Chopper assembly for a harvesting implement

• US 8,087,223 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James E. Straeter
• Original Assignee: James E. Straeter
• Inventors: Straeter, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US12/868,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100313539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 56/60, 56/61, 565/00, 56503-505
• 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 to a frame;

a housing mounted to the corn head and having an input port and an output port in a side wall of the housing;

a blade assembly disposed at least partially within the housing;

an exhaust channel mounted to and extending outwardly from the housing wherein the exhaust channel has an exhaust channel entrance mounted to and in communication with the output port of the housing; and

an adjustable shear plate mounted to a wall of the exhaust channel at the entrance of the exhaust channel adjacent the output port such that adjustment of the shear plate adjusts a clearance between the side wall of the housing and the exhaust channel.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein walls of the exhaust channel are tapered such that a cross section of the exhaust channel increases as material moves toward a discharge end wherein the discharge end is remote from the exhaust channel entrance.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the exhaust channel has a deflector at the discharge end.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the exhaust channel has a door.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a conveyor adjacent the exhaust channel and having a removable cover.

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

a corn head mounted to a frame;

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

a blade assembly disposed at least partially within the housing;

an exhaust channel adjacent the output port of the housing;

an adjustable shear plate mounted to the exhaust channel adjacent the output port; and

wherein walls of the exhaust channel are tapered such that a cross section of the exhaust channel increases as material moves toward a discharge end wherein the discharge end is remote from the output port of the housing.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the exhaust channel has a door.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the exhaust channel has a deflector at the discharge end.

9. The assembly of claim 6 further comprising a conveyor adjacent the exhaust channel and having a removable cover.