Side delivery broom

Claim 2

A side delivery broom assembly for harvesting a crop lying on the ground, said broom assembly comprising, a rigid frame having means for being rigidly mounted to a tractive vehicle at the front end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a sub-frame pivotally mounted intermediate its transverse length to said rigid frame about a generally horizontal and fore and aft axis, an elongated frame having a portion pivotally mounted to said sub-frame, a power driven elongated broom rotatably mounted on said elongated frame about a generally horizontal axis and at an angle to the direction of travel, means for power rotating said broom in a direction so that the lowermost portion of said broom moves in a generally forward direction, said broom including a rotatably driven member having a plurality of axially spaced, rubber fingers extending around the periphery thereof, whereby as said broom is rotated and moved over the ground, said fingers contact and move a crop lying on the ground in a generally transverse direction and into a swath at one side.

Claim 3

The assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said means for power rotating said broom comprises a fluid motor mounted on said elongated frame, and flexible fluid conduit means extending from said motor and having connecting means for attachment to a pump carried by said vehicle.

Claim 4

A side delivery broom assembly for harvesting a crop lying on the ground, said broom assembly comprising, a rigid frame having means for being rigidly mounted to a tractive vehicle at the front end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a sub-frame pivotally mounted intermediate its transverse length to said rigid frame about a generally horizontal and fore and aft axis, an elongated frame having an upwardly extending portion pivotally mounted at its upper free end to said sub-frame, a power driven elongated broom rotatably mounted on said elongated frame about a generally horizontal axis and at an angle of at least 25 degrees with respect to a line normal to the dirEction of travel, means for power rotating said broom in a direction so that the lowermost portion of said broom moves in a generally forward direction, said broom including a central shaft having a plurality of axially spaced, rubber fingers extending around the periphery thereof, whereby as said broom is rotated, said fingers contact a crop lying on the ground and move said crop generally transversely and into a swath at one side of said assembly.

Claim 5

A side delivery broom assembly for harvesting a crop lying on the ground, said broom assembly comprising, a rigid frame having means for being rigidly mounted to a tractive vehicle at the front end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a sub-frame pivotally mounted intermediate its transverse length to said rigid frame about a generally horizontal and fore and aft axis, an elongated frame having an upwardly extending portion pivotally mounted at its upper free end to said sub-frame, a power driven elongated broom rotatably mounted on said elongated frame about a generally horizontal axis and at an angle of at least 25 degrees with respect to a line normal to the dirEction of travel, means for power rotating said broom in a direction so that the lowermost portion of said broom moves in a generally forward direction, said broom including a central shaft having a plurality of axially spaced, rubber fingers extending around the periphery thereof, whereby as said broom is rotated, said fingers contact a crop lying on the ground and move said crop generally transversely and into a swath at one side of said assembly.

Claim 6

The assembly as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said means for power rotating said broom comprises a fluid motor mounted on said elongated frame, and flexible fluid conduit means extending from said motor and having connecting means for attachment to a pump carried by said vehicle.

Claim 7

A side delivery broom assembly for harvesting a crop lying on the ground and comprising, a three part articulated frame, said frame including a first part having means for being rigidly mounted to a tractive vehicle at the front end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a second part pivotally mounted intermediate its transverse length to said rigid frame about a generally horizontal and fore and aft axis, a third part pivotally mounted to said sub-frame for swinging bodily in a generally vertical direction, a power driven broom rotatably mounted on said third part about a generally horizontal axis and at an angle to the direction of travel, means for power rotating said broom in a direction so that the lowermost portion of said broom moves in a generally forward direction, said broom including flexible fingers extending therearound, whereby as said broom is rotated said fingers contact a crop lying on the ground and move said crop generally transversely and into a swath.

Claim 8

A side delivery broom assembly for harvesting a crop lying on the ground and comprising, a three part articulated frame, said frame including a first part having means for being rigidly mounted to a tractive vehicle at the front end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a second part pivotally mounted intermediate its transverse length to said rigid frame about a generally horizontal and fore and aft axis, a third part pivotally mounted to said sub-frame for swinging bodily in a generally vertical direction, a power driven broom rotatably mounted on said third part about a generally horizontal axis and at an angle to the direction of travel, means for power rotating said broom in a direction so that the lowermost portion of said broom moves in a generally forward direction, said broom including flexible fingers extending therearound, whereby as said broom is rotated said fingers contact a crop lying on the ground and move said crop generally transversely and into a swath.

Claim 9

The broom assembly as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that said flexible fingers are comprised of rubber and have annular grooves around the periphery thereof.

Claim 10

The broom assembly described in claim 5 further characterized in that said angle of said broom is at least approximately 25* with respect to a line normal to the direction of forward travel.

Claim 11

The broom assembly described in claim 6 further characterized in that said angle of said broom is at least approximately 25* with respect to a line normal to the direction of forward travel.

Claim 12

The broom assembly of claim 5 further characterized in that said means for power rotating said broom includes a fluid motor mounted on said third part and flexible conduit means extending from said motor and having connection means for attachment to a fluid pump.

Claim 13

The broom assembly of claim 6 further characterized in that said means for power rotating said broom includes a fluid motor mounted on said third part and flexible conduit means extending from said motor and having connection means for attachment to a fluid pump.

Claim 14

The broom assembly of claim 8 further characterized in that said means for power rotating said broom includes a fluid motor mounted on said third part and flexible conduit means extending from said motor and having connection means for attachment to a fluid pump.