Patent Description:
<FIG> depicts a self-propelled agricultural combine <NUM>. Combine <NUM> has a front end to which a header <NUM> can be connected. Header <NUM> is commonly referred to as a grain header and is typically utilized for harvesting smaller grains, such as, but not limited to, wheat and soybeans. Another well-known header <NUM> is shown, which is a corn header. Corn header <NUM> can also be connected to combine <NUM>. Headers <NUM> and <NUM>, as well as other headers (not shown), are configured to be interchangeably mounted on the front end of a feeder <NUM> of combine <NUM> for configuring combine <NUM> to harvest a particular crop.

In operation, the crops harvested by a header, such as header <NUM> or header <NUM>, will be gathered up by the header <NUM>/<NUM> and conveyed by feeder <NUM> (also referred to in the art as a feederhouse) rearwardly and upwardly into the body of the combine <NUM>, for processing by a threshing system <NUM>. System <NUM> is operable for threshing and separating grain from larger elements of crop material, such as stems, leaves, cobs and larger fragments of pods, such that the grain will fall into a cleaning system <NUM>, which will further process or clean smaller elements of crop residue from the grain, and the grain will be conveyed to a grain tank <NUM> or other collector. The larger elements of crop material will be propelled rearwardly through a rear end <NUM> of the body of combine <NUM> by a rapidly rotating beater <NUM>, and into an inlet opening of a spreader <NUM>, as generally denoted by arrow A, in <FIG>. Further details of combine <NUM> may be described in <CIT> to Blue Leaf IP Inc. (the '<NUM> Patent). It is noted, however, that combine <NUM> of <FIG> departs from the combine shown in the `<NUM> Patent. And, although <FIG> is described in the background section, it should be understood that the combine <NUM> is not admitted prior art.

Headers <NUM> and <NUM> are interchangeably attached to a faceplate <NUM> on the free end of feeder <NUM>. Specifically, headers <NUM>/<NUM> include couplers for releasably mounting to a coupling <NUM> on faceplate <NUM>. A feeder faceplate angle B can be adjusted to accommodate the particular header <NUM>/<NUM>. Angle B may also be adjusted due to crop conditions, ground conditions, and more. Angle B may be defined as the fore/aft pitch angle of the feeder. Stated differently, feeder faceplate <NUM> rotates along a transverse axis passing through feeder <NUM> (e.g., an axis passing through the page of <FIG>), and feeder faceplate angle B represents rotation about that axis.

<CIT> describes a mechanism for manually and automatically adjusting the front support drum of an endless conveyor within the feederhouse of an agricultural combine. The front drum is rotatably affixed to the remote end of a pivot arm that is pivotably affixed to the side sheet of the feederhouse. The relative position of the drum to the floor of the feederhouse is manually adjustable by manipulation of a cam that moves the pivot arm toward and away from the floor to preset positions. In combination with the adjustment mechanism, is a pivot mounting for the pivot arm that allows the drum to move upwardly and rearwardly when a bulk or lump of crop material enters the opening between the drum and the floor, thereby preventing damage to the components of the feederhouse.

In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a simple and easy way for an end-user to adjust angle B of faceplate <NUM> of feeder <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention, a feeder for an agricultural vehicle includes a feeder body defining a hollow interior space for receiving crop material from a header of the agricultural vehicle, a faceplate that is movably mounted to the feeder body, and a scissor jack assembly that is configured for rotating the faceplate with respect to the feeder body to adjust a fore-aft angle of the faceplate relative to the feeder body. The faceplate is configured to be removably coupled to the header of the agricultural vehicle.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

Inasmuch as various components and features of harvesters are of well-known design, construction, and operation to those skilled in the art, the details of such components and their operations will not generally be discussed in significant detail unless considered of pertinence to the present invention or desirable for purposes of better understanding.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to like items, certain elements and features may be labeled or marked on a representative basis without each like element or feature necessarily being individually shown, labeled, or marked, and certain elements are labeled and marked in only some, but not all, of the drawing figures.

The terms "forward" (or fore), "rearward" (or rear or aft), "left" and "right", when used in connection with the agricultural harvester and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the 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 terms "upstream" and "downstream" are determined with reference to the crop flow stream arrows shown in <FIG>.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, feeder <NUM> includes a body <NUM> having a hollow interior for receiving crop material from the header <NUM>/<NUM>. Faceplate <NUM> is mounted to the forward end of feeder body <NUM>. Faceplate <NUM> may not be permanently mounted to feeder body <NUM>, however, it is not readily and easily removable from feeder body <NUM>. Faceplate <NUM> includes one or more couplings <NUM> that are configured to be releasably connected to mating couplings on header <NUM>/<NUM>, as was described above. Couplings <NUM> may be located anywhere on faceplate <NUM>, and are not limited to that which is shown. Couplings <NUM> may be hinges, bolts, hooks, fasteners, or any other couplings known in the agricultural vehicle arts.

Faceplate <NUM> is mounted to the top side of faceplate <NUM> by a hinge <NUM>, such that faceplate <NUM> is capable of being rotated about hinge <NUM> (see curved arrow) with respect to feeder body <NUM>. As was noted above, it may be necessary to rotate faceplate <NUM> about hinge <NUM> to accommodate various header styles or to adjust the position of a header relative to the ground. Rotating the faceplate <NUM> changes the feeder faceplate angle `B' as well as the distance between bottom side 37a of feeder <NUM> (as measured along fore-aft axis 'C').

A scissor jack assembly <NUM> (referred to hereinafter as assembly <NUM>) is configured to rotate faceplate <NUM> with respect to feeder body <NUM>. Assembly <NUM> is mounted at the bottom side 37a of faceplate <NUM> at a location (i) between the forward side of feeder body <NUM> and the rear side of faceplate <NUM>, and (ii) beneath hinge <NUM>. Assembly <NUM> extends transversely along axis D (<FIG>). It should be understood that location of assembly <NUM> is not limited to that which is shown. For example, assembly <NUM> may be positioned closer to the top end of faceplate <NUM> and hinge <NUM> may be positioned at the bottom end of faceplate <NUM>, or, assembly <NUM> could extend vertically (as opposed to transversely).

Turning now to <FIG> and <FIG>, assembly <NUM> comprises a threaded shaft <NUM> including threaded segments (i.e., mechanical threads) extending along its length as well as non-threaded segments. The segments of threaded shaft <NUM> may be interconnected by couplings <NUM>, sleeves, bolts, etc. A first scissor jack 404a is mounted to one side of threaded shaft <NUM>, and a second scissor jack 404b is mounted to an opposing side of threaded shaft <NUM>. Scissor jacks 404a and 404b are substantially identical, and may be referred to herein either individually or collectively as jack(s) <NUM>. Although only one jack <NUM> will be described hereinafter, it should be understood that foregoing description also applies to the other jack <NUM>.

Jack <NUM> includes two connected arms 405a and 405b each having one end that is pivotably connected to a hinge <NUM>. Hinge <NUM> pivotably interconnects jack <NUM> with faceplate <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG>, hinge <NUM> optionally includes two knuckles defining an open passageway through which a rod (not shown) passes. The rod is connected to faceplate <NUM>. Hinge <NUM> can pivot about the rod. The other end of arms 405a and 405b are pivotably mounted to pins 407a and 407b, respectively. Each pin <NUM> includes a threaded opening that is threadedly connected to threads of threaded shaft <NUM>, such that rotation of threaded shaft <NUM> causes translation of pins <NUM>.

Jack <NUM> also includes two connected arms 406a and 406b each having one end that is pivotably connected to a hinge <NUM>. Hinge <NUM> pivotably interconnects jack <NUM> with feeder body <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG>, hinge <NUM> optionally includes one knuckle defining an open passageway through which a rod (not shown) passes. The rod is connected to feeder body <NUM>. Hinge <NUM> can pivot about the rod. The other end of arms 406a and 406b are pivotably mounted to pins 407a and 407b, respectively. Pins 407a and 407b may be referred to collectively as pins <NUM>. Pin 407a is connected to a righthand thread on threaded shaft <NUM>, and pin 407b is connected to a left-hand thread on threaded shaft <NUM>, or vice versa, such that pins 407a and 407b translate along axis D in opposite directions upon rotating threaded shaft <NUM>.

More particularly, in one rotational direction of threaded shaft <NUM>, pins <NUM> of jack 404a translate toward each other, and, pins <NUM> of jack 404b also translate toward each other. Jacks 404a and 404b move in concert (simultaneously) with each other because they are connected to a common threaded shaft <NUM>. When pins <NUM> of jack <NUM> translate toward each other, arms 405a/b and 406a/b rotate inwardly along a transverse axis D and extend outwardly along the fore-aft axis C. Consequently, starting from the partially extended (i.e., rotated) position or state of assembly <NUM> shown in <FIG>/<FIG>, the end 37a of faceplate <NUM> rotates further away from feeder body <NUM> and the feeder faceplate angle `B' increases until the end 37a of faceplate <NUM> reaches the fully extended (i.e., rotated) position or state of assembly <NUM>' shown in <FIG>/<FIG>.

In an opposite rotational direction of threaded shaft <NUM>, pins <NUM> of jack 404a translate away from each other, and, pins <NUM> of jack 404b also translate away from each other. When pins <NUM> of jack <NUM> translate away from each other, arms 405a/b and 406a/b rotate outwardly along a transverse axis D and extend inwardly along the fore-aft axis C. Consequently, starting from the fully extended (i.e., rotated) state of assembly <NUM>' shown in <FIG>/<FIG>, the end 37a of faceplate <NUM> rotates toward feeder body <NUM> and the feeder faceplate angle `B' decreases until the end 37a of faceplate <NUM> reaches the partially extended (i.e., rotated) position <NUM> shown in <FIG>/<FIG>. Although not shown, further rotation is possible until the feeder faceplate angle `B' reaches a value of zero.

The free end of threaded shaft <NUM> may be hexagonal, square, or, more generally, non-circular, as viewed in cross-section. The free end of threaded shaft <NUM> may be rotated manually by a wrench or driver, for example. Alternatively, threaded shaft <NUM> may be rotated in an automated fashion by a motor <NUM> that is controlled by an operator in the cab of combine <NUM>, for example. Motor <NUM>, or a transmission connected thereto, may be self-locking to prevent inadvertent rotation of faceplate <NUM>. Motor <NUM> may be powered electrically or hydraulically, for example.

Turning to <FIG>, if threaded shaft <NUM> is operated manually, then a removable lock <NUM> in the form of a plate may be connected to threaded shaft <NUM> to prevent inadvertent rotation of threaded shaft <NUM>. More particularly, lock <NUM> includes a first opening <NUM> having a shape that is complementary to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the free end of threaded shaft <NUM> such that threaded shaft <NUM> and first opening <NUM> are connected in a non-rotatable manner. Lock <NUM> includes a second opening for receiving a threaded fastener <NUM>. Fastener <NUM> can be connected to faceplate <NUM>, feeder <NUM>, or another fixed point on combine <NUM>. It should be understood that rotation of threaded shaft <NUM>, and consequent movement of jacks <NUM>, is prevented when lock <NUM> is mounted to threaded shaft <NUM> and fastener <NUM> is connected to a fixed point.

It should be understood that lock <NUM> may vary from that which is shown. Lock <NUM> can be any device that is configured to resist rotation of threaded shaft <NUM>. Lock <NUM> may be a collar, collet, fastener, clip, pin, clamp, and so forth. For that reason, lock <NUM> may also be referred to herein as a locking device or "means for locking" the threaded shaft <NUM>.

Assembly <NUM> may vary from that which is shown and described. It should also be understood that the details of jack <NUM> can vary, and different styles of jacks are known to those skilled in the art (e.g., scissor, jackscrew, house, floor, bottle, inflatable, air hydraulic, strand, farm, etc.). In lieu of using jacks, assembly <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may simply represent a motor having a protruding piston, wherein the motor is mounted to the feeder body <NUM> and the piston is mounted to faceplate <NUM>. The motor may be powered electrically or hydraulically, for example. In view of all of the different devices described herein that may be used to rotate faceplate <NUM> with respect to feeder body <NUM>, assembly <NUM> may be generally referred to herein as a "means for moving" faceplate with respect to feeder body <NUM>.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified.

Claim 1:
A feeder (<NUM>) for coupling to a header (<NUM>/<NUM>) of an agricultural vehicle (<NUM>), said feeder comprising:
a feeder body (<NUM>) defining a hollow interior space for receiving crop material from the header (<NUM>/<NUM>),
a faceplate (<NUM>) that is movably mounted to the feeder body (<NUM>), wherein the faceplate (<NUM>) is configured to be removably coupled to the header (<NUM>/<NUM>) of the agricultural vehicle,
characterized in that the feeder (<NUM>) further comprises a scissor jack assembly (<NUM>) that is configured for rotating the faceplate (<NUM>) with respect to the feeder body (<NUM>) to adjust a fore-aft angle (B) of the faceplate (<NUM>) relative to the feeder body (<NUM>).