SKID SHOE FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HEADER

A skid shoe for use with a header for harvesting row crops, in particular corn, comprises a body having a curvilinear side profile including: a central section having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom surface that is convexly curved in a transverse direction bowing outwardly between the first side wall and the second side wall; a front section having a front external surface that extends forwardly and upwardly from the central section; and a rear section having a rear external surface that extends rearwardly and upwardly from the central section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a skid shoe for use with an agricultural machine, and more particularly, to a skid shoe for use with a row crop header.

2. Description of Related Art

Skid shoes are known to be used with agricultural machines. There are two general types of skid shoes that are used on agricultural machines. The first type of skid shoe is mounted to the agricultural machine such that it does not maintain constant engagement with the ground, but rather protects the agricultural machine from impact when traversing uneven or harsh terrain. For example, this type of skid shoe maintains a clearance above the ground during operation over uneven terrain to prevent the header from forcefully impacting the ground. The second type of skid shoe is mounted to the agricultural machine so that it does maintain constant engagement with the ground during operation to maintain a clearance or preset height of a cutterbar, for example. For both types, it is known to use skid shoes that have flat exterior bottom surfaces with longitudinal edges. The flat bottom and longitudinal edge configuration is problematic, because it can dig into the ground, push loose soil and crop residue, and requires frequent replacement due to wear. Therefore, there is a need for a skid shoe that avoids digging into the ground, minimizes pushing loose soil and crop residue, and that has sufficient durability to avoid wearing excessively due to contact with the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A skid shoe for a row crop header comprises an elongated body having a generally curvilinear longitudinal side profile that includes a central section, a front section, and a rear section. The central section has a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom surface that is convexly curved in a transverse direction bowing outwardly between said first side wall and said second side wall. The front section has a front external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a forward longitudinal direction from the central section. The rear section has a rear external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a rearward longitudinal direction from the central section.

According to another aspect of the invention, a skid shoe for a row crop header comprises an elongated body having a generally curvilinear longitudinal side profile that includes a central section, a front section, and a rear section. The central section has a flat bottom section. The flat bottom section extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a first transverse direction defining a first outwardly bowing side wall. The flat bottom section extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a second transverse direction defining a second outwardly bowing side wall. The central section transverse lower surface is curvilinear and includes the first outwardly bowing side wall, the flat bottom section, and the second outwardly bowing side wall. The elongated body of the skid shoe further includes a front section that has a front external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a forward longitudinal direction from said central section. The elongated body of the skid shoe further includes a rear external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a rearward longitudinal direction from the central section.

According to another aspect of the invention, a header assembly for harvesting row crops comprises a header and a skid shoe that is attached to the header. The skid shoe has an elongated body having a curvilinear longitudinal side profile. The elongated body includes a central section having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom surface that is convexly curved in a transverse direction bowing outwardly between the first side wall and the second side wall. The elongated body of the skid shoe further comprises a front section having a front external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a forward longitudinal direction from the central section. The elongated body of the skid shoe further comprises a rear section having a rear external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a rearward longitudinal direction from the central section.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a header assembly for harvesting row crops comprises a header and a skid shoe that is attached to the header. The skid shoe has an elongated body having a curvilinear side profile. The elongated body includes a central section having a flat bottom section. The flat bottom section extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a first transverse direction defining a first outwardly bowing side wall. The flat bottom section extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a second transverse direction defining a second outwardly bowing side wall. The central section transverse lower surface is curvilinear and includes the first outwardly bowing side wall, the flat bottom section, and the second outwardly bowing side wall. The elongated body further comprises a front section having a front external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a forward longitudinal direction from the central section. The elongated body also further comprises a rear section having a rear external surface that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a rearward longitudinal direction from the central section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a skid shoe for use with a header for harvesting row crops, for example corn, is shown generally at10.

Referring toFIG.1, the skid shoe10of the present invention is used on a row crop header12that has a pair of side wing sections14a,14bthat are each independently pivotal about a center section16and that contour the surface of the field of crops to be harvested. The wing sections14a,14bvertically float relative to the center section16via a respective linkage system18a,18b. There is a skid shoe10mounted to the header12at the distal end20a,20bof each wing section14a,14bthat remains in contact with the ground to maintain a cut height of the header12during operation. As a result of the pivotal motion of each side wing section14a,14b, there are times when a side wing section14a,14bis not parallel with the ground.

FIGS.2and3illustrate the row crop header12when the side wing sections14a,14bare not parallel with the ground.FIG.2illustrates the side wing sections14a,14bpivoting downwardly with respect to the center section16.FIG.3illustrates the side wing sections14a,14bpivoting upwardly with respect to the center section16.FIG.2illustrates known skid shoes22, having angular exterior longitudinal edges24along a flat bottom surface, mounted to the end of each wing section14a,14b. Since the skid shoes22remain in constant contact with the ground during operation, the angular exterior longitudinal edges24along the flat bottom surface of each skid shoe22dig into the ground when the wing section14a,14b, to which it is attached, is positioned at an angle that is not parallel with the ground.FIG.3illustrates two skid shoes10,10bof the present invention, one mounted at the end of each side wing section14a,14b.

The skid shoe10of the present invention eliminates the angular exterior longitudinal edges along the flat bottom surface. Referring toFIGS.4and5, the skid shoe10has an elongated body26having a generally curvilinear, or canoe-shaped, longitudinal side profile and includes a central section28extending longitudinally between a front section30, and a rear section32. Referring toFIGS.4and5, in one embodiment, the central section28has a first side wall34, a second side wall36, and a bottom surface38that is continuously convexly curved in a transverse direction and bows outwardly between the first side wall34and the second side wall36. The first side wall34curvilinearly bows outwardly in a first transverse direction. The second side wall36curvilinearly bows outwardly in a second transverse direction. Further, referring toFIG.5, the central section28has a transverse lower surface profile40that continuously curvilinearly bows outwardly and includes the first side wall34, the bottom surface38, and the second side wall36. Referring toFIG.4, the front section30has a front external surface42that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a forward longitudinal direction from the central section28. The rear section32has a rear external surface44that extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a rearward longitudinal direction from the central section28.

The front section30has a front section height dimension46, defined from the bottom surface38to a front upper surface48of the front section30, that is greater than a rear section height dimension50, defined from the bottom surface38to a rear upper surface52of the rear section32. The front section height dimension46is in the range of 100-110 millimeters (mm). The rear section height dimension50is in the range of 60-70 millimeters (mm). In one embodiment, the front section height dimension46is 106 millimeters (mm) and the rear section height dimension50is 65 millimeters (mm). The first side wall34and the second side wall36each have a constant height dimension54,60defined from the bottom surface38to upper surfaces56,58of the side walls34,36, respectively, and extending longitudinally from the front section30to the rear section32. The first side wall height dimension54is defined from the bottom surface38to the first side wall upper surface56. The second side wall height dimension60is defined from the bottom surface38to a second side wall upper surface58. In this embodiment, the first side wall height dimension54and the second side wall height dimension60are equal.

Referring toFIG.6, the first side wall34has a first side wall upper surface56that extends continuously from the front section30to the rear section32. The second side wall36has a second side wall upper surface58that extends continuously from the front section30to the rear section32. The front section30has a front section upper surface48that extends continuously from the first side wall34to the second side wall36. The rear section32has a rear section upper surface52that extends continuously from the first side wall34to the second side wall36. All of the top surfaces, the first side wall upper surface56, the second side wall upper surface58, the front section upper surface48, and the rear section upper surface52, form a continuous skid shoe upper surface that define an upper perimeter of the skid shoe10.

The intersection of the first side wall34and the front section30defines an enclosed first corner62. The intersection of the second side wall36and the front section30defines an enclosed second corner64. The intersection of the first side wall34and the rear section32defines an enclosed third corner66. The intersection of the second side wall36and the rear section32defines an enclosed fourth corner68. The first enclosed corner62has an outwardly bowing outer surface70. The second enclosed corner64has an outwardly bowing outer surface72. The third enclosed corner66has an outwardly bowing outer surface74. The fourth enclosed corner68has an outwardly bowing outer surface76.

Referring toFIG.7, when viewed from above, the skid shoe10body has a generally trapezoidal shape continuously tapering in width between the rear section32and front section30. The tapered shape helps shed material around the sides of the skid shoe10as it travels in the forward direction during operation. The elongated body26has an overall longitudinal length dimension78, measured from a front outermost longitudinal surface of the front external surface42of the front section30to an outermost longitudinal surface of the rear external surface44of the rear section32is in the range of 785-795 mm. The front transverse width dimension80of the front external surface42, measured from an outermost transverse surface82of the first sidewall34adjacent to the front section30to an outermost transverse surface84of the second sidewall36adjacent to the front section30, is in the range of 180-190 mm. The rear transverse width dimension86of the rear external surface44, measured from an outermost transverse surface88of the first sidewall34adjacent to the rear section32to an outermost transverse surface90of the second sidewall36adjacent to the rear section32, is in the range of 260-270 mm. In one embodiment, the overall length dimension78is 790 mm, the front width dimension80is 183 mm, and the rear width dimension86is 262 mm.

In the illustrated embodiments, the skid shoe10is made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE). Alternatively, any material with comparable abrasion-resistance could be considered for this application.

The skid shoe10includes internal, structural ribs92on a top surface94. The placement and orientation of the internal, structural ribs92define a recess96. The recess96has a trapezoidal shape viewed from above, or from a top perspective.

The skid shoe10includes at least one mounting aperture98that extends through the thickness of the central section28from the top surface94through to the bottom surface38. In the illustrated embodiment, there are six mounting apertures98that are each square shaped.

Referring toFIG.8, to mount the skid shoe10to the header12, a plate100is positioned within the recess96of the skid shoe10. The plate100may be made from steel and, in the illustrated embodiment, is 6 millimeters (mm) thick. The shape of the plate100is the same as the shape of the recess96and is sized to be received within the recess96. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess96and the plate100both have a trapezoidal shape.

The plate100includes six mounting apertures102that align with the six skid shoe mounting apertures98when the plate is positioned within the recess96. In the illustrated embodiment, the six apertures98in the skid shoe10and the six apertures102in the plate100are all square shaped. In each pair of aligned apertures98,102a round-head, square-neck bolt104is inserted from the bottom of the skid shoe10and protrudes through the square hole98in the bottom38of the shoe10and through the aligned square hole102in the plate100. The depth of the square neck of the bolt104is designed to engage with both the square aperture98through the skid shoe and the square aperture102through the plate. The placement and position of the plate100aids in reinforcement to minimize stripping out the bolts104when attaching the skid shoe10to the header12.

Referring toFIG.1, the skid shoe10is attached to the outer portion20aof the first wing section14a. A second skid shoe10bis attached to an outer portion20bof the second wing section14b. Each of these skid shoes10,10bare adjustably mounted to their respective wing sections14a,14band can be referred to as adjustable skid shoes. Referring toFIG.10, although only skid shoe10is illustrated, each of the adjustable skid shoes10,10bincludes a welded steel linkage106that is attached to the steel plate100(not visible inFIG.10due to its position within recess96) and to a hydraulic cylinder108that facilitates vertical adjustment of each skid shoe10,10b. Each hydraulic cylinder108is also connected to the header frame110and by controlling the vertical position of each skid shoe10,10bcontrols the spacing of each header wing14a,14bfrom the ground during operation.

Referring toFIG.1, the header12further includes a third skid shoe10cand a fourth skid shoe10dthat are each fixedly attached to the header12and are therefore referred to as non-adjustable skid shoes. The third skid shoe10cis mounted to the first wing section14abetween the skid shoe10and the header center section16. The fourth skid shoe10dis mounted to the second wing section14bbetween the second skid shoe10band the header center section16.

The header12illustrated inFIG.1is a twelve (12) row header. The first skid shoe10is mounted to the first wing section14abetween a first row unit112and a second row unit114from a distal end20aof the first wing section14a. The second skid shoe10bis mounted to the header12between a first row unit116and a second row unit118from a distal end20bof the second wing section14b. The third skid shoe10cis mounted to the first wing section14abetween a third row unit120and a fourth row unit122from the center16of the header12. The fourth skid shoe10dis mounted to the second wing section14bbetween a third row unit124and a fourth row unit126from the center16of the header12. However, it should be appreciated that the header12may include any number of rows and with the skid shoes mount to the wing sections between the row units as desired without varying from the scope of the invention.FIG.3illustrates an eight (8) row header having only two adjustable skid shoes10,10b. Skid shoe10is mounted at the end of the first side wing section14a. Skid shoe10bis mounted at the end of the second side wing section14b.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated inFIG.12, the skid shoe10′ has all of the same dimensions and features as the prior skid shoe10embodiment with the exception that the bottom surface38′ of this alternative skid shoe10′ embodiment is flat. Either of these two skid shoe embodiments10,10′ can be used on the header12as described above, either mounted to the header12as an adjustable skid or as a non-adjustable skid shoe. The skid shoe10′ has an elongated body having a generally curvilinear longitudinal side profile including a central section, a front section, and a rear section. However, the central section has a generally flat bottom section38′. The flat bottom section38′ extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a first transverse direction defining a first outwardly bowing side wall34′. The flat bottom section38′ extends outwardly and curvilinearly upwardly in a second transverse direction defining a second outwardly bowing side wall36′. The central section has a transverse lower surface that is curvilinear and includes the first outwardly bowing side wall34′, the flat bottom section38′, and the second outwardly bowing side wall36′. The front and rear sections of this embodiment are the same as the prior skid shoe embodiment10with the outwardly bowing bottom surface.

The skid shoe10disclosed in the first embodiment that has the convexly curved, outwardly bowing bottom surface38requires approximately 5% more material to manufacture than the skid shoe10′ disclosed in the second embodiment that has the flat bottom surface38′, but results in the skid shoe10of the first embodiment having double to triple the life span of the skid shoe10′ of the second embodiment.

Since the skid shoes that are each mounted on the ends of the first and second wing sections maintain contact with the ground during operation, there is a portion of the bottom surface that is a “contact surface” with the ground.FIG.13illustrates the “contact surface”128of the skid shoe10of the first embodiment engaging with the ground when not parallel with the ground, for example when the wing section14to which it is attached has pivoted with respect to the center section16due to uneven terrain or crossing over an object. Similarly,FIG.12illustrates the “contact surface”128′ of the skid shoe10′ of the second embodiment engaging with the ground when it is not parallel with the ground. The “contact surface”128shown inFIG.13is larger due to the outward convex curve of the bottom surface38compared to the “contact surface”128′ of the flat bottom38′ skid shoe10′ shown inFIG.12. In one embodiment, the “contact surface”128of the outwardly bowing convex bottom surface is approximately 70 millimeters (mm) wide compared to a “contact surface”128′ of approximately 30 millimeters (mm) of the flat bottom surface38′. The larger “contact surface”128results in prolonging the life of the skid shoe10. The continuous curvilinear profiles of each skid shoe10,10′ in both the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction, for each embodiment of the skid shoe, prevents digging and pushing of the skid shoe into the ground and also helps the skid shoe lose soil and crop residue during operation.