Swing-out spreader for agricultural combines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12426538-B2
Application number	US-202217686861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2022
Priority date	Mar 4, 2021
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

An agricultural vehicle spreader system having a fixed frame, a pivot frame, a pivot joint connecting the pivot frame to the fixed frame for movement about a pivot axis between an operation position and a service position, a spreader assembly, and a power transmission. The pivot joint includes a pivot shaft extending along the pivot axis. The pivot shaft has a drive input and a drive output that is spaced along the pivot axis from the drive input. The spreader assembly has one or more spreaders mounted to the pivot frame and configured to rotate about a respective spreader axis that is offset radially from the pivot axis, and a respective spreader drive input drivingly connected to each of the one or more spreaders. The power transmission operatively connects the pivot shaft drive output to each respective spreader drive input.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A spreader system for an agricultural vehicle, the spreader system comprising:
a fixed frame;
a pivot frame;
a pivot joint connecting the pivot frame to the fixed frame for pivotal movement relative to the fixed frame about a pivot axis between an operation position and a service position, the pivot joint including a pivot shaft extending along and configured to rotate about the pivot axis, the pivot shaft having a pivot shaft drive input and a pivot shaft drive output, the pivot shaft drive output being spaced along the pivot axis from the pivot shaft drive input;
a spreader assembly comprising:
one or more spreaders mounted to the pivot frame and configured to rotate about a respective spreader axis that is offset radially from the pivot axis, and
a respective spreader drive input drivingly connected to each of the one or more spreaders; and

a power transmission operatively connecting the pivot shaft drive output to each respective spreader drive input.

2. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint comprises a double-shear pivot joint.

3. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint is defined by the pivot shaft being rotatably connected to the fixed frame at at least one first location and to the pivot frame at at least one second location.

4. The spreader system of claim 3 , wherein the pivot shaft is rotatably connected to the fixed frame at at least two first locations, with at least one second location being located between the at least two first locations.

5. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is vertical when the spreader system is in an operating configuration.

6. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein the pivot shaft drive input comprises a pivot shaft input pulley, and the spreader system further comprises a transfer pulley rotatably connected to the fixed frame and configured to rotate about a transfer pulley axis, wherein the transfer pulley axis is angled relative to the pivot axis as viewed along a line extending from the pivot shaft input pulley to the transfer pulley.

7. The spreader system of claim 6 , wherein the transfer pulley axis is perpendicular to the pivot axis as viewed along the line extending from the pivot shaft input pulley to the transfer pulley.

8. The spreader system of claim 6 , further comprising a power supply pulley configured to rotate about a power supply axis that is parallel to and radially offset from the transfer pulley axis.

9. The spreader system of claim 8 , further comprising a single belt drivingly connecting the power supply pulley to the pivot shaft input pulley via the transfer pulley.

10. The spreader system of claim 9 , further comprising at least one additional pulley or belt tensioner operatively supporting the single belt.

11. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein a respective spreader axis of at least one of the one or more spreaders is parallel to the pivot axis.

12. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more spreaders comprises a plate and a plurality of paddles extending from the plate.

13. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more spreaders comprises a first spreader having a first spreader drive input and a second spreader having a second spreader drive input; and
the power transmission comprises a flexible drive operatively connecting the pivot shaft drive output to each of the first spreader drive input and the second spreader drive input.

14. The spreader system of claim 13 , wherein the power transmission further comprises a tensioner pulley configured to generate tension in the flexible drive.

15. The spreader system of claim 14 , wherein the tensioner pulley is connected to the pivot frame by a tensioner arm, with a tensioner pulley rotation axis being radially offset from a tensioner arm pivot connecting the tensioner arm to the pivot frame.

16. The spreader system of claim 15 , wherein the power transmission further comprises a tensioner arm adjuster operatively connected between the pivot frame and the tensioner arm and configured to apply a force to the tensioner arm to generate a torque about the tensioner arm pivot to thereby control a magnitude of the tension in the flexible drive.

17. The spreader system of claim 16 , wherein the tensioner arm adjuster comprises a hydraulic actuator.

18. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
a chassis configured for movement along a surface; and
a spreader system for an agricultural vehicle, the spreader system comprising:
a fixed frame;
a pivot frame;
a pivot joint connecting the pivot frame to the fixed frame for pivotal movement relative to the fixed frame about a pivot axis between an operation position and a service position, the pivot joint including a pivot shaft extending along and configured to rotate about the pivot axis, the pivot shaft having a pivot shaft drive input and a pivot shaft drive output, the pivot shaft drive output being spaced along the pivot axis from the pivot shaft drive input;
a spreader assembly comprising:
one or more spreaders mounted to the pivot frame and configured to rotate about a respective spreader axis that is offset radially from the pivot axis, and
a respective spreader drive input drivingly connected to each of the one or more spreaders; and

a power transmission operatively connecting the pivot shaft drive output to each respective spreader drive input.

19. The agricultural vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the pivot joint comprises a double-shear pivot joint.

20. The agricultural vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the pivot shaft drive input comprises a pivot shaft input pulley, and the spreader system further comprises a transfer pulley rotatably connected to the fixed frame and configured to rotate about a transfer pulley axis, wherein the transfer pulley axis is angled relative to the pivot axis as viewed along a line extending from the pivot shaft input pulley to the transfer pulley.

21. The agricultural vehicle of claim 20 , further comprising a power supply pulley configured to rotate about a power supply axis that is parallel to and radially offset from the transfer pulley axis.

22. The agricultural vehicle of claim 18 , wherein:
the one or more spreaders comprises a first spreader having a first spreader drive input and a second spreader having a second spreader drive input; and
the power transmission comprises a flexible drive operatively connecting the pivot shaft drive output to each of the first spreader drive input and the second spreader drive input.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Sorenson William
• Ohms Travis
• Murray Craig E
• Seedorf James
• Hammer Kevin

Classifications

• A01F12/40

  Arrangements of straw crushers or cutters · CPC title

• A01D69/00

  Driving mechanisms or parts thereof for harvesters or mowers (driving mechanisms for the cutters of mowers or harvesters A01D34/00) · CPC title

• A01D41/1243 Primary

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