Abstract:
An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section having a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly is connected to mechanism for producing a side to side oscillation by a single cast structural link having an input through slotted openings to the drive mechanism to accommodate misalignment. The link has vertical and horizontal flanges connected to a main body for interconnection between the right and left frames and structural supports interconnecting the right and left frames. The main body of the link extends through a slot in a rubber wall to accommodate the movement and seal against loss of grain.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/196,221, entitled “SIDE SHAKER LINK FOR AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER SIEVE ASSEMBLY”, filed Jul. 23, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters such as combines, and, more particularly, to sieve assemblies incorporated in the harvester crop processing section. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    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 and is transported to 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. The cleaning system includes a cleaning fan which blows air through oscillating sieves to discharge chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. Non-grain crop material such as straw from the threshing section proceeds through a straw chopper and out the rear of the combine. When the grain tank becomes full, the combine is positioned adjacent a vehicle into which the grain is to be unloaded, such as a semi-trailer, gravity box, straight truck, or the like; and an unloading system on the combine is actuated to transfer the grain into the vehicle. 
         [0006]    More particularly, a rotary threshing or separating system includes one or more rotors which can extend axially (front to rear) or transversely within the body of the combine, and which are partially or fully surrounded by a perforated concave. The crop material is threshed and separated by the rotation of the rotor within the concave. Coarser non-grain crop material such as stalks and leaves are transported to the rear of the combine and discharged back to the field. The separated grain, together with some finer non-grain crop material such as chaff, dust, straw, and other crop residue are discharged through the concaves and fall onto the grain pan where they are transported to the cleaning system. Alternatively, the grain and finer non-grain crop material may also fall directly onto the cleaning system itself. 
         [0007]    The cleaning system further separates the grain from non-grain crop material, and typically includes a fan directing an air flow stream upwardly and rearwardly through vertically arranged sieves which oscillate in a fore and aft manner. The air flow stream lifts and carries the lighter non-grain crop material towards the rear end of the combine for discharge to the field. Clean grain, being heavier, and larger pieces of non-grain crop material, which are not carried away by the air flow stream, fall onto a surface of an upper sieve (also known as a chaffer sieve or sieve assembly assembly) where some or all of the clean grain passes through to a lower sieve (also known as a cleaning sieve). Grain and non-grain crop material remaining on the upper and lower sieves are physically separated by the reciprocating action of the sieves as the material moves rearwardly. Any grain and/or non-grain crop material remaining on the top surface of the upper sieve or sieve assembly are discharged at the rear of the combine. Grain falling through the lower sieve lands on a bottom pan of the cleaning system, where it is conveyed forwardly toward a clean grain auger. 
         [0008]    The clean grain auger is positioned below the lower sieve, and receives clean grain from each sieve and from the bottom pan of the cleaning system. The clean grain auger then augers the clean grain laterally sideways to a clean grain elevator, which in turn conveys the clean grain to a grain tank onboard the combine. 
         [0009]    The sieve assembly usually incorporates right and left side frame members interconnected to support a sieve between the two and is supported for driven fore and aft oscillation. This moves the coarser non-grain material towards the aft end of the sieve assembly and allows agricultural crop material to fall through for collection. When the combine or agricultural harvester is operating on a side slope it is necessary to supplement the fore and aft oscillation of the sieve assembly with a side to side movement. In order to simplify the actuation mechanism the side to side movement is transmitted to the right and left frames through a single input point. This causes significant imposes high cyclical loads on the point. In the past such a link has been formed from sheet metal. The use of such metal can have a reduction of long term integrity due to high cycle fatigue. 
         [0010]    Accordingly what is needed in the art is a single structural interconnection for the right and left rails of a sieve assembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention seeks to provide a strong structural interconnection to a sieve assembly to permit sideways movement of the sieve assembly. 
         [0012]    In one form, the invention is a sieve assembly for an agricultural harvester, said sieve assembly including right and left frame members interconnected by a cross member. A mechanism is connected to the right and left cross members for driving fore and aft oscillation and permitting side to side movement. A mechanism is provided for driving side to side movement of the right and left frame members. A link is structurally connected to one of the right and left frame members, the link being cast and having a single input for driving side to side movement, a structural mounting for the one of right and left frame members, and a plurality of mounting points for support frames extending between the one of first and second frames and the other of the frame members. 
         [0013]    In another form, the invention is an agricultural harvester including a main frame, a plurality of wheels for ground movement and grain processing equipment mounted in the frame. A sieve assembly is positioned to receive material from the grain processing equipment and includes right and left frame members interconnected by a cross member. A mechanism is provided for driving the right and left frames into fore and aft oscillation and permitting side to side movement. A mechanism is provided for driving side to side movement of the right and left frame members. A link is structurally connected to one of the right and left frame members, the link being cast and having a single input for driving side to side movement, a structural mounting to the one of the right and left frame members and a plurality of mounting points for structural frames extending between the one of the first and second frames and the other of the frame members. 
         [0014]    An advantage of the present invention is a single link connecting sieve assembly side frames with structural integrity. 
         [0015]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the link may be cast to provide more direct stress flow paths between the input and the interconnection with the frame members. 
     
    
     
       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 in the form of a combine which may include a sieve assembly of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sieve assembly incorporated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the sieve assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an individual view of a support linkage for the sieve assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a link incorporated in the sieve assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the link illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the link illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; and, 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the link illustrated in  FIG. 5 , as installed. 
       
    
    
       [0025]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The terms “grain”, “straw” and “tailings” are used principally throughout this specification for convenience but it is to be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. Thus “grain” refers to that part of the crop material which is threshed and separated from the discardable part of the crop material, which is referred to as non-grain crop material, MOG or straw. Incompletely threshed crop material is referred to as “tailings”. Also the terms “forward”, “rearward”, “left” and “right”, when used in connection with the agricultural harvester and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the harvester, but again, they should not be construed as limiting. The terms “longitudinal” and “transverse” are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the agricultural harvester and are equally not to be construed as limiting. 
         [0027]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an agricultural harvester in the form of a combine  10 , which generally includes a chassis  12 , ground engaging wheels  14  and  16 , header  18 , feeder housing  20 , operator cab  22 , threshing and separating system  24 , cleaning system  26 , grain tank  28 , and unloading auger  30 . 
         [0028]    Front wheels  14  are larger flotation type wheels, and rear wheels  16  are smaller steerable wheels. Motive force is selectively applied to front wheels  14  through a power plant in the form of a diesel engine  32  and a transmission (not shown). Although combine  10  is shown as including wheels, is also to be understood that combine  10  may include tracks, such as full tracks or half tracks. 
         [0029]    Header  18  is mounted to the front of combine  10  and includes a cutter bar  34  for severing crops from a field during forward motion of combine  10 . A rotatable reel  36  feeds the crop into header  18 , and a double auger  38  feeds the severed crop laterally inwardly from each side toward feeder housing  20 . Feeder housing  20  conveys the cut crop to threshing and separating system  24 , and is selectively vertically movable using appropriate actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders (not shown). 
         [0030]    Threshing and separating system  24  is of the axial-flow type, and generally includes a rotor  40  at least partially enclosed by and rotatable within a corresponding perforated concave  42 . The cut crops are threshed and separated by the rotation of rotor  40  within concave  42 , and larger elements, such as stalks, leaves and the like are discharged from the rear of combine  10 . Smaller elements of crop material including grain and non-grain crop material, including particles lighter than grain, such as chaff, dust and straw, are discharged through perforations of concave  42 . Threshing and separating system  24  can also be a different type of system, such as a system with a transverse rotor rather than an axial rotor, etc. 
         [0031]    Grain which has been separated by the threshing and separating assembly  24  falls onto a grain pan or auger bed  44  and is conveyed toward cleaning system  26 . Cleaning system  26  may include an optional pre-cleaning sieve  46 , an upper sieve  48  (also known as a chaffer sieve or sieve assembly), a lower sieve  50  (also known as a cleaning sieve), and a cleaning fan  52 . Grain on sieves  46 ,  48  and  50  is subjected to a cleaning action by fan  52  which provides an air flow through the sieves to remove chaff and other impurities such as dust from the grain by making this material airborne for discharge from straw hood  54  of combine  10 . Grain pan  44 , if present, and pre-cleaning sieve  46  oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to transport the grain and finer non-grain crop material to the upper surface of upper sieve  48 . Upper sieve  48  and lower sieve  50  are vertically arranged relative to each other, and likewise oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to spread the grain across sieves  48 ,  50 , while permitting the passage of cleaned grain by gravity through the openings of sieves  48 ,  50 . 
         [0032]    Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger  56  positioned crosswise below and toward the front of lower sieve  50 . Clean grain auger  56  receives clean grain from each sieve  48 ,  50  and from bottom pan  58  of cleaning system  26 . Clean grain auger  56  conveys the clean grain laterally to a generally vertically arranged grain elevator  60  for transport to grain tank  28 . Tailings from cleaning system  26  fall to a tailings auger trough  62 . The tailings are transported via tailings auger  64  and return auger or return elevator  66  to the upstream end of cleaning system  26  for repeated cleaning action. A pair of grain tank augers  68  at the bottom of grain tank  28  convey the clean grain laterally within grain tank  28  to unloading auger  30  for discharge from combine  10 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the upper and lower sieves or sieve assemblies  48  and  50  are shown. The upper sieve assembly  48  includes a left rail or frame  70  and a right rail or frame  72  interconnected by a cross frame  74 . The right and left frames  70  and  72  are supported at the cross frame  74  by a front pivot support  76 . A flexible link  78  connects to a rear support to maintain the rear of the rails in place. Support frames  82  each provide a base affixed to the chassis  12  to provide ultimate support for the pans. The front of the right and left frames are mounted for fore and aft movement through a fore and aft oscillation mechanism generally indicated at  84 . An input drive shaft  86 , extending transverse in chassis  12 , receives a suitable power input for rotation. Both ends of drive shaft  86  drive oscillating arms  88  through an eccentric mounting  90 . Each arm  88  connects to a first frame  92  through a pivotal connection  96 . A pivotal mounting  98  supported by frame  82  mounts the first triangular frame  92  and the second triangular frame  94  adjacent to it radially inward from the first triangular frame  94 . A frame interconnection  100  connects the first and second frames  92  and  94 . The second frame  94  has a plurality of flexible rubber bushings  102  as shown particularly in  FIG. 4 . A plurality of rubber bushings  104 , particularly shown in  FIG. 3 , enables an interconnection between the first and second triangular frames  92  and  94 . 
         [0034]    A pivotal connection  106  on first frame  92  connects with a link  108  that drives the lower sieve  50  for reciprocating movement. Details of this arrangement are not included to enable a better focus on the invention. 
         [0035]    The right and left frames  70  and  72  are selectively reciprocated from side to side by a side shaker mechanism generally indicated at  110 . The mechanism  110  includes a reciprocating electric actuator  112  appropriately mounted to frame  82  and having an output shaft  114  connecting to an upper link  116  by a pivotal input connection  118 . The upper and lower links  116  are pivotally connected to the frame  82  at  120 . A bushing  122 , integral with a connecting rod  124 , connects the links  116  to a structural connection with the right and left frames  70  and  72  to be described below. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a structural link  128  has an input end  130  for connection to a universal joint  132  that is in turn connected to links  116 . Input end  130  has an input flange  134  integral with a main body  136 . An integral fillet  138  connects the main body  136  to the input flange  134 . A frame vertical mounting flange  140  is positioned at one end of the main body  136  and is positioned at right angles to a frame horizontal mounting flange  142 . A plurality of mounting holes  144  in the frame vertical mounting flange  140  is provided and a plurality of mounting holes  146  are formed in the frame horizontal mounting flange  142 . A fillet  148  interconnects the frame vertical mounting flange  140  with the main by  136 . As illustrated in both  FIGS. 5, 6 and 2 , a support tube  150  extends from a central opening  146  in the frame horizontal mounting flange  142  to the opposite frame (frame  72 ) to provide a structural interconnection. Support tubes  152  extend from openings  146  adjacent the central opening at an angle to the structural link  128  and fan out to spaced points on the right frame  72  as particularly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    As shown particularly in  FIG. 7 , the flange  138 ,  134  has elongated holes  156  to accommodate variations in positioning of the right and left frames  70  and  72  with respect to the mechanism for producing the side to side linkage. The elongated slots  156  permit a range of angles so that, as installed, there are no side forces or other inputs on a universal joint  132 . 
         [0038]    As shown particularly in  FIG. 8 , the main body  136  of the structural link  128  extends through a flexible wall  158  mounted to frame elements  82  to form a barrier between the mechanism producing the side to side movement and the left frame  70 . The main body  136  extends through a slot  160  in the rubber wall  158 . The rubber wall  158  may be in two pieces or a single piece with a slot formed in it. In either case, the connection allows for a side to side movement and also forward and aft movement while sealing the area for escape of grain and material from the sieve assemblies. 
         [0039]    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.