Patent Description:
Self-propelled combine harvesters are used by farmers to harvest a wide range of crops. Typically, a combine harvester cuts crop material, threshes grain therefrom, separates the threshed grain from the straw, and cleans the grain before storage in an onboard tank. Straw and crop residue is ejected from the rear of the combine harvester in the field.

Combine harvesters typically include a cleaning unit to separate grain and chaff (also referred to in the art as material other than grain (MOG)). The cleaning unit may have one or more fans blowing air upward through a series of oscillating sieves. The sieves may have actuators attached thereto to adjust the size of openings in the sieve. The actuators and wiring may be designed to withstand the oscillations that the sieves are subjected to in operation of the cleaning unit.

Cleaning units in combine harvesters are described in more detail in, for example, <CIT>; and <CIT>.

An example of an electrical connector in the automotive field is known from <CIT> in which an electrical connector having the features of a portion of claim <NUM> is disclosed. This document discloses three pairs of mated electrical connectors in the form of socket blocks with respective plug blocks inserted therein. However, the socket blocks are moulded in one piece with the C-shaped clamp and so the guide clamp is thus not structured to receive a pair of mated electrical connectors.

A mount according to any of claims <NUM> - <NUM> for an electrical connector includes a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a concave protrusion extending from the outer surface, and a connector receptacle extending from the outer surface. The connector receptacle is structured to receive pair of mated electrical connectors, and the body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may secure each electrical connector within the connector receptacle.

An actuator assembly according to any of claims <NUM> and <NUM> includes an actuator having at least one flexible wire electrically coupled to a first electrical connector, a mount, a mount fastener, and a first connector fastener. The mount has a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a concave protrusion extending from the outer surface, and a connector receptacle extending from the outer surface. The body further defines a first hole and a second hole through which fasteners may each secure an electrical connector within the connector receptacle. The mount fastener encircles the outer surface of the mount and secures the mount to the actuator such that the concave protrusion limits rotation of the mount about the actuator. The first connector fastener is disposed within the first hole and secured around the connector receptacle and the first electrical connector. The mount is configured such that a second connector fastener within the second hole can secure a second electrical connector to the mount when the second electrical connector is mated to the first electrical connector.

A method according to any of claims <NUM> to <NUM> of securing an electrical connector to an actuator includes attaching a mount fastener around a body of a mount to secure the mount to the actuator such that the mount cannot rotate or translate with respect to the actuator, and attaching a first connector fastener through a hole in the body of the mount, around a connector receptacle of the mount, and around a first electrical connector to secure the first electrical connector to the connector receptacle. The first electrical connector is electrically connected to the actuator by a first flexible wire. The first electrical connector is disposed in the mount such that a second electrical connector can be mated to the first electrical connector and secured within the connector receptacle by a second connector fastener extending through another hole in the body of the mount without removing the first connector fastener.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming what are regarded as embodiments of the present disclosure, various features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description of example embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entireties. If there is a conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the definition herein shall control.

The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any combine harvester or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

With reference to <FIG>, a self-propelled combine harvester <NUM> carries a header <NUM> that cuts and gathers a strip of crop as the combine harvester <NUM> is driven across a crop field. An elevator section <NUM> conveys the cut crop stream from the header <NUM> into a crop processing apparatus <NUM> in the combine harvester <NUM>, described in more detail below. Clean grain separated from the crop stream is collected in a storage tank <NUM>, which is periodically emptied into a trailer or other vehicle or storage container via an unloading auger <NUM>. Residue material remaining from the crop stream, such as straw and chaff, is ejected from the rear of the combine harvester <NUM>, represented by arrow <NUM>. The combine harvester <NUM> also typically includes an operator cab <NUM>, an engine, and wheels <NUM> and/or tracks.

Turning to the details of the crop processing apparatus <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the crop stream passes from the elevator section <NUM> into a threshing unit having a transverse threshing cylinder <NUM> that rotates around a transverse axis <NUM>. The crop stream is threshed between the threshing cylinder <NUM> and a concave surface (not shown). Grain and chaff separated in this process falls through a grate in the concave onto an underlying thresher pan <NUM>, forming a primary grain/chaff stream. The residue straw is conveyed rearwardly as represented by arrow <NUM> from the threshing unit to a transverse transfer beater <NUM>. From here, the crop stream is typically divided into two sub-streams and passed into respective longitudinally-aligned separating rotors <NUM>. It will be appreciated that only one separating rotor <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, with the other separating rotor <NUM> being hidden from view. The transfer beater <NUM> has associated therewith a concave grate <NUM> through which further grain and chaff may fall under gravity onto the underlying thresher pan <NUM>.

Each separating rotor <NUM> has associated therewith a substantially cylindrical cage <NUM> within which the separating rotor <NUM> rotates. Upon the inside upper peripheral surface of the rotor cages <NUM>, a plurality of guide vanes <NUM> are mounted for cooperation with fingers <NUM> of the separating rotor <NUM>, which together further separate grain from straw. The lower portion of each cage <NUM> has a grate <NUM> formed therein, which allows separated grain and chaff to fall by gravity onto an underlying separator pan <NUM>, forming a secondary grain/chaff stream.

The residue straw is ejected from the crop processing apparatus <NUM> at the rear of the separating rotors <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM>.

Although the above described crop processing apparatus <NUM> includes a threshing cylinder <NUM> and transverse transfer beater <NUM> followed by a pair of longitudinal separating rotors <NUM> operating on an axial separation principle (which may be referred to in the art as a "hybrid" processing system), different processing apparatus may be used in some embodiments. For example, the separating rotors <NUM> may be replaced with straw walkers, as described in <CIT>. In other embodiments, the threshing cylinder <NUM> and transverse transfer beater <NUM> may be replaced by a feed cylinder, and threshing may be caused by the rotors <NUM>, as described in <CIT>. In still other embodiments, the crop processing apparatus <NUM> may include one or more transverse rotors, as described in <CIT>.

Both the thresher pan <NUM> and separator pan <NUM> are driven in an oscillating manner to convey grain and chaff streams forwardly and rearwardly, respectively. In some embodiments, a stream of grain and chaff is transferred from a rear edge <NUM> of the thresher pan <NUM> to a cleaning shoe <NUM>. The grain and chaff may initially fall onto a cascade pan <NUM> before falling from the rear edge <NUM> onto a chaffer <NUM> in the cleaning shoe <NUM>. In other embodiments, various mechanisms may be used to convey the stream of grain and chaff to the cleaning shoe, which mechanisms are generally known in the art and not described in detail herein.

One or more blowers <NUM> generate a cleaning airstream, a portion of which is directed rearwardly between the thresher pan <NUM> and cascade pan <NUM> as represented by arrow X. The lighter chaff may be blown rearwardly and carried by the airstream out of the rear of the crop processing apparatus <NUM> as represented by arrow <NUM>, while the heavier grain falls onto the cascade pan <NUM>, and then onto the chaffer <NUM>. Another airstream, represented by arrow Y, is directed rearwardly between the chaffer <NUM> and a sieve <NUM>. The airstream(s) from the blower(s) <NUM> may be directed along any selected path. For example, the blower(s) may provide a single airstream to the chaffer <NUM>. Again, the cascading motion of the grain and chaff allows the airstream Y to convey additional chaff toward the rear of the cleaning shoe <NUM>. The chaffer <NUM> is coarser (having larger openings) than the sieve <NUM>, which is located under the chaffer <NUM>. The chaffer <NUM> and sieve <NUM> may also be referred to in the art as an upper sieve and lower sieve, respectively, because they may be of generally the same construction.

The chaffer <NUM> and the sieve <NUM> are generally driven forward and aft in an oscillating manner. Straw and material too large to pass through chaffer <NUM> is conveyed rearwardly by the oscillating motion before falling from the rear edge and out of the rear of the crop processing apparatus <NUM>, as indicated by arrow <NUM>. Tailings, or unthreshed grain, and grain passes through the chaffer <NUM> onto the sieve <NUM>. Grain falls through sieve <NUM> onto an underlying collection pan <NUM>, which directs the clean grain to a transverse delivery auger <NUM> for delivering the grain to the storage tank <NUM> (<FIG>). The tailings that cannot pass through the holes in the sieve <NUM> are conveyed rearwardly by the oscillating motion before falling from the rear edge of the sieve <NUM> onto a tailings collection pan <NUM>, which delivers the tailings to a rethreshing delivery system <NUM>, which may include, for example, an auger, a blower, and/or a conveyor.

<FIG> is a simplified side view of the chaffer <NUM> and the sieve <NUM>, each of which includes a plurality of louvers <NUM> rotatably mounted to frame assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>. Each of the louvers <NUM> may rotate about lateral axes thereof (i.e., side-to-side, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the combine harvester <NUM>) to change the size of openings in the chaffer <NUM> or the sieve <NUM>. The orientation of the louvers <NUM> of the chaffer <NUM> and sieve <NUM> is controlled by actuators <NUM> connected to the frame assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>. The actuators <NUM> are electrically connected to the combine harvester <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are photographs of an actuator <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> has a flexible wire <NUM> electrically coupled to a first electrical connector <NUM> (which may also be referred to in the art, alone or in combination with the wire <NUM>, as a wiring harness). Another flexible wire <NUM> is connected to the combine harvester <NUM> and to a second electrical connector <NUM>. The first electrical connector <NUM> is mated (i.e., physically and electrically connected) to the second electrical connector <NUM>.

A mount <NUM> secures the first electrical connector <NUM> and the second electrical connector <NUM> to the actuator <NUM> and to each other such that the actuator <NUM>, the second electrical connector <NUM>, and the first electrical connector <NUM> move together as a unit. The actuator <NUM> typically moves with the frame assembly <NUM>, <NUM> of the chaffer <NUM> or the sieve <NUM> (each of which may oscillate during operation), and fixing the first electrical connector <NUM> and the second electrical connector <NUM> to the actuator <NUM> may prevent relative movement of electrical contacts within the electrical connectors <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, fixing the electrical connectors <NUM>, <NUM> together may limit or prevent wear of the electrical contacts (which wear may cause the actuator <NUM> and/or sensors connected thereto to malfunction).

The mount <NUM> is secured to the actuator <NUM> by one or more mount fasteners <NUM>, depicted as ratcheting cable ties. The mount fastener(s) <NUM> may exert sufficient force on the mount <NUM> to prevent the mount <NUM> from translating or rotating with respect to the actuator <NUM>. In some embodiments, the fastener(s) <NUM> include wires, hose clamps, clips, pins, etc. The electrical connectors <NUM>, <NUM> are secured to the mount <NUM> by connector fasteners <NUM>. The connector fasteners <NUM> are depicted as ratcheting cable ties, but may likewise include wires, hose clamps, clips, pins, etc..

<FIG> is a simplified perspective view of the mount <NUM> separate from the actuator <NUM>. The mount <NUM> has a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The body is a single unitary body comprising a polymer, a metal, a composite, etc. In some embodiments, the body is an injection-molded plastic, such as HDPE, LDPE, PET, etc. The inner surface is sized and configured to fit around a cylindrical portion of the actuator <NUM>. The body defines a gap <NUM> therein, rendering the inner and outer surfaces discontinuous. The gap <NUM> enables the mount fastener(s) <NUM> to clamp down on the mount <NUM> to hold the mount <NUM> to the actuator <NUM>. The gap <NUM> also facilitates installation and removal of the mount <NUM> because the body of the mount <NUM> may flex as the mount <NUM> is manipulated.

A concave protrusion <NUM> extends from the outer surface of the body, and is configured to prevent rotation of the mount <NUM> with respect to the actuator <NUM>. That is, the curvature of the protrusion <NUM> ise selected to match the curvature of the actuator <NUM> against which the protrusion <NUM> rests. The protrusion <NUM> may define a portion of a cylinder having an axis parallel to an axis of the generally cylindrical body of the mount <NUM>.

A connector receptacle <NUM> extends from the outer surface of the body, and is structured to receive the electrical connectors <NUM>, <NUM>. The body of the mount <NUM> defines a first hole <NUM> and a second hole <NUM> through which the connector fasteners <NUM> (<FIG>) secure the electrical connectors <NUM>, <NUM> within the connector receptacle <NUM>. The connector receptacle <NUM> has generally planar parallel sidewalls <NUM> extending from the outer surface of the body of the mount <NUM>, which defines exterior channels <NUM> to receive one or more of the fasteners <NUM> (<FIG>). As shown in <FIG>, the exterior channels <NUM> are aligned with the first hole <NUM>, such that when a fastener <NUM> passing through the first hole <NUM> is tightened, the fastener <NUM> rests in the exterior channels <NUM>. The second hole <NUM> is positioned such that a fastener <NUM> passing through the second hole <NUM> and around an electrical connector <NUM>, <NUM> does not contact the sidewalls <NUM>. Thus, the fastener <NUM> passing through the second hole <NUM> may be relatively easier to remove (e.g., by cutting) than the fastener <NUM> passing through the first hole <NUM> and resting in the channels <NUM>.

One or more cylindrical lips <NUM> may be formed in the body at the ends of the mount <NUM>. For example, the lips <NUM> may configured to prevent the mount fasteners <NUM> from sliding off the end of the mount <NUM> when the fasteners <NUM> are tightened. One lip <NUM> may be proximal to a first end of the body of the mount <NUM>, and another lip <NUM> may be distal from the first end of the body.

<FIG> is a simplified perspective view of another mount <NUM>' that is similar to the mount <NUM>, but without the lips <NUM>. To secure the mount <NUM>' to the actuator <NUM>, a single fastener <NUM> passes through a third hole <NUM> and a fourth hole <NUM> in the body of the mount <NUM>'. These holes <NUM>, <NUM> are located approximately midway between the ends of the mount <NUM>' and enable the mount <NUM>' to be securely fastened to the actuator <NUM> with a single mount fastener <NUM> encircling the outer cylindrical surface of the mount <NUM>'. As shown, the third hole <NUM> may be through or under the connector receptacle <NUM>, and the fourth hole <NUM> may be through or under the protrusion <NUM>. In other embodiments, the protrusion <NUM> and/or the connector receptacle <NUM> are split into separate sections, with channels between the sections, rather than holes <NUM>, <NUM> through or under the protrusion <NUM> and connector receptacle <NUM>.

<FIG> is a simplified perspective view of another mount <NUM>" that is similar to the mount <NUM>', but with two holes <NUM> for fasteners <NUM> (<FIG>) to secure the mount <NUM>" to the actuator <NUM>. The fasteners <NUM> pass between cutout portions of the protrusion <NUM>, which may be simpler to manufacture than the hole <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method <NUM> of securing an electrical connector to an actuator <NUM>, as well as installing, uninstalling, and reinstalling the actuator <NUM> in a machine. In block <NUM>, at least one mount fastener <NUM> is attached around a body of a mount <NUM> to secure the mount <NUM> to the actuator <NUM> such that the mount cannot rotate or translate with respect to the actuator <NUM>. The mount fastener(s) <NUM> may be attached through one or more holes <NUM>, <NUM> in the body of the mount, in channels between portions of the protrusion <NUM> and connector receptacle <NUM>, or adjacent lips <NUM>.

In block <NUM>, a first connector fastener <NUM> is attached through a hole <NUM> in the body of the mount <NUM>, around a connector receptacle <NUM>, and around a first electrical connector <NUM> to secure the first electrical connector <NUM> to the connector receptacle <NUM>.

In block <NUM>, a second electrical connector <NUM> is mated to the first electrical connector <NUM>. In block <NUM>, a second connector fastener <NUM> is attached through the another hole <NUM> in the body of the mount <NUM> and around the second electrical connector <NUM> to secure the second electrical connector <NUM> to the connector receptacle <NUM>. In block <NUM>, a wire <NUM> that is electrically connected to the second electrical connector <NUM> is secured to the actuator <NUM>. For example, the wire <NUM> may be secured by one of the fasteners <NUM>, <NUM> or by another fastener. Securing the wire <NUM> may further limit wear on the connectors <NUM>, <NUM> by limiting the relative motion of pins or other connection points within the connectors <NUM>, <NUM>.

In block <NUM>, to remove the actuator assembly, the second connector fastener <NUM> is removed (e.g., cut). The second electrical connector <NUM> is disconnected from the first electrical connector <NUM>, in block <NUM>, and the actuator assembly is removed from the machine carrying the second electrical connector <NUM> (e.g., a combine). To reinstall the actuator assembly (e.g., after performing a repair) or a different actuator assembly, blocks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be repeated.

Claim 1:
A mount (<NUM>) for a pair of mated electrical connectors, the mount comprising:
a generally cylindrical body defining an inner surface and an outer surface; and
a connector receptacle (<NUM>) extending from the outer surface,
wherein the connector receptacle (<NUM>) is structured to receive a pair of mated electrical connectors (<NUM>, <NUM>), in that a concave protrusion (<NUM>) extends from the outer surface, and in that the body further defines a first hole (<NUM>) and a second hole (<NUM>) through which fasteners (<NUM>) secure each electrical connector (<NUM>, <NUM>) within the connector receptacle (<NUM>), in that the connector receptacle (<NUM>) has generally planar parallel sidewalls (<NUM>) extending from the outer surface of the generally cylindrical body, the generally planar parallel sidewalls (<NUM>) define exterior channels (<NUM>) to receive a fastener (<NUM>), and in that the first hole (<NUM>) is aligned with the exterior channels (<NUM>) such that a fastener surrounding a first connector (<NUM>) of the pair of mated electrical connectors in the connector receptacle (<NUM>) passes through the first hole (<NUM>) and lies within the channels (<NUM>)..