Harvesting cam reel with convertible transport mode

Abstract

A cam reel for use on a harvesting header that can be configured in both operating and transport positions is provided. The reel comprises a plurality of finger-bearing reel bats disposed evenly around the reel shaft, each rotatably attached through the distal ends of radial arms extending outwardly from the reel shaft. A cam disc is attached to the frame and engages each reel bat by a cam follower, to provide rotational movement of the reel bats relative to the radial arms, during rotation of the shaft in the operating position. The cam has at least one operating position, and a transport position in which the engaged reel bats will be pivoted into transport mode that substantially reduces the risk of damage to the fingers.

1 . A crop harvesting header for the harvesting of crop material, said crop harvesting header comprising:
 a. a frame for movement in a travel direction across a crop field, said frame having two reel ends defining the cutting width of the header;   b. a transverse conveyor deck extending between the reel ends of the frame, the conveyor deck carrying a conveyor system which will move cut crop material along the conveyor deck to a header discharge;   c. a cutter bar along the forward edge of the conveyor deck, which will cut crop material engaged by the header moving under power through the crop; and   d. a reel for moving crop material into the cutter bar and onto the conveyor deck, wherein the reel comprises:
 i. a reel shaft having a first end and a second end and a reel axis, rotatably mounted to and between the reel ends of the frame; 
 ii. rotational power source connected to the reel shaft to rotate the reel; 
 iii. a plurality of reel bats each of which has a plurality of crop fingers attached thereon extending generally radially outwardly from the reel shaft, the reel bats being mounted in spaced apart positions around the circumference of the reel shaft; 
 iv. a plurality of radial arms extending outward from the reel shaft corresponding to each reel bat, each reel bat being rotatably attached at the distal ends of the corresponding radial arms such that the reel bat can rotate freely around a bat axis extending through the distal ends of the radial arms; 
 v. a cam mounted on the frame perpendicular to the reel axis near the first end of the reel shaft; 
 vi. a cam follower corresponding to each reel bat which is pivotally attached at one end to the reel bat and at a second end engages the cam so that it can follow the cam and exert rotational force on the reel bat to pivot the reel bat around the bat axis as the reel is rotated; 
   wherein the cam has at least one operating position in which it can be selectably positioned, wherein upon positioning of the cam in the at least one operating position the resultant positioning of the cam followers and the reel bats will extend the fingers generally radially outwardly from the reel shaft so that the fingers will be positioned to engage the crop material; and   wherein the cam is further positionable in a transport position, wherein upon positioning of the cam in the transport position the resultant positioning of the cam followers and reel bats will rotate the fingers such that the fingers are substantially protected from damage during transport of the header.   
     
     
         2 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 1  wherein the number of operating positions is one. 
     
     
         3 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 1  wherein the number of operating positions is more than one. 
     
     
         4 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 1  wherein the cam comprises a cam disc rotatably mounted to the frame around the first end of the reel shaft, and a lock to lock the cam in the selected operating or transport position. 
     
     
         5 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a second cam mounted on the frame perpendicular to the reel axis near the second end of the reel shaft; and 
 b. a second cam follower corresponding to each reel bat which is pivotally attached at one end to the reel bat and at a second end engages the second cam so that it can follow the second cam and exert rotational force on the reel bat to pivot the reel bat around the bat axis as the reel is rotated; 
 
       wherein the second cam mirrors in shape and mounting at the second end the shape and mounting of the cam mounted at the first end, to avoid excessive torsional force on the reel bats as the reel is rotated; 
       wherein the second cam has at least one operating position in which it can be selectably positioned, wherein upon positioning of the second cam in the at least one operating position the resultant positioning of the second cam followers and the reel bats will extend the fingers generally radially outwardly from the reel shaft so that the fingers will be positioned to engage the crop material; and 
       wherein the second cam is further positionable in a transport position, wherein upon positioning of the second cam in the transport position the resultant positioning of the second cam followers and reel bats will rotate the fingers such that the fingers are substantially protected from damage during transport of the header. 
     
     
         6 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 5  wherein the number of operating positions is one. 
     
     
         7 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 5  wherein the number of operating positions is more than one. 
     
     
         8 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 5  wherein the second cam comprises a second cam disc rotatably mounted to the frame around the second end of the reel shaft, and a second cam lock to lock the second cam in the selected operating or transport position. 
     
     
         9 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 4  wherein the at least one operating position and transport position of the cam are indicated by a plurality of lock-engaging holes extending through the cam disc, and the lock comprises a locking pin that can be extended through a lock-engaging hole in the cam disc to a locking hole in the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 8  wherein the at least one operating position and transport position of the second cam are indicated by a plurality of lock-engaging holes extending through the second cam disc, and the second cam lock comprises a locking pin which can be extended through a lock-engaging hole in the cam disc to a locking hole in the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The crop harvesting header of  claim 1  wherein when the cam is in the transport position, the fingers of the reel bats are generally retracted into position along a path defined by the distal ends of the radial arms. 
     
     
         12 . The crop-harvesting header of  claim 1 , further comprising a reel lock, effective to prevent rotation of the reel during transport.