Minimizing bearing failure due to stalk roll misalignment
AssigneeAGCO Corporation
InventorMarudhu Madheswaran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A corn header has a plurality of row units disposed adjacent each other. Each row unit has a frame and a gearbox coupled to the frame. The gearbox has a gearing assembly coupled to a rotatable shaft extending from an opening of the gearbox. Each row unit also has a stalk roll coupled to the rotatable shaft and a coupling interface comprising a self-aligning ball or roller bearing assembly. A support bracket is secured to the frame with the coupling interface operably coupling the stalk roll to the support bracket within a defined tolerable limit of misalignment.
Claims11
A row unit for a corn header comprising:
- a frame;
- a gearbox coupled to the frame, the gearbox having a gearing assembly coupled to a rotatable shaft extending from an opening of the gearbox;
- a stalk roll having first and second ends, the first end coupled directly to the rotatable shaft, the second end coupled via a coupling interface to a support bracket, the support bracket coupled to the frame;
- and
- a self-aligning ball bearing assembly located at the coupling interface, the self-aligning ball bearing assembly compensating for misalignment between the first end and the second end;
- a cap disposed between the self-aligning ball bearing assembly and the second end;
- and
- a seal disposed between the self-aligning ball bearing assembly and the support bracket such that the self-aligning ball bearing assembly is sandwiched between the cap and the seal.
A corn header, comprising:
- a plurality of row units disposed adjacent each other, each row unit comprising:
- a frame;
- a gearbox coupled to the frame, the gearbox having a gearing assembly coupled to a rotatable shaft extending from an opening of the gearbox;
- a stalk roll coupled to the rotatable shaft;
- a coupling interface comprising a self-aligning ball or roller bearing assembly;
- and
- a support bracket secured to the frame, the coupling interface operably coupling the stalk roll to the support bracket within a defined tolerable limit of misalignment;
- a cap disposed adjacent the self-aligning ball or roller bearing assembly;
- and
- a seal disposed between the self-aligning ball or roller bearing assembly and the support bracket such that the self-aligning ball bearing assembly is sandwiched between the cap and the seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.