Crop ramps for combine headers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11617305-B2
Application number	US-202016880680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2020
Priority date	May 21, 2020
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

A crop ramp for use in a combine header is provided. The crop ramp includes a flat section, a curved section, and a flange. The flat section facilitates coupling the crop ramp to a cutterbar of the combine header. The curved section extends from the flat section. The curved section is configured to facilitate transfer of crop to a belt system of the combine header. The crop is transferred in a first direction defined from the flat section to the curved section. The flange extends from the curved section. The flange is configured to hover above the belt system of the combine header to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A crop ramp for use in a combine header, the crop ramp comprising:
a flat section for coupling the crop ramp to a cutterbar of the combine header, the flat section configured to be coupled to a flex arm of the combine header and forming an enclosure for receiving part of the flex arm of the combine header;
a curved section extending from the flat section, the curved section configured to facilitate transfer of crop to a belt system of the combine header, wherein the crop is transferred in a first direction defined from the flat section to the curved section; and
a flange extending from the curved section, the flange configured to hover above the belt system of the combine header to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

2. The crop ramp of claim 1 , wherein the belt system moves crops in a third direction which is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

3. The crop ramp of claim 1 , further comprising:
a groove provided on one side of the crop ramp, the groove contouring the curved section and configured to receive a curved section of a neighboring crop ramp, such that receiving the curved section of the neighboring crop ramp prevents hairpinning of the crop between the crop ramp and the neighboring crop ramp.

4. The crop ramp of claim 3 , wherein the groove further contours the flange and is further configured to receive a flange of the neighboring crop ramp.

5. The crop ramp of claim 1 , further comprising:
a texture provided between the curved section and the flange, the texture configured to trap dirt particles underneath the flange.

6. The crop ramp of claim 1 , wherein the curved section includes a vertical wall that reduces an effective volume underneath the crop ramp that is exposed to the belt system of the combine header.

7. The crop ramp of claim 6 , wherein the vertical wall is patterned to allow casting of part of a flex arm of the combine header to be received by the crop ramp.

8. The crop ramp of claim 6 , wherein the vertical wall has a trapezoidal cross sectional area.

9. A combine header comprising:
a cutterbar configured to cut crops;
a belt system configured to facilitate movement of the cut crops toward a feeder house; and
a plurality of crop ramps, wherein a respective crop ramp of the plurality of crop ramps includes:
a flat section for coupling the respective crop ramp to the cutterbar;
a curved section extending from the flat section, the curved section facilitating transfer of the cut crops to the belt system, wherein the cut crops travel along a surface of the curved section in a first direction, the first direction oriented from the flat section towards the curved section; and
a flange extending from the curved section, the flange configured to hover above the belt system to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is oriented opposite to the first direction;

wherein the plurality of crop ramps includes a first set of crop ramps aligned with a corresponding set of flex arms of the combine header, wherein the flat section of a respective crop ramp in the first set of crop ramps includes an enclosure for receiving a part of a respective flex arm in the set of flex arms.

10. The combine header of claim 9 , wherein the belt system includes a first belt and a second belt, the first belt and the second belt being configured to move the cut crops laterally toward a center of the combine header, and wherein the lateral movement of the cut crops are in a third direction which is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

11. The combine header of claim 9 , wherein the respective crop ramp further includes:
a groove provided on one side of the respective crop ramp, the groove contouring the curved section of the respective crop ramp and configured to receive the curved section of a neighboring crop ramp of the plurality of crop ramps, such that receiving the curved section of the neighboring crop ramp prevents hairpinning of the cut crops between the respective crop ramp and the neighboring crop ramp.

12. The combine header of claim 11 , wherein the groove of the respective crop ramp further contours the flange of the respective crop ramp and is further configured to receive the flange of the neighboring crop ramp.

13. The combine header of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of crop ramps includes a left set of crop ramps and a right set of crop ramps, the left set of crop ramps including crop ramps with grooves on a left side of the crop ramps and the right set of crop ramps including crop ramps with grooves on a right side of the crop ramps.

14. The combine header of claim 9 , wherein the respective crop ramp of the plurality of crop ramps includes:
a texture provided between the curved section and the flange, the texture being configured to trap dirt particles underneath the flange.

15. The combine header of claim 14 , wherein the texture includes a plurality of panels extruding from the flange, the plurality of panels being configured to structurally support the flange and the curved section.

16. The combine header of claim 9 , wherein the flat section of the respective crop ramp is coupled to the respective flex arm of the combine header.

17. The combine header of claim 9 , wherein the curved section includes a vertical wall that reduces an effective volume underneath the respective crop ramp that is exposed to the belt system.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Thomas Jeff
• Kemmerer Benjamin
• Farley Herbert M
• Deichmann Scott

Classifications

• A01D61/008 Primary

  for longitudinal conveying, especially for combines · CPC title

• A01D57/26

  Plates arranged behind the cutter-bar for guiding the cut grass or straw · CPC title

• A01D57/20 Primary

  with conveyor belts · CPC title

• A01D61/02

  Endless belts · CPC title

• A01D41/14

  Mowing tables · CPC title