Grain loss prevention system using a blower

Abstract

A header for a harvester for harvesting material. The header includes a conveyor belt that transports the material toward the harvester, and a blower head that helps prevent the material from falling off the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt can include an intake belt that intakes the material toward the harvester and a side belt that carries the material toward the intake belt. The blower head can blow over the side belt and blow toward the center of the intake belt. The blower head can be located below the side belt. The blower head can be located near the front of the intake belt and blow toward the harvester. An intake tube can move the material toward the harvester, and the blower head can blow over the intake tube and blow toward the intake belt or the harvester. The blower head can be movable, or can have an adjustable flow, speed, direction, or range.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to combine harvesters, and more specifically to the use of air blowers to reduce grain loss at the combine harvester conveyor belt. Background Technology

[0002] Combine harvesters are used to harvest crops in fields and often employ cutting heads and / or harvesting heads (such as draper heads) to increase the width of a single cut. As the crop is cut by the draper head, the side belts transport the cut material to the combine harvester's central feed area, where it is processed and collected. During the transport of the cut material to the central feed area and / or during the transport of the cut material from the side belts to the central feed area, grain may fall to the ground and become harvest loss. A system is desired to prevent grain loss, which helps to prevent grain from falling to the ground and becoming harvest loss. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A harvester's header for harvesting and storing material is disclosed, wherein the harvester's header includes one or more conveyor belts and one or more blower heads. The one or more conveyor belts are configured to transport material toward the harvester. The one or more blower heads are configured to help prevent material from falling off the multiple conveyor belts during transport toward the harvester.

[0004] The conveyor belt may include a feed belt that feeds material toward the harvester and side belts that transport material toward the feed belt. The feed belt may have two sides and a central portion located between the two sides. One or more blower heads may blow air across the side belts and toward the center of the feed belt. One or more blower heads may be located below the side belts and blow air toward the center of the feed belt. The feed belt may have a front and a rear section, with the front section farther from the harvester than the rear section. One or more blower heads may be located near the front section of the feed belt and blow air toward the rear section of the feed belt.

[0005] The harvester may also include a feed cylinder configured to rotate and move the material toward the harvester, wherein the front portion of the feed belt is farther from the feed cylinder than the rear portion of the feed belt. One or more blower heads may blow air across the feed cylinder and toward the feed belt.

[0006] One or more of the multiple blower heads may be movable. One or more of the multiple blower heads may have adjustable flow rate. One or more of the multiple blower heads may have adjustable flow velocity. One or more of the multiple blower heads may have adjustable flow direction. One or more of the multiple blower heads may have adjustable flow range.

[0007] Multiple conveyor belts may include: a feed belt that feeds material toward the harvester; a right-side belt that transports material from the right side of the harvester toward the feed belt; and a left-side belt that transports material from the left side of the harvester toward the feed belt, wherein the feed belt has left and right sides and a central portion located between the left and right sides. One or more right blower heads can blow air across the right-side belt and toward the center of the feed belt, and one or more left blower heads can blow air across the left-side belt and toward the center of the feed belt. The feed belt may have a front and a rear section, wherein the front section is farther from the harvester than the rear section, and one or more front blower heads located near the front section of the feed belt can blow air toward the rear section of the feed belt. One or more upper blower heads can blow air across the feed hopper and toward the feed belt. One or more rear blower heads can blow air across the feed hopper and toward the harvester. One or more right blower heads may be located below the right side belt and blow air toward the center of the feed belt, and one or more left blower heads may be located below the left side belt and blow air toward the center of the feed belt. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The foregoing aspects of this disclosure and the manner of obtaining these aspects will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by referring to the following description of embodiments of this disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009] Figure 1 An exemplary combine harvester connected to a harvesting station is shown;

[0010] Figure 2 A closer view of the harvesting table is shown;

[0011] Figure 3 A closer perspective view of the central portion of the harvesting platform is shown;

[0012] Figure 4 A front view of the central portion of the harvester with a left blower head and a right blower head is shown;

[0013] Figure 5 A perspective view of the central portion of an embodiment of a harvesting table having a left blower head, a right blower head, and a front blower head is shown.

[0014] Figure 6A perspective view of a cross-section on the right side of the central portion of the harvester is shown, wherein the cross-section is taken near the right head roller of the right conveyor belt and viewed from the right side of the right head roller toward the feed belt;

[0015] Figure 7 A perspective view of a cross-section on the right side of the central portion of the harvesting table is shown, wherein the cross-section is taken near the right head roller of the right conveyor belt and viewed from the right side of the feed belt toward the right head roller; and

[0016] Figure 8 The diagram shows a view of the harvesting platform near the feed cylinder when viewed towards a combine harvester, where the harvesting platform includes a rear blower head and an upper blower head.

[0017] In all the drawings, the corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate the corresponding parts. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments of this disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit this disclosure to the precise forms described in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments were chosen and described so that those skilled in the art can understand and appreciate the principles and practice of this disclosure.

[0019] Figure 1 An exemplary combine harvester 100 is shown attached to a harvesting platform 120. The combine harvester 100 includes a cab 102, traction devices 104 and 106, and a storage area 108. The engine of the combine harvester 100 can drive the traction devices 104 and 106 to move, thereby moving the combine harvester 100 and the harvesting platform 120. The harvesting platform 120 has a left side portion 122, a right side portion 124, and a central portion 126. Crops cut by the left side portion 122 and the right side portion 124 of the harvesting platform 120 are moved to the central portion 126, where they are fed into a feeding section 130 for processing and transported to the storage area 108 of the combine harvester 100.

[0020] Figure 2 A closer view of the harvester 120 is shown, and Figure 3A closer perspective view of the central portion 126 of the harvester 120 is shown. The entire width of the front portion of the harvester 120 may include cutting blades 210 that cut crops as the combine harvester 100 pushes the harvester 120 forward through the field. The left side portion 122 of the harvester 120 includes a left conveyor belt 202 that transports the crop material cut by the left side portion 122 of the harvester 120 to the central portion 126 of the harvester 120. The right side portion 124 of the harvester 120 includes a right conveyor belt 204 that transports the crop material cut by the right side portion 124 of the harvester 120 to the central portion 126 of the harvester 120. The central portion 126 of the harvester 120 includes a feed belt 206, a feed cylinder 220, and a feed base plate 230. The feeding belt 206 feeds the crop material into the feeding cylinder 220, which compresses the material and feeds it backward along the feeding bottom plate 230 into the feeding section 130 of the combine harvester 100.

[0021] At the center portion 126 of the harvesting platform 120, the left conveyor belt 202 transports the cut crop material from the left conveyor belt 202 to the feed belt 206, and the right conveyor belt 204 transports the cut crop material from the right conveyor belt 204 to the feed belt 206, which receives the crop material cut by the center portion 126 of the harvesting platform 120. The feed belt 206 transports the received crop material to the feed cylinder 220, which rotates to feed the crop material along the feed base plate 230 toward the feed section 130 of the combine harvester.

[0022] Figure 4 A front view is shown of the central portion 126 of a harvester 120 having blower heads 470 and 480. The left conveyor belt 202 includes a top portion 420, a bottom portion 422, and a left head roller 424. The right conveyor belt 204 includes a top portion 440, a bottom portion 442, and a right head roller 444. The feed belt 206 includes a top portion 460, a bottom portion 462, and a center head roller 464.

[0023] The crop material cut by the left side portion 122 of the harvester 120 generally follows the path of arrow 426. The top portion 420 of the left conveyor belt 202 transports the crop material cut by the left side portion 122 to the center portion 126, where a left head roller 424 is positioned. The top portion 420 of the left conveyor belt 202 wraps around the left head roller 424 to form the bottom 422, and returns to the left end of the harvester 120, where it wraps around the left tail roller to form the top portion 420 of the left conveyor belt 202, and again transports the crop material cut by the left side portion 122 of the harvester 120 to the center portion 126. As the top portion 420 of the left conveyor belt 202 winds around the left head roller 424, most of the crop material carried by the top portion 420 falls onto the top portion 460 of the feed belt 206, which transports the crop material to the feed cylinder 220 and feed bottom plate 230 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester. Crops that are not successfully transported from the left conveyor belt 202 to the feed belt 206 may be lost, for example, due to adhesion to the bottom 422 of the left conveyor belt 202, or may fall off and miss the feed belt 206. The left blower 470 can blow air from below the bottom 422 of the left conveyor belt 202 toward the top portion 460 of the feed belt 206 to increase the amount of crop material successfully transported from the left conveyor belt 202 to the feed belt 206 and ultimately to the feed section 130 of the combine harvester. The left blower 470 also helps prevent crop material transported by the top portion 460 of the feed belt 206 from falling off the left side of the feed belt 206, thereby also increasing the amount of crop material successfully transported by the feed belt 206 and deposited in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester.

[0024] The crop material cut by the right side portion 124 of the harvester 120 generally follows the path of arrow 446. The top portion 440 of the right conveyor belt 204 transports the crop material cut by the right side portion 124 to the center portion 126, where a right head roller 444 is positioned. The top portion 440 of the right conveyor belt 204 wraps around the right head roller 444 to form the bottom 442, and returns to the right end of the harvester 120, where it wraps around the right tail roller to form the top portion 440 of the right conveyor belt 204, and again transports the crop material cut by the right side portion 124 of the harvester 120 to the center portion 126. As the top portion 440 of the right conveyor belt 204 winds around the right head roller 444, most of the crop material carried by the top portion 440 falls onto the top portion 460 of the feed belt 206, which transports the crop material to the feed cylinder 220 and feed bottom plate 230 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester. Crops that are not successfully transported from the right conveyor belt 204 to the feed belt 206 may be lost, for example, due to adhering to the bottom 442 of the right conveyor belt 204, or may fall off and miss the feed belt 206. The right blower 480 can blow air from below the bottom 442 of the right conveyor belt 204 toward the top portion 460 of the feed belt 206 to increase the amount of crop material successfully transported from the right conveyor belt 204 to the feed belt 206 and ultimately to the feed section 130 of the combine harvester. The right blower 480 also helps prevent crop material transported by the top portion 460 of the feed belt 206 from falling off the right side of the feed belt 206, thereby also increasing the amount of crop material successfully transported by the feed belt 206 and deposited in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester.

[0025] One or more blowers may be present on the right and left sides of the feed belt 206 to help create air barriers, thereby reducing the loss of crop material falling from the sides of the feed belt 206. The blowers may be positioned below the side belts 202, 204 and directed to blow along the bottom 422, 442 of the side belts 202, 204 toward the feed belt 206, helping to reduce the amount of crop material adhering to the bottom 422, 442, or otherwise failing to be transported from the side belts 202, 204 to the feed belt 206. The blowers may also create air curtains along the sides of the feed belt 206 to reduce losses during the transport of crop material to the feed cylinder 220 and feed bottom plate 230 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester.

[0026] Figure 5A perspective view of the central portion 510 of an embodiment of a harvester 500 having multiple left blower heads 520-526, multiple right blower heads 540-544, and multiple front blower heads 560-564 is shown. This perspective view also shows a gap 580 between the right conveyor belt 204 and the feed belt 206. Crop material adhering to the right conveyor belt 204, or crop material that has not been successfully conveyed to and held on the feed belt 206, may fall into the gap 580 and result in harvesting losses. A similar gap exists between the left conveyor belt 202 and the feed belt 206, which is not visible from this angle.

[0027] As referenced above Figure 4 As described, the left conveyor belt 202 transports crop material cut from the left side of the harvester 500 to the central section 510, where most of the crop material transported by the left conveyor belt 202 falls onto the feed belt 206, which transports the crop material to the feed bottom plate 230 and feed cylinder 220 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester. Left blower heads 520, 522, 524, and 526 blow air from below the left conveyor belt 202 toward the feed belt 206 to increase the amount of crop material successfully transported from the left conveyor belt 202 to the feed belt 206, and the left blower heads 520, 522, 524, and 526 also help prevent crop material from falling from the left side of the feed belt 206 into any gaps. The spacing and position of the left blower heads 520, 522, 524, and 526 can be varied to reduce crop material loss from the feed belt 206. The flow rate, velocity, direction, and / or range of the airflow or air stream from the left blower heads 520, 522, 524, and 526 can also be varied to further reduce crop material loss from the feed belt 206. The left blower heads 520, 522, 524, and 526 can form an air curtain on the left side of the feed belt 206 to reduce losses during the transport of crop material to the feed bottom plate 230 and feed cylinder 220 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester 100.

[0028] As referenced above Figure 4As described, the right conveyor belt 204 transports crop material cut from the right side of the harvester 500 to the central section 510, where most of the crop material transported by the right conveyor belt 204 falls onto the feed belt 206, which transports the crop material to the feed bottom plate 230 and feed cylinder 220 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester. Right blower heads 540, 542, and 544 blow air from below the right conveyor belt 204 toward the feed belt 206 to increase the amount of crop material successfully transported from the right conveyor belt 204 to the feed belt 206, and the right blower heads 540, 542, and 544 also help prevent crop material from falling from the right side of the feed belt 206 into any gaps (e.g., gap 580). The spacing and position of the right blower heads 540, 542, and 544 can be varied to reduce crop material loss from the feed belt 206. The flow rate, velocity, direction, and / or range of the airflow or air stream from the right blower heads 540, 542, and 544 can also be varied to further reduce crop material loss from the feed belt 206. The right blower heads 540, 542, and 544 can form an air curtain on the right side of the feed belt 206 to reduce losses during the transport of crop material to the feed bottom plate 230 and feed cylinder 220 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester.

[0029] The feed belt 206 transports crop material received from the left conveyor belt 202 and the right conveyor belt 204, as well as crop material cut by the cutting blades 210 of the central section 510 of the harvester 500, to the feed base plate 230 and the feed cylinder 220 for deposition in the feed section 130 of the combine harvester. Front blower heads 560, 562, and 564 blow air from the top of the feed belt 206 toward the feed cylinder 220 to help prevent crop material from returning to or falling from the front of the feed belt 206. The front blower heads 560, 562, and 564 may each have covers 570, 572, and 574 to help guide airflow from the front blower heads 560, 562, and 564 toward the feed cylinder 220 and reduce any interference with the feeding of crop material cut by the central section 510. The spacing and position of the front blower heads 560, 562, 564 can be changed, and / or the flow rate, speed, direction and / or range of the airflow from the front blower heads 560, 562, 564 can be changed to reduce the loss of crop material from the feed belt 206.

[0030] Figure 6 and Figure 7 A perspective view of a cross-section of the right side of the central portion 510 of the harvester 500 is shown, wherein the cross-section is taken near the right head roller 444 of the right conveyor belt 204. Figure 6 The 3D view is taken from the right side of the right head roller 444 towards the feed belt 206. Figure 7 The perspective view is taken from the right side of the feed belt 206 toward the right head roller 444, and the gap 580 is shown more clearly. Figure 6 and Figure 7 The positions of right blower heads 540, 542, and 546 are shown, which blow air into a gap 580 located below the bottom 442 of the right conveyor belt 204 and above the feed belt 206. The right blower heads 540, 542, and 546 direct air from below the right conveyor belt 204 toward the feed belt 206 to increase the amount of crop material successfully transported from the right conveyor belt 204 to the feed belt 206, and also help prevent crop material from falling off the right side of the feed belt 206 and into the gap 580. The spacing and position of the right blower heads 540, 542, and 546, as well as the flow rate, speed, direction, and / or range of the airflow from the right blower heads 540, 542, and 546, can be varied to reduce crop material loss from the feed belt 206.

[0031] Figure 8 The diagram shows a view of the harvester head 820 near the feed cylinder 220 when viewed towards the combine harvester 100. The harvester head 820 includes rear blower heads 810, 812, 814 and upper blower heads 820, 822, 824. The rear blower heads 810, 812, 814 are located in front of the feed cylinder 220 and above the feed belt 206 and the feed base plate 230. The rear blower heads 810, 812, 814 blow air toward the feed cylinder 220 and the feed base plate 230 to facilitate the movement of grain toward the feed section 130 of the combine harvester 100. The upper blower heads 820, 822, 824 are located above the feed cylinder 220 and the feed base plate 230. The upper blower heads 820, 822, and 824 blow air downwards and toward the feed base plate 230 above the feed cylinder 220 to help keep the grain moving toward the feed section 130 of the combine harvester 100. The spacing and position of the rear blower heads 810, 812, and 814 and the upper blower heads 820, 822, and 824, as well as the flow rate, speed, direction, and / or range of the airflow from the rear blower heads 810, 812, and 814 and the upper blower heads 820, 822, and 824, can be varied to reduce crop material loss as it moves toward the feed section 130 of the combine harvester 100.

[0032] Blower heads or nozzles can be removable, movable, or permanently fixed at various locations on the harvester. Airflow or air-jet settings (flow rate, speed, direction, and / or range) can be variable, such that the airflow or air-jet will form an air curtain on the sides of the feed belt and primarily direct grain toward the center of the belt. Nozzle spacing can be variable, such that the air curtain formed by one or more blower nozzles will cover all or a desired portion of the area where grain loss might occur. Nozzles can create air curtains to cover the area between the central belt and side belts of the header; and nozzles can be located below the side belts and concentrate the airflow at the top of the central belt. The intensity and trajectory of the airflow or air-jet from the nozzles can be constant or variable.

[0033] Although this disclosure has been shown and described in detail in the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description, such showing and description should be considered exemplary rather than limiting. It should be understood that the illustrative embodiments shown and described, as well as all variations and modifications falling within the spirit of this disclosure, are intended to be protected. It should be noted that alternative embodiments of this disclosure may not include all the features described, but may still benefit from at least some of the advantages of these features. Those skilled in the art can readily devise implementations incorporating one or more features of this disclosure, and such implementations fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) for a harvester (100) for harvesting and storing materials; said harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) comprising: Multiple conveyor belts (202, 204, 206) are configured to transport the material toward the harvester (100), wherein the multiple conveyor belts (202, 204, 206) include a feed belt (206) for feeding the material toward the harvester (100) and a first side belt (202) for transporting the material toward the feed belt (206); and Multiple blower heads (470, 480, 520, 522, 524, 526, 540, 542, 544, 560, 562, 564, 810, 812, 814, 820, 822, 824) are configured to help prevent material from falling off the multiple conveyor belts (202, 204, 206) as the material is being transported toward the harvester (100). The first side strip has a bottom portion and a top portion; The feeding belt has a top portion and a bottom portion; One or more of the plurality of blower heads are located below the first side belt and blow air across the bottom portion of the first side belt and toward the top portion of the feed belt to blow material adhering to the bottom portion of the first side belt onto the top portion of the feed belt.

2. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1, wherein, The feed belt (206) has two sides and a central portion located between the two sides; and The one or more first side blower heads blow air across the bottom portion of the first side belt (202) and toward the center of the top portion of the feed belt (206).

3. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1, wherein, The feed belt (206) has a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion being farther from the harvester (100) than the rear portion; and One or more of the plurality of blower heads (560, 562, 564) are located near the front of the feed belt (206) and blow air over the top portion of the feed belt and toward the rear of the feed belt (206).

4. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1 further includes: A feeding cylinder (220) is configured to rotate the material and move the material toward the harvester (100); One or more of the upper blower heads (810, 812, 814, 820, 822, 824) blow air through the feed cylinder (220) and toward the feed belt (206).

5. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1 further includes: A feeding cylinder (220) is configured to rotate the material and move the material toward the harvester (100); One or more of the rear blower heads (810, 812, 814, 820, 822, 824) blow air through the feed cylinder (220) and toward the harvester (100).

6. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1, wherein, One or more of the plurality of blower heads (470, 480, 520, 522, 524, 526, 540, 542, 544, 560, 562, 564, 810, 812, 814, 820, 822, 824) are movable.

7. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1, wherein, One or more of the plurality of blower heads (470, 480, 520, 522, 524, 526, 540, 542, 544, 560, 562, 564, 810, 812, 814, 820, 822, 824) have adjustable flow rates.

8. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1, wherein, One or more of the plurality of blower heads (470, 480, 520, 522, 524, 526, 540, 542, 544, 560, 562, 564, 810, 812, 814, 820, 822, 824) have an adjustable flow direction.

9. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1, wherein, One or more of the plurality of blower heads (470, 480, 520, 522, 524, 526, 540, 542, 544, 560, 562, 564, 810, 812, 814, 820, 822, 824) have an adjustable flow range.

10. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of conveyor belts (202, 204, 206) include a second side belt (204) that transports the material from the right side of the harvesting table (120, 500, 820) toward the feed belt (206), and wherein the second side belt has a bottom portion and a top portion; The first side belt (202) transports the material from the left side of the harvesting table (120, 500, 820) toward the feed belt (206). The feeding belt (206) has a left side and a right side, and a central portion located between the left side and the right side; and One or more of the plurality of blower heads, specifically the second side blower heads (480, 540, 542, 544), are located below the second side belt and blow air across the bottom portion of the second side belt and toward the right side of the top portion of the feed belt to blow material adhering to the bottom portion of the second side belt onto the top portion of the feed belt. Meanwhile, one or more of the plurality of blower heads, specifically the first side blower heads (470, 520, 522, 524, 526), ​​blow air across the bottom portion of the first side belt (202) and toward the left side of the top portion of the feed belt (206).

11. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 10, wherein, The feed belt (206) has a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion being farther from the harvester (100) than the rear portion; and One or more of the plurality of blower heads are located near the front part of the feed belt (206) and blow air toward the rear part of the feed belt (206).

12. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 11 further comprises: A feeding cylinder (220) is configured to rotate the material and move the material from the rear of the feeding belt (206) toward the harvester (100); and One or more of the upper blower heads (820, 822, 824) blow air through the feed cylinder (220) and toward the feed belt (206).

13. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 12, wherein, One or more of the rear blower heads (810, 812, 814) blow air through the feed cylinder (220) and toward the harvester (100).

14. The harvesting platform (120, 500, 820) according to claim 11 further comprises: A feeding cylinder (220) is configured to rotate the material and move it from the rear of the feeding belt (206) toward the harvester (100); and One or more of the rear blower heads (810, 812, 814) blow air through the feed cylinder (220) and toward the harvester (100).

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