Patent ID: 6176778
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
A method of threshing harvested grain including ears and pods, the method includingperforming a threshing action on the harvested grain in a longitudinal threshing zone having an open inlet end for introducing of the harvested grain into the threshing zone and an open outlet end opposed to the open inlet end, for exhaust of chaff, the thresing zone being bounded, at least along a lower extremity thereof, by a trough-like sieve having a sieve axis and being arranged longitudinally adjacent said longitudinal threshing zone; causing a first air flow stream of predetermined force or intensity to move longitudinally through the threshing zone and to be exhausted via said open outlet end, perforations of the sieve being selected to pass grain liberated during threshing with little clearance, the force or intensity of the first air flow stream being predetermined to carry chaff of relatively low density out of the threshing zone via said open outlet end and to allow liberated grain of relatively high density to fall onto the sieve;gathering grain and smaller portions of chaff passed by the sieve in a longitudinal trough spaced longitudinally underneath the sieve and having opposed ends;causing an auxiliary air flow stream of predetermined force or intensity to move longitudinally through a space intermediate the sieve and the trough to carry such smaller portions of chaff out of said space while allowing the grain to fall into the trough;providing a main grain exit for the trough toward one end of the trough which is an upstream end relative to said auxiliary air flow stream and causing a major portion of the grain to move toward and to exit via said main grain exit;providing an auxiliary grain exit through the trough toward said other end of the trough which other end is a downstream end relative to said auxiliary air flow stream to allow the grain remaining in the trough and any remaining chaff to pass through the auxiliary grain exit.