Infeed deck cleanout door for a header

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11825771-B2
Application number	US-202016838631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2020
Priority date	Apr 2, 2019
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A clean out system of a header for an agricultural vehicle. The header includes a frame with a floor having at least one cutout for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough. The clean out system includes at least one door configured for pivotally connecting to the floor and selectively engaging with the at least one cutout, a latching mechanism connected to the at least one door and configured for securing the at least one door to the frame, and at least one actuating member operably connected to the at least one door and configured for selectively latching the latching mechanism and pivoting the at least one door in between an open position and a closed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clean out system of a header for an agricultural vehicle, the header comprising a frame with a floor having at least one cutout for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough, the clean out system comprising:
at least one door configured for pivotally connecting to the floor and selectively engaging with the at least one cutout;
a latching mechanism connected to the at least one door and configured for securing the at least one door to the frame, the latching mechanism comprising at least one latch connected to the at least one door and at least one elongated member connected to the frame;
at least one plate adjustably mounted to the frame and supporting the at least one elongated member, wherein the at least one plate is configured for adjusting a closing force of the latching mechanism; and
at least one actuating member operably connected to the at least one door and configured for selectively latching the latching mechanism and pivoting the at least one door in between an open position and a closed position.

2. The clean out system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated member is rotatably connected to the frame and interconnected in between the at least one latch and the at least one actuating member such that the at least one actuating member rotates the at least one elongated member which selectively latches the at least one latch and pivots the at least one door.

3. The clean out system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one actuating member is in the form of a handle comprising a first end and a second end, and the second end of the handle is operably connected to the at least one elongated member.

4. The clean out system of claim 2 , further comprising at least one locking member connected to the at least one actuating member and selectively connected the frame, the at least one locking member is configured for moving between a locked position in which the at least one locking member is connected to the frame and an unlocked position in which the at least one locking member is disconnected from the frame, and the at least one actuating member is movable in a first direction to unlock the at least one locking member, and upon unlocking the at least one locking member, the at least one actuating member is movable in a second direction for rotating the at least one elongated member in the unlocked position of the at least one locking member.

5. The clean out system of claim 4 , further comprising a biasing member connected to the at least one actuating member and applying a biasing force onto the at least one actuating member such that the at least one locking member is biased to remain in the locked position.

6. The clean out system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one latch is in the form of at least one over-center latch comprising a base connected to the at least one door and a linkage pivotally connected to the base and the at least one elongated member.

7. The clean out system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one latch is in the form of at least one slotted latch connected to the at least one door, and the at least one elongated member is in the form of a first linkage bar and a second linkage bar, the first linkage bar is pivotally connected to the frame and to the at least one actuating member and coupled with the at least one slotted latch, and the second linkage bar is pivotally connected to the frame and mechanically linked to the first linkage bar such that the at least one actuating member is configured for rotating the first linkage bar which correspondingly rotates the second linkage bar and selectively latches the at least one slotted latch.

8. The clean out system of claim 7 , further comprising an electronic control unit operably connected to the at least one actuating member and at least one sensor operably connected to the electronic control unit and configured for providing a signal to the electronic control unit, and the at least one actuating member is in the form of an actuator such that the electronic control unit automatically actuates the actuator in response to the signal of the at least one sensor.

9. A header for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a frame comprising a floor with at least one cutout for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough;
at least one door pivotally connected to the floor and configured for selectively engaging with the at least one cutout; and
a clean out system connected to the frame and comprising:
a latching mechanism connected to the at least one door and configured for securing the at least one door to the frame, the latching mechanism comprising at least one latch connected to the at least one door and at least one elongated member connected to the frame;
at least one actuating member operably connected to the at least one door and configured for selectively latching the latching mechanism and pivoting the at least one door in between an open position and a closed position; and
at least one locking member connected to the at least one actuating member and selectively connected to the frame, the at least one locking member is configured for moving between a locked position in which the at least one locking member is connected to the frame and an unlocked position in which the at least one locking member is disconnected from the frame, and the at least one actuating member is movable in a first direction to unlock the at least one locking member, and upon unlocking the at least one locking member, the at least one actuating member is movable in a second direction for rotating the at least one elongated member in the unlocked position of the at least one locking member.

10. The header of claim 9 , wherein the at least one elongated member is rotatably connected to the frame and interconnected in between the at least one latch and the at least one actuating member such that the at least one actuating member rotates the at least one elongated member which selectively latches the at least one latch and pivots the at least one door.

11. The header of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuating member is in the form of a handle comprising a first end and a second end, and the second end of the handle is connected to the at least one elongated member.

12. The header of claim 9 , wherein the clean out system further comprises a biasing member connected to the at least one actuating member and applying a biasing force onto the at least one actuating member such that the at least one locking member is biased to remain in the locked position.

13. The header of claim 10 , wherein the clean out system further comprises at least one plate adjustably mounted to the frame and supporting the at least one elongated member, and the at least one plate is configured for adjusting a closing force of the latching mechanism.

14. The header of claim 10 , wherein the at least one latch is in the form of at least one over-center latch comprising a base connected to the at least one door and a linkage pivotally connected to the base and the at least one elongated member.

15. The header of claim 10 , wherein the at least one latch is in the form of at least one slotted latch connected to the at least one door, and the at least one elongated member is in the form of a first linkage bar and a second linkage bar, the first linkage bar is pivotally connected to the frame and to the at least one actuating member and coupled with the at least one slotted latch, and the second linkage bar is pivotally connected to the frame and mechanically linked to the first linkage bar such that the at least one actuating member is configured for rot

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Thomas Jeffrey D
• Kemmerer Benjamin
• Cook Joel T
• Noll Blaine R
• Farley Herbert M

Classifications

• A01D75/187 Primary

  Removing foreign objects · CPC title

• A01D41/06

  Combines with headers · CPC title

• A01D41/14

  Mowing tables · CPC title

• E06B9/0638

  Slats or panels · CPC title