Adjustable vanes for use in a cylindrical rotor cage of an agricultural harvester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10537065-B2
Application number	US-201816181886-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2018
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

An adjustable vane system for use with a rotor cage of a threshing system of an agricultural harvester includes a vane. The vane includes: a generally helically curved inner profile; a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being configured to be positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and a flat portion located midway along the outer profile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable vane system for use with a rotor cage of a threshing system of an agricultural harvester, the vane system comprising:
a vane comprising:
a generally helically curved inner profile;
a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being configured to be positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and
a flat portion located midway along the outer profile, wherein a distance between the flat portion and the rotor cage is greater than a distance between a curved portion of the outer profile and the rotor cage.

2. The adjustable vane system of claim 1 , wherein the flat portion is configured to compensate for a change in curvature geometry between the vane and the rotor cage.

3. The adjustable vane system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first coupling device connected to the vane at a first flat portion of the vane proximate an end of the vane on the outer profile; and
a second coupling device connected to the vane at a second flat portion of the vane proximate another end of the vane on the outer profile.

4. The adjustable vane system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane; and
a second bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane.

5. The adjustable vane system of claim 4 , wherein the coupling devices extend through the bushings.

6. The adjustable vane system of claim 5 , wherein the lengths of the bushings allow movement of the vane up to a predefined distance from the rotor cage.

7. The adjustable vane system of claim 6 , wherein the predefined distance is approximately 4 mm or less.

8. A threshing system for use in an agricultural harvester, the threshing system comprising:
a rotor cage comprising a plurality of slots therein, the rotor cage comprising a generally cylindrical inner surface; and
a plurality of adjustable vanes pivotally coupled to the rotor cage, each vane comprising:
a generally helically curved inner profile;
a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and
a flat portion located midway along the outer profile, wherein a distance between the flat portion and the rotor cage is greater than a distance between a curved portion of the outer profile and the rotor cage.

9. The threshing system of claim 8 , wherein the flat portion is configured to compensate for a change in curvature geometry between the vane and the rotor cage.

10. The threshing system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first coupling device connected to the vane at a first flat portion of the vane proximate an end of the vane on the outer profile; and
a second coupling device connected to the vane at a second flat portion of the vane proximate another end of the vane on the outer profile.

11. The threshing system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane; and
a second bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane.

12. The threshing system of claim 11 , wherein the coupling devices extend through the bushings.

13. The threshing system of claim 12 , wherein the lengths of the bushings allow movement of the vane up to a predefined distance from the rotor cage.

14. The threshing system of claim 13 , wherein the predefined distance is approximately 4 mm or less.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Kemmerer Benjamin
• Flickinger Wayne T

Classifications

• A01F12/181 Primary

  Adjustable threshing mechanisms · CPC title

• A01F12/24

  One-part threshing concaves · CPC title

• A01F7/062

  with a rotating cage · CPC title

• A01D41/12 Primary

  Details of combines · CPC title

• A01F12/446

  Sieving means · CPC title