US 7,559,833 B2
Adjustable convergence panels for discharging residue from a combine harvester
Nathan E. Isaac, Leola, Pa. (US); and Andrew V. Lauwers, Stevens, Pa. (US)
Assigned to CNH America LLC, New Holland, Pa. (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/823,900.
Prior Publication US 2009/0005137 A1, Jan. 01, 2009
Int. Cl. A01F 12/30 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 460—111 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A convergence panel construction for a combine having a distribution chamber into which crop residue is directed during operation of the combine and a windrow door, the distribution chamber having a top, opposed sides, a rear opening for the discharge of crop residue therethrough for windrowing upon a field, and a spreader feed area, the windrow door being associated with the rear opening and operably openable and closable to respectively open and close such rear opening, the combine operating to project crop residue towards the rear opening, the projected crop residue being projected through and expelled from the rear opening when the windrow door is open and being diverted towards the spreader feed area when the windrow door is closed, the convergence panel construction comprising
a pair of convergence panels each extending generally longitudinally along a respective side of the distribution chamber, each of which convergence panels includes a front portion and a rear portion,
an attachment construction associated with each said convergence panel and hingedly attaching said front portion thereof to a respective side wall of the distribution chamber to form a side hinge for rotationally moving said convergence panel about the axis of rotation of said side hinge within the distribution chamber,
a panel positioning assembly operable to control the degree of rotation of said convergence panels about the axes of rotation of their respective side hinges and to position the convergence panels and their rear ends thereof relative to one another and to the rear opening of the distribution chamber, said positioned rear ends of said convergence panels defining an exit from said convergence panels,
said positioning assembly including a controller portion operable by a user to selectively effect rotational movement of said convergence panels and their rear ends to narrow the exit from said convergence panels when the windrow door is closed and to expand the exit from said convergence panels when the windrow door is open,
said narrowed exit when the windrow door is closed effecting convergence of the crop residue flow towards the center of the spreader feed area as such flow is diverted thereto,
said expanded exit when the windrow door is open effecting a dispersion of the crop residue flow across the extent of the rear opening as the crop residue flow is being projected through and expelled from the rear opening for windrowing, wherein the windrow door includes a pair of windrow door side panels, the inner front end portions of the windrow door side panels overlapping the outer rear ends of said convergence panels, the windrow door side panels being adjustably movable in conjunction with said convergence panels as said convergence panels are positioned to define an expanded exit from said convergence panels, and wherein said convergence panels are movable to abut the windrow side panels when the windrow door is opened and to thereby effect coordinated movement of said convergence panels and the windrow side panels and to define a passageway from the distribution chamber through the rear opening.