Abstract:
A crop discharging device, such as a discharge spout for a crop chopping machine, has a crop input end mounted for swiveling about an inclined upright axis and for pivoting vertically about a horizontal axis. The discharge spout also includes a vertically adjustable flap at its discharge end for directing the flow of crop from the spout. A first actuator is provided for effecting movement of the spout about the upright axis, a second actuator is provided for effecting movement of the spout about the horizontal axis and a third actuator is provided for effecting movement of the flap. A control arrangement, which includes a memory into which a preset correlation table, or the like may be loaded, is provided for automatically controlling the position of the second actuator as a function of the position of the first actuator so as to maintain a given discharge height. In the same way, the control arrangement is capable of automatically controlling the third actuator as a function of the operation of the second actuator so as to maintain a desired direction of flow of the crop from the spout during adjustment of the height of the discharge end of the spout.

Description:
ASSIGNMENT  
         [0001]    The entire right, title and interest in and to this application and all subject matter disclosed and/or claimed therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues, etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the applicant(s) named herein to Deere &amp; Company, a Delaware corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign countries in the name of Deere &amp; Company or otherwise.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a crop discharging device of an agricultural harvesting machine, having a first actuator and a second actuator which are connected to an arrangement for controlling their position and are arranged to alter the position of a crop conveying part of the discharging device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In current practice in the harvesting of agricultural crops in the field, the harvesting machine loads the harvested material into a transport vehicle which is driven along near the harvesting machine. The transport vehicle may be, e.g., a tractor-trailer combination or a truck. The harvested material is loaded into the transport vehicle via a crop discharging device associated with the harvesting machine. E.g., if the harvester comprises a chopper, the crop discharging device may comprise a spout, and if the harvester comprises a thresher, the crop discharging device may comprise a discharge auger. As a rule the crop discharging device is attached to the harvesting machine in a manner so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis, in particular to be swingable between a rest position, in which it is oriented approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the harvesting machine, and an operating position in which it extends transversely to the direction of movement of the harvesting machine. Additionally, the height of the delivery end (discharge end) of the crop discharging device can be variable, as can be the position of a discharge flap (or valve) which determines the angle at which the harvested material is discharged.  
           [0004]    In the simplest case, the position of the crop discharging device is controlled manually by the operator of the harvesting machine. A disadvantage of this is that the control of the position of the crop discharging device makes major demands on the attention of the operator.  
           [0005]    In some types of chopper harvesters, the rotational axis of the crop discharging device is not precisely vertically oriented but is inclined at a certain angle rearward, in order to increase the range of rotatability of the crop discharging device without said device colliding with the operator&#39;s cabin. When such rotation is performed, the discharge height is changed, which is particularly disadvantageous when delivery is laterally to a transport vehicle, because after the crop discharging device is rotated one must then perform a manual height adjustment for correcting the discharge height. Analogously, according to the state of the art, manual means (non-automated) must be availed of to adjust the setting of the discharge flap, in order to maintain the direction of discharge when the crop discharging device is lowered to make way for trees or power lines.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In EP 0,666,018 A, it was proposed to equip a harvesting machine with a device for automatic control of the position of the crop discharging device, which controller is capable of determining the position of a transporting vehicle and positioning the discharging device relative to such vehicle.  
           [0007]    In EP 1,151,652 A and EP 1,250,832 A, it was proposed to enter a set-point value for the position of the crop discharging device into a memory device, which memory device is queryable by an input device. The crop discharging device is automatically placed in the position indicated by the retrieved data.  
           [0008]    JP 10,000,015 A discloses a thresher wherein a swingable screw conveyor for unloading a grain container is held in a pre-stored position with the aid of sensor-controlled actuators. The number of storable positions of the discharging device is limited, however, and is insufficient for situations in which the relative positions of the harvesting machine and the transporting vehicle change.  
           [0009]    DE 198 48 127 A describes a chopper wherein the unloading target distance can be entered via a potentiometer. The unloading target distance can be derived by depressing a pushbutton, based on information about the instantaneous settings of the crop discharging device and specification of the target height. With the aid of a parameter which represents the direction of travel of the chopper, e.g. the steering angle, the crop discharging device is controlled such that the programmed unloading target distance and programmed unloading target height are maintained. When the chopper travels through a curve, the crop discharging device is thus automatically adjusted to unload the harvested material onto the transport vehicle. However, this arrangement can only function if the transport vehicle is traveling on a predefined path, e.g. if the transport vehicle constantly travels behind the chopper or is pulled by the chopper.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The underlying problem of the present invention is to devise a crop discharging device for a harvesting machine which does not have the above-described disadvantages.  
           [0011]    The invention proposes a crop discharging device for a harvesting machine which device has one or more conveying elements for harvested material, wherewith the position of said conveying element(s) is alterable by a first actuator and a second actuator. It is proposed that a position controlling arrangement controls the position of the second actuator depending on the position of the first actuator.  
           [0012]    In this way, the position of the second actuator is automatically adjusted to that of the first actuator. Thus, it is not necessary for the operator to manually adjust the second actuator when the first actuator is adjusted to respond to a changed situation. This is so because the second actuator is adjusted automatically via the position controlling arrangement. In an embodiment, the controller operates electronically and the actuators are moved electromechanically or by electronically controlled means which are pneumatically or hydraulically mediated. In another embodiment, the position controlling arrangement works hydraulically, with a first master cylinder which is moved by the first actuator and controls the second actuator hydraulically.  
           [0013]    In particular, the second actuator can be controlled such that the discharge height, i.e., the height of the outflow from the crop discharging device, is maintained when the crop discharging device is moved (e.g. rotated around the vertical axis). This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the first actuator executes a rotation around an axis which is approximately but not precisely vertical. Thus the controller compensates for the change in height of the outflow from the crop discharging device when the latter is rotated around the approximately vertical axis.  
           [0014]    According to another embodiment or another mode of operation of the same embodiment, the controller can be operated to control the discharge direction of the crop discharging device with respect to the ground, regardless of the height of the discharge end of said discharging device. When the crop discharging device is lowered, e.g. when passing under trees or power lines, a discharge flap on the discharge end of the discharging device is automatically adjusted so as to maintain the discharge direction, whereby the harvested material reliably reaches the transport vehicle.  
           [0015]    The relationship between the position of the first actuator (which establishes, e.g., the rotational angle around the vertical axis or the height of the crop discharging device) and the position of the second actuator (which serves to adjust the height of said discharging device or to adjust the discharge flap) can be prescribed in a fixed manner in an electronic controller or can be entered by the operator in order to adjust these positions to the given situation, e.g. to take into account different angles of inclination and dimensions of the crop discharging device. These parameters may be changed, e.g., by a retrofit. Information may be input via a keypad or via one or more potentiometers which provide proportionality constants between the two positions and a reference point. Also, data input may occur via successive manually controlled setting of different positions of the crop discharging device, and corresponding data entry into an input device.  
           [0016]    As a rule, the position of the first actuator is adjusted manually. However, automatic adjustment is also possible, e.g., via a device for sensing the position of the transport vehicle by sensing some feature of the transport vehicle optically or by distance sensors which employ acoustic or electromagnetic waves. Automatic adjustment can also be done by entry of information about the position of the transport vehicle and the harvesting machine generated by respective position sensors, e.g. GPS antennas (global positioning system for geolocation). 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    Two exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail hereinbelow.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic left side view of a harvesting machine of the type with which the present invention is adapted for use.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller for controlling the position of the crop discharging device of the harvesting machine.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a view of a manually operable input device.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a top view of a harvesting machine having a second embodiment of a position controlling arrangement for the position of the discharge device.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a portion of the block diagram of FIG. 2 comprising a hydraulic schematic of the embodiment from FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    The harvesting machine  10 , shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a self-propelled chopper, is comprised of a frame  12 , which is borne on front wheels  14  and rear wheels  16 . The harvesting machine  10  is operated from an operator&#39;s cabin  18  from which a harvested material intake device  20  is visible. The material harvested from the ground, e.g. corn, grass, or the like, is introduced to a chopping drum  22  via the intake device  20 . There the harvested material is chopped into small pieces and is transferred to a conveying device  24 . The harvested material passes from the harvesting machine  10  to a transport vehicle which is being driven nearby, via a crop discharging device  26  in the form of a rotatable discharge spout. A device for further fragmentation, shown here as a kernel processor  28 , extends between the chopping drum  22  and the conveying device  24 . The kernel processor  28  feeds the material to be conveyed tangentially to the conveying device  24 .  
         [0024]    The position of the crop discharging device  26  can be changed by three actuators  30 ,  34  and  38 . The actuator  30  is in the form of a hydraulic motor or linear motor which serves to rotate the rotatably mounted crop discharging device  26  on a rotating track mount  29 , around an approximately vertical axis. Thus the actuator  30  enables the crop discharging device  26  to be rotated rearward into the traveling position shown in FIG. 1 or to be rotated into a defined angle transversely to the forward direction of the harvesting machine  10 . The axis of the track mount  29  is not precisely vertical but is inclined slightly rearward with respect to the direction of advance of the harvesting machine  10 . This inclination increases the range of possible rotation of the crop discharging device  26  without collision with the operator cabin  18 . The actuator  30  engages with a worm gear or a gear wheel into a sprocket fixed to the track mount  29 .  
         [0025]    The actuator  34 , in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, is arranged to swing the crop discharging device  26  around a horizontal axis  32  disposed at the upstream end of the discharging device  26 . The actuator  34  thus determines the height of the discharge end of the crop discharging device  26 . An actuator  38 , in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, serves to swing a discharge flap  36  disposed on the discharge end  40  of the crop discharging device  26 . The adjustable discharge flap  36  allows setting of the angle at which the harvested material leaves the crop discharging device  26 . The actuators  34  and  38  can be single-action or double-action hydraulic cylinders. In the case of a single-action hydraulic cylinder, the return movement is achieved by the respective weights of the crop discharging device  26  and of the discharge flap  36 , or by the use of a return device, which may be e.g. a tensile spring or a gas-assisted tensile spring, not shown. In the embodiment illustrated, both actuators  34  and  38  are double-action. The actuator  30  can rotate the crop discharging device  26  in either direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), in successive movements. The crop discharging device  26  and the actuators  30 ,  34 , and  38  are per se known from the state of the art (see, e.g., EP 1,040,745 A, EP 0,760,202 A, and EP 0,672,339 A).  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of a first embodiment of an apparatus for controlling the position of the crop discharging device  26 . A controller  50 , in the form of a microprocessor or microcontroller, is connected to an input device  52  and a memory device  54 .  
         [0027]    The controller is further connected to three electromagnetically controlled valves  56 ,  58  and  60 , which are operationally connected on their input side in a hydraulic link to a device  62  for providing hydraulic fluid at operational pressure (e.g. a pressurized reservoir or a pump) and on their output side to the respective actuators  30 ,  34  and  38 . The valves  56  and  60  are connected to the respective actuators  30  and  38  via dual hydraulic lines, in that the actuator  30  is a hydraulic motor which is operable in two rotational directions and the actuator  38  is a dual-action hydraulic cylinder. The actuators  30 ,  34  and  38  are connect to the valves  56  and  60 , connected by two hydraulic lines, respectively, since the actuator  30  is a hydraulic motor operable in two rotational directions and the actuators  34  and  38  are double-action hydraulic cylinders. In this embodiment, the actuator  34  could also be a single-action cylinder.  
         [0028]    Finally, the controller  50  is connected to three sensors  62 ,  64  and  66 . Sensor  62  senses the position of the actuator  30  for rotating the crop discharging device  26 , thereby delivering information about the momentary rotational angle of said device  26 . The second sensor  64  senses the position of the actuator  34  for adjusting the height of the crop discharging device  26 , thereby delivering information about the swing angle of said device  26  around the horizontal axis  32 . The third sensor  66  delivers information about the position of the actuator  38  for swinging the discharge flap  36 , thereby delivering information about the swing angle of said flap  36 . The sensors  62 ,  64  and  66  are not shown in FIG. 1 but may be respectively integrated in the housings of the actuators  30 ,  34  and  38 , or may be disposed at suitable locations away from said actuators. The sensors  62 ,  64  and  66  preferably are provided with analog-digital converters, so that the controller  50  receives digital data. However it is conceivable that analog values produced by the sensors  62 ,  64  and  66  could be supplied to the controller  50 , particularly via separate lines.  
         [0029]    As a rule the controller  50  is connected to the input device  52 , the valves  56 ,  58  and  60 , and the sensors  62 ,  64  and  66  via a bus, which is generally in the form of a CAN bus, which reduces wiring costs. The memory  54  may be monolithically integrated into the controller  50  or may be connected to the controller via wires. The memory  54  is non-volatile, to avoid loss of stored data when the ignition is turned off or if the battery of the harvesting machine  10  fails. A supplemental battery and/or static RAM (random access memory) may also be provided.  
         [0030]    The input device  52  is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. It is in the form of a multifunction hand grip  72  which is disposed on the upper side of a swingable arm  70  which is disposed laterally next to the work station in the operator&#39;s cabin  18 . By swinging the arm  70  around a horizontal swing axis located at the lower end of the arm and oriented transversely to the direction of travel of the harvesting machine  10 , the operator can regulate the speed of such travel, in a known fashion.  
         [0031]    The multifunction hand grip  72  has three rocker switches  74 ,  76  and  78 , and three pushbutton switches  80 ,  82  and  84 . The rocker switches and pushbutton switches are all electrically connected to the controller  50 .  
         [0032]    The first rocker switch  74  serves to actuate the actuator  30  which rotates the crop discharging device  26  around the nearly vertical axis. If the left half of the first rocker switch  74  is depressed, pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to actuator  30  via controller  50  and the first valve  56  such that the crop discharging device  26  is rotated in a first direction, e.g. clockwise. If analogously the right half of the first rocker switch  74  is depressed, pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to actuator  30  via controller  50  and the first valve  56  such that the crop discharging device  26  is rotated in the opposite direction. If the first rocker switch  74  is not actuated, the actuator  30  stays still.  
         [0033]    The second rocker switch  76  serves to actuate the actuator  34  which serves for height adjustment. If the upper half of the second rocker switch  76  is depressed, pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to actuator  34  via controller  50  and the second valve  58  such that the crop discharging device is swung vertically upward around the axis  32 . If analogously the lower half of the second rocker switch  76  is depressed, hydraulic fluid is removed from the actuator  34  via the controller  50  and the second valve  58 , so that the crop discharging device  26  is lowered in the opposite direction. If the second rocker switch  76  is not actuated, the actuator  34  stays still.  
         [0034]    The third rocker switch  78  serves to actuate the actuator  38  for adjusting the discharge flap  36 . If the upper half of the third rocker switch  78  is depressed, pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to actuator  38  via controller  50  and the third valve  60  such that the discharge flap  36  is swung upward. If analogously the lower half of the third rocker switch  78  is depressed, pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to actuator  38  via controller  50  and the third valve  60  such that the discharge flap  36  is swung in the opposite direction. If the third rocker switch  78  is not actuated, the actuator  38  stands still.  
         [0035]    In this manner, the three rocker switches  74 ,  76  and  78  enable positioning of the crop discharging device  26  such that harvested material carried by the harvesting machine  10  is delivered to a transport vehicle. Because the axis of the rotating track mount  29  is inclined rearward, when the actuator  30  is actuated with the first rocker switch  74  the height of the discharge end  40  of the crop discharging device  26  also changes, which is undesirable, particularly when the transport vehicle being filled is disposed to the side of the harvester  10 . In order to solve this problem, the pushbutton switch  80  may be depressed for selecting an operating mode in which the actuator  34  (which here is serving as the second actuator) can be adjusted depending on the position of the actuator  30  (which here is serving as the first actuator). Preferably the selection of this operating mode is confirmed by a light display in the pushbutton switch  80  itself. The actuator  34  is then adjusted via the controller  50  such that the height of the discharge end  40  remains constant. For this purpose, appropriate information reflecting the relationship between the angle of the actuator  30  and the position of the actuator  34  has been input into the memory  54 . In particular, this information may be in the form of tables or functions. When this mode of operation is selected by depressing the pushbutton switch  80 , the height of the discharge end  40  which exists at that moment is maintained. In this way, the operator by using the rocker switch  74  can cause the crop discharging device  26  to be rotated without having to himself adjust the height of the discharge end  40  via the rocker switch  76 . It is possible for this operational mode to be permanently active.  
         [0036]    During harvesting operations, situations arise in which one needs to adjust the actuator  34  so as to lower the crop discharging device  26  below trees, power lines, or other overhanging objects. When this lowering is accomplished, the direction of discharge with respect to the ground is changed such that one cannot always ensure that the harvested material will be delivered to the transport vehicle. According to the state of the art, the operator must therefore not only depress the rocker switch  76  to lower the crop discharging device  26  via the actuator  34  but also must depress the rocker switch  78  to raise the discharge flap  36  so as to maintain approximately the same discharge direction with respect to the ground. In order to remedy this disadvantage, a second mode of operation may be selected via the pushbutton switch  82 , wherewith the actuator  38  (which here is serving as the second actuator) is adjusted depending on the position of the actuator  34  (which here is serving as the first actuator). Preferably the selection of this operating mode is confirmed by a light display in the pushbutton switch  82  itself. Information is input into the memory  54  as to how the actuator  38  is to be positioned when the position of the actuator  34  is changed. As described above, this information may comprise a table or some other functional relationship. When this second mode of operation is selected via the pushbutton  82 , the discharge direction of the crop discharging device  26  which exists at that moment is maintained. In this way, the operator by using the rocker switch  76  can change the height of the discharge end  40  without having to himself adjust the discharge flap  36  via the rocker switch  78 . It is possible for this operational mode to be permanently active.  
         [0037]    Both of the described operational modes can be cancelled by depressing the pushbutton switch  80  or  82 , respectively, a second time. Both operational modes may be selected concurrently by depressing both switches  80  and  82 . Then the position of actuator  34  will depend on that of actuator  30 , and the position of actuator  38  will depend on the position of actuator  34  (which in turn depends on that of actuator  30 ). In all modes of operation, all actuators  30 ,  34  and  38  can be further adjusted via the rocker switches  74 ,  76  and  78  to adjust the settings of the crop discharging device  26  to changing conditions.  
         [0038]    The third pushbutton switch  84  serves to select a certain operational mode of the memory. In this operational mode of the memory, the operator can specify at least two settings of the crop discharging device  26  via the rocker switches  74 ,  76  and  78  which are confirmed by depressing the pushbutton switch  80  for the first operational mode and the pushbutton switch  82  for the second operational mode. Then the instantaneous positions of the actuators  30 ,  34  and  38  are sensed via the sensors  62 ,  64  and  66 , and the data in the memory  54 , which serve to control the actuator  34  in the first operational mode and the actuator  38  in the second operational mode, are adjusted via the controller  50 . In this manner, the controller  50  can be easily adjusted to changed conditions, such as a modification in the geometry of the crop discharging device  26 .  
         [0039]    The harvesting machine  10  is equipped with a GPS geolocation antenna  86  and a radio antenna  88 . The GPS antenna  86  enables information to be provided about the position of the harvesting machine  10  in a terrestrial coordinate system. The radio antenna  88  serves to receive a position signal, also in a terrestrial coordinate system, of a transport vehicle. Using the signals from the antennas  86  and  88 , a signal for automatic control of the actuators  30 ,  34  and  38  can be generated, so that the harvested material is automatically delivered to the transport vehicle even when that vehicle changes position relative to the harvester. A mode of operation enabling this can be selected via a switch  90 . In this operational mode, at least the position of the actuator  30  is taken into account in controlling the actuator  34  in the manner described supra, in order to compensate for the rearward inclination of the axis of the rotating track mount  29 . Likewise, the position of actuator  34  can be taken into account in the control of actuator  38 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 4 shows a harvesting machine in the form of a forage harvester, in which a second embodiment of an arrangement for controlling the position of the crop discharging device  26  is provided, in a top view. Elements corresponding to the first embodiment are provided with like reference numerals. At the harvesting machine  10  shown in FIG. 4, an eccentric control element  92  is arranged above the track mount  29 . The control element  92  surrounds the discharging device  26  ring-shaped and rotates together with the discharging device  26 . The center of the circle-cylindrical control element  92  is offset with respect to the rotational axis  96  of the discharging device  26  to the rear, thus arranged eccentric with respect to axis  96 . The axis  96  is also inclined rearwards from the vertical by a small angle. In forward direction behind the axis  96 , a follower element  98  abuts the control element  92 . The follower element  98  is connected to the rod  100  of a master cylinder  94 . The master cylinder  94  is connected to the frame  12  of the harvesting machine  10 .  
         [0041]    An hydraulic scheme of the arrangement for controlling position of the discharge device  26  is shown in FIG. 5. It corresponds to the respective parts in FIG. 2, except the addition of the master cylinder  94 . The second valve  58  is, like in the first embodiment, connected to a controller  50 , as shown in FIG. 2. The parts of controller  50 , which are not shown in FIG. 5 for simplification, allow the operator to control a movement of actuators  30  and  38  by means of switches  74  and  78  and valves  56  and  60 . The controller  50  also provides for a movement of actuator  34  by means of switch  76 . During movement of actuator  30 , the electronic control of actuator  34  for compensating the angle of the track mount  29 , the electronic control described for the first embodiment is not provided.  
         [0042]    Instead, actuator  34  is in hydraulic connection with master cylinder  94 , as shown in FIG. 5. The rod chamber of the actuator  34  is connected to the rod chamber of the master cylinder  94  and the cylinder chamber of the master cylinder is connected to the cylinder chamber of actuator  34 . When the actuator  30  moves, the control element  92  moves together with the discharging device  26  around axis  96 . Due to the eccentricity of the control element  92  also the follower element  98  moves forwardly in the forward direction of the harvesting machine, such that the rod  100  of the master cylinder  94  moves accordingly. The further the discharging device  26  is rotated by actuator  30  forwardly from the park position shown in FIG. 4, the further the rod  100  of the master cylinder  94  is shifted forwardly. Thus, continuously fluid is moved from the rod chamber of the master cylinder  94  is moved to the rod chamber of actuator  34 . Simultaneously, fluid flows from the cylinder chamber of the actuator  34  into the cylinder chamber of the master cylinder  94 . The discharging device  26  is lowered the more the further the discharging device  26  is turned to the front.  
         [0043]    The control element  92 , the master cylinder  94  and the actuator  34  are dimensioned such that by the movement of the actuator  34  resulting from turning the discharging device  26  around axis  96  the inclination of axis  96  is compensated. The outer end of the crop discharging device  26  thus moves on a horizontal path. In this embodiment, it is possible to dispense with switch  80  since the height compensation is permanently active due to the hydraulic control. It would also be possible to dispense with sensors  62 ,  64 , and  66 . In another embodiment, the control element  92  could also be shaped such that it only moves the master cylinder  94  when the discharging device  26  is on a predetermined side of the harvesting machine  10 , e.g. the left side. A height compensation happens then only when the discharge device  26  is on this side, which preferably corresponds to the side on which most containers are to be filled. An analogously working control of actuator  38  based on a master cylinder moved by actuator  34  would also be possible, in order to adjust the discharge direction. There, the cylinder chambers would have to be connected with the rod chambers of the other cylinder.  
         [0044]    Due to the mass of the discharging device  26 , the cylinder chambers of the actuator  34  and the master cylinder  94  are under a certain pressure, such that the follower element  98  provides a pressure upon the control element  92 , thus a torque upon the discharging device  26  results, at least as long as it is not arranged in the longitudinal direction. This pressure also serves to keep the follower element  98  in abutment with the control element  92 . For relief of the actuator  30 , the track mount  29  can be self-arresting in a known manner.  
         [0045]    The invention may also be employed for threshers having swingable and height-adjustable screw conveyors for loading grain containers, especially when the swing axis is non-vertical.  
         [0046]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.