Conveyor chain with multi-segment conveying floor
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorEric L. Walker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A header for an agricultural vehicle including a header frame, and at least one row unit supported by the header frame. The at least one row unit including a pair of gatherers configured for conveying a crop material. Each gatherer including a chain and a plurality of plates connected to the chain. The plurality of plates at least partially overlap to define a conveying floor that has a continuous upper portion for receiving and transporting a dislodged crop material and an outer periphery for gathering the crop material.
Claims20
A header for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
- a header frame;
- and
- at least one row unit supported by the header frame, the at least one row unit including a pair of gatherers configured for conveying a crop material, the pair of gatherers being juxtaposed to one another and spaced apart from one another such that a space is formed in between the pair of gatherers for receiving the crop material therethrough, and each gatherer of the pair of gatherers including a chain and a plurality of plates connected to the chain, and the plurality of plates at least partially overlap to define a conveying floor that has a continuous upper portion for receiving and transporting a dislodged crop material and an outer periphery for gathering the crop material.
A row unit for a header of an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
- a pair of gatherers configured for conveying a crop material, the pair of gatherers being juxtaposed to one another and spaced apart from one another such that a space is formed in between the pair of gatherers for receiving the crop material therethrough, and each gatherer of the pair of gatherers including a chain and a plurality of plates connected to the chain, and the plurality of plates at least partially overlap to define a conveying floor that has a continuous upper portion for receiving and transporting a dislodged crop material and an outer periphery for gathering the crop material.
A method for conveying a crop material, comprising the steps of:
- providing a header for an agricultural vehicle, the header including a header frame and at least one row unit supported by the header frame, the at least one row unit including a pair of gatherers configured for conveying the crop material, the pair of gatherers being juxtaposed to one another and spaced apart from one another such that a space is formed in between the pair of gatherers for receiving the crop material therethrough, and each gatherer of the pair of gatherers including a chain and a plurality of plates connected to the chain, and the plurality of plates at least partially overlap to define a conveying floor that has a continuous upper portion and an outer periphery;
- gathering the crop material by the outer periphery of the conveying floor;
- receiving a dislodged crop material by the continuous upper portion of the conveying floor;
- and
- transporting the dislodged crop material by the continuous upper portion of the conveying floor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.