Patent ID: 6682417
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A folding door arrangement for a mobile cotton harvester including an onboard cotton module builder, the cotton module builder including a cotton compacting structure including a cotton compacting chamber having an open end, and a floor located in the chamber, at least the floor being tiltable so as to be oriented downwardly toward the open end and so as to be oriented at a predetermined incline relative to a surface lower than the module builder for unloading cotton from the chamber onto the surface, the folding door arrangement comprising:a primary door segment mounted to the cotton module builder for pivotal movement between a closed position in at least partially closing relation to the open end and an open position at least substantially parallel to the floor; a secondary door segment pivotally mounted to the primary door segment; a primary door driver arrangement connected between the cotton module builder and the primary door segment operable for pivotally moving the primary door segment between the closed position and the open position; and a secondary door driver arrangement connected between the primary door segment and the secondary door segment operable for pivotally moving the secondary door segment between a generally upstanding folded position generally parallel to and beside the primary door segment and an unfolded position oriented at the predetermined incline relative to the surface lower than the module builder and in contact with the surface, the secondary door driver arrangement including at least one fluid cylinder pivotally connected between the primary door segment and a link element pivotally connected to the secondary door segment, the fluid cylinder being extendable for pivotally moving the secondary door segment from the folded position to the unfolded position, and the link element being pivotable through a predetermined range of pivotal positions when the fluid cylinder is extended and the secondary door segment is in the unfolded position for allowing the primary door segment and the floor to be pivoted relative to the secondary door segment into at least generally coplanar alignment therewith at the predetermined incline relative to the surface so as to provide a straight inclined path for unloading cotton from the chamber onto the surface.