Free-rolling rotor cage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10674672-B2
Application number	US-201815876587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2018
Priority date	Jan 22, 2018
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A threshing and separating system including a non-stationary rotor cage including a perforated cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction from a first open end portion to a second open end portion. The first open end portion supported by a first rotatable coupling point, and the second open end portion supported by a second rotatable coupling point. The threshing and separating system also includes a rotor configured to rotate within the non-stationary rotor cage to thresh harvested crop. The non-stationary rotor cage is configured to rotate about an axis extending between the first rotatable coupling point and the second rotatable coupling point, and to be rotationally driven by the rotor via the threshed harvested crop.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A threshing and separating system comprising:
a non-stationary rotor cage including a perforated cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction from a first open end portion to a second open end portion, the first open end portion supported by a first rotatable coupling point, and the second open end portion supported by a second rotatable coupling point; and
a rotor driven by a motor to rotate in a rotational direction within the non-stationary rotor cage to thresh harvested crop,
wherein the non-stationary rotor cage is driven by friction between threshed harvested crop and the rotor cage to rotate in the rotational direction about an axis extending between the first rotatable coupling point and the second rotatable coupling point.

2. The threshing and separating system of claim 1 ,
wherein the first rotatable coupling point includes and the second rotatable coupling point include bearings for supporting the rotation of the non-stationary rotor cage.

3. The threshing and separating system of claim 2 ,
wherein the bearings are positioned inside a diameter of the non-stationary rotor cage to couple the non-stationary rotor cage to a shaft of the rotor.

4. The threshing and separating system of claim 2 ,
wherein the bearings are positioned outside a diameter of the non-stationary rotor cage to couple the non-stationary rotor cage to a support structure outside the diameter of the non-stationary rotor cage.

5. The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a brake device coupled to the non-stationary rotor cage, the brake device limiting the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage.

6. The threshing and separating system of claim 5 ,
wherein the brake device is coupled to the non-stationary rotor cage at a point inside a diameter of the non-stationary rotor cage.

7. The threshing and separating system of claim 5 ,
wherein the brake device is coupled to the non-stationary rotor cage at a point outside a diameter of the non-stationary rotor cage.

8. The threshing and separating system of claim 5 ,
wherein the brake device is an electric powered wheel that applies a force to the non-stationary rotor cage so that the non-stationary rotor cage rotates at the same speed as the wheel.

9. The threshing and separating system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a rotary encoder coupled to the non-stationary rotor cage for measuring the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage,
wherein the brake device limits the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage based on the output of the rotary encoder.

10. The threshing and separating system of claim 5 ,
wherein the brake device includes a friction pad and a spring-loaded clutch, the spring-loaded clutch causing the friction pad to apply braking force to the non-stationary rotor cage when a rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage reaches a predetermined threshold.

11. A combine including:
a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop;
a non-stationary rotor cage including a perforated cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction from a first open that receives the harvested crop end portion to a second open end portion that expels the harvested crop, the first open end portion supported by a first rotatable coupling point, and the second open end portion supported by a second rotatable coupling point; and
a rotor driven by a motor to rotate in a rotational direction within the non-stationary rotor cage to thresh the harvested crop,
wherein the non-stationary rotor cage is driven by friction between threshed harvested crop and the rotor cage to rotate in the rotational direction about an axis extending between the first rotatable coupling point and the second rotatable coupling point.

12. The combine of claim 11 ,
wherein the perforated cylindrical body of the non-stationary rotor cage is rotated around the rotor by friction caused by the threshing of the harvested crop.

13. The combine of claim 11 ,
wherein the rotation of the rotor feeds the harvested crop into the first open end portion of the non-stationary rotor cage, and propels the harvested crop through the perforated cylindrical body of the non-stationary rotor cage causing friction between the harvested crop and the non-stationary rotor cage to rotate the rotor cage in the direction of the rotor rotation.

14. The combine of claim 11 , further comprising:
a brake device coupled to the non-stationary rotor cage, the brake device limiting the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage.

15. The combine of claim 14 ,
wherein the brake device is coupled to the rotor cage at a point inside a diameter of the non-stationary rotor cage, or
wherein the brake device is coupled to the rotor cage at a point outside a diameter of the non-stationary rotor cage.

16. The combine of claim 14 , further comprising:
a rotary encoder coupled to the non-stationary rotor cage for measuring the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage.

17. The combine of claim 14 , further comprising:
a controller configured to:
determine the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage, and
control the brake device according to the rotational speed.

18. The combine of claim 17 ,
wherein the controller is further configured to:
increase brake force applied by the brake device when the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage is greater than a first threshold, and
decrease brake force applied by the brake device when the rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage is less than a second threshold.

19. The combine of claim 17 , further comprising:
wherein the controller is further configured to:
measure grain loss, and
increase brake force applied by the brake device when grain loss is greater than a threshold.

20. The combine of claim 14 , further comprising:
a spring-loaded clutch coupled to the brake device, the spring-loaded clutch causing the brake device to apply braking force to the non-stationary rotor cage when a rotational speed of the non-stationary rotor cage reaches a predetermined threshold.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Garrett Robert
• Moyer Terry Scott
• Curtis Jesse Jordan

Classifications

• A01F12/10

  Feeders · CPC title

• A01F12/442

  Rotary cleaners · CPC title

• A01F7/062 Primary

  with a rotating cage · CPC title

• A01F7/065

  with cage sweep mechanisms · CPC title

• A01F12/185

  Mounting means · CPC title