US 12,284,940 B2
Harvested material receptacle for a harvester having foldable extension elements
Martin Burbank, Warendorf (DE)
Assigned to CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH, Harsewinkel (DE)
Filed by CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH, Harsewinkel (DE)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/381,687.
Claims priority of application No. 102020121473.1 (DE), filed on Aug. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0046855 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. A01D 41/12 (2006.01); A01F 12/60 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 41/1226 (2013.01) [A01F 12/60 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A harvested material receptacle for a harvester comprising:
a hopper that is open at a top with a substantially polygonal opening cross-section and extension elements arranged in pairs opposite each other and are each pivotably articulated about a substantially horizontally running pivot shaft at an edge of an opening of the hopper to transition the extension elements from a substantially or entirely closed transport position into an open receiving position and from the receiving position to the transport position,
an actuating device configured to transition the extension elements between the transport position and the receiving position;
wherein the extension elements that are opposite one another at least partially overlap when in the transport position;
wherein the extension elements comprise a top pair of extension elements and a bottom pair of extension elements;
wherein in the closed transport position, both of:
one of the top pair of extension elements at least partially overlaps another of the top pair of extension elements; and
one of the bottom pair of extension elements at least partially overlaps another of the bottom pair of extension elements;
wherein the actuating device comprises a common actuator configured to control movement of both the top pair of extension elements and the bottom pair of extension elements by a plurality of mechanical coupling links;
wherein the plurality of mechanical coupling links comprises a first coupling link and a second coupling link designed as a damper;
wherein the actuating device is configured to move the bottom pair of the extension elements and the top pair of the extension elements to a final position at the transport position in a predetermined sequence;
wherein the damper is configured to dampen a tilting movement of the one of the top pair of extension elements and the one of the bottom pair of extension elements; and
wherein, while dampening the tilting movement of the one of the top pair of extension elements and the one of the bottom pair of extension elements, retraction of a linkage is configured to provide greater acceleration of tilting movement of the another of the top pair of extension elements and the another of the bottom pair of extension elements than the tilting movement of the one of the top pair of extension elements and the one of the bottom pair of extension elements.