U.S. patent application number 15/725242 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-04 for agricultural harvesting head with nested draper belt drive.
The applicant listed for this patent is Deere & Company. Invention is credited to Nathaniel R. Bernklau, Mark Schuler.
Application Number | 20190098832 15/725242 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63683086 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190098832 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schuler; Mark ; et
al. |
April 4, 2019 |
AGRICULTURAL HARVESTING HEAD WITH NESTED DRAPER BELT DRIVE
Abstract
An agricultural harvesting head.
Inventors: |
Schuler; Mark; (East Moline,
IL) ; Bernklau; Nathaniel R.; (Davenport,
IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Deere & Company |
Moline |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63683086 |
Appl. No.: |
15/725242 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 57/20 20130101;
A01D 34/04 20130101; A01D 61/002 20130101; A01D 41/14 20130101;
A01D 61/02 20130101; A01D 61/008 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01D 61/02 20060101
A01D061/02; A01D 61/00 20060101 A01D061/00 |
Claims
1. An agricultural harvesting head for harvesting crops in an
agricultural field, wherein the agricultural harvesting head is
configured to be mounted on a combine harvester, the agricultural
harvesting head comprising: an elongate frame that extends
perpendicular to a direction of travel of the harvesting head as it
travels through a field harvesting crops; a rear wall that extends
vertically and horizontally in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal extent of the frame; a conveyor system further
comprising a left side conveyor, a right side conveyor, and a
center conveyor, wherein the left side conveyor is an endless belt
conveyor configured to carry cut crop material laterally from the
left end of the frame to a central region of the frame, wherein the
right side conveyor is an endless belt conveyor configured to carry
cut crop material laterally from the right end of the frame to the
central region of the frame, and wherein the center conveyor is
disposed to receive cut crop material from both the left side
conveyor and the right side conveyor and to carry the cut crop
material rearward through a hole in the rear wall and a hole in the
frame; wherein the left side conveyor comprises an endless
recirculating belt supported on an idler roller and a drive roller;
and wherein the left side conveyor is driven by an endless drive
belt nested within the endless recirculating belt.
2. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 1, wherein the drive
roller supports the endless recirculating belt on a central section
of the drive roller, and further wherein the endless drive belt is
supported on a rear section the drive roller adjacent to and to the
rear of the central section.
3. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 2, wherein the central
section of the drive roller has a larger outer diameter than the
rear section of the drive roller.
4. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 2, wherein the rear
section of the drive roller has an outer surface with teeth or
splines that engage corresponding teeth or splines on an inner
surface of the endless drive belt.
5. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 1, further comprising
a toothed or splined pulley nested within the endless recirculating
belt between the drive roller and the idler roller.
6. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 5, wherein the endless
drive belt is wrapped around the drive roller and the splined
pulley with a tension sufficient to permit the splined pulley to
drive the drive roller.
7. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 6, further comprising
a belt tensioner coupled between the splined pulley and the frame
to apply the tension to the endless drive belt.
8. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 7, wherein the belt
tensioner is nested within the endless recirculating belt.
9. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 5, further comprising
a driveshaft, upon which the splined pulley is supported.
10. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 9, wherein a first
end of the driveshaft is nested within the endless recirculating
belt, and wherein a second end of the driveshaft extends outside
the endless recirculating belt.
11. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 10, further
comprising a drive motor disposed outside the endless recirculating
belt, wherein the drive motor is coupled to the driveshaft to drive
the driveshaft.
12. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 11, wherein the drive
motor is supported on the rear wall of the agricultural harvesting
head.
13. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 12, wherein the drive
motor is slidably supported on the rear wall of the agricultural
harvesting head.
14. The agricultural harvesting head of claim 1, wherein the right
side conveyor comprises a second endless recirculating belt
supported on a second idler roller and a second drive roller; and
wherein the right side conveyor is driven by an endless drive belt
nested within the endless recirculating belt.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to agricultural combines.
More particularly it relates to agricultural harvesting heads for
mounting on agricultural combines. Even more particularly, it
relates to draper headers for agricultural combines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Agricultural harvesters are designed to travel through
agricultural fields harvesting crops. They include a self-propelled
combine vehicle connected to an agricultural harvesting head (also
called a "header") mounted on the front of the combine.
[0003] The head is elongate and extends perpendicular to the
direction of travel of the combine. The function of the
agricultural harvesting head is to sever the crop plants from the
ground, to carry the cut crop material laterally inward to a
central portion of the header, and then to convey the cut crop
material rearward through a hole in a central rear wall of the
header. Once the cut crop material is passed through the hole, it
is received in the combine for further processing.
[0004] The agricultural harvesting head uses two side conveyors
(typically auger conveyors or an endless belt conveyors) to draw
the material laterally inward from both sides of the harvesting
head to a central region of the head. A second conveyor then
receives the cut crop material and conveys it rearward through the
hole in the head.
[0005] In one common arrangement (often called a "draper"), the
conveyors are endless belt conveyors. Each of these conveyors
comprise an endless belt that is supported at opposing ends for
recirculation about a drive roller and an idler roller. The drive
roller is mounted close to the center of the header. The idler
roller is located near an outermost lateral and of the header.
[0006] In recent years, draper headers have been increasing in
width such that they can harvest a wider swath of crop material.
Further, the combines on which they are mounted operate at greater
ground speeds. As a result, the power required to drive the side
conveyors has increased. At the same time, the headers are
constructed heavier, requiring larger components, and those
components require more space in the central region of the header.
Thus there is less space adjacent to the drive rollers on either
side of the hole to accommodate the larger motors and gearboxes
that drive the drive rollers.
[0007] MacDon, a Canadian manufacturer of draper headers, produces
a draper header with a motor coupled directly to the drive roller
of the side draper in the traditional fashion.
[0008] Honeybee, another Canadian manufacturer of draper headers,
produces a draper header in which the drive roller of the side
draper is driven by a belt, and the drive motor for the belt is
offset away from the drive roller and the hole in the header
itself.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 1,932,717 shows an endless draper belt with a
chain drive coupling the draper belt to the draper belt drive
motor.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 2,510,245 shows an endless draper belt with a
chain drive coupling the draper belt to the draper belt drive
motor.
[0011] In each of the last three arrangements, the drive belt or
drive chain is disposed behind (to the rear of) the draper belt
itself, thus requiring additional space to house the additional
drive belt/chain. This additional fore-and-aft space requires
larger header frame members and thus additional weight to the
header itself.
[0012] What is needed is an agricultural harvesting head of the
draper type having a compact side draper drive arrangement.
[0013] It is an object of this invention to provide such an
arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an
agricultural harvesting head for harvesting crops in an
agricultural field wherein the agricultural harvesting head is
configured to be mounted on a combine harvester, the agricultural
harvesting head comprising an elongate frame that extends
perpendicular to a direction of travel of the harvesting head as it
travels through a field harvesting crops; a rear wall that extends
vertically and horizontally in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal extent of the frame; a conveyor system further
comprising a left side conveyor, a right side conveyor, and a
center conveyor, wherein the left side conveyor is an endless belt
conveyor configured to carry cut crop material laterally from the
left end of the frame to a central region of the frame, wherein the
right side conveyor is an endless belt conveyor configured to carry
cut crop material laterally from the right end of the frame to the
central region of the frame, and wherein the center conveyor is
disposed to receive cut crop material from both the left side
conveyor and the right side conveyor and to carry the cut crop
material rearward through a hole in the rear wall and a hole in the
frame; wherein the left side conveyor comprises an endless
recirculating belt supported on an idler roller and a drive roller;
and wherein the left side conveyor is driven by an endless drive
belt nested within the endless recirculating belt.
[0015] The drive roller may support the endless recirculating belt
on a central section of the drive roller, and the endless drive
belt may be supported on a rear section. The drive roller may be
adjacent to and to the rear of the central section.
[0016] The central section of the drive roller may have a larger
outer diameter than the rear section of the drive roller.
[0017] The rear section of the drive roller may have an outer
surface with teeth or splines that engage corresponding teeth or
splines on an inner surface of the endless drive belt.
[0018] The agricultural harvesting head may further include a
splined pulley nested within the endless recirculating belt between
the drive roller and the idler roller.
[0019] The endless drive belt may be wrapped around the drive
roller and the splined pulley with a tension sufficient to permit
the splined pulley to drive the drive roller.
[0020] The agricultural harvesting head may further include a belt
tensioner coupled between the splined pulley and the frame to apply
the tension to the endless drive belt.
[0021] The belt tensioner may be nested within the endless
recirculating belt.
[0022] The agricultural harvesting head may further include a
driveshaft upon which the splined pulley is supported.
[0023] A first end of the driveshaft may be nested within the
endless recirculating belt, and a second end of the driveshaft may
extend outside the endless recirculating belt.
[0024] The agricultural harvesting head may further include a drive
motor disposed outside the endless recirculating belt, and the
drive motor may be coupled to the driveshaft to drive the
driveshaft.
[0025] The drive motor may be supported on the rear wall of the
agricultural harvesting head.
[0026] The drive motor may be slidably supported on the rear wall
of the agricultural harvesting head.
[0027] The right side conveyor may further include a second endless
recirculating belt supported on a second idler roller and a drive
roller; and the right side conveyor may be driven by an endless
drive belt nested within the endless recirculating belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an agricultural harvesting
head in accordance with the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the left side of
the agricultural harvesting head of FIG. 1 with the left side
draper belt removed.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the left side of the
agricultural harvesting head of FIG. 2 showing details of the left
side draper belt drive roller.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the left side of the
agricultural harvesting head of FIG. 2 showing details of the left
side draper belt drive motor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] In FIGS. 1 and 2, an agricultural harvesting head 100
comprises an elongate frame 102 that extends laterally and
perpendicular to a direction of travel "V". The frame 102 extends
substantially the entire width of the head 100. The frame 102 is
fixed to a vertical rear wall 104 that also extends substantially
the entire width of the head 100.
[0033] The frame 102 supports a conveyor system 106 that extends
forward from the bottom of the frame 102 and laterally outward,
generally perpendicular to the direction of travel "V".
[0034] Conveyor system 106 is an endless belt conveyor system, in
which each conveyor of the conveyor system 106 is supported on at
least two rollers, including a drive roller and an idler roller.
Each drive roller is coupled to a rotary drive motor which drives
the drive roller in rotation. The conveyor system 106 forms a
working floor of head 100.
[0035] Conveyor system 106 includes three conveyors: the left side
conveyor 108, right side conveyor 110, and a center conveyor 112.
These three conveyors comprise substantially the entire horizontal
working surface of the combine between the reciprocating knife 140
and the rear wall 104.
[0036] The left side conveyor 108 includes an endless recirculating
belt 114 that is supported at its inner end on a drive roller 116
located adjacent to the center conveyor 112 in the central region
of the agricultural harvesting head 100, and is supported at its
opposing outer end on a idler roller 117 that is located adjacent
to the leftmost end of the agricultural harvesting head 100.
[0037] An endless drive belt 118 is coupled at its inner end to the
drive roller 116 to drive the drive roller 116 in rotation. The
endless drive belt 118 is coupled at its opposing outer end to a
drive motor 120 which drives the endless drive belt 118 in
rotation.
[0038] The right side conveyor 110 includes an endless
recirculating belt 122 that is supported at its inner end on a
drive roller 124 located adjacent to the center conveyor 112 in the
central region of the agricultural harvesting head 100, and is
supported at its opposing outer end on an idler roller 125 that is
located adjacent to the rightmost end of the agricultural
harvesting head 100.
[0039] An endless drive belt 126 is coupled at its inner end to the
drive roller 124 to drive the drive roller 124 in rotation. The
endless drive belt 126 is coupled at its opposing outer end to a
drive motor 128 which drives the endless drive belt 126 in
rotation.
[0040] The center conveyor 112 includes an endless recirculating
belt 130 that is supported on a drive roller 132 at its rear end,
and an idler roller 134 at its front end. The drive roller 132 is
driven by a drive motor (not shown).
[0041] The drive roller 116 and the drive roller 124 are driven in
a direction that draws the upper surface of their respective
endless recirculating belts inwardly toward the central region of
the agricultural harvesting head 100. The left side conveyor 108
and the right side conveyor 110 carry the crop inwardly from the
respective left and the right ends of the agricultural harvesting
head 100. The cut crop material is carried over the top of the
drive roller 116 and the drive roller 124 and is deposited upon the
endless recirculating belt 130 of the center conveyor 112.
[0042] The drive roller 132 of the center conveyor 112 is driven in
a direction that draws the upper surface of the endless
recirculating belt 130 in a rearward direction. This carries cut
crop material deposited upon the center conveyor 112 rearwardly,
and underneath a drum conveyor 136. The drum conveyor 136 is driven
in a direction that engages the top of the cut crop material and
pulls it underneath the drum conveyor 136 itself. The crop material
carried rearward underneath the drum conveyor 136 is ejected
through a rectangular hole 138 in the rear wall of the agricultural
harvesting head 100. The cut crop material passing through the
rectangular hole 138 is received in a feederhouse (not shown) of an
agricultural combine (not shown) in the conventional manner.
[0043] An elongate reciprocating knife 140 is fixed to a forward
lower edge of the frame 102 and extends across the entire width of
the agricultural harvesting head 100 along the lower forward margin
of the head 100. Knife 140 is disposed immediately in front of and
at the same height as the forward edge of the endless recirculating
belts of the left side conveyor 108 and the right side conveyor
110.
[0044] Agricultural combines carry the agricultural harvesting head
100 through the field harvesting crops in a direction "V" (FIG. 1).
As the knife 140 engages crop plants, it severs the crop plants
adjacent to the ground, the cut crop plants fall backwards and onto
the endless belts of the conveyor system 106.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates details of the left side conveyor 108.
The right side conveyor 110 is configured identically to the left
side conveyor 108, but in mirror image form. Therefore, the
discussion below regarding the construction and operation of the
left side conveyor 108 is equally applicable to the right side
conveyor 110.
[0046] In FIGS. 2 and 4, the drive roller 116 has a central section
200 with an outside diameter "D". The central section 200 supports
the endless recirculating belt 114 which contacts the outer surface
of the central section 200 and is driven by the central section
200. The drive roller 116 has a rear section 202 which has a
diameter "d". The diameter "d" is smaller than the diameter "D".
The belt 114 extends around, but does not contact the rear section
202. The rear section 202 has a toothed or splined outer surface.
This outer surface supports and engages the endless drive belt 118,
which drives the drive roller 116 in rotation.
[0047] Endless drive belt 118 wraps around and rests on the outer
surface of the rear section 202. Endless drive belt 118 has teeth
or splines on its inside surface that engage the mating teeth or
splines on the outer surface of the rear section 202. The mutual
interengagement of these toothed/splined surfaces permit the
endless drive belt 118 to communicate significant torque to the
drive roller 116 in spite of its reduced diameter (as compared to
the diameter of the central section 200).
[0048] The diameter of the outer surface of the drive belt 118 as
it passes over the drive roller 116 is greater than the diameter
"d" of the rear section 202 and less than the diameter "D" of the
central section 200. A small clearance is provided between the
inner surface of the endless recirculating belt 114 and the outer
surface of the endless drive belt 118. This clearance prevents
friction between belt 114 and belt 118 and permits material from
being trapped between the two belts.
[0049] The drive roller 116 is supported on bearings at its
opposing ends to permit the drive roller 116 to freely rotate when
driven by the drive motor 120. The drive roller 116 is held in
place by the frame 102. This maintains the drive roller 116 in a
fixed position with respect to the frame 102.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, the outer loop of the endless drive
belt 118 is also nested within the endless recirculating belt 114.
The outer loop is supported on a driveshaft 400 which has a front
portion 402 nested entirely within the endless recirculating belt
114, and a rear portion 403 extending outside the endless
recirculating belt 114. The front portion 402 supports a toothed or
splined pulley 404 which is driven by the driveshaft 400. The outer
loop of the endless drive belt 118 wraps around the splined pulley
404 and is driven by the pulley 404. The pulley 404 has teeth that
are sized to engage the teeth or splines on the inner surface of
the endless drive belt 118.
[0051] A belt tensioner 406 is also disposed nested within the
endless recirculating belt 114. The belt tensioner includes a body
408 having internal springs that apply outward pressure on guide
pins 410 which extend through the body. These guide pins 410 are
fixed to bearing supports 412, 414, which are disposed on opposite
sides of the pulley 404. Bearings 416, 418 are respectively
disposed between the bearing supports 412, 414 and the driveshaft
400. Bearings 416, 418 are disposed to permit the free rotation of
the driveshaft 400, while applying a constant outward pressure to
the driveshaft 400. In this manner, the belt tensioner 406
maintains sufficient tension in endless drive belt 118 so that it
can be driven by driveshaft 400 and can communicate torque and
power to the drive roller 116.
[0052] The rear portion 403 of the driveshaft 400 is coupled to a
reduction gearbox 420 which drives the driveshaft 400. The
reduction gearbox 420 is coupled to the drive motor 120, which
drives the reduction gearbox 420. Thus, the drive motor 120 is
coupled to and drives the driveshaft 400.
[0053] In order to permit the 406 to function, the driveshaft 400
must be permitted to move in a direction perpendicular to the
rotational axis of the driveshaft 400. This movement is enabled by
the support structure used to support the drive motor 120 and the
reduction gearbox 420 on frame 102. In particular, four headed
fasteners 422 are fixed to and extend forward from the casing of
the reduction gearbox 420. These fasteners 422 extend through four
corresponding slots 424 that are formed in the frame 102. The slots
424 extend parallel to the longitudinal extent of the frame and
parallel to the longitudinal extent of the endless recirculating
belt 114. The fasteners 422 slide within the slots 424, and
therefore permit lateral movement of the reduction gearbox 420 (and
hence the driveshaft 400) both toward and away from the drive
roller 116. As the belt tensioner 406 applies force to the
driveshaft 400, it causes the driveshaft 400 to move away from the
drive roller 116, thereby tensioning the endless drive belt 118 as
the headed fasteners 422 simultaneously slide within slots 424.
[0054] The invention is defined by the claims. The description and
figures in this document are intended to show a few ways of making
and using the claimed invention. Other ways of making the claimed
invention are known to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *