Shaft shield for rotary conveyor

This invention relates to rotary conveyors for harvesters.

Harvesters, such as balers, which use a rotary conveyor to transfer crop material from the pickup assembly to the bale chamber may encounter one or more problems when stripper fingers of the rotary conveyor fail to separate the crop material from the rotating tines of the conveyor. This may occur when the crop material is sticky or limp, for example. The crop material may fold around the tines and be drawn between the stripper fingers and accumulate, possibly causing the stripper fingers to spread apart. Crop material may also wrap around the rotating shaft to which the tines are attached. This phenomenon is disadvantageous, as such an accumulation of crop material can increase the resistance to shaft rotation, resulting in increased strain on the conveyor parts as well as drive shafts powering the harvester. The increased strain is known to cause premature component failure. There is clearly an opportunity to improve the performance and increase the time between failures for harvesters by avoiding fouling of rotary conveyors by crop material.

The invention concerns a shield mountable on a rotary conveyor and positionable between a stripper finger and a shaft thereof. In one example embodiment the shield comprises a body having first and second ends oppositely disposed. An end surface is positioned at the first end of the body. The end surface is positionable in facing relation to the shaft. A lug is positioned at the second end of the body. The lug is attachable to the rotary conveyor for retention of the shield thereto. First and second side surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the body and extend between the end surface and the lug.

In an example embodiment the lug is positionable between the stripper finger and the rotary conveyor. Further by way of example the end surface has a concave radius of curvature facing the shaft. In an example embodiment the lug extends substantially perpendicularly to the end surface. By way of example the lug defines at least one hole adapted to receive a locating pin extending from one of the stripper fingers or the portion of the rotary conveyor. In an example the lug defines at least one hole adapted to receive a fastener for attaching the body to the portion of the rotary conveyor.

In an example embodiment the lug may further comprise first and second skirts positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the lug. The first and second skirts extend transversely to the lug. Further by way of example the first and second side surfaces are spaced apart from one another a distance that is substantially equal to a width of the stripper finger. In an example embodiment the first and second side surfaces have respective first and second edges facing the stripper finger. The first and second edges each have a shape matched to a shape of the stripper finger. In a specific example, the shapes of the first and second edges comprise a convex curvature. In an example embodiment the first and second sides may further comprise respective first and second ventral edges positionable in facing relation with an end of the stripper finger. In a specific example the first and second ventral edges have a shape matched to a shape of the end of the stripper finger. In a specific example embodiment the shape of the first and second ventral edges comprises a concave curvature.

The invention further encompasses a rotary conveyor. In an example embodiment the rotary conveyor comprises a housing. A shaft is mounted on the housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. A plurality of tines are mounted on the shaft in spaced relation to one another. A plurality of stripper fingers are mounted on the housing in spaced relation to one another. Each tine is positioned between two stripper fingers. At least one shield is positioned between one of the stripper fingers and the shaft. By way of example the at least one shield comprises a body having first and second ends oppositely disposed. An end surface is positioned at the first end of the body. The end surface faces the shaft. A lug is positioned at the second end of the body. The lug is attached to the frame. First and second side surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the body and extend between the end surface and the lug.

In an example embodiment the lug is positioned between the one stripper finger and the frame. By way of example the end surface may have a concave radius of curvature facing the shaft. Further by way of example the lug may extend substantially perpendicularly to the end surface. In an example embodiment the lug defines at least one hole adapted to receive a locating pin extending from the one stripper finger or the frame. In a further example the lug defines at least one hole adapted to receive a fastener for attaching the body to the frame. By way of example the lug may further comprise first and second skirts positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the lug. The first and second skirts extend transversely to the lug in this example. In a specific example the first and second side surfaces are spaced apart from one another a distance that is substantially equal to a width of the one stripper finger. In an example embodiment the first and second side surfaces have respective first and second edges facing the one stripper finger. Each first and second edge may have a shape matched to a shape of the one stripper finger. In an example embodiment the shapes of the first and second edges comprise a convex curvature. Further by way of example the first and second sides may comprise respective first and second ventral edges positioned in facing relation with an end of the one stripper finger. In a specific example the first and second ventral edges have a shape matched to a shape of the end of the one stripper finger. By way of example the shape of the first and second ventral edges may comprise a concave curvature. An example rotary conveyor according to the invention may further comprise a plurality of the shields, with each shield being positioned between a respective one of the stripper fingers and the shaft.

The invention also encompasses a harvester. In an example embodiment the harvester comprises a rotary conveyor. By way of example the conveyor comprises a housing. A shaft is mounted on the housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. A plurality of tines are mounted on the shaft in spaced relation to one another. A plurality of stripper fingers are mounted on the housing in spaced relation to one another. Each tine is positioned between two stripper fingers. At least one shield is positioned between one of the stripper fingers and the shaft. In an example embodiment the at least one shield comprises a body having first and second ends oppositely disposed. An end surface is positioned at the first end of the body. The end surface faces the shaft. A lug is positioned at the second end of the body. The lug is attached to the frame. First and second side surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the body and extend between the end surface and the lug. In a specific example embodiment the lug is positioned between the one stripper finger and the frame. In another example embodiment the end surface has a concave radius of curvature facing the shaft. Further by way of example the lug may extend substantially perpendicularly to the end surface. In an example embodiment the lug defines at least one hole adapted to receive a locating pin extending from the one stripper finger or the frame. In a further example embodiment the lug defines at least one hole adapted to receive a fastener for attaching the body to the frame. By way of example the lug may further comprise first and second skirts positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the lug. The first and second skirts extend transversely to the lug in this example.

In an example embodiment the first and second side surfaces are spaced apart from one another a distance that is substantially equal to a width of the one stripper finger. Further by way of example the first and second side surfaces have respective first and second edges facing the one stripper finger. The first and second edges each have a shape matched to a shape of the one stripper finger in an example embodiment. In a specific example the shapes of the first and second edges comprise a convex curvature. Further by way of example the first and second sides may comprise respective first and second ventral edges positioned in facing relation with an end of the one stripper finger. By way of example, the first and second ventral edges may have a shape matched to a shape of the end of the one stripper finger. In a specific example the shape of the first and second ventral edges comprises a concave curvature. In an example harvester according to the invention a plurality of the shields are positioned between a respective one of the stripper fingers and the shaft. In an example embodiment the harvester comprises a baler.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a portion of an example rotary conveyor according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an example harvester according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a portion of the rotary conveyor of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are isometric views of an example shield according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an example shield according to the invention mounted on a rotary conveyor; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a portion of the rotary conveyor shown in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 1 shows an example rotary conveyor 10 as might be used in a harvester, such as a baler 12 , shown in FIG. 2 . Conveyor 10 works in conjunction with a pickup assembly 14 and transfers crop material picked up by the tines of the pickup assembly to the baler chamber 16 . Conveyor 10 comprises a housing 18 on which a shaft 20 is mounted. Shaft 20 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis 22 . A plurality of tines 24 are mounted on the shaft 20 . Tines 24 are arranged in spaced apart relation to one another along shaft 20 and project radially outwardly from the shaft. As shaft 20 rotates each tine 24 passes between two stripper fingers 26 . Stripper fingers 26 are mounted on the housing 18 and have an external surface profile 28 which strips the crop material from the tines 24 as it is transferred to the baler chamber 16 .

As shown by way of example in FIG. 3 , one or more shields 30 are mounted on housing 18 between stripper fingers 26 and the shaft 20 to prevent crop material, not separated from tines 24 , from being wrapped around the shaft 20 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , an example shield 30 comprises a body 32 having first and second ends 34 and 36 oppositely disposed from one another. An end surface 38 is positioned at the first end 34 of the body 32 . End surface 38 faces the shaft 20 (see FIG. 6 ) and may have a concave radius of curvature 40 complementary to the shaft.

A lug 42 is positioned at the second end 36 of body 32 . In this example, lug 42 extends substantially perpendicularly to the end surface 38 and attaches to the housing 18 (see FIG. 3 ). Attachment of lug 42 to housing 18 is shown in detail in FIG. 6 , and is conveniently effected by positioning it between the stripper finger 26 and the housing 18 . Lug 42 may define a hole 44 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5 ) adapted to receive a locating pin 46 extending from the stripper finger 26 or the housing. Lug 42 may also define a second hole 48 which receives a fastener 50 for attaching the stripper finger 26 and the body 32 to the housing 18 . As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 , lug 42 may further comprise first and second skirts 52 and 54 . Skirts 52 and 54 are positioned on opposite sides of the lug 42 and extend transversely to it. The skirts 52 and 54 are spaced apart so as to engage portions of the housing and assist in positioning and orienting the shields 30 upon assembly.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , shield 30 comprises first and second side surfaces 56 and 58 positioned on opposite sides of the body 32 . The side surfaces 56 and 58 extend between the end surface 38 and the lug 42 and in this example are spaced apart from one another a distance 60 that is substantially equal to a width 62 of the stripper finger 26 (see FIG. 3 ). This side surface spacing 60 permits the shield 30 to effectively protect the shaft 20 from crop material. Further to that end, the first and second side surface 56 and 58 may have respective first and second edges 64 and 66 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , edges 64 and 66 face the stripper finger 26 , and it is advantageous if the edges 64 and 66 have a shape 68 which is matched to the shape of the stripper finger. In this example embodiment, the shape 68 has a convex curvature which is complementary to the concave curvature of the stripper finger 26 .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first and second side surfaces 56 and 58 of shield 30 may further comprise respective first and second ventral edges 70 and 72 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , the first and second ventral edges 70 and 72 are positioned in facing relation with an end 74 of stripper finger 26 and advantageously have a shape 76 matched to a shape of the end 74 of the stripper finger 26 . In this example embodiment the shape 76 has a concave curvature which is complementary to the convex curvature of the end 74 of the stripper finger 26 .

It is expected that harvesters having rotary conveyors using shields according to the invention will operate more reliably and efficiently by avoiding the adverse effects of crop material wrapping around the conveyor shaft.