US 12,234,099 B2
Crop unloader drive with tensioner
Karl R. Linde, Leola, PA (US); and Michael Rush, Lancaster, PA (US)
Assigned to CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed by CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/553,220.
Prior Publication US 2023/0192411 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 41/00 (2006.01); A01D 61/00 (2006.01); A01D 61/02 (2006.01); A01D 61/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 41/002 (2013.01) [A01D 61/008 (2013.01); A01D 61/02 (2013.01); A01D 61/04 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crop unloader system comprising:
an elevator assembly comprising:
an elevator frame,
an elevator drive attached to the elevator frame,
an elevator drive motor attached to the elevator frame and configured to selectively operate the elevator drive, and
an elevator drive output attached to the elevator frame and configured to be driven about an elevator drive output axis by the elevator drive motor;
a boom assembly comprising:
a boom frame connected to the elevator frame at a boom pivot axis that is parallel with the elevator drive output axis, the boom frame being rotatable about the boom pivot axis relative to the elevator frame through a range of motion between a first angular position and a second angular position, and
an unloader drive input attached to the boom frame and configured to rotate about an unloader drive input axis;
an endless flexible drive operatively connected between the elevator drive output and the unloader drive input; and
a tensioning assembly comprising:
a tensioner link pivotally connected to one of the elevator frame and the boom frame at a first tensioner pivot,
a control link pivotally connected to the other of the elevator frame and the boom frame at a second tensioner pivot, and pivotally connected to the tensioner link at a third tensioner pivot, the third tensioner pivot being spaced from the first tensioner pivot and the second tensioner pivot,
an idler wheel operatively connected to the tensioner link, and configured to generate a tension load on the endless flexible drive,
wherein the tensioning assembly is configured to maintain the tension load on the endless flexible drive within a predetermined range, throughout the range of motion of the boom frame relative to the elevator frame.