JP7770288B2 - combine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a combine harvester equipped with a grain tank for storing harvested grain.

An example of a combine harvester like the one described above is already known, as described in Patent Document 1. This conventional combine harvester is equipped with a vertical conveying device (referred to as a "vertical conveying device" in Patent Document 1) located behind the grain tank and which discharges grain stored in the grain tank, and a rear cover which covers the vertical conveying device from the lateral outside. The rear cover is long in the vertical direction, extending along the rear edges of the lateral outer walls (referred to as "side walls" in Patent Document 1) of the grain tank and the lower cover which covers the lower portion of the grain tank.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-000075

However, in conventional combine harvesters, areas of the rear cover that are far from the hinge, such as the lower part of the hinge, are not supported. As a result, vibrations caused by the combine harvester traveling cause the lower part of the rear cover to flap, generating noise.

The object of the present invention is to provide a combine harvester that can suppress flapping of the rear cover while the combine harvester is traveling.

The combine harvester of the present invention comprises a grain tank for storing grain, a vertical conveying device that extends vertically behind the grain tank and is connected to the rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grain stored in the grain tank, and a rear cover that is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the horizontal outer wall of the grain tank and covers the horizontal outer side of the vertical conveying device, the horizontal outer wall and the rear cover are connected in a planar shape, and the rear cover is supported at the rear of the grain tank via a hinge so that it can swing around a vertical axis and switch between a first state in which it covers the vertical outer side of the vertical conveying device and a second state in which it opens the horizontal outer side of the vertical conveying device, and is also provided with a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state, and a holding mechanism that holds the rear cover in the first state by abutting the free end portion of the rear cover that is vertically more distant from the hinge in the left-right direction only when the rear cover is in the first state.

When the combine is traveling, the rear cover is in a first state, covering the vertical conveying device from the lateral outer side. According to the present invention, when the rear cover is in the first state, the holding mechanism holds the portion of the rear cover that is prone to flapping, i.e., the portion of the rear cover that is free end side in the vertical direction beyond the hinge where no hinge is provided. As a result, flapping of the rear cover can be suppressed when the combine is traveling.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the holding mechanism comprises a first part provided on the grain tank and a second part provided on the rear cover, the second part moving away from the first part when the rear cover is opened and moving closer to the first part when the rear cover is closed, and being in contact with the first part when the rear cover is in the first state.

This configuration makes it possible to realize a holding mechanism with a simple structure in which the first and second parts come into contact when the rear cover is in the first state.

The combine harvester of the present invention includes a grain tank for storing grain, a vertical conveying device extending in the vertical direction behind the grain tank and connected to the rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grain stored in the grain tank, and a rear cover formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the lateral outer wall of the grain tank and covering the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device.
The lateral outer wall and the rear cover are connected in a plane, and the rear cover is supported on a rear part of the grain tank via a hinge so as to be switchable between a first state in which the rear cover covers the vertical conveying device from the lateral outer side and a second state in which the rear cover opens the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device by swinging about a vertical axis, and a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state, and a holding mechanism that holds a portion of the rear cover that is free end side in the vertical direction from the hinge only when the rear cover is in the first state, and the holding mechanism has a first part provided on the grain tank and a second part provided on the rear cover. The second part moves away from the first part when the rear cover is opened and moves closer to the first part when the rear cover is closed, and contacts the first part when the rear cover is in the first state, the rear cover is elastically deformable, the first part and the second part abut against each other before the rear cover reaches the first state, the rear cover is elastically deformed by the closing operation of the rear cover to the first state after the first part and the second part abut against each other, and when the rear cover reaches the first state, the second part is pressed against the first part by the elastic restoring force of the rear cover .

With this configuration, when the rear cover is in the first state, the second part is pressed against the first part by the elastic restoring force of the rear cover, allowing the holding mechanism to hold the rear cover more firmly.

The combine harvester of the present invention includes a grain tank for storing grain, a vertical conveying device extending in the vertical direction behind the grain tank and connected to the rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grain stored in the grain tank, and a rear cover formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the lateral outer wall of the grain tank and covering the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device.
The horizontally outer wall and the rear cover are connected in a plane, and the rear cover is supported on the rear of the grain tank via a hinge so that it can swing around a vertical axis and switch between a first state in which it covers the vertical conveying device from the horizontally outer side and a second state in which it opens the horizontally outer side of the vertical conveying device, and is provided with a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state, and a holding mechanism that holds a free end portion of the rear cover in the vertical direction relative to the hinge only when the rear cover is in the first state, and the holding mechanism includes a first portion provided on the grain tank and a second portion provided on the rear cover, the second part moves away from the first part when the rear cover is opened and moves closer to the first part when the rear cover is closed, and is in contact with the first part when the rear cover is in the first state, the second part is elastically deformable, the first part and the second part abut against each other before the rear cover is in the first state, the second part is elastically deformed by the closing operation of the rear cover to the first state after the first part and the second part abut against each other, and when the rear cover is in the first state, the second part is pressed against the first part by the elastic restoring force of the second part.

With this configuration, when the rear cover is in the first state, the elastic restoring force of the second part presses the second part against the first part, allowing the holding mechanism to hold the rear cover more firmly.

The combine harvester of the present invention includes a grain tank for storing grain, a vertical conveying device extending in the vertical direction behind the grain tank and connected to the rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grain stored in the grain tank, and a rear cover formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the lateral outer wall of the grain tank and covering the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device.
The horizontally outer wall and the rear cover are connected in a plane, and the rear cover is supported on the rear of the grain tank via a hinge so as to be switchable between a first state in which the vertical conveying device is covered from the horizontally outer side and a second state in which the vertical conveying device is opened from the horizontally outer side by swinging about a vertical axis, and is provided with a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state, and a holding mechanism that holds a free end portion of the rear cover in the vertical direction from the hinge only when the rear cover is in the first state, and a locking mechanism that is formed in the lower part of the grain tank and gradually The grain tank is provided with a lower narrowing portion whose width narrows from side to side, and a lower cover that covers the lateral outer side of the lower narrowing portion, and the lower cover is switchable between a closed state in which it covers the lower narrowing portion from the lateral outer side, and an open state in which it opens up the lateral outer side of the lower narrowing portion, and the rear cover is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the lateral outer wall of the grain tank and the rear edge of the lower cover, and the lateral outer wall, the lower cover, and the rear cover are connected in a planar manner, and the holding mechanism holds the portion of the rear cover that is located behind the lower cover when the rear cover is in the first state .

Generally, the portion of the lower cover and rear cover that covers the lower tapered portion from the lateral outside, located behind the lower cover, is configured to tilt inward in the left-right direction of the aircraft to match the lower tapered portion. Because the portion of the rear cover that is located behind the lower cover is located more inward in the left-right direction of the aircraft than the swing axes of the other hinges, it is difficult to provide hinges that correspond to the swing axes of the other hinges. According to the present invention, the portion of the rear cover where it is difficult to provide hinges and therefore prone to fluttering is configured to be held by a holding mechanism, thereby making it possible to more efficiently suppress fluttering of the rear cover.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the holding mechanism comprises a first part provided on the lower cover and a second part provided on the rear cover, the second part moving away from the first part when the rear cover is opened and moving closer to the first part when the rear cover is closed, and being in contact with the first part when the rear cover is in the first state.

This configuration makes it possible to realize a holding mechanism with a simple structure in which the first and second parts come into contact when the rear cover is in the first state.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the second part contacts the first part from the lateral inner side of the aircraft when the rear cover is in the first state, and separates from the first part from the lateral inner side of the aircraft when the rear cover is opened from the first state, so that when the rear cover is in the first state, the state of the lower cover can be changed between the closed state and the open state.

This configuration allows the free end portion of the rear cover to be held by the holding mechanism regardless of the order in which the rear cover is switched between the first and second states and the lower cover is changed between the closed and open states.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the rear cover be a one-piece molded product in which an upper portion located behind the outer lateral wall of the grain tank and a lower portion located behind the lower cover are integrally molded.

This configuration reduces the number of parts that make up the rear cover, making it possible to reduce the number of man-hours required to manufacture the rear cover.

FIG. FIG. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the combine showing the opening and closing of the lower cover. FIG. 10 is an inner side view of the rear cover in a second state. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the movement of the holding mechanism in response to the swinging of the rear cover.

The following description will explain the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the direction of arrow F in the drawings will be referred to as "front," the direction of arrow B as "rear," the direction of arrow L as "left," and the direction of arrow R as "right." Furthermore, the direction of arrow U in the drawings will be referred to as "up," and the direction of arrow D as "down."

[Overall configuration of the combine]
1 and 2, the combine harvester according to the present invention is provided with a reaping unit 3 for reaping planted stalks at the front of a traveling body 2 that is self-propelled by a pair of left and right crawler traveling devices 1. A driving unit 5 surrounded by a cabin 4 is provided at the front right side of the traveling body 2.

A threshing device 6 that threshes the stalks harvested by the harvesting unit 3 and a grain tank 7 that stores the grain obtained through the threshing process are arranged side by side behind the driving unit 5. The grain tank 7 is located on the right side of the machine, and the threshing device 6 is located on the left side of the machine. In other words, the driving unit 5 is located in front of the grain tank 7. An engine E is provided below the driver's seat 8 in the driving unit 5. A grain discharge device 9 that discharges the grain stored in the grain tank 7 outside the machine is provided behind the grain tank 7.

The harvesting unit 3 is equipped with a weeding tool 10 that guides the base of the planted culms to be harvested, multiple lifting devices 11 that lift the planted culms into a vertical position, a clipper-type harvesting device 12 that cuts the base of the lifted planted culms, and a culm transport device 13 that gradually changes the position of the harvested culms from a vertical position to a horizontal position while transporting them backward and supplying them to the threshing device 6.

Although not shown, the threshing device 6 threshes the supplied harvested stalks by clamping and transporting them at the base end with a threshing feed chain while threshing the tip end in a threshing chamber. After threshing, the processed material is sorted into grains and straw dust in a sorting section below. The grains are transported out to the right side of the threshing device 6 by a first grain transport screw (not shown), and then lifted by a grain lifting conveyor 15 and transported inside the grain tank 7. The grain tank 7 stores the grain sent from the threshing device 6. The grain stored in the grain tank 7 is then transported to the outside by a grain discharge device 9.

[About the grain tank]
The grain tank 7 has front, rear, left and right sides and is surrounded by a space (not shown) for storing grain. As shown in Figure 3, a lower narrowing portion 7A is formed at the bottom of the grain tank 7, the width of which gradually narrows from left to right.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom of the grain tank 7 is provided with a bottom screw 16 that rotates around a longitudinal axis to transport the stored grain toward the rear of the machine. The grain discharge device 9 extends vertically behind the grain tank 7 and is connected to the lower rear part of the grain tank 7. It is equipped with a vertical feed screw conveyor 17 (corresponding to the "vertical conveying device" of the present invention) that receives grain discharged from the bottom screw 16 and discharges the grain stored in the grain tank 7, and a horizontal feed screw conveyor 19 that transports the grain horizontally from its base end connected to the upper end of the vertical feed screw conveyor 17 to a discharge outlet 18 at its tip. A straw waste processing device 20 is provided behind the threshing device 6.

The support structure will not be described in detail, but the grain tank 7 is supported so that the entire tank can swing about the vertical axis X, which is the rotation axis of the vertical feed screw conveyor 17. The grain tank 7 swings about the vertical axis X, and is configured to be switchable between a normal storage state (see Figures 1 and 2) in which it is stored inside the machine, and a maintenance state in which it swings so that it protrudes outward to the side of the machine, as shown by the imaginary lines in Figure 2. In the storage state, the grain tank 7's posture is maintained by a position-maintaining mechanism (not shown).

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the grain tank 7 has a side plate 22 (corresponding to the "lateral outer wall" of the present invention) that forms the right side of the grain tank 7, which is on the outer periphery of the machine body, a lower cover 23 that is located below the side plate 22 and covers the lateral outer side of the lower narrowing portion 7A, and a tank main body 24 that is other than the side plate 22 and lower cover 23.

As shown in Figure 1, the side plate 22 is configured to be able to swing around a vertical axis Y1 between a closed state in which it closes an opening (not shown) to allow grain to be stored in the storage space, and an open state in which it opens the opening to allow access to the storage space.

[About the bottom cover]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower cover 23 is disposed below the side plate 22 so as to cover the lateral outer side of the lower narrowed portion 7A.

The lower cover 23 is provided with multiple locking portions 31 for locking the lower cover 23 to the traveling machine body 2. The multiple locking portions 31 include a first locking portion 32 and a second locking portion 33.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower cover 23 is provided with two first locking portions 32, one at the front and one at the back.
The following describes the rear first locking portion 32. The front first locking portion 32 has the same configuration as the rear first locking portion 32.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the first locking portions 32 are provided on the upper portion of the lower cover 23. Furthermore, first locked portions 34 are provided on the tank main body 24 at positions corresponding to the first locking portions 32. In other words, two first locked portions 34 are provided. The first locked portions 34 are rod-shaped members formed in a U-shape in a plan view. The first locking portions 32 are configured to be able to be locked to the first locked portions 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first locking portion 32 has an operating tool 32a and a claw portion 32b. The claw portion 32b extends from the operating tool 32a inward in the left-right direction of the aircraft body. Although not described in detail, the claw portion 32b is configured to be manually operable to change its position relative to the lower cover 23. By manually operating the operating tool 32a, the claw portion 32b swings, and the first locked portion 34 is configured to be switchable between a locked state and an unlocked state.

As shown in FIG. 1, two second locking portions 33 are provided on the lower portion of the lower cover 23. In this embodiment, one second locking portion 33 is provided on each of the front and rear portions of the lower cover 23. The rear second locking portion 33 will be described below. Although not shown, the front second locking portion 33 has the same configuration as the rear second locking portion 33.

As shown in Figure 3, the second locking portion 33 extends inward in the left-right direction of the aircraft from the inner wall surface of the lower cover 23. That is, the second locking portion 33 extends to the left from the inner wall surface of the lower cover 23.

A downwardly opening locking recess 33a is formed at the left end of the second locking portion 33. This gives the second locking portion 33 a hook-like configuration.

That is, the lower cover 23 is provided with a first locking portion 32 that can be manually switched between a locked state and an unlocked state, and a hook-shaped second locking portion 33 that is located above or below the first locking portion 32.

A vertically oriented plate-shaped portion 25 is provided on the lower right side of the grain tank 7. The plate-shaped portion 25 is connected to the rear wall of the tank main body 24. A second interlocking portion 35, which is composed of a rod-shaped member extending in the front-to-rear direction, is fixed to the plate-shaped portion 25. The second interlocking portion 35 extends forward from the front side surface of the plate-shaped portion 25. The interlocking recess 33a is configured to be able to interlock with the second interlocking portion 35.

With these configurations, the lower cover 23 can be switched between a closed state in which it covers the lower narrowed portion 7A from the lateral outer side, and an open state in which it exposes the lateral outer side of the lower narrowed portion 7A.

When removing the lower cover 23 from the traveling machine body 2, the worker first manually operates the operating tool 32a to release the first interlocking portion 34. Then, by disengaging the interlocking recess 33a from the second interlocking portion 35, the lower cover 23 can be removed from the machine body.

When attaching the lower cover 23 to the machine body, the worker first engages the engaging recess 33a with the second engaging portion 35. Then, by swinging the upper part of the lower cover 23 to the left, using the engaging recess 33a as the swing fulcrum, the claw portion 32b engages with the first engaging portion 34. This allows the lower cover 23 to be attached to the traveling machine body 2.

[Regarding the rear cover]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rear cover 40 is provided at the rear of the side plate 22 of the grain tank 7 to cover the lateral outer side of the vertical feed screw conveyor 17.

The rear cover 40 is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the side plate 22 of the grain tank 7 and the rear edge 23a of the lower cover 23. The rear cover 40 is an integrally molded product in which an upper portion located behind the side plate 22 of the grain tank 7 and a lower portion located behind the lower cover 23 are integrally formed. The rear cover 40 is formed in a plate shape and is configured to be elastically deformable.
In this embodiment, the side plates 22, the lower cover 23 and the rear cover 40 of the grain tank 7 are connected in a planar manner.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear cover 40 is supported so as to be swingable about the vertical axis Y2 so as to be switchable between a closed state (corresponding to the "first state" of the present invention) in which it covers the lateral outer side of the vertical feed screw conveyor 17, and an open state (corresponding to the "second state" of the present invention) in which it exposes the lateral outer side of the vertical feed screw conveyor 17, as shown by the imaginary lines in Figure 2.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, two hinges 41 are provided on the front edge of the rear cover 40, and the rear cover 40 is supported on the rear of the side panel 22 of the grain tank 7 via the hinges 41. One of the two hinges 41 is located on the upper part of the rear cover 40, and the other of the two hinges 41 is located on the lower part of the rear cover 40, at a position higher than the height corresponding to the lower cover 23. With this configuration, the rear cover 40 can be switched between a closed state and an open state.

As shown in Figure 2, a rear cover 21 that covers the rear of the vertical feed screw conveyor 17 is provided behind the vertical feed screw conveyor 17, and when in the closed state, the rear cover 40 is configured to cover the space between the side panel 22 of the grain tank 7 and the rear cover 21 from the lateral outer side.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rear cover 40 has a facing portion 42 that extends inward in the left-right direction of the aircraft from the rear edge of the rear cover 40 when in the closed state. The facing portion 42 faces the back cover 21 when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state.

The rear cover 21 is equipped with a locking portion 21A that is configured to be able to swing toward the grain tank 7, and a rear cover main body portion 21B that is separate from the locking portion 21A. The locking portion 21A is located in the upper right portion of the rear cover 21, in other words, in a position facing the opposing portion 42 of the rear cover 40. The locking portion 21A is supported by the rear cover main body portion 21B so that it can swing around a vertical axis (not shown) located on the left edge of the locking portion 21A.

In this embodiment, the facing portion 42 has two protrusions 43 that protrude toward the rear cover 21, located on the upper and lower portions of the facing portion 42. Two locking holes 21a are formed in the locking portion 21A at positions corresponding to the two protrusions 43. The rear cover 40 is locked in the closed state by a locking mechanism K composed of the protrusions 43 and the locking holes 21a. When the rear cover 40 is closed, the locking mechanism K locks the protrusions 43 into the locking holes 21a, locking the rear cover 40 in the closed state.

The rear cover 21 is provided with a biasing mechanism 21C that biases the locking portion 21A toward the opposing portion 42. The biasing force of the biasing mechanism 21C biases the locking portion 21A toward the opposing portion 42, maintaining the engagement between the protrusion 43 and the locking hole 21a. Although not explained in detail, the biasing mechanism 21C is configured such that a coil spring is fitted onto a bolt that passes through the locking portion 21A, and the biasing force of the coil spring biases the locking portion 21A toward the opposing portion 42.

When the operator moves the rear cover 40 from the open position to the closed position, the protrusion 43 comes into contact with the locking portion 21A and presses the locking portion 21A toward the grain tank 7. At this time, the pressed locking portion 21A swings toward the grain tank 7, and the protrusion 43 moves toward the locking hole 21a. When the protrusion 43 reaches the locking hole 21a, the biasing force of the biasing mechanism 21C inserts the protrusion 43 into the locking hole 21a, and the locking portion 21A returns to its original state.

When opening the rear cover 40 from the closed state to the open state, the operator swings the locking portion 21A toward the grain tank 7 against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism 21C, thereby pulling the locking hole 21a out of the protrusion 43 and disengaging the protrusion 43 from the locking hole 21a. At this time, the operator can manually operate the operating tool 21b on the locking portion 21A to release the lock between the protrusion 43 and the locking hole 21a. In this embodiment, the rear cover 40 is biased in the opening direction by the biasing spring 44 on the hinge 41. Therefore, when the locking hole 21a is pulled out of the protrusion 43, the rear cover 40 automatically opens.

As shown in Figure 4, two reinforcing members 45 are provided on the surface of the rear cover 40 facing the vertical feed screw conveyor 17. In this embodiment, the reinforcing members 45 are configured with an L-shaped cross section.

[Regarding the retention mechanism]
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the lower cover 23 and the rear cover 40 are provided with a holding mechanism 50 that holds the portion of the rear cover 40 below the hinge 41, i.e., the portion of the rear cover 40 closer to the free end in the vertical direction than the hinge 41, when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state.

The holding mechanism 50 comprises a first abutment portion 51 (corresponding to the "first portion" in this invention) provided on the lower cover 23 of the grain tank 7, and a second abutment portion 52 (corresponding to the "second portion" in this invention) provided on the rear cover 40.

The rear edge 23a of the lower cover 23 is formed to extend inward in the left-right direction of the aircraft from the rear edge of the lower cover 23. As shown in Figure 3, in this embodiment, the first abutment 51 is formed by cutting out a portion of the lower part of the rear edge 23a. It is composed of a vertical edge 51a that extends in the up-down direction when the lower cover 23 is closed, and an elastic member 51b attached to the vertical edge 51a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rear cover 40 has a leading edge 40a that extends inward in the left-right direction of the aircraft from the leading edge when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state shown by the solid line in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the second abutment 52 is configured as a rod-shaped member that protrudes forward from the leading edge 40a at the lower portion of the leading edge 40a. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the second abutment 52 is provided at the lower portion of the leading edge 40a, that is, at a location on the free end portion of the leading edge 40a of the rear cover 40 that is lower in the up-down direction than the hinge 41.

As shown by the solid lines in Figure 5, when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state and the lower cover 23 is also in the closed state, the first abutment portion 51 and the second abutment portion 52 abut against each other. With this configuration, the holding mechanism 50 holds the portion of the rear cover 40 that is located behind the lower cover 23 when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state.

When the rear cover 40 is manually switched from the closed state to the open state, the second abutment portion 52 moves away from the first abutment portion 51 as the rear cover 40 opens. Furthermore, when the rear cover 40 is manually switched from the open state to the closed state, the second abutment portion 52 moves closer to the first abutment portion 51 as the rear cover 40 closes. When the rear cover 40 is in the closed state, the second abutment portion 52 is in contact with the first abutment portion 51.

Specifically, the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 come into contact with each other before the rear cover 40 is closed. After the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 come into contact with each other, the rear cover 40 is elastically deformed as it moves toward the closed state. Then, when the rear cover 40 is closed, the elastic restoring force of the rear cover 40 presses the second contact portion 52 against the first contact portion 51.

The second contact portion 52 moves away from the first contact portion 51 when the rear cover 40 is opened, and moves closer to the first contact portion 51 when the rear cover 40 is closed. When the rear cover 40 is closed, the second contact portion 52 is in contact with the first contact portion 51.

Specifically, when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state, the second contact portion 52 contacts the first contact portion 51 from the lateral inner side of the aircraft, and moves away from the first contact portion 51 to the lateral inner side of the aircraft when the rear cover 40 is opened from the closed state. Furthermore, when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state, the lower cover 23 can be switched between a closed state and an open state.

With this configuration, the holding mechanism 50 holds the lower portion of the rear cover 40, which is the portion of the rear cover 40 that is closer to the free end in the vertical direction than the hinge 41, only when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state. Furthermore, regardless of the order in which the rear cover 40 is switched between the closed and open states and the lower cover 23 is switched between the closed and open states, the holding mechanism 50 can hold the free end portion of the rear cover 40.

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, another embodiment in which the above embodiment is modified will be exemplified.

(1) In the above embodiment, the first contact portion 51 is provided on the lower cover 23. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the first contact portion 51 may also be provided on the tank main body 24.

(2) In the above embodiment, the first abutment portion 51 was described as being composed of a vertical edge portion 51a and an elastic member 51b. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the first abutment portion 51 may be composed of an elastic member provided directly on the surface of the lower cover 23 on the side of the lower narrowing portion 7A.

(3) In the above embodiment, the rear cover 40 is elastically deformable, and when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state, the second contact portion 52 is pressed against the first contact portion 51 by the elastic restoring force of the rear cover 40. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the second contact portion 52 may be elastically deformable, the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 abut before the rear cover 40 is in the first state, and the second contact portion 52 is elastically deformed by the closing operation of the rear cover 40 to the closed state after the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 abut, and when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state, the second contact portion 52 is pressed against the first contact portion 51 by the elastic restoring force of the second contact portion 52.

(4) In the above embodiment, the grain tank 7 is described as being equipped with a lower cover 23 that covers the lateral outer side of the lower narrowing portion 7A. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the grain tank 7 may be configured without the lower cover 23. In this case, the side panels 22 of the grain tank 7 and the rear cover 40 are configured to be connected in a planar manner.

(5) In the above embodiment, the first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 are in contact with each other before the rear cover 40 is closed. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The first contact portion 51 and the second contact portion 52 may be in contact with each other at the same time that the rear cover 40 is closed.

(6) In the above embodiment, the second contact portion 52 is described as being composed of a rod-shaped member that protrudes forward from the leading edge portion 40a. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The second contact portion 52 may be composed of an elastic member or the like that extends from the leading edge portion 40a toward the inside in the left-right direction of the aircraft, and the second contact portion 52 may be configured to contact the first contact portion 51 from the outside of the aircraft side when the rear cover 40 is in the closed state.

(7) In the above embodiment, the rear cover 40 is described as being an integrally molded component, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the rear cover 40 may be composed of multiple components.

(8) In the above embodiment, the rear cover 40 is described as being equipped with a reinforcing member 45, but the rear cover 40 may be configured without the reinforcing member 45.

(9) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which the biasing spring 44 is provided on the hinge 41 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the hinge 41 may be configured without the biasing spring 44.

The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, provided no contradictions arise. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. They can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the purpose of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to head-feeding combine harvesters, but can also be applied to conventional combine harvesters that feed the entire harvested stalk into the threshing device.

7: Grain tank 7A: Lower narrowing portion 17: Vertical feed screw conveyor (vertical conveying device)
22: Side plate (lateral outer wall)
23: Lower cover 23a: Rear edge portion 40: Rear cover 41: Hinge 50: Holding mechanism K: Locking mechanism 51: First contact portion (first portion)
52: Second contact part (second part)
Y2: Vertical axis

Claims (8)

a grain tank for storing grain;
a vertical conveying device that extends in the vertical direction behind the grain tank and is connected to a rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grains stored in the grain tank;
A rear cover is provided which is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the horizontal outer wall of the grain tank and covers the horizontal outer side of the vertical conveying device,
The lateral outer wall and the rear cover are connected to each other in a plane shape,
The rear cover is supported on the rear of the grain tank via a hinge so as to be switchable between a first state in which the rear cover swings around a vertical axis to cover the vertical conveying device from the lateral outer side and a second state in which the rear cover opens the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device,
A combine harvester equipped with a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state, and a holding mechanism that holds the rear cover by abutting the free end portion of the rear cover in the left-right direction above the hinge only when the rear cover is in the first state. The holding mechanism includes a first portion provided in the grain tank and a second portion provided in the rear cover,
The combine harvester according to claim 1, wherein the second portion moves away from the first portion when the rear cover is opened and moves closer to the first portion when the rear cover is closed, and is in contact with the first portion when the rear cover is in the first state. a grain tank for storing grain;
a vertical conveying device that extends in the vertical direction behind the grain tank and is connected to a rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grains stored in the grain tank;
A rear cover is provided which is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the horizontal outer wall of the grain tank and covers the horizontal outer side of the vertical conveying device,
The lateral outer wall and the rear cover are connected to each other in a plane shape,
The rear cover is supported on the rear of the grain tank via a hinge so as to be switchable between a first state in which the rear cover swings around a vertical axis to cover the vertical conveying device from the lateral outer side and a second state in which the rear cover opens the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device,
a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state; and a holding mechanism that holds a portion of the rear cover that is on a free end side in the up-down direction relative to the hinge only when the rear cover is in the first state,
The holding mechanism includes a first portion provided in the grain tank and a second portion provided in the rear cover,
the second part moves away from the first part when the rear cover is opened and moves closer to the first part when the rear cover is closed, and contacts the first part when the rear cover is in the first state;
the rear cover is elastically deformable;
the first portion and the second portion abut against each other before the rear cover is in the first state,
A combine harvester in which the rear cover is elastically deformed by the closing operation of the rear cover to the first state after the first part and the second part abut, and when the rear cover reaches the first state, the second part is pressed against the first part by the elastic restoring force of the rear cover. a grain tank for storing grain;
a vertical conveying device that extends in the vertical direction behind the grain tank and is connected to a rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grains stored in the grain tank;
A rear cover is provided which is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the horizontal outer wall of the grain tank and covers the horizontal outer side of the vertical conveying device,
The lateral outer wall and the rear cover are connected to each other in a plane shape,
The rear cover is supported on the rear of the grain tank via a hinge so as to be switchable between a first state in which the rear cover swings around a vertical axis to cover the vertical conveying device from the lateral outer side and a second state in which the rear cover opens the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device,
a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state; and a holding mechanism that holds a portion of the rear cover that is on a free end side in the up-down direction relative to the hinge only when the rear cover is in the first state,
The holding mechanism includes a first portion provided in the grain tank and a second portion provided in the rear cover,
the second part moves away from the first part when the rear cover is opened and moves closer to the first part when the rear cover is closed, and contacts the first part when the rear cover is in the first state;
the second portion is elastically deformable;
the first portion and the second portion abut against each other before the rear cover is in the first state,
A combine harvester in which the second part is elastically deformed by the closing operation of the rear cover to the first state after the first part and the second part abut, and when the rear cover reaches the first state, the second part is pressed against the first part by the elastic restoring force of the second part. a grain tank for storing grain;
a vertical conveying device that extends in the vertical direction behind the grain tank and is connected to a rear lower part of the grain tank to discharge the grains stored in the grain tank;
A rear cover is provided which is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the horizontal outer wall of the grain tank and covers the horizontal outer side of the vertical conveying device,
The lateral outer wall and the rear cover are connected to each other in a plane shape,
The rear cover is supported on the rear of the grain tank via a hinge so as to be switchable between a first state in which the rear cover swings around a vertical axis to cover the vertical conveying device from the lateral outer side and a second state in which the rear cover opens the lateral outer side of the vertical conveying device,
a locking mechanism that locks the rear cover in the first state; and a holding mechanism that holds a portion of the rear cover that is on a free end side in the up-down direction relative to the hinge only when the rear cover is in the first state,
The grain tank is provided with a lower narrowed portion formed at the bottom of the grain tank and gradually narrowing in width to the left and right, and a lower cover covering the lateral outer side of the lower narrowed portion,
the lower cover is switchable between a closed state in which the lower narrowed portion is covered from a lateral outer side and an open state in which the lower narrowed portion is exposed from a lateral outer side,
The rear cover is formed long in the vertical direction along the rear edge of the lateral outer wall of the grain tank and the rear edge of the lower cover,
The lateral outer wall, the lower cover, and the rear cover are connected to each other in a plane shape,
The retaining mechanism retains a portion of the rear cover that is positioned rearward of the lower cover when the rear cover is in the first state. the holding mechanism includes a first portion provided on the lower cover and a second portion provided on the rear cover;
The combine harvester according to claim 5, wherein the second portion moves away from the first portion when the rear cover is opened and moves closer to the first portion when the rear cover is closed, and is in contact with the first portion when the rear cover is in the first state. the second portion is in contact with the first portion from a lateral inner side of the airframe when the rear cover is in the first state, and is separated from the first portion from a lateral inner side of the airframe by an opening operation of the rear cover from the first state,
The combine harvester according to claim 6, wherein the lower cover is changeable between the closed state and the open state when the rear cover is in the first state. The combine harvester described in claim 5, wherein the rear cover is a one-piece molded product, with an upper portion located rearward of the outer lateral wall of the grain tank and a lower portion located rearward of the lower cover.