Abstract:
A concave includes a frame and an array of threshing elements supported by the frame, the threshing elements being spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another. The threshing elements are configured in the form of round bars each having formed on an upper portion thereof disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the frame a longitudinally-extending notch respectively defining an aggressive threshing edge. The spaced apart relationship and round configuration of the threshing elements reduce plugging of the concave. The threshing edges facing in a direction opposite to the direction of crop material flow restrict crop material flow and thereby enable more effective threshing.

Description:
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/573,046 filed Aug. 15, 2012 (projected to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,454,416 on Jun. 4, 2013), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/573,644 filed Sep. 9, 2011. Each application identified above is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a concave for an agricultural combine and, more particularly, is concerned with a longitudinally notched threshing element for an agricultural combine threshing concave. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Rotary combines have a rotary crop processing unit that threshes and separates the grain from the harvested crop material. The rotary crop processing unit is formed by a rotor radially surrounded by a casing. The rotor and casing together define an inlet section, a threshing section and a separating section. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,604 to Ramp et al., the bottom of the casing has a concave under the threshing section for threshing the crop material and a separating grate under the separator section for separating the grain from the threshed crop material. The inlet section pulls the harvested crop material from a front crop gathering unit into the threshing section. The threshing section threshes the crop material and then feeds the threshed crop material to the separator section. 
     As shown in the Ramp et al. patent, the concave is provided with a combination of threshing elements in the form of straight bars square in cross-section that are spaced apart from one another with wires between the bars. The objective of this combination is to restrict the flow of crop material so as to enhance threshing of the crop material in the threshing section. However, under corn crop conditions, a tendency frequently develops for crop material flow to be restricted too much by corn shucks getting hung up on the bars and catching on the wires, resulting in plugging of the concave. One solution tried thus far has been to change the threshing elements of the concave to round bars with no wires. But now a tendency frequently develops under some crop conditions, other than corn, for too little restriction of crop material flow such that the other crop materials are not threshed effectively, resulting in overloading of the separator section. 
     Consequently, a need remains for innovation that will provide a solution to the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a threshing element for the concave designed to overcome the above-described drawbacks and satisfy the aforementioned need. The concave incorporates an array of spaced apart threshing elements in the form of round bars that have longitudinal notches formed on their upper portions respectively defining aggressive threshing edges. The round configuration of the spaced apart bars reduces plugging of the concave as the threshing edges of the longitudinal notches, facing in a direction opposite to the direction of crop material flow, restrict crop material flow and thereby enable more effective threshing. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to threshing element for an agricultural combine threshing concave. The threshing element is an elongated bar being round in cross-sectional configuration and straight in longitudinal extent between opposite ends of the bar. The bar has a notch formed therein extending longitudinally between the opposite ends of the bar and defining an aggressive threshing edge recessed into the bar such that the threshing edge is adapted to face opposite to the direction of crop material flow relative to the threshing concave. 
     The present invention is also directed to an array of threshing elements in an agricultural combine concave. The array of threshing elements is an array of elongated threshing bars spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another. Each of the bars is straight in longitudinal extent and round in cross-sectional configuration. Each bar has a lower portion, an upper portion, and a notch defining an aggressive threshing edge recessed into the bar adjacent to the upper portion of the bar and above the lower portion of the bar. The notch extends longitudinally between opposite ends of the bar such that the threshing edge is adapted to face opposite to the direction of crop material flow relative to the threshing concave. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a threshing concave incorporating an array of longitudinally notched spaced apart threshing elements in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an end elevational view of the concave as seen along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the concave as seen along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the concave as seen along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged end elevational view of a representative one of a pair of opposite end frame members and an intermediate frame member of the concave of  FIGS. 1-3  showing one configuration of openings formed in the frame members for seating the array of threshing elements as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the one end member of the concave as seen along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an end elevational view of the one end member of the concave as shown in  FIG. 5  now also showing the ends of the arrayed threshing elements seatably mounted to the one end member. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged foreshortened front elevational view of one of the threshing elements of the concave. 
         FIG. 9  is an end elevational view of the one threshing element as seen along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged end elevational view of the same frame member as that shown in  FIG. 5  but now having openings of a modified configuration formed in the frame member in place of configurations of the openings shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of a fragmentary portion of the frame member enclosed by the dashed circle  11  in  FIG. 10  now also showing an end view of a threshing element seated in a respective one of the openings of the modified configuration formed in the frame member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a threshing concave, generally designated  10 , employing elongated threshing elements  16  having a construction in accordance with the present invention. The concave  10  includes a frame  12  and an array  14  of elongated threshing elements  16  supported by the frame  12 . Each of the threshing elements  16 , as best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , has a cross-sectional configuration in accordance with the present invention. The components of the concave  10  are made of a suitable substantially rigid material, such as steel. 
     More particularly, referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , the frame  12  is formed by opposite end members  18 ,  20 , an intermediate member  22  and opposite side members  24 ,  26 . The opposite end members  18 ,  20 , being of substantially identical configuration, are spaced apart from one another and extend generally parallel to one another. The end members  18 ,  20  and intermediate member  22 , as seen particularly in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , are in the form of relatively thin elongated plates. The intermediate member  22  is spaced substantially equidistantly between the end members  18 ,  20  and extends generally parallel thereto. The end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  together are similarly curved in configuration and have respective inner top edges  18 A,  20 A,  22 A which lie along a common surface S of curved shape that is spaced from and extend circumferentially about a portion of a rotor of a crop material harvesting machine, the rotary combine, when the concave  10  is installed in the combine. The end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  each has a plurality of openings, more particularly, in configurations of slots or recesses  28 , spaced apart from one another and formed in the upper portions of each of the end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22 , below and open at their inner top edges  18 A,  20 A,  22 A, such that the spaced apart openings formed in one opposite end member  18  respectively correspond with the spaced apart openings formed in the other opposite end member  20  and the intermediate member  22 . 
     The side members  24 ,  26  of the frame  12  are spaced from one another and extend generally parallel to one another. The side members  24 ,  26  also extend transversely between and are rigidly joined to corresponding ends of the curved end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22 . The side members  24 ,  26  are straight in configuration for supporting the frame  12  as part of the casing (not shown) below the rotor (not shown) of the combine. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-9 , the array  14  of elongated threshing elements  16  supported by the frame  12  take the form of a plurality of elongated longitudinally-notched spaced-apart bars  16  supported by the frame  12 . The bars  16  are straight in longitudinal extent and round in cross-section, and extend between the opposite end members  18 ,  20  past the intermediate member  22  of the frame  12 . The bars  16  are spaced apart from and extend generally parallel to one another. At their opposite end portions  16 A,  16 B and an intermediate portion  16 C, the bars  16  are seated in the shape-conforming concave slots or recesses  28  formed in the end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the frame  12 . Further, the bars  16 , at their opposite ends  16 A,  16 B and intermediate portion  16 C, are affixed, using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to the end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the frame  12 . 
     More particularly, each elongated bar  16  has a lower portion  30 , an upper portion  32  and a longitudinally-extending notch  34 . (The notches  34  are also shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 .) The lower portion  30  of each bar  16  has about a semi- or half-cylindrical rounded configuration in cross-section. The lower portion  30  is seated in the shape-conforming concave slots or recesses  28  spaced apart from one another and formed in the frame end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  below and open at their inner top edges  18 A,  20 A,  22 A. The upper portion  32  of each bar  16  has about a quarter-cylindrical rounded configuration in cross-section. The upper portion  32  merges from the lower portion  30  and extends above the lower portion  30  and the inner top edges  18 A,  20 A,  22 A of the end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the frame  12 . Thus, the depths of the recesses  28  into frame members  18 ,  20 ,  22  are such that the notches  34  of the bars  16  seated in the recesses  28  are disposed substantially above the top edges  18 A,  20 A,  22 A of the frame members  18 ,  20 ,  22 . 
     The longitudinally-extending notch  34  in the bar  16  is defined by first and second surfaces  36 ,  38  formed on the bar  16  and disposed in a transverse relation to one another, for example through an angle of about 90°. The first surface  36  lies on the lower portion  30  of the bar  16 , extending longitudinally along the bar  16  between the opposite end portions  16 A,  16 B of the bar, forwardly of the upper portion  32  and above the lower portion  30  of the bar  16 . The first surface  36  on the lower portion  30  of the bar  16  is generally coextensive with the common surface S of curved configuration in which lie the inner top edges  18 A,  20 A,  22 A of the end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the frame  12 . The second surface  38  lies on the upper portion  32  of the bar  16 , extending upright from and in the transverse relation to the first surface  36 , above the inner top edges  18 A,  20 A,  22 A of the end and intermediate members  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the frame  12  and toward the rotor of the crop material harvesting machine. The second surface  38  faces in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation R of the rotor relative to the frame  12  such that second surface  38  defines an exposed forward-facing relatively aggressive threshing edge  40  on the bar  16  for restricting the flow of crop material over and past the bar  16  while the first surface  36  defines an exposed upward-facing edge  42  on the bar  16  for restricting the flow of crop material outwardly through the spaces  44  between the bars  16 . Although not shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  7  in order to simplify illustration of the concave  10 , the space  44  between the recesses  28  and thus between the seated bars  16  preferably progressively increase in width or are more open going from one of the side members  24  of the frame  12  to the other side member  26  in the direction of rotation R of the rotor relative to the frame  12  to aid in removing crop material sooner to avoid overloading the following separator section of the casing. 
     By way of example, not as a limitation, the widths of the spaces  44  may increase from the smallest of about 0.875 inch to the largest of about 1.25 inches. The length of the bars  16  may be about 13.75+/−0.03 inches. The diameter of the bars  16  may be about 1 inch. The width of the first surface  36  may be about 0.625 inch. The width of the second surface  38  may be about 0.375 inch. The radius of the recesses  28  may be slightly greater than 0.5 inch in order to accommodate the bars  16  each having the 0.5 inch radius. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , there is shown the same representative one frame member  18 , of the frame members  18 ,  20 ,  22 , as that shown in  FIG. 5 . Now the frame member  18  (and likewise in the case of the other frame members  20 ,  22 ) has a plurality of openings formed therein, more particularly, with modified configurations in the form of substantially circular shaped holes  46  in place of the semi-circular shaped recesses  28  shown in  FIG. 5 . The holes  46 , having the same radius as the recesses  28 , are displaced, by way of example, approximately three-eighths inch closer to the bottom edge  18 B of the frame member  18  than were the recesses  28 . Further, the upper portions of the frame member  18  at the right sides of the holes  46  have rounded configurations that merge with the top edge  18 A so as to provide the frame member  18  with rounded edge segments  48  that extend between the holes  46  and the top edge  18 A and that are opposite from pointed edge segments  50  on the upper portions of the frame member  18 A on the left side of the holes  46  which pointed edge segments  50  backstop the portions of the rods  16  seated in the holes  46 , as shown in the case of the representative one rod  16  in  FIG. 11 . The second surface  38  of the notch  34  on the upper portion  32  of the bar  16  is generally aligned vertically with the tip  50 A of the pointed edge segment  50 . As also shown in  FIG. 10 , the center-to-center distances between the holes  46 , and thus the widths of the spaces between the rods  16  seated therein, preferably progressively increase going from right to left as seen in  FIG. 10 . By way of example, not as a limitation, the center-to-center distances may increase from the smallest of about 1.75 inch to the largest of about 2.34 inches. There are nineteen holes  46  and thus the same number of seated bars  16  in the frame member  18  shown in  FIG. 10  versus twenty recesses  38  and thus the same number of seated bars  16  in the frame member  18  shown in  FIG. 5 . Because of the greater depth of the holes  46  from the top edge  18 A into the frame member  18  (and likewise in the case of the other frame members  20 ,  22 ), the notches  34  of the bars  16  seated in holes  46  are disposed substantially below the top edge  18   a  of the frame member  18 . 
     It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely exemplary embodiments thereof.