US3665686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two row window harvester
Assignee: Thomson Machinery Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-08-14
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1989-08-14
Abstract
Abstract Cane harvesting equipment is provided which comprises a tractor and means for supporting harvesting equipment on the tractor. The means for supporting the harvesting equipment includes a support member which is pivotally connected to the rear of the tractor and extending to the front thereof to permit raising and lowering its front portion carrying; the harvesting equipment and permit tilting from side to side. A cable is attached to the support in front of the pivotal attachment of the support to the tractor. The cable is hydraulically operated for lifting and lowering the front end portion of the support which carries the harvesting equipment. A second cable which is counterbalanced is also attached to this forward portion of the support. Preferably three or more wheels are pivotally mounted on the support for gauging the height of the cane cutting means. The gauge wheels are individually adjustable for height. An adjustably inclined pivotally mounted cane conveyor is mounted on the support behind cane pick-up means and adapted to move the cut cane laterally to the side of the harvester. A screw conveyor suspended for horizontal and vertical adjustment above the cane cutting means may be provided for moving the tops of cut cane in the same lateral direction that the cane is moved on the conveyor. Each of the several operating parts of the harvesting equipment supported on the front of the support is either mechanically or hydraulically operated. A single clutch drives both the hydraulic and mechanical equipment so that disengagement of the clutch stops both.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A Duncan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:44
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/10; A01D67/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
In a cane harvester system comprising a tractor, and harvesting equipment the improvement of: means for supporting the harvesting equipment in front of the tractor including a frame surrounding the tractor and having a cross piece at the rear of the tractor, the cross piece being universally pivotally connected to the rear of the tractor in a manner such that the rear of the tractor propels the means for supporting the harvesting equipment and the means for supporting the harvesting equipment may pivot upwardly and downwardly and slant from side to side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a cane harvester system comprising a tractor, and harvesting equipment the improvement of: means for supporting the harvesting equipment in front of the tractor including a frame surrounding the tractor and having a cross piece at the rear of the tractor, the cross piece being universally pivotally connected to the rear of the tractor in a manner such that the rear of the tractor propels the means for supporting the harvesting equipment and the means for supporting the harvesting equipment may pivot upwardly and downwardly and slant from side to side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cross piece has an opening and a coupling member extending vertically the rear of the tractor fits loosely in the opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the opening in the cross piece is a slot extending vertically through the cross piece and the coupling member is a drawbar pin extending through the slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the means for supporting the harvesting equipment in front of the tractor includes a frame extending entirely around the tractor and having a cross member transversely of and adjacent the front of the tractor and connected thereto by a vertical guide and a swivelling slide interengaging each other and carried one by the tractor and the other by the cross member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a cane harvesting system comprising a tractor, and a support with harvesting equipment on the forward portion thereof universally pivotally attached to the tractor the improvement of: a cable attached to the support forwardly from the pivotal attachmEnt, and means on the tractor operatively associated with the cable for lifting and lowering the forward portion of the support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a cane harvesting system comprising a tractor, and a support with harvesting equipment on the forward portion thereof universally pivotally attached to the tractor the improvement of: a cable attached to the support forwardly from the pivotal attachmEnt, and means on the tractor operatively associated with the cable for lifting and lowering the forward portion of the support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means operatively associated with the cable are hydraulic means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 5 wherein; a second cable is attached to the forward portion of the support and a counterbalance is connected to the second cable whereby the counterbalance aids in supporting the forward portion of the support and decreases the required lifting force of the lifting and lowering cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the counterbalance comprises a platform pivoted to and extending rearwardly from the tractor and ballast on the platform.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a cane harvesting system comprising a tractor, a support pivotally and slantingly attached to the tractor and extending forwardly from the tractor, and harvesting equipment supported on the forward portion of the support including cane cutting means mounted on the front of the support the improvement of: at least three laterally spaced gauge wheels pivotally mounted on the support for gauging the height of the cane cutting means, and means for individually adjusting the pivotal positions of the gauge wheels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a cane harvesting system comprising a tractor, a support pivotally and slantingly attached to the tractor and extending forwardly from the tractor, and harvesting equipment supported on the forward portion of the support including cane cutting means mounted on the front of the support the improvement of: at least three laterally spaced gauge wheels pivotally mounted on the support for gauging the height of the cane cutting means, and means for individually adjusting the pivotal positions of the gauge wheels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 9 wherein a cable is attached to the forward portion of the support, and a counterbalance is connected to the cable to minimize digging of the gauge wheels into the ground during the harvesting.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the counterbalance comprises a heavy platform extending rearwardly from the tractor and heavy ballast on the tractor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a cane harvester comprising a support, cutters mounted on the support, and cane pick-up means mounted on the support, the improvement of an inclined cane conveyor pivotally mounted on a pivot member on and relative to the support behind the pick-up means, said inclined conveyor also pivotally mounted relative to both said cutters and said pick-up means and adapted to move cut cane laterally to the side of the harvester.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a cane harvester comprising a support, cutters mounted on the support, and cane pick-up means mounted on the support, the improvement of an inclined cane conveyor pivotally mounted on a pivot member on and relative to the support behind the pick-up means, said inclined conveyor also pivotally mounted relative to both said cutters and said pick-up means and adapted to move cut cane laterally to the side of the harvester.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cane harvester in accordance with claim 12 where1n a screw conveyor is supported on the support at a position above the cutters and adapted to move the tops of the cane laterally in the same direction as the lateral movement of the cane on the inclined cane conveyor, the support being in the form of a frame, with a mast extending upwardly from each side of the frame, and a boom extending forwardly from each mast and pivotally mounted on said masts, respectively, and the screw conveyor is mounted on said booms, a pivot member connected to each mast and extending into a slot formed in the corresponding boom, the booms pivotally and reciprocally moveable by hydraulic means interconnecting the masts and the booms, and the hydraulic means being adapted to move the ends of the booms inwardly toward the masts and outwardly from the masts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cane harvester in accordance with claim 12, wherein a hydraulic ram is connected to the conveyor and is reciprocable within a hydraulic cylinder connected to the support to vary the inclination of the inclined conveyor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a cane harvesting system comprising a tractor, a support extending in front of the tractor and supporting cane cutting means, cane pick-up means, and means for moving cut cane to the side of the tractor, the improvement of: mechanical means for operating at least one of said cane cutting means, said cane pick-up means, and said means for moving cut cane to the side of the tractor, hydraulic means for operating the rest of said cane cutting means, said cane pick-up means, and said means for moving cut cane to the side of the tractor, a line shaft driven by the tractor power take-off and operatively associated with said mechanical means and said hydraulic means, and a clutch means common to and connecting the tractor power take-off and the line shaft, wherebY disengagement of the clutch causes both the mechanical means and the hydraulic means to stop.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a cane harvesting system comprising a tractor, a support extending in front of the tractor and supporting cane cutting means, cane pick-up means, and means for moving cut cane to the side of the tractor, the improvement of: mechanical means for operating at least one of said cane cutting means, said cane pick-up means, and said means for moving cut cane to the side of the tractor, hydraulic means for operating the rest of said cane cutting means, said cane pick-up means, and said means for moving cut cane to the side of the tractor, a line shaft driven by the tractor power take-off and operatively associated with said mechanical means and said hydraulic means, and a clutch means common to and connecting the tractor power take-off and the line shaft, wherebY disengagement of the clutch causes both the mechanical means and the hydraulic means to stop.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cane harvesting system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the mechanical means operates the cane pick-up means and the hydraulic means operates the cane cutting means and the means for moving cut cane to the side of the tractor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |