Spindle cleaning assembly for cotton harvesting work vehicle

Abstract

1 A spindle cleaning assembly for a harvesting unit of a cotton harvesting work 2 vehicle is disclosed. The spindle cleaning assembly includes a fluid nozzle, and a fluid 3 distributor configured to receive fluid from the fluid nozzle. The fluid distributor defining 4 an interior distribution chamber disposed about a longitudinal axis. The interior 5 distribution chamber is defined at least in part by an impingement plate at which the 6 fluid nozzle is configured to spray a fluid. The impingement plate having raised flow 7 dividers angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis to distribute the fluid radially 8 outward to an array of outlet openings. The spindle cleaning assembly further includes 9 distributor tubes attached to the fluid distributor, one at each of the outlet openings, 10 and a column of applicator pads carried by the housing panel to be spaced apart along 11 the housing panel and receive fluid from the fluid distributor through the distributor 12 tubes. 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 tubes. 26 20 26 20 16 48 04 M ar 2 02 6 1 0 4 M a r 2 0 2 6 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 0 2 6 2 0 1 6 4 8 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 t u b e s . 4 / 8 6 140 144 142 142 136 152 150 152 120 FIG. 4 146 186 136 186 150 132 145 141 160 1 64 218 196 198 202 204 202 212 212 154 122 162162 144 141 218 140 160 6 196 154 198 212 202 204 142 142 152 150 186 152 136 150 122 132 20 26 20 16 48 04 M ar 2 02 6 4 / 8 M a r 2 0 2 6 2 0 2 6 2 0 1 6 4 8 0 4 1 9 8 2 1 2 2 0 4 1 4 2 1 4 6 1 5 2 1 8 6 1 3 6 1 8 6

Claims

2026201648   04 Mar 20261                                    CLAIMS2            What is claimed is:3             1. A spindle cleaning assembly for a harvesting unit of a cotton harvesting4     work vehicle comprising:5              a fluid nozzle;6             a fluid distributor carried by a housing panel of the harvesting unit and7      configured to receive fluid from the fluid nozzle, the fluid distributor defining an interior8      distribution chamber disposed about a longitudinal axis and the interior distribution9      chamber defined at least in part by an impingement plate at which the fluid nozzle is10      configured to spray a fluid, the impingement plate having raised flow dividers angularly11      spaced about the longitudinal axis to distribute the fluid radially outward to an array of12      outlet openings;13             distributor tubes attached to the fluid distributor, one at each of the outlet14     openings; and15            a column of applicator pads carried by the housing panel to be spaced apart16      along the housing panel and receive fluid from the fluid distributor through the17      distributor tubes.1819            2. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the impingement plate20      is higher at its center than at an outer edge.2122            3. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the impingement plate23      includes a tapered conical surface, and wherein the raised flow dividers extend along24      the longitudinal axis from the tapered conical surface toward an apex of the tapered25      conical surface.2627             4. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 1, the fluid distributor further28      comprising upper flow dividers angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis.2930            5. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 4, wherein the upper flow dividers31      are tapered along the longitudinal axis.2026201648   04 Mar 20266. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 4, wherein each upper flow divider is aligned with a raised flow divider.

7. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein each outlet opening is positioned between two raised flow dividers.

8. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet openings are distributed evenly around the longitudinal axis.

9. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid nozzle is configured to distribute fluid into the interior distribution chamber in a hollow cone, and wherein the fluid nozzle is positioned for the hollow cone to point at the impingement plate along the longitudinal axis.

10. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 1, wherein the impingement plate includes a tapered conical surface, wherein the fluid nozzle is configured to distribute fluid into the interior distribution chamber in a hollow cone, and wherein the fluid from the fluid nozzle contacts the tapered conical surface around an apex of the tapered conical surface.

11. A harvesting unit of a cotton harvesting work vehicle, the harvesting unit comprising:a spindle drum comprising an array of spindle holding bars configured to rotate about a rotation axis of the spindle drum, wherein each spindle holding bar comprises a column of spindles;a spindle cleaning assembly for cleaning and lubricating each spindle of the column of spindles, wherein during rotation of the spindle drum each spindle holding bar passes through the spindle cleaning assembly, the spindle cleaning assembly comprising:a fluid nozzle;a fluid distributor carried by a housing panel of the harvesting unit and configured to receive fluid from the fluid nozzle, the fluid distributor defining an 232026201648   04 Mar 202612345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031interior distribution chamber disposed about a longitudinal axis and the interior distribution chamber defined at least in part by an impingement plate at which the fluid nozzle is configured to spray a fluid, the impingement plate having raised flow dividers angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis to distribute the fluid radially outward to an array of outlet openings;distributor tubes attached to the fluid distributor, one at each of the outlet openings; anda column of applicator pads carried by the housing panel to be spaced apart along a longitudinal axis and receive fluid from the fluid distributor through the distributor tubes,wherein the column of spindles of a spindle holding bar contacts the column of applicator pads as the spindle holding bar passes through the spindle cleaning assembly.

12. The harvesting unit of claim 11, wherein the impingement plate is higher at its center than at an outer edge.

13. The harvesting unit of claim 11, wherein the impingement plate includes a tapered conical surface, and wherein the raised flow dividers extend along the longitudinal axis from the tapered conical surface toward an apex of the tapered conical surface.

14. The harvesting unit of claim 11, the fluid distributor further comprising upper flow dividers angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis.

15. The harvesting unit of claim 14, wherein the upper flow dividers are tapered along the longitudinal axis.

16. The harvesting unit of claim 14, wherein each upper flow divider is aligned with a raised flow divider.2026201648   04 Mar 20261             17. The harvesting unit of claim 11, wherein each outlet opening is positioned2      between two raised flow dividers.34             18. The harvesting unit of claim 11, wherein the outlet openings are distributed5      evenly around the longitudinal axis.67             19. The harvesting unit of claim 11, wherein the fluid nozzle is configured to8      distribute fluid into the interior distribution chamber in a hollow cone, and wherein the9      fluid nozzle is positioned for the hollow cone to point at the impingement plate along10      the longitudinal axis.1112            20. The harvesting unit of claim 11, wherein the impingement plate includes a13      tapered conical surface, wherein the fluid nozzle is configured to distribute fluid into14      the interior distribution chamber in a hollow cone, and wherein the fluid from the fluid15     nozzle contacts the tapered conical surface around an apex of the tapered conical16      surface.

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