Residue Discharge System for a Combine Harvester Including a Cover Assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016192587-A1
Application number	US-201614988404-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2016
Priority date	Jan 5, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A crop residue spreader has a plurality of deflector elements arranged in a first group and a second group, a planar spreader frame element having a bottom surface to which the first and second group of deflector elements are displaceably mounted, the planar spreader frame element comprising a guide slot extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a first cover plate that is displaceably mounted to a top surface of the planar spreader frame element; a second cover plate that is displaceably mounted to the top surface of the planar spreader frame element and whereby a relative displacement of the first and second cover plates away from each other causes a part of the guide slot to be uncovered and a third cover plate is configured to cover, at least partly, the uncovered part of the guide slot.

First claim

1 . A crop residue spreader for a combine harvester, comprising:
a plurality of deflector elements arranged in a first group and a second group, a planar spreader frame element having a bottom surface to which the first and second group of deflector elements are displaceably mounted, the first and second group of deflector elements being mounted on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the crop residue spreader, the planar spreader frame element comprising a guide slot extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a first cover plate that is displaceably mounted to a top surface of the planar spreader frame element, the first cover plate connected to the first group of deflector elements via connecting members extending through the guide slot and being configured to, at least partly, cover the guide slot; a second cover plate that is displaceably mounted to the top surface of the planar spreader frame element, the second cover plate connected to the second group of deflector elements via connecting members extending through the guide slot and being configured to, at least partly, cover the guide slot; whereby a relative displacement of the first and second cover plates away from each other causes a part of the guide slot to be uncovered; wherein a third cover plate is configured to cover, at least partly, the uncovered part of the guide slot.

2 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 1 , wherein the third cover plate is configured to displace, in response to the relative displacement of the first and second cover plates, in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to cover, at least partly, the uncovered part of the guide slot.

3 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 1 , wherein the crop residue spreader comprises an actuator configured to displace the third cover plate to at least partly cover the uncovered part of the guide slot.

4 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 3 , further comprising a spring mechanism configured to exert a pre-load force onto the first and second cover plate, the pre-load force being directed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and towards the longitudinal axis.

5 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 4 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises a first and second spring for exerting the pre-load force respectively onto the first and second cover plate.

6 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 5 , wherein the first and second spring include a gas spring or a coil spring.

7 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator assembly configured to displace the first and second cover plate in the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

8 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 7 , further comprising a spring configured to exert a pre-load force onto the third cover plate, the pre-load force being directed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

9 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third cover plates are arranged in plane.

10 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second cover plates have a first and second edge respectively, the first and second edge being arranged at a non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 10 , wherein the third cover plate has a pair of edges facing the first and second edges of the first and second cover plates.

12 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 11 , wherein the third cover plate includes a wedge shape defined by the pair of edges.

13 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 10 , wherein the non-zero angle is within a range from 30° to 60°.

14 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 11 , wherein the non-zero angle is 45°.

15 . The crop residue spreader according to claim 1 , wherein the third cover plate is pivotably mounted to the planar spreader frame element.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Ballegeer Stefaan
• Desmet Stefaan

Classifications

• A01D41/1243 Primary

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