# US 9,038,358 B2 · Drive mechanism for a windrow merger

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- Number: US 9,038,358 B2
- Document ID: US9038358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/096,594
- Filed: 2013-12-04
- Published: 2014-04-03
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-30
- Assignees: H & S Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Applicants: H & S Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Inventors: Gregory L. Landon; Jacob D. Kappelman; James E. Kappel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038358B2

## CPC

- A01B 73/044: {the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence)}
- A01B 73/046: {each folding frame part being foldable in itself}
- A01B 73/067: {to a position essentially rearward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel}
- A01D 57/28: Windrower attachments with tines
- A01D 78/001: {Side-delivery rakes (A01D78/04 takes precedence)}
- A01D 84/00: Haymakers not provided for in a single one of groups A01D76/00 - A01D82/00
- A01D 89/001: {Pick-up systems}
- A01D 89/002: {Rotors}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A windrow merger includes at least one pickup head member and an internal drive assembly disposed within a longitudinal aperture defined internal to the at least one pickup head member, the drive assembly being for imparting a rotational motion to a plurality of tines by means of a drive shaft operably coupled thereto, the drive shaft extending in opposed directions from the drive assembly. A method of forming the windrow merger is further included.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A windrow merger, comprising:
at least one pickup head member, and
an internal drive assembly disposed within a longitudinal aperture defined internal to the at least one pickup head member, the drive assembly for imparting a rotational motion to a plurality of tines by means of a drive shaft operably coupled thereto, the drive shaft including a first drive shaft portion extending in a first direction from the drive assembly and a second drive shaft portion extending in a second direction from the drive assembly opposite the first direction, the internal drive assembly being disposed generally midway along the length dimension of the at least one pickup head member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The windrow merger of claim 1 the internal drive assembly including a motor, the motor being operably coupled to the drive shaft by means of a transmission.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The windrow merger of claim 2, the motor and the transmission having a 1:1 rotational relationship.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The windrow merger of claim 2, the motor and the drive shaft being matched in rotational speed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The windrow merger of claim 2, the at least one pickup head member having a first and a second generally planar and spaced apart end plate, each respective end plate having a mount for supporting the drive shaft.

### Claim 6

A method of forming a windrow merger, including:
providing at least one pickup head member;
disposing an internal drive assembly within a longitudinal aperture defined internal to the at least one pickup head member;
extending a first drive shaft portion of a drive shaft in a first direction from the drive assembly and extending a second drive shaft portion of the drive shaft in a second direction from the drive assembly opposite the first direction and operably coupling the drive shaft to the drive assembly and to the plurality of tines for imparting a rotational motion to a plurality of tines, and
disposing the internal drive assembly generally midway along the length dimension of the at least one pickup head member.