Preconditioner nozzle mount for swather
View Patent ↗A nozzle mount for a swather includes a mounting plate configured for attachment to the swather, a nozzle head extending from one side of the mounting plate, and a nozzle shield attached to the mounting plate and configured to at least partially enclose the nozzle head to protect the nozzle head from impact damage while allowing the nozzle head to direct preconditioner fluid flow into the swather. The nozzle head is configured for attachment to a fluid source, such as a hay preservative, that can be sourced from a locally mounted tank.
1 . A nozzle mount for a swather, comprising:
a mounting plate configured for attachment to a swather, the mounting plate attachable to a planar surface of the swather;
a nozzle extending from a first side of the mounting plate, and a nozzle shield extending from the first side and at least partially enclosing the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct fluid flow into a swather;
a fluid coupler configured for attachment to a fluid source and extending from a second side of the mounting plate, wherein the fluid coupler is in fluid communication with the nozzle; and
a threaded nut extending through the mounting plate and connected to the nozzle within the nozzle shield, wherein the threaded nut is configured to extend through the planar surface.
2 . The nozzle mount of claim 1 , wherein the fluid coupler comprises a flanged end with means to sealingly engage the mounting plate.
3 . The nozzle mount of claim 2 , wherein the fluid coupler further comprises barbed end extending away from the mounting plate opposite the flanged end, wherein the barbed end is configured for attachment to an external fluid source.
4 . The nozzle mount of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle shield is an integral extension of the mounting plate.
5 . The nozzle mount of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate comprises a plurality of mounting holes configured to attach the mounting plate to a swather and a plumbing hole configured to align the fluid coupler with the nozzle shield through the mounting plate.
6 . The nozzle mount of claim 5 , wherein the plumbing hole is defined substantially in the center of the mounting plate.
7 . The nozzle mount of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle shield is configured to protect the nozzle from impact damage during use.
8 . The nozzle mount of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is configured to mount to a hood of a swather.
9 . The nozzle mount of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle, the nozzle shield and the fluid coupler are positioned substantially at a center of the mounting plate.
10 . The nozzle mount of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle, the nozzle shield and the fluid coupler are positioned substantially at a forward end of the mounting plate.
11 . The nozzle mount of claim 10 , wherein the mounting plate is configured to mount to a leading edge of a hood of the swather.
12 . The nozzle mount of claim 11 , wherein the nozzle extends past the leading edge of the hood of the swather.
13 . A swather header having a hood, cutting blades mounted on a bottom side of the hood, a conditioner having a crop receiving end mounted behind the cutting blades, and a coupler operationally coupling the swather header to mechanical power for driving the cutting blades and the conditioner, the swather header comprising:
a preconditioner nozzle mount plate attached to the hood configured to direct a spray of fluid toward the receiving end of the conditioner, the preconditioner nozzle mount plate comprising:
a fluid coupler extending from a top side of the hood and configured for attachment to a fluid source;
a nozzle in fluid communication with the fluid coupler, wherein the nozzle extends through the hood to the bottom side; and
a nozzle shield on the bottom side of the hood at least partially enclosing the nozzle, wherein the fluid coupler has a threaded nut extending through the hood and connected to the nozzle within the nozzle shield.
14 . The swather header of claim 13 , wherein the fluid coupler is an integral extension of the top side of the hood.
15 . The swather header of claim 13 , wherein the nozzle shield is an integral extension of the bottom side of the hood.
16 . The swather header of claim 13 , wherein the preconditioner nozzle mount is positioned at a leading edge of the hood.
17 . The swather header of claim 13 , wherein the threaded nut is configured to allow for the adjustment of the nozzle spray direction.
18 . The swather header of claim 13 , wherein the hood further comprises a fluid tank mounted thereon, wherein the fluid tank is in fluid communication with the fluid coupler.