US-12622354-B2 - Independent and suspended spreader hood and distribution deflector

US12622354B2US 12622354 B2US12622354 B2US 12622354B2US-12622354-B2

Abstract

A crop residue spreader for an agricultural harvester having a spreader frame with counter-rotating impellers for discharging crop residue and a distribution deflector mounted in close proximity to the impellers for deflecting crop residue discharged by the impellers. A common structural member independently supports both the spreader frame and the distribution deflector, such that the distribution deflector does not contact the spreader frame and connects to the spreader frame only indirectly through the common structural member, forming a gap between the spreader frame and the distribution deflector across the discharge area to provide clearance for discharged crop residue to exit the spreader.

Inventors

Nathan E. Isaac
Cooper Linde
Ziying Zhao

Assignees

CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
CNH Industrial (Harbin) Machinery Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230118

Claims (11)

1 . A crop residue spreader of an agricultural harvester, comprising: a spreader frame; counter-rotating impellers mounted on the spreader frame that receives a crop residue from a crop threshing and/or cleaning system of the agricultural harvester and discharges the crop residue from the agricultural harvester; a distribution hood comprising a distribution deflector and a divider, the distribution hood being mounted in close proximity to the counter-rotating impellers in distributing a crop residue discharged by the counter-rotating impellers; and one or more spreader pivot arms independently supporting both the spreader frame and the distribution hood; wherein the spreader frame and the distribution hood comprising the divider, the divider facing the discharging crop residue, form a gap enabling the discharging crop residue to exit the spreader; and wherein the distribution deflector deflects the discharging crop residue and comprises a replaceable nose cap.
2 . The spreader of claim 1 , wherein the spreader frame further comprises a housing at least partially enclosing the counter-rotating impellers.
3 . The spreader of claim 1 , wherein the distribution deflector oscillates.
4 . The spreader of claim 3 , wherein the distribution hood comprises a support member that oscillates the distribution deflector.
5 . The spreader of claim 4 , wherein a rotating shaft suspended from the support member oscillates the distribution deflector.
6 . The spreader of claim 5 , further comprising a hydraulic driver that drives the rotating shaft.
7 . The spreader of claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic driver is connected to the distribution deflector by a pitman arm.
8 . The spreader of claim 4 , wherein the divider covers the support member that oscillates the distribution deflector.
9 . The spreader of claim 1 , wherein the one or more spreader pivot arms are mounted to a straw hood of the agricultural harvester.
10 . An agricultural harvester, comprising the crop residue spreader of claim 1 .
11 . An agricultural harvester, comprising: a crop threshing and/or cleaning system producing a flow or stream of crop residue; a rear cavity enclosed by a straw hood that receives the flow or stream of crop residue from the threshing and/or cleaning system; and a crop residue spreader of an agricultural harvester, the crop residue spreader comprising: a spreader frame; counter-rotating impellers mounted on the spreader frame that receives the flow or stream of crop residue from the rear cavity of the straw hood and discharges the crop residue from the agricultural harvester; a distribution hood comprising a distribution deflector and a divider, the distribution hood being mounted in close proximity to the counter-rotating impellers in distributing a crop residue discharged by the counter-rotating impellers; and one or more spreader pivot arms independently supporting both the spreader frame and the distribution hood; wherein the spreader frame and the distribution hood comprising the divider, the divider facing the discharging crop residue, form a gap enabling the discharging crop residue to exit the spreader without binding; and wherein the distribution deflector deflects the discharging crop residue and comprises a replaceable nose cap.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters. More specifically, the present invention relates to a crop residue spreader for an agricultural harvester. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rotary threshing or separating systems are used in agricultural combines for threshing crops to separate grain from crop residue, also referred to as material other than grain (MOG). Such axially arranged systems typically include at least one cylindrical rotor rotated within a cage or concave, with the rotor and surrounding concave being oriented so as to extend forwardly to rearwardly within the combine. During operation of the combine, crop material is fed or directed into a circumferential passage between the rotor and the concave and is carried rearwardly along a generally helical path through such passage by rotation of the rotor as grain is threshed from the crop material. The flow of crop residue remaining between the rotor and concave after threshing is typically discharged or expelled at a rear or downstream end of the rotor. After discharge from the threshing system, the crop residue is typically directed into a crop residue distribution system located below and rearwardly of the rear end of the rotor. The crop residue distribution system typically includes a rotary beater or chopper or other apparatus that conveys and/or chops and propels the residue rearwardly towards an area within the rear end of the combine, hereinafter referred to as a distribution chamber. The crop residue provided within the distribution chamber may be (i) discharged therefrom onto a field as a windrow, (ii) directed into a crop residue spreader mounted on or at the rear end of the combine that is operable for spreading the residue over a swath of a field, or (iii) both (i) and (ii). Windrowing typically occurs when users desire to retain the crop residue for post-processing. In such cases, the residue, which may be chopped or un-chopped, is discharged from the combine, without entering the chopper/spreader, to form a windrow directly behind the combine. A windrow door is typically positioned at the rear opening and is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the crop residue is diverted into the spreader, and an open position, wherein the crop residue is directed over the spreader, through the rear opening, onto a windrow chute and onto the field. When the crop residue is to be discharged onto a field to form a windrow, it is typically preferred that the crop residue be distributed onto the windrow chute extending from the rear opening to allow for the formation of a desirable windrow shape. A crop residue spreader mounted on or at the rear end of the combine is configured to distribute the processed crop materials or residue over a harvested field. Spreader assemblies typically include counter rotating disks or impellers mounted on a frame for receiving all or part of the processed crop material or residue from the distribution chamber and spreading the material in a generally even side to side manner behind the harvester. As is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,585,475 to CNH America LLC (the '475 Patent), which is incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes, the spreader assembly may be pivotably mounted, such that the spreader assembly can be moved between operating and inoperative positions depending on the desired operating state of the harvester. The spreader assembly may include a transition hood, also known as a distribution hood or a spreader hood, specially configured for spreading chaff in a uniform manner and positioned at or near the outlet of the impellers. The transition hood may be provided with a stationary or movable deflector to modify the distribution of the crop residue exiting the rotary disks, for example, to deposit crop residue more evenly across the width of the harvester or across the distribution area behind the harvester. US 2020/0196525 A1, US 2020/0045883 A1, and US 2016/0374267 A1, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference each in their entirety and for all purposes, describe moveable deflection distributors mounted directly to the spreader frame. The deflectors are mounted directly to the spreader frame between the impellers at their outlet, with the mounting and/or activating elements positioned within the impeller housing. These spreader assemblies and others, wherein the distribution deflector and/or distribution hood are connected directly to the spreader frame, allow that crop material can bridge across the impeller housing and/or hood divider to plug or block the spreader and interrupt operation of the harvester. In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to configure a spreader assembly so that crop material has an exit path from the spreader without bridging across the impeller housing and/or distribution hood divider or other elements of the distribution hood to block, plug, or bind in the spreader. Although various componen