Patent Description:
As is described in <CIT>(the '<NUM> Patent), axially arranged rotary threshing or separating systems have long been in use in agricultural combines for threshing crops to separate grain from crop residue, also referred to as material other than grain (MOG). Such axially arranged systems typically include at least one cylindrical rotor rotated within a cage or concave, with the rotor and surrounding concave being oriented so as to extend forwardly to rearwardly within the combine.

During operation of the combine, crop material is fed or directed into a circumferential passage between the rotor and the concave and is carried rearwardly along a generally helical path through such passage by rotation of the rotor as grain is threshed from the crop material. The flow of crop residue remaining between the rotor and concave after threshing is typically discharged or expelled at a rear or downstream end of the rotor.

After discharge from the threshing system, the crop residue is typically directed into a crop residue distribution system located below and rearwardly of the rear end of the rotor. The crop residue distribution system typically includes a rotary beater or chopper or other apparatus that conveys and/or chops and propels the residue rearwardly towards an area within the rear end of the combine, hereinafter referred to as a distribution chamber. The crop residue provided within the distribution chamber may be (i) discharged therefrom onto a field as a windrow, (ii) directed into a rotary spreader mounted on or at the rear end of the combine that is operable for spreading the residue over a swath of a field, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

Windrowing typically occurs when users desire to retain the crop residue for post-processing. In such cases, the residue, which may be chopped or un-chopped, is discharged from the combine, without entering the chopper/spreader, to form a windrow directly behind the combine. A windrow door is typically positioned at the rear opening and is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the crop residue is diverted into the spreader, and an open position, wherein the crop residue is directed over the spreader, through the rear opening, onto a windrow chute and onto the field. When the crop residue is to be discharged onto a field to form a windrow, it is typically preferred that the crop residue be distributed onto the windrow chute extending from the rear opening to allow for the formation of a desirable windrow shape.

Turning now to the rotary spreader mounted on or at the rear end of the combine, the rotary spreader is configured to distribute the processed crop materials or residue over a harvested field. Rotary spreaders typically include counter rotating disks or impellers for receiving all or part of the processed crop material or residue from the distribution chamber and spreading the material in a generally even side to side manner behind the harvester.

As is described in <CIT> (the '<NUM> Patent), with some spreaders, the disks are relatively large and when not in use substantially block the rear opening of the harvesting machine, necessitating removal of the spreader assembly from the machine, or removal of the spreader disks from the spreader assembly, if it is desired not to spread crop residue. Some spreaders provide quick release mechanisms for this purpose. However, as a disadvantage, the spreader assembly, or the spreader disks are both quite large, and must be stored when not in use. The '<NUM> Patent describes a pivotably mounted spreader assembly such that the spreader assembly can be pivoted to an inoperative position, thereby eliminating the need to detach the spreader from the combine.

<CIT> describes a further spreader assembly.

A transition hood may be positioned at or near the outlet of the spreaders. The transition hood is specially configured for spreading chaff in a uniform manner. While the transition hood is useful for processing chaff, it has been found that the transition hood may not be ideal for processing long straw, such as rice straw or straw that is used for drying.

Therefore, when it is desired to process long straw, it is beneficial to remove the transition hood. Because the transition hood may be blocked by the windrow chute, however, removal of the transition hood can be tedious.

In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to configure the transition hood, windrow chute and/or spreader to ease installation and removal of the transition hood.

Although various components of a combine are mentioned in the Background section, it should not be assumed that those components are admitted prior art.

According to the invention, a spreader assembly for an agricultural harvester comprises:.

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 "grain", "chaff", "straw", and "tailings" are used principally throughout this specification 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 that is threshed and separated from the discardable part of the crop material, which is referred to as chaff and includes straw, seeds, and other non-grain crop material.

Also the terms "forward", "rearward", "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>, which is reproduced from the '<NUM> Patent, there is shown an agricultural combine <NUM> representative of a wide variety of agricultural harvesting machines. Combine <NUM> is constructed and operable in the well-known manner and includes a threshing system <NUM> including a rotor <NUM> rotatable for separating straw <NUM> from the harvested crop, and a beater <NUM> rotatable for propelling or directing a flow or stream of straw <NUM> rearwardly along an airborne trajectory through a rear cavity <NUM> enclosed by a strawhood of combine <NUM>, as is also well known in the art. Combine <NUM> also includes a cleaning system <NUM> for receiving the harvested crop from threshing system <NUM> and removing chaff <NUM> from the grain and directing a flow or stream of chaff <NUM> rearwardly through a lower region of rear cavity <NUM>, towards a lower opening <NUM> in which a horizontal residue spreader assembly <NUM>, is shown located, and which comprises part of a crop residue distribution apparatus and system <NUM> constructed and operable according to the present invention.

<FIG> depict in greater detail the crop residue distribution apparatus and system <NUM> (system <NUM>, hereinafter). Various components of system <NUM> and the combine are not shown for the purpose of simplicity. System <NUM> includes one or more horizontal spreaders <NUM> of the spreader assembly <NUM>. Spreaders <NUM> having impellers <NUM> (<FIG>) (also referred to herein as rotary spreaders) at least partially encased within a housing <NUM> (<FIG>) are configured to distribute chaff into the field in the direction of the arrow shown in <FIG>. Spreaders <NUM> are mounted to a pivotable frame <NUM>. Frame <NUM> may have two opposing arms (<FIG>) and be pivotably mounted to the strawhood <NUM> (a small segment of which is shown in <FIG> only), for example, of the combine <NUM>. Frame <NUM> can be mounted to any stationary point on the combine. Frame <NUM> pivots about a first transverse axis <NUM> located at or near the top end of frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> is configured to pivot, rotate or otherwise move between an operative position (<FIG>) and an inoperative/bypass position (<FIG>). In the operative position of frame <NUM>, the spreaders <NUM> are positioned to receive and process chaff and/or straw, whereas, in the inoperative position of the frame <NUM>, the spreaders <NUM> are not positioned to receive and process chaff and/or straw. Further details in connection with the frame <NUM>, its connection to the combine <NUM>, and its movement between the operative and inoperative positions are described in the '<NUM> Patent.

A windrow chute <NUM> is also connected to frame <NUM>. Windrow chute <NUM> generally comprises a flat base plate 44a, and two opposing arms 44b positioned above and on opposite sides of the flat base plate. Each arm has a series of fingers 44c. In the operative position of frame <NUM>, windrow chute <NUM> registers in position with an outlet formed on the strawhood <NUM>. In a windrow mode of the combine <NUM>, straw is expelled through the outlet in the strawhood <NUM> and is delivered into the windrow chute <NUM>, and the windrow chute distributes the straw onto the field below. Further details in connection with windrow chute <NUM> are disclosed in the '<NUM> Patent.

Windrow chute <NUM> is connected to an intermediate panel <NUM> that is fixedly connected to frame <NUM>. Chute <NUM> moves with frame <NUM> between the operative and inoperative positions shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, chute <NUM> is movable along with spreaders <NUM>. Chute <NUM> is pivotably connected to panel <NUM> about a second transverse axis <NUM>. The second axis <NUM> is positioned adjacent (or in the general vicinity of) hood <NUM>. The second axis <NUM> is parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis <NUM>. Chute <NUM> can pivot about axis <NUM> between a deployed position shown in <FIG> and a retracted position shown in <FIG>. The reason for pivoting chute <NUM> will be described hereinafter.

A transition hood <NUM> is removably mounted to spreaders <NUM> of spreader assembly <NUM>. Hood <NUM> is a formed sheet metal panel, for example, that generally extends in the transverse direction and conforms to the geometry of the spreader assembly <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. A projecting nose section <NUM> is positioned on the wall <NUM> of spreader assembly <NUM> positioned between the impellers of the spreaders <NUM>. Hood <NUM> is positioned at the downstream end of spreaders <NUM> to promote the distribution of chaff from the combine <NUM> in a uniform manner. As best viewed by comparing <FIG>, the hood <NUM> covers an opening <NUM> disposed above the impellers <NUM> and above and along the trailing transverse edge <NUM> of the spreader housing <NUM>.

As noted in the Background section, it has been found that while the transition hood <NUM> is highly useful for processing chaff, the transition hood <NUM> may not be ideal for processing long straw, such as rice straw or straw that is used for drying. Therefore, when it is desired to process long straw, it would be beneficial to provide a simple and convenient way for a user to easily remove the transition hood <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the transition hood <NUM> is blocked by the windrow chute <NUM> in the deployed position of the chute <NUM>. Thus, it is not possible to remove the hood <NUM> in the longitudinal direction due to the position of the chute <NUM>.

Moving the chute <NUM> to the retracted position shown in <FIG> provides access to transition hood <NUM> and permits the manual removal of hood <NUM> from the combine <NUM>. Hood <NUM> can be then be disconnected and moved in the longitudinal direction, which is depicted by the arrow shown in <FIG>, in a direction away from the combine <NUM>. Hood <NUM> may be releasably connected to frame <NUM>, spreaders <NUM> or another surface by releasable fasteners, such as clips, clamps, wing nuts, bolts, screws, etc. such that no tools are required for disconnecting hood <NUM> from the combine <NUM>. It should be understood that hood <NUM> can also be installed (or reinstalled) onto the combine <NUM> by moving chute <NUM> to the retracted position.

Once hood <NUM> is removed from combine <NUM>, the chute <NUM> can be returned to the deployed position shown in <FIG> and the combine <NUM> may be utilized to process long straw, if so desired. <FIG> depicts hood <NUM> mounted to combine <NUM>, whereas <FIG> depicts hood <NUM> removed from combine <NUM>.

<FIG> depict the finer details of the interconnection between chute <NUM> and panel <NUM>. Chute <NUM> is pivotably mounted to panel <NUM> about axis <NUM> by a bolt (shown), pin, shaft, bearing or fastener, as shown. Rotation of chute <NUM> is limited by a fastener <NUM> (also referred to as 'means for fastening') extending from chute <NUM> that is moveably positioned in a slot <NUM> formed in panel <NUM>. Fastener <NUM> could be a bolt, pin, screw, etc..

A lockable handle <NUM> is mounted to the exterior surface of chute <NUM>, and includes a pin <NUM> for registering with a hole in panel <NUM>. When chute <NUM> is rotated to the retracted position shown in <FIG>, the pin <NUM> snaps into the hole for locking the chute <NUM> in the retracted (i.e., raised) position. Pushing a button on handle <NUM> disengages pin <NUM> from its hole, and chute <NUM> may be returned to the deployed (lowered) state shown in <FIG>. Although not shown, another handle <NUM> may be positioned on the opposing side of chute <NUM> for locking the other side of the chute <NUM> in the retracted state. Handle <NUM> is particularly convenient because no tools are required for releasing the chute <NUM>. It should be understood that numerous ways exist for locking rotation of chute <NUM> and the invention is not limited to the particular details of the handle <NUM>. For example, handle <NUM> may be replaced with a fastener, bolt, wing nut, etc..

Claim 1:
A spreader assembly (<NUM>) for an agricultural harvester (<NUM>) comprising:
a frame member (<NUM>);
a rotor assembly attached to the frame member (<NUM>), wherein the rotor assembly comprises one or more rotary spreaders (<NUM>) and a housing (<NUM>) partially surrounding the one or more rotary spreaders;
a transition hood (<NUM>) configured for spreading chaff in a uniform manner and mounted to and/or positioned against the housing of the rotor assembly; and
a windrow chute (<NUM>) mounted to the frame member;
characterised in that
the windrow chute is pivotable about a windrow chute rotational axis (<NUM>) between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein in the deployed position, the windrow chute blocks the transition hood (<NUM>) to either limit or prevent removal of the transition hood (<NUM>), and in the retracted position, the windrow chute (<NUM>) permits access to and removal of the transition hood (<NUM>).