Self-storing header auger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10299435-B2
Application number	US-201715466094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2017
Priority date	Mar 22, 2017
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

An agricultural vehicle including a chassis, a feeder housing supported by the chassis, and an attachment. The attachment includes a header coupled to the feeder housing. The header has a top support beam and a pair of lateral ends. The attachment also includes an auger that has an axis of rotation and is configured to rotate about the axis of rotation. The auger is pivotally connected to the header and is pivotable about a pivot axis. The auger is selectively pivotable between a stored position and an operating position such that in the stored position the auger does not obstruct a line of sight of an operator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a feeder housing supported by the chassis; and
an attachment, including:
a header coupled to the feeder housing, the header having a top support beam and a pair of lateral ends; and
an auger having an axis of rotation and configured to rotate about the axis of rotation, the auger pivotally connected to the header and pivotable about a pivot axis, the auger being selectively pivotable between a stored position and an operating position, wherein the axis of rotation of the auger when the auger is in the operating position is above the axis of rotation of the auger when the auger is in the stored position.

2. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein in the stored position the auger is positioned under the top support beam of the header and in the operating position the auger is in front of the top support beam and is engageable with a bushy or fluffy crop material.

3. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is substantially parallel to the top support beam of the header.

4. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment further includes a first and a second back sheet pivotally connected to the header and pivotable about the pivot axis, the first back sheet extending at least partially in front of the auger and the second back sheet extending at least partially behind the auger.

5. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein in the stored position the first back sheet substantially covers the auger from being engageable with a crop material, and in the operating position the first back sheet does not block a line of sight of an operator.

6. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein in the stored position the second back sheet does not block a line of sight of an operator, and in the operating position the second back sheet at least partially covers a space between the top support beam and a floor of the header.

7. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the first back sheet and second back sheet collectively pivot together at a same time with the auger.

8. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment further includes a pair of support brackets attached to the top support beam and positioned adjacent to each lateral end of the header.

9. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the attachment further includes a pair of support arms pivotally connecting the auger respectively to the pair of support brackets.

10. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the header further has a control circuit having a controller and at least one sensor, the controller receiving a signal from the at least one sensor and automatically controlling a position of the auger.

11. An attachment, comprising:
a header including a top support beam and a pair of lateral ends; and
an auger including an axis of rotation and configured to rotate about the axis of rotation, the auger pivotally connected to the header and pivotable about a pivot axis, the auger being selectively pivotable between a stored position and an operating position, wherein the axis of rotation of the auger when the auger is in the operating position is above the axis of rotation of the auger when the auger is in the stored position.

12. The attachment according to claim 11 , wherein in the stored position the auger is positioned under the top support beam of the header and in the operating position the auger is in front of the top support beam and is engageable with a bushy or fluffy crop material.

13. The attachment according to claim 11 , wherein the pivot axis is substantially parallel to the top support beam of the header.

14. The attachment according to claim 11 , further comprising a first and a second back sheet pivotally connected to the header and pivotable about the pivot axis, the first back sheet extending at least partially in front of the auger and the second back sheet extending at least partially behind the auger.

15. The attachment according to claim 14 , wherein in the stored position the first back sheet substantially covers the auger from being engageable with a crop material, and in the operating position the first back sheet does not block a line of sight of an operator.

16. The attachment according to claim 14 , wherein in the stored position the second back sheet does not block a line of sight of an operator, and in the operating position the second back sheet at least partially covers a space between the top support beam and a floor of the header.

17. The attachment according to claim 14 , wherein the first back sheet and second back sheet collectively pivot together at a same time with the auger.

18. The attachment according to claim 11 , further comprising a pair of support brackets attached to the top support beam and positioned adjacent to each lateral end of the header.

19. The attachment according to claim 18 , further comprising a pair of support arms pivotally connecting the auger respectively to the pair of support brackets.

20. The attachment according to claim 11 , wherein the header further includes a control circuit with a controller and at least one sensor, the controller receiving a signal from the at least one sensor and automatically controlling a position of the auger.

21. A header comprising:
a top support beam;
a pair of lateral ends; and
an auger having an axis of rotation and configured to rotate about the axis of rotation, the auger pivotable about a pivot axis, the auger being selectively pivotable between a stored position and an operating position, wherein the axis of rotation of the auger when the auger is in the operating position is above the axis of rotation of the auger when the auger is in the stored position.

22. The header according to claim 21 , wherein in the stored position the auger is positioned under the top support beam, and in the operating position the auger is in front of the top support beam.

23. The header according to claim 21 , wherein the pivot axis is substantially parallel to the top support beam.

24. The header according to claim 21 , further comprising a first back sheet and a second back sheet pivotable about the pivot axis, the first back sheet extending at least partially in front of the auger and the second back sheet extending at least partially behind the auger.

25. The header according to claim 24 , wherein in the stored position the first back sheet substantially covers the auger from being engageable with a crop material.

26. The header according to claim 24 , further comprising a floor, wherein in the operating position the second back sheet at least partially covers a space between the top support beam and the floor.

27. The header according to claim 24 , wherein the first back sheet and second back sheet collectively pivot together at a same time with the auger.

28. The header according to claim 21 , further comprising a control circuit including a controller and at least one sensor, the controller configured for receiving a signal from the at least one sensor and automatically controlling a position of the auger.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Noll Blaine R

Classifications

• A01D41/14 Primary

  Mowing tables · CPC title

• A01D61/004 Primary

  with cylindrical tools · CPC title

• A01D41/127

  Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines · CPC title

• A01D45/021

  Cornheaders · CPC title

• A01D34/14

  Knife-bars · CPC title