Patent Application
20190200528
In the agricultural industry, combine harvesters are used for reaping, threshing and winnowing a variety of grain crops from a field. These machines typically include a header assembly, which severs crop materials close to the ground as the combine is driven across a field. A feeder assembly moves the severed crop materials from the header assembly toward a threshing area of the combine. In operation, the combine platform (commonly known as the header) cuts and gathers the crop standing in a field. The header transports the cut crop, typically by means of an auger, to a conveyor mechanism. This conveyor mechanism, often known collectively as the feeder house, transports the crop to a secondary feeding mechanism. The secondary feeding mechanism feeds the cut crop into a rotor concave assembly that threshes the crop, whereby the grain is removed from the stalk or plant. In particular, when the grain is threshed, the crop material is shaken or beaten to loose the grain from the husk, stems, pods, or cobs, such that the threshed grain is separated from crop Material Other than Grain (MOG). A separator assembly separates the threshed grain from the MOG. This grain is moved to a grain tank. The crop MOG, such as chaff, straw, vines, stems, and leaves, are then chopped and spread upon the field.
In operation, the conveyor mechanism retrieves crop material from the header (where it is cut from the field), and moves it upwardly along an interior portion of the housing for the feeder assembly to the secondary feeding mechanism. In particular, the conveyor mechanism can include a plurality of continuous chains arranged in parallel that revolve around a transverse drum at the front of the feeder assembly and transverse sprocket means at the rear of the feeder assembly. Rotating generally in the direction of the length of the combine, the chains include a plurality of transverse slats connected to the chains at each end of the slat, which engage the crop, moving the crop in a rearward motion along the interior portion of the housing of the feeder assembly. Typically, the slats are metal, having blunt edges, which perform the function of taking the crop material from the header and ultimately, transporting the same through the feeder house assembly to the threshing assembly.
However, due to the abrasive serrated-like edges of the slats, as well as the hard and non-forgiving slat composition, the crop is most often damaged by the slats during its transportation through the feeder house assembly. In particular, given the speed at which the slats grab the crop material, the abrasive manner in which the slats grab the material, and the blunt hard edges of the slats, which are often made of steel, frequent damage to the crops occur. This damaged crop translates into damaged grain, which brings a yield and financial loss to the farmer. Particularly, there are several ways in which the conventional metal slat causes loss. First, the cracked and damaged grains fall out of the feeder assembly and are lost in the field, before the grains enter the combine for threshing. Second, the cracked and damaged grains are not captured by the combine during the threshing step and are passed out the back with MOG (such as chaff, straw, vines, and the like). In particular, the separator may include separation concave grates that are used to separate the grain from the MOG at the rear end of the combine. The separation concave grates have openings allowing the separated grain to fall through and be captured by the combine, while the MOG is dispersed out the back of the combine. However, due to the damage, some of the grain is mistaken for MOG and dispersed out the back of the combine with the MOG. Another reason my the conventional metal slat causes loss is that the combine may capture the cracked and damaged grain, but when this damaged grain is stored in the grain bin, these damaged grains further crumble into dust, which yields more loss. All farmers experience this type of loss. It is one of the most impactful reasons for loss suffered by the farming industry. Finally as another reason for the loss experienced within the agriculture industry, the cracked/damaged grain is typically “docked” by an inspector (or grain elevator), who receives the purchased grain and reviews it for inspection. Upon finding the cracked/damaged grain, the grain elevator docks the farmer, requiring him to sell the grain at a discounted price because of the damage.
It is within this context that the embodiments arise.
Embodiments of a combine having a novel conveyor feeder assembly and method of harvesting crop thereby is provided. It should be appreciated that the present embodiment can be implemented in numerous ways, such as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, or a method. Several inventive embodiments are described below.
In some embodiments, a combine for harvesting a crop bearing grains, seeds, beans, and the like is provided, wherein the combine includes a mechanism for conveying grain from a harvesting platform to a secondary feeding mechanism. The conveyor mechanism may include a house chain slat made of non-metal material and/or having a brush assembly that provides sufficient grasp without having a damaging effect upon the crops, wherein the crop throughput is improved while reducing damage to the crop. In a combine for harvesting a crop, a mechanism for conveying grains, seeds, beans and the like from a harvesting platform to the secondary feeding mechanism may include a plurality of slats secured to continuous conveyor chains coupled around a traverse drum and a sprocket drive means. The brush assembly on each slat may comprise at least one row of finger members coupled to a brush base, wherein the material of each member is rigid, semi-rigid, and/or flexible, where the member is notably less abrasive and damaging to the crop than the traditional use of metal. The finger members may be a plurality of brush bristles arranged in tufts and received in stepped openings through the brush base. The finger members may include at least one row of straight and/or curved brush bristles. In the alternative, the finger members may include at least one row of curved elongated fingers and/or flat rectangular elongated fingers.
In some embodiments, a slat for a chain and slat conveyor for a feeder house in a harvesting machine such as a combine is provided. The slat may comprise a brush assembly coupled to a slat base to retrieve the crop from the harvesting platform without damaging the crop. The slat base may include a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the brush assembly may be coupled to either end. The slat base may also include a plurality of through-material holes at the outer ends of the base for fastening the slats to the at least two continuous conveyor chains using a fastening means. The brush assembly may include at least one row of finger members coupled to a brush base. The finger members may comprise a plurality of brush bristles arranged in tufts and received in stepped openings through the brush base. Alternatively, the finger members may include at least one row of curved elongated fingers or flat rectangular fingers. The finger members may be made of a metal or non-metal material. The slat base may comprise a U-shaped section having open ends, wherein the brush assembly couples to a middle portion or channel of the U-shaped section between the open ends. Alternatively, the slat base may comprise a L-shaped section having a horizontal portion and a vertical lip, wherein the brush assembly couples to the vertical lip of the L-shaped section and wherein the horizontal portion having the plurality of through-material holes for securing the slats to the at least two continuous conveyor chains using the securing means.
In some embodiments, a method of processing of crop material through a combine feeder house is provided; wherein, the feeder house includes a transverse mounted drum mounted on a shaft at a front thereof and one or more drive sprockets at a rear thereof with one or more chains positioned around and rotating around the transverse mounted drum and one or more drive sprockets, with one or more chain slats made of non-metal material and/or having a brush assembly. In one embodiment, the method may include providing crop material at an inlet of the feeder house using a harvesting platform. The method may also include gripping the crop material between a brush assembly and an interior wall of the housing for the feeder house, wherein the brush assembly, having at least one row of finger members, couples to each of the one or more chain slats. For example, gripping the crop material may include gripping the crop material with at least one row of a plurality of brush bristles on at least one edge of each of the one or more slat, wherein the brush bristles retrieve the crop from the harvesting platform without damaging the crop. The crop material may be gripped with at least one row of a plurality of curved elongated fingers. In the alternative, at least one row of a plurality of flat rectangular fingers that curve may retrieve the crop from the harvesting platform. Further, the method may include pulling the gripped crop material along the interior wall of the housing using the brush assembly and through the feeder house. Additionally, the method may include providing the crop material to a threshing mechanism for separating the grain form the crop material other than grain using the brush mechanism. For example, the crop may be fed to a secondary feeding mechanism, which feeds the crop to a rotor and a concave assembly. Further, the method may comprise separating the grain from the crop material other than grain, using the separator. For example, the rotor and the concave assembly may thresh the crop by removing grain from the stalk, wherein the rotor and a set of separation grates separate the threshed grain (kernels) from the other plant material.
Other aspects and advantages of the embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments.
The described embodiments and the advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the described embodiments by one so skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.
The following embodiments describe a combine having a conveyor feeder house with chain slats, wherein, each chain slat includes a brush assembly and/or a panel assembly. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, that the embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the embodiments.
A conveyor feeder assembly is provided herein, wherein the assembly may include a chain slat made of non-metal material and/or having a brush assembly that provides sufficient grasp without having a damaging effect upon the crops, wherein the crop throughput is improved while reducing damage to the crop. In a combine for harvesting a crop, a mechanism for conveying the crop from a harvesting platform to a secondary feeding mechanism may include a plurality of slats secured to continuous conveyor chains coupled around a traverse drum and a sprocket drive means. In particular, a feeder house within the combine may include a forward crop inlet for receiving crop from the harvesting platform. The feeder house may also include a rear opening for transmitting crop to the secondary feeding mechanism. The brush assembly on each slat of the conveyor mechanism may include at least one row of finger members coupled to a brush base. The finger members may be arranged in tufts and received in stepped openings through the brush base. The finger members may include at least one row of straight or curved brush bristles. In the alternative, the finger members may include at least one row of curved elongated fingers.
In some embodiments, the slat may comprise a brush assembly coupled to a slat base to retrieve the crop from the harvesting platform without damaging the crop. The slat base may include a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the brush assembly may be coupled to either end. In some embodiments, the brush assembly may be coupled to the center portion of the slat base. The slat base may also include a plurality of through-material holes at the outer ends of the base for securing the slats to the at least two continuous conveyor chains using a securing means. The brush assembly may include at least one row of finger members coupled to a brush base. The finger members may comprise a plurality of brush bristles arranged in tufts and received in stepped openings through the brush base. A bristle may include narrow finger members comprising, composite plastic, composite rubber, composed of rubber, composite rubber, plastic, composite plastic, synthetic material, and the like. A bristle is a stiff, firm strand of material. Alternatively, the finger members may include at least one row of curved elongated fingers or flat rectangular fingers. The finger members may be made of a metal or non-metal material. The slat base may comprise a U-shaped section having open ends, wherein the brush assembly couples to a middle portion of the U-shaped section between the open ends. Alternatively, the slat base may comprise a L-shaped section having a horizontal portion and a vertical lip, wherein the brush assembly couples to the vertical lip of the L-shaped section and wherein the horizontal portion having the plurality of through-material holes for securing the slats to the at least two continuous conveyor chains using the securing means.
In operation, a method of processing the crop material through the combine feeder house providing crop material at an inlet of the feeder house and gripping the crop material between a brush assembly and a housing portion of the feeder house (for example, the side, top, or bottom floor of the feeder house), wherein the brush assembly couples to each of the one or more chain slats of the conveyor mechanism. For example, the gripping step may include gripping the crop material with at least one row of a plurality of brush bristles on at least one edge of each of the one or more slats, wherein the curved brush bristles for retrieving the crop from the harvesting platform without damaging the crop. The crop material may be gripped with at least one row of a plurality of curved elongated fingers or flat rectangular fingers that curve to retrieve the crop from the harvesting platform. Further, the method may include pulling the gripped crop material along the housing portion of the feeder house, completely through the feeder house.
In some embodiments, the brush mechanism may couple to at least one metal slat. In some embodiments, the brush mechanism can be coupled to at least one non-metal slat. In some embodiments, the brush mechanism can be implemented on a chain driven feeder house. In other embodiments, the brush mechanism can be implemented on a belt driven feeder house.
Advantageously, the conveyor feeder house chain slat in accordance with some embodiments incorporates a stiff brush to pull the crop into the combine. The chain slat having a brush assembly, in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, is much more forgiving to the crop than current chain slats existing on the market. In particular, the brush assembly does not contain a sharp, hard edge that damages the crop as the current chain slats possess; yet, the brush assembly is still stiff enough to effectively bring in the crop. The conveyor feeder house chain slat in accordance with some embodiments includes a more effective conveyor design to harvest the crop over existing technologies. The conveyor feeder house chain slat in accordance with some embodiments effectively eliminates damage to the crop. That is, no grain or yield loss exists when the conveyor feeder house chain slat having the brushing assembly disclosed herein is implemented with a combine design, as opposed to the damaged grain that typically occurs with existing technologies.
In the following description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
Reference in the description to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The phrase “in one embodiment” located in various places in this description does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Like reference numbers signify like elements throughout the description of the figures.
Referring to
As shown in
In some embodiments, a brush mechanism 72 may couple to at least one metal slat 70. In the alternative, the brush mechanism 72 can be coupled to at least one non-metal slat 70. As shown in
Each chain slat 70 may include a brush assembly 72 that provides sufficient grasp without having a damaging effect upon the crops, wherein the crop throughput is improved while reducing damage to the crop. As can be seen in
Turning to
In some embodiments, the finger members 74 may be made of a metal or non-metal material. The slat base 75a may comprise a U-shaped section having open ends, wherein the brush assembly 72 couples to a middle portion of the U-shaped section between the open ends (not shown). Alternatively, the slat base 75 may comprise a L-shaped section (not shown) having a horizontal portion and a vertical lip, wherein the brush assembly 72 couples to the vertical lip of the L-shaped section; and wherein, the horizontal portion having the plurality of recess openings 76 for securing the slats 70 to the at least two continuous conveyor chains 52a, 52b, 52c using the securing means.
In operation, crop material may be provided through the harvesting platform 30 at an inlet 42 of the feeder house 40. Further, the crop material may be gripped between a brush assembly 72 and an interior portion 46 of the feeder house 40, wherein the brush assembly 72 couples to each of the one or more chain slats 70 of the conveyor mechanism 50. For example, at least one row of a plurality of brush bristles 74 on at least one edge of each of the one or more slats may grip the crop material, wherein the brush bristles 74 retrieve the crop from the harvesting platform 30 without damaging the crop. The crop material can be gripped with at least one row of a plurality of curved elongated fingers 74a (
Referring now to
In the above description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be recognized that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Although detailed illustrative embodiments are disclosed herein, specific functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing embodiments. Embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein.
It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various steps or calculations, these steps or calculations should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one step or calculation from another. For example, a first calculation could be termed a second calculation, and, similarly, a second step could be termed a first step, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” and the “I” symbol includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Therefore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
Although the method operations were described in a specific order, it should be understood that other operations may be performed in between described operations, described operations may be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times or the described operations may be distributed in a system which allows the occurrence of the processing operations at various intervals associated with the processing.
This present application relates to commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/858,526, entitled “Conveyor Chain Slat With Brush Assembly,” naming Brian Robertson as the inventor, filed Dec. 29, 2017, which is currently co-pending application of which the present application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date; the contents of which are incorporated by herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15858526 | Dec 2017 | US |
| Child | 16219223 | US |
