Patent ID: 7867072
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: A01D,A01F

Abstract:
1. A rotor tine construction for a crop residue treatment system that includes a rotary element extending generally longitudinally across a material flow path passing thereby through which crop material pieces, including lengths of crop residue, are moved, the rotary element including an elongated rotary member having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis, the rotary member including an outer surface to and along which a plurality of individual rotor tines can be positioned in a rotor tine array, comprising a base portion disposable generally adjacent to the outer surface of the rotary member and mountable to fix the position of said base portion relative to the rotary member, at least one rotor tine including a blade member having a projecting portion extending outwardly from said base portion to a tip T at a height h from the axis of the rotary member, said projecting portion including three distinct blade edges, one of said blade edges forming a trailing edge on said blade member as the rotary member is rotated forwardly and extending from a point B the other two of said blade edges being upper and lower edge portions forming a leading edge along said blade member as the rotary member is rotated forwardly, said leading edge extending downwardly from tip T of said blade member towards said base portion, said lower edge portion extending from a point B said upper edge portion extending from said intersection point P to an intersection with said trailing edge at tip T of said blade member, said intersection point P defining a notch-like indentation along the leading edge of the blade member defined to be the point of cut contact position, whereby as the rotary member rotates forwardly said rotor tine is rotated through the material flow path and material contacted therein by said leading edge of said rotor tine is caused to move along said leading edge towards intersection point P to concentrate a length of crop residue near said intersection point P as said rotor tine rotates forwardly and to subsequently move centrifugally along and away from said leading edge as the rotor tine completes its rotation through the material flow path.