CA1093118A - Adjustable discharge spout for forage harvester - Google Patents
Adjustable discharge spout for forage harvesterInfo
- Publication number
- CA1093118A CA1093118A CA321,087A CA321087A CA1093118A CA 1093118 A CA1093118 A CA 1093118A CA 321087 A CA321087 A CA 321087A CA 1093118 A CA1093118 A CA 1093118A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- spout
- discharge
- harvester
- swivel connector
- accordance
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- 239000004459 forage Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 241001124569 Lycaenidae Species 0.000 description 5
- 241001125929 Trisopterus luscus Species 0.000 description 4
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 101100536354 Drosophila melanogaster tant gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 241001080526 Vertica Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
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- Harvesting Machines For Specific Crops (AREA)
Abstract
ADJUSTABLE DISCHARGE SPOUT FOR FORAGE HARVESTER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A discharge spout for a forage harvester connected at the inlet end to the discharge of the blower of a forage harvester by pivotal means having a horizontal axis and extending upward and outward therefrom, in combination with a longitudinally adjustable tensile support link connected at one end substantially midway to said spout and the other end being connectable to a stationary vertical member on the harvester, such as a member of the cab thereof, by means of a bracket having pivotal means at the outer end thereof so that by adjusting the length of said link, the outer discharge end of the spout may be raised or lowered as required about the pivotal axis of said connected end on said blower discharge to dispose the discharge end of said spout at various positions respectively best suited to project forage material therefrom at a desired height.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A discharge spout for a forage harvester connected at the inlet end to the discharge of the blower of a forage harvester by pivotal means having a horizontal axis and extending upward and outward therefrom, in combination with a longitudinally adjustable tensile support link connected at one end substantially midway to said spout and the other end being connectable to a stationary vertical member on the harvester, such as a member of the cab thereof, by means of a bracket having pivotal means at the outer end thereof so that by adjusting the length of said link, the outer discharge end of the spout may be raised or lowered as required about the pivotal axis of said connected end on said blower discharge to dispose the discharge end of said spout at various positions respectively best suited to project forage material therefrom at a desired height.
Description
3~
BACKGROUNO OF 'L'HE -LMVE~J'rI(~I~
Forage harvesters normally include a blower havin~ a substantially vertical discharge outlet. Particularly when used with a self-propelled rnobile harvester, the ~lower outlet has a curved spout ex-tending upward and outward from the di~charye end of said blower for gen~arally horizon-tal discharge from the outer end of said spout into a wacJon or truck towed or driven behind the harvester. Such wayons and trucks are of variou~
sizes and capacities so that to adapt the discharge frorn the spout to a wagon or truck of a particular size and especially to a particular height of vehicle or height of aroof coveriny such a vehicle in order to receive cut foraye products, it has been customary to attach an adjustable deflecting member to the outer end of the spout, or change the spout for a different size or shape, or mount a vertical extension between the spout or blower. The most common technique entails mounting a vertical extension to change the overall height of the spout. Alternatively, a cable or chain is required to operate the deflector in adjustiny it to a desired deflection, and usually spring means to move the deflector in opposition to the effort of the cable or chain to change the position of the deflector.
Typical examples of such prior devices are shown in the following U.S. patents:
3,046,720 Fischer July 31, 1962 3,152,843 Zitko October 13, 1964 3,202,462 Segredo August 24, 1965 The present invention provides more simple and effective means to adjust the height of the discharge from suc~ spouts, details of which are described hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE IMVENTION
One of the principal ob~ects of the lnvention is to provide an improved, yet ~im~le, I~G~chanl~rfl by whlch a curved discharge spout ~or a fora~e harvr~ter, e~pecLaLIy a f5el-propelltad mobile harvester, can be adJusted to ~f~ec~t dlf~c~har~Jo at variou~
dif;tances and heightf~ lnto a wac~orl or other rocoivlnc,~ maans.
Thls lf3 aCCOmp'Lif~ht~3~ by provldln-J u f~pOIIt wL'rh one ~and attached to the ~lower outlet o~ the harv~2f~t~r. The ~pout is curved and extends upward and outward rom th~ lnlet end ,5~
" ~,~..
~.0,~
1 attached to a swivel connector which is a-ttachable to the blower outlet. The inlet end of the spouk is pivotally connected to the swivel connector for movement about a substantially horizontal axis. An adjustable link support is connected at one end intermediately between -the ends of the spout. The other end of the link is :Lexibly connected to an adjacent vertical member which is fixed relativ~
to the swivel connector. In -this rnanner, the inlet end rnay be selectively pivoted about the axis to place the discharge end of the spout at a desired elevation adequate to project forage material at a desired distance from the discharge end of the spout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic exemplary illustration in perspective of a typical harvester for foraye crops behind which a conventional wagon is connected for mobility with the harvester, several different sizes of wagons being illustrrated in phantom, and said view also illustrating a discharge spout from the harvester projected toward the wagon, the supporting means for said spout embodying the principles of the present invention.
l Fig. 2 is a side elevation in a :Larger scale than that used in Fig. l, illustrating the spout per se and -th~ imp~c~v~d means for supporting the same in accordance with the inv~ntion.
Fig. 3 i5 a transverse sectional view of the base portion of the spout, as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIOM OF 'rHE PR~F'ERP.ED E~BO~IMEN'I' Referring to Fiy. l, a typical crop harvester 10 i~
illustrated in which a header 12 has a w:indrow pickup attachment to gather, as well as consolidate said crop material, ard deliver it to a cutterhead (not shown) for chopping or cutting as the harvester 10 moves along a field. The harvester 10 is supported by main drive wheel 14 as it moves across a field while the chopped material is discharged from the upper end 16 of the blower of the harvester and blo~Jn thereby into the upwardly and rearwardly extending curved discharge spout 18, the upper and outer end of which extends rearwardly for discharge of the cut material into an exemplary receiving means, such as a wagon 20. In conventional forage harvesters used heretofore, arcuate spouts extending upwardly and rearwardly from the blower of the harvester have been swiveled for movement about a vertical axis relative to the discharge end of the blower, but the elevation of the outer discharge end of the spout with respect to the ground surface has been fixed. Accordingly, in order -to control the discharge, at least in a lirnited way, the outer ends of such harvesters usually have included a pivoted deflector 22, which only had the effect of either shooting the stream of discharged material more or less straight out from the end of the spout 18, or deflect the same downwardly to various degrees. Such a spout had no effect with regard to controlling the trajectory of the discharged material with respect to shootin~ it at various heights and correspondingly, various distances partlcularLy or ad.~p~ing the ~lfJcharge to WaCJons of various sizes, e~ecially variour~ he:l~AJht~, a~; well as for other purpose~ when different type~ of receLvLr,g m~an~ ar~ elnploy~d, whether ~tationary or mobilc.
To illustrate ~he aclvanta~Je~ o~ thc lnverltLon, th~re i~
illustrated in Fig. 1, Ln full linc~, a ~Jiv~n ~ize of forage wagon, and in phantom, both a ~rnaller and laryer size of exemplary wagons are illu~trated, to provide a vi~ual concept of tne need for varying the elevation of ~he out~r end o~ the dischar~e spout 18 and the present invention essentially compri~es means for effecting such variation~ in elevation by the followiny mech~nism.
"
J
l Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, in ~/hich the upper end 16 of the blower is shown fragrnentarily, a coupling ~4 is provided with swivels with respect to the upper end 16 of th~ blower and such swiveling is controlled by power rnean~, such as exe}nplary motor 26, see Fig. l, of suitable type. Also, referriny to E~ig. l, it will be seen -that there is rnounted adjacent -the motor 26, a winch 28, around which one end of a cable or rope 30 is wound, the opposite end of the cable bein~ connected to an arm 32 which is fixed to the pivoted deflector 22 and serves to control the position of said deflector which otherwise i6 controlled by the coiled spring 34, said spring moving the deflector in one direction, while the cable serves to move the deflector in the opposite direction, said mechanism being substantially of conventional type.
The upper end of the coupling 24, which is circular in cross-section, supports a square base member 36, which is fixed to said coupling, the base member 36 supportiny one end 38 of a transversehinge40, the opposite end of the hinge being connected to a supporting base 42 which is fixed to the lower end portion 44 of the spout 18. In accordance with conventional construction, the spout 18 is substantially square or rectangular in cross-section, as distinguished from being cylindrical, such shape facilitating the manufacturing thereof. Further, essentially, the spout 18 comprises an upper shell portion 46 which, in cross-section, is an inverted U-shape, the lower surface of which being closed by a bottom member 48, which extends from the lower end 44 of the spout 18 but terminates at 50 which is a desired distance from the outer end of the spout 18 in order that the lower open portion 52 of the spout serves as a discharge opening, whereby, depending upon the amount of the force generated by the blower and discharge into the spout 18, and also in conjunction with the position of the deflector 22, crop m~terial rnay be discharged at any of a wide varie~y of dir~ction~ and extent~ or r~c~ptlon by suitable receptacles, ~uch a~ he ex~rrlp:Lary w~gon 20.
In accordance with the invention, instead of th~ spout 18 being supported by m~ns which provldc a con~tant el~vation to the outer end o~ said ~pout, the pre~ent :Inv~ntlon affords means by which the hinge40 may be utillzed fvr p-lrpo~es of adjusting the height of th~outer end of the ~,pout 18 to any of a rcasonable limit of different elevations, a~ illustrated in ex~mplary manner :' l by the several phantom illust~ations of the upper end of -the spout of Fig. 1, in addition to the exemplary full line po~ition While it is known ln the prior art to support -the upper end of clischarge spouts on harvesters by fixed cable means or the like, one end of which is connected to the spout, and the other end being connected to a fixed support of some type, the present invention utilizes very simple mean~, including mechanisrn to acljust the length thereof, as follows:
A suitable fixed support, such as an arrrl 54, is connected at one end, for example, in fixed manner to the cab 56 of the harvester or to a support member fixed to the frame of the harvester at a desired vertical elevation thereon. The opposite end of the arm supports a clevis 58 within which a bearing 60 is rnoun-ted for support by a bolt or pin 62. Connected to the beariny 60 is another clevis 64, which is fixed to one end of a rod 66. The outer end of rod 66 is provided with a series of spaced holes 68 and said end is telescopically receivecl in a tubular extension 70, which is provided with one or more holes through which securing means, such as one or ~ore bolts 72, may extend commonly through the holes in the tubular extension 70 and a selected hole or holes in the outer end of rod 66, thereby varying the length thereof.
Such adjustrnent of the length easily may be accomplished by the operator of the harvester for purposes of effecting the desired elevation of the outer end of the spout 18. By limited trial and error, as well as experience from prior operation, an operator soon learns the approxirnate adjust~,ent to make with respect to any size of wagon being u~ed, for exarnple. The outer end of the tubular extension 70 is connected to a large clevis 74, the outer ends of the legs of which respectively are disposed on opposite sides of the spout 18 and the same are secured together by appropriate pin or bolts means 76. Although Fi~. 2 show~ one alternative for mounting the .support arrn 5~ ~nd d~vi~ 8 and 6~ wlth re~lpect to the vertical pivotal axis o~ thc 8pout 1~ at the c:uur~llncJ 24, ;Lt should be noted that it i~ mo~t de~iirab.l~ to hav@ the vertica:L
axe~ for cJenerally horizontal plvotal rmoverl1ent o the arrn 66 at clevi6 64 and thc ~powt 14 a~ coupli.n~J 2~ cc~axlal. Such an arrangement will preclude the dLr~chargc3 or outer erld of ~he spout 18 from varyin~ in it~ height a6 the c;pout l8 i~ ~ivot~d rom its extreme left po~ition to it~ extreme ri~ht po.s.ition because of different radii from the pivot point~ of the ~pOIIt 18 c~nd the arm 66.
11)9311~3 ~, l For purposes of further controlling -the ultima-te position to which the spout 18 is adjusted, with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that a pair of plates 78 are provided respectively on opposite sides of -t'he squ~re base member 36 by fixed means, such as welding or otherwise, and extend upwardly therefrom, said plates haviny short arcuate slo-ts gO
therein through whic'h locking bolts 82 extend for -the recep-tion of conventional nuts, wing nuts or weld nu-ts. Preferably, the heads of the bolts extend from opposite sides of the supportiny base 42 and are fixed ayainst rotation relative thereto.
Further -to secure an adjusted position of the spout 18, the square base member 36 and supporting base 42 may have flanges 84 fixed thereto, through which one or more bolts 86 extend, the nuts on said bolts being adjusted to tight condition after a suitable elevation of the outer end of the spout 18 has been effected by adjusting the length of the cornposite tension member comprising the rod 66 and tubular extension 70, together with the clevises respectively at opposite ends thereof. Alternately, when coupling 24 and transverse hinge 40 are utilized in a towed forage harvester with no adjustable tensile support link, the outer end of spout 18 is positioned at the desired elevation by adjusting the nuts on bolts 86. In such a manner the desired amount of pivotal rotation of the spout about hinge 40 is effected thereby achieving the desired elevation of the spout's outer end.
By means of the adjustability provided for the outer end of the spout 18, it is possible to effect a much wider range of discharge, both as to length and height, than is possible with presently used pivoted deflectors on the outer ends of said spout, such as the exemplary deflector 22 shown in the drawings. There is a tendency at present for farm machinery to steadily increase in size in order to render harvestiny operations more efficient and requlr~ les3 rnanpower, w'tlcreby the ~re~erlt invention is adapted to perlrlit the ~i~sc'harcJe o~ chopped matorial from a forage harvester to be di~charg~ lnto wagons or other receptacles of a wide range o~ sl~,e, sllch dLscharc)~ not b~lng possible, at l~ast ir an ef~icien~ rn~nner, sLrnply ~,y employlng ; means such as the pivoted d~lec~or~3 22 on the ollter enc'ls of such spouts. It also will be seen that the rnechani6rn to adjust the various elevations of the outer end of thc spout 18 are relatively simple and durable, as well as beLng ea~ily manipulated 1 and adjusted to effect the desired elevation o the outer end of said spout.
Further, the elements comprising the actual irnprovernents afforded by the invention are capable of beiny mounted upon forage harvesters having existlng fixed spouts sirrlply by adding relatively few parts which are capable of ~eing sold in kit form and capable o:E being mour.ted upon such existing spou-ts and headers through the exercise of minimurrl skills.
The foregoing description illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention. However, concepts e~.ployed rnay, based upon such description, be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific forms shown herein.
BACKGROUNO OF 'L'HE -LMVE~J'rI(~I~
Forage harvesters normally include a blower havin~ a substantially vertical discharge outlet. Particularly when used with a self-propelled rnobile harvester, the ~lower outlet has a curved spout ex-tending upward and outward from the di~charye end of said blower for gen~arally horizon-tal discharge from the outer end of said spout into a wacJon or truck towed or driven behind the harvester. Such wayons and trucks are of variou~
sizes and capacities so that to adapt the discharge frorn the spout to a wagon or truck of a particular size and especially to a particular height of vehicle or height of aroof coveriny such a vehicle in order to receive cut foraye products, it has been customary to attach an adjustable deflecting member to the outer end of the spout, or change the spout for a different size or shape, or mount a vertical extension between the spout or blower. The most common technique entails mounting a vertical extension to change the overall height of the spout. Alternatively, a cable or chain is required to operate the deflector in adjustiny it to a desired deflection, and usually spring means to move the deflector in opposition to the effort of the cable or chain to change the position of the deflector.
Typical examples of such prior devices are shown in the following U.S. patents:
3,046,720 Fischer July 31, 1962 3,152,843 Zitko October 13, 1964 3,202,462 Segredo August 24, 1965 The present invention provides more simple and effective means to adjust the height of the discharge from suc~ spouts, details of which are described hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE IMVENTION
One of the principal ob~ects of the lnvention is to provide an improved, yet ~im~le, I~G~chanl~rfl by whlch a curved discharge spout ~or a fora~e harvr~ter, e~pecLaLIy a f5el-propelltad mobile harvester, can be adJusted to ~f~ec~t dlf~c~har~Jo at variou~
dif;tances and heightf~ lnto a wac~orl or other rocoivlnc,~ maans.
Thls lf3 aCCOmp'Lif~ht~3~ by provldln-J u f~pOIIt wL'rh one ~and attached to the ~lower outlet o~ the harv~2f~t~r. The ~pout is curved and extends upward and outward rom th~ lnlet end ,5~
" ~,~..
~.0,~
1 attached to a swivel connector which is a-ttachable to the blower outlet. The inlet end of the spouk is pivotally connected to the swivel connector for movement about a substantially horizontal axis. An adjustable link support is connected at one end intermediately between -the ends of the spout. The other end of the link is :Lexibly connected to an adjacent vertical member which is fixed relativ~
to the swivel connector. In -this rnanner, the inlet end rnay be selectively pivoted about the axis to place the discharge end of the spout at a desired elevation adequate to project forage material at a desired distance from the discharge end of the spout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic exemplary illustration in perspective of a typical harvester for foraye crops behind which a conventional wagon is connected for mobility with the harvester, several different sizes of wagons being illustrrated in phantom, and said view also illustrating a discharge spout from the harvester projected toward the wagon, the supporting means for said spout embodying the principles of the present invention.
l Fig. 2 is a side elevation in a :Larger scale than that used in Fig. l, illustrating the spout per se and -th~ imp~c~v~d means for supporting the same in accordance with the inv~ntion.
Fig. 3 i5 a transverse sectional view of the base portion of the spout, as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIOM OF 'rHE PR~F'ERP.ED E~BO~IMEN'I' Referring to Fiy. l, a typical crop harvester 10 i~
illustrated in which a header 12 has a w:indrow pickup attachment to gather, as well as consolidate said crop material, ard deliver it to a cutterhead (not shown) for chopping or cutting as the harvester 10 moves along a field. The harvester 10 is supported by main drive wheel 14 as it moves across a field while the chopped material is discharged from the upper end 16 of the blower of the harvester and blo~Jn thereby into the upwardly and rearwardly extending curved discharge spout 18, the upper and outer end of which extends rearwardly for discharge of the cut material into an exemplary receiving means, such as a wagon 20. In conventional forage harvesters used heretofore, arcuate spouts extending upwardly and rearwardly from the blower of the harvester have been swiveled for movement about a vertical axis relative to the discharge end of the blower, but the elevation of the outer discharge end of the spout with respect to the ground surface has been fixed. Accordingly, in order -to control the discharge, at least in a lirnited way, the outer ends of such harvesters usually have included a pivoted deflector 22, which only had the effect of either shooting the stream of discharged material more or less straight out from the end of the spout 18, or deflect the same downwardly to various degrees. Such a spout had no effect with regard to controlling the trajectory of the discharged material with respect to shootin~ it at various heights and correspondingly, various distances partlcularLy or ad.~p~ing the ~lfJcharge to WaCJons of various sizes, e~ecially variour~ he:l~AJht~, a~; well as for other purpose~ when different type~ of receLvLr,g m~an~ ar~ elnploy~d, whether ~tationary or mobilc.
To illustrate ~he aclvanta~Je~ o~ thc lnverltLon, th~re i~
illustrated in Fig. 1, Ln full linc~, a ~Jiv~n ~ize of forage wagon, and in phantom, both a ~rnaller and laryer size of exemplary wagons are illu~trated, to provide a vi~ual concept of tne need for varying the elevation of ~he out~r end o~ the dischar~e spout 18 and the present invention essentially compri~es means for effecting such variation~ in elevation by the followiny mech~nism.
"
J
l Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, in ~/hich the upper end 16 of the blower is shown fragrnentarily, a coupling ~4 is provided with swivels with respect to the upper end 16 of th~ blower and such swiveling is controlled by power rnean~, such as exe}nplary motor 26, see Fig. l, of suitable type. Also, referriny to E~ig. l, it will be seen -that there is rnounted adjacent -the motor 26, a winch 28, around which one end of a cable or rope 30 is wound, the opposite end of the cable bein~ connected to an arm 32 which is fixed to the pivoted deflector 22 and serves to control the position of said deflector which otherwise i6 controlled by the coiled spring 34, said spring moving the deflector in one direction, while the cable serves to move the deflector in the opposite direction, said mechanism being substantially of conventional type.
The upper end of the coupling 24, which is circular in cross-section, supports a square base member 36, which is fixed to said coupling, the base member 36 supportiny one end 38 of a transversehinge40, the opposite end of the hinge being connected to a supporting base 42 which is fixed to the lower end portion 44 of the spout 18. In accordance with conventional construction, the spout 18 is substantially square or rectangular in cross-section, as distinguished from being cylindrical, such shape facilitating the manufacturing thereof. Further, essentially, the spout 18 comprises an upper shell portion 46 which, in cross-section, is an inverted U-shape, the lower surface of which being closed by a bottom member 48, which extends from the lower end 44 of the spout 18 but terminates at 50 which is a desired distance from the outer end of the spout 18 in order that the lower open portion 52 of the spout serves as a discharge opening, whereby, depending upon the amount of the force generated by the blower and discharge into the spout 18, and also in conjunction with the position of the deflector 22, crop m~terial rnay be discharged at any of a wide varie~y of dir~ction~ and extent~ or r~c~ptlon by suitable receptacles, ~uch a~ he ex~rrlp:Lary w~gon 20.
In accordance with the invention, instead of th~ spout 18 being supported by m~ns which provldc a con~tant el~vation to the outer end o~ said ~pout, the pre~ent :Inv~ntlon affords means by which the hinge40 may be utillzed fvr p-lrpo~es of adjusting the height of th~outer end of the ~,pout 18 to any of a rcasonable limit of different elevations, a~ illustrated in ex~mplary manner :' l by the several phantom illust~ations of the upper end of -the spout of Fig. 1, in addition to the exemplary full line po~ition While it is known ln the prior art to support -the upper end of clischarge spouts on harvesters by fixed cable means or the like, one end of which is connected to the spout, and the other end being connected to a fixed support of some type, the present invention utilizes very simple mean~, including mechanisrn to acljust the length thereof, as follows:
A suitable fixed support, such as an arrrl 54, is connected at one end, for example, in fixed manner to the cab 56 of the harvester or to a support member fixed to the frame of the harvester at a desired vertical elevation thereon. The opposite end of the arm supports a clevis 58 within which a bearing 60 is rnoun-ted for support by a bolt or pin 62. Connected to the beariny 60 is another clevis 64, which is fixed to one end of a rod 66. The outer end of rod 66 is provided with a series of spaced holes 68 and said end is telescopically receivecl in a tubular extension 70, which is provided with one or more holes through which securing means, such as one or ~ore bolts 72, may extend commonly through the holes in the tubular extension 70 and a selected hole or holes in the outer end of rod 66, thereby varying the length thereof.
Such adjustrnent of the length easily may be accomplished by the operator of the harvester for purposes of effecting the desired elevation of the outer end of the spout 18. By limited trial and error, as well as experience from prior operation, an operator soon learns the approxirnate adjust~,ent to make with respect to any size of wagon being u~ed, for exarnple. The outer end of the tubular extension 70 is connected to a large clevis 74, the outer ends of the legs of which respectively are disposed on opposite sides of the spout 18 and the same are secured together by appropriate pin or bolts means 76. Although Fi~. 2 show~ one alternative for mounting the .support arrn 5~ ~nd d~vi~ 8 and 6~ wlth re~lpect to the vertical pivotal axis o~ thc 8pout 1~ at the c:uur~llncJ 24, ;Lt should be noted that it i~ mo~t de~iirab.l~ to hav@ the vertica:L
axe~ for cJenerally horizontal plvotal rmoverl1ent o the arrn 66 at clevi6 64 and thc ~powt 14 a~ coupli.n~J 2~ cc~axlal. Such an arrangement will preclude the dLr~chargc3 or outer erld of ~he spout 18 from varyin~ in it~ height a6 the c;pout l8 i~ ~ivot~d rom its extreme left po~ition to it~ extreme ri~ht po.s.ition because of different radii from the pivot point~ of the ~pOIIt 18 c~nd the arm 66.
11)9311~3 ~, l For purposes of further controlling -the ultima-te position to which the spout 18 is adjusted, with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that a pair of plates 78 are provided respectively on opposite sides of -t'he squ~re base member 36 by fixed means, such as welding or otherwise, and extend upwardly therefrom, said plates haviny short arcuate slo-ts gO
therein through whic'h locking bolts 82 extend for -the recep-tion of conventional nuts, wing nuts or weld nu-ts. Preferably, the heads of the bolts extend from opposite sides of the supportiny base 42 and are fixed ayainst rotation relative thereto.
Further -to secure an adjusted position of the spout 18, the square base member 36 and supporting base 42 may have flanges 84 fixed thereto, through which one or more bolts 86 extend, the nuts on said bolts being adjusted to tight condition after a suitable elevation of the outer end of the spout 18 has been effected by adjusting the length of the cornposite tension member comprising the rod 66 and tubular extension 70, together with the clevises respectively at opposite ends thereof. Alternately, when coupling 24 and transverse hinge 40 are utilized in a towed forage harvester with no adjustable tensile support link, the outer end of spout 18 is positioned at the desired elevation by adjusting the nuts on bolts 86. In such a manner the desired amount of pivotal rotation of the spout about hinge 40 is effected thereby achieving the desired elevation of the spout's outer end.
By means of the adjustability provided for the outer end of the spout 18, it is possible to effect a much wider range of discharge, both as to length and height, than is possible with presently used pivoted deflectors on the outer ends of said spout, such as the exemplary deflector 22 shown in the drawings. There is a tendency at present for farm machinery to steadily increase in size in order to render harvestiny operations more efficient and requlr~ les3 rnanpower, w'tlcreby the ~re~erlt invention is adapted to perlrlit the ~i~sc'harcJe o~ chopped matorial from a forage harvester to be di~charg~ lnto wagons or other receptacles of a wide range o~ sl~,e, sllch dLscharc)~ not b~lng possible, at l~ast ir an ef~icien~ rn~nner, sLrnply ~,y employlng ; means such as the pivoted d~lec~or~3 22 on the ollter enc'ls of such spouts. It also will be seen that the rnechani6rn to adjust the various elevations of the outer end of thc spout 18 are relatively simple and durable, as well as beLng ea~ily manipulated 1 and adjusted to effect the desired elevation o the outer end of said spout.
Further, the elements comprising the actual irnprovernents afforded by the invention are capable of beiny mounted upon forage harvesters having existlng fixed spouts sirrlply by adding relatively few parts which are capable of ~eing sold in kit form and capable o:E being mour.ted upon such existing spou-ts and headers through the exercise of minimurrl skills.
The foregoing description illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention. However, concepts e~.ployed rnay, based upon such description, be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific forms shown herein.
Claims (8)
1. A discharge spout for a forage harvester having one end attachable to the blower outlet of said harvester, said spout being curved and extending upward and outward from the inlet end attached to a swivel connector attachable to said blower outlet, in combination with means pivotally connecting said inlet end of said spout to said swivel connector for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and a longitudinally adjustable tensile support link connected at one end intermediately between the ends of said spout and the other end thereof being connectable flexibly to a vertical member fixed relative to said swivel connector and adjacent the same and at an elevation above said swivel connector, whereby said support link may be varied in length to dispose the discharge end of said spout at a desired elevation adequate to project forage material discharged therefrom at a desired distance from the discharge end of said spout.
2. The discharge spout in accordance with Claim 1 in which said vertical member comprises a vertical member of the cab of said forage harvester.
3. The discharge spout in accordance with Claim 2 further including a bracket attachable horizontally to the cab of said forage harvester, and pivoted means at the outer end of said bracket connecting one end of said link to said bracket.
4. The discharge spout in accordance with Claim 1 in which said adjustable link comprises an elongated bar having one end interfittably extending adjustably into one end of a tube and the other end of said tube being interconnected to said spout as aforesaid, said interfitting portions of said bar and tube having a series of longitudinally-spaced holes in one and a transverse hole in the other adjustably alignable with one of said spaced holes to receive a pin member therethrough to adjustably interconnect said bar and tube to establish a desired length for said tensile support link to enable said spout to project cut material at a desired height therefrom in accordance with a given force provided by the blower of said harvester.
5. The discharge spout in accordance with Claim 4 in which said series of spaced holes are in one end portion of said rod and said transverse hole is in said tube, said pin member also being a bolt.
6. A discharge spout for a forage harvester having one end attachable to the blower outlet of said harvester, said spout being curved and extending upward and outward from the inlet end attached to a swivel connector attachable to said blower outlet, in combination with means pivotally connecting said inlet end of said spout to said swivel connector for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and an adjustable support link connected at one end intermediately between the ends of the spout, and the other end thereof being connected flexibly to an adjacent vertical member fixed relative to said swivel connector, whereby said inlet end may be selectively pivoted about said axis to dispose the discharge end of said spout at a desired elevation adequate to project forage material discharged therefrom at a desired distance from the discharge end of said spout.
7. The discharge spout in accordance with Claim 6 in which the means pivotally connecting said inlet end to said swivel connector comprises a hinge.
8. The discharge spout in accordance with Claim 7 in which the adjustment means comprises at least one bolt connectable to said swivel connector and said spout with a corresponding locking nut.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA321,087A CA1093118A (en) | 1979-02-08 | 1979-02-08 | Adjustable discharge spout for forage harvester |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA321,087A CA1093118A (en) | 1979-02-08 | 1979-02-08 | Adjustable discharge spout for forage harvester |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1093118A true CA1093118A (en) | 1981-01-06 |
Family
ID=4113493
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA321,087A Expired CA1093118A (en) | 1979-02-08 | 1979-02-08 | Adjustable discharge spout for forage harvester |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1093118A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-02-08 CA CA321,087A patent/CA1093118A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |