Reversible compression auger on harvesting header

{
  "publication_number": "US11304370B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Reversible compression auger on harvesting header",
  "abstract": "A system and method for reversing a rotational direction of an auger of a header. The system includes a fluid line for delivering fluid to a motor that drives the auger. A directional flow control valve is connected to the fluid line and is movable between a first state in which the valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the auger in a first rotational direction, and a second state in which the valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a second fluid direction that is different from the first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the auger in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for reversing a rotational direction of an auger of a header of an agricultural machine, said system comprising: a first fluid line for delivering fluid to a motor that is configured to drive the auger; a directional flow control valve connected to the first fluid line and movable between (i) a first state in which the directional flow control valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the auger in a first rotational direction, and (ii) a second state in which the directional flow control valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a second fluid direction that is different from the first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the auger in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction; a pump connected to the first fluid line for delivering fluid to the directional flow control valve; two flow control valves positioned in series in the first fluid line between the pump and the directional flow control valve, wherein a first flow control valve of the two flow control valves is positioned downstream of a second flow control valve of the two flow control valves, and wherein the two flow control valves are configured to be operated together to deliver a constant flow rate to the motor; and a second fluid line connected to (i) the first fluid line at a location between the two flow control valves and (ii) an input of the first flow control valve for communicating the fluid pressure in the first fluid line to the first flow control valve, wherein the directional flow control valve is maintained in the first state during a harvesting operation, and the directional flow control valve is maintained in the second state during an operation to dislodge crop material from the auger.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that is configured to maintain the directional flow control valve in the second state for a pre-determined amount of time before returning the directional flow control valve to the first state.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the two flow control valves are connected to the first fluid line in series with the directional flow control valve.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to adjust one of the two flow control valves to reduce the flow rate of fluid delivered to the motor prior to switching the directional flow control valve to the second state.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that is configured to energize the directional flow control valve and cause movement of the directional flow control valve to the second state.",
    "6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to energize the directional flow control valve and cause movement of the directional flow control valve to the second state for a pre-determined duration of time.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pre-determined duration of time corresponds to reverse movement of the auger along the second rotational direction by a pre-determined angular distance.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the directional flow control valve is connected to the first fluid line at a location that is both upstream and downstream of the motor.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, further comprising the auger.",
    "10. A method of operating an auger of a header of an agricultural machine, said method comprising: operating a pump to deliver fluid through a first fluid line to a motor in a first fluid direction such that the motor drives the auger in a first rotational direction during a harvesting operation, while a directional flow control valve connected to the first fluid line is maintained in a first state, communicating the pressure within the first fluid line at a location between the pump and the directional flow control valve to a first flow control valve that is positioned downstream of a second fluid control valve on the first fluid line in order to deliver a constant flow rate to the motor, and switching the directional flow control valve to a second state to deliver the fluid to the motor in a second fluid direction that is different from the first fluid direction thereby causing the motor to move the auger in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction for dislodging crop material wrapped about the auger.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, further comprising reducing a fluid flow rate of the fluid through the first fluid line prior to the switching step.",
    "12. The method of claim 10, further comprising increasing a fluid flow rate of the fluid through the first fluid line following the switching step.",
    "13. The method of claim 10, further comprising switching the directional flow control valve to a third state to bypass the motor.",
    "14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third fluid line connected to (i) the first fluid line at a location downstream of the first flow control valve, and (ii) the pump for communicating the pressure in the first fluid line to a swash plate within the pump.",
    "15. The method of claim 10 further comprising communicating the pressure at a location downstream of the first flow control valve in the first fluid line to a swash plate within the pump.",
    "16. A header of an agricultural machine, said header comprising: a header frame; an auger that is rotatably mounted to the header frame for delivering crop material to a feederhouse of the agricultural machine; a first fluid line for delivering fluid to a motor that is configured to drive the auger; a directional flow control valve connected to the first fluid line and movable between (i) a first state in which the directional flow control valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the auger in a first rotational direction, and (ii) a second state in which the directional flow control valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a second fluid direction that is different from the first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the auger in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction; a pump connected to the first fluid line for delivering fluid to the directional flow control valve; and two flow control valves positioned in series in the first fluid line between the pump and the directional flow control valve, wherein a first flow control valve of the two flow control valves is positioned downstream of a second flow control valve of the two flow control valves, and wherein the two flow control valves are configured to be operated together to deliver a constant flow rate to the motor; wherein the directional flow control valve is maintained in the first state during a harvesting operation, and the directional flow control valve is maintained in the second state during an operation to dislodge crop material from the auger."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates generally to a header of an agricultural machine, such as a combine, and more particularly, to a system and method for reversing an auger of the header.\n\nAs is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,144,197 to CNH America LLC, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes, a typical header of an agricultural combine includes one or more cutters, e.g., cutter bars with reciprocating knives, which cut the crop material that is harvested from the field. Once the crop material is cut, a conveyor system, which is positioned rearwardly of the cutter(s), transports the crop material to the feeder housing. Modern headers generally have cutters and attachments which are specifically optimized to harvest a particular kind of crop material. For instance, the header may include a rotating reel with tines or the like to sweep the crop material towards the cutter(s). Alternatively, the header may include snouts and row units instead of a rotating reel and cutter bar(s).\n\nA draper header is typically used to harvest fluffy or bushy crop material such as soy beans or canola. A draper header generally includes a conveyor that is in the form of one or more flat belts, known as draper belts, to convey the crop material to the feeder housing. Typically, a draper header may include two lateral draper belts that convey the crop material longitudinally inward and a center feed belt that conveys the crop material into the feeder housing. Each draper belt may be wrapped around rollers, for example various combinations of drive rollers and idler rollers.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01D 75/187",
    "A01D 41/142",
    "A01D 61/002",
    "A01D 61/004"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01D 41/14",
    "A01D 75/18",
    "A01D 61/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CNH Industrial America LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jeffrey C. Trowbridge",
    "Cory Douglas Hunt"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-10-24",
  "publication_date": "2022-04-19",
  "grant_date": "2022-04-19",
  "priority_date": "2019-10-24",
  "application_number": "US-201916662524-A",
  "family_id": "73014299",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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}