Flail chopper assembly with spring tines for an agricultural combine
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorsJustin L. Montenguise, Craig E. Murray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine may include a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end. The chopper assembly may also include a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft. Each flail blade may be configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, with the flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft. In addition, the chopper assembly may include a plurality of spring tines coupled to the rotor shaft, with the spring tines being spaced apart from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft.
Claims14
A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine, the chopper assembly comprising:
- a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft, each flail blade configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, the plurality of flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft;
- and
- a plurality of spring tines coupled to the rotor shaft, the plurality of spring tines being spaced apart from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft, each spring tine being axially aligned with and circumferentially offset from a respective flail blade of the plurality of the flail blades,
- wherein:
- each of the plurality of flail blades is configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft from a radially oriented position to a maximum pivot position;
- and
- each spring tine is positioned relative to the respective flail blade such that a portion of at least one blade member of the respective flail blade circumferentially overlaps a portion of the spring tine when the respective flail blade pivots towards the spring tine to the maximum pivot position.
An agricultural combine, comprising:
- a threshing system configured to separate crop residue from another crop material received by the threshing system;
- and
- a crop residue distribution system configured to receive the crop residue discharged from the threshing system, the crop residue distribution system including a chopper assembly, the chopper assembly comprising:
- a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft, each flail blade configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, the plurality of flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft;
- and
- a plurality of spring tines coupled to the rotor shaft, the plurality of spring tines being spaced apart from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft, each spring tine being axially aligned with and circumferentially offset from a respective flail blade of the plurality of the flail blades,
- wherein:
- each of the plurality of flail blades is configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft from a radially oriented position to a maximum pivot position;
- and
- each spring tine is positioned relative to the respective flail blade such that a portion of at least one blade member of the respective flail blade circumferentially overlaps a portion of the spring tine when the respective flail blade pivots towards the spring tine to the maximum pivot position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.