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Drawn cotton picker

The present invention relates generally to cotton harvesters and, more specifically, to a tractor-drawn cotton picker

Much of the world cotton crop is harvested by hand, and cotton growers in many of the hand harvest regions are experiencing scarcity of laborers and rising labor costs. Often the cotton harvesting operations include a mix of hand labor and basic mechanization. Most cotton growers in the hand harvest regions cannot justify the capital required for self-propelled machines, and available small to medium sized tractors have insufficient capacity for a tractor-mounted harvester. Therefore, an efficient, low-cost cotton harvester powered by a small row-crop tractor is desirable to alleviate the burden of hand labor and shortage of labor in the many harvest regions.

In an embodiment of the invention, one or two conventional picking units are mounted on a special two-wheel, high clearance running gear. Tread spacing is adjustable for different row spacing. A two-point hitch is coupled to the draft links of a tractor or an equal-angle hitch is coupled to the tractor drawbar. Hitch and tongue interface on the harvester facilitates sharp turn angles between the implement and the tractor through use of a pivoting member containing the driveline powering the units from the tractor. An engine can be mounted on the implement to avoid the driveline.

A center pivot tongue allows offset for appropriate row alignment and provides improved maneuverability and implement steering on headlands and turn rows. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the tongue controls tongue angle, either automatically or manually. Alternatively, a crossed four-bar linkage structure can provide automatic steering that eliminates the need for an operator to manually steer the implement on the headlands or on the row.

Conventional picking units are mounted on a lift arm and frame structure. The frame structure provides adjustable unit location and adjustable spacing when more than one unit is carried on the running gear. The mounting also provides adjustable row unit pitch. A conventional hydraulic/mechanical height control system maintains each unit at the proper height above ground.

An air system conveys cotton from the picking units to a basket mounted behind the two running gear wheels. The contents of the basket can be conveniently unloaded into a trailer, accumulator or other cotton receiver for bagging or further processing. The basket is cantilevered rearwardly from the frame, and the forwardly mounted row units and tongue offset the weight of a full basket to provide a balanced full-basket condition.

These and other objects, feature and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description below in view of the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towed cotton harvester and towing vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the harvester and vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the harvester and vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the harvester of FIG. 1 with parts removed to better show the support frame and basket.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the row unit lift frame for the harvester of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, therein is shown a cotton harvester 10 having a main support frame or chassis 12. First and second transversely spaced wheels 14 and 16 are mounted on the frame 12 for rotation about an axis 16a located below a lowermost transverse main frame beam 12a. Tongue or hitch structure 20 is adjustably connected at an aft end to a central portion of the frame 12. The hitch structure 20 extends forwardly to a connecting end 22 adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle such as tractor 24 for forward movement over rows of cotton plants. The lowered offset axle axis 16a, as best seen in FIG. 3, provides good plant clearance under the main frame beam 12a.

A basket 26 is supported in cantilever fashion from the frame 12 by a rearwardly extending basket support frame 28 having upper horizontal tubes 30 and lower diagonal tubes 32 angling downwardly and forwardly from the aft end of the harvester 10. The forward end of each diagonal tube 32 is connected to the main support frame 12 adjacent the corresponding wheel 14 or 16.