Patent Description:
A typical corn header construction includes a header frame carrying a plurality of row units for harvesting corn. Each row unit includes a pair of spaced apart deck plates. A corn stalk channel is defined between two paired deck plates to define a stalk channel distance, which is roughly equal to the diameter of a corn stalk. As the vehicle travels through a field where corn is present, corn stalks enter the corn stalk channels. Below the deck plates, a pair of snap rolls are arranged that engage the caught corn stalks to pull the corn stalks downward. The corn stalk channel between the deck plate is wide enough to allow entry of the corn stalks, but is too narrow for the corn ears to pass through the channel. As the snap rolls pull the corn stalk downwardly, the corn ear eventually impacts the deck plates and snaps off of the corn stalk, separating the corn ear from the field. The corn stalks may be cut before, during, or after the corn ear is being separated from the stalk to remove the stalk from the field and, in some harvesters, be processed into residue for spreading on the field. The separated corn ears can then be conveyed toward a processing device.

A typical grain header, on the other hand, includes a header frame carrying one or more cutting elements, such as cutter bars, that reciprocate to engage and cut the wheat to collect the grain. The cutting element(s) can be reciprocated by an epicyclical drive or wobble box, with the height of the cutting elements, relative to the ground, determining how much of the crop is separated from the field, i.e., the cut height of the stubble that remains on the field. After the crop material is cut by the cutting element(s), a rotating auger or draper belt can transport the cut crop material toward a center of the header to a header conveyor, which conveys the crop material rearwardly for further processing.

Regardless of whether the header is a corn header or a grain header, many header constructions also include a plurality of dividers spaced apart from each other along the width of the header. The dividers of a corn header or a grain header help to direct crop material toward the stalk channels or cutting elements, respectively, during travel of the vehicle. In this respect, the dividers account for unevenness in the rows of crops, ensuring that the crops enter the stalk channels or cutting elements in a row-wise fashion and encouraging an even cut height of the crops.

On many combine harvesters, the header is removably mounted to and supported by the feeder housing, which is carried by the chassis of the combine. Generally, adjusting an angle of the feeder face of the feeder housing requires manual feeder face adjustment using wrenches.

<CIT> describes such a header with a plurality of dividers spaced apart from each other along the width of the header. These dividers can be manually repositioned by an operator, or as an alternative, the repositioning of the dividers can be done by use of a controller and a hydraulic actuator or an electromotor.

The present disclosure relates to a harvester with a header having dividers that can be adjusted together or individually in response to a change in a face angle of a feeder housing according to claim <NUM>.

One possible benefit that may be realized by exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is the divider angle of one or more dividers can be maintained constant when the face angle changes to encourage a constant cut height during harvesting.

Another possible benefit that may be realized by exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is the divider angle of each divider can be adjusted individually, which may encourage a constant cut height in various scenarios.

Other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed harvester and header, reference is made to the accompanying figures, wherein:.

Various terms relating to the methods and other aspects of the present disclosure are used throughout the specification and claims. Such terms are to be given their ordinary meaning in the art unless otherwise indicated. Other specifically defined terms are to be construed in a manner consistent with the definition provided herein.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The term "plurality" as used herein is defined as any amount or number greater or more than <NUM>. In some embodiments, the term "plurality" means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or more.

The terms "left" or "right" are used herein as a matter of mere convenience, and are determined by standing at the rear of the machine facing in its normal direction of travel. Likewise, "forward" and "rearward" are determined by the normal direction of travel. "Upward" and "downward" orientations are relative to the ground or operating surface as are any references to "horizontal" or "vertical" planes.

The term "harvester" as used herein is defined as a machine that consolidates and/or packages material so as to facilitate the storage and handling of the material for later use. In some embodiments, the harvester is used to harvest agricultural material. In some embodiments, the harvester is a combine harvester, a windrower, or a forage harvester. In some embodiments, the harvester is a combine harvester.

The term "material" as used herein is defined as a numerous individual items that are harvested or collected by the harvester. In some embodiments, the material is agricultural crop, such as corn or wheat.

Many of the fastening, connection, processes and other means and components utilized in this disclosure are widely known and used in the field of the disclosure described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the disclosure by a person skilled in the art, and they will not therefore be discussed in significant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this disclosure can be varied and the practice of a specific application of any element may already be widely known or used in the art by persons skilled in the art and each will likewise not therefore be discussed in significant detail.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to <FIG>, a known harvester <NUM>, which may be referred to as a "combine" or "combine harvester," is shown. The harvester <NUM> includes a chassis <NUM> and a header <NUM> carried by the chassis <NUM>. As shown, the header <NUM> is configured as a corn header for harvesting corn and is cantilevered in the front of the combine <NUM> and connected to the combine <NUM> by a feeder housing <NUM>. It should be appreciated that while the header <NUM> shown herein is configured to harvest corn, the present disclosure is also applicable to other header constructions such as, for example, headers configured to harvest wheat or other crops.

The illustrated header <NUM> includes a header frame <NUM> carrying four row units <NUM>, which harvest four rows of corn simultaneously. In other exemplary embodiments, the number of rows of corn that may be harvested may be different than four, for example greater than four or less than four. Ears of corn are stripped from each of the four rows by the header <NUM> and then carried by a conveyor <NUM>, such as an auger, in a trough <NUM> to the feeder housing <NUM>. Feeder housing <NUM> carries the collected ears rearwardly and upwardly into a threshing assembly (not shown) in the body of combine <NUM>. Each of the row units <NUM> may have an associated divider <NUM> and a hood <NUM>, as is known.

Referring now to <FIG>, an embodiment of a header <NUM> that may be incorporated in the harvester <NUM> is illustrated. The header <NUM> is not according to the present invention. The header <NUM> includes a header frame <NUM> carrying one or more harvesting elements <NUM>, which may be a pair of deck plates, to harvest standing crops in a field. While the harvesting elements <NUM> are illustrated and described herein as deck plates, which are also commonly known as "stripping plates," it should be appreciated that the harvesting element(s) <NUM> can have other configurations suitable for removing standing crops, such as a cutterbar, sickle, etc. The header frame <NUM> may, in some exemplary embodiments, include a hood <NUM> that can house and protect components of the header <NUM> during operation, as well as assist in guiding cut crop material toward a conveyor <NUM>, shown as an auger, that can convey the cut crop material toward an adjustable feeder housing <NUM>, which is described further herein. The header <NUM> may be adjustable by connecting to the feeder housing <NUM>, as is known.

As can be seen, the header <NUM> includes a divider <NUM> that is pivotably carried by the header frame <NUM> and can direct standing crop material toward the harvesting elements <NUM>. As used herein, the divider <NUM> is "pivotably carried" by the header frame <NUM> in the sense that the divider <NUM> is connected to the header frame <NUM> in a manner that allows pivoting of the divider <NUM> relative to the header frame <NUM> to, for example, adjust a divider angle Dα defined by the divider <NUM> with respect to a ground plane GP. In some exemplary embodiments, the divider <NUM> may be pivotably connected to the header frame <NUM> at a pivot point <NUM>, which may be a pivot pin or similar element, defining a pivoting axis of the divider <NUM>. Optionally, a pivot lock <NUM> may be associated with the pivot point <NUM> to reversibly lock and prevent pivoting of the divider <NUM> when, for example, the header <NUM> is being transported. While only one divider <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, it should be appreciated that the header <NUM> may include more than one divider <NUM>, as is known.

As previously described, the feeder housing <NUM> is adjustable so a face angle Fα of the feeder housing <NUM> defined relative to the ground plane GP can be adjusted. In some exemplary embodiments, the feeder housing <NUM> is pivotably carried by the chassis <NUM> of the harvester <NUM> and can be adjusted manually by a user or by activating one or more respectively connected actuators (not shown). The face angle Fα of the feeder housing <NUM> can be defined by a front face <NUM> of the feeder housing <NUM> or, alternatively, by a back face <NUM> of the feeder housing <NUM>. It should be appreciated that when the feeder housing <NUM> pivots, both the front face <NUM> and back face <NUM> will pivot, and thus pivoting of the feeder housing <NUM> will change the face angle Fα regardless of what face <NUM>, <NUM> is used for measuring the face angle Fα.

When a header is mounted to an adjustable feeder housing, a change in the face angle of the feeder housing also tends to cause a corresponding change in the divider angle of the crop divider(s) since the divider(s) is carried by the header frame, which pivots with the feeder housing. During operation, the cut height is determined by operator input and the height of the divider relative to the ground plane, i.e., the header pivots about the cut height. On a grain header, an angle of the cutter is determined by the angle of the feeder face and the divider is adjusted to complement the angle of the cutter, i.e., the header also pivots about the cut height. In either situation, a change in the face angle of the feeder housing also tends to change the height of the dividers, with tipping the feeder housing forward causing the dividers to lower and tipping the feeder housing backwards causing the dividers to raise. In other words, the divider height tends to change following a change in the face angle of the feeder housing when the header is mounted to the feeder housing, making it difficult for the header to properly address the crop and maintain a constant cut height relative to the ground.

In order to control changes in the orientation of the divider <NUM> when the face angle Fα changes, the header <NUM> includes a mechanical linkage <NUM> coupling the feeder housing <NUM> to the divider <NUM> such that the divider angle Dα is adjustable independently of movement of the header frame <NUM>. For example, when the header frame <NUM> is mounted to the feeder housing <NUM>, the mechanical linkage <NUM> can maintain the divider angle Dα constant even when the face angle Fα changes. As shown, the mechanical linkage <NUM> can include a divider support <NUM> bearing on the divider <NUM> to support the divider <NUM> and adjust the orientation of the divider <NUM> relative to the pivot point <NUM> when the divider support <NUM> pivots. The divider support <NUM> can be pivotably coupled to a divider pivoting bracket <NUM> that is connected to a feeder pivoting bracket <NUM> by a linkage rod <NUM> or similar element so pivoting of the feeder pivoting bracket <NUM> can cause a corresponding pivoting of the divider pivoting bracket <NUM>. The feeder pivoting bracket <NUM> can be connected to a portion of the feeder housing <NUM>, such as the back face <NUM>, so pivoting of the feeder housing <NUM> that adjusts the face angle Fα also causes pivoting of the feeder pivoting bracket <NUM>.

When the feeder housing <NUM> pivots and the face angle Fα changes, as illustrated in dashed lines, the header frame <NUM> and carried divider <NUM> also tend to responsively pivot when the header <NUM> is mounted to the feeder housing <NUM>, as illustrated in dashed lines. By coupling the divider <NUM> to the feeder housing <NUM> with the mechanical linkage <NUM> that allows pivoting of the divider <NUM> independently of movement of the header frame <NUM>, the divider <NUM> can maintain its respective divider angle Dα constant even when the header frame <NUM> moves due to the feeder housing <NUM> pivoting. As illustrated in <FIG>, the feeder housing <NUM> tilting rearwards tends to raise the header frame <NUM> but also causes the mechanical linkage <NUM> to pivot the divider support <NUM> downward, relative to the pivot point <NUM>, and account for the tendency of the header frame <NUM> raising to maintain a constant divider angle Dα relative to the ground plane GP, i.e., maintain a constant cut height. The mechanical linkage <NUM>, therefore, can link pivoting movement of the feeder housing <NUM> into pivoting movement of the pivot brackets <NUM>, <NUM> to compensate for the tendency of the divider angle Dα to change when the feeder housing <NUM> pivots and to maintain the cut height without requiring any additional input by the user.

Optionally, the mechanical linkage <NUM> may include a length adjustor <NUM> coupling two portions 274A, 274B of the linkage rod <NUM> to one another and having a threading <NUM> to allow adjustment of a length L of the linkage rod <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments, the length adjustor <NUM> may be a turnbuckle or similar element. A user may rotate or otherwise manipulate the length adjustor <NUM> to adjust the length L of the linkage rod <NUM>, as desired.

In some exemplary embodiments, the header <NUM> includes a plurality of dividers <NUM> that are each pivotably carried by the header frame <NUM> and mechanically linked to the feeder housing <NUM>. Each of the dividers <NUM> may have an associated divider support <NUM> and define a corresponding divider angle Dα relative to the ground plane GP. To simultaneously maintain the divider angle Dα of each divider <NUM> constant responsively to a change in the face angle Fα of the feeder housing <NUM>, the header <NUM> may include a coordinating linkage <NUM> that pivotably couples each of the divider supports <NUM> to the mechanical linkage <NUM>, such as to the divider pivoting bracket <NUM>, so only one divider pivoting bracket <NUM> is needed to pivot a plurality of dividers <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments, the coordinating linkage <NUM> can be a rod or similar element that extends laterally across the header <NUM> and each divider support <NUM> pivotably couples to the coordinating linkage <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments, each divider <NUM> can have a separate mechanical linkage <NUM> coupling the respective divider <NUM> to the feeder housing <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, another embodiment of a header <NUM> is shown that is similar to the header <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The header <NUM> is not according to the invention. The header <NUM> includes a header frame <NUM> carrying one or more harvesting elements <NUM>, which may be a pair of deck plates, to harvest standing crops in a field. While the harvesting elements <NUM> are illustrated and described herein as deck plates, it should be appreciated that the harvesting element(s) <NUM> can have other configurations suitable for removing standing crops, such as a cutterbar, sickle, etc. The header frame <NUM> may, in some exemplary embodiments, include a hood <NUM> that can house and protect components of the header <NUM> during operation, as well as assist in guiding cut crop material toward a conveyor <NUM>, shown as an auger, that can convey the cut crop material toward the adjustable feeder housing <NUM>, which is previously described. The header <NUM> may be adjustable by connecting to the feeder housing <NUM>, as is known.

As previously described, a change in the face angle Fα tends to change the divider angle Dα of the divider <NUM> and the cut height of the header, which is illustrated in dashed lines in <FIG>. To counteract the tendency of the divider angle Dα to change when the face angle Fα changes, the header <NUM> includes a winder <NUM> that is configured to rotate in response to the face angle Fα changing and a tensioner <NUM> coupled to the divider <NUM> and wound around the winder <NUM>. By winding the tensioner <NUM> around the winder <NUM>, rotation of the winder <NUM> can cause pivoting of the divider <NUM> relative to the pivot point <NUM> so the divider angle Dα does not change when the face angle Fα changes. In some exemplary embodiments, the winder <NUM> can be a drum and the tensioner <NUM> can be at least one of a belt, strap, cable, or other element that provides adjustable tension to the divider <NUM> in order to control the divider angle Dα of the divider <NUM>. Optionally, the tensioner <NUM> can couple to a length adjustor <NUM>, such as a turnbuckle, connected to the divider <NUM> that can allow adjustment of the total effective length of the tensioner <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the winder <NUM> and tensioner <NUM> can be parts of a mechanical linkage coupling the feeder housing <NUM> to the divider <NUM>.

In some exemplary embodiments, the winder <NUM> can be directly mechanically linked to the feeder housing <NUM> so pivoting of the feeder housing <NUM> causes a corresponding rotation of the winder <NUM> and adjustment of the tension in the tensioner <NUM>. The winder <NUM> may, for example, be mechanically linked to the back face <NUM> of the adjustable feeder housing <NUM> so that the winder <NUM> rotates as the back face <NUM> pivots. In some exemplary embodiments, the tensioner <NUM> extends through a tensioner guide <NUM> formed in the header frame <NUM>, such as in the hood <NUM>, to keep the tensioner <NUM> in place during rotation of the winder <NUM>. Similarly to the previously described mechanical linkage <NUM>, the winder <NUM> and tensioner <NUM> of the header <NUM> can be configured such that rearward tilting of the feeder housing <NUM> causes downward pivoting of the front of the divider <NUM>, and vice versa, to maintain the divider angle Dα constant when the face angle Fα changes.

In some exemplary embodiments, the header includes a winder control assembly <NUM> including an angle sensor <NUM> associated with the feeder housing <NUM> and a controller <NUM> operatively coupled to the angle sensor <NUM> and the winder <NUM>. The angle sensor <NUM> can be associated with the feeder housing <NUM> to measure the face angle Fα directly or, in some exemplary embodiments, changes in the face angle Fα and transmit angle signals to the controller <NUM> that convey the face angle Fα has changed. The controller <NUM> can be configured to detect a change in the face angle Fα and activate the winder <NUM> to rotate responsively to detecting the change in the face angle Fα. In this sense, the controller <NUM> can selectively control the divider angle Dα by controlling rotation of the winder <NUM> to adjust the tension in the tensioner <NUM> and change or maintain the divider angle Dα independently of movement of the header frame <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, in some exemplary embodiments, a user can also interact with the controller <NUM> from the cab using, for example, a touch screen display to adjust the divider angle Dα, in response to a change in the face angle Fα or otherwise. It should be further appreciated that each divider <NUM> of the header <NUM> can be coupled to a corresponding tensioner <NUM> wound around a single winder <NUM> or, in some exemplary embodiments, each corresponding tensioner <NUM> can be wound around a respective winder <NUM> for individual adjustment of each divider <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an embodiment of a header <NUM> in accordance with the invention is shown. The header <NUM> includes a header frame <NUM> carrying one or more harvesting elements <NUM>, which may be a pair of deck plates, to harvest standing crops in a field. While the harvesting elements <NUM> are illustrated and described herein as deck plates, it should be appreciated that the harvesting element(s) <NUM> can have other configurations suitable for removing standing crops, such as a cutterbar, sickle, etc. The header frame <NUM> may, in some exemplary embodiments, include a hood <NUM> that can house and protect components of the header <NUM> during operation, as well as assist in guiding cut crop material toward a conveyor <NUM>, shown as an auger, that can convey the cut crop material toward the adjustable feeder housing <NUM>, which is previously described. The header <NUM> may be adjustable by connecting to the feeder housing <NUM>, as is known.

As can be seen, the header <NUM> includes a divider <NUM> that is pivotably carried by the header frame <NUM> and can direct standing crop material toward the harvesting elements <NUM>. As used herein, the divider <NUM> is "pivotably carried" by the header frame <NUM> in the sense that the divider <NUM> is connected to the header frame <NUM> in a manner that allows pivoting of the divider <NUM> relative to the header frame <NUM> to, for example, adjust a divider angle Dα defined by the divider <NUM> with respect to a ground plane GP. In some exemplary embodiments, the divider <NUM> may be pivotably connected to the header frame <NUM> at a pivot point <NUM>, which may be a pivot pin or similar element, defining a pivoting axis of the divider <NUM>. Optionally, a pivot lock <NUM> may be associated with the pivot point <NUM> to reversibly lock and prevent pivoting of the divider <NUM> when, for example, the header <NUM> is being transported. While only one divider <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, the header <NUM> includes a plurality of dividers <NUM> that each define a respective divider angle Dα and, in some exemplary embodiments, may be identical to one another.

Each of the dividers <NUM> has a respectively coupled actuator <NUM> that is carried by the header frame <NUM> and is configured to control the respective divider angle Dα of the coupled divider <NUM> independently of movement of the header frame <NUM>. In some exemplary embodiments, the actuators <NUM> can be hydraulic, pneumatic, and/or electric actuators that cause pivoting of their respectively coupled dividers <NUM> relative to the pivot point <NUM>. By having each divider <NUM> coupled to a separate actuator <NUM> that can control the respective divider angle Dα, the respective divider angle Dα of each divider <NUM> can be controlled separately, which may be useful in certain scenarios. As shown in <FIG>, each of the actuators <NUM> can be directly linked to its respectively coupled divider <NUM> by, for example, an adjustable length rod <NUM>.

The header <NUM> can further include a controller <NUM> that is operatively coupled to each of the actuators <NUM> and configured to selectively activate each of the actuators <NUM> independently from other actuators <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> can be configured to activate each of the actuators <NUM> individually or, in some exemplary embodiments, activate some or all of the actuators <NUM> together. In some exemplary embodiments, the controller <NUM> can be configured to activate all of the coupled actuators <NUM> simultaneously. In this sense, the controller <NUM> selectively activating one or more actuators <NUM> to control the respective divider angle Dα of the respectively coupled divider <NUM> allows the controller <NUM> to control the divider angle Dα of each individual divider <NUM> by selective control of the respectively coupled actuator <NUM>.

In some exemplary embodiments, the header <NUM> can be mounted to the previously described adjustable feeder housing <NUM> defining a face angle Fα with respect to the ground plane GP. When the header <NUM> is mounted to the feeder housing <NUM>, an angle sensor <NUM> associated with the feeder housing <NUM> can be operatively coupled to the controller <NUM> so the controller <NUM> can detect changes in the face angle Fα of the feeder housing <NUM>, similarly to the previously described angle sensor <NUM>. As previously described, the change in the face angle Fα also tends to change the divider angle Dα and cut height, as illustrated in dashed lines in <FIG>. The controller <NUM> can be configured to detect a change in the face angle Fα based on signals from the angle sensor <NUM> and activate one or more of the actuators <NUM> to maintain the respective divider angle Dα of at least one respectively coupled divider <NUM> constant responsively to detecting the change in the face angle Fα. For example, the controller <NUM> can be configured to activate one or more actuators <NUM> to pivot the front of its respectively coupled divider <NUM> upwards when the controller <NUM> detects the feeder housing <NUM> has pivoted forward to compensate for the corresponding lowering of the header frame <NUM> and maintain a constant cut height of crops. It should be appreciated that, in such a scenario, some or all of the actuators <NUM> can be activated, depending on the respective height and divider angle Dα of each individual divider <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A harvester (<NUM>), comprising:
a chassis (<NUM>); and
a header (<NUM>) carried by the chassis (<NUM>), the header (<NUM>) including:
a header frame (<NUM>);
at least one harvesting element (<NUM>) carried by the header frame (<NUM>); and
a plurality of dividers (<NUM>) pivotably carried by the header frame (<NUM>), each of the plurality of dividers (<NUM>) defining a respective divider angle (Dα) relative to a ground plane (GP); and
a plurality of actuators (<NUM>) carried by the header frame (<NUM>), each of the plurality of actuators (<NUM>) coupling to a respective one of the plurality of dividers (<NUM>) and being configured to control the respective divider angle (Dα) of the respectively coupled divider (<NUM>)
characterized in that the harvester (<NUM>) further comprising:
a controller (<NUM>) operatively coupled to the plurality of actuators (<NUM>) and configured to activate each of the plurality of actuators (<NUM>) independently of the other actuators (<NUM>); and
an adjustable feeder housing (<NUM>) carried by the chassis (<NUM>) and defining a face angle (Fα) relative to the ground plane (GP) and an angle sensor (<NUM>) associated with the feeder housing (<NUM>) and operatively coupled to the controller (<NUM>), the controller (<NUM>) being configured to detect a change in the face angle (Fα) and activate at least one of the plurality of actuators (<NUM>) responsively to detecting the change in the face angle (Fα).