Auxiliary drive for combine augers for cleanout
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsGlenn E. Pope, John P. Vandevoorde, Ryan S. Herlyn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An auxiliary rotary drive for at least one auger that in normal operation is rotatable to transport grain from a grain tank of a harvesting apparatus. The auxiliary rotary drive is configured to rotate the at least one auger during cleanout to assist air nozzles or other means to remove residual grain or residue from the harvesting apparatus. The auxiliary rotary drive can be arranged to transfer power to the auger via a clutch arrangement arranged between the auxiliary rotary drive and the auger. The auxiliary rotary drive turns the auger at a speed slower than a normal operating speed of the auger.
Claims20
In a harvesting apparatus having a grain tank and at least one auger that is rotatable at an operating speed by a primary rotary drive to transport grain from the grain tank, the improvement comprising:
- an auxiliary rotary drive engageable during cleaning of said grain tank when said primary rotary drive is disengaged from causing rotation of said auger to turn said auger at a reduced speed compared to said operating speed.
In a harvesting apparatus having a grain tank and at least one auger that is rotatable at an operating speed to transport grain from the grain tank, the improvement comprising:
- an auxiliary rotary drive engageable during cleaning of said grain tank to turn said auger at a reduced speed compared to said operating speed;
- wherein said auxiliary rotary drive comprises a motor and a clutch arrangement arranged between said motor and said auger, said motor having sufficient power to turn said auger via said clutch arrangement.
In a harvesting apparatus having a grain tank and at least one auger that is rotatable at an operating speed to transport grain from the grain tank, the improvement comprising:
- an auxiliary rotary drive engageable during cleaning of said grain tank to turn said auger at a reduced speed compared to said operating speed;
- wherein said auxiliary rotary drive comprises an electric motor.
In a harvesting apparatus having a grain tank and at least one auger that is rotatable at an operating speed to transport grain from the grain tank, the improvement comprising:
- an auxiliary rotary drive engageable during cleaning of said grain tank to turn said auger at a reduced speed compared to said operating speed;
- wherein said auxiliary rotary drive comprises a motor and a clutch arrangement arranged between said motor and said auger, said motor having sufficient power to turn said auger via said clutch arrangement, wherein said clutch arrangement comprises a drive pulley fixed to a rotary output shaft of said drive, an input pulley coupled to said auger, and a belt coupled to said output and input pulleys.
In a harvesting apparatus having a grain tank and at least one auger that is rotatable at an operating speed to transport grain from the grain tank, the improvement comprising:
- an auxiliary rotary drive engageable during cleaning of said grain tank to turn said auger at a reduced speed compared to said operating speed;
- further comprising an operator-actuated switch for activating said auxiliary rotary drive.
In a harvesting apparatus having a grain tank and at least one auger that is rotatable at an operating speed to transport grain from the grain tank, the improvement comprising:
- an auxiliary rotary drive engageable during cleaning of said grain tank to turn said auger at a reduced speed compared to said operating speed;
- and
- comprising a control system, said control system including an operator-actuated switch, a timer, and an audible alarm, said control system configured such that once said operator-actuated switch is actuated, said timer delays operation of said auxiliary rotary drive for a pre-selected time during which time said audible alarm sounds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.