US489047A - Stalk-chopper - Google Patents

Description

(No Modem J. L. TOWNSEND.

STALK GHOPPER..

Jwmesl .Towns end.

.l NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. TOVNSEND, OF FULMGRE, NORTH CAROLNA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,047, dated anuary 3, 1893.

Application iiled May 3l, 1892. Serial No. 435,032. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. TOWNSEND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fulniore, in the county of Robeson and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Stalk-Chopper, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in stalk-choppers, the objects being to produce a cheap and simple machine designed to effectually chop into small lengths standing stalks; that is so constructed as to prevent choking of the knives; to permit of simultaneous raising and lowering of the chopping and stalkguiding mechanism; and finally to provide an improved chopping-wheel so constructed as to be strong and durable, and lo permit of a ready removal and re-insertion of a new knife-securing bracket in case a break should occur.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:-Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a stalk chopper machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a portion of the chopping disk or wheel. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one of the brackets.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing myinvention, Iemploy a rectangular framework, the same consisting in this instance of the opposite pairs of parallel longitudinal side-bars 1 connected at their rear ends by a cross-bar 2 and at their front ends by a cross-bar 3, the latter surmounting the upper edges of the side-bars and having secured at its center a draft-tongue 4. Short axles 5 connect the side-bars of each pair and between each of said pairs of side bars groundwheels 6 are mounted on the axles. A transverse shaft 7 passes through the front ends of the opposite pairs of side-bars 1 immediately below the front cross-bar 3and loosely mounted upon this shaft between the pairs of sidebars 1 is a pair of opposite side-suspension bars S which extend rearwardly to points opposite the ground wheels. Atransverse shaft 9 has its ends journaled in the rear extremities of the suspension-bars and upon the center of the same there is secured a cast-metal chopping disk l0. This disk 10 is provided at opposite sides with projecting hubs 11, and with blades 12 cast integral with the disk, the peripheries of the blad es being provided with V-shaped notches 13. The disk is provided with a surrounding separate orintegral rim or tire 14, and the edges of the saine extend beyond'the opposite faces of the disk, and radially opposite the notches of the blades l2, said ange is provided with pairs of opposite seats or recesses 15.

16 designates a bracket-arm, and the same is provided at its outer extremity with an upwardly-disposed abutment 17, and at its inner side has cast integrally therewith a triangular securing plate 1S. The upper edge of the plate 18 is curved upon the same radius as the periphery of the disk. The lower edge of said plate is beveled at opposite sides to form V-shaped tenons 19. The bracket 16 projects at its rear or inner end slightly beyond its plate 18, forming a lug 20, adapted to fit in the seat or recess 15. In constructing the chopping-disk these brackets are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the disk,the lugs 2O taking in the recesses of the flange of the disk, and the inner ends or tenons 19 of the plates 18 takinginto the V-shaped notches of the circular plates. In this position bolts 21 are passed transversely through each of the pairs of opposite plates 1S and through the disk at each side of each of the bracket-arms. This brings the abutinents transversely opposite each other, and each pair has securely bolted to it a transverse blade 22, the bolts 28 passing through the blades neai' each end and th rough the abutments. By this construction it will b e obvious that the disk as a whole is greatly strengthened and the knives iirmly supported in position and capable of withstanding the severe strain to which they are subjected, and if by chance, a knife or bracket should break it may be readily removed and a new one substituted at very slight cost and with but little delay. A cross-bar 2i connects the two suspension-bars 8 near their front ends or rather immediately in rear of the shaft 7, and from said bar there extends upward and rearward a curved guard or shield which projects over the chopping disk. A

TOC

curved standard 26 also projects upward and rearward from the cross-bar 24 and supports at its rear front end a seat 27 for the accommodation ot the driver.

At each side of the center of the cross-bar 24 and at the under side thereof there is located a downwardly-disposed inclined guidearm 28, which when the chopper is in operative position is suspended a very short distance from the ground. These two arms 28 being diverged toward their lower ends serve to gather in the stalks of the row and present them to the chopping-knives- Furthermore, by locating the arms upon the cross-bar 24 they rise or are drawn up out of operative position at the same time as and with the chopping-mechanism such movement being secured by an ordinary elevating-mechanism such as is common in this class of machines and which Will be hereinafter described. Short bearing standards 29 rise from the opposite inner side-bars l, and a rock-shaft 30 is journaled therein. This rock-shaft is provided with a lever 3l within reach of the out of contact with the ground and the guidearms 28 out ot' guiding position.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a machine of great simplicity, which is very eiective in operation, which is strong and durable; whose knives are conveniently supported in position and adapted to resist the severe strain to which they are subjected; and which may be readily replaced in case of breakage.

I-Iaving described my invention what I claim is:-

l. In a stalk-chopper, a centrally located rotatable chopping disk provided atits opposite faces with pairs of opposite and outwardly extending brackets removably secured to the disk, and a series of choppers extending across the periphery of the chopper and secured to the pairs of brackets, substantially as speci tied.

2. In a stalk-chopper, the disk provided at opposite sides with circular hub-plates having V-shaped notches, a peripheral {iange whose edges extend beyond the faces of the disk and are notched in radial alignment with the notches of the plates, combined with the pairs of opposite brackets terminating at their inner ends in plates provided at their outer ends with abutments, said brackets extending at their upper inner ends beyond the plates and fitting the recesses of the peripheral flange, said plates being provided with V- shaped tenons fitting the notches of the hubplates, bolts connecting the plates of each opposite pair of brackets, and chopping knives bolted .to the abutments, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto aiimixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. l

' JAMES L. TOWNSEND.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MORRISON, R. O. PITMAN.

Images