For Discharging Crop From Harvester Patents (Class 56/13.3)
  • Patent number: 11533848
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a blade, a motor connected to the blade, and a housing storing the blade in the housing and is configured to mow grass underneath the housing. The lawn mower includes a grass container to contain the mowed grass and a connecting member that connects the housing to the grass container. The housing is provided with a ceiling opening communicating with a flow path inside the connecting member. The ceiling opening overlaps with a region corresponding to a rotation range, of the blade, projected upward along a drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumio Minami, Takuya Matsumoto, Yoshitaka Oota, Shota Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10701864
    Abstract: A sugarcane harvester including a base cutter configured to cut sugarcane from a field and a feed roller chassis, disposed adjacently to the base cutter, configured to receive the cut sugarcane. A plurality of feed roller assemblies are supported by the feed roller chassis, wherein each of the plurality of feed roller assemblies includes a roller body defining a roller body cavity, a motor support located within the roller body cavity, the motor support defining a support cavity, and a bearingless hydraulic motor disposed within the support cavity. The bearingless hydraulic motor includes a spindle extending from the motor and through the support cavity. A spindle adapter is releasably coupled to the spindle and fixedly coupled to the roller body. A roller bearing, disposed within the support cavity, includes an inner surface in contact with the spindle adapter, wherein rotation of the spindle rotates the roller body while the bearingless motor remains stationary with respect to the motor support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Guy Burch, Emmett J. Hummel, IV
  • Patent number: 10251342
    Abstract: A chopping module which pulls plants inside the module and chops them into billets, comprising a box-shaped body with three open sides, a front inlet for plants to be chopped, a rear outlet for chopped plants and a lower outlet for residues. Plants are pulled by two crosswise pairs of rollers, after which plants are chopped by a rotating blade assembly and a fixed shearbar, which are aligned parallel to the pulling rollers. Between the pulling rollers, a passageway is formed for the plants to be chopped. After the fixed shearbar, said passageway continues in the form of a slide sloping downwards to the rear outlet. The rotating blade assembly is located above the slide and next to the fixed shearbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: INDÚSTRIAS REUNIDAS COLOMBO LTDA
    Inventor: Luiz Henrique Bertino
  • Patent number: 10159187
    Abstract: A chopper assembly having a discharge conduit. A first and a second beater disposed within the discharge conduit and a first door and a second door in the bottom wall of the discharge conduit positioned below the first beater and the second beater respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Patent number: 9877431
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes: a chassis; a cleaning system carried by the chassis; a crop material elevator supplied with crop material that has passed through the cleaning system; and an auger supplying the crop material from the cleaning system to the crop material elevator. The auger includes: an auger axle configured to rotate and defining an auger axis of rotation; a first flighting having a first helical direction and configured to be rotated by the auger axle; a second flighting having a second helical direction opposite to the first helical direction, the second flighting configured to be rotated so as to direct crop material conveyed by the first flighting back toward the first flighting; and a thrower connected to the first flighting and the second flighting and configured to convey crop material transversely relative to the auger axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Pieter Vandevelde, Clayton E. Banks, Jr., Denver R. Yoder, Eric E. Veikle
  • Patent number: 9867333
    Abstract: A method and system of operating a machine harvester that presents an improved solution for preventing clogging. There is provided simultaneous measurement of at least a parameter of a base-cutting set, of at least a parameter of a chopping assembly, and of a position of at least a floating roller of a conveyance system. Based on comparisons of the parameters measured and reference values, during a pre-defined time interval, it is possible to manage a propulsion speed of the machine harvester and to manage a rotation speed of cutting disks of the base-cutting set and of billet-cutting blades of the chopping assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Daenio Cleodolphi
  • Patent number: 9277689
    Abstract: A push and release operator control for selectively opening or closing the discharge blocking flap of a lawnmower. The first portion of travel of the actuator raises the discharge blocking flap toward its balance point. As the blocking flap reaches the balance point the actuator is released which allows the blocking flaps momentum to carry it through the balance point where gravity takes over to finish the travel. The actuator is reset by the blocking flaps motion after passing the balance point. Once the actuator is reset by the blocking flaps travel the same push and release of the actuator will return the blocking flap to it original starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: David William Luking
  • Patent number: 9198351
    Abstract: A front attachment for harvesting corn for use in a self-propelled combine harvester includes harvesting devices for grasping and guiding the corn stalks, for picking the corn cobs and for conveying the picked corn cobs. The front attachment has intake conveyor mechanisms extending across the width thereof, snapping devices disposed downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms in the direction of the crop flow embodying snapping rollers rotating opposite to the direction of travel and a cross conveyor equipped with opposing auger sections. The cross conveyor draws harvested corn cobs together in the center of the front attachment and feeds them from there to a feed rake. The intake conveyor mechanisms and/or the snapping rollers and/or the cross conveyor are driven by a driven mechanism of the combine harvester, which driven mechanism is connected to a steplessly variable transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CLAAS HUNGARIA KFT.
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Thomas Dennis Engler
  • Patent number: 9198352
    Abstract: A front attachment for an agricultural harvesting machine operates independently of rows of stalk crop to be harvested. The front attachment includes harvesting devices for harvesting the stalk crop, intake conveyor mechanisms extending across a width of the harvesting devices, snapping devices located downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms in the direction of the crop flow and a cross conveyor located downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms and snapping devices. In the arrangement, the cross conveyor and snapping device driven by a common drive train, the front attachment is prefabricated to enable retrofitting with a second drive train and the second drive train functions as the drive for a retrofittable chopping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CLAAS HUNGARIA KFT.
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Thomas Dennis Engler, Bernhard Aerdker, Tim Luetke Harmann
  • Patent number: 8943788
    Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus that harvests crops as the apparatus moves in a direction of travel across a field. The apparatus includes a crop harvesting assembly configured as a line of implements, the line being transverse to the direction of travel. First and second devices for adjusting a vertical position of left and right sides of the apparatus, respectively, are independently operable. Adjustment of a vertical position of at least one of the left and right sides of the apparatus results in tilting the line of implements relative to a horizontal plane defined at a ground surface under left and right ground contacting elements. In other aspects, a method and system are disclosed for automatically positioning a line of implements of an apparatus to follow a ground surface proximate the line of implements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Collin David Miller, Blair Robert Stoltman, Joel Thomas Aslakson
  • Publication number: 20140075904
    Abstract: A grass collection system may have an impeller with a through-shaft that mechanically couples power take off (PTO) energy to the mower deck. The PTO shaft may pass through the impeller and blower housing to power the mower deck, resulting in a compact mechanism. The PTO shaft may pass through a grass tunnel that connects between the blower housing and the mower deck, then may be connected to the mower deck to power the mower blades. The grass collection system may be deployed on a front mounted deck tractor that has front wheel drive. The front wheels may each have a hydrostatic pump and gearbox, and the PTO shaft may pass between or under the front wheel drive systems in connecting to the mower deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: WALKER MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Dean M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20140026531
    Abstract: A mowing machine, more particularly a front mowing vehicle, has a tractor driven by an internal combustion engine and a grass collecting system as well as with a gear unit which can be coupled to the tractor via a drive shaft and which has a first gear shaft for driving a cutting unit mounted at the front of the vehicle. The grass collecting system has a lift- and tilt cut-grass collecting container mounted at the back of the vehicle, and a turbine for aspirating the cut grass from the cutting unit and conveying the cut grass into the cut-grass collecting container. For driving the turbine a hydraulic oil supply device is provided in an oil circuit including an oil tank. The oil conveying device is coupled by a second gear shaft to the gear unit which is driven by the tractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: matev GMBH
    Inventors: WILHELM DUERSCHINGER, ERNST DIMMLING
  • Patent number: 8571744
    Abstract: An automated method and system includes an automatic guidance system (AGS) and swath pattern. The AGS steers a vehicle towing a rotary baler in an “S”, or oscillatory pattern around a predetermined approximate centerline of the swath path. The oscillatory pattern may be user defined. By steering the vehicle in an oscillatory pattern referenced to the A-B line, a windrow of crop material may be distributed into an even and optimal bale size and density by the baler. Bale chamber sensors detect an imbalance of crop density and in response, AGS adjusts an interval or amplitude of oscillatory pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Brubaker, Phillip A. Cobb
  • Publication number: 20130263563
    Abstract: Provided is a harvesting module including twin parallel rotating shafts. The rotating shafts each have impact rods that are configured to rotation in opposite directions. The shafts are sloped so that one end of the shafts is closer to the ground than another end of the shafts. The rods are fixed to the shafts in a spiral formation using a series of self locking rings fitted over the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicants: ROTA INDUSTRIA LTDA., EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUARIA-EMBRAPA
    Inventors: Rogerio Cruz MOREIRA, Cezar De Mello MESQUITA
  • Publication number: 20130263562
    Abstract: Provided is a harvesting module including twin parallel rotating shafts. The rotating shafts each have impact rods that are configured to rotation in opposite directions. The shafts are sloped so that one end of the shafts is closer to the ground than another end of the shafts. The rods are fixed to the shafts in a spiral formation using a series of self locking rings fitted over the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicants: ROTA INDUSTRIA LTDA., EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUARIA - EMBRAPA
    Inventors: Rogerio Cruz MOREIRA, Cezar De Mello MESQUITA
  • Patent number: 8475248
    Abstract: A discharge system for an agricultural harvester provides an air curtain that shields straw, chaff and other crop residue from the wind. The system includes a blower adapted for mounting to an agricultural harvester and having an intake side and a discharge side and a plenum fluidly connected to the discharge side of the blower. The plenum is arranged and disposed to distribute air exiting the discharge side of the blower to form an air curtain according to a predetermined profile at a location adjacent discharge that exits a rear door of the agricultural harvester as a windrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Herbert M. Farley
  • Publication number: 20130160415
    Abstract: A vacuum collector assembly comprises a mountable hitch having support posts connected to one another by horizontal supports and a hinge mechanism for connecting to a trailing carriage. The trailing carriage includes a lift assembly and an engine support frame for mounting thereon an engine operating conjunctively with an impeller assembly for developing negative pressure within a blower housing that is connected in between a receptacle hood and a lawn cutting deck. The engine support frame generally extends outwardly from a pair of vertical columns each having ends connected to support runners for situating atop thereof a pair of receptacles holders suited for receiving receptacle bins utilized in storing collected debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Norman Edward Ronning, Paul Nels Ronning
  • Patent number: 8438821
    Abstract: A harvester (1), and in particular a forage harvester, has an engine and machinery housing (2) and a discharge chute (10) which is mounted to be movable at a discharge opening (9) from the engine and machinery housing (2). The discharge opening (9) is able to be adjusted in height at the engine and machinery housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Haffert
  • Patent number: 8376126
    Abstract: An equipment attachment adapter apparatus may comprise a base frame and a throat structure on the base frame that defines a throat extending through the apparatus with an entry and exit. The throat structure may comprise a floor wall having an upper surface defining a lower boundary of the throat, a first side wall and a second side wall positioned on opposite sides of the throat, and an upper wall positioned above the floor wall. In some embodiments, the upper surface of the floor wall is curved from the entry toward the exit. In some embodiments, the throat is relatively larger toward the entry and relatively smaller toward the exit. In some embodiments, a feed roll is rotatably mounted on the base frame at least partially in the throat with chevron-shaped teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kooima Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Vande Waerdt, Joel A. Negus, Nolan Den Boer
  • Patent number: 8234033
    Abstract: An automated method and system includes an automatic guidance system (AGS) and swath pattern. The AGS steers a vehicle towing a rotary baler in an “S”, or oscillatory pattern around a predetermined approximate centerline of the swath path. The oscillatory pattern may be user defined. By steering the vehicle in an oscillatory pattern referenced to the A-B line, a windrow of crop material may be distributed into an even and optimal bale size and density by the baler. Bale chamber sensors detect an imbalance of crop density and in response, AGS adjusts an interval or amplitude of oscillatory pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Brubaker, Philip A. Cobb
  • Publication number: 20110023433
    Abstract: This pollen harvesting machine, of the type comprising a motorised chassis (1) on which there are mounted means (3) which are in the form of a head for harvesting pollen by means of suction and which are connected, via means (7) in the form of a separation cyclone, to means (8) which form a suction fan, the means (7) in the form of a cyclone being associated with means (9) in the form of a pollen recovery hopper, is characterised in that it comprises means for freezing the harvested pollen in the means (9) in the form of a recovery hopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Marianne LAFARGUE, Vincent Nicolas
  • Patent number: 7874133
    Abstract: A forage harvester having a header for harvesting crop from a field, a chopper for comminuting the crop harvested by the header, a spout from which the chopped crop is discharged and a rotary blower (10) for propelling the chopped crop from the chopper along an intake chute (18) leading to the spout. A deflector plate (14a) is provided at the entrance of the blower. The deflector plate (14a) is pivotable between a first position in which the crop is guided to flow in a substantially tangential direction relative to the trajectory of the blades (10a) of the blower (10) and a second position in which the crop is deflected radially inwards from the tangential direction to impact the blades (10a) of the blower (10) at a point along their length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Bernard E. D. Depestel
  • Patent number: 7815499
    Abstract: A harvester (1) comprises an engine and machinery housing (2), a discharge chute (6) which is movably mounted on the engine and machinery mounting (2) and which carries a first outfeed point (7) and a second outfeed point (12) for harvested crop, and at least one deflector for switching a flow of harvested crop from one of the outfeed points (7, 12) to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Andreas Haffert
  • Patent number: 7798894
    Abstract: In a method for transferring crop material from a harvesting machine to a hauling vehicle, with which the crop material is accelerated and ejected through a conveyor chute of a transfer device to a target point on the transport vehicle, the acceleration of the crop material to be transferred is controlled as a function of at least one parameter that represents a transfer distance. A corresponding control unit for a harvesting machine and a harvesting machine with a control unit of this type is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Isfort
  • Publication number: 20090113867
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from non-grain material, a cleaning shoe and a fan for controlling air flow. The fan is positioned downstream of the cleaning shoe and the fan having an air inlet for providing air to the fan and an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan. The fan assists in reducing static air pressure within the harvesting machine. The fan may be a centrifugal fan. The harvesting machine may further include a chopper operatively connected to the vehicle and adapted for receiving the non-grain material and chopping the non-grain material and a blower adapted for assisting in conveying the non-grain material from the chopper such as for collection in a collection container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: STUART J. BIRRELL, MARK D. DILTS, BENJAMIN J. SCHLESSER
  • Publication number: 20090113866
    Abstract: A harvester (1), and in particular a forage harvester, has an engine and machinery housing (2) and a discharge chute (10) which is mounted to be movable at a discharge opening (9) from the engine and machinery housing (2). The discharge opening (9) is able to be adjusted in height at the engine and machinery housing (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Andreas Haffert
  • Publication number: 20090071115
    Abstract: The air-powered rotary rake is an attachment for a leaf blower or the like, providing the user with air-powered rotary blades to dislodge or agitate debris which, ordinarily, could not be moved easily with air blowing alone. The air-powered rotary rake includes a housing defining an open interior region and having opposed open front and rear ends. The rear end is adapted for releasable attachment to the leaf blower. An internal wall is mounted within a front portion of the housing and divides the housing into an upper passage and a lower passage. A spindle is rotatably mounted within the upper passage and a plurality of vanes are mounted on the spindle. When the pressurized air is diverted into the upper passage, the pressurized air impinges upon the vanes mounted on the spindle, causing the spindle to rotate and driving rotation of a plurality of blades also annularly mounted thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: James L. Freewalt
  • Patent number: 7475528
    Abstract: A lawncare machine 100 has a powered rotary raking or scarifying reel 5 together with a powered vacuum collector 8 whereby material thrown up by the reel is immediately drawn into the collection chamber 8. During removal of the vegetation material, it is drawn into the chamber 8 due to a suction created by a fan 2. The material is normally held in the box by means of a perforated screen 10 situated between the box and fan entry. The chamber 8 may be emptied by moving the screen 10 so that the material is discharged through the fan 2. Alternatively the chamber 8 may be emptied by means of flap valves 19, 21, 23 which cause a reversal of the airflow through the chamber so that the collected material never passes through the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: John Robert Bishop
  • Patent number: 7383678
    Abstract: A rear discharge mower deck has at least two cutting blades mounted on vertical spindles in cutting chambers, a fan in a housing mounted on the deck over the cutting chambers, and an inlet opening between the cutting chambers and the fan housing. The surface area of the inlet opening may be between about 50% and about 80% of the surface area within the fan diameter. A stripper plate may be on one edge of the inlet opening, and each cutting chamber may have an upwardly sloping tunnel to the inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Steven Henry Buss, Michael P. Schemelin
  • Publication number: 20080127621
    Abstract: A housing which encloses the trimmer of a combined weed whacker, blower and vacuum to prevent grass, leaves and weeds from dispersal once cut, so as to capture them after a trimming action by recessing the trimmer substantially wholly within the enclosure to limit their dropping to the ground and so they can easily be vacuumed into a container bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Peter J. Bovo, Karen M. Bovo
  • Patent number: 7343726
    Abstract: A harvesting machine with a discharge assembly for the transfer of harvested crop to a transport vehicle includes an actuator that is adapted to move the discharge assembly about a horizontal axis, thereby adjusting the height of the outlet end of the discharge assembly. A stop element can be moved between an active position and an inactive position. In the active position, the stop element limits the range of movement of the actuator such that the discharge assembly cannot be moved to a position that is lower than a lowest active position. In the inactive position, the stop element does not limit the range of movement of the actuator, thus the discharge assembly can be moved to a position that is lower than the lowest active position. Therefore, the discharge assembly remains above the lowest active position during the harvesting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Marcus Hettiger, Karl Hammerschmid
  • Patent number: 6854249
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a blade drive shaft with a blade rotatably mounted inside a mower deck supported by a vehicle body, a blower unit including a cylindrical blower housing connected to a grass clippings discharging section provided in a side end region of the mower deck, a vertical drive shaft having a shaft portion with vanes attached thereto inside the blower housing and a shaft portion extending upward through the blower housing, and a discharging sleeve projecting rearwardly along an outer tangent line of the blower housing, a grass collecting apparatus mounted rearwardly of the vehicle body, a duct for allowing the discharging sleeve to communicate with the grass collecting apparatus, and a belt-type blower driving mechanism for driving the vertical drive shaft of the blower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masato Asahara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Osami Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6745550
    Abstract: A self-propelled chopper cane harvester is equipped with a front frame section including opposite sides which are each mounted for pivoting about a respective upright pivot axis. Respectively mounted to the opposite sides of the front frame section are front wheels and row dividers. A steering cylinder is mounted for pivoting the frames to opposite sides of a straight ahead position to thereby effect steering of the front wheels. A topper mechanism is mounted so as to pivot or turn in response to the steering of the harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Michael Lynn Hinds, Neville Harold Toft
  • Patent number: 6675566
    Abstract: A tool such as a lawnmower, particularly for gardening vehicles, of the type that comprises a protective housing, suitable to provide a supporting chassis for front wheels and cutting blades arranged substantially within its dimensions of the chassis, the housing being provided, in an upper region and at the front of the central region, with two mutually adjacent blades and with an opening on which there is a fan/aspirator from which a connection for a discharge duct to be connected to a collection container branches out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Antonio Carraro S.p.A.
    Inventor: Girolamo Martignon
  • Patent number: 6449933
    Abstract: A lawn mower with a vehicle body; an engine mounted on the vehicle body; caster-type front wheels; a rear wheel unit having a left rear drive wheel and a right rear drive wheel; a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheel unit; a left stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the left rear wheel; and a right stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the right rear wheel; wherein the right and left stepless transmissions are operable independently of each other. A caster-type auxiliary ground wheel unit (9) is disposed rearwardly of the rear wheel unit and supported by a support member (24) to be vertically movable relative to the vehicle body. A braking mechanism (30) is provided for braking an upward movement of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Kuboto Corporation
    Inventors: Hideya Umemoto, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Kazuo Samejima
  • Patent number: 6370855
    Abstract: Grass blower for use with lawn mower, comprising rotating blade assembly in housing. Housing receives grass cuttings discharged from deck of lawn mower. Rotating blade assembly blows grass cuttings in housing into entrance of discharge chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Magic Circle Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur Leon Evans, Brad E. Church, David L. Shafer, Duane R. Summerlot
  • Publication number: 20020038537
    Abstract: A lawn mower with a vehicle body; an engine mounted on the vehicle body; caster-type front wheels; a rear wheel unit having a left rear drive wheel and a right rear drive wheel; a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheel unit; a left stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the left rear wheel; and a right stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the right rear wheel; wherein the right and left stepless transmissions are operable independently of each other. A caster-type auxiliary ground wheel unit (9) is disposed rearwardly of the rear wheel unit and supported by a support member (24) to be vertically movable relative to the vehicle body, A braking mechanism (30) is provided for braking an upward movement of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Umemoto, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Kazuo Samejima
  • Patent number: 6363700
    Abstract: A sugar cane combine harvester having a topper/shredder in advance of a crop divider mechanism with the crop divider aiding in moving sugar cane to a knock down feed roll, base cutters, a feed roll system, a chopping system including a cleaning system, and an elevator system. The chopping system propels cut cane and debris into a cleaning system where the cane and debris are subject to an air stream generated from a single variable speed blower. The cane and debris in a cleaning chamber are forced upwardly into contact with the rear wall of the cleaning chamber set at an angle of 60 to 75 degrees. The lighter debris is forced to continue up and out through a discharge duct and onto the ground behind the harvester. The cane falls by gravity onto a loading platform to be conveyed to a transit vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Inter-American Vanguard Corporation
    Inventor: Larry Fowler
  • Publication number: 20020004418
    Abstract: The object of this Patent comprises the action of flexible nylon cords (3), spirally attached in parallel axis (2), rotating one opposed to the other, producing pounding impacts on the standing uncut plants in the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: Rota Industria de Maquinas Agricolas Ltda.
    Inventors: Cezar de Mello Mesquita, Rogerio Cruz Moreira
  • Publication number: 20010037633
    Abstract: For a harvesting machine, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper for picking up and chopping corn, wilted grass, green feed and similar harvested material, with a conditioning device (5) for the harvested material, which is disposed after a feeding device (11) and a chopping device (2) and optionally engages a conveying duct or can be removed from this, the mounting and dismantling of the conditioning device (5) is simplified owing to the fact that the conditioning device (5) is connected, on the one hand, with a duct section (3), which can be pivoted about an essentially horizontal swiveling axis and, on the other, rigidly but detachably with a rigid region (8) of the conveying duct. Preferably, the swiveling axis is disposed at the underside of the pivotable duct section (3) in such a manner, that the swiveling motion of the pivotable duct section (3) is directed downward counter to the traveling direction (14) of the harvesting machine for removing the conditioning device (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Dieter Berth, Thomas Strobel, Karl-Heinz Radke
  • Publication number: 20010000562
    Abstract: An axle driving unit having a housing (21,22) for supporting a first axle (17) for mounting thereon a first driving wheel (3L), and a longer second axle (18) for mounting thereon a second driving wheel (3R). The axle driving unit is eccentrically mounted on a body frame (1) in proximity to the first driving wheel (3L). A speed change transmission (T) is disposed in an enlarged region of the housing that extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axles (17,18). The axle driving unit can thus be easily disposed to the side of a chute (6) of a rear-discharge type lawn tractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2001
    Inventors: Robert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi