Windrow merging apparatus
AssigneeOxbo International Corporation
InventorsPaul W. Dow, Steven S. Dow, Mark M. Woodruff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A windrow merger has a frame supporting first, second and third pickup assemblies, with the two outside pickup assemblies foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position. Each of the pickup assemblies includes a reversible conveyor providing multiple windrow merging configurations. The pickup assemblies are interchangeable and aligned to define an unobstructed pickup face.
Claims43
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position.
A windrow merger apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a center pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a left folding pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a right folding pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein the left and right pickup assemblies fold between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the center, left, and right pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when the left and right pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position.
A windrow merger apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein the first and third pickup assemblies fold between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, the first and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side with the second pickup assembly when positioned in the extended use position, and wherein the merger apparatus is operable in a first mode wherein all of the pickup assemblies are extended and a second mode wherein at least one of the pickup assemblies is retracted.
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame including a first pickup head and a first conveyor;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame including a second pickup head and a second conveyor;
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame including a third pickup head and a third conveyor;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup heads being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position.
A method of windrowing with a windrow merger apparatus, the windrow merger apparatus having a frame, a first pickup assembly supported by the frame and foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, a second pickup assembly supported by the frame, and a third pickup assembly supported by the frame and foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position, the method comprising the steps of:
- windrowing in a first configuration with one pickup assembly in the use position;
- windrowing in a second configuration with two pickup assemblies in the use position;
- and
- windrowing in a third configuration with three pickup assemblies in the use position.
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies are configured to pivot about respective horizontal axes between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, the horizontal axes extending in the first direction.
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, and wherein the pickup assemblies are aligned relative to one another to define a material pickup plane when the pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.