Method and Apparatus for Stalk Shear Reduction

Abstract

Four (4) methods to reduce stalk shear in a corn head row unit utilize a non-variable or dependent drive system. The four methods described include altering the gearbox ratio, increasing the lengths of the fluted portion of the stalk roll, increasing stalk roll diameter or reducing the size of the gathering chain drive sprocket. This novel idea provides an apparatus and method to which genetically improved taller and healthier corn plants can be harvested with minimal amounts of material other than ears ultimately being transferred to the threshing unit.

1 . A method for reducing stalk shear in a corn head row unit, said method comprising the steps:
 a. removing a gathering chain drive sprocket, wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket is the original equipment on said corn head row unit; and   b. installing a kit gathering chain drive sprocket in place of said gathering chain drive sprocket, wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is at least twenty percent (20%) smaller than said gathering chain drive sprocket.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having eight (8) teeth. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having five (5) teeth. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having six (6) teeth. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having ten (10) teeth. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having eight (8) teeth. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the steps:
 a. removing a gathering chain, wherein said gathering chain is the original equipment on said corn head row unit; and   b. installing a kit gathering chain in place of said gathering chain, wherein said kit gathering chain is at least five percent (5%) shorter than said gathering chain.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the steps:
 a. removing a gathering chain coast sprocket, wherein said gathering chain coast sprocket is the original equipment on said corn head row unit; and   b. installing a kit gathering chain coast sprocket in place of said gathering chain coast sprocket, wherein said kit gathering chain coast sprocket is at least ten percent (3%) larger than said gathering chain coast sprocket.   
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said gathering chain coast sprocket is further defined as having eight (8) teeth. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said kit gathering chain coast sprocket is further defined as having nine (9) teeth. 
   
   
       11 . A method for reducing stalk shear in a corn head row unit, said method comprising:
 a. removing a gathering chain drive sprocket from said corn head row unit, wherein said corn head row unit further comprises:
 i. a source of power for rotation; 
 ii. a stalk roll for engagement with a corn plant stalk, wherein said stalk roll has at least one flute attached thereto; 
 iii. a gearbox in communication with said source of power and cooperatively engaged with said stalk roll and said gathering chain drive sprocket to fix the speed of said gathering chain drive sprocket and said stalk roll during operation; 
 iv. at least one stripper plate, wherein said at least one stripper plate is positioned above said at least one stalk roll; 
 v. a gathering chain coast sprocket 
 vi. a gathering chain having a plurality of paddles affixed thereto, wherein said gathering chain is cooperatively engaged with said gathering chain drive sprocket and said gathering chain coast sprocket; 
   b. installing a kit gathering chain drive sprocket in place of said gathering chain drive sprocket, wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is at least twenty percent (20%) smaller than said gathering chain drive sprocket.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having eight (8) teeth. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having five (5) teeth. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having six (6) teeth. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having ten (10) teeth. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is further defined as having eight (8) teeth. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising the steps:
 a. removing said gathering chain, wherein said gathering chain is the original equipment on said corn head row unit; and   b. installing a kit gathering chain in place of said gathering chain, wherein said kit gathering chain is at least five percent (5%) shorter than said gathering chain.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising the steps:
 a. removing said gathering chain coast sprocket, wherein said gathering chain coast sprocket is the original equipment on said corn head row unit; and   b. installing a kit gathering chain coast sprocket in place of said gathering chain coast sprocket, wherein said kit gathering chain coast sprocket is at least ten percent (3%) larger than said gathering chain coast sprocket.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein said gathering chain coast sprocket is further defined as having eight (8) teeth. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein said kit gathering chain coast sprocket is further defined as having nine (9) teeth.