Harvesters – Motorized harvester – Including motorized vehicle causing transit of harvester
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-12-18
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
Including motorized vehicle causing transit of harvester
C056S014500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330782
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Art
This invention relates to the improvement of a feederhouse on an agricultural combine. More specifically, the invention allows for the adjustment of the front drum of the feederhouse, the adjustment of a pivoting faceplate on the feederhouse and the adjustment of a stone roll in a feederhouse.
2. Description of Prior Art
Mechanical harvesting of grain has taken place for decades. However, efforts continue in the attempt to make harvesting operations more efficient and effective. A combine harvester generally includes a header, which cuts the crop. The header then moves the cut crop into a feeder house. The feeder house lifts the cut crop into the threshing and separation areas of the combine. The grain is separated from the stalk by a rotor or threshing system. The grain is then moved and stored in a grain tank. The chaff and trash are deposited from the rear of the combine. The grain stored in the grain tank is eventually discharged through a grain tank unload tube. An operator usually runs these various operations from a glass-enclosed cab. Typically, the cab is located above and behind the header and feederhouse. There are a variety of agricultural combine harvesters and their operations are well known in the art. For examples of such harvesters reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,198 which illustrates the conventional and twin rotor threshing and separating systems of a harvester as well as other major systems of the harvester. See also the New Holland Super Conventional Combines TX™ 66, TX™ 68, the New Holland TWIN ROTOR® combines TR® 89 and TR® 99 for examples of existing conventional and twin rotor harvesters. U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,262 also illustrates the primary systems of a conventional harvester. For further details regarding various agricultural harvester systems review U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,522,553, 4,800,711, 4,866,920, 4,907,402, 4,967,544 and 5,155,984. See also the New Holland corn head model 996 and the New Holland grain belt header model 994 for details regarding headers.
The previously mentioned a feederhouse typically consists of a conveying chain which pushes the cut crop from the header to the front of the threshing system. The conveying chain has several cross pieces to assist in moving the crop and to ensure proper spacing. The conveying chain is powered and also positioned by a front drum and a rear drum. The front drum is positioned approximately behind the header and the rear drum is positioned approximately in front of the threshing system. As seen in
FIG. 1
, the drums rotate in a counter-clockwise fashion. The cut crop flow or crop mat is pushed by conveyor chain upwards along the floor of the feederhouse and towards the threshing system. Besides lifting or elevating the cut crop to the threshing and separating systems, the feederhouse provides several other functions. First, the feederhouse helps to properly position the header relative to the ground. Second, the feederhouse can be the location of a stone detection and removal means. Frequently, during farming operations, the header will inadvertently receive a stone. If the stone enters the threshing system in the combine, expensive damage will result to the threshing components. It is a critical function of a stone detection and removal system to prevent a stone from damaging the threshing system. A typical stone detection and removal system is a cylindrical stone beater or stone roll positioned near the mid-point of the feederhouse. The stone roll rotates allowing the crop mat to continue towards the rear drum and threshing system. A stone that is too large is forced from the feederhouse through a stone trap door beneath the stone roll.
Unfortunately there are several deficiencies to the current feederhouse design. For instance, it is difficult to accurately position the feederhouse relative to the header. Furthermore, it is difficult to properly adjust the position of the front drum of the feederhouse. Frequently it is desirable to adjust the position of the front drum depending on the crop and farming conditions. By adjusting the distance of the front roll from the bottom of the feederhouse, the thickness of the crop mat flowing through the feederhouse may be increased or decreased. It is also difficult to adjust the stone roll. Depending on the crop and field conditions, it is desirable to move the stone roll either closer or farther from the feederhouse floor. If the stone roll is moved too close to the feederhouse floor, the amount of crop able to be elevated to the threshing system could be undesirably decreased. Conversely, if the stone roll is positioned too high, then a stone may enter the threshing system catastrophically damaging the combine.
An invention that could resolve these issues would represent an improvement to the art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pivoting faceplate between the feederhouse and header.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of adjusting the faceplate between the feederhouse and header.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pivoting faceplate that would allow an operator to determine the adjustment being made concerning the position of the faceplate.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a front drum adjustment mechanism for a feederhouse.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of adjusting the front drum of a feederhouse.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a front drum adjustment mechanism that would allow an operator to determine the position of the front drum.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a front drum adjustment mechanism that allows for slight changes in the size of the crop flow.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stone roll mount plate to which a stone roll is attached.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to adjust a stone roll mount plate.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stone roll plate that would allow an operator to determine the position of the stone roll.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is an improvement to the feederhouse on an agricultural combine. The invention consists of a pivoting faceplate positioned between the feederhouse and header. The faceplate is pivotally attached to the sidewall of the feederhouse. A faceplate adjustment rod rotates the faceplate about the pivot. There are several faceplate position indicia that are viewed through an indicator aperture to assist an operator in positioning the faceplate correctly. The invention also includes a method for adjusting the faceplate. The invention further includes a front drum adjustment mechanism. The front drum of the feederhouse is rotationally mounted on a drum arm. The drum arm is pivotally attached to the sidewall. There is an arm pivot mount that has a drum arm spring allowing the drum arm to adjust to minor position changes in the crop flow. There is a cam attached to the sidewall that slideably contacts and positions an adjustment plate that is attached to the drum arm. This adjustment allows the position of the front drum to be adjusted by viewing several cam position indicia on the cam. The invention also discusses a method for adjusting the position of the front drum. The invention further consists of a stone roll mount plate. The stone roll is attached to the mount plate. Several plate bolts attach the mount plate to the sidewall. A roll adjust rod allows the stone roll mount plate and attached stone roll to be moved either closer or further from the feederhouse floor. There is a pointer that may be aligned with a stone roll position indicia to properly adjust the stone roll. The invention further reveals a method to adjust the stone roll position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3699753 (1972-10-01), Peak
patent: 3779251 (1973-12-01), Rowland-Hill et al.
patent: 3971390 (1976-07-01), McDuffie et al.
patent: 4266392 (1981-05-01), Knepper et al.
patent: 4335563 (1982-06-01), Rice et al.
patent: 4335564 (1982-06-01), Knepper
Bennett James
Digman Michael J.
Walker James D.
Kovács Arpád Fáb
Miller Larry W.
New Holland North America Inc.
Pezzuto Robert E.
Stader John William
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