Mechanical air reel

Abstract

A combined mechanical air reel for harvesting equipment has a control support-manifold tube and a plurality of depending tubes mounted on the support-manifold tubes that direct a curtain of air against grain to be cut to move the grain toward a cutter bar on which the reel is mounted. At the same time a rotatable finger carrying bat type mechanical reel, also mounted on the central support-manifold tube, is used to feed material to the cutter bar. The mechanical reel bats rotate around the outside of the support-manifold tube. The bats extend parallel to the cutter bar, and the postion of fingers on the bats is controlled by a cam action that permits the bats and the fingers to enter and exit the grain substantially vertically to reduce shattering of the grain. A positive cam drive is provided for actuating the fingers. Because an air assist is used for feeding, the rotating mechanical portion of the reel can be rotated slower than conventional reels and positioned higher in the crop to reduce shattering and wrapping, and to also improve visibility of the cutter bar. The air flow from the depending tubes improves feeding, and saves and keeps the cutter bar clean of shelled crop.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.