CA1089239A - Pea harvesters - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A hopper assembly is disclosed comprising a main hopper, a movable support carrying the main hopper, an auxiliary hopper and linkage including a connection between the two hoppers through the movable support such that when the main hopper and support are moved from the normal, material receiving, position of the main hopper, the auxiliary hopper is constrained to move into said position to receive the material and when the main hopper and support are returned to the normal position of the main hopper, the auxiliary hopper is constrained by the linkage to discharge material accumulated therein while in the material-receiving position, into the main hopper.

Description

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This application is divided out of copending application No.
252J364J filed May 12, 1976.
This invention relates to hopper assemblies for use, for example, in harvesting and like machines.
Combine harvesters for grain and pea or bean harvesters always in-corporate a hopper for the accumulation o~ grain, peas, beans or other useful crop. Because such harvesters are in themselves large machines of substantial weight, the size of the hopper cannot be particularly large because of space and weight limitations.
If the hopper is small it becomes necessary to stop the operation of the machine at regular intervals in order to load the crop into an attendant lorry or trailer, and over a day's operation the total stop time may become unduly large.
Clearly it is desirable that the stop time should be entirely eliminatcd and it has there~oro been proposed to provide an auxiliary hopper which can be manually moved into a crop collecting position when the main hopper is being discharged into a lorry or trailer. However, this manual arrangement means that the driver must leave his normal position and stop the machine, which is unsatisfactory.
~ccording to the present invention there is provided a hopper assembly comprising a main hopper, a movable support carrying the main hopper, an auxiliary hopper and linkage means including a connection between the two hoppers through the movable support such that when the main hopper and support are moved from the normal, material-receiving, position of the main hopper, the auxiliary hopper is constrained to move into said position to receive the material and when the main hopper and support are returned to the normal position of the main hopper, the auxiliary hopper is constrained by the linkage means to discharge material accumulated therein while in the ,''; -1- ,~

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material-receiving position, into the main hopper.
Further according to the present invention there is provided a hopper assembly comprising a main hopper mounted on a trolley and having a pivoted end cover, an auxiliary hopper pivotally mo~ted on the trolley of the main hoppeT, linkage means for connecting the auxiliary hopper to the fixed part of an associated machine, actuator means operative to move the main hopper and the trolley from a normal, material-receiving position, to a discharge position, and further actuator means operative to tilt the main hopper when in the discharge position and to open the pivotal end co~er when in said discharge position through further linkage means, said first-mentioned linkage means being arranged to constrain movement of the auxiliary hopper means to and from the material-receiving position as the main hopper is moved away from and is returned to the material-receiving position, the auxiliary hopper hav~ng a substantial hor:izontal component of motion as it approaches the materinl-receiving position and a substantial vertical component o motion as it approaches a retracted position whereby material accumulated when in the material-receiving position is discharged into the main hopper.
A hopper assembly embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example~ with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows the main hopper of the assembly and an associated sieve conveyor, an upper run of which lies above the hopper entry;
Figure 2 shows further details of the sieve conveyor of Figure 1 and also of the hopper;
Figures 3 and 4 show further details of the hopper of Figures 1 and

2;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hopper assembly; and Figures 6A to 6D are diagrams illustrating the hopper assembly : . . . . .

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operation.
Referring now to the drawings, the hopper assembly illustrated is intèn~edfor incorporation in a pea harvester such as the harvester disclosed in our copending application 252,364 and that application contains subject matter common with that of the present application.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a hopper 600 and a podder conveyor 500 leading from the upper end of a bucket elevator 450 of the harvester to over~
lie at its other end a podder chain or sieve 550.
The podder conveyor is a generally conventional horizontal conveyor and is mounted on a roller 502 adjacent the upper end of the bucket elevator and a roller 504 adjacent the fan inlet ducting 552. The roller 502 is supported on suitable bearing brackets 506 tonly one shown) ~rorn a member 508 of the framework. The bracket 506 is ad~ustable whereby to vary the tension in tho belt by a screw devicc 510. The rollor 50~ is sLmilarly supported from a bearing bracket 512 adjustably located by a screw device 514.
The podder chain or sieve 550 which is made of mesh is suitable to allow peas of the largest size to fall through while rejecting any remaining pods, pieces of empty pods or pieces of stem. The sieve is trained around four rollers 556, 558~ 560 and 562 disposed approximately at the corners of the hopper 600. Each roller is mounted in appropriate pairs of brackets at least one of which is adjustable to vary the tension in the sieve mesh. The mesh is supported along its upper run by plates 564, 566 which are spaced by an aperture corresponding substantially to the fan inlet ducting opening 552.
The podder chain is very much narrower than the hopper, for example, it may be only one quarter of the width.
~ onstructional details of the hopper are illustrated in Figures 3 and ~ but the overall hopper arrangement will first be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

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, The main hopper 600 is mounted for move~ent transversely of the harvester on a support trolley 601 having pairs o~ wheels 602, 604 which run on tracks 606 (only one shown) mounted on the framework o~ the harvester.
The moving sieve 550 discharges peas into the hopper at approximately mid-length of the latter. In addition to the main hopper 600, the overall arrangement includes a secondary or auxiliary hopper 620 (shown in perspec-tive in Figure 5) pivotally mounted at 622 on members 624 upstanding from the support trolley 601 of the main hopper. The secondary hopper 620 is also pivotally connected at 628 to one end of a linkage 630 supported at its other end for pivotal movement at 632 on struts 634 upstanding from the frame of the podder chain 550.
~ eferring again to ~igures 3 and 4, the main dump hopper 600 is of generally rectangular section ancl is mounted on the trolley fiOl which takos the o~1 o~ a generally rectan~llar fr~mowork 636 mounted on thc pairs of wheels 602 and 604 tfor the sake of clarity shown only on one side in ~igure

3). The dump hopper 600 itself is also rigid with two members 638 (only one shown) which in Figure 4 are upstanding and each member 638 is welded to a respective reinforcing angle member 640 extending approximately diagonally across the dump hopper. The trolley 601 carries towards the left-hand end tFigure 4) a pair of upstanding brackets 642 (only one shown) each of which provides a pivotal connection for one end of a hydraulic actuator 644 the other end of wllich is pivotally connected at 6~6 to the upstanding member 638.
A corresponding actuator is also provided on the opposite side of the hopper.
Two further brackets 648 on the trolley each provide an end pivotal support for a linkage 650 which serves, in the dumping position to open, automatically, and end cover assembly 65~ and this linkage comprises an exten-sible strut ~ormed in three parts interconnected by pivot pins 651 running in elongate slots 653. The other end of the linkage 650 is pivoted at 654 to .. . . .
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one of two (only one shown) members which carry the openable end cover assembly 652 of the hopper. As will be appreciated from inspection of ~igure

4 the end cover is opened by the tilting motion of the hopper effected by the hydraulic actuators 644. The end cover is automatically re-closed when the hopper is Teturned to its normal orientation. The open position of the end cover 652 is indicated in chain lines in Pigure 4.
In order to move the trolley 601 and the hopper 600 carried thereby, a single hydraulic actuator 656 (broken lines) is provided which lies in a recess formed by a reinforcing member 65B of angle section foTming part o~
the trolley and accommodated in a complementary recess in the base of the hopper. This actuator 656 operates between the trolley 601 and a fixed past of the framework of the harvester. The trolley also includes two further angle members 660 disposed symmetrically with reference to the hydraulic actuator 6S6 and si~ilarly accomodated in complementary recesses in the buse of the hopper.
To ensure that the main hopper does not tilt when in its normal, horizontal position, two bifurcated yokes 662 (only one shown in broken lines in each of Pigures 3 and 4) are provided which engage a respective pin 664 rigid with a channel member 666 secured to the hopper. The yokes are pivoted on the trolley 601 by a pivot pin 665 rotatable in a sleeve 667. The pivot pin 665 also carries a latch 669, both the yoke and the latch being mounted ~or rotation with the pivot pin. The pin 664 is normally engaged by the yoke, but when the trolley 601 reaches the dump position, the latch drops down into a slot in the track S06 so that the hopper is free to tilt and dis~
charge its load.
It is believed that the opeTation of the main hopper and the secondary hopper is readily apparent from ~igures 6A to 6D but brief reference will nevertheless be made to the mode of operation.

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It will be appreciated that continuous operation of a harvester can be of considerable importance when weather conditions are adverse or threaten to become adverse. It follows that the time required to stop the machine and unload the hopper, which may be up to ten minutes, is disadvantageous since a considerable quantity of crop can be gathered in that time. The hopper arrangement in accordance with the invention includes the secondary hopper 620 which is automatically placed in position when the main hopper 600 is moved from its normal position to its discharge or dumping position (Figure 6C).
In Figure 6A the main hopper is receiving peas from the moving sieve or podder chain 550 and the secondary hopper is inoperative. As indicated in Figure 6B, when the hydraulic actuator 656 moves the main hopper to thc leEt, the configuration of thc linkage 630 and its pivot connoctions is such that tho secondary hopper 620 is swung downwardly and also carried by the members 62~ towards the moving sieve or horizontal podder chain 550.
When the main hopper 600 reaches the dumping position illustrated in Figure 6C, the secondary hopper 620 is swung to a final, horizontal, position immediately below the moving sieve 550. The main hopper is tilted about the left-hand pivot 668 after the latches 669 have pivoted to release the yokes 662 and immediately discharge has been completed, the trolley 601 is moved back towards the right as indicated in Figure 6D, the secondary hopper 620 is automatically tipped towards the vertical position shown in Figure 6A and the peas collected during the dumping operation are discharged into the main hopper 600.
It will be readily apparent that this simple arrangement enables continuous collection of peas without the harvester being stopped Eor the purposes of unloading since a receiving vehicle can be driven alongside the . . . : . .

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harvester and the secondary hopper 620 continues to receive peas during the unloading time.
In operation, the bucket elevator 450 receives partially-cleaned peas and discharges them on the upper forwardly-moving, run of the podder conveyor 500. Over the mouth o~ the hopper 600, the conveyor 500 discharges peas and any remaining dirt and trash onto the upper run of the moving sieve 550. The fan 554 lying above the hopper opening serves to draw off any remaining dirt, trash etc. and also actively and continuously prevents the apertures of the sieve from becoming blocked, particularly under wet conditions.
When the primary or main hopper 600 is moved sideways for dumping in a truck driving beside the harvester, the auxiliary or secondary hopper 620 is pulled undcr the poddcr chain 550 ~mcl will receive peas whlch are dolivcrod during dumping. When the main hoppcr 600 is retracted, the auxiliary hopper 620 is tipped upwards such that the peas collected therein fall into the main hopper.
It will be apparent that with the hopper arrangement in accordance with the invention there is no requirement for the associated machine, such as a pea harvester, to stop operation while the useful crop is being trans-ferred to a moving truck or trailer alongside the harvester.
Although the harvester described and claimed is primarily intended for harvesting peas, other crops can be harvested which require separation of parts during operation.

Claims (8)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A hopper assembly comprising a main hopper, a movable support carrying the main hopper, an auxiliary hopper and linkage means including a connection between the two hoppers through the movable support such that when the main hopper and support are moved from the normal, material-receiving, position of the main hopper, the auxiliary hopper is constrained to move into said position to receive the material and when the main hopper and support are returned to the normal position of the main hopper, the auxiliary hopper is constrained by the linkage means to discharge material accumulated therein while in the material-receiving position, into the main hopper.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the Linkage comprises a double-cranked link arranged to pivot on a fixed part of an associated machine and pivoted on the auxiliary hopper, the auxiliary hopper being pivotally connected to a trolley forming said movable support.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the main hopper is mounted on the trolley for pivotal movement to enable discharge thereof.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 comprising an hydraulic actuator arranged within an elongate recess in the main hopper and operative to move the trolley together with the hopper.

5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 comprising means to restrain the main hopper from tilting when in its normal position, such means being rendered inactive by movement away from said nor-mal position.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 wherein the linkage means acts on the auxiliary hopper so that the auxiliary hopper approaches the material-receiving position with a substantial horizon-tal component of motion and approaches an inoperative, retracted, position with a substantial component of motion in a vertical direction.

7. An assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 comprising means for tilting the main hopper to discharge material therein when the hopper has been moved to a discharge position remote from the material-receiving position, said tilting means serving, in addition, to open an end cover of the main hopper as it approaches its tilted position.

8. A hopper assembly comprising a main hopper mounted of a trolley and having a pivoted end cover, an auxiliary hopper pivotally mounted on the trolley of the main hopper, linkage means for connecting the auxiliary hopper to the fixed part of an associated machine, actuator means operative to move the main hopper and the trolley from a normal, material-receiving position, to a discharge position, and further actuator means operative to tilt the main hopper when in the discharge position and to open the pivotal end cover when in said discharge position through further linkage means, said first-mentioned linkage means being arranged to constrain movement of the auxiliary hopper means to and from the material-receiving position as the main hopper is moved away from and is returned to the material-receiving position, the auxiliary hopper having a substantial horizontal component of motion as it approaches the material-receiving position and a substantial vertical component of motion as it approaches a retracted position whereby material accumulated when in the material-receiving position is discharged into the main hopper.