cotton picker spindles with replaceable tips

Abstract

A cotton picking assembly includes a picking nut having a cylindrical bore and a threaded portion that engages a threaded opening in a cotton picking rod. The assembly also includes a cotton picking member and a first friction-reducing element disposed within the cylindrical bore. The cotton picking member includes a hook end, an engaging end, and a cylindrical shaft located between the hook end and the engaging end. A drive member includes a receiving end and a gear end, the receiving end receiving the engaging end of the cotton picking member, and the gear end engaging a gear on a drive shaft in the cotton picking rod. The cylindrical shaft includes a surface rotatably supported within the first friction-reducing element.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 107,679, filed October 30, 2020. The entire disclosure of the above-cited application is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to cotton harvesters, and more specifically to the spindles of cotton pickers. Background Technology

[0004] A typical cotton picker includes multiple rotating, barbed picker spindles extending into the plant. The picking cylinder assembly includes multiple vertical picking rods, each supporting a row of rotatable picking spindles. When the barbs engage the cotton, each picking spindle is elongated and driven to rotate about its main axis. The cotton wraps around the spindles and is thus removed by a cotton removal mechanism comprising multiple flexible cotton removers, each for a row of picking spindles. The cotton picker typically includes two to six forward-positioned row units, each supporting a pair of upright picking cylinders having twelve to sixteen picking rods. Each picking rod, in turn, rotatably supports up to twenty picking spindles.

[0005] The background description provided herein is for the purpose of presenting the overall context of this disclosure only. The work of the currently named inventor is not, expressly or impliedly, acknowledged as prior art relative to this disclosure, with respect to the scope described in this background section and to aspects that may not conform to the prior art at the time of filing. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A cotton picking assembly includes a picking nut having (i) a cylindrical bore and (ii) a threaded portion adapted to engage a threaded opening in a cotton picking rod. The picking assembly further includes: a first friction-reducing element adapted to be received within the cylindrical bore; and a cotton picking member having (i) a hook end, (ii) an engaging end, and (iii) a cylindrical shaft located between the hook end and the engaging end. The cylindrical shaft includes a surface rotatably supported within the first friction-reducing element. The picking assembly also includes a drive member having (i) a receiving end and (ii) a gear end, the receiving end being configured to receive the engaging end of the cotton picking member, and the gear end being configured to engage a gear on a drive shaft in the cotton picking rod.

[0007] Among other features, the engaging end of the cotton picking member is configured not to engage or cooperate with the gear on the drive shaft in the cotton picking rod.

[0008] Among other features, the receiving end of the drive member receives the engaging end of the cotton picking member within the cylindrical hole of the picking nut.

[0009] Among other features, the cotton picking member includes a shoulder arranged radially around the outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft; and the first anti-friction element is also adapted to (i) engage the shoulder, and (ii) retain the cotton picking member in the case that the picking spindle nut is threaded into a threaded opening in the cotton picking rod.

[0010] Among other features, the engaging end of the cotton picking member includes a plurality of radially arranged first splines. The receiving end of the drive member includes an integrally formed opening with a plurality of inwardly facing second splines, and the integrally formed opening of the receiving end of the drive member receives the plurality of first splines of the engaging end of the cotton picking member.

[0011] Among other features, the radially arranged plurality of first splines are configured not to engage with gears on the drive shaft in the cotton picking rod.

[0012] Among other features, the joint end of the cotton picking member includes a plurality of radially arranged tapered first splines, each of the plurality of tapered first splines having a first end, a second end and a length between the first end and the second end, and tapering inward from the first end to the second end with a first tapered angle toward the centerline of the cotton picking member.

[0013] Among other features, the plurality of radially arranged tapered first splines are configured not to engage with gears on the drive shaft in the cotton picking rod.

[0014] Among other features, the receiving end of the drive member includes an integrally formed opening with a plurality of inwardly tapered second splines, each of the plurality of tapered second splines having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end, and tapering inward from the first end to the second end with a second tapered angle toward the centerline of the drive member.

[0015] Among other features, the first cone angle is equal to the second cone angle.

[0016] Among other features, the first cone angle differs from the second cone angle.

[0017] Among other features, the cotton picking component has a first brittleness, the driving component has a second brittleness, and the first brittleness is greater than the second brittleness.

[0018] Among other features, the first anti-friction element is either a bushing or a bearing.

[0019] Among other features, the picking assembly includes a second friction-reducing element adapted to (i) be received within an opening in the cotton picking bar, and (ii) retain the drive member within the cotton picking bar. The second friction-reducing element is either a bushing or a bearing.

[0020] A cotton pickering spindle includes a barbed portion, a drive portion, and a cylindrical shaft located between the barbed portion and the drive portion and configured to be rotatably supported within a friction-reducing element disposed in a pickering nut. The cotton pickering spindle also includes a shoulder (i) radially disposed around the outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft and (ii) configured to engage the friction-reducing element.

[0021] Among other features, the drive section is configured not to engage or cooperate with the gear located in the picking rod.

[0022] Among other features, the drive portion includes a plurality of radially arranged tapered splines, each of the plurality of tapered splines having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end, and tapering inward from the first end to the second end with a tapered angle toward the centerline of the cotton spindle.

[0023] Among other features, the plurality of radially arranged tapered splines are configured not to engage with the bevel gear located in the picking rod.

[0024] Among other features, the drive portion includes a plurality of radially arranged splines, each of the plurality of tapered splines having a first end, a second end, a length between the first end and the second end, and an outwardly facing surface substantially parallel to the centerline of the cotton spindle.

[0025] Among other features, the cotton picking spindle includes a radial retraction groove disposed between the shoulder and the drive portion.

[0026] Further applications of this disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0027] This disclosure will be more fully understood from the specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a partial exploded view of an example cotton picking machine rod assembly or a portion thereof, based on the principles of this disclosure.

[0029] Figure 2yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a portion of a cotton picking spindle assembly or cotton picking spindle assembly.

[0030] Figure 3A It is an isometric view of the tip of a cotton picking spindle or the tip of a cotton picking spindle, based on the principles of this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A A detailed view of a portion of the tip of a cotton picking machine spindle is shown in the image.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the spindle tip of a cotton picker based on the principles of this disclosure.

[0033] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The first side view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0034] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The second side view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0035] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 The first end view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0036] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 The second end view of the tip of the cotton picking spindle depicted in the image.

[0037] Figure 9 yes Figure 4 The first plan view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0038] Figure 10 yes Figure 4 The second plan view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0039] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the spindle tip of a cotton picker based on the principles of this disclosure.

[0040] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 The first side view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0041] Figure 13 yes Figure 11 The second side view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0042] Figure 14 yes Figure 11 The first end view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0043] Figure 15 yes Figure 11 The second end view of the tip of the cotton picking spindle depicted in the image.

[0044] Figure 16 yes Figure 11 The first plan view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0045] Figure 17 yes Figure 11 The second plan view of the tip of the cotton picking machine spindle depicted in the image.

[0046] In the accompanying drawings, reference numerals may be used repeatedly to identify similar and / or identical elements. Detailed Implementation

[0047] Reference Figure 1 The diagram shows a portion of a cotton picker rod assembly 100 including a picking rod 105 and a plurality of picking spindle assemblies 110a-110d. The cotton picker rod assembly 100 also includes a drive shaft 114 located within the picking rod 105. A plurality of bevel gears 116a-116d are connected to the drive shaft 114, such that the drive shaft 114 and the bevel gears 116a-116d rotate as a single drive unit 118 within the picking rod 105.

[0048] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the spindle removal assembly 110a. (Refer to...) Figure 1 and Figure 2 The spindle removal assembly 110a includes a spindle removal nut 202 and a picking member 204. The picking member 204 includes a hook end 206 and a connecting end 208. A cylindrical shaft 210 is located between the hook end 206 and the connecting end 208. The cylindrical shaft 210 of the picking member 204 includes a first smooth surface 212.

[0049] The spindle nut 202 has a cylindrical bore 214 and a threaded portion 216. The cylindrical bore 214 receives a first anti-friction element 218 and a seal 220. In some embodiments, the first anti-friction element 218 is a bushing. In other embodiments, the first anti-friction element 218 is a bearing, such as a needle roller bearing or a ball bearing. The first anti-friction element 218 may be press-fitted into the cylindrical bore 214. The first smooth surface 212 of the cylindrical shaft 210 is rotatably supported within the first anti-friction element 218.

[0050] The drive member 222 has a receiving end 224 and a gear end 226. The gear end 226 includes a bevel drive gear 228 that mates with the bevel gear 116a. A second smooth surface 230 of the drive member 222 is rotatably supported by a second anti-friction element 232. A sleeve 233 radially surrounds a portion of the receiving end 224 of the drive member 222. The sleeve 232 includes a cylindrical bore that can contact the second smooth surface 230 of the drive member 222. The second anti-friction element 232 holds the drive member 222 in a cylindrical opening 234 in the picking rod 105 and centers the drive member 222 in the cylindrical opening 234 in the picking rod 105. In some embodiments, the second anti-friction element 232 is a bearing, such as a ball bearing or a needle roller bearing. In other embodiments, the second anti-friction element 232 is a bushing. The second anti-friction element 232 may be press-fitted into the cylindrical opening 234 of the picking rod 105.

[0051] Although the drive member 222 and the second anti-friction element 232 are shown as two separate and distinct elements in the figures, in some embodiments, the drive member 222 and the second anti-friction element 232 may be a single combined element. For example, the body of the drive member 222 may include an integrally formed inner race (not shown), and the drive member 222 includes an outer race (not shown) surrounding the integrally formed inner race and supported by a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the inner race and the outer race. In such an embodiment, the outer race may be press-fitted into the cylindrical opening 234 of the picking rod 105 to hold the drive member 222 and center the drive member 222.

[0052] The threaded portion 216 of the picker nut 202 engages with the threaded portion 236 of the cylindrical opening 234 to mount the picker assembly 110a to the picker rod 105. The receiving end 224 of the drive member 222 includes an integrally formed opening 237 that receives the engaging end 208 of the picker member 204.

[0053] Figure 3A It is an isometric view of the picking component 204 and Figure 3B This is a detailed view of the engagement end 208 of the picking member 204. The picking member 204 includes a shoulder 238, which is radially disposed around the outer circumference of the picking member 204. The shoulder 238 is located between the first smooth surface 212 of the cylindrical shaft 210 and the engagement end 208 of the picking member 204. The shoulder 238 includes a surface 239, which is perpendicular to the centerline 201 of the picking member 204 and faces the hook end 206 of the picking member 204.

[0054] When the pick-up assembly 110a is installed onto the pick-up rod 105, the engaging end 208 of the pick-up member 204 is received within the cylindrical hole 214 of the pick-up nut 202 in the integrally formed opening 237 of the receiving end 224, and rotation of the drive member 222 causes rotation of the pick-up member 204. Additionally, the first anti-friction element 218 holds the pick-up member 204 in place. For example, the first anti-friction element 218 may contact the surface 239 of the shoulder 238, thereby restricting movement of the pick-up member 204 along the direction of the centerline 201.

[0055] As shown in the figure, the engagement end 208 of the picking member 204 does not directly engage, mesh with, or contact the bevel gear 116a. In some embodiments, a plurality of splines 240 are radially arranged around the circumference of the engagement end 208 of the picking member 204, and the integrally formed opening 237 of the receiving end 224 of the drive member 222 includes a plurality of inwardly facing splines 242. Each of the plurality of splines 240 and the plurality of inwardly facing splines 242 may include the same number of splines. Although the plurality of splines 240 and the plurality of inwardly facing splines 242 are depicted as each including nine splines, each of the plurality of splines 240 and the plurality of inwardly facing splines 242 may include fewer splines, for example, two to eight splines. Alternatively, each of the plurality of splines 240 and the plurality of inwardly facing splines 242 may include more than nine splines—for example, 10, 11, or 12 splines.

[0056] In various embodiments, the plurality of splines 240 comprises fewer splines than the plurality of inwardly facing splines 242. In such embodiments, the plurality of splines 240 are radially spaced around the engagement end 208 of the picking member 204, such that the plurality of inwardly facing splines 242 receive the plurality of splines 240.

[0057] Each of the plurality of inwardly facing splines 242 and the plurality of splines 240 has a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of splines 240 is tapered inward from the first end to the second end with a taper angle toward the centerline 201 of the cotton picking member 204. In other embodiments, the outwardly facing surface of each of the plurality of splines 240 is parallel to the centerline 201 of the cotton picking member 204.

[0058] In various embodiments, the picking member 204 includes a radially disposed relief groove 260, such as a relief groove, located between the shoulder 238 and the plurality of splines 240. In the event of a torque overload, the relief groove 260 causes the hook end 206 of the picking member 204 to shear off from the engagement end 208 of the picking member 204. Thus, during a torque overload event, the relief groove 260 provides protection for downstream components, such as, but not limited to, the drive member 222, the bevel gears 116a-116d, or the drive shaft 114. The relief groove 260 can also facilitate the repair and / or replacement of a disconnected (e.g., sheared) picking member 204. The size and / or shape of the relief groove 260 can be selected so that the picking member 204 shears off at or near a specific torque limit.

[0059] In other embodiments, the engaging end 208 of the picking member 204 may have a pentagonal, hexagonal, or other polygonal shape, and the integrally formed opening 237 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the engaging end 208, such that rotation of the driving member 222 causes rotation of the picking member 204. In yet another embodiment, the engaging end 208 includes a key, and the integrally formed opening 237 includes at least one recess that receives the key of the engaging end 208, such that rotation of the driving member 222 causes rotation of the picking member 204.

[0060] In various embodiments, the picking member 204 is more brittle than the driving member 208, such that when the picking member 204 comes into contact with an object harder than any part of the cotton plant (e.g., a rock, a metal sheet, or a fence post), the picking member 204 breaks or shears before the driving member 208 deforms, breaks, or shears. The picking member 204 may be made of a first material having a first brittleness measurement result, and the driving member 208 may be made of a second material having a second brittleness measurement result less than the first brittleness measurement result. Alternatively, the picking member 204 and the driving member 208 may be made of the same material, and the picking member 204 and the driving member 208 may undergo different treatments (e.g., heat treatment) to make the picking member 204 more brittle than the driving member 208.

[0061] Figures 4-10 The figure illustrates an example embodiment of a cotton picker spindle tip (e.g., the picking member 204) according to the principles of this disclosure. Figures 11-17 The figure illustrates yet another example embodiment of a cotton picker spindle tip (e.g., the picking member 204) according to the principles of this disclosure.

[0062] The preceding description is illustrative in nature and is not intended in any way to limit the scope, application, or use of this disclosure. The broad teachings of this disclosure can be implemented in various forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes specific examples, its true scope should not be so limited, as other variations will become apparent upon study of the accompanying drawings, description, and claims. Furthermore, although each embodiment in these examples is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of this disclosure may be implemented in a manner consistent with and / or in combination with features of any other embodiment, even if such combinations are not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and variations of one or more embodiments with respect to each other remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0063] As used herein, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" should be interpreted as meaning the use of a non-exclusive logical OR (A or B or C), and should not be interpreted as meaning "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C". The term subset does not necessarily require a proper subset. In other words, a first subset of a first set can be coextensive (equivalent) to the first set.

Claims

1. A snoot assembly comprising: a snoot nut having (i) a cylindrical bore and (ii) a threaded portion adapted to engage a threaded opening in a cotton harvesting pole; a first anti-friction element adapted to be received within the cylindrical bore; a cotton harvesting member having (i) a hook end, (ii) an engagement end, (iii) a cylindrical shaft between the hook end and the engagement end, and (iv) a shoulder radially disposed about an outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft, wherein the cylindrical shaft includes a surface rotatably supported within the first anti-friction element; and a drive member having (i) a receiving end configured to receive the engagement end of the cotton harvesting member and (ii) a gear end configured to engage a gear on a drive shaft in the cotton harvesting pole, wherein the first anti-friction element is further adapted to (i) engage the shoulder of the cotton harvesting member and (ii) retain the cotton harvesting member with the snoot nut threaded into the threaded opening in the cotton harvesting pole; and wherein the cotton harvesting member and the drive member are configured to rotate about a same rotational axis when the engagement end of the cotton harvesting member is received in the receiving end of the drive member; and wherein the receiving end of the drive member receives the engagement end of the cotton harvesting member within the cylindrical bore of the snoot nut.

2. The snoot assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement end of the cotton harvesting member is configured to not mesh or mate with the gear on the drive shaft in the cotton harvesting pole.

3. The snoot assembly of claim 2, wherein: the engagement end of the cotton harvesting member includes a plurality of radially disposed first splines, the receiving end of the drive member includes an integrally formed opening with a plurality of inwardly facing second splines, and the integrally formed opening of the receiving end of the drive member receives the plurality of first splines of the engagement end of the cotton harvesting member.

4. The snoot assembly of claim 2, wherein the engagement end of the cotton harvesting member includes a plurality of radially disposed tapered first splines, each of the plurality of tapered first splines having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends, and tapering inwardly from the first end to the second end at a first taper angle toward a centerline of the cotton harvesting member.

5. The snoot assembly of claim 4, wherein the receiving end of the drive member includes an integrally formed opening with a plurality of inwardly tapered second splines, each of the plurality of tapered second splines having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends, and tapering inwardly from the first end to the second end at a second taper angle toward a centerline of the drive member.

6. The snoot assembly of claim 5, wherein the first taper angle is equal to the second taper angle.

7. The picker tine assembly of claim 1, wherein the cotton picking member has a first brittleness, the drive member has a second brittleness, and the first brittleness is greater than the second brittleness.

8. The picker tine assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second wear-reducing element adapted to (i) be received within an opening of the cotton picking bar, and (ii) retain the drive member in the cotton picking bar, wherein (i) the first wear-reducing element is one of a bushing or a bearing, and (ii) the second wear-reducing element is one of a bushing or a bearing.

9. A cotton picker tine for use with a drive member and a picker nut, the cotton picker tine comprising: a barb portion; a drive portion configured to be received within a cylindrical bore of the picker nut by the drive member; a cylindrical shaft located between the barb portion and the drive portion and configured to be rotatably supported within a wear-reducing element provided in the picker nut; and a shoulder (i) radially disposed about an outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft, and (ii) configured to engage the wear-reducing element; wherein the cotton picker tine and the drive member rotate about a centerline of the cotton picker tine when the drive portion is received in the drive member.

10. The cotton picker tine of claim 9, wherein the drive portion is configured not to mesh or mate with a gear located in a picking bar.

11. The cotton picker tine of claim 9, wherein the drive portion comprises a plurality of radially disposed tapered splines, each spline of the plurality of radially disposed tapered splines having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end, and tapering inwardly from the first end to the second end at a taper angle toward the centerline of the cotton picker tine, the plurality of radially disposed tapered splines configured not to mesh with a bevel gear located in a picking bar. wherein 12. The cotton picker tine of claim 9, wherein the drive portion comprises a plurality of radially disposed splines, each spline of the plurality of radially disposed splines having a first end, a second end, a length between the first end and the second end, and an outwardly facing surface substantially parallel to the centerline of the cotton picker tine, the plurality of radially disposed tapered splines configured not to mesh with a bevel gear located in a picking bar. wherein, 13. The cotton picker tine of claim 9, further comprising a radial relief groove disposed between the shoulder and the drive portion. ​

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