Laser clad knife guard

Abstract

A cladded knife guard is provided. In one aspect, the invention provides for a knife guard that comprises a guard body that further comprises a base material. The base material includes a mounting bar that defines at least one bolt hole and at least one tine projecting forward from the mounting bar. The base material has a first hardness. A cladded material is formed on the base material. The clad material comprises a second hardness greater than the first hardness.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application is a continuation of co-pending PCT Application No. PCT / US2015 / 018059, filed Feb. 27, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 050,687, filed Sep. 15, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 050,880, filed Sep. 16, 2014, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention generally relates to a laser clad knife guard for a sickle bar assembly.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Knife guards are used in sickle style cutting systems. They act as the stationary surface for moving sickle blades to cut against or at least to protect or cover the sickle blades. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,962,040, 4,660,361, 7,478,522, and 8,464,506 the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference as the present invention may be applied and / or incorporated into these examples in various em...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about adding a layer of material to improve the wear and sharness of a knife guard. The cladding can be added to the top surface of the knife or along the flanks of the tines. This helps to make the knife guard last longer and work better. Additionally, there will be areas on the ledger surface that will not be cladded, allowing for easier machining or straightening of the knife.

Problems solved by technology

Past efforts to improve the hardness of the shearing surfaces of the ledger plate have not met with the desired cutting efficiency or wear characteristics which in turn have resulted in increased costs in both harvesting and equipment repair and or replacement.

Distortion is not desirable where the knife guard provides a bearing surface supporting sliding movement and reciprocation of a sickle bar.

The result is often additional machining or straightening processes to bring the part back within specification.

These additional steps increase cost.

In addition, the induction process focuses the energy in the thinner section of the knife guard edge resulting in the risk of melting the material at the edge.

The depth of the heat affected zone also creates a similar situation to the previously mentioned treatments in that it causes stresses in the part to be relieved often resulting in distortion of the part.

Images