# US 11,997,950 B2 · 12 bladed stalk roll > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,997,950 B2 - Document ID: US11997950B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/789,147 - Filed: 2020-02-12 - Published: 2020-08-13 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-12 - Assignees: Calmer Holding Company, LLC - Applicants: Marion Calmer - Inventors: Marion Calmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11997950B2 ## CPC - A01D 45/025: {Snapping rolls} - A01D 45/021: {Cornheaders} - A01D 47/00: Headers {for topping of plants, e.g. stalks with ears} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING ## Abstract A stalk roll having twelve flutes extending radially from the main cylinder along the length of the main cylinder. Within the row unit opposing stalk rolls cooperate to engage and capture the corn stalk, thereafter, controlling and processing the corn stalk. The flutes may be configured with differing edges to facilitate control and movement of the stalk to the point of ear separation within the row unit. The flutes may be configured such that opposing compressive forces acting on the exterior of the stalk at approximately 180° of separation operate to implode the stalk while sharp edges on the flutes operate to cut the stalk into small segments which are deposited on the ground for decomposition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stalk roll comprising: a. a main cylinder; b. twelve flutes of at least two differing lengths, each of the twelve flutes (i) having a blade defined by a leading end and a trailing end, (ii) having a heel; and (iii) engaged with the main cylinder, whereby: i. the trailing end of the flutes are all positioned in relative alignment to one another in forming the main cylinder, ii. the main cylinder comprises a counterrotation action to reduce unoccupied space in a processing area between each of the twelve flutes during operation which thereby causes an increased spreader load, wherein the processing area is sized to cut a corn stalk into approximately 1″ long segments of stalk which are linearly shredded by the implosive action created by a contact with the heels of the blades, whereby the contact with the heels causes a self-sharpening action of the blades that sharpens the blades to an angle of 37°-38°; and iii. a majority of the blade of each of the twelve flutes is in a center of an opposing valley to withstand the increased spreader load; c. a support member engaged with the main cylinder; and d. a nose cone positioned at the leading end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stalk roll according to claim 1 wherein the support member accepts and transfers rotational movement to the main cylinder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stalk roll of claim 1 having at least one hybrid flute. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The stalk roll of claim 3 wherein the hybrid flute has a blunt edge beginning at its leading end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stalk roll of claim 4 wherein the hybrid flute has a sharp edge adjacent to the blunt edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stalk roll of claim 1 having at least one reduced flute. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The stalk roll of claim 6 having a sharp edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stalk roll of claim 1 having at least one second reduced flute. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The stalk roll of claim 8 having a sharp edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stalk roll of claim 1 having at least one third reduced flute. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The stalk roll of claim 10 having a sharp edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The stalk roll of claim 1 having at least one fourth reduced flute. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The stalk roll of claim 12 having a sharp edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The stalk roll of claim 1 having at least one short flute. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The stalk roll of claim 14 having a sharp edge. ### Claim 16 A stalk roll comprising: a. a main cylinder; b. twelve flutes of at least two differing lengths, each of the twelve flutes (i) having a blade; (ii) having a heel, and (iii) engaged with the main cylinder, the twelve flutes consisting of: i. two hybrid flutes ii. two reduced flutes iii. two second reduced flutes iv. two third reduced flutes v. two fourth reduced flutes; and vi. two short flutes; whereby a trailing end of the flutes are all positioned in relative alignment to one another in forming the main cylinder; whereby the main cylinder comprises a counterrotation action to reduce unoccupied space in a processing area between each of the twelve flutes during operation which thereby causes an increased spreader load, wherein the processing area is sized to cut a corn stalk into approximately 1″ long segments of stalk which are linearly shredded by the implosive action created by a contact with the heels of the blades, whereby the contact with the heels causes a self-sharpening action of the blades that sharpens the blades to an angle of 37°-38°; and whereby a majority of the blade of each of the twelve flutes is in a center of an opposing valley to withstand the increased spreader load; c. a support member engaged with the main cylinder; and d. a nose cone positioned at the leading end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The stalk roll of claim 16 whereby the leading end of the flutes forms an opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The stalk roll of claim 17 wherein the opening has a floor comprised of an exposed hub. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The stalk roll of claim 16 whereby the hybrid flutes have a blunt edge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The stalk roll of claim 16 whereby the hybrid flutes have a sharp edge. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The stalk roll of claim 16 whereby the hybrid flutes have a blunt edge beginning at leading ends and sharp edges beginning adjacent to the blunt edges. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The stalk roll of claim 16 whereby the reduced flute, the second reduced flute, the third reduced flute, the fourth reduced flute, and the short flute have sharp edges. ### Claim 23 An opposing pair of stalk rolls, each comprising: a. a main cylinder; b. twelve flutes of at least two differing lengths, each of the twelve flutes having a base comprising a part of the main cylinder and an edge segment extending outwardly therefrom, a blade, and a heel, whereby: i. a trailing end of the flutes are all positioned in relative alignment to one another in forming the main cylinder; ii. the main cylinder comprises a counterrotation action to reduce unoccupied space in a processing area between each of the twelve flutes during operation which thereby causes an increased spreader load; iii. the processing area is sized to cut a corn stalk into approximately 1″ long segments of stalk which are linearly shredded by the implosive action created by contact with the heels of the blades; iv. the contact with the heels features a self-sharpening action of the blades; v. the self-sharpening action sharpens the blades between an angle of 37°-38°; and vi. a majority of the blade of each of the twelve flutes is in a center of an opposing valley to withstand the increased spreader load; c. a support member engaged with the main cylinder; and d. a nose cone positioned at the leading end. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The stalk rolls of claim 23 whereby each blade has a sharp edge. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The stalk rolls of claim 23 whereby the blade is tapered. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The stalk rolls of claim 23 whereby the edge of the flutes extends perpendicular from the main cylinder. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The stalk rolls of claim 23 whereby the flute edge segment extends at an angle of 90°-120° from perpendicular to the main cylinder. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The stalk rolls of claim 23 whereby the flute edge segment extends at an angle of 93° to 110° from perpendicular to the main cylinder. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The stalk rolls of claim 23 whereby the flute edge segment extends at an angle of 95° to 100° from perpendicular to the main cylinder.