Reciprocating beater means for agricultural row crop harvester

Claim 2

Beater means for an agricultural row crop harvester having a frame structure, said beater means comprising an elongated beater element having a curved outside surface extending along at least one of its sides, and mounting means for said element adapted to mount the same on said frame structure in an attitude with the longitudinal axis of the element inclined relative to the horizontal, and for alternating movement of the element on the frame structure toward and away from plants in a row during a harvesting operation to strike stems in such plants with said surface.

Claim 3

Beater means for an agricultural row crop harvester having a frame structure, said beater means comprising an elongated cylindrical beater element, and mounting means for said element adapted to mount the same on said frame structure in an attitude with the longitudinal axis of the element inclined relative to the horizontal, and for alternating movement of the element on the frame structure toward and away from plants in a row during a harvesting operation to strike stems in such plants.

Claim 4

Beater means for an agricultural row crop harvester having a frame structure, said beater means comprising an elongated cylindrical beater element, and mounting means for said element adapted to mount the same on said frame structure in an attitude with the longitudinal axis of the element inclined relative to the horizontal, and for alternating movement of the element on the frame structure toward and away from plants in a row during a harvesting operation to strike stems in such plants.

Claim 5

Beater means for an agricultural row crop harvester where the harvester has a frame portion which, with travel of the harvester along a row of plants during a harvesting operation, is adapted to move adjacent the generally upright zone occupied by such plants, said beater means comprising an elongated beater element having a curved outside surface extending along at least one of its sides, and means for mounting said element on said frame portion for reciprocal movement, during such a harvesting operation, between one position with said one side facing and disposed to one side of such a zone, and another position with said one side within said sone, said mounting means supporting said element with its longitudinal axis inclined relative to the horizontal.

Claim 6

Beater means for an agricultural row crop harvester where the harvester has a frame portion which, with travel of the harvester along a row of plants during a harvesting operation, is adapted to move adjacent the generally upright zone occupied by such plants, said beater means comprising an elongated beater element having a curved outside surface extending along at least one of its sides, and means for mounting said element on said frame portion for reciprocal movement, during such a harvesting operation, between one position with said one side facing and disposed to one side of such a zone, and another position with said one side within said sone, said mounting means supporting said element with its longitudinal axis inclined relative to the horizontal.

Claim 7

In a ground-traveling agricultural row crop harvester having a frame portion adapted, with travel of the harvester along a row of plants during a harvesting operation, to move along and adjacent the generally upright, elongated zone occupied by the plants in such a row, beater means for striking stems in such plants to dislodge produce therefrom comprising a pair of elongated, spaced-apart substantially parallel beater elements, mounting means mounting said elements on said frame portion for reciprocation as a unit generally transversely of the direction that said harvester travels during a harvesting operation, with said elements occupying generally upright planes adapted to straddle the zone occupied by plants in a row, and power-operated means operatively connected to said elements for reciprocating the same, with the elements on reciprocating moving alternatively into and out of such a zone, with each element on moving out of the zone toward a different side thereof.

Claim 8

In a ground-traveling agricultural row crop harvester having a frame portion adapted, with travel of the harvester along a row of plants during a harvesting operation, to move along and adjacent the generally upright, elongated zone occupied by the plants in such a row, beater means for striking stems in such plants to dislodge produce therefrom comprising a pair of elongated, spaced-apart substantially parallel beater elements, mounting means mounting said elements on said frame portion for reciprocation as a unit generally transversely of the direction that said harvester travels during a harvesting operation, with said elements occupying generally upright planes adapted to straddle the zone occupied by plants in a row, and power-operated means operatively connected to said elements for reciprocating the same, with the elements on reciprocating moving alternatively into and out of such a zone, with each element on moving out of the zone toward a different side thereof.

Claim 9

The harvester of claim 4, wherein said elements are inclined relative to the horizontal.

Claim 10

The harvester of claim 5, wherein said elements slope upwardly progressing rearwardly therealong relative to the direction that the harvester advances along a row during a harvesting operation.

Claim 11

The harvester of claim 6, wherein said elements have cylindrical outside surfaces.

Claim 12

The harvester of claim 4, wherein the sides of said elements which face each other have curved outside surfaces.

Claim 13

The harvester of claim 8, wherein said elements are inclined relative to the horizontal.

Claim 14

The harvester of claim 9, wherein said elements slope upwardly progressing rearwardly therealong relative to the direction that the harvester advances along a row during a harvesting operation.