Abstract:
An agricultural harvesting machine including a chassis, and a threshing section carried by the chassis. The threshing section includes a rotor, a plurality of frame assemblies adjustably positioned proximate to the rotor, a plurality of concaves and an adjustment mechanism. Each concave is carried by a corresponding frame assembly. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the frame assemblies. The plurality of frame assemblies are X frame assemblies, with X being 2 or larger. The adjustment mechanism has at least one actuator, with there being Y actuators, with Y being 1 or larger. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust each of the X frame assemblies to different positions with Y actuators, where Y is less than X.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters such as combines, and, more particularly, to an adjustment system for a concave with a minimum of actuators used in such combines. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An agricultural harvester known as a “combine” is historically termed such because it combines multiple harvesting functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking, threshing, separating and cleaning A combine includes a header which removes the crop from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop matter into a threshing rotor. The threshing rotor rotates within a perforated housing, which may be in the form of adjustable concaves and performs a threshing operation on the crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed it falls through perforations in the concaves onto a grain pan. From the grain pan the grain is cleaned using a cleaning system, and is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine. A cleaning fan blows air through the sieves to discharge chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. Non-grain crop material such as straw from the threshing section proceeds through a residue system, which may utilize a straw chopper to process the non-grain material and direct it out the rear of the combine. When the grain tank becomes full, the combine is positioned adjacent a vehicle into which the grain is to be unloaded, such as a semi-trailer, gravity box, straight truck, or the like; and an unloading system on the combine is actuated to transfer the grain into the vehicle. 
     More particularly, a rotary threshing or separating system includes one or more rotors which can extend axially (front to rear) or transversely within the body of the combine, and which are partially or fully surrounded by a perforated concave. The crop material is threshed and separated by the rotation of the rotor within the concave. Coarser non-grain crop material such as stalks and leaves are transported to the rear of the combine and discharged back to the field. The separated grain, together with some finer non-grain crop material such as chaff, dust, straw, and other crop residue are discharged through the concaves and fall onto a grain pan where they are transported to a cleaning system. Alternatively, the grain and finer non-grain crop material may also fall directly onto the cleaning system itself. 
     A cleaning system further separates the grain from non-grain crop material, and typically includes a fan directing an airflow stream upwardly and rearwardly through vertically arranged sieves which oscillate in a fore and aft manner. The airflow stream lifts and carries the lighter non-grain crop material towards the rear end of the combine for discharge to the field. Clean grain, being heavier, and larger pieces of non-grain crop material, which are not carried away by the airflow stream, fall onto a surface of an upper sieve (also known as a chaffer sieve) where some or all of the clean grain passes through to a lower sieve (also known as a cleaning sieve). Grain and non-grain crop material remaining on the upper and lower sieves are physically separated by the reciprocating action of the sieves as the material moves rearwardly. Any grain and/or non-grain crop material remaining on the top surface of the upper sieve are discharged at the rear of the combine. Grain falling through the lower sieve lands on a bottom pan of the cleaning system, where it is conveyed forwardly toward a clean grain auger. The clean grain auger conveys the grain to a grain tank for temporary storage. 
     The concaves of the combine need to be adjusted to be in an optimized position depending on crop type and variations encountered in the harvesting of the crop, such adjustments are difficult to accomplish. 
     What is needed in the art is a concave adjustment system that can meet the demands of grain harvesting variations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method and apparatus to adjust a concave in a threshing section of an agricultural harvester. 
     The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural harvesting machine including a chassis, and a threshing section carried by the chassis. The threshing section includes a rotor, a plurality of frame assemblies adjustably positioned proximate to the rotor, a plurality of concaves and an adjustment mechanism. Each concave is carried by a corresponding frame assembly. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the frame assemblies. The plurality of frame assemblies are X frame assemblies, with X being 2 or larger. The adjustment mechanism has at least one actuator, with there being Y actuators, with Y being 1 or larger. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust each of the X frame assemblies to different positions with Y actuators, where Y is less than X. 
     The invention in another form is directed to a threshing section for an agricultural harvester that includes a rotor, a plurality of frame assemblies adjustably positioned proximate to the rotor, a plurality of concaves and an adjustment mechanism. Each concave is carried by a corresponding frame assembly. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the frame assemblies. The plurality of frame assemblies are X frame assemblies, with X being 2 or larger. The adjustment mechanism has at least one actuator, with there being Y actuators, with Y being 1 or larger. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust each of the X frame assemblies to different positions with Y actuators, where Y is less than X. 
     The invention in yet another form is directed to a method of adjusting a concave in an agricultural harvester. The method having the steps of: positioning a plurality of frame assemblies proximate to a rotor; carrying a concave in each frame assembly; and actuating an adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame assemblies. The plurality of frame assemblies being X frame assemblies, with X being 2 or larger. The adjustment mechanism has at least one actuator, with there being Y actuators, with Y being 1 or larger. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust each of the X frame assemblies to different positions with Y actuators, where Y is less than X. 
     The present invention advantageously provides an adjustable concave assembly using a minimum number of actuators. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be implemented to vary the adjustments of the concaves so that the concaves are differing distances from the rotor. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the one adjustment member provides a bias to all of the concaves in a simultaneous fashion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an agricultural harvester in the form of a combine which includes an embodiment of a concave adjustment system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the concave adjustment assembly used in the combine of  FIG. 1  configured to each be adjusted by way of two actuators; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the concave adjustment assembly used in the combine of  FIG. 1  configured in another way by way of two actuators; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of linkages associated with one adjustment member, such as the ones shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , of the concave adjustment assembly showing how the concaves are adjusted differently using one adjustment mechanism; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of linkages associated with one adjustment member, such as the ones shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , of the concave adjustment assembly showing another way in which the concaves are adjusted differently using one adjustment mechanism. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The terms “grain”, “straw” and “tailings” are used principally throughout this specification for convenience but it is to be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. Thus “grain” refers to that part of the crop material which is threshed and separated from the discardable part of the crop material, which is referred to as non-grain crop material, MOG or straw. Incompletely threshed crop material is referred to as “tailings”. Also the terms “forward”, “rearward”, “left” and “right”, when used in connection with the agricultural harvester and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the harvester, but again, they should not be construed as limiting. The terms “longitudinal” and “transverse” are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the agricultural harvester and are equally not to be construed as limiting. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an agricultural harvester in the form of a combine  10 , which generally includes a chassis  12 , ground engaging wheels  14  and  16 , a header  18 , a feeder housing  20 , an operator cab  22 , a threshing system  24 , a cleaning system  26 , a grain tank  28 , and an unloading auger  30 . 
     The front wheels  14  are larger flotation type wheels, and the rear wheels  16  are smaller steerable wheels. Motive force is selectively applied to the front wheels  14  through a power plant in the form of a diesel engine  32  and a transmission (not shown). Although the combine  10  is shown as including wheels, is also to be understood that the combine  10  may include tracks, such as full tracks or half tracks. 
     The header  18  is mounted to the front of the combine  10  and includes a cutter bar  34  for severing crops from a field during forward motion of the combine  10 . A rotatable reel  36  feeds the crop into the header  18 , and a double auger  38  feeds the severed crop laterally inwardly from each side toward the feeder housing  20 . The feeder housing  20  conveys the cut crop to the threshing system  24 , and is selectively vertically movable using appropriate actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders (not shown). 
     The threshing and separating system  24  is of an axial-flow type, and generally includes a rotor  40  at least partially enclosed by and rotatable within a corresponding perforated concave  42 . The cut crops are threshed and separated by the rotation of the rotor  40  within the concave  42 , and larger elements, such as stalks, leaves and the like are discharged from the rear of the combine  10 . Smaller elements of crop material including grain and non-grain crop material, including particles lighter than grain, such as chaff, dust and straw, are discharged through perforations of the concave  42 . Rotor  40  is shown in a representative sense in that rotor  40  may be more than one rotor  40  and they may be oriented generally in line with the direction of travel of combine  10 . 
     Grain which has been separated by the threshing and separating assembly  24  falls onto a grain pan  44  and is conveyed toward the cleaning system  26 . The cleaning system  26  may include an optional pre-cleaning sieve, an upper sieve (also known as a chaffer sieve), a lower sieve (also known as a cleaning sieve), and a cleaning fan  52 . Grain on the sieves is subjected to a cleaning action by fan  52  which provides an airflow through the sieves to remove chaff and other impurities such as dust from the grain by making this material airborne for discharge from a straw hood  54  of the combine  10 . The grain pan  44  and a pre-cleaning sieve oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to transport the grain and finer non-grain crop material to the upper surface of an upper sieve. 
     Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger  56  positioned crosswise below and in front of a lower sieve. The clean grain auger  56  receives clean grain from each sieve and from a bottom pan  58  of the cleaning system  26 . The clean grain auger  56  conveys the clean grain laterally to a generally vertically arranged grain elevator  60  for transport to the grain tank  28 . Tailings from the cleaning system  26  fall to a tailings auger trough. The tailings are transported via a tailings auger  64  and the return auger  66  to the upstream end of the cleaning system  26  for repeated cleaning action. A pair of grain tank augers  68  at the bottom of the grain tank  28  convey the clean grain laterally within the grain tank  28  to the unloading auger  30  for discharge from the combine  10 . 
     The non-grain crop material proceeds through a residue handling system. The residue handling system includes a chopper, counter knives, a windrow door and a residue spreader. 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown a concave adjustment mechanism  70 , which is connected to frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78 , each of which are configured to carry a concave  42 , not shown here for the sake of clarity. Each rotor  40  will have a concave adjustment mechanism  70  associated therewith. 
     Concave adjustment mechanism  70  includes an adjustment member  80  that is coupled to frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78 , by way of linkages  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88 . Concave adjustment mechanism  70  also includes an adjustment member  90  that is coupled to adjustment member  80 . Frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78  are adjusted to differing positions as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , as a result of the lengths of, and angular orientation of linkages  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88 . For example, linkage  82  illustrates a shorter overall length than linkage  88 , and the angular orientation of linkage  82  has a different orientation than that of linkage  88 . 
     As adjustment member  80  rotates, the spacing of frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78  relative to rotor  40  (not shown in this figure for the sake of clarity) changes. In this illustration if adjustment member  80  moves clockwise (as viewed from the left) from the illustrated position, then frame assembly  72  will lower moving its associated concave away from rotor  40  and frame assembly  78  will move upwards, toward rotor  40 . Further, due to the coupling of adjustment member  90  to adjustment member  80 , as adjustment member  90  rotates it provides an overall bias to thereby move frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78  in a more uniform manner. 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 3  there is shown a concave adjustment mechanism  170 , which is somewhat similar to concave adjustment mechanism  70 , previously discussed and similar items will have numbers that are increased by  100 . Attributes discussed about one item will generally also apply to the similarly numbered item. Concave adjustment mechanism  170 , is connected to frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78 , each of which are configured to carry a concave  42 , not shown here for the sake of clarity. Each rotor  40  would have a concave adjustment mechanism  170  associated therewith. 
     Concave adjustment mechanism  170  includes an adjustment member  180  that is coupled to frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78 , by way of linkages  182 ,  184 ,  186 , and  188 . Concave adjustment mechanism  170  also includes an adjustment member  190  that is also coupled to linkages  182 ,  184 ,  186 , and  188 . Frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78  are adjusted to differing positions, as a result of the lengths of, and angular orientation of arms  96 , and their interaction with linkages  182 ,  184 ,  186 , and  188 . For example,  FIG. 3  illustrates an angular orientation of arm  96  coupled to linkage  182  that has a different orientation than that of arm  96  that interacts with linkage  188 . 
     As adjustment member  180  rotates, the spacing of frame assemblies  72 .  74 ,  76 , and  78  relative to rotor  40  (not shown in this figure for the sake of clarity) changes relative to the lengths of linkages  182 ,  184 ,  186  and  188 . In this illustration if adjustment member  180  moves clockwise (as viewed from the left) from the illustrated position, then frame assemblies  72 ,  74 ,  76  and  78  will all raise moving its associated concave toward rotor  40 . Further, due to the coupling of adjustment member  190  with adjustment member  180  by way of linkages  182 ,  184 ,  186 , and  188 , as adjustment member  190  rotates it will serve to vary the rate of movement of frame assemblies  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78 , as linkages  182 ,  184 ,  186 , and  188  are angularly displaced. 
     In each of the foregoing embodiments it can be said the adjustment members  80  and  90 ; and  180  and  190 , are respectively coupled to frame assemblies  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78 . Each adjustment member being arranged to vary the positions of frame assemblies  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78  in differing ways so that the combination of movements of the adjustment members allows a multiple of orientations of frame assemblies  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78 . Actuators  92  and  94  are respectively coupled to adjustment members  80  and  90 , and the movement may be rotational as discussed, but it is also contemplated for there to be linear movement as well. 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there are shown arms  96  that are associated with adjustment members  80 ,  90 ,  180  and  190 , which are broadly part of the associated linkages. Arms  96  may have differing lengths, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, or in addition thereto, arms  96  may have differing phase angles as shown in  FIG. 5 . Each of these variations allow for differing control scenarios for the movement of frame assemblies  72 ,  74 ,  76  and  78  with two actuators . 
     It is observed that if there are X frame assemblies that Y actuators may be used to adjust the X frame assemblies to differing positions when Y is less than X. More specifically, X may be 3 or greater when Y is 2, and even more specifically X may be 4 or more while X remains at 2. The prior art shows adjusting X frame assemblies with X actuators, but not the ability to adjust X frame assemblies to differing positions using less than X actuators. 
     The present invention is that multiple types of relationships can be created using 2 concave adjustment members  80  and  90 . Many variations are possible and include 2 different torsion tubes or a torsion tube and a cam, an elliptical cam with a linear linkage, two elliptical cams, a stepped and linear linkage, and two linear linkages. The arms may work with a similar staggering. Length of arms or shape of cams can also be varied. One arm set could also be in-line across multiple modules so as to create a uniform motion across the modules. Endless variations are possible. 
     The present invention advantageously allows individually adjusting modules for 4 frame assemblies, which would otherwise be prohibitive. The current invention provides a way to produce a large number of variations from uniform to non-uniform motion among the modules while only requiring 2 adjust mechanisms for the total system. It is also contemplated to have a screen readout in the cab of a desired position for each module while the computer system determines the correct individual position of the two adjustment members  80  and  90  to approximate the desired module positions. 
     While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.