Single fastener attachment for chopper knives
A chopper knife assembly for use by an agricultural harvester. The chopper knife assembly includes a mounting lug with a fulcrum, wedge, and counterwedge; and at least one bladed knife attached to the mounting lug between the wedge and counterwedge; the assembly is held in place by an attachment means. The bladed knives are able to pivot on the fulcrum of the mounting lug during use, thereby forcing the knife blades onto the counterwedges to provide a more secure retention means.
1. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
a chassis;
a threshing and separating system for processing harvested material carried by the chassis; and
a straw chopper assembly downstream of the harvested material flow from the threshing and separating system, the straw chopper including at least one chopper knife assembly and a rotating shaft, the at least one chopper knife assembly being coupled to the rotating shaft, each chopper knife assembly having:
a mounting lug coupled to the rotating shaft and including a wedge with at least one opening;
at least one bladed knife component coupled to the mounting lug and including a tapered edge;
a counterwedge with at least one opening coupled to the at least one bladed knife component such that a portion of the bladed knife component contacts a respective portion of said at least one opening of the counterwedge; and
a fastener coupling the counterwedge to the mounting lug, wherein at least one of the at least one opening of the wedge and the at least one opening of the counterwedge is tapered for receiving the tapered edge of the at least one bladed knife component.
2. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the mounting lug includes at least one fulcrum.
3. The agricultural harvester of claim 2 , wherein the at least one bladed knife component includes a base in contact with the at least one fulcrum.
4. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening of the wedge or counterwedge is radiused for receiving a beveled edge of the at least one bladed knife component in a manner which prevents edge loading.
5. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a threaded bolt.
6. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the straw chopper includes a plurality of chopper knife assemblies, each of the chopper knife assemblies having two bladed knife components.
7. A chopper knife assembly for use on an agricultural harvester, the chopper knife assembly comprising:
a mounting lug including a wedge with at least one opening;
at least one bladed knife component coupled to the mounting lug and including a tapered edge;
a counterwedge with at least one opening coupled to the at least one bladed knife component such that a portion of the bladed knife component contacts a respective portion of said at least one opening of the counterwedge; and
a fastener coupling the counterwedge to the mounting lug, wherein at least one of the at least one opening of the wedge and the at least one opening of the counterwedge is tapered for receiving the tapered edge of the at least one bladed knife component.
8. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the mounting lug includes at least one fulcrum.
9. The chopper knife assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one bladed knife component includes a base in contact with the at least one fulcrum.
10. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one opening of the wedge or counterwedge is radiused for receiving a beveled edge of the at least one bladed knife component in a manner which prevents edge loading.
11. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the fastener is a threaded bolt.
12. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the mounting lug includes at least one boss.
13. The chopper knife assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one bladed knife component is in pivotal contact with the at least one boss.
14. The chopper knife assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one boss is comprised of a hardened steel pin pressed into the mounting lug.
15. The chopper knife assembly of claim 7 , wherein the chopper knife assembly includes two bladed knife components.
16. A method of assembling a chopper knife assembly for use on an agricultural harvester, the method comprising the steps of:
mounting at least one bladed knife component on a mounting lug, the mounting lug including a wedge with at least one opening;
moving the bladed knife component along the mounting lug until it is stopped by the wedge, the bladed knife component including a tapered edge;
placing a counterwedge on the opposite side of the at least one bladed knife component contacting the wedge, said counterwedge includes at least one opening such that a portion of the bladed knife component contacts a respective portion of said at least one opening of the counterwedge; and
attaching the counterwedge to the mounting lug with a fastener, wherein at least one of the at least one opening of the wedge and the at least one opening of the counterwedge is tapered for receiving the tapered edge of the at least one bladed knife component.