Vented side member for an agricultural vehicle

An agricultural vehicle including a chassis, at least one rotor supported by the chassis and configured for threshing a crop material, at least one exterior side member supported by the chassis and including at least one outlet, and an air conduit located underneath the at least one rotor. The air conduit is configured for providing an airstream directed to the at least one exterior side member such that the airstream forces a material other than grain out through the at least one outlet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to agricultural vehicles, and, more particularly, to agricultural vehicles with a separating and cleaning system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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 material from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop material to a threshing and separating system. The threshing and separating system may include a threshing rotor that rotates within a housing and performs a threshing operation on the crop material to remove the grain. The housing may include adjustable concaves with perforations for the grain to pass therethrough. Once the grain is threshed, it falls through the perforations in the concaves onto a cleaning system. The cleaning system generally includes a grain pan, one or more sieve(s), and a cleaning fan. The cleaning fan blows air through the sieves to discharge chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. The clean grain is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine via a clean grain auger. Material other than grain (MOG), such as straw, debris, dust, etc., from the threshing and separating system proceeds through a residue system, which may utilize a discharge chopper to process the MOG and direct it out through the rear of the combine. Typically, a combine is equipped with side doors that allow an operator to easily access the threshing and separating system.

During operation of the combine, a substantial amount of back pressure may build up inside of the combine, which can decrease the overall efficiency of the threshing and/or cleaning systems. The back pressure within the combine may be caused by numerous factors including the buildup of MOG, the construction of the combine itself, the intake of air into the chamber from the threshing unit, and/or the operation of the cleaning fan which directs an airstream rearwardly across the cleaning system. MOG may burden the cleaning system because the MOG is typically only allowed to exit the rear of the combine; and thus, the presence of MOG may cause the cleaning system to less efficiently clean the grain. As to the construction of the combine, the side doors and paneling of the combine create a sealed environment in which generally all of the air and MOG within the combine may only exit through the rear of the threshing and separating system and then out through the rear of the combine via the residue system. The intake of air via the inflow of crop material and/or by the cleaning fan may create an imbalance of air inflow and outflow because more air can be introduced into the combine than can exit through the rear of the combine. Hence, back pressure builds up within the combine since the air outflow, exiting through one location at the rear of the combine, is not in proportion to the air inflow. The back pressure within the combine may cause the airstream created by the cleaning fan to be less effective and it may also cause MOG, and other airborne debris, to stagnate and/or exit the combine less efficiently.

What is needed in the art is an agricultural vehicle that efficiently and cost-effectively allows air and MOG to more easily exit the combine and increases the efficiency of the threshing and cleaning systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an agricultural vehicle that includes exterior side members with outlets. The agricultural vehicle may also include an air conduit for forcibly removing the MOG out through the outlets of the exterior side members. The agricultural vehicle may further include ducts which are fluidly connected to the vents of the exterior side members such that the MOG and air exiting the agricultural vehicle can be further directed to a desired location.

In another exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an agricultural vehicle including a chassis, at least one rotor supported by the chassis and configured for threshing a crop material, at least one exterior side member supported by the chassis and including at least one outlet, and an air conduit located underneath the at least one rotor. The air conduit is configured for providing an airstream directed to the at least one exterior side member such that the airstream forces a material other than grain out through the at least one outlet.

In another exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an agricultural vehicle including a chassis, at least one rotor supported by the chassis and configured for threshing a crop material, at least one exterior side member supported by the chassis and including at least one outlet, and an air conduit located underneath the at least one rotor. The air conduit is configured for providing an airstream directed to the at least one exterior side member such that the airstream forces a material other than grain out through the at least one outlet. The agricultural vehicle further includes at least one duct removably connected to the at least one exterior side member and configured for further directing the material other than grain after it exits through the at least one outlet.

In yet another exemplary embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method including a step of providing an agricultural vehicle including a chassis, at least one rotor supported by the chassis and configured for threshing a crop material, at least one exterior side member supported by the chassis and including at least one outlet, and an air conduit located underneath the at least one rotor and configured for providing an airstream directed to the at least one exterior side member. The method also includes the steps of threshing the crop material by the at least one rotor, forcing an air blast, by the air conduit, outward from the at least one rotor toward the at least one exterior side member, and directing a material other than grain out through the at least one outlet such that the material other than grain exits a side of the agricultural vehicle before traveling downstream of the at least one rotor.

One possible advantage of the exemplary embodiment of the agricultural vehicle is that the amount of MOG exiting the rear of the rotor can be reduced, and thereby, the cleaning system and/or the residue system may operate more efficiently.

Another possible advantage of the exemplary embodiment of the agricultural vehicle is that the amount of back pressure within the agricultural vehicle may be reduced because air and MOG is allowed to efficiently exit the side(s) of the agricultural vehicle before a buildup of back pressure near the rear of the agricultural vehicle is created.

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 toFIGS. 1-2, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of an agricultural vehicle100in the form of a combine100, which generally includes a chassis102, ground engaging wheels104and106, a feeder housing108, a header110connected to the feeder housing108, an operator cab112, a threshing system114, a cleaning system116, a grain tank118, and an unloading auger120. Motive force is selectively applied to the front wheels104through a prime mover in the form of a diesel engine122and a transmission (not shown).

The threshing system114may be of the axial-flow type, and may thereby include an axially displaced rotor124, which is rotatable about a longitudinal rotor axis RA thereof and is at least partially enclosed by and rotatable within a corresponding, cylindrical tube or housing126. The housing126surrounds at least a portion of the rotor124and generally includes an upper hemisphere in the form of a rotor shield128and a lower hemisphere in the form of one or more concave(s)130located at a distance radially away from the rotor124. In this regard, a gap, e.g. a clearance passage, exists between the rotor124and the concave(s)130which allows crop material to be threshed therein. As the crop material enters the clearance passage, it may be helically conveyed from the front to the rear of the housing126via the motion of the rotor124. Each concave130has a concave frame132which is configured for receiving and supporting a concave insert134. Each concave130may include a plurality of perforations, apertures, or orifices therethrough for allowing the passage of correspondingly-sized crop material, such as threshed grain and small particles of MOG.

The cleaning system116generally includes a grain pan136, one or more sieve(s)138, and a cleaning fan140. In operation, the cut crop material which has been threshed and separated by threshing system114falls onto the grain pan136and the sieve(s)138. The grain pan136and the sieve(s)138may oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner in order to further sift the crop material. The cleaning fan140provides an airflow through the sieve(s)138to remove chaff and other impurities such as dust from the grain via making this material airborne for discharge out of the rear of the combine. After passing through the cleaning system116, the clean grain falls to a clean grain auger142positioned crosswise below and in front of the sieve(s)138. The clean grain auger142conveys the clean grain laterally to a generally vertically arranged grain elevator144for transport to the grain tank118. Tailings from the cleaning system116are transported via a tailings auger146and a return auger148to the upstream end of the cleaning system116for repeated cleaning action. The non-grain crop material, e.g. MOG, proceeds out of the rear of the combine100through a residue system150, which may include a discharge chopper152, counter knives, and a residue spreader.

The agricultural vehicle100may also include one or more exterior side member(s)154that have one or more outlet(s)156which allow airborne debris, such as MOG, to pass therethrough. The agricultural vehicle100may further include an air conduit158for providing an airstream A directed toward the exterior side member(s)154such that the airstream A forces MOG out through the outlet(s)156. It should be understood that the evacuation of MOG, due to the air conduit158in conjunction with the vented exterior side member(s)154, may include allowing at least some MOG, e.g. a substantial minority or a majority thereof, to exit the side(s) of the agricultural vehicle100. In this regard, MOG is allowed to exit the side(s) of the agricultural vehicle100before the MOG travels further downstream to the cleaning system116. Hence, the amount of MOG exiting the rear of the rotor124is reduced, and thereby the cleaning system116and/or the residue system150may operate more efficiently due to the decreased amount of MOG. Additionally, the amount of back pressure within the agricultural vehicle100may be reduced because air and MOG is allowed to efficiently exit the side(s) of the agricultural vehicle before the air and MOG cause a buildup of back pressure near the rear of the agricultural vehicle100. Thus, the vented exterior side members154and the air conduit158increase the cleaning capacity of the agricultural vehicle100by creating the additional outlets156and preventing unnecessary loading of the cleaning system116with MOG that can be easily separated beforehand. In other words, the vented side members154and the air conduit158turn the grain pan area into a more productive portion of the agricultural vehicle100.

As shown inFIG. 2, a pair of exterior side members154are supported by the chassis102. The exterior side members154may be in the form of fixedly or removably attached doors154and/or side panels154. In the present exemplary embodiment, the exterior side members154are in the form of detachable doors154that allow an operator to easily access the threshing and separating system114. Each exterior side member154has at least one outlet156that can be in the form of a cutout, a vent, and/or a slot. For example, each exterior side member154may have two vents156. The outlets156may be positioned relative to the rotor124such that the outlets156can be located beneath, inline, and/or above the rotor axis RA of the rotor15. Additionally, the outlets156can be positioned on the exterior side members154such that the outlets156are adjacently located near to the front, middle, and/or rear of the rotor124. Each outlet156may include one or more louver(s)160, e.g. slats, that extend inwardly and/or outwardly from a respective exterior side member154. The louvers160prevent the threshed grain from exiting the vents156and allow the MOG to pass through the vents156. For instance, the louvers160can have an inverted geometry such that the louvers160extend over a portion of a respective outlet156and inwardly toward the interior of the agricultural vehicle100.

The air conduit158can be located underneath the rotor124and can extend along the rotor axis RA underneath at least a portion of the rotor124. For instance, the air conduit158can extend from the front end of the rotor124to the approximate middle of the rotor124. The air conduit can also be positioned upstream of the cleaning system116so that the airstream A forces MOG out of the outlets156before the MOG has the opportunity to travel further downstream to the cleaning system116. The air conduit158can be positioned directly underneath the center rotor124, or the air conduit158can be positioned off-center, e.g. at the right of the centerline of the rotor124. The air conduit158can have perforations and/or vents which correspondingly direct the airstream A flowing therethrough. The air conduit158may direct the airstream A outwardly toward each exterior side member154so that the airstream A does not direct the MOG toward the rear of the rotor124. In this respect, the distribution of crop material falling onto the grain pan plane after it has been threshed may be biased toward a particular area underneath the rotor124and toward a respective side of the agricultural vehicle100, such as the side areas SA (FIG. 2). It is conceivable to address the distribution of the threshed crop material by providing an additional airstream, modifying the existing airstream, providing distribution guide plates, and/or modifying the grain pan136. A designated, motorized fan162can be fluidly coupled with the air conduit158in order to provide the requisite airstream A (FIG. 1). In another exemplary embodiment, the existing cleaning fan140may be fluidly connected to the airstream such that a portion of the pressurized airflow provided by the cleaning fan140is directed to the air conduit158(not shown). It should be appreciated that the agricultural vehicle100may include two or more air conduits158and/or a center conduit with multiple air conduit branches in order to more specifically direct the airstream. It should also be appreciated that the agricultural vehicle100may not include an air conduit158.

Referring now toFIG. 3, there is shown another exemplary embodiment of the agricultural vehicle100which further includes guide plates300. The guide plates300can be positioned adjacent to the rotor124in order to increase the blast wrap of the airstream A such that the MOG is guided concentrically around the rotor axis RA and outwardly through the outlets156. As shown, the agricultural vehicle100includes four guide plates300; three for directing the airstream A upwardly and one for directing the airstream A outwardly toward the outlets156. The guide plates300can be connected to a structural support member of the agricultural vehicle100.

Referring now toFIG. 4, there is shown another exemplary embodiment of an agricultural vehicle400which includes twin rotors424. Except for the twin rotor424, the agricultural vehicle400may be substantially the same as the agricultural vehicle100as discussed above; and thereby, like parts have been identified with like reference characters except with the400series designation. The agricultural vehicle400may be in the form of a twin rotor, axial flow combine400, such as the New Holland® CR SERIES TWIN ROTOR® COMBINE manufactured by CNH Industrial, LLC. The air conduit458may be positioned symmetrically in between the rotors424in order to evenly force the MOG toward a respective outlet456of each side of the agricultural vehicle400. It is conceivable to include two air conduits458that are respectively positioned underneath each rotor424(not shown).

Referring now toFIGS. 5-7, there is shown another embodiment of the agricultural vehicle100which further includes one or more duct(s)500that further direct the MOG after it has passed through the outlets156. Each duct500can be fixedly or removably connected to a respective exterior side member154and can be fluidly coupled to each outlet156. In the present exemplary embodiment, a duct500is removably connected to each exterior side member154. Each duct500can be monolithically formed as a single molded part or may be sectionally designed with one or more components being fixedly or removably attached to one another. In the present exemplary embodiment, the ducts500are composed of two sectional components: an upper duct section502, which downwardly directs the MOG, and a first lower duct section504to direct the MOG outwardly (FIG. 6) or a second lower duct section506to direct the MOG rearwardly (FIG. 7). Thereby, each duct500can initially extend downwardly, and then may further extend outwardly (FIG. 6) or rearwardly (FIG. 7) such that the MOG is directed downward and then outwardly or rearwardly, respectively. The upper duct section502can be removably connected to the exterior side member154, and one of the lower duct sections504,506can be removably connected to the upper duct section502. In more detail, the upper duct section502may fit within or enclose a periphery of a respective outlet156and can removably attach to a respective exterior side member154via corresponding fittings, clasps, hooks, and/or fasteners. Either lower duct section504,506may removably connect to the upper duct section at a connection point CP via corresponding fittings, clasps, hooks, and/or fasteners.

Referring now toFIG. 8, there is shown another embodiment of an agricultural vehicle800which may be in the form of the agricultural vehicle100as described above, except that the agricultural vehicle800does not include an air conduit158and/or a designated fan162. Thereby, like reference characters have been identified with like reference numerals but with the800series designation. The agricultural vehicle800may also include one or more side ducts500as described above. Since the air conduit158is not included in the agricultural vehicle800, the existing air volume and back pressure within the agricultural vehicle800creates the necessary airflow which moves the MOG away from the rotor824and out through the outlets856. In other words, the operation of the rotor826and the cleaning fan140creates back pressure within the agricultural vehicle800, and due to this back pressure, the airstream and MOG escapes through the outlets856at the sides of the agricultural vehicle800.