Claims:
WE CLAIM:
1. A feeder reversal mechanism (110) of a combine harvester (100), said feeder reversal mechanism (110) configured to operate a feeder drive (105) in a forward harvesting mode and in a reverse de-choking mode.
2. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 1, which comprises:
• a straw walker drive coupled to said feeder drive (105);
• a straw walker sprocket (114) attached to said straw walker drive;
• a first pulley (115) fastened to said straw walker sprocket (114);
• a second pulley (116) coupled to said first pulley (115);
• a first sprocket (118) fastened to said second pulley (116);
• a second sprocket (120) coupled to said first sprocket (118);
• a jaw clutch (122) configured to operatively engage with said second sprocket (120); and
• a feeder lever (124) coupled to said jaw clutch (122);
wherein in an operative configuration, pressing said feeder lever (124) facilitates engagement of said jaw clutch (122) with said second sprocket (120) to cause rotation of said second sprocket (120), said second pulley (116), said first sprocket (118), said first pulley (115), said straw walker sprocket (114) and said straw walker drive, for reversing the direction of rotation of said feeder drive (105) and facilitate de-choking of said feeder drive (105).
3. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeder drive (105) is configured to rotate in anti-clockwise direction during the harvesting mode.
4. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said straw walker drive is configured to rotate in clockwise direction on actuation of said feeder reversal mechanism (110) in order to reverse the direction of rotation of said feeder drive (105) from anti-clockwise direction to clockwise direction.
5. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 2, which includes an auxiliary lever (126) configured to disengage the process drives and said feeder drive (105) of said combine harvester (100) from the prime mover.
6. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second pulley (116) is coupled to said first pulley (115) by means of a belt drive (128).
7. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second sprocket (120) is coupled to said first sprocket (118) by means of said belt drive (128).
8. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said jaw clutch (122) is a spring loaded jaw clutch (122).
9. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said jaw clutch (122) is engaged to said second sprocket (120) by means of a bearing (130).
Dated this 25th day of September, 2019

_______________________________
MOHAN DEWAN, IN/PA - 25
of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant
, Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of combine harvesters.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
A combine harvester is a machine designed for harvesting grain crops. The combine harvester is configured to do all the three operations of harvesting i.e., reaping, threshing, and winnowing. More often, moisture contents at the time of harvesting affects the working of combine harvester. Rise in moisture can be attributed to rains which results in moist straw or to more weed growth that subsequently causes choking of the feeder drive of the combine harvester. Choking of the feeder drive results in the stoppage of the harvester which leads to loss of productivity for the customer.
Conventionally, the feeder drive is de-choked manually. More specifically, an operator has to stop the combine harvester in the midst of the operation and manually rotate the feeder drive of the combine harvester in the clockwise direction for de-choking it. This results in loss of time and manual efforts.
There is, therefore, felt a need for a feeder reversal mechanism of a combine harvester.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a feeder reversal mechanism of a combine harvester.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a feeder reversal mechanism of a combine harvester that is cost-effective since no gearbox, electrical or hydraulic drive would be required for its working.
Yet another of the present disclosure is to provide a feeder reversal mechanism that can be easily retrofitted in existing models of combine harvester.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a feeder reversal mechanism of a combine harvester. The feeder reversal mechanism is configured to operate a feeder drive in a forward harvesting mode and in a reverse de-choking mode.
The mechanism comprises a straw walker drive, a straw walker sprocket, a first pulley, a second pulley, a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a jaw clutch, and a feeder lever. The straw walker drive is coupled to the feeder drive. The straw walker sprocket is attached to the straw walker drive. The first pulley is fastened to the straw walker sprocket. The second pulley is coupled to the first pulley. The first sprocket is fastened to the second pulley. The second sprocket is coupled to the first sprocket. The jaw clutch is configured to operatively engage with the second sprocket. The feeder lever coupled to the jaw clutch.
In an operative configuration, pressing the feeder lever facilitates engagement of the jaw clutch with the second sprocket to cause rotation of the second sprocket, the second pulley, the first sprocket, the first pulley, the straw walker sprocket and the straw walker drive, for reversing the direction of rotation of the feeder drive and facilitate de-choking of the feeder drive.
In an embodiment, the feeder drive is configured to rotate in anti-clockwise direction during the harvesting mode.
In another embodiment, the straw walker drive is configured to rotate in clockwise direction on actuation of the feeder reversal mechanism in order to reverse the direction of rotation of the feeder drive from anti-clockwise direction to clockwise direction.
In one embodiment, the mechanism includes an auxiliary lever configured to disengage the process drives and the feeder drive from the prime mover before actuating the feeder lever.
In another embodiment, the second pulley is coupled to the first pulley by means of a belt drive.
In yet another embodiment, the second sprocket is coupled to the first sprocket by means of the belt drive.
In still another embodiment, the jaw clutch is a spring loaded jaw clutch.
In one embodiment, the jaw clutch is engaged to the second sprocket by means of a bearing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A feeder reversal mechanism, of the present disclosure, of a combine harvester will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a combine harvester;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of the feeder reversal mechanism of the combine harvester of Figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of a feeder lever attached to a jaw clutch which is in turn attached to a second sprocket of the mechanism of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of an auxiliary lever of the mechanism of Figure 2.
LIST OF REFERNCE NUMERALS
100 – Combine harvester
102 – Cutting platform
104 – Feeder unit
105 – Feeder drive
106 – Threshing unit
108 – Separation unit
109 – Cleaning unit
110 – Feeder reversal mechanism
114 – Straw walker sprocket
115 – First pulley
116 – Second pulley
118 – First sprocket
120 – Second sprocket
122 – Jaw clutch
124 – Feeder lever
126 – Auxiliary lever
128 – Belt drive
130 – Bearing
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being "mounted on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component or section from another element, component or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc.,when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
The present disclosure envisages a feeder reversal mechanism (110) of a combine harvester (100). The combine harvester (100) comprises a cutting platform (102), a feeder unit (104), a threshing unit (106), a separation unit (108) and a cleaning unit (109). The cutting platform (102) is configured to cut the standing crops, snap ears or pick up of the crops. The feeder unit (104) is configured to pass the cut crops to the threshing unit (106) where the grains are removed from the crop ears. The grains are separated from the straw, husks or stalk pieces in the separation unit (108), and the chaff and debris are removed from the grain in the cleaning unit (109). The combine harvester (100) further includes a handling unit.
The feeder unit (104) includes process drives (not specifically labelled in figures) and a feeder and cutterbar drive (105) which are coupled to a prime mover (not specifically shown in figures) for enabling the combine harvester (100) to operate in the harvesting mode. During the harvesting mode, the feeder drive (105) and conveyor worm (not specifically labelled in figures) is configured to rotate in anti-clockwise direction.
Sometimes while harvesting, higher percentage of moisture in the crops or more number of weeds causes the feeder drive (105) to choke. The feeder reversal mechanism (110) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the mechanism 110’) is configured to operate the feeder drive (105) in a forward harvesting mode and in a reverse de-choking mode.
More specifically, the feeder reversal mechanism (110) is configured to reverse the direction of rotation of the feeder drive (105) to facilitate de-choking of the feeder drive (105) and conveyor worm. The mechanism (110) remains in disengaged configuration except when the feeder drive (105) is choked. The mechanism (110) comprises a straw walker drive, a straw walker sprocket (114), a first pulley (115), a second pulley (116), a first sprocket (118), a second sprocket (120), a jaw clutch (122) and a feeder lever (124).
The straw walker drive is coupled to the feeder drive (105). Employing the straw walker drive helps to keep the configuration of the mechanism (110) simple, by avoiding the usage of gear pairs or cross-belt drives.
The straw walker sprocket (114) is attached to the straw walker drive. The first pulley (115) is fastened to the straw walker sprocket (114). The second pulley (116) is coupled to the first pulley (115). The first sprocket (118) is fastened to the second pulley (116). The second sprocket (120) is coupled to the first sprocket (118). The jaw clutch (122) is configured to operatively engage with the second sprocket (120). The feeder lever (124) is coupled to the jaw clutch (122).
In an operative configuration of the mechanism (110), pressing the feeder lever (124) facilitates engagement of the jaw clutch (122) with the second sprocket (120) to cause rotation of the second sprocket (120), the second pulley (116), the first sprocket (118), the first pulley (115), the straw walker sprocket (114) and the straw walker drive, for reversing the direction of rotation of the feeder drive (105) and facilitate de-choking of the feeder drive (105). More specifically, the straw walker drive is configured to rotate in clockwise direction in harvesting mode to actuate the feeder reversal mechanism (110) in order to reverse the direction of rotation of the feeder drive (105) from anti-clockwise direction to clockwise direction. The reverse rotation of feeder drive (105) causes the material stuck in the feeder drive (105) to be released.
It is necessary that all other drives i.e., the process drives and the feeder drive (105) are de-actuated from the power source before actuating the mechanism (110) of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the mechanism (110) includes an auxiliary lever (126) which is configured to disengage the process drives and the feeder drive (105) from the prime mover before actuating the feeder lever (124). Disengaging the process drives and the feeder drive (105) from the prime mover ensures that the working of the mechanism (110) is not affected by the working of the combine harvester (100).
The second pulley (116) is coupled to the first pulley (115) by means of a belt drive (128). Similarly, the second sprocket (120) is coupled to the first sprocket (118) by means of a chain drive. The belt drives (128) ensure transmission of power between the first pulley (115) and the second pulley (116), and the first sprocket (118) and the second sprocket (120).
In one embodiment, the first pulley (115) is attached to the straw walker sprocket (114) by means of fasteners. In another embodiment, the first sprocket (118) is bolted on the second pulley (116) by means of fasteners.
In an embodiment, the jaw clutch (122) is a spring loaded jaw clutch (122). The jaw clutch (122) is engaged to the second sprocket (120) by means of a bearing (130).
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a feeder reversal mechanism of a combine harvester, that:
• facilitates de-choking of a combine harvester;
• requires no complex working mechanisms like gear trains, hydraulic or electrical drive;
• is cost-effective; and
• can be easily retrofitted in existing models of combine harvester.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Any discussion of devices or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.