MOUNTS FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS, ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES, AND RELATED METHODS

A mount for an electrical connector includes a generally cylindrical body, and a concave protrusion and a connector receptacle each extending from an outer surface of the body. The connector receptacle is structured to receive pair of mated electrical connectors, and the body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may secure each electrical connector within the connector receptacle. An actuator assembly includes an actuator having at least one flexible wire electrically coupled to a first electrical connector, a mount, a mount fastener, and a connector fastener. The connector fastener is disposed within the first hole and secured around the connector receptacle and the first electrical connector. A method includes attaching a mount fastener around a mount to secure the mount to the actuator and attaching a connector fastener through the first hole, around the connector receptacle, and around the first electrical connector.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electrical connectors. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for securing electrical connectors to oscillating hardware, such as in a cleaning unit of a combine harvester.

BACKGROUND

Self-propelled combine harvesters are used by farmers to harvest a wide range of crops. Typically, a combine harvester cuts crop material, threshes grain therefrom, separates the threshed grain from the straw, and cleans the grain before storage in an onboard tank. Straw and crop residue is ejected from the rear of the combine harvester in the field.

Combine harvesters typically include a cleaning unit to separate grain and chaff (also referred to in the art as material other than grain (MOG)). The cleaning unit may have one or more fans blowing air upward through a series of oscillating sieves. The sieves may have actuators attached thereto to adjust the size of openings in the sieve. The actuators and wiring may be designed to withstand the oscillations that the sieves are subjected to in operation of the cleaning unit.

Cleaning units in combine harvesters are described in more detail in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,426,943, “Combine Harvester Grain Cleaning Apparatus,” issued Aug. 30, 2016; and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0128133, “Harvester Having Chaffer with Tiltable Section,” published May 8, 2014.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A mount for an electrical connector includes a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a concave protrusion extending from the outer surface, and a connector receptacle extending from the outer surface. The connector receptacle is structured to receive pair of mated electrical connectors, and the body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may secure each electrical connector within the connector receptacle.

An actuator assembly includes an actuator having at least one flexible wire electrically coupled to a first electrical connector, a mount, a mount fastener, and a first connector fastener. The mount has a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a concave protrusion extending from the outer surface, and a connector receptacle extending from the outer surface. The body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may each secure an electrical connector within the connector receptacle. The mount fastener encircles the outer surface of the mount and secures the mount to the actuator such that the concave protrusion limits rotation of the mount about the actuator. The first connector fastener is disposed within the first hole and secured around the connector receptacle and the first electrical connector. The mount is configured such that a second connector fastener within the second hole can secure a second electrical connector to the mount when the second electrical connector is mated to the first electrical connector.

A method of securing an electrical connector to an actuator includes attaching a mount fastener around a body of a mount to secure the mount to the actuator such that the mount cannot rotate or translate with respect to the actuator, and attaching a first connector fastener through a hole in the body of the mount, around a connector receptacle of the mount, and around a first electrical connector to secure the first electrical connector to the connector receptacle. The first electrical connector is electrically connected to the actuator by a first flexible wire. The first electrical connector is disposed in the mount such that a second electrical connector can be mated to the first electrical connector and secured within the connector receptacle by a second connector fastener extending through another hole in the body of the mount without removing the first connector fastener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entireties. If there is a conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the definition herein shall control.

The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any combine harvester or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

The following description provides specific details of embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a thorough description thereof. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without employing many such specific details. Indeed, the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with conventional techniques employed in the industry. In addition, the description provided below does not include all elements to form a complete structure or assembly. Only those process acts and structures necessary to understand the embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below. Additional conventional acts and structures may be used. Also note, the drawings accompanying the application are for illustrative purposes only, and are thus not drawn to scale.

As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “bottom,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the materials in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

With reference toFIG.1, a self-propelled combine harvester100carries a header102that cuts and gathers a strip of crop as the combine harvester100is driven across a crop field. An elevator section104conveys the cut crop stream from the header102into a crop processing apparatus200in the combine harvester100, described in more detail below. Clean grain separated from the crop stream is collected in a storage tank108, which is periodically emptied into a trailer or other vehicle or storage container via an unloading auger112. Residue material remaining from the crop stream, such as straw and chaff, is ejected from the rear of the combine harvester100, represented by arrow110. The combine harvester100also typically includes an operator cab106, an engine, and wheels114and/or tracks.

Turning to the details of the crop processing apparatus200, as shown inFIG.2, the crop stream passes from the elevator section104into a threshing unit having a transverse threshing cylinder202that rotates around a transverse axis204. The crop stream is threshed between the threshing cylinder202and a concave surface (not shown). Grain and chaff separated in this process falls through a grate in the concave onto an underlying thresher pan206, forming a primary grain/chaff stream. The residue straw is conveyed rearwardly as represented by arrow208from the threshing unit to a transverse transfer beater210. From here, the crop stream is typically divided into two sub-streams and passed into respective longitudinally-aligned separating rotors212. It will be appreciated that only one separating rotor212is shown inFIG.2, with the other separating rotor212being hidden from view. The transfer beater210has associated therewith a concave grate214through which further grain and chaff may fall under gravity onto the underlying thresher pan206.

Each separating rotor212has associated therewith a substantially cylindrical cage216within which the separating rotor212rotates. Upon the inside upper peripheral surface of the rotor cages216, a plurality of guide vanes218are mounted for cooperation with fingers220of the separating rotor212, which together further separate grain from straw. The lower portion of each cage216has a grate222formed therein, which allows separated grain and chaff to fall by gravity onto an underlying separator pan224, forming a secondary grain/chaff stream.

The residue straw is ejected from the crop processing apparatus200at the rear of the separating rotors212, as indicated by arrow226.

Although the above described crop processing apparatus200includes a threshing cylinder202and transverse transfer beater210followed by a pair of longitudinal separating rotors212operating on an axial separation principle (which may be referred to in the art as a “hybrid” processing system), different processing apparatus may be used in some embodiments. For example, the separating rotors212may be replaced with straw walkers, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,877,969, “Method for Adjusting a Working Unit of a Harvesting Machine,” granted Feb. 1, 2011. In other embodiments, the threshing cylinder202and transverse transfer beater210may be replaced by a feed cylinder, and threshing may be caused by the rotors212, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,629,310, “Grain Separating Apparatus in a Combine Harvester,” granted Apr. 25, 2017. In still other embodiments, the crop processing apparatus200may include one or more transverse rotors, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,345,197, “Combine Harvester with Even Crop Distribution,” granted May 24, 2016.

Both the thresher pan206and separator pan224are driven in an oscillating manner to convey grain and chaff streams forwardly and rearwardly, respectively. In some embodiments, a stream of grain and chaff is transferred from a rear edge228of the thresher pan206to a cleaning shoe230. The grain and chaff may initially fall onto a cascade pan232before falling from the rear edge228onto a chaffer234in the cleaning shoe230. In other embodiments, various mechanisms may be used to convey the stream of grain and chaff to the cleaning shoe, which mechanisms are generally known in the art and not described in detail herein.

One or more blowers238generate a cleaning airstream, a portion of which is directed rearwardly between the thresher pan206and cascade pan232as represented by arrow X The lighter chaff may be blown rearwardly and carried by the airstream out of the rear of the crop processing apparatus200as represented by arrow240, while the heavier grain falls onto the cascade pan232, and then onto the chaffer234. Another airstream, represented by arrow Y, is directed rearwardly between the chaffer234and a sieve236. The airstream(s) from the blower(s)238may be directed along any selected path. For example, the blower(s) may provide a single airstream to the chaffer234. Again, the cascading motion of the grain and chaff allows the airstream Y to convey additional chaff toward the rear of the cleaning shoe230. The chaffer234is coarser (having larger openings) than the sieve236, which is located under the chaffer234. The chaffer234and sieve236may also be referred to in the art as an upper sieve and lower sieve, respectively, because they may be of generally the same construction.

The chaffer234and the sieve236are generally driven forward and aft in an oscillating manner. Straw and material too large to pass through chaffer234is conveyed rearwardly by the oscillating motion before falling from the rear edge and out of the rear of the crop processing apparatus200, as indicated by arrow240. Tailings, or unthreshed grain, and grain passes through the chaffer234onto the sieve236. Grain falls through sieve236onto an underlying collection pan242, which directs the clean grain to a transverse delivery auger244for delivering the grain to the storage tank108(FIG.1). The tailings that cannot pass through the holes in the sieve236are conveyed rearwardly by the oscillating motion before falling from the rear edge of the sieve236onto a tailings collection pan246, which delivers the tailings to a rethreshing delivery system248, which may include, for example, an auger, a blower, and/or a conveyor.

FIG.3is a simplified side view of the chaffer234and the sieve236, each of which may include a plurality of louvers250rotatably mounted to frame assemblies258,260. Each of the louvers250may rotate about lateral axes thereof (i.e., side-to-side, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the combine harvester100) to change the size of openings in the chaffer234or the sieve236. The orientation of the louvers250of the chaffer234and sieve236may be controlled by actuators262connected to the frame assemblies258,260. The actuators262may be electrically connected to the combine harvester100.

FIGS.4and5are photographs of an actuator262. The actuator262has a flexible wire264electrically coupled to a first electrical connector266(which may also be referred to in the art, alone or in combination with the wire264, as a wiring harness). Another flexible wire268is connected to the combine harvester100and to a second electrical connector270. The first electrical connector266is mated (i.e., physically and electrically connected) to the second electrical connector270.

A mount272secures the first electrical connector266and the second electrical connector270to the actuator262and to each other such that the actuator262, the second electrical connector270, and the first electrical connector266move together as a unit. The actuator262typically moves with the frame assembly258,260of the chaffer234or the sieve236(each of which may oscillate during operation), and fixing the first electrical connector266and the second electrical connector270to the actuator262may prevent relative movement of electrical contacts within the electrical connectors266,270. Thus, fixing the electrical connectors266,270together may limit or prevent wear of the electrical contacts (which wear may cause the actuator262and/or sensors connected thereto to malfunction).

The mount272is secured to the actuator262by one or more mount fasteners274, depicted as ratcheting cable ties. The mount fastener(s)274may exert sufficient force on the mount272to prevent the mount272from translating or rotating with respect to the actuator262. In some embodiments, the fastener(s)274may include wires, hose clamps, clips, pins, etc. The electrical connectors266,270may be secured to the mount272by connector fasteners276. The connector fasteners276are depicted as ratcheting cable ties, but may likewise include wires, hose clamps, clips, pins, etc.

FIG.6is a simplified perspective view of the mount272separate from the actuator262. The mount272has a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The body may be a single unitary body comprising a polymer, a metal, a composite, etc. In some embodiments, the body may be an injection-molded plastic, such as HDPE, LDPE, PET, etc. The inner surface may be sized and configured to fit around a cylindrical portion of the actuator262. The body may define a gap278therein, rendering the inner and outer surfaces discontinuous. The gap278may enable the mount fastener(s)274to clamp down on the mount272to hold the mount272to the actuator262. The gap278may also facilitate installation and removal of the mount272because the body of the mount272may flex as the mount272is manipulated.

A concave protrusion280may extend from the outer surface of the body, and may be configured to prevent rotation of the mount272with respect to the actuator262. That is, the curvature of the protrusion280may be selected to match the curvature of the actuator262against which the protrusion280rests. The protrusion280may define a portion of a cylinder having an axis parallel to an axis of the generally cylindrical body of the mount272.

A connector receptacle282may extend from the outer surface of the body, and may be structured to receive the electrical connectors266,270. The body of the mount272may define a first hole284and a second hole286through which the connector fasteners276(FIG.5) may secure the electrical connectors266,270within the connector receptacle282. The connector receptacle282may have generally planar parallel sidewalls288extending from the outer surface of the body of the mount272, which may define exterior channels290to receive one or more of the fasteners276(FIG.5). As shown inFIG.6, the exterior channels290may be aligned with the first hole284, such that when a fastener276passing through the first hole284is tightened, the fastener276rests in the exterior channels290. The second hole286may be positioned such that a fastener276passing through the second hole286and around an electrical connector266,270does not contact the sidewalls288. Thus, the fastener276passing through the second hole286may be relatively easier to remove (e.g., by cutting) than the fastener276passing through the first hole284and resting in the channels290.

One or more cylindrical lips292may be formed in the body at the ends of the mount272. For example, the lips292may configured to prevent the mount fasteners274from sliding off the end of the mount272when the fasteners274are tightened. One lip292may be proximal to a first end of the body of the mount272, and another lip292may be distal from the first end of the body.

FIG.7is a simplified perspective view of another mount272′ that is similar to the mount272, but without the lips292. To secure the mount292′ to the actuator262, a single fastener274may pass through a third hole294and a fourth hole296in the body of the mount272′. These holes294,296may located approximately midway between the ends of the mount272′ and may enable the mount272′ to be securely fastened to the actuator262with a single mount fastener274encircling the outer cylindrical surface of the mount272′. As shown, the third hole294may be through or under the connector receptacle282, and the fourth hole296may be through or under the protrusion280. In other embodiments, the protrusion280and/or the connector receptacle282may be split into separate sections, with channels between the sections, rather than holes294,296through or under the protrusion280and connector receptacle282.

FIG.8is a simplified perspective view of another mount272″ that is similar to the mount272′, but with two holes298for fasteners274(FIG.5) to secure the mount292″ to the actuator262. The fasteners274may pass between cutout portions of the protrusion280, which may be simpler to manufacture than the hole296shown inFIG.7.

FIG.9is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method900of securing an electrical connector to an actuator262, as well as installing, uninstalling, and reinstalling the actuator262in a machine. In block902, at least one mount fastener274is attached around a body of a mount272to secure the mount272to the actuator262such that the mount cannot rotate or translate with respect to the actuator262. The mount fastener(s)274may be attached through one or more holes294,296in the body of the mount, in channels between portions of the protrusion280and connector receptacle282, or adjacent lips292.

In block904, a first connector fastener276is attached through a hole284in the body of the mount272, around a connector receptacle282, and around a first electrical connector266to secure the first electrical connector266to the connector receptacle282.

In block906, a second electrical connector270may be mated to the first electrical connector266. In block908, a second connector fastener276may be attached through the another hole286in the body of the mount272and around the second electrical connector270to secure the second electrical connector270to the connector receptacle282. In block910, a wire268that is electrically connected to the second electrical connector270may be secured to the actuator262. For example, the wire268may be secured by one of the fasteners274,276or by another fastener. Securing the wire268may further limit wear on the connectors266,270by limiting the relative motion of pins or other connection points within the connectors266,270.

In block912, to remove the actuator assembly, the second connector fastener276may be removed (e.g., cut). The second electrical connector270may be disconnected from the first electrical connector266, in block914, and the actuator assembly may be removed from the machine carrying the second electrical connector270(e.g., a combine). To reinstall the actuator assembly (e.g., after performing a repair) or a different actuator assembly, blocks906,908, and910may be repeated.

Additional non-limiting example embodiments of the disclosure are described below.

Embodiment 1: A mount for an electrical connector, the mount comprising a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a concave protrusion extending from the outer surface, and a connector receptacle extending from the outer surface. The connector receptacle is structured to receive pair of mated electrical connectors, and the body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may secure each electrical connector within the connector receptacle.

Embodiment 2: The mount of Embodiment 1, wherein the body further defines a third hole through which a fastener may encircle the outer surface of the body to secure the body to an actuator.

Embodiment 3: The mount of Embodiment 1, wherein the outer surface defines a first cylindrical lip proximal to a first end of the body and a second cylindrical lip distal from the first end of the body.

Embodiment 4: The mount of any of Embodiment 1 through Embodiment 3, wherein the connector receptacle has generally planar parallel sidewalls extending from the outer surface of the generally cylindrical body.

Embodiment 5: The mount of Embodiment 4, wherein the generally planar parallel sidewalls define exterior channels to receive a fastener.

Embodiment 6: The mount of Embodiment 5, wherein the first hole is aligned with the exterior channels such that a fastener surrounding a first connector of the pair of mated electrical connectors in the connector receptacle passes through the first hole and lies within the channels.

Embodiment 7: The mount of any of Embodiment 4 through Embodiment 6, wherein the second hole is positioned such that a fastener surrounding a second connector of the pair of mated electrical connectors in the connector receptacle does not contact the generally planar sidewalls.

Embodiment 8: The mount of any of Embodiment 1 through Embodiment 7, wherein the body defines a gap such that the inner and outer surfaces are discontinuous.

Embodiment 9: The mount of any of Embodiment 1 through Embodiment 8, wherein the concave protrusion defines a portion of a cylinder having an axis parallel to an axis of the generally cylindrical body.

Embodiment 10: The mount of any of Embodiment 1 through Embodiment 9, wherein the generally cylindrical body, the concave protrusion, and the connector receptacle comprise a single unitary body.

Embodiment 11: The mount of any of Embodiment 1 through Embodiment 10, wherein the generally cylindrical body, the concave protrusion, and the connector receptacle each comprise a polymer material.

Embodiment 12: An actuator assembly comprising an actuator having at least one flexible wire electrically coupled to a first electrical connector, a mount, a mount fastener, and a first connector fastener. The mount comprises a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a concave protrusion extending from the outer surface, and a connector receptacle extending from the outer surface. The body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may each secure an electrical connector within the connector receptacle. The mount fastener encircles the outer surface of the mount and secures the mount to the actuator such that the concave protrusion limits rotation of the mount about the actuator. The first connector fastener is disposed within the first hole and secured around the connector receptacle and the first electrical connector. The mount is configured such that a second connector fastener within the second hole can secure a second electrical connector to the mount when the second electrical connector is mated to the first electrical connector.

Embodiment 13: The actuator assembly of Embodiment 12, wherein the mount fastener is secured through a third hole defined in the body.

Embodiment 14: The actuator assembly of Embodiment 12 or Embodiment 13, wherein each of the mount fastener and the first connector fastener comprise ratcheting cable ties.

Embodiment 15: A method of securing an electrical connector to an actuator, the method comprising attaching a mount fastener around a body of a mount to secure the mount to the actuator such that the mount cannot rotate or translate with respect to the actuator, and attaching a first connector fastener through a hole in the body of the mount, around a connector receptacle of the mount, and around a first electrical connector to secure the first electrical connector to the connector receptacle. The first electrical connector is electrically connected to the actuator by a first flexible wire. The first electrical connector is disposed in the mount such that a second electrical connector can be mated to the first electrical connector and secured within the connector receptacle by a second connector fastener extending through another hole in the body of the mount without removing the first connector fastener.

Embodiment 16: The method of Embodiment 15, further comprising mating the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector electrically connected to a second flexible wire; attaching the second connector fastener through the another hole in the body of the mount and around the second electrical connector to secure the second electrical connector to the connector receptacle of the mount; and securing the second flexible wire to the actuator.

Embodiment 17: The method of Embodiment 16, further comprising removing the second connector fastener from the second electrical connector and the another hole, disconnecting the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector, and removing the actuator from a machine carrying the second electrical connector.

Embodiment 18: The method of Embodiment 17, further comprising reinstalling the actuator in the machine, reconnecting the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector, and installing another second connector fastener through the another hole and around the second electrical connector to secure the second electrical connector within the connector receptacle.

Embodiment 19: The method of any of Embodiment 15 through Embodiment 18, wherein attaching a mount fastener around a body of a mount comprises attaching the mount fastener through a further hole in the body of the mount.

Embodiment 20: The method of any of Embodiment 15 through Embodiment 19, further comprising attaching a second mount fastener around the body of the mount.

While the present disclosure has been described herein with respect to certain illustrated embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that it is not so limited. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as hereinafter claimed, including legal equivalents thereof. In addition, features from one embodiment may be combined with features of another embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope as contemplated by the inventors. Further, embodiments of the disclosure have utility with different and various machine types and configurations.