US3881226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning and discharge mechanism for cotton harvester
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1973-07-27
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-07-27
Abstract
Abstract For use with a cotton harvester, a chamber for receiving material from the harvester and a discharge conduit extending from the chamber. A blower for directing air through the conduit and inducing a secondary stream of air in the chamber that picks up the cotton bolls and moves them toward the conduit. A series of rotary-type cleaning blades traversing the chamber above the discharge means from the harvester and on which cotton bolls impinge as they move in the induced secondary stream of air. The blades have peripheral teeth that snag onto the bolls and draw them across an associated grate for removing solid material, twigs and other trash accumulated with the cotton.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Elwood Kent
- 👤 Leon Franklin Sanderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:48
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A cotton discharge mechanism for a cotton harvester in which cotton is discharged in a stream of comingled mixture of ripe and green bolls, a vertical duct having a lower end adjacent to and opening downwardly to the stream and extending upwardly to a discharge end; a blower having an outlet opening into the duct spacedly above its lower end and directed toward the discharge end and effective to induce a secondary air stream into the lower portion of the duct beneath the outlet for drawing the ripened bolls from the comingled mixture; a rotary cotton cleaner wheel supported in the duct and composed of a drive shaft traversing the duct adjacent its lower end and a plurality of vertically disposed cleaner blades supported on the shaft and spaced axially therealong to provide vertical spacings therebetween through which the secondary air stream may pass, said blades having peripheral teeth thereon on which the ripened bolls impinge as they move upwardly in said secondary air stream; a grate structure alongside the wheel against which the ripe bolls are drawn for removing trash therefrom; means for removing the ripened bolls from the wheel and for discharging the ripened bolls into the duct Above the wheel; and an adjustable air inlet in said duct below said rotary wheel and above said comingled mixture for affecting the intensity of said secondary stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A cotton discharge mechanism for a cotton harvester in which cotton is discharged in a stream of comingled mixture of ripe and green bolls, a vertical duct having a lower end adjacent to and opening downwardly to the stream and extending upwardly to a discharge end; a blower having an outlet opening into the duct spacedly above its lower end and directed toward the discharge end and effective to induce a secondary air stream into the lower portion of the duct beneath the outlet for drawing the ripened bolls from the comingled mixture; a rotary cotton cleaner wheel supported in the duct and composed of a drive shaft traversing the duct adjacent its lower end and a plurality of vertically disposed cleaner blades supported on the shaft and spaced axially therealong to provide vertical spacings therebetween through which the secondary air stream may pass, said blades having peripheral teeth thereon on which the ripened bolls impinge as they move upwardly in said secondary air stream; a grate structure alongside the wheel against which the ripe bolls are drawn for removing trash therefrom; means for removing the ripened bolls from the wheel and for discharging the ripened bolls into the duct Above the wheel; and an adjustable air inlet in said duct below said rotary wheel and above said comingled mixture for affecting the intensity of said secondary stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the blades extend completely across the duct and block the ripe bolls from passing upwardly while permitting air to pass therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by a horizontal opening parallel to, and above the cleaner wheel; and a doffer offset from the horizontal opening engaging said blades for sweeping the bolls from said blades through said opening and into the duct.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure as set forth in claim 3 in which the horizontal opening is beneath the outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a second cleaner wheel in material-receiving relation to material passing through the grate structure, a second grate structure disposed alongside the second wheel and doffer means disposed alongside the respective cleaning wheels for removing lint and bolls from the wheels and returning them to the duct above the cleaning wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
211 words
For use with a cotton harvester; a vertically extending duct structure with a lower end adjacent cotton discharge means of the harvester and extending therefrom to an upper discharge end, said duct structure including an upper conduit and a lower chamber in material-receiving relation to the cotton discharge means and opening into the conduit at its lower end; a blower opening into and for directing a blast of air upwardly through the conduit and inducing a secondary air stream in the chamber that draws ripened cotton bolls upwardly; a series of parallel upright rotatable blades rotatably driven and supported in the chamber across said secondary stream and above the cotton discharge means and providing vertical spacings therebetween through which the secondary air stream may pass, each of said blades having peripheral teeth for snagging cotton as it is airborne in the secondary air stream; air adjusting means on the chamber beneath the rotatable blades for adjusting the intensity of the secondary air stream; a grate-like structure alongside the peripheries of said blades on which the cotton is drawn to separate the trash therefrom; and a doffer above said blades removing cotton from the blades and directing it back into the secondary air stream above said blades for passage into the conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
211 words
For use with a cotton harvester; a vertically extending duct structure with a lower end adjacent cotton discharge means of the harvester and extending therefrom to an upper discharge end, said duct structure including an upper conduit and a lower chamber in material-receiving relation to the cotton discharge means and opening into the conduit at its lower end; a blower opening into and for directing a blast of air upwardly through the conduit and inducing a secondary air stream in the chamber that draws ripened cotton bolls upwardly; a series of parallel upright rotatable blades rotatably driven and supported in the chamber across said secondary stream and above the cotton discharge means and providing vertical spacings therebetween through which the secondary air stream may pass, each of said blades having peripheral teeth for snagging cotton as it is airborne in the secondary air stream; air adjusting means on the chamber beneath the rotatable blades for adjusting the intensity of the secondary air stream; a grate-like structure alongside the peripheries of said blades on which the cotton is drawn to separate the trash therefrom; and a doffer above said blades removing cotton from the blades and directing it back into the secondary air stream above said blades for passage into the conduit.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |