Speed control unit for driving the pick-up reel of a peanut combine

The present invention relates to a speed control unit associated with a peanut combine for driving and controlling the peripheral speed of a forwardly disposed crop engaging pick-up reel rotatively mounted transversely about the front of the peanut combine. The speed control unit basically includes a dual input drive system including a first drive operatively connected to at least one ground engaging wheel of the combine for providing an input drive corresponding to the ground speed of the peanut combine. A second generally constant input drive is provided from a power take-off source associated with the peanut combine. These two drives simultaneously drive a centrifugal clutch which includes an output drive member that is driven at a speed corresponding to the faster of the two input drives. In controlling the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel, the clutch assembly and speed control unit is so designed that the pick-up reel is driven from the output drive member of the clutch assembly such that the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel is generally equal the ground speed of the peanut combine as long as the ground speed of the combine is at least equal to or greater than a selected speed. Where the speed of the peanut combine falls below said selected speed, then the second generally constant input speed from the power take-off source is operative to drive the output drive member of the clutch assembly and consequently the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel is driven at a relatively constant speed in this case.

The present invention relates to peanut combines and more particularly to a 
speed control unit or system for continuously controlling the peripheral 
speed of a pick-up reel associated with a peanut combine during harvesting 
to minimize field losses and to more efficiently utilize the harvesting 
capacity of the harvester. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In peanut harvesting, peanut crop material including vines and attached 
peanuts generally lie on the ground after digging until the crop material 
is dried after which the peanut combine is moved through the field such 
that a rotatively driven pick-up reel engages the lying crop material and 
lifts and transfers the same upwardly into the crop inlet area of the 
peanut combine. Conventionally the pick-up reel has been driven at a 
relatively constant speed by the power take-off associated with the 
combine irrespective of harvester ground speed and/or crop density. 
Field losses are often increased by the constant peripheral speed of the 
pick-up reel during the harvesting operation. This is generally due to the 
tine fingers of the pick-up reel snatching and jerking the peanut crop 
material from the ground during the harvesting operation. Such snatching 
and jerking often result in the attached peanuts being separated from the 
vines as the crop material is engaged and picked up and transferred into 
the inlet area of the combine. In addition, the actual velocity and speed 
of the tine fingers engaging the crop material often results in the tine 
fingers actually hitting and knocking the peanuts from the vines during 
the harvesting operation due in part at least to the fact that the 
peripheral speed of the tine fingers bears no relations to ground speed 
and consequently in certain cases the tine fingers may move faster than 
the peanut crop material being transferred into the peanut combine. In 
this regard, field losses are still often even greater after the peanut 
crop material has been inverted for drying on the ground because the vines 
become tied together and the tines during the harvesting operation tend to 
pick the peanuts off the vine and other foliage material. It should also 
be noted that certain varieties of peanut crop material, and weather 
conditions, also affect field losses since certain conditions can give 
rise to situations where less force is required to separate the peanuts 
from associated drying material. 
In addition, the conventional manner of driving the pick-up reel of a 
peanut combine at a generally constant peripheral speed can result in 
overloading the thrashing and harvesting capacity of the combine in cases 
where the crop is relatively dense and the ground speed of the harvester 
is not altered to take such into account. This often results in a decrease 
in the life of the internal thrashing and harvesting components of the 
peanut combine not to mention clogging and the possibility that such 
overload will damage or break certain internal components of the peanut 
combine. Therefore, it is well appreciated that the life of a peanut 
combine and the overall quality and efficiency of harvesting can be 
improved by taking some steps to better control the input of peanut crop 
material into the harvester during the harvesting operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pesents a peanut combine having a speed control unit 
or system that is adapted to control the peripheral speed of a peanut 
combine's pick-up reel during the harvesting operation. Basically the 
speed control unit is designed to drive the pick-up reel such that its 
peripheral speed generally equals the ground speed of the peanut combine 
during the harvesting operation so long as the ground speed of the peanut 
combine is equal to or greater than a selected speed, the selected combine 
ground speed preferably being in the range of one-fourth to two miles per 
hour. Once the ground speed of the peanut combine is less than the 
selected speed, the speed control unit is adapted to drive the pick-up 
reel such that its peripheral speed is generally constant. Consequently, 
then during the normal harvesting mode as the peanut combine moves through 
the field, the ground speed thereof will generally be equal to or greater 
than the selected speed and the peripheral speed of the reel will vary 
with the combine's ground speed in order that the peripheral speed will 
generally equal the ground speed during the harvesting operation. In cases 
where the ground speed of the harvester falls below the selected speed, 
such as at the ends of rows and where the peanut crop material may 
accumulate and the harvester must be substantially slowed down or even 
stopped to accommodate the crop material, in such cases the speed control 
unit wil automatically cause the pick-up reel to be driven such that its 
peripheral speed is a generally constant speed and such is a function of 
an input drive from the power take-off of the harvester. 
The speed control unit of the present invention basically comprises a 
centrifugal clutch having dual input drive members each of which are 
driven independently by a first input drive responsive to the ground speed 
of the peanut combine while the other input drive is driven by the power 
take-off associated with the peanut combine. The centrifugal clutch is 
adapted to provide an output speed corresponding to the faster of the two 
input speeds and this output torque is transferred through a secondary 
clutch and slip clutch assembly to the peanut reel where the same is 
driven thereby. Consequently, the output speed of the dual driven 
centrifugal clutch dictates the peripheral speed unless the drive from the 
centrifugal clutch is interrupted by the secondary clutch assembly or the 
associated slip clutch. Therefore, as long as the ground speed of the 
peanut combine is at least equal to or greater than the selected speed, 
then the pick-up reel is effectively driven at a speed such that the 
peripheral speed thereof is equal to the ground speed during the 
harvesting operation. This means that the relative velocity between the 
entering crop material being transferred into the combine by the pick-up 
reel and the combine itself is generally zero. This substantially 
minimizes field losses due to the jarring and snatching of the peanuts 
from the vines as is customary with pick-up reels having a purely constant 
peripheral speed. In addition, the control of the peripheral speed of the 
pick-up reel with respect to ground speed tends to provide a very 
efficient flow of crop material to the peanut combine during the 
harvesting operation without unduly overloading or damaging the thrashing 
and internal harvesting components thereof. 
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a peanut 
combine having a speed control unit for controlling the peripheral speed 
of a pick-up reel associated with said combine so as to effectively 
minimize field losses of peanuts from crop material being picked up and 
delivered into said combine. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and 
apparatus for harvesting peanuts wherein during harvesting peanut crop 
material is gently picked up and transferred into a peanut combine 
harvester in such a manner that separation of the peanuts from the vine 
and other crop material is minimized. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a peanut combine 
having a speed control unit operatively associated with the pick-up reel 
thereof for continuously controlling the peripheral speed of the pick-up 
reel in relationship to the ground speed of the peanut combine during 
certain harvesting period such that the effective velocity between the 
crop material being delivered to the combine and the combine is generally 
zero. 
Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of 
a speed control unit for a peanut combine for controlling the peripheral 
speed of the pick-up reel of the peanut combine such that the peripheral 
speed of the peanut combine is maintained at a speed generally equal to 
the ground speed of the peanut combine as long as the ground speed of the 
peanut combine is equal to or greater than a selected speed, and for 
driving and controlling the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel at a 
generally second constant speed when the ground speed falls below said 
selected speed. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical speed 
control unit for the pick-up reel of a peanut combine wherein the 
mechanical speed control unit utilizes a dual driven centifugal clutch 
wherein the output speed thereof corresponds to the faster of two input 
speeds, one input speed being provided by the ground speed of said 
harvester while the other input speed is provided by the pto associated 
with said harvester, and wherein the output torque of the centrifugal 
clutch is adapted to drive the pick-up reel. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical speed 
control unit for a peanut combine such as that recited immediately above, 
wherein a second clutch assembly is provided for completely disengaging or 
engaging the drive to the pick-up reel such that during transport and 
periods where the harvester is being driven at a ground speed greater than 
a selected speed the pick-up reel can assume an inoperative mode due to 
the actuation of said second clutch assembly. 
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings 
which are merely illustrative of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With further reference to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, a peanut 
combine of the conventional pull type is shown therein and indicated 
generally by the numeral 10. Although a detailed discussion of such a 
peanut combine and the internal thrashing and harvesting mechanism will 
not be dealt with herein in detail because such is not per se material to 
the present invention and because the structure thereof is well known and 
appreciated in the art. Nevertheless, a brief discussion will deal with 
basic components and functions of the combine 10. In this regard, peanut 
combine harvester 10 is adapted to be hitched to a conventional farm 
tractor and pulled through the field for harvesting peanuts, with the 
power take-off of the farm tractor providing the basic power requirements 
for the harvesting components of the combine 10. Disposed about the lower 
front portion of the combine 10 is a pick-up reel, indicated generally by 
the numeral 12, which is rotatively driven in a clockwise manner, as 
viewed in FIG. 1, for picking up peanut crop material and delivering the 
same into the crop input area of the harvester. A main housing structure 
14 generally encloses the internal thrashing cylinders and harvesting 
components found in such a conventional combine 10, while a pair of wheels 
16 (only one of which is shown) supports the combine 10 as the same is 
pulled through the field during the harvesting operation. 
A conveyor fan 18 is provided about a lower outside rear area of the peanut 
combine 10 and during the harvesting operation acts to blow peanuts from 
an adjacent area through conduit 20 into a storage basket container 22 
disposed about the upper portion of the combine structure. 
The present invention involves a speed control unit, indicated generally by 
the numeral 24, which is adapted to control the peripheral speed of the 
combine's pick-up reel 12 especially during the harvesting operation. 
Viewing the speed control unit 24 in more detail, it is seen that the same 
basically includes a dual driven centrifugal clutch indicated generally by 
the numeral 26. Centrifugal clutch 26 includes an output drive member or 
output drive sprocket 28 formed about a drum or housing 30 that is 
rotatively journaled about stationary shaft 32 secured and supported 
transversely across frame structure 46. Rotatively journaled on both sides 
of said output sprocket 28 is a pair of input drive members 34 and 40. 
Input drive members 34 and 40 have sprockets 36 and 42 fixed respectively 
thereto and rotatable therewith. Also, input drive members 34 and 40 
include end clutch plates 38 and 44, respectively, with the end clutch 
plates being disposed about each side of drum 30 in spaced apart 
relationship. Each clutch plate 38 or 44 includes a plurality of 
circumferentially indentions, as best seen in FIG. 4, formed therein with 
each indention 48 having an engaging pin 52 movably mounted within the 
indention and generally confined therein by the inner cylindrical side of 
the drum or housing 30 surrounding the outer circular edge 50 of each of 
the clutch plates 36 and 44 of the dual driven centrifugal clutch 26. 
It will be appreciated from subsequent portions of the disclosure that the 
output sprocket 28 of the centrifugal clutch 26 is effectively driven by 
the faster rotating clutch plate 38 or 44 since the engaging pins 52 of 
the respective clutch plates tend to move radially from inwardly seat 
areas (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4) to an outer area where the 
respective engaging pins wedged between the indentions 48 of the 
respective clutch plates and the inner cylindrical wall of the overlying 
drum 30. Where the RPM of a particular clutch plate 38 or 40 is greater 
than the RPM of the drum 30, it is seen that the engaging pins 52 will 
maintain a carrying wedge position between the respective clutch plate and 
the drum 30 so that the respective clutch plate in effect carries the drum 
30 and the output sprocket 28 fixed thereto. Contrary to this, if the drum 
30 is being driven at a greater RPM speed than a particular clutch plate 
is being driven, then the engaging pins 52 will allow the drum 30 to move 
in a relative counter clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, with 
respect to the slower rotating clutch plate. 
As has already been noted, centrifugal clutch 26 is of the type adapted to 
receive two input drives. In the case of the present invention, a first 
ground speed input drive is provided by the provision of a sprocket 54 
operatively connected to one of the ground engaging wheels 16 of the 
combine 10 and rotatable therewith, and wherein a chain 56 is trained 
around sprocket 54 and is drivingly connected to an input clutch sprocket 
36 secured to the first input drive member 34. Consequently, during the 
harvesting operation, it is seen that the input drive member 34 and 
associated end clutch plate 38 is driven by chain 56 at a speed 
corresponding to the ground speed of the peanut combine 10. 
A second generally constant pto input drive is provided by the provision of 
a drive interconnecting a pto drive source on the peanut combine and 
sprocket 38 secured to the other input drive member 40 rotatively 
journaled on shaft 32. As generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, this 
second generally constant pto input drive includes a drive chain 58 
operatively connected to a pto drive source and extending therefrom where 
the same chain is trained around a driven sprocket 60 which in turn drives 
shaft 62. Secured to shaft 62 and rotatable therewith is another drive 
sprocket 64 which has a chain 66 trained therearound that extends 
therefrom and is trained around drive sprocket 42 for driving the 
centrifugal clutch 26 about the other side. 
Therefore, it is appreciated that during the harvesting operation the 
centrifugal clutch 26 is driven from one side by the chain drive 56 
originating from sprocket 54 and which effectively drives the centrifugal 
clutch at a speed corresponding or proportional to the ground speed of the 
peanut combine. About the other side of the clutch 26, a second input 
drive, herein referred to as a generally constant pto input drive, is 
provided as just described. Consequently, then during the harvesting 
operation, both input drive members 34 and 40 are driven and the 
respective clutch plates 38 and 44 are likewise driven. 
Because of the design of the clutch 26 and particularly the design of the 
clutch plates 38 and 44 with respect to the drum or housing 30, it is 
appreciated that the clutch plate rotating the fastest or having the 
greater RPM will be the effective driver of the output sprocket 28. 
Because the output sprocket 28 will as a general rule during harvest 
dictate the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel, then in accordance with 
the present invention the various sprockets utilized with the input drives 
and clutch 26 are such that as long as the ground speed of the peanut 
combine is equal to or greater than a selected speed then the design will 
assure that the output sprocket 28 is driven by the first ground speed 
input drive (chain 56) through the input drive member 34 and clutch plate 
38. Where the ground speed falls below this selected ground speed or 
threshold speed, then the design assures that the second generally 
constant pto input drive will result in clutch plate 44 of the second 
input drive member 40 having a RPM greater than the other clutch plate 38, 
therefore, resulting in the output sprocket being driven at a constant RPM 
and consequently the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel being so driven. 
In the present case, it is contemplated that a desirable threshold or 
selected speed would be approximately one mile per hour for the peanut 
combine 10. The selected speed could vary from one-fourth mile per hour to 
two miles per hour. But in any case, the sprocket size and number of teeth 
can be so designed, specified and arranged that once the selected or 
threshold ground speed is determined, then it follows that as long as the 
ground speed is equal to or greater than the selected speed that the 
peripheral speed of the pick-up reel 12 will be generally equal to the 
ground speed of the harvester. Anytime during the harvesting operation the 
ground speed falls below the selected or threshold speed, then the second 
generally constant pto input drive is effective to drive the pick-up reel 
12 at a constant RPM and at a constant peripheral speed. 
Continuing to discuss the speed control unit 24 of the present invention, 
it is already noted that the speed of the output sprocket 28 of the 
centrifugal clutch 26 actually determines the peripheral speed of the 
pick-up reel 12 in harvesting situations. But, it should be noted that the 
output sprocket 28 is adapted to drive a second clutch assembly, indicated 
generally by the numeral 74, disposed generally forwardly of the first 
clutch assembly 26. The second clutch assembly 74 is driven by a chain 68 
trained around output sprocket 28 and a sprocket of a slip clutch 70 
secured to shaft 72 that is also supported by frame structure 46. The 
driving torque supplied the slip clutch 70 is transferred to the second 
clutch assembly 74 supported by shaft 72. 
Viewing second clutch assembly 74 in detail, it is seen in FIG. 5 that the 
same includes a clutch plate 76 having a pawl engaging surface 78 (FIG. 5) 
formed therein. Pawl engaging surface 78 is adapted to engage a pawl 80 
secured to lever 82 that is in turn pivotably mounted by a pivot pin 84 to 
a carrier housing rotatively journaled on shaft 72 and including an output 
drive sprocket 90 fixed thereto. A drive chain 91 is trained around drive 
sprocket 90 and a reel sprocket 92 that effectively drives a central shaft 
93 of the pick-up reel 12. Also, chain 91 is also trained around a series 
of sprocket idlers 94, 96 and 98. Therefore, it is seen that the output of 
the drive sprocket 90 of the second clutch assembly 74 is effective to 
drive the pick-up reel 12 via the central shaft 93 of the pick-up reel. 
Lever 82 is held in a downwardly pawl engaged position by a spring 88 that 
is connected between the lever 82 and the carrier housing 86. In this 
engaged position, the pawl 80 engages the pawl engaging surface 78 of the 
clutch plate 76 and since the clutch plate is keyed to shaft 72 which is 
driven by the slip clutch 70, then it follows that the engagement of the 
clutch plate with the pawl results in the carrier housing 86 and the drive 
sprocket 90 thereof being rotatively driven by the output sprocket of the 
dual input drive centrifugal clutch 26. 
The second clutch assembly 74 discussed above is engageable and 
disengageable by the provision of a clutch control or finger lever 100 
rotatively mounted about shaft 102 and acutated by a bell crank 104 
through a remotely controlled cable 106 secured within a cable housing 
108. Typically, this cable assembly would lead to the operator's station 
on a tractor where by moving the control lever 100 from the inoperative 
position (shown in full lines in FIG. 5) to the operative position (shown 
in dotted lines in FIG. 5), the control lever 100 then lies in the path of 
the actuating lever 82 such that once it rotates around to the position of 
the control lever 100, the control lever acts to pivot lever 82 to a 
position where the pawl 80 disengages the pawl engaging surface 78. This 
allows the clutch plate 76 to rotate without driving the output drive 
sprocket 90 of the second clutch assembly 74. This will allow the pick-up 
reel to assume an inoperative mode during transport or during other times 
when the operator does not wish for the pick-up reel to be rotatively 
driven. 
From the foregoing specification, it is seen that the peanut combine 10 of 
the present invention is provided with a speed control unit 24 that during 
the typical harvesting situation allows the pick-up reel 12 to be driven 
such that its peripheral speed can be controlled to be generally equal to 
the ground speed of the harvester as long as the combine or harvester 10 
ground speed is equal to or greater than a selected or threshold ground 
speed. In harvesting situations where the ground speed is not equal to or 
greater than the selected threshold speed, such as when the harvester or 
combine must slow down to take in large crop loads, then the speed control 
unit 24 in accordance with the present invention as set forth herein, 
controls the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel such that the reel is 
driven at a selected constant speed in accordance with the design of the 
sprockets and other drive components of the speed control unit and in 
relationship to the pto source speed. This tends to minimize field losses 
of peanuts as the pick-up reel during normal harvesting operations does 
not jerk and snatch the vines and crop material as is found with 
conventional constal reel speed drives. In addition, the speed control of 
the pick-up reel 12 tends to regulate or control the flow of crop material 
into the combine and to a great extent will increase the life of the 
thrashing and harvesting components of the combine as well as generally 
prevent overloading. 
The terms "upper", "lower", "forward ", "rearward", etc., have been used 
herein merely for the convenience of the foregoing specification and in 
the appended Claims to describe the speed control unit for driving the 
pick-up reel of a peanut combine and its parts as oriented in the 
drawings. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are in no way 
limiting to the invention since the speed control unit for driving the 
pick-up reel of a peanut combine may obviously be disposed in many 
different positions when in actual use. 
The present invention, of course, may be carried out in other specific ways 
than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and 
essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, 
therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not 
restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency 
range are intended to be embraced herein.