US3780505A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crop conditioner drive
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1972-06-26
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled windrower has a forward transversely elongated auger-type platform with a central crop discharge opening, and a crop conditioning unit is mounted on the rear wall of the platform and conditions the crop as it moves through the discharge opening. The crop conditioner unit includes a pair of transverse conditioner rolls, which condition the crop as it passes between the rolls, the upper roll being journaled on a pair of vertically swingable arms to vary the clearance between the rolls. A header drive shaft extends forwardly from the propulsion unit and drives a transverse drive shaft, which is mounted on and spans the width of the rear wall of the platform. One end of the transverse drive shaft is connected by a belt drive to the input shaft of a gearbox mounted on the side of the platform, and the gearbox has two output shafts rotating in opposite directions and respectively connected to the upper and lower conditioner rolls by means of transverse drive shafts, which are provided with universal joints and are disposed adjacent to the rear wall of the platform.
Inventors
- 👤 D Pettengill
- 👤 M Bass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D43/00; A01D43/10; A01D43/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S56/00; Y10S56/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
In a harvesting machine having a mobile main frame with a power source mounted thereon and driving a forwardly extending platform drive shaft, and including a forward transversely elongated harvesting platform having a rear wall with a central crop transfer opening and a crop conditioner unit mounted on the platform for receiving crops moving through the opening and including a first transverse conditioning roll journaled on the conditioning unit, a second rotatable conditioning roll parallel to and cooperating with the first roll and means mounting the second roll on the unit for adjustment toward and away from the first roll to vary the clearance between the rolls, the improvement comprising: a transverse drive shaft mounted on the platform and having an outer end adjacent one side of the platform; means drivingly connecting the plaTform drive shaft to the transverse drive shaft; first and second roll drive shafts extending laterally adjacent to the platform rear wall and having their inner ends respectively connected to the first and second conditioner rolls and their outer ends disposed adjacent to said one side of the platform; a gearbox mounted on the platform adjacent said one side and including an input shaft and first and second output shafts respectively connected to the first and second roll drive shafts, the first output shaft being connected to and driven in the opposite direction from the second output shaft by gear means; and drive means mounted on said one side of the platform for drivingly connecting the outer end of the transverse drive shaft to the gearbox input shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
In a harvesting machine having a mobile main frame with a power source mounted thereon and driving a forwardly extending platform drive shaft, and including a forward transversely elongated harvesting platform having a rear wall with a central crop transfer opening and a crop conditioner unit mounted on the platform for receiving crops moving through the opening and including a first transverse conditioning roll journaled on the conditioning unit, a second rotatable conditioning roll parallel to and cooperating with the first roll and means mounting the second roll on the unit for adjustment toward and away from the first roll to vary the clearance between the rolls, the improvement comprising: a transverse drive shaft mounted on the platform and having an outer end adjacent one side of the platform; means drivingly connecting the plaTform drive shaft to the transverse drive shaft; first and second roll drive shafts extending laterally adjacent to the platform rear wall and having their inner ends respectively connected to the first and second conditioner rolls and their outer ends disposed adjacent to said one side of the platform; a gearbox mounted on the platform adjacent said one side and including an input shaft and first and second output shafts respectively connected to the first and second roll drive shafts, the first output shaft being connected to and driven in the opposite direction from the second output shaft by gear means; and drive means mounted on said one side of the platform for drivingly connecting the outer end of the transverse drive shaft to the gearbox input shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a belt drive including a drive sheave mounted on the transverse drive shaft and a driven sheave mounted on the gearbox input shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the gearbox input shaft is directly connected to the second gearbox output shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention defined in claim 1 and including timing means associated with at least one of said roll drive shafts for angularly adjusting one end of the shaft relative to the other and thereby angularly adjust one roll while maintaining the angular position of the other to time the angular relationship between the rolls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second roll drive shafts respectively include a pair of universal joints.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the second drive shaft includes a pair of universal joints operative to accommodate vertical adjustment of the second conditioner roll.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a harvesting machine having a mobile frame, a power source and a pair of cooperating crop conditioning rolls rotatably mounted on the frame for conditioning the crop as it passes between the rolls, one of said rolls being mounted for shifting toward and away from the other roll to vary the clearance between the rolls, the improvement comprising: a gearbox mounted on the frame and having an input shaft, operatively connected to and driven by the power source, and a pair of output shafts driven in opposite directions; a first drive shaft operatively connecting one of said output shafts to said one shiftable roll to drive the roll in one direction and including a pair of universal joints adapted to accommodate the shifting of the roll; a second drive shaft operatively connecting the other output shaft to the other roll to drive said roll in the opposite direction from said one roll; and timing means associated with at least one of said roll drive shafts for angularly adjusting one end of the shaft relative to the other and thereby angularly adjust one roll while maintaining the angular position of the other to time the angular relationship between the rolls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a harvesting machine having a mobile frame, a power source and a pair of cooperating crop conditioning rolls rotatably mounted on the frame for conditioning the crop as it passes between the rolls, one of said rolls being mounted for shifting toward and away from the other roll to vary the clearance between the rolls, the improvement comprising: a gearbox mounted on the frame and having an input shaft, operatively connected to and driven by the power source, and a pair of output shafts driven in opposite directions; a first drive shaft operatively connecting one of said output shafts to said one shiftable roll to drive the roll in one direction and including a pair of universal joints adapted to accommodate the shifting of the roll; a second drive shaft operatively connecting the other output shaft to the other roll to drive said roll in the opposite direction from said one roll; and timing means associated with at least one of said roll drive shafts for angularly adjusting one end of the shaft relative to the other and thereby angularly adjust one roll while maintaining the angular position of the other to time the angular relationship between the rolls.
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) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |