Abstract:
An improved combination of a powered combine carrying a combine grain bin for housing harvested grain and a towed grain cart carrying a grain cart bin for housing harvested grain includes improved harvested grain transfer between the combine grain bin and the grain cart bin and improved off-loading of harvested grain from the combination. A generally horizontally disposed first grain movement assembly is pivotally connected to a second grain movement assembly, which in turn is pivotally connected to a vertically disposed grain movement assembly in the grain cart, such that the rear end of the second grain movement assembly moves in all horizontal directions, but not in the vertical direction. The first grain movement assembly has an arcuate trolley ahead of the pivoted joint with the second grain movement assembly. An off-loading grain movement assembly is disposed for off-loading grain only from the combine grain bin.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to combines that pull an integrated powered and steerable grain trailer for extra storage capacity, and more particularly to a grain handling assembly therefor. 
         [0004]    A much-improved grain handling assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,845 (the &#39;845 patent), the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The “845 patent discloses a generally horizontally disposed first grain movement assembly pivotally connected within the combine grain bin and pivotally connected within the grain cart bin and disposed for reciprocally transporting grain between the combine grain bin and the grain cart bin. A generally vertically disposed second grain movement assembly is cooperatively operable with the first grain movement assembly for transferring grain from the grain cart bin to the first grain movement assembly and thence to the combine grain bin. An off-loading grain movement assembly is disposed for off-loading grain only from the combine grain cart. 
         [0005]    While the &#39;845 patent concept is a fine advancement in the art, it was quite unexpectedly discovered that when the combine&#39;s wheels dipped down into an 18 inch depression in the field, that the geometry of the grain movement assembly resulted in the grain cart end of the horizontal conveyor assembly moving vertically around  5  feet. The design in the &#39;845 patent does not accommodate such a large vertical displacement of the horizontal grain conveyor; hence, the present improvement to the &#39;845 grain conveyor system. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An improved combination of a powered combine and a grain cart towed with the combine. The combine carries an on-board combine grain bin for housing harvested grain and the grain cart carries a grain cart bin for housing harvested grain. The combine has a rear adjacent to the grain cart. The improvement is for transferring harvested grain between the combine grain bin and the grain cart bin and for off-loading harvested grain from the combination includes a generally horizontally disposed first grain movement assembly connected within the combine grain bin and pivotally connected by a first joint assembly to a second grain movement assembly at the rear of the combine. The first and second grain movement assemblies are disposed for reciprocally transporting grain between the combine grain bin and the grain cart bin. The combine carries an arcuate trolley ahead of the first assembly joint. The trolley carries the first grain movement assembly and permits it to move across the width of the combine. 
         [0007]    A generally vertically disposed second grain movement assembly is cooperatively operable with the second grain movement assembly for transferring grain from the grain cart bin to the second grain movement assembly and thence to the combine grain bin via the first grain movement assembly. The second grain movement assembly is fixed to the vertical grain movement assembly with a second joint assembly permitting movement of the second grain movement assembly in all horizontal directions but not in the vertical direction. An off-loading grain movement assembly is disposed for off-loading grain only from the combine grain bin. 
         [0008]    Advantages of the present invention include a single grain unloading assembly for both the combine grain bin and the grain cart bin. Such single grain unloading assembly eliminates the possibility of collision between separate unloading assemblies for each grain bin. A further advantage is that unloading is facilitated by only having to position one unloading assembly adjacent to a truck during off-loading. Another advantage is the ability of the horizontal grain conveyor to accommodate large vertical movement caused by the combine wheels moving downwardly in field depressions. These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based on the disclosure set forth herein. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the novel combination of combine (or harvester) and towed grain cart; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the novel combination illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is side elevational view of the novel combination showing the conveyor movement necessary to accommodate the harvester&#39;s rear wheels moving through a depression in the field during harvesting operations; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is side elevational view of the novel combination showing the conveyor movement necessary to accommodate the harvester&#39;s front wheels moving through a depression in the field during harvesting operations; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the trolley (i.e., end view of  FIG. 6 ); and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1   
       
    
    
       [0018]    The drawings will be described in detail below. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present invention improves upon the grain cart and combine combination disclosed in the &#39;845 patent, which is an improvement on U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,365 (the &#39;365 patent), which unloads harvested grain from both the onboard combine grain bin and the grain cart bin towed by the combine. Accordingly, a “towed” grain cart for present purposes comprehends a grain cart that simply is towed (having no ability to steer and not powered), is steerable only, is powered only, or is both powered and steerable. Much of the detail of the combination (combine and towed grain cart) is detailed in the &#39;365 and &#39;845 patents and, thus, will not be described in detail herein. Rather, the following disclosure focuses on the intermediate pivot joint in the horizontal conveyor and the interconnection of the horizontal conveyor with the grain cart vertical conveyor. 
         [0020]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a combine,  10 , is seen towing a grain cart,  12 , which are mechanically interconnected by a tongue assembly,  14 . Combine  10  generally includes a cab,  16 , in which the operator is seated, a cornhead,  18 , a drive wheel pair,  20  (only one of each set of wheels being depicted in  FIG. 1 ), a steering wheel pair,  22  (only one of each set of wheels being depicted in  FIG. 1 ), a primary grain hopper or combine grain bin,  24 , and an auger assembly,  26 , for unloading hopper  24 . Such combine is a modern combine with all of the appurtenances and features that combine manufacturers provide today. Similarly, grain cart  12  is conventional in construction in that it includes a wheel pair,  28  (see  FIG. 2  to view both wheel pairs  28   a  and  28   b ), a secondary grain hopper or grain cart bin,  30 , and tongue  14 . 
         [0021]    It will be observed that a generally horizontal first grain transfer assembly,  32 , runs between combine grain bin  24  and grain cart bin  30 , and is composed of a front grain assembly,  32   a,  and a rear grain assembly,  32   b.  A generally vertical grain transfer assembly,  34 , is seen to be located within grain cart bin  30  and is interconnected with first grain transfer assembly  32 . Horizontal grain transfer assembly  32  is seen to extend into combine grain bin  24  through its rear wall and vertically at about its midpoint. A canvas, rubber, or other suitable material seal,  33 , keeps the harvested grain from spilling out, yet permits movement of assembly  32  during turning of the combine. This location means that as soon as combine grain bin  24  is about one-half full, harvested grain housed in bin  24  can be withdrawn and transferred into grain cart bin  30 . Conversely, by reversing the direction of travel of transfer assembly  32  grain can be transferred from grain cart bin  30  back into combine grain bin  24  for its unloading via unloading mechanism  26 . 
         [0022]    While the grain transfer assemblies can be conveyors, augers, or similar known devices (e.g., auger, bucket conveyor, cleated conveyor, or the like), the present invention will be specifically illustrated with (and not limited to) auger assemblies. Generally, a hydraulic motor assembly,  36 , powers horizontal harvested grain transfer rear assembly (auger)  32   b  and front grain transfer assembly  32   a,  and is composed of a suitably sized hydraulic motor, chain, sprocket, and bearings. A joint assembly,  38 , connects front or first auger assembly  32   a  and second or rear auger assembly  32   b.  An assembly,  40 , interconnects or fixes rear auger assembly  32   b  to vertical auger assembly  34 . 
         [0023]    The reason for jointed auger assembly  32  and the unique jointed connection of auger assembly  32  to vertical auger assembly  34  can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . When rear wheel pair  22  of combine  10  goes down a merely 18 inches, for example, into a depression in the field as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , tongue  14  similarly is displaced vertically 18 inches or about 6.5° relative to grain cart  30 . Such wheel movement, however, results in auger assembly  32   a  moving downwardly about 7° from the horizontal and auger assembly  32   b  moving about 15.5° upwardly from the horizontal, both auger assembly movements being about joint assembly  38 . With the dimensions of a typical commercial harvester and without joint assembly  38 , the rear end of auger assembly  32   b  would move vertically about 5 feet. The need for joint assembly  38 , thus, can be realized. 
         [0024]    When rear wheel assembly  22  of combine  10  goes up a merely 18 inches, for example, atop a small hill in the field as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , tongue  14  similarly is displaced vertically 18 inches or about 6.5° relative to grain cart  30 . Auger assembly  32   a,  then, is displaced upwardly about 7° and rear auger assembly  32   b  is displaced downwardly about 17.3°. Vertical auger assembly  34  is displaced to an angle of about 83° also. Again, the movement of the rear end of rear auger assembly  32   b  would be about 5 feet or so. Again, the need for joint assembly  38  is demonstrated. Though, perhaps, not readily apparent, the movement of the rear end of rear auger assembly  32   b  also places a demand on the interconnection between it and vertical auger assembly  34 , as will be described in detail below. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , auger assembly  32   a  at its rear end terminates with a hemispherically shaped element,  40 , that surmounts a similar element,  42 , that terminates on the forward (or front) end of auger assembly  32   b,  and along with a seal,  44 , keeps the grain confined within the auger assemblies. A hanger bearing assembly,  46  retains the end of the auger in auger assembly  32   b  and permits it to rotate, while the rear end of the auger of auger assembly  32   a  is stationarily held by a bearing assembly,  48 . A joint assembly, such as, for example, a universal joint,  50 , interconnects the two augers and transfers power (rotation) from motor assembly  36  from the rear auger assembly to the front auger assembly, regardless of the direction of rotation. 
         [0026]    Joint assembly  38  is located rearwardly of a trolley assembly,  52  (formed of a rail, cradle, and wheel assembly) that spans across combine  10  towards its rear (see  FIG. 2 , for example). In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , auger assembly  32   a  is seen to ride atop a rail,  55 , of trolley assembly  52  by a cradle,  54 , which is connected to a wheel pair assembly,  56 , that rides rail  55  of trolley assembly  52 . As combine  10  turns relative to grain cart  30 , auger assembly  32   a  moves in an arcuate path carried by trolley assembly  52 . Trolley assembly  52  is located ahead or forward of joint assembly  38  in order to permit rear auger assembly  32   b  to move vertically up and down, such as occurs when combine  10  traverses over uneven ground (see description of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , above). 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a support assembly,  54 , for auger assembly  32   b  and for its connection to vertical auger assembly  34  is illustrated. A support bracket assembly,  56 , connected to vertical auger assembly  34  carries auger assembly  32   b  and forms the base of support assembly  54 . A pair of rails,  56  (see also  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 ) and  58  (see also  FIG. 2 ), sit atop bracket assembly  56 . Linear bearing assemblies,  62  and  64 , ride along rails  56  and  60 , respectively, to provide X-Y coordinate movement to auger assembly  32   b,  such as is required in connection with combine  10  moving over uneven ground in the field (see description in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , above). Because auger assembly  32   b  will rotate also with respect to vertical auger assembly  34 , a turntable assembly with rotation bearing,  66 , is interposed between rails  56  and  60 . The combination of rails and turntable enable vertical auger assembly  34  to move in virtually any horizontal direction; however and importantly, such combination of rails and turntable are fixed in the vertical direction, permitting no vertical movement of the rear end of auger assembly  32   b  at its location adjacent to vertical auger assembly  34 . Instead, joint assembly  38  supplies the required vertical movement. 
         [0028]    A door assembly,  68 , permits grain being moved by auger assembly  32   b  to be dumped into grain cart  30 . An overhead elbow,  70 , allowed grain to flow from grain cart  30  up through vertical auger assembly  34  and into auger assembly  32   b  for transport eventually into combine grain bin  24  via auger assembly  32   a,  as is described in greater detail in the &#39;845 patent. An accordion-like U-bracket assembly,  72 , retains auger assembly  32   b  and expands/contracts as needed. Various seals and other components are provided in conventional fashion as are necessary, desirable, or convenient. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. In this application all units are in the metric system and all amounts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Also, all citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference.