Abstract:
An apparatus and method for improving the ability of a rotary combine to gently thresh a crop and to gently convey the crop through the threshing section of the combine. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, said crop engaging element comprising: a mounting structure having a ramp portion terminating in a top portion; a rasp bar comprising a base having a bottom surface and a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said top surface; a leading mounting flange and a trailing mounting flange that extend from the mounting structure for mounting the crop engaging element to the rotor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/703,290, filed Jul. 27, 2005, pending, the disclosure of which patent application is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention relates to a crop processing element for a rotary combine. In particular, the invention relates to a rasp bar assembly for a rotor for a rotary combine, a cylinder for a rotary combine, and a rotary combine having such a cylinder.  
         [0005]     Background art rotary combines comprise an axial crop processing unit that houses a rotor. The rotor comprises a cylindrical drum upon which crop engaging elements are mounted. These crop engaging elements often comprise rasp bars having fins. These background art fins are oriented at an angle of sixty degrees relative to a radial plane of the cylindrical drum or rotor or thirty degrees relative to an axial plane of the cylindrical drum or rotor. The leading edge of the rasp bar is typically coincident with an axial plane of the cylindrical drum or rotor, and the background art fins are oriented at an angle of sixty degrees relative to the rasp bar leading edge.  
         [0006]     The background art is characterized by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,645; 4,889,517; 4,909,772; 4,964,838; 5,192,245; 5,192,246; 5,376,047; 5,487,703; 5,556,337; 5,688,170; and 6,036,598; the disclosures of which patents are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The purpose of the invention is to improve the crop processing efficiency of a rotary combine. One advantage of preferred embodiments of the invention is that it can significantly increase the yield of a combine that incorporates it. Another advantage of preferred embodiments of the invention is that it can reduce the amount of straw that is processed by the combine from being broken up into small particles. Another advantage of preferred embodiments of the invention is that the portion of the crop engaging element that is most exposed to wear, the rasp bar portion, is separately replaceable from the mounting structure portion. Another advantage of preferred embodiments of the invention is that it will allow the harvesting of pharmaceutical crops. Crops are now grown for harvesting to gain components used in the pharmaceutical industry which require a less harmful harvesting process. Another advantage of preferred embodiments of the invention is that it moves the material being threshed as a slower rate, which results in more thorough threshing or separation of the crop, less damage to the crop and reduced plugging of the threshing system.  
         [0008]     The invention is an apparatus and method for improving the ability of a rotary combine to gently thresh a crop and to gently convey the crop through the threshing section of the combine. In a preferred embodiment, the threshing elements of the present invention are mounted on the threshing section of the rotor of a crop processing unit of a rotary combine. In this embodiment, the threshing section downstream from the helical blades of the infeed section and upstream from the separator tines of the separation section of the crop processing unit. In this embodiment, the rotor is housed in a rotor housing that has cage vanes mounted in a helical orientation along its upper surface and a concave along its lower surface. In use, the threshing elements of a preferred embodiment of the present invention move crop between the rotor housing and the rotating rotor and simultaneously thresh the crop.  
         [0009]     In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, said crop engaging element comprising: a hollow mounting structure having a ramp portion terminating in a flat top portion that is provided with at least one hole; a rasp bar comprising a base having a flat bottom surface and a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said top surface, each of said plurality of fins having a fin longitudinal axis, and said base being provided with at least one (and preferably two) mounting holes through which a threaded fastener is passed to mount said rasp bar to said hollow mounting structure; a leading mounting flange and a trailing mounting flange that extend from the hollow structure for mounting the crop engaging element to the rotor, wherein one of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one (and preferably two) circular mounting apertures and the other of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one (and preferably two) mounting apertures in the form of a slot through which mounting bolts are passed to mount the crop engaging element on the rotor. Preferably, said hollow mounting structure is a single structure of unitary construction. Preferably, said fin longitudinal axes are substantially parallel. In a preferred embodiment, the crop engaging element further comprises a rear wall, wherein said trailing mounting flange is provided with at least one (and preferably two) gussets extending between said trailing mounting flange and said rear wall. Preferably, said rear wall is open forming a rectangular frame.  
         [0010]     In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, said crop engaging element comprising: a hollow structure having a ramp portion terminating in a flat top portion that is provided with a rasp bar, said rasp bar comprising a base having a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins (preferably nine) extending from said surface, each of said plurality of fins having a fin longitudinal axis; and a leading mounting flange and a trailing mounting flange extend from the hollow structure for mounting the crop engaging element to a rotor, wherein one of said mounting flanges (preferably the leading mounting flange) is provided with a first mounting aperture and the other of said mounting flanges (preferably the trailing mounting flange) is provided with a second mounting aperture (preferably a slot) through which mounting bolts are passed to mount the crop engaging element on the rotor.  
         [0011]     In yet another preferred embodiment, the invention is a crop processing rotor for a rotary agricultural combine or a rotary pharmaceutical combine, said crop processing rotor comprising: a cylindrical drum; and a plurality of crop processing elements mounted to said cylindrical drum, each of said crop processing elements comprise a crop engaging disclosed herein.  
         [0012]     In a further preferred embodiment, the invention is a rotary agricultural or pharmaceutical combine comprising: a concave; and a crop processing rotor disclosed herein, said crop processing rotor being rotatably mounted in said concave.  
         [0013]     In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method for improving the ability of a rotary combine to gently thresh a crop and to gently convey the crop through the threshing section of the rotary combine, said method comprising: introducing the crop to the threshing section of the rotary combine; and rotating within said threshing section a rotor upon which are mounted a plurality of crop engaging elements (preferably in a helical pattern), each said crop engaging element comprising a single, unitary, hollow structure having a ramp portion terminating in a flat top portion that is provided with at least one hole, a rasp bar comprising a base having a flat bottom surface and a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said top surface, and said base being provided with at least one mounting hole through which a threaded fastener is passed to mount said rasp bar to said hollow structure, and a leading mounting flange and a trailing mounting flange that extend from the hollow structure for mounting the crop engaging element to the rotor, wherein one of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one circular mounting aperture and the other of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one mounting aperture in the form of a slot through which mounting bolts are passed to mount the crop engaging element on the rotor.  
         [0014]     In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a method for improving the ability of a rotary combine to gently thresh a crop and to gently convey the crop through the threshing section of the rotary combine, said method comprising: introducing the crop to the threshing section of the rotary combine; and rotating within said threshing section a rotor upon which are mounted a plurality of crop processing elements, each said crop engaging element comprising a crop engaging element disclosed herein.  
         [0015]     In another preferred embodiment, the invention is a crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, the rotor having a plurality of radial planes, said crop engaging element comprising: a hollow structure having a ramp portion terminating in a top portion; a rasp bar that is attached to said top portion, said rasp bar comprising a base having a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said surface, each of said plurality of fins having a fin longitudinal axis; whereas said fin longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to one another and are oriented at an angle relative to one of the radial planes of rotation, said angle being in the range of about forty-one to about fifty-nine degrees or in the range of about sixty-one degrees to about eighty-nine degrees. Preferably, said angle is about fifty degrees. Preferably, said angle is about seventy degrees. Preferably, said angle is in the range of about forty-two degrees to about fifty-eight degrees. Preferably, said angle is in the range of about sixty-two degrees to about eighty-eight degrees.  
         [0016]     In yet another preferred embodiment, the invention is a crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, the rotor having a plurality of radial planes, said crop engaging element comprising: a rasp bar mount that is attached to the rotor, said rasp bar mount having a ramp portion and a rasp bar portion, said rasp bar having a plurality of fins, each of said fins having a longitudinal fin axis, each longitudinal axis being disposed at an angle relative to one of said radial planes; wherein said angle is in the range of about forty-two degrees to about fifty-eight degrees or about sixty-two degrees to about eighty-eight degrees. Preferably, said angle is about fifty degrees. Preferably, said angle is about seventy degrees. Preferably, said rasp bar mount and said rasp bar portion make up a single, unitary cast metal structure.  
         [0017]     Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description of preferred embodiments of the invention. A person skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments of the invention are possible and that the details of the invention can be modified in a number of respects, all without departing from the concept. Thus, the following drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic elevation view of a rotary agricultural or pharmaceutical combine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a rotor of an axial crop processing unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the rotor housing shown partially cut away.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the threshing section of an axial crop processing unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of a first portion of a crop engaging element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a first portion of a crop engaging element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a first portion of a crop engaging element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a second portion of a crop engaging element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of the second portion of a crop engaging element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of three of the fins of the second portion of a crop engaging element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is an elevation view of a crop engaging element in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0029]     The following reference numerals are used to indicate the parts and environment of the invention on the drawings: 
     10  rotary agricultural or pharmaceutical combine, rotary combine, combine      12  supporting structure      14  wheels      16  harvesting platform      18  feeder house      20  crop beater      22  inlet transition section      24  axial crop processing unit, crop processing unit      26  cleaning system      28  clean grain tank      30  unloading auger      32  outlet      34  discharge beater      36  operator&#39;s cab      38  rotor housing, housing      39  rotor      42  helical blades      44  separator tines      46  concave      50  crop engaging elements, threshing elements      74  cage vanes      76  first portion, mounting bracket, rasp bar mount      80  structure      82  ramp portion      84  top portion      85  threaded hole      86  leading mounting flange      88  trailing mounting flange      89  plane of rotation      90  circular mounting aperture      92  slot      94  rear wall      96  gusset      98  rectangular frame      100  second portion, rasp bar      102  base      104  fins      105  fin longitudinal axis      106  bottom surface      108  top surface      110  mounting hole      112  radial plane    
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0072]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of rotary agricultural or pharmaceutical combine  10  is presented. Agricultural or pharmaceutical combine  10  comprises supporting structure  12  having ground engaging wheels  14 . In this embodiment, harvesting platform  16  harvests a crop and directs it to feeder house  18 . The harvested crop is directed by feeder house  18  to crop beater  20 . Crop beater  20  directs the crop upwardly through inlet transition section  22  to axial crop processing unit  24 .  
         [0073]     Axial crop processing unit  24  threshes and separates the harvested crop material. Grain and chaff fall through concaves and grates on the bottom of axial crop processing unit  24  into cleaning system  26 . Cleaning system  26  removes the chaff and directs the clean grain to a clean grain elevator (not shown). The clean grain elevator deposits the clean grain in grain tank  28 . The clean grain in the tank can be unloaded into a grain cart or truck by unloading auger  30 .  
         [0074]     Threshed and separated straw is discharged from axial crop processing unit  24  through outlet  32  to discharge beater  34 . Discharge beater  34  in turn propels the straw out the rear of combine  10 . The operation of combine  10  is controlled from operator&#39;s cab  36 .  
         [0075]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , axial crop processing unit  24  preferably comprises rotor housing  38  and rotor  39  located inside rotor housing  38 . The front part of rotor  39  and rotor housing  38  define the infeed section of the crop processing unit. In this section, rotor  39  is preferably provided with a drum having helical blades  42  for engaging crop material that is discharged from crop beater  20 . Immediately downstream from the infeed section is the threshing section of crop processing unit  24 . In the threshing section, rotor  39  preferably comprises a cylindrical drum upon which a plurality of crop engaging elements  50  are mounted, preferably in multiple helical paths. Immediately downstream of the threshing section is the separating section of crop processing unit  24 . In the separating section, a plurality of separator tines  44  are preferably mounted on the cylindrical drum. Preferably, cage vanes are mounted on the top of rotor housing  38 , preferably in multiple helical paths.  
         [0076]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a preferred embodiment of the threshing section of crop processing unit  24  is illustrated. Crop processing elements  50  are shown mounted on rotor  39 . Preferably, cage vanes  74  are mounted on the top of rotor housing  38 , preferably in multiple helical paths. Concave  46  is mounted below rotor  39 . Radial plane  112  of rotor  39  is illustrated.  
         [0077]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a preferred embodiment of first portion  76  of crop engaging element  50  is presented in a side view. In this embodiment, structure  80  of crop engaging element  50  is hollow and comprises ramp portion  82  and top portion  84  that is preferably flat and provided with at least one threaded hole  85 . Leading mounting flange  86  forms the structure leading edge of structure  80 . Trailing mounting flange  88  forms the structure trailing edge of structure  80 . At least one of mounting flanges  86  or  88  is provided with at least one circular mounting aperture  90  and the other of said mounting flanges  86  or  88  is provided with at least one mounting aperture in the form of slot  92  through which mounting bolts (not shown) are passed to mount each of the crop engaging elements  50  on rotor  39 . In this embodiment, structure  80  comprises rear wall  94  and trailing mounting flange  88  is provided with at least one gusset  96  extending between trailing mounting flange  88  and rear wall  94 .  
         [0078]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a preferred embodiment of first portion  76  of crop engaging element  50  is presented in a top view. In this embodiment, two circular mounting apertures  90 , two slots  92 , two threaded holes  85  and two gussets  96  are provided. Preferably, the centers of one of the pairs of circular mounting apertures  90 , slots  92  and threaded holes  85  lie in plane of rotation  89  of rotor  39  when each crop engaging element  50  is mounted on rotor  39 .  
         [0079]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of first portion  76  of crop engaging element  50  is presented. In this embodiment, rear wall  94  is open, forming rectangular frame  98 . In this view, the leading edge of crop engaging element  50  is on the right and the trailing edge of crop engaging element  50  is on the left.  
         [0080]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , second portion or rasp bar  100  of a preferred embodiment of crop engaging element  50  is shown in plan. In this view, the leading edge of rasp bar  100  is on the top and the trailing edge of rasp bar  100  is on the bottom. In this embodiment, rasp bar  100  preferably comprises base  102  and plurality of fins  104  extending from top surface  108 . When installed, each rasp bar  100  preferably has plane of rotation  89  that is perpendicular to radial plane  112 . Each of the fins  104  preferably has fin longitudinal axis  105 .  
         [0081]     In a preferred embodiment, each fin longitudinal axis  105  is oriented at angle A of about  70  degrees relative to radial plane  112  of rotor  39  when each crop engaging element  50  is mounted on rotor  39 . In another preferred embodiment, angle A is in the range of about sixty-one degrees to about eighty-nine degrees. In another preferred embodiment, angle A is about fifty degrees plus or minus about eight degrees. In another preferred embodiment, angle A is about seventy degrees plus or minus about eight degrees. Base  102  is preferably provided with at least one (and preferably two) mounting holes  1   10  through which a threaded fastener, e.g., a bolt, (not shown) is passed to mount rasp bar  100  on structure  80 .  
         [0082]     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , portions of rasp bar  100  of crop engaging element  50  is shown in cross section. The leading edge of rasp bar  100  is on the left and the trailing edge is on the right in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, base  102  has flat bottom surface  106  and curved convex top surface  108 . Fins  104  extend from bottom surface  106 . Both base  102  and fins  104  preferably have smooth surfaces and rounded edges. Preferably, structure  80  and rasp bar  100  are fabricated of cast metal.  
         [0083]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , first portion  76  and second portion or rasp bar  100  of a preferred embodiment of crop engaging element  50  are shown assembled. In this embodiment, two bolts (not shown) are used to fasten second portion  100  to first portion  76 . As is the case in  FIG. 6 , in this view, the leading edge of crop engaging element  50  is on the right and the trailing edge of crop engaging element  50  is on the left.  
         [0084]     In the preferred embodiments described above, crop engaging element  50  does not have the concave trough or the radially extending lip of the crop engaging assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,170 (see  FIG. 4  of that patent) and the crop engaging element disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,598 (see  FIGS. 2-4  of that patent), the disclosures of which patents are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The crop processing unit disclosed herein is an improvement in part because it imposes much lower shearing forces on the crop that it processes, resulting in much less straw breakage. Moreover, in the preferred embodiments disclosed above, crop processing element  50  has utility in axial crop processing units other than those in which the axis of threshing section is offset from the axes of the other sections as is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,170. For example, the applicant believes that crop processing element  50  also has utility as a component of other axial flow harvesting machines, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,889,517; 4,964,838 and 5,192,245, the disclosures of which patents are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, as a replacement for the rasp bar/rasp bar mounts assemblies disclosed therein. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiments described above, rasp bar  100  does not have first portion of U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,245, the disclosure of which patent is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, because ramp portion  82  serves a similar purpose.  
         [0085]     In an alternate embodiment, rasp bar  100  is cast as part of mounting bracket  76 . In this embodiment, rasp bar  100  and mounting bracket are a cast metal, one piece structure.  
         [0086]     Many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Some variations include a two-part crop engaging element. Other variations call for a single part crop engaging element. All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0087]     Although some embodiments are shown to include certain features, the applicant(s) specifically contemplate that any feature disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the invention.