# US 2014/0150393 A1 · Knife carrier for a chopper drum and chopper drum for a forage harvester > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150393 A1 - Document ID: US20140150393A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/035,343 - Filed: 2013-09-24 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH - Applicants: Claas Saulgau GmbH - Inventors: Martin Stengele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150393A1 ## CPC - A01D 43/088: {Mounting means} - A01F 29/095: {Mounting or adjusting of knives} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08) ## Abstract A knife carrier for a chopper drum is formed with a plurality of knife carrier segments, each designed as a circular-ring disk section of a circular-ring disk that can be accommodated on an outer diameter of a circular-cylindrical drum body of the chopper drum. The knife carrier segments each have an outer-peripheral surface having a predetermined number of knife receptacles. The knife carrier segments each have a circumferential length such that all the knife carrier segments form the circular-ring disk when placed next to one another along the circumferential length thereof. Each knife carrier segment has fixing means for the defined positioning of the knife carrier segments with respect to the drum body and for the detachable attachment of the knife carrier segment on the outer diameter of the drum body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A knife carrier (20) for a chopper drum (1) of a forage harvester (100), comprising a plurality of knife carrier segments (21) designed as a circular-ring disk sections for positioning on an outer diameter of a circular-cylindrical drum body (10) of the chopper drum (1), wherein each of the knife carrier segments (21) comprises an outer-peripheral surface having a predetermined number of knife receptacles (22) and fixing means (30) for the defined positioning of the knife carrier segment (21) with respect to the drum body (10) and for the detachable attachment of the knife carrier segment (21) on the outer diameter of the drum body (10). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The knife carrier (20) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means (30) each comprises a first engagement means (31) that is matched in a form-fit manner to second engagement means (51) provided on the outer diameter of the drum body (10) of the chopper drum (1), thereby resulting in a defined radial positioning of the particular knife carrier segment (21) with respect to the outer diameter of the drum body (10). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The knife carrier (20) according to claim 1, wherein each knife carrier segment (21) has two opposing end surfaces (21a, 21b) that limit the circumferential length of the knife carrier segment (21), wherein end surfaces (21a, 21b) of the knife carrier segments (21) are designed such that the knife carrier segments (21) are placeable next to one another along the circumferential length thereof to form the circular-ring disk via end surfaces (21a, 21b) of circumferentially adjacent knife carrier segments (21), which adjoin one another in a flush manner free of undercuts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The knife carrier (20) according to claim 1, wherein the knife carrier segments (21) are mutually identical and deviate from one another in terms of weight by no more than ±30 grams. ### Claim 5 A chopper drum (1) for a forage harvester (100), comprising: a circular-cylindrical drum body (10) having a predetermined outer diameter, and a knife carrier (20) having a plurality of knife carrier segments (21), each in the shape of a circular-ring disk section having a predetermined circumferential length and including an outer-peripheral surface having a predetermined number of knife receptacles (22), wherein first fixing means (30) is provided on the particular knife carrier segments (21) and second fixing means (50) is provided on the outer diameter of the drum body (10), wherein the first fixing means (30) and the second fixing means (5) interact with one another, thereby ensuring that the knife carrier segments (21) are each positioned in a defined manner relative to the drum body (10) and are detachably attached to the outer diameter thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The chopper drum (1) according to claim 5, wherein the first fixing means (30) comprises first engagement means (31), wherein the second fixing means (50) comprises second engagement means (51), and wherein the first and second engagement means (31, 51) are matched to one another in a form-fit manner to achieve a defined radial positioning of each knife carrier segment (21) with respect to the outer diameter of the drum body (10). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The chopper drum (1) according to claim 6, wherein the drum body (10) comprises a drum jacket (11) that defines an outer diameter thereof and has two axial ends (11a, 11b) pointing in opposite directions, and wherein the second fixing means (50) has a circular-ring disk-shaped fixing element (40.1, 40.2) that is fixedly disposed on the outer diameter of the drum body (10). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The chopper drum (1) according to claim 7, wherein the fixing element (40.1, 40.4) comprises the second engagement means (51) on a second lateral boundary surface facing away from the first lateral boundary surface, wherein the second engagement means (51) are formed in the shape of a circular ring concentrically to the outer diameter of the drum body (10), and wherein the first engagement means (31) are formed on each knife carrier segment (21), on one of two lateral boundary surfaces thereof, in the shape of a circular-ring section corresponding to the circular-ring shape of the second engagement means (51). ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The chopper drum (1) according to claim 5, wherein each knife carrier segment (21) has two opposing end surfaces (21a, 21b) that limit the circumferential length of the knife carrier segment (21), and wherein the end surfaces (21a, 21b) of the knife carrier segments (21) are designed such that the knife carrier segments (21) can be placed next to one another along the circumferential length thereof to form the circular-ring disk via end surfaces (21a, 21b) of circumferentially adjacent knife carrier segments (21) that adjoin one another in a flush manner free of undercuts. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The chopper drum (1) according to claim 5, wherein the knife carrier segments (21) are mutually identical and deviate from one another in terms of weight by no more than ±30 grams.