Abstract: To reduce destructive effects of cotton picker high speed drum rotation, rearward spindle tip motion is adjusted in part by angularly positioning the spindles in the picking zone with an improved cam track arrangement. The cam rotates the picker bar about the upright axis of the bar to vary the speed of the spindle tip in the picking zone and allow a higher drum speed. In a first portion of the picking zone the spindle tips are closer together than the spindle bases at the picker bar. The spindle tip spacing in a second portion of the picking zone is approximately equal to spindle base spacing in the extremities. The resulting spindle tip movement facilitates higher cotton picker vehicle ground speed without picking efficiency loss or additional damage to the cotton plants.

Abstract: To reduce destructive effects of cotton picker high speed drum rotation, rearward spindle tip motion is adjusted in part by angularly positioning the spindles in the picking zone with an improved cam track arrangement. The cam rotates the picker bar about the upright axis of the bar to vary the speed of the spindle tip in the picking zone and allow a higher drum speed. In a first portion of the picking zone the spindle tips are closer together than the spindle bases at the picker bar. The spindle tip spacing in a second portion of the picking zone is approximately equal to spindle base spacing in the extremities. The resulting spindle tip movement facilitates higher cotton picker vehicle ground speed without picking efficiency loss or additional damage to the cotton plants.

Abstract: One or two conventional picking units are mounted on a two-wheel, high clearance running gear or frame. A two-point hitch is coupled to the draft links of a tractor or an equal-angle hitch is coupled to the tractor drawbar. Hitch and tongue interface on the harvester facilitates sharp turn angles between the implement and the tractor through use of a pivoting member containing the driveline powering the units from the tractor. A center pivot tongue allows offset for appropriate row alignment and provides improved maneuverability and implement steering on headlands and turn rows. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the tongue or a crossed four-bar linkage structure controls tongue angle. A basket is supported at the rear of the frame and the row units are located forwardly of the frame to provide counterbalancing forces about the wheel axis.

Abstract: One or two conventional picking units are mounted on a two-wheel, high clearance running gear or frame. A two-point hitch is coupled to the draft links of a tractor or an equal-angle hitch is coupled to the tractor drawbar. Hitch and tongue interface on the harvester facilitates sharp turn angles between the implement and the tractor through use of a pivoting member containing the driveline powering the units from the tractor. A center pivot tongue allows offset for appropriate row alignment and provides improved maneuverability and implement steering on headlands and turn rows. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the tongue or a crossed four-bar linkage structure controls tongue angle. A basket is supported at the rear of the frame and the row units are located forwardly of the frame to provide counterbalancing forces about the wheel axis.

Abstract: A conditioning mechanism is placed forwardly of the cotton harvesting mechanism on a cotton harvester. Opposing elements compress portions of the cotton plant to compress the cotton bolls and deform the cotton boll hulls. The deformation loosens the cotton fiber relative to the hulls to improve the ability of the harvesting mechanism to harvest the seed and fiber. In one embodiment, differential surface velocity of the opposing elements improves boll opening and fiber orientation for more effective spindle contact.

Abstract: A compact three-bar linkage steering probe assembly, particularly useful with ultra-narrow row cotton harvester units, includes two vertical rocker arms pivotally connected to a harvester row unit at mid-point locations and upper ends connected by a cross link to generally constrain the arms for rocking in unison. Crop guides connected to the lower ends of the rocker arms follow the bases of the plant stalks as the row of plants enter the unit. The vertical arms are maintained within spacer tubes which prevent interference with adjacent rows of plants and which assure the arms are not disturbed by the adjacent rows. A sensor responsive to rotation of the rocker arms is located at the central pivotal connection. Arm leaf springs or a spring biased adjustable upper cross link provides probe flexibility for accommodating different plant stalk sizes.