Combine harvester cab environment system

• US 5,911,624 A
• Filed: 06/17/1998
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: New Holland North America Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Stauffer, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US09/098,724
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 454/136, 454/139, 454/158, 62/244, 62/298, 62/302, 62/333
• US Class Current: 454/158
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00592 Add-on devices, e.g. heat/cooling boxes, compartment dividers, upgrade sets
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/06 Filtering B60H3/0078 takes precedence

Abstract

An enclosed cab on a combine harvester has an HVAC unit and fresh air filter affixed to the exterior of the lower rear panel. The fresh air is brought through the filter and into the HVAC unit. The air is then inserted into the cab by a distribution duct. A return air filter is positioned above the lower panel so as to minimize particulates entering the return system. The engine coolant line and refrigerant line can be slid out of the unit without the need for breaking the lines.

Claims

1. A combine harvester cab environment system, comprising:

a. a lower panel having a right front post, a left front post, a right rear post and a left rear post, each said post perpendicularly affixed to the lower panel;

b. an upper panel perpendicularly supported by the right front post, the left front post, the right rear post and the left rear post;

c. a rear panel affixed to the lower panel, the left rear post, the right rear post and the upper panel, said rear panel having a deck;

d. a front windshield generally parallel to the rear panel, said front windshield affixed to the lower panel, the upper panel, the right front post and left front post;

e. a left door pivotally affixed to the left front post;

f. a right door generally parallel to the left door, said door pivotally affixed to the right front post;

g. a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit affixed to an exterior of the rear panel, said unit receives a quantity of fresh air from a fresh air intake, said air passing through a fresh air filter, said filter affixed to the exterior of the rear panel, said fresh air processed by the unit and projected into a cab by a distribution duct; and

h. a return air filter affixed to an interior of the rear panel, said return air filter above the lower panel, said return air filter receiving a quantity of contaminated air, said contaminated air sent to the unit through a return air duct and wherein the return air filter is positioned 6 inches above the lower panel, whereby a particulate on the lower panel will not enter the return air filter.

2. The combine harvester cab environment system described in claim 1, wherein the return air filter may be removed and a new return air filter may be inserted.

3. A combine harvester cab environment system, comprising:

a. an enclosed harvester cab having a lower panel and a rear panel, said rear panel having a deck, an interior and an exterior;

b. a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit affixed to the exterior, said unit having a distribution duct connected to the cab, said unit having a removable core with an engine coolant line and refrigerate line;

c. a fresh air filter affixed to the exterior, said fresh air filter having a fresh air intake connected to the unit; and

d. a return air filter affixed to the interior, said return air filter connected to the unit by a return air duct whereby a quantity of air passes through the fresh air filter into the fresh air intake and into the unit, said air is then inserted into the cab, a quantity of contaminated air passes through the return air filter and into the return air duct to the unit, wherein said core may be removed from the unit by sliding the said core away from the unit and said core may be removed from the unit without requiring the engine coolant line and refrigerate line being opened and wherein said return air filter is positioned 6 inches above the lower panel, whereby a particulate on the lower panel will not enter the return air filter.

4. The combine harvester cab environment system described in claim 3, wherein the return air filter may be removed and a new return air filter may be inserted.

5. In an enclosed cab of an agricultural harvester, said cab having a steering column, an operator'"'"'s seat, a lower panel, a rear panel, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit, said unit having a fresh air intake connected to a fresh air filter, a distribution duct connecting the unit to the cab, a return air filter connected to the unit by a return air duct, the improvement comprising said rear panel further comprises an upper rear panel and a lower rear panel, a deck being horizontally positioned between the lower rear panel and upper rear panel, said deck positioned at a height between an elbow and a shoulder of an operator seated in the operator'"'"'s chair, said deck having a first storage box and second storage box, said unit affixed to an exterior of the lower rear panel proximal to the first storage box whereby the first storage box is kept cool by the unit, wherein the unit having a removable core with an engine coolant line and a refrigerant line whereby the core may be removed from the unit by sliding the core away from the unit and wherein said return air filter is positioned 6 inches above the lower panel on an interior of the lower rear panel, whereby a particulate on the lower panel will not enter the return air filter.

6. The improvement described in claim 5, wherein said fresh air filter is affixed to the exterior of the lower rear panel.

7. The improvement described in claim 6, wherein the fresh air filter may be removed and a new fresh air filter may be inserted.

8. The improvement described in claim 7 wherein the engine coolant line and refrigerant line will not be broken when the core is removed from the unit.