Back to results
US 4,744,452 AGranted
Automated piler assembly
OwnerV. Kenneth Broussardinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved device is disclosed for piling stalk material after it is gathered for harvesting. Stalk material is frictionally engaged and conveyed from a cutting assembly to a discharge assembly. A pressure bar urges a portion of the stalk material against sticker chain. A discharge assembly is attached to the end of the piler arm assembly and may be moved to various positions. In at least one position, the fall of stalk material is directed.
Claims17
An improved automated piler assembly for use in combination with motorized stalk harvesting means, comprising:
- (a) a pair of piler arm assemblies pivotally attached to said motorized stalk harvesting means, each of said piler arm assemblies being movable to a plurality of positions, each of said piler arm assemblies including means for frictionally engaging stalk material, said means for frictionally engaging conveying said stalk material from a cutting assembly to a discharge assembly.
- (b) A pressure bar assembly aligned in a manner to functionally cooperate with said means for frictionally engaging said stalk material, said pressure bar assembly urging at least a portion of said stalk material into contact with said means for frictionally engaging;
- and
- (c) a pressure rod assembly engaged by one end of said pressure bar assembly, said pressure rod being rigidly and angularly displaced from linear alignment with said pressure bar assembly;
- (d) a discharge assembly fixedly attached to said piler arm assembly, said discharge assembly being movable to a plurality of discharge positions and wherein when said discharge assembly is in close proximity to said pressure rod said discharge assembly cooperates with said pressure rod along a portion of said pressure rod to direct the fall of said stalk material.
2 more elements
An improved automated piler assembly as in clain 1, wherein said stalk material is sugar cane.
An improved automated sugar cane piler assembly for use in combination with motorized sugar cane harvester cutting means comprising:
- (a) a pair of piler arm assemblies pivotally attached to said sugar cane harvester cutting means, each of said piler arm assemblies movable to a plurality of positions, each of said piler arm assemblies including means for frictionally engaging sugar cane comprising a first sticker chain, said means for frictionally engaging conveying said sugar cane from a cutting assembly to a discharge assembly;
- (b) a discharge assembly pivotally mounted on each of said piler arm assemblies, comprising:
- (i) an arm;
- (ii) a multiple sprocket adapted to engage a plurality of frictional engagement means, said multiple sprocket being rotatably attached to the end of said arm adjacent to said piler arm assembly;
- (iii) a second sprocket in planar alignment with at least a portion of said multiple sprocket, said second sprocket being rotatably attached to said arm and spaced apart from said multiple sprocket;
- and
- (iv) a second sticker chain, said second sticker chain being engaged by said second sprocket and said multiple sprocket;
- (c) means for moving said discharge assembly to a plurality of discharge positions independent of the position of said piler arm assembly wherein at least one of said discharge positions said discharge assembly directs the fall of said sugar cane and in other positions said discharge assembly does not direct the fall of said sugar cane;
- and
- (d) a pressure bar assembly aligned in a manner to functionally cooperate with said means for frictionally engaging said sugar cane, said pressure bar assembly urging at least a portion of said stalk material into contact with said first sticker chain;
- (e) a pressure rod assembly engaged by one end of said pressure bar assembly, said pressure rod being rigidly and angularly displaced from linear alignment with said pressure bar assembly such that said pressure rod cooperates with said discharge assembly along a portion of said pressure rod to direct the fall of said stalk material where said discharge assembly is in proximity to said pressure bar.
8 more elements
An improved automated sugar cane piler assembly for use in combination with a motorized sugar cane harvesting means, comprising:
- (a) a pair of first sticker chain assemblies, pivotally attached to said harvesting means, said first sticker chain assemblies movable to a plurality of positions, each of said sticker chain assemblies engaged at one end of its travel by a single sprocket and at the opposite end of its travel by a multiple sprocket, at least one of said single sprocket and said multiple sprocket being driven, said first sticker chain conveying sugar cane from a cutting assembly to a discharge assembly;
- (b) a discharge assembly pivotally attached to each of said first sticker chain assemblies, comprising:
- (i) an arm;
- (ii) a second sprocket in planar alignment with at least a portion of said multiple sprocket, said second sprocket being rotatably attached to one end of said arm and spaced apart from said multiple sprocket;
- (iii) a second sticker chain, said second sticker chain being engaged by said second sprocket and said multiple sprocket;
- (iv) means for adjusting the tension of said second sticker chain;
- and
- (v) means for disengaging retained material from said second sticker chain, said means for disengaging being located along said second sticker chain so as to act upon said retained material before said retained material reaches said second sprocket;
- (c) hydraulic means for pivoting said discharge assembly into a plurality of positions wherein at least one of said plurality of positions said discharge assembly directs the fall of said sugar cane;
- (d) a pressure bar assembly aligned in a manner to functionally cooperate with said first sticker chain assembly, said pressure bar assembly urging at least a portion of said stalk material into contact with said first sticker chain, said pressure bar assembly further comprising a pressure rod engaged by one end of said pressure bar assembly, said pressure rod being rigidly and angularly displaced from linear alignment with said pressure bar assembly urging a portion of said stalk material into contact with said discharge assembly along a portion of the length of said discharge assembly and means for adjusting the pressure urging at least a portion of said sugar cane into contact with said first sticker chain.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.