Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to agricultural combines. It relates particularly to a system for coupling, uncoupling and controlling the header assembly in an agricultural combine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An agricultural combine, whether configured for harvesting grain or some other crop, includes a header assembly for cutting and collecting crop material, a feeder assembly for feeding the collected crop material to a threshing assembly, and a threshing assembly for separating the grain from the crop. The threshing assembly is mounted in a self-propelled vehicle and the feeder assembly is mounted on the front of the vehicle frame in cantilevered relationship. The header assembly is releasably coupled to the front end of the feeder assembly. 
     An agricultural combine must frequently have its header assembly changed, i.e., coupled to, or uncoupled from, the front end of the feeder assembly, however. This is necessary when a different type, or different size, header assembly is called for. It is also necessary when the combine must move by road to a new working location. When it is necessary, mechanical couplings which join the header assembly to the feeder assembly must be released. In addition, the hydraulic and electrical circuits running from the combine power plant and control panel on the vehicle frame to the header assembly must be uncoupled. 
     The header assembly is powered and controlled hydraulically and electrically from the vehicle. A power take-off shaft connection is also provided from the vehicle. Hydraulic and electrical conduits extend along the feeder assembly, to the header assembly, through appropriate valves and operator control devices. To facilitate coupling and uncoupling of the header assembly, a plug and socket unit for some or all of the conduits is sometimes employed between the feeder assembly and the header assembly, where it is readily accessible to the operator. The plug and socket unit may contain both electrical and hydraulic connectors, as well as hydraulic control valves. 
     It is conventional for the mechanical coupling and uncoupling of a header assembly to be accomplished independently of the coupling and uncoupling of hydraulic and electrical circuits. To uncouple, for example, the operator gets down out of the combine&#39;s cab and manually uncouples the electrical and hydraulic circuits. Then, the mechanism coupling the header assembly mechanically to the feeder assembly must be separately released, including both mechanical latches and power take-off shafts. The feeder assembly conveyor must also be separately deactivated, or a guard cover placed over its open mouth. 
     When a new header assembly is positioned for coupling, for example, the operator operates the mechanical coupling mechanism to physically connect the header assembly to the feeder assembly. The electrical and hydraulic circuits are then recoupled in a separate operation or operations. In another operation, the power take-off shafts are coupled. 
     The aforementioned coupling and uncoupling operations are time consuming, complicated and sometimes result in individual coupling components getting dirty. The operator may have to get down under the feeder mechanism to manually operate the mechanical coupling mechanism. He must then turn to the electrical and hydraulic conduits and couple or uncouple them. The conveyor may also have to have a guard cover placed over its mouth (a requirement in some markets). 
     In addition to the foregoing requirements, when a different type of header assembly is called for, a corn head assembly instead of a grain head assembly, for example, different operating parameters and limitations are called for. In conventional combines, this normally requires the operator to determine (or recall) what parameters and limitations are called for and manually make control adjustments to assure that they are complied with. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for coupling, uncoupling and controlling the header assembly in an agricultural combine. 
     It is another object to provide a system of the aforedescribed character which permits the operator to mechanically couple the header assembly to the feeder assembly and, in the same operation, couple hydraulic and electrical conduits between the header assembly and feeder assembly. 
     It is still another object to provide a system which automatically renders the feeder assembly conveyor inoperative when the header assembly is uncoupled. 
     It is yet another object to provide a system which automatically adjusts header assembly operating parameters and limitations when different types of header assemblies are coupled to the feeder assembly in a combine. 
     The foregoing and other objects are realized in a system including a coupler block fixed on one side of the feeder assembly housing. The fixed coupler block contains reel drive, reel lift and reel fore/aft valves, and any other desired header or feeder function control valves, and is connected to fluid pumps on the combine through supply and return hydraulic conduits. Electrical conduits from the combine&#39;s electrical harness are also connected to the fixed block. The front face of the fixed block contains two reel drive function hydraulic couplers, two reel fore/aft hydraulic couplers, a reel lift hydraulic coupler and hydraulic couplers for any other header function control valves. It also has one or more electrical connectors. 
     The system also includes a movable coupler block connected to header assembly fluid motors and actuators, and to electrical/electronic devices, through hydraulic and electrical conduits. The front face of the movable coupler block contains reel drive hydraulic couplers, reel fore/aft hydraulic couplers, a reel lift hydraulic coupler, hydraulic couplers for any other header function hydraulic control valves and one or more electrical connectors for the conduits in the header assembly&#39;s electrical harness. 
     The system is “smart” in that it recognizes the type of header assembly which it is being connected to the feeder assembly when the coupler blocks are mated. The operating parameters of the header assembly are adjusted and limited automatically. 
     The system further includes a pair of spring-loaded latch pins on the header mounting frame of the feeder assembly. A push-pull cable is connected to each latch pin at its front end and to a coupler plate which is rotatably mounted on the fixed coupler block. A coupler handle on the coupler plate is rotated by the operator to move it between a rearward position where the latch pins are retracted and the header assembly is uncoupled, and a forward position where the latch pins are extended and they couple a header assembly mounting frame to the feeder assembly mounting frame. 
     Before the operator moves the handle forward to mechanically couple the header assembly and feeder assembly together, however, the operator manually inserts the hydraulic couplers and electrical connectors of the movable block into corresponding hydraulic couplers and electrical connectors on the fixed block. When the coupler handle rotates the coupler plate forward, cam arms on the coupler plate engage projections on the top and bottom of the movable coupler block and lock the movable block in place. 
     When the coupler plate is rotated between its forward and rear positions to uncouple the blocks and the header assembly once again, it renders the feeder conveyor drive circuit inoperative. This prevents an exposed feeder assembly from continuing to run, or having the drive engaged and begin to run, and pose a safety hazard. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, including its construction and method of operation, is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an agricultural combine, including a header assembly mounted in operational relationship, and incorporating a coupling, uncoupling and control system embodying features of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of coupled header and feeder assemblies, incorporating the system of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the feeder assembly and system; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front end of the feeder assembly in the combine of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the feeder assembly shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a portion of the system; 
     FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the system; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the combine and header assembly including the system of the invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the system&#39;s features related to its smart operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, an axial-flow, rotary combine is seen generally at  10 . Thus, the present invention will be described and illustrated in the context of a rotary combine. However, it should be understood that it is equally applicable to other types of combines. 
     The combine  10  includes a self-propelled vehicle  11  including a frame  12  mounted on wheels  14 . The frame  12  supports a combine body  16  in which an axial flow, rotary threshing assembly  18  is mounted. An operator&#39;s cab  21  is mounted on the frame  12  in front of the body  16 . A power plant  23 , with conventional electrical and hydraulic power capabilities, is mounted on the vehicle  11  within the body  16 . 
     Extending forwardly from the vehicle  11 , underneath the cab  21  and immediately in front of the rotary threshing assembly  18 , is a feeder assembly  25 . The feeder assembly  25  is permanently mounted on the front end of the frame  12  and, referring to FIG. 2, comprises an elongated housing  27  containing an endless conveyor  29  running longitudinally through it. 
     Coupled to the front end of the feeder housing  27  is a transversely extending grain header assembly  32 . The grain header assembly  32  may be anywhere from twelve to forty-eight or more feet wide. It contains a conventional reel  33 , a crop cutter  34  and an augur  35 . 
     Although a grain header assembly  32  is illustrated, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the combine  10  might alternatively be equipped with other types of header assemblies, including a corn header assembly, a windrow pick-up header assembly, a draper header assembly or “finger” heads, for example. The system of the present invention is applicable to any such assembly and, as will hereinafter be discussed, is capable of distinguishing between them and automatically adjusting operating parameters and limitations based on the type of header assembly which is mounted. 
     The reel  33  is driven in a conventional manner by a hydraulic motor suitably arranged in the header assembly  32 , and is positioned by hydraulic cylinders  36 . Hydraulic cylinders (not shown) also tilt the header assembly laterally to adjust for different terrain. 
     The aforedescribed hydraulic cylinders and motor are all supplied with fluid under pressure from hydraulic pumps associated with the power plant  23  in the combine body  16 . A hydraulic conduit complex  37  including a combine conduit group  37 A and a header assembly conduit group  37 B are coupled at a coupler block assembly  50  embodying features of the invention. Control of the cylinders and motor is effected by the operator through an electrical conduit complex  38  including a combine conduit harness  38 A and a header assembly conduit harness  38 B at the coupler block assembly  50 . 
     The header assembly  32  is coupled, at its back wall  40 , to a rectangular frame  41  which forms a mouth on the front end of the feeder assembly housing  27 . Laterally extending latch pins  42  and  43  on the mouth frame  41  are retracted inwardly to permit the frame to enter a correspondingly shaped, but slightly larger mounting frame  46  on the back of the header assembly  32 , and then extended outwardly to lock the frames together. 
     According to the present invention, the latch pins  42  and  43  are operated by a latch operating mechanism  49  mounted on the coupler block assembly  50  and embodying features of the invention. Both are components of the smart coupling, uncoupling and control system  50  of the present invention. 
     The system  50  is smart in that it automatically sets header assembly  32  operating parameters and limitations based on the type of header assembly which is coupled; grain head or corn head, for example. In other words, it senses what type of header assembly is coupled (and whether one is present) and sets header assembly operating parameters and limitations accordingly. 
     According to the invention, the system  50  is also effective to make connections in the hydraulic conduit complex  37  and the electrical conduit complex  38 . In this regard, the hydraulic conduit complex  37  comprises a hydraulic supply conduit  51  which extends forwardly from the combine power plant  23  along the outside of the feeder assembly housing  27  into a valve block  52  comprising half of the coupler block assembly  39 . A hydraulic return conduit  53  extends rearwardly from the valve block  52  to the power plant. A hydraulic sensor conduit  55  extends from the valve block  52  to the power plant. The electrical conduit complex  38  includes an electrical conduit  57  which also extends from the block  52  to the power plant (through the operator&#39;s control panel) and forms part of the combine&#39;s electrical harness  38 A. 
     The valve block  52  is mounted on a bracket  58  welded or bolted to the side of the housing  27 . The block  52  contains a reel drive control valve  61 , a reel lift-lower control valve  62  and a reel fore/aft control valve  63 . It also contains a lateral tilt control valve  65  for controlling tilt of the header assembly  32 . It might also contain other control valves (not shown), as needed; a feeder reverser control valve, for example. 
     At this point it is appropriate to again point out that the invention is being described in the context of a combine  10  including a grain header assembly  32 . In other contexts, the reel drive might be used for a pick-up drive or a draper drive, for example. The reel fore-aft control may be used for corn head stripper plate adjustment or to fold corn heads, for example. 
     In any event, the flat front face  67  of the block  52  has a pair of reel drive hydraulic coupler sockets  71  and  72 , a pair of reel fore/aft hydraulic coupler sockets  74 ,  75  and a reel lift hydraulic coupler socket  77  formed into it. It also has electrical connector(s)  79  formed into it. 
     Extending from one side of the block  52 , adjacent the face  67 , separate lateral tilt cylinder hydraulic hose connections  81  and  82  are illustrated. These connections, or hose connections for other functions, may be mounted here. They are positioned to facilitate easy separate connection in a manner hereinafter discussed. 
     The block  52  is adapted to receive and couple with a header assembly valve block  84 . The block  84  is not rigidly mounted. It is flexibly supported on the flexible hydraulic conduits and electrical conduits which extend rearwardly from fixed mountings on the header assembly  32  and form part of the hydraulic conduit harness  37  B and electrical conduit harness  38  B. 
     The block  84  has a pair of reel drive hydraulic couplers  87  and  88  extending from its front face  89 . A pair of reel fore/aft hydraulic couplers  91 ,  92  are also mounted in the block  84  and extend from its front face  89 . In addition, a reel lift hydraulic coupler  95  and an electrical connector  97  are also mounted in the block  84  and extend from its front face  89 . 
     The block  84  has reel drive hydraulic hose connections  101  and  102  on its back face  103 . It also has reel fore/aft hydraulic hose connections  105  and  106 , and a reel lift hydraulic hose connection  108  thereon. An electrical connector  110  completes the connector group on the back face  103  of the block  84 . 
     Separate from the header assembly hydraulic conduit complex  37  and electrical conduit complex  38 , connected to the block  52 , is a pair of tilt cylinder hoses (not shown). The tilt cylinder hoses terminate respectively, in lateral tilt hose connections  81  and  82  on the fixed block  52 . The lateral tilt cylinder hoses  111  and  112  do not cross to the block  84  because the tilt cylinder (not shown) is mounted on the feeder assembly  25 . 
     The latch operating mechanism  49  of the system  50  includes upper and lower cam plates  122  and  124  rotatably mounted on the fixed coupler block  52 . The cam plates  122  and  124  are rigidly connected at upper and lower ends of vertical pins  126  journalled in the block  52  for rotation in the block. 
     The cam plates  122  and  124  have corresponding inwardly facing (toward the feeder assembly housing  27 ) cam arms  132  and  134  formed thereon. An actuator handle  135  for the cam plates  122  and  124  is rigidly connected to one or both plates  122  and  124 , and is used to rotate the cam plates between their latched position seen in FIG.  3  and their unlatched position seen in FIG.  5 . The cam arms  132  and  134  are configured so that they will engage corresponding projections  136  and  138  protruding vertically from the top and bottom of the coupler block  84 , when the block is properly seated in place by the operator and the handle  135  moved from its FIG. 5 position to its FIG. 3 position. 
     The latch operating mechanism  49  further includes a header latch sub-assembly  140 . The latch sub-assembly  140  comprises a pair of conventional push-pull cables  142  and  143  operatively connected at their front ends  145  and  146 , respectively, to the latch pins  42  and  43 . 
     The cables  142  and  143 , which are slideable in respective sleeves  147  and  148 , extend with the sleeves rearwardly in the bottom of the housing  27  to an elongated port  151  in the housing below the block  52  and its mounting bracket  58 . The rear ends of the sleeves  147 ,  148  are bent forwardly in the manner best illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, to where the ends  145 ,  146  of the cables are fixedly connected to fittings  155  which, in the illustrated embodiment, are pivotally mounted on the lower cam plate  124 . 
     The rear ends of the cable sleeves  147  and  148  are, in turn, clamped at  161  to the mounting bracket  58  for the block  52 . Because the pivot connection between the fitting  155  and the cam plate  124  is offset to the feeder assembly side of the pivot pin  126 , pivotal movement of the cam plates  122  and  124  causes the cables  142 ,  143  to be pushed or pulled through the sleeves  147  and  148 , thus extending or retracting the latch pins  42  and  43 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, where the header assembly  32  is shown coupled to the feeder assembly  27 , the operator can uncouple their hydraulic couplings and electrical connections simply and cleanly by merely moving the handle  135  rearwardly to the FIG. 5 position. The cam arms  132  and  134  rotate away from and release the coupler block  84  by moving out of locking engagement with the projections  136  and  138 . At the same time, the header latch sub-assembly  140  retracts the latch pins  42  and  43 . 
     When the latch pins  42  and  43  retract, they permit the header assembly frame  46  to be removed from the feeder assembly mouth frame  41 . This is normally accomplished by the operator backing the combine feeder assembly  25  away from the header assembly  32 . It will be understood, of course, that power take-off shafts are disconnected separately. 
     To couple another header assembly  32  to the feeder assembly, the coupler block  84  of the new header assembly is positioned against the coupler block  52  and the handle  135  is rotated forwardly, locking the block  84  to the block  52  and completing the respective hydraulic and electric connections. The push-pull cables  142  and  143  move the latch pins  42  and  43  outwardly to lock the frame  46  into the frame  41  (the new header assembly  32  having been moved into position by maneuvering the combine feeder assembly). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the combine  10 , header assembly  32  and system  50  are shown schematically. When a header assembly  32  is connected to a combine  10 , hydraulic and electrical connections are made in the manner herein before discussed. In addition, according to the invention, several more electrical connections are made. 
     According to the invention, as has been pointed out, the system  50  is smart in that it automatically controls the operating parameters and limitations of the header assembly  32  as a function of the type of assembly which is coupled. FIG. 9 schematically illustrates aspects of the system  50  related specifically to its smart characteristics. A first electrical connection, when made, completes a circuit which informs a computer processing unit (CPU)  200  in the system  50  that a header assembly  32  has been mounted. A second electrical connection, when made, completes a circuit which informs the system  50  that a specific type of header assembly has been mounted. The CPU  200  is programmed to then automatically make the system  50  set operating parameters and limitations for the header assembly. 
     Specifically, the system  50  includes three additional connectors  221 ,  222  and  223  in the block  52 , and three additional and corresponding connectors  231 ,  232  and  233  in the block  84 . The connectors  231 ,  232  and  233  are terminals for electrical leads  236 ,  237  and  238  to the CPU  200  in the combine cab. The connectors  221 ,  222  and  223  are terminals for electrical leads  231 ,  232  and  233  from the header assembly  32  which indicate (1) header assembly presence, (2) one type of header assembly, e.g., grain, (3) another type of header assembly, e.g., corn, and (4) yet another type of header assembly, e.g., folding corn. 
     When the connector block  84  of a header assembly  32  is coupled with the block  52  on the combine  10 , a circuit is completed to indicate that a header assembly is present and, in addition, what type it is. The CPU  200  receives this information and sends control parameter and control limitation instructions to an electrical control panel  250  in the cab. 
     Following is a chart which explains the logic behind electrical signals transmitted by the leads  236 ,  237  and  238 , and what information they convey: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Connected To Ground 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 238 
                 237 
                 236 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 No 
                 No 
                 No 
                 No Header 
               
               
                 No 
                 No 
                 Yes 
                 Grain Head 
               
               
                 No 
                 Yes 
                 No 
                 Corn Head 
               
               
                 No 
                 Yes 
                 Yes 
                 Folding Corn Head 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Where no header assembly  32  is coupled, all of the leads  236 ,  237  and  238  are open circuit and the CPU  200  knows no header is present. The feeder assembly is disabled automatically on instructions from the CPU. 
     When a grain header assembly is coupled, lead  236  is grounded and leads  237  and  238  remain open circuited. The CPU  200  knows, then, that a grain header assembly is present and instructs the system  50  to control operating parameters and limitations accordingly. 
     When a corn header assembly is coupled, lead  237  is hot and leads  236 ,  238  are not. The CPU receives this information and sends instructions accordingly. 
     According to the invention, various parameters for the display range in the system  50  are adjusted for the header type to account for the lift geometry of the feeder and the specific header attached. Since a grain head has a larger operating range than a corn head, the system  50  causes the correct display range to automatically be adjusted for the header type attached. 
     With automatic header type detection by the system  50 , the system  50  also allows for both increasing and decreasing the drive speed. This is in contrast to conventional combines where, if the type of header is unknown, the operator is only allowed to slow the feeder/header drive from a nominal speed or not provide a variable drive. This is fine for a grain head. However, for a corn head, the operator would want to increase the speed from the nominal. For the grain head, the system  50  permits the feeder/header drive speed range to be limited from nominal to −20%. For a corn head, the full feeder/header drive speed range from nominal to +/−20% would be available. 
     When the system  50  does not detect any header connected, the feeder/header drive is disabled. This is a safety enhancement which provides compliance with European regulations. The European regulations require safety covers over the feeder face when no header is attached there, unless the drive is automatically disabled in this configuration. With header type detection including no header detection, the drive is automatically disabled and the safety covers are not required. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited, and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, and all devices that come within the meaning of the claims, either literally or by equivalence, are intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Category: 0