US 12,453,310 B2
Hydraulic cleaning fan drive for combine harvester utilizing swing-arm actuated pump
Travis Ohms, Blue Grass, IA (US); Craig Murray, Davenport, IA (US); and John Bradley Wickizer, Davenport, IA (US)
Assigned to CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed by CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/104,373.
Prior Publication US 2024/0251711 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. A01D 41/127 (2006.01); A01D 69/00 (2006.01); A01F 12/44 (2006.01); A01F 12/56 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 41/1276 (2013.01) [A01F 12/444 (2013.01); A01F 12/56 (2013.01); A01D 69/00 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly for selectively activating a cleaning fan of a cleaning system of a combine harvester, said assembly comprising:
a hydraulic pump for either directly or indirectly powering the cleaning fan, the hydraulic pump being movably connected to a fixed point and moveable between a first position and a second position, the hydraulic pump having an input portion for receiving power and a pressurized fluid port for distributing fluid to power the cleaning fan;
a drive belt wound about the input portion of the hydraulic pump as well as a drive pulley of the combine harvester; and
an actuator for selectively moving the hydraulic pump between the first position and the second position,
wherein, in the first position of the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump is positioned such that the belt is maintained in a state of tension on the input portion of the hydraulic pump as well as the drive pulley, and in the state of tension of the drive belt, the drive belt is configured to transfer power from the drive pulley to the input portion of the hydraulic pump, which activates the hydraulic pump to cause rotation of the cleaning fan, and
wherein, in the second position of the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump is positioned such that the belt is maintained in a relaxed state on the input portion of the hydraulic pump and/or the drive pulley, and in the relaxed state of the drive belt, the drive belt is not configured to transfer power from the drive pulley to the input portion of the hydraulic pump.