U.S. patent application number 13/653444 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for slat for a material moving system for an agricultural harvesting machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to CNH AMERICA LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is CNH AMERICA LLC. Invention is credited to Robert Stewart BOYD, III, Herbert M. FARLEY, Andrew V. LAUWERS.
Application Number | 20140102863 13/653444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49447907 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140102863 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FARLEY; Herbert M. ; et
al. |
April 17, 2014 |
SLAT FOR A MATERIAL MOVING SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTING
MACHINE
Abstract
A slat for use in an agricultural harvester including a web
securable to a material moving system. A first and second leg
extending outwardly from one side of the web, the first leg
providing primary impetus for movement of crop material in a first
direction by the material moving system. A third leg extending
outwardly from an opposed side of the web and providing secondary
impetus for movement of crop material by driven movement of the
material moving system. In response to the slat encountering a
foreign object that becomes wedged between the first leg, the third
leg and structure of the material moving system and preventing
driven movement of the material movement system in the first
direction, upon application of force urging movement of the
material movement system in an opposed second direction, the third
leg facilitating a rotational movement of the slat for dislodging
the foreign object.
Inventors: |
FARLEY; Herbert M.;
(Elizabethtown, PA) ; LAUWERS; Andrew V.;
(Stevens, PA) ; BOYD, III; Robert Stewart; (Mount
Joy, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CNH AMERICA LLC |
New Holland |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CNH AMERICA LLC
New Holland
PA
|
Family ID: |
49447907 |
Appl. No.: |
13/653444 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/732 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 61/04 20130101;
B60P 1/36 20130101; B65G 19/22 20130101; B65G 19/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
198/732 |
International
Class: |
A01D 61/04 20060101
A01D061/04; B65G 19/26 20060101 B65G019/26 |
Claims
1. A slat for use in a material moving system of an agricultural
harvester, the material moving system having at least two driven
continuous loops of flexible material to which the slat is
securable, the slat comprising: a web having opposed sides, the web
securable to the loops of the material moving system; a first leg
and a second leg extending outwardly from one side of the web and
positioned along the material moving system, the first leg
providing a primary impetus for movement of crop material in a
first direction by driven movement of the loops of the material
moving system; and a third leg extending outwardly from an opposed
side of the web and intermediate of portions of the web that are
securable to the loops of the material moving system, the third leg
providing a secondary impetus for movement of crop material in the
first direction by driven movement of the loops of the material
moving system; wherein in response to the first leg encountering a
foreign object that becomes wedged between the first leg, the third
leg and structure of the material moving system and preventing
driven movement of the loops of the material movement system in the
first direction, in response to application of force urging
movement of the loops of the material movement system in an opposed
second direction, the third leg facilitating a rotational movement
of the slat for dislodging the foreign object.
2. The slat of claim 1, wherein the third leg is between the first
leg and the second leg.
3. The slat of claim 1, wherein the web is substantially
planar.
4. The slat of claim 3, wherein the web is substantially
rectangular.
5. The slat of claim 3, wherein the third leg is not perpendicular
to the web.
6. The slat of claim 3, wherein the first leg, the second leg and a
third leg are generally parallel to each other.
7. The slat of claim 6, wherein the first leg, the second leg and a
third leg are generally perpendicular to the web.
8. The slat of claim 3, wherein the first leg and the third leg are
not parallel to each other.
9. The slat of claim 6, wherein the first leg and the third leg are
substantially coplanar.
10. The slat of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first leg, the
second leg in the third leg are not parallel to each other.
11. The slat of claim 1, wherein the web is curved.
12. The slat of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first leg,
second leg and third leg are curved.
13. The slat of claim 11, wherein the first leg, the second leg and
the third leg are generally parallel to each other.
14. The slat of claim 11, wherein the third leg is between the
first leg and the second leg.
15. The slat of claim 1, wherein at least one of the web, first
leg, second leg and third leg has a variable thickness.
16. An agricultural harvester comprising: a material moving system
having at least two driven continuous loops of flexible material; a
slat secured to the loops of the material moving system, the slat
comprising: a web having opposed sides, the web secured to the
loops of the material moving system; a first leg and a second leg
extending outwardly from one side and positioned along the material
moving system, the first leg providing a primary impetus for
movement of crop material in a first direction by driven movement
of the loops of the material moving system; and a third leg
extending outwardly from an opposed side of the web and
intermediate of portions of the web that are securable to the loops
of the material moving system, the third leg providing a secondary
impetus for movement of crop material in the first direction by
driven movement of the loops of the material moving system; and
wherein in response to the first leg encountering a foreign object
that becomes wedged between the first leg, the third leg and
structure of the material moving system and preventing driven
movement of the loops of the material movement system in the first
direction, in response to application of force urging movement of
the loops of the material movement system in an opposed second
direction, the third leg facilitating a rotational movement of the
slat for dislodging the foreign object.
17. The agricultural harvester of claim 16, wherein the web is
substantially planar.
18. The agricultural harvester of claim 17, wherein the first leg
and third leg are substantially coplanar and mutually perpendicular
to the web.
19. The agricultural harvester of claim 16, wherein the third leg
is between the first leg and the second leg.
20. The agricultural harvester of claim 16, wherein the web is
curved.
Description
[0001] This invention relates generally to a material moving system
and, more specifically, to a slat for a material moving system for
an agricultural harvesting machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Agricultural harvesting machines such as combine harvesters
generally are developed to handle a large variety of crops. For
example a combine harvester may be used to harvest small grain
crops such as wheat and rye, or grass seed or large grain crops
such as peas or corn. In this manner the use of the harvester,
which is a high investment tool, can be extended over a longer
season.
[0003] Conventionally, the harvester is equipped with a detachable
crop collecting attachment, such as a grain or corn header, which
cuts the stems of the crop standing in the field and conveys the
same to the inlet by a material moving system. Alternatively crop
which has been cut previously can be lifted up from the field by a
pick-up attachment and conveyed to the same inlet. The material
moving system, commonly a chain elevator with transverse slats,
pick up the collected crop deposited in front of the inlet and
convey it rearwardly and upwardly towards the crop processing
mechanism, conventionally a threshing drum and concave or grate
assembly.
[0004] The transverse slats of the elevator must be structurally
robust because of the increasing capacity of modern harvesters.
Foreign objects, such as rocks, pieces of timber, or other objects
conveyed to the inlet of the material moving system along with crop
material can cause an abrupt seizure of the material movement
system. Such seizures subject the slats to significant loads which
may result in a permanent deformation of the slats.
[0005] In response, to increase their strength, the slats may be
made out of a more complicated profile, such as an H-shaped profile
constructed from opposed U-shaped portions joined together as shown
in U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,168. However, slats having an H-shaped
profile remain susceptible to problems associated with abrupt
seizures of the material moving system caused by introduction of
foreign objects. That is, one U-shaped portion of the H-shaped slat
profile encounters the foreign object, with the foreign object
becoming wedged against one side of a structure of the material
moving system, and the opposed U-shaped portion of the H-shaped
slat profile wedged against an opposed side of the structure of the
material moving system.
[0006] One technique typically utilized by an operator in an
attempt to dislodge the foreign object is to halt forward movement
of the agricultural harvesting machine and attempt to reverse the
direction of movement of the material moving system. However, due
both to both legs of the U-shaped portion of the H-shaped profile
being brought into wedged contact with the structure of the
material moving system, the material moving system is immobilized,
with such reverse movement forces often being insufficient to
overcome the wedged condition. As a result, the operator is forced
to try to remove the foreign object manually, which first requires
manually clearing out crop material from the material moving system
prior to being able to access the foreign object. Such manual
effort is time-consuming, requiring a high degree of exertion by
the operator, and otherwise highly undesirable.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a structurally robust slat
construction having an anti-wedge capability to help dislodge
foreign objects from the material moving system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
slat for use in a material moving system of an agricultural
harvester. The material moving system has at least two driven
continuous loops of flexible material to which the slat is
securable. The slat includes a web having opposed sides, the web
securable to the loops of the material moving system. A first leg
and a second leg extend outwardly from one side of the web and are
positioned along the material moving system. The first leg provides
a primary impetus for movement of crop material in a first
direction by driven movement of the loops of the material moving
system. A third leg extends outwardly from an opposed side of the
web and intermediate of portions of the web that are securable to
the loops of the material moving system. The third leg provides a
secondary impetus for movement of crop material in the first
direction by driven movement of the loops of the material moving
system. Wherein in response to the first leg encountering a foreign
object that becomes wedged between the first leg, the third leg and
structure of the material moving system and preventing driven
movement of the loops of the material movement system in the first
direction, and in response to application of force urging movement
of the loops of the material movement system in an opposed second
direction, the third leg facilitates a rotational movement of the
slat for dislodging the foreign object.
[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an
agricultural harvester includes a material moving system having at
least two driven continuous loops of flexible material. A slat is
secured to the loops of the material moving system. The slat
includes a web having opposed sides, the web secured to the loops
of the material moving system. A first leg and a second leg extend
outwardly from one side and are positioned along the material
moving system. The first leg provides a primary impetus for
movement of crop material in a first direction by driven movement
of the loops of the material moving system. A third leg extends
outwardly from an opposed side of the web and intermediate of
portions of the web that are securable to the loops of the material
moving system. The third leg provides a secondary impetus for
movement of crop material in the first direction by driven movement
of the loops of the material moving system. In response to the
first leg encountering a foreign object that becomes wedged between
the first leg, the third leg and structure of the material moving
system and preventing driven movement of the loops of the material
movement system in the first direction, and in response to
application of force urging movement of the loops of the material
movement system in an opposed second direction, the third leg
facilitates a rotational movement of the slat for dislodging the
foreign object.
[0010] An advantage of the slat of the material moving system
disclosed herein is that it has an anti-wedge capability.
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following more detailed description of the
preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, partly sectional side view of an
agricultural harvester having a material moving system according to
the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is cross sectional view of the material moving system
of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the rear end
of the material moving system according to the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial cross sectional view of FIG.
3 of the material moving system encountering a foreign object
according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an inverted upper perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a slat according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is taken along line 6-6 from FIG. 5 of an exemplary
embodiment of the slat according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is taken along line 7-7 from FIG. 5 of an exemplary
embodiment of the slat according to the present invention.
[0019] FIGS. 8-10 are taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5 of exemplary
embodiments of the slat according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The terms "grain", "straw" and "tailings" are used
principally throughout this specification for convenience but it is
to be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting.
Thus "grain" refers to that part of the crop material which is
threshed and separated from the discardable part of the crop
material which is referred to as "straw". Incompletely threshed
crop material is referred to as "tailings". Also the terms
"forward", "rearward", "left" and "right", when used in connection
with the combine harvester and/or components thereof are usually
determined with reference to the direction of forward operative
travel of the combine harvester, but again, they should not be
construed as limiting. The terms "longitudinal" and "transverse"
are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the
harvester and are equally not to be construed as limiting.
[0021] The combine harvester 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying
drawings, is of the axial-flow type, wherein crop material is
threshed and separated while it is advanced by and along a
longitudinally arranged rotor 27. The combine harvester comprises a
chassis or main frame 11 having a pair of driven, ground-engaging
front wheels 12 and a pair of smaller, steerable rear wheels 13.
Supported on the main frame 11 are an operator's platform 14 with
an operator's cab 15, a threshing and separating assembly 16, a
grain cleaning assembly 17, a grain tank 18 and a power plant or
engine 19. A conventional grain header 22 and a material moving
system, such as elevator assembly 23 extend forwardly of the main
chassis 11 and are pivotally secured thereto for generally vertical
movement which is controlled by appropriate actuators, such as
hydraulic cylinders (not shown).
[0022] As the combine harvester 10 is propelled forwardly over a
field with standing crop, the latter is severed from the stubble by
a sickle bar 24 at the front of the header 22 and delivered by a
header auger 25 to the inlet of the material moving system or
elevator assembly 23, which supplies the cut crop to the threshing
and separating assembly 16.
[0023] The threshing and separating assembly 16 comprises a
generally cylindrical chamber 26 in which a rotor 27 is rotated to
thresh and separate the crop received therein. That is, the crop is
rubbed and beaten between the rotors 27 and the inner surfaces of
the chambers 26, whereby the grain, seed or the like, is loosened
and separated from the straw.
[0024] Grain which has been separated by the threshing and
separating assembly 16 falls onto a first grain pan 30 of the
cleaning assembly 17 which further also comprises a pre-cleaning
sieve 31, positioned above a second grain pan 32, a pair of sieves
33, 34, disposed the one above the other, and a cleaning fan 35.
The grain pans 30, 32 and the sieves 31, 33, 34 are oscillated
generally back-and-forth for transporting threshed and separated
grain from the first grain pan 30 to the pre-cleaning sieve 31 and
the second grain pan 32 and therefrom to the sieves 33, 34. The
same oscillatory movement spreads said grain across said sieves 31,
33, 34, while permitting the passage of cleaned grain by gravity
through the apertures of these sieves. The grain on the sieves 31,
33, 34 is subjected to a cleaning action by the fan 35 which
provides an air flow through said sieves to remove chaff and other
impurities such as dust from the grain by making this material
airborne for discharge from the machine through an outlet 37 of the
straw hood 38.
[0025] Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger 40 in a clean grain
auger trough 41 and is subsequently transferred therefrom by a
grain elevator 44 to the grain tank 18. Tailings fall to a tailings
auger (not shown) in a tailings auger trough 42. The tailings are
transported sideways by said tailings auger to a separate
rethresher 43 and returned by a tailings conveyor 45 to the
cleaning assembly 17 for repeated cleaning action.
[0026] A pair of grain tank augers 46 at the bottom of the grain
tank 18 is used to urge the clean grain sideways to an unloading
tube 47 for discharge from the combine harvester 10.
[0027] As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, the material moving
system or straw elevator assembly 23 comprises a welded,
substantially parallelepiped structure or housing 50 which is
pivotably secured to the main frame 11 below the operator's
platform 14. The structure or housing 50 comprises an upper wall 52
and a lower wall 53, interconnected by a pair of side walls 54. The
rear end of the housing 50 is provided with a transverse drive
shaft 56 which extends through the side walls 54 and is provided
with a plurality of (e.g., four) sprockets 57. At the front end of
the elevator assembly 23, a drum 59 is installed for rotation
between the side walls 54. The drum has a front shaft 60 extending
through apertures in the side walls and received in bearings 61
which are mounted to pivot arms 63. At their rear ends these arms
63 are pivotably affixed to the outside of the side walls 54 at
pivots 64.
[0028] The material moving system or elevator assembly 23 comprises
a plurality of endless, flexible members or continuous loops of
flexible material, e.g. chains 66, which are trained along parallel
paths over the sprockets 57 and the front drum 59. The chains are
driven by the sprockets 57 on the drive shaft 56. Mounted across
and to the chains is a plurality of generally transverse slats 68
which will be described in further detail hereinafter.
[0029] The lower wall 53 of the housing 50 may be provided with a
wear plate along which the lower run 66a of the elevator mechanism
of the material moving system conveys the harvested crop to the
inlet of the threshing and separating assembly 16. During operation
of the material moving system or elevator assembly 23, the drive
shaft 56 is rotated in a counterclockwise (CCW) direction as seen
in FIG. 2 for the slats 68 adjacent to the front drum 59 to engage
and convey the crop material which is delivered thereto by the
header auger 25. The slats of the lower run 66a convey the crop
rearwardly and upwardly along the lower wall 53 or the wear plate,
if present, to the outlet of housing 50, where the crop is combed
away from the elevator mechanism by the front portion of the
threshing rotor 27.
[0030] In order to prevent stray material that was not removed
immediately from the elevator mechanism, falls back from the upper
run 66b onto the lower run 66a and starts wrapping around the drive
shaft 56 or accumulating around the sprockets 57, an intermediary
shielding mechanism is provided between the lower and upper runs
66a, 66b of the elevator mechanism. In the present embodiment, the
shielding mechanism comprises a stationary rear plate 70 and a
removable front plate 71. The rear plate 70 is secured, such as by
welding between and to the side walls 54 and to a transverse
tubular reinforcement 73 disposed near the drive sprockets 57. The
front plate 71 extends forwardly from the front edge of the rear
plate 70 towards the front drum 59 and is attached by bolt
mechanism 75 to the side walls 54 of the housing 50.
[0031] As illustrated collectively in FIGS. 3-10, slats 68 of the
material moving system are constructed to generally resemble
h-shaped profiles (lower case "h") or Y-shaped profiles. As further
shown in FIG. 5, slat 68 includes a middle portion or web 83
interposed between a first leg 84 and a second leg 86 extending
outwardly from one side of web 83, and a third leg extending
outwardly from an opposed side of web 83. It is the combination of
first leg 84, second leg 86, third leg 88 and web 83 that comprises
the h-shaped profiles and Y-shaped profiles of slat 68. As further
shown in FIGS. 3-4, first leg 84 provides a primary impetus for
movement of crop material in the driven direction of the material
moving system 23 (FIG. 2). In addition, third leg 88 provides a
secondary impetus for movement of crop material in the driven
direction of the material moving system 23. As further shown in
FIG. 5, web 83 includes opposed or corresponding pairs of openings
96, 98 for attaching the slats 68 to adjacent chains 66 having
different spacings from one another. That is, corresponding pairs
of openings 96 are separated by one spacing between adjacent
chains, and corresponding pairs of openings 98 are separated by a
different spacing between adjacent chains 66. As further shown in
FIG. 5, a width 92 of third leg 88 is less than a distance 100
corresponding to a minimal distance of corresponding pairs of
openings 96. Stated another way, third leg 88 is intermediate of
portions of web 83 that are securable to chains 66 of material
moving system 23. In addition to providing enhanced structural
rigidity, the h-shaped profiles and Y-shaped profiles also provide
an anti-wedge capability, as will be discussed in further detail
below.
[0032] As further shown collectively in FIGS. 2-4, slat 68 operate
as part of material moving system 23, in which slat 68 is secured
to adjacent chains 66. As further shown in FIG. 4, at least first
leg 84 encounters a foreign object 80 that becomes wedged between
first leg 84, third leg 88 and structure of the material moving
system, such as the lower wall 53 and tubular reinforcement 73. In
another foreign object encountering situation, first leg 84, second
leg 86, third leg 88 and structure of the material moving system,
such as the lower wall 53 and tubular reinforcement 73. In the
wedged condition, further driven movement of chains 66 in a
clockwise (CW) direction as shown in FIG. 3 is prevented. One
technique that is typically utilized to dislodge foreign object 80,
as shown in FIG. 4, involves reversing the direction of driven
movement of chains 66 in a counterclockwise (CCW) direction. The
technique may also include additional sets of direction reversal,
as required. In a conventional H-shaped profile (fourth leg 110 of
H-shaped profile shown in phantom line in FIG. 4), in order to
dislodge the wedged foreign object 80, a significant amount of
force must be applied to the chains 66 in the counterclockwise
(CCW) direction, as the force must collectively and simultaneously
overcome the opposed friction force between the four legs 84, 86,
88, 110 and the structure of the material moving system and the
foreign object. Stated another way, the resistance or opposed
friction requires what constitutes a "dead pull", since the
collective four legs form a stable base that generally tends to
maintain the H-shaped slat in the same orientation relative to the
structure of the material moving system, such as the lower wall 53
and tubular reinforcement 73.
[0033] In contrast to the H-shaped slat (fourth leg 110 shown in
phantom line in FIG. 4), h-shaped slat and/or Y-shaped slat, as
further shown in respective FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 each represent a
slat construction lacking a fourth leg 110. FIG. 4 yet further
shows h-shaped slat 68 encountering foreign object 80 and becoming
wedged between first leg 84, third leg 88 and structure of the
material moving system, such as the lower wall 53 and tubular
reinforcement 73. However, as a result of h-shaped slat 68 not
having fourth leg 110, h-shaped slat 68 as an anti-wedge
capability. That is, in response to h-shaped slat 68 being
subjected to the wedged arrangement with foreign object 80 and then
subjected to forces associated with bringing about driven movement
of chains 66 in a counterclockwise (CCW) direction 72, h-shaped
slat 68 does not prevent a disengaging rotational movement 82.
Disengaging rotational movement 82, as further shown in FIG. 4, may
occur in either rotational direction along a longitudinal axis of
the slat, depending upon, among other considerations, the profile
of foreign object 80. Disengaging rotational movement 82 refers to
rotational movement of h-shaped slat 68 along a longitudinal axis
of the slat relative to the structure of the material moving
system. As a result of disengaging rotational movement 82, a
reduced amount of force applied to chains 66 should result in
dislodging foreign object 80. By permitting a reduced dislodging
force, application of reversed directional forces to chains 66 are
more likely to result in successful dislodging of foreign objects,
which if unsuccessful, might otherwise force the operator to resort
to manual removal techniques.
[0034] In one embodiment, web 83 and at least one of first leg 84,
second leg 86 and third leg 88 is substantially planar and in
another embodiment is substantially rectangular. In another
embodiment, web 83 and at least one of first leg 84, second leg 86
and third leg 88 may be curved. That is, web 83 and the legs 84,
86, 88 may be configured such as shown in FIG. 7, such as taken
along line 7-7 from FIG. 5, in which web 83 may have a forward
swept position 106 or a rearward swept position 108. Alternately
and/or additionally, web 83 may be curved in a manner such as shown
in FIG. 6 in which web 83 may have a cupped or concave 102 position
or condition, or an inverted cup or convex 104 position or
condition, or a combination of both. That is, web 83 and at least
one of first leg 84, second leg 86 and third leg 88 may be curved
and remain substantially planar or may be nonplanar. Additionally,
first leg 84 and second leg 86 may be planar in one embodiment.
Another embodiment, at least one of first leg 84, second leg 86 and
third leg 88 be mutually parallel, including being mutually
perpendicular to web 83 in another embodiment, or yet in another
embodiment, at least one of first leg 84, second leg 86 and third
leg 88 may be any combination of parallel, nonparallel, curved or
any other orientation relative to each other or to web 83,
depending upon the application. In yet another embodiment, at least
one of second plate 86 and third leg 88 may include notches 90,
such as normally associated with first leg 84 as shown in FIG. 5.
In another embodiment, third leg 88 may be positioned between first
leg 84 and second leg 86 in addition to any of the other identified
combinations of positions, orientations and/or profiles relative to
one another. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the first
leg 84, second plate 86 third leg 88 and web 83 may have similar or
different thicknesses and/or may have varying thicknesses, such as
web 83 having stiffeners 94 formed therein.
[0035] While the invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *