Abstract:
An agricultural harvester including a chassis and a threshing and separating section for threshing and separating grain from gathered crop material. The threshing and separating section is carried by the chassis. The threshing and separating section includes at least one concave having a hooking feature, at least one sliding support, and a frame assembly for carrying and coupling the at least one concave thereto. The frame assembly includes a support bar allowing the hooking feature of the at least one concave to hook over the support bar to support one side of the at least one concave. Another side of the at least one concave is coupled to the frame assembly. The at least one sliding support supports the at least one concave as the at least one concave is moved toward or away from the support bar.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Belgium Application No. 2015/0155, filed May 29, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters, and, more specifically to the installation of concaves in their associated frames in agricultural harvesters. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    The clean grain auger conveys the grain to a grain tank for temporary storage. The grain accumulates to the point where the grain tank is full and is discharged to an adjacent vehicle such as a semitrailer, gravity box, straight truck or the like by an unloading system on the combine that is actuated to transfer grain into the vehicle. 
         [0007]    The concaves are coupled to frame members and need to be replaced due to wear or due to changes in the crop being harvested. 
         [0008]    In EP 2514300 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,628,390) there is disclosed a support system for separator grates of a harvester. As can be seen in  FIGS. 6-11 , a grate is moved into an entry location and one side of the grate is hooked onto a supporting bar and then the other side is raised and also hooked onto another supporting bar. As can be seen in  FIGS. 9-10  there is room allowed for the installer to reach in and support the grate as it is manipulated into the dual hooked arrangement. The grate is then slid in an axial direction and another grate is inserted at the entry location. The dual hooking arrangement can be seen in  FIG. 11 , where the hooks have been positioned to diminish the gaps  70  and  82  to preclude the grate from becoming unhooked. A disadvantage with this arrangement is that the grate has to be maneuvered and supported by the installer until it is hooked into position. Another disadvantage is that the grate hooking arrangement has to be manipulated to minimize spacing to keep the grate from becoming unhooked. 
         [0009]    What is needed in the art is a cost effective and efficient way of allowing the changing of concaves in the harvester, while minimizing the effort by the installer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides for the installation of concaves by one person in a reduced amount of time in the confined space of a threshing section. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agricultural harvester includes a chassis, and a threshing and separating section for threshing and separating grain from gathered crop material. The threshing and separating section is carried by the chassis, and includes at least one concave having a hooking feature, at least one sliding support, and a frame assembly for carrying and coupling the concave thereto. The frame assembly has a support bar allowing the hooking feature to hook over the support bar to support one side of the concave. The other side of the concave is also coupled to the frame assembly. The sliding support supports the concave as the concave is moved toward or away from the support bar. 
         [0012]    A novel feature that overcomes problems with the prior art includes the supports that allow the concave to be slid over and supported as it is being maneuvered into position. This lets the installer to use the position of the supports to guide the hooking arrangement to the support bar. Another novel feature is the slotted member that allows a fastener to provide sliding support of the concave as it is slid in an axial direction relative to the rotor and then once tightened provides positive attachment of the concave to the frame assembly. 
         [0013]    An advantage is that the installation of concaves can be accomplished even though there is a confined space beneath the concaves. 
         [0014]    Another advantage is that the concave is supported by two different supports as needed during the installation/removal process, thereby allowing different degrees of movement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings certain embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements, dimensions, and instruments shown. Like numerals indicate like elements throughout the drawings. In the drawings: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an agricultural harvester in the form of a combine that uses frame assemblies and concaves, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a frame assembly for holding concaves in the combine of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a concave to be held by the frame assembly of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematical end view of a rotor showing an installation step of the concave of  FIG. 3  into a frame assembly of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematical end view of the rotor showing another installation step of the concave of  FIG. 3  into a frame assembly of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematical end view of the rotor showing yet another installation step of the concave of  FIG. 3  into a frame assembly of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematical end view of the rotor showing yet another installation step of the concave of  FIG. 3  into a frame assembly of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a schematical end view of the rotor showing yet another installation step of the concave of  FIG. 3  into a frame assembly of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a schematical end view of the rotor showing still yet another installation step of the concave of  FIG. 3  into a frame assembly of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    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. 
         [0026]    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 and separating section or system  24 , a cleaning system  26 , a grain tank  28 , and an unloading conveyance  30 . Unloading conveyor  30  is illustrated as an unloading auger, but can also be configured as a belt conveyor, chain elevator, etc. 
         [0027]    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. 
         [0028]    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 an 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 and separating system  24 , and is selectively vertically movable using appropriate actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders (not shown). 
         [0029]    The threshing and separating system  24  is of the 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 . Although the threshing and separating system  24  is illustrated as being of an axial-flow type having a rotor, it is also contemplated to use the present invention with other conventional threshing systems. 
         [0030]    Grain, which has been separated by the threshing and separating system  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  46 , an upper sieve  48  (also known as a chaffer sieve), a lower sieve  50  (also known as a cleaning sieve), and a cleaning fan  52 . Grain on the sieves  46 ,  48  and  50  is subjected to a cleaning action by the 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 the straw hood  54  of the combine  10 . The grain pan  44  and the pre-cleaning sieve  46  oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to transport the grain and finer non-grain crop material to the upper surface of the upper sieve  48 . The upper sieve  48  and the lower sieve  50  are vertically arranged relative to each other, and likewise oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to spread the grain across the sieves  48 ,  50 , while permitting the passage of cleaned grain by gravity through the openings of the sieves  48 ,  50 . 
         [0031]    Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger  56  positioned crosswise below and in front of the lower sieve  50 . The clean grain auger  56  receives clean grain from each sieve  48 ,  50  and from the 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  62 . The tailings are transported via the tailings auger  64  and the return auger  66  to the upstream end of the cleaning system  26  for repeated cleaning action. The cross augers  68  at the bottom of the grain tank  28  convey the clean grain within the grain tank  28  to the unloading auger  30  for discharge from the combine  10 . 
         [0032]    The non-grain crop material proceeds through a residue handling system  70 . The residue handling system  70  may include a chopper, counter knives, a windrow door and a residue spreader. 
         [0033]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown and illustrated a frame assembly  72 , which is part of the threshing and separating system  24 . This frame assembly  72  is configured to support two concaves  42 , which may be identical or have differing harvesting features. The frame assembly  72  includes a support bar  74 , a sliding support  76 , sliding supports  78 , an inner support  80 , two outer supports  82 , and a slotted support member  84  having a slot  86  and holes  88 . The frame assembly  72  is configured to be adjustably positioned relative to rotor  40  by a control system, not shown for the sake of clarity. 
         [0034]    The sliding supports  76  and  78  are shown as a bar and a bushing, either of which can be used for either location, and are located on both inner support  80  and the inside of the one outer support  82 . The concave  42  is slid in a direction  90 , which is generally normal to an axial direction  92 . Slot  86  accommodates a fastener that allows the concave  42  to slide in a direction  92  after being slid into the frame assembly  72  in direction  90 . 
         [0035]    Now additionally referring to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a concave  42  having hooking features  94 , a hole  96 , a bottom  98  and an edge  104 . The concave  42  is slid into the frame assembly  72  in direction  90 , hooked onto the support bar  74 , lifted off of the sliding supports  76  and/or  78 , engaged with the slotted support member  84 , slid in direction  92  and secured to the frame assembly  72 , all of which will be discussed in detail relative to the remaining figures. A second concave  42  is then slid in direction  90  and undergoes the same mounting procedure, but is not slid in direction  92 , since that location is occupied by the first concave  42 . It is contemplated that the frame assembly  72  may accommodate more than two concaves  42 , each being slid to their respective positions after being slid in a non-axial direction into the frame assembly  72 . 
         [0036]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 4-9 , there is shown a sequence of positions for the concave  42  as it is positioned in the frame assembly  72 . The removal of the concaves  42  follows a basically reversed procedure than that which is discussed for the installation. 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 4 , the concave  42  is moved generally in direction  90 , with the bottom  98  of the concave  42  contacting the sliding support  76  to thereby support some of the weight of the concave  42 . In  FIG. 5  the concave is moved further in direction  90  as bottom  98  rolls on or slides over sliding support  76 . 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 6  the concave  42  is tipped a bit as it continues its motion in direction  90  so as to engage sliding supports  78 . Then as shown in  FIG. 7  the concave  42  is rolled/slid along supports  76  and  78  so as to approach the support bar  74 , in this situation now the supports  76  and  78  carry the whole weight of the concave  42 , and allows the operator to do the further installation in an ergonomic manner. Supports  76  and  78  are positioned so that the forward edge of the concave  42  can clear or ramp over support bar  74 . 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 8 , the hooking features  94  of the concave  42  engage the support bar  74  as the concave  42  is lifted on the left side, while still being supported by supports  78 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the concave  42  is lifted up and engaged with a fastener  100 , so that the concave  42  is then held in place by the hooking features  94  and support bar  74  on one side and fasteners  100  on the other side. The configuration of the hooking feature  94 , and the edge  104  of the concave  42  and interaction with a beam  106  of the frame assembly, when the concave  42  is installed, is such that the concave  42  is pushed in a downwards direction. In this case forces produced by the harvesting operation will cause the concave  42  to be hooked in a more secure manner to avoid the concave  42  from coming loose. 
         [0040]    If the frame assembly  72  holds more than one concave  42 , the fastener  100  is inserted through the slot  86  and the hole  96  and is not tightened. The concave  42  is then slid in direction  92  with the concave sliding along the support bar  74  and the loosely engaged fastener  100  supporting the weight of the concave  42 . Once the concave  42  is positioned in the desired portion of the frame assembly  72  then the fastener may be tensioned, and other fasteners may be inserted through holes  102  of the concave  42  and the slot  86  and a hole  88  and all the fasteners are tightened to secure the first concave in position. Then a second concave  42  is introduces as discussed regarding  FIGS. 4-9 , with the second concave  42  being bolted into position without being slid in direction  92 , since the frame assembly  72  will have its full complement of concaves  42 . 
         [0041]    By installing the fasteners  100  the concaves  42  are placed under pretension. The parts are constructed in a way that the resulting forces (the pretension and the forces produced while operating the combine  10 ) always point in a direction which prevents the concave  42  from coming loose. 
         [0042]    The threshing and separating system  24  described herein advantageously eases the task of an installer for the installation and removal of the concaves  42  by providing the bottom supports  76 ,  78  as the concave  42  is being inserted/retracted. Another advantage is that the frame assembly  72  has a slot  86  for the sliding of a fastener  100  to provide for the support and ease of installation of the concave  42  that is axially displaced in the threshing and separating system  24  from the entry position. 
         [0043]    These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it is to be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.