Overload sensor for a cotton harvester unit drive
First Claim
1. In a cotton harvester including a frame, an engine mounted on the frame, a harvesting unit supported from the frame and having a harvesting mechanism for removing cotton from cotton plants, a drive arrangement comprising:
- a shaft drivingly connected to and variably loaded by the harvesting mechanism;
a first pulley connected for rotation with the shaft about the shaft axis;
a second pulley drivingly connected to the engine;
belt means tensioned between the first and second pulleys for driving the second pulley from the first pulley, wherein the tension in the belt means is a function of the shaft load;
first means rockably connected to the frame for rotatably supporting the shaft adjacent the first pulley and for permitting the shaft to move generally transversely to its axis;
second means for biasing the shaft support means transversely away from the second pulley and permitting the shaft support means to move toward the second pulley upon the tension in the belt means reaching a preselected limit; and
alarm means responsive to movement of the shaft support means toward the second pulley for providing a signal indicating a shaft overload condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for sensing the loading on an input drive of a cotton harvesting unit and providing a warning when an overload of the drive occurs. Normal tension in the belt drive to the unit input shaft is balanced by an adjustable spring load. Overload of the input shaft overcomes the spring load to activate an electrical switch that alerts the operator by lighting a warning lamp. The input drive includes a slip clutch, and the spring load is adjusted so that a warning is provided before the drive load reaches the loading which would cause the clutch to begin to slip.
72 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In a cotton harvester including a frame, an engine mounted on the frame, a harvesting unit supported from the frame and having a harvesting mechanism for removing cotton from cotton plants, a drive arrangement comprising:
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a shaft drivingly connected to and variably loaded by the harvesting mechanism; a first pulley connected for rotation with the shaft about the shaft axis; a second pulley drivingly connected to the engine; belt means tensioned between the first and second pulleys for driving the second pulley from the first pulley, wherein the tension in the belt means is a function of the shaft load; first means rockably connected to the frame for rotatably supporting the shaft adjacent the first pulley and for permitting the shaft to move generally transversely to its axis; second means for biasing the shaft support means transversely away from the second pulley and permitting the shaft support means to move toward the second pulley upon the tension in the belt means reaching a preselected limit; and alarm means responsive to movement of the shaft support means toward the second pulley for providing a signal indicating a shaft overload condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a cotton harvester including a frame, an engine mounted on the frame, a harvesting unit supported from the frame and having a harvesting mechanism for removing cotton from cotton plants, a drive arrangement comprising:
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a shaft drivingly connected to and variably loaded by the harvesting mechanism; a first pulley connected for rotation with the shaft; first means supporting the first pulley on the frame for transverse movement with respect to its axis of rotation; a second pulley drivingly connected to the engine; endless belt means tensioned between the first and second pulleys for driving the first pulley from the second; second means connected to the first means for selectively positioning the first pulley and adjusting the tension in the belt means between the pulleys; third means operably associated with the second means for maintaining the first pulley in the selected position when the tension in the belt means is equal to or less than a preselected limit corresponding to the tension required to drive the first pulley and the shaft at a preselected harvester mechanism loading and for permitting the first pulley to move toward the second pulley when the tension in the belt means exceeds the preselected limit; and alarm means responsive to the movement of the first pulley toward the second pulley for providing an indication of shaft load condition. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. In a cotton harvester including a frame, an engine mounted on the frame, a harvesting unit supported from the frame and having a harvesting mechanism for removing cotton from cotton plants, a drive arrangement comprising:
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a shaft drivingly connected to and variably loaded by the harvesting mechanism; a first pulley connected for rotation with the shaft; a shaft support rockably connected to the frame and rotatably supporting the shaft adjacent the pulley, said shaft support rockable in a direction generally transverse to the axis of the shaft; a second pulley drivingly connected to the engine; endless belt means tensioned between the first and second pulleys for driving the first pulley from the second; belt tension adjusting means connected between the shaft support and the frame and movable with the shaft support for adjusting the position of the first pulley with respect to the second pulley to vary the tension in the endless belt means; a sensor arm connected to the tension adjusting means for movement therewith including means for biasing the sensor arm and the adjusting means to a first position to maintain the first pulley in the adjusted position when the tension in the endless belt means is equal to or less than a preselected tension, and for permitting the sensor arm and tension adjusting means to move away from the first position against the bias when the tension in the endless belt means exceeds the preselected tension; means responsive to the movement of the sensor arm away from the first position for providing a signal indicative of shaft load.
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Specification