Grain tank sump for agricultural vehicle
A clean grain tank for an agricultural harvester includes a grain tank with a sump a vertical auger having an end that is positioned within the sump of the grain tank for removing clean grain from the sump, and at least one cross-auger arranged in a trough and configured to convey the grain into the sump. The sump is partially encompassed by walls, one of the walls including a cross-auger inlet opening facing the cross-auger and being configured to allow the grain to pass therethrough and into the sump. The cross-auger inlet opening includes a rounded segment and at least one straight segment, wherein the at least one straight segment follows a trajectory of a wall of the trough.
1 . A clean grain tank assembly of an agricultural harvester, comprising:
a grain tank with a sump;
a vertical auger having an end positioned within the sump of the grain tank that removes clean grain from the sump; and
at least one cross-auger arranged in a trough of the grain tank that conveys the grain into the sump,
wherein the sump is partially encompassed by walls, one of the walls including a cross-auger inlet opening facing the cross-auger through which the grain passes into the sump, the cross-auger inlet opening has a rounded segment and at least one straight segment, wherein the at least one straight segment follows a trajectory of a wall of the trough.
2 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cross-auger inlet opening is non-circular.
3 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first distance of the cross-auger inlet opening in a longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester is larger than a second distance of the cross-auger inlet opening in a vertical direction of the agricultural harvester.
4 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cross-auger inlet opening includes two straight segments, each of the two straight segments arranged on an opposite side of the cross-auger inlet opening relative to an axle of the cross-auger inlet opening in a longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester.
5 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 4 , wherein a first distance between the two straight segments of the cross-auger inlet opening, as measured in the longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester, is larger than a second distance between end portions of the rounded segment of the cross-auger inlet opening, as measured in a vertical direction of the agricultural harvester.
6 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cross-auger comprises a shaft,
wherein a first distance measured between the shaft and the at least one straight segment of the cross-auger inlet opening is larger than a second distance measured between the shaft and the rounded segment of the cross-auger inlet opening.
7 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cross-auger inlet opening tapers from the rounded segment toward the at least one straight segment in the longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester.
8 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cross-auger inlet opening includes two straight segments and the rounded segment of the cross-auger inlet opening tapers in two opposite directions toward the two straight segments in the longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester.
9 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one cross-auger comprises a shaft, and
wherein a first distance from a corresponding far-end portion of each of the two straight segments of the cross-auger inlet opening relative to the shaft is larger than a diameter of the rounded segment of the cross-auger inlet opening.
10 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cross-auger comprises a shaft, and
wherein a first distance measured between the shaft and a first far-end portion of the at least one straight segment of the cross-auger inlet opening is larger than a second distance measured between the shaft and a second far-end portion of the rounded segment of the cross-auger inlet opening.
11 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cross-auger comprises a shaft, and
wherein a first distance between the shaft and a far-end portion of the at least one straight segment of the cross-auger inlet opening is larger than a radius of the rounded segment of the cross-auger inlet opening.
12 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cross-auger inlet opening includes two straight segments, and
wherein a first distance between far-end portions of the two straight segments is larger than a diameter of the rounded segment of the cross-auger inlet opening.
13 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sump is located at a bottom of the vertical auger, and
wherein the sump provides an enclosed volume to hold the grain.
14 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cross-auger inlet opening is oval, tear shaped, or almond shaped.
15 . An agricultural harvester comprising the clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 .
16 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one straight segment is aligned with the wall of the trough.
17 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 16 , wherein the rounded segment is aligned with the wall of the trough.
18 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 17 , wherein the wall of the trough extends directly from the rounded segment and the at least one straight segment.
19 . The clean grain tank assembly of claim 16 , wherein the at least one straight segment and the wall that is aligned with the at least one straight segment are arranged at a same angle.