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Combine Reel Comparison |
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The purpose of this page is to help show the function of the different combine reel types. It will help compare and contrast each type. |
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The Phoenix Reel |
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| The Phoenix Reel Drive system is the only complete feeding system that addresses the seven functions needed to achieve gentle, positive flow of material through the combine. These seven functions are fully optimized by the cam design. On all other reel designs, adjusting one function for optimal operation diminishes the reel's ability in another function. The seven steps that are essential to smooth, even crop feeding are listed below. The Phoenix Reel Drive system addresses functions 2, 5, and 6 better than any other reel design. | ||||||||||||||||
| 1.
Crop Entry
As the reel bat enters the crop, the tines point straight down to provide the least amount of disturbance. In dry conditions, shatter is reduced. |
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| 2.
Crop Lift
As the bat approaches the ground it gently turns up, lifting the lodged crop. The crop is then gently carried over the cutter system. |
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| 3.
Cutter Bar Clearance
The highest point of the reel tine tips pass just above the cutter bar. It does not vary because there is no fore and aft movement of the reel. |
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| 4.
Cutter Bar Push
Tine reels can comb through strait stemmed crops like wheat, oats, and barley. However, the Phoenix Reel Drive system lowers the push point of the bat tube closer to the cutter bar. |
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| 5.
Header Bottom Cleaning
As the reel tines reach a point just behind the cutter bar, the tines begin to turn down following the contour of the feather sheets as they travel rearward. The tines maintain this motion until they reach the front of the auger. |
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| 6.
Auger Feeding
When the tines leave the bottom of the header, their pitch remains perpendicular to the circumference of the reel. This lifts and pushes the crop fully into the auger. |
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| 7.
Crop Release
At a point slightly below the center of the auger the tine gently turns away, allowing the auger to have full control of the crop. |
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Dropkick Cam |
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| Figure 1 | Figure 2 | |||||||||||||||
| The newly designed dropkick cam allows the reel tines to free fall two inches just behind the cutter bar. This action helps the reel to maintain the same cleaning action when the cutter bar is in the mid-float (Figure 1) position or all of the way up (Figure 2). | ||||||||||||||||
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Direct Cam |
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| 1.
Crop Entry
Poor, too much forward pitch on entry. |
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| 2.
Crop Lift
Poor, not enough rearward pitch. |
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| 3.
Cutter Bar Clearance
Clearance varies with the reel movement fore and aft. |
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| 4.
Cutter Bar Push
Poor, push point of the bat is 3 to 4 inches farther away from the cutter bar than the Phoenix Reel Drive system. |
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| 5.
Bottom Cleaning
Poor, because there is a very large dead spot for crop to gather. |
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| 6.
Auger Feeding
Marginal, it has good pitch, but there is a large dead spot. |
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| 7.
Crop Release
Good |
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Eccentric Drive, Flip-Over Design |
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| 1.
Crop Entry
Poor, too much forward pitch on entry. |
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| 2.
Crop Lift
Fair, but only when reel is moved forward, pitched back, and sped up. |
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| 3.
Cutter Bar Clearance
Varies with reel fore and aft movement. |
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| 4.
Cutter Bar Push
Marginal, because the push point is 2 to 3 inches further from the cutter bar (with tear drop shaped bat and short fingers) than the Phoenix Reel Drive system. |
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| 5.
Bottom Cleaning
Poor, because a large dead spot exists between the reel tines and the feather sheet. The near vertical push will not lift and carry the crop properly. |
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| 6.
Auger Feeding
Poor because the reel is not pitched properly to carry the crop over the large dead spot into the auger. |
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| 7.
Crop Release
Good when the reel is in a neutral position or pitched slightly back. |
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Standard Eccentric Drive |
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| 1.
Crop Entry
Good in a neutral position only. |
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| 2.
Crop lift
Fair, but only when reel is moved forward, pitched back and sped up. |
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| 3.
Cutter Bar Clearance
Varies with reel movement fore and aft. |
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| 4.
Cutter Bar Push
Poor, push point is 3 to 4 inches further away from the cutter bar than the Phoenix Reel Drive system. |
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| 5.
Bottom Cleaning
Poor because a large dead spot exists between the reel tines and the feather sheets. The near vertical push will not lift and carry the crop properly. |
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| 6.
Auger Feeding
Poor because the reel is not pitched properly to carry the crop over the large dead spot into the auger. |
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| 7.
Crop Release
Good when the reel is in a neutral position or pitched slightly back. |
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