Combine feeder house gauge wheels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10278330-B2
Application number	US-201615290398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2016
Priority date	Oct 11, 2016
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A combine has a feeder house extending forward from the front of the combine, with the front of the feeder house defining a rectangular frame for supporting a harvesting head. A gauge wheel arrangement is supported on the rectangular frame and in turn supports the harvesting head. The gauge wheel arrangement includes a center frame that abuts the rectangular frame and pivots with respect to it. A left side frame with gauge wheels is hinged to the center frame. A right side frame with gauge wheels is hinged to the center frame. The center, left, and right frames can support the harvesting head and permit the harvesting head to pivot with respect to the feeder house, as well as supporting a part of the weight of the harvesting head on the gauge wheels.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural combine comprising:
a chassis;
wheels supporting the chassis for travel over the ground;
a separating system configured to separate grain from material other than grain;
a cleaning system configured to clean grain exiting the separating system;
a feeder house supported on the front of the chassis and extending forwardly, the feeder house further comprising a first frame that is generally rectangular, and vertically and transversely extending, and having a first opening in the first frame that is generally rectangular, and vertically and transversely extending, wherein the first opening is configured and disposed to receive and transmit all cut crop material received from a harvesting head, wherein the harvesting head is supported on the front of the feeder house;
a gauge wheel arrangement comprising:
a second frame that is supported on the first frame, and further wherein the second frame has a second opening that is generally rectangular and vertically extending, and further wherein the first frame is supported on the second frame, and is aligned with the second frame, such that substantially all cut crop material passing from the harvesting head passes through the second frame and second opening and then through the first frame and the first opening, and further wherein the second frame can pivot with respect to the first frame;
a third frame that is generally rectangular and vertically extending, wherein a vertical side member of the third frame is hinged to a vertical side member of the second frame to define a first generally vertical pivot axis, and further wherein the third frame comprises at least one gauge wheel that is supported for rotation on the third frame; and
a fourth frame that is generally rectangular and vertically extending, wherein a vertical side member of the fourth frame is hinged to a vertical side member of the second frame, to define a second generally vertical pivot axis and further wherein the fourth frame comprises at least one gauge wheel that is supported for rotation on the fourth frame.

2. The agricultural combine of claim 1 , further comprising a first arm having an outer end coupled to a lower, outer portion of the third frame to pivot up and down at its outer end with respect to the third frame, and on which outer end of said first arm the at least one gauge wheel is supported to pivot up and down, and to rotate with respect to said first arm.

3. The agricultural combine of claim 2 , further comprising a second arm having an outer end coupled to a lower, outer portion of the fourth frame, to pivot up and down at its outer end with respect to the fourth frame and on which outer end of said second arm the at least one gauge wheel is supported to pivot up and down, and to rotate with respect to said second arm.

4. The agricultural combine of claim 1 , wherein the second frame, the third frame, and the fourth frame, are parallel to each other in an operational position.

5. The agricultural combine of claim 4 , wherein the second frame comprises an upper surface that faces up and that is configured to support an upper beam of the harvesting head.

6. The agricultural combine of claim 5 , wherein the third frame, and the fourth frame comprise an upper surface that faces up and that is configured to support an upper beam of the harvesting head.

7. The agricultural combine of claim 5 , wherein the second frame comprises a wall that extends upward from the upper surface and is disposed to abut the upper beam.

8. The agricultural combine of claim 1 further comprising the harvesting head removably mounted to the gauge wheel arrangement, wherein the gauge wheel arrangement remains as an assembled unit independent of the harvesting head upon removal of the harvesting head from the gauge wheel arrangement.

9. The agricultural combine of claim 1 , wherein the second opening extends in a first plane and wherein the third frame and the fourth frame are pivotable about the first generally vertical pivot axis and the second generally vertical pivot axis, respectively, towards one another to a position forming a first acute angle between the second frame and the third frame and a second acute angle between the second frame and the fourth frame.

10. The agricultural combine of claim 1 , wherein the combine has a longitudinal centerline and wherein the third frame has a transverse outer end that is pivotable about the first generally vertical pivot axis to a position directly in front of the feeder house.

11. A gauge wheel arrangement for an agricultural combine, wherein the agricultural combine has a chassis, a cleaning and separating system, a feeder house extending forward from the front of combine and configured to convey cut crop material to the cleaning and separating system, and further wherein the feeder house has a first frame that is generally rectangular and extends vertically and transversely, wherein the first frame defines an opening for receiving cut crop material from a harvesting head and for conveying it to the cleaning and separating system, and further wherein the first frame is configured to support a harvesting head on the front of the feeder house, the gauge wheel arrangement comprising:
a second frame that is configured to be pivotally supported on the first frame, wherein the second frame has a second opening that is generally rectangular and vertically extending, and further wherein the second frame is configured to support the first frame, and is aligned with the first frame, such that substantially all cut crop material passing from the harvesting head passes through the second frame and second opening and then through the first frame and the first opening, and further wherein the second frame can pivot with respect to the first frame;
a third frame that is generally rectangular and vertically extending, wherein a vertical side member of the third frame is hinged to a vertical side member of the second frame to define a generally vertical pivot axis, and further wherein the third frame comprises at least one gauge wheel that is supported for rotation on the third frame; and
a fourth frame that is generally rectangular and vertically extending, wherein a vertical side member of the fourth frame is hinged to a vertical side member of the second frame, to define a generally vertical pivot axis and further wherein the fourth frame comprises at least one gauge wheel that is supported for rotation on the fourth frame.

12. The gauge wheel arrangement of claim 11 , further comprising a first arm having an outer end coupled to a lower, outer portion of the third frame to pivot up and down at its outer end with respect to the third frame, and on which outer end of said first arm the at least one gauge wheel is supported to pivot up and down, and to rotate with respect to said first arm.

13. The gauge wheel arrangement of claim 12 , further comprising a second arm having an outer end coupled to a lower, outer portion of the fourth frame, to pivot up and down at its outer end with respect to the fourth frame and on which outer end of said second arm the at least one gauge wheel is supported to pivot up and down, and to rotate with respect to said second arm.

14. The gauge wheel arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the second frame, the third frame, and the fourth frame, are parallel to each other in an operational position.

15. The gauge wheel arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the second frame comprises an upper surface that faces up and that is configured to support an upper beam of the harvesting head.

16. The gauge wheel arran

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Silver Dennis P
• Nelson Jeffrey A

Classifications

• A01D41/141 Primary

  Automatic header control · CPC title

• A01D41/144

  Foldable headers · CPC title

• A01F12/44

  Grain cleaners; Grain separators · CPC title

• A01F12/18

  Threshing devices · CPC title

• A01D41/14 Primary

  Mowing tables · CPC title