PATENT ABSTRACT
A harvester is provided comprising a vessel for securing a crop therein and a crop delivery system. The crop delivery system has a first tube with a first angled orientation, a first end and an opposed second end, the first tube being configured to receive the crop from the vessel at the first end. A continuous belt is provided having a receiving region in close proximity to the first end of the first tube. A portion of the belt operable to carry the crop from the receiving region is structurally supported by and substantially covered by the first tube, while a portion of the belt operable to return to the receiving region after delivering the crop passes beneath the first tube.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
[0001]    This application is the US National Stage filing of International Application Ser. No. PCT/EP2012/069824 filed on Oct. 8, 2012 which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/270,283 filed Oct. 11, 2011, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to agricultural harvesting equipment and, more particularly, to a crop delivery system for agricultural harvesting equipment, such as a combine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Grain tanks of combines commonly have an associated unloader conveyor operable for conveying grain from the grain tank to another location such as to a grain truck or wagon. An unloader conveyor typically includes an elongate, enclosed tubular housing containing a helical auger and is oriented horizontally or at a small acute angle to horizontal. The unloader conveyor is typically pivotally supported in cantilever relation by a lower end of an upstanding or vertical lower unloader conveyor section including an inlet opening disposed in or adjacent to the grain tank. The unloader conveyor is typically pivotable between a stored position extending along the combine, and a sidewardly extending unloading position. The unloader can be of any length, but will typically have a length sufficient to extend just beyond the end of a header of the combine. Grain tanks additionally typically include at least one grain tank conveyor including an auger adjacent to the bottom of the grain tank and extending into the inlet opening of the lower unloader conveyor for conveying grain into the unloader. 
         [0004]    Use of an auger associated with an unloader conveyor often results in both vibration during operation of the unloader conveyor, as well as sliding and mixing of the crop or grain along the auger surface, possibly resulting in damage to the crop or grain and requiring increased power to convey the crop or grain along the unloader conveyor. In U.S. 2010/275563 A1 the unloader conveyor comprises a conveyor belt for transporting the grain from the grain tank to the grain truck, thereby avoiding some of the auger related disadvantages. 
         [0005]    However, installing a conveyor belt inside the conveyor tube instead of an auger results in a reduction of the tube cross section available for transporting the crop, which may reduce the overall crop delivery rate of the harvester. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a need and a desire for a crop delivery system that can maintain high delivery rates while reducing vibration and the opportunity for crop or grain damage during delivery thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
         [0008]    The present invention relates to a harvester comprising a vessel for securing a crop therein and a crop delivery system. The crop delivery system has a first tube with a first angled orientation, a first end and an opposed second end, the first tube being configured to receive the crop from the vessel at the first end. A continuous belt is provided having a receiving region in close proximity to the first end of the first tube. A portion of the belt operable to carry the crop from the receiving region is structurally supported by and substantially covered by the first tube, while a portion of the belt operable to return to the receiving region after delivering the crop passes beneath the first tube. 
         [0009]    By providing the return path for the continuous belt beneath and outside the tube, the portion of the conveyor tube cross section being occupied by the conveyor belt construction is minimized and the crop delivery rate is improved. 
         [0010]    In an advantageous embodiment, the belt is in slidable contact with a part of the inner surface of the tube to further increase the portion of the cross section available for transporting the crop. This is also possible when the tube has a cylindrical shape. 
         [0011]    The crop delivery system may further comprise a second tube having a second angled orientation, a third end, and an opposed fourth end, the second end of the first tube and the third end of the second tube connected by a transition area, the system being operable to deliver the crop received from the first end of the first tube to the fourth end of the second tube, the continuous belt further having a delivery region in close proximity of the fourth end of the second tube, the portion of the belt operable to carry the crop further being substantially covered by the second tube and the transition area, wherein the transition area includes a roller positioned substantially transverse to the first tube and the second tube and in contact with the belt, the roller forming a substantially flat bend area in the belt for transitioning the belt from the first angled orientation to the second angled orientation. 
         [0012]    Conventional unloader conveyor housings typically extend linearly from the combine, providing little clearance between the unloader conveyor and the grain truck or wagon, increasing the opportunity for contact and damage to the unloader conveyor. The use of a second tube at a, possibly, differently angled orientation makes it possible to reach over the rim of the grain receiving container of the truck or wagon without damaging said vehicle and/or the unloader conveyor. The roller in the transition area ensures that the continuous belt keeps running through the inside of the conveyor tubes smoothly, also when the first and second angled orientations are substantially different. Especially with part of the conveyor belt construction being provided beneath and outside the conveyor tubes, smooth guidance of the continuous belt inside the conveyor tubes is important. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the transition area includes a slot to receive the roller therethrough from beneath the transition area. This has the advantages that the roller does not occupy valuable space inside the conveyor tube, while keeping in direct contact with the belt. Thus an advantageous combination is obtained of optimal crop delivery capacity and smooth operation of the continuous belt. 
         [0014]    In an advantageous embodiment, at least one secondary roller is positioned trnasversely with respect of the first tube and the second tube beneath the transition area and a portion of the belt returning to the receiving region after delivering the crop is structurally supported by the at least one secondary roller. 
         [0015]    Numerous other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a partial elevation view of a crop delivery system of a harvester. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a view taken along region  2  from  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross section taken along line  3 - 3  from  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a view taken along lines  4 - 4  from  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention that is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0021]    Referring now to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of a crop delivery system  10  of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . Crop delivery system  10  is configured to receive a harvested crop, such as a grain from a lower portion  14  of a vessel  12 , also referred to as a grain bin. Grain bin or vessel  12 , is supported by a frame  16  of a self-propelled agricultural combine  11 , such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,180, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0022]    As further shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , crop delivery system  10  includes a first tube  18  having a first end  22  and a second end  24 . First tube  18  is connected to a harvester  11 , such as an agricultural combine, such as a pivotable connection permitting rotational movement  68  about an axis  70  either toward or away from harvester  11  in a well-known manner. First tube  18  has a first angled orientation  20 , such as with respect to a horizontal plane  50 . First angled orientation  20  can be up to about 30 degrees from horizontal plane  50 , such as an angled orientation that is directed upwardly, since an upwardly directed angle exceeding about 30 degrees typically results in the crop tumbling downwardly along first tube  18 , i.e., in a direction opposite to that desired. Crop delivery system  10  includes a second tube  26  having a third end  28  and a fourth end  30 , with second tube  26  positioned at a second angled orientation  27 . In an exemplary embodiment, second angled orientation  27  can be up to about 10 degrees from a horizontal plane  50 . In another embodiment, second angled orientation  27  can be greater than 10 degrees. As shown, in close proximity to fourth end  30  of second tube  26 , a spout  52  may be positioned to help direct harvested crops  56  downwardly into a collection device (not shown). 
         [0023]    A transition area  32  is positioned between second end  24  of first tube  18  and third end  28  of second tube  26  in order to transition between the corresponding angled orientations of a belt  34 , as the belt is urged into driven movement from first tube  18  to second tube  26 . A flexible, continuous belt  34  has a receiving region  36  that is in close proximity to first end  22  of first tube  18 , which belt  34  extending to a delivery region  38  in close proximity of fourth end  30  of second tube  26 . Receiving region  36  of belt  34  receives a harvested crop, such as a grain, from a lower portion  14  of a vessel  12  of harvester  11 , with the harvested crop received from first end  22  of first tube  18  to be delivered through transition area  32  to the fourth end  30  of second tube  26 . Belt  34  is urged into driven movement such as by a motor (not shown) or other known arrangement between a primary roller  64  positioned in close proximity to first end  22  of first tube  18  and a primary roller  66  positioned in close proximity to fourth end  30  of second tube  26 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , belt  34  is structurally supported (i.e., slidably supported or carried) along respective inside surfaces  60  of first tube  18  and second tube  26 . In an exemplary embodiment, tubes  18 ,  26  are substantially cylindrical, although in other embodiments, the tubes may define a different profile. Although first tube  18  is shown having a length and a first angled orientation  20  greater than the length of second tube  26  and of a second angled orientation  27 , the present disclosure is not so limited, so long as crops are delivered from the vessel of the harvester to the intended collection machinery or device. As further shown in  FIG. 3 , a majority of surface  72  of belt  34  positioned between opposed edges or ends  58  of belt  34  is in contact with a crop  56  as the crop is carried through the tubes  18 ,  26 . Surface  74  of belt  34  between opposed ends  58  of the belt, which surface  74  of the belt is opposite of surface  72 , is slidably supported or carried along respective inner surfaces  60  of first tube  18 , second tube  26 . Stated another way, surface  74  of belt  34  between opposed ends  58  of the belt extends along a slidable contact region  62 . In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between surface  74  and the inner surfaces  60  of the tubes is less than the coefficient of friction between surface  72  and the crop. In another embodiment, slidable contact region  62  that is formed between surface  74  of belt  34  and respective inner surfaces  60  of first tube  18  and second tube  26 , contacts up to about one half of the inner surfaces  60  of the tubes  18 ,  26 . For example, if the inside diameter of tubes  18 ,  26  are 30 cm, belt  34  would measure approximately 45 cm between opposed ends  58 . Similarly, if the inside diameter of tubes  18 ,  26  are 40 cm, belt  34  would measure approximately 60 cm between opposed ends  58 . In one embodiment, first tube  18  and second tube  26  are sized to be substantially similar. However in another embodiment, first tube  18  second tube  26  may be sized differently from each other. 
         [0025]    As further shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , transition area  32  is positioned between second end  24  of first tube  18  and third end  28  of second tube  20 . Transition area  32  includes a supporting region  76  having a gradual profile change that is positioned beneath belt  34 . To assist with understanding of the disclosure, the width of belt  34  (the distance between opposed ends  58 ) is substantially the same along the longitudinal length of belt  34 . It is apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art that the increased spacing between opposed ends  58  of belt  34  in transition area  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is due to the gradual changing of the profile of supporting region  76  ( FIG. 3 ). That is, as shown in  FIG. 4 , proceeding in a direction along axis  19  from second end  24  of first tube  18  toward a surface  47  of a substantially cylindrical roller  40  having a substantially transverse axis  42 , the shape or profile defined by a plane parallel to transverse axis  42  and perpendicular to longitudinal axis  19  of first tube  18  cutting through supporting region  76  defines an increasingly flattening surface supporting belt  34 . This change in profile is evidenced, and shown in  FIG. 4 , by the apparent increase in width between ends  58  of belt  34 , which belt having a substantially constant width, with the apparent increase in belt width identified as a transition profile  44  of belt  34 . In other words, as belt  34  proceeds along axis  19  toward surface  47  of substantially cylindrical roller  40  having substantially transverse axis  42 , supporting region  76  gradually transitions from a substantially circular cross section (similar to  FIG. 4 ), such as at second end  24  of first tube  18 , to a substantially flat bend area  48  along surface  47  of substantially cylindrical roller  40  having substantially transverse axis  42 . Substantially cylindrical surface  47  of substantially transverse axis  42  extends through a slot  46  formed through supporting surface  76  of transition area  32 , forming substantially flat bend area  48  in belt  34 . Substantially flat bend area  48  forms the basis for the transition of belt  34  between first angled orientation  20  and second angular orientation  27 . For similar reasons discussed above, the profile of a portion of supporting surface  76  extending from third end  28  of second tube  26  toward surface  47  of substantially cylindrical roller  40  having substantially transverse axis  42  is virtually identical to the profile of another portion of supporting surface extending from second end  24  of first tube  18  toward surface  47  of substantially cylindrical roller  40  having substantially transverse axis  42 . In another embodiment, the profile a portion of supporting surface  76  extending from third end  28  of second tube  26  toward surface  47  of substantially cylindrical roller  40  having substantially transverse axis  42  may be different from the profile of another portion of supporting surface extending from second end  24  of first tube  18  toward surface  47  of substantially cylindrical roller  40  having substantially transverse axis  42 . 
         [0026]    Once belt  34  has dispensed crop material from delivery region  38  in close proximity to fourth end  30  of second tube  26 , the belt passes beneath the tubes  18 ,  26  toward receiving region  36  in close proximity to first end  22  of first tube  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , secondary rollers  54  located beneath transition area  32  maintain proper tensioning in the belt by establishing substantially flat bend areas  49  due to contact between rollers  54  and bend areas  49 , as well as limiting downward deflection of the portion of the belt positioned beneath the tubes and extending between delivery region  38  in close proximity to fourth end  30  of second tube  26  and first end  22  of first tube  18 . In another embodiment, rollers  54  may be positioned beneath one or more of first tube  18 , second tube  26  and/or transition area  32 . 
         [0027]    By virtue of substantially flat bend area  48  in transition area  32 , the change in angled orientations  20 ,  27  defined by respective tubes  18 ,  26  provides multiple benefits. First, by permitting the lowering of receiving region  36  of belt  34  sufficiently beneath lower portion  14  of vessel  12  of harvester  11 , an “in tank elevator” or vertical conveying equipment, typically involving augers, as well as the associated drive units, can be removed, reducing costs associated with these components, and increasing the usable volume of the vessel, due to the removal of such vertical conveying equipment. Second, grain damage is lessened by use of a continuous belt, compared to conventional auger grain conveying systems. Third, operation of a continuous belt provides a significant reduction in vibration over conventional augered conveying systems, resulting in noise reduction, as well as extended service life of associated components. Fourth, by virtue of the significant differences that may be used between angular orientations associated with respective tubes, crops can be effectively raised, by utilizing an increased first angled orientation  20  associated with a first tube, from a lower initial position of the harvester (i.e., from beneath lower portion  14  of vessel  12 , versus an upper portion of the vessel in conventional harvester constructions) to provide sufficient vertical clearance of crop collection machinery, such as wagons or trucks, with a differing (and typically reduced) second angular orientation  27  of the second tube  26 , reducing the opportunity of damage between the crop collection machinery and the harvester. 
         [0028]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. Many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or to the teachings of the invention without departing from this scope.