Return pan grain presentation to a sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083137-B2
Application number	US-201815967733-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2018
Priority date	May 1, 2018
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A return pan for an agricultural harvester has an inclined upper surface portion, disposed to receive grain from a threshing or separating mechanism and laterally convey grain under the force of gravity to an inlet of a grain flow sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A return pan for an agricultural harvester having a threshing mechanism, a separating mechanism and a grain cleaning mechanism, and a chassis, the return pan comprising:
a generally planar and rectangular upper surface disposed in a generally horizontal orientation underneath the separating mechanism and above the grain cleaning mechanism, wherein the upper surface defines a rear end of the return pan and is configured to receive grain from the separating mechanism and to convey the received grain forwardly, and wherein the upper surface further defines a front end of the return pan configured to discharge forwardly conveyed grain onto the cleaning mechanism; and
a first sensor supported at the upper surface and extending only partway across the width of the return pan wherein the first sensor generates a signal indicating a relative quantity of grain passing adjacent the first sensor;
wherein a portion of the upper surface is upstream of the first sensor and comprises a first region with a first inclined surface that uses gravity to steer grain laterally toward an inlet of the first sensor.

2. The return pan of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second sensor supported at the upper surface and extending only partway across the width of the return pan, wherein the second sensor generates a signal indicating a relative quantity of grain passing adjacent the second sensor, and
wherein the portion of the upper surface is upstream of the second sensor and comprises a second region with a second inclined surface that uses gravity to steer grain laterally toward an inlet of the second sensor.

3. The return pan of claim 2 , wherein the first inclined surface steers grain in a first lateral direction across the upper surface and wherein the second inclined surface steers grain in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction across the upper surface, and further wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface separate a flow of grain on the upper surface into a first divergent flow path and a second divergent flow path, respectively.

4. The return pan of claim 3 , wherein one of the two divergent flow paths directs grain over the first sensor and the second divergent flow path directs grain over the second sensor.

5. The return pan of claim 2 , wherein each of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface extend at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a lateral direction and extends at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a fore-and-aft direction.

6. The return pan of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of each of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface is a saw tooth conveyor having sawtooth ridges extending laterally across the first inclined surface and oriented to convey grain in a rearward direction when the return pan is oscillated in a fore-and-aft direction.

7. The return pan of claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface extends at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a lateral direction and extends at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a fore-and-aft direction.

8. The return pan of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first inclined surface is a saw tooth conveyor having sawtooth ridges extending laterally across the first inclined surface and oriented to convey grain in a rearward direction when the return pan is oscillated in a fore-and-aft direction.

9. A return pan for an agricultural harvester having a rotor for threshing and separating grain, a cleaning shoe, and a chassis supporting the cleaning shoe and the rotor, the return pan comprising:
a generally flat and horizontal upper surface disposed underneath the rotor and above the cleaning shoe, wherein the upper surface is adjacent a rear end of the return pan, wherein the upper surface is disposed to receive grain from the rotor and to convey the received grain forwardly, and wherein the upper surface further defines a front end of the return pan that is configured to discharge forwardly conveyed grain into the cleaning shoe; and
a first sensor supported at the upper surface and extending only partway across the width of the return pan wherein the first sensor generates a signal indicating a relative quantity of grain passing over the upper surface of the first sensor;
wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is upstream of the first sensor and comprises a first region with a first inclined surface that uses gravity to steer grain laterally across the upper surface and toward an inlet of the first sensor.

10. The return pan of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second sensor supported at the upper surface and extending only partway across the width of the return pan, wherein the second sensor generates a signal indicating a relative quantity of grain passing adjacent the second sensor, and
wherein the portion of the upper surface is upstream of the second sensor and comprises a second region with a second inclined surface that uses gravity to steer grain laterally toward an inlet of the second sensor.

11. The return pan of claim 10 , wherein the first inclined surface steers grain in a first lateral direction across the upper surface and wherein the second inclined surface steers grain in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction across the upper surface, and further wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface separate a flow of grain on the upper surface into a first divergent flow path and a second divergent flow path, respectively.

12. The return pan of claim 11 , wherein one of the first divergent flow path and the second divergent flow path directs grain over the first sensor and the second divergent flow path directs grain over the second sensor.

13. The return pan of claim 10 , wherein each of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface extend at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a lateral direction and extends at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a fore-and-aft direction.

14. The return pan of claim 9 , wherein the first inclined surface extends at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a lateral direction and extends at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in a fore-and-aft direction.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Vandike Nathan R
• Donohoe Adam J
• Meschke Michael T

Classifications

• A01D41/127

  Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines · CPC title

• A01F12/46 Primary

  Mechanical grain conveyors · CPC title

• A01F12/44 Primary

  Grain cleaners; Grain separators · CPC title

• A01D41/1235

  Platforms for sacking · CPC title

• A01F12/52 Primary

  Arrangements for returning unthreshed grain to the threshing device · CPC title