Patent Publication Number: US-2017359956-A1

Title: System and method for accessing a powertrain of an agricultural vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to agricultural equipment, and more particularly to a system and method for accessing an engine or transmission of an agricultural vehicle. 
     Agricultural equipment includes powered machinery capable of transporting, cultivating, planting, fertilizing, irrigating, sorting, harvesting, and other operations in the agricultural industry. Some equipment is driven (e.g., towed) by field vehicles such as tractors, such as planters and seeders. Other agriculture equipment includes a motor, transmission, and operator cabin such that the equipment is self-driven (i.e., does not require a tractor for towing), such as cotton harvesters and combine harvesters. 
     SUMMARY 
     An agricultural vehicle for picking or harvesting a product includes a motor, a plurality of tires, a transmission mating the motor to the plurality of tires, an accumulator operable to store the product, a module builder operable to receive the product from the accumulator, and a frame supporting the accumulator and the module builder. The frame defines a hatch through which an operator is capable of accessing the motor and/or the transmission. The agricultural vehicle is operable to transition between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the module builder and the accumulator prohibit access through the hatch. In the second state, the module builder and the accumulator are rotated relative to the frame and provide access through the hatch. 
     A method of accessing a powertrain of an agricultural vehicle in a first state in which a module builder receives a product from an accumulator, the accumulator is attached to a frame of the agricultural vehicle and at least partially covers a hatch defined by the frame, and the hatch provides access to the powertrain of the vehicle. The method includes detaching the accumulator from the frame, attaching the accumulator to the module builder, and rotating the module builder and the accumulator, thereby providing access to the hatch. 
     An agricultural vehicle for picking or harvesting a product includes a frame supporting a motor and including a first attachment point, an accumulator, and a module builder attached to the frame and operable to rotate about a pivot point. The module builder includes a second attachment point. The accumulator is operable to transition between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the accumulator is attached to the first attachment point. In the second state, the accumulator is attached to the second attachment point and is operable to rotate about the pivot point. 
     Other features and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a cotton harvester in a harvest state. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the cotton harvester of  FIG. 1  in a transport state. 
         FIG. 3  is a partially deconstructed side view of a cotton harvester including an accumulator attached to a module builder. 
         FIG. 4  is a partially deconstructed perspective view of the cotton harvester of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram outlining a method of accessing an engine or a transmission of an agricultural vehicle. 
         FIG. 6  is a partially deconstructed side view of a cotton harvester including an accumulator attached to a module builder. 
         FIG. 7  is a partially deconstructed perspective view of the cotton harvester of  FIG. 6   
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an agricultural vehicle  10  (e.g., a cotton harvester  10 ) includes a pair of axles, a front axle  12  supporting a pair of front wheels  13  and front tires  14 , and a rear axle  16 , supporting a pair of rear wheels  17  and rear tires  18 . The tires  14 ,  18  support the harvester  10  and provide a rolling surface for the same. An engine and transmission (shown with reference numerals  160 ,  162 , respectively, with reference to harvester  110  in  FIG. 3 ) transmit power to the front axle  12 , wheels  13 , and tires  14  to provide motive power for the harvester  10 . The cotton harvester  10  further includes inline row units  20 , an operator cabin  22 , a feeder or accumulator  24 , and a module builder  26  supported by a frame  46 . 
     The inline row units  20  are located at a front end  28  of the harvester  10  (as shown to the left of  FIG. 1 ) and include a plurality of picker heads  30  and spindle assemblies  32  spaced apart from one another (e.g., 30-40 inches apart; extending into the page, as shown in  FIG. 1 ) for picking cotton and directing it toward the accumulator  24  through chutes  34  associated with each spindle assembly  32 . The cotton gathers within the accumulator  24  until an infeed belt driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) carries the cotton into the module builder  26 , specifically a processing system  40  of the module builder. When a predetermined amount of cotton is located within the module builder  26 , a wrap is fed around the cotton within the module builder  26  to surround the cotton and produce a module. The module is moved from the processing system  40  to an outboard state, resting upon a module handler or module handling system  42 , and from the module handling system is placed on the field. As shown, the module builder  26  is a round module builder, operable to produce round modules (i.e., generally cylindrical modules with a round cross-section). 
     The harvester  10  is operable to transition between a harvest state ( FIG. 1 ) and a transport state ( FIG. 2 ). In the harvest state, the module builder  26  is operable to receive cotton from the accumulator  24 , as described above, and is positioned directly adjacent and abutting the accumulator  24 . A module handling system  42  is in an upright arrangement such that a module cannot rest upon the module handling system  42 . 
     In the transport state, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the processing system  40  of the module builder  26  splits into a first portion  36  and a second portion  38  connected to the first portion  36 . The first portion  36  rotates away from the accumulator  24  about a pivot point  70  fixed to the frame  46  of the harvester  10 . The pivot point  70  is fixed to a lower portion (i.e., relative to the ground) of the first portion  36 . The second portion  38  is connected to the first portion  36  via four bar linkages  72 ,  72 A, allowing the second portion  38  to rotate and translate relative to the first portion  36 . The second portion  38  of the processing system  40  is further connected to the module handling system  42  via an arm  74 , allowing the second portion  38  to rotate and translate relative to the module handling system  42 . The module handling system  42  is connected to the frame  46  at a pivot point  76  such that the module handling system  42  is operable to rotate relative to the frame  46  about the pivot point  76 . The pivot point  76  is fixed to a lower portion (i.e., relative to the ground) of the module handling system  42 . 
     As stated above, in order to transition between the harvest state and the transport state, the module builder  26  is rotated relative to the frame  46 . In order to rotate the module builder  26 , the harvester  10  may be provided with one or more hydraulic cylinders  98 . The hydraulic cylinder  98  may be affixed to the frame  46  or an alternative component (e.g., an arm that connects the two halves of the module builder  26 ) below or adjacent the module builder  26 . Alternatively, the module builder  26  may be manually rotated about the pivot point  70 . 
     As shown, the cotton harvester  110  of  FIGS. 3-4  includes design variations relative to the harvester  10  of  FIGS. 1-2 ; therefore, similar components are labeled with similar reference numerals, incremented by one hundred. A frame  146  ( FIG. 3 ) includes a lower frame member  148 , an upper frame member  150 , a rear frame member  152 , and a plurality of connection members  154  connecting the lower frame member  148  to the upper frame member  150 . It is to be understood that each of the frame members  148 ,  150 ,  152 ,  154  may include multiple individual members fixed to one another to form the frame member  148 ,  150 ,  152 ,  154 . For instance, the upper frame member  150  comprises a first frame member component  150 A, a second frame member component  150 B, a third frame member component  150 C, a fourth frame member component  150 D, and a fifth frame member component  150 E, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, or additionally, the frame members  148 ,  150 ,  152 ,  154  may be formed integrally with one another in any combination. 
     The lower frame member  148  extends parallel to the surface upon which the tires  14 ,  18  ride (e.g., field, road, ground, etc.) and defines a lower surface  156  of an engine bay  158 . The engine bay  158  houses and provides mounting points for the engine  160  and the transmission  162 , collectively referred to as the powertrain  164 . 
     The upper frame member  150  extends along the length of the harvester  110  from an operator cabin (not shown) to the module builder  126 , parallel to and above the lower frame member  148 . A lower surface of the upper frame member  150  defines an upper surface  166  of the engine bay  158  and is therefore located above the engine  160  and the transmission  162 . A top surface  168  of the upper frame member  150  provides a support surface for the accumulator  124  and the module builder  126  when the cotton harvester  110  is in the harvest position ( FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper frame member  150  (and specifically the third, fourth, and fifth components  150 C,  150 D,  150 E) defines a hatch  178  through which the engine bay  158  is accessible. The hatch  178  forms a rectangular aperture centered on and providing access through the upper frame member  150 . The hatch  178  is covered by the accumulator  124  and the module builder  126  when the harvester  110  is in the harvest state and is at least partially covered by the accumulator when the harvester  110  is in the transport state. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the rear frame member  152  is attached to and extends outward from the upper frame member  150  towards a rear end  144  of the harvester  110  (opposite the front end  128 ). The rear frame member  152  provides a mounting surface for supporting the rear drivetrain (e.g., rear axle  16 , etc.). Additionally, the rear frame member  152  supports a pin or rod that operates as the pivot point  76  for fixing the module handling system  142  to the frame  146 . 
     The connection members  154  extend transverse to the lower and upper frame members  148 ,  150  and link the lower frame  148  to the upper frame  150 . The height of the engine bay  158  is set by the connection members  154  and is defined as the internal height between the upper surface of the lower frame member  148  and the lower surface of the upper frame member  150 . In combination with the connection members  154 , body panels  80  (removed for clarity in  FIGS. 3-4 ; otherwise shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ) form sidewalls of the engine bay  158 . 
     The accumulator  124  is attached to the upper frame member  150  at an attachment point  184  via a removable fastener  186  (e.g., a pin, a bolt, etc.) to lock the accumulator  124  to the frame  146 . The attachment point  184 , as shown, is provided on a panel  190  mounted to the upper frame member  150  and aligns with a mating attachment point  188  on the accumulator such that the fastener  186  extends through both attachment points  184 ,  188  to lock the accumulator  124  to the frame  146 . With the accumulator  124  locked to the frame  146 , the accumulator  124  is additionally locked relative to the chute  134 , thereby ensuring that the chute  134  is aligned with the accumulator  124 . In the harvest state (the harvest state shown in  FIG. 1 ), the fastener  186  further ensures that the accumulator  124  is aligned with the module builder  126 , which is mounted to the frame  146  via the pivot point  170 . The frame  146  and accumulator  124 , as shown, may be provided with multiple attachment points  184 ,  188 , located on the left and right sides of the harvester  110 . 
     The accumulator  124  includes a second attachment point  192  that aligns with an attachment point  194  on the module builder  126 . The attachment points  192 ,  194  are orifices sized to accept the removable fastener  186 , similar to the attachment points  184 ,  188 . The attachment points  184 ,  188 ,  192 ,  194  may include threads to accept a threaded fastener  186  such as a bolt, or may be without threads to accept an unthreaded fastener such as a pin. 
     The fastener  186  may be a single removable fastener, or may alternatively include a bracket  196  with multiple removable fasteners, such that the attachment points  184 ,  188  and  192 ,  194  are not aligned to successively accept a single removable fastener, but instead each attachment point receives a separate removable fastener, thereby connecting the attachment points  184 ,  188  and  192 ,  194  to one another via the bracket. 
     In addition to the harvest state ( FIG. 1 ) and the transport state ( FIG. 2 ), the harvester  110  is operable in a maintenance state ( FIGS. 3-4 ) in which the accumulator  124  and the module builder  126  are rotated to provide access to the hatch  178  and the engine bay  158 . When the hatch  178  is accessible, a technician is able to access and remove the engine  160  or transmission  162 , or provide routine maintenance (e.g., adjusting valve gaps on the engine  160 ). In order to transition the harvester  110  from the harvest state to the maintenance state, the operator removes the fastener  186  from the attachment points  184 ,  188  thereby disconnecting the accumulator  124  from the frame  146 . The fastener  186  is then mated with the attachment points  192 ,  194  to attach the accumulator  124  to the module builder  126 . Although an alternative fastener may be used, utilizing the same fastener  186  to mate the accumulator  124  to both the module builder  126  and the frame  146  acts as a safeguard to prevent an operator from simultaneously mating the accumulator  124  to the module builder  126  and the frame  146 , which would prevent movement of the module builder  126  into the transport state and the maintenance state. 
     Alternatively, in place of the fastener  186 , one or more latch mechanisms may be actuated (e.g., hydraulically, electrically) to connect the accumulator  124  to the module builder  126  or the frame  146 . Such latching mechanisms would assist in automating the process of switching between the harvest state and the maintenance state. 
     Once connected to the module builder  126 , the accumulator  124  is rotated about the pivot point  170  as a single body with the module builder  126 . The rotating body comprising the accumulator  124  and module builder  126  may be actuated into rotation via the hydraulic cylinders  198  otherwise used to transition the harvester  110  from the harvest state to the transport state. Alternatively, the rotating body may be manually rotated into the maintenance state. When in the maintenance state, the operator is able to access the hatch  178  leading to the engine bay  158 , engine  160 , and transmission  162 . In some embodiments, the hydraulic motor used to drive the infeed belt may need to be removed prior to rotating the accumulator  124 . In other embodiments ( FIGS. 6-7 ), the module builder  126  and accumulator  124  are attached to a separate sub-frame, such that the hydraulic motor would not need to be removed. 
     As shown in the flow diagram  200  of  FIG. 5 , a method of accessing an engine  160  or a transmission  162  of an agricultural vehicle  110  includes providing the agricultural vehicle  110  in a first state in which a module builder  126  receives a product from an accumulator  124 . The accumulator  124  is attached to a frame  146  of the agricultural vehicle  110  and at least partially covers a hatch  178  defined by the frame  146 . The hatch  178  provides access to the engine  160  or the transmission  162  of the vehicle  110 . The accumulator  124  is detached from the frame  146 . The accumulator  124  is attached to the module builder  126 . The module builder  126  and the accumulator  124  are rotated, thereby providing access to the hatch  178 . 
     Transitioning from the maintenance state to the harvest state involves reversing the process of transitioning from the harvest state to the maintenance state. The rotating body is rotated such that the accumulator  124  and the module builder  126  contact the frame  146  (similar to the position shown in  FIG. 1 ). The fastener  186  is detached from the attachment points  192 ,  194  to detach the accumulator  124  from the module builder  126 . The fastener  186  is then mated with the attachment points  184 ,  188  to attach the accumulator  124  to the frame  146 . 
     As shown, the cotton harvester  210  of  FIGS. 6-7  includes design variations relative to the harvesters  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1-2 and 3-4 , respectively; therefore, similar components are labeled with similar reference numerals, incremented by one hundred (i.e., harvester  210 ). A frame  246  includes a first sub-frame assembly  246 A and a second sub-frame assembly  246 B. The first sub-frame assembly  246 A includes a lower frame member  248 , an upper frame member  250 , a rear frame member  252 , and a plurality of connection members  254  connecting the lower frame member  248  to the upper frame member  250 . The second sub-frame assembly  246 B includes an additional frame member  282  and is rotatable relative to the first sub-frame assembly  246 A. It is to be understood that each of the frame members  248 ,  250 ,  252 ,  254 ,  282  may include multiple individual members fixed to one another to form the frame member  248 ,  250 ,  252 ,  254 ,  282 . For instance, the additional frame member  282  comprises a first frame member component  282 A, a second frame member component  282 B, a third frame member component  282 C, and a fourth frame member component  282 D, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The third and fourth frame members  282 C,  282 D extend transverse to and connect the first and second frame members  282 A,  282 B to one another. 
     The first sub-frame assembly  246 A functions similar to the frame  146  ( FIGS. 3-4 ). The upper frame member  250  extends from an operator cabin (not shown) to the rear frame member  252 , with a transverse member or pivot support beam  208  (e.g., cylindrical tube, square tube or beam, etc.) fixed to the first sub-frame assembly  246 A and located between the upper and rear frame members  250 ,  252 . The top surface  268  of the upper frame member  250  provides a support surface for the second sub-frame assembly  246 B, which in turn provides a support surface for the accumulator  224  and the module builder  226  when the cotton harvester  210  is in the harvest position (shown with respect to harvester  10  in  FIG. 1 ). The second sub-frame assembly  246 B is fixed to a lower portion of the accumulator  224  at a distal end and is hinged about and further fixed to the picot support beam  208 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the upper frame member  250  defines a hatch  278  through which the engine bay  258  is accessible. The hatch  278  forms a rectangular aperture centered on and providing access through the upper frame member  250 . The hatch  278  is covered by the accumulator  224  and the module builder  226  when the harvester  210  is in the harvest state and is at least partially covered by the accumulator when the harvester  210  is in the transport state. 
     The accumulator  224  and second sub-frame assembly  246 B are attached to the upper frame member  250  at an attachment point  284  via a removable fastener  286  (e.g., a pin, a bolt, etc.) to lock the accumulator  224  and second sub-frame assembly  246 B to the first sub-frame assembly  246 A. The attachment point  284 , as shown, is provided on the upper frame member  250  and aligns with a mating attachment point  288  on the accumulator such that the fastener  286  extends through both attachment points  284 ,  288  to lock the accumulator  224  and the second sub-frame assembly  246 B to the first sub-frame assembly  246 A. With the second sub-frame assembly  246 B locked to the first sub-frame assembly  246 A (to limit relative movement therebetween), the accumulator  224  is additionally locked relative to the chute  234 , thereby ensuring that the chute  234  is aligned with the accumulator  224 . In the harvest state (the harvest state shown in  FIG. 1 ), the fastener  286  further ensures that the accumulator  224  is aligned with the module builder  226 , which is mounted to the second sub-frame assembly  246 B between the accumulator  224  and the pivot point  270 . The pivot point  270  is fixed to or integral with the pivot support beam  208 . The first sub-frame assembly  246 A and accumulator  224 , as shown, may be provided with multiple attachment points  284 ,  288 , located on the left and right sides of the harvester  210 . 
     The accumulator  224  includes a second attachment point  292  that aligns with an attachment point  294  on the module builder  226 . The attachment points  292 ,  294  are orifices sized to accept the removable fastener  286 , similar to the attachment points  284 ,  288 . The attachment points  284 ,  288 ,  292 ,  294  may include threads to accept a threaded fastener  286  such as a bolt, or may be without threads to accept an unthreaded fastener such as a pin. 
     The fastener  286  may be a single removable fastener or may alternatively include a bracket  296  with multiple removable fasteners, such that the attachment points  284 ,  288  and  292 ,  294  are not aligned to successively accept a single removable fastener, but instead each attachment point receives a separate removable fastener, thereby connecting the attachment points  284 ,  288  and  292 ,  294  to one another via the bracket. 
     In addition to the harvest state ( FIG. 1 ) and the transport state ( FIG. 2 ), the harvester  210  is operable in a maintenance state ( FIGS. 6-7 ) in which the accumulator  224  and the module builder  226  are rotated to provide access to the hatch  278  and the engine bay  258 . When the hatch  278  is accessible, a technician is able to access and remove the engine  260  or transmission  262 , or provide routine maintenance (e.g., adjusting valve gaps on the engine  260 ). In order to transition the harvester  210  from the harvest state to the maintenance state, the operator removes the fastener  286  from the attachment points  284 ,  288  thereby disconnecting the accumulator  224  from the first sub-frame assembly  246 A. The fastener  286  is then mated with the attachment points  292 ,  294  to attach the accumulator  224  to the module builder  226 . Although an alternative fastener may be used, utilizing the same fastener  286  to mate the accumulator  224  to both the module builder  226  and the first sub-frame assembly  246 A acts as a safeguard to prevent an operator from simultaneously mating the accumulator  224  to the module builder  226  and the first sub-frame assembly  246 A, which would prevent movement of the module builder  226  into the transport state and the maintenance state. 
     Alternatively, in place of the fastener  286 , one or more latch mechanisms may be actuated (e.g., hydraulically, electrically) to connect the accumulator  224  to the module builder  226  or the first sub-frame assembly  246 A. Such latching mechanisms would assist in automating the process of switching between the harvest state and the maintenance state. 
     Once connected to the module builder  226 , the accumulator  224  is rotated about the pivot point  270  as a single body with the module builder  226 . The rotating body comprising the accumulator  224 , module builder  226 , and the second sub-frame assembly  246 B may be actuated into rotation via the hydraulic cylinders  298  otherwise used to transition the harvester  210  from the harvest state to the transport state. Alternatively, the rotating body may be manually rotated into the maintenance state. When in the maintenance state, the operator is able to access the hatch  278  leading to the engine bay  258 , engine  260 , and transmission  262 . 
     The motor utilized to drive the infeed belt (not shown) is mounted to the second sub-frame assembly  246 B. When the second sub-frame assembly  246 B is rotated with the accumulator  224  and module builder  226 , the motor is additionally rotated. Therefore, the motor does not need to be disconnected from the harvester  210  prior to rotating the rotating body to the maintenance state. In comparison, the harvester  110  of  FIGS. 3-4  does not include a second sub-frame assembly, and the motor is mounted directly to the frame  146 . 
     Transitioning from the maintenance state to the harvest state involves reversing the process of transitioning from the harvest state to the maintenance state. The rotating body is rotated such that the second sub-frame assembly  246 B contacts the first sub-frame assembly  246 A (i.e., the additional frame member  282  is parallel to the upper frame member  250 ). The fastener  286  is detached from the attachment points  292 ,  294  to detach the accumulator  224  from the module builder  226 . The fastener  286  is then mated with the attachment points  284 ,  288  to attach the accumulator  224  to the first sub-frame assembly  246 A. 
     Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.