CPC A01D 34/44 (2013.01) [A01D 41/14 (2013.01); A01D 45/02 (2013.01); A01D 45/021 (2013.01)] | 24 Claims |
1. A differential speed stalk roll assembly mountable to a row unit of a row crop head, the assembly comprising:
a first stalk roll body rotatable about a first axis of rotation, said first stalk roll body comprising a plurality of first modular plate segments arranged about said first axis of rotation such that an end of each of said plurality of first modular plate segments extends radially outwardly from said first axis of rotation thereby forming a plurality of first longitudinal flutes, whereby a circle circumscribing said plurality of first longitudinal flutes defines a first stalk roll body diameter, wherein rotation of said first stalk roll body about said first axis or rotation results in said first stalk roll body diameter having a first outer peripheral speed;
a second stalk roll body rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said second stalk roll body comprising a plurality of second modular plate segments arranged about said second axis of rotation such that an end of each of said plurality of second modular plate segments extends radially outwardly from said second axis of rotation thereby forming a plurality of second longitudinal flutes, whereby a circle circumscribing said plurality of second longitudinal flutes defines a second stalk roll body diameter, wherein rotation of said second stalk roll body about said second axis of rotation results in said second stalk roll body diameter having a second outer peripheral speed;
wherein said second stalk roll body diameter is sufficiently greater than said first stalk roll body diameter such that said second outer peripheral speed is at least about one percent greater than said first outer peripheral speed
wherein at least one of said first and second stalk roll bodies includes at least one knife blade defining a knife plane substantially perpendicular to said first and second axes of rotation.
|