Chopper assembly

• US 10,159,187 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2017
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James E. Straeter
• Original Assignee: James E. Straeter
• Inventors: Straeter, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fabian-Kovacs, Arpad
• Application Number:
  US15/477,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 460113, 460112, 460111
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/12 Details of combines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/141 Automatic header control
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/081 specially adapted for ensilage of maize
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/082 Gathering units
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/086 and means for collecting, gathering or loading mown material
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/021 Cornheaders
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/025 Snapping rolls

Abstract

A chopper assembly having a discharge conduit. A first and a second beater disposed within the discharge conduit and a first door and a second door in the bottom wall of the discharge conduit positioned below the first beater and the second beater respectively.

Claims

1. A chopper assembly, comprising;

a blade assembly disposed within a housing having a discharge port;

a discharge conduit mounted to the housing and in communication with the discharge port; and

a first beater and a second beater rotatably mounted within the discharge conduit;

wherein the discharge conduit has a second door in a bottom wall that pivots upwardly between the first beater and the second beater.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first beater and the second beater each having a plurality of paddles mounted to a shaft.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first beater and the second beater each have two paddles mounted to a shaft that dwell in the same plane on opposite sides of the shaft.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first beater and the second beater each have a plurality of paddles mounted to a shaft and the plurality of paddles have teeth on an outer edge.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first beater and the second beater have a rotational diameter where the first beater and the second beater cannot contact each other but have a minimal distance between them.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first beater and the second beater each have a plurality of paddles mounted to a shaft that are timed to dwell in a horizontal plane at a 3 o'"'"'clock and a 9 o'"'"'clock position and in a parallel vertical spaced relation at a 12 o'"'"'clock and 6 o'"'"'clock position.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall has a first door positioned below the first beater and the second door positioned below a second beater.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the discharge conduit has a first door in the bottom wall that pivots downwardly from a closed position to an open position.

9. A chopper assembly, comprising;

a blade assembly disposed within a housing having a discharge port;

a discharge conduit having a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls, mounted to the housing and in communication with the discharge port;

a first beater and a second beater rotatably mounted within the discharge conduit; and

the bottom wall having a first door positioned below the first beater and a second door positioned below the second beater.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the first door is configured to pivot downwardly from a closed position to an open position and the second door is configured to pivot upwardly between the first beater and the second beater.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the first beater and the second beater each having a shaft with only two paddles mounted on opposing sides of the shaft of each beater, such that the two paddles extend in parallel alignment with each other.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the paddles of each beater are configured to rotate in sync, such that the paddles of each beater extend within a horizontal plane at a 3 o'"'"'clock and a 9 o'"'"'clock position at the same time, and in a parallel vertical spaced relation at a 12 o'"'"'clock and 6 o'"'"'clock position at the same time thereby forming a path below and above each shaft when the paddles of each beater extend within the horizontal plane at a 3 o'"'"'clock and a 9 o'"'"'clock position at the same time.