Process and apparatus for harvesting of crops from stalks and chopping the stalks
OwnerUlrich S. Heulinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A harvester attachment for stripping crop clusters from tall stalks such as corn includes an intake path into which the stalks are received. The stalks are pulled through a narrow gap disposed in the intake path to strip-off the crop clusters. A pair of rotary bladed members are arranged on opposite sides of the intake path beneath the narrow gap. Opposing blades on the rotating bladed members radially overlap as they rotate to engage and fracture the stalks. The tip speed of the blades on one of the bladed members is greater than the tip speed of the other bladed member to enable the stalks to be severed by the blades.
Claims23
In a process for harvesting crop clusters of tall plant stalks, wherein said stalks are introduced into a longitudinally extending intake path and are pulled through a gathering gap disposed in said intake path to strip said crop clusters from said stalks, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- providing a pair of bladed rotary members having longitudinally extending axes disposed along opposing sides of said gathering gap,
- rotating said members in opposite directions such that opposing blades of said members define a stalk contacting zone having an inlet situated proximate said gathering gap and an outlet situated remote from said gathering gap, said opposing blades having different tip speeds whereby stalks are fractured and severed by said opposing blades, said opposing blades radially overlapping during travel through said stalk contacting zone.
In a harvester attachment for gathering crop clusters of tall plant stalks including means defining a longitudinally extending stalk intake path in which stalks are received as said attachment is advanced, and means for pulling the stalks through a gathering gap disposed in said intake path to strip crop clusters from the stalks, the improvement comprising:
- a pair of bladed rolls having longitudinally extending axes of rotation disposed along opposite sides of said gathering gap, said rolls arranged such that opposing blades of said rolls define a stalk contacting zone having an inlet situated proximate said gathering gap and an outlet situated remote from said gathering gap, said opposing blades radially overlapping while traveling through said stalk contacting zone, and
- drive means for rotating said rolls in opposite directions and such that opposing blades have different tip speeds whereby stalks are fractured and severed by said opposing blades.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.