Header Tilt Mechanism

Abstract

An agricultural harvester including a chassis and a header for gathering a crop and feeding it into the agricultural harvester. The agricultural harvester further includes a threshing and separating system, a grain cleaning system for separating grain from MOG, and a feeder housing for moving the crop gathered by the header from the header into the threshing and separating system. The agricultural harvester further includes a header tilt mechanism that allows the header to tilt in order to follow ground contours. The header tilt mechanism may use a face plate movably attached to the feeder housing. The header tilt mechanism includes at least one straight line linkage movably connecting the header to the feeder housing. The feeder housing or header tilt mechanism may be provided with hydraulic cylinders or pressure controlling or limiting arrangements.

Claims

1. An agricultural harvester comprising: a feeder housing comprising a front; a header for gathering a crop and feeding it into the feeder housing, the header comprising an attachment bracket; a header tilt mechanism connecting the header to the feeder housing, the header tilt mechanism configured for providing the header an ability to tilt relative to the front of the feeder housing in order to follow ground contours, the header tilt mechanism comprising at least one straight line linkage movably connecting the feeder housing to the attachment bracket of the header.

2. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the at least one straight line linkage is one of a Robert's mechanism, a Watts linkage, a Chebyshev linkage, and a Peaucellier-Lipkin linkage.

3. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein: the header tilt mechanism further comprises an upper pivot located near a top and center of the front of the feeder housing relative to which the header pivots, and the at least one straight line linkage is located in a lower corner of the front of the feeder housing, and the at least one straight line linkage movably connecting the header to the lower corner of the front of the feeder housing.

4. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the at least one straight line linkage comprises a first radius link, a second radius link, and a T-link.

5. The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein the first radius link and the second radius link are connected to the feeder housing and the T-link is connected to the header.

6. The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein: the at least one straight line linkage further comprises a pitch plate linkage mounting bracket comprising a slot, and the T-link passes through the slot in the pitch plate linkage mounting bracket for connecting to the header.

7. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, further comprising a faceplate, wherein the header is releasably connected to the header tilt mechanism by way of the face plate.

8. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, further comprising a sliding ball joint connecting the at least one straight line linkage to the header.

9. The agricultural harvester of claim 8, further comprising a linkage axle, wherein: the header tilt mechanism further comprises an upper pivot located near a top and center of the front of the feeder housing relative to which the header pivots, the sliding ball joint slides along the linkage axle, and the linkage axle has an axis that intersects an axis of the upper pivot.

10. The agricultural harvester of claim 9, wherein: the connection between the at least one straight line linkage and the header describes a straight line upon articulation of the at least one straight line linkage, the straight line being tangential to a circle centered on the upper pivot.

11. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the header tilt mechanism further comprises at least one hydraulic tilt cylinder.

12. The agricultural harvester of claim 11, wherein the header tilt mechanism further comprises a pressure controlling or limiting arrangement for the at least one hydraulic tilt cylinder of the header tilt mechanism.

13. The agricultural harvester of claim 12, wherein the pressure controlling or limiting arrangement comprises a hydraulic pressure accumulator.

14. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the header further comprises gauge wheels.

15. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the feeder housing further comprises at least one heave cylinder and a pressure controlling or limiting arrangement for the at least one heave cylinder.

16. A header tilt mechanism for connecting an attachment bracket of a header of an agricultural harvester to a feeder housing of the agricultural harvester, the header tilt mechanism comprising: at least one straight line linkage movably connecting the feeder housing to the attachment bracket of the header, wherein the header tilt mechanism is configured for providing the header an ability to tilt relative to a front of the feeder housing in order to follow ground contours.

17. The header tilt mechanism of claim 16, wherein the at least one straight line linkage is one of a Robert's mechanism, a Watts linkage, a Chebyshev linkage, and a Peaucellier-Lipkin linkage.

18. The header tilt mechanism of claim 16, further comprising an upper pivot configured to be located near a top and center of the front of the feeder housing relative to which the header pivots, wherein the at least one straight line linkage is further configured to be located in a lower corner of the front of the feeder housing, and wherein the at least one straight line linkage is further configured for movably connecting the header to the lower corner of the front of the feeder housing.

19. The header tilt mechanism of claim 16, wherein the at least one straight line linkage comprises a first radius link, a second radius link, and a T-link.

20. The header tilt mechanism of claim 19, wherein the first radius link and the second radius link are configured to be connected to the feeder housing and the T-link is configured to be connected to the header.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an agricultural harvester, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a sliding joint portion of a conventional header tilt mechanism;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a front view of a header tilt mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 4 is another front view of a header tilt mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a straight line linkage portion of a header tilt mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 6 is another isometric view of a straight line linkage portion of a header tilt mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 7 is another isometric view of a straight line linkage portion of a header tilt mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a front view of a straight line linkage portion of a header tilt mechanism according, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 9 is another isometric view of a straight line linkage portion of a header tilt mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 10 is another front view of a straight line linkage portion of a header tilt mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a straight line linkage, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 12 is another isometric view of a straight line linkage, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 13 is a normal view of a straight line linkage, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 14 is another normal view of a straight line linkage, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 15A is a partial side view of a header connected to a feeder housing by way of an alternative embodiment of a straight line linkage, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 15B is a partial side view of a header connected to a feeder housing by way of another alternative embodiment of a straight line linkage, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0035] FIG. 15C is a partial side view of a header connected to a feeder housing by way of another alternative embodiment of a straight line linkage, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] 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 non-grain crop material, MOG or straw. Incompletely threshed crop material is referred to as tailings. Also the terms forward, rearward, left and right, when used in connection with the agricultural harvester and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the 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 agricultural harvester and are equally not to be construed as limiting.

[0038] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an agricultural harvester in the form of a combine 10, which generally includes a chassis 12, ground engaging wheels 14 and 16, a header 18 with gauge wheels 96, a feeder housing 20, an operator cab 22, a threshing and separating system 24, a grain cleaning system 26, a grain tank 28, and an unloading auger 30. It should be appreciated that while the agricultural harvester is shown as combine 10, the agricultural harvester according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be any type of construction that allows for crop material to be harvested such as a conventional combine (which does not have a rotor), rotary combine, hybrid combine, chopper harvester, etc.

[0039] Front wheels 14 are larger flotation type wheels, and rear wheels 16 are smaller steerable wheels. Motive force is selectively applied to front wheels 14 through a power plant in the form of a diesel engine 32 and a transmission (not shown). Although combine 10 is shown as including wheels, is also to be understood that combine 10 may include tracks, such as full tracks or halftracks. Header 18 is mounted to the front of combine 10 and includes a cutter bar 34 for severing crops from a field during forward motion of combine 10. A rotatable reel 36 feeds the crop into header 18, and an auger 38 feeds the severed crop laterally inwardly from each side toward feeder housing 20. Feeder housing 20 conveys the cut crop to threshing and separating system 24, and is selectively vertically movable using appropriate actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders 72, known as heave cylinders.

[0040] Threshing and separating system 24 may include a rotor 40 and a perforated concave 42. The cut crops are threshed and separated by the rotation of rotor 40 within concave 42, and larger elements, such as stalks, leaves and the like are discharged from the rear of combine 10. Smaller elements of crop material including grain and non-grain crop material, including particles lighter than grain, such as chaff, dust and straw, are discharged through perforations of concave 42. Grain which has been separated by the rotor 40 and perforated concaves 42 falls onto a main grain pan 44 and is conveyed toward grain cleaning system 26. Grain cleaning system 26 may include an optional pre-cleaning sieve 46, an upper sieve 48 (also known as a chaffer sieve), a lower sieve 50 (also known as a shoe sieve), and a cleaning fan 52. Grain on sieves 46, 48 and 50 is subjected to a cleaning action by fan 52 which provides an airflow through the sieves to remove chaff and other impurities from the grain by making this material airborne for discharge from straw hood 54 of combine 10. Main grain pan 44 and pre-cleaning sieve 46 oscillate or reciprocate to transport the grain and finer non-grain crop material to the upper surface of upper sieve 48. Upper sieve 48 and lower sieve 50 are vertically arranged relative to each other, and likewise oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to spread the grain across sieves 48, 50, while permitting the passage of cleaned grain by gravity through the openings of sieves 48, 50.

[0041] Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger 56 positioned crosswise below and in front of lower sieve 50. Clean grain auger 56 receives clean grain from each sieve 48, 50 and from bottom pan 58 of grain cleaning system 26. Clean grain auger 56 conveys the clean grain laterally to a generally vertically arranged grain elevator 60 for transport to grain tank 28. Tailings from grain cleaning system 26 fall to a tailings auger on 62. The tailings are transported via tailings auger 64 and return auger 66 to the upstream end of grain cleaning system 26 for repeated cleaning action. A pair of grain tank augers 68 at the bottom of grain tank 28 convey the clean grain laterally within grain tank 28 to unloading auger 30 for discharge from combine 10. The non-grain crop material proceeds through a residue handling system 70. Residue handling system 70 may include a chopper, counter knives, a windrow door and a residue spreader.

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 2, a conventional sliding joint 84 is shown, which is part of an overall header tilt mechanism 98, the full extent of which will become apparent in subsequent figures. The front of feeder housing 20 is provided with a pitch plate 90, which defines a generally planar front portion of the feeder housing 20. A sliding joint bolt 86 moves in a sliding joint slot 88, allowing face plate 80 to rotate about an upper face plate pivot axle 82 (not shown in FIG. 2). Because sliding joint 84 relies on sliding contact, it tends to produce excessive friction and is subject to the effects of contamination. A lock device 94 is provided for attaching the face plate 80 to the header 18 (not shown in FIG. 2).

[0043] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a header tilt mechanism 98 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The front of feeder housing 20 terminates in a pitch plate 90, which again defines a generally planar front portion of the feeder housing 20. A face plate 80 rotates about upper face plate pivot axle 82 and is provided with a lock lever 92 and lock devices 94 useful for attaching face plate 80 to the header 18 (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The header tilt mechanism 98 shown in FIG. 3 is shown level with the feeder housing 20 of combine 10, whereas the header tilt mechanism 98 shown in FIG. 4 is shown tilted. Straight line linkages 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are located at the bottom corners of pitch plate 90 and face plate 80, thereby movably connecting pitch plate 90 and face plate 80 while keeping pitch plate 90 and face plate 80 at a consistent distance from each other. The form and function of straight line linkages 100 are shown in greater detail in subsequent figures.

[0044] Tilt cylinders 122 may be used to forcibly tilt header tilt mechanism 98, which tilt cylinders 122 may be provided with an accumulator or accumulators 126, or other type of actively or passively pressure controlling or limiting arrangement, in order to provide elastic compliance in the tilting of header tilt mechanism, especially in an embodiment wherein the header 18 is provided with gauge wheels 96. The aforementioned hydraulic heave cylinders 72 used to raise and lower the feeder housing 20 may be similarly equipped with an accumulator or accumulators 124, or other type of actively or passively pressure controlling or limiting arrangement. In this way, the combine still carries a large part of the weight of the header and partially determines the header's tilted position, but allows the header autonomy to follow terrain contours.

[0045] Turning now to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 9, several generally rear isometric views of straight line linkage 100 of header tilt mechanism 98 are shown. The front of feeder housing 20 again terminates in a pitch plate 90 and face plate 80 rotates about upper face plate pivot axle 82 (not shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 9). Face plate 80 is again provided with a lock device 94 useful for attaching face plate 80 to the header 18 (not shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 9). Straight line linkage 100 is provided with an upper radius link 104, a lower radius link 108, and a T-link 112. Upper radius link 104 connects T-link 112 to an upper radius link mounting point 106 on pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102. Lower radius link 108 connects T-link 112 to a lower radius link mounting point 110 on pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102. T-link 112 passes through T-link slot 114 in pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102 and connects with a face plate linkage attachment bracket 120 in a manner that will be illustrated in further detail in subsequent figures. The straight line linkage 100 of header tilt mechanism 98 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 in a generally neutral level position, whereas the straight line linkage 100 of header tilt mechanism 98 shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 is shown in a tilted position.

[0046] Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 10, straight line linkage 100 of header tilt mechanism 98 is shown from the front. T-link 112 is shown to be engaged with face plate linkage attachment bracket 120, which is attached to face plate 80. Pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102 is partially visible in FIG. 10, but the remainder of straight line linkage 100 is generally obscured. T-link 112 is engaged with face plate linkage attachment bracket 120 by way of sliding ball joint 116 and linkage axle 118. Face plate 80 is again provided with lock device 94.

[0047] Turning now to FIGS. 11 through 14, the form and function of straight line linkage 100 is shown in greater particularity. Together, upper radius link 104, lower radius link 108, T-link 112, upper radius link mounting point 106 on pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102, lower radius link mounting point 110 on pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102, and pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102 itself define a straight line linkage of the type known as a Robert's mechanism. Other straight line linkages are contemplated, such as a Watts linkage 200, a Chebyshev linkage 300, or a Peaucellier-Lipkin linkage 400 as shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C, respectively. For the sake of simplicity, the Robert's mechanism type of straight line linkage 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 14. FIG. 13 shows the straight line linkage 100 in a position rotated slightly upwards from neutral, and FIG. 14 shows the straight line linkage 100 in a downward rotated position. As face plate linkage attachment bracket 120 rotates downward relative to pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102 at the location of the straight line linkage 100 shown, upper radius link 104 rotates in such a way as to translate its connection with T-link 112 forward, and lower radius link 108 rotates in such a way as to translate its connection with T-link 112 rearward.

[0048] The location of upper radius link mounting point 106 on pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102, the location of lower radius link mounting point 110 on pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102, the lengths of upper radius link 104 and lower radius link 108, and the geometry of T-link 112, therefore, is such that its connection with face plate linkage attachment bracket 120, as a result of this chosen geometry, moves substantially neither forward nor rearward. Instead, the straight line linkage 100 keeps face plate linkage attachment bracket 120 at an approximately constant distance from pitch plate linkage mounting bracket 102.

[0049] It may be appreciated from FIGS. 11 through 14 that the straight line linkage 100 articulates substantially within a plane which is shown in a normal view in FIGS. 13 and 14. Therefore, T-link 112 at its attachment point with face plate linkage attachment bracket 102 describes an approximately straight line within the plane of face plate 80 at its intersection with the plane of straight line linkage 100. However, face plate 80 rotates about upper face plate pivot axle 82, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Straight line linkages 100 are oriented in such a way that the line described by the connection between T-links 112 and face plate linkage attachment bracket 102 are tangent to a circle about upper face plate pivot axle 82. More specifically, T-links 112 are connected to face plate linkage attachment bracket 102 by way of a linkage axle 118 connected to face plate linkage attachment bracket 102 and a sliding ball joint 116 at the end of T-link 112.

[0050] The linkage axle 118 of each such connection is oriented so that its axis passes through the axis of upper face plate pivot axle 82. The sliding ball joint 116 at the end of each T-link 112 is oriented so that it is in an neutral position when the face plate is level. As a result, when face plate 80 tilts, the point of connection between T-link 112 and face plate linkage attachment bracket 120 does not follow the arc described by the face plate 80 precisely, but rotates slightly within the plane of the straight line linkage 100 and departs on the straight line away from the arc. The relative rotation between face plate linkage attachment bracket 120 and T-link 112 is accommodated by rotation of sliding ball joint 116, and the relative translation from the departure of the arc of rotation from the straight line described by T-link 112 is accommodated by sliding ball joint 116 sliding along linkage axle 118.

[0051] Note that the alternative straight line linkage embodiments 200, 300, and 400 shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C, respectively, are not shown oriented in such a way that the line described by the connection between their respective straight line links and the header 18 are tangent to a circle about upper face plate pivot axle 82. Rather, for the sake of simplicity of illustration, they are shown normal to the side view. However, it is understood that they are actually to be rotated such that the line described by the connection between their respective straight line links and the header 18 are in fact tangent to a circle about upper face plate pivot axle 82, according to the principle illustrated in the case of the Roberts mechanism type of straight line linkage 100 illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 14.

[0052] These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it is to be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.