Patent ID: 8806844
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A flail rotor head attachment for attachment to a harvesting machine having crop residue processing elements, a power source and including an input opening for receiving crop residue into a harvesting machine, the attachment comprising: a frame structure for operatively coupling the attachment to the front portion of a harvesting machine; a housing having an exit opening for positioning in alignment with the input opening of a harvesting machine; a flail rotor mounted on said frame structure, said flail rotor including a plurality of cutting elements for picking up and chopping crop residue from a field; an auger mounted on the frame structure for receiving crop residue from the flail rotor, the auger having at least two flightings positioned in opposite directions for funneling crop residue towards the exit opening of the housing for delivery to the input opening of a harvesting machine; and a drive mechanism coupled to said flail rotor and said auger for rotating said flail rotor and said auger, said drive mechanism including a driveline and at least one drive assembly for driving said flail rotor and said auger in the same direction, said flail rotor and auger being positioned and located relative to each other such that rotation of said flail rotor and said auger in the same direction continuously funnels the crop residue across the upper portion of the housing and toward the exit opening of the housing, said driveline being adapted for coupling to a power source of a harvesting machine; said housing including a separate shield member positioned under said auger and adjacent to said flail rotor for funneling the crop residue from said flail rotor to said auger.