Agricultural harvesting unit and method of harvesting using the unit

Abstract

A harvesting unit with a combine, having a user cab. A harvesting apparatus, advanced by the combine, has a frame and a harvesting assembly on the frame configured to process severed crop over a width between spaced sides of the frame. A fluid delivery system discharges pressurized fluid in discrete streams each directed to at least one of: a) facilitate severance of crop by the harvesting assembly; and b) facilitate advancement of severed crop rearwardly in relationship to the frame for further processing. A user can selectively vary at least one of: a) a volume of pressurized fluid; and b) a direction of pressurized fluid in the discrete streams. A control system has at least one actuator accessible and operable from outside of the cab through a user input to cause the at least one of the volume of pressurized fluid discharged, and direction of the pressurized fluid, in the discrete streams to be varied.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0001]This invention relates to agricultural harvesting and, more particularly, to a harvesting unit utilizing a pressurized fluid to enhance crop processing.Background Art[0002]For decades, crop harvesting systems have utilized pressurized fluid to assist the processing of crops. A pioneer patent in this area—U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,082 entitled “Mechanical Air Reel”—discloses a basic arrangement of components that is common to most harvesting systems with a pressurized fluid assist capability.[0003]A harvesting “head”, as commonly coupled to a combine, typically consists of a frame that bounds a processing space within which severed crop is accumulated for delivery to the combine, whereat further processing occurs. The crop is severed at the front of the frame by stationary or moving cutting bars. Laterally spaced down tubes are arranged to deliver discrete, pressurized fluid streams in the vicinity of the cutting bars. The pressurized ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In one form, the invention is directed to a harvesting unit with a combine configured to be advanced over underlying terrain and process severed crop delivered to the combine. The combine has a cab from which a user can control operation of the combine. A harvesting apparatus is configured to be advanced by the combine over an area in which crop is grown. The harvesting apparatus has a frame with laterally spaced sides, a front and a rear. The harvesting apparatus has a harvesting assembly on the frame configured to process severed crop over a width between the spaced sides of the frame as the frame is advanced by the combine. A fluid delivery system is provided through which pressurized fluid is discharged in discrete streams each directed to at least one of: a) facilitate severance of crop by the harvesting assembly; and b) facilitate advancement of severed crop rearwardly in relationship to the frame for further processing. The fluid delivery system is configured so that a user can selectively vary at least one of: a) a volume of pressurized fluid discharged in the discrete streams; and b) a direction of the pressurized fluid in the discrete streams. The fluid delivery system has a control system with at least one actuator accessible and operable from outside of the cab through a user input to cause the at least one of the volume of pressurized fluid discharged, and direction of the pressurized fluid, in the discrete streams to be varied.

[0016]In one form, the fluid delivery system has a pressurized fluid source, a plurality of tubes with outlets from which the discrete streams project, and a manifold assembly that directs pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source to the plurality of tubes. At least a part of the manifold assembly is configured to turn around a laterally extending axis relative to the frame to thereby vary the direction of the pressurized fluid in the discrete streams.

[0017]In one form, the fluid delivery system has at least one baffle that is movable relative to a part of the manifold assembly to thereby vary the volume of fluid delivered from the pressurized fluid source to the plurality of tubes.

[0018]In one form, the control system has a drive and a controller. The drive is operated in response to a signal from the controller resulting from a user input to the at least one actuator to thereby cause the at least one of the volume of pressurized fluid discharged, and direction of the components of the pressurized fluid, in the discrete streams to be varied.

Problems solved by technology

However, seated in the cab, a user is unable to directly observe the front region of the harvesting system to determine whether a selected angle for the pressurized fluid streams and a particular flow volume is optimal.

This may have to be done multiple times, as a result of which valuable harvesting time may be wasted.

Further, a user is inconvenienced by potentially having to repeatedly enter the cab, depart the cab to inspect, and re-enter the cab before harvesting begins.

Aside from the inconvenience, a user has an increased likelihood of injury by reason of having to repeatedly enter and exit the cab by climbing over different structure on the head and combine below the elevated cab.

This is generally inconvenient and doubles necessary manpower at startup.

Thus, adjustments may have to be made periodically, as a result of which the user experiences the same inconvenience and loss of time and / or may inefficiently use manpower as discussed above.

The industry has continued to contend with the above problems because of a lack of any practical solution therefor.

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