Windrow merging apparatus
AssigneeOxbo International Corporation
InventorsPaul W. Dow, Steven S. Dow, Mark M. Woodruff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A windrow merger has a frame supporting first, second and third pickup assemblies, with the two outside pickup assemblies foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position. Each of the pickup assemblies includes a reversible conveyor providing multiple windrow merging configurations. The pickup assemblies are interchangeable and aligned to define an unobstructed pickup face.
Claims44
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- and
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies, including the first and third pickup assemblies, are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position;
- wherein each of the pickup assemblies is arranged and configured such that merger operations can be accomplished:
- i) when the first and third pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position;
- and
- ii) when the first pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the third pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iii) when the third pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the first pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iv) when the first and third assemblies are positioned in the retracted travel position;
- wherein each of the first and third pickup assemblies is operable in both the extended use position and the retracted travel position.
A windrow merger apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a center pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a left folding pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a right folding pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein the left and right pickup assemblies fold between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the center, left, and right pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when the left and right pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position;
- wherein each of the pickup assemblies is arranged and configured such that merger operations can be accomplished:
- i) when the left and right pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position;
- and
- ii) when the left pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the right pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iii) when the right pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the left pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iv) when the left and right assemblies are positioned in the retracted travel position.
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame, the first pickup assembly including a first conveyor arranged to convey material in a direction transverse to the first direction of travel;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame, the second pickup assembly including a second conveyor arranged to convey material in a direction transverse to the first direction of travel;
- and
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame, the third pickup assembly including a third conveyor arranged to convey material in a direction transverse to the first direction of travel;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position such that the first, second, and third pickup assemblies provide a continuous line of material pickup.
A method of windrowing with a windrow merger apparatus, the windrow merger apparatus having a frame, a first pickup assembly supported by the frame and foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, a second pickup assembly supported by the frame, and a third pickup assembly supported by the frame and foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position, the method comprising the steps of:
- windrowing in a first configuration with only one pickup assembly in the use position;
- windrowing in a second configuration with only two pickup assemblies in the use position;
- and
- windrowing in a third configuration with three pickup assemblies in the use position.
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies, including the first and third pickup assembly, are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, and wherein the pickup assemblies are aligned relative to one another to define a material pickup plane when the pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position;
- wherein each of the pickup assemblies is arranged and configured such that merger operations can be accomplished when:
- i) the first and third pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position;
- ii) the first pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the third pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- iii) the third pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the first pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iv) the first and third assemblies are positioned in the retracted travel position.
A method of windrowing with a windrow merger apparatus, the windrow merger apparatus having a frame, a first pickup assembly supported by the frame and foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, a second pickup assembly supported by the frame, and a third pickup assembly supported by the frame and foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position, the method comprising the steps of:
- windrowing in a first configuration with only one pickup assembly in the use position;
- windrowing in a second configuration with only two pickup assemblies in the use position;
- and
- windrowing in a third configuration with three pickup assemblies in the use position.
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies, including the first and third pickup assemblies, are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, and wherein the pickup assemblies are aligned relative to one another to define a material pickup plane when the pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position;
- wherein each of the pickup assemblies is arranged and configured such that merger operations can be accomplished:
- i) when the first and third pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position;
- and
- ii) when the first pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the third pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iii) when the third pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the first pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iv) when the first and third assemblies are positioned in the retracted travel position.
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pickup assembly supported by the frame, the first pickup assembly including a first conveyor arranged to convey material in a direction transverse to the first direction of travel;
- a second pickup assembly supported by the frame, the second pickup assembly including a second conveyor arranged to convey material in a direction transverse to the first direction of travel;
- and
- a third pickup assembly supported by the frame, the third pickup assembly including a third conveyor arranged to convey material in a direction transverse to the first direction of travel;
- wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position such that the first, second, and third pickup assemblies provide a continuous line of material pickup.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.