Forage harvester and row crop attachment therefor

Abstract

A forage harvester and fixed-construction row crop attachment therefor are disclosed. The attachment has three plant-receiving passages consisting of a central passage and a pair of side passages on opposite sides of the central passage. Each passage has an inner or channel section comprised of substantially parallel walls, an intermediate section or throat comprised of outwardly diverging intermediate walls and an outer section or mouth comprised of outwardly diverging outer walls. A cutter is provided in association with each of the throats or intermediate sections. Each of the intermediate walls of each side passage is constructed and arranged to define a comparatively wide cut-off area at the bottom. The cutter associated with the intermediate section or throat of each side passage is arranged adjacent its cut-off area. The comparatively wide cut-off areas and associated cutters cooperate with gathering chain sets to assure harvesting of plants having both narrow and wide row spacings. In the case of narrow row spacings the cut stalks are maintained in an upright attitude and swept rearwardly and in outboard directions from the wide cut-off areas to the relatively narrow intermediate sections whereat the gathering sets take hold of the crop. This maintenance of position and sweeping is accomplished by wall shaping and gathering set location.