Stalk and chaff distribution arrangement

[0002] The present invention relates generally to agricultural machinery and, more particularly, to an arrangement in an agricultural harvesting machine for uniform distribution of chopped stalks, chaff and the like.

[0003] German Patent No. 19908111 C1 discloses a combine harvester in which a crop stream discharged from a chopper device and consisting of material other than grain (e.g. a stalks/chaff mixture) is radially delivered directly to a subsequent blower device without being in any way deflected and thus retarded. The device consists of at least two blowers which are equipped with partial casings, which aid distribution of the crop stream. These partial casings fulfil their purpose on account of their fixed setting, but only under constant predicted harvesting conditions. Due to the radially extending, wedge-shaped flattening of the casing, controllable discharge of the crop mass is possible only to a limited extent. Further, due to the space-related arrangement of the blowers inclined toward the ground, the distance between crop discharge and the ground is different, so that the crop layer deposited on the ground varies greatly in thickness.

[0004] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

[0005] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a variable distribution arrangement that ensures wide and even distribution of chopped stalks and/or chaff.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an arrangement that enhances uniform deposition of chopped stalks and/or chaff from blowers in an agricultural harvesting machine onto the ground.

[0007] Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an arrangement that enhances the uniform deposition of crop material from the blowers without interfering with the crop stream entering the blowers.

[0008] In accordance with the above aspect of the invention, there is provided a chopped stalks and chaff distribution arrangement in an agricultural harvesting machine having a chopping device arranged in a discharge region of the machine that includes first and second blowers arranged adjacent to each other in the discharge region and each blower having a rotary shaft, a crop inlet opening, and a crop outlet opening; a crop dividing plate associated with the first and second blowers, the crop dividing plate having an apex and first and second diverging arms, said apex arranged in the direction opposite a crop flow from the chopping device to the blowers; and a first adjustable partial casing moveably associated the first blower and adjoining the first diverging arm, said first adjustable partial casing arranged circumferentially with the first blower; whereby a direction of the crop flow from the crop outlet of the first blower is changed when the first adjustable partial casing is moved.

[0009] These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

[0010] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a discharge region of an agricultural harvesting machine incorporating a chopped stalks and chaff distribution arrangement embodying the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the distribution arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a detail view of an adjusting mechanism of a distribution arrangement according to another embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line V—V of FIG. 4.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a crop distribution pattern from an agricultural harvesting machine incorporating the distribution arrangement.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a rear portion 1 of a combine harvester, including a rear hood 2 and an adjoined chopper housing 3 for a chopping device C. A shaft 4 is drivably mounted in the chopper housing 3 and fitted with pivotable chopper blades 5. These chopper blades 5 mesh with a single blade 6 fixed to the housing. A support portion 7 of a subsequent blower device 13 is mounted on the chopper shaft 4. Rigidly connected to the support portion 7 is a rearwardly projecting cover portion 8 in which rotary shafts 9 and 10 are drivably mounted. These rotary shafts 9 and 10 are fitted with flexible vanes 11 (shown in FIG. 2) which are covered at the bottom by a co-rotating disc 12. As shown, there are advantageously two blowers 13.

[0018] Associated with the blowers 13, is a crop dividing plate 14 whose apex 15 is directed toward the crop stream being ejected from the chopping device C. Diverging arms 16, 17 of the crop dividing plate 14 and partial casings 19, 20 for the blowers 13 enclose a space 18. As the upper half of FIG. 2 shows, adjoining the partial casing 19 is a further partial casing 21 which consists of two wall portions 22, 23. The two wall portions 22, 23 are attached to the distal ends of the longer arms of angle levers 24 and 25, respectively. Angle levers 24, 25 are mounted on a journal 26. The latter is rigidly connected to a crossbar 27 which is attached by lateral longitudinal members 28 to the frame portion 7. The short arm of the angle lever 24 is pivotably connected by a mounting 29 to a connecting rod 30. The mounting 29 is conveniently in the form of a bolt. Adjacent the mounting 29 is a bracket 31 fixed to the connecting rod 30 as by welding. The bracket 31 has an oblong hole 32 at its distal end. A bolt 33 extends into this oblong hole 32 and bolt 33 is rigidly connected to the shorter arm of the angle lever 25. At the end of the connecting rod 30 opposite the mounting 29 is welded a further bracket 34. Bracket 34 carries a roller 35 at its distal end. This roller 35 continuously abuts a drivable disc 36 which is eccentrically mounted on a rotary shaft 40. In the region of the bracket 34, one end of a control arm 38 is mounted on the connecting rod 30 via a fastener conveniently in the form of a bolt 37. The opposite end of the control arm 38 has a further bolt 39 for mounting on the crossbar 27.

[0019] In the position shown in FIG. 2 or 4, the roller 35 is at the minimum distance from the rotary shaft 40 of the eccentrically mounted disc 36. If the latter is now rotated clockwise, the two wall portions 22, 23 pivot about the axis 26 first at low speed and then at increasing speed into the space 18. At the same time the wall portions 22′, 23′ shown in the lower half of FIG. 2 pivot first at high speed and then at decreasing speed out of the space 18. The kinematic arrangement here is selected so that during displacement of the connecting rod 30 the wall portions 22, 23 move at different speeds, this being in a ratio of 1:2. This means that the wall portion 23 is pivoted at only half the speed of the wall portion 22. This causes them first to form a relatively large circumferential cover for the outlet opening 41 in their fully extended position shown in the upper half of FIG. 2. But they fully clear this opening because during their movement of retraction into the space 18 they slide one over the other telescopically more and more until they have fully entered the space 18. See, for example, the position of wall portions 22′, 23′ shown in the lower half of FIG. 2. The blower 13 shown in the lower half of FIG. 2 is constructed identically, but in a mirror image, as its counterpart shown in the upper half of FIG. 2. Accordingly, further description is deemed unnecessary.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows one way in which the normal position of the two wall portions 22, 23 can be adjusted. As this adjustment facility can be used in the same way for the wall portions 22′, 23′, it will be described only once. Unlike the embodiment in FIG. 2, the connecting rod 30 in this embodiment is divided into two portions 30′ and 30″. These two portions 30′, 30″ are pivotally connected at a bend point 42 which is displaceable by means of a spindle mechanism 43. In this arrangement the pivot angle of the movable wall portions 22, 22′, 23, 23′ is adjustable. The spindle mechanism 43 as a whole is pivotably mounted on a shaft 44 which is attached to the crossbar 27. Details can be seen in FIG. 5 which shows that attached to the shaft 44 is a housing 45 on which has been flange-mounted a gear motor 46. A spindle 47 is driven by the gear motor 46 and has a threaded portion 48. Driven by the threaded portion 48 is a spindle nut 49 which has two journals 51 projecting from the housing 45 through slots 50. On these journals 51 is mounted the connecting rod portion 30″ which splays in a fork shape. The connecting rod portion 30′ is pivotably connected to a mounting 53 by a fastener such as a bolt 52. The mounting 53 is conveniently designed as part of the housing 45.

[0021] FIG. 6 shows the desired scatter pattern of the material other than grain (MOG) which is spread by the two blowers 13. Advantageously a generally uniform distribution is achieved according to the width of the cutterbar 54. Because the rotary shaft 10 of the blowers 13 assumes a position at an angle to the vertical, the path of the crop leaving the blowers 13 to the ground becomes shorter or longer as a function of the instantaneous position of the wall portion 22, 22′ having the greater pivot angle. If there were a constant speed of rotation of the wall portions 22, 22′, 23, 23′, the MOG leaving the blowers 13 would be distributed unevenly over the ground. To achieve more even distribution over the ground, at least the outer wall portions 22, 22′ which form a movable break-away edge 55 (FIG. 4) pivot about the respective rotary shaft 26 at a circumferential speed varying as a function of the instantaneous position of the break-away edge 55. This position-dependent speed control is accomplished, as described above, by means of the eccentrically mounted elliptical cam disc 36. Because only one cam disc 36 is provided for driving the pivotable wall portions 22, 23; 22′, 23′ of each blower 13, the wall portions 22, 23 or 22′, 23′ reach the inner and outer dead center positions shown in FIG. 2 alternately, wherein the circumferential speed of the pivotable wall portions 22, 23; 22′, 23′ decreases when pivoting from the inner to the outer dead center position and conversely increases when pivoting from the outer to the inner dead center position. While two wall portions (22, 23 or 22′, 23′) have been described, it is perceived that the two portions may be integrated or that the outer wall portion 22 or 22′ alone may be pivoted as suggested above.

[0022] While the terms “stalk and chaff” and “crop” are used in the claims, it is intended that these be synonymous with the term “material other than grain.”Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, this has been by way of illustration and the invention should not be limited except as required by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.