AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER HAVING A HEADER BASED HEAT EXCHANGER

• US 20170347526A1
• Filed: 08/23/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,477,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

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. A header for operative attachment to a combine, the header comprising:

a header hydraulic system having a header hydraulic fluid, and

a heat exchanger operatively connected to the header hydraulic system and configured to receive another hydraulic fluid.

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

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

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

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

6. The header of claim 1, wherein the another hydraulic fluid is at a first temperature and the header hydraulic fluid is at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and the heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the anther hydraulic fluid and header hydraulic fluids.

7. The header of claim 1, wherein the header hydraulic fluid is oil.

8. The 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.

9. A header attachable to a combine having a primary hydraulic system that includes a primary hydraulic fluid, the header comprising:

a header hydraulic system having a header hydraulic fluid, and

a heat exchanger operatively connected to the header hydraulic system and configured to exchange heat with the primary hydraulic system.

10. The header of claim 9, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to be in fluid communication with the primary hydraulic system and the header hydraulic system.

11. The header of claim 9, further comprising a motor, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the header hydraulic system downstream the motor.

12. The header of claim 9, wherein the primary hydraulic fluid is at a first temperature and the header hydraulic fluid is at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and the heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the primary and header hydraulic fluids.

13. The header of claim 9, 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.

14. The header of claim 9, further comprising a reservoir, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the header hydraulic system upstream the reservoir.

15. The header of claim 9, further comprising a pump, and wherein the heat exchanger is operatively connected to the header hydraulic system downstream the pump.

16. A header for attaching to a combine comprising a primary hydraulic system that includes a primary hydraulic system having a cooler and a primary hydraulic fluid, the header comprising:

a header hydraulic system having a pump and a header hydraulic fluid independent of the primary hydraulic fluid, and

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

17. The header of claim 16, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to increase a temperature of the primary hydraulic fluid and decrease a temperature of the header hydraulic fluid.