Flexible cutting platform to follow ground contour in an agricultural harvesting machine

a cutting platform and flexible technology, applied in the field of agricultural harvesting machines, can solve the problems of additional repair expenses, part of the cutterbar to dig into localized ground elevations, and crop material being missed in ground depressions

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-04-02
DEERE & CO
View PDF46 Cites 30 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The platform effectively follows ground contours, reducing missed crop material and minimizing soil damage, thereby increasing harvest yield and reducing maintenance costs by allowing the cutterbar to flex and adapt to terrain variations.

Problems solved by technology

Draper platforms currently in use have a rigid framework not allowing the framework to flex to any appreciable extent during use.
This results in some crop material being missed in ground depressions, etc., while also possibly causing a part of the cutterbar to dig into localized ground elevations (e.g., small mounds, etc.).
Of course, missed crop material directly translates into missed revenue, and localized gouging of soil can cause additional repair expenses resulting from broken knives, knife guards, etc.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Flexible cutting platform to follow ground contour in an agricultural harvesting machine
  • Flexible cutting platform to follow ground contour in an agricultural harvesting machine
  • Flexible cutting platform to follow ground contour in an agricultural harvesting machine

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0018]Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an agricultural harvesting machine in the form of a combine 10 including an embodiment of a cutting platform 12 of the present invention. Combine 10 includes a feeder housing 14 which is detachably coupled with cutting platform 12. Feeder housing 14 receives the crop material from cutting platform 12, both grain and non-grain crop material, and transports the crop material to a separator within combine 10 in known manner (not shown). The grain crop material is separated from the non-grain crop material, cleaned and transported to a grain tank. The non-grain crop material is transported to a chopper, blower, etc. in known manner and distributed back to the field.

[0019]Cutting platform 12 generally includes a plurality of platform sections 16, 18 and 20, a cutterbar assembly 22 and a reel assembly 24. In the embodiment shown, platform section 16 is a center platform section, platform section 1...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section having a frame, a plurality of float arms movably coupled with the frame, an endless belt carried by the plurality of float arms, a cutterbar assembly carried by the plurality of float arms, and a plurality of crop ramps extending from the cutterbar assembly. The plurality of crop ramps are movable relative to each other and overly a leading edge of the endless belt. The endless belt and the cutterbar assembly are movable in a localized manner across the cutting platform in upwards and downwards directions.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 366,035, entitled “FLEXIBLE CUTTING PLATFORM TO FOLLOW GROUND CONTOUR IN AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTING MACHINE”, filed Mar. 2, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to agricultural harvesting machines, such as combines, and, more particularly to agricultural harvesting machines including a cutting platform with a belt conveyor.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]An agricultural harvesting machine such as a combine includes a head and a feeder housing which remove the crop material from the field, gather the crop material and transport the crop material to a separator. In the case of thinner stemmed crops such as soybeans, wheat, etc. which may be cut with a sickle bar carrying a plurality of knives, the head may also be known as a cutting platform. The separator removes the grain crop materi...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A01D43/06A01D34/40A01D34/03
CPCA01D61/002A01D41/14
InventorCOERS, BRUCE ALANJENSEN, RODERICK JAMESCHANEY, MARK MICHAELWATTS, BRADLEY JAMES
OwnerDEERE & CO