Abstract:
Disclosed is a discharge spout arrangement of an agricultural harvesting machine through which harvested crop processed by the harvesting machine can be transported to a transport vehicle. The discharge spout arrangement includes a first spout element connected with the harvesting machine. A second spout element is mounted to and defines an extension the first spout element. The second spout element is slidably movable between fully retracted and extended positions respectively wherein a discharge end of the second spout element is spaced a minimum and a maximum distance from a discharge end of said first spout element.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention concerns a discharge spout arrangement of an agricultural harvesting machine, through which harvested crop processed by the harvesting machine can be conducted to a transport vehicle.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Forage harvesters are harvesting machines that take up harvested crop from the ground, chop it, and deposit it through a discharge spout arrangement upon a deposit surface of a transport vehicle operating alongside or towed by the forage harvester. In order to fill the transport vehicle in a controlled manner, the direction of ejection can be varied by a discharge spout arrangement rotating about a vertical axis. In some embodiments, the height of the outlet end of the discharge spout arrangement can also be varied in that the discharge spout arrangement can be pivoted about a horizontal axis. Furthermore, an adjustable flap is provided at the outlet end of the discharge spout arrangement in order to provide an input for the direction of ejection. Such a forage harvester is disclosed, for example, by DE 101 19 279 A.  
           [0003]    With relatively wide front harvesting attachments, (corn heads with operating width of 8 or 10 rows), or upon the operation of a chopper on an incline, it happens occasionally that the optimal spacing to the transport vehicle operating alongside cannot be maintained. Frequently, the distance between the forage harvester and the transport vehicle is too large, so that the transport vehicle is filled only on one side. This can lead to a loss of time in the chain of events in the operation of the chopper if the transport vehicle must be changed too early, since it cannot be loaded any further. In addition, in case of strong side winds during the deposit of the harvested crop onto the transport vehicle, losses can result if the flap of the discharge spout arrangement is at too great a distance from the trailer.  
           [0004]    Rigid extension elements are known that can be attached to one side of the discharge spout arrangement for the solution of these problems. They do, however, have the disadvantage that they can have the effect of an interference in many other operating conditions in which the transport vehicle is already operating close to the forage harvester.  
           [0005]    US 2001/0026755 A proposes a grain wagon with a discharge screw conveyor at whose outer end an extension is provided that can be telescoped by means of a hydraulic cylinder. The extension is automatically extended when the discharge screw conveyor is brought into its operating position. The telescoping extension is thereby used only for the more compact storage of the discharge screw conveyor in its non-operating position.  
           [0006]    The problem underlying the invention is seen in the need to define an improved discharge spout arrangement in which the disadvantages noted above do not occur.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    According to the present invention, there is provided a discharge spout arrangement for a crop harvester that may be selectively extended and retracted.  
           [0008]    It is proposed that the discharge spout arrangement be composed of two spout elements. A first spout element is connected with the harvesting machine. A second spout element that contains the outlet end of the discharge spout arrangement, is mounted to, and can be telescoped in axial direction relative to, the first spout element during the harvesting operation.  
           [0009]    In this way, the length of the discharge spout arrangement becomes variable. When the transport vehicles operate alongside each other, they operate as trailers or as other silo vehicles, and the outlet end of the discharge spout arrangement can always be positioned optimally over the filling surface. Thereby the load capacity of the vehicles is utilized optimally. Waiting times can be avoided, and the chain of events in the operation of the chopper, proceeds more cost-effectively. The operator of the harvesting machine and the operator of the transport vehicle are relieved of some of their duties, since a predetermined fixed spacing between the silo vehicle and the front harvesting attachment need not be maintained with absolute precision. Since the spacing between the harvesting machine and the transport vehicle can be varied and can be selected sufficiently large, the danger of a collision between the transport vehicle, and in particular, a relatively wide front harvesting attachment, is reduced. In the chain of vehicles in the operation of a chopper, the most varied transport vehicles are frequently used and each tractor operator has his own preferred spacing safety margin from the forage harvester. The adjustable second spout element can accommodate these different spacings. During operation on a slope and in wet weather, the transport vehicles frequently slide easily down the slope. This change in spacing to the harvesting machine can also be accommodated by the adjustable discharge spout arrangement. During the operation of a chopper with transport trailers towed by a harvesting machine, wind losses can be avoided in that the outlet end of the discharge spout arrangement is conducted more closely to the transport vehicle. Here too, a better accommodation to transport vehicles of varied configurations is possible.  
           [0010]    Basically the invention can be applied to any desired harvesting machine discharge spout arrangement, for example, forage harvesters or combines. It is particularly useful when applied to forage harvesters, since a transport vehicle is being filled during the entire harvesting process. Furthermore, the discharge spout arrangement can be extended in a relatively simple way, since no conveyor is provided in the discharge spout arrangement as is located, for example, in the unloading pipe of a combine.  
           [0011]    Preferably, an actuator, that is actuated by external power, is provided by means of which the second element can be slid relative to the first element. This may be an electric motor or a hydraulic cylinder or motor. A manual shifting of the second element would also be conceivable that is applied directly when the harvesting machine is stopped in place to the discharge spout arrangement or from the operator&#39;s station by an appropriate mechanism. Here, elements can be provided to arrest the second element in a desired position.  
           [0012]    If an actuator, actuated by external power, is used, there is the possibility of controlling it by appropriate input arrangements from the operating position of the operator by manual inputs. The input arrangements may include switches in a multi-function handgrip, switches in the operator&#39;s console or a foot-operated switch on the floor of the operator&#39;s cab. On the other hand, sensors can also be applied that detect the position of a transport vehicle and control the actuator automatically in such a way that the harvested crop is deposited at the desired location. The sensors may detect the transport vehicle optically and control the actuator by means of an image processing software. An optical or an acoustic distance measuring device could also be applied. In another embodiment, the harvesting machine and the transport vehicle are each equipped with a position sensor, for example, a GPS receiver whose position signals are used for the automatic control of the actuator.  
           [0013]    The second spout element is supported in bearings so as to slide relative to the first spout element. In order to be able to slide with a minimum of wear, one solution is to arrange a bearing element between the two elements, which preferably consists of plastic. Here, the material is particularly in the form of rails of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) which is distinguished by excellent wear resistance and very good friction characteristics. However, rolling contact bearings could also be applied between the first and the second elements.  
           [0014]    Particularly, when the second element of the discharge spout arrangement is in its extended position, large forces must be absorbed that result from the operating movement of the harvesting machine and the harvested crop deflected by the second element. These forces are absorbed preferably by arms and rolls that transmit the forces from the second spout element to the first spout element. Such arms may be arranged on opposite sides of the second spout element so as to extend along opposite sides of, and engage opposite side surfaces of, the first spout element. The axes of rotation of the rolls are appropriately oriented transverse to the axis of sliding of the second spout element, so that the rolls can roll along the surface or surfaces of the first spout element. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The drawings show an embodiment of the invention that shall be described in greater detail in the following.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic, left side view of a harvesting machine.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the end region of the discharge spout arrangement. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    A harvesting machine  10  in the form of a self-propelled forage harvester is built on a frame  12  that is carried by front and rear pairs of transversely spaced wheels  14  and  16 , respectively. The harvesting machine  10  is controlled from an operator&#39;s cab  18  from which a harvested crop take-up arrangement  20  can be viewed. Crop, such as corn, grass or the like, taken up from the ground by means of the harvested crop take-up arrangement  20 , is conducted to a chopper drum  22  which chops it into small pieces and delivers it to a conveyor or blower arrangement  24 . The crop leaves the harvesting machine  10  to a transport vehicle operating alongside through a discharge spout or duct arrangement  26  mounted to the harvesting machine for swinging about a vertical axis. Between the chopper drum  22  and the conveyor arrangement  24 , there extends a post-chopper reduction or kernel processor arrangement  28  through which the crop to be conveyed is conducted tangentially to the conveyor arrangement  24 .  
         [0019]    The positions of the components of the discharge spout arrangement  26  can be varied by means of actuators  30 ,  34 ,  38 , and  40 . A first actuator  30 , in the form of a hydraulic motor, is used to rotate the discharge spout arrangement  26 , supported in bearings on the frame  12  on a slewing rim  50 , about the vertical axis. The actuator  30  makes it possible to rotate the discharge spout arrangement  26  to the rear into the transport position shown in FIG. 1 or to bring it to the left or the right alongside the harvesting machine  10 . A second actuator  34 , in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, is arranged to pivot the discharge spout arrangement  26  about a horizontal axis  32  located at its upstream or inner end. Thereby, the second actuator  34  defines the height of the downstream end of the discharge spout arrangement  26 . A third actuator  38 , in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, is used to pivot an ejection flap  36  at the outlet end of a second spout element  44  of the discharge spout arrangement  26 . The ejection flap  36 , that can be repositioned, makes it possible to adjust the angle at which the harvested crop leaves the discharge spout arrangement  26 . The actuators  34  and  38  are single-acting or double-acting hydraulic cylinders, where, in the case of single-acting hydraulic cylinders, the return movement is performed by the force of gravity on the weight of the discharge spout arrangement  26  or the ejection flap  36 . In the embodiment shown, the actuator  34  is single-acting and the actuator  38  is double-acting. The actuator  30  can selectively rotate the discharge spout arrangement  26  either in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction about the vertical axis of the slewing rim  50 . The actuator  40  is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. The actuators  30 ,  34 ,  38 , and  40  can be remotely controlled by means of an input arrangement  31  attached to an operating control lever, that is located in the operator&#39;s cab  18 .  
         [0020]    The discharge spout arrangement  26  is composed of a first spout element  42  and the second spout element  44 . The first spout element  42  has an inlet or first end mounted to the frame  12  at the horizontal slewing rim  50  such that the first spout element  42 , and hence the spout arrangement  26 , is rotatable about the vertical axis of the slewing rim  50 . The second spout element  44  is mounted for sliding upon the first spout element  42  at a downstream section containing a second or discharge end of the first spout element  42 . The second spout element  44  telescopically receives, and is mounted for sliding in the axial direction relative to, the first spout element  42 . The actuator  40  is selectively extendable and retractable in order to be able to vary the distance between the outlet or discharge end of the second spout element  44  and the vertical axis of rotation of the discharge spout arrangement  26  during the operation of the harvesting machine  10 , as is indicated by the double-headed arrow in FIG. 1. The cylinder of the actuator  40  is connected with the first spout element  42  and its piston rod is connected over a connecting pin or element  48  with the second spout element  44 . Bearing elements  46 , in the form of elongate, flat rails or strips, constructed of ultra-high molecular weight polyurethane (UHMW-PE), are fixed to a top surface of the first spout element  42  in a region immediately preceding the discharge end of the first spout element and are received within a region of the second spout element  44 .  
         [0021]    The perspective view of the discharge spout arrangement  26 , rendered in FIG. 2, permits a better view of the structure attaching the second spout element  44  to the first spout element  42 . The first spout element  42  is provided on its side wall with an outwardly or transversely projecting channel element  52  having a rectangular cross section. In the interior of the channel element  52 , a channel is located through which an electrical wire or cable (not shown) is routed that leads to a lamp, also not shown, arranged at the outer end of the second spout element  44 . Above the channel element  52 , another relatively thin, elongate bearing element  46 , made of UHMW-PE, is provided and is connected with the first spout element  42 , in particular, by means of adhesive. The bearing element  46  can also extend around the channel element  52  or it may include three separate strips that are respectively arranged along the under, outer, and top sides of the channel element  52 . On the basis of FIG. 2, it cannot be discerned that an identical channel element  52  and an identical bearing element  46  are also arranged on the other side of the first spout element  42 . The bearing elements  46  extend up to the outer end of the first spout element  42 .  
         [0022]    The second spout element  44  is provided with an inner cross section that is slightly larger than the outer cross section of the first spout element  42 . Each of opposite side walls of the second spout element  44  is provided with a rectangular channel  54  that encloses the adjacent channel element  52  of the first spout element  42 . At its end that is slid upon the first spout element  42 , the second spout element  44  is provided with four support bearings, each of which includes an arm  56  rigidly connected with the second spout element  44 , and a roll  58  arranged at the outer end of the arm  56  which can rotate about its axis. Two arms  56  with rolls  58  are arranged alongside each other on the upper side of the first spout element  42  and are respectively located to engage the first spout element  42  at locations on opposite sides of the bearing element  46 , but the use of a wider bearing element  46  would be conceivable upon which the rolls  58  can roll along. The arms  56  of the other two support bearings are respectively attached to the undersides of the pair of channels  54  at the opposite sides of the second spout element  44 , and their rolls  58  are respectively in contact with the undersides of the channel elements  52  at the opposite sides of the first spout element  42 . The rolls  58  are attached to the arms  56  so as to be free to rotate about their longitudinal axes that are oriented transverse to the direction of sliding of the second spout element  44 . Although the arms  56  are rigidly attached to the second spout element  44 , it would be conceivable to connect them in joints, free to pivot on it, and to preload them with the force of a spring against the first spout element  42 .  
         [0023]    The first spout element  42  and the second spout element  44  are in the form of channels that open downward, since the chopped harvested crop slides along the upper side of each of the elements  42 ,  44  of the discharge spout arrangement  26  due to the inertia imparted to the crop by the conveyor arrangement  24 . However, embodiments partially closed downward would also be conceivable.  
         [0024]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.