Patent ID: 8002616
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
1. An agricultural combine, comprising: a housing having an internal chamber containing a threshing system including a concave and a rotary beater, the threshing system configured and operable for threshing kernels of corn from cobs, discharging a flow of the kernels downwardly within the chamber, and discharging a flow of the cobs along a path within the chamber, wherein at least some of the discharged cobs include husks attached thereto; de-husking apparatus comprising a generally horizontally disposed array of husking rolls, each husking roll extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the combine, each husking roll disposed at least partially below the concave and the rotary beater and extending a substantial distance therefrom, such that the husking rolls are disposed in a position in the path for receiving at least a substantial portion of the flow of cobs including the husks attached thereto, each of the husking rolls bounding a husking roll gap smaller than the cobs connecting with a region below the array, the husking rolls being supported for rotation about an axis therethrough and connected to drive apparatus configured for drivingly rotating the husking rolls about the axes, respectively, the husking rolls including husking elements thereon configured such that when the husking rolls are rotated by the drive apparatus, the elements will grasp and detach the husks from the cobs and drive the detached husks through the husking roll gaps into the region below the array, the husking rolls configured such that the rotation thereof will move the cobs along the de-husking apparatus toward one end thereof, and wherein the husking rolls each have a shaft positioned therethrough which supports each roll for rotation about the axis, the shaft connected to at least a portion of the drive apparatus, and wherein each husking roll terminates at an end thereof along its respective shaft and a distance from the portion of the drive apparatus such that large gaps are formed between ends of the rolls, shafts, and the drive apparatus so that the cobs conveyed along the husking rolls fall through the large gaps; and a cleaning system including at least one sieve disposed within the chamber below the threshing system and the de-husking apparatus in a position for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the kernels and separating the kernels from crop residue mixed therewith larger than the kernels.