US1224003A - Harvester. - Google Patents

Description

A. B. MEINHARDT.

HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1o, 1916.

,224,003. Patented Apr. 24,1917.

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A. B. MEINHARDT.

HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FxLED JUNE lo. 1915.

,224, 003 Patented Apr. 24, 191.7.

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A. B. MEINHARDT.

HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE lo. |916.

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

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.ADAM IB. MEINHARDT, OF PAXICO, KANSAS.

HARVESTER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2d, 195i?.

Original application filed December 30, 1915, Serial No. 69,469. Divided and this application led. June 10, 1916. Serial No. 102,859.

To all whom t may concern.'

le it known that l, ADAM l5. MEIN- rmnnr, residing at Panico, in the county of llllabaunsee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Hawesters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in harvesters and the invention primarily has for its objectto provide improvements in the construction of the elevating conveyer which cooperates with the platform conveyer to raise the grain to the binder apparatus. The principal object of the invention is to provide a self-adjusting elevator or conveyor so designed as to automatically adapt itself to the variations in the grain, thus allowing the grain to pass evenly at sudden changes from light to heavy and thereby preventing the choking of the elevator.

rllhe invention also includes as a part of the elevator structure a main conveyer and a butt end elevating conveyer adjacent to the main conveyer and having fingers for engaging the grain to eifect a more even elevation of the grain, or in other words, the invention provides a sprocket chain butt carrier in connection with the elevator proper for the purpose of elevating the butt ends of the grain more evenly with the grain head, thus enabling the provision of a wellbound straight bundle and preventing formation of ragged bundles and preventing the cutting mechanism and the end of the platform below the elevator from becoming choked by tangled grain.

The invention is especially adapted for use in connection with the harvester which forms the subject matter of my original application filed December 30, 1915, Serial No. 694:69, of which application the present application is a divisional part.

rl`he invention includesthose novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described, then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l (composed of Figs. 1A and 1B connected on the line ELT-S) is a side elevation of the right hand side of the harvester embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front half of the harvester looking at the same from the left.

3 is a cross section taken approxiw mately on the line X-X of F ig. 1B, looking toward the back of the machine (the left in Fig. 1B).

Fig. et is an enlarged detail elevation of the upper elevator gearing.

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section on the line .5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line G-G of Fig. 4l.

Fig. 7 is a detail cross section on one of the elevator hangers at the platform end of the elevator.

F ig. 8 is a cross section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. -9 is a front elevation of a portion of the butt end elevator chain.

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the butt end elevator chain.

In the drawings in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, l is the spokeless wheel which supports the principal weight of the parts and designates the caster wheel on the outer side ofthe Orain platform which is mounted on the arm 56 that is carried by a portion of the frame of the machine and supports the platform side of the vehicle.

207X is the operators platform.

16 designates the groove rollers which run in the frame of the spokeless wheel 1 and sustain the wheel side of the machine.

l2 designates vthe longitudinal channel portion of the supporting frame of the machine, 43 the back bar, 44C the lateral platform supporting extension bar at the bottom and i9 the lateral extension platform supporting bar at the top, all of which frame parts may be constructed as shown in my original application hereinbefore referred to.

The -machine is driven through shafts 823-84 that are geared together as at 98 and have driving pinions 112 that engage the rack 10 of the spokeless wheel, the shafts Sii- 84: being driven by a drive shaft 126 which is gearedf through a transmission shaft 122 and suitable gearing with the shaft 88. As the construction of the driving mechanism, per se, forms no part of the present invention, but forms a part of the subjectmatter of my original application, further detail reference thereto in this specification is thought to be unnecessary.

` and 3).

The construction of the elevator is best shown in Figs. 1A, 2 and 3, by reference to which it will be seen that two sideboards 305 are provided and secured to the body frame. They extend upwardly from the grain platform at about an angle of O and terminate about in the mid-vertical longitudinal plane of the spokeless wheel. The sideboards 305 are connected together at the top by a bridgeboard 306.

The elevator proper includes two belt conveyers, one 307 of which is fixed as to location while the other 30S is adjustably mounted, (see Fig. 3). At the lower end', the'belt307 passes around a roller 3 09, suitably journaled in the sideboards, the space between thel roller 309 and the grain platfOr-mconveyer being closed by a bridge bar 310 (see Fig.

311 represents the upper roller of the lower elevator belt and from which the belt is driven. The roller 311 (see Fig. 1) has its shaft ends 312 suitably j'ournaled in bearings in the sideboard's (see Figs. 1^ The shaft 312 (and consequently the roller 311) is driven by a sprocket 313 around which the main drive chain 195 passes. The-upper conveyer of the elevator has the shaft 314 of the upper or driver roller 315 journaled in verticallyv slidable bearing blocks 316 which arel held in the slideways 318 in the sideboards 305 (see Figs. 1B and 4), the blocks 316 being held down by yielding springs 318, the tension of which may be adjusted by screws 319 operating on blocks' 320 above the springs. As best shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that 321 is a plate having a `slot 322 through which the fastening screw 323 passes to shiftably hold the plate on the sideboard 3,05.v rIhe plate 321 has studs 324 on which intermeshing pinions 325 are mounted, the studs being linked up with the respective Y shafts 312-314 by links 326 so as to hold the pinions 324 in mesh with gears 327-323, as the shafts 312-314 are separated or come closer together in regulation.

In order to allow the Aupper belt to travel faster than the lower belt, when urged by the grain, Aor in other words,-(t0 allow such ,belt to slip) i I mount the gear 328 loosely o n thel shaft 314 and provide it with a ratchet face 329 to be engagedy with the y. pawls 332 that are journaled at 331 in sockets on the disk 330 which is iXed tothe shaft 314. Y'Ihe pawls 332 are engaged by springs 324 held in sockets 333 on the disk 330 (see Figs. 53nd 6)'.

,Inyorder tof effecty a moreeven elevation' of the grain, I provide al chain finger supplemental elevator section to assist in raising the' grain butts.` This comprises a sprocket onl the shafts 309-312 at thepentrance' side' of the' machine around whichV a chain' 33'5" composed of links, some of which have lingers 336 (see Figs. 1^, 2, 9 and 10) passes. The chain is kept taut by an adjustable tension device 337 (see Fig. 1A).

In practice, the finger 336 prevents the lagging of the grain butts while passing Off the elevator and keeps the grain straight. rlfhe lower roller 339 of the upper elevator conveyer has its shaft 340 journaled in bearings in the swinging frame 341 which is hung on the shaft 314` k(see Fig. The lower end of the frame 341 isV yiel'dingly supported at each side from the sideboard by devices best shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. At the front end there is a stud 342 (see Fig. 2) to which the lower end 343 of the bolt 344 is pivoted. rlhe bolt 344 passes through a bracket 345 and carries a tension spring 346 and an adjusting nut 347, as shown. At the rear end a bracket 343 is fastened toy the sideboard 305 and on which a rock bearing 349 is carried. 350 is a bolt slidable in a bearing 349y (see Figs. 3, 7 and 3) and thc bolt is pivoted at 351 to the stud 352 on the armv 353 that projects from a plate 354, the plate being fastened to the side bar of the' frame 341. The arm 363 has a portion 355 that extends through the slot 356 in the sideboard 305 and engages the same (see Fig. 7) tonhold the frame 341 close to the sideboard. lThus, it will be observed, as grain enters between the upper and lower conveyers they will separate or come together to adjust themselves to the quantity of grain being delivered to the elevator from the ygrain platform and thereby prevent choking of the platform conveyer or of the elevator.

257 is the Grain platform on which the grain is dropped from the cutting mechanism 297-302 and the grain platform is driven from the shaft 258 by the sprocket 259 over which the chain 195 passes. As the construction of the platform and' cutting mechanism, 79er se, form no part of the invention claimed in the present application, a further detailed description of the same is thought to be unnecessary as the construction of the platform and the cutting mechanism forms the subject matter of another divisional application filed on even date herewith, Serial No. 102,856.`

From the foregoing description taken in lconnection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understoody by those skilled in the art.

Vhat I claim is 1. In a harvester, an' elevator for conveying the grain from the platform and delivering it from the machine, said elevator comprising a lower endless conveyer and an upper endless conveyer between which conveyers the grain carried, yieldable supports for said upper conveyer whereby the space between said upper and lower conveyers may be self-adjusted by the grain, said supports comprising vertically slotted guides adjacent to the upper end of the upper conveyer, bearings mounted in said slotted guides in which bearings the upper conveyer shaft is journaled and spring pressed pivoted suspension members for sustaining the lower end of the upper conveyer for longitudinal and rise and fall movement-adjustment, means for applying direct driving power to one of said conveyers, power trans.- mitting gear connections between the upper and lower conveyers, said connections including' shiftable elements, and means for maintaining said elements in operative engagement to permit the rise and fall of the upper conveyer in performing its self-adjusting functions.

2. In a harvester, the combination with the body frame including a platform and wheel support therefor, means for moving the body from over the ground, a grain platform conveyer, a cutting mechanism in advance of said conveyer, an elevator for raising the grain from the conveyer and delivering it from the machine, said elevator comprising a lower endless conveyer, and an upper endless conveyer between which conveyers the grain is carried, yieldable supports for said upper conveyer whereby the space between said upper and lower conveyers may be self-adjusted by the grain, said supports comprising a fixed member having vertical slots, vertical slide bearings for the upper end of the upper conveyer, said bearings being movable in said slots and yieldably suspended pivotally mounted members for sustaining the lower end of the upper conveyer, a butt end elevating conveyer adjacent to and coperative with said lower elevator conveyer, said butt conveyer including fingers to engage the grain, adjacent drive shafts having conveyer rolls for the upper and lower conveyers, gears on said drive shafts, intermeshing pinions themselves respectively meshing with said gears, means for supporting said pinions to maintain them in mesh with one another, and with their respective gears as said elevator conveyers adjust themselves for the grain, and means for applying direct power to one of the elevator conveying shafts.

3. In a harvester, an elevator for conveying the grain from the platform and delivering it from the machine, said elevator comprising a lower relatively iixedly located endless conveyer, and an upper endless conveyer, between which conveyers the grain is carried, a driving shaft at the upper extremity of the lower conveyer, a driving gear on said driving shaft, a driving shaft at the upper extremity of said upper conveyer, a driving gear on said upper conveyer driving shaft, a plurality of intermeshing pinions connecting said driving gears, a yieldable support for said upper conveyer driving shaft, devices cooperative with said gears and pinions for maintaining said gears and pinions constantly in mesh during the yielding movements of said upper conveyer driving shaft, and supports for yieldably pivoting the lower extremity of said upper conveyer.

el. In a harvester, an elevator for conveying the grain from the platform and delivering it from the machine, said elevator comprising a lower relatively fixedly located endless conveyer, and an upper endless conveyer, between which conveyers the grain is carried, a driving shaft at the upper extremity of the lower conveyer, a driving gear on said driving shaft, a driving shaft at the upper extremity of said upper conveyer, a driving gear on said upper conveyer driving shaft, intermeshing pinions connecting said driving gears, a yieldable support for said upper conveyer driving shaft and devices cooperative with said gears and pinions for maintaining' said gears and pinions constantly in mesh during the yielding movements of said upper conveyer driving shaft, one of said driving gears including a yielding clutch device.

5. In a harvester, an elevator for conveying the grain from the platform and delivering it from the machine, said elevator comprising a lower relatively fixedly located endless conveyer, and an upper cndless conveyer, between which conveyers the grain is carried, a driving shaft at the upper extremity of the lower conveyer, a driving gear on said driving shaft, a driving shaft at the upper extremity of said upper conveyer, a driving gear on said upper conveyer driving shaft, intermeshing pinions connecting said driving gears, a yieldable support for said upper conveyer driving shaft, devices coperative with said gears and pinions for maintaining said gears and pinions constantly in mesh during the yielding movements of said upper conveyer driving shaft, and supports for floating the lower extremity of said upper conveyer, and one of said driving gears including a yielding clutch device, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a harvester, an elevator for conveying the grain from the platform and delivering it from the machine, said elevator comprising a lower endless conveyer, a driving shaft for said conveyer, an upper endless conveyer, a driving shaft for said upper endless conveyer, means for supporting said lowir conveyer in a relatively fixed location, means for supporting the driving shaft of said upper conveyer to yieldingly move toward and from the drive shaft of said lower conveyer, means for yieldably and pivotally supporting the lower portion of said upper ing the grain from the platformy and delivering it from the machine, said elevator comprising a lower endless conveyer, a drivingv shaft for said conveyer, an up'per endless conveyer, a driving shaft for said upper endless conveyer,'means for supporting said lower conveyer ina relatively fixed location, means for supporting the driving shaftl of said'upper conveyer to yieldingly move toward and fromv the drive shaft of said lower conveyer, means for yieldably and pivotally supporting the lower portion of saidl upper conveyer whereby said upper conveyor may have a pivotal'motion on its drive shaft or move with the drive shaft toward and from the lower conveyer, power transmission ccnnections between said drive shafts, said connections including shiftable elements, means formaint'aining said elements in operative engagement to permit the rise and fall of the upper conveyer in performing its selfadjusting functions, said power transmission gear connections including master gears on the respective drive shaft-s, said shiftable elements including intermeshing pinions respectively meshing with the respective master gears, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a harvester, an elevating mechanism comprising side board supports, a lower endless belt conveyer having upper and lower shafts journaled in said side board supports, an upper endless belt conveyer having an upper shaft, a lower shaft and a frame journaled on the upper shaft and carrying the lower shaft, a yieldably pivoted means for supporting the lower extremity of said frame from said side board supports, bearing blocks for the upper shaft of the conveyer, said side board supports having verti cal slots for said bearing blocks, yieldable means for bracing said bearing blocks downwardly, means for driving the upper shaft of the lower conveyer, gear connections between said upper shafts of said upper and lower conveyers whereby the upper conveyer is driven from the lower conveyer, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a harvester, an elevating mechanism comprising side board supports, a lower endless belt conveyer having upper andv lower shafts journaled in said side board supports, an upper endless belt conveyer having an upper shaft, a lower shaft and a frame journaled on the upper shaft and carrying the lower shaft, yieldably pivoted means for supporting the lower extremity of Asaid frame from said side board supports, bear ing blocks for the upper shaft of the upper conveyer, said side board supports having vertical slots for said bearing blocks, yieldable means for bracing said bearing blocks downwardly, means for driving the upper shaft of the lower conveyer, gear connections between said upper shafts of said upper and lower eonveyers whereby the upper conveyer is driven from the lower conveyer, the shafts of said lower conveyer being eX- tended beyond the front side board, sprockets on said shaft extensions, a conveyer chain passing around said sprockets substantially as shown and described.y I

ADAM B. MEINHARDT.

Copies of this patent A11i-ay' be" obtained for five cents each', by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

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