Pivotable windrow chute for combine harvester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023103977-A1
Application number	US-202117491722-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2021
Priority date	Oct 1, 2021
Publication date	Apr 6, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A spreader assembly for an agricultural harvester includes a frame member and a rotor assembly attached to the frame member. The rotor assembly includes one or more rotary spreaders and a housing partially surrounding the one or more rotary spreaders. A transition hood is mounted to and/or positioned against the housing of the rotor assembly. A windrow chute is mounted to the frame member, wherein the windrow chute is pivotable about a window chute rotational axis between a deployed position and a retracted position. In the deployed position, the windrow chute blocks the transition hood to either limit or prevent removal of the transition hood in a longitudinal direction, and in the retracted position, the windrow chute permits access to and removal of the transition hood in the longitudinal direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A spreader assembly for an agricultural harvester comprising:
a frame member, a rotor assembly attached to the frame member, wherein the rotor assembly comprises one or more rotary spreaders and a housing partially surrounding the one or more rotary spreaders, a transition hood mounted to and/or positioned against the housing of the rotor assembly, and a windrow chute mounted to the frame member, wherein the windrow chute is pivotable about a window chute rotational axis between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein in the deployed position, the windrow chute blocks the transition hood to either limit or prevent removal of the transition hood, and in the retracted position, the windrow chute permits access to and removal of the transition hood.

2 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transition hood comprises a sheet metal panel.

3 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame member is configured to be pivotably coupled to a stationary point on the agricultural harvester about a frame member axis.

4 . The spreader assembly of claim 3 , wherein the frame member axis and the window chute rotational axis are each oriented transversely and are also parallel to each other.

5 . The spreader assembly of claim 3 , wherein the frame member axis is positioned a first distance from the windrow chute that is greater than a second distance separating the windrow chute and the windrow chute rotational axis.

6 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein the windrow chute is configured to rotate about two separate axes.

7 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein an impeller of each rotary spreader is horizontally mounted.

8 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transition hood is removably mounted within the agricultural harvester ( 20 ).

9 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , further comprising means for fastening the windrow chute in the retracted position.

10 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotor assembly includes two of said rotary spreaders that are spaced apart from each other, and the housing partially surrounds the rotary spreaders, wherein the housing includes a wall extending between the rotary spreaders.

11 . The spreader assembly of claim 10 , wherein the transition hood is positioned on a top side of the housing as well as the wall extending between the rotary spreaders.

12 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein the windrow chute is configured to register with an opening in a strawhood of the agricultural harvester ( 20 ).

13 . The spreader assembly of claim 1 , wherein the windrow chute extends in a rearward direction beyond the transition hood.

14 . A combine harvester comprising the spreader assembly of claim 1 .

15 . A spreader assembly for an agricultural harvester comprising:
a frame member, a rotor assembly attached to the frame member, wherein the rotor assembly comprises one or more rotary spreaders and a housing partially surrounding the one or more rotary spreaders, a windrow chute mounted to the frame member, wherein the windrow chute is pivotable about a windrow chute axis between a deployed position and a retracted position, and a transition hood fixed to the windrow chute, wherein in the deployed position of the windrow chute, the transition hood is positioned either on or adjacent the rotor assembly housing, and in the in the retracted position, the transition hood is spaced apart and separated from the rotor assembly housing.

16 . The spreader assembly of claim 15 , wherein the rotor assembly includes two of said rotary spreaders that are spaced apart from each other, and the housing partially surrounds the rotary spreaders, wherein the housing includes a wall extending between the rotary spreaders.

17 . The spreader assembly of claim 16 , wherein the transition hood is positionable on a top side of the housing as well as the wall extending between the rotary spreaders.

18 . A combine harvester comprising the spreader assembly of claim 15 .

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Linde Cooper W
• Isaac Nathan E
• Zhao Ziying

Classifications

• A01D41/1243 Primary

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

• A01D57/30 Primary

  Rotating attachments for forming windrows · CPC title