Abstract:
The invention concerns a feeder house ( 38 ) with a first conveyor ( 66 ) for the transport of harvested crop, a second conveyor arranged downstream of the first conveyor and a mounting arrangement ( 54 ) for the mounting of a header ( 74 ) to the feeder house. In order to attain an optimum transition of the harvested crop from the header ( 74 ) to the first conveyor ( 66 ), the mounting arrangement ( 54 ) is supported in bearings, free to pivot, relative to the feeder house ( 38 ) about an axis that is generally coaxial with the axis ( 64 ) of the first conveyor ( 66 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention concerns a feeder house of a harvesting machine and in particular to a feeder house with a front face for the attachment of a front harvesting header wherein the front face is pivotable about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of operation to adjust the header for changing contours of the ground. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A feeder house for a harvesting machine, such as a combine, is known in which a vertical pivoting adjustment is integrated into the feeder house or the supply channel, in order to be able to pivot a header about a horizontal axis that extends transverse to the direction of operation of the harvesting machine. This enables adjustment to be made due to changing contours of the ground. 
     EP 685 147 A discloses a feeder house manufactured in two parts and having a pivot axis between the two halves of the housing along the bottom side of the slope conveyor. The disadvantage here is that the attainable pivot angle is relatively small, and that crop can intrude into the gap between the two housing halves. 
     DE 43 24 766 A discloses a feeder house with a front face at the front of the feeder house which pivots about a horizontal axis that is transverse to the direction of forward operation. The pivot axis is arranged at the bottom of the slope conveyor. 
     DE 23 02 499 A discloses a feeder house in which a front face is movable in a generally vertical direction by corresponding hydraulic cylinders but is not pivoted about a transverse axis. In this feeder house, as well as in that described in DE 43 24 766 A, the disadvantage is seen in the fact that the transition of the harvested crop from the header, in particular from the auger in the header, to the slope conveyor, is not always optimal, since the spacing between the auger and the slope conveyor changes as a function of the pivot angle or the height of the front face. 
     A feeder house is shown in EP 448 844 A and U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,295 in which the front face can be pivoted about an axis that is arranged approximately coaxial with the axis of a front roller of a chain conveyor. Here too, an optimal transition of the harvested crop is not possible from the header to the chain conveyor, since the chain conveyor must be spaced sufficiently far from the auger of the header in order to make possible a sufficiently large pivot angle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,395 discloses an add-on adapter assembly at the front of a feeder house to enable pivoting of a header about a fore and aft axis. The adapter assembly includes a first component that couples to the feeder house in the same manner as the header. A second component is mounted to the first component to pivot about a fore and aft axis. The header is then mounted to the second component of the adapter assembly. A rotary feeder is carried by the second component to assist in conveying crop material from the header into the feeder house. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide a feeder house that can adjust the header angle and maintain an optimum transfer of the harvested crop from the header to the slope conveyor of the feeder house. This is accomplished by providing a first conveyor and a second conveyor downstream of the first conveyor, with respect to the flow of the harvested crop, and by configuring the front mounting face to which the header is fastened so as to pivot about an axis that is approximately coaxial with the axis of the first conveyor. The first conveyor is arranged at an optimum spacing from the header so that the best possible transfer of the harvested crop from the header to the first conveyor can be achieved. Since the pivot axis of the front mounting face is aligned (at least approximately) with the axis of the first conveyor, the spacing between the header and the first conveyor remains constant at all times and optimum conveying of the harvested crop is guaranteed at all pivot angles of the header. The mounting arrangement can include a front face that makes possible a lateral pivoting motion of the header about the longitudinal axis of the harvesting machine in order to accommodate for uneven ground laterally. But a rigid attachment of the header to the mounting arrangement is also conceivable. 
     In the state of the art, as well as, in particular, from the EP 448 844 A, it has become known that the conveyor and the mounting arrangement are supported in bearings, each movable in two directions separately in a relatively costly manner. To reduce the expense and the cost of manufacture, it is proposed that the mounting arrangement be rotatably supported in bearings directly or indirectly on the axis of the first conveyor. Thereby the axes of the first conveyor and of the mounting arrangement are always coaxial. 
     In actual terms, it is conceivable to rigidly attach the axis of the first conveyor to the housing of the feeder house in such a way that it projects through a corresponding opening in the housing in order to support the mounting arrangement in bearings on a section of the axis that extends beyond the housing of the feeder house. As an alternative, the mounting arrangement can be supported in bearings on a section of the axis of the first conveyor positioned on the interior of the housing, in particular on the wall of the housing. It should be noted that the axis of the first conveyor, as a rule, is a driven shaft. In this case the designation “axis” is understood to mean the longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
     The axis of the first conveyor is preferably fastened rigidly to the housing, that is, not movable or able to be shifted, but may also be adjustable in a manner known in itself in the vertical and/or horizontal direction (with respect to the forward operating direction). Regardless of that fact, the first conveyor is free to rotate about its axis. 
     The second conveyor may be a chain conveyor, that includes a first and a second roller, of which at least one is driven, and about which a conveyor chain with corresponding lugs for the harvested crop circulates. 
     The first conveyor in particular is most likely to be a roller that conveys the harvested crop as an undershot conveyor or an overshot conveyor. The advantage of a roller lies in its shorter length in comparison to a chain conveyor, which permits a greater pivot angle, without the mounting arrangement making contact with the first conveyor. In addition, it is possible to position the first conveyor closer to the header which makes possible an improved transition of the harvested crop from the header to the feeder house. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a roller with paddles is used as the first conveyor. It conveys the harvested crop effectively and rapidly from the header to the second conveyor which conducts it to the harvesting machine. 
     Furthermore, additional support is provided for the mounting arrangement at the housing of the feeder house so that the pivot axis does not have to carry the entire load of the header and the mounting arrangement. This support can be provided primarily by pins that slide in corresponding slots. The pins may be attached to the mounting arrangement with the slots in the housing of the feeder house, or inversely, the pins may be fastened to the housing and the slots formed in the mounting arrangement. 
     The movement through the pivot angle of the mounting arrangement can be performed by one or more hydraulic cylinders or electric motors or in a simple and low cost mechanical manner. For a mechanical adjustment, a pin is proposed one end of which is connected to the mounting arrangement and the other end is provided with a nut that is mechanically carried by the housing of the feeder house. The pivot angle can be changed by turning the nut. Only one such pin may be provided on one side of the housing of the feeder house, or two pins can be applied to either side of the feeder house. The latter solution remains safe in operation in case of breakage of one pin, but a greater effort is required for an adjustment. It should be noted that the pin can be fastened to the housing of the feeder house, while the nut then is mechanically carried by the mounting arrangement. 
     In a manner known in itself, the feeder house may be provided with a one-piece housing. However, the housing may be a two-piece design, where the first conveyor is preferably arranged in the second part of the housing; here the second part may be a separate module. The mounting arrangement is then also attached to the module. 
     The invention can be applied to all types of headers, for example, with front mower attachments, that are particularly suitable for harvesting grain crops, forage harvesters and corn heads. 
     Finally it should be noted that the invention can also be attained in the form of a separate module added to a conventional feeder house. This module is attached to a feeder house and the header rigidly attached thereto. The module contains a first conveyor and a mounting arrangement to which a header can be fastened. As a rule, the feeder house contains a second conveyor that conveys the harvested crop transported by the first conveyor into a harvesting machine for further processing. Since the axis of the first conveyor and the pivot axis of the mounting arrangement are at least approximately coaxial, here, too, an optimum transition of the harvested material from the header into the feeder house is always guaranteed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a harvesting machine for use with a feeder house according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a feeder house according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of a feeder house according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A harvesting machine  10 , in the form of a combine, is shown in FIG.  1  and includes front driven and rear steerable wheels  12 ,  14  and an operator&#39;s cab  16  from which the harvesting machine can be controlled by an operator. Tracks can be used in place of the wheels if desired. To the rear of the operator&#39;s cab  16  there is a grain tank  18  that can deliver crop deposited in it to the outside through an unloading auger  20 . The grain tank  18  is supported on a frame  22  in which crop supplied thereto is threshed in its path between a cylinder  24  and concave  26  and past a beater  28 . On straw walkers  30  as well as on a pan  32  and sieves  34 , further separation of the grain from the harvested crop is performed where finally the grain is conveyed into the grain tank  18 , the large components of the crop material are deposited on the ground over the straw walkers  30  and chaff is blown by means of a fan  36  from the sieves  34 , also onto the ground. 
     After being taken up from the ground by a header, not shown in FIG. 1, crop is conducted through a feeder house  38 , having a slope conveyor and a stone catcher trough  40 , to the cylinder  24 . The feeder house  38  is attached to the front side of the harvesting machine  10  and is free to pivot about a horizontal axis extending transverse to the plane of the drawing. It can be pivoted by corresponding hydraulic cylinders, not shown in the drawing, as is well known. Alternatively, a feeder house  38  that is rigidly attached to the combine, and is not pivoted, is also possible. 
     FIG. 2 shows the feeder house  38  according to a first embodiment of the invention. A header  74  is fastened to the front of the feeder house. The feeder house  38  is provided with a housing  62 . The housing  62  contains a slope conveyor having an upper conveyor roller  42 , that rotates about an axis  44 , a lower conveyor roll  48 , that rotates about an axis  50 , as well as a conveyor chain  46  circulating about both the upper and lower rolls  42 ,  48 . The chain conveyor has impeller lugs, not shown, for conveying the harvested crop. One of the conveyor rolls  42 ,  48  is driven so as to rotate counterclockwise, as seen in FIG. 2, so the harvested crop is conveyed upward between the conveyor chain  46  and a bottom of the housing  62  into the harvesting machine  10 . The upper and lower rolls  42 ,  48  and the chain conveyor form a second conveyor  52 . A first conveyor  66  is positioned before the lower conveyor roller  42  and is in the form of a transport roller with paddles  84  attached to its circumference. The first conveyor  66  is also driven to rotate counterclockwise about an axis  64  as seen in FIG.  2 . Hence the harvested crop is conveyed by an undershot conveyor. The paddles  84  are slightly inclined against the direction of rotation, in order to be able to convey the harvested crop optimally. 
     At the front of the feeder house  38 , as seen in the direction of operation identified by the arrow  83 , a mounting arrangement  54  is positioned. The mounting arrangement  54  is open on its front side facing the header  74 . As a rule this opening is rectangular and the harvested crop passes through it. In addition, the mounting arrangement  54  is provided with side walls  55  that are in contact with the outer surfaces of the forward portions of the side walls  65  of the housing  62  of the feeder house  38 . The side walls  65  of the housing  62  do not extend to the front side of the mounting arrangement  54  but end short of that, in order to make possible a pivoting of the mounting arrangement  54  with the header  74 . At its side walls, the mounting arrangement  54  is rotatably supported in bearings about the shaft  61  of the first conveyor  66  which defines a conveyor axis  64 . In addition, pins  67  are attached to both side walls  65  of the housing  62  of the feeder house  38 , and extend through circular-arc shaped slots  68  in the side walls  55  of the mounting arrangement  54 . The pins  67  support the mounting arrangement  54  against the force of gravity, and the slots  68  limit the range of pivot angles. The pivot angle of the mounting arrangement  54  is defined mechanically by a threaded pin  58  which is attached, free to rotate, at a first end  56  to the mounting arrangement  54 . The pin  58  extends through a support  60  that is provided with a corresponding opening and is welded to the housing  62  of the feeder house  38 . The pin  58  is fastened to the support  60  by nuts that are in contact with both sides of the support  60 , this fixes the pivot angle. By an adjustment of the nuts, a desired pivot angle of the mounting arrangement  54  can be established. 
     A front face  70 , known in the art, is provided on the front side of the mounting arrangement  54 , which permits a lateral pivoting motion of the header  74  about the longitudinal axis of the harvesting machine  10 . The header  74  is provided with a support beam  72  that extends transverse to the direction of forward operation and supports the header  74  on the mounting arrangement  54 . 
     The header  74  is shown as a platform, which is well known, having a cutter bar  76  in the form of an reciprocating mower, located between two side walls  82 , which severs crop from stubble remaining on the ground. A reel  80  is arranged above and in front of the cutter bar  76 , in order to press the crop against the cutter bar  76  and toward an auger  78 . The auger  78  transports the harvested crop to the center of the header  74 , where it is taken by the first conveyor  66  and is directed into the housing  62  of the feeder house  38 . The housing  62 , as a rule, is narrower than the header  74 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the first conveyor  66 , a transport roll, operating as an overshot conveyor driven in a clockwise direction. It is equipped with paddles  86 , which are slightly inclined toward the direction of rotation. Furthermore the feeder house of FIG. 3 is provided with two parts: the housing  62  and a separate module  63 , which is fastened to the front of the housing  62 , for example, attached by a flange. The housing  62  contains, in known manner, the sloped conveyor with the conveyor chain  46  as the second conveyor  52 . The first conveyor  66  is supported in bearings in the module  63 , and the mounting arrangement  54  is also supported in bearings, free to pivot, on the module  63 . The pivot axis of the mounting arrangement  54  is coaxial with the axis  64  of the first conveyor  66 . The module  63  is configured in the same way as the front region of the one-piece feeder house of FIG.  2 . The module  63  is primarily beneficial as an add on device to a conventional feeder house that only has the sloped conveyor  52  to provide the benefit of the first and second conveyors of the present invention. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the pivot angle of the mounting arrangement  54  is controlled by a remote actuator  90  which may be a servo motor, hydraulic cylinder, etc. The actuator  90  is coupled to the mounting arrangement  54  and a threaded pin  58  extends therefrom to the module  63 . The threaded pin is mounted to the module as described above in connection with FIG.  2 . Alternatively, the actuator can be coupled to the module  63  and the pin  58  extend to the mounting arrangement  54 . The remote actuator  90  allows the pivot angle of the mounting arrangement to be changed remotely, such as from the operator&#39;s cab  16 . The remote actuator  90  is an alternative to the device shown in FIG.  2  and can be used with that embodiment of the invention as well. 
     As a result of the fact that the pivot axis of the mounting arrangement  54  is coaxial with the axis  64  of the first conveyor  66 , the harvested crop is transported optimally from the header into the harvesting machine  10  at any desired pivot angle of the mounting arrangement  54 . 
     The invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiment, but should be limited solely by the claims that follow.