US3716972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mowing, conditioning and windrowing machine and method
Assignee: Hay and Forage Industries
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Filing: 1971-07-12
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-07-12
Abstract
Abstract In the drying of hay, the stems only of the crop are conditioned, during cutting and before the cut crop is returned to the ground, by a flailing action which produces multiple transverse fractures along all of the stems as they are continuously blown and forcibly projected butt first in a wide, uniform, thin stream into a windrowing assembly. A single rotor with stem-fracturing hammers or blades not only conditions the stems while they are in movement, with sufficient severity to assure complete moisture release in accordance with stem coarseness and density of growth, all without undue loss of stem stiffness, leaf knock off or clipping, but also performs the function of creating air currents that provide the additional forces needed to properly propel the cut crop and produce a loose, fluffy, faster curing windrow.
Inventors
- 👤 C Case
- 👤 R Elder
- 👤 F Fell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D57/00; A01D57/30; A01D43/00; A01D43/10; A01D43/107; A01D67/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S56/00; Y10S56/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of harvesting a standing crop which includes the steps of: applying a horizontally directed cutting force to the standing crop to severe the same; applying an independent, rearwardly directEd projecting force to the crop separately from said cutting force as the crop is being severed to propel the severed crop rearwardly and along an upwardly inclined path leading from the point of application of the cutting force; and imparting a series of initially downwardly and rearwardly directed strong hammer blows independently of the cutting force in rapid succession to the severed crop from above the same as it is being projected rearwardly to fracture the stems thereof without severing the same, whereby to release the fluid content thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of harvesting a standing crop which includes the steps of: applying a horizontally directed cutting force to the standing crop to severe the same; applying an independent, rearwardly directEd projecting force to the crop separately from said cutting force as the crop is being severed to propel the severed crop rearwardly and along an upwardly inclined path leading from the point of application of the cutting force; and imparting a series of initially downwardly and rearwardly directed strong hammer blows independently of the cutting force in rapid succession to the severed crop from above the same as it is being projected rearwardly to fracture the stems thereof without severing the same, whereby to release the fluid content thereof.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of harvesting a standing crop which includes the steps of: applying a horizontally directed cutting force to the standing crop to severe the same; applying an independent, rearwardly directEd projecting force to the crop separately from said cutting force as the crop is being severed to propel the severed crop rearwardly and along an upwardly inclined path leading from the point of application of the cutting force; and imparting a series of initially downwardly and rearwardly directed strong hammer blows independently of the cutting force in rapid succession to the severed crop from above the same as it is being projected rearwardly to fracture the stems thereof without severing the same, whereby to release the fluid content thereof.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of harvesting a standing crop which includes the steps of: applying a horizontally directed cutting force to the standing crop to severe the same; applying an independent, rearwardly directEd projecting force to the crop separately from said cutting force as the crop is being severed to propel the severed crop rearwardly and along an upwardly inclined path leading from the point of application of the cutting force; and imparting a series of initially downwardly and rearwardly directed strong hammer blows independently of the cutting force in rapid succession to the severed crop from above the same as it is being projected rearwardly to fracture the stems thereof without severing the same, whereby to release the fluid content thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of harvesting a crop as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hammer blows imparted to the stems are essentially transversely of the latter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of harvesting a crop as claimed in claim 2 wherein each stem has a number of blows imparted thereto in spaced relation along the length thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of harvesting a crop as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cut crop is projected with the longitudinal axes of the stems substantially parallel to said path and said blows are imparted transversely of said path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of harvesting a crop as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cut crop is projected by the action of the blows being imparted thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of harvesting a crop as claimed in claim 5 wherein currents of air are utilized to augment the projecting action imparted to said cut crop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
A harvesting method including the steps of: applying a horizontally directed cutting force to a standing crop; and immediately after cutting, and in a single step, through use of an independent combination blowing and flailing action: projecting the standing crop through space rearwardly along an upwardly inclined path leading from the point of application of the cutting force for ultimate gravitation back onto the field from which the crop was cut, and at all times during said projecting, beating the crop from above the same independently of said cutting force with strong, initially downwardly and rearwardly directed hammer blows to condition the crop by fracturing the stems of the crop, thereby releasing the fluid content of the stems.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A harvesting method including the steps of: applying a horizontally directed cutting force to a standing crop; and immediately after cutting, and in a single step, through use of an independent combination blowing and flailing action: projecting the standing crop through space rearwardly along an upwardly inclined path leading from the point of application of the cutting force for ultimate gravitation back onto the field from which the crop was cut, and at all times during said projecting, beating the crop from above the same independently of said cutting force with strong, initially downwardly and rearwardly directed hammer blows to condition the crop by fracturing the stems of the crop, thereby releasing the fluid content of the stems.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A harvesting method as claimed in claim 7; and gathering the cut crop laterally in opposite directions toward the center thereof while conditioning.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A harvesting method as claimed in claim 8; and continuing said gathering after conditioning is completed and prior to redeposit onto the field.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A harvesting method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the severity of the conditioning is less than that required to clip the stems or render them limp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of harvesting a crop as claimed in claim 1 wherein currents of air are utilized to project the cut crop.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |