Windrow chute with independently movable chute sections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336546-B2
Application number	US-201715709705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2017
Priority date	Sep 20, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A windrow chute assembly includes a plurality of movable chute sections. A first chute section has a first proximal end for receiving material, and a first distal end opposite the first proximal end. The second chute section has a second proximal end for receiving material, and a second distal end opposite the second proximal end. The first and second proximal ends define a transverse axis therebetween. The first and second chute sections are displaceable toward one another to a closed or partially closed configuration to control the width and placement of each windrow. The first and second chute sections are also displaceable away from one another to an open configuration to provide access to rear areas of the combine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A windrow chute assembly for an agricultural vehicle, the windrow chute assembly comprising:
a chute body comprising a plurality of movable chute sections, the plurality of movable chute sections comprising a first chute section and a second chute section,
the first chute section having a first proximal end for receiving material from the agricultural vehicle, a first distal end opposite the first proximal end for discharging material from the agricultural vehicle, and a first chute axis extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end,
the second chute section having a second proximal end for receiving material from the agricultural vehicle, a second distal end opposite the second proximal end for discharging material from the agricultural vehicle, and a second chute axis extending between the second proximal end and the second distal end,
the first proximal end of the first chute section and the second proximal end of the second chute section defining a transverse axis therebetween, the first chute section being displaceable so as to define a first angle of displacement between the first chute axis and the transverse axis, and the second chute section being displaceable so as to define a second angle of displacement between the second chute axis and the transverse axis, and
the first chute section and the second chute section being displaceable toward one another to a closed configuration, in which a sum of the first angle of displacement and the second angle of displacement is a maximum, and displaceable away from one another to an open configuration, in which the sum of the first angle of displacement and the second angle of displacement is a minimum;
wherein the first chute section is pivotally mountable on a first pivot axis, and the second chute section is pivotally mountable on a second pivot axis offset from the first pivot axis.

2. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis is parallel to the second pivot axis.

3. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are perpendicular to the transverse axis.

4. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are vertical axes.

5. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first chute section is displaceable through an angle greater than ninety degrees relative to the transverse axis, and the second chute section is displaceable through an angle greater than ninety degrees relative to the transverse axis.

6. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sum of the first angle of displacement and the second angle of displacement is 180 degrees when the first chute section and the second chute section are in the closed configuration.

7. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sum of the first angle of displacement and the second angle of displacement is less than 0 degrees when the first chute section and the second chute section are in the open configuration.

8. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , further defining a center axis that extends perpendicularly to the transverse axis at a point equidistant from the first proximal end of the first chute section and the second proximal end of the second chute section.

9. The windrow chute assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first chute section and the second chute section are each pivotable toward the center axis to assume a zero position.

10. The windrow chute assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first chute axis is parallel to the second chute axis in the zero position.

11. The windrow chute assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first chute axis intersects the second chute axis in the closed configuration.

12. The windrow chute assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first chute section and the second chute section are movable to the closed configuration at a zero position in which the first chute axis and the second chute axis are parallel to the center axis.

13. A windrow chute assembly for an agricultural vehicle, the windrow chute assembly comprising:
a chute body comprising a plurality of movable chute sections, the plurality of movable chute sections comprising a first chute section and a second chute section,
the first chute section having a first proximal end for receiving material from the agricultural vehicle, a first distal end opposite the first proximal end for discharging material from the agricultural vehicle, and a first chute axis extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end,
the second chute section having a second proximal end for receiving material from the agricultural vehicle, a second distal end opposite the second proximal end for discharging material from the agricultural vehicle, and a second chute axis extending between the second proximal end and the second distal end,
the first proximal end of the first chute section and the second proximal end of the second chute section defining a transverse axis therebetween, the first chute section being displaceable so as to define a first angle of displacement between the first chute axis and the transverse axis, and the second chute section being displaceable so as to define a second angle of displacement between the second chute axis and the transverse axis, and
the first chute section and the second chute section being displaceable toward one another to a closed configuration, in which a sum of the first angle of displacement and the second angle of displacement is a maximum and displaceable away from one another to an open configuration in which the sum of the first angle of displacement and the second angle of displacement is a minimum;
wherein the first chute section comprises a first bottom wall section and the second chute section has a second bottom wall section, the first bottom wall section and the second bottom wall section configured to convey material out of the first chute section and the second chute section respectively and the first chute section and the second chute section are movable to the closed configuration at at least one of a left and a right bias position in which the first angle of displacement is less than ninety degrees and the second angle of displacement greater than ninety degrees.

14. The windrow chute assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first chute section and the second chute section are movable to the closed configuration at the right bias position in which the first angle of displacement is greater than ninety degrees and the second angle of displacement is less than ninety degrees.

15. The windrow chute assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first chute section comprises a first bottom wall section and the second chute section has a second bottom wall section, the first bottom wall section and the second bottom wall section configured to convey material out of the first chute section and the second chute section, respectively.

16. The windrow chute assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first chute section comprises a first sidewall and the second chute section comprises a second sidewall.

17. A windrow chute assembly for an agricultural vehicle, the windrow chute assembly comprising:
a chute body comprising a plurality of movable chute sections, the plurality of movable chute sections comprising a first chute section and a second chute section,
the first chute section having a first proximal end for receiving material from the agricultural vehicle, a first distal end opposite the first proximal end for discharging material from the agricultural vehicle, and a first chute axis extending betw

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Dilts Mark D
• Issac Nathan E

Classifications

• B65G2201/04

  Bulk · CPC title

• B65G11/126 Primary

  for bulk · CPC title

• A01D41/1243 Primary

  Devices for laying-out or distributing the straw · CPC title

• B65G2812/083

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic