BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single vane slat which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is top view of the single vane slat shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the slat, showing the slat secured to a wire;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sieve or chaffer for a combine harvester, where the sieve includes single vane slats such as is shown in the previous figures; and
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a method of forming a sieve or chaffer for a harvester combine, where the method is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments of the present invention. The present disclosure is to be considered an example of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that which is illustrated and described herein.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a single vane slat design which provides that a weld material is used to secure the single vane slat to a wire such that there is less heat distortion. As such, a thinner material can be used for the single vane slat and only two small welds need be used to secure the single vane slat to a wire.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single vane slat 10 which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 provides a top view of the slat 10, and FIG. 3 provides a side view, showing a plurality of slats 10 secured to wires 12 of a frame 14 of a sieve or chaffer 16 for a harvester combine.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slat 10 consists of, for example, sheet metal 18 and consists of a plurality of fingers 20 between which are sieve or mesh openings 22 for passage of grain to a pan, not shown, extending the length and width of the chaffer. In operation, with reference to FIG. 2, the chaff and grain flow is from right to left along a top 24 of the slat 10, as depicted by arrow 26. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the slat 10 also includes an air blast baffle portion 28. In operation, with reference to FIG. 2, the air flow is from right to left along a bottom 30 of the slat 10, as depicted by arrow 32. Both the air blast baffle portion 28 and the fingers 20 have reinforcing ribs 34 formed thereon.
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the slat 10 also includes a weld pocket 36, preferably on its bottom surface 38, for receiving a wire 12. Specifically, the weld pocket 36 provides that the slat 10 can be engaged with the wire 12, and then a weld material 40 such as silicone bronze, is used to connect the slat 10 to the wire 12. The weld material 40 is configured to flow into the weld pocket 36 upon being MIG welded, and achieves direct and incidental contact between the wire 12 and the slat 10. Preferably, two welds are used per slat 10; however, more or less weld spots can be used. The weld pocket 36 of the slat 10 is configured such that the slat 10 is self-fixturing on the wire 12, which lends to the ability to weld the slats 10 to the wires 12 while fixed in the frame 14. This facilitates being able to accommodate a large number of frame types and sizes.
The fact that a MIG weldable weld material 40 such as silicone bronze is used to permanently affix the slat 10 to the wire 12 provides that lower heat can be applied to effect the weld. As such, not much heat distortion is caused, and a thinner material can be used for the single vane slat 10. For example, 26 gage sheet metal material 18 can be used. Additionally, only two small welds can be used to effect the attachment. The fact that the slat 10 includes a weld pocket 36 provides that weld material 40 flows into the joint and achieves direct and incidental contact between the wire 12 and the slat 10, within the weld pocket 36.
FIG. 4 illustrates a sieve or chaffer 16 which includes a plurality of such single vane slats 10, where the sieve or chaffer 16 is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the sieve 16 consists of a frame 14 that has parallel walls 42 and wires 12 which extend between the walls 42. The single vane slats 10 are engaged with the wires 12, as described above with regard to FIG. 3. Specifically, the wires 12 are received in weld pockets 36 of the slats 10, preferably on a bottom surface 38 of the slats 10. A flowable material 40, such as silicone bronze, is in the weld pockets 36 and is in contact with both the wires 12 and the slats 10, thereby providing that the slats 10 are connected to the wires 12.
FIG. 5 illustrates, in block diagram form, a method of making such a sieve of chaffer 16, where the method is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and is self-explanatory.
While embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing disclosure.
Patent Application
20080029443
