Residue handling system for an agricultural harvester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10653069-B2
Application number	US-201515539545-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

An agricultural harvester includes a threshing and separating system for separating grain from non-grain crop material, and a residue handling system for receiving at least a portion of the non-grain crop material. The residue handling system includes a chopper and a windrow arrangement, each having an inlet. A door is movable between a closed position which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper and an open position which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement. A feed roller is positioned adjacent to and between the inlet of the chopper and windrow arrangement. The feed roller is rotatable in a first direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper when the door is in the closed position, and a second direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement when the door is in the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
a threshing and separating system for separating grain from non-grain crop material;
a residue handling system for receiving at least a portion of the non-grain crop material, the residue handling system including a chopper and a windrow arrangement, each having an inlet, and a door which is movable between a closed position which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper and an open position which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement, the residue handling system also including a feed roller positioned adjacent to and between the inlet of the chopper and windrow arrangement, the feed roller being rotatable in a first direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper when the door is in the closed position, and a second direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement when the door is in the open position; and
a cleaning system for grain configured to receive grain from the threshing and separating system, wherein the feed roller is movable between a first position adjacent to the inlet of the chopper and windrow arrangement, and a second position between the inlet of the chopper and an outlet of the cleaning system.

2. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the direction of rotation of the feed roller is dependent upon a position of the door.

3. The agricultural harvester of claim 2 , wherein the direction of rotation of the feed roller is dependent upon an angular orientation of the door.

4. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
a threshing and separating system for separating grain from non-grain crop material;
a residue handling system for receiving at least a portion of the non-grain crop material, the residue handling system including a chopper and a windrow arrangement, each having an inlet, and a door which is movable between a closed position which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper and an open position which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement, the residue handling system also including a feed roller positioned adjacent to and between the inlet of the chopper and windrow arrangement, the feed roller being rotatable in a first direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper when the door is in the closed position, and a second direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement when the door is in the open position, wherein the direction of rotation of the feed roller is dependent upon a position of the door; and
a sensor configured for sensing the position of the door, such that feed roller rotation is controlled based on input from the sensor.

5. The agricultural harvester of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor which is located adjacent to the door when the door is in the closed position.

6. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the residue handling system further includes a spreader positioned in association with the chopper for spreading non-grain crop material on the field, the spreader being pivotally movable upward and downward, and wherein the windrow arrangement includes a swath board which engages and is movable with the spreader.

7. The agricultural harvester of claim 6 , wherein the spreader includes a spread board, and the swath board is movable with the spread board.

8. The agricultural harvester of claim 6 , wherein the swath board is movable, dependent on a position of the door.

9. The agricultural harvester of claim 8 , wherein the swath board is movable between a raised position when the door is in the closed position, and a lowered position when the door is in the open position.

10. The agricultural harvester of claim 9 , wherein the spreader includes a plurality of movable vanes, and the vanes are movable to a position directing non-grain crop material laterally outwards when the door is in the open position.

11. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the residue handling system includes a swing arm which carries and moves the feed roller between the first position and the second position.

12. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
a threshing and separating system for separating grain from non-grain crop material;
a residue handling system for receiving at least a portion of the non-grain crop material, the residue handling system including a chopper and a windrow arrangement, each having an inlet, and a door which is movable between a closed position which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper and an open position which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement, the residue handling system also including a feed roller positioned adjacent to and between the inlet of the chopper and windrow arrangement, the feed roller being rotatable in a first direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the chopper when the door is in the closed position, and a second direction which directs the non-grain crop material to the windrow arrangement when the door is in the open position; and
an oscillating cleaning system for cleaning grain received from the threshing and separating system, and wherein the residue handling system further includes an infeed pan which is carried by the cleaning system and extends in a rearward direction toward the inlet of the chopper;
wherein the residue handling system includes a second feed roller positioned adjacent to and between the inlet of the chopper and the infeed pan.

13. The agricultural harvester of claim 12 , wherein the infeed pan is pivotally attached to the cleaning system and selectively pivotable up and down between a first position directing chaff from the cleaning system toward the inlet of the chopper, and a second position directing chaff toward the ground in front of the chopper.

14. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the chopper has a rotatable drive element located at one side of the chopper, and the harvester has at least one additional component positioned generally above the drive input, and further including a mechanical drive having an input end positioned forward of the additional component relative to a direction of travel of the harvester, an output end coupled with the drive input of the chopper, and a drive component interconnecting the input end and output end and passing under or over the additional component.

15. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the drive component includes at least one of a shaft and a belt.

16. The agricultural harvester of claim 15 , wherein the drive component includes a pair of belts.

17. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the mechanical drive is configured for driving the chopper with a plurality of rotational operating speeds.

18. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the additional component is a fuel tank or a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Farley Herbert M
• Isaac Nathan E
• Birkel Andrew
• Jackson Austin L

Classifications

• A01D41/1243

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

• A01F12/46 Primary

  Mechanical grain conveyors · CPC title

• A01F12/40 Primary

  Arrangements of straw crushers or cutters · CPC title

• A01F17/02

  Mechanical conveyors · CPC title

• A01F12/444

  Fanning means · CPC title