Gary Eugene Fleming

US Patent:

40843963, Apr 18, 1978

Filed:

Jan 19, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/650142

Inventors:

David P. Fritz - Newton KS
Rex O. Weigand - Newton KS
Gary L. Fleming - Newton KS

Assignee:

Hesston Corporation - Hesston KS

International Classification:

A01D 4502

US Classification:

56 98

Abstract:

Individual row units on the harvester, each including a crop transfer trough, cutting apparatus at the forward end of the trough, and cooperating conveyors along the trough, are independently swingable relative to one another for changing the distance between the troughs at their forward ends in accordance with the row spacing encountered in a particular field. The spacing at the rear ends of the troughs remains unchanged in all positions of swinging movement of the units so that the dimensions of the discharge zone into which the crops are delivered by the units may remain constant. Individual sets of disc cutters serve as the cutting apparatus for the row units and are driven by the same mechanism that operates the conveyors. Intermeshing gears of the drive walk around one another without disengagement during adjustable swinging of the units, and a hood between the units expands and contracts during swinging to present a continuous closed surface between the units regardless of their relative angular positions.