Gear drive and support for corn-harvesting unit

Claim 2

In a corn harvester attachment for harvesting a plurality of rows of corn and supported forwardly of and on a mobile croptreating unit, the corn harvester having a main supporting structure including a transverse horizontal beam extending across a plurality of corn rows, the improvement comprising: a main rotatable horizontal drive shaft extending transversely across a plurality of rows and supported on the supporting structure; a plurality of crop-harvesting units, with each adapted to harvest a row of corn and with each having a gear housing adapted to be supported on the beam in any of a plurality of transverse positions along the beam whereby transverse spacing between the respective and adjacent harvesting units may be adjusted in accordance with various spacings between the rows of corn, the gear housing further having a portion with a transverse horizontal opening adapted to circumscribe the transverse drive shaft, and each harvesting unit further having a forwardly projecting rigid framework with a rear end portion fixedly attached to the gear housing and projecting forwardly and downwardly therefrom to a forward end portion; harvesting mechanism supported on the framework and extending between the rear and forward portions thereof; a gear train within each gear housing including a main drive gear concentric with the drive shaft and rotatable relative thereto, the gear train terminating in drive shaft means having drive portions external of the geaR housing connected to and for operating the harvesting mechanism; and a clutch drivingly connecting the drive gear of each harvesting unit to the main drive shaft.

Claim 3

The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the forwardly projecting rigid framework includes a pair of laterally disposed plate members that project forwardly from the gear housing and are spaced apart transversely to define a fore-and-aft extending plant passage through which stalks of the row may move and further characterized by the plate members being supported on the gear housing in cantilever fashion whereby the plate members will project forwardly and downwardly to the aforesaid forward end portion of the framework.

Claim 4

The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the forwardly projecting rigid framework includes a pair of elongated structural members spaced apart transversely to define a fore-and-aft extending stalk passage with each of the rigid members being supported in cantilever fashion at their rear ends on the gear housing.

Claim 5

The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the main gear has a hub portion journaled externally on the gear housing and having a central shaft opening through which the main drive shaft projects with said central opening being considerably larger than said shaft whereby axial movement of the entire gear housing may occur in respect to the main drive shaft.

Claim 6

The structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the hub projects externally of the gear housing, and the clutch includes a first part drivingly connected to the main drive shaft and a second part drivingly connected to the hub with faces of said parts being engageable to effect rotation of the main gear in response to rotation of the main drive shaft.

Claim 7

The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which each gear housing has an upper wall portion and a pair of transversely spaced side portions, and each of the rigid frameworks includes a pair of upper laterally disposed plates with rear portions of the plates overlying the gear housing and attached thereto and vertical plate portions depending from the laterally disposed plate portions and lying adjacent the sides of the gear housing and being fixed thereto.

Claim 8

The structure as set forth in claim 1 characterized by the harvesting mechanism including a pair of forwardly extending gathering chains that is adapted to engage and move corn products rearwardly, and a pair of harvesting rolls positioned beneath the gathering chains, and the rigid framework includes a pair of laterally disposed plates positioned between the respective gathering chains and rolls and are spaced apart transversely to define a stalk passage; and the harvesting mechanism including both the rolls and the gathering chains is driven by the drive portions, whereby the drive means for the harvesting mechanism and the framework supporting the harvesting mechanism are supported in and on the gear housing.

Claim 9

The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the drive portions include a pair of vertically disposed chain drive shafts and a pair of forwardly and downwardly projecting roll drive shafts, and the harvesting mechanism includes transversely spaced apart gathering chains having their upper ends supported on the chain drive shafts and a pair of transversely spaced fore-and-aft extending harvesting rolls positioned beneath the respective chains and drivingly connected to the roll drive shafts, and the gear train within the gear housing extends from the main drive gear to internal portions of the chain and roll drive shafts.

Claim 10

In a corn harvester attachment for harvesting a plurality of rows of corn and supported forwardly of and on a mobile crop-treating unit, the corn harvester having a main supporting structure including a transverse horizontal beam extending across a plurality of corn rows, the improvement comprising: a main rotatable horizontal drive shaft extending transversely across a plurality of rows; a plurality of crop-harvesting units, with each adapted to harvest a Row of corn and with each unit having a gear housing, the latter having mechanism for supporting the gear housing on the beam in any of a plurality of transverse positions along the beam whereby transverse spacing between the respective and adjacent harvesting units may be adjusted in accordance with various spacings between rows of corn, the gear housing further having a portion with a transverse horizontal opening adapted to circumscribe the transverse drive shaft, each harvesting unit further having a forwardly projecting rigid framework with a rear end portion fixedly attached to the gear housing to support the framework in cantilever fashion from the rear portion on the housing, the framework projecting forwardly and downwardly from the rear portion to a forward end portion; harvesting mechanism supported entirely on the framework and gear housing and extending between the rear and forward portions; and a gear train within the gear housing including main drive gear means concentric with the drive shaft and drivingly connected therewith, the gear train having drive shaft means with drive portions external of the gear housing connected to and for operating the entire harvesting mechanism.

Claim 11

In a corn harvester attachment for harvesting a plurality of rows of corn and supported forwardly of and on a mobile crop-treating unit, the corn harvester having a main supporting structure including a transverse horizontal beam extending across a plurality of corn rows, the improvement comprising: a main rotatable horizontal drive shaft extending transversely across a plurality of rows; a plurality of crop-harvesting units, with each adapted to harvest a Row of corn and with each unit having a gear housing, the latter having mechanism for supporting the gear housing on the beam in any of a plurality of transverse positions along the beam whereby transverse spacing between the respective and adjacent harvesting units may be adjusted in accordance with various spacings between rows of corn, the gear housing further having a portion with a transverse horizontal opening adapted to circumscribe the transverse drive shaft, each harvesting unit further having a forwardly projecting rigid framework with a rear end portion fixedly attached to the gear housing to support the framework in cantilever fashion from the rear portion on the housing, the framework projecting forwardly and downwardly from the rear portion to a forward end portion; harvesting mechanism supported entirely on the framework and gear housing and extending between the rear and forward portions; and a gear train within the gear housing including main drive gear means concentric with the drive shaft and drivingly connected therewith, the gear train having drive shaft means with drive portions external of the gear housing connected to and for operating the entire harvesting mechanism.

Claim 12

A corn harvester adapted for support on a combine having a main power source comprising: a housing structure adapted for support at its rear end on the forward end of the combine and projecting therefrom to a forward end; a transverse harvester framework extending forward of and adapted for connection to the forward end of the housing structure, the harvester framework including a transverse horizontal beam extending across a plurality of corn rows; a transverse drive shaft adjacent the beam and also extending across a plurality of corn rows; a plurality of harvesting structures adapted for simultaneous harvesting of a plurality of corn rows, each harvesting structure including a gear housing at its rear end fixedly attachable at various transverse positions on the beam and fore-and-aft extending structural elements cantilevered forwardly from the gear housing and supporting harvesting mechanism thereon, the gear housing further having transverse opening means for receiving the shaft to pass therethrough; drive mechanism within the gear housing including a gear concentric with the shaft with means interjoining the shaft and gear for effecting rotation in unison, the drive mechanism further having portions external of the housing for driving the entire harvesting mechanism of the respective harvesting structure.

Claim 13

A corn harvester adapted for support on a combine having a main power source comprising: a housing structure adapted for support at its rear end on the forward end of the combine and projecting therefrom to a forward end; a transverse harvester framework extending forward of and adapted for connection to the forward end of the housing structure, the harvester framework including a transverse horizontal beam extending across a plurality of corn rows; a transverse drive shaft adjacent the beam and also extending across a plurality of corn rows; a plurality of harvesting structures adapted for simultaneous harvesting of a plurality of corn rows, each harvesting structure including a gear housing at its rear end fixedly attachable at various transverse positions on the beam and fore-and-aft extending structural elements cantilevered forwardly from the gear housing and supporting harvesting mechanism thereon, the gear housing further having transverse opening means for receiving the shaft to pass therethrough; drive mechanism within the gear housing including a gear concentric with the shaft with means interjoining the shaft and gear for effecting rotation in unison, the drive mechanism further having portions external of the housing for driving the entire harvesting mechanism of the respective harvesting structure.

Claim 14

The structure as set forth in claim 10 in which each of the harvesting mechanisms includes a pair of fore-and-aft extending harvesting rolls and a pair of continuous chains positioned above the rolls and supported on sprocket means whereby the chains have adjacent fore-and-aft inner runs adapted to engage stalks of corn from opposite sides; and further characterized by a variable speed drive connected to the transverse drive shaft for effecting the rate of rotation of the chains and the rolls.

Claim 15

The structure as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by the variable speed drive being composed of a pair of shafts one being driven by the power source and the other being drivingly connected to the transverse drive shaft; pulley means on each of the pair of shafts composed of two opposed cone discs one of which is fixed to the shaft and the other of which is shiftable axially; a pair of sprockets threadedly mounted on threaded parts on the respective shafts with said parts being threaded left- and right-handed respectively, said sprockets bearing against the shiftable discs to thereby shift the latter in response to threaded adjustment of the sprockets; a two-way hydraulic motor having shiftable means therein; and a chain played around the sprockets and connected to the shiftable means whereby shifting thereof will effect rotation of the sprockets.

Claim 16

The structure as set forth in claim 12 in which the two-way hydraulic motor is a hydraulic cylinder with shIftable rod elements projecting from opposite ends thereof and the chain has opposite ends connected to the respective rod elements.

Claim 17

The structure as set forth in claim 10 in which the fore-and-aft extending structural elements of each harvesting structure are on opposite sides of a plant passage and have thereon inner fore-and-aft extending and opposed edges that define the passage, with one of the edges being shiftable transversely in respect to the other edge.

Claim 18

The structure as set forth in claim 14 in which the shiftable edge is on a plate that is shiftable transversely on a basic structural element fixed to the gear housing and the plate is one link of a parallel linkage, and further characterized by a member supported for transverse shifting on the harvester framework and connected to the parallel linkage for shifting the plate.

Claim 19

The structure as set forth in claim 14 further characterized by a transverse rod supported forwardly of the transverse beam for transverse shiftable movement and extending across the expanse of the plurality of harvesting structures; and means connecting the rod to the elements with the shiftable edges of the respective harvesting structures whereby shifting of the rod effects shifting of the edges on the harvesting units in unison.

Claim 20

The invention defined in claim 10 in which the means interjoining the shaft and gear includes a slip clutch between the gear and the shaft.

Claim 21

In a corn harvester having a plurality of corn-harvesting units in side-by-side relation and adjustable toward and away from one another to accommodate various row spacings of corn; a singular drive shaft extending transversely along the rear ends of said units; drive means extending between the shaft and respective units for driving the latter, said drive means being adjustable along the shaft to accommodate adjustment of the units toward or away from one another; a transverse rod supported for transverse movement adjacent the rear ends of the units and having a transverse expanse across a plurality of the units; a deck plate supported on each of the units for lateral shifting movement in a transverse direction toward and away from a row of corn passing through the respective units, and means connecting the respective deck plates to the rod whereby all of the deck plates may be adjusted transversely in unison in response to transverse movement of the rod, said latter means being releasably connectable and shiftable along the rod for accommodating various spacings between the harvesting units.

Claim 22

In a corn harvester having a plurality of corn-harvesting units in side-by-side relation and adjustable toward and away from one another to accommodate various row spacings of corn; a singular drive shaft extending transversely along the rear ends of said units; drive means extending between the shaft and respective units for driving the latter, said drive means being adjustable along the shaft to accommodate adjustment of the units toward or away from one another; a transverse rod supported for transverse movement adjacent the rear ends of the units and having a transverse expanse across a plurality of the units; a deck plate supported on each of the units for lateral shifting movement in a transverse direction toward and away from a row of corn passing through the respective units, and means connecting the respective deck plates to the rod whereby all of the deck plates may be adjusted transversely in unison in response to transverse movement of the rod, said latter means being releasably connectable and shiftable along the rod for accommodating various spacings between the harvesting units.