Patent ID: 6974384

Claim:
A tailings conveyor for an agricultural combine, comprising: a housing including an interior cavity, an inlet opening connecting with the cavity for receiving tailings from the cleaning system into the cavity, and an outlet opening for discharging the tailings from the cavity; a first rotary impeller supported for rotation about a first rotational axis in the cavity at a position adjacent to the inlet opening and an interior surface of the housing, the first impeller including a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from a first hub to radial outer threshing portions of the first impeller, and a first drive connected in driving relation to the first hub for rotating the first impeller such that the threshing portions thereof will rotate at a predetermined first rotational speed, such that during the rotation the threshing portions will accelerate and propel tailings received into the interior along a predetermined path therein, including against others of the tailings and against and along the interior surface for threshing the tailings; and a second rotary impeller supported for rotational about a second rotational axis in the cavity at a location downstream along the path from the first impeller, the second impeller including a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from a second hub to radial outer threshing portions of the second impeller, and a second drive connected in driving relation to the second hub for rotating the second impeller such that the threshing portions thereof will rotate at a predetermined second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed and will accelerate and propel the tailings against others of the tailings and against and along the interior surface and along the path for threshing the tailings.