Pressure air manifold and outlets system for grain header or harvester cutting platforms

Abstract

An improved pressure air manifold and outlets system for grain header or harvester cutting platforms comprising a manifold which extends across and above the cutting platform, the manifold being adjustable for height position and angularity and being provided with a plurality of relatively narrow shaped outlet tubes which depend from the manifold and which terminate nominally above the cutter bar of the cutting platform, each outlet tube being directed to discharge pressure air substantially in a rearward direction also some air in a lateral direction to form a continuous curtain of air and a blower to impart an air flow through the manifold to discharge through the outlet tubes.

I claim: 
     
       1. Improved pressure air manifold and outlets system for grain header or harvester cutting platform having a frame, a cutter bar assembly and a feed auger, comprising a manifold extending across and above the cutting platform,   mounting means mounting the manifold to the frame,   a plurality of outlet tubes depending from said manifold, each said outlet tube terminating in outlet means at its end above said cutter bar assembly and adjacent to the front edge thereof, each said outlet tube being directed to discharge in a generally rearward and lateral direction, and   a blower, drive means coupled to the blower, and conduit means coupling said blower to said manifold   and outlet means for providing a continuous curtain of air substantially across the cutting platform .Iadd.each tube having substantially equal internal cross sectional size throughout its length to the outlet means.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. Improved system according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprise a pair of support arms projecting forward, one from each end of the cutting platform, pivot means joining the front ends of said arms to said manifold, further pivot means joining the rear ends of said arms to said header frame, and elevating means coupling at least one of said arms to said header frame.   
     
     
       3. Improved system according to claim 2 comprising a pair of arms projecting forward one from each end of the cutting platform, and further pivot means joining the front ends of said further arms to said manifold and the rear ends of said further arms to the header frame, said arms at each end being spaced one above the other. 
     
     
       4. Improved system according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each said outlet tube terminates in a discharge spout having notches in its side walls arranged to discharge some air in a generally rearward direction having however a lateral component. 
     
     
       5. Improved system according to claim 1 wherein said manifold has at least one flat side which extends substantially vertically. 
     
     
       6. Improved system according to claim 1 wherein said manifold has a plurality of sleeves depending therefrom, the upper end of each said outlet tube being retained in a respective said sleeve. 
     
     
       7. Improved system according to claim 6 wherein each said sleeve contains a tapered thread which is threadably engaged by the upper end of a respective said outlet tube, each said outlet tube being oriented to provide an initial lateral component of movement. 
     
     
       8. Improved system according to claim 1 wherein the lower end of each said outlet tube terminates close to said cutter bar assembly. 
     
     
       9. Improved system according to claim 1 wherein said blower drive means is operable to drive said blower to provide an air pressure in said manifold of at least 300 mm water head. 
     
     
       10. Improved system according to claim 1 or claim 8 wherein said blower drive means is operable to drive said blower to provide an air pressure in said manifold of at least 400 mm water head. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  An improved pressure air manifold and outlets system for grain header or harvester cutting platform having a frame, a cutter bar assembly and a feed auger, comprising: a manifold extending across and above the cutting platform;   mounting means mounting the manifold to the frame, a plurality of outlet tubes depending from said manifold, each said outlet tube terminating at an outlet end above said cutter bar assembly and adjacent to the front edge thereof, each said outlet tube being partially flattened and provided with discharge openings which face both rearwardly and laterally to discharge air from the outlet tube in a generally rearward and lateral direction, each outlet tube having substantially equal cross sectional size throughout its effective length; and   a blower, drive means coupled to the blower, and conduit means coupling said blower to said manifold, to provide a flow of air through said outlet tubes to the outer ends thereof;   the pressure of the air and the means forming the discharge openings of the outlet ends of said outlet tubes combining to provide a continuity of flow volume from the outlet tubes for providing a continuous curtain of air substantially across the cutting platform. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. An improved system in accordance with claim 11 in which the spacing between the outlet tubes is less than twelve inches. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. An improved system in accordance with claim 11 in which the discharge openings at the end of each outlet tube consist of a rearwardly directed opening and two laterally directed openings. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. An improved system in accordance with claim 11 in which the blower is driven by the drive means at a speed such that the discharge speed of the air from the outlet tubes   
     
     
        exceeds 130 feet per second. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  An improved system in accordance with claim 11 in which the spacing between the outlet tubes is less than twelve inches and in which the blower is driven by the drive means at a speed such that the discharge speed of the air from the outlet tubes exceeds 130 feet per second. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. An improved system in accordance with claim 11 in which the manifold has a plurality of sleeves, the upper end of each said outlet tube being retained in the respective said sleeve. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. An improved system in accordance with claim 11 in which the outlet end of each outlet tube terminates at a distance from the cutter platform which does not exceed eight inches. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. In an improved pressure air manifold and outlet system for a grain header or harvester cutting platform which has a frame, a cutter bar assembly and a feed auger wherein the system is of the type which has a manifold extending across and above the cutting platform, mounting means mounting the manifold to the frame, a blower, drive means coupled to the blower to provide a selected air flow, conduit means coupling said blower to said manifold and a plurality of air outlet tubes depending from said manifold with each air outlet tube terminating at its outlet end above said cutter bar assembly and adjacent to the front edge thereof, the improvement which comprises; each air outlet tube being continuous and curved rearwardly to an outlet end, each air outlet tube being partially flattened at its outlet end and provided with discharge openings which face both rearwardly and laterally to discharge in a generally rearward and lateral direction, each tube having substantially equal cross sectional size throughout its effective length so that at the selected air flow the discharge openings at the outlet ends of said air outlet tubes provide a continuous curtain of air   
     
     
        substantially across the cutting platform. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  An improved system in accordance with claim 18 in which the spacing between the outlet tubes is less than twelve inches. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An improved system in accordance with claim 18 in which the blower is driven by the drive means at a speed such that the discharge speed of the air from the outlet tubes exceeds 130 feet per second. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. An improved system in accordance with claim 18 in which the manifold has a plurality of sleeves, the upper end of each said outlet tube being retained in the respective said sleeve. .Iaddend.