Position adjustment assembly for an agricultural conveyor

• US 8,794,900 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Friggstad, Terrance Alan, Hall, Kevin Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saul
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASSAN, EMERY S
• Application Number:
  US13/316,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20130149091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 198/315, 198/317, 414/503, 414/572
• US Class Current: 414/523
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/36 using endless chains or belts thereon

Abstract

A position adjustment assembly for an agricultural conveyor includes an inner arm having a first end configured to rotatably couple to an agricultural storage system at a first location. The position adjustment assembly also includes an outer arm having a first end, a second end, and a pivot positioned between the first end and the second end. A second end of the inner arm is rotatably coupled to the outer arm at the pivot, and the agricultural conveyor is configured to rotatably couple to the second end of the outer arm. In addition, the position adjustment assembly includes an intermediate link having a first end configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system at a second location, longitudinally offset from the first location. A second end of the intermediate link is rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm.

Claims

1. A position adjustment assembly for an agricultural conveyor, comprising:

an inner arm having a first end configured to rotatably couple to an agricultural storage system at a first location;

an outer arm having a first end, a second end, and a pivot positioned between the first end and the second end, wherein a second end of the inner arm is rotatably coupled to the outer arm at the pivot, and the agricultural conveyor is configured to rotatably couple to the second end of the outer arm; and

an intermediate link having a first end configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system at a second location, longitudinally offset from the first location, wherein a second end of the intermediate link is rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm;

wherein the outer arm comprises a first member extending, the first end of the outer arm and the pivot of the outer arm, and a second member rotatably coupled to the first member adjacent to the pivot of the outer arm, and extending to the second end of the outer arm.

2. The position adjustment assembly of claim 1, comprising an actuator configured to rotate the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system.

3. The position adjustment assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator having a first end configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system at a third location, laterally offset from the first location and on an opposite side of the first location from the second location, and a second end rotatably coupled to the inner arm.

4. The position adjustment assembly of claim 3, wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

5. The position adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the position adjustment assembly is configured to move the second end of the outer arm in a longitudinal direction relative to the agricultural storage system upon rotation of the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system.

6. The position adjustment assembly of claim 5, wherein the position adjustment assembly is configured to maintain the second end of the outer arm at a substantially constant lateral distance from the agricultural storage system upon movement of the second end of the outer arm in the longitudinal direction.

7. The position adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein a length of the inner arm is substantially equal to a length of the intermediate link.

8. The position adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first location and the second location is substantially equal to a distance between the first end of the outer arm and the pivot of the outer arm.

9. The position adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the second member is configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the pivot of the outer arm to facilitate adjustment of a height of the agricultural conveyor.

10. A position adjustment assembly for an agricultural conveyor, comprising:

an inner arm configured to rotatably couple to an agricultural storage system;

an outer arm having a first end, a second end, and a pivot positioned between the first end and the second end, wherein the inner arm is rotatably coupled to the outer arm at the pivot, and the agricultural conveyor is configured to rotatably couple to the second end of the outer arm; and

an intermediate link rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm, and configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system;

wherein the position adjustment assembly is configured to move the second end of the outer arm in a longitudinal direction relative to the agricultural storage system, and to maintain the second end of the outer arm at a substantially constant lateral distance from the agricultural storage system upon rotation of the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system;

wherein the outer arm comprises a first member extending between the first end the outer arm and the pivot of the outer arm, and a second member rotatably coupled to the first member adjacent to the pivot of the outer arm, and extending to the second end of the outer arm.

11. The position adjustment assembly of claim 10, comprising an actuator configured to rotate the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system.

12. The position adjustment assembly of claim 10, wherein a first end of the inner arm is configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system at a first location, and a first end of the intermediate link is configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system at a second location, longitudinally offset from the first location.

13. The position adjustment assembly of claim 12, wherein a second end of the inner arm is rotatably coupled to the outer arm at the pivot, and a second end of the intermediate link is rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm.

14. The position adjustment assembly of claim 10, wherein a length of the inner arm is substantially equal to a length of the intermediate link.

15. A position adjustment assembly for an agricultural conveyor, comprising:

an inner arm configured to rotatably couple to an agricultural storage system;

an outer arm having a first end, a second end, and a pivot positioned between the first end and the second end, wherein the inner arm is rotatably coupled to the outer arm at the pivot, and the agricultural conveyor is configured to rotatably couple to the second end of the outer arm; and

an intermediate link rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm, and configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system;

wherein the intermediate link is configured to drive the outer arm to rotate about the pivot in a first direction upon rotation of the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system in a second direction, opposite the first direction, such that a lateral distance between the second end of the outer arm and the agricultural storage system remains substantially constant;

wherein the outer arm comprises a first member extending between the first end of the outer arm and the pivot of the outer arm, and a second member rotatably coupled to the first member adjacent to the pivot of the outer arm, and extending to the second end of the outer arm.

16. The position adjustment assembly of claim 15, comprising a linear actuator configured to rotate the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system.

17. The position adjustment assembly of claim 16, wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

18. The position adjustment assembly of claim 15, wherein a first end of the inner arm is configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system at a first location, a second end of the inner arm is rotatably coupled to the outer arm at the pivot, a first end of the intermediate link is configured to rotatably couple to the agricultural storage system at a second location, longitudinally offset from the first location, and a second end of the intermediate link is rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm.

19. The position adjustment assembly of claim 15, wherein the position adjustment assembly is configured to move the second end of the outer arm in a longitudinal direction relative to the agricultural storage system upon rotation of the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system.