Stomping shoe assembly for an agricultural harvester header

A stomping shoe assembly for an agricultural harvester header including a stomping shoe having a substantially planar proximal end for connecting to an agricultural harvester header, and a curved distal end for engaging crop. The assembly further includes a stalk cutter having an elongated body mounted to the stomping shoe and extending from the stomping shoe from the curved distal end to the substantially planar proximal end. Also provided is an agricultural harvester header including the stomping shoe assembly.

The exemplary embodiments of present invention relate generally to a stomping shoe assembly for a header of a plant cutting machine (e.g., a combine harvester) and, more specifically, to a stomping shoe assembly having a stalk cutter mounted to and extending from a stomping shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An agricultural harvester e.g., a plant cutting machine, such as, but not limited to, a combine or a windrower, generally includes a header operable for severing and collecting plant or crop material as the harvester is driven over a crop field. When used for processing stalk plants such as corn, the header has a stalk stripping mechanism, e.g., a plurality of row units, for stripping ears of corn from their stalks. After the ears of corn are stripped by the row units, they are collected inside the header and transported via a conveyor such as a draper belt or auger towards a feederhouse located centrally of the header through which ears of corn are passed to the harvester to undergo further processing.

After a field of corn is processed in this manner, the stripped stalks remain behind in the field. Farmers typically leave the stripped stalks in the field between plantings to assist in controlling erosion of ground soil from wind and rain and to provide a natural fertilizer for subsequent crops after decomposition. However, since the stripped stalks remain standing, they interfere with the planting of subsequent crops. For this reason, farmers typically employ various methods for knocking down or chopping stripped stalks after harvesting a field of corn.

While such methods may be effective at clearing stripped stalks of corn before a subsequent planting, they require working the field a second time, which is very time consuming and labor intensive. Further, such methods typically require extensive amounts of power. These disadvantages increase the cost of corn production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment there is provided a stomping shoe assembly for an agricultural harvester header including a stomping shoe having a substantially planar proximal end for connecting to an agricultural harvester header, and a curved distal end for engaging crop. The assembly further includes a stalk cutter having an elongated body mounted to the stomping shoe and extending from the stomping shoe from the curved distal end to the substantially planar proximal end.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment there is provided a header for an agricultural harvester comprising a chassis configured to mount to a forward end of the agricultural harvester, a row unit mounted to the chassis for processing crop, and a stomping shoe assembly mounted to the chassis. The stomping shoe assembly comprises a stomping shoe having a substantially planar proximal end connected to the chassis and a curved distal end for engaging crop. The assembly further includes a stalk cutter having an elongated body mounted to the stomping shoe and extending from the stomping shoe from the curved distal end to the substantially planar proximal end.

Other features and advantages of the subject disclosure will be apparent from the following more detail description of the exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made in detail to the various exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or like reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like features. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form and are not drawn to precise scale. Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. Directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, above, below and diagonal, are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. The term “distal” shall mean away from the center of a body. The term “proximal” shall mean closer towards the center of a body and/or away from the “distal” end. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the identified element and designated parts thereof. Such directional terms used in conjunction with the following description of the drawings should not be construed to limit the scope of the subject application in any manner not explicitly set forth. Additionally, the term “a,” as used in the specification, means “at least one.” The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

The terms “corn,” “ear,” “stalk,” “leaf,” and “crop material” are used throughout the specification for convenience and it should be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. Thus, “corn” refers to that part of a crop which is harvested and separated from discardable portions of the crop material. The terms “debris,” “material other than grain,” and the like are used interchangeably.

“Substantially” as used herein shall mean considerable in extent, largely but not wholly that which is specified, or an appropriate variation therefrom as is acceptable within the field of art.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages and characteristics of the exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the subject disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular exemplary embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG.1illustrates an agricultural harvester100in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. For exemplary purposes only, the agricultural harvester is illustrated as a combine harvester. The harvester100includes a header102attached to a forward end of the harvester100, which is configured to process crops, including (without limitation) corn. The header includes a plurality of row units104A,1048,104C and104D mounted to a chassis or frame104of the header. The row units are spaced apart substantially in accordance with the spacing of a row of corn stalks (not illustrated). The row units strip ears of corn from the corn stalks in the known manner and induct the cut crops into a feederhouse106as the harvester moves forward over a crop field.

Referring now toFIG.2, there is illustrated a mounting assembly200for mounting stomping shoe assemblies in accordance with the exemplary embodiment to a header chassis such as chassis104ofFIG.1. Mounting assembly200includes a plurality of stomping shoe assemblies300,300′ and300″ coupled to an intermediate frame member202via respective mounting brackets202A,202B, and202C. The intermediate frame member202is configured to couple to the frame104of the header via mounting points204A and204B such that each of stomping shoe assemblies300,300′ and300″ is positioned inline and behind an associated row unit for flattening stalks of corn after the stalks are processed by the row units. In accordance with an alternative aspect, stomping shoe assemblies300,300′ and300″ may be coupled directly to the frame of a corn header without need for intermediate frame member202.

As shown inFIG.2, the mounting assembly200is intended to be used with a corn header having three row units. However, it should be appreciated that mounting assembly200may be sized and configured to include any number of stomping shoe assemblies to match corn headers having a commensurate number of row units. For example, mounting assembly200may be sized and configured to include eight stomping shoe assemblies to accommodate corn headers with eight row units. Alternatively, multiple mounting assemblies200may be mounted to a corn header in modular fashion to accommodate a certain number of row units. For example, two modular mounting assemblies, each with three stomping shoe assemblies may be mounted to a corn header having six row units.

FIG.3shows on an enlarged scale the construction of a first exemplary embodiment of a stomping shoe assembly300according to the present disclosure. Stomping shoe assembly300comprises a stomping shoe302having a substantially planar proximal end304for connecting to the agricultural harvester header102. The stomping shoe302also has a curved distal end306, for engaging crop, which is contiguous with the planar proximal end304. The stomping shoe assembly300further comprises a stalk cutter308having an elongated body mounted to the stomping shoe302. The stalk cutter extends along the stomping shoe from the curved distal end306to the substantially planar proximal end304. As shown inFIGS.3and6, the stalk cutter308is provided at its distal end with a stop301and a notch303. The stop301is adapted to contact the distalmost end of the curved distal end306of the stomping shoe302to prevent overtravel of the stalk cutter downwardly through a slot310(FIG.7) of the stomping shoe.

As shown inFIGS.7-9, the stomping shoe302includes the slot310sized to allow passage of the stalk cutter308therethrough. Referring toFIGS.3-5, the stomping shoe further comprises a rib312extending along a longitudinal length of the stomping shoe, e.g., about its mid-line. The rib includes a fastener316about its mid-portion. The fastener can be, e.g., a through hole314in combination with a pin or shear bolt.

As shown inFIGS.7-9, the stalk cutter308is a planar stalk cutter and is mounted with the slot310. The stalk cutter further comprises a curved distal end320having a sharpened bottom edge for engaging crop, and a dorsal fin-like extension322about its proximal end323(FIGS.4and5).FIG.6is a side view of the stalk cutter308which shows a through hole325located at the proximal end323for receiving a pivot318, discussed below. Stalk cutter further includes a plurality of through holes328, the function of which is described below.

Referring toFIG.5, the stalk cutter308has a cross-sectional profile curve324that substantially matches a cross-sectional profile curve326of the stomping shoe302, such that when the stalk cutter is fully retracted the stock cutter does not project downwardly from a bottom surface of the stomping shoe. The stalk cutter308is pivotable relative to the stomping shoe302. According to an aspect, the stalk cutter308is pivotably connected to the stomping shoe302via a pivot318which passes through the through hole325of the stalk cutter.

In accordance with another aspect, the stalk cutter308comprises a plurality of through holes328substantially about its mid-portion (FIGS.3,5and6) for receiving the pin. Thus, the stalk cutter is movable about a plurality of positions through the slot310and fixable in position by the fastener316. In other words, the through holes328are individually alignable with the stomping shoe rib through hole314to receive the pin therethrough such that the stalk cutter is fixed in position with the slot310.

In this regard, the user can set a depth of extension of the stalk cutter308at several positions relative to the stomping shoe302. When the corn stalks to be cut are relatively thick, the user can set the extension depth of the stalk cutter to be comparatively large. Conversely, when the corn stalks to be cut are thinner, the user can set the extension depth of the stalk cutter to be comparatively smaller. Further, if desired or necessary, the user can set the stalk cutter such that it does not extend from the stomping shoe. Additionally, as the stomping shoe and stalk cutter may encounter hard objects such as rocks or stones when traversing a field, it is preferable that fastener316include a shear bolt that shears when the stalk cutter encounters a hard object. As such, the stalk cutter can be freed to pivot upwardly so as to minimize damage to the stalk cutter and stomping shoe assembly.

Referring toFIGS.10-13, there is shown a stomping shoe assembly400constructed in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure. Stomping shoe assembly400is constructed similar to stomping shoe assembly300. Accordingly, only those aspects of the stomping shoe assembly400that depart materially in structure and/or function from their counterparts in stomping shoe assembly300, or are otherwise necessary for a proper understanding of the subject disclosure, will be discussed in detail.

In this regard, the stomping shoe assembly400comprises a stalk cutter408having a dorsal fin-like extension422about its proximal end and a biasing member436biasing a stalk cutter408relative to the stomping shoe402. The biasing member436biases the pivotably mounted stalk cutter towards the extended position. In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member is formed as a torsion spring having an inner end438in contact with the dorsal fin-like extension422and opposed outer legs440in contact with an upper surface442of the stomping shoe402. It is understood that other types of biasing members may be used to bias the stalk cutter to extend from the stomping shoe including, without limitation, a compression spring, an elastomer, a leaf spring, and the like. Constructed as a spring, the biasing member436is also yieldable in the event the stalk cutter408encounters a hard object. In such an event, the stalk cutter is free to pivot upwardly against the bias of the biasing member so as to minimize potential damage to the stalk cutter.

According to an aspect, the stomping shoe assembly300further comprises a mount330(FIG.3) for attaching to the agricultural harvester header102. Further, the stomping shoe302is pivotably connected to the mount at pivot332(FIG.5) so as to pivot about axis334(FIG.3). It is to be understood that a similar mount may be used to attach the stomping shoe assembly400to the agricultural harvester header102. According to an aspect, stomping shoe assembly300includes a cross bar344and the stomping shoe302is rotationally coupled to the cross bar344about a pivot axis334. A torsion spring346is provided for biasing the stomping shoe302angularly about pivot axis334with respect to the cross bar344, thereby urging a lower surface347of stomping shoe302along direction348and into the ground when being used in conjunction with a combine harvester. In other exemplary embodiments, the biasing force provided by the torsion spring may be provided by other means, such as, for example, a compression spring, an elastomer, a leaf spring and the like, positioned to provide an angular compression force between the cross bar344and the stomping shoe302. The mount may also include a limit bar350and associated pins352,354limit the angular travel of the stomping shoe302with respect to the cross bar344, thereby preventing undesirable over-travel of stomping shoe along direction348and ensuring proper orientation of stomping shoe with respect to the ground when being used. Cross bar344is configured to releasably attach to a mounting bracket356, for example, to facilitate expeditious replacement and/or maintenance of the stomping shoe. For this purpose, cross bar344is provided with a locking pin354and an engaging bar358for engaging a receptacle360of mounting bracket356. To detach stomping shoe302for replacement or maintenance, the locking pin354is removed, thereby allowing engaging bar358to be displaced from engaging the receptacle360of the mounting bracket356.

Although illustrated in the various embodiments as having a single stalk cutter pivotably received in the slot of the stomping shoe, it is to be understood that the slot of the stomping shoe may be of sufficient width to accommodate two or more pivotable stalk cutters, if such is desired or necessary.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments of the stomping shoe assembly advantageously cut and break down stalks and/or weaken stalks without the need for any or minimal additional power, e.g., horsepower from the harvester. As such, the foregoing provides a low cost means to consumers for addressing leftover stalks concurrently during harvesting operations. Consequently, the rate of decomposition of the cut stalks and clearing of the field for subsequent planting is accelerated.