Patent EA-000163-B1 (EA)
Title: Rotary agricultural combine
Inventor: PFIEFFER DOHN WILLIAM
IPC: A01F7/06
Filed: 1996-08-07
Abstract: 1. Combine (10) for harvesting, threshing and separating crop material comprising: a) a supporting structure; b) ground engaging means (14), extending from the supporting structure for transporting the supporting structure around a field; c) an axial rotor housing (26) located inside the supporting structure, the rotor housing (26) is provided with an infeed section (36) for introducing crop into the rotor housing (26), a threshing section (38) for threshing harvested crop material and a separating section (40) for separating threshed grain from threshed crop material, d) an axial rotor (28) located in the rotor housing (26) having an axial rotor axis (RA), the rotor (28) is provided with crop engaging assemblies (42, 44) for engaging crop material passing through the rotor housing (26), the rotor (28) has an infeed portion (30) corresponding to the infeed section (36) of the rotor housing (26), a threshing portion (32) corresponding to the threshing section (38) of the rotor housing (26) and a separating portion (34) corresponding to the separating section (40) of the rotor housing (26), whereby the infeed section (36) defining an infeed axis (IA), the threshing section (38) defining a threshing axis (TA) and the separating section (40) defining a separating axis (SA), and the infeed section (36) of the rotor housing (26) is arranged so that the infeed axis (IA) is substantially parallel to and in-line with the rotor axis (RA), the threshing axis (TA) is parallel to and offset above the rotor axis (RA) and the separating section (40) of the rotor housing (26) is arranged so that the separating axis (SA) is parallel to and offset above the rotor axis (RA), the threshing axis (TA) is less offset from the rotor axis (RA) than the separating axis (SA). 2. Combine as defined by Claim 1 wherein the infeed axis (IA), the threshing axis (TA) and the separating axis (SA) are defined by covers (62, 72, 80) of the infeed, threshing and separating sections (36, 38 and 40) respectively. 3. Combine as defined by Claim 2 wherein the threshing axis (TA) and the separating axis (SA) are offset downstream from the rotor axis (RA). 4. Combine (10) for harvesting, threshing and separating crop material comprising: a) a supporting structure; b) ground engaging means (14) extending from the supporting structure for transporting the supporting structure around a field; c) a rotor housing (26) located inside the supporting structure, the rotor housing (26) is provided with an infeed section (36) for introducing crop material into the rotor housing (26), a threshing section (38) for threshing harvested crop material, and a separating section (40) for separating threshed grain from threshed crop material, and d) a rotor (28) located in the rotor housing (26) having a rotor axis (RA), the rotor (28) is provided with crop engaging assemblies (42, 44) for engaging crop material passing through the rotor housing (26), the rotor (28) having an infeed portion (30)/ a threshing portion (32) and a separating portion (34) corresponding to the infeed, threshing and separating sections (36, 38 and 40) of the rotor housing (26), whereby the infeed section (36) defining an infeed axis (IA), the threshing section (38) defining a threshing axis (TA) and the separating section (40) defining a separating axis (SA) the infeed section (36) of the rotor housing. (26) is arranged so that the infeed axis is substantially colinear with the rotor axis (RA) and the threshing and separating sections (38 and 40) of the rotor housing (26) are arranged so that the threshing axis (TA) and the separating axis (SA) are located parallel to and above the rotor axis (RA). 5. Combine (10) having a mobile supporting structure adapted to advance over a field and a forward harvesting means (16) adapted to remove crop material from the field and deliver it rearwardly to an improved threshing and separating mechanism comprising: a) an elongated rotor (28) mounted in the supporting structure for rotation about a generally fore and aft axis and having a forward infeed portion (30), a threshing portion (32), and a rearward separating portion (34), each portion (30, 32, 34) being provided with crop engaging elements; and b) a generally tubular rotor housing (26) mounted in the supporting structure and surrounding the rotor (28), the crop material being delivered from the harvesting means (16) into the annular space between the rotor (28) and the rotor housing (26) and moving rearwardly in an axial spiral, the rotor housing (26) including a generally cylindrical infeed section (36) coaxial with the rotor (28), a threshing section (38) having a generally semi-cylindrical concave (46) that is generally coaxial with the rotor axis (BA) and a generally semi-cylindrical cover (72) having a center of curvature that is offset from the rotor axis (RA) so that the space between the rotor (28) and the second portion of the rotor housing (26) separating section (40) is greater than the space between the rotor (28) and the first portion of the rotor housing (26), and c) a separating section (40) having a generally semi-cylindrical grate (48) that is generally coaxial with the rotor axis (RA) and a generally semi-cylindrical cover (80) having a center of curvature that is offset from the rotor axis (RA.) to a greater degree than the semi-cylindrical cover (72) of the threshing section (40). 6. Combine described in Claim 5 wherein the threshing cover (72) and the separating cover (80) includes helical vanes (74, 82) that extend into the space between the rotor (28) and covers (72, 80) to engage crop material in said space and direct it in a rearward spiral. 7. Combine having a mobile supporting structure adapted to advance over a field and a forward harvesting means (16) adapted to remove crop material from the field and deliver it rearwardly to an improved threshing and separating' mechanism comprising: a) an elongated rotor (28) mounted in the supporting structure for rotation about a generally fore-and-aft axis and having a forward infeed portion (30), a threshing portion (32) and a rearward separating portion (34), each portion (30, 32, 34) being provided with crop engaging elements; and b). a generally tubular rotor housing (26) mounted in the supporting structure and surrounding the rotor (28), the crop material being delivered from the harvesting means (16) into the annular space between the rotor (28) and the housing (26) and moving rearwardly in an axial spiral, -the rotor housing (26) including a forward generally cylindrical infeed section (36), generally coaxial with the rotor (28) and including an inlet transition section (22), a threshing section (38) having a semicircular concave (46) and an upper arcuate cover (72), the cross sectional area of the space between the cover (72) and the rotor periphery being substantially greater than the cross sectional area of the space between the concave (46) and the rotor periphery, and a separating section (40) having a generally semi-cylindrical grate (48) and an upper arcuate cover (80), the cross sectional area of the space between the cover (80) and the separating portion (34) of the rotor periphery being substantially greater than the cross sectional area of the space between the threshing cover (72) and the threshing portion (32) of the rotor (28).