Aggressive grate for combine harvester

A processing system for a combine harvester has a tubular rotor housing that concentrically receives a rotor used for threshing and separating crop materials. Concave and separator grate assemblies are arranged side-by-side axially along the processing system. Each grate assembly has laterally spaced apart side rails and a plurality of axial bars spanning the side rails. Each axial bar has a plurality of fingers extending therefrom toward an adjacent axial bar, the fingers defining apertures through which grain may pass. Each axial bar additionally has a plurality of disrupter walls placed between adjacent fingers, wherein an upper edge of each disrupter wall projects above the fingers on the same axial bar such that it is closer to the rotor to disrupt the axial flow of the crop material through the rotor housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to crop harvesting machines of the type that use rotary processing devices, and more particularly to a rotary housing for the crop harvesting machine that provides a disrupted flowpath for the crop material as it moves axially through the processing system to permit more time for threshing and separation to take place.

2. Description of Related Art

In one type of processing system the crop travels axially parallel to and helically around the rotational axis of one or more rotary processing devices commonly referred to as rotors. In other systems, during at least a portion of its travel through the system the crop travels in a transverse or tangential direction relative to the rotational axis of a rotary processing device commonly referred to as a threshing cylinder. In each case, grain is processed between elements affixed to the periphery of the rotary device and arcuate, usually foraminous, stationary processing members in the form of threshing concaves or separating grates that partially wrap around the lower portion of the device.

Because processing systems are utilized to harvest a wide variety of different crops, it is at times desirable to disrupt the smooth flow of crop materials over the concaves and separator grates to prove the rotor more opportunity to thresh and separate the crop material.

Overview of the Invention

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a processing system for a combine harvester having a tubular rotor housing that concentrically receives a rotor used for threshing and separating crop materials. Concave and separator grate assemblies are arranged side-by-side axially along the processing system. Each grate assembly has laterally spaced apart side rails and a plurality of axial bars spanning the side rails. Each axial bar has a plurality of fingers extending therefrom toward an adjacent axial bar, the fingers defining apertures through which grain may pass. Each axial bar additionally has a plurality of disrupter walls placed between adjacent fingers, wherein an upper edge of each disrupter wall projects above the fingers on the same axial bar such that it is closer to the rotor to disrupt the axial flow of the crop material through the rotor housing.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary combine harvester10selected for illustration inFIG. 1has a single axial flow processing system12that extends generally parallel with the path of travel of the machine. However, as will be seen, the principles of the present invention are not limited to axial flow harvesters having only a single such processing system. For the sake of simplicity in explaining the principles of the present invention, this specification will proceed utilizing a single axial flow processing system as the primary example.

As well understood by those skilled in the art, in the illustrated embodiment combine harvester10includes a harvesting header (not shown) at the front of the machine that delivers collected crop materials to the front end of a feeder house14. Such materials are moved rearwardly within feeder house14by a conveyer16until reaching the processing system12. Turning now toFIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment the processing system12has a rotor20having an infeed auger22on the front end thereof. The auger22and rotor20advance the materials axially through the processing system12for threshing and separating. In other types of systems, conveyor16may deliver the crop directly to a threshing cylinder.

Generally speaking, the crop materials entering processing system12move axially and helically therethrough during threshing and separating. During such travel the crop materials are threshed and separated by rotor20operating in cooperation with preferably foraminous separator23in comprising at least one threshing concave grate assembly24and separator grate assembly26, with the grain escaping laterally through concave grate assemblies24and separator grate assemblies26into cleaning mechanism28(FIG. 1). Bulkier stalk and leaf materials are retained by concave grate assemblies24and separator grate assemblies26and are passed out the rear of processing system12and ultimately out of the rear of the harvester10. A blower (not shown) forms part of the cleaning mechanism28and provides a stream of air throughout the cleaning region below processing system12and directed out the rear of the harvester10so as to carry lighter chaff particles away from the grain as it migrates downwardly toward the bottom of the machine to a clean grain auger30. Auger30delivers the clean grain to an elevator (not shown) that elevates the grain to a storage bin34on top of the machine, from which it is ultimately unloaded via an unloading spout36.

The plurality of concave grate assemblies24and separator grate assemblies26are arranged side-by-side axially along the processing system12to form a part of what may be considered a tubular housing38that concentrically receives rotor20and serves as part of processing system12. In the illustrated embodiment, six concave grate assemblies24and three separator grate assemblies26form part of the tubular housing38. However, one skilled in the art will understand that more or fewer concave grate assemblies24and separator grate assemblies26may be used in the tubular housing38. As is known in the art, the tubular housing38includes a convex top wall (not shown) that extends the full length of housing38and effectively closes off the top portion thereof from front to rear. The concave grate assemblies24and separator grate assemblies26are moved adjustably toward and away from rotor20to adjust the running clearance between the rotor20and concave and separator grate assemblies24,26and to change the shape of the threshing and separating regions as is known in the art and need to be further discussed herein.

As best seen inFIG. 3, each separator grate assembly26includes an arcuate first grate40and an arcuate second grate42pivotally mounted in the processing system12. A suitable actuator (not shown) is located near the processing system12and mounted on portions of the combine harvester frame structure. Preferably, the actuator is remotely operable, such as from the cab of harvester10. In one preferred embodiment, the actuator comprises an electrically powered linear actuator. It will be appreciated, however, that actuator could comprise a number of different devices, such as a hydraulic cylinder or a turnbuckle, for example. Grates50and52of each separator grate assembly26desirably have substantially similar structure but mirror images, so only grate40will be described in detail herein. Additionally, the invention is described herein with respect to a grate of the separator grate assembly, but one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may also be used in a concave grate assembly24without departing from the scope of the invention.

Turning now toFIG. 4, it will be seen that the grate40includes a pair of arcuate, elongated and laterally spaced apart side rails44oriented generally transverse to the axis of the rotor20. One end of each side rail44has a hook46used to mount the separator grate assembly26on an axial bar (not shown) used to move the separator grate26toward or away from the rotor20. A plurality of axial bars48span the side rails44. End plates49are desirably affixed between ends of the side rails44. The axial bars48have outwardly projecting overhangs50at their opposite ends that overlay upper edges of the side rails44and are operable to bear against the same when grate40is installed. Desirably, the overhangs50are received in notches52in the upper edges of side rails44and welded to the side rails46. Overhangs50also provide a substantially continuous surface when multiple grate assemblies26are installed side-by-side in the harvester10. Desirably, one or more middle supports51are positioned between and parallel to the side rails44and support the axial bars48.

Each axial bar48has a plurality fingers52extending from the base portion54of the axial bar. The fingers52are elongate members that spaced along the base portion54so as to form apertures between adjacent fingers52through which grain may pass. Thus, the fingers52form a separating surface53that cooperates with rasp-like elements55(FIG. 2) on the rotating rotor20to separate the grain from cobs, husks, and other crop materials passing through the processing system. In the illustrated embodiment, the fingers52extend away from the base portion54so they point in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the rotor20and have an axis that is generally perpendicular with the base portion54. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the fingers52may extend from opposing sides of the axial bars48such that each axial bar has fingers extending in opposite directions. As best seen inFIGS. 6 and 7, the fingers52extend away from the base portion54of the axial bar48toward the adjacent axial bar, but do not contact the adjacent axial bar. A small gap G is left between tip56of each finger52and a rear surface58of the base portion54of the adjacent axial bar48. Desirably gap G has a distance between about 0.2 and 1.0 inches (0.5 and 2.5 cm). Desirably, the axis of each finger52is substantially perpendicular to the base portion54, but may extend from the base portion54at an angle α of between about 70 and 110 degrees. Without being limited by any explanation, it is believed that the gaps G between the fingers52on one axial bar48and the adjacent axial bar help prevent the stalk and stem trash from getting caught and accumulating in the separating surface53of the grate40.

According to the invention, the base portion54has a plurality of disrupter walls60extending upward toward the rotor20. As best seen inFIG. 5, desirably there is an upward extending disrupter wall60on the axial bar48between the base of adjacent fingers52. The upper edge62of the disrupter walls projects above the fingers52of the axial bars48and is believed to provide a more aggressive flowpath for the crop material as it moves axially through the processing system12over the grate assemblies26. As best seen inFIG. 7, because of the arcuate shape of the grate40, the upper surface64of the tips56of fingers52is slightly elevated above the upper edge62of the disrupter walls60of the next adjacent axial bar48.

In operation, the rotor20rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed from the rear of the harvester10. Thus, as crop materials are introduced into the front end of processing system12, they move helically within and about rotor housing38in a counterclockwise direction asFIG. 2is viewed. The threshing and separating action occurs in a region located generally in the bottom half of the processing system12, between the periphery of rotor20and concave and separating grate assemblies24,26. The disrupter walls60slow the axial flow of the crop material through the processing system12to permit the more time for separation to take place.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.