Extractor fan with wear indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344993-B2
Application number	US-201715636843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 29, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

An extractor fan for use in a sugarcane harvester is configured to generate a flow of air to separate debris from sugarcane billets produced by the sugarcane harvester. The extractor fan comprises an extractor fan blade configured to contribute to generation of the flow of air. The extractor fan blade comprises a wear indicator configured to indicate wear of the extractor fan blade.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sugarcane harvester comprising an extractor, the extractor comprising an extractor fan configured to generate a flow of air to separate debris from sugarcane billets produced by the sugarcane harvester, the extractor fan comprising an extractor fan blade configured to contribute to generation of the flow of air, the extractor fan blade comprising an upper wear surface and a lower surface opposite the upper wear surface, the fan blade including a first configuration and second configuration, wherein the first configuration includes a wear indicator recess formed at a location at the lower surface, and the second configuration includes a through-hole extending through both the lower surface and the upper wear surface at the location of the wear indicator recess, wherein the through-hole indicates that the fan blade is worn and ready for replacement.

2. The sugarcane harvester of claim 1 , wherein the upper wear surface faces downstream relative to the flow of air.

3. The sugarcane harvester of claim 2 , wherein the lower surface faces upstream relative to the flow of air.

4. The sugarcane harvester of claim 1 , wherein the wear indicator recess comprises a dimple.

5. The sugarcane harvester of claim 4 , wherein the extractor fan blade comprises relative to an axis of rotation of the extractor fan a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge, and the dimple is closer to the radially outer edge than the radially inner edge.

6. The sugarcane harvester of claim 4 , wherein the dimple is configured to provide the through-hole in the extractor fan blade upon wear of the upper wear surface.

7. The sugarcane harvester of claim 1 , wherein the extractor comprises a primary extractor including an extractor body having a hood and a frame to which the extractor fan is mounted, wherein the wear indicator recess and the through hole are visible through the hood by a person standing next to the harvester.

8. The sugarcane harvester of claim 7 , wherein the wear indicator recess is located on the fan blade in an area of relatively high wear.

9. The sugarcane harvester of claim 8 , wherein the fan blade includes a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge with respect to an axis of rotation, wherein the wear indicator recess is closer to the radially outer edge than to the radially inner edge.

10. The sugarcane harvester of claim 7 , wherein the extractor fan includes a hub, wherein a first end of the extractor fan blade is removably mounted to the hub and a second end of the extractor blade is spaced from the first end.

11. The sugarcane harvester of claim 10 , wherein the wear indicator recess is located closer to the second end than to the first end.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Gettig Blake C
• Dehnke Jason R

Classifications

• F24F7/06 Primary

  with forced air circulation, e.g. by fan {positioning of a ventilator in or against a conduit} · CPC title

• A01D46/20

  Platforms with lifting and lowering devices · CPC title

• A01D45/10 Primary

  of sugar cane {(for digging sugar cane A01D31/00)} · CPC title

• A01D93/00

  Harvesting apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A01F29/12

  Discharge means (loaders for hay or like field crop having blowers A01D87/10) · CPC title