Position adjustment assembly for an agricultural conveyor

• US 8,801,353 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• 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:
  US13/316,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20130149090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 198/315, 198/317, 414/503, 414/572
• US Class Current: 414/523
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/42 mounted on the load-transporting element

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, and 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. The position adjustment assembly also includes a rotation control assembly configured to couple to the agricultural storage system, and an intermediate link having a first end engaged with the rotation control assembly, and a second end 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;

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;

a rotation control assembly configured to couple to the agricultural storage system; and

an intermediate link having a first end engaged with the rotation control assembly, and a second end rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm;

wherein the rotation control assembly is configured to adjust a lateral position of the first end of the intermediate link based on rotation of the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system to control an angle of the outer arm relative to the inner arm;

wherein the rotation control assembly comprises a cam, the intermediate link comprises a follower, and the rotation control assembly is configured to adjust the lateral position of the first end of the intermediate link via contact between the cam and the follower.

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, 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 rotation control assembly is configured to control the angle of the outer arm relative to the inner arm 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 6, wherein the first end of the intermediate link comprises a slot configured to engage a pin of the rotation control assembly.

8. The position adjustment assembly of claim 1, 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.

9. The position adjustment assembly of claim 8, 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;

a rotation control assembly configured to couple to the agricultural storage system; and

an intermediate link having a first end engaged with the rotation control assembly, and a second end rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm;

wherein the rotation control assembly is configured to maintain the second end of the outer arm at a substantially constant lateral distance from the agricultural storage system by adjusting a lateral position of the first end of the intermediate link based on rotation of the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system;

wherein the rotation control assembly comprises a cam, the intermediate link comprises a follower, and the rotation control assembly is configured to adjust the lateral position of the first end of the intermediated link via contact between the cam and the follower.

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 11, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

13. The position adjustment assembly of claim 12, wherein the first end of the intermediate link comprises a slot configured to engage a pin of the rotation control assembly.

14. 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;

a rotation control assembly configured to couple to the agricultural storage system; and

an intermediate link having a first end engaged with the rotation control assembly, and a second end rotatably coupled to the first end of the outer arm;

wherein the rotation control assembly is configured to induce the intermediate link 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 rotation control assembly comprises a cam, the intermediate link comprises a follower, and the rotation control assembly is configured to adjust a lateral position of the first end of the intermediate link via contact between the cam and the follower.

15. The position adjustment assembly of claim 14, comprising a linear actuator configured to rotate the inner arm relative to the agricultural storage system.

16. The position adjustment assembly of claim 15, wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

17. The position adjustment assembly of claim 14, 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.