US3827442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combine control
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-21
•
Granted: 1974-08-06
•
Expires: 1993-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A fan speed control for hillside combines. The tendency of crop materials to move more quickly or more slowly along the cleaning shoes of a combine in response to uphill or downhill inclination of the combine is compensated by speed variation in the fan or blower that moves the materials over the pans. Fan speed is controlled by a mechanical linkage connecting an upright pendulum and a variable speed drive to the fan. The pendulum and associated linkage are calibrated to increase fan speed during downhill travel and to decrease fan speed during uphill travel, thereby substantially normalizing the movement of the crop materials over the cleaning shoes or pans for all such attitudes of the combine.
Inventors
- 👤 R Scholz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:47
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D75/00; A01D75/28; A01D75/282; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S56/00; Y10S56/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A fan speed control for the fan of a hillside combine subject to longitudinal inclination from a horizontal working orientation and resulting forward or rearward inclination of the cleaning shoes; comprising: a preset source of rotative power on the combine having an output shaft driven at a constant speed during combine operation; variable speed drive means on the combine operatively connected between the output shaft of said source of rotative power and a fan for transmission of rotational movement to the fan from said source of rotative power; a vertical pendulum comprising a weight suspended freely on the combine beneath a pivotal transverse axis for relative angular movement with respect to the combine in response to the longitudinal changes of inclination of the combine; and means operatively connected between the pendulum and said variable speed drive means for controlling the rotational speed of the fan in response to the changed angular location of said pendulum about said axis relative to the combine to thereby power the fan at a preset rotational speed when the combine is in its horizontal working orientation and at a modified speed when the combine is inclined about the transverse axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A fan speed control for the fan of a hillside combine subject to longitudinal inclination from a horizontal working orientation and resulting forward or rearward inclination of the cleaning shoes; comprising: a preset source of rotative power on the combine having an output shaft driven at a constant speed during combine operation; variable speed drive means on the combine operatively connected between the output shaft of said source of rotative power and a fan for transmission of rotational movement to the fan from said source of rotative power; a vertical pendulum comprising a weight suspended freely on the combine beneath a pivotal transverse axis for relative angular movement with respect to the combine in response to the longitudinal changes of inclination of the combine; and means operatively connected between the pendulum and said variable speed drive means for controlling the rotational speed of the fan in response to the changed angular location of said pendulum about said axis relative to the combine to thereby power the fan at a preset rotational speed when the combine is in its horizontal working orientation and at a modified speed when the combine is inclined about the transverse axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fan speed control as set out in claim 1 wherein said variable speed drive means comprises a lever-operated belt drive engaged with a drive pulley on the fan; said last-named means comprising a mechanical linkage conected between the pendulum and the operating lever of the lever-operated belt drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A fan speed control as set out in claim 1 wherein said variable speed drive means comprises a split variable diameter pulley mounted to the output shaft of the source of rotative power, a pulley of fixed diameter mounted to a fan shaft, a flexible endless drive belt engaged about both pulleys, and a movable idler pulley engaged with the belt to control the diameter of the variable diameter pulley.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
A fan speed control as set out in claim 1 wherein said variable speed drive means comprises a split variable diameter pulley mounted to the output shaft of the source of rotative power, a pulley of fixed diameter mounted to a fan shaft, a flexible endless drive belt engaged about both pulleys, and a movable idler pulley engaged with the belt to control the diameter of the variable diameter pulley; said last-named means comprising a mechanical linkage operatively connected between the pendulum and the movable idler pulley for locating the position of the idler pulley in response to the angular location of the pendulum relative to the combine about its axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
A fan speed control as set out in claim 1 wherein said variable speed drive means comprises an axially split variable diameter pulley having two halves spring biased toward one another, the variable diameter pulley being mounted to the output shaft of the source of rotative power and being operatively connected to the fan by means of an entrained flexible endless drive belt; an idler pulley engaged against the drive belt; a mounting Support movably mounted to the combine about a transverse axis and carrying the idler pulley; said last-named means comprising a mechanical linkage operatively connected between the pendulum and the mounting support for selectively locating the position of the idler pulley in response to the angular location of the pendulum relative to the combine about its axis; and spring means operatively connected between the mounting support and combine for balancing the forces on the idler pulley when the pendulum is vertical and the combine is on level ground.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fan speed control as set out in claim 1 further comprising: locking means operably connected between the combine and pendulum for selectively fixing the angular location of the pendulum relative to the combine about its axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |