Abstract:
An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis; a crop processing mechanism carried by the chassis and configured to separate crop material and discharge crop residue therefrom; and a residue handling system that receives separated crop material and discharged crop residue from the crop processing mechanism. The residue handling system includes at least one spreader device defining a spreader exit; a windrow exit; a straw door selectively positionable between a first position and a second position, the straw door directed toward the spreader exit in the first position and directed toward the windrow exit in the second position; and a flexible guide associated with the straw door and having a shape that deforms when the straw door switches between the first position and the second position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to agricultural vehicles, and, more particularly, to straw hoods in agricultural vehicles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    An agricultural harvester known as a “combine” is historically termed such because it combines multiple harvesting functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking, threshing, separating and cleaning. A combine includes a header which removes the crop from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop matter into a threshing rotor. The threshing rotor rotates within a perforated housing, which may be in the form of adjustable concaves and performs a threshing operation on the crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed, it falls through perforations in the concaves onto a grain pan. From the grain pan, the grain is cleaned using a cleaning system, and is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine. A cleaning fan blows air through the sieves to discharge straw, chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. 
         [0005]    During the process of harvesting, crop material other than grain (MOG) is intended to be expelled from the combine. This material is usually derived from one of two areas, the threshing rotor or the cleaning system. The material expelled from the threshing rotor is generally referred to as straw and the material expelled from the cleaning system is generally referred to as chaff. This crop residue can be dealt with in several ways, generally categorized as spread and windrowed. 
         [0006]    Spread refers to using a mechanical device to distribute the straw and/or chaff evenly across the width of the combine header cut width. This spread material is usually chopped to as short a length as possible so that when it is spread it will break down as quickly as possible and not interfere with tillage or seeding operations. 
         [0007]    Windrowing refers to the process of dropping straw directly behind the combine in a continuous stream. The purpose of doing this is usually to allow post harvest processing of the straw such as shaping it into bales. In this process, the straw is usually allowed to pass through the combine with as little interference as possible so that it remains as close as possible to its original length and condition. 
         [0008]    Combines have been developed that have one spreader system capable of both spreading and windrowing crop material from the combine during operation, without the need to stop and reconfigure the spreader system. Such a combine is taught, for example, by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0011275 to Murray et al. The combine taught by Murray et al. is conveniently changeable between a spreading mode and a windrowing mode. However, the rear straw door can create an abrupt blockage of the exit trajectory of the crop material when in the spreading mode. This abrupt change in trajectory can cause uneven feeding to the spreaders and blockages of the rear hood. 
         [0009]    What is needed in the art is a harvester that is conveniently changeable between a spreading mode and a windrowing mode and can more evenly feed the spreaders with crop material. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a re-positionable straw door and a flexible guide associated with the straw door that deforms when the straw door switches between positions. 
         [0011]    The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural vehicle including: a chassis; a crop processing mechanism carried by the chassis and configured to separate crop material and discharge crop residue therefrom; and a residue handling system that receives separated crop material and discharged crop residue from the crop processing mechanism. The residue handling system includes: at least one spreader device defining a spreader exit; a windrow exit; a straw door selectively positionable between a first position and a second position, the straw door directed toward the spreader exit in the first position and directed toward the windrow exit in the second position; and a flexible guide associated with the straw door and having a shape that deforms when the straw door switches between the first position and the second position. 
         [0012]    The invention in another form is directed to a residue handling system for an agricultural harvester including: at least one spreader device defining a spreader exit; a windrow exit; a straw door selectively positionable between a first position and a second position, the straw door directed toward the spreader exit in the first position and directed toward the windrow exit in the second position; and a flexible guide associated with the straw door and having a shape that deforms when the straw door switches between the first position and the second position. 
         [0013]    An advantage of the present invention is the flexible guide can create a smooth trajectory path for residue headed toward the spreader. 
         [0014]    Another advantage is the chance for a rear hood blockage can be reduced by the smooth trajectory path. 
         [0015]    Yet another advantage is the flexible guide is automatically deformed by the movement of the straw door and therefore requires no separate adjustment during operation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an agricultural harvester according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side section view of a prior art agricultural harvester showing a straw door in a first position to laterally distribute crop residue; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side section view of the harvester shown in  FIG. 2  with the crop door in a second position for windrowing straw and laterally distributing chaff; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side section view of an embodiment of a residue handling system according to the present invention with a straw door in a first position to laterally distribute crop residue; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side section view of the residue handling system shown in  FIG. 4  with the straw door in a second position for windrowing straw; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a track that can be included on the straw door. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an agricultural combine  20  which includes a chassis  12  carrying the usual harvesting apparatus (not all of which is shown to facilitate an understanding of the invention). An axially oriented crop processing system  22  receives harvested crop and a crop residue handling system  24  with a crop residue spreading system  26  is positioned at the aft end of combine  20 . The crop processing system includes a cylindrical threshing rotor  28  that conveys a flow of crop material in a helical flow path. As the crop material is moved through the processing apparatus  22 , the desired crop such as grain or other material is loosened and separated from crop residue such as husk and pods in a cleaning system located beneath the threshing rotor  28 . The crop processing system  22  includes a blower  34 , schematically depicted to aid in the separation of the desired crop from the crop residue. The blower  34  has a duct  35  extending aft in the combine  20  towards the cleaning system and the crop residue treatment and distribution system  24 . 
         [0025]    Specifically referring to  FIG. 2 , a prior art crop residue handling system  25  is shown that includes a duct  30  including a top wall  31  and sidewalls  33  to direct crop residue in an aft direction A. A swath door  32  spans the sidewalls of the duct  30  and is pivotally mounted at  34  to the top wall  31  to be displaced between the position shown in  FIG. 2  to the position shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in schematic fashion, the swath door  32  is displaced by a mechanical interconnection  36  to an actuating mechanism  38 , both shown in schematic fashion. A fixed floor  40  directs the crop residue stream towards a pair of spreader devices  42 . 
         [0026]    Spreader devices  42 , which define material exits from the harvester  10 , include side-by-side disks  44  journaled for rotation about vertical axis and positioned laterally with respect to one another. The spreader devices  42  can also be referred to as defining spreader exits from the harvester  10  to signify that material exiting the harvester  10  through the spreader devices  42  is spread on the field. Disks  44  may have a plurality of curved bats  46  that act like vanes to positively direct crop residue in a lateral direction. A cone  48  extends vertically upward from disk  44  and provides a cover for a motor  50  for each disk. The motor output shafts (not shown) cause the disks  44  to rotate as needed. Although motor  50  is illustrated as hydraulic, it may be in any one of a number of forms including mechanical interconnection to a remotely positioned motor. Rotation of disks  44  is set up so that when viewed from above and looking towards the front of the combine  20 , the right side disk rotates counterclockwise and the left disk rotates clockwise so that they propel crop residue between them aft and around and laterally. 
         [0027]    In the position illustrated in  FIG. 2 , both the straw and chaff are directed aft in direction A and are deflected downward by swath door  32  to impact on the disks  44  and curved bats  46 . The rotation of the disks  44  causes the material to be distributed aft and laterally of the combine  20 . 
         [0028]    A windrow chute generally indicated at  52  is provided. The windrow chute  52  can define a windrow exit from the harvester  10 , but it should be appreciated that the windrow exit from the harvester  10  does not need to be a windrow chute  52  and can be an opening in the harvester  10  that allows material to exit out the back of the harvester  10  in windrows. Windrow chute  52  includes a bottom portion  54  and adjacent sidewalls  56 . Windrow chute  52  is displaceable between the position illustrated in  FIG. 2  in which it is out of the crop residue stream and the position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Windrow chute  52  is displaced by a mechanical connection  58  leading to an actuator  60 . Windrow chute  52  additionally includes one more deflectors  62  fixed to and projecting downwardly from bottom portion  54 . 
         [0029]    In the positions shown in  FIG. 2 , the windrow chute  52  is in its first position in which it is positioned out of the crop residue stream and the swath door  32  is in its first lowered position in which it directs all of the crop residue stream towards the spreading devices  26 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the straw door  32  may be pivoted by the actuator  38  to the illustrated second position in which it is elevated and does not direct all of the crop residue stream towards the spreading devices  42 . At the same time, the actuator  60  displaces the windrow chute  52  to the illustrated second position in which it is in the crop residue stream. In the crop residue stream, the straw tends to be elevated and as such is directed downward to the windrow chute  52  and the impact slows the velocity of the straw. In addition, the convergence of the windrow chute enables a better formed windrow of straw which is directed downstream of the combine  20 . At the same time, the chaff in the crop residue stream falls to the residue spreader system  26  and the deflector(s)  62  keep the air flow from the disks  44  out of the windrow for the straw so that it does not disturb the proper positioning in the field. The chaff in this condition is spread laterally. 
         [0031]    The actuators  38  and  60  are coordinated to place the swath door and windrow chute  52  in their respective positions in coordinated interdependent fashion. The actuators may be implemented in a way that it is done by control from an operator of the harvester. This feature allows minimal time to change the configuration of the harvester from a spreading operation to an operation in which straw is windrowed and chaff is spread laterally across the field. This enables significant increases in operator efficiency and harvesting effectiveness. 
         [0032]    As can be seen in comparing  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3 , the trajectory of the crop residue flow, represented by arrows C, to the spreaders  42  is abruptly blocked by the straw door  32  when the straw door  32  is in the first position shown in  FIG. 2 . This abrupt blocking is caused by the residue flow C being at a relatively high velocity when the residue flow C contacts the straw door  32  in the first position so that the residue flow C is directed toward the spreaders  42 , rather than following a more gentle path along the straw door  32  when the straw door  32  is in the second position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . This abrupt blocking of the residue flow C can cause the residue to be impacted to the straw door  32 , leading to blockage, and also cause an uneven flow of residue to the spreaders  42 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a portion of the crop residue handling system  24  according to the present invention is shown. All elements of the crop residue handling system  24  shown in  FIGS. 4-5  that are similar to those of the prior art crop residue handling system  25  shown in  FIGS. 2-3  are assigned similar reference numerals for ease of description and illustration. As can be seen, the crop residue handling system  24  has a flexible guide  66  associated with the straw door  32  that is placed in the flow of crop material from a chopper assembly  68 . As used herein, the flexible guide  66  is “associated with” the straw door  32  in the sense that movement of the straw door  32  causes movement and/or deformation of the flexible guide  66 , which can result from a static or dynamic connection between the flexible guide  66  and straw door  32 . The flexible guide  66  is formed of a flexible material and associated with the straw door  32 , through fixation or otherwise, so that the flexible guide  66  has a shape that will deform when the straw door  32  switches between a first position, shown in  FIG. 4 , and a second position, shown in  FIG. 5 . The flexible guide  66  can be, for example, formed as a sheet of flexible material that is solid and attached to the top wall  31 . The straw door  32  can also be pivotally connected to the top wall  31 , so that as the straw door  32  pivots between its first position and second position the flexible guide  66  is forced to deform in response to the changing angle of the straw door  32  relative to the top wall  31  to which the flexible guide  66  is attached. 
         [0034]    When the straw door  32  is in its first position, shown in  FIG. 4 , and directed toward the spreader(s)  42 , the angle formed between top sheet  31  and the straw door  32  is steeper relative to when the straw door  32  is in the second position, shown in  FIG. 5 , and directed toward the windrow chute  52 . The flexible guide  66 , which is shown as a sheet of flexible material fixed to the top wall  31  and associated with the straw door  32  in  FIGS. 4-5 , can deform so that a first end  70  of the flexible sheet  66  attached to the top wall  31  can define a tangent relative to the top wall  31  and a second end  72  of the flexible sheet  66  associated with the straw door  32  can define a tangent relative to the straw door  32 , with the material of the flexible sheet  66  between the two ends  70  and  72  of the flexible sheet  66  curvably deforming in response. This deformation of the flexible sheet  66  provides a smoother path for crop material from the chopper assembly  68  to follow, maintaining a laminar stream of crop material flow toward the spreaders  42  and reducing the chance of crop material creating a blockage. When the straw door  32  is in the second position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the first end  70  of the flexible sheet  66  can lay flat against the top wall  31  and the second end  72  of the flexible sheet  66  can lay flat against the straw door  32  so the flexible sheet  66  does not provide much, if any, disruption of the crop material flow. 
         [0035]    As can be seen between  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second end  72  of the flexible sheet  66  can change its relative position on the straw door  32  in response to the straw door  32  switching between its first position and second position. To allow this movement, and referring now to  FIG. 6 , a track  74  can be included on the straw door  32  that holds part of the flexible guide  66 . The track  74  can be, for example, a T-track formed in an interior surface  76  of the straw door  32  and having a channel  78  between two flanged sidewalls  80  that the flexible guide  66  can be held within. If desired, the track  74  can also be an independent piece from the straw door  32  that is mounted to the interior surface  76  of the straw door  32 . As the straw door  32  moves, the flexible guide  66  can slide within the channel  78  and be held tangent to the straw door  32  by the T-track  74 . The sliding movement of the flexible guide  66  within the track  74  can maintain the tangential relationship of the flexible guide  66  to the straw door  32  without a rigid connection that might cause excessive flexing of the flexible guide  66 , which could lead to snapping of the flexible guide  66  and also cause an abrupt blockage of crop material flow. It is also contemplated that the track  74  can be formed in or mounted to the top wall  31 , with the flexible guide  66  rigidly connected to the straw door  32 . 
         [0036]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.