UNLOADING AUGER POSITION SWITCH

POSITIONNEUR -E VIS DE DECHARGEMENT

English Abstract

An unloader position control switch assembly is positioned
along the pivot axis of an unloader tube and is provided with a
downwardly depending key that engages a slot formed in a pivot
pin fixedly secured to the unloader tube. The switch assembly
has two switch elements that are mechanically interconnected and
are automatically resettable after the unloading tube
substantially reaches either the storage position or the
unloading position for the unloading tube. An operator's switch
is interconnected with the control switch assembly so that an
operator may easily manipulate the positioning of the unloader
tube.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A self-propelled agricultural combine for harvesting
a crop from a field, and processing the crop to separate grain
from straw and chaff, the combine comprising:
a chassis;
a propulsion means mounted on the chassis;
ground engaging means for supporting the chassis from the
ground and propelling the chassis across a field when the
ground engaging means is rotated by the propulsion means;
harvesting means extending outwardly from the chassis for
harvesting a crop from a field;
threshing and separating means located in the chassis for
separating grain from straw and chaff of the harvested crop;
a clean grain compartment mounted on the chassis, the
clean grain compartment receives the grain separated from the
straw and chaff by the threshing and separating means;
an unloading tube pivotally mounted to the chassis so
that the unloading tube can pivot about a pivot axis defined
by a pivot pin fixedly mounted to the unloading tube, the
unloading tube can be pivoted from a substantially
longitudinally aligned storage position with the chassis, to
an unloading position where it extends outwardly from the
combine for loading clean grain into a receiving truck;
positioning means for positioning the unloading tube from
the storage position to the unloading position, and conversely
from the unloading position to the storage position;
a conveying means is used to remove grain from the clean
grain compartment and direct it to the unloading tube; and
an unloader positioning control switch for controlling
the positioning means of the unloading tube, the control
switch is fixedly mounted to the chassis substantially axially
with the pivot axis and is provided with a means for detecting
the position of the unloading tube and in response to
detecting the unloading tube in either the storage or
unloading position the control switch deactivates the
positioning means, the means for detecting the position of the
unloader tube comprises a key depending from the control
switch which engages a slot formed in the pivot pin.


2. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 1
further comprising a two-position operator switch having a
first position for activating the positioning means to move
the unloader tube from the storage position to the unloading
position and a second position for activating the positioning
means to move the unloader tube from the unloading position to
the storage position.
3. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 2
wherein the positioning means comprises a linear hydraulic
actuator which is coupled to a pump and an associated
hydraulic fluid sump, valving means are provided for
controlling the routing of pressurized fluid to the actuator,
the valving means being operatively coupled to the operator
switch.
4. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 3
wherein the valving means comprises a three-position closed
center directional control valve for controlling the hydraulic
fluid flow to the linear hydraulic actuator, the three-
position valve having an expanding position, a retracting
position and a checked position.
5. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 4
wherein the valving means is further provided with a two-
position valve located fluidically between the three-position
valve and the pump, the two-position valve fluidically couples
the pump directly to the sump when the three-position valve is
in a checked position.
6. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 5
wherein the three-position valve is provided with a first and
second positioning solenoids and the two-position valve is
provided with a third positioning solenoid.
7. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 6
wherein the control switch is an electric switch assembly, the
control switch is provided with a first switch element and a
second switch element, one of the switch elements is closed
when the other is opened, when the first switch element is
closed and the second switch element opened electricity from a
source of electrical energy is coupled to the first and third
solenoids thereby opening the two-position valve so that
hydraulic fluid from the pump is directed to the three-


position valve which is moved to its retracting position so
that the positioning means moves the unloading tube from the
unloading position to the storage position.
8. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 7
wherein when the unloading tube substantially reaches the
unloading position or the storage position, the control switch
resets, that is when the unloading tube substantially reaches
the unloading position from the storage position, the key
contacting the slotted pivot pin opens the first switch
element and closes the second switch element, conversely when
the unloading auger substantially reaches the storage
position, the key contacting the slotted pivot pin closes the
first switch element and opens the second switch element.
9. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 8
wherein the operator switch is a two-position latching
electrical switch having an expand position and a retract
position, the operator switch is electrically positioned
between the source of electrical energy and the control
switch, an operator manipulates the operator switch to move
the unloading tube in and out, however, the operator switch
becomes locked-out when the control switch is reset by the
unloading tube substantially approaching the unloading
position or the storage position.
10. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 9
wherein the control switch is provided with a third switch
element which is closed when the unloading tube is
substantially in its unloading position, the third switch
element when closed, activates an indicator light alerting the
operator that the unloading tube is in the unloading position.
11. A self-propelled agricultural combine for harvesting
a crop from a field, and processing the crop to separate grain
from straw and chaff, the combine comprising:
a chassis;
a propulsion means mounted on the chassis;
ground engaging means for supporting the chassis from the
ground and propelling the chassis across a field when the
ground engaging means is rotated by the propulsion means;
harvesting means extending outwardly from the chassis for
harvesting a crop from a field;


threshing and separating means located in the chassis for
separating grain from straw and chaff of the harvested crop;
a clean grain compartment mounted on the chassis, the
clean grain compartment receives the grain separated from the
straw and chaff by the threshing and separating means;
an unloading tube pivotally mounted to the chassis so
that the unloading tube can pivot about a pivot axis, the
unloading tube can be pivoted from a substantially
longitudinally aligned storage position with the chassis, to
an unloading position where it extends outwardly from the
combine for loading clean grain into a receiving truck;
positioning means for positioning the unloading tube from
the storage position to the unloading position, and conversely
from the unloading position to the storage position;
a conveying means is used to remove grain from the clean
grain compartment and direct it to the unloading tube; and
an unloader positioning control system for controlling
the positioning means of the unloading tube, the control
system having an unloader position electric control switch
which is provided with a means for detecting the position of
the unloading tube and in response to detecting the tube in
substantially either the storage or unloading position, the
control switch deactivates the positioning means, the system
also having a two-position electric operator switch having a
first position for activating the positioning means to move
the unloader tube from the storage position to the unloading
position and a second position for activating the positioning
means to move the unloader tube from the unloading position to
the storage position.
12. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 11
wherein the control switch assembly is provided with a first
switch element and a second switch element, one of the switch
elements is closed when the other is opened, when the first
switch element is closed and the second switch element opened,
electricity from a source of electrical energy is coupled to
the positioning means for moving the unloading tube from the
storage position to the unloading position, conversely when
the first switch element is opened and the second switch
element is closed, electricity from a source of electrical



energy is coupled to the positioning means for moving the
unloading tube from the unloading position to the storage
position.
13. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 12
wherein the unloading tube substantially reaches the unloading
position or the storage position, the control switch resets,
that is when the unloading tube substantially reaches the
unloading position from the storage position, the key
contacting the slotted pivot pin opens the first switch
element and closes the second switch element, conversely when
the unloading auger substantially reaches the storage
position, the key contacting the slotted pivot pin closes the
first switch element and opens the second switch element.
14. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 13
wherein the operator switch is a two-position latching
electrical switch having an expand position and a retract
position, the operator switch is electrically positioned
between the source of electrical energy and the control
switch, an operator manipulates the operator switch to move
the unloading tube in and out, however, this switch becomes
locked-out when the control switch is reset by the unloading
tube substantially approaching the unloading position or the
storage position.
15. An agricultural combine as defined by claim 14
wherein the control switch is provided with a third switch
element which is closed when the unloading tube is
substantially in its unloading position, this switch when
closed activates an indicator light alerting the operator that
the unloading tube is in the unloading position.

Description

3 3 5 5 1 4

1 UNLOADING AUGER POSITION SWITCH
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention is directed to a control system for
positioning an unloader auger tube. The control system
comprises an electrical position switch which shuts down the
hydraulic positioning means when the unloading auger is
substantially in a storage position or an unloading position.
2. Background of the Invention:
Typically, a self-propelled agricultural combine gathers a
crop from a field and transports the crop by means of a feeder
house to threshing and separating means located inside the
combine. The threshing and separating means separates the grain
from the straw and chaff. The straw and chaff are expelled out
of the rear of the combine while the clean grain is transported
and stored in a clean grain compartment located on the combine.
As the clean grain compartment becomes full, it must be
unloaded into a receiving truck. The clean grain compartment is
provided with an unloading auger assembly and a pivotally
mounted unloading tube that is extended outwardly away from a
storage position at the side of the combine to an unloading
position during an unloading operation. Many times, the
operator drives the combine to the receiving truck to unload,
but in some instances, the operator may unload while continuing
harvesting operations. Unloading under operation involves
driving the receiving truck on a parallel track to the combine
and having the combine operator swing out an unloading tube so
that grain is expelled into the truck. This can be a difficult
operation for the combine operator, in that he must monitor and
direct the harvesting, threshing and separating operations while
also monitoring the positioning of the unloading tube.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention simplifies positioning of the
unloading tube by providing an electric unloader position
control switch assembly that detects the position of the
unloading tube when it is in an extended unloading position or a
retracted storage position. The control switch assembly is
provided with two switch elements which are mechanically
interconnected so that as one element is opened the other
element is closed. In this way, the control switch assembly is

- 1 - ~

1 3355 1 4
l resetable in that as the unloading tube substantially reaches
the unloading position the switch elements reset so that the
open switch element closes and the closed switch element opens.
Conversely, if the unloading tube substantially reaches the
storage position, the switch elements again reset.
The unloading tube is positioned by a positioning means
comprising a linear hydraulic actuator that is fluidically
coupled to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid. A solenoid
controlled four-way three-position directional control valve is
positioned in the hydraulic circuit for controlling the movement
of the unloader tube. The positioning solenoids are
electrically coupled to the control switch assembly and a two-
position electrical operator's switch. The positioning
solenoids are energized if the operator's switch is closed in
the unloading position and the unloading switch element of the
control switch assembly is closed; or the operator's switch is
closed in the storage position and the storage switch element of
the control switch assembly is closed. Therefore, as the
control switch assembly resets when the unloading tube has
substantially reached the specified position, the positioning
means is shut off because the corresponding switch element is
now opened.
The detection means of the control switch assembly comprises
a key that extends into a slot formed in a pivot pin fixedly
coupled to the unloading tube. Therefore, by fixedly mounting
the switch to the chassis, the slot in the pivot pin moves as
the unloading tube is moved thereby turning the key of the
control switch assembly.
Brief ~escription of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a top view of an agricultural combine.
FIG. 2 iS a hydraulic schematic of the positioning means of
the unloading tube.
FIG . 3 is an electrical schematic of the control system for
the positioning means of the unloading tube.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the control switch
assembly.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the control switch assembly when the
unloading tube is in its storage position.
FIG. 6 iS a top view of the control switch assembly when the
unloading tube is in its extended unloading position.
-- 2

1 3355 1 4
.



1 Detailed Description
A ~elf-propelled agricultural combine 10, such as
illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises harvesting platform 12 which is
coupled to chassis 14 of the combine by feeder house 16. The
chassis is provided with ground engaging wheels 18 and operator
control station 20. Crops harvested by platform 12 are directed
to the combine by feeder house 16. Inside the combine, the crop
is threshed and separated so that the straw and chaff are
expelled out of the rear of the combine and the clean grain is
stored in clean grain compartment 22. To unload the harvested
and separated grain from compartment 22, the combine is provided
with an unloading auger housed in unloading tube 24. The auger
forces grain through the tube and into a receiving truck.
The unloading tube, when not unloading grain, is located in
a storage position alongside the combine, as illustrated in
FIG. 1. For unloading, the tube is extended one hundred five
degrees to the position indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 1.
The unloading tube is pivotally coupled to the chassis of the
combine at pivot axis P. Rotating the unloading tube so that it
extends forward of the pivot axis facilitates monitoring of the
unloading operation by the combine operator.
The unloading auger is moved by a hydraulic positioning
means schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The positioning
means comprises a linear hydraulic actuator consisting of double
acting hydraulic cylinder 26 which is fluidically coupled to a
source of pressurized hydraulic fluid 28 and hydraulic fluid
sump 30. Two-position hydraulic valve 32 and four-way three-
position hydraulic valve 34 are fluidically positioned between
the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic fluid pump. Valve 34
is a closed center directional control valve which is spring
biassed by springs 36 and 38 into the center position. First
and second solenoids 40 and 42 respectively, are used to
overcome the biassing force of the spring and correctly position
the valve. When first solenoid 40 is energized, as illustrated
in FIG. 2, the directional control valve is in its extended
position, that is hydraulic fluid is directed to cylinder 26 for
extending the unloading tube away from the combine. Whereas, if
second solenoid 42 is energized the valve would be moved
upwardly into its retracting position, that is, where the
-- 3 --

~ 1 3355 1 4
hydraulic flow would be reversed to cylinder 26 and the
un]oading tube retracted.
Valve 32 is biassed by spring 44 into a position where
the output of pump 28 is directly coupled to sump 30. Such a
valve is necessary when pump 28 is an open center pump, and
directional control valve 34 is a closed center valve. This
valve is provided with third solenoid 46 which, when energized
overcomes the biassing force of spring 44 and positions the
valve so that hydraulic fluid from sump 28 is directed to
valve 34.
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the electrical control
system of the present invention. Unloader positioning control
switch assembly 48 is electrically coupled to battery 50 by a
latching two-position operator's switch 52. The control
switch assembly is provided with first and second switch
elements 54 and 56 respectively, which are mechanically
interconnected so that if one element is opened, the other is
closed and vice versa.
Control switch assembly 48 is provided with an unloader
position detecting means comprising a downwardly depending key
58 (better illustrated in FIGS. 4-6) is positioned in slot 60
formed in pivot pin 62 of unloader tube 24. The pivot pin is
fixedly mounted to the top of the unloader tube and rotates
inside an aperture in mounting bracket 64 which is fixedly
mounted to the chassis of the combine. The control switch
assembly is positioned axially along the pivot axis P of the
unloader tube. As the unloader tube is pivoted around pivot
axis P, slot 60 turns rotating key 58.
In operation, when the unloading tube substantially
reaches the storage position from its extended position, first
switch element 54 is closed and second switch element 56 is
opened by rotating key 58. When the unloading tube
substantially reaches its unloading position from its storage
position, first switch element 54 is opened and second switch
element closed thereby resetting the control switch assembly.
The operator manipulates the position of the unloader
tube by positioning operator's switch 52. For example, as

1 3355 1 4
illustrated in FIG. 3, when the operator's switch is in the
unloading position and first switch element 54 is closed
electricity is directed to first solenoid 40 and third
solenoid 46, positioning direction control valve 34 into an
unloading position and the valve 32 into an open position, as
illustrated in FIG. 2. When the unloading tube substantially
reaches its unloading position, first switch element is opened
by rotating key 58 deenergizing solenoids 40 and 46, thereby
closing directional valve 34 and positioning valve 32 so that
hydraulic fluid from pump 28 is directed to sump 30. To
retract the unloading tube, the operator reverses operator's
switch 52 which energizes second solenoid 42 and third
solenoid 46.
Diodes 70 and 72 are used for isolating the energization
of the first and second solenoids from the energization of the
third solenoid for controlling valve 32.
Control switch assembly 48 is provided with a third
switch element 74 which is used to light indicator light 76
located in the operator's cab. Switch element 74 is
mechanically interconnected with the first and second switch
elements and operates in unison with the first switch element.
In this way, an operator is alerted to the fact that the
unloading tube is extending and that the tube is fully
extended into the unloading position when the light is
switched off.
The present invention should not be limited to the above
described embodiments, but should be limited solely to the
claims that follow:




t

Representative Drawing