Abstract: A combine harvester having a crop processing mechanism and an elevator assembly is provided. The elevator assembly conveys harvested crop to the crop processing mechanism. The elevator assembly includes an elevator housing, an endless conveyor mounted for rotation within the elevator housing about a shaft, and a sprocket stripper mounted adjacent the shaft. The sprocket stripper includes a beveled or tapered edge.

Abstract: A cotton picking machine comprises a chassis for moving the machine in a traveling direction, a vacuum pump provided to create a predetermined vacuum and a cotton picking unit including a cotton picking head supported by the chassis. The cotton picking head includes upper and lower vacuum compartments both in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and connecting tubes vertically extending between the upper and lower vacuum compartments and movable along a predetermined endless path so as to be in sliding contact with the upper and lower vacuum compartments at the corresponding distal ends thereof. Each of the connecting tubes includes a set of hollow picking fingers radially outwardly extending therefrom. The predetermined endless path includes an extracting zone and an inoperative zone. The connecting tubes fluidly connect the upper and lower vacuum compartments only when the connecting tubes pass the extracting zone of the predetermined endless path.

Abstract: A cotton harvester row unit having discharge door structure includes first and second high pressure air outlets offset in the fore-and-aft direction from each other. A first vertical tube is connected to an upper air supply conduit and extends downwardly and opens rearwardly near the front of the unit to direct air towards the door structure outlet. A second vertical tube which extends downwardly near the rear of the unit and opens towards the outlet is connected to the air supply conduit to direct a sweeping blast of air towards the outlet near the floor of the door structure where plugging is a problem.

Abstract: A cotton harvester includes up to eight or more brush type row units mounted on a cross auger system having a split cross auger structure with two auger portions for moving material inwardly toward a central location. Cotton is conveyed through the rear of the central location into two separation chambers, one for each auger portion, and into the lower portions of two corresponding conveying ducts which extend upwardly and outwardly at bend locations located just above the rockshaft and below the cab floor. Each duct includes a nozzle directing air upwardly above the bend location so that cotton is sucked into the bend. The ducts extend upwardly at an angle to the vertical direction and include uppermost sections extending rearwardly over the input sections of the two cleaners. The uppermost sections are angled from the horizontal and distribute the cotton evenly over cleaner inlets.

Abstract: A cotton harvester includes up to eight or more brush type row units mounted on a cross auger system having a split cross auger structure with two auger portions for moving material inwardly toward a central location. Cotton is conveyed through the rear of the central location into two separation chambers, one for each auger portion, and into the lower portions of two corresponding conveying ducts which extend upwardly and outwardly at bend locations located just above the rockshaft and below the cab floor. Each duct includes a nozzle directing air upwardly above the bend location so that cotton is sucked into the bend. The ducts extend upwardly at an angle to the vertical direction and include uppermost sections extending rearwardly over the input sections of the two cleaners. The uppermost sections are angled from the horizontal and distribute the cotton evenly over cleaner inlets.

Abstract: Cotton harvester structure including centrally located, transversely mounted engine, rear mounted water and fuel tanks, and transversely centered conveyor fan having an upper, forwardly extending outlet located just below the level of the cab floor for improved weight distribution, air hose routing and air flow. The fan rotates about a transversely extending axis parallel to the engine crankshaft axis. The crankshaft and fan are connected by a belt and sheave assembly having an electric clutch mounted on a shaft assembly and located outside of the frame. The shaft assembly provides fan support, separates the fan inlet from the clutch, reduces lubrication requirements, and enhances accessibility.

Abstract: A discharge conveyor system for a cotton harvester which removes a commingled mixture of ripe and green bolls from cotton plants during a harvesting operation. The discharge conveying system includes duct structure having an inlet arranged proximate to an outlet on a harvesting head assembly from which the commingled mixture of harvested materials pass. An air system directs an air stream through the duct structure such that ripe or lighter bolls are drawn into the duct structure while heavier or green bolls fall from the outlet of the harvesting head assembly. A basket is mounted on the harvester for receiving the green bolls and includes a floor comprised of a plurality of louvers which combine with each other, in one position, to hold green bolls in the basket, and are movable to a second position wherein the louvers are arranged relative to each other for purposes of boll discharge.

Abstract: A cotton harvester duct system for pneumatically transporting cotton from a harvesting unit toward a receptacle. The duct structure has a generally horizontal section leading from an opening and joined to a generally vertical section extending in a generally straight line alignment with a conveyor tube. An air nozzle extends to an interior of the duct structure for propelling cotton through the duct structure upwardly through the conveyor tube. The air nozzle is mounted upstream from the opening at a foremost lower location and adjacent a wall of the vertical duct section.

Abstract: An air system for a cotton harvester having a harvester mechanism including a doffer assembly which forcibly directs doffed cotton toward a discharge compartment arranged on the cotton harvester. The air system of the present invention provides an elongated member which directs a stream of air rearwardly from the doffer assembly in a manner inhibiting doffed cotton from repeating around the doffer assembly. The air system of the present invention further contemplates directing a column of air downwardly behind the doffer assembly to positively evacuate an upper end of the discharge compartment and inhibit rebounding cotton from repeating around the doffer assembly. The air system of the present invention is especially useful for handling of harvested cotton in damp or high yield cotton conditions.