Agricultural harvester having a header based heat exchanger

• US 10,477,771 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Joyce, Joshua Steward
• Primary Examiner(s): Fabian-Kovas, Arpad
• Application Number:
  US15/684,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20170347526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 165 41, 165140
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/06 Combines with headers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/142 Header drives
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/03 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0019 Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0089 Oil coolers heating or cooling lubricants in vehicles F01M5/00

Abstract

An agricultural harvester having a combine and a header is provided. The combine includes a primary hydraulic system for use in operations of the combine. The primary hydraulic system includes primary hydraulic fluid. The header is attachable to the combine and includes a header hydraulic system having a header hydraulic fluid and a heat exchanger operatively connected to the primary hydraulic system and the header hydraulic system.

Claims

1. An agricultural harvester header for operative attachment to a combine, the header comprising:

an agricultural harvester header hydraulic system having a header hydraulic fluid, and

a heat exchanger operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system and configured to transfer heat between the header hydraulic fluid and another hydraulic fluid.

2. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system.

3. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, further comprising a motor, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system downstream the motor.

4. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system upstream the reservoir.

5. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, further comprising a pump, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system downstream the pump.

6. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, wherein the header hydraulic fluid is oil.

7. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a shell and tube heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, a plate and shell heat exchanger, a plate fin heat exchanger, or a direct contact heat exchanger.

8. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, further comprising a coupler for connecting the agricultural harvester header to the combine.

9. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger includes an input for receiving said another hydraulic fluid.

10. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, further comprising a reel drive motor, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system downstream the reel drive motor.

11. The agricultural harvester header of claim 1, wherein the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system comprises a closed hydraulic circuit in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and a motor, a pump and a reservoir.

12. An agricultural harvester header attachable to a combine having a primary hydraulic system that includes a primary hydraulic fluid, the agricultural harvester header comprising:

an agricultural harvester header hydraulic system having a header hydraulic fluid, and

a two-fluid type heat exchanger operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system and configured to exchange heat with the primary hydraulic system.

13. The agricultural harvester header of claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to be in fluid communication with the primary hydraulic system and the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system.

14. The agricultural harvester header of claim 12, further comprising a motor, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system downstream the motor.

15. The agricultural harvester header of claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger is a shell and tube heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, a plate and shell heat exchanger, a plate fin heat exchanger, or a direct contact heat exchanger.

16. The agricultural harvester header of claim 12, further comprising a reservoir, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system upstream the reservoir.

17. The agricultural harvester header of claim 12, further comprising a pump, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system downstream the pump.

18. The agricultural harvester header of claim 12, wherein the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system comprises a closed hydraulic circuit in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and a motor, a pump and a reservoir.

19. An agricultural harvester header for attaching to a combine comprising a primary hydraulic system having a cooler and a primary hydraulic fluid, the agricultural harvester header comprising:

an agricultural harvester header hydraulic system having a pump, a motor and a reservoir and forming a closed hydraulic circuit therewith, and an oil-based header hydraulic fluid independent of the primary hydraulic fluid, and

a heat exchanger operatively connectable to the primary hydraulic system and the agricultural harvester header hydraulic system downstream the pump.