COMBINE HARVESTER

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

The present invention relates to a combine harvester.

[BACKGROUND ART]

[1] An example of conventional combine harvesters is disclosed in JP 2006-001461 A. As shown in Fig. 7 of JP 2006-001461 A, this combine harvester comprises a vehicle body frame including a pair of right and left steel pipes extending in a longitudinal direction of a propelling vehicle body. The pair of steel pipes are arranged in a transverse direction of the propelling vehicle body between right and left crawler propelling devices, and connected by connecting frames to track frames of the right and left crawler propelling devices.

[2] Other examples of conventional combine harvesters are disclosed in JP 2009-039024 A and JP 2000-050721 A. Each of the combine harvesters comprises: a dust removal device including a dust-drawing opening provided in a top plate member of a feeder case of a feeder; a dust removal hood provided outside of the feeder case to communicate with the dust-drawing opening; and a dust drawing/discharging rotary fan which is rotatable mounted in the interior of the dust removal hood. In operation, dust present at a front portion of the feeder or inside of the feeder case is drawn from through the dust-drawing opening into the interior of the dust removal hood by the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan to allow the dust to circulate within the dust removal hood and to be discharged from through a discharge opening to a predetermined site.

The combine harvester disclosed in JP 2009-039024 A includes a hood acting as the dust removal hood, and an electric axial-flow fan acting as the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan.

The combine harvester disclosed in JP 2000-050721 A (Fig. 9) includes an upper surface hood acting as the dust removal hood, and a sirocco fan acting as the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan.

[PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION]

[1] An object of the invention corresponding to the background art [1] noted above is as under:-

In the combine harvester in which the traveling vehicle frame is connected to the track frames of the right and left crawler propelling devices using the technique disclosed in JP 2006-001461 A, when the crawler propelling devices are deeply stuck in the mud in a wet field, traveling resistance produced due to a connecting structure for connecting the vehicle body frame to the track frames of the right and left crawler propelling devices is easily increased.

More particularly, the connecting structure for connecting the traveling vehicle body frame to the track frames includes an upper end portion connected between the pair of right and left longitudinal frames, and a pair of right and left inclined lower end portions which extend downward from the upper end portion respectively to the right outward direction and the left outward direction to be connected to the track frames of the right and left crawler propelling devices at extending ends thereof. With this construction, each of the right and left inclined lower end portions is positioned at a relatively low level from the ground to project from a loop of a crawler belt of each crawler propelling device. As a result, the lower end portions are easily subject to the traveling resistance produced by the mud.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a combine harvester for providing the traveling vehicle body frame with a rigid construction to be connected to the track frames and reducing the traveling resistance produced by the mud.

[2] An object of the invention corresponding to the background art [2] noted above is as under:-
In the combine harvester in which the dust removal device is formed using the technique disclosed in JP 2009-039024 A, the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan is positioned in the proximity of the dust-drawing opening, as though the entire rotary fan covered the dust-drawing opening.

On the other hand, in the combine harvester in which the dust removal device is formed using the technique disclosed in JP 2000-050721 A (Fig. 9), the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan is positioned in the proximity of the dust-drawing opening, as though approximately half the rotary fan covered the dust-drawing opening. As a result, if grain stalks transported within the feeder case pass a portion around the dust-drawing opening, and if stalk stems or leaves enter from through the dust-drawing opening to the dust removal hood, they are easily entangled with the rotary fan. On the other hand, if a net is provided to prevent entry of the stalk stems or leaves from through the dust-drawing opening to the dust removal hood, they are also easily tangled with the net.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combine harvester comprising a dust removal device for removing the dust, with avoiding the trouble of entanglement of the stalk stems and leaves.

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROMLEM(S)]

[1] The object [1] as discussed above is fulfilled according to one aspect of the invention as under:-
A combine harvester comprising:

a traveling vehicle body including a pair of right and left crawler propelling devices (1); and

a vehicle body frame (3) including a pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30) arranged in a transverse direction of the vehicle body between the pair of right and left crawler propelling devices, and a plurality of transverse frames (36a) arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body above the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30) and connected to the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30);

characterized in that a pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames (41) are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body under the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30) to be connected to the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30),

that each of the transverse connecting frames (41) has a left-side end portion and. a right-side end portion each entering a space positioned

within a loop of a crawler belt (12) of the crawler propelling device (1) associated therewith,

that a left connecting member (40A) is connected between the left end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) and a left-side track frame (13) of the left crawler propelling device to allow the left end portion and the track frame to be spaced from each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle body, the entire left connecting member (40A) being positioned within the loop of the crawler belt, and

that a right connecting member (40B) is connected between the right end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) and a right-side track frame (13) of the right crawler propelling device to allow the right end portion and the track frame to be spaced from each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle body, the entire right connecting member (40B) being positioned within the loop of the crawler belt.

With this arrangement, since the pair of right and left longitudinal frames are reinforced by connecting them to each other via the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames, the traveling vehicle body frame is provided with sufficient strength. Besides, the left end portion of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames is spaced from the track frame of the left crawler propelling device in the vertical direction of the vehicle body by the left connecting member, while the right end portion of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames is spaced from the track frame of the right crawler propelling device in the vertical direction of the vehicle body by the right connecting member. This increases the level of the traveling vehicle body frame from the ground to prevent the traveling vehicle body frame from being stuck into the mud even in the wet field. Further, since each of the left connecting member and the right connecting member is entirely positioned within the loop of the crawler belt, it remains within the loop of the crawler belt even in the wet filed to allow a front end of the crawler belt positioned forwardly of the left connecting member or the right connect member to achieve the effect for covering the left connecting member or the right connect member, thereby to suppress resistance of mud which the left connecting member or the right connect member suffers.

Therefore, the traveling vehicle body frame is less easily stuck in the mud even in the wet filed, while being made rigid and connected to the track frames by the transverse connecting frames in cooperation with the left connecting member and the right connecting member. As a result, the resistance, which is produced by the mud and may have affected on the left connecting member and the right connecting member, can be reduced, to thereby propel the vehicle body smoothly for performing operations efficiently.

The combine harvester will be more advantageous according to a further aspect of the invention as under:-

wherein a lower end side of the left connecting member (40A) connected to the left end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) and a lower end side of the right connecting member (40B) connected to the right end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) are . respectively connected to the track frames (13) by being placed on upper surfaces of the track frames (13), and

wherein each of the left connecting member and the right connecting member has a front surface (40a) inclined upwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body.

With this arrangement, the lower end sides of the left connecting member and the right connecting member are respectively connected to the track frames by placing these connecting members on upper surfaces of the track frames to provide rigid connection between the left/right connecting members and the track frames. Simultaneously therewith, mud entering the front portion of the left or right connecting member is allowed to flow upwardly and rearwardly of the connecting members under the guiding action effected by the inclined front surface of the right or left connecting member, to thereby easily prevent the mud from remaining on the upper surfaces of the track frames in front of the left and right connecting members.

As a result, the mud accumulates less easily in front of the left and right connecting members to allow smooth traveling and cleaning of the vehicle body.

The combine harvester will be more advantageous according to a still further aspect of the invention as under:-

wherein the left connecting member (40A) has a tapered shape in which a transverse width is gradually decreased toward a lower end portion thereof as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a flared shape in which a longitudinal width is gradually increased toward the end portion thereof as viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, and

wherein the right connecting member (40B) has a tapered shape in which a transverse width is gradually decreased toward a lower end portion thereof as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a flared shape in which a longitudinal width is gradually increased toward the end portion thereof as viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle body.

With this arrangement, while the left connecting member and the right connecting member each have the construction which does not allow the left connecting member and the right connecting member per se to easily suffer resistance of mud, rigid connection is provided between the upper side ends of the left/right connecting members and the transverse connecting frames and between the lower side ends thereof and the track frames. Therefore, the traveling vehicle body frame and the track frames can be rigidly connected to each other without using a great number of reinforcement members that might become resistance caused by mud.

As a result, the excellent combine harvester is provided that includes the traveling vehicle body frame rigidly connected to the track frames and can be smoothly propelled with reduced running resistance even in the wet field.

[2] The object [2] as discussed above is fulfilled according to one aspect of the invention as under :-
A combine harvester comprising:

a cutting device (116);

a threshing device (105);

a feeder (111) for supplying cut grain stalks from the cutting device to the threshing device; and

a dust removal device (130) mounted on the feeder for drawing and discharging dust present at the feeder, characterized in that

the feeder (111) includes a feeder case (120) having a dust-drawing opening (126) provided in a top plate portion (124) of the feeder case, that the dust removal device (130) includes a dust removal hood (131)provided in the outside of the feeder case to communicate with the dust-drawing opening (126), and
that an axial-flow type dust drawing/discharging rotary fan (132) is mounted in the interior of the dust removal hood (131) to be rotatable about an axis (X) extending parallel to the top plate member (124) in which a lower end portion (132a) of a rotational locus of the rotary fan (132) is positioned at or in the vicinity of a peripheral edge portion (127a) of the dust-drawing opening (126).

With this arrangement, the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan is provided in the interior of the dust removal hood in the upright posture relative to the top plate member with the entire or substantially the entire dust drawing/discharging rotary fan being positioned around a periphery of the dust-drawing opening. Thus, even if the stalk stems or leaves transported by the feeder enter the dust removal hood from through the dust-drawing opening, the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan can exert a drawing force at the dust-drawing opening, not allowing the stalk stems or leaves to come into contact with the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan easily. Since the lower end portion of the rotational locus of the rotary fan is positioned at or in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the dust-drawing opening, the drawing force of the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan acting on the dust-drawing opening is not decreased. This allows the stalk stems or leaves to contact the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan less easily, without providing a net for preventing entry of the stalk stems or leaves into the dust removal hood from through the dust-drawing opening.

As a result, the dust removal device of high quality can be provided that acts on the feeder for transporting the cut whole grain stalks while effectively drawing and discharging dust, and that avoids failure of the dust removing action caused by entanglement of the stalk stems or leaves.

The combine harvester will be more advantageous according to a further aspect of the invention as under:-

wherein the rotary fan (132) for drawing and discharging dust is provided in the vicinity of a lateral end of the top plate member (124).

If the distance from the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan to the lateral end of the top plate member is increased, dust circulating from the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan toward the lateral outside of the feeder tends to fall on the top plate member before reaching the lateral outside of the feeder. With the above arrangement, on the other hand, the distance from the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan to the lateral end of the top plate member is relatively small. This makes it more difficult to fall on the top plate member for the dust which is circulating from the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan toward the lateral outside of the feeder.

Thus, the discharging performance is enhanced by preventing fall and accumulation of the dust on the top plate member, which dust is otherwise to be discharged from through the dust removal hood.
The combine harvester will be more advantageous according to a still further aspect of the invention as under:-

wherein the dust removal device (130) includes a motor (138) for driving the rotary fan (132) for drawing and discharging dust, the motor (138) being provided upstream of a dust-flowing direction relative to the rotary fan (132) and supported to a supporting portion (136a, 137) of the dust removal hood (131).

With this arrangement, the dust, which is drawn from the feeder case through the dust-drawing opening to the interior of the dust removal hood, flows to pass the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan from the side adjacent the motor toward the side away from that motor. This prevents dust from easily entering the portion where the motor is accommodated.

As a result, even inexpensive sealing means having a simple structure becomes sufficient to prevent entry of the dust into the motor.

Other characteristic features and advantageous effects achieved by such features will be apparent after reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention (same through to Fig. 8) and this figure is a side view of the entire combine harvester;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the entire crawler propelling apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a front view in vertical section of the crawler propelling apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a front view showing a connecting structure for connecting a traveling vehicle body frame to the crawler propelling apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the entire traveling vehicle body frame;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a left connecting member;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line VII-VII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention (same through to Fig. 22) and this figure is a side view of the entire combine harvester;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the entire combine harvester;

Fig. 11 is a front view in vertical section of a feeder and a dust removal device;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the dust removal device;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional trop plan view of the dust removal device;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line XIV-XIV in Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a front view in vertical section of a mounting portion of a dust drawing/discharging device in the dust removal device;

Fig. 16a front view in vertical section of a mounting portion of a dust drawing/discharging device in a dust removal device according to a first modified embodiment;

Fig. 17 is a front view in vertical section of a mounting portion of a dust drawing/discharging device in a dust removal device according to a second modified embodiment;

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of a dust removal device according to a third modified embodiment;

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of a dust removal device according to a fourth modified embodiment;

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of a dust removal device according to a fifth modified embodiment;

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of a dust removal device according to a sixth modified embodiment; and

Fig. 22 is a schematic view showing a driving mechanism for a dust drawing/discharging rotary fan in a dust removal device according to a seventh modified embodiment.

[EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION] [FIRST EMBODIMENT]

A combine harvester according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter in reference to Figs. 1 to 8.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the entire combine harvester according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The combine harvester comprises a traveling vehicle body including a pair of crawler propelling
devices 1 and a ride-on operator's section 2, a threshing device 4 mounted rearwardly of a traveling vehicle body frame (one example of a vehicle body frame) 3, a harvesting section 20 mounted forwardly of the threshing device 4, a feeder 21 connected to the harvesting section 20 to be vertically oscillatable, and a grain tank 5 mounted in a rear portion of the traveling vehicle body frame 3 at a lateral side position of the threshing device 4.

The combine harvester is configured to harvest rice or wheat.

More particularly, the traveling vehicle body includes an engine 6 mounted under an operator's seat 2a, and a transmission case 7 mounted in a front end portion of the traveling vehicle body frame 3. Output from the engine 6 is inputted to the transmission case 7 and transmitted from a propelling transmission mechanism (not shown) housed in the transmission case 7 to crawler driving wheels 11 of the pair of right and left crawler propelling devices 1 to drive the pair of right and left crawler propelling devices 1. The vehicle body is self propelled by the pair of right and left crawler propelling devices 1.

The feeder 21 is vertically oscillatable by a hydraulic cylinder 22 to vertically move the harvesting section 20 between a lowered operational mode in which a clipper-type cutting device 24 is lowered near the ground and a raised non-operational mode in which the cutting device 24 is raised from the ground.

When the vehicle body is propelled with the harvesting section 20 being in the lowered operational mode, the harvesting section 20 rakes standing grain stalks at the tip portions thereof by a rotary reel 25 toward a space above the cutting device 24 and a rotary auger 26, cuts the root portions of the grain stalks by the cutting device 24, directs the whole grain stalks including the tip portions and root portions to the feeder 21 by means of the rotary auger 26. Then, the cut grain stalks are supplied to the threshing device 4 from a rear end of the feeder 21. The threshing device 4 receives the whole cut grain stalks including the tip portions and root portions directed from the feeder 21 in a processing chamber (not shown) for grain threshing. The threshed grains supplied from the threshing device 4 are stored in the grain tank 5 and then discharged from a discharge auger 4a.

Next, the crawler propelling device 1 will described.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the entire crawler propelling device 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of the crawler propelling devices 1 in vertical section. As shown in these figures, each of the right and left crawler propelling devices 1 includes a track frame 13 connected to the traveling vehicle body frame 3 through a pair of fore and aft left connecting members 40A or a pair of fore and aft right connecting members 40B, the crawler driving wheel 11 rotatably drivably supported by a driving case 7a extending transversely and outwardly of the traveling vehicle body from the transmission case 7, grounding wheels 14 rotatably mounted on the track frame 13 and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the crawler propelling device 1, a crawler tension wheel 15 rotatably mounted rearwardly of the track frame 13, an upper wheel 16 disposed above a rear end portion of the track frame 13, and a rubber crawler belt 12 wound around those wheels 11, 14, 15 and 16.

The track frame 13 includes a driving wheel stay 17 extending upwardly and forwardly from a front end portion of the track frame 13 for supporting an extending end portion of the drive case 7a.

Next, the traveling vehicle body frame 3 will be described.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the entire traveling vehicle body frame 3. As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the traveling vehicle body frame 3 includes a pair of right and left longitudinal frames 30 arranged in a transverse direction of the vehicle body between the right and left crawler propelling devices 1, and a main frame 35 mounted above the pair of longitudinal frames 30 and having a plurality of transverse frames 36a and 36b arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

Each of the pair of longitudinal frames 30 includes a lower frame 30a and an upper frame 30b connected to each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle body. The pair of longitudinal frames 30 are connected to each other by connecting frames 31 mounted at plural positions in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Each of the lower frame 30a and the upper frame 30b is made of a square steel tubular material.

The main frame 35 includes two transverse frames 36a mounted forwardly of the main frame 35 to be spaced from each other at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; three transverse frames 36b and 36c mounted rearwardly of the main frame 35 to be spaced from one another at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and connecting frames 37 extending longitudinally of the vehicle body for connecting end portions of each of the transverse frames 36a, 36b and 36c at the left side and the right side of the vehicle body. The transverse frames 36a and 36b of the plurality of transverse frames 36a, 36b and 36c, which are positioned above the pair of longitudinal frames 30, are placed on upper surfaces of the pair of longitudinal frames 30 to be connected by welding to the pair of longitudinal frames 30.

The traveling vehicle body frame 3 includes engine supports 38 mounted on the two transverse frames 36a among the plurality of transverse frames 36a, 36b and 36c positioned forwardly of the vehicle body; and each engine support 38 carries the engine 6. The traveling vehicle body frame 3 includes a front tank support member 39a mounted between one of the connecting frames 37 and one of the longitudinal frames 30, and a rear tank support member 39b mounted on the rearmost transverse frame 36c. The grain tank 5 is supported by the front tank support member 39a and rear tank support member 39b. The grain tank 5 is oscillatable about the rear tank support member 39b to be opened and closed.

A connecting structure for connecting the traveling vehicle body frame 3 to the crawler propelling devices 1 will be described.

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the connecting structure for connecting the traveling vehicle body frame 3 to the crawler propelling devices 1. As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the connecting structure for connecting the traveling vehicle body frame 3 to the crawler propelling devices 1 includes: a pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41 mounted under the right and left pair of longitudinal frames 30 of the traveling vehicle body frame 3 and spaced from each other at a predetermine gap in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a left connecting member 40A mounted between an end portion 41a of each of the transverse connecting frames 41 on the left side of the vehicle body and the track frame 13 of the left crawler propelling device 1; and a right connecting member 40B mounted between an end portion 41b of each of the transverse connecting frames 41 on the right side of the vehicle body and the track frame 13 of the right crawler propelling device 1.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41 are connected by welding to the pair of right and left longitudinal frames 30, with upper surfaces of the transverse connecting frames 41 being in contact with lower surfaces of the lower frames 30a of the right and left pair of longitudinal frames 30. The pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41 are connected to each other through a pair of right and left reinforcement frames 42 extending longitudinally of the vehicle body. The pair of right and left reinforcement frames 42 are dispersedly arranged directly under the pair of right and left longitudinal frames 30.

As shown in Fig. 4, the end portion 41a, located on the left side of the vehicle body of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41, enters a space S within a loop of the crawler belt 12 by extending the end portion 41a to an upper position of the track frame 13 of the left crawler propelling device 1. On the other hand, the end portion 41b, located on the right side of the vehicle body of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41, enters a space S within a loop of the crawler belt 12 by extending the end portion 41b to an upper position of the track frame 13 of the right crawler propelling device 1.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the left connecting member 40A, mounted between the end portion 41a at the left side of the vehicle of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41 and the track frame 13 of the left crawler propelling device 1, is connected by welding to the end portion 41a which is positioned within the loop of the crawler belt 12 of each transverse connecting frame 41 and the track frame 13 of the left crawler propelling device 1. With this arrangement, the end portion 41a at the left side of the vehicle of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41 is spaced from the track frame 13 of the left crawler propelling device 1 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. On the other hand, the right connecting member 40B, mounted between the end portion 41b at the right side of the vehicle of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41 and the track frame 13 of the right crawler propelling device 1, is connected by welding to the end portion 41b which is positioned within the loop of the crawler belt 12 of each transverse connecting frame 41 and the track frame 13 of the right crawler propelling device 1. With this arrangement, the end portion 41b at the right side of the vehicle of each of the pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames 41 is spaced from the track frame 13 of the right crawler propelling device 1 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. Thus, the arrangement of the left connecting member 40A and right connecting member 40B allows the traveling vehicle body frame 3 to be upwardly spaced from the track frames 13 of the right and left crawler propelling devices 1 so that the traveling vehicle body frame 3 secures an increased height from the ground.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, each left connecting member 40A is rigidly connected to the end portion 41a of the transverse connecting frame 41 and the track frame 13, while suffering less resistance of mud. To this end, the left connecting member 40A has a tapered shape in which a transverse width is gradually decreased toward a lower end portion thereof as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and a flared shape in which a longitudinal width is gradually increased toward the end portion thereof as viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle body. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each right connecting member 40B has the same profiles as the left connecting member 40A as viewed in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the vehicle body, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 4, each left connecting member 40A and each right connection member 40B are arranged so that the entire left connecting member 40A or the entire right connecting member 40B are disposed within, the space S of the loop of the crawler belt 12. As a result, mud tends to splash over those connecting members less easily due to the covering effect achieved by a vertical portion of the crawler belt 12 positioned forwardly of the left connecting member 40A or the right connecting member 4OB.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the left connecting member 40A and the right connecting member 40B has a transverse outer portion 40b at a lower end portion thereof, which portion 40b is placed on an upper surface 13a of the track frame 13 to be connected to the track frame 13. Each of the left connecting member 40A and the right connecting member 40B further has a transverse inner portion 40d at the lower end portion thereof, which portion 40d abuts against a lateral side surface of the track frame 13, and is connected to the track frame 13.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, each left connecting member 40A has a front surface 40a inclined upwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body, thereby to allow mud at the front side of the left connecting member 40A to be directed upward and rearward to prevent the mud from being accumulated at a corner portion defined by the front surface 40a of the left connecting member 40A and the upper surface 13a of the track frame 13. A front surface 40a of each right connecting member 40B has the same inclined surface as the front surface 40a of the left connecting member 40A.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, each left connecting member 40A consists of a main body connected to an end portion 41a of the transverse connecting frame 41 and also connected the track frame 13, and formed as a squared U-shaped groove in horizontal cross section, and a plate member 40c attached to the main body to close the opening of the main body. Each right connecting member 40B has the same construction as the left connecting member 40A. A support member 18 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is configured to rotatably support the upper wheel 16. The support member 18 includes a supporting body and a reinforcement member 18a continued downward from the supporting body. The support member 18 is connected over a rear surface of a left end portion 41a or right end portion 41b of the transverse connecting frame 41 and a rear surface of the left connecting member 40A or right connecting member 40B.

As shown in Fig. 7, the plate member 40c of each left connecting member 40A that defines an inner surface with respect to the vehicle body is inclined upwardly and inwardly of the vehicle body to resist mud less easily. The plate member 40c of each right connecting member 40B that defines an inner surface with respect to the vehicle body has the same inclined surface as the plate member 40c of the left connecting member 40A.

[Modified Embodiment of the First Embodiment]

The present invention is applicable not only to a combine harvester comprising a threshing device with a processing chamber for receiving the entire grain stalks including tip portions and root portions, but also to another combine harvester with a threshing device for receiving only the tip portions of the grain stalks with their root portions being transported by a threshing feed chain.

[SECOND EMBODIMENT]

Nest, a combine harvester according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in reference to Figs. 9 to 22.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the entire combine harvester according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the entire combine harvester according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these figures, the combine harvester comprises a traveling vehicle body to be propelled by a pair of right and left crawler propelling devices 101 including an operator's section 102 and a motor section 103 mounted on one lateral side forwardly of the traveling vehicle body, a threshing device 105 mounted rearwardly of a vehicle body frame 104 of the traveling vehicle body, a grain tank 106 mounted rearwardly of the operator's section 102 in a rear portion of the vehicle body frame 104, and a harvesting section 110 provided forwardly of the threshing device 105 and connected to a feeder 111.

The combine harvester is configured to harvest rice and wheat.

More particularly about the harvesting section 110 in operation, the feeder 111 is vertically oscillatable relative to the threshing device 105 by a hydraulic cylinder 112 to vertically move the harvesting section 110 between a lowered operational mode in which a harvesting section frame 113 is lowered near the ground, and a raised non-operational mode in which the harvesting section frame 113 is raised from the ground. When the vehicle body is propelled with the harvesting section 110 being in the lowered operational mode, the harvesting section 110 rakes standing grain stalks toward a clipper-type cutting device 116, which is mounted at a forward end of the bottom portion of the harvesting section frame 113, by a rotary reel 115 rotatably supported by a pair of right and left support arms 114 extending forwardly from proximal portions of the harvesting section frames 113, while cutting the grain stalks by the cutting device 116. Then, the harvesting section 110 transports the cut grain stalks to a forward portion of the feeder 111 by a spiral vane 117a of a rotary auger 117 provided inside the harvesting section frame 113, and directs the whole grain stalks including tip portions and root portions that have reached the forward portion of the feeder 111 to the feeder 111 by plowing arms 118 provided in the rotary auger 117, and then supplies the grain stalks to the threshing device 105 from the feeder 111.

The threshing device 105 introduces the whole cut grain stalks including tip portions and root portions into a processing chamber (not shown) for grain threshing. The threshed grains supplied from the threshing device 105 are directed by a feeding device 107 and to the grain tank 106 for storage and then discharged through a discharge auger 108 including a screw conveyor.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 11, the feeder 111 includes: a tubular feeder case 120 having a rectangular cross section in a portion extending from a rear wall portion to a front wall portion of the harvesting section frame 113; a pair of endless rotary chains 121 arranged transversely of the feeder inside the feeder case 120 to be rotatably driven; and a plurality of transporting elements 122 arranged longitudinally of the endless rotary chains 121 and provided between the pair of endless rotary chains 121.

Thus, the cut grain stalks are directed by the plowing arms 118 from a grain stalk outlet (not shown) positioned at the rear wall portion of the harvesting section frame 113 to the feeder case 120. Then, the feeder 111 transports the cut grain stalks along a bottom plate 123 of the feeder case 120 through the transporting elements 122 movable within the feeder case 120 by the pair of endless rotary chains 121 to supply them to a grain stalk inlet (not shown) positioned at the front wall portion of the threshing device 105.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the feeder 111 includes a dust removal device 130 provided in a leading portion of the feeder case 120 for discharging dust and dirty having entered the feeder case 120 along with the grain stalks to the exterior of the feeder case 120 to supply the cut grain stalks to the threshing device 105 with dust and dirt being removed. Further, the dust removal device 130 draws dust and dirt at the front of the feeder 111 through the feeder case 120 to discharge them to a site remote from the operator's section 102.

The dust removal device 130 will be described hereinafter in further detail.

Fig. 11 is a front view in vertical section of the dust removal device 130, and Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the dust removal device 130. As shown in these figures, the dust removal device 130 includes a dust removal hood 131 provided outside of the feeder case 120, and an axial-flow type dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 (referred to simply as "rotary fan 132" hereinafter) provided inside of the dust removal hood 131.

The dust removal hood 131 includes a drawing hood portion 133 positioned on an outer side of a top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120, and a discharging hood portion 134 positioned over a lateral side portion of the drawing hood portion 133 and an outer surface side of a side plate member 125 of the feeder case 120. The dust removal hood 131 is connected to the top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120 around a dust-drawing opening 126 formed in the top plate member 124 through a mounting flange 133t provided at a lower end portion of the drawing hood portion 133. As shown in Fig. 14, the drawing hood portion 133 includes an upper part 133U for housing an upper half of the rotary fan 132 so that the upper part 133U has a semi-circular vertical section in a direction along an axis X of the rotary fan 132; and a lower portion 133D for housing a lower half of the rotary fan 132 so that the lower portion 133D has a rectangular vertical section in the direction along the axis X of the rotary fan 132. The dust removal hood 131 communicates with the dust-drawing opening 126 through a rectangular communicating hole 133a provided in the drawing hood portion 133 to form a dust passage extending from the dust-drawing opening 126 to a discharge outlet 135 formed at a lower end portion of the discharging hood portion 134. The drawing hood portion 133 and the discharging hood portion 134 are made of resin material molded to a predetermined shape. The drawing hood portion 133 and the discharging hood portion 134 are connected to each other by screw connection between a connecting flange 133f which is integrally formed with a lateral end portion of the drawing hood portion 133, and a connecting flange 134f which is integrally formed with a lateral end portion of the discharging hood portion 134 at an upper end side of this discharging hood portion 134.

As shown in Fig. 14, an upper end side portion 131U of the dust removal hood 131 provides an arc shape extending along an outer circumference of the rotary fan 132 as seen in the direction along the axis X of the rotary fan 132. On the other hand, a lower end side portion 13 ID of the dust removal hood 131, extending between the upper end side portion 131U of the dust removal hood 131 and the top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120, provides a linear shape extending vertically of the feeder. A sealing wall plate 141 made of resin is formed integrally with the drawing hood portion 133 and provided inside of the dust removal hood 131 to fill a gap between an outer peripheral edge of the rotary fan 132 at lateral opposite sides in a lower portion of the rotary fan 132 and lower end side portions 13 ID of the dust removal hood 131 for enhancing a dust removing performance. The sealing wall plate 141 has an upper end 141a positioned slightly lower than the axis X of the rotary fan 132. The upper part 133U of the drawing hood portion 133 and the sealing wall plate 141 cooperate to function as a fan shroud for the rotary fan 132.

As shown in Figs. 13 to 15, the rotary fan 132 is arranged to allow a lower end portion 132a of a rotational locus of the rotary fan 132 to be positioned in the vicinity of a portion 127a of the peripheral edge 127 of the dust-drawing opening 126 that is positioned at a lateral end away from the operator's section and in the vicinity of a lateral end of the top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120. The rotary fan 132 has a rotary support shaft 132b which is supported by and rotatable in unison with an output shaft 138a of a electric motor 138, which motor 138 is positioned upstream of the dust-flow direction relative to the rotary fan 132. The motor 138 is removably attached by connecting screws to a flange-shaped support portion (one example of a support portion of the dust removal hood) 136a positioned at an end portion of a cylindrical stay 136 provided inside of the drawing hood portion 133. The rotary fan 132 is rotatably supported by the stay 136 through the motor 138 and driven by the motor 138 to be rotatable about the axis X which acts as an axis of the rotary support shaft 132b and extending parallel with the top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120. The rotary fan 132 includes a sealing cover 140 at a proximal portion of the rotary support shaft 132b to be rotatable in unison with the rotary fan 132, for preventing entry of dust toward the rotary support shaft 132b and the motor 138.

As shown in Fig. 15, the stay 136 for supporting the motor 138 is formed integrally with a lateral side plate portion 137 of the drawing hood portion 133 to extend from the lateral side plate portion 137 of the drawing hood portion 133 toward the rotary fan 132. A maintenance opening 142 is formed in the lateral side plate portion 137 of the drawing hood portion 133 for attachment or detachment of the motor 138. A wiring groove 143 is formed the stay 136 at the time of molding the stay 136. An electric wire 144 for the motor 138 is drawn out of the motor 138 through the wiring groove 143 to the outside of the drawing hood portion 133. A motor cover 145 is provided inside of the stay 136 for preventing dust from entering the motor 138 from the exterior of the drawing hood portion 133. The motor cover 145 is made of sponge
stuffed into the hole of the stay 136 from the maintenance opening 142. Part of the peripheral edge of the motor cover 145 advances into the wiring groove 143 to push the electric wire 144 into the inside of the wiring groove 143 for fixation. The lateral side plate portion 137 of the drawing hood portion 133 extends from a lower end 137p positioned lower than the stay 136 toward an upper end of the lateral side plate portion 137, with inclination coming closer to the rotary fan 132. A connecting plate portion 133r is provided between the lower end 137p of the lateral side plate portion 137 and a mounting flange 133t for connecting thern to each other. The connecting plate portion 133r is positioned above and slightly spaced from the dust-drawing opening 126 to form, below the connecting plate portion 133r, the dust-flow passage extending from an end portion of the dust-drawing opening 126 toward a lower end side portion 137d of the lateral side plate portion 137.

Thus, the dust removal device 130 allows the rotary fan 132 to be rotatably driven about the axis X by the motor 138 for the rotary fan 132 to achieve the drawing and blowing effects. Then, dust and dirt at the forward portion of the feeder 111 or inside of the feeder case 120 is introduced into the drawing hood portion 133 from the dust-drawing opening 126 through the communication hole 133a to flow transversely of the feeder from around the stay 136, and flow through the rotary fan 132. The dust and dirt subsequently flows into an upper end portion of the discharging hood portion 134 and is then directed downward of the feeder by guidance of an inclined inner surface 134b of a hood plate portion 134a defining the upper end portion of the discharging hood portion 134, and finally discharged from the discharge outlet 135 toward a space below the feeder 111 on the side away from the operator's section 102. Incidentally, dust and dirt introduced from the dust-drawing opening 126 into around the stay 136 of the drawing hood portion 133 is smoothly directed toward the rotary fan 132 by guidance of the inclined surface of the lateral side plate portion 137. In particular, dust drawn from the end located away from the rotary fan 132 passes through the dust-flow passage below the connecting plate portion 133r and flows into the drawing hood portion 133. After the dust is introduced into flows into the drawing hood portion 133, the dust is smoothly directed toward the rotary fan 132 by guidance of the inclined surface of the lower end side portion 137d of the lateral side plate portion 137.

Since the lower end portion 132a of the rotational locus of the rotary fan 132 is positioned in the vicinity of the lateral end 124a of the top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120 to reduce a distance from the rotary fan 132 to the lateral end 124a of the top plate member 124, the dust removal device 130 allows dust having passed the rotary fan 132 to fall toward the discharge outlet 135 of the discharging hood portion 134 without falling on the upper surface of the top plate member 124.

[First Modified Embodiment]

Fig. 16 is a front view in vertical section showing a mounting portion of a dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 in a dust removal device 130 according to a first modified embodiment. The dust removal device 130 of the first modified embodiment and the dust removal device 130 of the above-noted embodiment are different from each other about a dust removal hood 131 and the supporting structure of a motor 138, while the two devices are the same in the remaining aspects of the construction.

With reference to the dust removal device 130 in the first modified embodiment, the dust removal hood 131 includes a drawing hood portion133 made of sheet metal and mounted on an outer surface side of a top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120, and a discharging hood portion 134 made of resin and mounted over a lateral side portion of the drawing hood portion 133 and an outer surface side of a side plate member 125 of a feeder case 120. The drawing hood portion 133 and the discharging hood portion 134 are connected to each other by bolts at their ends.

The drawing hood portion 133 includes a lateral side plate portion 137 having an upper side plate portion 137a extending generally vertically to be connected to a stay 136, and an inclined lower side plate portion 137b positioned between the upper side plate portion 137a and the top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120. The lower side plate portion 137b has an inclined inner surface 137c with a reduced distance to the rotary fan 132 on the side of the stay 136. The inclined inner surface 137c is configured to guide dust flowing from a dust-drawing opening 126 to the drawing hood portion 133. As a result, when the dust entering from the dust-drawing opening 126 and flowing upward to the drawing hood portion 133 reaches around the stay 136, the dust is smoothly directed transversely of the feeder to stall less easily around the stay 136. The dust removal hood 131 has an inclined guide 131a for guiding the dust falling from a lower end portion of the rotary fan 132 downwardly toward the discharging hood portion 134.

In the dust removal device 130 of this embodiment, the stay 136 for supporting the motor 138 is made of cylindrical sheet metal and is connected to the lateral side plate portion 137 of the drawing hood portion 133 by connecting bolts around a maintenance opening 142 formed in the lateral side plate portion 137.

[Second Modified Embodiment]

Fig. 17 is a front view in vertical section showing a mounting portion of a dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 in a dust removal device 130 according to a second modified embodiment. The dust removal device 130 of the second modified embodiment and the dust removal device 130 of the above-noted embodiment are different from each other about a dust removal hood 131 and the supporting structure each of a motor 138 and the rotary fan 132, while the two devices are the same in the remaining aspects of the construction.

The dust removal hood 131 of the dust removal device 130 in the second modified embodiment has the same construction as the feeder case 120 of the dust removal device 130 in the first modified embodiment.

In the dust removal device 130 of the second modified embodiment, the motor 138 is fitted into a motor mounting hole formed in a lateral side plate portion (one example of a supporting portion for the dust removal hood) 137 of a drawing hood portion 133 and is removably connected to the lateral side plate portion 137 by connecting bolts.

In the dust removal device 130 of the second modified embodiment, the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 has a rotary support shaft 132b supported by a supporting portion 136a provided in an end portion of a stay 136 and by an output shaft 138a of the motor 138. The rotary support shaft 132b is connected to the output shaft 138a of the motor 138 through a connecting element 139 to be rotatable in unison.

[Third Modified Embodiment]

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of a dust removal device 130 according to a third modified embodiment. In the dust removal device 130 of the third modified embodiment, a rotary fan 132 is provided to allow a lower end portion of a rotational locus of the rotary fan 132 to be positioned directly above a portion of a peripheral edge 127 of the dust-drawing opening 126, which portion extends along a rear side end of a dust-drawing opening 126.

[Fourth Modified Embodiment]

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of a dust removal device 130 according to a fourth modified embodiment. In the dust removal device 130 of the fourth modified embodiment, a rotary fan 132 is provided to allow a lower end portion of a rotational locus of the rotary fan 132 to be positioned directly above a portion of a peripheral edge 127 of the dust-drawing opening 126, which portion extends along a front side end of a dust-drawing opening 126.

[Fifth Modified Embodiment]

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of a dust removal device 130 according to a fifth modified embodiment. In the dust removal device 130 of the fifth modified embodiment, a rotary fan 132 is provided to allow a lower end portion of a rotational locus of the rotary fan 132 to be positioned directly above a front corner of a lateral end side of a dust-drawing opening 126 of a peripheral edge 127, which lateral side is located away from an operator's section.

[Sixth Modified Embodiment]

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of a dust removal device 130 according to a sixth modified embodiment. In the dust removal device 130 of the sixth modified embodiment, a rotary fan 132 is provided to allow a lower end portion of a rotational locus of the rotary fan 132 to be positioned directly above a rear corner of a lateral end side of a dust-drawing opening 126 of a peripheral edge 127, which lateral end side is located away from an operator's section.

[Seventh Modified Embodiment]

Fig. 22 is a schematic view showing a driving mechanism for a dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 in a dust removal device 130 according to a seventh modified embodiment. In the dust removal device 130 of the seventh modified embodiment, the driving mechanism for the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 is configured to drive the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 under drive power transmitted from a motor section 103 through a transmission belt 150 to a feeder drive shaft 150 acting as a harvesting section drive shaft.

More particularly, the driving mechanism for the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132 includes: a tension sprocket 153 engaged with an endless rotational chain 152 for transmitting drive power from the feeder drive shaft 150 to a cutting device drive shaft 151 to tension the endless rotational chain 152; and a transmission pulley 154 mounted on a rotary shaft for supporting the tension sprocket 153 to be rotatable in unison; and a fan driving pulley 156 interlocked with the transmission pulley 154 through a transmission belt 155 and mounted on a rotary shaft 132b of the rotary fan 132 to be rotatable in unison.
More particularly, drive power transmitted from the feeder drive shaft 150 to the cutting device drive shaft 151 is taken off by the tension sprocket 153 to be transmitted to the transmission pulley 154, and therefrom transmitted with acceleration through the transmission belt 155 and the fan driving pulley 156 to the rotary shaft 132b, thereby to drive the dust drawing/discharging rotary fan 132.

[Other Embodiments]

(1) While the above-noted embodiments employ the rectangular dust-drawing opening 126 formed in the top plate member 124 of the feeder case 120, the dust-drawing opening 126 may have a circular, elliptic or any other shapes than the rectangular shape.

(2) In the above-noted embodiments, the rotary fan 132 may be arranged directly above the lateral end 124a of the top plate member 124, which allows the rotary fan 132 to project laterally outwardly of the lateral end 124a of the top plate member 124, or may be arranged directly above the peripheral edge 127 (portion 127a) of the dust-drawing opening 126, which allows the rotary fan 132 to advance inwardly of the dust-drawing opening 126 from the peripheral edge 127 (portion 127a).

(3) The present invention is applicable not only to a dust removal device mounted on a combine harvester of auger discharge-type in which threshed grains from a threshing device 105 are stored in a grain tank 106 and taken out from the grain tank 106 through a discharge auger 108, but also to a dust removal device mounted on a combine harvester of bagging-type in which threshed grains from the threshing device 105 are stored in a grain tank for bagging and taken out from the tank to a grain bag.

[DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERAL(S) AND MARK(S)]

1 crawler propelling device
3 vehicle body frame
12 crawler belt
13 track frame
13a upper surface of the track frame
30 longitudinal frame
36a transverse frame
40A left connecting member
40B right connecting member
40a front surface of the connecting member
41 transverse connecting frame
41a left-side end of the transverse connecting frame
41b right-side end of the transverse connecting frame
105 threshing device
111 feeder

116 cutting device
120 feeder case
124 top plate portion
126 dust-drawing opening
127a a peripheral edge portion
130 dust removal device
131 dust removal hood
132 axial-flow type dust drawing/discharging rotary fan
132a lower end portion of the rotary fan
136a supporting portion
137 supporting portion
138 motor
X axis

What is claimed is:

1. A combine harvester comprising:

a traveling vehicle body including a pair of right and left crawler propelling devices (1); and

a vehicle body frame (3) including a pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30) arranged in a transverse direction of the vehicle body between the pair of right and left crawler propelling devices, and a plurality of transverse frames (36a) arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body above the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30) and connected to the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30); characterized in that

a pair of fore and aft transverse connecting frames (41) are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body under the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30) to be connected to the pair of right and left longitudinal frames (30),

that each of the transverse connecting frames (41) has a left-side end portion and a right-side end portion each entering a space positioned within a loop of a crawler belt (12) of the crawler propelling device (1) associated therewith,

that a left connecting member (40A) is connected between the left end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) and a left-side track frame (13) of the left crawler propelling device to allow the left end portion and the track frame to be spaced from each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle body,

the entire left connecting member (40A) being positioned within the loop of the crawler belt, and

that a right connecting member (40B) is connected between the right end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) and a right-side track frame (13) of the right crawler propelling device to allow the right end portion and the track frame to be spaced from each other in a vertical direction of the vehicle body, the entire right connecting member (40B) being positioned within the loop of the crawler belt.

2. The combine harvester as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a lower end side of the left connecting member (40A) connected to the left end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) and a lower end side of the right connecting member (40B) connected to the right end portion of each transverse connecting frame (41) are respectively connected to the track frames (13) by being placed on upper surfaces of the track frames (13), and

wherein each of the left connecting member and the right connecting member has a front surface (40a) inclined upwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle body.

3. The combine harvester as claimed in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the left connecting member (40A) has a tapered shape in which a transverse width is gradually decreased toward a lower end portion thereof as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body,

and a flared shape in which a longitudinal width is gradually increased toward the end portion thereof as viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, and

wherein the right connecting member (40B) has a tapered shape in which a transverse width is gradually decreased toward a lower end portion thereof as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body,

and a flared shape in which a longitudinal width is gradually increased toward the end portion thereof as viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle body.

4. A combine harvester comprising:

a cutting device (116);

a threshing device (105);

a feeder (111) for supplying cut grain stalks from the cutting device to the threshing device; and

a dust removal device (130) mounted on the feeder for drawing and discharging dust present at the feeder, characterized in that

the feeder (111) includes a feeder case (120) having a dust-drawing opening (126) provided in a top plate portion (124) of the feeder case, that the dust removal device (130) includes a dust removal hood

(131) provided in the outside of the feeder case to communicate with the dust-drawing opening (126), and

that an axial-flow type dust drawing/discharging rotary fan (132) is mounted inched interior of the dust removal hood (131) to be rotatable about an axis (X) extending parallel to the top plate member (124) in which a lower end .portion (132a) of a rotational locus of the rotary fan (132) is positioned at or in the vicinity of a peripheral edge portion (127a) 1V of the dust-drawing opening (126).

5. The combine harvester as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotary fan (132) for drawing and discharging dust is provided in the vicinity of a lateral end of the top plate member (124).

6. The combine harvester as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the dust removal device (130) includes a motor (138.) for driving the rotary fan (132) for drawing and discharging dust, the motor (138) being provided upstream of a dust-flowing direction relative to the rotary fan (132) and supported to a supporting portion (136a, 137) of the dust removal hood (131).