Defoliator

Claim 2

A machine for removing foliage from a root crop comprising: a frame, rotor means movably mounted on the frame, said rotor means including a first transverse rotor having rigid foliage-removing members and a second transverse rotor located parallel to and spaced rearwardly from the first transverse rotor, said second transverse rotor having flexible foliage removing members, powertransmitting means connected to the rotor means for transmitting power from a source of power to the rotor means, upright wall means located between the first rotor and the second rotor, transverse flexible means projected downwardly from the bottom of the wall means, at least one scalper unit located rearwardly of the rotor means, said scalper unit having a power driven member operable to cut off a top portion of the root crop, beam means supporting the scalper unit, ground-engaging wheel means connected to the beam means to support the beam means, and connector means attaching the beam means to the frame whereby the ground-engaging wheel means support the scalper unit and the frame.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 wherein the transverse flexible means is a flat elongated guard secured to the upright wall means.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 1 wherein the connector means includes adjustable members whereby the position of the frame relative to the beam means can be changed without changing the position of the beam means.

Claim 5

The machine of claim 3 wherein each adjustable member comprises upright plate means having upright slots, fastening means extended through the slots and connected to the frame and adjustable link means connected to the frame and the plate whereby the vertical position of the plate may be adjusted relative to the frame, said beam means being attached to the plate.

Claim 6

The machine of claim 1 wherein the power-driven member of the scalper unit is a disc rotatable about a generally upright axis and drive means for rotating said disc.

Claim 7

The machine of claim 5 wherein the drive means comprise power-transmitting means connecting the disc to the ground-engaging wheel means whereby the ground-engaging wheel means drives the disc.

Claim 8

In a machine for removing foliage from a root crop, a frame having laterally spaced side members, a first transverse rotor rotatably mounted on the side members, a said first rotor-carrying foliage-removing members, second transverse rotor mounted on the side members generally parallel to and spaced from the first transverse member, said second transverse member carrying foliage-removing members, a housing having an open bottom, sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall and a top wall covering the first rotor and the second rotor, an upright wall means located within the housing between the first rotor and the second rotor and extended between the sidewalls, and a transverse flexible means projected downwardly from the bottom of the wall means, said flexible member positioned in a contiguous relationship with respect to the soil whereby the foliage material removed by the foliage-removing members on the first transverse rotor are broken down into relatively small pieces before they move under the transverse flexible means.

Claim 9

In a machine for removing foliage from a root crop, a frame having laterally spaced side members, a first transverse rotor rotatably mounted on the side members, a said first rotor-carrying foliage-removing members, second transverse rotor mounted on the side members generally parallel to and spaced from the first transverse member, said second transverse member carrying foliage-removing members, a housing having an open bottom, sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall and a top wall covering the first rotor and the second rotor, an upright wall means located within the housing between the first rotor and the second rotor and extended between the sidewalls, and a transverse flexible means projected downwardly from the bottom of the wall means, said flexible member positioned in a contiguous relationship with respect to the soil whereby the foliage material removed by the foliage-removing members on the first transverse rotor are broken down into relatively small pieces before they move under the transverse flexible means.

Claim 10

The machine of claim 7 wherein the transverse flexible means is a flat elongated guard secured to the upright wall.

Claim 11

The machine of claim 1 including power-transmitting means connected to the opposite ends of the first transverse rotor and the second rotor.

Claim 12

The machine of claim 9 wherein the first rotor is rotated faster than the second rotor. 11 The machine of claim 1 wherein the scalper unit includes a rearwardly directed arm pivotally connected to the beam meAns, a housing pivotally mounted on the arm, said power-driven member being a rotatable cutting disc operably secured to said housing, and means for adjusting the position of the housing relative to the arm whereby the angle of the disc relative to the ground surface can be adjusted.

Claim 13

The scalper assembly of claim 11 including a downwardly and rearwardly directed shoe secured to the arm forwardly of the disc.

Claim 14

The scalper assembly of claim 12 including pivot means connecting the shoe to the arm and adjustable link means connecting the shoe to the arm whereby the angle of the shoe can be changed relative to the disc.

Claim 15

The scalper assembly of claim 12 including a generally upright member rotatably mounted in said housing and secured to said disc, power transmission means located in said housing and connected to the member, and drive means connecting the power transmission means with the wheel means whereby the ground-engaging wheel means rotates the disc.

Claim 16

A scalper assembly comprising: a transverse beam, ground-engaging wheel means, rearwardly directed first arm means rigidly secured to the beam, means rotatably mounting the wheel means on the first arm means whereby the beam is supported by the wheel means above the ground, a plurality of rearwardly directed second arm means pivotally connected to the beam for movement in a generally vertical direction, power transmission means connected to the rear ends of the second arm means, rotatable cutting discs operably connected to the lower ends of the power transmission means, drive means connecting the wheel means to the power transmission means whereby the ground-engaging wheel means rotates the cutting discs.

Claim 17

A scalper assembly comprising: a transverse beam, ground-engaging wheel means, rearwardly directed first arm means rigidly secured to the beam, means rotatably mounting the wheel means on the first arm means whereby the beam is supported by the wheel means above the ground, a plurality of rearwardly directed second arm means pivotally connected to the beam for movement in a generally vertical direction, power transmission means connected to the rear ends of the second arm means, rotatable cutting discs operably connected to the lower ends of the power transmission means, drive means connecting the wheel means to the power transmission means whereby the ground-engaging wheel means rotates the cutting discs.

Claim 18

The scalper assembly of claim 15 including means to angularly adjust the power transmission means on the arm whereby the cutting angle of the disc can be changed.

Claim 19

The scalper assembly of claim 15 including a fixed support attached to the beam and wherein the drive means includes a transverse shaft pivotally mounting the second arm means to the fixed support.

Claim 20

The scalper assembly of claim 15 is including fixed supports connected to the beam, means pivotally mounting the second arm means on the fixed supports, and adjustable members coacting with the fixed supports and second arm means to limit the down positions of the second arm means. 19 The machine of claim 1 including a housing having an open bottom, sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall covering the first rotor and the second rotor, said upright wall means located within the housing and extended between said sidewalls. 20 The machine of claim 7 wherein the foliage-removing members on the first rotor are rigid flails and the foliage-removing members on the second rotor are flexible flails.

Claim 21

The machine of claim 20 wherein the first rotor is driven faster then the second rotor.

Claim 22

A machine for removing foliage from a root crop comprising: a generally rectangular frame, transverse rotor means rotatably mounted on the frame, said rotor means having a plurality of pivotally mounted flails for cutting a substantial portion of the foliage from a root crop, power transmitting means connected to the rotor means for transferring power from a source of power to the rotor means, a scalper assembly located rearwardly of the frame, said scalper assembly having a transverse beam, ground-engaging wheel means, means fixedly secured to the beam for connecting the wheel means, whereby the beam is supported by the wheel means above the ground, rearwardly directed arm means pivotally connected to the beam for movement in a general vertical direction, power transmission means connected to the rear end of the arm means, a rotatable cutting disc operably connected to the lower end of the power transmission means, drive means connecting the wheel means to the power transmission means, whereby the ground-engaging wheel means rotate the cutting discs, vertically adjustable connector means attaching the beam means to oppOsite portions of the frame, whereby the ground-engaging wheel means support the scalper assembly at a selected height and permit the raising and lowering of the generally rectangular frame without changing the position of the beam means.

Claim 23

A machine for removing foliage from a root crop comprising: a generally rectangular frame, transverse rotor means rotatably mounted on the frame, said rotor means having a plurality of pivotally mounted flails for cutting a substantial portion of the foliage from a root crop, power transmitting means connected to the rotor means for transferring power from a source of power to the rotor means, a scalper assembly located rearwardly of the frame, said scalper assembly having a transverse beam, ground-engaging wheel means, means fixedly secured to the beam for connecting the wheel means, whereby the beam is supported by the wheel means above the ground, rearwardly directed arm means pivotally connected to the beam for movement in a general vertical direction, power transmission means connected to the rear end of the arm means, a rotatable cutting disc operably connected to the lower end of the power transmission means, drive means connecting the wheel means to the power transmission means, whereby the ground-engaging wheel means rotate the cutting discs, vertically adjustable connector means attaching the beam means to oppOsite portions of the frame, whereby the ground-engaging wheel means support the scalper assembly at a selected height and permit the raising and lowering of the generally rectangular frame without changing the position of the beam means.

Claim 24

The machine of claim 22 wherein the connector means comprise upright plate means having upright slots, fastening means extended through the slots and connected to the frame, and adjustable link means connected to the frame and the plate, whereby the vertical position of the plate may be adjusted relative to the frame, said beam means being attached to the plate.