Reel system

Abstract

A crop harvesting header includes a reel rotatable about a reel axis. The reel has a reel bat supported at a spaced distance from the reel axis. The reel bat can pivot about a bat axis radially spaced from the reel axis. The reel bat has a crop collection member that extends generally away from the bat axis. The reel bat can move in a cyclical path around the reel axis during rotation of the reel. The reel bat can vary the angle of the crop collection member about the bat axis as the reel rotates about the reel axis. A sun gear is provided that may be positioned in axial alignment with the reel axis. A planetary gear system is rotatable about the sun gear. The planetary gear system interacts with the sun gear, and causes said planetary gear system to effect pivotal movement of the reel bat about its bat axis.

1 . A crop harvesting header comprising:
 (a) a reel rotatable about a reel axis, said reel having at least one reel bat supported at a spaced distance from the reel axis, the at least one reel bat being operable for pivotal movement about a bat axis radially spaced from said reel axis and oriented generally parallel to the reel axis;
 the at least one reel bat having at least one crop collection member connected thereto, said at least one crop collection member extending generally away from said bat axis, 
 the at least one reel bat being operable to move in a cyclical path around the reel axis during rotation of the reel; 
 the at least one reel bat being operable to be pivoted about its bat axis so as to vary the angular orientation of the at least one crop collection member about the bat axis as the reel rotates about the reel axis; 
   (b) a sun gear;   (c) a planetary gear assembly being rotatable about and relative to said sun gear and rotatable about said reel axis;   said planetary gear assembly being operable during rotation about the reel axis with the reel to interact with the sun gear, and cause said planetary gear assembly to effect pivotal movement of said at least one reel bat about its bat axis.   
     
     
         2 .- 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A method of operating a crop harvesting header comprising:
 (a) providing a reel rotatable about a reel axis, said reel having at least one reel bat supported at a spaced distance from the reel axis, the at least one reel bat being operable for pivotal movement about a bat axis located radially outward from said reel axis and oriented generally parallel to the reel axis;   the at least one reel bat having at least one crop collection member connected thereto, said at least one crop collection member extending generally away from said bat axis,   the at least one reel bat being operable to move in a cyclical path around the reel axis during rotation of the reel;   the at least one reel bat being operable to be pivoted about its bat axis so as to vary the angle of the at least one crop collection member about the bat axis as the reel rotates about the reel axis;   (b) providing a sun gear in axial alignment with the reel axis;   (c) providing a planetary gear system being rotatable about and relative to said sun gear and about said reel axis;   (d) rotating said reel about said reel axis;   (e) rotating said planetary gear system about the reel axis in interaction with the sun gear to cause said planetary gear system to effect pivotal movement of said at least one reel bat about its bat axis.   
     
     
         56 . A joint device for transmitting torque between a first shaft and a second shaft, said joint device comprising:
 a housing connected to an end portion of a first shaft, said housing having an interior cavity configured to permit an end portion of a second shaft to be received therein;   said housing having an opening configured to allow said second shaft to extend from said end portion of said second shaft through said opening;   at least one block located in said interior cavity of said housing, said at least one block having at least one inner surface and at least one outer surface, said at least one block being located between at least one inner surface of said housing and at least one outer surface of said end portion of said second shaft;   said at least one inner surface of said at least one block being operable to engage said at least one surface of said end portion of said second shaft;   said at least one outer surface of said block being operable to engage the at least one inner surface of said housing;   said at least inner wall of the housing, said at least one outer face of said at least one block, said at least one inner face of the at least one block and the at least one outer surface of the end portion of the second shaft being configured to functionally co-operate such that in operation, rotation of said first shaft will cause said joint device to rotate to thereby effect rotation of said second shaft.   
     
     
         57 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 56  wherein said at least one block is made from an elastic material, such that in operation when said second shaft is moved such that its axis of rotation is moved angularly within said housing, said at least one block is elastically deformed. 
     
     
         58 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 56  or  57  wherein said at least one block comprises a plurality of blocks that substantially surround said end portion of said second shaft. 
     
     
         59 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 58  wherein said plurality of blocks each have outer surfaces which are operable to engage inner surfaces of said housing, and wherein said plurality of blocks have inner surfaces which are operable to engage outer surfaces of said end portion of said second shaft, such that in operation, rotation of said first shaft will cause said outer housing to rotate to thereby transmit torque to said plurality of blocs, and said plurality of blocks are operable to transmit torque to said outer surfaces of said end portion of said second shaft to rotate to thereby effect rotation of said second shaft. 
     
     
         60 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 58  or  50  wherein said plurality of blocks are each made from an elastic material, such that in operation when said second shaft is moved such that its axis of rotation is moved angularly within said housing, at least one of said plurality of blocks is elastically deformed. 
     
     
         61 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 60  wherein said outer surfaces of said plurality of blocks and said inner surfaces of said housing are configured to mate in the general shape of a first square. 
     
     
         62 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 61  wherein said inner surfaces of said plurality of blocks and said outer surfaces of said end portion of said second shaft are configured to mate in the general shape of a second square. 
     
     
         63 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 62  wherein said first square shape is angularly off-set from said second square shape by about 45 degrees about an axial axis along said first shaft. 
     
     
         64 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 63  wherein each of the plurality of blocks are formed generally in the shape of triangular prisms. 
     
     
         65 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 56  wherein said at least one block is made from one of polyurethane or natural rubber. 
     
     
         66 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 56  wherein said at least one block is made from a frangible construction, such that in operation said when a torque exerted on said at least on block exceeds a threshold torque limit, said at least one block will fail, thereafter preventing further transmission of torque from said first shaft to said second shaft. 
     
     
         67 . A joint device as claimed in  claim 66  wherein said at least one hollow block is of a hollow construction. 
     
     
         68 .- 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A method of providing an end kit for a reel for a crop harvesting header, said method comprising:
 (a) constructing an end kit comprising: (i) an axle; (ii) a gear system and a bat connection mechanism operable for connecting said gear system to at least one reel bat of said reel;   (b) installing said end kit on a reel.   
     
     
         78 . A method as claimed in  claim 77  wherein said end kit further comprises at least one gear carrier plate and wherein step (a) comprises (i) providing said axle; (ii) installing said at least one gear carrier plate on said axle; (iii) installing said gear system and said bat connection mechanism on said at least one gear carrier plate. 
     
     
         79 . A method as claimed in  claim 78  wherein said end kit further comprises first and second gear carrier plates and wherein step (a) comprises (i) providing said axle; (ii) installing said first gear carrier plate on said axle; (iii) installing said gear system and said bat connection mechanism on said first gear carrier plate; (iv) installing said second gear carrier state to sandwich said gear system between said first and second gear carrier plates. 
     
     
         80 . A method as claimed in  claim 77  wherein step (b) comprises (i) inserting a first end of said axle into a main reel tube of said reel; (ii) connecting said bat connection mechanism to said at least one bat; (iii) interconnecting said end kit to said main reel tube. 
     
     
         81 . A method as claimed in  claim 80  wherein said installing said gear system on said first carrier plate comprises (a) installing a sun gear on said axle; and (b) installing a plurality of planetary gears on said first gear carrier plate in operational relation to said sun gear. 
     
     
         82 . A method as claimed in  claim 81  wherein said method further comprises (c) interconnecting a second outward end of said axle to a frame member of said header to support said axle on said frame. 
     
     
         83 . A method of constructing an end kit for a reel for a crop harvesting header, said end kit comprising: (i) an axle; (ii) a gear system and a bat connection mechanism operable for connecting said gear system to at least one reel bat of said reel and (iii) at least one gear carrier plate; and wherein method comprises (i) providing said axle; (ii) installing said at least one gear carrier plate on said axle; (iii) installing said gear system and said bat connection mechanism on said at least one gear carrier plate. 
     
     
         84 . A method as claimed in  claim 83  wherein said end kit further comprises first and second gear carrier plates and wherein method further comprises (i) providing said axle; (ii) installing said first gear carrier plate on said axle; (iii) installing said gear system and said bat connection mechanism on said first gear carrier plate; (iv) installing said second gear carrier state to sandwich said gear system between said first and second gear carrier plates.