STEM DEFLECTOR
A stem deflector is provided. The stem deflector includes an arm and a shoe having a first end and a second end. The first end of the shoe is coupled to the arm with the help of a suitable fastener. At least one torsion spring is active between the arm and the shoe.
The present application is a continuation of and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/322,146, filed Jul. 2, 2014, which is a continuation of and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/189,184, filed Jul. 22, 2011, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
FIELDThe present embodiments relate generally to agricultural equipment and more particularly to stem deflectors that are utilized with crop harvesting machines, for example.
BACKGROUNDStem deflectors are utilized with crop harvesting machines such as combine harvesters. A combine harvester, or simply combine, is a machine that harvests grain crops. It combines into a single operation a process that previously required three separate operations (reaping, threshing, and winnowing). Among the crops harvested with a combine are wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn (maize), soybeans and flax (linseed). Combines are equipped with removable heads that are designed for particular crops.
Stem deflectors are units that mount to a rear of a combine head (for example, a corn head). A stem deflector bends over the remaining stem after the head has harvested the ear of corn, for example. Stem deflectors typically include springs that bias a shoe against the earth for bending or crushing the stems as the combine travels in a forward direction. These springs are in a substantially compressed state when the stem deflector bends or crushes the stems. In some such stem deflectors, holders for the springs are positioned such that severe compression can cause the springs to “kink-out” or bow to one side, which is undesirable.
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure address these and other problems, and offer other advantages over the prior art.
SUMMARYOne embodiment is directed to a stem deflector, which includes an arm and a shoe having a first end and a second end. The first end of the shoe is coupled to the arm with a fastener. At least one torsion spring is active between the arm and the shoe.
Another embodiment is directed to a stem deflector that includes a mounting arm element that has a first spring holder. The stem deflector also includes a shoe, coupled to the mounting arm element, having an outer side, an inner side, a first end, a second end and a middle portion. The middle portion of the shoe includes a second spring holder on the inner side. The stem deflector further includes a compression spring having a first end coupled to the first spring holder and a second end coupled to the second spring holder. The first spring holder and the second spring holder are substantially aligned along a same axis.
This summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the stem deflector. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.
While the above-identified figures set forth certain embodiments of the stem deflector, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the disclosure. In all cases, this disclosure presents the stem deflector by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSAs noted above, stem deflector 200 includes a shoe 204 for crushing and bending stems. Referring to
As noted above, compression spring 208 operates between arm 202 and shoe 204. Compression spring 208 may be made out of steel or any other suitable material. A first end 256 of compression spring 208 is mounted around or connected to first spring holder 214 and a second end 258 of compression spring 208 is mounted around or connected to second spring holder 238.
Stem deflector 200 may further include a containing chain 260 that has a first end 262 coupled to second end 212 of arm 202 and a second end 264 coupled to reinforcement bar 236. The length of chain 260 sets a maximum separation distance between second end 212 of arm 202 and reinforcement bar 236.
As indicated earlier, stem deflector 200 is designed and assembled such that first spring holder 214 and second spring holder 238 are positioned in a manner that compression spring 208 does not bow to one side when severely compressed. Specifically, to prevent compression spring 208 from bowing to one side, first spring holder 214 and second spring holder 238 are substantially aligned along a same axis 265 as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
It should be noted that, although stem deflector 200 is shown as including an array of two columns of three vertically aligned adjustment holes and two corresponding bores, any suitable number or arrangement of holes and bores may be used. It should also be noted that, in some embodiments, connection bar 232 of shoe 204 and arm 202 may be connected to mounting bracket 206 on a same pivot axis using a single bolt rather than on two different pivot axes 266 and 268 (shown in
Stem deflectors 200 are employed on surfaces of the earth that may be fairly uneven, and therefore forces on compression spring 208 typically vary as shoe 204 moves along the earth while bending or crushing stems. In illustrative embodiments, as shoe 204 pivots about axis 266, compression spring 208 compresses linearly. In some embodiments, axis 265 is aligned with a central axis (not shown separately) of compression spring 208. It should be noted that, in illustrative embodiments, first spring holder 214 and second spring holder 238 are substantially aligned along same axis 265 when spring 208 is in a fully extended and/or compressed state (as shown in
Stem deflector 300 includes an arm 302, a shoe 304 and at least one torsion spring 306, 308 (shown in
Arm 302 has a first end 310, a second end 312 and a width 313 (shown in
As noted above, stem deflector 300 also includes shoe 304, which is similar to shoe 204 (shown in
As noted above, torsion spring 306, 308 operates between arm 302 and shoe 304, as shoe 304 pivots relative to arm 302 about an axis 346 defined by bolt 344. Torsion spring 306, 308 includes, for example, a torsion bar or a helical torsion spring. Torsion spring 306, 308 may be made out of steel or any other suitable material.
As in the case of stem deflector 200, stem deflector 300 may further include a containing chain 338 that has a first end 340 coupled to second end 312 of arm 302 and a second end 342 coupled to reinforcement bar 332. Chain 338 has a similar function as chain 260 of stem deflector 200. Details regarding how primary components of stem deflector 300 are operably coupled together are provided below.
In the exemplary embodiment of
Mounting of torsion springs 306 and 308 can be carried out by first inserting bolt 344 into bushing 319 and through torsion spring 308 such that bolt 344 extends through an inner diameter 315 (shown in
It should be noted that, although stem deflector 300 is shown as including two torsion springs 306 and 308 mounted around extended portions 350 and 352 (shown in
Stem deflector 300 has several optional advantages over stem deflector 200 (of
The use of torsion springs also permits elimination of several components such as mounting flanges, an arm with bores for pivotally connecting the arm to the mounting flanges, arm position adjustment features such as adjustment bolts, etc. This not only simplifies manufacturing, but may also increase reliability in some embodiments.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular application for the stem deflector while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A stem deflector comprising:
- a mounting arm element including an arm and a mounting bracket that is a separate piece from the arm, wherein the arm includes a first end configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket about a pivot axis, and wherein the arm is pivotal in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;
- a shoe having an outer side, an inner side, a first end, a second end and a middle portion, wherein the first end of the shoe is coupled to the mounting arm element;
- a spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe; and
- an adjustment mechanism comprising: at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in a pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket, the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the mounting bracket being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm; and a pin that extends through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm and through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket.
2. The stem deflector of claim 1 and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about a different pivot axis than the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket.
3. The stem deflector of claim 1 and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket.
4. The stem deflector of claim 1 and further comprising a containing element having first and second ends, the containing element is coupled to the mounting arm element proximate to the first end of the containing element and the second end of the containing element is coupled to the shoe.
5. The stem deflector of claim 4 and wherein the shoe further comprises, on the inner side, a reinforcement bar that is proximate to the second end of the shoe.
6. The stem deflector of claim 5 and wherein the second end of the containing element is coupled to the reinforcement bar of the shoe.
7. A stem deflector comprising:
- a mounting arm element including an arm and a mounting bracket that is a separate piece from the arm, wherein the arm includes a first end configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket about a pivot axis, and wherein the arm is pivotal in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;
- a shoe having an outer side, an inner side, a first end, a second end and a middle portion, wherein the first end of the shoe is coupled to the mounting arm element;
- a spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe; and
- an adjustment mechanism comprising: a plurality of first aligned pairs of adjustment holes in one of the mounting bracket or the arm, the first adjustment holes being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; a second aligned pair of adjustment holes in the other one of the mounting bracket or the arm, wherein the second aligned pair of adjustment holes are parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; and a pin that extends through the second aligned pair of adjustment holes and through any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the plurality of first aligned pairs of adjustment holes.
8. The stem deflector of claim 7 and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about a different pivot axis than the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket.
9. The stem deflector of claim 7 and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket.
10. The stem deflector of claim 7 and further comprising a containing element having first and second ends, the containing element is coupled to the mounting arm element proximate to the first end of the containing element and the second end of the containing element is coupled to the shoe.
11. The stem deflector of claim 10 and wherein the shoe further comprises, on the inner side, a reinforcement bar that is proximate to the second end of the shoe.
12. The stem deflector of claim 11 and wherein the second end of the containing element is coupled to the reinforcement bar of the shoe.
13. The stem deflector of claim 7 and wherein the spring is a compression spring.
14. A stem deflector comprising:
- a mounting arm element including an arm and a mounting bracket that is a separate piece from the arm, wherein the arm includes a first end configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket about a pivot axis, and wherein the arm is pivotal in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;
- a shoe having an outer side, an inner side, a first end, a second end and a middle portion, wherein the first end of the shoe is coupled to the mounting arm element; and
- a spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe.
15. The stem deflector of claim 14 and further comprising an adjustment mechanism that comprises:
- at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in a pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket, the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the mounting bracket being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;
- at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm; and
- a pin that extends through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm and through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket.
16. The stem deflector of claim 14 and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about a different pivot axis than the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket.
17. The stem deflector of claim 14 and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket.
18. The stem deflector of claim 14 and further comprising a containing element having first and second ends, the containing element is coupled to the mounting arm element proximate to the first end of the containing element and the second end of the containing element is coupled to the shoe.
19. The stem deflector of claim 18 and wherein the shoe further comprises, on the inner side, a reinforcement bar that is proximate to the second end of the shoe.
20. The stem deflector of claim 19 and wherein the second end of the containing element is coupled to the reinforcement bar of the shoe.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 18, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 12, 2015
Inventors: Brian J. Hyronimus (Huron, SD), Kim R. Tschetter (Huron, SD), Lance C. Tschetter (Huron, SD)
Application Number: 14/546,464
International Classification: A01D 63/04 (20060101); A01B 61/04 (20060101); A01D 75/18 (20060101);