Rotary mower
AssigneeSperry Rand France, S.A.
InventorAlain Marie Charles d'Acremont
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary mower mechanism of the type having a plurality of rotatable cutter units on a transversely extending cutter bar supported on skid means. Each cutter unit is provided with at least one blade operatively extending between the skid and a guard mounted over the cutter bar to provide protection and aid in the conveyance of cut crop material in a rearward direction. A rotatable crop conveyor assembly is provided to sweep crop material across the area of the cutter bar and facilitate its conveyance in a rearward direction for eventual discharge. The mower mechanism also includes rearwardly disposed crop conditioner means adapted to operate on the crop prior to discharge thereof to the ground.
Claims17
A rotary mower comprising:
- a. a cutter bar comprising at least one rotatable cutter unit having at least one cutter blade, said cutter unit being substantially flat and oval-shaped in plan view;
- b. at least one skid for supporting the cutter bar, one skid being provided below each said cutter unit and being freely rotatable, said skid further being circular in plan view and generally concentrically arranged with said cutter unit and having substantially the same diameter as the major diameter of the oval cutter unit;
- c. a guard mounted over the cutter bar, said guard having a forward edge portion being aligned vertically with that of each respective skid, said forward edge portion of the guard being scalloped and having a radius of curvature substantially the same as that of the respective skid;
- d. said cutter unit being located between a respective skid and the guard and the trajectory of the outermost end of each cutter blade extending beyond the forward edge portions of the respective skid and the guard;
- and
- e. crop conveyor means arranged substantially above the forward edge portions of the guard and the cutter bar and being operable to sweep crop towards the cutter bar and to convey cut crop rearwardly over the guard.
A rotary mower comprising:
- a. a cutter bar comprising at least one rotatable cutter unit having at least one cutter blade;
- b. a least one skid for supporting the cutter bar;
- c. a guard mounted over the cutter bar;
- d. said cutter unit being located between the skid and the guard and the trajectory of the outermost end of each cutter blade extending beyond the forward edges of the skid and the guard;
- and
- e. crop conveyor means arranged substantially above the forward edges of the guard and the cutter bar and being operable to sweep crop towards the cutter bar and to convey cut crop rearwardly over the guard, said crop conveyor means being in the form of a reel structure having peripherally-arranged transverse slats supporting tines and actuated by cam means, said cam means being operable angularly to adjust the slats, and hence the position of the tines, such that the tines positively engage the crop forwardly of the cutter bar, feed it to the cutter bar for cutting, then convey the cut crop in a rearward direction over the guard immediately after being cut, and finally release the cut crop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.