Patent ID: 8646249
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A row unit for a cotton harvester, which is adapted for forward movement through a field to harvest cotton planted in rows in the field, the row unit comprising: a unit housing defining a row receiving area and a cotton exiting area; a moistener column door pivotally coupled to the unit housing; a latch structure configured to lock the moistener column door in an open position when a cotton plug pressure exceeds a lock set point; and a compression structure coupled to the unit housing and configured to exert a pre-load on the moistener column door, placing the moistener column door in a closed position; wherein the compression structure is configured to yield to the cotton plug pressure that exceeds the pre-load, pivoting the moistener column door to the open position, and when the pre-load exceeds the cotton plug pressure, the compression structure is configured to return the moistener column door to the closed position from the open position.