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US 7,827,774 B2Granted
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.
Claims13
A windrow merger, comprising:
- a merger assembly including a center pick up head, a left pick up head, and a right pick up head, each of the center, left, and right pick up heads having an interchangeable construction permitting each pick up head to mount at each of center, left, and right positions of the merger assembly, the interchangeable construction including an independent recessed drive mechanism;
- center, left, and right conveyors each associated with a corresponding one of the center, left, and right pick up heads, the center, left, and right conveyors being operable in either of both of a leftward conveying direction and a rightward conveying direction;
- wherein each of the center, left, and right pick up heads has a length, the left and right pick up heads each being positionable in an extended use position and a retracted travel position;
- wherein the lengths of the left and right pick up heads are generally transverse to a direction of travel when positioned in the extended use position;
- wherein the lengths of the left and right pick up heads are generally aligned with the direction of travel when positioned in the retracted travel position;
- wherein a majority of the length of each left and right pick up heads is located rearward of the center pick up head when positioned in the retracted travel position;
- wherein each end of the left and right pick up heads is located above the center pick up head when positioned in the retracted travel position;
- wherein each of the left and right pick up heads is operable when positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- wherein merger operations can be accomplished:
- i) when the left and right pick up heads are positioned in the extended use position;
- and
- ii) when the left pick up head is positioned in the extended use position and the right pick up head is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iii) when the right pick up head is positioned in the extended use position and the left pick up head is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iv) when the left and right pick up heads are positioned in the retracted travel position.
14 more elements
A windrow merger, comprising:
- a merger frame having towing structure for towing the merger frame behind a vehicle;
- and
- a merger assembly mounted to the merger frame, the merger assembly including:
- i) first, second and third pick up heads, each of the first, second, and third pick up heads having an interchangeable construction permitting each pick up head to mount at each of first, second, and third positions of the merger frame, the interchangeable construction including an independent recessed drive mechanism, each of the heads defining a longitudinal axis extending from a first end of the head to a second end of the head;
- and
- ii) first, second, and third conveyors each associated with a corresponding one of the first, second, and third pick up heads, the first, second, and third conveyors being operable in either of both of a leftward conveying direction and a rightward conveying direction;
- iii) the merger assembly being positionable in an extended use position and a retracted travel position;
- wherein the longitudinal axes of the first, second, and third heads are generally aligned with one another when the merger assembly is positioned in the extended use position;
- wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and third pick up heads are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second pick up head when the merger assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- wherein each end of the first and third pick up heads is located above the second pick up head when the merger assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- wherein a majority of each of the first and third pick up heads is located rearward of the second pick up head when positioned in the retracted travel position;
- wherein each of the first and third pick up heads is operable when positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- wherein merger operations can be accomplished:
- i) when the first and third pick up heads are positioned in the extended use position;
- and
- ii) when the first pick up head is positioned in the extended use position and the third pick up head is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iii) when the third pick up head is positioned in the extended use position and the first pick up head is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iv) when the first and third pick up heads are positioned in the retracted travel position.
18 more elements
A method of operating a windrow merger, comprising the steps of:
- providing a merger assembly including:
- i) a center pick up head, a left pick up head, and a right pick up head, each of the center, left, and right pick up heads having an interchangeable construction permitting each pick up head to mount at each of center, left, and right positions of the merger assembly, the interchangeable construction including an independent recessed drive mechanism, each of the pick up heads having a length defined between a first end and a second end;
- and
- ii) center, left, and right conveyors, each center, left, and right conveyor being associated with a corresponding one of the center, left, and right pick up heads, the center, left, and right conveyors being operable in either of both of a leftward conveying direction and a rightward conveying direction;
- moving the merger assembly in a direction of travel;
- positioning the merger assembly in an extended use position such that the lengths of each of the center, left, and right pick up heads are aligned with one another, the lengths further being generally transverse to the direction of travel;
- positioning the merger assembly in a retracted travel position such that:
- i) the lengths of the left and right pick up heads are generally aligned with the direction of travel;
- ii) each end of the left and right pick up heads is positioned above the center pick up head;
- and
- iii) a majority of the length of each left and right pick up heads is located rearward of the center pick up head;
- and
- selectively operating the left and right pick up heads when the left and right pick up heads are in the retracted travel position wherein merger operations can be accomplished:
- i) when the left and right pick up heads are positioned in the extended use position;
- and
- ii) when the left pick up head is positioned in the extended use position and the right pick up head is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iii) when the right pick up head is positioned in the extended use position and the left pick up head is positioned in the retracted travel position;
- and
- iv) when the left and right pick up heads are positioned in the retracted travel position.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.