Spindle applicator pad for a cotton harvesting work vehicle

Abstract

1 An applicator pad for a cotton harvesting spindle is disclosed. The applicator 2 pad comprises a pad body with a leading side and a leading end defining a leading 3 corner at which the cotton harvesting spindle first encounters the pad body during 4 operation. The pad body includes an output face with contact features projecting away 5 from the output face and an input face opposite the output face. The input face defines 6 a fluid channel including an oblique channel segment extending from the central region 7 to proximate the leading corner, a lateral channel segment extending from proximate 8 the leading corner along the leading end, and a longitudinal channel segment 9 extending from proximate the leading corner along the leading side. The fluid channel 10 defines through openings within the lateral channel segment and the longitudinal 11 channel segment that are configured to direct the fluid from the input side to the output 12 side. 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 side. 20 26 20 18 35 11 M ar 2 02 6 1 1 1 M a r 2 0 2 6 3 4 5 6 7 2 0 2 6 2 0 1 8 3 5 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 s i d e . 2 8 1 1 1 M a r 2 0 2 6 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 0 2 6 2 0 1 8 3 5 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 s i d e . 2 8 6 / 11 F IG . 6 1 4 2 1 4 6 1 5 2 1 8 0 1 5 0 1 2 2 2 0 8 1 8 6 7 7 1 8 2 1 7 8 142 7 146 150 122 152 180 208 186 7 20 26 20 18 35 11 M ar 2 02 6 2 0 2 6 2 0 1 8 3 5 1 1 M a r 2 0 2 6 7 7 2 0 2 6 2 0 1 8 3 5 1 1 M a r 2 0 2 6 7 6 / 1 1 7 F I G . 6

Claims

1. An applicator pad for a cotton harvesting spindle, the applicator padcomprising a pad body with a leading side and a leading end defining a leading corner at which the cotton harvesting spindle first encounters the pad body during operation, the pad body having an output face with one or more contact features projecting away from the output face and an input face opposite the output face, the input face having a recess defining a fluid channel of the pad body, the fluid channel configured to direct a fluid from a central region of the pad body to proximate the leading corner of the pad body, the fluid channel comprising:an oblique channel segment extending from the central region to proximate the leading corner of the pad body;a lateral channel segment extending from proximate the leading corner of the pad body along the leading end of the pad body; anda longitudinal channel segment extending from proximate the leading corner of the pad body along the leading side of the pad body,wherein the fluid channel defines through holes within the lateral channel segment and the longitudinal channel segment that are configured to direct the fluid from the input face to the output face of the pad body.

2. The applicator pad of claim 1, wherein the oblique channel segment, thelateral channel segment, and the longitudinal channel segment meet proximate the leading corner.

3. The applicator pad of claim 1, wherein the through holes within thelongitudinal channel segment are configured to disburse fluid from the central region along a length of the cotton harvesting spindle during operation.

4. The applicator pad of claim 1, wherein the through holes within the lateralchannel segment are configured to disburse fluid from the central region along a base of the cotton harvesting spindle during operation.2026201835   11 Mar 202612         5.    The applicator pad of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal channel segment3     curves toward the central region as the longitudinal channel segment extends along4     the leading side of the pad body, and wherein the lateral channel segment curves5     toward the central region as the lateral channel segment extends along the leading6     end of the pad body.78         6.    The applicator pad of claim 1, wherein a protrusion extends away from the9     output face, and wherein the protrusion is positioned and shaped to cover an area of10      the recess on the input face.1112          7.     The applicator pad of claim 1, further comprising:13          a first protrusion position on the input face and running a perimeter of the pad body,14      the first protrusion extending away from the pad body to a distal end; and15          a second protrusion positioned at the distal end of the first protrusion and running16      an internal perimeter of the first protrusion, the second protrusion extending toward a17      central axis of the pad body.1819          8.     The applicator pad of claim 7, wherein an applicator pad coupler is20      configured to be positioned against the input face with the applicator pad coupler21      extending between the second protrusion and the input face.2223         9.    The applicator pad of claim 8, wherein the applicator pad coupler covers the24      longitudinal channel segment allowing fluid to reach the longitudinal channel segment25     by traveling down the oblique channel segment, and wherein the applicator pad26      coupler is shaped to allow fluid to reach the lateral channel segment by traveling down27     the oblique channel segment or by overflowing the oblique channel segment to travel28      between the applicator pad coupler and the input face to reach the lateral channel29     segment.302026201835   11 Mar 202612345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293010. The applicator pad of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more contact features is attached to the output face at a proximal end and extends to a distal end away from the output face, wherein each of the one or more contact features is tapered from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein each of the one or more contact features also extends along a direction of the leading end of the pad body.

11. A spindle cleaning assembly for a cotton harvesting work vehicle, wherein a spindle holding bar passes through the spindle cleaning assembly to moisten and clean spindles attached to the spindle holding bar during operation of the cotton harvesting work vehicle, the spindle cleaning assembly comprising:a housing;a fluid inlet attached to the housing;a fluid distributor attached to the housing and fluidically coupled to the fluid inlet;a plurality of tubes attached to outputs of the fluid distributor;a plurality of applicator pad assemblies attached to and positioned along the housing, wherein a tube of the plurality of tubes extends from the fluid distributor to each applicator pad assembly of the plurality of applicator pad assemblies, wherein each applicator pad assembly comprises:an applicator pad holder attached to the housing and extending away from the housing to a distal end; andan applicator pad attached to the distal end of the applicator pad holder, the applicator pad configured to clean and lubricate a spindle as it passes by the applicator pad, and the applicator pad comprising a pad body with a leading side and a leading end defining a leading corner at which a cotton harvesting spindle first encounters the pad body during operation, the pad body having an output face with one or more contact features projecting away from the output face and an input face opposite the output face, the input face having a recess defining a fluid channel of the pad body, the fluid channel configured to direct a fluid from a central region of the pad body to proximate the leading corner of the pad body, the fluid channel comprising:2026201835   11 Mar 20261                       an oblique channel segment extending from the central region to2                proximate the leading corner of the pad body;3                      a lateral channel segment extending from proximate the leading4                corner of the pad body along the leading end of the pad body; and5                      a longitudinal channel segment extending from proximate the leading6                corner of the pad body along the leading side of the pad body,7                       wherein the fluid channel defines through holes within the lateral8                channel segment and the longitudinal channel segment that are configured9                 to direct the fluid from the input face to the output face of the pad body, and10            wherein each tube extending from the fluid distributor extends to the central11      region of the applicator pad, and wherein fluid from the fluid inlet is received at the12      central region of each applicator pad.1314          12. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 11, wherein the oblique channel15     segment, the lateral channel segment, and the longitudinal channel segment meet16      proximate the leading corner.1718          13. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 11, wherein the through holes within19      the longitudinal channel segment are configured to disburse fluid from the central20      region along a length of the cotton harvesting spindle during operation.2122          14. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 11, wherein the through holes within23      the lateral channel segment are configured to disburse fluid from the central region24      along a base of the cotton harvesting spindle during operation.2526          15. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal channel27     segment curves toward the central region as the longitudinal channel segment extends28     along the leading side of the pad body, and wherein the lateral channel segment curves29     toward the central region as the lateral channel segment extends along the leading30     end of the pad body.2026201835   11 Mar 20261          16. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 11, wherein a protrusion extends2     away from the output face, and wherein the protrusion is positioned and shaped to3     cover an area of the recess on the input face.45          17. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 11, further comprising:6          a first protrusion position on the input face and running a perimeter of the pad body,7      the first protrusion extending away from the pad body to a distal end; and8          a second protrusion positioned at the distal end of the first protrusion and running9      an internal perimeter of the first protrusion, the second protrusion extending toward a10      central axis of the pad body.1112          18. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 17, wherein an applicator pad13      coupler is configured to be positioned against the input face with the applicator pad14     coupler extending between the second protrusion and the input face, and wherein the15      applicator pad coupler is attached to the distal end of the applicator pad holder.1617          19. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 18, wherein the applicator pad18      coupler covers the longitudinal channel segment allowing fluid to reach the longitudinal19     channel segment by traveling down the oblique channel segment, and wherein the20      applicator pad coupler is shaped to allow fluid to reach the lateral channel segment by21      traveling down the oblique channel segment or by overflowing the oblique channel22     segment to travel between the applicator pad coupler and the input face to reach the23      lateral channel segment.2425         20. The spindle cleaning assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more26      contact features is attached to the output face at a proximal end and extends to a distal27     end away from the output face, wherein each of the one or more contact features is28     tapered from the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein each of the one or more29      contact features also extends along a direction of the leading end of the pad body.

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