US3890775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beating device for a grape-gathering machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-11
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1993-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A grape gathering machine is disclosed in which a plurality of tunnel defining members are supported on a mobile structure such that when the mobile structure is moved through the vinyard, the tunnel defining members pass over two adjacent rows of vine stocks. The tunnel defining members are adjustable laterally to accommodate varying widths of vine stock placement. Mounted within each of the tunnel defining members are beating devices to ''''beat'''' or ''''shake'''' the vine stocks so as to remove the grapes therefrom. The frames of the beating devices are pivotablly attached to the tunnel defining members and have a plurality of rods attached to each end thereof for ''''beating'''' or or ''''shaking'''' the vine stock. The beating devices are caused to oscillate by a double acting hydraulic jack mechanism. The lengths of the linkage interconnecting the hydraulic jack mechanism with the beating device frame can be varied so as to control the movement of the beating devices and, consequently, the location at which the grapes are delivered, i.e., toward the center of the mobile structure or to either side thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Alain Bruel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:45
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28; A01D46/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a beating device for a grape gathering machine of the type having a mobile structure, and at least one tunnel defining member in the shape of a downwardly open ''''U'''' having two vertical arms attached to the mobile structure such that the two vertical arms move along either side of a row of vine stocks, the improvements comprising: a. at least a pair of spindles pivotally attached to each of said vertical arms and extending parallel thereto; b. a frame pivotally attached to each spindle, equidistantly from either end of the frame; c. a plurality of flexible rods attached to each end of said frames, said rods facing a generally rearward direction with respect to the direction of movement of the mobile structure; d. oscillating means attached to said at least one tunnel defining member to oscillate a pair of said frames with respect to said at least one tunnel defining member about said spindle so as to cause said rods to contact said vine stocks and shake the grapes therefrom; e. linkage means connecting said oscillating means to a pair of said frames, and f. means attached to said mobile structure to move said at least one tunnel defining member laterally with respect to said mobile structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a beating device for a grape gathering machine of the type having a mobile structure, and at least one tunnel defining member in the shape of a downwardly open ''''U'''' having two vertical arms attached to the mobile structure such that the two vertical arms move along either side of a row of vine stocks, the improvements comprising: a. at least a pair of spindles pivotally attached to each of said vertical arms and extending parallel thereto; b. a frame pivotally attached to each spindle, equidistantly from either end of the frame; c. a plurality of flexible rods attached to each end of said frames, said rods facing a generally rearward direction with respect to the direction of movement of the mobile structure; d. oscillating means attached to said at least one tunnel defining member to oscillate a pair of said frames with respect to said at least one tunnel defining member about said spindle so as to cause said rods to contact said vine stocks and shake the grapes therefrom; e. linkage means connecting said oscillating means to a pair of said frames, and f. means attached to said mobile structure to move said at least one tunnel defining member laterally with respect to said mobile structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A beating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: a. each flexible rod tapers in the direction of the free end thereof; and b. all the rods are attached to the frames such that they are horizontal, parallel to each other, and disposed one above the other in the vertical plane of the plate supporting them.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A beating device according to claim 2, characterized in that each rod has an oval cross-section, and is adjustably disposed on its frame such that the angular orientation of the larger diameter can be modified about the axis thereof, so as to have, in use, a flexibility varying with the orientation of the cross-section of the rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A beating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grape-gathering machine includes two tunnel defining members that are disposed laterally adjacent to each other to define two tunnels which tops two rows of vine stocks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A beating device according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating means comprises a double-acting hydraulic jack, having a horizontal cylinder fixed to the tunnel defining member, and a sliding piston rod having one end attached to one frame and a second end attached to a second frame mounted on the same side of the tunnel defining member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A beating device according to claim 5, characterized in that the double acting hydraulic jack is located between two adjacent vertical spindles on the same side of the tunnel defining member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A beating device according to claim 5, characterized in that the oscillating means causes each frame to oscillate in opposite phase to the opposed frame located in the same transverse section of the tunnel defining means and in phase with the frame located on the same side of the tunnel defining means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A beating device according to claim 5, characterized in that each double-acting hydraulic jack is provided with adjusting stops, the initial position of each jack being provided in a manner such that, the motions of a frame are out of phase with respecT to the motions of the opposite frame, so that the spacing between the points of the rods on two opposite frames varies during the motion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
A beating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the linkage means connecting a first pair of frames located on the one side of the tunnel defining means to their corresponding oscillating means is of a greater length than a linkage means connecting a second pair of frames on the opposite side of said tunnel defining means to their corresponding oscillating means such that the motions of the frames on opposite sides of the tunnel defining means are assymmetrical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A beating device according to claim 9, characterized in that the linkage means connecting one of a first pair of frames to its oscillating means is of a greater length than the linkage means connecting the second of the pair of frames to the oscillating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A beating device according to claim 9, characterized in that frames are controlled by double-acting jacks, which are synchronized but differ in power, which ensures the difference in phase and the difference in amplitude of the motion of the frames disposed on one side of the tunnel defining means with respect to the motion of the frames disposed on the other side of said tunnel defining means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A beating device according to claim 9, characterized in that it is provided with at least two pairs of frames disposed behind each other, and arranged in the following way: a. in a first of the pairs, a first frame has a swinging amplitude greater than that of the second frame of the first pair; and b. in the second pair, a second frame has a swinging amplitude greater than that of a first frame while substantially equal amounts of grapes are discharged on either side of the grape-gathering tunnel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A beating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tunnel defining member is attached to said mobile structure by at least one shaft which is disposed longitudinally on said mobil structure and means to move said at least one shaft laterally with respect to said structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A beating device according to claim 13, characterized in that the ends of the at least one shaft run on transverse runways on the mobile structure means to move said shaft laterally comprises: a. a hydraulic motor; b. a gear reducer mounted on each of the runways; c. drive shafts connecting said gear reducers with said hydraulic motor; d. endless chains connecting each of said gear reducers to an end of said shaft such that rotation of the gear reducer causes said shaft to move laterally with respect to said mobile structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A beating device according to claim 1, characterized in that eight frames are disposed in each tunnel defining means, to wit, four on each side.
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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) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |