Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080256914 | Method and device for automatically coupling a combine feeder interface and a combine header via a stationary gearbox - An automatic coupling and latching assembly, for coupling a combine feeder and a combine header from the cab of a combine harvester, said assembly comprising a stationary gearbox with a telescopic jackshaft assembly extending therefrom, a shift fork activation unit, and comprising spring loaded retainers, is disclosed. | 10-23-2008 |
20080271425 | Apparatus and method for automatically coupling of electrical and hyraulic systems of a header of an agricultural harvesting machine - Apparatus and method for automatically coupling fluid systems and electrical systems, respectively, of a header and a feeder of an agricultural combine as the header is lifted by the feeder. The feeder and header include lifting elements pivotably engageable with lower portions of the feeder and header spaced apart, such that when the feeder is raised, the header will be lifted by the feeder and pivoted so as to bring the lower portions together. A first coupler block is supported on the feeder and includes at least one fluid coupler and at least one electrical contact, and a second coupler block is supported on the header and also includes at least one fluid coupler and at least one electrical contact. The fluid couplers and the electrical contacts are configured and positioned so as to couple and be brought into contact, respectively, as the lower portions of the feeder and the header are brought together. They can also automatically uncouple when the header is removed from the feeder. | 11-06-2008 |
20080290198 | Knife bank assembly of a counter knife assembly of an integral chopper assembly of a combine harvester - An improved knife bank assembly of a counter knife assembly of an integral chopper assembly of a combine harvester that includes an elongated bracket member that extends between opposed knife bank end plates and has a plurality of spaced retainment mounts securable therealong, with at least one, and preferably two, knife blades being removably connectable to each retainment mount in a side-by-side arrangement. The bracket member is preferably mounted to a shaft member that extends between concave pan side plates to be slidable along such shaft member to permit adjustable positioning of the knife bank assembly and the knife elements thereof relative to the slots of the grate portion, and the retainment mounts are preferably removably securable to the bracket member. The knife elements are removably connectable to the retainment mounts at first and second space mounting points, preferably in such a way that the knife elements are maintained in an extended position by application of a biasing force at the second mounting point but are rotatable about the first mounting point to a displaced or relaxed position if a sufficient force is applied to the leading edge of the knife element to overcome the biasing force. | 11-27-2008 |
20080293462 | Concave pan portion of an integral chopper assembly of a combine harvester - A concave pan portion of an integral chopper assembly that includes a concave pan shell portion with a separate grate portion that may be easily installed into and removed from an intermediate opening in such concave pan portion for replacement in the event of undesirable wear thereto, and a separate interruption plate installable downstream from the slots in the grate portion for the purpose of effecting a lower mean length of chop (LOC) as the integral chopper assembly operates. The separate grate portion is configured to be installable to fill the intermediate opening in the concave pan shell portion, with a plurality of slots therethrough positioned side-by-side in the crossways direction to accommodate knife elements that are part of the counter knife assembly. Preferably, such separate grate portion may be crossways adjustable to some degree within the intermediate opening. The interruption plate is configured to extend generally crossways across the concave pan portion, downstream from the slots of the grate portion to project upwardly into and across the passageway between the rotary chopper element and the concave pan portion so as to interrupt the flow of residue past the integral chopper assembly to permit the residue to be chopped into shorter pieces, resulting in a lower mean length of chop (LOC) as the integral chopper assembly operates. | 11-27-2008 |
20090048744 | Distribution leveling for an agricultural combine - A method and system for controlling distribution of crop material to a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine, for reducing grain loss, including while the combine is tilted sidewardly relative to horizontal, involving controlling the angular orientation of a distributor disposed between a threshing system of the combine and the sieve, for distributing a mat of the crop material onto the sieve evenly across an extent thereof. The angular orientation of the distributor can be set in advance of tilting of the combine, to adjust for a variety of conditions, including uneven outputting of the crop material from the threshing system, and the set orientation can be automatically maintained or actively adjusted to control a desired operating parameter such as grain loss, even as the combine is variously tilted and the angular orientation of the sieve relative to the combine is independently adjusted to maintain the sieve horizontal. | 02-19-2009 |
20090197656 | Rigid rotor discharge deflector - A rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus for a combine has a body member that is attachable to the side wall of a discharge passage at the downstream end of the rotor. The body has a face portion with at least one ridge portion thereon extending generally laterally across at least a portion of the face portion. The body also has an upper body portion above the level of the ridge portion, an upper ramp portion sloped and extending outwardly from the upper body portion to the ridge portion, and a bracing associated with the upper ramp portion maintaining the ridge portion essentially fixed relative to the side wall. The body member may also include a lower body portion below the level of the ridge portion, and the upper and lower body portions may both be attachable to the side wall. | 08-06-2009 |
20090197657 | Rigid rotor discharge deflector - A rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus for a combine has a body member that is attachable to the side wall of a discharge passage at the downstream end of the rotor. The body has a face portion with at least one ridge portion thereon extending generally laterally across at least a portion of the face portion. The body also has an upper body portion above the level of the ridge portion, an upper ramp portion sloped and extending outwardly from the upper body portion to the ridge portion, and a bracing associated with the upper ramp portion maintaining the ridge portion essentially fixed relative to the side wall. The body member may also include a lower body portion below the level of the ridge portion, and the upper and lower body portions may both be attachable to the side wall. | 08-06-2009 |
20090215510 | Collecting trough construction easily accessible for cleaning - A collecting trough construction for facilitating the clean out of collecting troughs of clean grain and tailings collecting and conveying systems of agricultural combines, such collecting trough construction including a base pan sized and dimensioned to extend longitudinally between first and second cross-pieces of such a collecting and conveying system, one of which cross-pieces may be a clean grain auger trough or a tailings auger trough, and laterally generally between the sidesheets of a combine, with collecting troughs formed in the upper side thereof, which base pan has first and second ends and is positionable between the first and second cross-pieces with the first end of the auger trough base pan adjacent the first cross-piece and the second end of the auger trough base pan adjacent the second cross-piece to be readily complementarily engageable therewith and wholly or partially disengageable therefrom by a user to permit convenient access to the formed collecting troughs for cleaning thereof. Preferably, the base pan is, alternatively, partially detachable to permit access for cleaning by a user in an in-place clean-out position or wholly removable to permit the removal of such base pan to a remote location for cleaning by the user thereat. | 08-27-2009 |
20090264169 | Dual action corn cob separation and corn cob separator - A dual action corn cob separation and attendant corn cob separator, having a plurality of generally vertical or generally longitudinally elongated slots, and having disposed therebetween at least two of said slots, at least one generally vertical or longitudinal in-line row of smaller slots or openings, whereby whole corn cobs can be more effectively harvested. | 10-22-2009 |
20100018177 | AGRICULTURAL COMBINE WITH INTERNAL COB DE-HUSKING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - The combine includes internal apparatus incorporated into a system for threshing corn kernels from cobs, positively de-husking the cobs, cleaning other crop residue or material from the kernels, and direct the cleaned kernels and de-husked cobs to desired locations. The de-husking apparatus can include a modified type of husking bed, and is disposed for receiving a flow of grain, cobs and other residue from threshing apparatus of the combine, and positively grasping and pulling the remaining husks from the cobs and downwardly through the husking bed for disposal such as by discharge from the combine onto a field, with or separately from the other residue. | 01-28-2010 |
20100048269 | FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTION AND REMOVAL SYSTEM FOR A COMBINE HARVESTER - A foreign object detection and removal system for an agricultural combine is provided. The system includes a controller operatively connected to a feederhouse and a chopper assembly. The feederhouse includes an acoustic element for detecting foreign objects and an actuator for opening and closing a door of the feederhouse to remove foreign objection. The chopper assembly includes an actuator to retract a knife bank to allow for the passage of foreign objects through the chopper assembly without causing damage to the chopper assembly. | 02-25-2010 |
20100113113 | AGRICULTURAL COMBINE GRAIN CLEANING SIEVE WITH ADJUSTABLE SPACING SYSTEM - A sieve for a grain cleaning system of an agricultural combine, including a system providing enhanced adjustability of spacing, including capacities for quickly and easily varying a number of rows of sieve fingers, spacing between the rows, and angular orientation of the fingers, such that better sieve performance, and cleaning action above the sieve, can be achieved for a particular grain or seed size and other conditions, particularly very large sizes and very small sizes. | 05-06-2010 |
20100124482 | Transverse fan assembly having a supplementary air feed inlet for infill of air flow deficiencies to effect a desired output air flow pattern, and method of use thereof - A transverse fan assembly, including for use with agricultural combine harvesters, which fan assembly includes a supplementary air feed inlet for the infill of air flow voids or deficiencies in the air flow pathway from the air inlet of the transverse fan assembly to the air inlet entryway so as to effect a desired, generally more uniform, output air flow pattern across the entire expanse of the air outlet of the transverse fan assembly, and a method of use thereof. | 05-20-2010 |
20100178171 | Cut-off construction for transverse fan assemblies that have elongated fan blades of arcuate cross-section - A cut-off construction for a transverse fan assembly, including for use with agricultural combine harvesters, to permit the transverse fan assembly to be operated to provide increased air flow volume at a lower rotational fan speed, which cut-off construction includes generally planar inner surfaces on first and second body portions that are positioned laterally to one another along the top of the output throat of the air plenum of the transverse fan assembly between the outer periphery of the fan and a baffle construction of the transverse fan, such that the inner surface of the first body portion is disposed at a cut-off inclination angle α, dependent upon certain parameters of the fan, and the inner surfaces of the first and second body portions intersect with one another in such a way that an upper wall for the output throat is formed by the cut-off construction and by the baffle construction of the fan assembly, which upper wall has a concavity formed therein and therealong near the outer periphery of the fan that effects a shift of the steering vortex of the fan in such a way as to permit the fan to operate with increased air flow volume at lower rotational fan speed. | 07-15-2010 |
20100290878 | Bulk Materials Cart Having Dual Unload Capability - The bulk materials cart has a dual unload system including at least two inclined belt conveyors bounding an enclosed cavity. A first belt conveyor is operable for conveying bulk materials from the cavity to an unloading conveyor extendable from that side of the cart. A second belt conveyor is operable for conveying bulk materials upwardly and over another side of the cart. The dual unload system is automatically operable in a first mode operating the first belt conveyor and the unloading conveyor for conveying the bulk materials away from the cart, and in a second mode operating the second belt conveyor for conveying the bulk materials over the side of the cart. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290879 | UNLOADER SYSTEM WITH CAM OPERATED RAISE SYSTEM - The unloader system has a conveyor and a raise system having an elongate support element including a flexible first end portion and an opposite second end, the first end portion being connected to a support structure at a location higher than a first end of the conveyor, and the second end being connected to the conveyor at a location therealong adjacent to a free end thereof. A cam element is disposed on the support structure in a path of movement of the flexible first end portion of the support element such that as the conveyor is pivoted from the stored position toward the operating position the flexible first end portion will conformingly engage or bend about the cam element to raise the free end of the conveyor. The conveyor can include an elbow which is straightened by this action for raising the free end. | 11-18-2010 |
20100291980 | CORN COB CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH POSITIVE DE-HUSKING CAPABILITY - A conveyor system for receiving corn cobs with husks still attached thereto after harvesting of the corn from the cobs, and detaching the husks from the cobs, including a conveyor inclined at an angle of at least about 30 degrees and bounding a passage for receiving a flow of the cobs including the husks attached thereto, the conveyor including apparatus configured and operable for mechanically grasping and detaching the husks from the cobs and pulling the detached husks through the conveyor, and at least one blower configured and operable for urging the husks within the passage toward the apparatus. The conveyor system can be provided in connection with a cob collection device, such as on a trailer to be towed by a harvester. The conveyor system can also include an additional conveyor or conveyors, optionally including apparatus for removing or cleaning crop residue from the cobs. | 11-18-2010 |
20100291981 | CORN COB CLEANING SYSTEM - A cleaning system for corn cobs incorporating a conveyor system providing a capability for positively removing or cleaning other crop residue from the cobs, which is adapted to be towed by a harvester; to be incorporated with a cob collecting device; and which can be adjustable for varying corn varieties, conditions and the like. The conveyor system includes at least one enclosed inclined conveyor for carrying a flow of the crop residue upwardly and propelling the flow into a space, while a flow of air is directed downwardly along the conveyor to remove other residue material from the cobs. Another flow of air is optionally directed downwardly through the space for removing additional material other than cobs, and at least one aspect of the system can be adjusted for relatively varying the air flows to adapt the system for a variety of conditions. | 11-18-2010 |
20110029205 | Positive Open Grain Saving Unloading System - An unloading system for an agricultural harvesting machine for reducing grain loss by detaining a grain saver door after movement to a fully open position during the unloading process, and by rapidly returning the door to a closed position with sufficient force for urging grain in the door area back into an unloading tube a predetermined time after the unloading process pauses or ceases. The system can advantageously detain the door in the open position in the presence of varying or reduced amounts of grain for increasing consistency and cohesiveness in the flow discharging grain and reduce the amount of grain remaining near a discharge end of the unloading tube when the door is in the closed position. | 02-03-2011 |
20110034222 | CORN COB CLEANING CONVEYOR SYSTEM - The cob cleaning conveyor system provides a capability for positively removing or cleaning lighter crop residue from a flow of cobs. The system can be incorporated with a cob collection device, such as on a trailer, and can be adjustable in several ways for accommodating varying corn varieties, conditions and the like. The system includes a first conveyor which propels the flow into a gap or passage toward a second conveyor, while a flow of air is directed downwardly through the passage to remove or clean the lighter residue material from the cobs. The angle of attack of the air flow can be selectable, and optionally be directed downwardly along the second conveyor to the passage, and upwardly along the second conveyor to travel with or follow the residue flow, to suit present conditions. | 02-10-2011 |
20110136556 | Agricultural Combine Unloader Extension - An agricultural combine unloader extension is provided that can be used to extend the reach of conventional unloader tubes and for preventing the loss of crop material residing within the unloader tube from falling out and becoming waste. The unloader extension is hingedly connected to the unloader tube and configured to be moved from a discharging position to a closed or storage position. | 06-09-2011 |
20110143827 | HELICAL BAR CONCAVE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING - A helical bar concave comprising a grate having helical mounting framework and helical cutouts to form a percent open area having a helical geometry. Configurable and segmented rub bars are mounted in a helical fashion to a cylindrical helical surface of the grate. A method of manufacturing a helical bar concave from a flat, rolled laser cut arrangement that provides a net helical concave functionality. Laser cutting a flat metal sheet to form helical cutouts defining a percent open area having a helical geometry in combination with configurable rub bars mounted in a helical fashion results in a configurable helical bar concave in which the number or aggressiveness of the threshing surface on the inside radius of the grate may be changed and/or the rub bars may be moved to the outside of the grate to change the percent open area and hence the separation characteristics of the concave. | 06-16-2011 |
20110199221 | HARVESTER BIN SENSOR - A harvester grain bin monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a sensor that monitors the perimeter of the bin proximate to the top rim to provide a warning to an operator when the grain level reaches approaches the bin rim. The sensor may be optical or mechanical. | 08-18-2011 |
20110320087 | REMOTE CONTROL ADJUSTABLE THRESHING CAGE VANE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for remote control of an adjustable threshing cage vane, including while the threshing system is operating, for improving threshing performance and other operating parameters, utilizes an actuator in connection with the at least one vane and remotely controllable for adjustably varying the position thereof, e.g, pitch angle, within the cage for altering the path of the flow of the crop material therethrough. The remote control can be via an automatic controller to provide control responsive to one or more monitored operating parameters, such as grain loss, grain flow, ground speed, and/or throughput, as well as inputted commands. | 12-29-2011 |
20120202568 | KNIVES FOR ROTARY CHOPPER ASSEMBLY OF A COMBINE HARVESTER - A rotor chopper assembly including a chopper rotor having a mounting lug. A knife blade includes a body having an opening arrangement configured to receive a retention device securing the body to a member that is rotatably connected to the mounting lug of the chopper rotor. During unobstructed operation of the rotor chopper assembly, the body is centrifugally urged radially outward from the mounting lug. In response to the body striking an obstruction during operation of the rotor chopper assembly, the body is urged into rotational movement until the retention device abuts a stop formed in the mounting lug. An angle subtended between axes defining unobstructed operation and stop abutment is different for at least two openings of the arrangement of openings formed in the body. | 08-09-2012 |
20120208607 | BIOMASS CONVEYING AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM FOR A HARVESTER - A biomass conveying and distributing system for separating and distributing lighter biomass residue from heavier or denser biomass, utilizing available air flow from the cleaning system of the harvester. The harvester will discharge a flow of heavier or denser biomass with an airborne flow of lighter biomass residue. The system includes a conveyor for receiving and conveying the heavier or denser biomass, and residue distributing apparatus disposed above the conveyor in a path of at least a portion of the airborne flow of lighter residue, including at least one deflector configured and operable for redirecting the airborne flow sidewardly away from the conveyor, above a passage through which the conveyor passes carrying the heavier biomass away from the harvester. | 08-16-2012 |
20120208608 | CORN COB CONVEYING AND CLEANING SYSTEM USING INDUCTION AND AIR FLOW FROM A HARVESTER FOR SEPARATING AND SPREADING LIGHT CROP RESIDUE - A cob conveying and cleaning system for use with a corn harvester, incorporating air induction in cooperation with an air flow from the harvester, for cleaning and separating lighter crop residue to be returned to the field from a mixed flow of the residue and cobs, such that the cleaned cobs can be collected, and the lighter residue optionally spread on the field. The air flow and induction are combined to cooperatively lift or draw the lighter residue from the mixed flow, and to optionally spread the removed lighter residue over a field, if desired. The induction apparatus can be located on the harvester, and used as a residue spreader when cobs are not collected. | 08-16-2012 |
20120208609 | RESIDUE SEPARATING FEED SYSTEM FOR BIOMASS - A feed system for a biomass collection device uses a conveyor for dropping a flow comprising a mixture of denser or heavier biomass to be collected such as cobs, and less dense or lighter biomass residue such as leaf trash, through a space, and rotary feed apparatus below for receiving the flow, operable for propelling the received flow into a collection device, in combination with a fan configured and operable for directing a flow of air along a second path intersecting the first path in a manner to divert at least a substantial portion of the less dense or lighter biomass residue away from the feed apparatus, while allowing substantially all of the denser or heavier biomass to continue along the first path to the feed apparatus for feeding into the collection device. Distribution apparatus along the second path can then be used to spread the diverted biomass. | 08-16-2012 |
20120208610 | BIOMASS FEED SYSTEM USING AN AIR BLANKET FOR IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION WITHIN A COLLECTION DEVICE - A biomass feed system includes a device to propel an airborne flow of the biomass along a trajectory within a collection device. At least one air flow port is disposed and operable in cooperation with at least one fan for discharging a flow of air for creating a blanket of pressurized air within the interior cavity beneath the trajectory for supporting and extending a distance of travel of the biomass within the collection device. The collection device can include an air flow outlet adjacent to a terminal end of the trajectory, to and through which the pressurized air will flow, in a manner for lifting and carrying at least some of the airborne biomass farther into the interior cavity. And, vanes or other elements can be provided to used to achieve better sideward distribution. | 08-16-2012 |
20130116018 | HARVESTER DELIVERY CONTROL SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for distributing crop material onto a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine. The method includes providing at least one sensor configured and operable for sensing information representative of at least one of a quantity of grain associated with the crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with the crop material distributor, and outputting signals representative thereof. The method includes providing a crop material distributor disposed between a threshing system of the combine and the sieve, for distributing crop material from the threshing system generally evenly onto the sieve. The method includes providing an apparatus operably associated with the distributor for controllably distributing crop material onto the sieve. The method includes controlling a position of the apparatus as a function of signals from the at least one sensor. | 05-09-2013 |
20140097160 | Helical Bar Concave - A method of manufacturing a helical bar concave from a flat, rolled laser cut arrangement that provides a net helical concave functionality. Laser cutting a flat metal sheet to form helical cutouts defining a percent open area having a helical geometry in combination with configurable rub bars mounted in a helical fashion results in a configurable helical bar concave in which the number or aggressiveness of the threshing surface on the inside radius of the grate may be changed and/or the rub bars may be moved to the outside of the grate to change the percent open area and hence the separation characteristics of the concave. | 04-10-2014 |
20150027854 | SUPERCHARGING FEED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A BELT IN TUBE CONVEYOR - A system and method for supercharging the feed system for a belt in tube conveyor for agricultural products, which enables achieving a full or near full fill level of the conveyor belt entering the intake end of the conveyor tube. The invention uses a crop delivery apparatus operable to propel an airborne flow of the crop material at least largely in a direction of movement of the conveyor belt, onto the belt surface after formation into a concave shape conforming to a lower portion of the conveyor tube. Additional capabilities include the ability to propel the crop material into an intake end of the conveyor tube, and provision of enclosing structure for containing and focusing the crop material flow. The system can accommodate various angles of tilt and sideward pivotal movement of the conveyor. | 01-29-2015 |