U.S. patent application number 12/236219 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for crop feed arrangement for the header of a combine harvester.
Invention is credited to John Edward Enns, Christopher MacDonald, Roger L. Patterson.
Application Number | 20090107099 12/236219 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38984730 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090107099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Patterson; Roger L. ; et
al. |
April 30, 2009 |
CROP FEED ARRANGEMENT FOR THE HEADER OF A COMBINE HARVESTER
Abstract
A draper header for a combine harvester includes two side
drapers each running from an outer end guide roller at a first end
of the header to an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge
location of the header and a central feed draper located at the
discharge location and including a front guide roller just behind
the cutter bar and running to a rear guide roller in front of the
feeder house of the combine harvester. An auger is located between
the discharge rollers with a front edge of the flight forward of
the rear end of the discharge rollers to feed the material inwardly
and underneath the auger to the inlet of the feeder house. A pan
member is located underneath the feed draper and is formed of a
flexible polyethylene sheet which is tensioned between its front
and rear edges by a front mounting strip which is spring mounted
for up and down movement and a rear latch which can be released to
allow the rear edge to be lowered.
Inventors: |
Patterson; Roger L.;
(Duncan, CA) ; MacDonald; Christopher; (Winnipeg,
CA) ; Enns; John Edward; (East St. Paul, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADE & COMPANY INC.
2157 Henderson Highway
WINNIPEG
MB
R2G1P9
CA
|
Family ID: |
38984730 |
Appl. No.: |
12/236219 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11493023 |
Jul 26, 2006 |
7444798 |
|
|
12236219 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
56/181 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 57/20 20130101;
A01D 41/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
56/181 |
International
Class: |
A01D 47/00 20060101
A01D047/00; A01D 41/14 20060101 A01D041/14; A01D 41/06 20060101
A01D041/06; A01D 57/20 20060101 A01D057/20 |
Claims
1. A crop harvesting header for a combine harvester comprising: a
main frame structure extending across between two ends of the
header across a width of the header for movement in a direction
generally at right angles to the width across ground including a
crop to be harvested; a mounting assembly for attachment to a
feeder house of the combine harvester for carrying the main frame
structure on the combine harvester; a crop receiving table carried
on the main frame structure across the width of the header, a
cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter knife
operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly
across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table; and a
crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a discharge
location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed opening of
the combine harvester; the crop transport system including: a first
side draper having an outer end guide roller at a first end of the
header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location
and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner
guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas for carrying the
cut crop from the knife across the header to a discharge end
adjacent the discharge location; a second side draper having an
outer end guide roller at a second end of the header, an inner end
guide roller adjacent the discharge location and a continuous
draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner guide rollers to
define a top run of the canvas for carrying the cut crop from the
knife across the header to a discharge end adjacent the discharge
location; a feed draper located at the discharge location and
including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear
guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas
wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run
of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the
discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for
carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of
the combine harvester; and a pan member underlying the feed draper
and having a front edge adjacent the front guide roller of the feed
draper; the pan member being formed of a polyethylene sheet
material.
2. A crop harvesting header for a combine harvester comprising: a
main frame structure extending across between two ends of the
header across a width of the header for movement in a direction
generally at right angles to the width across ground including a
crop to be harvested; a mounting assembly for attachment to a
feeder house of the combine harvester for carrying the main frame
structure on the combine harvester; a crop receiving table carried
on the main frame structure across the width of the header; a
cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter knife
operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly
across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table; and a
crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a discharge
location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed opening of
the combine harvester; the crop transport system including: a first
side draper having an outer end guide roller at a first end of the
header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location
and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner
guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas for carrying the
cut crop from the knife across the header to a discharge end
adjacent the discharge location; a second side draper having an
outer end guide roller at a second end of the header, an inner end
guide roller adjacent the discharge location and a continuous
draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner guide rollers to
define a top run of the canvas for carrying the cut crop from the
knife across the header to a discharge end adjacent the discharge
location; a feed draper located at the discharge location and
including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear
guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas
wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run
of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the
discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for
carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of
the combine harvester; and a pan member underlying the feed draper
and having a front edge adjacent the front guide roller of the feed
draper and a rear edge adjacent the read guide roller; the pan
member being formed of a flexible sheet material; the pan member
including a front mounting for holding the front edge and a rear
mounting for holding the rear edge; and a tensioning arrangement
for applying longitudinal tension on the flexible sheet material
between the front and rear holding members.
3. The header according to claim 2 wherein the front mounting of
the pan member includes a front strip member attached across the
front edge.
4. The header according to claim 3 wherein the front strip member
includes an upturned lip extending upwardly and forwardly from the
pan member.
5. A crop harvesting header for a combine harvester comprising: a
main frame structure extending across between two ends of the
header across a width of the header for movement in a direction
generally at right angles to the width across ground including a
crop to be harvested; a mounting assembly for attachment to a
feeder house of the combine harvester for carrying the main frame
structure on the combine harvester; a crop receiving table carried
on the main frame structure across the width of the header; a
cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter knife
operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly
across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table; and a
crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a discharge
location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed opening of
the combine harvester; the crop transport system including: a first
side draper having an outer end guide roller at a first end of the
header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location
and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner
guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas for carrying the
cut crop from the knife across the header to a discharge end
adjacent the discharge location; a second side draper having an
outer end guide roller at a second end of the header, an inner end
guide roller adjacent the discharge location and a continuous
draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner guide rollers to
define a top run of the canvas for carrying the cut crop from the
knife across the header to a discharge end adjacent the discharge
location; a feed draper located at the discharge location and
including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear
guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas
wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run
of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the
discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for
carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of
the combine harvester; and a pan member underlying the feed draper
and having a front edge adjacent the front guide roller of the feed
draper and a rear edge adjacent the read guide roller; the pan
member being formed of a flexible sheet material; the pan member
including a front mounting member for holding the front edge and a
rear mounting member for holding the rear edge; the rear mounting
member including a latch by which the rear mounting member can be
released for allowing the rear edge to be lowered.
6. The header according to claim 5 wherein the latch includes a
pivotal link which in a release position allows the rear edge to be
released for lowering and in an applied position engages the rear
edge to apply longitudinal tension on the flexible sheet.
7. The header according to claim 6 wherein the rear edge of the
flexible sheet has hook members at spaced positions across the rear
edge for engaging over transverse portions of the pivotal link.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional Application from
application Ser. No. 11/493,023 filed Jul. 26, 2006 and now issued
as Patent INSERT.
[0002] This invention relates to a crop feed arrangement for the
header of a combine harvester.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A header for a crop harvesting machine generally comprises a
main longitudinal support member in the form of an elongate tube
which extends across substantially the full width of the header
frame and defines a main structural member for the header frame.
The tube carries a plurality of forwardly and downwardly extending
support beams which include a first portion extending downwardly
and a second portion attached to a lower end of the first portion
and extending forwardly therefrom toward a forward end of the
support beams. The cutter bar is attached to the forward end of the
support beams and is thus held thereby in a position generally
parallel to the main support tube.
[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,966 issued September 1990 and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,005,343 issued April 1991 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,871
issued Mar. 15, 2005 by Patterson and U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,166
issued November .sub.16th by Dunn all assigned to the present
Assignee is disclosed a header which utilizes two side drapers to
transport the crop cut by the knife inwardly along the header table
to a central discharge opening. The side drapers discharge onto a
central feed draper which has a front roller just behind the knife
and a rear roller at the feeder house of a combine harvester so as
to carry the crop from the side drapers rearwardly into the feeder
house for inlet into the combine harvester for processing. A rotary
feed member which may carry auger flight portions is mounted at the
discharge opening of the header above the feed draper so as to
assist in carrying bulky crop through the discharge opening so as
to be carried into the feeder house. The feed draper is carried on
the rear roller which is attached to a feeder house and therefore
the feed draper and its associated underlying pan flex and twist as
the header floats relative to the feeder house.
[0005] While this arrangement has achieved considerable commercial
success, it is desirable to improve the feed of the crop material
from the side drapers into the feeder house particularly in
relation to bulky crops such as soy beans.
[0006] Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,371 issued November 1995 by
Honey discloses a similar arrangement in which the crop is
transferred from the rear end of the feed draper into a rigid fixed
adapter housing which is mounted on the front of the feeder house
and contains the rotary feed member in the form of an auger with
conventional feeding fingers. This arrangement therefore requires
that the header is moved forwardly relative to the feeder house so
as to provide the space necessary for the adapter housing and its
rotary feed member contained therein.
[0007] Further commercial devices are manufactured by Deere and
Company and AGCO but it is believed that there are no patents
disclosing the construction of these devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is one object of the present invention to provide a
header of the above type which includes a pan underneath the feed
draper for controlling crop.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention there is
provided a crop harvesting header for a combine harvester
comprising:
[0010] a main frame structure extending across between two ends of
the header across a width of the header for movement in a direction
generally at right angles to the width across ground including a
crop to be harvested;
[0011] a mounting assembly for attachment to a feeder house of the
combine harvester for carrying the main frame structure on the
combine harvester;
[0012] a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure
across the width of the header;
[0013] a cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter
knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved
forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the
table;
[0014] and a crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a
discharge location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed
opening of the combine harvester;
[0015] the crop transport system including:
[0016] a first side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
first end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0017] a second side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
second end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0018] a feed draper located at the discharge location and
including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear
guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas
wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run
of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the
discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for
carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of
the combine harvester; and
[0019] a pan member underlying the feed draper and having a front
edge adjacent the front guide roller of the feed draper;
[0020] the pan member being formed of a flexible material;
[0021] the pan member having a front edge carried on a spring
coupling arrangement which allows upward and downward flexing
movement of the front edge of the pan member relative to the front
guide roller.
[0022] Preferably the spring coupling arrangement has a first
spring member at a first side of the front edge and a second spring
member at a second side of the front edge.
[0023] Preferably the first spring member and the second spring
member allow independent upward and downward movement of the sides
of the front edge.
[0024] Preferably each spring member comprises a spring rod.
[0025] Preferably the spring rod is arranged such that a flexible
portion thereof extends along the side of the pan member coupled at
a front end of the rod to a frame member forwardly of the front
edge and at a rear end to the front edge.
[0026] Preferably the spring rod includes at the front end an
out-turned portion connected to the frame member and at the rear
end an in-turned portion connected to the front edge.
[0027] Preferably the pan member is formed of a sheet of a flexible
plastics material, such as the preferred material of
polyethylene.
[0028] Preferably the pan member includes a front strip member
attached across the front edge.
[0029] Preferably the front strip member includes an upturned lip
extending upwardly and forwardly from the pan member.
[0030] Preferably there is provided a rear holding member and a
tensioning arrangement for applying longitudinal tension on the
flexible sheet material between the front strip member and the rear
holding member.
[0031] Preferably the pan member has a rear edge adjacent the rear
guide roller and includes a rear mounting member for holding the
rear edge, the rear mounting member including a latch by which the
rear mounting member can be released for allowing the rear edge to
be lowered.
[0032] Preferably the latch includes a pivotal link which in a
release position allows the rear edge to be released for lowering
and in an applied position engages the rear edge to apply
longitudinal tension on the flexible sheet.
[0033] Preferably the rear edge of the flexible sheet has hook
members at spaced positions across the rear edge for engaging over
transverse portions of the pivotal link.
[0034] According to a second aspect of the invention there is
provided a crop harvesting header for a combine harvester
comprising:
[0035] a main frame structure extending across between two ends of
the header across a width of the header for movement in a direction
generally at right angles to the width across ground including a
crop to be harvested;
[0036] a mounting assembly for attachment to a feeder house of the
combine harvester for carrying the main frame structure on the
combine harvester;
[0037] a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure
across the width of the header;
[0038] a cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter
knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved
forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the
table;
[0039] and a crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a
discharge location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed
opening of the combine harvester;
[0040] the crop transport system including:
[0041] a first side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
first end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0042] a second side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
second end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0043] a feed draper located at the discharge location and
including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear
guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas
wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run
of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the
discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for
carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of
the combine harvester; and
[0044] a pan member underlying the feed draper and having a front
edge adjacent the front guide roller of the feed draper;
[0045] the pan member being formed of a polyethylene sheet
material.
[0046] According to a third aspect of the invention there is
provided a crop harvesting header for a combine harvester
comprising:
[0047] a main frame structure extending across between two ends of
the header across a width of the header for movement in a direction
generally at right angles to the width across ground including a
crop to be harvested;
[0048] a mounting assembly for attachment to a feeder house of the
combine harvester for carrying the main frame structure on the
combine harvester;
[0049] a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure
across the width of the header;
[0050] a cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter
knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved
forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the
table;
[0051] and a crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a
discharge location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed
opening of the combine harvester;
[0052] the crop transport system including:
[0053] a first side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
first end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0054] a second side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
second end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0055] a feed draper located at the discharge location and
including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear
guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas
wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run
of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the
discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for
carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of
the combine harvester; and
[0056] a pan member underlying the feed draper and having a front
edge adjacent the front guide roller of the feed draper and a rear
edge adjacent the read guide roller;
[0057] the pan member being formed of a flexible sheet
material;
[0058] the pan member including a front mounting for holding the
front edge and a rear mounting for holding the rear edge;
[0059] and a tensioning arrangement for applying longitudinal
tension on the flexible sheet material between the front and rear
holding members.
[0060] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is
provided a crop harvesting header for a combine harvester
comprising:
[0061] a main frame structure extending across between two ends of
the header across a width of the header for movement in a direction
generally at right angles to the width across ground including a
crop to be harvested;
[0062] a mounting assembly for attachment to a feeder house of the
combine harvester for carrying the main frame structure on the
combine harvester;
[0063] a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure
across the width of the header;
[0064] a cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter
knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved
forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the
table;
[0065] and a crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a
discharge location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed
opening of the combine harvester;
[0066] the crop transport system including:
[0067] a first side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
first end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0068] a second side draper having an outer end guide roller at a
second end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the
discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around
the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas
for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a
discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
[0069] a feed draper located at the discharge location and
including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear
guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas
wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run
of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the
discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for
carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of
the combine harvester; and
[0070] a pan member underlying the feed draper and having a front
edge adjacent the front guide roller of the feed draper and a rear
edge adjacent the read guide roller;
[0071] the pan member being formed of a flexible sheet
material;
[0072] the pan member including a front mounting member for holding
the front edge and a rear mounting member for holding the rear
edge;
[0073] the rear mounting member including a latch by which the rear
mounting member can be released for allowing the rear edge to be
lowered.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0074] One embodiment of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0075] FIG. 1 is a PRIOR ART top plan view of the center section
only of a header and is provided to show the header of the type
according to the present invention.
[0076] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along the lines 2-2 of the
PRIOR ART header of FIG. 1.
[0077] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing the
feed draper and pan according to the present invention.
[0078] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of one end only of the pan
showing the details of the front mounting.
[0079] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the rear end only of the
pan showing the rear mounting.
[0080] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part only of the pan of FIG. 3
showing one end of the front mounting.
[0081] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the pan of FIG. 3.
[0082] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0083] The PRIOR ART header shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is taken from
U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,871 identified above and is included to show
one example of the type of header with which the present invention
is primarily concerned, although it will be appreciated that the
present invention can be used with headers of different design but
including the same general parts as defined hereinafter. The header
comprises a main frame 10 including a horizontal main support beam
11 extending along the length of the header along a first end to a
second end of the header. The main frame includes forwardly
extending frame members (not shown) at the ends together with
similarly arranged frame members intermediate the width of the
header. At the front end of the frame members is mounted a cutter
bar 15 which carries a sickle knife construction of a conventional
nature. The frame 10 is attached to an adapter structure 16
attached to the feeder house 17 of a combine harvester.
[0084] The header includes a crop transportation system for
transferring the crop from the sickle knife to the feeder house.
This includes two side drapers 19 and 20 each of which includes a
canvas extending from an outer guide roller to an inner guide
roller 22 so as to define an upper run of the canvas which carries
the crop inwardly toward the center of the header.
[0085] At the center of the header is provided a feed draper 23
which has a front roller 24 just behind the cutter bar and a rear
roller 25 thus defining an upper run of the canvas which carries
the crop rearwardly toward the feeder house.
[0086] The front roller 24 of the feed draper 23 is carried on a
support rearward of the cutter bar 15 so that it is fixed to the
forward edge of the header. The rear roller 25 is carried on a
bracket 57. Underneath the feed draper is a pan member 50 which
extends rearwardly to a rear end 51. Along the side of the pan
member 50 and extending from the rear end 51 of the pan is provided
a pair of side arms 58 which extend from the rear edge of the pan
member 50 on respective sides of the pan to a rear end 60 pivotally
attached to the adapter 16, which is attached to the feeder house
17. An open space is thus defined between the arms 58 behind the
pan member 50.
[0087] The header including the main beam 11 and the frame element
43 is carried on the support frame 16 by two bottom links which
extend forwardly from the frame 16 under the header frame and
support the header frame at a forward end-of the links. The links
are supported on mounting springs (not shown). A top support link
54 extends forwardly from the frame 16 to a bracket 55 at the beam
11. Thus the header can move upwardly and downwardly in a floating
action and can also twist side to side about a generally horizontal
forwardly extending axis by a differential in the lifting of the
links 52.
[0088] Immediately behind the rear end of the draper 23 is provided
a forward end of the guide sheet 59 which extends from the rear end
of the draper 23 rearwardly to the rear end 60 at the feeder house.
Thus the rear end 60 is carried on the frame 16 at the feeder house
and the front end is attached to the pan 50 at the bracket 57 so
that the sheet 59 also flexes and twists to accommodate the
movement of the header.
[0089] The sheet 59 has a width substantially equal to the width of
the draper 23 so that the material discharged from the draper
across the full width of the draper is carried rearwardly over the
sheet to the feeder house.
[0090] Thus the sheet 59 and the draper 23 and the pan 50 are
carried on a support defined by two parallel arms 58 and span the
space between the arms. The arms pivot about a horizontal
transverse axis at the end 60 of the arms on the mounting 16 as the
header floats relative to the mounting 16 and the feeder house to
which it is attached.
[0091] The movement of the crop material to the feeder house is
assisted by a rotary feed member 70 carried above the sheet 59 with
a width substantially equal to the width of the sheet 59. The
rotary feed member 70 includes a drum 71 which carries on its
outside surface two helical auger sections 72 and 73 arranged at
respective ends of the drum and arranged so that rotation of the
drum in a counter clockwise direction so as to carry the crop
material underneath the rotary feed member across the sheet 59
causes the crop material at the side edges of the sheet to be drawn
inwardly toward a center of the sheet.
[0092] In FIGS. 3 to 7 is shown the pan of the present invention.
The pan 50 is formed from a sheet 80 of a suitable plastics
material so that it is flexible and can accommodate upward and
downward movement causes either by impact from the underside or
pressure from above due to an accumulation of material underneath
the draper 23. The sheet is essentially flat with no formed shape.
A front end 81 of the sheet 80 is held in a transverse strip member
82 forming a part of a front mounting generally indicated at 83.
Strip member 82 includes a top plate 84 and a backing plate 85
which are held together by an overlying clip portion 86 and clamped
together by bolts 87. The plate 84 which defines a front edge of
the sheet 80 is inclined upwardly and forwardly to a forwardmost
edge 88 which defines a nose in a front of the front roller 24 and
behind the cutter. The plate 88 thus has an upper surface which
inclines downwardly and rearwardly to the top surface of the sheet
80 so that crop material is confined into this area underneath the
draper 23.
[0093] The structure forming the front strip defined by the plate
84, the backer plate 85 and the clip 86 is relatively stiff so as
to hold the front edge straight across the width of the sheet
without sagging of the sheet underneath the draper.
[0094] Each end of the strip member is independently supported
relative to the side rail 90 which carries the draper 23. This side
rail extends from a forward end 91 rearwardly to a rear connection
at the adaptor attached to the feeder house of the combine
harvester. The forward end 91 of the rail 90 projects to a position
forward of the front edge 81 of the sheet and the strip member 82
attached to that front edge. A spring 92 provides spring support
for the front edge of the sheet and the strip member at each side.
Thus there are two such spring supports 92 and 92A both of which
are visible in the bottom view of FIG. 7. Each of these spring
supports provides a spring action by way of a torsion rod 93. The
rod 93 has a front end 94 which is inclined outwardly and slightly
rearwardly and is contained within a mounting sleeve 95 on the
forward end of the rail 90. The spring 93 further includes a flex
portion 96 which extends rearwardly from the forward end 94 along
side the forward end of the rail 90 to a rear end 97 which is
turned outwardly along the front edge 81 and is attached to the
strip member 82 by bolts 98 which engage around a loop portion 99
of the end 97. In this way the rear end of the spring portion 93 of
the spring rod can move upwardly and downwardly relative to the
front end 94 to allow independent sprung movement of the front edge
of the sheet in upward and downwardly directions. Upward movement
can accommodate impact from below. Downward movement can
accommodate the collection of crop material underneath the draper
and on top of the sheet tending to force the sheet downwardly. Such
downward movement can in many cases therefore release any such
collected crop material back around the front roller 94 and onto
the top of the draper to avoid a blockage occurring.
[0095] The rear end of the sheet 80 defining the pan member 50 is
attached by a mounting system generally indicated at 100. This is
shown in more detail in FIG. 5. Thus the sheet includes a rear edge
101 which is attached to a transverse strip 102 on the top of the
sheet and a backer plate 103 on the bottom of the sheet with those
elements being clamped together by a series of bolts 124 across the
width the sheet so that the strip and the backer sheet are firmly
attached to the rear edge of the sheet and provides some stiffness
therefore. A strip 102 has best shown in FIG. 7 includes a series
of hook portions 104, 105 and 106 at spaced positions across the
width of the rear edge 101. Each of these hook portions as best
shown in FIG. 5 includes an upturned hook element which can receive
a rod portion 107 of a lever 108. Thus each hook portion 104, 105,
106 co-operates with a respective rod portion 107, 110 and 111 of
the elongate rod forming the lever 108. The lever 108 thus includes
a transverse rod portion extending across the full width of the
strip portion 102 together with two rearwardly turned crank
portions 112 and 113 which can be raised and lowered to provide the
lever action. A forward end of the lever is carried in a bracket
114, 115 at spaced positions across the width of the strip portion
102. Each of the brackets provides a pivot axis 116 for the forward
part of the lever. When the hand crank portions 112 and 113 of the
lever are thus grasped, they can be moved downwardly from the
position shown in FIG. 5 by pivotal movement about the axis 116
which causes the hook portions 107, 110 and 111 to move downwardly
and forwardly as the lever pivots around the axis 116. When the
hook portions of the lever are moved sufficiently forwardly around
the axis 116, they are released from connection with the hook
portions 107, 110 and 111 allowing the strip portion 102 to be
released from the lever and to drop downwardly by pivotal movement
around the front edge of the sheet and by flexing of the sheet. In
this position the lever is merely hanging downwardly. The release
of the sheet forming the pan member allows an operator access to
the underneath of the draper 23 for removal of blockages or other
servicing procedures.
[0096] In order to move the pan back into the raised locked
position, upward lifting of the pan at the rear edge brings the
strip portion 102 back into connection with the lever so that the
hooks re reengaged on the transverse portions of the lever. Further
upward pivotal movement of the lever around the axis 116 pulls the
sheet rearwardly applying tension across the rear edge of the
sheet. When the lever is moved to the raised position, each of the
crank arms 112 and 113 can be latched-in place by a simple hook
latching arrangement 125, 126. These hook latching arrangements can
be manually released to allow the crank portions 112 and 113 to be
lowered but in raised position hold those crank portions upwardly
in the position shown in FIG. 5 thus supporting the rear edge of
the sheet and applying tension to the sheet pulling it
rearwardly.
[0097] The sheet abuts against a rigid panel 120 of the structure
which is the panel which engages underneath the rotary member 70.
This panel is carried on the arms 90 and bridges across the arms 90
underneath the rotary member 70 so as to guide the crop material
upwardly and rearwardly from the rear roller 25 of the draper 23
into the feeder house. This panel includes a downwardly turned
front edge portion which projects to a position just under the
roller 25 and which abuts the upper surface of the sheet 80 when
the panel member is in the raised position. This provides therefore
an abutment which locates the rear part of the sheet 80 and closes
the gap between the sheet 80 and the panel 120. The tension applied
to the sheet 80 by the lever pulling on the rear edge of the sheet
80 pulls it in tension between the forward edge of the panel 120
and the transverse strip at the forward end of the sheet thus
holding the sheet flat and straight across this area. However, as
stated above, the sheet can still flex by spring action at the
front end and by slight stretching or distortion of the sheet so as
to accommodate impact from below and the accumulation of crop
material from above.
[0098] The flexible sheet forming the panel member therefore is
improved relative to sheet metal panels since it is much more
resistant to impact damage or permanent bending. The mounting of
the sheet under tension by the strip across the front edge and the
strip across the rear edge provides an effective support for the
sheet while allowing the necessary flexibility. The lever system at
the rear edge provides the dual function of tensioning the sheet
and also holding it in the raised position.
[0099] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
herein above described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *