Combine threshing system with crop flow control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10172291-B2
Application number	US-201715407017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2017
Priority date	Jan 16, 2017
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A threshing system for an agricultural harvester includes a rotor and a substantially cylindrical cage that surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. The threshing system also features a material flow adjustor for controlling axial movement of material through the cage. The material flow adjustor is movably mounted adjacent to a threshing space and includes at least one material conveying edge that enters the threshing space. The material flow adjustor is moveable between a first operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in a radial direction by a first distance, and a second operative position in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in the radial direction by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A threshing system for an agricultural harvester, the threshing system comprising:
a rotor comprising an elongated body, the elongated body having:
a first end adapted to receive material from a feeding mechanism; and
a second end opposite the first end;

a substantially cylindrical cage that surrounds at least a portion of the rotor, the cage comprising an inner surface spaced radially apart from the rotor to define a threshing space between the rotor and the cage; and
a material flow adjustor for controlling axial movement of material through the cage, the material flow adjustor being movably mounted adjacent to the threshing space and comprising at least one material conveying edge adapted to enter the threshing space, the material flow adjustor comprising an auger having a shaft, wherein the at least one material conveying edge is a thread that extends helically around the shaft,
wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the cage about a first axis of rotation to axially convey material from the first end of the rotor toward the second end of the rotor, and
wherein the material flow adjustor is moveable between a first operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in a radial direction by a first distance, and a second operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in the radial direction by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance.

2. The threshing system of claim 1 , wherein the material flow adjustor is configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation extending parallel to and radially offset from the first axis of rotation of the rotor.

3. The threshing system of claim 1 , wherein the material flow adjustor comprises an elongated body that extends generally parallel to the first axis of rotation, and wherein the at least one material conveying edge projects radially outwardly from the elongated body.

4. The threshing system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one material conveying edge comprises a projection extending helically around the elongated body of the material flow adjustor.

5. The threshing system of claim 1 , wherein the material flow adjustor is operable in a first mode to increase axial flow of material in the cage toward the second end of the rotor, and a second mode to decrease axial flow of material in the cage toward the second end of the rotor.

6. The threshing system of claim 5 , wherein the material flow adjustor rotates in a first direction of rotation in the first mode, and rotates in a second direction of rotation in the second mode, the second direction of rotation being opposite the first direction of rotation.

7. The threshing system of claim 5 , wherein the material flow adjustor rotates between about 0.1 rpm to about 35.0 rpm in the first mode.

8. The threshing system of claim 1 , wherein the material flow adjustor is movably mounted to the cage.

9. The threshing system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing attached to the cage and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the cage, the material flow adjustor being movably mounted in an interior space of the housing, and advanceable from the interior space into the threshing space through an opening in the cage.

10. The threshing system of claim 9 , wherein:
when the material flow adjustor is in the first operative position, the material flow adjustor is contained entirely within the interior space of the housing and outside of the threshing space, and
when the material flow adjustor is in the second operative position, at least a portion of the material flow adjustor extends into the threshing space.

11. The threshing system of claim 1 , wherein the cage comprises a first wall section that defines the inner surface and directly borders the threshing space, and a second wall section that is offset radially outwardly relative to the first wall section to define an outer recess in the cage.

12. The threshing system of claim 11 , wherein the material flow adjustor is movably mounted in the outer recess of the cage.

13. The threshing system of claim 12 , wherein the material flow adjustor is movable in a circumferential direction relative to the cage between the first operative position and the second operative position.

14. The threshing system of claim 12 , wherein the second wall section of the cage comprises a first end section and a second end section opposite the first end section, the first end section being spaced a third distance from the rotor, and the second end section being spaced a fourth distance from the rotor that is less than the third distance, such that the second wall section extends in an inward direction toward the rotor as the second wall section extends from the first end section toward the second end section.

15. The threshing system of claim 12 , wherein the second wall section of the cage defines a guide surface in the outer recess that urges the material flow adjustor toward the rotor as the material flow adjustor is moved from the first operative position to the second operative position.

16. The threshing system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator for moving the material flow adjustor between the first operative position to the second operative position.

17. The threshing system of claim 16 , wherein the actuator comprises an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator or a manual lever.

18. The threshing system of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the cage comprises one or more vanes for axially guiding material through the threshing space toward the second end of the rotor.

19. The threshing system of claim 1 , wherein, when the material flow adjustor is moved to the first operative position, the at least one material conveying edge is positioned radially inwardly from the inner surface of the cage by a distance of about 0.1 mm to about 35.0 mm.

20. A threshing system for an agricultural harvester, the threshing system comprising:
a rotor comprising an elongated body, the elongated body having:
a first end adapted to receive material from a feeding mechanism; and
a second end opposite the first end;

a substantially cylindrical cage that surrounds at least a portion of the rotor, the cage comprising an inner surface spaced radially apart from the rotor to define a threshing space between the rotor and the cage;
a housing attached to the cage and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the cage; and
a material flow adjustor for controlling axial movement of material through the cage, the material flow adjustor being movably mounted adjacent to the threshing space and in an interior space of the housing, the material flow adjustor being advanceable from the interior space into the threshing space through an opening in the cage, the material flow adjustor comprising at least one material conveying edge adapted to enter the threshing space,
wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the cage about a first axis of rotation to axially convey material from the first end of the rotor toward the second end of the rotor,
wherein the material flow adjustor is moveable between a first operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in a radial direction by a first distance, and a second operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in the radial direction by a second distan

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Ricketts Jonathan E

Classifications

• A01F7/065

  with cage sweep mechanisms · CPC title

• A01F12/181

  Adjustable threshing mechanisms · CPC title

• A01F12/46

  Mechanical grain conveyors · CPC title

• A01F7/067 Primary

  with material-flow influencing means · CPC title

• A01F12/28

  Devices for adjusting the concaves · CPC title