Patent ID: 7520116

Claim:
A harvester comprising: a frame; at least one row unit supported by the frame and operable for removing crop from plants; a crop receiver supported by the frame and including an interior for receiving crop removed from plants by the at least one row unit; the crop receiver having an upwardly open lower receiver portion supported by the frame and an upper receiver portion telescopically supported on and movable relative to the lower receiver portion between a transport position telescopically retracted into the lower receiver portion and an operational position telescopically projecting upwardly therefrom, the upper receiver portion including at least one inlet opening configured for receiving crop into the interior therethrough; an air duct system including at least one telescoping duct configured for carrying a flow of air and crop, the duct being capable of telescopically extending at an inclined angle from the at least one row unit to adjacent to the at least one inlet opening of the upper receiver portion when in the operational position, the duct including an upper duct portion telescopically movable relative to a lower duct portion between an extended position wherein a substantial portion of the upper duct portion extends telescopically from the lower duct portion and wherein an upper end portion extends from the upper duct portion, the upper end portion having a curved shape, wherein the upper end portion is positioned adjacent to the inlet opening for directing the flow of air and crop thereto when the upper receiver portion is in the operational position, and a retracted position wherein a substantial portion of the upper duct portion is at least substantially coextensive with the lower duct portion, wherein the upper duct portion and upper end portion are unitary so as to retain the curved shape when the upper duct is retracted; and a duct support system including at least one duct driver supported by the frame, the duct drive extending at about the inclined angle at least generally parallel to the duct, the duct driver having an upper movable portion also extending at about the inclined angle, the upper movable portion is connected to the upper duct portion, the duct driver being operable for moving the upper duct portion along the inclined angle between the extended position and the retracted position, and wherein as the upper duct portion is moved toward the retracted position the upper end portion thereof will be displaced horizontally away from the receiver.