Partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12207594-B2
Application number	US-202016997458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2020
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

An exemplary sieve mechanism is configured for separating grain from chaff. The sieve mechanism generally includes a frame and a louvered region including a plurality of louvers mounted to the frame. The sieve mechanism further includes and an unlouvered region lacking louvers such that a gap is defined adjacent the louvered region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sieve mechanism for separating grain from chaff in a cleaning system, the sieve mechanism comprising:
a frame;
a louvered region comprising a plurality of louvers mounted to the frame; and
an unlouvered region lacking louvers such that at least one gap is defined adjacent the louvered region;
wherein the louvers are rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation between a closed position and a fully open position; and
wherein the at least one gap is defined within the frame when the louvers are in the closed position.

2. The sieve mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a forward lateral slat, a rearward lateral slat, and a plurality of longitudinal slats connecting the forward lateral slat and the rearward lateral slat.

3. The sieve mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the unlouvered region is defined adjacent the forward lateral slat such that the at least one gap is defined between the forward lateral slat and a forward-most louver of the plurality of louvers.

4. The sieve mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the louvers are rotatably mounted to the longitudinal slats for rotation between the closed position and the fully open position.

5. The sieve mechanism of claim 4 , wherein with the louvers in the fully open position:
adjacent louvers are offset from one another by an average longitudinal offset distance; and
a longitudinal dimension of the unlouvered region is at least twice the average longitudinal offset distance.

6. A sieve mechanism for separating grain from chaff in a cleaning system, the sieve mechanism comprising:
a frame;
a louvered region comprising a plurality of louvers mounted to the frame; and
an unlouvered region lacking louvers such that a gap is defined adjacent the louvered region;
wherein each louver comprises a body portion and a flange extending from the body portion;
wherein the body portions of adjacent louvers within the louvered region have an average longitudinal offset distance; and
wherein the unlouvered region has a longitudinal dimension at least twice the average longitudinal offset distance.

7. The sieve mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a first louver of the plurality of louvers projects into the unlouvered region from a first side of the unlouvered region by a first distance when the first louver is closed; and
wherein the unlouvered region has a longitudinal dimension greater than the first distance.

8. The sieve mechanism of claim 7 , wherein a second louver of the plurality of louvers projects into the unlouvered region from a second side of the unlouvered region by a second distance when the second louver is closed; and
wherein the longitudinal dimension of the unlouvered region is greater than a sum of the first distance and the second distance.

9. A cleaning system for separating grain from chaff, the cleaning system comprising:
a sieve assembly comprising a sieve mechanism, the sieve mechanism comprising:
a sieve mechanism frame;
a louvered region comprising a plurality of louvers rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation between a closed position and an open position; and
an unlouvered region lacking louvers such that at least one gap is defined within the sieve mechanism frame when the louvers are in the closed position;

a collection area positioned below the sieve mechanism; and
a grain auger extending into the collection area, the grain auger operable to drive grain from the collection area to a grain bin.

10. The cleaning system of claim 9 , further comprising a second sieve assembly, the second sieve assembly comprising a second sieve mechanism positioned between the sieve assembly and the collection area.

11. The cleaning system of claim 10 , wherein the second sieve mechanism comprises a second louvered region and a second unlouvered region.

12. The cleaning system of claim 9 , further comprising a blower configured and positioned to blow air in a rearward direction over a nose of the sieve assembly;
wherein the unlouvered region is positioned forward of the louvered region.

13. The cleaning system of claim 12 , wherein the sieve mechanism lacks louvers between the unlouvered region and the nose of the sieve assembly.

14. The cleaning system of claim 9 , wherein adjacent louvers within the louvered region are offset from one another by an average longitudinal offset distance; and
wherein a longitudinal dimension of the unlouvered region is at least twice the average longitudinal offset distance.

15. A method, comprising:
providing a partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism comprising:
a frame;
a louvered region comprising a plurality of louvers movably mounted to the frame such that each louver has an open position and a closed position; and
an unlouvered region lacking louvers such that at least one gap is defined within the sieve mechanism frame when the louvers are in the closed position;

sifting a mixture of grain and chaff using the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism, thereby allowing grain to fall through the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism while retaining chaff above the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising installing the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism to a cleaning system including a collection area;
wherein installing the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism to the cleaning system comprises installing the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism above the collection area.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the cleaning system further comprises a second sieve mechanism, and wherein installing the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism to the cleaning system comprises installing the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism above the second sieve mechanism.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein providing the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism comprises removing at least one louver from a fully-louvered sieve mechanism.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein providing the partially-unlouvered sieve mechanism comprises:
movably mounting the plurality of louvers to the frame with an average longitudinal offset distance, thereby defining the louvered region; and
providing the unlouvered region with a longitudinal dimension at least twice the average longitudinal offset distance.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Walter Jeffrey R
• Hurley Kevin P
• Meschke Michael T
• Chande Yogesh
• Martin Kelli

Classifications

• B07B1/4645

  Screening surfaces built up of modular elements · CPC title

• A01F12/46

  Mechanical grain conveyors · CPC title

• B07B1/12

  Apparatus having only parallel elements · CPC title

• B07B1/4636

  Regulation of screen apertures · CPC title

• B07B2201/04

  Multiple deck screening devices comprising one or more superimposed screens · CPC title