IP Library Granted Patent US 10,172,280
Granted Patent B2
US 10,172,280 · App. 14/888,227 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

Cutter guard assembly for knife drive of an agricultural farm implement

Inventors: Joel T. Cook (Lititz, PA); Curtis F. Hillen (Lititz, PA); Andrew V. Lauwers (Stevens, PA); Craig D. Roberts (Denver, PA); Kyle R. Schropp (Mount Joy, PA); Joshua S. Joyce (Lititz, PA)
Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
A01D34/18A01D34/04A01D34/14A01D34/30A01D41/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,172,280
App. No.
14/888,227
Granted
Jan 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.

Claims (21)

1. A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement comprising:

a cutter bar assembly that includes a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive,

a window frame rigidly attached to the cutter bar, the window frame comprising a convex curved posterior end,

a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extending through an opening of the window frame, and

a floor sheet extending rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivotable relative to the window frame.

2. The cutter guard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the floor sheet includes an opening about an anterior end for the passage of the window frame therethrough.

3. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the floor sheet pivots relative to the cutter bar assembly and the window frame.

4. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating knife assembly includes two knife arms and the window frame includes two openings, each for respectively receiving one of the two knife arms therethrough.

5. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the knife arm includes an arch-shaped turret assembly.

6. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the knife arm includes a pair of knife arm turrets affixed to opposing sides of the knife arm such that a closed surface is maintained during oscillating movement of the knife arm during operation in the front of the floor sheet during operation and inward flow of crop material.

7. A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement comprising:

a cutter bar assembly that includes a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive,

a window frame rigidly attached to the cutter bar, the window frame comprising a convex curved posterior end,

a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extending through an opening of the window frame, and

a floor sheet extending rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivotable relative to the window frame,

wherein the convex curved posterior end has an arc defined by a radius from an axis about which the floor sheet pivots at its point of attachment to the cutter bar to an anterior-most end of the floor sheet adjacent the convex curved posterior end.

8. The cutter guard assembly of claim 7 , wherein the floor sheet includes an opening about an anterior end for the passage of the window frame therethrough.

9. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the floor sheet pivots relative to the cutter bar assembly and the window frame.

10. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the reciprocating knife assembly includes two knife arms and the window frame includes two openings, each for respectively receiving one of the two knife arms therethrough.

11. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the knife arm includes an arch-shaped turret assembly.

12. The cutter guard assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the knife arm includes a pair of knife arm turrets affixed to opposing sides of the knife arm such that a closed surface is maintained during oscillating movement of the knife arm during operation in the front of the floor sheet during operation and inward flow of crop material.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2019
From: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
To: BLUE LEAF I.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 049629/0552 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 1, 2019
From: COOK, JOEL; ROBERTS, CRAIG; LAUWERS, ANDREW V
To: CNH AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 047877/0849 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 1, 2019
From: COOK, JOEL TIMOTHY; LAUWERS, ANDREW V; JOYCE, JOSHUA STEWARD
To: CNH AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 047877/0854 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2018
From: HILLEN, CURTIS F; SCHROPP, KYLE; COOK, JOEL T; ROBERTS, CRAIG D
To: CNH AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 046057/0293 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2018
From: CNH AMERICA LLC
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 046348/0918 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 61846849 · Jul 16, 2013
Provisional Application 61834911 · Jun 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61818446 · May 1, 2013
Related Publication 20160066503A1 · Mar 10, 2016