US3736733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-row crop header for forage harvesters
Assignee: Hay and Forage Industries
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Filing: 1970-11-04
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1990-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A row crop forage harvester has three, inclined pairs of pronged gathering chains on a header attachment for rearward conveyance of stalks that are severed by a transverse cutter at the lower front end of the header. The stalks are delivered rearwardly by the chains at their upper, rear ends butt first directly between a pair of transverse rolls that compress and feed the stalks into a transverse rotatable reel-type chopper cooperating with a shear bar. The severed butt ends of the stalks slide upwardly along ramps parallel to and disposed beneath the chains. All of the chains and their ramps terminate at their upper ends within substantially the same vertical plane immediately ahead of the rolls. At their discharge ends a pair of medial chains are driven by and overlap adjacent chains, the latter of which diverge toward the cutter.
Inventors
- 👤 F Fell
- 👤 W Long
- 👤 K Mcmillen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:12
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F20/00; C08F20/02; C08F20/08; A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D43/00; A01D43/08; A01D43/081; A01D43/082; C08F20/42; C08F220/00; C08F220/02; C08F220/42; C08F220/44; C08F26/00; C08F26/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
In a three-row forage harvester having a pair of rolls for feeding severed stalks to a stalk chopper behind the rolls, and a row crop header extending downwardly and forwardly of the rolls and having a stalk cutter at the forwardmost and lowermost end thereof, structure on said header for conveying the severed stalks from the cutter to the rolls, said structure including: a single layer only of crop gathering mechanisms comprising three pairs of stalk gathering chains extending at an angle upwardly and rearwardly from the cutter to the rolls, each pair having a lowermost and forwardmost inlet end for receiving a row of stalks, and an uppermost and rear-most outlet end next adjacent the rolls for delivery of the stalks directly to the rolls, said inlet ends being horizontally spaced, being aligned transversely of the header, and being disposed in a common horizontal plane, said three pairs of stalk gathering chains comprising a medial pair of chains and two outer pairs of chains on each side of said medial pair of chains with the outer pairs of chains diverging as their inlet ends are approached, the outlet ends of the outer pairs of chains being horizon-tally spaced, being aligned transversely of the header, and being disposed in a common horizontal plane, the upward and rearward angularity of the medial pair of chains being greater than that of the outer pairs of chains, each chain of said medial pair of chains overlapping the proximal innermost of said outer pairs of chains.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
In a three-row forage harvester having a pair of rolls for feeding severed stalks to a stalk chopper behind the rolls, and a row crop header extending downwardly and forwardly of the rolls and having a stalk cutter at the forwardmost and lowermost end thereof, structure on said header for conveying the severed stalks from the cutter to the rolls, said structure including: a single layer only of crop gathering mechanisms comprising three pairs of stalk gathering chains extending at an angle upwardly and rearwardly from the cutter to the rolls, each pair having a lowermost and forwardmost inlet end for receiving a row of stalks, and an uppermost and rear-most outlet end next adjacent the rolls for delivery of the stalks directly to the rolls, said inlet ends being horizontally spaced, being aligned transversely of the header, and being disposed in a common horizontal plane, said three pairs of stalk gathering chains comprising a medial pair of chains and two outer pairs of chains on each side of said medial pair of chains with the outer pairs of chains diverging as their inlet ends are approached, the outlet ends of the outer pairs of chains being horizon-tally spaced, being aligned transversely of the header, and being disposed in a common horizontal plane, the upward and rearward angularity of the medial pair of chains being greater than that of the outer pairs of chains, each chain of said medial pair of chains overlapping the proximal innermost of said outer pairs of chains.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a forage harvester as claimed in claim 1, each of said chains having an uppermost carrier provided with a forwardly inclined, rotatable shaft; and means operably coupling the shaft of each chain of the medial pair thereof with a corresponding proximal shaft of the outer pairs of chains whereby the medial pair of chains are driven upon driving of the outer pairs of chains.
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) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |