Crop processor roll arrangement for a forage harvester
US6425232B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01D82/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A forage harvester and a method of operating the same which comprises a crop processor unit located in a crop flow between a cutterhead and a blower rotor, the crop processor unit being for handling crop material including kernels, the crop processor comprising a pair of counter-rotating processor rolls arranged to crack kernels between the rolls when the rolls are in a first position, both processor rolls being movable away from each other to move each roll substantially out of the crop flow into a second position. A cover plate is preferably arranged to move and cover the lower roll when the rolls are in a second position and to isolate the lower roll from the crop flow. The processor rolls are preferably driven by independent drives. One of the drives can be a hydraulic motor supplied with pressure from a hydraulic pump which can also work as a motor. When used as a motor the cutterhead may be driven in the reverse direction for maintenance purposes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.