STEM DEFLECTOR MOUNT
A method and apparatus for rotatably mounting a stem deflector to a toolbar. The apparatus includes a base that attaches to the toolbar. The apparatus also includes a rotatable member that attaches to the stem deflector. A position of the rotatable member is adjustable relative to the base.
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The present embodiments relate generally to agricultural equipment and more particularly to mounts for 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.
Stem deflectors typically mount to the rear of the combine head via a toolbar mounting system. In one current mounting configuration, the stem deflectors mount to a toolbar, connected to the head, by way of a mounting bracket. When the combine harvester is driven down highways, for example, the head must be detached from the combine and placed on a header trailer because a width of a typical head exceeds width restrictions for highway vehicles. When the head with the mounted stem deflectors is placed on a trailer, some of the stem deflectors invariably interfere with axles/tires of the trailer. Therefore, a user has to detach any interfering stem deflectors from the toolbar and store them away from the trailer axles/tires. This process of detaching interfering stem deflectors during transportation, and the subsequent re-mounting of the detached stem deflectors, is inconvenient and time consuming.
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure address these and other problems, and offer other advantages over the prior art.
SUMMARYOne embodiment is directed to an apparatus for rotatably mounting a stem deflector to a toolbar. The apparatus includes a base that attaches to the toolbar. The apparatus also includes a rotatable member that attaches to the stem deflector. A position of the rotatable member is adjustable relative to the base.
Another embodiment is directed to a method of attaching a stem deflector to a toolbar. The method includes rotatably coupling the stem deflector to the toolbar through a rotatable member. The method also includes providing a plurality of adjustment positions for the rotatable member.
Yet another embodiment is directed to a stem deflector mount for rotatably mounting a stem deflector to a toolbar. The stem deflector mount includes a base that attaches to the toolbar. The stem deflector mount also includes an adjustment mechanism that is attached to the base. The stem deflector further includes a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the mounting arm is pivotally coupled to the adjustment mechanism about a pivot axis and the second end of the mounting arm attaches to the stem deflector.
This summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the stem deflector mount. 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 mount, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the disclosure. In all cases, this disclosure presents the stem deflector mount 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 can be seen in
In the example shown in
As indicated earlier, stem deflector mount 200 is designed and assembled such that it enables a user to, for example, rotate and position a mounted stem deflector, such as 104 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
As described above, stem deflector mount 200, with its components operably coupled together, is suitable for mounting a stem deflector (such as 104 of
Stem deflector 104 is coupled to mounting arm 204 by inserting a suitable fastener (for example, a pin) 304 through a pair of coupling holes (not shown) in stem deflector 104 and aligned holes 220 (shown in
In the exemplary embodiments of the stem deflector described above, two flanges 222 and 224 are included in adjustment mechanism 206. However, in some embodiments only one flange may be employed. Also, any suitable clamping mechanism may be used to hold mounting arm 204 in place. In some embodiments, instead of employing an adjustment mechanism such as 206 that includes flanges 222 and 224 with adjustment holes 230, any suitable lifting mechanism (for example, a hydraulic lift mechanism) may be used to move mounting arm 204 to different positions and hold mounting arm 204 in place. In some embodiments, base 202 and adjustment mechanism 206 are welded together at the time of manufacture of stem deflector mount 200. The welding is carried out at a region where edges of the pair of flanges 222 and 224 of adjustment mechanism 206 are inserted into slots 210 of base 202. In other embodiments, base 202 and adjustment mechanism 206 are integrally formed together at the time of manufacture. In still other embodiments, edges of the pair of flanges 222 and 224 of adjustment mechanism 206 are inserted into slots 210 of base 202 by an end user. In general, any suitable mechanism for connecting adjustment mechanism 206 and base 202 may be employed.
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 mount while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. An apparatus for rotatably mounting a stem deflector to a toolbar, the apparatus comprising:
- a base configured to attach to the toolbar; and
- a rotatable member configured to attach to the stem deflector, wherein a position of the rotatable member is adjustable relative to the base.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising an adjustment means coupled to the base and wherein the rotatable member is pivotally rotatably coupled to the adjustment means.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the rotatable member comprises a mounting bar having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the mounting bar is pivotally coupled to the adjustment means about a pivot axis, and wherein the mounting bar is pivotal in a plane that is perpendicular to the pivot axis.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 and wherein the mounting bar includes aligned mounting holes, proximate the second end, that are configured to receive a fastener that couples the stem deflector to the mounting bar.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 and wherein the adjustment means comprises:
- a pair of opposing flanges comprising an array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes, the adjustment holes being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;
- a bore that extends through the mounting bar, wherein the bore is substantially parallel to the pivot axis, and wherein the bore is in a portion of the mounting bar that is between the opposing flanges; and
- a pin that extends through the bore and through any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 and wherein the pin that extends through the any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes is a hitch pin, and wherein the hitch pin is secured by a lynch pin.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 and wherein the adjustment means further comprises a connection piece, between the opposing flanges, that holds the opposing flanges in a spaced apart position and limits a range of pivotal travel of the mounting bar.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 and wherein the base comprises a pair slots into which edges of the pair of flanges are inserted.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the base comprises a plurality of holes that are configured to receive fasteners that attach the base to the toolbar.
10. The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the mounting bar is pivotally coupled to the adjustment means along a pivot axis with a bolt and a lock nut.
11. A method of attaching a stem deflector to a toolbar, the method comprising:
- rotatably coupling the stem deflector to the toolbar through a rotatable member; and
- providing a plurality of adjustment positions for the rotatable member.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein rotatably coupling the stem deflector to the toolbar through the rotatable member comprises:
- coupling a first end of the rotatable member to an adjustment mechanism;
- coupling a second end of the rotatable member to the stem deflector; and
- coupling the adjustment mechanism to the toolbar.
13. The method of claim 12 and wherein the plurality of adjustment positions are provided by the adjustment mechanism.
14. The method of claim 13 and wherein coupling the first end of the rotatable member to the adjustment mechanism comprises pivotally coupling the first end of the rotatable member to the adjustment mechanism about a pivot axis that is parallel to the toolbar.
15. The method of claim 14 and wherein the rotatable member is pivotal in a plane that is perpendicular to the pivot axis.
16. The method of claim 15 and wherein features of the adjustment mechanism that enable the provision of the plurality of adjustment positions comprise:
- a pair of opposing flanges comprising an array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes, the adjustment holes being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;
- a pair of aligned holes in opposing sides of the rotatable member and in a portion of the rotatable member that is between the opposing flanges; and
- a pin that extends through the aligned holes in the rotatable member and through any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes.
17. A stem deflector mount for rotatably mounting a stem deflector to a toolbar, the stem deflector mount comprising:
- a base configured to attach to the toolbar;
- an adjustment mechanism attached to the base; and
- a mounting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the mounting arm is pivotally coupled to the adjustment mechanism about a pivot axis and the second end of the mounting arm is configured to attach to the stem deflector.
18. The stem deflector mount of claim 17 and wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
- a pair of opposing flanges comprising an array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes, the adjustment holes being parallel to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;
- a bore that extends through the mounting bar, wherein the bore is substantially parallel to the pivot axis, and wherein the bore is in a portion of the mounting bar that is between the opposing flanges; and
- a pin that extends through the bore and through any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes.
19. The stem deflector mount of claim 18 and wherein the pin that extends through the any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes is a hitch pin, and wherein the hitch pin is secured by a lynch pin.
20. The stem deflector mount of claim 18 and wherein the adjustment means further comprises a connection piece, between the opposing flanges, that holds the opposing flanges in a spaced apart position and limits a range of pivotal travel of the mounting bar.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 11, 2012
Publication Date: Jul 11, 2013
Applicant: Lankota Group, Inc. (Huron, SD)
Inventors: Brian J. Hyronimus (Huron, SD), Christopher J. Gross (Huron, SD)
Application Number: 13/348,270
International Classification: F16B 1/00 (20060101); B23P 11/00 (20060101);