Abstract:
A guard for a sickle of an agricultural plant cutting machine includes a forwardly extending finger including a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing surface extending over the sickle, which includes a rearwardly facing air discharge nozzle therein located above and/or forwardly of the sickle, and the finger includes an air flow passage extending internally therethrough from an air inlet adjacent to a base of the finger to the nozzle, for delivering a flow of pressurized air thereto, the nozzle being at least mostly flush with or recessed into the upwardly facing surface. As a result, the nozzle is operable for discharging the flow of air rearwardly over the finger without obstructing plant material flow thereover, the air flow being sufficient to blow at least a substantial amount of loose grain and other plant material located forwardly of the front edge of a header floor of the machine, onto the floor for collection by a conveyor of the header for processing.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a header of an agricultural cutting machine, such as a combine, windrower or other crop harvesting machine, or a mower, and more particularly, to a guard for a sickle of a header, integrally incorporating an air discharge system including streamlined, non-obstructive air outlets operable for effectively directing pressurized air rearwardly over the sickle and toward a floor or pan of a header, for blowing cut plant material, particularly loose grain and the like, onto a floor or pan of the header, so as to avoid loss of the material, without interfering with the cutting action or plant flow over the guard. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Sickles typically including cutter bars supporting a row of knives, have been used to cut plants, including, but not limited to, hay, grasses, small grains and the like, for many years. The knives are composed of a plurality of knife or sickle sections which are mounted in side by side relation forming an elongate metal knife assembly. The elongate knife assembly is normally supported so as to slide longitudinally through slots in, or over, forwardly projecting, spaced apart guards. The knife assembly moves back and forth in a reciprocating movement to move the knives relative to the guards so that the leading knife edges of the knives cross over the guards or through the slots in the guards. This produces a shearing or cutting action which severs plant stems and stalks or other material which flows into and is captured in the spaces between the knives and the guards. 
         [0003]    In operation, as the crop cutting machine moves forwardly over a field, it is desirable for the plant stems and stalks to flow smoothly and uninterruptedly into the spaces between the guards, so as to be cleanly severed by the knives. It is also desired for the cut plant material to flow smoothly and largely uninterruptedly over the sickle, not bunch up thereon, and flow or fall onto a floor or pan of the header, particularly when the cutting machine is a harvester. Often, harvesters also include a rotary reel disposed over the sickle to facilitate the induction of the plants into the sickle, clear cut plant material from the sickle, and help move the cut crops onto the header floor. On the header, the cut crop material is typically conveyed sidewardly toward the center of the header, by an auger or belt, for induction into a feeder of the machine or other apparatus. 
         [0004]    A problem that can occur, however, when cutting crops in the above manner, is that sometimes as a result of the cutting action, crops will not be inducted into the header, but instead will be lost. For instance, as a result of a dull or worn sickle, the crop stalks or stems may be jerked, bent, and/or torn instead of cleanly cut, which can shake grain loose from the crop before it enters the header, such that some of the loose grain can fall to the ground in front of the header. The bats or tines of reel can also strike the crops and shatter pods, etc., to loosen or thresh the grain so as to be lost, particularly under dry conditions. Still further, the augers for conveying the cut crops toward the center of the header can include fingers that operate to pull the cut crops into the auger, which can unintentionally thresh some of the grain from the crop. As a result, a significant amount of loose grain can be present in the forward region of a header, on and above the sickle and guards, which is at risk of loss if not conveyed or inducted onto the header. 
         [0005]    Numerous devices and systems have been developed over many years, in attempts to blow loose grain toward the header. Reference in this regard, the system utilizing pressurized air directed through nozzles or jets on or in connection with the sickle guards disclosed in McDonnell U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,510, issued Jul. 11, 2000. However, an observed shortcoming of the embodiment of the system of the McDonnell patent illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  of that patent, is that the air nozzles or outlets are located in the slots of the guards in which the sickle knives move. In a second embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  and subsequent Figures of the McDonnell patent, nozzles project sidewardly from the guards into the spaces between the adjacent guards, so as to be located in the crop flow paths along and between the guards. Reference also, Phillips U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,744, issued Sep. 27, 1955; and Klinger U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,006, issued Feb. 26, 1954. The Phillips and Klinger patents also utilize pressurized air nozzles, but located on structures on the guards or extending forwardly therefrom (Phillips massively so), and which also extend sidewardly into the crop flow path (more so in Klinger) so as to possibly interfere with crop flow to the cutting region between the sickle knife and side of the guard. Any outward projection of a nozzle into the crop flow path can result in contact with crop plants forwardly of the front edge of the header pan that can jar the plants, to cause them to drop grain, which can fall between the guards so as to be lost. The air flow ducts of Phillips and Klinger are also significantly larger than the guards and extend beneath the guards, so as to limit the positioning options of the guards and the header relative to the ground, particularly the closeness to the ground and the ability to orient the guards toward the ground. The Phillips and Klinger air flow ducts are also exposed to damage from contact with the ground. 
         [0006]    Thus, what is sought is an air discharge system for guards of a sickle of a header of an agricultural plant cutting machine, that is effective for discharging flows of air rearwardly, for directing loose grain and other crop elements toward the header, yet which is unobtrusive and overcomes one or more of the problems, disadvantages, and shortcomings referenced above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    What is disclosed is an integral air discharge system for guards of a sickle of a header of an agricultural plant cutting machine, such as, but not limited to, a combine, windrower, or the like, that is effective for discharging flows of air rearwardly, for directing loose grain and other crop elements toward the header, yet which is unobtrusive and overcomes one or more of the problems, disadvantages, and shortcomings referenced above. 
         [0008]    According to a preferred aspect of the invention, a guard for a sickle of an agricultural plant cutting machine includes a base configured for mounting to a header of a plant cutting machine adjacent to a forward edge of an upwardly facing floor of the header, and an elongate finger attached to the base and oriented relative thereto so as to extend forwardly therefrom when mounted to a header. The finger includes a forward tip portion opposite the base, the finger including a slot extending sidewardly therethrough intermediate the base and the tip portion and configured for cooperatively receiving a sickle knife for reciprocating sideward movement relative to the finger. The finger includes opposite side surfaces adjacent to opposite ends of the slot and against which the sickle knife will cut plants when reciprocated sidewardly relative to the finger, and the finger including a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing surface extending from the base to the forward tip portion. The upwardly facing surface includes a rearwardly facing air discharge nozzle therein, and the finger includes an air flow passage extending internally therethrough from an air inlet adjacent the base to the nozzle for delivering a flow of pressurized air thereto, the nozzle being at least mostly flush with or recessed into the upwardly facing surface. As a result, the nozzle is operable for discharging the flow of air rearwardly over the finger without obstructing plant material flow thereover. Preferably, the pressure of the air will be sufficient to blow at least a substantial amount of loose grain and other plant material located forwardly of the front edge of the header floor, onto the header floor for collection by a conveyor of the header for processing. 
         [0009]    According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the air inlet is disposed beside the base, and is connected to a suitable source of pressurized air, which can be, for instance, an air compressor located on the plant cutting machine, or on the header itself. According to another preferred aspect, the guard is configured in side by side spaced apart relation with one or more additional guards, so as to be conveniently jointly mountable to a header. And, a joint air inlet or separate inlets can be provided in connection with the air flow passages, as desired or required for a particular application. 
         [0010]    According to still another preferred aspect of the invention, the nozzle is integrated into the upwardly facing surface of the finger forwardly of or above the slot containing the sickle knife, so as to be positioned just forwardly of, or over a forward region of, the cutting region of the sickle, such that the air flow discharged from the nozzle will be strongest at the location where the most loose grain is anticipated to be present. To facilitate this positioning, the air passage will preferably include a lower portion which extends forwardly under the slot, and an upper portion in connection with the lower portion and extending upwardly and possibly rearwardly to the nozzle. 
         [0011]    Optional aspects of the invention include a shallow concave channel or recess rearwardly of the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is oriented to discharge the flow of air through the channel, thereby facilitating the desired smooth, uninterrupted flow of plant material over the nozzle, while providing a desired airflow pattern. Alternatively, the nozzle can be flush with the surface of the finger. As another option, one or more additional nozzles can be incorporated into the upper surface of the finger, arranged in a predetermined array, and the nozzle or nozzles can be configured to discharge the flows of air therefrom in a predetermined pattern, such as a tightly focused rearwardly directed pattern, or a broader fan pattern, as determined at least in part by the effect sought to be achieved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a combine including a header having an air discharge system for the sickle thereof, including air discharge nozzles incorporated into guards of the sickle, according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the header of  FIG. 1 , showing a representative sickle guard and a preferred manner of incorporation of the air discharge system of the invention into the guard, and illustrating discharge of air from a nozzle of the system and the effect thereof on loose grain above the sickle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a simplified fragmentary top view of a representative sickle guard, illustrating a manner of incorporation of a nozzle of the system of the invention incorporated into an upwardly facing surface of the guard; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of a pair of guards for a sickle, showing elements of the air discharge system of the invention incorporated therein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary top view of the header, showing another embodiment of an air discharge nozzle usable with the system of the invention, and illustrating different air discharge patterns that can be achieved using different nozzles with the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a pair of guards illustrating still another embodiment of air discharge nozzles usable with the system of the invention, and illustrating still different air discharge patterns achievable with the different nozzles; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary partial sectional side view of a guard, illustrating a manner of incorporation of air flow passages and a nozzle of the system of the invention therein; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side view of a guard, showing a nozzle, and illustrating discharge of a flow of air therefrom; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary top view of the guard of  FIG. 8 , in partial section. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Turning now to the drawings wherein several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown, in  FIG. 1 , a conventional, well known agricultural cutting machine, which is a combine  20 , is shown including a header  22 . Header  22  is shown supported in the conventional, well-known manner on a forward end  24  of combine  20 , and is operable for cutting or severing crops such as, but not limited to, small grains such as wheat and soybeans, and inducting the severed crops into a feeder  26  for conveyance into combine  20  for threshing and cleaning, in the well known manner, as combine  20  moves forwardly over a field, as denoted by arrow F. 
         [0022]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , which is a side view of header  22 , header  22  includes a pan or floor  28  which is supported in desired proximity to the surface of the field during the harvesting operation, and an elongate, sidewardly extending sickle  30  along a forward edge portion  32  of floor  28 , sickle  30  being operable for severing the crop for induction into header  22 , as will be explained. Header  22  additionally includes an elongate, sidewardly extending reel  34  (shown in outline form in  FIG. 1 ) disposed above sickle  30  and rotatable in a direction for facilitating induction of the severed crops into header  22 . An elongate, rotatable auger  36  (also shown in outline form in  FIG. 1 ) that extends in close proximity to a top surface  38  of floor  28  and has helical flights therearound is operable in cooperation with reel  34  for conveying the severed crops toward an inlet opening of feeder  26  for induction into combine  20 , in the well-known manner. 
         [0023]    Referring more particularly to  FIG. 1 , sickle  30  extends in a sideward direction along the width of floor  28 , between a first side edge portion  40  of the floor, and an opposite second side edge portion  42 . Sickle  30  includes an elongate, sidewardly extending cutter bar assembly  44  supported in substantially longitudinally aligned relation adjacent to forward edge portion  32  of floor  28 , along the length thereof. 
         [0024]    Referring also to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , cutter bar assembly  44  includes a plurality of forwardly extending, elongate guards  46  arranged in a sidewardly extending, spaced apart array, along the forward edge portion of header  22 . Each guard  46  is preferably of cast metal and includes a rearwardly located base  48 , which is suitably attached, here by a bolt  50  and a nut  52 , to a fixed bar  54  or other fixed structure of assembly  44 . Here, it can be observed that guards  46  are provided in pairs connected together by a crossmember, although it should be understood that, alternatively, they could be provided individually, or connected together in a greater number, with equal utility for the purposes of the present invention. Each guard  46  additionally includes a forwardly extending finger  56  attached to base  54 , finger  56  having a forwardly located forward tip  58 . Each finger  56  includes oppositely facing side surfaces  60  and  62  which extend forwardly from adjacent base  48  to tip  58 , and which taper convergingly as they approach tip  58 . Each finger  56  also includes an upwardly facing surface  64  which extends from base  48  to tip  58 . Each finger  56  includes a slot  66  extending therethrough between side surfaces  60  and  62 , intermediate base  48  and tip  58 , slots  66  of the respective fingers  56  being aligned along the length of sickle  30 . 
         [0025]    Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , cutter bar assembly  44  supports an elongate sickle knife  68  for reciprocating longitudinal movement within slots  66 , knife  68  including a row of knife sections  70  including oppositely facing, angularly related knife edges  72  which, in conjunction with site surface  60  or  62  of adjacent guards  50 , respectively, effect a shearing or cutting action which severs plant stems and stalks or other material captured between the knives and the guards as the knife sections are reciprocatingly moved sidewardly, as denoted by arrow A in  FIG. 5 . Guards  46  will typically extend beyond sickle knife  68  by no more than 12 inches, as it may be desired under some conditions to have a capability to point the guards downwardly at a small acute angle to the ground, for instance, with the sickle close to the ground, for harvesting downed crops, without the guard tips entering the ground. It is also desirable for the guards to have a smooth streamlined shape, which is relatively narrow, so as to smoothly guide the crops into the spaces therebetween, for cutting. 
         [0026]    As noted above under the Background Art heading, as combine  20  is moved forwardly over a field containing crops, sickle knife  68  will be moved reciprocatingly sidewardly relative to guards  46 , to sever the crops which enter the spaces between guards  46 . Knife edges  72  will capture and cut the stems or stalks of the crop plants against the side surface  60  or  62  of the adjacent guard, in an area denoted as a cutting zone  74  illustrated in relation to the leftmost guard  46  in  FIG. 5 . As a result of the cutting action, and particularly if the crop is dry and/or knife edges  72  are dull, and/or the side edge of the slot is worn and rounded, and also as a result of being batted by reel  34 , grain can be loosened from the crop plants, e.g., pods shattered, such that the loose grain will fall onto sickle  30 , and onto any plant material thereon, so as to be in danger of falling to the ground and being lost. Grain can also be shaken loose if the guards are large, or are not sufficiently streamlined for smooth crop flow therepast, or have obstructions that extend into the crop flow path, so as to shake or jar the crops as they are inducted into the sickle. This can be particularly problematic in drilled crops which lack defined rows and thus increase the possibility of guards  46  being propelled directly into plants during the cutting operation. Referring more particularly to  FIG. 2 , loose soybeans  76  are depicted in the area above sickle  30 , as would be typically present during the harvesting of crops such as soybeans or other legumes, as well as other small grains. If not captured, at least some of loose grains  76  would typically be lost, for instance by falling through the spaces between knife sections  70  and guards  46 , or by falling forwardly over the front edge of the sickle. 
         [0027]    To avoid or reduce the occurrence of grain loss in the above described manner, an air discharge system  78  is incorporated into some and preferably all of guards  46  of sickle  30 , according to the present invention. Air discharge system  78  includes at least one rearwardly facing air discharge nozzle  80  incorporated into upwardly facing surface  64  of each finger  56 , and an air flow passage  82  extending internally through each finger  56  from an air inlet  84  located adjacent to base  48 , to nozzle  80 , for delivering a flow of pressurized air thereto. The pressurized air is provided by a suitable source thereof, such as, but not limited to, an air pump or air compressor  86  disposed at a suitable location, such as on header  22 , and which is suitably powered, for instance, by a fluid motor, belt, shaft, chain, or the like, in the well-known manner. Compressor  86  is connected to air inlets  84 , for delivering pressurized air thereto, via an air distribution system which will preferably include a main air manifold  88  extending sidewardly beneath floor  28  of header  22 , and including a plurality of nipples or small air distribution tubes  90  emanating therefrom at appropriately spaced locations therealong corresponding to the locations of air inlets  84 . Smaller air distribution tubes  90  are shown extending from manifold  88  individually to air inlets  84 . Alternatively, it should be recognized that a variety of different air distribution system configurations can be utilized according to the present invention. 
         [0028]    The configuration and location of air discharge nozzles  80  on surfaces  64  of respective fingers  56  can be varied according to the preferences and/or requirements for a particular application. Generally, it will be an objective of the invention for nozzles  80  to be minimally if at all obstructive to crop and plant flow over and passed fingers  56 , such that little or no resultant additional jarring or disturbing of the plants passing over the nozzle occurs so as to result in additional loosening of grain from the plants. Additionally according to the invention, an objective will be to generate rearwardly directed pressurized air flows that will be effective in blowing and directing loose grain on to floor  28  to capture the loose grain and prevent loss thereof. Further according to the invention, it will be an objective to minimize susceptibility of plugging of nozzles  80  by plant material and the like. Still further, it will be an objective when incorporating nozzles  80  and air flow passages  82  into fingers  56 , to maintain and not significantly degrade the structural integrity of the fingers, or to materially change the operability thereof. In accordance with the above objectives, several embodiments of nozzle configurations of the invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 9 . 
         [0029]    Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7  through  9 , nozzles  80  are illustrated as rearwardly directed and recessed into upwardly facing surface  64  of fingers  56 . Of these, nozzles  80  of  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  5  and  8  are circular shaped, and nozzles  80  of  FIGS. 8 and 9  are diamond shaped. This represents a range of acceptable nozzles and is thus not intended to be limiting. Each nozzle  80  is also illustrated disposed at a forward end of a rearwardly extending recessed channel  92 , which, in cooperation with the nozzle configuration, facilitates and guides the pressurized air flow in a desired pattern, without significantly disrupting crop flow over upwardly facing surface  64  of the finger. However, it should be noted that other locations, including a more forward location, can be utilized according to the invention. Referring more particularly to  FIG. 2 , the pressurized air flow, denoted by arrows  94 , is illustrated as flowing along a relatively low, rearwardly directed trajectory over sickle  30  and forward edge portion  32  of floor  28 . Referring in particular also to  FIG. 5 ,  FIGS. 5 and 6 , Air flow  94  is also illustrated from the side in  FIG. 8 . Here, it should be recognized that the configuration, including, but not limited to, size, shape, and angular orientation, of nozzles  80  can be determined for a particular application, as can the configuration, e.g., size, shape and angular orientation of the channel  92  if used.  FIG. 5  illustrates possible air flow patterns that can be achieved with the nozzles of the invention, including a narrower pattern that generally extends over the base region of the guard in which the nozzle is located, as defined by lines  96  emanating from the respective nozzles, and a wider fan shape pattern that extends over a greater portion of the sickle knives also, as defined generally be lines  98 . 
         [0030]    Referring in particular to  FIG. 3 , a nozzle  80  which is substantially flush with surface  64  is shown, the nozzle having a generally oval or tear drop sectional shape when viewed from above. Again, this illustrates the variety of nozzle configurations that can be used according to the invention. 
         [0031]    Referring more particularly to  FIG. 6 , still another nozzle configuration is illustrated, which is a multiple nozzle arrangement including an array of three nozzles  80  disposed in surface  64 , facing in slightly offset directions, and configured to discharge streams of pressurized air in a wide ranging fan pattern, illustrated again by lines  98  emanating from each of the nozzles. Here, it should be noted that the number of nozzles, positions, and orientations, on a finger can be varied, as desired or required for a particular application. 
         [0032]    In the fore and aft direction, nozzles  80  are preferably disposed so as to most advantageously direct the pressurized air for recovering or protecting from the loss of loose grain, without degrading the integrity and strength of the fingers. In the embodiments shown, nozzles  80  are generally located above a forward region of slot  66  through which the sickle knife reciprocates. To achieve this location, air flow passage  82  has a generally V shape, including a lower portion  100  which is routed forwardly through the finger below slot  66 , and an upper portion  102  which connects with lower portion  100  and extends rearwardly therefrom to the nozzle, or nozzles, as variously shown in the FIGS. Air flow passage  82  can be cast in place in the finger. Essentially, the fore and aft location selected here has been found to be advantageous as it places the nozzles close to the cutting zone where the largest portion of the loose grain has been typically found to be present, such that the air will be at its greatest pressure where the grain is found, and will be less likely to be dissipated by intervening plant material such as leaves, stems and the like which will be passing through the cutting zone also. 
         [0033]    It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps, and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown.