US3703060A

US3703060A - Harvesting reel

Info

Publication number: US3703060A
Application number: US77132A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald R Gradwohl; Archie E Neal
Original assignee: J E LOVE Co
Current assignee: J E LOVE Co
Priority date: 1970-10-01
Filing date: 1970-10-01
Publication date: 1972-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1989-11-21
Also published as: CA944160A

Abstract

A plurality of identical spiders are removably secured to an elongated, lightweight, thin walled center tube having good resistance to bending. Each spider comprises a hub member having short arm stubs and elongated arm section secured to the stubs. The arm stubs and the arm sections are of channel form in cross section, and each includes radially disposed web and gusset portions providing resistance to bending angularly of the reel and flanges of substantial depth providing resistance to bending axially of the reel. Bat support shafts are secured to the outer ends of the arms and tine carrying bats are secured to these shafts. The radial inner space between the shafts and bats and the center tube is devoid of any truss structure which would interfere with the operation of the pick-up reel. The bats are driven by an eccentric mechanism which includes a plurality of bearings which ride on the outer periphery of a cylindrical track.

Description

United States Patent Gradwohl et al.

[ 1 Nov. 21, 1972 [54] HARVESTING REEL [72] Inventors: Donald R. Gradwohl; Archie E.

Neal, both of Garfield, Wash.

[73] Assignee: J. E. Love Company, Garfield,

Wash.

22 Filed: Oct.l,1970

21] Appl.No.: 77,132

Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerJ. A. Oliff Att0rneyGraybeal, Cole & Bernard [5 7] ABSTRACT A plurality of identical spiders are removably secured to an elongated, lightweight, thin walled center tube having good resistance to bending. Each spider comprises a hub member having short arm stubs and elongated arm section secured to the stubs. The arm stubs and the arm sections are of channel form in cross section, and each includes radially disposed web and gusset portions providing resistance to bending angularly of the reel and flanges of substantial depth providing resistance to bending axially of the reel. Bat support shafts are secured to the outer ends of the arms and tine carrying bats are secured to these shafts. The radial inner space between the shafts and bats and the center tube is devoid of any truss structure which would interfere with the operation of the pick-up reel. The bats are driven by an eccentric mechanism which includes a plurality of bearings which ride on the outer periphery of a cylindrical track.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNUVZI 1912 SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTOR.

DON/4Z0 R GAADk/OHL ARCH/E E. NEAL SHEET 2 [IF 4 PATENTEDnovz: m2

INVENTORS,

p M mph/0 m GN/E/E F50 W fl m LM 7 WMW A SHEET 3 0F 4 INVENTORS, DON/110 A. 6E4Dh/0HL E. NEAL ARCH/E ATTORNEYS PNENTEDnnm 1912 3.703.060

sum u or 4 INVENTORS, DONALD E GK'ADh/OHL ARCH/t E. IVE/IL HARVESTING REEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to improvements in harvester pick-up reels, and in particular to a simplified reel construction in which many of the brace members of conventional reels which during use interfere with harvesting have been eliminated, and to an improved 1 which has been in common use for a long time. This style of reel is characterized by a relatively small diameter center shaft, a plurality of spiders comprised of support arms radiating from said shaft for supporting tine carrying bats, a polygonal pattern of cross brace members interconnected between the outer ends of the radial arms of each spider, and an internal truss structure composed of a plurality of truss rods surrounding the center shaft and functioning to reinforce the shaft against bending. Although functionally adequate, pickup reels of this type are time consuming to make, require considerable inventory of different parts which the manufacturer must keep on hand in order to furnish a selection of sizes of harvester reel, and the truss rods and other brace members require frequent adjustment and maintenance while in the field. Also, the truss rods and other brace members to some extent interfere with harvesting.

It is known to eliminate the truss rods by substituting a large diameter thin walled tube for the center shaft, which tube is capable of withstanding substantial bending, and to eliminate the cross braces between the outer ends of the bat support arms by providing relatively strong spider structures. An example of this type of reel is the Profiteer M'3 pick-up reel manufactured by the Universal Harvester Company of Stockton, Califor- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in pick-up reels of the type which are free of truss rods and cross braces. Pick-up reels according to this invention are characterized by a composite spider which includes a preferably cast aluminum hub member which is removably secured -to a large diameter, lightweight, thin walled center tube, and formed steel arm-sections which are secured to arm stub portions of the hub member. The arm stubs and the arm sections together provide the spider with support arms of channel form in cross section which utilize a minimum amount of material but which possesses sufficient strength for resisting bending both angularly and axially of the pickup reel. The invention also relates to an improved eccentric drive mechanism for the bats. The eccentric drive mechanism of the invention is simple in construction and is characterized by a circular pattern of support bearings which travel on the outside of a cylindrical track.

A particularly advantageous feature of the pick-up reel construction of this invention is that it enables the manufacturer to provide a large number of reel sizes with a relatively small inventory of differing parts since most parts of the reel are common to all sizes and some of the remaining parts differ only in terms of length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing like letters and numerals refer to like parts, and:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the 0 pick-up reel of this invention, looking toward one end and the front of the reel, such reel being shown completely separated from the harvesting machine of which it is a part;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the pickup reel, with some parts being broken away and some being omitted for clarity of illustration of other parts;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of one of the spider assemblies, with some parts broken away, others omitted, and some parts shown exploded, for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but in the region of the eccentric mechanism at one end of the pickup reel, with some parts shown in side elevation; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed view in the region of the drive crank region between the radial arms of the eccentric mechanism and the radial bat support arms of the reel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The pick-up reel 10 is shown to comprise an elongated center tube 12 which replaces the small diameter shaft and truss rods of conventional pick-up reels such as disclosed by the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,823,511 and 3,145,520. By way of typical example, the center tube 12 may be a length of thin wall metal tubing about six inches in diameter. A plurality of triangular hub plates 14 are rigidly secured to the tube 12 at axially spaced apart locations. Of course, the number of plates 14 and their spacing depends on the size of pick-up reel involved. A single piece cast (e.g. aluminum) hub member 16 is associated with each plate 14. As best shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, each hub member 16 includes a generally triangular shaped center opening 18 which is sized to be only slightly larger than the hub plate 14. The hub members 16 are assembled on the tube 12 by sliding them individually endwise relatively over the tube 12. The opening 18 in a given hub member 16 is aligned with a given hub plate 14 and is then moved relatively past the plate 14, with the plate 14 moving relatively through the opening 18. When a hub member 16 is adjacent the hub plate 14 to which it is to be secured, it is rotated 60 to place apertures formed in the comers of the hub plate 14 into alignment with related apertures formed in the hub member 16. The bolts of nut and bolt fasteners 20 are inserted through the apertures and then the nuts are installed and tightened to make a firm connection. As shown by FIG. 4, when a hub member 16 is installed it is tight against its hub plate 14.

Each hub member 16 includes a plurality of short radial arm stubs 22 which are channel shape in cross section (see FIG. 5). An arm section 24 which is also of channel shape in cross section, is mated with and is securely fastened to each arm stub 22. The stubs 22 and the sections 24 together define

radial support arms

22, 24, and the sections 24 and the hub members 16 together form spiders.

The number of

support arms

22, 24 formed by the stubs 22 and the sections 24 may vary. The illustrated embodiment of pick-up reel is shown to have five

support arms

22, 24, i.e., it is a five bat model. Another popular model comprises six bats with each spider having six support arms.

The

arms

22, 24 of each spider are in axial alignment with the

arms

22, 24 of the other spiders. Lightweight tubular steel bat shafts 26 extend lengthwise of the pick-up reel in parallelism with the tube 12 and are secured to the outer ends of the

support arms

22, 24. A sturdy hardwood reel bat 28 is secured to each bat shaft 26 and each reel bat 28 carries a plurality of axially spaced apart spring steel pick-up tines 30.

In preferred form the hub members 16 are of cast aluminum construction and the arm sections 24 are made from formed sheet steel. As shown by FIG. 5, each arm stub 22 includes side gussets 32 which are in coplanar parallelism, a web 36 in spaced parallelism from the gussets 32, and a pair of spaced apart, dihedrally related, side flanges 38 which are rigidly intcrconnected between opposite edge portions of the web 36 and the inner edge portions of the gussets 32. The arm sections 24 are of similar construction and each includes a web 40, flanges 42, and gussets 44.

As best shown by FIG. 5, the lower end portions of the arm sections 24 snugly fit within the arm stubs 22 and nut and bolt type fasteners 46 firmly secure each mated pair of

gussets

32, 44 together. Sectional thickness is provided in the regions of the hub members 16 which are radially inwardly of the arms stubs 22 and which during use of the pick-up reel 10 must carry substantial forces. Cross flanges 47 interconnect between the buses of flanges 38. These flanges 47 extend laterally from a plate section 49 which is in co-planar parallelism with the webs 36.

This provision of sectional depth axially of the pickup reel 10 through the arm stubs 22 and the arm sections 24 and through the central portion of the hub member 16 gives the pick-up reel axial strength and stability. During working of the pick-up reel, particularly on a laterally sloping section aground, the pick-up reel tends to bend. The relatively large diameter yet thin walled and lightweight center tube 12, and the axially deep hub and arm portions of the spiders, interconnected only by bat support rods, provide a structure which adequately resists unwanted bending without the necessity of using truss rods. As earlier explained, truss rods interfere with the crop during harvesting and also make the manufacturing of the pickup reel more costly and involved.

Another advantageous feature of the pick-up reel of this invention is that the arm section length and the tube length are the only parts which must differ from one size reel to another of a particular bat style. For example, five bat reels according to the invention may differ in length between 8 feet and feet. Within this range of sizes the only changes which must be made are in the length of the center tube 12, in the number and spacing of the spiders, in the length of the bats and their support shafts, and in the length of the arm sections 24. All other parts of the five bat reel are common to all sizes of reel. The same is true with respect to a family of varying size six bat reels. This characteristic of the pick-up reel materially reduces the inventory of parts which the manufacture must have in order to build pick-up reels of a large number of different sizes.

An end clamp assembly 48 is secured to the outer ends of each arm section 24. Each end clamp assembly comprises a bearing base 50 (FIG. 3) having a shank portion 52 snugly fittable in the channel formed between the flanges 42 of the arm section 24. Base 50 also includes an outer end portion having an outwardly directed semi-cylindrical recess 54. A half ring section 56 carrying a complementary semi-cylindrical recess is relatable with the base 50 to define an axially extending circular opening. Base 50 and member 56 may be made from nylon, for example. A U-shaped metal clamp member 58 fits over member 56 and includes paired openings 60 in its side portions which are alignable with passageways 62 formed in the shank portion 52 of base 50. These passageways 62 are also alignable with paired openings 64 formed in the outer end portions of the arm sections 24. Bolt members 66 of a pair of nut and bolt fastener assemblies extend through the openings and

passageways

60, 62, 64 when the block 50, the member 56, and the clamp 58 are assembled on arm section 24.

An improved eccentric mechanism for driving the bats 28 will now be described, particularly in reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7.

It is the purpose of the eccentric mechanism 68, through a system of parallelogram linkages constituted by its hub assembly 70, the radiating

arms

24' and 22, 24, and cranks 72, to maintain bats 28 and tines 30 in proper vertical position at all times in the rotative movement of reel 10. To this end, hub assembly 70 rotates, about an axis eccentric of reel shaft 12, on a coacting eccentric track roller assembly which will now be described. Firstly, hub assembly 70 comprises a pair of side plates 74, 76 which are held coaxially in a parallel, spaced apart relationship, and between which a circular arranged series of track follower rollers 78 are journaled. As shown by FIGS. 2 and 6, rollers 78 are located between the plate 74, 76 and they are relatively loosely received on annular bushings 80 which in turn are loosely fitted on spacer bolts 82. Bushings 80 have a slightly greater axial length than the rollers 78 (FIG. 6) and therefore act as spacers between the plate 74, 76. The rollers 78 rotate freely about their journals constituted by the bushings 80.

A main reel shaft 84 is rigidly attached to a plate 85 which in turn is rigidly attached to the end of center tube 12. This reel shaft 84 extends endwise outwardly from tube 12 andis received in a suitable bearing 86 carried by a mounting socket 88. The mounting sockets 88, of which there is one at each end of reel 10, are suitably connected to the harvester (not shown) with which reel 10 is associated. An annular track member 90 is located axially between plate 85 and bearing 86. Track member 90 loosely fits through

center openings

92, 93 in plates 74, 76. A mounting plate or strap 94 extends diametrically across the outer end of annular track member 90 and at its respective ends is rigidly secured to the track member 90. Another mounting plate 96 extends vertically upwardly from socket member 88 and contains an arcuate pattern of bolt receiving openings 98. A similar plurality of openings 100 are provided in the strap 94. Selective positioning of lock bolts 102 in aligned pairs of the openings 98, 100 permits track member 90 to be adjustably positioned angularly in relation to reel shaft 84. This provides a way of adjusting the eccentric device and bat control elements as a whole to regulate the angularity of the bats 28.

During reel operation, the center tube 12 rotates about its center axis. The rotary motion is transmitted by the end hub 16 and the radial arms 24 carried thereby to the bearing

assembly

54, 56. The links 72 structurally connect the upper ends of the arms 24 with the upper ends of the arms 24. Thus, orbiting movement of the arm 24 results in an orbiting movement of the arms 24'. The arms 24' move about the axis of hub assembly 70 which is offset from the axis of tube 12. The crank arms 72 are rigidly secured to the ends of the bat shafts 26 (FIG. 2). Rotation of hub assemblies 70 and its arms 24 about the eccentric axis causes the links 72, and thus in turn the bats 28, to maintain a substantially constant attitude throughout all phases of reel rotation. This arrangement, which by itself is conventional in bat type reels, causes the bats 28 to assume a generally vertical attitude during rotation.

The rollers 78 are in contact with the annular outer surface of track member 90 and they travel frictionously thereon as the hub assembly rotates. The location of the rollers 78 on the hub assembly 70 permits the reel to float axially on the track member 90 and track member 90 is axially elongated somewhat to accommodate this floating action.

What is claimed is:

1. [n a pick-up reel of a type including first arm means extending radially outwardly at an end thereof and carrying a bearing at its outer end having an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the pick-up reel, with said bearing receiving and journaling a bat support rod; a pair of axially spaced apart bearings for receiving and rotatably supporting end portions of the pick-up reel for rotation about the axis of rotation of the reel; a relatively large diameter track member spaced axially outwardly of an end of the pick-up reel, and fixed in position with its axis offset from but parallel to the axis of rotation of the pick-up reel, said track member having an outer peripheral track surface; a rotatable hub surrounding said track member, said hub carrying a circular series of rollers which rest on the outer track surface of the track member; second arm means extending radially outwardly from said hub and carrying bearing means at its outer end having an axis in parallelism with the axis of rotation of the pick-up reel; a pivot pin received in said bearing means; a short crank member mounted for pivotal movement at one of its ends around said pivot pin and rigidly connected at its other end to said bat support rod; and the improvement comprising: v

said hub comprising a pair of axially spaced apart plates; said rollers being journaled for rotation about axle means which extend between said plates; said outer peripheral track surface being a cylindrical surface having an axial length that is longer than the axial spacing of said plates; and said hub supporting the rollers between the ends of the track member for permitting said rollers to float axially a limited amount along the cylindrical surface of the track member.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the first and second arm means both have substantial sectional depth in their extent axially of the pick-up reel, enabling such arms to resist bending axially of the pickup reel.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second arm means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radial arms, each said arm being channel shape in cross section and comprising a pair of relatively deep flanges extending generally axially of the pick-up reel, and an interconnecting radial web.

Claims

1. In a pick-up reel of a type including first arm means extending radially outwardly at an end thereof and carrying a bearing at its outer end having an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the pick-up reel, with said bearing receiving and journaling a bat support rod; a pair of axially spaced apart bearings for receiving and rotatably supporting end portions of the pick-up reel for rotation about the axis of rotation of the reel; a relatively large diameter track member spaced axially outwardly of an end of the pick-up reel, and fixed in position with its axis offset from but parallel to the axis of rotation of the pick-up reel, said track member having an outer peripheral track surface; a rotatable hub surrounding said track member, said hub carrying a circular series of rollers which rest on the outer track surface of the track member; second arm means extending radially outwardly from said hub and carrying bearing means at its outer end having an axis in parallelism with the axis of rotation of the pick-up reel; a pivot pin received in said bearing means; a short crank member mounted for pivotal movement at one of its ends around said pivot pin and rigidly connected at its other end to said bat support rod; and the improvement comprising: said hub comprising a pair of axially spaced apart plates; said rollers being journaled for rotation about axle means which extend between said plates; said outer peripheral track surface being a cylindrical surface having an axial length that is longer than the axial spacing of said plates; and said hub supporting the rollers between the ends of the track member for permitting said rollers to float axially a limited amount along the cylindrical surface of the track member.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the first and second arm means both have substantial sectional depth in their extent axially of the pick-up reel, enabling such arms to resist bending axially of the pick-up reel.