Actuator adjustable fan enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224170-B2
Application number	US-201816214757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 10, 2018
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A hood assembly for a fan that has a base section, a discharge nozzle pivotally coupled to the base section, and a motor coupled between the base section and the discharge nozzle. Wherein, the discharge nozzle is repositionable with the motor to alter the orientation of the discharge nozzle relative to the base section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hood assembly for an extractor of a harvesting machine, comprising:
a cutter and conveyor assembly to cut and convey crop to the extractor;
a fan assembly configured to provide an airflow through the extractor;
a base section coupled to the fan assembly to direct the air flow;
a discharge nozzle pivotally coupled to the base section and configured to move between a first position and a second position;
a motor coupled between the base section and the discharge nozzle to selectively reposition the discharge nozzle between the first position and the second position;
wherein movement of the discharge nozzle relative to the base section between the first position and the second position alters a discharge angle of the discharge nozzle relative to a horizontal plane where the discharge angle is measured from the horizontal plane.

2. The hood assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface that selectively engages the motor to transition the discharge nozzle to any position between the first position and the second position.

3. The hood assembly of claim 2 , further wherein the user interface is positioned inside a cab of the harvesting machine.

4. The hood assembly of claim 1 , further wherein in the second position the discharge nozzle directs a discharge flow in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the horizontal plane.

5. The hood assembly of claim 1 , further wherein in the first position the discharge nozzle directs a discharge flow in a downward direction biased towards an underlying surface.

6. The hood assembly of claim 1 , further wherein the discharge nozzle has an arcuate cross section and is pivotally coupled to the base about a nozzle axis.

7. The hood assembly of claim 1 , further wherein as the discharge nozzle transitions from the first position to the second position, where the discharge angle of the second position is less than the discharge angle of the first position, resistance to the air flow through the hood assembly is reduced.

8. A sugarcane harvesting assembly, comprising:
a chassis having at least one ground engaging mechanism;
a cab coupled to the chassis;
a harvesting assembly configured to direct and cut crop;
a cleaning assembly having at least one extractor; and
a prime mover providing power to the ground engaging mechanism, the harvesting assembly, and the cleaning assembly;
wherein, the least one extractor comprises:
a fan assembly configured to provide an air flow;
a base section positioned about the fan assembly to direct the air flow;
a discharge nozzle pivotally coupled to the base section and configured to move between a first position and a second position; and
a motor coupled between the base section and the discharge nozzle to selectively reposition the discharge nozzle between the first position and the second position;
wherein movement of the discharge nozzle relative to the base section between the first position and the second position affects a discharge angle of the cleaning assembly relative to a horizontal plane where the discharge angle is measured from the horizontal plane.

9. The sugarcane harvesting assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a user interface that communicates with the motor to reposition the discharge nozzle, wherein the discharge nozzle is repositionable by a user with the user interface to any position between the first position and the second position.

10. The sugarcane harvesting assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first position has a first discharge angle and the second position has a second discharge angle, the first discharge angle being greater and more biased towards an underlying surface than the second discharge angle.

11. The sugarcane harvesting assembly of claim 10 , further wherein the second discharge angle generates a lower fan resistance than the first discharge angle.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Dighton John A
• Hansen Matthew J

Classifications

• A01D43/073

  with controllable discharge spout · CPC title

• A01D45/10 Primary

  of sugar cane {(for digging sugar cane A01D31/00)} · CPC title

• A01F12/444 Primary

  Fanning means · CPC title

• B07B11/06

  Feeding or discharging arrangements · CPC title

• B08B15/04

  from a small area, e.g. a tool {(removing chips B23Q11/0042)} · CPC title