Cotton spindle variable barb geometry

A cotton picker spindle, comprising:

• a body rotatable about an axis in a preselected direction of rotation;
• a first end oppositely disposed from a second end and defining a body longitudinal axis therebetween, the first end having a tapered end;
• and
• a plurality of barbs disposed about a surface of the body having barb spacing, each of the barbs having a top surface, a lead wall, a trailing wall, a barb leading edge, a barb trailing edge, a landing width, and a barb longitudinal axis defined by the top surface extending from the barb leading edge to the barb trailing edge;
• and
• barb attributes including a barb width, a lead angle, a barb depth, and a trailing angle, one or more of the barb attributes being varied from the first end towards the second end, the barb width defined between the barb leading edge and the barb trailing edge, the barb width decreasing from the first end toward the second end, the trailing wall defined between the barb trailing edge and the landing width, the landing width extending between adjacent barbs, the trailing angle defined between the barb longitudinal axis and the trailing wall.

A cotton picker spindle, comprising:

• a body rotatable about an axis in a preselected direction of rotation,
• a first end, a midsection, and a second end, the first end being oppositely disposed from the second end, the first end comprising a tapered end with a tip, the midsection being interposed between the first end and the second end;
• a plurality of barbs disposed about a surface of the body, each of the barbs having a barb longitudinal axis, a top surface, a lead wall, and a trailing wall, the top surface comprising a barb width measured between a barb leading edge and barb trailing edge;
• and
• a trailing angle, the trailing angle defined between the barb longitudinal axis and the trailing wall, the trailing wall defined between the barb trailing edge and a landing width, the landing width extending between adjacent barbs;
• wherein the barb width of each of the barbs decreases from the first end towards the second end and the trailing angle increases from the first end towards the second end, the barb width ranging from about 1.125 mm proximate the first end to about 0.95 proximate the midsection, the trailing angle increase from about 30 degrees proximate the first end to about 45 degrees proximate the midsection;
• wherein the barb width is configured to increase strength such that barbs disposed proximate the first end have greater strength than barbs disposed proximate the midsection;
• and
• wherein the trailing angle is configured to increase strength such that barbs disposed proximate the first end have greater strength than barbs disposed proximate the midsection.