Abstract:
The device for increasing volume of a container ( 24 ) has extension elements ( 37, 38, 39, 40 ) pivotally mounted on an upper edge ( 31 ) of an upper opening ( 32 ) so as to form a cover at least partially closing the upper opening ( 32 ) when the extension elements ( 37, 38, 39, 40 ) are in flat closed positions and an enlarging extension ( 27 ) for the container when the extension elements are in raised filling positions, neighboring extension elements being pivotally connected with each other, and at least one driving pivoting device ( 53 ), which pivots or swings each extension element ( 37, 38, 39, 40 ) from its flat closed position into its raised filling position ( 47, 48, 49, 50 ) out beyond a vertical position thereof in a direction toward an exterior of the container, or from its raised filling position into its flat closed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for increasing the volume or capacity of a container provided with an upper opening having an upper edge, which comprises a plurality of extension elements pivotally mounted on the upper edge of the opening, wherein the extension elements form a cover at least partially closing the opening when lying flat in a closing configuration and form an enlarging extension for the container in an erect filling configuration and neighboring extension elements are pivotally connected with each other. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The grain tank of a combine harvester is provided with a grain tank extension, which comprises a plurality of side walls. The side walls are movable from a closed configuration into an opened configuration, and from the opened configuration to the closed configuration. During travel on a road the side walls are folded closed to form a cover to save space so that the combine harvester does not exceed its proscribed total height. In operation on a field the side walls are raised in the opened configuration so that the grain tank volume is increased and the grain tank needs to be emptied less often and at greater time intervals. 
         [0005]    DE 100 51 096 A1 discloses a device for increasing container capacity, which comprises four walls, which are movable between an operating configuration, in which they form a laterally closed enclosure, and an out-of-operation configuration. Two walls opposite to each other are made from a rigid material and are pivotable. The other two walls opposite from each other are made from a flexible material and are also pivotable. The walls made from the flexible material are connected at their ends with the walls made of the rigid material, so that in the operating configuration a laterally closed enclosure is formed. The rigid walls are raised by means of a filled pipe, which is automatically raised and lowered with a drive. The flexible walls are raised together with the rigid walls into the operating configuration and folded together again because of their flexibility, when the rigid walls are again folded into the out-of-operation condition. In the operating configuration the rigid walls are folded out past the vertical position, while the flexible trapezoidal walls are oriented vertically when the rigid walls are completely folded out. The disadvantage of this device is that the flexible walls are very strongly stressed or loaded by the lateral pressure of the grain tank contents. The flexible walls are thus not suitable for this sort of use and wear out more than average. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for increasing the volume of a container, which provides the container with additional capacity, is operable in a stable and wear-resistant manner and is completely automatically operable. 
         [0007]    This object and others, which will be made more apparent hereinafter, are attained in a device for increasing the volume or capacity of a container provided with an upper opening having an upper edge, which device comprises a plurality of extension elements pivotally mounted on the upper edge of the upper opening so as to form a cover at least partially closing the upper opening when each of the extension elements is in a flat closed position and to form an enlarging extension for the container when each of the extension elements is in a raised filling position, and wherein neighboring extension elements are pivotally connected with each other. 
         [0008]    According to the invention the device for increasing the container volume has at least one driving pivoting device, which pivots or swings each extension element from its flat closed position into its raised filling position out beyond a vertical position in a pivoting direction toward an exterior of the container, or from the raised filling position into the flat closed position. 
         [0009]    Alternatively the device for increasing the container volume has a first pivot mechanism that swings or pivots at least two opposing extension elements into first angular orientations at respective angles in relation to a vertical position thereof and a second pivot mechanism that swings or pivots two other extension elements out beyond a vertical position thereof into second angular orientations at respective angles in relation to said vertical position thereof. 
         [0010]    The container capacity is advantageously increased in the filling or operating configuration since each extension element is pivoted from the flat closed position into an erect filling position beyond a vertical position thereof in a pivoting direction toward the outside of the container. 
         [0011]    So that the device is simple and economical the volume-increasing extension comprises at least two one-piece extension elements arranged opposite to each other and at least two multi-piece extension elements arranged opposite to each other. 
         [0012]    Especially it has proven to be advantageous when each multi-piece extension element comprises two folding triangular elements and trapezoidal center element. The folding triangular elements are connected pivotally with the trapezoidal center element with at least one hinge device. 
         [0013]    In an advantageous embodiment of the device for increasing container volume the center elements of the multi-piece extension elements are pivotally connected to the upper edge of the container opening so that they forms a closing cover for the grain tank together with the one-piece extension elements. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the device for increasing container volume the folding triangular elements are advantageously pivotable into respective angular relationships with the center elements of the multi-piece extension elements when the extension elements are in the raised filling positions. 
         [0015]    Because the extension elements form a kinematic linkage, the extension elements must not be separated from each other during pivoting from the filling or operating configuration into the closed configuration, and from the closed configuration into the operating configuration. 
         [0016]    In order to obtain a simple economical construction the pivoting device comprises at least one pivot mechanism with at least one pivot axle. The pivot mechanism pivots respective opposing extension elements jointly. 
         [0017]    So that extension elements are pivotable to an obtuse angular position, at least one raising lever is attached to a pivot axle in the pivot mechanism, which is pivotally connected by means of at least one pendulum support with an extension element. 
         [0018]    When the pivot axles of the pivot mechanisms are connected with each other by means of at least one coupling rod, the opposing extension elements perform the same or opposing pivot motions. 
         [0019]    In further preferred embodiments the pivot axles connected by means of the coupling rod with each other are driven together by means of at least one positioning member. 
         [0020]    The positioning members are arranged outside of the container so that they are easily accessible and the position members do not come into contact with the contents of the container. 
         [0021]    It is especially economical when the positioning member is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, since the hydraulic cylinders are marketable in ever increasing large numbers and replacement part storage is reduced. 
         [0022]    The double-acting hydraulic cylinders are preferably acted on with the same pressures, so that only one simple hydraulic drive is required without additional control means. 
         [0023]    Because the piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders have opposing motion directions during pivoting of the extension elements, the piston rods press with different sized forces with the same pressure applied to the hydraulic cylinders. 
         [0024]    So that the extension parts are pivoted as free of jolts and bumps as possible, the piston rods move at the same time and with about the same speed. 
         [0025]    So that the device for pivoting is not blocked, at least two extension elements are raised so that they are approximately vertically oriented with a first pivot mechanism. At least two other extension elements are raised together and subsequently and/or at the same time the two other extension elements are pivoted beyond respective vertical orientations in a pivoting direction out into respective second angular positions at second angles by a second pivot mechanism, whereby the first extension elements are pivoted further from their nearly vertical orientations into respective first angular positions at a first angles to vertical. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0026]    The objects, features and advantages of the invention will now be illustrated in more detail with the aid of the following description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view through a combine harvester provided with the device for increasing the volume of a container (its grain tank) according to the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device for increasing container volume according to the invention, embodied as a funnel-shaped container extension; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the device for increasing container volume, showing the pivoting device for pivoting the extension elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    The combine harvester  1  shown in  FIG. 1  includes an embodiment of the device  2  for increasing the volume of a grain tank  3 . The combine harvester  1  is equipped with a header  4  on its front end, which is arranged on a feed rake  5 . The combine harvester  1  takes the crop in with the header  4  and feeds it to the feed rake  5 . The feed rake  5  conveys the crop  6  to a following threshing mechanism  7 . The threshing mechanism  7  divides the crop  6  into a grain-chaff mixture  8  and a crop stream  9  comprising the stems or stalks. The grain-chaff mixture  8  is immediately fed to a cleaning device  13  by means of a grain pan  11 , which separates the grain  15  from the non-grain components  16 , i.e. the stalks and chaff components. 
         [0031]    A beater  17  rotating counterclockwise is arranged downstream or behind the threshing mechanism  7 . The beater  17  feeds the crop steam  9  comprising the threshed stalks to a straw walker rack  18 . The straw walker rack  18  separates the grain  15 , the short straw  21  and the chaff  22  present in the crop steam  9 , which similarly arrives at the cleaning device  13  by means of the return pan  23 . A grain elevator  25  feeds the grain  15  separated from the cleaning device  13  into a container  24  of the combine harvester  1 , the so-called grain tank  3 . The grain  15  in the grain tank  3  is unloaded from the grain tank, as required, to a conveying vehicle (not shown) by means of the grain tank unloading conveyor  29 . The device  2  according to the invention for increasing the volume of a grain tank  3  is arranged on the upper end of the grain tank  3  and is in the form of the grain tank extension  27 . The grain tank extension  27  is funnel-shaped and increases the volume of the grain tank  3 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device  2  for increasing volume of a container  24 . The device  2  is arranged on an edge  31  of an upper opening  32  of the rectangular container  24 . The edge  31  of the container  24  is formed by the upper edges of two side walls  33 ,  34  and the upper edges of two side walls  35 ,  36  of the container  24 . The device  2  comprises two opposing one-piece extension element  37 ,  38  and two opposing multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40 . Both one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  are pivotally mounted on the corresponding upper edges of the side walls  35 ,  36  by means of hinges  41 , which are known. The two opposing multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  each comprise two equal member folding triangular elements  42  and a trapezoidal center element  43  arranged between them. The folding triangular elements  42  are connected pivotally with the center element  43  by means of hinges  44 . The center elements  43  are mounted pivotally by means of hinges  45  on the upper edges of the side walls  33 ,  34 . The outer edges of the folding triangular elements  42  are similarly pivotally connected by means of hinges  46  with the one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  and are oriented at an angle to them. The extension elements  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  are shown in the filling or operating positions  47 ,  48 ,  49   50  in  FIG. 2  and together form a funnel-shaped extension  27 . The pivotal connections formed by hinges  41 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  between the one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  and the multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  and between the trapezoidal center element  43  and the folding triangular elements  42  of the multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  make a kinematic linkage  52 , which is foldable with the help of a still-to-be-described pivoting device  53 . The extension elements  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  are jointly pivotable by means of the pivoting device  53  from the horizontal closed positions, in which they form a cover closing the opening  32  of the container  24  beyond their vertical positions in a pivoting direction toward the container exterior into the raised filling positions  47 ,  48 ,  49 ,  50 , and from the filling positions back into the closed positions. 
         [0033]    The pivoting device  53  comprises two pivot mechanisms  54 ,  55 . The first pivot mechanism  54  is associated with the two opposing multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  and the second pivot mechanism  55  is associated with the two opposite one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38 . The first pivot mechanism  54  for the opposing multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  comprises the following elements. 
         [0034]    Two pendulum supports  57  are pivotally connected at one end to each center element  43  of both multi-piece extension element  39 ,  40 . At their other ends the pendulum supports  57  are connected to raising levers  58 . The raising levers  58  are welded to axles  60 ,  61  running parallel to the upper edges of the side walls  33 ,  34 , which are pivotally mounted in stationary bearings  63  on the inner sides of the side walls  33 ,  34 . The stationary bearings  63  are attached to the side walls  33 ,  34  by means of the brackets  64 . The axles  60 ,  61  are spaced with a spacing  65  from the upper edges of the side walls  33 ,  34 . Respective rocker arms  67 ,  68  are welded on the opposite ends of the axles  60 ,  61 . The axles  60 ,  61  are coupled with each other by means of the coupling rods  69 , which are pivotally connected with the rocker arms  67 ,  68 . A connecting lever  70  is welded to the axle  60 , which protrudes from the container  24  through an opening  71  in the side wall  33 . The end of the lever  70  protruding from the container  24  is pivotally connected with a positioning member  74  embodied as a double acting hydraulic cylinder  73 . The piston rod  75  of the hydraulic cylinder  73  is articulated with the connecting lever  70  and the cylinder tube  76  of the hydraulic cylinder  73  is pivotally mounted by a bracket  77  on the outer side of the container  24 . 
         [0035]    The second pivot mechanism  55  for the opposing one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  is constructed in a similar manner and comprises the following elements. 
         [0036]    Respective pendulum supports  78  are engaged at their one ends with corresponding one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  and are pivotally connected at their other ends with corresponding raising levers  79 . The raising levers  79  are welded to axles  80 ,  81  extending parallel to the upper edges of the side walls  35 ,  36 , which are pivotally mounted in stationary bearings  63  on the inner sides of the side walls  35 ,  36 . The stationary bearings  63  are attached to the side walls  35 ,  36 , so that the axles  80 ,  81  are at the same height as the axles  60 ,  61 . Respective rocker arms  82 ,  83  are welded on the opposite ends of the axles  80 ,  81 . The axles  80 ,  81  are coupled with each other by means of a coupling rod  84 , which is pivotally connected with the rocker arms  82 ,  83 . A connecting lever  86  is welded on an end of the pivot axle  81  protruding through an opening  85  in the side wall  83 . The connecting lever  86  is pivotally connected with a second positioning member or device  89  embodied or constructed as a double-acting hydraulic cylinder  88 . The piston rod  90  of the hydraulic cylinder  88  is pivotally connected with the connecting lever  86  and the cylinder tube  91  of the hydraulic cylinder  88  is pivotally attached by means of a bracket  77  to the outer side of the container  24 . 
         [0037]    In order to raise the extensions elements  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  out from the horizontal closed positions, the positioning member  89  constructed as a double-acting hydraulic cylinder  88  associated with them is pressurized via its piston end. The piston rod  90  of the positioning member  89  extends or travels out, whereby the pivot axle  81  associated with the one-piece extension element  38  rotates in the direction of the facing wall  36 , on which the extension element  38  is pivotally mounted. Because of that the coupling rod  84  attached between the pivot axles  80 ,  81  moves in the direction of the facing wall  35  and causes a rotation of the pivot axle  80  associated with the extension element  37  in the direction of the facing wall  35 , on which the one-piece extension element  37  is pivotally mounted. The raising levers  79  attached to the pivot axles  80 ,  81  swing upward and raise the extension elements  37 ,  38  so that they are approximately vertical with the help of the raised pendulum supports  78 . The folding triangular elements  42  pivotally connected with the one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  are thereby raised, whereby the center elements  43  of the extension elements  39 ,  40  are raised along with them. At the same time as pressure acts on the hydraulic cylinder  88  the positioning member  74  embodied as a double-acting hydraulic cylinder  73  is acted on with pressure at its piston rod end, so that its piston rod  75  is moves into the cylinder tube  76  and the pivot axle  60  associated with the extension element  39  rotates in the direction of the side wall  33 . Because of that the coupling rod  84  fixed between the pivot axles  60 ,  61  moves in the direction of the side wall  34  and causes a rotation of the pivot axle  61  in the direction of the side wall  34 , on which the extension element  40  is pivotally mounted. The raising levers  58  attached to the pivot axles  60 ,  61  pivot upward and move the extension elements  39 ,  40  beyond their vertical positions in a pivot direction toward the exterior at second angles  97  in their raised filling positions  49 ,  50 . The one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  are raised with the help of the folding triangular elements  42  past their approximately vertical positions in a pivot direction toward the exterior at first angles  98  in their raised filling positions  47 ,  48 . 
         [0038]    In order to pivot the extension elements  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  back from the filling positions into the horizontal closed positions, the hydraulic cylinder  73  is acted on with pressure at the piston end so that the piston rod  75  travels out from the cylinder tube  76  of the hydraulic cylinder  73  and the hydraulic cylinder  88  is acted on with pressure at the piston rod end so that the extended piston rod  90  of the hydraulic cylinder  88  is moved back simultaneously into the cylinder tube  91 . 
         [0039]    So that hydraulic cylinders  73 ,  88  can be constructed structurally equal with the connecting levers  70 ,  86  of equal length and the first and second angles  97 ,  98  are equal. Both hydraulic cylinders  73 ,  88  are acted on with the same pressure. Because of these structural features the piston rods  75 ,  90  press with a greater force when they travel out than when they travel in. The return displacements of both piston rods  75 ,  90  are approximately equal so that both piston rods  75 ,  90  travel in and out with approximately equal speeds. 
         [0040]    Since the extension  27  forms a kinematic linkage  52 , the motion of the pivot mechanisms  54 ,  55  must be controlled so that the extension elements  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  do not hinder each other, but instead assist each other, during pivoting. 
         [0041]    The different piston forces of the hydraulic cylinders  73 ,  88  during extension and retraction of the piston rods  75 ,  90  and the continuously changing spacing  101 ,  102  between the piston rods  75 ,  90  and the pivot axles  60 ,  81  determine the torques acting on the axles  60 ,  61 ,  80 ,  81  of the pivot mechanisms  54 ,  55 , which are applied for pivoting the extension elements  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40 . 
         [0042]    During pivoting of the multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  from the filling positions  49 ,  50  inclined to the outside into the horizontal closed positions high torques are required at the axles  60 ,  61  of the pivot mechanism  54  for folding in of the extension elements  39 ,  40  at the start of the folding operation, in order to overcome the weight acting on the extension elements, which are inclined toward the exterior. At the same time the extension elements  37 ,  38  are pivoted by means of the extending piston rod  88 , which has only a minimum spacing  102  to the pivot axle  81 , with a minimal torque acting on the pivot mechanism  55 . During the pivoting the spacing  101  decreases while the spacing  102  increases, whereby the torque acting on the pivot mechanism  54  for the multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  decreases, and at the same time the torque acting on the pivot mechanism  55  of the one-piece extension element  37 ,  38  increases. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the pivoting device  53  according to the invention in a configuration in which the extension elements  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  (not shown) are pivoted into horizontal closed positions. To pivot the extension elements  37 ,  38  from the horizontal closed positions into the filling positions  47 ,  48  at the start of the pivoting motion high torques are required on the axles  80 ,  81  to raise the extension elements  37 ,  38 , in order to overcome the weight acting on the extension elements  37 ,  38 . The extending piston rod  90  presses with higher force and has a maximum perpendicular spacing  101  to the pivot axle  60 , so that a maximal torque acts on the pivot mechanism  55 . At the same time the extension elements  39 ,  40  are pivoted with a minimal torque acting on the pivot mechanism  54  by means of an extending piston rod  90 , which presses with lesser force and has a minimal perpendicular spacing  102  to the pivot axle  81 . As the pivoting of the extension elements  39 ,  40  continues the spacing  101  between the rotation axis  60  and the hydraulic cylinder  73  decreases and the spacing  102  between the rotation axle  81  and the hydraulic cylinder  88  increases, whereby the minimal torque acting by means of the pivot mechanism  54  on the multi-piece extension elements  39 ,  40  increases and at the same time the maximal torque acting on the pivot mechanism  55  of the one-piece extension elements  37 ,  38  decreases. 
         [0044]    Additional embodiments of the device according to the invention are conceivable in which an electric spindle drive is used as positioning member instead of a hydraulic cylinder. 
         [0045]    Other embodiments of the device according to the invention could use a geared motor as positioning member at the end of the axles  60 ,  61 ,  80 ,  81 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 Combine harvester 
               
               
                 2 
                 Device for container volume increase 
               
               
                 3 
                 Grain tank 
               
               
                 4 
                 Header 
               
               
                 5 
                 Feed rake 
               
               
                 6 
                 Crop 
               
               
                 7 
                 Threshing mechanism 
               
               
                 8 
                 Grain-chaff mixture 
               
               
                 9 
                 Crop stream 
               
               
                 11 
                 Grain pan 
               
               
                 13 
                 Cleaning device 
               
               
                 15 
                 Grain 
               
               
                 16 
                 Non-grain components 
               
               
                 17 
                 Beater 
               
               
                 18 
                 Straw walker rack 
               
               
                 21 
                 Short straw 
               
               
                 22 
                 Chaff 
               
               
                 23 
                 Return pan 
               
               
                 24 
                 Container 
               
               
                 25 
                 Grain elevator 
               
               
                 27 
                 Extension 
               
               
                 29 
                 Grain tank unloading conveyor 
               
               
                 31 
                 Upper edge 
               
               
                 32 
                 Container opening 
               
               
                 33 
                 Side wall 
               
               
                 34 
                 Side wall 
               
               
                 35 
                 Side wall 
               
               
                 36 
                 Side wall 
               
               
                 37 
                 Extension element 
               
               
                 38 
                 Extension element 
               
               
                 39 
                 Extension element 
               
               
                 40 
                 Extension element 
               
               
                 41 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                 42 
                 Folding triangular element 
               
               
                 43 
                 Center element 
               
               
                 44 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                 45 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                 46 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                 47 
                 Filling position 
               
               
                 48 
                 Filling position 
               
               
                 49 
                 Filling position 
               
               
                 50 
                 Filling position 
               
               
                 52 
                 Kinematic linkage 
               
               
                 53 
                 Pivoting device 
               
               
                 54 
                 2 nd  pivot mechanism 
               
               
                 55 
                 1 st  pivot mechanism 
               
               
                 57 
                 Pendulum support 
               
               
                 58 
                 Raising lever 
               
               
                 60 
                 Pivot axle 
               
               
                 61 
                 Pivot axle 
               
               
                 63 
                 Bearing 
               
               
                 64 
                 Bracket 
               
               
                 65 
                 Spacing 
               
               
                 67 
                 Rocker arm 
               
               
                 68 
                 Rocker arm 
               
               
                 69 
                 Coupling rod 
               
               
                 70 
                 Connecting lever 
               
               
                 71 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 73 
                 Hydraulic cylinder 
               
               
                 74 
                 Positioning member 
               
               
                 75 
                 Piston rod 
               
               
                 76 
                 Cylinder tube 
               
               
                 78 
                 pendulum support 
               
               
                 79 
                 raising lever 
               
               
                 80 
                 pivot axle 
               
               
                 81 
                 pivot axle 
               
               
                 82 
                 rocker arm 
               
               
                 83 
                 rocker arm 
               
               
                 84 
                 coupling rod 
               
               
                 86 
                 connecting lever 
               
               
                 88 
                 hydraulic cylinder 
               
               
                 89 
                 positioning member 
               
               
                 90 
                 piston rod 
               
               
                 91 
                 cylinder tube 
               
               
                 97 
                 opening angle 
               
               
                 98 
                 opening angle 
               
               
                 101 
                 spacing 
               
               
                 102 
                 spacing 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0046]    The disclosure in German Patent Application 10 2004 007 673.1 of Feb. 16, 2004 is incorporated here by reference. This German Patent Application describes the invention described hereinabove and claimed in the claims appended hereinbelow and provides the basis for a claim of priority for the instant invention under 35 U.S.C. 119. 
         [0047]    While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a device for increasing container volume or capacity, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0048]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 
         [0049]    What is claimed is new and is set forth in the following appended claims.