Abstract:
An adjustable height spout for an agricultural harvester may be remotely actuated by an operator. The spout may be positioned to match a height of a receptacle into which grain from the harvester is being transferred. An agricultural harvester including an adjustable height spout which may be actuated remotely by an operator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/565,119, filed on Apr. 24, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to material off-loading devices, and more specifically to spouts for off-loading harvested materials from agricultural harvesting equipment.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Agricultural harvesting equipment often includes some form of on-board grain or other harvested material storage. Typically, this on-board storage is only for temporary storage of material and needs to be periodically unloaded during a day&#39;s harvesting operation. In order to keep production efficiency as high as possible, this off-loading of material may be accomplished in the field without stopping the operation of the harvester. A truck or farm wagon (a discharge vehicle) may be pulled alongside the harvester to receive the material and the harvester may be equipped with a flexible spout that can be positioned above the discharge vehicle. Material can then be discharged from the on-board storage through the spout by an auger or similar device and into the discharge vehicle, while the harvester continues to collect additional material.  
         [0004]     Loss of off-loaded material may occur when the spout is positioned too high above the discharge vehicle. Wind may blow material from the discharge stream and out of the discharge vehicle onto the ground. Also, vertical separation between the spout and the discharge vehicle may cause operator error in the alignment of the spout and the discharge vehicle. Discharge vehicles may vary in height, and the height of a discharge spout above the ground may vary between different models and brands of harvesters. It is desirable to provide improvements to the discharge spout to accommodate different height of vehicles and harvesters.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention relates to an extendable/retractable spout for use with an agricultural harvester. The spout permits the position of a lower end of the spout to be adjusted in height to match the height of a truck or wagon into which grain is being transferred. The present invention further relates to a harvester including an extendable/retractable spout that can be actuated remotely by an operator. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art combine harvester.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art harvester discharging grain into a farm wagon.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a grain discharge mechanism with an extendable spout according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the extendable spout of  FIG. 3 , with the spout fully extended.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the extendable spout of  FIG. 4 , with the spout fully retracted.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a distal end of the discharge mechanism of  FIG. 3 , with an interface for the extendable spout according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the distal end of the discharge mechanism and interface of  FIG. 6 , with a drive mechanism mount positioned above the interface.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the drive mechanism mount of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a closer view of the distal end of the discharge mechanism and the extendable spout of  FIG. 3 , with an alternative tube mounting arrangement.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a portion of the extendable spout of  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a pair of tubes for mounting to the side of the extendable spout of  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a closer perspective view of the tubes of  FIG. 12  mounted to the side of the portion of the extendable spout of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary aspects of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art agricultural harvester  10  with a movable discharge auger  12  having a fixed spout  14 . Auger  12  can be moved sideways through an arc about a pivot point defined on an upper portion of harvester body  16 . Within harvester body  16  is a temporary on-board grain storage bin for holding grain or other harvested material collected by harvester  10 . An operator&#39;s position or cab  18  is located remotely from either auger  12  or spout  14 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a view sideways from cab  18  of harvester  10 , with auger  12  positioned so that spout  14  is above a farm wagon  20 . Grain  22  is being discharged from harvester  10  into wagon  20 . A lower end of spout  14  is located a distance h above wagon  20 . This distance h may allow grain  22  falling from spout  14  to be scattered by wind and end up on the ground instead of in wagon  20 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , auger  12  may be swung forward enough so that spout  14  is generally even with cab  18 , permitting an operator to see where spout  14  is located with respect to wagon  20 . However, distance h may create an optical illusion for the operator, and cause the operator to misalign spout  14 . Such misalignment may cause grain  22  to be discharged onto the ground.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , auger  12  extends as part of a discharge mechanism  28  which has an end  30  within the on-board grain storage bin of harvester  10 . At a distal or discharge end  24  of auger  12  is mounted an extendable and retractable spout  26 , which extends downward in place of spout  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , extendable spout  26  is at a point of greatest extension, meaning that a lower end  32  of spout  26  is at a point closest to the ground. This lowering of end  32  permits an operator to reduce of eliminate the distance h that grain  22  must drop before entering within wagon  22  or a truck or similar grain transport.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , retractable spout  24  includes a drive mechanism  36  and a drive mechanism mount  34  mounted above distal end  24  of auger  12 . An interface  38  provides a transition for grain  22  to exit distal end  24  and enter an upper end  40  of a top most or upper nesting cone  42 . Spout  24  includes a bottom most or lower nesting cone  44  and one or more intermediate nesting cones  46 . Alongside cones  42 ,  44  and  46  are telescoping tubes  48 . Tubes  48  are hollow and vary in diameter with a largest diameter tube  48  mounted adjacent cone  42 , and decreasing in diameter to the smallest diameter tube  48  mounted adjacent cone  44 . The higher mounted tubes  48  have a large enough inner diameter for the next lowest tube  48  to telescope within. As seen in  FIG. 5 , spout  24  is shown in retracted position with cones  42 ,  44  and  46  nesting within each other and tubes  48  telescoped within each other. An upper hollow tube mount  50  connects tubes  48  to mount  34  and has a large enough inner diameter to permit the largest tube  48  to telescope within. Note that in the extended position shown in  FIG. 4 , the cones remain overlapped with each other to provide a generally continuous grain passage from auger  12  to lower end  32 .  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , interface  38  includes an upper portion  56  configured to fit closely about auger  12  adjacent distal end  24 . While not need to seal against auger  12 , a close fit is desirable to reduce grain loss or blow by during discharge. Below upper portion  56  is a tapered portion  54  leading to a lower grain exit  52  through grain  22  flows to enter upper cone  42 . The size of upper portion  56  may be determined based on the size of auger  12  and distal end  24  and whatever opening is formed for grain at distal end  24 . Tapered portion  54  and grain exit  52  should be sized to provide adequate flow rates based on the expected maximum grain volume and characteristics. Any significant constriction of grain flow caused by tapered portion  54  may materially add to the weight of grain within auger  12  and cause back ups within auger  12  which may damage equipment or grain.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows mount  34  positioned above distal end  24  of auger  12  and also positioned above interface  38 . It may be desirable to have common fasteners such as fasteners  58  mounting both mount  34  and interface  38  to auger  12 , although this is not required. Referring now to also to  FIG. 8 , a pair of tube mounting wings  60  may extend from sides  64  of mount  38  and provide openings  68  through which an upper end of tube mounts  50  extend. An upper mounting plate  62  provides a mounting surface for drive mechanism  36 . A u-shaped opening  66  is defined between sides  64  and upper mounting plate  62  for receiving auger  12  and distal end  24 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , an alternative mounting arrangement for tubes  50  may be included in mount  34 . In place of wings  60 , a pin or bar  74  may extend through sides  64  and engage openings in an upper portion of tube mounts  50 . Also shown in  FIG. 9  are drive mechanism  36  mounted to upper plate  62 . Drive mechanism  36  includes a drum  70  and may also include a motor  72  mounted directly adjacent drum  70 . Cables  76  are attached to drum  70  and extend into tubes  50  and down tubes  48  to lower cone  44 , where they are attached. Drum  70  rotates to take up cable  76  and draw cones  42 ,  44  and  46  into the retracted position shown in  FIG. 4 . Motor  70  as shown in an electric motor coupled directly or through a geared transmission to drum  70 . Alternatively, a pneumatically driven motor may be used in place of electric motor  72 , or other means of rotating drum  70  may be substituted. It is desirable that weight mounted adjacent distal end  24  of auger  12  be kept to a minimum and that the risk of contamination of grain also be minimized.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  shows drive mechanism  34  removed from mount  36 . A coupling  78  is positioned between and connects drum  70  to motor  72 . Drum  70  includes a pair of grooves  80  within which cables  76  may be attached. As cables  76  are rolled onto drum  70  to retract cones  42 ,  44  and  46 , each cable  76  is kept separate from the other cable  76  within one of the grooves. A drum frame  86  is positioned about drum  70 .  
         [0029]     Mounted on top of drum frame  76  are an electronic motor control  82  and a pair of limits stop switches  84 . Switches  84  cooperate with a position indicator  88  mounted to a threaded shaft coupled to drum  70 . As drum  70  rotates to extend or retract cables  76 , indicator  88  moves laterally along shaft  90 . When indicator  88  contacts either limit stop  84 , power to motor  72  is cut off by electronic controller  82 . While this limit indication and control arrangement is configured for use of an electric motor  72 , other similar arrangements may be configured to control alternative drive systems. Some form of limit stop arrangement is desirable as spout  24  is remotely actuated from cab  18 . Since the operator will preferably be positioned remotely from distal end  24  of auger  12 , the operator will not be able to closely monitor operation and position of spout  24 . With the limit stop arrangement shown (or an equivalent system), the operator will need only initiate movement of motor  72  and movement will be ended when spout  24  is either fully extended or retracted.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , cones  42 ,  44  and  46  are preferably identically configured and include an upper wider end and a lower narrower end. Extending from an outer wall of a body  106  on either side are a pair of tube flange mounts  104 . Each of the tubes  48  and  50  include flanges for engaging flange mounts  104  and coupling the tubes to the cones. Upper end  100  and lower end  102  are preferably sized and configured so that one cone may nest within another cone without binding. Preferably, a gap or space will be provided between an inner wall of one cone&#39;s body  106  and an outer wall of the other cone&#39;s body  106  when the cones are fully nested, as shown in  FIG. 4 . This will permit stray material such as grain or harvest waste to be tolerated without impairing operation (extension and retraction) of spout  24 .  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 12 , tubes  48  and  50  both include longitudinally extending slots  112 . Tube  50  includes a mounting flange  110  adjacent an upper end for engaging tube mount wings  60 . Alternatively, an opening could be provided for pin  74  to extend through. Adjacent a lower end of both tube  50  and tube  48  is a mounting flange  108  configured to engage tube flange mounts  104  of cones  42 ,  44  and  46 , as shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , extending radially adjacent a top end of each tube  48  is a stop pin  114 . Each of the slots  112  in tubes  48  and  50  includes a closed lower end  116 . As cable  76  is extended from drum  70 , cones  42 ,  44  and  46  are allowed to extend toward the extended position shown in  FIG. 3 . Pins  114  ride within slots  112  and closed ends  116  prevent the nesting cones from extending top far below the next adjacent upper cone and disengaging from spout  24 . Openings  118  are provided in tube flange mounts  104  so that engagement of tubes  48  and  50  with cones  42 ,  44  and  46  may be secured. Any fasteners extended through openings  118  will preferably be removable fasteners such as screws or bolts, so that spout  24  can be disassembled and reassembled for after-market installation, cleaning, repair or maintenance. Similarly, pin  112  is ideally removably mounted within tubes  48  so that the telescoping tubes may be disassembled and reassembled for after-market installation, cleaning, repair or maintenance.  
         [0033]     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.