Patent Description:
Self-propelled agricultural harvesters are well known and include, by way of example, combine harvesters, windrowers, and forage harvesters, all of which typically include a frame or chassis, an operator cab, an engine, and ground-engaging wheels or tracks. A cutting or pick-up header is often carried by the harvester, the header typically being considerably wider than the harvester and mounted to the front side of a feederhouse.

Crop material collected by the header is conveyed into the feederhouse before being conveyed in a generally rearward direction to crop-processing apparatus. In the case of a combine harvester, the processing apparatus serves to thresh the crop material and separate grain therefrom, whereas, in the case of a forage harvester or windrower, the crop material is typically passed through conditioning rollers.

A harvesting reel may guide the crop material to be harvested towards a harvesting tool, such as a set of oscillating blades. Tine bars carrying axially spaced tines are mounted to the reel for pivotal movement about axes generally parallel to a rotational axis of the reel. A series of cams, mounted between a sidewall and an end of the rotary reel, in cooperation with linkages to each tine bar, control the pivotal movement of the tine bars and thus the angular orientation of the tines. As the reel rotates, the tines on each tine bar follow a path defined by the cam for lifting, separating, and guiding crop material towards the harvesting tool. <CIT> discloses a harvesting reel having a segmented cam arrangement with provides an endless cam path. The cam segments are joined together by removable fasteners to enable one segment to be removed and replaced to either vary the cam path or to replace a worn cam segment.

In some embodiments, a harvesting reel includes a reel frame configured to be carried by a harvesting header and a rotating assembly rotatably coupled to the reel frame and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. The reel frame includes a first cam assembly comprising a first inner plate and a first outer guide, a second cam assembly comprising a second inner plate and a second outer guide, and a cover coupled to the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly. The first cam assembly defines a first cam track, and the second cam assembly defines a second cam track. The rotating assembly has a plurality of reel bats configured to revolve around the longitudinal axis of the rotating assembly and a plurality of reel tines fixed to each reel bat. Each reel bat is coupled to a first cam follower and a second cam follower. The first cam follower of each reel bat travels within the first cam track when the rotating assembly rotates, the second cam follower of each reel bat travels within the second cam track when the rotating assembly rotates, and a position and an orientation of each reel bat are defined by the first cam track and the second cam track.

A method of changing a trajectory of reel tines of a harvesting reel includes removing a cover from a reel frame of the harvesting reel, removing a first cam assembly and a second cam assembly from a harvesting reel by removing first and second outer guides from the cover, attaching a third cam assembly and a fourth cam assembly to the harvesting reel, aligning a first cam follower of each of a plurality of reel bats of a rotating assembly within a third cam track, and aligning a second cam follower of each of the plurality of reel tines within a fourth cam track. The first cam assembly defines a first cam track, the second cam assembly defining a second cam track, the third cam assembly defines the third cam track, and the fourth cam assembly defines the fourth cam track.

The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any harvesting machine or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

<FIG> illustrates an agricultural machine in the form of a self-propelled combine harvester <NUM> that carries a header <NUM>, which cuts and gathers a strip of crop as the combine harvester <NUM> is driven across a crop field. The header <NUM> has a harvesting reel <NUM>, which may be used to direct crop material into the header <NUM>. An elevator section <NUM> and feederhouse of the combine harvester <NUM> convey the cut crop stream from the header <NUM> into a crop processing apparatus <NUM>. Clean grain separated from the crop stream is collected in a storage tank <NUM>, which is periodically emptied into a trailer or other vehicle or storage container via an unloading auger <NUM>. Residue material remaining from the crop stream, such as straw and chaff, is ejected by a spreading system <NUM> from the rear of the combine harvester <NUM>, represented by arrow <NUM>. The combine harvester <NUM> also typically includes an operator cab <NUM>, an engine, and wheels <NUM> and/or tracks.

<FIG> is a simplified perspective view of the harvesting reel <NUM> separated from the header <NUM>, and illustrates details of the harvesting reel <NUM>. The reel <NUM> is connected to the header <NUM> by an arm <NUM> such that the height of the reel <NUM> may be changed by rotating the arm <NUM> relative to the header <NUM>.

The harvesting reel <NUM> includes a rotating assembly <NUM> coupled to a reel frame <NUM>, which is in turn coupled to the arm <NUM>. The rotating assembly <NUM> includes rotating end plates <NUM>, pictured as a solid center plate with arms extending radially outward. In some embodiments, the end plates <NUM> may be solid disks or any other selected geometry. A longitudinal bar <NUM> may connect the end plates <NUM> to one another. The rotating assembly <NUM>, including the end plates <NUM> and the longitudinal bar <NUM>, is configured to rotate about a generally horizontal axis as the header <NUM> and combine harvester <NUM> harvest a field. The rotating assembly <NUM> may be driven by mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, or other power, typically supplied by the combine harvester <NUM> to the header <NUM>.

The end plates <NUM> together retain and carry a plurality of reel bats <NUM>, each of which has a plurality of reel tines <NUM> fixed thereto. Thus, rotation of the reel bats <NUM> causes the reel tines <NUM> to revolve around the longitudinal bar <NUM>. The reel bats <NUM> are configured to travel in a path around the longitudinal bar <NUM> when the rotating assembly <NUM> rotates, and may also be configured to rotate in a controlled manner by a series of cams, the mechanism for which is discussed in further detail below.

In some embodiments, the harvesting reel <NUM> may include a lever <NUM> coupled to the reel frame <NUM>, such that rotation of the lever <NUM> rotates the reel frame <NUM>. Typically, the lever <NUM> may be configured to rotate the reel frame <NUM> relative to the header <NUM> by an angle of ±<NUM>° from a central position, such as ±<NUM>° from the central position. Rotation of the lever <NUM> and reel frame <NUM> may be used to make the harvesting reel <NUM> more or less aggressive, and may be set according to field conditions and operator preferences.

<FIG> is a simplified perspective view of a portion of one of the reel bats <NUM>. Each reel bat <NUM> is coupled to a first cam follower <NUM> and a second cam follower <NUM> offset from the longitudinal axis of the reel bat <NUM>. The cam followers <NUM>, <NUM> follow cam tracks defined by the reel frame <NUM> and described in further detail below. The cam followers <NUM>, <NUM> are each rigidly coupled to the reel bats <NUM>. As the end plates <NUM> rotate, the reel bats <NUM> revolve around the longitudinal bar <NUM>. At the same time, the cam followers <NUM>, <NUM>, in conjunction with cam tracks described below, determine the location and orientation of the reel bats <NUM> (and thus, of the tines <NUM> affixed thereto). The cam followers <NUM>, <NUM> may include roller bearings or another mechanism to enable smooth movement of the reel bats <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate cam tracks in which the cam followers <NUM>, <NUM> may travel. In <FIG>, the top track <NUM> may direct the first cam follower <NUM>, and the bottom track <NUM> may direct the second cam follower <NUM>. The tracks <NUM>, <NUM> may be located adjacent one another in the reel frame <NUM>, but are shown separated here for illustration of their different shapes. The tracks <NUM>, <NUM> look similar, but have different geometries at the bottom of the tracks <NUM>, <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates another set of tracks <NUM>, <NUM> that may be used to direct the cam followers <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. The different shapes of the tracks <NUM>, <NUM> from the tracks <NUM>, <NUM> cause the tines <NUM> to travel in different paths around the longitudinal bar <NUM> of the harvesting reel <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates yet another set of tracks <NUM>, <NUM> that may be used to direct the cam followers <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. The tracks <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be selected to cause a particular path of the tines <NUM> when the harvesting reel <NUM> is used to harvest a crop.

<FIG> illustrates a path <NUM> that the tines <NUM> may travel as the rotating assembly <NUM> rotates in the direction R using the cam tracks <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The positions and orientations of the tines <NUM> are represented by line segments, and the curved path <NUM> represents the position of the reel bat <NUM>, assuming a stationary header <NUM>. The bottom path <NUM> in <FIG> represents the actual position of the tines <NUM> and the reel bat <NUM> relative to a stationary observer as the header <NUM> moves in a forward direction F. The line <NUM> represents the path of the longitudinal bar <NUM> of the rotating assembly <NUM> (i.e., the longitudinal bar <NUM> travels parallel to the ground), and may also be at or near the top of the crop material. As shown in <FIG>, the tines travel vertically straight downward into the crop material, then angle rearward. The tines <NUM> may therefore push the crop material rearward into the cutting assembly of the header <NUM>. The path <NUM> shown was described in <NPL>. The path <NUM> may improve the ability of the harvesting reel <NUM> to gather certain crops toward the header <NUM>, and may improve the yield of those crops.

However, the path <NUM> may not be ideal for all crop types. For example, to break up viny crops or viny weeds within crops, it may be desirable that the tines <NUM> make a complete rotation or "flip over," in addition to revolving around the longitudinal bar <NUM>. Such a flip may help to break vines so that vines do not wrap around the harvesting reel <NUM>. A flip-over tine path is described in, for example, <CIT>; and <CIT>.

<FIG> illustrates a path <NUM> that the tines <NUM> may travel as the rotating assembly <NUM> rotates in the direction R using the cam tracks <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The curved path <NUM> represents the position of the reel bat <NUM>, assuming a stationary header <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the tines <NUM> enter the crop material (i.e., the bottom half of the path <NUM>) in an orientation that is approximately vertical. As the tines <NUM> travel above the longitudinal bar <NUM>, they flip over, and thus each tine <NUM> makes one entire <NUM>° rotation with each revolution around the longitudinal bar <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a path <NUM> that the tines <NUM> may travel as the rotating assembly <NUM> rotates in the direction R using the cam tracks <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The curved path <NUM> represents the position of the reel bat <NUM>, assuming a stationary header <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the tines <NUM> enter the crop material (i.e., the bottom half of the path <NUM>) in an orientation that is approximately vertical. The tines <NUM> then angle rearward to push crop material into the header <NUM>. As the tines <NUM> travel above the longitudinal bar <NUM>, they flip over, and thus each tine <NUM> makes one entire <NUM>° rotation with each revolution around the longitudinal bar <NUM>. The path <NUM> combines features of the path <NUM> (<FIG>) and the path <NUM> (<FIG>).

Referring again to <FIG>, the reel frame <NUM> includes a first cam assembly <NUM> and a second cam assembly <NUM> defining the cam tracks <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>, the cam tracks <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>, or the cam tracks <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>. <FIG> illustrate parts for three different first cam assemblies 228a, 228b, 228c (corresponding to the first cam assembly <NUM> in <FIG>) and three different second cam assemblies 230a, 230b, 230c (corresponding to the second cam assembly <NUM> in <FIG>). The cam assembly 228a (<FIG>) defines the cam track <NUM> in <FIG>, and the cam assembly 230a defines the cam track <NUM>. The cam assembly 228b (<FIG>) defines the cam track <NUM> in <FIG>, and the cam assembly 230b defines the cam track <NUM>. The cam assembly 228c (<FIG>) defines the cam track <NUM> in <FIG>, and the cam assembly 230c defines the cam track <NUM>. The first cam assemblies 228a, 228b, 228c are interchangeable (in the sense that any one could be installed as part of the reel frame <NUM>), as are the second cam assemblies 230a, 230b, 230c. Each is referred to hereafter as simply cam assembly <NUM> or cam assembly <NUM> for simplicity, and the parts thereof are likewise referred to without their corresponding letter suffixes.

The first cam assembly <NUM> includes an inner plate <NUM>, which may have a left inner plate <NUM> and a right inner plate <NUM> (see <FIG>). In other embodiments, the inner plate <NUM> may be a single unitary member. The first cam assembly <NUM> also includes an outer guide <NUM>, which may likewise have a left outer guide <NUM> and a right outer guide <NUM>. A pin <NUM> may help align the bottom of the left outer guide <NUM> with the bottom of the right outer guide <NUM>. Together, the parts of the first cam assembly <NUM> define a first cam track in which the first cam follower <NUM> of each reel bat <NUM> travels as the rotating assembly <NUM> rotates. The inner plate <NUM> may define a non-round opening <NUM> to assist in aligning the inner plate <NUM> on the reel frame <NUM>. The inner plate <NUM> and outer guide <NUM> may each have holes therein to secure the parts to the reel frame <NUM>. The parts of the inner plate <NUM> and outer guide <NUM> may all be coplanar. Note that in <FIG>, a space appears between the left inner plate <NUM> and the right inner plate <NUM>, and between the left outer guide <NUM> and the right outer guide <NUM>, to illustrate the shape of the parts. When installed on the reel frame <NUM>, the left inner plate <NUM> is adjacent the right inner plate <NUM>, and the left outer guide <NUM> is adjacent the right outer guide <NUM>.

The second cam assembly <NUM> also includes an inner plate <NUM>, which may have a left inner plate <NUM> and a right inner plate <NUM>. In other embodiments, the inner plate <NUM> may be a single unitary member. The second cam assembly <NUM> includes an outer guide <NUM>, which may likewise have a left outer guide <NUM> and a right outer guide <NUM>. A pin <NUM> may help align the bottom of the left outer guide <NUM> with the bottom of the right outer guide <NUM>. Together, the parts of the second cam assembly <NUM> define a second cam track in which the second cam follower <NUM> of each reel bat <NUM> travels as the rotating assembly <NUM> rotates. The inner plate <NUM> may define a non-round opening <NUM> to assist in aligning the inner plate <NUM> on the reel frame <NUM>. The inner plate <NUM> and outer guide <NUM> may each have holes therein to secure the parts to the first cam assembly <NUM> and the reel frame <NUM>. The holes in the inner plate <NUM> and outer guide <NUM> of each cam assembly <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to be aligned with one another. The parts of the inner plate <NUM> and outer guide <NUM> may all be coplanar. Note that in <FIG>, a space appears between the left inner plate <NUM> and the right inner plate <NUM>, and between the left outer guide <NUM> and the right outer guide <NUM>, to illustrate the shape of the parts. When installed on the reel frame <NUM>, the left inner plate <NUM> is adjacent the right inner plate <NUM>, and the left outer guide <NUM> is adjacent the right outer guide <NUM>.

The first cam assemblies 228a, 228b, 228c may each have holes and the non-round opening <NUM> in common, and the second cam assemblies 230a, 230b, 230c may each have holes and the non-round opening <NUM> in common. That is, the first cam assemblies 228a, 228b, 228c may each fit interchangeably on the reel frame <NUM>, and the second cam assemblies 230a, 230b, 230c may each fit interchangeably on the reel frame <NUM>. Replacing one first cam assembly 228a, 228b, 228c with another and one second cam assembly 230a, 230b, 230c with another changes the shape and location of the cam tracks, but does not change the structure or connection of the reel frame <NUM>. A position and an orientation of each reel bat <NUM> are defined by the first cam track <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the second cam track <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, each set of first cam assemblies 228a, 228b, 228c and second cam assemblies 230a, 230b, 230c define different corresponding tine paths <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and bat paths <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>), respectively. Changing from one tine path to another may be performed by changing the first cam assembly <NUM> and second cam assembly <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, the frame <NUM> includes a cover <NUM> over the first cam assembly <NUM> and second cam assembly <NUM>, which may help secure the frame <NUM> together. The cover <NUM> may include two or more parts, such as a left cover <NUM> and a right cover <NUM>. In other embodiments, the cover <NUM> may be a single unitary part. <FIG> shows the left cover <NUM> and the right cover <NUM> alone. Each of the left cover <NUM> and the right cover <NUM> have holes configured to align with the holes in the first cam assembly <NUM> and second cam assembly <NUM>. Bolts or other fasteners (<FIG>) secure the cover <NUM>, first cam assembly, and second cam assembly together to form the reel frame <NUM>.

Typically, the first cam assembly <NUM> and the second cam assembly <NUM> may be attached to a single end of the reel frame <NUM> (i.e., near one end of the longitudinal bar <NUM> of the rotating assembly <NUM>). In other embodiments, the first cam assembly <NUM> may be secured to the reel frame <NUM> at one end, and the second cam assembly <NUM> may be secured to the opposite end.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate how the harvesting reel <NUM> is assembled, and how the first cam assembly <NUM> and the second cam assembly <NUM> are configured to be changed to change the tine trajectory. <FIG> illustrates the harvesting reel <NUM> before the reel frame <NUM> is fully assembled. In particular, the first cam assembly <NUM>, the second cam assembly <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> are absent from <FIG>. The reel frame <NUM> includes a back plate <NUM> to which fasteners <NUM> and an alignment jig <NUM> are attached. The fasteners <NUM> may include screws and nuts, and optionally, spacers. The alignment jig <NUM> may be sized to receive the non-round openings <NUM>, <NUM> of the cam assemblies <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>) and the cover <NUM> (<FIG>).

<FIG> illustrates the harvesting reel <NUM> after the inner plate <NUM> of the first cam assembly <NUM> (i.e., the left inner plate <NUM> and the right inner plate <NUM>) has been installed on the back plate <NUM>. Spacers <NUM> may be installed around the fasteners <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the harvesting reel <NUM> after the inner plate <NUM> of the second cam assembly <NUM> (i.e., the left inner plate <NUM> and the right inner plate <NUM>) has been installed on the first cam assembly <NUM>. The cam followers <NUM> of the rotating assembly <NUM> may be positioned adj acent the outside edges of the inner plates <NUM>, <NUM> of the cam assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the harvesting reel <NUM> after the cover <NUM> (i.e., the left cover <NUM> and the right cover <NUM>) has been installed on the inner plate <NUM> of the second cam assembly <NUM>. The fasteners <NUM> may then be secured to the cover <NUM> (e.g., if the fasteners <NUM> include machine screws, nuts may be screwed onto the threads thereof).

<FIG> illustrates assembly of the outer guides. The left outer guide <NUM> of the first cam assembly <NUM> may be secured to the left outer guide <NUM> of the second cam assembly <NUM> by appropriate fasteners <NUM> and spacers <NUM> (which may be the same or different than those shown in <FIG>). The right outer guides <NUM>, <NUM> may be assembled together in a similar manner. The outer guides <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may then be secured to the cover <NUM> with the fasteners <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The cam followers <NUM> may be positioned between the outside edges of the inner plates <NUM>, <NUM> and the inside edges of the outer guides <NUM>, <NUM> of the cam assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A harvesting reel, comprising:
a reel frame (<NUM>) configured to be carried by a harvesting header, the reel frame comprising:
a first cam assembly (<NUM>) comprising a first inner plate (<NUM>) and a first outer guide (<NUM>), the first cam assembly defining a first cam track (<NUM>);
a second cam assembly (<NUM>) comprising a second inner plate (<NUM>) and a second outer guide (<NUM>), the second cam assembly defining a second cam track (<NUM>); and
a cover (<NUM>) coupled to the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly; and
a rotating assembly (<NUM>) rotatably coupled to the reel frame and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, the rotating assembly comprising:
a plurality of reel bats (<NUM>) configured to revolve around the longitudinal axis of the rotating assembly, wherein each reel bat is coupled to a first cam follower (<NUM>) and a second cam follower (<NUM>); and
a plurality of reel tines (<NUM>) fixed to each reel bat;
wherein the first cam follower of each reel bat travels within the first cam track when the rotating assembly rotates, wherein the second cam follower of each reel bat travels within the second cam track when the rotating assembly rotates, and wherein a position and an orientation of each reel bat are defined by the first cam track and the second cam track.