Патент USA US2521493

SePt- 5, 1950
1..
STUKENBORG
‘27,521,491 '
‘ HEAD FOR co'r'rou PICKERS
Filed March 21, 1947
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s Sheets-Sheet 1
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Sept. 5, 1950
|_. c. STUKEN'BORG
2,521,491
HEAD FOR COTTON PICKERS
Filed Marc? 21, 1947
3 Sheets-Sheet 2
Sept. 5, 1950
L. c. STUKENBORG
2,521,49 1
- HEAD FOR cb'r'rqn PICKERS
Filed March 21, 1,947
’ ‘3 Sheets-Sheet 5
mm
mm
“m.
INVENTOR.
10w: 4 JP‘UA’f/VBQ/Pé
2,521,491
Patented Sept. 5, 1950
" UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE
2,521,491
HEAD FOR COTTON PICKERS
Louis C. Stukenborg, Memphis, Tenn.
Application March 21, 1947, Serial No. 736,319
9 Claims. (Cl. 56—32)
1
This invention relates to improvements in that
class of cotton pickers which employ a manually
directable head for removing the cotton from
the bolls and which transfer the cotton so re
moved by air current to a receptacle.
It particularly relates to that type of such
devices which employ cooperating cylindrical
2
to transfer locks of cotton from the bolls directly
into and through the transferring tube, to main
tain transferring air flow through the tube, even
though the rolls themselves be clogged and ?ow
therebetween be blocked, and to divert the fiber
' downward and away from the roll bearings.
The means by which the foregoing and other
objects are accomplished and the manner of their
rolls or brushes disposed adjacent the open front
accomplishment will readily be understood from
end of the head, which rolls are rotated to co
operatively engage the ?ber and draw in the locks 10 the following speci?cation upon reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
of cotton, and in which these locks are trans
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of
ferred by a current of air from the head through
the head taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.
a connecting tube to the receptacle.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view.
Many attempts ‘have been made to employ de
Fig. 3 is a front elevation.
‘ '
vices of this type with more or less success. These 15
Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation taken on
devices, however, have‘ largely failed by reason
the line IV—IV of Fig. 1.
of the clogging of the brushes by engagement of
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan taken on the line V-V
the lint with the bristles thereof; by reason of
of Fig. 1; and
'
the wrapping of the cotton ?bers around the
Fig. 6 a side elevation of a cotton picking ma
brush shafts at the bearings; by reason of the ex 20
chine employing the head.
cessive wear of the brushes which have required
Referring now to the drawings in which the
excessive replacements; by reason of the choking
various parts are indicated by numerals:
of the tube when flow of air is cut off due to such
l I is a picker head which is connected through
clogging; by reason of clogging due to the sudden
transfer of loose locks of cotton from the bolls 25 a ?exible tube or hose l3 to an exhaust fan I5
driven as by an internal combustion engine 11,
to the rolls or brushes; and by reason of diffi
the fan l5 delivering cotton removed by the head
culty in directing the opening in the head, pref
through a connecting passageway l9 to a bag or
erably toward the boll from which the cotton is
other suitable receptacle 2|, the fan, motor and
to be removed.v
receptacle being carried by a mobile frame 23
Also clogging of the brushes and resulting
which is traversed along the rows of cotton to be
choking of the head has resulted in the deposit
picked, in suitable manner, and the head H and
of cotton being transferred through the tube, at
tube | 3 being supported by suitable swinging arms
various places along the length of the tube, which
cotton, after clearing of the head, vtends to pile
25, ‘21, connected respectively to the frame and
up and block the flow entirely when clearing of 35 each other forswinging movement in a horizontal
plan, the arm 21 being additionally connected
the head again permits air flow to start up there
to the arm 25 for swinging movement in a ver
through, often requiring disconnection of the
tical plane and being supported at its outer end
tube and manual clearing before operation can
by a tension spring 29. The arm 21 supports a
again be resumed.
motor 3!, preferably through a tension spring 33,
The objects of the present invention are:
40
and in turn through a, flexible housing 35 for a
To provide rolls which have a minimum tend
similarly ?exible motor shaft 36, Figs. 3 and 4,
ency to clog up and which e?iciently release the
support the head H. The motor 3| is energized
lint after the cotton is drawn in;
through leads 3? by a generator 33, also driven
To provide head mounting and directing means
which permit the open mouth or front of the 45 by the engine l1. Preferably the frame 23 carries
at least two sets of swinging arms, tubes, motors
head to be directed not only toward the cotton
and heads.
in the path of direct progression of the picking
The present invention, however, is directed
operation, but to either side of the path of such
to the head ll only. The head comprises a cas
operation, with facility and in connection there
with to provide head manipulating means which 50 ing having side walls 4| and a, bottom 43, pref
erably of sheet metal, the side walls 4! preferably
tends to automatically effect the‘ directing of the
arcuately converging to form a back wall. 45
head toward the bolls in most e?icient position;
To provide means for establishing an air pas
from which a tubular nipple 41' extends rear
wardly to receive the ?exible hose I3, which is
sageway from the front of the head, which pas
sageway bypasses the brushes and allows the air 55 preferably secured to the nipple by a clamp 49.
2,521,491
4
3
Forwardly the side walls may also converge
only partially between the rolls and much of the
slightly, but their forward edges are spaced apart
?ber and bulk of the locks are carried below,
and through the by-pass passageway and sub
stantially all ?bers are drawn away from the roll
to leave an open front. The top edges of the
sides and back walls are ?anged and the top of
the head formed by a heavier and substantially
rigid plate 5! secured to the side and back walls.
Secured to the plate or top 5! is a bracket 53,
which carries a handle 55 which is axially alined
with the fore and aft axis of the head.
bearings.
From time to time, however, trans
fer of too large a mass from a boll may choke up
the rolls and slow them down or entirely stop
them until the head is manually cleared, effect
ing in the absence of by-pass flow a slowing down
Secured in the top 5! are bearings 5'! which are 10 or stoppage of air flow» and ‘a resulting stoppage
spaced apart transversely to the fore and aft axis
of air transferring flow in the tube which often
of the head and journal shafts 59 and ti. Both
shafts extend below the bearings 51 and carry
results in subsequent choking of the tube after
the head is cleared, such stoppage being obviated
by the by-pass flow.
It will be particularly noted also that all air
collars 53 which are secured to the shafts either
integrally or as by pins 55. The collars 83 may be
flow through the head is cooperative in the move
hollowed out for the bearings 5'! and preferably
ment of the cotton through the head and accom
have flanges B? which closely underlie the top
plishes transfer of cotton from the head into the
51. Below the collars G3 the shafts are enlarged
tube and that the by-pass flow is effective in such
and squared to receive cylindrical rolls 69 of soft
rubber, having integral longitudinal ribs 7 i. The 20 transfer of cotton passing the rolls and in as
sisting such passage, as distinguished from by
rolls are preferably held in place by washers l3,
pass flow rearward of the rolls which entirely
andnuts 35. Above the top 5i and bearings 51
takes over on partial head stoppage and pro
the shafts carry intermeshing gears l'l, prefer
motes roll clogging, even though it may be use
ably having hub portions Ti and secured to the
shafts by pins 8 1. One of the shafts, as the shaft 25 ful in tube clearing.
t will be understood that details as motor,
6|, extends well above its gear hub l9 and may be
switches and bolt tighteners not being germane
journal-led by an additional bearing 83 secured
to the present invention are purposely omitted.
in a ‘boss 85 extending upward from a cover 81’
It will be understood also that the term “rolls”
which is secured to the top 5! and houses the
gears 11. The boss 85 may be internally threaded 30 hereinbefore used and hereinafter used in the
claims, refers to brush or other types of picking
to receive a nipple 88 which cooperates with a
rolls unless the context otherwise speci?cally
coupling sleeve 99 to effect engagement with the
housing 35 of the motor shaft 355. The motor
excludes such interpretation.
It will be further understood that only such
shaft 35 and shaft 6! are connected in driving
detail as a claim may recite shall be read into
relation as by a bayonet coupling 93.
The ‘bearings 5'5 of the roll shafts 59, 6! are
such claim.
spaced ‘with relation to the diameters of the
I claim:
‘rolls 69 that the projecting ribs ‘H of the rolls
1. In a cotton picker which includes a hollow
head and a ?exible tube extending rearwardly
respectively come into adjacency to the other
therefrom, said head having walls including a
rolls as they rotate and the side walls of the
top and a bottom wall, and being open at the
heads are spaced to just clear the ribs.
It will be especially noted that the roll shafts
front, a pair of rolls disposed in parallel within
said head in cooperative cotton engaging prox
59 and ti are journalled at their upper ends only
imity and being journalled by said top wall, said
and at their lower ends they and the nuts thereon
rolls extending toward and terminating above
are spaced above the bottom 53 of the head and
that the washers l3 and the lower ends of the
rolls 59 have even greater clearance from this
‘bottom, so that an open by-pass channel or
passageway for air, and air transferred cotton,
is left below the rolls from the open front of the
head into the tube 53 and through this tube to the
exhaust fan.
‘The open front of the head may be provided
with guard ?ngers 95 which extend horizontally
inward from the sides 4! toward alinement with
said bottom wall in amount to- establish between
the lower ends of said rolls and said bottom a
by-pass channel, and said head being free from
parts obstructing said channel, means for driv
ing said rolls, and means for establishing through
said head and tube an exhaust flow of air enter
ing through the open front of said head.
2. In a vcotton picker, a hollow head having
walls, said head having a flexible tube extending
55 rearwardly therefrom and being open at the
front; a pair of rolls disposed in parallel within
the centers of the rolls, but forwardly of the
said head in cooperative cotton engaging prox
rolls.
imity, and journalled by one of said walls, said
In use, the exhaust fan 55 and generator 39 are
rolls extending toward and terminating in spaced
driven by the engine ill and the frame 23 is
traversed along the rows of plants from which the 60 relation to an opposite said ‘wall in amount to
establish between the ends of said rolls and said
cotton is to be picked, with each tube and head
wall a by-pass channel, and said head being
between two rows of plants so that by manual
free from parts obstructing said channel, means
diversion the “head” may be directed selectively
for driving said rolls, and means for establishing
toward and into contact with the bolls of the
65 through said head and tube an exhaust flow of
plants.
air entering through the open front of said head.
As the heads are brought into proximity with
3. In a cotton picker, a hollow head having
the bolls, some of the extremely loose locks under
walls including a top and a bottom wall, said
influence of the air current, are drawn into the
head having a ?exible tube extending rearwardly
head, and to a large extent, are carried through
therefrom and being open at the front; a pair of
the by-pass channel below the rolls and are
cylindrical rolls disposed within said head in
transferred by air flow through the tube into the
parallel relation and having ribs respectively ex
receptacle 2i. Fibers of more ?rmly attached
tending into cooperative cotton engaging prox
locks are engaged by the rolls, and assisted by
imity with the opposite rolls, said rolls being
air flow, these locks are disengaged and simi
larly transferred, but evenv so, locks largely pass 75 journalled by said top wall, and extending toward
2,521,491
5
but terminating above said bottom wall to estab
lish a by-pass channel between their said ends
and said bottom, means for driving said rolls, and
means for establishing through said head and
tube an exhaust ?ow of air entering through the
open front of said head.
4. In a cotton picker, a hollow head having
walls, said head having a tubular portion extend
ing rearwardly therefrom and being open at the
front; a pair of parallel rolls disposed within
said head in cooperative cotton engaging prox
imity, and journalled by one of said walls, said
rolls extending toward and terminating in spaced
relation to an opposite said wall to establish a
by-pass channel between said ends and said op
posite wall, and said head being free from parts
obstructing said channel, means for driving said
rolls and means for establishing through said
.
6
rolls extending toward and having their lower
ends spaced above said bottom wall in amount
to establish between their said lower ends and
said bottom wall a passageway for air and air
transferred cotton, and said head being free from
parts obstructing said passageway, said passage
way by-passing the clogging action of the proxi
mately positioned said rolls, means for driving
said rolls, and means for establishing through
said head and tube an exhaust ?ow of air en
tering through said open front of said head.
8. In a cotton picker, a hollow head having
top, bottom and side walls, said head having a
?exible tube continuing rearwardly therefrom and
being open at the front; a pair of rolls disposed
in parallel relation within said head in cooper
ative cotton engaging proximity, and journalled
by one of said walls, said rolls extending toward
and having their opposite ends spaced from the
head and tubular portion an exhaust flow of air
entering through the open front of said head.
20 opposite said wall in amount to establish between
5. In a cotton picker, a hollow head having
their said ends and said wall a passageway for
air and air transferred cotton, by passing the
walls including a top and a bottom wall, said
clogging action of the proximate portions of said
head having a tubular portion extending rear
rolls, and said head being free from parts ob—
wardly therefrom and being open at the front; a
pair of ribbed cylindrical rolls disposed in par 25 structing said passageway, means for driving said
rolls, and means for establishing through said
allel relation within said head and in cooperative
head
and tube a cotton transferring suction ?ow
cotton engaging proximity; said rolls being jour
of air entering through the open front of said
nalled by said top wall and extending toward and.
head.
terminating above said bottom wall to- establish a
9. In a cotton picker which includes a hollow
by-pass channel below their said ends, and said 30
head having walls including a top and a bottom
head being free from parts obstructing said chan
wall, and being open at the front; a pair of rolls
nel, means for driving said rolls and means for
disposed in parallel relation in cooperative cot
establishing through said head and said tubular
ton engaging proximity within said head and
portion an exhaust flow of air entering through
journalled by said top wall, said rolls extending
the open front of said head.
toward and having their lower ends spaced above
6. In a cotton picker, walls spaced to establish
said bottom wall in amount to establish between.
a hollow head open at the front; said head having
their
said lower ends and said bottom wall a pas
a tubular rearward extension; a pair of ribbed
sageway for air and air transferred cotton, said
cylindrical rolls disposed in parallel relation
passageway by passing the clogging action of the
within said head in cooperative cotton engaging
proximately positioned said rolls, means for driv
proximity, and journalled by one of said walls,
ing said rolls, and means for establishing through
said rolls extending toward and terminating in
said head and tube an exhaust flow of air en
spaced reation to an opposite wall to establish
tering through said open front of said head.
between their said ends and said opposite wall a
LOUIS C. STUKENBORG.
by-pass channel, and said head being free from
parts obstructing said channel, means for driving
REFERENCES CITED
said rolls, and means for establishing through
The
following
references are of record in the
said head and said tubular extension a cotton
?le of this patent:
transferring exhaust flow of air entering through
50
UNITED STATES PATENTS
the open front of said head.
7. In a cotton picker which includes a hollow
Number
Name
Date
head having walls including a top and a bottom
947,483
Farnsworth ______ __ Jan. 25, 1910
wall, said head having a, ?exible tube extending
1,088,361
Pearce __________ __ Feb. 24, 1914
rearwardly therefrom and being open at the
1,091,140
Jones __________ __ Mar. 24, 1914
front; a pair of rolls disposed in parallel relation 55 1,110,158
Straus ___________ __ Sept. 8, 1914
in cooperative cotton engaging proximity within
said head and journalled by said top wall, said
1,753,919
Cooper __________ __ Apr. 8, 1930
2,222,637
Stukenborg ____1____, Nov. 26, 1940