End hood extension for a corn header

Abstract

The extension includes a support member including a mounting end mountable to a corn header adjacent to a rear end thereof for pivotable movement about a generally upwardly to downwardly extending pivotal axis between at least one forwardly extending position spaced above the end hood, and a second or stored position at angle to the forwardly extending position or positions. The support member has a free end extending upwardly and outwardly from the mounting end to a terminal end portion, and supports a sheet along substantially the length thereof to serve as a barrier to the passage of corn between the support member and the end hood and to deflect ears that strike it into an adjacent crop gathering channel. When it is not desired or required to use the extension it can be quickly and easily pivoted to the stored position, out of the way.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to an extension for an end hood of a corn header, and more particularly, to an end hood extension which is mounted for pivotal movement between at least one deployed or operative position above the end hood for deflecting and guiding upper portions of standing corn plants toward an adjacent crop gathering channel, and a second or stored position away from the end hood, which is advantageous under certain conditions, such as when harvesting downed corn. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Many corn headers for agricultural combines are presently built and supported so as to be positionable relatively close to the ground when propelled in a forward direction over a field, so as to be better capable of harvesting corn downed by high winds, driven rain, snow, hail, insect infestations such as corn borers, and the like. A corn header typically includes a pair of end hoods, one at each sideward end of the header, and a plurality of crop dividers a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] According to the present invention, an extension for a forwardly to rearwardly extending end hood of a corn header which overcomes many of the shortcomings and limitations set forth above, is disclosed. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the extension includes a support member including a mounting end or element mountable to the header adjacent to a rear end of the end hood. The support member is pivotable about a generally upwardly to downwardly extending pivotal axis between at least one first or deployed position extending forwardly and spaced above the end hood, and a second or stored position at about a 90 degree angle about the pivotal axis to the forwardly extending or deployed position or positions, behind the end hood and out of the way, for instance, so as not to interfere with downed and possibly tangled corn plants as they are received by the corn header. The support member has an elongate free end extending upwardly and outwardly relative to the pivotal axis from the mounting end or element to a terminal end portion spaced from the mounting end. The extension includes a sheet which is preferably of a flexible material such as plastics or the like, mounted to the free end of the support member along a sufficient portion of she length thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, so as to cooperate with the end hood when the support member is in the forwardly extending position or positions, so as to serve as a barrier to the passage of corn between the support member and the end hood and to deflect ears into an adjacent crop gathering channel. The pivotability of the extension allows it to be positioned best for present conditions, such as row spacings, crop heights and other conditions, as well as for optimizing effectiveness, such as for guiding the upper portions of corn plants moving along the channel into better alignment with snapping rolls located at a rearward location therein for pulling the corn plants rapidly downwardly for stripping or snapping the ears therefrom, and when it is not desired or required to use the extension, such as when harvesting a section of downed corn, for movement to the stored, out of the way position. Then, when use is again desired or required, the extension can be simply and easily pivoted to the deployed position or positions.

[0008] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the sheet has a lower portion that cooperates with a side of the end hood defining a peripheral side of the adjacent crop gathering channel, for guiding and deflecting corn stalks and ears toward the channel. For instance, the lower portion can drape over a portion of the length of the side, or can have a lower edge that conforms to and extends along a section of the side, to provide an essentially uninterrupted or continuous surface from the free end of the support member to the channel. The free end of the support member preferably has an angular shape or is otherwise shaped and / or oriented so as to provide maximum height in the vicinity of the snapping rolls for better containing and deflecting ears toward and into the crop gathering channel, and the terminal end is lower, so as to provide a relatively smooth transition from the snout, to reduce the occurrence of corn plants snagging or catching thereon.

Problems solved by technology

A problem that has been observed, however, is that the end hoods of the lower headers are also lower compared to earlier models, which can result in ears of corn from upper portions of taller standing corn plants having a greater tendency to fall or otherwise be lost over the end hood when being harvested.

The stalks of the taller plants holding the ears can also bend or fold sidewardly over the end hood such that the ears are not easily and regularly brought into the crop gathering channel and thus are lost.

However, in some instances, it is anticipated that it would be better not to use such devices, particularly when harvesting downed corn, and the devices are not easily removable or movable out of the way, particularly when a harvesting operation will entail harvesting some areas of standing corn and some of downed corn.

As a result, this non-resistant corn is more likely to become infested and downed by the insect infestation.

Harvesting downed corn can be difficult, as the corn may fall in different directions and become tangled.

An anticipated shortcoming, therefore, of the known devices is that, although some are adjustable to some extent, and / or may be removable with significant effort, they are not quickly and easily movable from a deployed position to an out of the way or stored position or location while still remaining on the corn head, for those instances when use is not desired or required, and then back to the deployed position.

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