Abstract: A reel bat assembly has a plurality of reel bat tubes formed into sections so that the assembly of reel bat tubes can be disassembled for shipping and can be reassembled to provide for a long reel bat needed for modern harvesters. The reel bat assembly includes molded tines that have saddle-like hubs which attach to the reel bat tubes using a single screw that extends through the reel bat tubes and threads into a receptacle formed in a post of those tines. The post protrudes into the interior of the reel bat tube and expands as the screw is tightened to provide a secure, stable tine that is held securely with two parts, the tine and the screw.

Abstract: A reel for harvesters of the type including a leading platform with crop cutters and cut-plant collectors and conveyors, the reel comprising a plurality of parallel cross bars rotating around a driving shaft, the bars being driven by end transmission bands at respective ends of the reel, the bands running over wheels arranged in a desired manner to define a desired close path.

Abstract: Reel tine assemblies including molded tines that have saddle-like hubs which attach to reel bat tubes using a single screw that extends through the reel bat tubes and threads into a receptacle formed in a post of those tines. The post protrudes into the interior of the reel bat tube and expands as the screw is tightened to provide a secure, stable tine that is held securely with two parts, the tine and the screw.

Abstract: The invention comprises a two-piece pickup tine consisting of a clamp and wing portion removably secured to a finger portion. The clamp portion is also removably securable to any standard pickup reel bar. The tine is designed to work cooperatively with a plurality of other tine on the same reel bar. The tine is equipped with a middle recess designed for optimal integrity and prevention of damage to the tine's finger portion. Additionally, the tine is designed as a two piece unit with the clamp portion is much less susceptible to damage. As a result of the present design, the cost of replacement is drastically reduced. That is, it is much less likely that damage will occur to a tine, and if damage does occur only replacement of the tine's finger portion should be necessary.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a reel mounted on a pair of forwardly extending arms carried on a header frame above a table and cutting knife. The reel is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and includes bats with fingers which pivot each about a respective bat axis so the angle of the fingers varies as the reel rotates. The angle of the fingers can be varied to increase and decrease the angle at the knife. The arms include a forward portion which is arranged at an angle to a main portion so as to be inclined downwardly and forwardly therefrom. As the reel supports on the arms is moved forwardly along the arms and engages onto the forward portion, the reel is moved downwardly and forwardly which simultaneously changes the angle to provide a more aggressive action as the reel is moved forwardly of the knife.

Abstract: A non-binding reel mount for a harvester platform includes added clearance between the sidewalls of a reel mounting bracket and the reel lifting arms. Side bushings are provided between the brackets and the arms at the center of the arms to prevent lateral motion of the brackets relative to the arms but enable twisting or rotation of the brackets relative to the arms. The non-binding reel mount thus enables one lift cylinder to be fully extended without causing binding between the reel mounting brackets and the reel support arms during a cylinder charging operation. The reel mount can be designed to provide the desired amount of vertical adjustment to the reel. In an alternative embodiment, a single bushing is provided at the top of the support arm that extends between the two sidewalls of the mounting bracket and wraps around the upper corners of the support arm to prevent lateral shifting while permitting rotation of the mounting bracket on the support arm.

Abstract: A windrow pickup attachment for a forage harvester having an input opening for receiving crop material. The attachment includes a main frame positioned on the front of the forage harvester adjacent the input opening with a transverse reel assembly and an auger conveyor mounted on the main frame for picking up crop material from the ground, consolidating it and conveying it to the forage harvester base unit via the input opening. A drive shaft for the reel assembly includes a pair of outwardly disposed rigid elements affixed to an intermediate rigid element. Opposing bearing assemblies support the drive shaft on the main frame in the vicinity of the outer ends of the outwardly disposed rigid elements. The shaft is also supported by an intermediate support bracket that extends from the main frame between the elements of the reel.

Abstract: A farm implement for harvesting corn (sometimes called maize). The harvester is usable with a farm type combine and is particularly designed to be used in fields that have been planted either by a broadcast method at ground level or from the air, or in clearly spaced rows at spacings which might vary from the usual. The harvester is distinguished by the ear-stripping fingers on a reel at the front of the carrying combine. The fingers strip the ears from the corn stalks in front of the carrying combine and carry them to a delivery auger, which is a standard part of the combine, to be delivered to husking rolls in the combine for husking.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to reduce crop wastage and to simplify the design of the combing unit. The essence of the invention lies in the fact that in the combing unit, the teeth of the working combing element are arranged in rows in the direction of travel, and the upper rim of the front wall of the receiving chamber takes the form of resilient teeth whose ends are located between the lateral edges of the teeth of the working combing element; the angle of inclination of the front wall of the receiving chamber to the horizontal plane is greater than the natural slope angle of a heap of cereal, leguminous crops and grass seeds.

Abstract: A main frame of a row crop attachment adapted to be attached to a field traversing forage harvester having a crop inlet. An auger, mounted on the main frame generally transverse to the direction of travel of the forage harvester, comprises a tube and flighting mounted on the tube for engaging the upper portion of standing row crops as the forage harvester traverses the field. A transverse cutting assembly, mounted below the auger, has a cutting mechanism for cutting the lower portion of standing row crops. Also mounted below the auger are elements for engaging the lower portion of the stalks in cooperation with the auger flighting under conditions where the auger is rotated in a direction that urges the crop material downwardly and inwardly. After the crop is cut it is urged rearwardly by the auger toward a crop outlet in the attachment adjacent the inlet in the harvester on which the attachment is mounted.

Abstract: A crop harvester has bristle guards (39) mounted on the cutter bar (14) as crop lifters and to capture fruit lost by dehiscence during cutting. Each bristle guard is a set of laterally oriented bristles (44). Dehisced fruit is swept into the header by a pickup reel (16) having bristle bats (74). The bristles (76) are supported on the leading side by a strip (78) of flexible belting. The belting protects the bristle against being cut by the cutter bar. The crops are supported against being pushed forward by the bristle bats (74) of the reel. The diameter is reduced to about one-half normal and the reel index in increased to provide an aggressive reel operation, ensuring that plants are properly engaged in the bristle guards for cutting.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a reel mounted on a pair of forwardly extending arms carried on a header frame above a table and cutting knife. The reel is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and includes bats with fingers which pivot each about a respective bat axis so the angle of the fingers varies as the reel rotates. The angle of the fingers can be varied to increase and decrease the angle at the knife. The arms include a forward portion which is arranged at an angle to a main portion so as to be inclined downwardly and forwardly therefrom. As the reel supports on the arms is moved forwardly along the arms and engages onto the forward portion, the reel is moved downwardly and forwardly which simultaneously changes the angle to provide a more aggressive action as the reel is moved forwardly of the knife.

Abstract: A pickup reel is provided with an anti-wrap extension that can be easily mounted to one of the elongated tubes. The anti-wrap extension increases the size of the bat to prevent wrapping. The tine is provided with an upstanding projection having a mounting screw for securing the anti-wrap extension to the tine. In addition, the extension is provided with a downwardly projecting flange having mounting apertures into which the tines are inserted.

Abstract: A crop stripper has at least one drum (6a, 6b) with several axially extending series of stripping teeth (8). The drum is rotatably in end supports. The tooth roots (26) at the ends of the drum have an edge profile inclined radially away from the adjacent supports to deflect plant stems which contact these profiles during the operation of the stripper away from the supports, so reducing the tendency for the stems to become trapped between rotor and support. A capping (32) on the support overlaps the adjacent tooth roots to assist this effect. A pair of drums can be arranged end to end with an intermediate support (14) between them and be similarly arranged to deflect plant stems away from the intermediate support. This allows increase of the operating width of the crop stripper while minimizing the risk of blockage from stems trapped between the intermediate support and the drums.

Abstract: In apparatus comprising a rotor (30) and co-operating crop guide means (21), for selectively harvesting from uncut crops wanted plant parts by combing through the crop with resilient crop engaging elements (1) projecting outwardly from a rotor core structure (32), the inner and outer regions of elements (1) are particularly prone to wear, damage and distortion. By adapting mounting members (11) and/or clamping means (14), made of stiffer and/or more durable material than is provided in the intermediate yielding region of crop engaging elements (1), stronger and more convenient mounting of crop engaging elements may be provided and the shape of the important inner crop engaging profile protected. Alternatively or additionally protection of the susceptible regions, including the distal region of elements (1), may be provided by durable inserts embedded partly or wholly in the material from which resilient crop engaging elements are made.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for harvesting standing crops for a combine such as rows on corn of sunflowers including flattening the stalks and removing the tops, first encountering the stalks with leading separating devices fashioned as ships for separating the crop plants arranged in rows, engaging the stalks with a rotary shaft and with a draw-in drum having dogs on the surface, engaging the plants with a reaper element and then with a deflection shaft all for flattening the plants and removing the tops and conveying the tops laterally inwardly with an auger to pass to a conveying channel to be transported to a harvesting combine.

Abstract: The apparatus for harvesting crops, particularly seed crops, comprises a mobile support structure (20) and a crop stripping device in the form of a rotor (30), which may be attached to height adjustable arms and is driven by drive means (22). The rotor (30) carries transverse rows of wedge form crop stripping elements (10) which may be combined with transverse ribs. The crop stripping elements having prominent leading edges, for example each formed at the junction between two faces which are acutely inclined with respect to each other. They may be attached to removable, raised, hollow mounting bars. The drive to the rotor may be so arranged that during forward movement of the apparatus the crop engaging elements (32) are propelled progressively through the crop, moving upwards at a front region. Seeds and other plant parts detached by the action of the rotor are impelled into a crop flow passage (27) under a crop guide cover (21).

Abstract: A plastic reel bat for harvesting equipment is described comprising a generally rectangular member having a pair of spaced-apart reinforcing members embedded therein which extend substantially the entire length thereof.

Abstract: The bearing assembly includes a synthetic resinous collar which circumscribes the tube and oscillates therewith against the inside of a metal bushing wedged within a metal housing that is bolted to the adjacent tine tube carrier arm of the reel. The bushing is constructed from a pair of generally semicircular half-sections that are abutted together to make a complete annulus when held within the housing, thereby permitting removal of the bushing from the tube by simply separating the two half-sections from one another after the housing has been slipped axially off the end of the bushing. A slit in one side of the collar permits opposed wall portions thereof to be spread apart so that the collar may likewise be removed from the tube in a transverse direction rather than requiring axial movement along the tube which would be obstructed by crop-engaging tines of the reel.

Abstract: A combined mechanical air reel for harvesting equipment has a control support-manifold tube and a plurality of depending tubes mounted on the support-manifold tubes that direct a curtain of air against grain to be cut to move the grain toward a cutter bar on which the reel is mounted. At the same time a rotatable finger carrying bat type mechanical reel, also mounted on the central support-manifold tube, is used to feed material to the cutter bar. The mechanical reel bats rotate around the outside of the support-manifold tube. The bats extend parallel to the cutter bar, and the postion of fingers on the bats is controlled by a cam action that permits the bats and the fingers to enter and exit the grain substantially vertically to reduce shattering of the grain. A positive cam drive is provided for actuating the fingers.

Abstract: The distinguishing feature of the invention resides in the fact that each tine of the rake bar is configured in the cross-section as an isosceles triangle with a working edge defined by a vertex of an angle between the lateral sides in the direction of rotation of the reel, and in the zone of the vertex, the working edge of the tine is defined by the base of the isosceles triangle. A portion of each tine between its vertex a fastener member for attaching the tine to the bat blade is curvilinear and has a longitudinal slot.

Abstract: An improved harvester pickup reel tine and bat structure results in light weight, ease of assembly and non-snagging operation. A one-piece tine and attachment is formed by molding a plastic tine integral with a split ring to clamp it onto the support tube. A single split in the ring and the integral construction permits an assembly with no protrusions on the rear surface of the reel which otherwise catches on accumulated material in the harvester. An alternate embodiment includes extension wings which interlock with adjacent structures to form a continuous bat thus affording the reel assembly which is convertible between a structure with or without bats.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural machine having a cutterbar, an auger and a rotatable reel, the reel having a main axis of rotation around which the reel is rotated in one direction, crop-engaging members being rotatably mounted on the reel around respective pivot axes disposed around the main shaft, is disclosed wherein inclination control means including steering means positioned eccentrically of the main axis are operable, during rotation of the reel in said one direction, to rotate the crop-engaging members around the respective pivot axes in the opposite direction so as to maintain the crop-engaging members at a fixed positional inclination relative to the horizontal so that the free ends of the crop-engaging members define a circularly shaped locus.

Abstract: A grain deflector is described for a grain combine harvester of the type with a reel provided with radially extending arms which support a plurality of laterally projecting circumferentially spaced apart reel bat support shafts at their ends. The grain deflector comprises a grain deflector body mounted at the distal end, preferably of each of the radial arms to extend radially outward on the opposite side of the reel support shaft from the arm. Each grain deflector body includes a pair of opposed broad side faces and a peripheral edge connecting the opposed faces. The peripheral edge is preferably smoothly contoured and can be circular in shape. During operation the side faces of the grain deflector are adapted to slide past the reel bats positioned in proximity to them with a wiping action as the reel rotates and the reel bats are maintained in an upright position to thereby clean foreign material from the reel and reduce the wrapping up of such foreign material on the reel.

Abstract: A reel for a harvesting machine comprises a plurality of bats arranged for rotation around an axis defined by a shaft. The bats are pivotal about a bat axis parallel to the shaft and are driven in pivoting movement by an eccentric ring member interconnected to each of the bats by a rigid link controlled by the eccentric ring member. The ring member is free to rotate relative to the shaft but is driven by each in turn of the links when the respective bat reaches an extreme position as defined by a sliding link coupled between the rigid link and the ring member. The bats comprise folded sheet metal in tubular form defining a plurality of pockets each for receiving a plastics finger for projecting from a leading edge of the bat. Each bat is formed from separate bat portions coupled together by tubes extending into an end of the bat and bolted to the tubes so as to depress material from the bat into a punched hole formed in a groove in the tube.

Abstract: A reel for a harvesting machine comprises a plurality of bats arranged for rotation around an axis defined by a shaft. The bats are pivotal about a bat axis parallel to the shaft and are driven in pivoting movement by an eccentric ring member interconnected to each of the bats by a rigid link controlled by the eccentric ring member. The ring member is free to rotate relative to the shaft but is driven by each in turn of the links when the respective bat reaches an extreme position as defined by a sliding link coupled between the rigid link and the ring member. The bats comprise folded sheet metal in tubular form defining a plurality of pockets each for receiving a plastics finger for projecting from a leading edge of the bat. Each bat is formed from separate bat portions coupled together by tubes extending into an end of the bat and bolted to the tubes so as to depress material from the bat into a punched hole formed in a groove in the tube.

Abstract: A harvesting machine particularly a swather comprises a frame carrying twin headers across the front of the frame and abutting centrally of the frame. The headers are mounted on pivot couplings arranged at respective front corners of the frame and of a type which allows the header to rotate through ninety degrees to a position along side the frame while at the same time causing the header to twist abut a longitudinal axis so that when it reaches a transport position along side the frame it is also raised. The movement from field transport position can be obtained by driving ground wheels at the outer ends of the headers. The reels can be moved longitudinally of the headers to accommodate pivotal movement of the headers caused by variations in field height.

Abstract: A metal tine assembly interchangeable with plastic tines on a transverse tubular bat having a teardrop cross-sectional configuration. Each tine includes a wound coil and upper shank clamped to the rear wall of a bat by an overlying bracket. The bracket has a lower opening that bears against the sides of the coil and an elongated recess with a side wall that bears against the tine shank to stabilize the tine on the bat. The assembly is held in place by a single mounting screw and expandable grommet.

Abstract: A header frame for a combine harvester having a linkage connection between the crop reel and the auger, whereby the auger may be automatically and mechanically raised from the header floor by raising the reel for purposes of unplugging wedged crop material. The linkage includes a lost-motion connection so that the reel can be moved vertically as required during harvesting without affecting the auger, and the auger is also capable of floating action during operation. A sprocket and chain drive for the auger includes a spring-biased idler sprocket for maintaining proper chain tension and uninterrupted operation of the auger at all times. An adjustable wedge is also provided for fixing and limiting the minimum spacing between the auger and the header floor.

Abstract: An anti-wrapping protector for spring fingers on a reel for combines and other harvesting equipment and in particular for use on the type of combine reel generally known as the "Hume" reel. The Hume reel includes mechanisms to keep provided spring teeth or tines on the reel always pointed substantially vertically downward from their support pipe. In combining (harvesting) soy beans and other crops that tend to cling and wrap around anything that moves, as well as cutting hay with windrowers, it has been found that coils in the springs in the well known "Hume" reel as well as the pipes and tine support bats themselves cause wrapping. This requires stopping to clean the material out and great time delays are encountered. The present device is a unitary, molded plastic tubular member that has a slit so the tube can be slipped over the support pipe, bat, and coil of the reel spring tooth and then secured in position to protect the parts from wrapping.

Abstract: A spider arm journal and bat section connecting means for harvester reel pick-up bats which permits a limited amount of axial, angular and transverse flexure between the bat sections and the journal shaft to which the bat sections are mounted, the said means comprising a bat retainer assembly onto which the end of a bat is fastened and into which an end of the journal shaft is received with sliding fit engagement, and a connecting link integral with and normal to the journal connected adjacent its outer end with an attachment plate comprising the end of said assembly adjacent the journal.

Abstract: A bat board construction of a harvester reel for use in harvesting soybeans includes an elongated shield of tear drop configuration having its widest dimension at the top and its lower and narrowest portion secured to a substantially rectangular bat board and operatively secured at respective ends to a harvester reel for rotation therewith. The wide end of the shield is several times greater than the narrow end and of sufficient breadth so that as the narrow end enters the crop, the relatively wide top serves to maintain separation of the stems and pods of the plant to prevent their inherent tendency when in contact to cling together and to become wrapped around the bat and reel instead of being drawn into the operating mechanism of the harvester.

Abstract: A harvesting machine has an improved crop gathering reel assembly which includes an elongated tubular drive member rotatably mounted to the machine, at least one pair of spaced apart unitary spiders, a plurality of tine-carrying bars extending generally parallel to the tubular member and interconnecting the spiders, joint members mounting the spiders to the tubular member for universal articulation relative to the member and a guide plate structure stationarily mounted to the machine adjacent one of the spiders for positioning the spiders in generally parallel planes disposed at predetermined oblique angles relative to the tubular member. The angles are generally equal and predetermined such that, upon predetermined rotation of the tubular member, the spiders rotate therewith within the aforementioned planes and concurrently universally articulate relative to the tubular member so that the tine-carrying bars will engage and sweep crop laterally and toward the harvesting machine.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a crop harvesting machine for collecting stalk crops having seed pods near ground level. The harvester includes a relatively large horizontally disposed reel structure. As the reel rotates, bat-assemblies thereon successively sweep downward into the crop and urge the stalks against a cutter bar. These assemblies feature a combination of flexible flaps and pickup reel tines which conserve and prevent loss of crops.

Abstract: A plurality of radial bat support arms are secured between two axially spaced apart hub plate members. The plate members form a hub assembly which is secured to radial mounting lobes on a thin walled center tube of a harvester reel. Each bat support arm has a base portion of channel form in cross section. A single bolt is used for connecting the web of such base portion directly to a first hub plate member. Two additional bolts extend through both hub plate members, through gusset portions of the support arm which lie against the second hub plate member, and through tubular spacer means positioned axially between the gussets and the first plate member. The two additional bolts are both circumferentially spaced apart and radially spaced inwardly from the single bolt. The hub plate members include spacer blocks welded to their inner surfaces at the regions thereof which outwardly bound the mounting lobes on the center tube.

Abstract: A crop-gathering table for a combine harvester has a tubular main cross beam on which are supported at spaced intervals a plurality of angle iron ribs extending downwardly and then forwardly to support the back wall and then the bottom wall of the table and to support the cutter bar at the front end of the ribs. A stiffener plate is secured to the bottom of the ribs so that with the bottom wall of the table a plurality of hollow cells are formed to provide a rigid but lightweight table structure.