CHOPPER ASSEMBLY FOR A HARVESTING IMPLEMENT

• US 20110113743A1
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James E. Straeter
• Original Assignee: James E. Straeter
• Inventors: Straeter, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/60
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/081 specially adapted for ensilage of maize

Abstract

A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.

Claims

1. A chopping assembly for a farm implement, comprising:

a corn head mounted on a frame;

a housing mounted to the corn head and having an input port and an outlet port;

a blade assembly partially disposed within the housing and positioned to cut a crop received within the input port to supply stover to the outlet port;

a strike plate attached to an inner wall of the housing adjacent the input port and positioned a predetermined distance from the blade assembly to absorb energy from the crop received within the input port.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strike plate is adjustably attached to the inner wall of the housing to adjust the predetermined distance between the strike plate and blade assembly.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strike plate is removable.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strike plate has a roughened surface.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strike plate has a smooth surface.

6. A chopping assembly for a farm implement, comprising:

a corn head mounted on a frame;

a housing mounted to the corn head and having an input port and an outlet port;

a blade assembly partially disposed within the housing and positioned to cut a crop received within the input port to supply stover to the outlet port, and

an exhaust channel receiving the stover from the outlet port and extending toward the implement conveyor and a conveyor positioned to receive stover from the exhaust channel at an angle.

7. The assembly of claim 6 further comprising a shield adjacent the conveyor preventing the stover from landing uncontrolled in the windrow when coming off the conveyor.

8. The assembly of claim 7 further comprising a processor roll having a plurality of teeth at and end of the implement adjacent the windrow to break up corn cobs.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the windrow is positioned at an angle to the conveyor.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the exhaust channel has an automatic door associated therewith electrically connected to a controller to prevent stover from reaching the conveyor.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the controller utilizes a global positioning system to determine when to actuate the door.

12. A chopping assembly for a farm implement, comprising:

a corn head mounted on a frame;

a housing mounted to the corn head and having an input port and an outlet port;

a blade assembly partially disposed within the housing and positioned to cut a crop received within the input port to supply stover to the outlet port;

a direct bale conveyor attached to the implement and running underneath the length of the implement to deliver stover from the corn head and windrow to a secondary processing unit.