CA2455031A1 - Crop lifter - Google Patents
Crop lifter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2455031A1 CA2455031A1 CA 2455031 CA2455031A CA2455031A1 CA 2455031 A1 CA2455031 A1 CA 2455031A1 CA 2455031 CA2455031 CA 2455031 CA 2455031 A CA2455031 A CA 2455031A CA 2455031 A1 CA2455031 A1 CA 2455031A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- arm
- finger
- header
- latch member
- bore
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01D65/00—Grain-crop lifters
- A01D65/02—Lifting fingers
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Harvester Elements (AREA)
Abstract
A crop lifter for attachment to a cutting header includes a lifter member adapted for attachment to the header and a lifting finger attached to the lifter member by a quick-attach mechanism such that a leading end of the lifting finger is ahead of and below the knife. The lifting finger is flexible and structurally weak compared to the lifting member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member or header. The crop lifter can have an arm with a latch member at a rear end thereof, and a cooperating latch member attached to the header. The arm latches to the header and a releasable latch lock prevents forward movement of the arm that would disengage the latch.
Description
~ltOp LIFTER
This inveniion is in the field of cutting headers such as are usod in agriculture for cutting crops for harvest and the like, anti in particular with crop lifters such as are ~aaounted on such headers to lift crop that is lying down so that it can 1x cut and move onto the header.
BAC)KC1~.0>(~
For various reasons «ops sometimes arc lying so close to th~e.~round that it is difficult to 14 cut them with a conventional harvest header. Some crops are inherently short, while others may be taller, but are prone to fall down when they reach maturity.
Heavy rain or hail can also cause crop to be lying close to the ground at harvest time.
Typically the knife on cutting headers comprises a knife bar extending along the front 15 lower edge of the header, with a plurality of triangular knife sections attached to the Gar such that the apex of the triangle extends forward fi~o~n the bar. The e~cposed side edges of the knife sections are sharpened. Guards are attached to the front lower edge of the header and serve to protect the krxife sections from breakage when contacting stones and like obstructions. The guards comprise pointed guard fingers extending for~xrard, and the 20 knife moves back and fob along the edge of the header in a slot cut laterally through the guard fingers. In addition to protecting the knife, the guard angers also enable the knife sections to cut the crop. As the knife section moves back and forth it pushes crop against the sides of those portions of the guard finger that are above and below the slot, shearing the crop stalks.
A conventional knife is a few inches above the ground when the header is in its lowest positao~n, such that very short or downed crop material will pass under the knife and be lost. Many different kinds of "crop lifters' ; as they have coma to be known have bxn developed over the last century and more. Typically these crop lifters are attached to the header andlor the forward extending point of the guard finger, and provide an arm of various designs that rides along the ground ahead of the Lcnifc. A lifting finger extends at a shallow angle from the front of the arm back and over the knife. As the header moves down the field, the arm rides along the gxound and under the downed crop stalks, which then are lifted and pass over the lifting flngcr to the knife, where they are cut and continue moving onto the header from where they can be passed to the harvester, swather table, or the like.
Unitod States Patent Numbers 700,029 and 79X,022 to f~atermann, 2,734,332 to Fisher, 2,892,29$ to Chancy, 2,960,814 to Bahcock, arid Canadian Patent Number 407,654 to Young disclose such a crop lifter that is pivotally attached to the header so as to be able to move up and down to follow the ground. The Baboock and Fisher devices float on the ground, while the others are biased toward the ground by springs. United States Patent Number 4,120,138 to Schumacher illustrates a crop lifter that is fixod to the header instead of pivoting, but is made of spring steel so that sarae may ~x~ove up and down to follow the ground.
The leading ends of the lifting fingers on these dCVic~ is fixed in relation to the arm such that the leading end is at a faxed distance above the ground, but quite close to the ground in order to lift as much crop as possible. Generally speaking crop stalks that pass under the leading end will be lost, and those drat pass over will be harvested.
Most commonly in the prior art the leading end of the lifting finger is gexwerally the leading end of the arm, and is therefore upturned to provide a ski effort and ride over the ground instead of digging in. In the Chancy and Fisher devices, the leading end is ahead -~d~,TC~-of the arm and is pointing generally dovvrn very close to the ground to collect the lowest lying crop possible. In the Fisher device, an adjustment is provided to vary the angle of the lift finger, and the lift finger can also be longitudinally adjusted relative to the arm to vary the distance from the leading end of the lifting finger to the ground.
s If even a small obstruction is contacted by the Chanoy or Fisher devices, they will not ride over it, but will be required to push it to the side, making them more subject to damage. A problem with conventional lifters of substantially all types is that breakage, bending, and deformation is not unwmmon as a result of contact with obstructions or ground variations in the held. Repair of such damage is time ~nsuming, requiring removal of the bolts or like fasteners attaching the liner, and repair if possible by straightening with a press, welding, or the like. Often replacement is necessary at fairly signilYCant expense.
Demonstrating another alternative crop lifter, United States Patent Application Publication 2001/0037635 of Figliuzzi discloses a crop lifter that provides a lifting finger that extends rearward and upward fram the point of a guard &ngcr. In one illustrated eznbvdiment the point of the guard finger is extended substantially forward from a conventional location.
Generally cutting headers are used in taller crops as well as on the short and downod crops described above. In such crops the header is raised a substantial distance above the ground. Oftem in such taller crops however there will be crop stalks that have fallen over duo to insert damage, weather, or the like and are closer to the ground than the desired cutting height. Crop lifters do not conventionally operate below the cutting height to lift these downed stalks.
_PF~rBS_ Crop lifters interfere somewhat with normal operations of the header when harvesting taller crops with the header raised a substantial distance above the ground.
During turns in particular, because the crop lifers generally extend a considerable distance ahead of the header, some orop stalks ane pushed over and not cut, It is common practice therefore to remove the crop lifters when using the header on taller crops. In view of this, and the further requirement as discussed above to remove the lifers for repair and replacement, there is also considerable prior art darectod to providing a crop lifts that is easily installed and removed.
United States Patent Number 3,579,967 to Schurnach~ discloses a quick attachment mechanism fior a cmp lifter. A rear end of a springy arm of the crop lifter defines a notch that fits into an annular groove in a nut that attaches the guard to the header. The extreme rear end of the notched portion is bent down, such that the notch can only be inserted into the groove when the front end of the atom is tilted downward. After insertion, the ~~ront 1S end of the arm is raised, and a hook is placed over the guard finger to lock the arm in tension and in the raised position. With the arm so raised, the bent portion at the rear of the ar~tx~ prevents thn arm from moving forward and disengaging the grooved nut.
Unit«i States Patent Numbers 4,295,328 and 6,442,919 and United States Patent Agplieation Publication 2003/0005678 of Schumacher disclose quick attachment mechanisms for cxop lifters that use the bent rear notch and provide alternate mechanisms using springs, clips and the like to hold the arm in the raised position by releasably securing tha arm to the guard finger.
Canadian Patent Numbers 548,220 to A. Clans and 719,825 to R Clans disclose a quick attachment mechaniszx~. for a e.-rvp lifter that attaches only to the guard finger with a spring biased clamp.
- Page 6 .-SUMMARY_QF_THE llVVENT)CaN
It is an object of the preserxt invention to provide a crop lifter that overcomes problems in the prior art. It is a further objec.~t of the present invention to provide a crop lifter that includes a break-away portian adapted to bend or break when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the crop lifter. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a crop lifter wherein the break-away portion can be quickly replaced.
It is a furthdr object of the present invention to provide a crop lifter that attaches quickly to the header. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus wherein a mid-portion of the apparatus ez~,gages a guard finger and a rear end of the apparatus is attached to the header with a latch. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a crop lifter wherein latch member on the rear end of an arm engages a cooperating latch member attached to the header, and wherein the rear end of the arm coanprises a lock mechanism to hold the arm in place.
fhe present invention provides, in a first embodiment, a crop lifter adapted far attachment to a cutting header having a knife and cooperating guards mounted along a lower front edge thereof. The crop lifter comprises a lifter member adapted for attachment to the header and a lifting finger attached to the lifter member by a quick-attach mechanism such that a leading end of the lifting finger is ahead of and below the knife. A carrying portion extends rearward from the leading end of the lifting finger to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting. The lifting finger is flexibld and strut,-turaily i 25 weak compared to the liifing member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member.
The present invention provides, in a second embodiment, a cmp lifter adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof.
The crop lifter comprises a guard mounted on the header in cooperating relationship with the knife and having a guard finger extending forward from the knife. A bore member is attached to the guard finger, the bore member defining a bore oriented substantially aligned with an operating travel direction and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof. A lifting finger defines a locking portion on an outer surface of a middle portion thereof and the bore and locking portion of the lifting finger are configured such that the locking portion of the lifting finger can slide longitudinally in the bore when oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore, and the bore and locking portion are configured such that the locking portion locks in the bore when twisted about a finger axis to a second orientation. When locked, the lifting finger is oriented such that a leading end thereof is ahead of and below the knife, and a rear portion thereof extends rearward fiom the bore member to guide lined crop to the knife for cutting. The lifting finger is flexible and structurally weak compared to the bore member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the bore member.
The present invention provides, in a third embodiment, crop lifter adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof and guards attached to the lower front edge with guard bolts. The crnp lifter comprises a header latch member adapted for attachment to a guard bolt on an underside of the header. An arm is adapted to ride along the ground, and an arm latch member at a rear end of the arm is adapted to move rearward into ez~gagexnent with the header latch member such that the near end of the arm is maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header.
A, finger aperture is defined on the arm forward of the arm latch member and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard enters the finger aperture when the -Page$
arm is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member. A
releasable latch lock is operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member with respect to the header latch mcmbcr. A lifting finger cxtcnds rearward and upward from a front portion of the arm to lift crop stalks and carry same to the knife to be cut.
DESC~~'><ON QF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, prefer ed embodiments are provided in the ac~mpanying detailod description which may be bcjst understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with lake numbers, and where:
Fig. l i s a schematic top view of a cutting header of the prior art;
Fig. 2 is an explodod side view of a crop lifter of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the assembled crop lifter of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the crop lifter;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking portion of the lifting finger;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the twist and lack mechanism showing the lifting finger in a first orientation for insertion into the bore of the mounting bracket;
-Pagey-Fig. 7 is a side view of the twist and lock mechanism of Fig. 6 showing the lifting finger in a second orientation for locking same into the bore of the mounting bracket;
Fig. $ is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the crop lifter;
Figs. 9 and 14 are side views of a further altez~:ate embodiment of the crop lifter illustrating the latching engagement of the arm to the header;
Fig. 1I is a schematic top view of a latch lock that could be used with the embodiment of Fig. 9 shown in the open position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged;
Fig. 12 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig. 11 shown in the closed position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged;
Fig. 13 is a schematic top view of a latch lock that could be used with the embodiment of k'ig. 9 c:ompris~ing a spring catch shown in the closed position adjacent to the header latching member;
Fig. 14 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig. 13 shown in the closed position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged;
Fig. 15 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig. 13 shown with the spring elements forced to an open position;
-Page lp-Fig. 16 is a schematic side vic3w of an aItemate latch lock for use with the embodiment of Fig. 9 comprising an alternate spring catch shown in the closed position with the header and arrn latch members fully engaged;
S Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the rear end of an alternate spring element for use with the embodiment of 1~ig. 16;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the header and arm latch mcznbcrs;
Fig. 19 is a side view of an alternate crop lifter wherein the forger aperture is locatod at the front end of the arm, and the rear end of the arm latches to the header.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIkIE tLLUSTRA')('TD EMBOD><MENTS:
Fig. 1 illustrate a cutting header 2 of the prior art having a knife 4 and cooperating guards 6 mounted along a lower front edge thereof. The guards G have guard fingers 8 extending forward from the knife 4. The header is designed to travel along a field in an operating travel direction T.
A crop litter 10 of the invention for attachment to the header 2 is illustrated iz~ Figs. 2 and 3. The crop lifter 10 comprises a lif~cr rncmbcr 12 adapted for attachment to the header 2 and a lifting finger 14 attached to the lifter member 12 by a twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 16 such that a leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14 is ahead of and below the knife 4. .A carrying portion 20 of the crap lifter 10 extends rearward from the leading end 18 ofthe lifting finger 14 to guide lifted crop to the knife 4 for cutting.
- Fage 11 -In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3 the carrying portion 20 is provided by a rear portion of the lifting finger 14. In operation the leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14 will pass under low lying crop stalks and the stalks will then be lifted by the front portion of the lifting finger 14 and carried by the rear carrying portion 20 of the lifting finger I4 to the knife 4.
In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2 - 4, the lifter member 12 consists solely of a bore member or mounting bracket 22 attached to one of the guard fingers $. In the embodiment of trigs. 2 and 3, the guard finger 8 defines a finger hole 24 extending therethrough, and the mounting bracket 22 defines a bracket hole 26. ~ he mounting bracket 22 is attached to the guard finger 8 by a bolt 2$ extending laterally through the bz~ackcjt hole 26 and anger hole 24 as illustrated in 1~ig. 3. The mounting bracket 22 can be pivoted up and down to vary a distaz~.ce between the leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14 and ground level. Stops could be attached to the mounting bracket 22 and oriented with respect to the guard finger 8 to prevent movement of the mounting bracket 22 and thus prevent movement of the leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14.
Guards 6 having guard fingers 8 that define finger holes 24 cant be znanufacture~d as original equipment or after-market options. Such guards 6 would be attractive in that they would not interfere with the eonvartional operation o.f the machirxe, but woutd allow for easy installation of the crop lifter 10 of the invention.
In the alternate embodiment of Fig. 4, the mounting bracket 22 is attached to the guard ftngcr 8 by a spring biased clamp 30, such as is known in the prior art of Claasen. Thus in the embodiments of Figs. 2 - 4, the crop lifter 10 is very simple and economical, and readily mounted to the header 2.
- Pagc 12 -The lift~ag finger Z4 is made from a resilient plastic or similar material so that it is flexible and stzucturally weak compared to the lifting member 12 such that the lifting finger 14 will readily break or bend when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member 12. The flexible lining fingers 14 also are less likely to dig stones or the like out of the ground, but will flex around such obstructions.
Sucb~ raised stones can cause damagd to the machine.
The lifting fingers 14 are relatively inexpensive, and flat twist and lock quick-attach mechanism lfi allows for very quick removal of broken lifting fingers 14 and replacement with new ones. Thus, compared to prior art crop liilers, maintenance time and expense is greatly reduced. The lifting fingers 14 will also flex and bend readily to resist breakage, although sometimes they will become badly bent and require replacement prior to breakirng.
The lifting fingers 14 can also be easily cut with snips or the like to the desrired length so that the leading end 18 thereof is located at the desired picking height relative to the ground. The lifting forgers 14 can be cut to a length such that they actually touch or rake the soil surface if desired, allowing the .lifter 10 to lift crop stalks that are laying flat on 24 the ground.
The lifting finger 14 earl have a larger diameter at a front portion thereof to resist breakage, and also the front portion can be vary long if desired so that the lifting fingers will reach substantially below the header. The lifting fingers will then lift fallen or leaning a~talks in a higher crop where the header is operated at a considerable height above tlm ground to minimize the amount of material entering the harvesting machine, but where there are some stalks that have fallen and would conventionally be missed.
Details of one twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 16 are illustrated in Figs. 5 - 7.
The illustrated twist and lock quick-attach mecharnsm 16 comprises a bore 40 defined by the mounting bracket 22 and oriented substantially aligned with the operating travel direction T and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2. The bore 40 and a cooperating locking pofiion 42 of the Lifting finger 14 are configured such that the locking portion 42 of the lifting finger 14 can slide longitudinally in the bore 40 whar oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore 40, as seen in Fig. 6, and arc configured such that the locking portion 42 locks in the bare 40 when twisted a,quarter turn about a finger axis FA tv a second orientation shown in Fig. 7.
The locking portion 42 of the lifting finger 14 comprises front and rear lobes 44, 46 extending radially from the surface of the lifting finger I4. The bore has a flattened rear portion 48 and configured such that the lifting finger 14 can be inserted into the bore 40 in the first orientation and the rear lobe will pass through the flattened portion 48 at the rear end of the bore 40. When fully insertod the front lobe 44 bears against a front end of the bore 40 and the lifting finger 14 eau be twisted a quarter turn about the finger axis FA
to the second orientation with the rear lobe 46 bearing against the rear end of the byre 40.
Thus the lifting finger I4 is readily installed and z~novc~d by twisting same one quarter turn about the finger axis FA
Fig. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the crop lifter 1 x 0 wherein the lifte3r member I 12 comprises an arm 150 adapted to ride along the ground. The arm 150 is attached at a rear end thereof to the header 2 by conventional guard bolts 1G0 and includes an aperture member 16Z at a middle portion thereof that defines a finger aperture oriented to engage the point of a guard finger 108 when the rear end of the arm 150 is attached to the guard bolt x60. The arm 150 has an upwardly curved forward end 154. The quick-attach mechanism 116 is pivotally attached about a pivot axis PA to an upper portion of the forward end 154 of the arm 150 such that the lifting finger 1 I4 can be pivoted up and down to vary a distance between the leading end 118 of the lifting forger 114 and ground level.
In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 8 the lifting finger 114 extends only forward of the quick-attach mechanism 116. The carrying portion 120 of the crop lifer 110 to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting is provided by the upward and rearward extending portion 15b of the arm 3 50. Alternately, another finger member extending in the required direction could be attached to the arm 150 by another quick-attach mechanism, or a through finger such as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 could be used.
Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a crop lifter 210 that can be quickly installed and removed ~~zn a header 202 by sliding the lifter arm 250 rearward such that a guard finger 208 of a guard 206 attached to the header 202 engages a finger aperture in an aperture member defined by the lifer 210 arAd the rear end of the lifter 210 moves into latching engagement with the header 202. The rear end of the litter 210 is then locked to the header 202 to prevent forward movement of the lifter 210. Releasing the latch lock 266 at the rear end of the lifter 2 x 0 allows the lifter 210 to be moved forward and removed from the header 202.
The crop lifter 210 comprises a header latch member 270 adapted for attachment to a guard bolt 260 on an underside of the header 202. An arm 250 is adapted to ride along the ground. An arm latch member 272 is located at a near grad of the arm. 250 and is adapted to move rearward into engagement with the header latch member 274 such that - Page I S -the rear end of the arm 250 as maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header 202.
In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 9 - 16 the header latch member 270 defines an annular groove 274 such that there is a groove on each side thereof, and the arm latch member 272 comprises two lags, as illustrated in Fig. 11, configured to engage the annular groove 274 on each side thereof. Providing an annular groove allows the header latch member 270 to be oriented in any direction and still have gooves on each side thereof to engage the legs 276. Thus with the legs 276 engaged in the annular groove 274, the rear end of the arch 250 is vertically substantially fixed with respect to the header 202.
Fig. 18 illustrates an alternate embodiment whereizz the header latch member 370 defines a forward facing agerture 375 and wherein the ann latch member 372 comprises a dowel 377 ~nfigured to slide into the aperture 375.
As the arm 250 is moved rearward to engage the header and arm latch members 270, 272 the guard frnger 208 enters the finger aperture defined by the aperture zxzeznber 262 on the ann 250 forward of the arm latch member 272. Thus when the latch merxzbcrs 270, 272 are fully engaged, the guard finger 208 is fully engaged irz the aperture member 262 and the lifter 210 is thus socurcd to the header 202. The releasable latch lock 266 is operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member 272 with respect to the header latch member 272 and so maintains the lifter 210 secured to the header.
Alternate ezrzbodiments of the latch lock 266 arc illustrated in Figs. 11 -16. In the embodimezzt of Figs. I 1 and I2 the latch lock 266 comprises a lock plate 280 pivotally attached to a top of the arm 250 forward of the arm latch member 272 and movable from the closed position of Fig. 12 where the lock plate 2$0 is rearward of the header latch member 270, to the open position of Fig. 11 where the lock plate 280 is on one side of the header latch member 270. The lock plate 2$0 is maintained in the closed position by a detest 282 between the arm 250 and the lock plate 280 comprising a bim~p and vorresgonding recess.
1n the embodiment of Figs. 13 - 16 the latch Ioclc 266 comprises a spring catch maintained in a closed position by a bias force and configured to be pushed open as the arm latch member 272 is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member 270. The spring catch is conf gored to close when the latch members 272, 270 arc fully argaged to prevent forward movement of the arm 250.
In th;e embodiment of Figs. 13 - 15 the spring catch comprises a pair of spring elements 2$4 mounted to the arm 250 above a rear portion of the arm 250, one spring element 2$4 located on each side of an axis AA of the arm 250. The spring elements 284 are configured to resist movement away from the axis AA. A Iip 288 at a rear an of each spring element 284 behind the arzn latch member 272 extends rearward and away from the axis AA. The spring elements 284 are configurod such that they are pushed away from the axis AA by the header latch member 270 contacting the Iips 288 as the arm latch member 272 is xnoveci rearward into engagement with the header latch member 270. The spring elements 284 then move toward the axis AA rearward of the header latch member 270 when the Iatch members 270, 272 are fully engaged, thereby preventing forward movement of the arm 250.
The embodiment of Figs. 13 - 15 further comprises a pin 290 extending upward through a pin aperture in the rear portion of the arm 250. The pin 290 has a head on a bottom end thereof below the arm 250 (not illustrated), and a release member 292 attached to the pin 290 above the arnn~ 250 between the spring elements 284. The release member 292 is oblong shaped such that rotation of the pin 290 causes the release member 292 to bear against the spring elements 284 to force the spring elements 2$4 apart, as illustrated in Fig. 15, and allow the arm 250 to be moved forward to move the arm latch member 272 out of engagement with the header latch member 270 and thereby release the arm 250.
The release membor 292 thus allows the operator to readily remove the arm 250 by rotating the head of the pin 290 with a wrench or the like an the easily accessible bottom of the anm 250.
In the alternate embodiment of a crop lifter 410 of the invention shown in Fig. 16, the spring catch camprises a spring clemart 484 attached to a bottom rear portion of the arm 450 such that the spring element 484 resists downward movement. The spring element 484 defmcs a rcxcssed portion 48G under the arm latch member 472, and has a lip 488 extending rearward and downward from a rear end thereof. The spring element 484 is configured as illustrated such that the spring element 484 is pushed downward by the header latch member 470 as the arm latch member 472 is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member 470, and then moves upward when the latch members 470, 472 are fully engaged to maintain a bottom portion of the guard bolt 460 in the recessed portion 486 and prcvart forward movement of the arm 450.
A bottom view of an alternate spring clement 584 is illustrated in Fig. 17 for use in the place of the spring clement 484 of Fig. 1 G. In place of the recessed portion 48G, the spring element 584 provides an aperture 586 through the spring element 584.
Thus the bVttUm portion of the guard bolt 460 extends into or through the aperture 586, and is maintained in position. A lip 588 extends rearward and downw~d from the rear end of the spring elerz~ent 584.
- Fage 18 -It is contemplated that a magnetic attachment wuld be used to lock the arm to the header as well.
Fig. 19 illustrates an alternate crop lifter 6x0 where the finger aperture member 662 is located at the upturnod front end of the arm 650, and the arm latch member 672 at the rear end of the arm d50 latches to die header latch member 670 as described above. The crop lifter b10 is illustrated using a spzang catch of Figs. 13 - 15, with ,~pring elements 684 on top of the arm 650, however alternate latch locks could be used as well. The crop lifter 610 uses a mounting bracket 622 similar to that of Figs. 2 and 8 pivotally mounted to the front egad of the arm 650 on aperture member 662 and incorporating a twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 616 such as that illustrated in Figs. 5 - 7 to attach the lifting finger 614.
Compared to the prior art mechax~isz~as for quick attachment of a lifter that hook into the annular groove and are latched to the guard finger, the lifter of the present invention latches to the header, and only a conventional stationary aperture member is required to engage the guard fiz~g~sr, such that moving parts are removed frnm the cutting area of the header.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, vnc:e numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown az~d described, and accordingly, a1I such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
This inveniion is in the field of cutting headers such as are usod in agriculture for cutting crops for harvest and the like, anti in particular with crop lifters such as are ~aaounted on such headers to lift crop that is lying down so that it can 1x cut and move onto the header.
BAC)KC1~.0>(~
For various reasons «ops sometimes arc lying so close to th~e.~round that it is difficult to 14 cut them with a conventional harvest header. Some crops are inherently short, while others may be taller, but are prone to fall down when they reach maturity.
Heavy rain or hail can also cause crop to be lying close to the ground at harvest time.
Typically the knife on cutting headers comprises a knife bar extending along the front 15 lower edge of the header, with a plurality of triangular knife sections attached to the Gar such that the apex of the triangle extends forward fi~o~n the bar. The e~cposed side edges of the knife sections are sharpened. Guards are attached to the front lower edge of the header and serve to protect the krxife sections from breakage when contacting stones and like obstructions. The guards comprise pointed guard fingers extending for~xrard, and the 20 knife moves back and fob along the edge of the header in a slot cut laterally through the guard fingers. In addition to protecting the knife, the guard angers also enable the knife sections to cut the crop. As the knife section moves back and forth it pushes crop against the sides of those portions of the guard finger that are above and below the slot, shearing the crop stalks.
A conventional knife is a few inches above the ground when the header is in its lowest positao~n, such that very short or downed crop material will pass under the knife and be lost. Many different kinds of "crop lifters' ; as they have coma to be known have bxn developed over the last century and more. Typically these crop lifters are attached to the header andlor the forward extending point of the guard finger, and provide an arm of various designs that rides along the ground ahead of the Lcnifc. A lifting finger extends at a shallow angle from the front of the arm back and over the knife. As the header moves down the field, the arm rides along the gxound and under the downed crop stalks, which then are lifted and pass over the lifting flngcr to the knife, where they are cut and continue moving onto the header from where they can be passed to the harvester, swather table, or the like.
Unitod States Patent Numbers 700,029 and 79X,022 to f~atermann, 2,734,332 to Fisher, 2,892,29$ to Chancy, 2,960,814 to Bahcock, arid Canadian Patent Number 407,654 to Young disclose such a crop lifter that is pivotally attached to the header so as to be able to move up and down to follow the ground. The Baboock and Fisher devices float on the ground, while the others are biased toward the ground by springs. United States Patent Number 4,120,138 to Schumacher illustrates a crop lifter that is fixod to the header instead of pivoting, but is made of spring steel so that sarae may ~x~ove up and down to follow the ground.
The leading ends of the lifting fingers on these dCVic~ is fixed in relation to the arm such that the leading end is at a faxed distance above the ground, but quite close to the ground in order to lift as much crop as possible. Generally speaking crop stalks that pass under the leading end will be lost, and those drat pass over will be harvested.
Most commonly in the prior art the leading end of the lifting finger is gexwerally the leading end of the arm, and is therefore upturned to provide a ski effort and ride over the ground instead of digging in. In the Chancy and Fisher devices, the leading end is ahead -~d~,TC~-of the arm and is pointing generally dovvrn very close to the ground to collect the lowest lying crop possible. In the Fisher device, an adjustment is provided to vary the angle of the lift finger, and the lift finger can also be longitudinally adjusted relative to the arm to vary the distance from the leading end of the lifting finger to the ground.
s If even a small obstruction is contacted by the Chanoy or Fisher devices, they will not ride over it, but will be required to push it to the side, making them more subject to damage. A problem with conventional lifters of substantially all types is that breakage, bending, and deformation is not unwmmon as a result of contact with obstructions or ground variations in the held. Repair of such damage is time ~nsuming, requiring removal of the bolts or like fasteners attaching the liner, and repair if possible by straightening with a press, welding, or the like. Often replacement is necessary at fairly signilYCant expense.
Demonstrating another alternative crop lifter, United States Patent Application Publication 2001/0037635 of Figliuzzi discloses a crop lifter that provides a lifting finger that extends rearward and upward fram the point of a guard &ngcr. In one illustrated eznbvdiment the point of the guard finger is extended substantially forward from a conventional location.
Generally cutting headers are used in taller crops as well as on the short and downod crops described above. In such crops the header is raised a substantial distance above the ground. Oftem in such taller crops however there will be crop stalks that have fallen over duo to insert damage, weather, or the like and are closer to the ground than the desired cutting height. Crop lifters do not conventionally operate below the cutting height to lift these downed stalks.
_PF~rBS_ Crop lifters interfere somewhat with normal operations of the header when harvesting taller crops with the header raised a substantial distance above the ground.
During turns in particular, because the crop lifers generally extend a considerable distance ahead of the header, some orop stalks ane pushed over and not cut, It is common practice therefore to remove the crop lifters when using the header on taller crops. In view of this, and the further requirement as discussed above to remove the lifers for repair and replacement, there is also considerable prior art darectod to providing a crop lifts that is easily installed and removed.
United States Patent Number 3,579,967 to Schurnach~ discloses a quick attachment mechanism fior a cmp lifter. A rear end of a springy arm of the crop lifter defines a notch that fits into an annular groove in a nut that attaches the guard to the header. The extreme rear end of the notched portion is bent down, such that the notch can only be inserted into the groove when the front end of the atom is tilted downward. After insertion, the ~~ront 1S end of the arm is raised, and a hook is placed over the guard finger to lock the arm in tension and in the raised position. With the arm so raised, the bent portion at the rear of the ar~tx~ prevents thn arm from moving forward and disengaging the grooved nut.
Unit«i States Patent Numbers 4,295,328 and 6,442,919 and United States Patent Agplieation Publication 2003/0005678 of Schumacher disclose quick attachment mechanisms for cxop lifters that use the bent rear notch and provide alternate mechanisms using springs, clips and the like to hold the arm in the raised position by releasably securing tha arm to the guard finger.
Canadian Patent Numbers 548,220 to A. Clans and 719,825 to R Clans disclose a quick attachment mechaniszx~. for a e.-rvp lifter that attaches only to the guard finger with a spring biased clamp.
- Page 6 .-SUMMARY_QF_THE llVVENT)CaN
It is an object of the preserxt invention to provide a crop lifter that overcomes problems in the prior art. It is a further objec.~t of the present invention to provide a crop lifter that includes a break-away portian adapted to bend or break when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the crop lifter. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a crop lifter wherein the break-away portion can be quickly replaced.
It is a furthdr object of the present invention to provide a crop lifter that attaches quickly to the header. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus wherein a mid-portion of the apparatus ez~,gages a guard finger and a rear end of the apparatus is attached to the header with a latch. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a crop lifter wherein latch member on the rear end of an arm engages a cooperating latch member attached to the header, and wherein the rear end of the arm coanprises a lock mechanism to hold the arm in place.
fhe present invention provides, in a first embodiment, a crop lifter adapted far attachment to a cutting header having a knife and cooperating guards mounted along a lower front edge thereof. The crop lifter comprises a lifter member adapted for attachment to the header and a lifting finger attached to the lifter member by a quick-attach mechanism such that a leading end of the lifting finger is ahead of and below the knife. A carrying portion extends rearward from the leading end of the lifting finger to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting. The lifting finger is flexibld and strut,-turaily i 25 weak compared to the liifing member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member.
The present invention provides, in a second embodiment, a cmp lifter adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof.
The crop lifter comprises a guard mounted on the header in cooperating relationship with the knife and having a guard finger extending forward from the knife. A bore member is attached to the guard finger, the bore member defining a bore oriented substantially aligned with an operating travel direction and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof. A lifting finger defines a locking portion on an outer surface of a middle portion thereof and the bore and locking portion of the lifting finger are configured such that the locking portion of the lifting finger can slide longitudinally in the bore when oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore, and the bore and locking portion are configured such that the locking portion locks in the bore when twisted about a finger axis to a second orientation. When locked, the lifting finger is oriented such that a leading end thereof is ahead of and below the knife, and a rear portion thereof extends rearward fiom the bore member to guide lined crop to the knife for cutting. The lifting finger is flexible and structurally weak compared to the bore member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the bore member.
The present invention provides, in a third embodiment, crop lifter adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof and guards attached to the lower front edge with guard bolts. The crnp lifter comprises a header latch member adapted for attachment to a guard bolt on an underside of the header. An arm is adapted to ride along the ground, and an arm latch member at a rear end of the arm is adapted to move rearward into ez~gagexnent with the header latch member such that the near end of the arm is maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header.
A, finger aperture is defined on the arm forward of the arm latch member and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard enters the finger aperture when the -Page$
arm is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member. A
releasable latch lock is operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member with respect to the header latch mcmbcr. A lifting finger cxtcnds rearward and upward from a front portion of the arm to lift crop stalks and carry same to the knife to be cut.
DESC~~'><ON QF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, prefer ed embodiments are provided in the ac~mpanying detailod description which may be bcjst understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with lake numbers, and where:
Fig. l i s a schematic top view of a cutting header of the prior art;
Fig. 2 is an explodod side view of a crop lifter of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the assembled crop lifter of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the crop lifter;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking portion of the lifting finger;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the twist and lack mechanism showing the lifting finger in a first orientation for insertion into the bore of the mounting bracket;
-Pagey-Fig. 7 is a side view of the twist and lock mechanism of Fig. 6 showing the lifting finger in a second orientation for locking same into the bore of the mounting bracket;
Fig. $ is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the crop lifter;
Figs. 9 and 14 are side views of a further altez~:ate embodiment of the crop lifter illustrating the latching engagement of the arm to the header;
Fig. 1I is a schematic top view of a latch lock that could be used with the embodiment of Fig. 9 shown in the open position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged;
Fig. 12 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig. 11 shown in the closed position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged;
Fig. 13 is a schematic top view of a latch lock that could be used with the embodiment of k'ig. 9 c:ompris~ing a spring catch shown in the closed position adjacent to the header latching member;
Fig. 14 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig. 13 shown in the closed position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged;
Fig. 15 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig. 13 shown with the spring elements forced to an open position;
-Page lp-Fig. 16 is a schematic side vic3w of an aItemate latch lock for use with the embodiment of Fig. 9 comprising an alternate spring catch shown in the closed position with the header and arrn latch members fully engaged;
S Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the rear end of an alternate spring element for use with the embodiment of 1~ig. 16;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the header and arm latch mcznbcrs;
Fig. 19 is a side view of an alternate crop lifter wherein the forger aperture is locatod at the front end of the arm, and the rear end of the arm latches to the header.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIkIE tLLUSTRA')('TD EMBOD><MENTS:
Fig. 1 illustrate a cutting header 2 of the prior art having a knife 4 and cooperating guards 6 mounted along a lower front edge thereof. The guards G have guard fingers 8 extending forward from the knife 4. The header is designed to travel along a field in an operating travel direction T.
A crop litter 10 of the invention for attachment to the header 2 is illustrated iz~ Figs. 2 and 3. The crop lifter 10 comprises a lif~cr rncmbcr 12 adapted for attachment to the header 2 and a lifting finger 14 attached to the lifter member 12 by a twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 16 such that a leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14 is ahead of and below the knife 4. .A carrying portion 20 of the crap lifter 10 extends rearward from the leading end 18 ofthe lifting finger 14 to guide lifted crop to the knife 4 for cutting.
- Fage 11 -In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3 the carrying portion 20 is provided by a rear portion of the lifting finger 14. In operation the leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14 will pass under low lying crop stalks and the stalks will then be lifted by the front portion of the lifting finger 14 and carried by the rear carrying portion 20 of the lifting finger I4 to the knife 4.
In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2 - 4, the lifter member 12 consists solely of a bore member or mounting bracket 22 attached to one of the guard fingers $. In the embodiment of trigs. 2 and 3, the guard finger 8 defines a finger hole 24 extending therethrough, and the mounting bracket 22 defines a bracket hole 26. ~ he mounting bracket 22 is attached to the guard finger 8 by a bolt 2$ extending laterally through the bz~ackcjt hole 26 and anger hole 24 as illustrated in 1~ig. 3. The mounting bracket 22 can be pivoted up and down to vary a distaz~.ce between the leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14 and ground level. Stops could be attached to the mounting bracket 22 and oriented with respect to the guard finger 8 to prevent movement of the mounting bracket 22 and thus prevent movement of the leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14.
Guards 6 having guard fingers 8 that define finger holes 24 cant be znanufacture~d as original equipment or after-market options. Such guards 6 would be attractive in that they would not interfere with the eonvartional operation o.f the machirxe, but woutd allow for easy installation of the crop lifter 10 of the invention.
In the alternate embodiment of Fig. 4, the mounting bracket 22 is attached to the guard ftngcr 8 by a spring biased clamp 30, such as is known in the prior art of Claasen. Thus in the embodiments of Figs. 2 - 4, the crop lifter 10 is very simple and economical, and readily mounted to the header 2.
- Pagc 12 -The lift~ag finger Z4 is made from a resilient plastic or similar material so that it is flexible and stzucturally weak compared to the lifting member 12 such that the lifting finger 14 will readily break or bend when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member 12. The flexible lining fingers 14 also are less likely to dig stones or the like out of the ground, but will flex around such obstructions.
Sucb~ raised stones can cause damagd to the machine.
The lifting fingers 14 are relatively inexpensive, and flat twist and lock quick-attach mechanism lfi allows for very quick removal of broken lifting fingers 14 and replacement with new ones. Thus, compared to prior art crop liilers, maintenance time and expense is greatly reduced. The lifting fingers 14 will also flex and bend readily to resist breakage, although sometimes they will become badly bent and require replacement prior to breakirng.
The lifting fingers 14 can also be easily cut with snips or the like to the desrired length so that the leading end 18 thereof is located at the desired picking height relative to the ground. The lifting forgers 14 can be cut to a length such that they actually touch or rake the soil surface if desired, allowing the .lifter 10 to lift crop stalks that are laying flat on 24 the ground.
The lifting finger 14 earl have a larger diameter at a front portion thereof to resist breakage, and also the front portion can be vary long if desired so that the lifting fingers will reach substantially below the header. The lifting fingers will then lift fallen or leaning a~talks in a higher crop where the header is operated at a considerable height above tlm ground to minimize the amount of material entering the harvesting machine, but where there are some stalks that have fallen and would conventionally be missed.
Details of one twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 16 are illustrated in Figs. 5 - 7.
The illustrated twist and lock quick-attach mecharnsm 16 comprises a bore 40 defined by the mounting bracket 22 and oriented substantially aligned with the operating travel direction T and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof as illustrated in Fig. 2. The bore 40 and a cooperating locking pofiion 42 of the Lifting finger 14 are configured such that the locking portion 42 of the lifting finger 14 can slide longitudinally in the bore 40 whar oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore 40, as seen in Fig. 6, and arc configured such that the locking portion 42 locks in the bare 40 when twisted a,quarter turn about a finger axis FA tv a second orientation shown in Fig. 7.
The locking portion 42 of the lifting finger 14 comprises front and rear lobes 44, 46 extending radially from the surface of the lifting finger I4. The bore has a flattened rear portion 48 and configured such that the lifting finger 14 can be inserted into the bore 40 in the first orientation and the rear lobe will pass through the flattened portion 48 at the rear end of the bore 40. When fully insertod the front lobe 44 bears against a front end of the bore 40 and the lifting finger 14 eau be twisted a quarter turn about the finger axis FA
to the second orientation with the rear lobe 46 bearing against the rear end of the byre 40.
Thus the lifting finger I4 is readily installed and z~novc~d by twisting same one quarter turn about the finger axis FA
Fig. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the crop lifter 1 x 0 wherein the lifte3r member I 12 comprises an arm 150 adapted to ride along the ground. The arm 150 is attached at a rear end thereof to the header 2 by conventional guard bolts 1G0 and includes an aperture member 16Z at a middle portion thereof that defines a finger aperture oriented to engage the point of a guard finger 108 when the rear end of the arm 150 is attached to the guard bolt x60. The arm 150 has an upwardly curved forward end 154. The quick-attach mechanism 116 is pivotally attached about a pivot axis PA to an upper portion of the forward end 154 of the arm 150 such that the lifting finger 1 I4 can be pivoted up and down to vary a distance between the leading end 118 of the lifting forger 114 and ground level.
In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 8 the lifting finger 114 extends only forward of the quick-attach mechanism 116. The carrying portion 120 of the crop lifer 110 to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting is provided by the upward and rearward extending portion 15b of the arm 3 50. Alternately, another finger member extending in the required direction could be attached to the arm 150 by another quick-attach mechanism, or a through finger such as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 could be used.
Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a crop lifter 210 that can be quickly installed and removed ~~zn a header 202 by sliding the lifter arm 250 rearward such that a guard finger 208 of a guard 206 attached to the header 202 engages a finger aperture in an aperture member defined by the lifer 210 arAd the rear end of the lifter 210 moves into latching engagement with the header 202. The rear end of the litter 210 is then locked to the header 202 to prevent forward movement of the lifter 210. Releasing the latch lock 266 at the rear end of the lifter 2 x 0 allows the lifter 210 to be moved forward and removed from the header 202.
The crop lifter 210 comprises a header latch member 270 adapted for attachment to a guard bolt 260 on an underside of the header 202. An arm 250 is adapted to ride along the ground. An arm latch member 272 is located at a near grad of the arm. 250 and is adapted to move rearward into engagement with the header latch member 274 such that - Page I S -the rear end of the arm 250 as maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header 202.
In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 9 - 16 the header latch member 270 defines an annular groove 274 such that there is a groove on each side thereof, and the arm latch member 272 comprises two lags, as illustrated in Fig. 11, configured to engage the annular groove 274 on each side thereof. Providing an annular groove allows the header latch member 270 to be oriented in any direction and still have gooves on each side thereof to engage the legs 276. Thus with the legs 276 engaged in the annular groove 274, the rear end of the arch 250 is vertically substantially fixed with respect to the header 202.
Fig. 18 illustrates an alternate embodiment whereizz the header latch member 370 defines a forward facing agerture 375 and wherein the ann latch member 372 comprises a dowel 377 ~nfigured to slide into the aperture 375.
As the arm 250 is moved rearward to engage the header and arm latch members 270, 272 the guard frnger 208 enters the finger aperture defined by the aperture zxzeznber 262 on the ann 250 forward of the arm latch member 272. Thus when the latch merxzbcrs 270, 272 are fully engaged, the guard finger 208 is fully engaged irz the aperture member 262 and the lifter 210 is thus socurcd to the header 202. The releasable latch lock 266 is operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member 272 with respect to the header latch member 272 and so maintains the lifter 210 secured to the header.
Alternate ezrzbodiments of the latch lock 266 arc illustrated in Figs. 11 -16. In the embodimezzt of Figs. I 1 and I2 the latch lock 266 comprises a lock plate 280 pivotally attached to a top of the arm 250 forward of the arm latch member 272 and movable from the closed position of Fig. 12 where the lock plate 2$0 is rearward of the header latch member 270, to the open position of Fig. 11 where the lock plate 280 is on one side of the header latch member 270. The lock plate 2$0 is maintained in the closed position by a detest 282 between the arm 250 and the lock plate 280 comprising a bim~p and vorresgonding recess.
1n the embodiment of Figs. 13 - 16 the latch Ioclc 266 comprises a spring catch maintained in a closed position by a bias force and configured to be pushed open as the arm latch member 272 is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member 270. The spring catch is conf gored to close when the latch members 272, 270 arc fully argaged to prevent forward movement of the arm 250.
In th;e embodiment of Figs. 13 - 15 the spring catch comprises a pair of spring elements 2$4 mounted to the arm 250 above a rear portion of the arm 250, one spring element 2$4 located on each side of an axis AA of the arm 250. The spring elements 284 are configured to resist movement away from the axis AA. A Iip 288 at a rear an of each spring element 284 behind the arzn latch member 272 extends rearward and away from the axis AA. The spring elements 284 are configurod such that they are pushed away from the axis AA by the header latch member 270 contacting the Iips 288 as the arm latch member 272 is xnoveci rearward into engagement with the header latch member 270. The spring elements 284 then move toward the axis AA rearward of the header latch member 270 when the Iatch members 270, 272 are fully engaged, thereby preventing forward movement of the arm 250.
The embodiment of Figs. 13 - 15 further comprises a pin 290 extending upward through a pin aperture in the rear portion of the arm 250. The pin 290 has a head on a bottom end thereof below the arm 250 (not illustrated), and a release member 292 attached to the pin 290 above the arnn~ 250 between the spring elements 284. The release member 292 is oblong shaped such that rotation of the pin 290 causes the release member 292 to bear against the spring elements 284 to force the spring elements 2$4 apart, as illustrated in Fig. 15, and allow the arm 250 to be moved forward to move the arm latch member 272 out of engagement with the header latch member 270 and thereby release the arm 250.
The release membor 292 thus allows the operator to readily remove the arm 250 by rotating the head of the pin 290 with a wrench or the like an the easily accessible bottom of the anm 250.
In the alternate embodiment of a crop lifter 410 of the invention shown in Fig. 16, the spring catch camprises a spring clemart 484 attached to a bottom rear portion of the arm 450 such that the spring element 484 resists downward movement. The spring element 484 defmcs a rcxcssed portion 48G under the arm latch member 472, and has a lip 488 extending rearward and downward from a rear end thereof. The spring element 484 is configured as illustrated such that the spring element 484 is pushed downward by the header latch member 470 as the arm latch member 472 is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member 470, and then moves upward when the latch members 470, 472 are fully engaged to maintain a bottom portion of the guard bolt 460 in the recessed portion 486 and prcvart forward movement of the arm 450.
A bottom view of an alternate spring clement 584 is illustrated in Fig. 17 for use in the place of the spring clement 484 of Fig. 1 G. In place of the recessed portion 48G, the spring element 584 provides an aperture 586 through the spring element 584.
Thus the bVttUm portion of the guard bolt 460 extends into or through the aperture 586, and is maintained in position. A lip 588 extends rearward and downw~d from the rear end of the spring elerz~ent 584.
- Fage 18 -It is contemplated that a magnetic attachment wuld be used to lock the arm to the header as well.
Fig. 19 illustrates an alternate crop lifter 6x0 where the finger aperture member 662 is located at the upturnod front end of the arm 650, and the arm latch member 672 at the rear end of the arm d50 latches to die header latch member 670 as described above. The crop lifter b10 is illustrated using a spzang catch of Figs. 13 - 15, with ,~pring elements 684 on top of the arm 650, however alternate latch locks could be used as well. The crop lifter 610 uses a mounting bracket 622 similar to that of Figs. 2 and 8 pivotally mounted to the front egad of the arm 650 on aperture member 662 and incorporating a twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 616 such as that illustrated in Figs. 5 - 7 to attach the lifting finger 614.
Compared to the prior art mechax~isz~as for quick attachment of a lifter that hook into the annular groove and are latched to the guard finger, the lifter of the present invention latches to the header, and only a conventional stationary aperture member is required to engage the guard fiz~g~sr, such that moving parts are removed frnm the cutting area of the header.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, vnc:e numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown az~d described, and accordingly, a1I such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Claims (29)
1. A crop lifter adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife and cooperating guards mounted along a lower front edge thereof, the crop lifter comprising:
a lifter member adapted for attachment to the header, a lifting finger attached to the lifter member by a quick-attach mechanism such that a leading end of the lifting finger is ahead of and below the knife;
a carrying portion extending rearward from the leading end of the lifting finger to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting;
wherein the lifting finger is flexible and structurally weak compared to the lifting member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend when striking an abstraction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member.
a lifter member adapted for attachment to the header, a lifting finger attached to the lifter member by a quick-attach mechanism such that a leading end of the lifting finger is ahead of and below the knife;
a carrying portion extending rearward from the leading end of the lifting finger to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting;
wherein the lifting finger is flexible and structurally weak compared to the lifting member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend when striking an abstraction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member.
2. The crop lifter of Claim 1 wherein the quick attach mechanism comprises a twist and lock mechanism.
3. The crop lifter of Claim 2 wherein the twist and lock mechanism comprises a bore defined by the lifter member and oriented substantially aligned with an operating travel direction and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof, and a cooperating locking portion of the lifting finger, and wherein the bore and locking portion are configured such that the locking portion of the lifting finger can slide longitudinally in the bore when oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore, and wherein the bone and locking portion are configured such that the locking portion locks in the bore when twisted about a finger axis to a second orientation.
4. The crop lifer of Claim 3 wherein the locking portion of the lifting finger comprises front and rear lobes extending radially from a surface of the lifting finger and configured such that the lifting finger can be inserted into the bore in the first orientation and the rear lobe will pass through a rear end of the bore, and such that when fully inserted the front lobe bears against a front end of the bore and the lifting finger can be twisted to the second orientation with the rear lobe bearing against the rear end of the bore.
5. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 1 - 4 wherein the lifter member consists of a mounting bracket adapted for attachment to the header by attachment to a guard finger extending forward from the knife.
6. The crop lifter of Claim 5 wherein the guard finger defines a finger hole extending therethrough, and wherein the mounting bracket defines a bracket hole, and wherein the mounting bracket is adapted for attachment to the guard finger by a bolt extending laterally through the bracket hole and finger hole.
7. The crop liner of Claim 6 further comprising a stop attached to the mounting bracket and oriented with respect to the guard finger to prevent downward movement of the leading end of the lifting finger.
8. The crop lifter of Claim 5 wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the guard finger by a spring biased clamp.
9. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 1 - 4 wherein the lifter member comprises an arm adapted to ride along the ground and wherein the arm is adapted for attachment at a rear portion thereof to the header, and the arm has an upwardly curved forward end, and wherein the quick-attach mechanism is attached to an upper portion of the forward end of the arm.
10. The crop lifter of Claim 9 wherein the quick-attach mechanism is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the forward end such that the lifting finger can be pivoted up and down to vary a distance between the leading end of the lifting finger and ground level.
11. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 9 and 10 wherein the arm is adapted for attachment at a rear end thereof to the header and adapted to engage a guard finger extending forward from the knife.
12. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 1 - 11 wherein the carrying portion is provided by a rear portion of the lifting finger.
13. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 1 - 12 wherein the lifting finger is made from a resilient material.
14. The crop lifter of Claim 13 wherein the lifting finger is made from a plastic material.
15. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 1 - 14 wherein the leading end of the lifting finger is below ground level when the header is resting on the ground.
16. A crop lifter adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof, the crop lifter comprising:
a guard mounted on the header in cooperating relationship with the knife and having a guard finger extending forward from the knife;
a bore member attached to the guard finger, the bore member defining a bore oriented substantially aligned with an operating travel direction and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof;
a lifting finger defining a locking portion on an outer surface of a middle portion thereof;
wherein the bore and locking portion of the lifting finger are configured such that the locking portion of the lifting finger can slide longitudinally in the bore when oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore, and wherein the bore and locking portion are configured such that the locking portion locks in the bore when twisted about a finger axis to a second orientation.;
wherein when locked, the lifting finger is oriented such that a leading end thereof is ahead of and below the knife, and a rear portion thereof extends rearward from the bore member to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting; and wherein the lifting finger is flexible and structurally weak compared to the bore member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend wren striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the bore member.
a guard mounted on the header in cooperating relationship with the knife and having a guard finger extending forward from the knife;
a bore member attached to the guard finger, the bore member defining a bore oriented substantially aligned with an operating travel direction and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof;
a lifting finger defining a locking portion on an outer surface of a middle portion thereof;
wherein the bore and locking portion of the lifting finger are configured such that the locking portion of the lifting finger can slide longitudinally in the bore when oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore, and wherein the bore and locking portion are configured such that the locking portion locks in the bore when twisted about a finger axis to a second orientation.;
wherein when locked, the lifting finger is oriented such that a leading end thereof is ahead of and below the knife, and a rear portion thereof extends rearward from the bore member to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting; and wherein the lifting finger is flexible and structurally weak compared to the bore member such that the lifting finger will readily break or bend wren striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the bore member.
17. The crop lifter of Claim 16 wherein the guard finger defines a finger hole extending therethrough, and wherein the bore member defines a bracket hole, and wherein the bore member is adapted for attachment to the guard finger by a bolt extending laterally through the bracket hole and finger hole.
18. The crop lifter of Claim 17 further comprising a stop attached to the bore member and oriented with respect to the guard finger to prevent movement of the leading end of the lifting finger.
19. The crop lifter of Claim 16 wherein the bore member is attached to the guard finger by a spring biased clamp.
20. The crop lifter of Claim 16 further comprising:
a header latch member adapted for attachment to a guard bolt on an underside of the header, an arm having an arm latch member at a rear end thereof adapted to move rearward into engagement with the header latch member such that the rear end of the arm is maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header;
a finger aperture defined on an upturned front end of the arm and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard enters the finger aperture when the arm is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, a releasable latch lock operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member with respect to the header latch member; and wherein the bore member is attached to the guard finger by attachment to the upturned front end of the arm defining the bore member.
a header latch member adapted for attachment to a guard bolt on an underside of the header, an arm having an arm latch member at a rear end thereof adapted to move rearward into engagement with the header latch member such that the rear end of the arm is maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header;
a finger aperture defined on an upturned front end of the arm and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard enters the finger aperture when the arm is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, a releasable latch lock operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member with respect to the header latch member; and wherein the bore member is attached to the guard finger by attachment to the upturned front end of the arm defining the bore member.
21. A crop lifter adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof and guards attached to the lower front edge with guard bolts, the crop lifter comprising:
a header latch member adapted for attachment to a guard bolt on an underside of the header;
an arm having an arm latch member at a rear end thereof adapted to move rearward into engagement with the header latch member such that the rear end of the arm is maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header;
a finger aperture defined on the arm forward of the arm latch member and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard enters the finger aperture when the arm is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member;
a releasable latch lock operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member with respect to the header latch member; and a lifting finger extending rearward and upward from a front portion of the arm to lift crop stalks and carry same to the knife to be cut.
a header latch member adapted for attachment to a guard bolt on an underside of the header;
an arm having an arm latch member at a rear end thereof adapted to move rearward into engagement with the header latch member such that the rear end of the arm is maintained in substantially fixed vertical relationship to the header;
a finger aperture defined on the arm forward of the arm latch member and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard enters the finger aperture when the arm is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member;
a releasable latch lock operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member with respect to the header latch member; and a lifting finger extending rearward and upward from a front portion of the arm to lift crop stalks and carry same to the knife to be cut.
22. The crop lifter of Claim 21 wherein the header latch member defines a groove on each side thereof and wherein the arm latch member comprises two legs configured to engage the grooves.
23. The crop lifter of Claim 21 wherein the header latch member defines a forward facing aperture and wherein the arm latch member comprises a dowel configured to slide into the aperture.
24. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 21 - 23 wherein the latch lock comprises a lock plate pivotally attached to a top of the arm forward of the arm latch member and movable from a closed position wherein the lock plate is rearward of the header latch member, to an open positions wherein the lock plate is on one side of the header latch member, and wherein the lock plate is maintained in the closed position by a detent between the arm and the lock plate.
25. The crop lifter of any one of Claims 21 - 23 wherein the latch lock comprises a spring catch maintained in a closed position by a bias force and configured to be pushed open as the arm latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, and configured to close when the latch members are fully engaged to prevent forward movement of the arm.
26. The crop lifter of Claim 25 wherein the spring catch comprises a spring element attached to a bottom rear portion of the arm such that the spring element resists downward movement, the spring element defining a recessed portion under the arm latch member, and the spring element having a lip extending rearward and downward from a rear end thereof, wherein the spring element is configured such that the spring element is pushed downward as the arm latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, and moves upward when the latch members are fully engaged to maintain a bottom portion of the guard bolt in the recessed portion and prevent forward movement of the arm.
27. The crop lifter of Claim 25 wherein the spring catch comprises a spring element attached to a bottom rear portion of the arm such that the spring element resists downward movement, the spring element defining an aperture under the arm latch member, and the spring element having a lip extending rearward and downward from a rear end thereof, wherein the spring element is configured such that the spring element is pushed downward as the arm latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, and moves upward when the latch members are fully engaged such that a bottom portion of the guard bolt enters the aperture and prevents forward movement of the arm.
28. The crop lifter of Claim 25 wherein the spring catch comprises:
a pair of spring elements mounted to the arm above a rear portion of the arm, one spring element located on each side of an axis of the arm, the spring elements configured to resist movement away from the axis;
a lip at a rear end of each spring element behind the arm latch member extending rearward and away from the axis;
wherein the spring elements are configured such that the spring elements are pushed away from the axis by the header latch member as the arm latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, and move toward the axis rearward of the header latch member when the latch members are fully engaged, thereby preventing forward movement of the arm.
a pair of spring elements mounted to the arm above a rear portion of the arm, one spring element located on each side of an axis of the arm, the spring elements configured to resist movement away from the axis;
a lip at a rear end of each spring element behind the arm latch member extending rearward and away from the axis;
wherein the spring elements are configured such that the spring elements are pushed away from the axis by the header latch member as the arm latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, and move toward the axis rearward of the header latch member when the latch members are fully engaged, thereby preventing forward movement of the arm.
29. The crop lifer of Claim 28 further comprising a pin extending upward through a pin aperture in the rear portion of the arm, a head on a bottom end of the pin below the arm, and a release member attached to the pin above the arm between the springs, wherein the release member is oblong shaped such that rotation of the pin causes the release member to bear against the spring elements to force the spring elements apart and allow the arm to be moved forward to move the arm latch member out of engagement with the header latch member and thereby release the arm.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2455031 CA2455031A1 (en) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-01-12 | Crop lifter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2455031 CA2455031A1 (en) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-01-12 | Crop lifter |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2455031A1 true CA2455031A1 (en) | 2005-07-12 |
Family
ID=34744379
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2455031 Abandoned CA2455031A1 (en) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-01-12 | Crop lifter |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2455031A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1915048A1 (en) * | 2005-08-18 | 2008-04-30 | Dave Dietrich | Crop accessory attachment |
-
2004
- 2004-01-12 CA CA 2455031 patent/CA2455031A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1915048A1 (en) * | 2005-08-18 | 2008-04-30 | Dave Dietrich | Crop accessory attachment |
| EP1915048A4 (en) * | 2005-08-18 | 2012-08-22 | Dave Dietrich | Crop accessory attachment |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |