the reel rotates, as can be appreciated in
the illustration.
The illustration depicts the position of a finger at intervals of time during
the course of a
rotation of the reel, the reel rotating in a counterclockwise direction in
this particular
depiction.
While this is a desired position during operation of the combine header as it
properly
positions the fingers to engage the crop being harvested, it is less desirable
when the header
is being transported, as a result of the fingers extending outwards from the
reel The fingers
being extended past the body of the reel results in an increased potential for
catching the
fingers on structures, vehicles as the header is being transported, as well as
risking injury
to persons operating around the header. There is further risk of deforming
and/or breaking
off of fingers during transport given that they are in an unprotected
position.
In the present invention, the cam is further adjustable between a operating
position and a
transport position. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the cam 30 is set in the
operating
CA 02852575 2014-05-21
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position (A) the positioning of the cam will be moved relatively forward with
respect to
the reel. In the operating position this positioning of the cam will cause the
cam followers
to be positioned such that the reel bats of the front most bats will be
rotated in such a
manner so as to cause the fingers mounted on the bat tube to extend generally
radially
outward from the reel shaft, as is also shown in Fig. 2. Thus, as shown in
Figs. 3A and 4A,
selecting the operating position for the cam result in orientation of the
fingers 34 such that
fingers on bats positioned at the front most portion of the reel (two bat
finger rows indicated
as X) will extend outwards in the optimal configuration for engaging and
moving the crop
material rearwards towards the header table.
In contrast, when preparing the header for transport, a user will be able to
select a transport
position for the cam. As shown in Figures 3B and 4B, When the cam is placed in
the
transport position, the positioning of the cam will move rearward with respect
to the reel
and the operating position. This in turn positions the cam follower and the
bats such that
the fingers on the front most bats that would be extended in the operation
positions, are
now rotated substantially inwards (indicated by Y).
Conveniently, the present cam design that is configurable between operating
and transport
positions can be applied as an after market improvement to prior art reel
designs (as shown
2(J in Fig. 4), or included with a novel reel design having a cam and
follower design that
produces a complex bat path when the reel is in operation (as shown in Fig.
3).
CA 02852575 2014-05-21
Page 18
In the present design, it is also possible to have one or more operating
positions. For
example, depending on how aggressively one wishes to engage the crop, the
positionable
nature of the cam mechanism would allow a user to select one or more operating
positions.
In each operating position the finger would be generally oriented to extend
radially outward
with respect to the reel shaft at the point where the fingers would be
expected to engage
the crop being harvested.
As is also shown in Fig. 2, the cam can include a number of predetermined
operating
positions through which the cam positioning may be adjusted. As shown, a
series of
positioning holes 49 provide detents, or stops, defining a number of different
operating
positions. The holes may be engaged and the cam locked into position during
operation
by means of pins, bolts, or any other suitable engaging fastener to maintain
the cam in the
desired position. The various holes would permit adjustment of the operating
behaviour of
the reel and fingers 34, depending on the setting chose. Changing the
positioning of the
cam relative to the positioning holes can also be used to modify the bat path.
The present design also provides for there to be a locking mechanism in order
to secure the
cam position in any of the selectable positions, whether it be one or more
possible operating
positions, or in the transport position. In some cases, the locking mechanism
can comprise
a series of engagement holes in the cam disc as described above that can be
put into
alignment with a corresponding locking hole in the frame
Page 19
In some embodiments, the cam can be configured to be movable through about
1800 of
rotation in moving from an operating position to a transport position. The
precise arc
through which the cam is rotated is not critical to the advantage provided by
this feature.
It will therefore be apparent to those of skill in the art how much rotation
is required in
order to substantially rotate the front most bat fingers inwards whereby they
are less
likely to contact structures or persons during transport.
In addition, in some embodiments it may be preferable to provide a locking
mechanism to
secure the reel in place during transport in order to prevent rotation of the
reel and possible
damage to its components, such as the fingers. Like the methods for securing
the reel cam
in an operating position, the transport lock can make use of pins, locks and
other
fasteners known in the art in order to secure the reel and to prevent its
movement when
the header is being transported.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by modification the
present invention can be
optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and applications, and in
particular for different
types of crops and various models of combine. It will also be obvious to those
of skill in the art
that there are various ways and designs with which to produce the apparatus
and methods of
CA 2852575 2019-07-12
Page 20
the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are therefore not intended
to limit the
scope of the invention, but to provide examples of the apparatus and method to
enable
those of skill in the art to appreciate the inventive concept.
CA 2852575 2019-07-12
