Patent ID: 7186177
Filing Date: 2007-03-06
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
1. A threshing rotor and front bearing housing assembly for an agricultural combine, comprising: a front rotor inlet section on a front end of a rotor rotatable in a predetermined rotational direction about a frontwardly and rearwardly extending rotational axis extending therethrough, the front rotor inlet section having a radial outer circumferential surface extending therearound having a predetermined diametrical extent, and a substantially annular protuberance extending frontwardly of the outer circumferential surface, the protuberance having a radially outwardly facing outer circumferential surface, a radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface located radially inwardly of the outer circumferential surface and extending around and defining a front center space, and at least one frontwardly facing slot extending radially outwardly through the protuberance in raked back relation to the rotational direction; and a front bearing housing supported on structure of the combine and located frontwardly of the front rotor inlet section, the bearing housing having a radial outer circumferential surface therearound having a predetermined diametrical extent and containing a bearing supporting the front end of the rotor and the front rotor inlet section for the rotation in the predetermined rotational direction, and an anti-wind shroud extending at least partially around the front bearing housing radially outwardly thereof and having a radial inner circumferential periphery spaced radially outwardly from a radial outer periphery of the bearing housing defining a circumferential space therebetween, the protuberance extending frontwardly into the circumferential space and the bearing housing extending into the front center space in at least partial axially overlapping relation to the protuberance, such that the inner circumferential surface of the protuberance is positioned and will rotate in closely spaced opposing relation to the outer circumferential surface of the bearing housing when the inlet section is rotated, so as to serve as a barrier for limiting passage of plant material therebetween and into the front center space, and such that surfaces in the at least one slot through the protuberance will rotate about the bearing housing during the rotation, to push plant material radially outwardly away from the bearing housing.