Simplified, toolless pick-up tine mounting
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorsJOHN R. McCLURE, Roger D. Mast, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved tine and tine connection device for removably connecting a tine to a pick-up reel tine bar in an agricultural harvesting machine. The improved tine incorporates an elastomeric portion interconnecting the tine fingers and the tine bar which enables limited tines movement relative to the tine bar. The elastomeric portion may also be shaped to fit around the tine bar enabling the elastomeric portion to also function as the tine mount. The tine mount is configured to enable installation by hand or using only simple tools and, once installed, provide sufficient connection strength to retain the tine in position during reel operation.
Claims17
A tine assembly for connection to an elongate tine bar in a pick-up reel used on an agricultural baler:
- a base member configured to engage the tine bar, said base member having a first end portion and a second end portion separated by an intermediate portion configured to partially encircle the tine bar, said base member further having an inwardly extending retention tab configured to engage a retainer hole in the tine bar such that movement along the length of the tine bar is substantially prevented;
- at least one tine finger, said at least one tine finger being formed from a first material;
- and
- a flexible member configured to connect said at least one tine finger to said base member, said flexible member being formed from a second material wherein the inwardly extending retention tab is a hook located at first end portion of the base member, the base member further comprising a protrusion in a second end portion of the base member configured for contact with an exterior diameter of the bar and the hook extending further toward a center of the tine bar than the protrusion.
A baler tine assembly for connection to a pickup of an agricultural baler comprising:
- a tine bar having diameter and a plurality of mounting holes spaced-apart along the length of the tine bar,:
- a base member configured for removable engagement of the tine bar, said base member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween in a general C-shape to at least partially encircle the tine bar when engaged, said base member further having an inwardly extending rigid retention tab configured to engage one of the plurality of mounting holes when engaged such that movement along the length of the tine bar and rotation about the tine bar is substantially prevented;
- at least one tine finger formed from a first material;
- and
- a flexible member configured to connect said at least one tine finger to said base member and retain said at least one tine finger in a position extending generally radially away from the tine bar when said base member is engaged on the tine bar, said flexible member being formed from a second material different from said first material which allows sufficient movement of said at least one tine finger to reduce breakage of said tine assembly while limiting movement of said at least one tine finger to enable said tine assembly to elevate crop material from the ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.