Patent ID: 7635299
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A windrow forming construction for an agricultural combine that has a rear residue output port for the discharge of crop residue therefrom and which can employ a spreader assembly positionable generally below and to the rear of the rear residue output port to receive and distribute crop residue, such a positioned spreader assembly defining a spreader assembly footprint at the rear of the combine, said windrow forming construction comprising a main body portion mountable to the rear of the combine for rotational movement about a generally horizontal axis of rotation generally laterally transverse to the combine defining a main body rotational axis, said main body portion positionable at a point in said rotational movement of said main body about said main body rotational axis to extend generally rearwardly from the combine over the top rear end of the footprint area for the spreader assembly to a rear portion beyond the rear end of such footprint area and to extend generally laterally across the expanse of the footprint area for the spreader assembly, said main body portion including opposed front side portions generally adjacent to the sides of the footprint area for the spreader assembly, a positioning mechanism operatively connectable to the combine and to said main body portion to support said main body at a plurality of rotational positions about said main body rotational axis, said positioning mechanism operable to vary the rotational positioning of said main body portion about said main body rotational axis and to maintain said main body portion at a desired rotational position, a pair of side deflectors disposed projecting generally downwardly towards the ground surface at said opposed front sides of said main body portion and extending generally along the sides of the footprint area of the spreader assembly, said side deflectors being connected at said opposed front sides of said main body portion to be pivotally rotatable about respective deflector rotation axes generally parallel to one another and transverse to said main body rotation axis, each of said side deflectors having a connected end portion and a free end portion, wherein said free end portion telescopically engaged with said connected end portion with the free end portion longitudinally slidable along said connected end portion to permit the lengths of said side deflectors to be adjustably varied from a minimum retracted length to a maximum extended length, said side deflectors being rotatable about their respective deflector rotation axes to vary the spacing between the free end portions of said side deflectors and to be rotatably positionable to desired positions, at least one rotational position of said main body portion about said main body rotational axis disposing said main body portion for use in forming a windrow, such rotational positioning defining a first windrowing position, said main body portion interacting with crop residue directed thereto when disposed in said first windrowing position to direct the crop residue towards the ground surface at a desired inclination corresponding generally to the inclination of said main body portion relative to the ground surface, wherein varying the rotational position of said side deflectors about their respective deflector rotation axes to a desired position while said main body portion is in said first windrowing position establishing a desired windrow width, whereby crop residue directed to said windrow forming construction during a harvesting operation by the combine will be formably directed onto the field behind the combine at a desired inclination corresponding to the inclination of said main body portion in said first windrowing position and In a desired width as determined by the spacing between said free ends of said side deflectors.