Patent Description:
A spreader is a powered component, and the power transmission to the spreader must be accounted for when making the spreader movable. For example, in the case of <CIT>, the spreader is powered by hydraulic drives that are mounted directly to the spreader, and motion of the spreader relative to the chassis is facilitated by flexible hoses joining the hydraulic drives to the hydraulic supply in the chassis. This system is relatively expensive, and requires maintenance and service of multiple hydraulic drives. This system also adds significant weight to the spreader, which requires greater supporting structure to prevent the spreader from sagging in the service position.

A more conventional swing-out spreader is shown in <CIT>. In this case, the spreader is mounted on a swingarm, and is powered by a single belt that wraps around a horizontal-axis drive pulley on the chassis and a vertical-axis driven shaft on the spreader body. The belt transitions between the drive rotation axis to the driven rotation axis by passing over sheaves that are mounted on tilted axes. When the swingarm is moved to the service position, the spacing between the drive pulley and sheaves decreases, which allows the belt to relax, thereby facilitating movement to the service position. This system conveniently powers the spreader by a power source or driven component internal to the vehicle chassis, however, during service, the belt can come free of the pulleys or sheaves, and must be reset after service is complete to ensure proper placement and tension, leading to relatively complex service requirements.

While swing-out spreaders are known in the art, it has been determined that the state of the art of spreader systems can still be improved.

<CIT> describes a combine harvester with a chopping and a distribution device, wherein the distribution devices can be transferred from at least one operating position to a transport position. <CIT> describes a spreader assembly for a combine harvester including a first side support pivotably connected to a frame of the combine harvester and a second side support pivotably connected to the frame of the combine harvester. <CIT> descibes a crop residue spreader for an agricultural harvesting machine with a housing including a linkage arrangement movably connecting the housing to the agricultural machine for allowing the housing to be moved.

In a first exemplary aspect, there is provided a spreader system for an agricultural vehicle according to claim <NUM>.

In some examples, the pivot joint comprises a double-shear pivot joint whereby the pivot shaft is rotatably connected to the fixed frame at one or more first locations by one or more respective first bearings, and to the pivot frame at one or more second locations by one or more respective second bearings, whereby the second bearings are between the first bearings with respect to the pivot axis.

In some examples, the pivot joint is defined by the pivot shaft being rotatably connected to the fixed frame at at least one first location and to the pivot frame at at least one second location.

In some examples, the pivot shaft is rotatably connected to the fixed frame at at least two first locations, with at least one second location being located between the at least two first locations.

In some examples, the pivot axis is vertical when the spreader system is in an operating configuration.

In some examples, the pivot shaft drive input comprises a pivot shaft input pulley, and the spreader system further comprises a transfer pulley rotatably connected to the fixed frame and configured to rotate about a transfer pulley axis, wherein the transfer pulley axis is angled relative to the pivot axis as viewed along a line extending from the pivot shaft input pulley to the transfer pulley.

In some examples, the transfer pulley axis is perpendicular to the pivot axis as viewed along the line extending from the pivot shaft input pulley to the transfer pulley.

In some examples, the spreader system has a power supply pulley configured to rotate about a power supply axis that is parallel to and radially offset from the transfer pulley axis.

In some examples, the spreader system has a single belt drivingly connecting the power supply pulley to the pivot shaft input pulley via the transfer pulley.

In some examples, the spreader system has at least one additional pulley or belt tensioner operatively supporting the single belt.

In some examples, a respective spreader axis of at least one of the one or more spreaders is parallel to the pivot axis.

In some examples, at least one of the one or more spreaders comprises a plate and a plurality of paddles extending from the plate.

In some examples, the one or more spreaders comprises a first spreader having a first spreader drive input and a second spreader having a second spreader drive input; and the power transmission comprises a flexible drive operatively connecting the pivot shaft drive output to each of the first spreader drive input and the second spreader drive input.

In some examples, the power transmission further comprises a tensioner pulley configured to generate tension in the flexible drive.

In some examples, the tensioner pulley is connected to the pivot frame by a tensioner arm, with a tensioner pulley rotation axis being radially offset from a tensioner arm pivot connecting the tensioner arm to the pivot frame.

In some examples, the power transmission further comprises a tensioner arm adjuster operatively connected between the pivot frame and the tensioner arm and configured to apply a force to the tensioner arm to generate a torque about the tensioner arm pivot to thereby control a magnitude of the tension in the flexible drive.

In some examples, the tensioner arm adjuster comprises a hydraulic actuator.

In another exemplary aspect, there is provided an agricultural vehicle comprising: a chassis configured for movement along a surface; and a spreader system as described in any of the aspects and examples provided above.

Embodiments of inventions will now be described, strictly by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accordance with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. The examples are shown in conjunction with an agricultural combine harvester, but have applicability in any similar agricultural vehicle.

The terms "grain," "straw," and "tailings" are used in this specification principally for convenience, but it is to be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. Thus "grain" refers to that part of the crop material which is threshed and separated from the remainder of the crop material and kept for further processing, and the portion of the crop material that is left behind during the harvesting process is referred to as the non-grain crop material, material other than grain ("MOG"), or, simply "straw.

The terms "forward," "rearward," "left," and "right," and the like, when used in connection with movable agricultural equipment such as an agricultural harvester and/or components thereof, are usually determined with reference to the normal direction of forward operative travel of the harvester; but, again, they should not be construed as limiting. The terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the agricultural harvester and are equally not to be construed as limiting. The term "radially offset" refers to an offset along a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis.

<FIG> shows an exemplary embodiment of an agricultural vehicle <NUM> in the form of a combine harvester. The vehicle <NUM> generally includes a chassis <NUM> and a header <NUM> carried by the chassis <NUM>. The chassis <NUM> is supported on driving wheels <NUM> (e.g., tracked wheels or pneumatic tires), as known in the art. The vehicle <NUM> is configured to move in a forward direction, illustrated as arrow F, during harvesting operations.

The header <NUM> is connected to the chassis <NUM> by a feeder assembly <NUM>, which includes a conveyor <NUM> configured to collect crop material and direct it to a threshing and separating system <NUM> inside the vehicle <NUM>. The threshing and separating system <NUM> may include a variety of mechanisms for separating grain from straw, such as threshers, sieves, blowers, and the like. Such devices are known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. As the crop material is processed by the threshing and separating system <NUM>, the grain portion is saved, and the straw portion is moved to the back of the vehicle <NUM> by augers, conveyors, straw walkers or other known mechanisms. The straw eventually reaches a spreader assembly <NUM> located at or near the back of the vehicle <NUM>. The spreader assembly <NUM> spreads the straw behind the vehicle <NUM>, and typically across some or all of the vehicle's travel path.

The spreader assembly <NUM> includes any mechanism(s) suitable for distributing the straw in the desired pattern. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the spreader assembly <NUM> may have two spreaders <NUM>, each of which comprises a plate <NUM> onto which the straw is dropped, and paddles <NUM> that extend from the plate <NUM>. In use, the plate <NUM> and the attached paddles <NUM> are driven to rotate about respective vertical axes V, thereby dispersing the straw in a generally radial direction. Fixed or movable baffles <NUM> may be provided around the perimeter of the plate <NUM> to direct the movement of the straw, and thereby control the distribution pattern.

The spreader assembly <NUM> is movable between an operating position and a service position. <FIG> shows the spreader assembly <NUM> in the service position, in which it is pivoted away from the chassis <NUM> to allow access to the spreader assembly <NUM> and to internal components that are normally blocked by the spreader assembly <NUM>. Broken lines <NUM> show the locations of the plates <NUM> when the spreader is in the operating position. In the operating position, the plates <NUM> are located at the end of a straw ejection path, such that the straw falls onto the rotating spreader plates <NUM> to be ejected from the vehicle <NUM>. The chassis <NUM> may include any suitable receiver <NUM> for holding the free end of the spreader assembly <NUM> in the operating position and supporting the free end in the vertical direction during use. For example, the receiver <NUM> may comprise an extension of the chassis <NUM> that is configured to receive a removable pin (not shown) to hold the free end of the spreader assembly <NUM> to the chassis <NUM>.

It has been determined that existing spreaders <NUM> can be improved by providing a drive connection from a powered component within the vehicle chassis <NUM>, while still permitting fast and efficient movement of the spreader assembly <NUM> to the service position. <FIG> illustrate an exemplary embodiment of such a spreader system <NUM>.

The spreader system generally includes a fixed frame <NUM>, a pivot frame <NUM>, a pivot joint <NUM>, and a spreader assembly <NUM>. The fixed frame <NUM> is joined, either permanently or in a releasable manner, to the vehicle chassis <NUM>. The pivot frame <NUM> is connected to the fixed frame <NUM> by the pivot joint <NUM>, which is configured to allow the pivot frame <NUM> to pivot relative to the fixed frame <NUM> about a pivot axis AP between an operation position and a service position.

The fixed frame <NUM> and pivot frame <NUM> may be constructed in any suitable manner. In the shown example, the fixed frame <NUM> and pivot frame <NUM> are both formed from folded sheet metal, or joined metal plates, to form respective self-supporting structures. Alternatively, one or both may be formed as structural space frames or beams with panels to close portions of the assembly, and so on.

The pivot joint <NUM> includes a pivot shaft <NUM> that extends along, and is configured to rotate about, the pivot axis AP. The pivot shaft <NUM> is configured to convey a drive force from a power supply <NUM> located on the chassis <NUM> or fixed frame <NUM> to the spreader assembly <NUM>. To this end, the pivot shaft <NUM> has a pivot shaft drive input <NUM> and a pivot shaft drive output <NUM> that is spaced along the pivot axis AP from the pivot shaft drive input <NUM>, as best shown in <FIG>. The pivot shaft drive input <NUM> and pivot shaft drive output <NUM> each preferably comprises a pulley, such as the shown V-belt sheaves. In other cases, one or both of the pivot shaft drive input <NUM> and pivot shaft drive output <NUM> may comprise a cogged or flat pulley for engagement by a cogged or flat belt, a gear sprocket for engagement with a drive chain, a toothed gear for engagement with a drive gear, and so on. For purposes of this disclosure, the term "pulley" includes any of the foregoing or other rotation drive connections.

The pivot joint <NUM> may have any configuration that is suitable for pivotally connecting the pivot frame <NUM> to the fixed frame <NUM>. <FIG> shows an exemplary pivot joint <NUM> in more detail, in a cross-section view in the transverse direction. In this case, the pivot shaft <NUM> is rotatably connected to the fixed frame <NUM> at one or more first locations by one or more respective first bearings <NUM>, and to the pivot frame <NUM> at one or more second locations by one or more respective second bearings <NUM>. In this example, the pivot shaft <NUM> is connected to the fixed frame <NUM> by two first bearings <NUM>, and is connected to the pivot frame <NUM> by two second bearings <NUM>. The first bearings <NUM> are mounted at respective first locations on the fixed frame <NUM>, and the second bearings <NUM> are mounted at respective second locations on the pivot frame <NUM>, such that the second bearings <NUM> are between the first bearings <NUM> with respect to the pivot axis AP. This places the pivot shaft <NUM> in a double-shear connection between the fixed frame <NUM> and pivot frame <NUM>. This double-shear configuration is preferred to help resist torque loads generated by vertical loading on the pivot frame <NUM>, but is not strictly required.

The pivot joint <NUM> is configured such that the fixed frame <NUM> holds the pivot frame <NUM> in the vertical direction. In the case of <FIG>, at least some of the bearings <NUM> include integral locking collars <NUM>' to fix their positions along the pivot axis AP, and thereby fix the pivot frame <NUM> in the vertical direction relative to the fixed frame <NUM>. Locking collars <NUM>' may be supplemented with and/or replaced by thrust bearings, thrust washers or other support devices. For example, the pivot shaft <NUM> may have a first thrust washer or thrust bearing <NUM> located above a portion of the fixed frame <NUM>, and a second thrust washer or thrust bearing <NUM> located below a portion of the pivot frame <NUM>. Other embodiments may use different configurations of parts to vertically support the pivot frame <NUM>. For example, one or more of the bearings <NUM>, <NUM> may be selected to support axial loads (e.g., tapered roller bearings) and axially fixed to the pivot shaft <NUM>. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

The pivot shaft drive input <NUM> and pivot shaft drive output <NUM> may be provided at any suitable location along the pivot shaft <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the pivot shaft drive input <NUM> is located above the upper first bearing <NUM>, such that it can be freely accessed for service and more easily connected to and disconnected from a power supply. Also in this example, the pivot shaft drive output <NUM> is located between the lower first bearing <NUM> and the lower second bearing <NUM>, where it is partially enclosed between the fixed frame <NUM> and the pivot frame <NUM> to protect it from contact with objects over which the vehicle <NUM> drives. In this example, the pivot shaft drive input <NUM> and pivot shaft drive output <NUM> each comprises a respective v-belt sheave, which may be secured to the pivot shaft <NUM> by any conventional means, such as press fitting, shaft keys, set screws, or the like.

The pivot joint <NUM> preferably is configured to fully support the weight of the pivot frame <NUM> and attached parts when the pivot frame <NUM> is in the service position. This may be accomplished via routine engineering practices to make the pivot joint <NUM> robust enough to fully support the expected loads. In other cases, however, the pivot joint <NUM> may not fully support the pivot frame <NUM> in the service position. For example, in other embodiments, the free end of the pivot frame <NUM> (i.e., the end opposite the pivot joint <NUM>) may be supported by a retractable guide wheel or skid to help support the weight of the free end when the free end is disconnected from the fixed frame <NUM> or chassis <NUM>. In either case, when the pivot frame <NUM> is in the operating position, such as in <FIG>, the free end of the pivot frame <NUM> preferably engages a receiver <NUM> (see <FIG>) that is formed as part of the fixed frame <NUM> or chassis <NUM>, to hold the pivot frame <NUM> in the operating position and support the free end during operation. Such receivers <NUM> are known in the art, and need not be described herein.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the spreader assembly <NUM> may comprise any suitable system for spreading straw. In the shown example, the spreader assembly <NUM> comprises two spreaders <NUM>, but a single spreader <NUM>, or more than two spreaders <NUM> may be used in other embodiments. Each spreader <NUM> is mounted to the pivot frame <NUM> and configured to rotate about a respective spreader axis AS that is offset radially from the pivot axis AP (i.e., offset relative to the radial direction of the pivot axis AP). One or both of the spreader axes S preferably is parallel to the pivot axis AP, but this is not strictly required. Each spreader <NUM> has a respective spreader drive input <NUM> (<FIG>) drivingly connected to each of the one or more spreaders <NUM>. In this case, each spreader <NUM> is rotatably mounted to the pivot frame <NUM> by a support shaft <NUM> and one or more bearings (not shown), and each drive input <NUM> comprises a V-belt sheave that is mounted directly or via a gear train to the respective support shaft <NUM>.

The spreaders <NUM> may have any suitable configuration for distributing the straw. In this example, the spreaders <NUM> are located at the end of a straw chute <NUM>, through which straw passes to contact the spreaders <NUM>. The straw chute may be attached to the fixed frame <NUM> or chassis <NUM>, or it may be attached to the pivot frame <NUM> such that it is moved out of the way when the pivot frame <NUM> is in the service position. the straw chute <NUM> terminates as a panel <NUM> located between the spreaders <NUM> and their associated drive inputs <NUM>, to thereby protect the drive components from the straw. Each spreader <NUM> may comprise a conventional spreader, such as a plate <NUM> having a plurality of paddles <NUM> that extend radially from the support shaft <NUM>. Other features, such as baffles to control the range of direction of straw distribution, may also be included.

The spreaders <NUM> are operatively connected to the pivot shaft drive output <NUM> by any suitable power transmission. For example, the power transmission may comprises a flexible drive (e.g., a belt or chain) a geared transmission, or the like. In this case, the power transmission is a spreader belt <NUM> that connects the pivot shaft drive output <NUM> to each of the spreader drive inputs <NUM>. Conveniently, a single spreader belt <NUM> may be used to drive two or more spreader drive inputs <NUM> in the same or opposite directions, depending on the belt path. In this case, the spreader belt <NUM> drives the two spreaders <NUM> in opposite directions. Any suitable spreader belt <NUM> may be used for this purpose, such as a double-sided V-belt or cogged belt. Also, the spreader belt <NUM> also may be continuous or linked, but a continuous belt may be preferred for additional durability and lower cost.

The exemplary spreader belt <NUM> extends along a drive path that extends from the pivot shaft drive output <NUM>, to a more distant one of the spreader drive inputs <NUM>, and from there to the more proximal spreader drive input <NUM>. The spreader belt <NUM> wraps in opposite directions about the two spreader drive inputs <NUM>, to thus drives them in opposite rotational directions. The spreader belt <NUM> path extends from the more proximal spreader drive input <NUM> to a tensioner pulley <NUM>, and then back to the pivot shaft drive output <NUM>.

The tensioner pulley <NUM> is mounted to the pivot frame <NUM> and configured to generate tension in the spreader belt <NUM>. For example, the tensioner pulley <NUM> may be connected to the pivot frame <NUM> by a tensioner arm <NUM>. The tensioner arm <NUM> is pivotally connected to the pivot frame <NUM> at a tensioner arm pivot <NUM>, and the tensioner pulley <NUM> is rotatably connected to the tensioner arm <NUM> at a tensioner pulley rotation that is radially offset from the tensioner arm pivot <NUM>. The tensioner arm <NUM> is also connected to the pivot frame <NUM> by a resilient or adjustable connector to control the amount of tension generated by the tensioner arm <NUM>. For example, the tensioner arm <NUM> may be connected to the pivot frame <NUM> by a tensioner arm adjuster <NUM> that is configured to apply a force to the tensioner arm <NUM> to generate a torque about the tensioner arm pivot <NUM>. The amount of torque dictates the magnitude of the tension in the spreader belt <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the tensioner arm adjuster <NUM> is connected to the tensioner arm <NUM> at an adjuster pivot <NUM> that is radially offset from the tensioner arm pivot <NUM>. The tensioner arm adjuster <NUM> may comprise a rigid link to hold the tensioner arm <NUM> at a fixed position relative to the pivot frame <NUM>, or it may comprise a resilient link that allows the tensioner arm <NUM> to move during operation to absorb intermittent high loading on the spreaders <NUM>. In this case, the tensioner arm adjuster <NUM> comprises a hydraulic actuator that is movable, by operating a suitable hydraulic circuit (not shown), to generate the desired tension in the spreader belt <NUM>. The hydraulic actuator may be connected to an accumulator to allow resilient movement of the tensioner arm <NUM>. In other cases, the tensioner arm adjuster <NUM> may comprise a spring, or other mechanisms as known in the art. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

Referring now to <FIG>, the pivot shaft drive input <NUM> may be operatively connected to any suitable power supply to receive a rotational drive torque to operate the spreader assembly <NUM>. In this case, the pivot shaft drive input <NUM> comprises a V-belt sheave that receives power from a main drive belt <NUM>, but other flexible drives (e.g., a chain) or a geared transmission may be used. It is also anticipated that the pivot shaft drive input <NUM> may comprise a direct connection to a drive motor (e.g., the pivot shaft <NUM> may be an extension of a motor drive shaft).

In this case, the main drive belt <NUM> is operatively connected to receive drive force from a power supply pulley <NUM> (e.g., another V-belt sheave). The power supply pulley <NUM> is rotatably mounted on the fixed frame <NUM> or the chassis <NUM>, and connected to a power supply <NUM>, such as a hydraulically-operated motor, an electric motor, or a power take-off from a main engine of the vehicle <NUM>. In the shown example, the power supply pulley <NUM> is configured to rotate about power supply pulley axis APS. In some cases, the power supply pulley axis APS may be parallel with the pivot axis AP. In such cases, the power supply pulley <NUM> may be connected to the pivot shaft input pulley <NUM> by a simple arrangement of flexible drives or gears.

In the shown example, the power supply pulley axis APS is not parallel with the pivot axis AP. In particular, the power supply pulley axis APS is orthogonal to a plane in which the pivot axis AP extends, and therefore the power supply pulley <NUM> is similarly perpendicular to the pivot shaft drive input <NUM>. In this case, a transfer pulley <NUM> is provided to rotate the main drive belt <NUM> between the plane of the power supply pulley <NUM> and the plane of the pivot shaft drive input <NUM>. The transfer pulley <NUM> is rotatably fixed to the fixed frame <NUM> or the chassis <NUM>, and configured to rotate about a transfer pulley axis ATP. The transfer pulley axis ATP is angled relative to the pivot axis AP as viewed along a line L extending from the pivot shaft drive input <NUM> to the transfer pulley <NUM>, and may be oriented perpendicular to the pivot axis AP or at any other angle suitable to intermediate movement of the main drive belt <NUM> between the power supply pulley <NUM> and the pivot shaft drive input <NUM>. In the shown example, the transfer pulley axis ATP is parallel to and radially offset from the power supply axis APS, but this is not strictly required.

The main drive belt <NUM> also may be supported by one or more additional pulleys or belt tensioners. For example, the main drive belt <NUM> may pass over a tensioner pulley <NUM> that may be adjusted to maintain proper tension on the main drive belt <NUM>, and a fixed reference pulley <NUM> provided to cooperate with the tensioner pulley <NUM> to facilitate the provision of suitable tension in the main drive belt <NUM>. The main drive belt <NUM> and other parts of the drivetrain may be enclosed by a cover <NUM> (<FIG>) or the like. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

The foregoing arrangement allows the use of a single main drive belt <NUM> to provide power from the power supply to the pivot shaft drive input <NUM>, and a single spreader belt <NUM> to provide power from the pivot shaft drive output <NUM> to the spreaders <NUM>. This is beneficial to simplify service and reduce replacement costs. However, other embodiments may use multiple belts or chains, or other drive mechanisms in place of the single main drive belt <NUM> and/or single spreader belt.

The foregoing arrangement also allows the pivot axis AP to extend vertically when the vehicle <NUM> is located on a horizontal surface, while being driven via a horizontally-extending power supply. A vertical pivot axis AP is beneficial because is causes the pivot frame <NUM> to rotate in a generally horizontal plane, and thus the pivot frame <NUM> is not affected by gravity pulling the pivot frame <NUM> into a lower position. Having the power supply pulley axis APS extend horizontally can be beneficial because, in many cases, the vehicle <NUM> already includes internal mechanisms that rotate about (or in parallel with) the power supply pulley axis APS. For example the threshing and separating system <NUM> may include a horizontal tailings drive shaft that operates near the spreader location, which can provide a convenient power supply for the power supply pulley <NUM>.

Embodiments of systems described herein can also provide various other benefits. For example, using the pivot shaft <NUM> to transfer drive from the power supply pulley <NUM> to the spreaders <NUM> allows the pivot frame <NUM> to move between the operation position and the service position without any effect on the setup of the main drive belt <NUM> or the spreader belt <NUM>. Thus, the spreader system <NUM> can be manipulated to allow service behind the pivot frame <NUM> and spreaders <NUM> without unnecessary work to disconnect and reconnect and tension the drive belts, and without having to employ complex or expensive mechanisms such as bevel gears to transfer power to the pivot frame <NUM> or mounting power supplies directly on the pivot frame <NUM>.

The pivot shaft <NUM> also conveniently acts both as a structural pivot to join the pivot frame <NUM> to the fixed frame <NUM>, and as a power transmission mechanism. This helps reduce the complexity and number of parts. Furthermore, the pivot frame <NUM> can be removed from the fixed frame <NUM> simply by removing the pivot shaft <NUM>. While such benefits can be useful, other embodiments may include a separate means for pivotally mounting the pivot frame <NUM> to the fixed frame <NUM>. For example, a tubular pivot pin may join the pivot frame <NUM> to the fixed frame <NUM>, and the pivot shaft <NUM> may be mounted to rotate within the pivot pin.

While the foregoing example is expected to provide good serviceability and convenience in selecting a power supply, it is not intended to be strictly limiting. Other embodiments may have a different arrangement of parts, such as described above. It is also expected that embodiments may include features that nullify one or more of the possible benefits of the embodiments described herein. For example, in some cases, the pivot axis AP may be horizontal, such that the pivot frame <NUM> rotates upwards or downwards to provide access inside the vehicle. Other alternatives and variations will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

<FIG> depicts an agricultural vehicle in the form of a combine harvester <NUM> incorporating a spreader system <NUM> such as those described herein. Generally, the harvester <NUM> is a self-propelled vehicle having a chassis <NUM> that is supported for movement on the ground by a plurality of wheels <NUM> (e.g., pneumatic tires, tracked wheels, etc.). At a forward end, the harvester <NUM> has a header <NUM> operable for severing plants from the ground as the harvester <NUM> is moved in the forward direction. The header <NUM> is configured and operable for gathering the cut crops and directing them into a feeder <NUM>. The feeder <NUM> then conveys the cut crops to a threshing system <NUM> located generally within the harvester <NUM>.

The harvester <NUM> also includes a cleaning system <NUM> for carrying crop material from the threshing system <NUM>, and separating grain from material other than grain ("MOG"). The cleaning system <NUM> typically includes a cleaning fan system <NUM>, a plurality of sieves 740A, 740B, and 740C, and a plurality of augers 750A, 750B, and 750C. The cleaning fan system <NUM> comprises a cleaning fan <NUM> for generating and directing a flow of air upwardly and rearwardly over the sieves 740A, 740B, and 740C (collectively "sieves <NUM>"). The sieves <NUM> allow grain to fall through, while preventing MOG of various sizes from passing. The augers 750A, 750B, and 750C or other grain conveyors are located below the sieves <NUM> to collect grain. A grain pan <NUM> also may be provided to help direct grain from the threshing system <NUM> to the sieves <NUM>.

The spreader system <NUM> is positioned downstream of the sieves <NUM>, and in this case at the outlets of the two rearmost sieves 740B, 740C, to receive MOG that has proceeded through the cleaning system <NUM>. The MOG falls onto the spreader system <NUM>, and the spreader system <NUM> distributes the MOG across the path of the harvester <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A spreader system (<NUM>) for an agricultural vehicle, the spreader system comprising:
a fixed frame (<NUM>);
a pivot frame (<NUM>); and
a spreader assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
one or more spreaders (<NUM>) mounted to the pivot frame (<NUM>) and configured to rotate about a respective spreader axis (As), and
a respective spreader drive input (<NUM>) drivingly connected to each of the one or more spreaders (<NUM>),
a power transmission (<NUM>) operatively connecting a pivot shaft drive output (<NUM>) to each respective spreader drive input (<NUM>)
a pivot joint (<NUM>) connecting the pivot frame (<NUM>) to the fixed frame (<NUM>) for pivotal movement relative to the fixed frame (<NUM>) about a pivot axis (Ap) between an operation position and a service position,
wherein the respective spreader axis (As) of the one or more spreaders (<NUM>) is offset radially from said pivot axis (Ap),
the pivot joint (<NUM>) including a pivot shaft (<NUM>); and
the pivot shaft (<NUM>) having a pivot shaft drive input (<NUM>) and said pivot shaft drive output (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the pivot joint (<NUM>) including a pivot shaft (<NUM>) extends along said pivot axis (Ap) and is configured to rotate about said pivot axis (Ap); and the pivot shaft drive output (<NUM>) is spaced along the pivot axis (Ap) from the pivot shaft drive input (<NUM>).