# US 4,393,644 A · Two-speed drive apparatus for blower fans

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- Number: US 4,393,644 A
- Document ID: US4393644A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/289,869
- Filed: 1981-08-04
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1981-08-04
- Assignees: Sperry Corporation
- Inventors: Wayne B. Martenas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393644A

## CPC

- A01F 29/14: Drives
- A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08)

## Abstract

The blower of a forage harvester is controlled by two-speed belt drives for operating the blower between a first and a second speed for improved power requirements and operating efficiency. The disadvantages of such belt drives is avoided by a selector apparatus which controls a single speed rotating input and provides a two-speed rotating output.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In an agricultural machine including a frame, a blower fan supported on said frame for discharging crop material from said agricultural machine, and a main drive shaft supported on said frame for driving said blower fan, the improvement comprising:
(a) an input shaft connected to be rotated by said main drive shaft;
(b) said blower fan connected to rotate on said input shaft;
(c) a first gear connected to rotate with said input shaft;
(d) a second gear disposed on said input shaft;
(e) a third gear interconnecting said first and second gears;
(f) means connecting said third gear to said blower fan;
(g) means for selectively fixing said second gear to either of said input shaft and said frame;
(h) said blower fan being rotated at the same speed as said input shaft when said second gear is fixed to, and rotates with, said input shaft; and
(i) said blower fan being rotated at a slower speed than said input shaft when said second gear is fixed to said frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1, wherein said first gear comprises a ring gear, said second gear comprises a sun gear, and said third gear comprises a planetary gear.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The improvement of claim 2, wherein said connecting means comprises a planet carrier supporting said planetary gear.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The improvement of claim 3, wherein said planet carrier encloses said ring gear, said sun gear and said planetary gear.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1, further comprising a fixed member mounted on said frame adjacent one end of said input shaft, and wherein said selectively fixing means includes a pin connectable with either of said input shaft and said fixed member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The improvement of claim 5, further comprising a ring slidably mounted on said second gear for movement between a first position where said pin may connect said second gear only to said input shaft and a second position where said pin may connect said second gear only to said fixed member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said same speed is approximately 1000 rpm, and said slower speed is approximately 700 rpm.