Drive mechanism for a picker rotor assembly of a cotton harvesting unit
AssigneeJ. I. Case Company
InventorsG. Neil Thedford, Jesse H. Orsborn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive mechanism for a picker rotor assembly of a cotton harvesting unit. The drive mechanism includes a bidirectional torque limiting mechanism operatively arranged between a rotor drive mechanism and the rotor assembly. The bidirectional torque limiting mechanism for applying a relatively low torque in a first rotational direction to the picker rotor assembly so as to inhibit damage thereto resulting from a chokage or jamming of the picker rotor assembly. The bidirectional torque limiting mechanism further applying a relatively high torque in a second or reverse rotational direction to the picker rotory assembly to facilitate removal of that which choked or stopped the rotor assembly.
Claims14
Drive mechanism for a picker rotor assembly of a cotton harvesting unit, said picker rotor assembly being rotatable about an upright vertical axis for picking cotton from a plant row, said drive mechanism comprising:
- rotary means for rotationally driving said rotor assembly in timed relation therewith and about said axis, said rotary means normally driving said rotor assembly in a first direction for picking cotton as the plant row moves through the harvesting unit and being selectively operable to drive said rotor assembly in a second direction which is opposed to said first direction;
- and
- bidirectional torque limiting means operable in response to actuation of said rotary means for transferring rotary motion and applying a relatively low torque to said rotor assembly when driven in a first direction and for allowing said rotary means to continue to rotate after the rotor assembly stops or its rotational speed lags behind its timed relation speed with said rotary means, said bidirectional torque limiting means furthermore transferring rotary motion and applying a relatively high torque to said rotor assembly when driven in a second direction.
Drive mechanism for a picker rotor assembly of a cotton harvesting unit, said picker rotor assembly being rotatable about an upright axis and having rotor components including vertically spaced rows of individually rotatable cotton picker spindles for picking cotton from a plant row, said drive mechanism comprising:
- drive means for driving said rotor assembly about said axis and for conjointly driving said spindles about their individual axes, said drive means normally driving said rotor assembly in a first direction for picking cotton as the plant row moves through a plant passage defined by the harvesting unit and being selectively operable to drive said rotor assembly in a second direction opposed to said first direction;
- gear means arranged for rotation about said axis and in driving engagement with said drive means;
- and
- bidirectional torque limiting means arranged between said gear means and said rotor assembly for applying a predetermined relatively low torque having an upper limit to the rotor assembly in said first direction to inhibit damage to said rotor components upon engagement with an obstacle which impedes rotation of the rotor assembly and for applying a relatively high torque having a predetermined upper limit to the rotor assembly in said second direction to enhance removal of said obstacle from the rotor assembly when said rotor assembly is moved in said second direction.
Drive mechanism for a picker rotor assembly of a cotton harvesting unit, said picker rotor assembly having rotor components including a drive shaft defining an upright axis about which said rotor assembly turns and a plurality of picker bars circumferentially arranged about said drive shaft, with each picker bar having a plurality of individually and rotatable driven picker spindles extending therefrom for picking cotton from a plant row, said drive mechanism comprising:
- drive means normally operable in a first direction for driving said rotor assembly including said picker bars about said axis while conjointly driving said spindles about their individual axes to pick cotton as the plant row moves through a plant passage defined by said harvesting unit and being selectively operable in a second direction opposed to said first direction;
- an input gear arranged toward an upper end of said drive shaft for rotation in either said first or second direction about said axis and in driving engagement with said drive means;
- and
- bidirectional torque limiting means cooperatively associated with said input gear and said drive shaft for transferring motion to said rotor assembly and upon exceeding a predetermined and relatively low torque allowing said drive means to continue to operate in said first direction to inhibit damage to the rotor components upon engagement of said rotor assembly with an obstacle which impedes rotation of the rotor assembly and for transferring motion and relatively high torque to the said rotor assembly when the drive means is operated in said second direction to facilitate removal of the obstacle from impeding rotation of the rotor assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.