Patent Grant
11985920
The present invention relates to agricultural combines and, more particularly, to concaves for agricultural combines.
Agricultural combines are large machines that harvest, thresh, separate and clean an agricultural crop. The resulting clean grain is stored in a grain tank located on the combine. The clean grain is transported from the grain tank to a truck, grain cart or other receiving bin by an unloading auger.
In general, an agricultural combine includes a harvesting platform, a feederhouse, a threshing drum mounted near a concave, sieves, a collection or bulk tank, and various conveyors, such as rotating belts and spinning augers. The harvesting platform gathers and cuts the crop near ground level and directs the harvested crop to the feederhouse, which applies the harvested crop to the threshing drum. The harvested crop is threshed between the rotating threshing drum and the concave separating the grains from the chaff to form threshings, namely, the chaff and the separated grains. The threshings are applied to a cleaning system, which separates the grains from the chaff, applies the grains to the collection or bulk tank that is periodically emptied into a truck, grain cart or other receiving bin by an unloading auger, and discharges the chaff onto the field.
The concave generally includes an array of straight bars that extend parallel to the threshing drum axis of rotation. The curved bars are permanently welded to curved end members. Curved wires, which project through the bars in some concaves and that underlie the bars in other concave designs, extend circumferentially along the concave. A concave of this type forms a grate through which most of the threshed grain and chaff fall onto a collecting assembly where it is directed to the cleaning system of the combine. A concave must be periodically replaced when the bars wear down or when they are bent or broken by rocks, wire, and other foreign matter that is inadvertently drawn into the combine. Replacing a concave is difficult and time-consuming work, and especially costly when the need arises during a harvest. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for concaves that are easily and inexpensively serviceable without the need for replacement or removal from a combine, are easy to construct and to assemble, that eliminate extended downtimes during harvest, and while at the same time are uniquely designed to favorably influence grain loss and grain damage by favorably influencing grain cracking and fracturing during crop threshing operations. There is also a need in the art for a concave having bars that each incorporate an integrated separating grate configured to define numerous threshing edges between grate openings for providing thorough and comprehensive crop threshing.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes first and second frames connected together for movement between closed and open positions. The first frame includes curved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each movable between a first position removably connected to the first frame and a second position detached from the first frame. The bars are spaced from one another and extend axially between the curved members forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through in the first position of each of the bars. The second frame restricts movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the closed position of the first and second frames. The second frame allows movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the open position of the first and second frames. The first and second frames are pivotally connected for movement between the closed and open positions. The second frame includes curved stops axially spaced from one another, and in the closed position of the first and second frames the curved stops are juxtaposed on either side of the respective curved members to restrict movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting each of the bars in the first position thereof to the first frame including elements thereof carried by each of the bars and complemental elements thereof carried by the first frame. In the first position of the bars the engagement assemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative to the first frame. Each of the elements is one of a tongue and a slot, and each of the complemental elements is the other one of the tongue and the slot.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes first and second frames connected together for movement between closed and open positions. The first frame includes curved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each formed with a separating grate. The bars are each movable between a first position removably connected to the first frame and a second position detached from the first frame. In the first position of each of the bars, the bars are spaced from one another and extend axially between the curved members forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through, and the separating grate of each bar extends across an adjacent opening to an adjacent bar for separating grain from threshed crop material. The second frame restricts movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the closed position of the first and second frames. The second frame allows movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the open position of the first and second frames. In the first position of each of the bars the separating grate of each bar is in direct contact against a shoulder of the adjacent bar. The separating grate of each bar consists of parallel fingers axially spaced from one another. The first and second frames are pivotally connected for movement between the closed and open positions. The second frame includes curved stops axially spaced from one another, and in the closed position of the first and second frames the curved stops are juxtaposed on either side of the respective curved members to restrict movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting each of the bars in the first position thereof to the first frame including elements thereof carried by each of the bars and complemental elements thereof carried by the first frame. In the first position of the bars the engagement assemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative to the first frame. Each of the elements is one of a tongue and a slot, and each of the complemental elements is the other one of the tongue and the slot.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes a frame having curved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each formed with a separating grate. The bars are spaced from one another and extend axially between the curved members forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through, and the separating grate of each bar extends across an adjacent opening to an adjacent bar for separating grain from threshed crop material. The separating grate of each bar includes parallel fingers axially spaced from one another. The parallel fingers of each bar each has a free end in direct contact against a shoulder of the adjacent bar.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes a frame assembly including first frames and a second frame connected together for movement between a closed position of the frame assembly and an open position of the frame assembly. Each of the first frames includes curved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each movable between a first position removably connected to the first frame and a second position detached from the first frame, wherein the bars are spaced from one another and extend axially between the curved members forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through in the first position of each of the bars. The second frame restricts movement of each of the bars of the first frames between the first and second positions in the closed position of the frame assembly. The second frame allows movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the open position of the frame assembly. The first frames and the second frames are pivotally connected for movement between the closed and open positions of the frame assembly. The second frame includes curved stops axially spaced from one another, and in the closed position of the first frames and the second frame the curved stops are juxtaposed on either side of one of the curved members of the respective first frames to restrict movement of each of the bars of the first frames between the first and second positions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting each of the bars in the first position thereof to a corresponding one of the first frames including elements thereof carried by each of the bars and complemental elements thereof carried by the corresponding one of the first frames. In the first position of the bars the engagement assemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative to the corresponding one of first frames. Each of the elements is one of a tongue and a slot, and each of the complemental elements is the other one of the tongue and the slot.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes a frame assembly including first frames and a second frame connected together for movement between a closed position of the frame assembly and an open position of the frame assembly. Each of the first frames includes curved members axially spaced from one another, and bars each formed with a separating grate, the bars each movable between a first position removably connected to the first frame and a second position detached from the first frame, and in the first position of each of the bars the bars are spaced from one another and extend axially between the curved members forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through, and the separating grate of each bar extends across an adjacent opening to an adjacent bar for separating grain from threshed crop material. The second frame restricts movement of each of the bars of the first frames between the first and second positions in the closed position of the frame assembly. The second frame allows movement of each of the bars between the first and second positions in the open position of the frame assembly. In the first position of each of the bars the separating grate of each bar is in direct contact against a shoulder of the adjacent bar. The separating grate of each bar includes parallel fingers axially spaced from one another. The first frames and the second frames are pivotally connected for movement between the closed and open positions of the frame assembly. The second frame includes curved stops axially spaced from one another, and in the closed position of the first frames and the second frame the curved stops are juxtaposed on either side of one of the curved members of the respective first frames to restrict movement of each of the bars of the first frames between the first and second positions. There is an engagement assembly for removably connecting each of the bars in the first position thereof to a corresponding one of the first frames including elements thereof carried by each of the bars and complemental elements thereof carried by the corresponding one of the first frames. In the first position of the bars the engagement assemblies prevent axial rotation of the bars relative to the corresponding one of first frames. Each of the elements is one of a tongue and a slot, and each of the complemental elements is the other one of the tongue and the slot.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes a first frame, a second frame, and a threshing mat. The threshing mat includes threshing bars each including a separating grate, an engagement assembly non-destructively connects each of the threshing bars to the first frame, the threshing bars form openings therebetween for grain to pass through, the separating grate of each of the threshing bars extends across an adjacent one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material, and the separating grate of each of the threshing bars is fixedly connected to an adjacent one of the threshing bars. The engagement assemblies enable non-destructive removal of the threshing mat from the first frame, when the second frame is spaced apart from the first frame. The second frame restrains non-destructive removal of the threshing mat from the first frame via the engagement assemblies, when the second frame is juxtaposed to the first frame. The threshing mat is non-destructively connected to the first frame via the engagement assemblies, when the second frame is spaced apart from the first frame and when the second frame is juxtaposed to the first frame. The second frame includes stops, the stops are juxtaposed on either side of the first frame and interact with the threshing mat restraining the threshing mat from being non-destructively removed from the first frame, when the second frame is juxtaposed to the first frame. Each engagement assembly includes engagement elements carried by each of the threshing bars and corresponding complemental engagement elements carried by the first frame. Each of the engagement elements is one a tongue, and each of the complemental engagement elements is a slot. A catch assembly non-destructively catches each of the threshing bars to the second frame, when the second frame is juxtaposed to the first frame. Each catch assembly includes catch elements carried by each of the threshing bars and corresponding complemental catch elements carried by the second frame. Each of the catch elements is one of a key and a keyway, and each of the complemental catch elements is the other one of the key and the keyway. The second frame includes stops, the stops are juxtaposed on either side of the first frame, interact with the threshing bars restraining the threshing bars from being non-destructively removed from the first frame, when the second frame is juxtaposed to the first frame, and carry the complemental catch elements.
According to the principle of the invention, a method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing a first frame, a second frame, and threshing bars each including a separating grate, removably connecting the threshing bars to the first frame via non-destructive removable connections, the threshing bars being spaced apart forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through, and the separating grate of each of the threshing bars extends across an adjacent one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material, and juxtaposing the second frame relative to the first frame, fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars, and the second frame restraining removal of the threshing bars from the first frame via the non-destructive removable connections all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving the threshing bars non-destructively connected to the first frame. The step of fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars further includes welding the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars. The method further includes releasably securing the second frame to the first frame. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly.
According to the principle of the invention, a method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing a first frame, a second frame, and threshing bars each including a separating grate, removably connecting the threshing bars to the first frame via non-destructive removable connections, the threshing bars being spaced apart forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through, and the separating grate of each of the threshing bars extends across an adjacent one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material; and juxtaposing the second frame relative to the first frame, removably catching the threshing bars to the second frame via non-destructive removable catch connections, fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars, and the second frame restraining removal of the threshing bars from the first frame via the non-destructive removable connections, all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving the threshing bars non-destructively connected to the first frame. The step of fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars further includes welding the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars. The method further includes releasably securing the second frame to the first frame. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly, and the non-destructive removable catch connections each includes a key-and-keyway assembly.
According to the principle of the invention, a method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing a frame, stops, and threshing bars each including a separating grate, removably connecting the threshing bars to the frame via non-destructive removable connections, the threshing bars being spaced apart forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through, and the separating grate of each of the threshing bars extends across an adjacent one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material, and juxtaposing the stops on either side of the frame, fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars, and the stops restraining removal of the threshing bars from the frame via the non-destructive removable connections, all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving the threshing bars non-destructively connected to the frame. The step of fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars further includes welding the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars. The method further includes releasably securing the stops to the frame. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly.
According to the principle of the invention, a method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing a frame, stops, and threshing bars each including a separating grate, removably connecting the threshing bars to the frame via non-destructive removable connections, the threshing bars being spaced apart forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through, the separating grate of each of the threshing bars extends across an adjacent one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material, and juxtaposing the stops on either side of the frame, removably catching the threshing bars to the stops via non-destructive removable catch connections, fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars, and the stops restraining removal of the threshing bars from the frame via the non-destructive removable connections, all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving the threshing bars non-destructively connected to the frame. The step of fixedly connecting the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars further includes welding the separating grate of each of the threshing bars to an adjacent one of the threshing bars. The method further includes releasably securing the stops to the frame. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly, and the non-destructive removable catch connections each includes a key-and-keyway assembly.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes threshing bars carried by a base frame and forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bar includes an inner extremity, a deflecting extremity including a deflecting surface, and a separating grate between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity. The separating grate extends across an adjacent one of the openings between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity for separating grain from threshed crop material, the deflecting surface projects angularly upward relative to the separating grate, and the deflecting surface and the separating grate are arranged at an obtuse angle therebetween forming a grain-collecting trough between the deflecting surface and the separating grate. The obtuse angle is from 125 degrees to 145 degrees. Part of the separating grate formed across the trough and in the deflecting extremity. The deflecting surface is between the part of the separating grate formed in the deflecting extremity and a threshing edge of the deflecting extremity. The separating grate has a first width between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity, the deflecting extremity has a second width between the separating grate and the threshing edge, and the first width is greater than the second width. An engagement assembly non-destructively connecting each of the threshing bars to the base frame. Additionally included is a restraining frame. The engagement assemblies enable non-destructive removal of the threshing bars from the base frame, when the restraining frame is spaced apart from the base frame. The restraining frame restrains non-destructive removal of the threshing bars from the base frame via the engagement assemblies, when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame. The threshing bars are non-destructively connected to the base frame via the engagement assemblies, when the restraining frame is spaced apart from the base frame and when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame. Each engagement assembly includes engagement elements carried by each of the threshing bars and corresponding complemental engagement elements carried by the base frame. Each engagement element includes a tongue, and each complemental engagement element includes a slot. Additionally included is a catch assembly non-destructively catching each of the threshing bars to the restraining frame, when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame. Each catch assembly includes catch elements carried by each of the threshing bars and corresponding complemental catch elements carried by the restraining frame. Each catch element includes one of a key and a keyway, and each complemental catch element includes the other one of the key and the keyway. The restraining frame includes stops. The stops are juxtaposed on either side of the base frame, interact with the threshing bars restraining the threshing bars from being non-destructively removed from the base frame, when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame, and carry the complemental catch elements.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes threshing bars carried by a base frame and forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bar includes an inner extremity, a deflecting extremity including a deflecting surface, and a plurality of separating grates extending across an adjacent one of the openings between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity for separating grain from threshed crop material. The plurality of separating grates includes a first separating grate and a second separating grate. The first separating grate is between the inner extremity and the second separating grate. The second separating grate is between the first separating grate and the deflecting extremity. The second separating grate projects angularly upward relative to first second separating grate. The deflecting surface projects angularly upward relative to the second separating grate. The second separating grate and the first separating grate are arranged at a first obtuse angle therebetween forming a first grain-collecting trough between the first separating grate and the second separating grate. The deflecting surface and the second separating grate are arranged at a second obtuse angle therebetween forming a second grain-collecting trough between the deflecting surface and the second separating grate. The second obtuse angle is different from the first obtuse angle. The second obtuse angle is less than the first obtuse angle. The second obtuse angle is from 125 degrees to 145 degrees. The first obtuse angle is from 155 degrees to 175 degrees. Part of the first separating grate is formed across the first trough and part of the second separating grate is formed across the second trough. The deflecting surface is between the part of the second separating grate formed across second trough and a threshing edge of the deflecting extremity. The second separating grate has a width between the first separating grate and the deflecting extremity, the deflecting extremity has a width between the second separating grate and the threshing edge, and the width of the second separating grate is greater than the width of the deflecting extremity. The first separating grate has a width between the inner extremity and the second separating grate, and the width of the first separating grate is greater than the width of the deflecting extremity. An engagement assembly non-destructively connecting each of the threshing bars to the base frame. Additionally included is a restraining frame. The engagement assemblies enable non-destructive removal of the threshing bars from the base frame, when the restraining frame is spaced apart from the base frame. The restraining frame restrains non-destructive removal of the threshing bars from the base frame via the engagement assemblies, when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame. The threshing bars are non-destructively connected to the base frame via the engagement assemblies, when the restraining frame is spaced apart from the base frame and when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame. Each engagement assembly includes engagement elements carried by each of the threshing bars and corresponding complemental engagement elements carried by the base frame. Each engagement element includes a tongue, and each complemental engagement element includes a slot. Additionally included is a catch assembly non-destructively catching each of the threshing bars to the restraining frame, when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame. Each catch assembly includes catch elements carried by each of the threshing bars and corresponding complemental catch elements carried by the restraining frame. Each catch element includes one of a key and a keyway, and each complemental catch element includes the other one of the key and the keyway. The restraining frame includes stops. The stops are juxtaposed on either side of the base frame, interact with the threshing bars restraining the threshing bars from being non-destructively removed from the base frame, when the restraining frame is juxtaposed to the base frame, and carry the complemental catch elements.
According to the principle of the invention, a concave for an agricultural combine includes a base frame and threshing beds carried by the base frame and forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bed includes a first end, a second end, a length from the first end to the second end, an inner extremity, an outer extremity and a separating grate extending across one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material. The separating grate extends along the length between the first end and the second end, is between the inner extremity and the outer extremity and includes grate openings and spaced-apart bars. The bars are between adjacent grate openings and include struts and severed bars. Each strut connects two adjacent parts of the separating grate between adjacent grate openings. Each severed bar includes bar segments extending inwardly toward one another to respective free ends on either side of a gap between adjacent grate openings. One of the free ends faces into, and the other one of the free ends faces away from, a direction of movement of a rotor of the agricultural combine. The bar segments are coextensive. In another embodiment, the bar segments are disproportionate. The bar segments are inline. The bars are parallel relative to one another. The inner extremity and the outer extremity are parallel relative to one another. The bars are perpendicular relative to the inner extremity and the outer extremity. In another embodiment, the bars are oblique relative to the inner extremity and the outer extremity. The outer extremity overlaps the inner extremity of an adjacent one of the threshing beds. The inner extremity is unbroken along the length from the first end to the second end, and the outer extremity is unbroken along the length from the first end to the second end. Each threshing bed is flat.
According to the principle of the invention, a threshing member for use with a concave for use in an agricultural combine includes a threshing bed configured to be supported by the concave. The threshing bed includes a first end, a second end, a length from the first end to the second end, an inner extremity, an outer extremity and a separating grate for separating grain from threshed crop material. The separating grate extends along the length between the first end and the second end, is between the inner extremity and the outer extremity and includes grate openings and spaced-apart bars. The bars are between adjacent grate openings and include struts and severed bars. Each strut connects two adjacent parts of the separating grate between adjacent grate openings. Each severed bar includes bar segments extending inwardly toward one another to respective free ends on either side of a gap between adjacent grate openings. One of the free ends is configured to faces into, and the other one of said free ends is configured to face away from, a direction of movement of a rotor of the agricultural combine. The bar segments are coextensive. In another embodiment, the bar segments are disproportionate. The bar segments are inline. The bars are parallel relative to one another. The inner extremity and the outer extremity are parallel relative to one another. The bars are perpendicular relative to the inner extremity and the outer extremity. In another embodiment, the bars are oblique relative to the inner extremity and the outer extremity. The inner extremity is unbroken along the length from the first end to the second end, and the outer extremity is unbroken along the length from the first end to the second end. The threshing bed is flat.
Referring to the drawings:
A known agricultural combine includes a harvesting platform for harvesting a crop and directing it to a feederhouse. The harvested crop is applied from the feederhouse to a rotary crop processing unit that threshes and separates the harvested crop. The rotary crop processing unit includes a rotating threshing drum or rotor radially surrounded by a casing that together define an inlet section, a threshing section, and a separating section. The rotor is a hollow cylindrical drum having numerous crop processing elements that engage the harvested crop and rotate it in the casing. The bottom of the casing has a concave under the threshing section and a separating grate under the separating section. Grain and chaff falling through the concave and the separating grate are directed to a cleaning system, which removes the chaff and directs the clean grain to a clean grain elevator that conveys the clean grain to a grain or bulk tank. The clean grain in the bulk tank is periodically unloaded into a grain cart or truck by an unloading auger, and the threshed and separated chaff is discharged from the combine through an outlet at the rear of the combine. The customary discharge beater at the rear of the combine propels the discharged chaff onto the field. The operation of the combine is controlled from an operator's cab.
The present invention is directed to the concave located under the threshing section of the rotary processing unit. One concave section is used to form the concave, or a plurality of concave sections are used to form the concave. A concave section 50 constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention is shown in
Referencing in relevant part
Frame 52 includes members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Members 70, 72, 74, and 76 are substantially identical and coextensive. Members 70 and 72 are thin and elongate and are axially spaced from one another, and members 74 and 76 are thin and elongate and are axially juxtaposed relative to each other and axially spaced from members 70 and 72. Members 70, 72, 74, and 76 extend parallel relative to each other, and relative to members 60 and 62. Members 70 and 72 are the outermost or end members of frame 52, and members 74 and 76 are between members 70 and 72 and are the innermost or intermediate members of frame 52. Members 74 and 76 are substantially equidistant between members 70 and 72, and extend parallel to one another. Member 74 is axially positioned alongside member 76 and is between member 76 and member 70. Member 76 is axially positioned alongside member 74 and is between member 74 and member 72. Members 74 and 76 are releasably connected to each other with fasteners, here in the form of two nut-and-bolt assemblies 78, which are longitudinally spaced apart between, on the one hand, ends 84 and 86, and, on the other hand, ends 85 and 87. Less or more such assemblies 78 can be used. Members 70, 72, 74 and 76 are curved like that of end members 60 and 62 to similarly extend circumferentially about a portion of the rotor of the rotary processing unit. Members 60, 62, 70, 72, 74, and 76 have matching curvatures. Given that members 70 and 72 are end members and are curved, they may be referred to as either curved members, or curved end members. Given that members 74 and 76 are intermediate members and are curved, they may be referred to as either curved members, or curved intermediate members. Curved end member 70 has opposed ends 80 and 81, curved end member 72 has opposed ends 82 and 83, curved intermediate member 74 has opposed ends 84 and 85, and curved intermediate member 76 has opposed ends 86 and 87.
Frames 51 and 52 are connected together to be movable between the nested or closed position in
And so ends 80, 82, 84, and 86 of frame 52 are mounted to frame 51 for pivotal movement, here via nut-and-bolt fasteners 90, for movement between the first or open position of frame 52 extending downwardly and away from frame 51 as in
Fasteners are used to removably connect frame 52 to frame 51 in the second or closed position of frame 52 defining the nested or closed position of frames 51 and 52 to secure concave section 50 in the nested or closed position in preparation for threshing. Specifically, end members 60 and 70 are releasably connected to each other with longitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of three nut-and-bolt assemblies 92 and less or more of such assemblies 92 can be used, and end members 62 and 72 are releasably connected to each other with longitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of three nut-and-bolt assemblies 94 and lest or more of such assemblies 84 can be used. As seen in
In
Referencing
Each bar 53 has three axially spaced tongues 117 formed in lower end 116, including end tongue 117A near end 112, end tongue 117B near end 113, and intermediate tongue 117C equidistant between end tongues 117A and 117B. The tongues 117A, 117B, and 117C of each bar 53 form the elements of the engagement assembly that relate to the complemental elements of the engagement assembly defined by the slots 105 of each set of axially aligned slots 105 of members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Tongues 117A, 117B, and 117C of each bar 53 are seated in a set of axially aligned slots 105 of the corresponding members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Tongues 117A are seated in slots 105 of curved end member 70, tongues 117B are seated in corresponding slots 105 of curved end member 72, and tongues 117C are seated the corresponding slots 105 of curved intermediate members 74 and 76. In this embodiment, slots 105 and tongues 117A, 117B, and 117C of the engagement assemblies have corresponding T-shapes, which secure bars 52 prevent axial rotation of the bars 53 relative to frame 52, permit movement of bars 53 along only one axis, which is the longitudinal axis of each bar 53, and restrict movement of each bar 53 in any other axis or direction, including axes/directions that are transverse or perpendicular relative to the curvature of frame 52.
The bars 53, including at their opposite ends 112 and 113, are not affixed to be immovable using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to members 70, 72, 74, after uniting the elements and the complemental elements of each engagement assembly removably connecting each bar 53 to frame 52. Because of this, bars 53 are left removably connected to frame 52 simply by seating/inserting the tongues 117 of each bar into a corresponding set of axially aligned slots 105 in members 70, 72, 74, and 76, and readily removed from frame 52 by releasing the tongues 117 of each bar 53 from the corresponding set of axially aligned slots 105 in members 70, 72, 74, and 76.
Installation of each bar 53 is carried out simply by axially aligning its tongues 117 with a preselected set of axially aligned slots of members 70, 72, 74, and 76, and then moving the bar 53 axially along its longitudinal axis to concurrently slide tongue 117A into the preselected slot 105 of member 70, tongue 117B into the corresponding slot 105 of member 72, and tongue 117C concurrently into the corresponding slots 105 of members 74 and 75. The removal of each bar 53 is done simply by reversing this operation. This way, the bars 53 may be readily attached or united to frame 52 and detached or de-united from frame 52 as desired, such as for repair or replacement in the case of bar 53 wear or damage. And when bars 53 are so removably connected to frame 52, the tongues 117 of the bars 53 are seated in the shape-conforming slots 105 formed in members 70, 72, 74, and 76 at their respective top edges 70A, 72A, 74A, and 76A, and the threshing edges 115 extend above top edges 70A, 72A, 74A and 76A of the respective members 70, 72, 74, and 76 of frame 52 to be located for threshing a harvested crop.
As described above, the bars 53 are not affixed to frame 52 using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to members 70, 72, 74, and 76 to be permanently connected to frame 52, such that the only way to remove them would be to destroy such a permanent connection. The described engagement assembly between each bar 53 and frame 52 is a non-destructive, removable and impermanent connection, which means that the connection between the various tongues and slots does not require the destruction of the engagement assembly, such as by cutting, in order to remove the various bars 53 from frame 52.
To removably install bars 53 on frame 52 in an example, frame 52 is located in the open position as in
In the open position of concave section 50 shown in
In the nested or closed position of frame 52 defining the closed position of concave section 50 shown in relevant part in
With concave section 50 so assembled, concave section 50 is ready for threshing in the customary manner in a rotary processing unit. In the rotary processing unit, bars 53 extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating threshing drum, and upper threshing edges 115 extend upward from top edges 70A, 70B, 70C, and 70D of members 70, 72, 74, and 76 of frame 52 to provide aggressive threshing of the harvested crop and openings 110 between bars 53 are for grain to pass through. In a rotary combine, a single long concave section 50 can be utilized as the concave or multiple shorter concave sections 50 can be arranged end-to-end to form the concave. Should bars 53 become worn or damaged to require replacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners 92, 94, and 98 are simply removed to release frame 52 from frame 51, and frame 52 is pivotally moved downwardly in the direction of arrowed line D in
In the embodiment denoted at 50, bars 53 extending between curved end members 70 and 72 and across curved intermediate members are single bars 53. As such, in concave section 50 frame 52 has parallel single bars 53. In an alternate embodiment of a concave section constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention, frame 52 can be formed with parallel rows of split bars. Such a concave section 130 is discussed in conjunction with
Concave section 130 is identical in every respect to concave section 50 in that it shares frame 51 and frame 52 and all associated nut-and-bolt assemblies. In this example, the bars, which are identical and are each denoted at 131, are each identical to bars 53 in that they share ends 112 and 113, upper threshing edge 115, lower end 116, and tongues 117. Bars 131 are each independently removably connected to frame 52 via the engagement assembly. Each engagement assembly for removably connecting each of the bars 53 to frame 52 includes elements thereof carried by each of the bars 53, namely, tongues 117, and complemental elements thereof carried by frame 52, namely, slots 105 in members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Again, the positioning of tongues 117 and slots 105 can be reversed.
In concave section 130 bars 131 are half the length of bars 53 and include just two tongues 117, namely, tongue 117A near end 112 and tongue 117B near end 113. In this example, there are two axially aligned bars 131 for each row of bars 131, and rows of bars 131, of course, form openings 110 therebetween for grain to pass through as in concave section 50. Two bars 131 are axially aligned for each row. One bar 131A extends axially from member 70 to member 74, and the other bar 131B extends axially from member 76 to member 72. Specifically, one bar 131A extends axially from end 112 thereof at member 70 to end 113 thereof at member 74, and the corresponding tongues 117A and 117B are applied to axially aligned slots 105 in members 70 and 74 respectively. The other bar 131B extends axially from end 113 thereof at member 72 to end 112 thereof at member 76, and the corresponding tongues 117B and 117A are applied to axially aligned slots 105 in members 72 and 76 respectively. Each pair of bars 131A and 131B are axially aligned, and the end 113 of bar 131A extending between members 70 and 74 confronts and diametrically opposes the end 112 of bar 131B extending between members 72 and 76.
In the nested or closed position of frame 52 defining the closed position of concave section 130 in
In concave section 130, members 70 and 72 are considered one frame or otherwise a sub-frame 52′ of frame 52, and members 72 and 76 are considered another frame or sub-frame 52″ of frame 52. Frames 52′ and 52″ cooperate to form frame 52 and are, of course, connected together for movement of frame 52 between the closed position of the open and closed positions as herein specifically described. Again, as discussed in conjunction with concave section 50, should bars 131 become worn or damaged to require replacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners 92, 94, and 98, illustrated in
Concave section 130 is exemplary of a “split-bar” construction. Another “split-bar” concave section 150 is shown in
Concave section 150 is identical in every respect to concave sections 50 and 130 in that it shares frame 51 and frame 52 and all associated nut-and-bolt assemblies. In this example, the bars, which are identical and are each denoted at 160, are half the length of bars 53 of concave section 50 like that of bars 131 of concave section 130. Referencing
Just like bars 131 of concave section 130, bars 160 are each independently removably connected to frame 52 via the tongues 117 and slots 105 engagement assembly. Each engagement assembly for removably connecting each of the bars 160 to frame 52 includes the elements thereof in the form of tongues 117 carried by each of the bars 160 and the complemental elements thereof in the form of slots 105 carried by frame 52, specifically members 70, 72, 74, and 76. Like bars 131 of concave section 130, bars 160 each have two tongues 117, namely, tongue 117A near end 162 and tongue 117B near end 163.
In this example with reference to
In the nested or closed position of frame 52 defining the closed position of concave section 150 in
In the installed position of the various bars 160 on frame 52 of concave assembly 150 in reference to
In concave section 150 as in concave section 130, members 70 and 72 are considered one frame or otherwise a sub-frame 52′ of frame 52, and members 72 and 76 are considered another frame or sub-frame 52″ of frame 52. Frames 52′ and 52″ are, of course, connected together for movement of frame 52 between the closed position of the frame assembly the open position of the frame assembly as herein specifically described. Again, as discussed in conjunction with concave section 130, should bars 160 become worn or damaged to require replacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners 92, 94, and 98, as illustrated in
The grate 170 of each bar 160 of concave section 150 includes eighteen axially spaced parallel fingers. Bars having similar constructions with different grate configurations can be used without departing from the invention. As matter of example,
In another example,
Attention is now directed to
Threshing bars 255 of threshing mat 253, while not being affixed to frame 252 or to frame 251, are not independently removably connected to frame 252 because in threshing mat 253 threshing bars 255 are rigidly affixed to one another via fixed connections 258, which in concave 250 disables each of threshing bars 255 in threshing mat 253 from being separated from one another and removed from threshing mat 253 and from frame 252 independently from each of the other threshing bars 255. Threshing mat 253 is removably connected to frame 252 but is not affixed to frame 252, or to frame 251, such as by welding or other fixed or destructive connection, which enables threshing mat 253 to be selectively detached, withdrawn, or otherwise released from frame 252 enabling frames 251 and 252 to be reused with a new threshing mat without having to modify frames 251 and 252.
Frames 251 and 252 cooperate to form a frame assembly denoted at 254. Frames 251 and 252 are adjustable between a closed position in
Referencing
Curved end member 260 has opposite ends 261 and 262, upper edge 263, lower edge 264, and keyways 265. Upper edge 263 and lower edge 264 concurrently extend from end 261 to end 262. Each keyway 265 is a through-hole formed through the middle thickness of member 260 between upper edge 263 and lower edge 264. Keyways 265 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 261 to end 261.
Curved end member 270 has opposite ends 271 and 272, upper edge 273, lower edge 274, and keyways 275. Upper edge 273 and lower edge 274 concurrently extend from end 271 to end 272. Each keyway 275 is a through-hole formed through the middle thickness of member 270 between upper edge 273 and lower edge 274. Keyways 275 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 271 to end 272.
Keyways 265 and 275 are identical in size and in shape, and are equal in number, there being eleven keyways 265 and eleven keyways 275, and less or more keyways 265 and 275 can be provided in alternative embodiments as long as keyways 265 are equal in number to keyways 275. The longitudinal spacing of keyways 265 between end 261 and 262 is identical to the longitudinal spacing of keyways 275 between end 271 and end 272, which results in keyways 265 and keyways 275 being axially aligned when frame 251 is in its closed position relative to frame 252, when frames 251 and 252 that form the frame assembly 254 of concave 250 are closed. Keyways 265 and 275 are each square in shape in this example, being not round.
Referring in relevant part to
Curved end member 280 has opposed ends 281 and 282, and curved end member 290 has opposed ends 291 and 292. In
Frames 251 and 252 are adjustable between the closed position in
When frames 251 and 252 are in the closed position in
Fasteners are used to removably connect frame 252 to frame 251, when frames 251 and 252 are in the closed position in
In
In
Referring in relevant part to
Separating segment 334 is at the upper end of bar 255, and extends horizontally from corner segment 332 to separating grate 256. In this example, base segment 333 and separating segment 334 are generally perpendicular relative to one another, defining a 90-degree angle therebetween at corner segment 332. Base segment 333 and corner segment 332 extend along the length of bar 255 between ends 330 and 331. Corner segment 332 and separating segment 334 formed with grate 256 extend along the length of bar 255 between ends 330 and 331 and define the threshing and separating component of bar 255. Grate 256 includes axially-aligned parallel fingers 350 that extend outwardly from corner segment 332 to elongate member 351, the distal extremity of grate 356, that interconnects the outer ends of fingers 350 and that extends from end 330 to end 331. Fingers 350 are axially spaced apart forming openings 352 therebetween. Each opening 352 is defined between adjacent fingers 350 and is closed proximally by corner segment 332 and distally by elongate member 351. Fingers 350 are equally spaced apart, and openings 352 are equal in size and shape, there being four openings 352 in this bar 255 embodiment. Openings 350, each of which is encircled by adjacent fingers 250, corner segment 332, and elongate member 351, are for grain to pass through. The continuous edge 354 to each opening 352 at uppermost surface 355 of grate 256 that faces the rotary processing unit when concave 250 is installed in an agricultural combine is a continuous threshing edge of grate 256.
Bar 255 is formed from a piece of flat stock cut with separating grate 356, which is bent to shape to form the described angle profile. Each of the angle slots 320 of members 280 and 290 of frame 252, in
Referring in relevant part to
In the installed position of the various bars 255 on frame 252, the separating grate 256 of each bar 255 extends across an adjacent opening 257 to the outer or back side of corner segment 332 of an adjacent bar 255 for separating grain at the corresponding opening 340 from threshed crop material, in which the elongate member 351 of each separating grate 256 is adjacent to, and confronts, the corner segment 332 of the adjacent bar 255. Each separating grate 256 extends across an adjacent opening 257 to its elongate member 351 at the outer or back side of corner segment 332 of the adjacent bar 255. More specifically, fingers 350 of each bar 255 are parallel relative to members 260, 270, 280, and 290, and extend across the adjacent opening 340 to elongate member 351 at the outer or back side of the corner segment 332 of the adjacent bar 255. Grain falls concurrently through openings 352 and each corresponding opening 257 between corner segments 332 of adjacent bars 255 for separating grain from threshed crop material. Openings 352 of each separating grate 256 reduce the corresponding opening 257 size for smaller grains. In the rotary processing unit, separating grate 256 and corner segment 332 adjacent to top edges 285 and 295 provide threshing of the harvested crop and openings 352 of the separating grates 256 and the openings 257 between corner segments 332 are for grain to pass through and for separating grain from threshed crop material. Again, the continuous edge 354 to each opening 352 at uppermost surface 355 of each grate 256 that faces the rotary processing unit when concave 250 is installed in an agricultural combine is a continuous threshing edge of each grate 256.
The bars 255, including at their opposite ends 330 and 331, are not affixed to be immovable using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to curved end members 280 and 290, after seating the opposite ends 330 and 331, opposed tongues, one after the other, into the corresponding angle slots 320, which removably connects bars 255 to frame 252. As a result, bars 255 are removably connected to frame 252 simply by seating/inserting the opposite ends 330 and 331, one after the other, of each bar 255 into a corresponding pair of aligned slots 320 of the respective curved end members 280 and 290, and readily removed from frame 252 by withdrawing the opposite ends 110 and 111, one after the other, from the respective angle slots 320.
As described above, the bars 255 are not affixed to frame 252 using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to members 280 and 290, to be permanently connected to frame 252, such that the only way to remove them would be to destroy such a permanent connection. The described engagement assembly between each bar 255 and frame 252, each engagement assembly being pairs of tongue-and-slot engagement assemblies, one being end 330 and a corresponding slot 320 of member 280 and the other being end 331 and a corresponding slot 320 of member 290, is a non-destructive, removable and impermanent connection, which means that the tongue-and-slot connection between each of ends 330 and 331 and each corresponding slot 320 does not require the destruction of the engagement assembly, such as by cutting, in order to remove the various bars 255 from frame 252.
To removably install the separate bars 255 on frame 252 in
Keys 341 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 280 from end 281 to end 282, and keys 342 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 290 from end 291 to end 292, when bars 255 are installed on frame 252. The spacing of keys 341 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 265 of member 260, and the spacing keys 342 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 275 of member 270, when bars 255 are installed on frame 252.
Once all the bars 255 are installed on frame 252 as in
In the closed position of frame 252 defining the closed position of concave 250 in
In the closed position of the frame assembly 254 of concave 250, curved end member 260 of frame 251 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 280 of frame 252 and confronts and makes direct contact against ends 330 of bars 255 on one side of concave 250, and curved end member 270 of frame 251 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 290 of frame 252 and confronts and makes direct contact against the opposed ends 331 of bars 255 on the opposed side of concave assembly 250, which interaction entraps bars 255 by and between frames 251 and 252. Curved end members 260 and 270 act as curved stops axially spaced from one another and juxtaposed on either side of the respective curved end members 280 and 290 of frame 252 and the respective ends 330 and 331 of the respective bars 255 for entrapping bars 255 to frame 252 by contacting the respective bar 255 ends 330 and 331 preventing the bars 255 from being displaced for, in turn, preventing the opposite ends 330 and 331 of each of the bars 255 from being non-destructively removed from the corresponding slots 320 thereby preventing independent non-destructive removal of the bars 255 relative to each other from frame 252.
Keys 341 and 342 carried by bars 255 are catch elements, and keyways 265 and 275 of members 260 and 270 of frame 251 are corresponding complemental catch elements. Keys 341 and 342 of each bar 255 and the corresponding keyways 265 and 275 that relate to keys 342 and 342 of each bar 255 define a catch assembly, in which each catch assembly non-destructively catches each of bars 255 to frame 251, when frame 252 is juxtaposed to frame 251 and when keys 341 and 342 are inserted into the respective keyways 265 and 275, in which the engagement of each of keys 341 and 342 to a corresponding one of keyways 265 and 275 forms a non-destructive removable catch connections. Although in each catch assembly keys 341 and 342 are carried by a bar 255 and the corresponding keyways 265 and 275 are carried by the respective members 260 and 270, this arrangement can be reversed in an alternate embodiment, in which keys 341 and 342 can be carried by members 260 and 270 and keyways 265 and 275 can be carried by the respective ends 330 and 331 of bars 255.
With concave 250 so assembled at this stage, concave 250 can be used in the customary manner in a rotary processing unit. In the rotary processing unit, bars 255 extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating threshing drum, and corner segment 332 and separating grate 256 adjacent to top edges 285 and 295 of curved end members 280 and 290 of frame 252 to provide threshing of the harvested crop and openings 257 between corner segments 332 and openings 352 of separating grates 256 are for grain to pass through, in which continuous edges 354 of each separating grate 256 each define an aggressive continuous threshing edge for threshing crop material. Accordingly, each separating grate 256 concurrently serves the purposes threshing the crop and separating grain through openings 352 from the threshed crop material. In a rotary combine, a single concave 250 can be utilized as the concave or multiple shorter concaves 250 can be arranged end-to-end and side-to-side to form the concave. Should bars 255 become worn or damaged to require replacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners 310 and 312 are simply removed to release frame 252 from frame 251, and frame 251 is removed from frame 252 to place frame 252 in its open position defining the open position of the frame assembly 254 and of concave 250 to allow any of the bars 255 needing replacement or repair to be easily removed, repaired or replaced, and reinstalled, in accordance with the principle of the invention.
During threshing, bars 255 can chatter against one another, namely, vibrate against one another, that can produce surface flaws in bars 255 and, in some instances, can cause bars 255 to crack or fracture, which can send fragments hurtling into the rotary processing unit and the complex and expensive crop-processing machinery of the agricultural combine. To eliminate this unwanted chatter between bars 255 to prevent bars 255 from cracking or fracturing as a result of this described chatter between bars 255, the vibration of bars 255 against one another, the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 is fixedly connected to an adjacent bar 255 without disabling the non-destructive removable connections and the non-destructive removable catch connections. After bars 255 are assembled with frame 252, whether before frame 251 is juxtaposed to frame 252 or after frame 251 is juxtaposed to frame 252, the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 is fixedly connected to the adjacent bars 255 without disabling the non-destructive removable connections of bars 255 to frame 252 and the non-destructive removable catch connections defined by keys 341 and 342 and the corresponding keyways 265 and 275 when frame 251 is juxtaposed relative to frame 252 in the assembly of concave 250. Fixedly connecting the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of the threshing bars 255 includes forming fixed connection 258 of the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of the threshing bars 255, in which each fixed connection 258 is a destructive, irremovable and permanent connection, a destructive connection, which means that each fixed connection 258 requires its destruction, such as by cutting, to separate adjacent threshing bars from one another. Preferably, the step of forming fixed connection 258 of the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of the threshing bars 255 includes welding the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of the threshing bars 255, in which each fixed connection 258 is at least one weld. In the assembly of bars 255 to frame 252 the elongate member 351 of each bar 255 is juxtaposed adjacent to the outer or back side of the corner segment 332 of the adjacent bar 255. According to this arrangement of bars 255, the step of forming fixed connection 258 of the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of the threshing bars 255 includes welding the elongate member 351 of the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 to the outer or back side of the corner segment 332 of an adjacent one of the threshing bars 255, in which each fixed connection 258 is at least one weld.
Fixed connections 258 do not disable the operation of separating grates 258. Threshing mat 253 is formed after each bar 255 is fixedly connected to an adjacent bar 255, in which threshing mat 253 includes threshing bars 255, the threshing bars 255 each include separating grate 256, the engagement assembly, ends 330 and 331 received in corresponding slots 320 in members 280 and 290, non-destructively connects each of threshing bars 255 to frame 252, threshing bars 255 form openings 257 therebetween for grain to pass through, the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 extends across an adjacent one of the openings 257 for separating grain from threshed crop material, and the separating grate 256 of each of the threshing bars 255 is fixedly connected to an adjacent one of the threshing bars 255. Threshing mat 253 is an integrated threshing mat, being a combining of separate bars 255 into a harmonious and interrelated whole as described, each bar 255 being fixedly connected to an adjacent bar 255. Again, after bars 255 are installed on frame 252, which can be considered a “dry fit” of bars 255 on frame 252 before bars 255 are affixed one to the other, bars 255 can be rigidly affixed together via fixed connections 258 to form threshing mat 253 before the frame assembly 254 is closed, before members 260 and 270 are juxtaposed to members 280 and 290 of frame 252, and before members 260 and 270 are releasably connected to members 280 and 290, respectively, or after the frame assembly 254 is closed, after members 260 and 270 are juxtaposed to members 280 and 290 of frame 252, and after members 260 and 270 are releasably connected to members 280 and 290. Should bars 255 of threshing mat 253 become worn or damaged, or should threshing mat 253 need replacement with another different threshing mat depending on the crop-to-be-threshed, in
In summary of concave 250, concave 250 includes frame 251, frame 252, and threshing mat 253. Threshing mat 253 includes threshing bars 255 each including separating grate 256, an engagement assembly non-destructively connects each of threshing bars 255 to frame 252, threshing bars 255 form openings 257 therebetween for grain to pass through, separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 extends across an adjacent one of openings 257 for separating grain from threshed crop material, and separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 is fixedly connected to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255. The engagement assemblies that non-destructively connects threshing bars 255 to frame 252 enable non-destructive removal of threshing mat 253 from frame 252, when frame 252 is spaced apart from frame 251. Frame 251 restrains non-destructive removal of threshing mat 253 from frame 242 via the engagement assemblies that non-destructively connects threshing bars 255 to frame 252, when frame 252 is juxtaposed to frame 251. Threshing mat 253 is non-destructively connected to frame 252 via the engagement assemblies that non-destructively connect threshing bars 255 to frame 252, when frame 252 is spaced apart from frame 251 and when frame 252 is juxtaposed to frame 251. Frame 251 includes stops, members 260 and 270 in concave 250, in which the stops of frame 251 are juxtaposed on either side of frame 252, member 280 being one side of frame 252 and member 290 being the other side of frame 252, and interact with threshing mat 253 restraining threshing mat 253 from being non-destructively removed from frame 252, when frame 252 is juxtaposed to frame 251, the stops of frame 251. Each engagement assembly that non-destructively connects each of threshing bars 255 to frame 252 includes engagement elements, ends 330 and 331 being tongues, carried by each of threshing bars 255 and corresponding complemental engagement elements, corresponding slots 320, carried by frame 251, by the stops of frame 251. And so, each of the engagement elements is a tongue, and each of the complemental engagement elements is a slot. A catch assembly non-destructively catches each of threshing bars 255 to frame 251, when frame 252 is juxtaposed to frame 251. Each catch assembly includes catch elements carried by each of threshing bars 255 and corresponding complemental catch elements carried by frame 251. Each of the catch elements is one of a key, key 341 or key 342, and a keyway, keyway 265 or keyway 275, and each of the complemental catch elements is the other one of the key, key 341 or key 342, and the keyway, keyway 265 or keyway 275. Of course, frame 251 includes stops, members 260 and 270, the stops are juxtaposed on either side of frame 252, interact with threshing bars 255 restraining threshing bars 255 from being non-destructively removed from frame 252, when frame 252 is juxtaposed to frame 251, and carry the complemental catch elements.
According to the invention, a method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing frame 251, frame 252, and threshing bars 255 each including separating grate 256, removably connecting threshing bars 255 to frame 252 via non-destructive removable connections, threshing bars 255 being spaced apart forming openings 257 therebetween for grain to pass through, and separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 extends across an adjacent one of openings 257 for separating grain from threshed crop material, juxtaposing frame 251 to frame 252, fixedly connecting separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255, and frame 251 restraining removal of threshing bars 255 from frame 252 via the non-destructive removable connections all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving threshing bars 255 non-destructively connected to frame 252. The step of fixedly connecting separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255 further includes welding separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255. The method further includes releasably securing frame 251 to frame 252. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly, including tongues, ends 330 and 331 of each bar 255, and corresponding slots 320 of frame 251.
According to the invention, another method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing frame 251, frame 252, and threshing bars 255 each including separating grate 256, removably connecting threshing bars 255 to frame 252 via non-destructive removable connections, threshing bars 255 being spaced apart forming openings 257 therebetween for grain to pass through, and separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 extends across an adjacent one of openings 257 for separating grain from threshed crop material; and juxtaposing frame 252 to frame 251, removably catching threshing bars 255 to frame 251 via non-destructive removable catch connections, fixedly connecting separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255, and frame 251 restraining removal of threshing bars 255 from frame 252 via the non-destructive removable connections, all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving threshing bars 255 non-destructively connected to frame 252. The step of fixedly connecting separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255 further includes welding separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255. The method further includes releasably securing frame 251 to frame 252. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly, including tongues, ends 330 and 331 of each bar 255, and corresponding slots 320 of frame 251. The non-destructive removable catch connections each includes a key-and-keyway assembly, a pair of keys 341 and 342 of each bar 255 and a corresponding pair of keyways 265 and 275.
According to the invention, yet another method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing frame 252, stops, members 260 and 270, and threshing bars 255 each including separating grate 256, removably connecting threshing bars 255 to frame 252 via non-destructive removable connections, threshing bars 255 being spaced apart forming openings 257 therebetween for grain to pass through, and separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 extends across an adjacent one of openings 257 for separating grain from threshed crop material, and juxtaposing the stops, members 260 and 270, on either side of frame 252, fixedly connecting separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255, and the stops, members 260 and 270, restraining removal of threshing bars 255 from frame 252 via the non-destructive removable connections, all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving the threshing bars 255 non-destructively connected to frame 252. The step of fixedly connecting the separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255 further includes welding the separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255. The method further includes releasably securing the stops, members 260 and 270, to frame 252. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly, including tongues, ends 330 and 331 of each bar 255, and corresponding slots 320 of the stops.
According to the invention, yet still another method of assembling a concave for an agricultural combine includes providing frame 252, stops, members 260 and 270, and threshing bars 255 each including separating grate 256, removably connecting threshing bars 255 to frame 252 via non-destructive removable connections, threshing bars 255 being spaced apart forming openings 257 therebetween for grain to pass through, separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 extends across an adjacent one of openings 257 for separating grain from threshed crop material, and juxtaposing the stops, members 260 and 270, on either side of frame 252, removably catching threshing bars 255 to the stops, members 260 and 270, via non-destructive removable catch connections, fixedly connecting separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255, and the stops, members 260 and 270, restraining removal of threshing bars 255 from frame 252 via the non-destructive removable connections, all without disabling the non-destructive removable connections thereby leaving threshing bars 255 non-destructively connected to frame 252. The step of fixedly connecting separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255 further includes welding separating grate 256 of each of threshing bars 255 to an adjacent one of threshing bars 255. The method further includes releasably securing the stops, members 260 and 270, to frame 252. The non-destructive removable connections each includes a tongue-and-groove assembly, including tongues, ends 330 and 331 of each bar 255, and corresponding slots 320 of frame 251. The non-destructive removable catch connections each includes a key-and-keyway assembly, a pair of keys 341 and 342 of each bar 255 and a corresponding pair of keyways 265 and 275.
The grate 256 of each bar 255 of concave 250 includes four relatively large openings defined by five axially spaced parallel fingers 350 connecting corner segment 332 to elongate member 351. Bars having similar constructions with different grate configurations can be used in concave 250 without departing from the invention, such as bars 360, 370, and 380 discussed briefly below.
As matter of example,
In another example,
In the field of agriculture, the term “grain damage” means any degradation in the quality of grain. In the current grain trade, the local and international trade in food grains, grain damage can affect price, feed quality, food product quality, and susceptibility to pest and bacteria contamination. Between the field and the end use, grain can go through any number of handling operations which can each contribute to grain damage. The first handling operation is, of course, harvesting and threshing the crop from the field, where aggressive concaves in agricultural combines can inherently crack and pulverize grain thereby unfavorably influencing grain loss and grain damage. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for concaves discussed below in conjunction with
Attention is now directed to
Threshing bars 405 each include inner extremity 410, outer deflecting extremity 411 including deflecting surface 412, and separating grate 413 between inner extremity 410 and deflecting extremity 411. Separating grate 413 extends across an adjacent one of openings 415 from inner extremity 410 to deflecting extremity 411 for separating grain from threshed crop material. Deflecting surface 412 projects angularly upward from separating grate 413 between inner extremity 410 and deflecting extremity 411 and into an upstream direction opposing the downstream direction of oncoming crop material to be threshed when driven by the rotor of the rotary processing unit. Deflecting surface 412 and separating grate 413 are arranged at an obtuse angle therebetween. The chosen angle of inclination of deflecting surface 412 is obtuse to the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material, according to the principle of the invention. An engagement assembly non-destructively connects each threshing bar 405 to frame 402. Bars 405 are independently removably connected to frame 402 via the engagement assemblies enabling bars 405 to be selectively and independently attached to or otherwise installed on frame 402 in preparation for threshing and additionally detached or otherwise released from frame 402 for individual bar 405 repair or replacement.
The engagement assemblies that non-destructively connect each of threshing bars 405 to frame 402 allow/enable the non-destructive removal of threshing bars 405 from frame 402, when frame 402 is spaced apart from frame 401, as in
Frames 401 and 402 cooperate to form a frame assembly 420. Frames 401 and 402 are adjustable between a closed position in
Threshing bars 405 are not affixed to either frame 401 or frame 402, such as by welding or other fixed or destructive connection, both in the open position and in the closed position of frame assembly 420. The assembly of threshing bars 405 and frames 401 and 402 is concave 400, or a concave section to which it may be referred. Accordingly, the engagement assemblies that non-destructively connect the respective threshing bars 405 to frame 402 enable/allow non-destructive independent removal of threshing bars 405 from frame 402, when frame 401 is spaced apart from frame 402, frame 401 disables/restrains non-destructive removal of threshing bars 405 from frame 402 via the engagement assemblies that non-destructively connects each of threshing bars 405 to frame 402, when frame 401 is juxtaposed to frame 402, and threshing bars 405 are non-destructively connected to frame 402 via the engagement assemblies, when frame 401 is spaced apart from frame 402 in
Referencing
Curved end member 440 has opposite ends 441 and 442, upper edge 443, lower edge 444, and keyways 445. Upper edge 443 and lower edge 444 concurrently extend from end 441 to end 442. Each keyway 445 is a through-hole formed through the middle thickness of member 440 between upper edge 443 and lower edge 444. Keyways 445 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 441 to end 441.
Curved end member 450 has opposite ends 451 and 452, upper edge 453, lower edge 454, and keyways 455. Upper edge 453 and lower edge 454 concurrently extend from end 451 to end 452. Each keyway 455 is a through-hole formed through the middle thickness of member 450 between upper edge 453 and lower edge 454. Keyways 455 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 451 to end 452.
Keyways 445 and 455 are identical in size and in shape, and are equal in number, there being twenty keyways 445 and twenty keyways 455, and less or more keyways 445 and 455 can be provided in alternative embodiments depending on the number of threshing bars 405 and as long as keyways 445 are equal in number to keyways 455. The longitudinal spacing of keyways 445 between end 441 and 442 is identical to the longitudinal spacing of keyways 455 between end 451 and end 452, which results in keyways 445 and keyways 455 being axially aligned when frame 401 is in its closed position relative to frame 402, when frames 401 and 402 that form the frame assembly 420 of concave 400 are closed. Keyways 445 and 455 are each generally V-shaped in this example, being not round.
With continuing reference in relevant part to
Curved end member 460 has opposed ends 461 and 462, and curved end member 470 has opposed ends 471 and 472. Spaced-apart, elongate, and parallel struts 480, three this example shown in
Frames 401 and 402 are adjustable between the closed position in
When frames 401 and 402 are in the closed position in
Fasteners are used to removably connect frame 402 to frame 401, when frames 401 and 402 are in the closed position. Specifically, end members 440 and 460 are releasably connected to each other with longitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of nut-and-bolt assemblies 490 applied through appropriate holes therein, and end members 450 and 470 are releasably connected to each other with longitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of nut-and-bolt assemblies 492 applied through appropriate holes therein.
In
In
Referring in relevant part to
Corner segment 512, base segment 513, and separating segment 514 are straight in longitudinal extent from end 510 to end 511. Base segment 513 extends downwardly from corner segment 512 to lower end 520 that extends from key 521 formed in end 510 of base segment 513 to key 522 formed in end 511 of base segment 513. Keys 521 and 522 each correspond to each of keyways 445 and each of keyways 455, being identical in size and shape and being generally V-shaped in this example, being not round, to correspond with the corresponding shape of each of keyways 445 and each of keyways 455. In
Corner segment 512 defines inner extremity 410 of bar 405. Separating segment 514 is at the upper end of bar 405, and extends horizontally from inner extremity 410 of corner segment 512 to deflecting extremity 411 that terminates distally at threshing edge 411A of deflecting extremity 411. Separating grate 413 is between inner extremity 410 and deflecting extremity 411 and extends from proximate to inner extremity 410 of corner segment 512 to deflecting extremity 411.
Deflecting extremity 411 and deflecting surface 412 of deflecting extremity 411 are concurrently angled upwardly relative to separating grate 413 between inner extremity 410 and deflecting extremity 411. Deflecting extremity 411 and deflecting surface concurrently project angularly upwardly from separating grate 413 between inner extremity 410 and deflecting extremity 411 to threshing edge 411A. Preferably, deflecting surface 412 projects angularly upward from and relative to separating grate 413 to threshing edge 411A, wherein deflecting surface 412 and separating grate 413 extend along the length of bar 405 from end 510 to end 511 and are arranged at obtuse angle α denoted in
In
Grate 413 includes axially-aligned parallel fingers 530 that extend outwardly from proximate to inner extremity 410 of corner segment 512 to deflecting extremity 411 and further along a portion deflecting extremity 411 inboard of outer edge 411A that interconnects the outer ends of fingers 530 and that extends from end 510 to end 511. Accordingly, part of separating grate 413 is formed in deflecting extremity 411. Fingers 530 are axially spaced apart forming openings 532 therebetween that extend from inner extremity 410 to and through a portion of deflecting extremity 411 inboard of outer edge 411A. Each opening 532 is defined between adjacent fingers 530 and is closed proximally by corner segment 512 and distally by deflecting extremity 411. Fingers 530 are equally spaced apart, and there are eleven openings 532 in this bar 405 embodiment, in which ten of openings 532 end into and are formed additionally through part of deflecting extremity 411. Openings 532, each of which is encircled by adjacent fingers 530, corner segment 512, and deflecting extremity 411, are for grain to pass through. The continuous edge 534 to each opening 532 at uppermost surface 535 of grate 413 and deflecting surface 412, which is a part of uppermost surface 535 of bar 405, that face the rotary processing unit when concave 400 is installed in an agricultural combine is a continuous threshing edge of grate 413.
Bar 405 is formed from a piece of flat stock cut with separating grate 413 and which is bent to shape to form the described angle profile. Each of the angle slots 500 of members 460 and 470 of frame 402, in
Referring in relevant part to
The separating segment 514 of each bar 405 is adjacent to and above the top edges 465 and 475 of the respective curved end members 460 and 470 and extends across an adjacent one of the openings 415 over top edges 465 and 475 of the respective curved end members 460 and 470 in the direction of the downstream end of concave 400 to corner segment 512 of an adjacent bar 405. More specifically, separating grate 413 of each bar 405 between inner extremity 410 and deflecting extremity 411 thereof extends across an adjacent one of openings 415 from inner extremity 410 to trough 417 and deflecting extremity 411, deflecting extremity 411 and deflecting surface 412 concurrently project angularly upwardly to threshing edge 411A toward the upstream end of concave 400 and away from the opposite downstream end of concave 400 and relative to separating grate 413 to adjacent to the back side of corner segment 512 of an adjacent bar 405, and deflecting surface 412 and separating grate 413 are arranged at obtuse angle α (
The chosen obtuse angle α between deflecting surface 412 and separating grate 413 inherently results in an upward angle of inclination of deflecting surface 412 relative to separating grate 413 between inner extremity 410 and deflecting extremity 411 that is obtuse to, being not acute or perpendicular to, the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material. This is particularly advantageous because it enables deflecting surface 412 to gently loosen and peel the husks away from the grain driven thereagainst without cracking and fracturing the grains when the crop material is driven over deflecting surface 412 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in a direction from the upstream end of concave 400 to the downstream end of concave 400 that would otherwise occur if deflecting surface 412 was set at an acute or a perpendicular angle relative to the direction of the oncoming crop material as is the case in conventional threshing bars. At the same time, the upward obtuse angle of inclination of deflecting surface 412 into the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material inherently enables deflecting surface 412 to partially and not completely restrict the flow of the grains driven over deflecting surface 412 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in a direction from the upstream end of concave 400 to the downstream end of concave 400 causing grains to temporarily collect and be held as a mass of grains in trough 417 from end 510 to end 511 of bar 405 before they fall and drain away through separating grate 413 extending across trough 417 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain. It is particularly advantageous that trough 417, during operation of the rotary processing unit, temporarily collects and holds the mass of grains therein because it causes the oncoming flow of grains to inherently drive over the mass of grains temporarily collected and held in trough 417 advantageously resulting in a grain-on-grain threshing at trough 417, according to the principle of the invention. This grain-on-grain threshing persists at trough 417 during operation of the rotary processing unit, in which grain continuously temporarily collects and is held in trough 417 and steadily falls and is drained away from trough 417 through the section of separating grate 413 extending across trough 417, while at same time same time the oncoming grain is continuously driven over and threshed against and continually replenishes the temporarily collected and held mass of grain at trough 417 advantageously resulting in the continuing grain-on-grain threshing at trough 417. This grain-on-grain threshing is surprisingly inherently gentle and extraordinarily efficient compared to direct grain-on-threshing bar threshing and favorably influences grain loss and grain damage by favorably influencing grain cracking and fracturing, according to the principle of the invention.
And so in the installed position of the various bars 405 on frame 402, in reference in relevant part to
In the rotary processing unit, the crop material is driven over concave 400 in the direction of arrowed line 540 in
In this example, obtuse angle α between separating grate 413 and deflecting surface 412 that inherently forms the corresponding obtuse angle between deflecting surface 412 and direction 540 of the oncoming crop material is from 125 degrees to 145 degrees, with an optimal angle being 135 degrees. Again, this chosen obtuse angle α between deflecting surface 412 and separating grate 413 inherently results in the same obtuse angle to, being not acute or perpendicular to, the opposing downstream direction 540 of the oncoming crop material, which advantageously enables deflecting surface 412 to gently loosen and peel the husks away from the grain driven thereagainst without cracking and fracturing the grains when the crop material is driven over deflecting surface 412 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in direction 540. At the same time, the upward obtuse angle of inclination of deflecting surface 412 into direction 540 of the oncoming crop material advantageously enables deflecting surface 412 to partially and not completely restrict the flow of the grains driven over deflecting surface 412 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in direction 540 causing grains to temporarily collect and hold as a mass of grains in trough 417 from end 510 to end 511 of bar 405 before they eventually fall and drain away through separating grate 413 extending across trough 417 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain. This concurrently causes the oncoming flow of grains flowing in direction 540 to inherently drive over the mass of grains temporarily collected and held in trough 417 advantageously resulting in the grain-on-grain threshing at trough 417. As initially described above, this grain-on-grain threshing persists at trough 417, in which grain continuously temporarily collects and is held in trough 417 and steadily falls and is drained away from trough 417 through the section of separating grate 413 extending across trough 417, while at same time same time the oncoming grain flowing in direction 540 is continuously driven over and threshed against and continually replenishes the temporarily collected and held mass of grain held at trough 417 advantageously resulting in the continuing grain-on-grain threshing at trough 417, which is a surprisingly inherently gentle and extraordinarily efficient threshing of grain compared to direct grain-on-threshing bar threshing and favorably influences grain loss and grain damage by favorably influencing grain cracking and fracturing, according to the principle of the invention.
The bars 405, including at their opposite ends 510 and 511, are not affixed to be immovable using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to curved end members 460 and 470, after seating the opposite ends 510 and 511, opposed tongues, one after the other, into the corresponding angle slots 500, which removably connects bars 405 to frame 402. As a result, bars 405 are removably connected to frame 402 simply by seating/inserting the opposite ends 510 and 511, one after the other, of each bar 405 into a corresponding pair of aligned slots 500 of the respective curved end members 460 and 470, and readily removed from frame 402 by withdrawing the opposite ends 110 and 111, one after the other, from the respective angle slots 500.
As described above, the bars 405 are not affixed to frame 402 using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to members 460 and 470, to be permanently connected to frame 402, such that the only way to remove them would be to destroy such a permanent connection. The described engagement assembly between each bar 405 and frame 402, each engagement assembly being pairs of tongue-and-slot engagement assemblies, one being end 510 and a corresponding slot 500 of member 460 and the other being end 511 and a corresponding slot 500 of member 470, is a non-destructive, removable and impermanent connection, which means that the tongue-and-slot connection between each of ends 510 and 511 and each corresponding slot 500 does not require the destruction of the engagement assembly, such as by cutting, in order to remove the various bars 405 from frame 402.
To removably install the separate bars 405 on frame 402 in
Keys 521 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 460 from end 461 to end 462, and keys 522 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 470 from end 471 to end 472, when bars 405 are installed on frame 402. The spacing of keys 521 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 445 of member 440, and the spacing keys 522 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 455 of member 450, when bars 405 are installed on frame 402.
Once all the bars 405 are installed on frame 402 in
Bars 405 are releasably secured and locked in place to frames 401 and 402, when bars 405 are installed on frame 402 and when frame 402 is juxtaposed to frame 401, in which the tongue-and-slot engagement assemblies between bars 405 and frame 402 define non-destructive removable connections releasably connecting bars 405 to frame 402 and the key-and-keyway engagement assemblies between bars 405 and frame 401 define non-destructive removable catch connections releasably catching bars 405 to frame 401. Curved end member 440 is releasably connected to curved end member 460 with nut-and-bolt fasteners 490, and curved end member 450 is releasably connected to curved end member 470 with nut-and-bolt fasteners 492. Accordingly, in the closed position of frames 401 and 402 when bars 405 are installed on frame 402, frame 402 is within frame 401, curved end member 460 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along and is in direct contact with the inner side of curved end member 440 that in turn extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 460, keys 521 extend into, being keyed into, keyways 445 of member 440, curved end member 470 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along and is in direct contact with the inner side of curved end member 450 that in turn extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 470, keys 522 extend into, being keyed into, keyways 455 of member 450, curved end member 460 extends concurrently along the length of curved end member 440 of frame 401 from end 461 juxtaposed to end 441 to end 462 juxtaposed to end 442, and curved end member 470 extends concurrently along the length of curved end member 450 of frame 401 from end 471 juxtaposed to end 451 to end 472 juxtaposed to end 452.
In the closed position of frame 402 defining the closed position of concave 400 in
In the closed position of the frame assembly 420 of concave 400, curved end member 440 of frame 401 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 460 of frame 402 and confronts and makes direct contact against ends 510 of bars 405 on one side of concave 400, and curved end member 450 of frame 401 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 470 of frame 402 and confronts and makes direct contact against the opposed ends 511 of bars 405 on the opposed side of concave assembly 400, which interaction entraps bars 405 by and between frames 401 and 402. Curved end members 440 and 450 act as curved stops axially spaced from one another and juxtaposed on either side of the respective curved end members 460 and 470 of frame 402 and the respective ends 510 and 511 of the respective bars 405 for entrapping bars 405 to frame 402 by contacting the respective bar 405 ends 510 and 511 preventing the bars 405 from being displaced for, in turn, preventing the opposite ends 510 and 511 of each of the bars 405 from being non-destructively removed from the corresponding slots 500 thereby preventing independent non-destructive removal of the bars 405 relative to each other from frame 402.
Keys 521 and 522 carried by bars 405 are catch elements, and keyways 445 and 455 of members 440 and 450 of frame 401 are corresponding complemental catch elements. Keys 521 and 522 of each bar 405 and the corresponding keyways 445 and 455 that relate to keys 522 and 522 of each bar 405 define a catch assembly, in which each catch assembly non-destructively catches each of bars 405 to frame 401, when frame 402 is juxtaposed to frame 401 and when keys 521 and 522 are inserted into the respective keyways 445 and 455, in which the engagement of each of keys 521 and 522 to a corresponding one of keyways 445 and 455 forms a non-destructive removable catch connections. Although in each catch assembly keys 521 and 522 are carried by a bar 405 and the corresponding keyways 445 and 455 are carried by the respective members 440 and 450, this arrangement can be reversed in an alternate embodiment, in which keys 521 and 522 can be carried by members 440 and 450 and keyways 445 and 455 can be carried by the respective ends 510 and 511 of bars 405.
With concave 400 so assembled, concave 400 can be used in the customary manner in a rotary processing unit. In the rotary processing unit, bars 405 extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating threshing drum, and separating grate 413, deflecting surface 412, and threshing edge 411A adjacent to top edges 465 and 475 of curved end members 460 and 470 of frame 402 to provide threshing of the harvested crop and openings 415 between corner segments 512 and openings 532 of separating grates 413 are for grain to pass through, in which continuous edges 354 of each separating grate 413 each define an aggressive continuous threshing edge for threshing crop material. Accordingly, each separating grate 413 concurrently serves the purposes threshing the crop and separating grain through openings 532 from the threshed crop material, each deflecting surface 412 gently loosens and peels the husks from the grain and inhibiting grain cracking and develops the previously-described grain-on-grain threshing, and threshing edge 411A provide additional downstream crop threshing, according to the principle of the invention.
In a rotary combine, a single concave 400 can be utilized as the concave or multiple shorter concaves 400 can be arranged end-to-end and side-to-side to form the concave. Should bars 405 become worn or damaged to require replacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners 490 and 492 are simply removed to release frame 402 from frame 401, and frame 401 is removed from frame 402 to place frame 402 in its open position defining the open position of the frame assembly 420 and of concave 400 to allow any of the bars 405 needing replacement or repair to be easily removed, repaired or replaced, and reinstalled, in accordance with the principle of the invention.
The grate 413 of each bar 405 of concave 400 includes eleven openings 532 defined by twelve fingers 530 connecting corner segment 512 to distal extremity 411. Bars having the same construction with different grate configurations can be used in concave 400 without departing from the invention, such as, for example, bar 550 in
Attention is now directed to
Frames 601 and 602 cooperate to form a frame assembly 620. Frames 601 and 602 are adjustable between a closed position in
Threshing bars 605 are not affixed to either frame 601 or frame 602, such as by welding or other fixed or destructive connection, both in the open position and in the closed position of the frame assembly 620. The assembly of threshing bars 605 and frames 601 and 602 is concave 600, or a concave section to which it may be referred. Accordingly, the engagement assemblies that non-destructively connect the respective threshing bars 605 to frame 602 enable/allow non-destructive independent removal of threshing bars 605 from frame 602, when frame 601 is spaced apart from frame 602, frame 601 disables/restrains non-destructive removal of threshing bars 605 from frame 602 via the engagement assemblies that non-destructively connects each of threshing bars 605 to frame 602, when frame 601 is juxtaposed to frame 602, and threshing bars 605 are non-destructively connected to frame 602 via the engagement assemblies, when frame 601 is spaced apart from frame 602 in
Referencing
Curved end member 640 has opposite ends 642 and 642, upper edge 643, lower edge 644, keyways 645, and keyways 646. Upper edge 643 and lower edge 644 concurrently extend from end 642 to end 642. Each keyway 645 is a through-hole formed through the middle thickness of member 640 between upper edge 643 and lower edge 644. Keyways 645 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 641 to end 642. Each keyway 646 is a through-hole formed through the thickness of member 640 adjacent to upper edge 643. Keyways 646 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 641 to end 642.
Curved end member 650 has opposite ends 651 and 652, upper edge 653, lower edge 654, keyways 655, and keyways 656. Upper edge 653 and lower edge 654 concurrently extend from end 651 to end 652. Each keyway 655 is a through-hole formed through the middle thickness of member 650 between upper edge 653 and lower edge 654. Keyways 655 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 651 to end 652. Each keyway 656 is a through-hole formed through the thickness of member 650 adjacent to upper 653. Keyways 656 are equally spaced apart longitudinally from end 651 to end 652.
Keyways 645 and 655 are identical in size and in shape, and are equal in number, there being ten keyways 645 and ten keyways 655, and less or more keyways 645 and 655 can be provided in alternative embodiments depending on the number of bars 605 and as long as keyways 645 are equal in number to keyways 655. The longitudinal spacing of keyways 645 between end 641 and 642 is identical to the longitudinal spacing of keyways 655 between end 651 and end 652, which results in keyways 645 and keyways 655 being axially aligned when frame 601 is in its closed position relative to frame 602, when frames 601 and 602 that form the frame assembly 620 of concave 600 are closed. Keyways 645 and 655 are each generally V-shaped in this example, being not round.
Keyways 646 and 656 are identical in size and in shape, and are equal in number, there being ten keyways 646 and ten keyways 656, and less or more keyways 646 and 656 can be provided in alternative embodiments depending on the number of bars 605 and as long as keyways 646 are equal in number to keyways 656. The longitudinal spacing of keyways 646 between end 641 and 642 is identical to the longitudinal spacing of keyways 656 between end 651 and end 652, which results in keyways 646 and keyways 656 being axially aligned when frame 601 is in its closed position relative to frame 602, when frames 601 and 602 that form the frame assembly 620 of concave 600 are closed. Keyways 645 and 655 are each generally square in shape in this example, being not round.
Frame 602, the inner or base frame of concave 600, includes members 660 and 670. Members 660 and 670 are substantially identical and coextensive. Members 660 and 670 are thin and elongate and are axially spaced from one another. Members 660 and 670 extend parallel relative to each other, and relative to members 640 and 650 in concave 600. Members 660 and 670 are curved like that of end members 640 and 650 to similarly extend circumferentially about a portion of the rotor of the rotary processing unit. Given that members 660 and 670 are end members and are curved, they may be referred to as either curved members, or curved end members. Members 640, 650, 660, and 670 have matching curvatures.
Curved end member 660 has opposed ends 661 and 662, and curved end member 670 has opposed ends 671 and 672. Spaced-apart, elongate, and parallel struts 680, three this example shown in
Frames 601 and 602 are adjustable between the closed position in
When frames 601 and 602 are in the closed position in
Fasteners are used to removably connect frame 602 to frame 601, when frames 601 and 602 are in the closed position. Specifically, end members 640 and 660 are releasably connected to each other with longitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of nut-and-bolt assemblies 690 applied through appropriate holes therein, and end members 650 and 670 are releasably connected to each other with longitudinally spaced fasteners, here in the form of nut-and-bolt assemblies 692 applied through appropriate holes therein.
Referring in relevant part to
In
Referring in relevant part to
In
Obtuse angle α1, an angle that that is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, is from 125 degrees to 145 degrees in this example and, in a particular embodiment, is optimally 135 degrees. Obtuse angle α1 between deflecting surface 612 and separating grate 614 form pocket or trough 417 that extends along the length of bar 605 from end 710 to end 711, according to the principle of the invention. Trough 617, a shallow channel, is a grain receiving and holding trough, according to the principle of the invention. Separating grate 614 extends across trough 617 for enabling grain to fall therethrough and drain away from trough 617.
Obtuse angle α2, an angle that that is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, is from 155 degrees to 175 degrees in this example and, in a particular embodiment, is optimally 165 degrees. Obtuse angle α2 between separating grate 613 and separating grate 614 form pocket or trough 618 that extends along the length of bar 605 from end 710 to end 711, according to the principle of the invention. Trough 618, a shallow channel, is a grain receiving and holding trough, according to the principle of the invention. Separating grate 614 extends across trough 618 for enabling grain to fall therethrough and drain away from trough 618. Troughs 617 and 618 are formed in bar 605, and not by adjacent bars 605, and are parallel relative to each other.
In
Separating grate 613 and separating grate 614 are separate from one another. Separating grate 614 includes axially-aligned parallel fingers 730 that extend outwardly from inner extremity of separating grate 614 proximate to separating grate 613 to deflecting extremity 611 and further across trough 617 and along a portion deflecting extremity 611 inboard of outer edge 611A that interconnects the outer ends of fingers 730 and that extends from end 710 to end 711. Accordingly, part of separating grate 614 is formed across trough 617 and in deflecting extremity 611. Fingers 730 are axially spaced apart forming openings 732 therebetween that extend from inner extremity 533 to and across trough 617 through a portion of deflecting extremity 611 inboard of outer edge 611A. Each opening 732 is defined between adjacent fingers 730 and is closed proximally by inner extremity 533 and distally by deflecting extremity 611. Fingers 730 are equally spaced apart, and there are thirteen openings 732 in this bar 605 embodiment, in which twelve of openings 732 end into and are formed additionally through part of deflecting extremity 611. Openings 732, each of which is encircled by adjacent fingers 730, inner extremity 533, and deflecting extremity 611, are for grain to pass through. The continuous edge 734 to each opening 732 at uppermost surface 735 of separating grate 614 and deflecting surface 612, which is a part of uppermost surface 735 of bar 605, that face the rotary processing unit when concave 600 is installed in an agricultural combine is a continuous threshing edge of separating grate 614.
Separating grate 613 includes axially-aligned parallel fingers 740 that extend outwardly from inner extremity 610 to outer extremity 743 of separating grate 613. Part of separating grate 613 is formed across trough 618 and in separating grate 614. Fingers 740 are axially spaced apart forming openings 742 therebetween that extend from inner extremity 610 to outer extremity 743. Each opening 742 is defined between adjacent fingers 740 and is closed proximally by inner extremity 610 and distally by outer extremity 743. Fingers 740 are equally spaced apart, and there are seven openings 742 in this bar 605 embodiment. Openings 742, each of which is encircled by adjacent fingers 740, inner extremity 610, and outer extremity 743, are for grain to pass through. The continuous edge 744 to each opening 742 at uppermost surface 735 of bar 605 that face the rotary processing unit when concave 600 is installed in an agricultural combine is a continuous threshing edge of grate 613.
Bar 605 is formed from a piece of flat stock cut with separating grates 613 and 614, which is bent to shape to form the described angle profile. Each of the angle slots 700 of members 660 and 670 of frame 602, in
Referring in relevant part to
In
The chosen obtuse angle α1 between deflecting surface 612 and separating grate 614 inherently results in upward angle of inclination of deflecting surface 612 relative to separating grate 614 between separating grate 614 and deflecting surface 612 that is obtuse to, being not acute or perpendicular to, the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material. This is particularly advantageous because it enables deflecting surface 612 to gently loosen and peel the husks away from the grain driven thereagainst without cracking and fracturing the grains when the crop material is driven over deflecting surface 612 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in a direction from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600 that would otherwise occur if deflecting surface 612 was set at an acute or a perpendicular angle relative to the direction of the oncoming crop material as is the case in conventional threshing bars. At the same time, the upward obtuse angle of inclination of deflecting surface 612 into the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material inherently enables deflecting surface 612 to partially and not completely restrict the flow of the grains driven over deflecting surface 612 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in a direction from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600 causing grains to temporarily collect and be held as a mass of grains in trough 617 from end 710 to end 711 of bar 605 before they fall and drain away through separating grate 614 extending across trough 617 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain. It is particularly advantageous that trough 617, during operation of the rotary processing unit, temporarily collects and holds the mass of grains therein because it causes the oncoming flow of grains to inherently drive over the mass of grains temporarily collected in trough 617 advantageously resulting in a grain-on-grain threshing at trough 617, according to the principle of the invention. This grain-on-grain threshing persists at trough 617 during operation of the rotatory processing unit, in which grain continuously temporarily collects and is held in trough 617 and steadily falls and is drained away from trough 617 through the section of separating grate 614 extending across trough 617, while at same time same time the oncoming grain is continuously driven over and threshed against and continually replenishes the temporarily collected and held mass of grain at trough 617 advantageously resulting in the continuing grain-on-grain threshing at trough 617. This grain-on-grain threshing is surprisingly inherently gentle and extraordinarily efficient compared to direct grain-on-threshing bar threshing and favorably influences grain loss and grain damage by favorably influencing grain cracking and fracturing, according to the principle of the invention.
Trough 618 contributes to the grain-on-grain threshing. The chosen obtuse angle α2 between separating grates 613 and 614 inherently results in upward angle of inclination of separating grate 614 relative to separating grate 613 between separating grates 613 and 614 that is obtuse to, being not acute or perpendicular to, the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material. This is particularly advantageous because it enables grain to inherently collect in trough 618 when the crop material is driven over trough 618 between separating grates 613 and 614 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in a direction from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600. At the same time, the upward obtuse angle of inclination of deflecting surface 612 into the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material advantageously enables deflecting surface 612 to partially and not completely restrict the flow of the grains driven over deflecting surface 612 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in a direction from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600 causing grains build up and temporarily collect and be held as a mass of grains not only in trough 617 from end 710 to end 711 of bar 605 before they fall and drain away through separating grate 614 extending across trough 617 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain but also in trough 618 from end 710 to end 711 of bar 605 before they fall and drain away from separating grates 613 and 614 including the part of separating grate 613 extending across trough 618 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain. This advantageously concurrently causes the oncoming flow of grains to inherently drive over the mass of grains temporarily collected and held in troughs 617 and 618 advantageously resulting in a grain-on-grain threshing at troughs 617 and 618, according to the principle of the invention. It is particularly advantageous that troughs 617 and 618, during operation of the rotary processing unit, concurrently temporarily collect and hold the mass of grains therein because it causes the oncoming flow of grains to inherently drive over the mass of grains temporarily collected in troughs 617 and 618 advantageously resulting in a concurrent grain-on-grain threshing at troughs 617 and 618, according to the principle of the invention. This grain-on-grain threshing persists at troughs 617 and 618 during operation of the rotary processing unit, in which grain continuously temporarily collects and is held in troughs 617 and 618 and steadily falls and is drained away from trough 617 through the section of separating grate 614 extending across trough 617 and from trough 618 through the section of separating grate 613 extending across trough 618, while at same time same time the oncoming grain is continuously driven over and threshed against and continually replenishes the temporarily collected and held mass of grain at troughs 617 and 618 advantageously resulting in the continuing grain-on-grain threshing at troughs 617 and 618. This grain-on-grain threshing is surprisingly inherently gentle and extraordinarily efficient compared to direct grain-on-threshing bar threshing and favorably influences grain loss and grain damage by favorably influencing grain cracking and fracturing, according to the principle of the invention.
And so in the installed position of the various bars 605 on frame 602, in reference in relevant part to
In the rotary processing unit, the crop material is driven over concave 600 in the direction of arrowed line 750 in
Because of the chosen obtuse angle α1 between deflecting surface 612 and separating grate 614, the resulting upward angle of inclination of deflecting surface 612 into the direction of arrowed line 750 is obtuse to the opposing downstream direction 750 of the oncoming crop material enabling deflecting surface 612 to gently loosen and peel the husks away from the grain driven over deflecting surface 612 without cracking the grains when the crop material is driven over deflecting surface 612 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in a direction from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600, according to the principle of the invention. At the same time, each threshing edge 611A, the point at which each deflecting surface 612 terminates distally, provides additional or supplemental crop threshing following separating grate 614 and deflecting surface 612, respectively, according to the principle of the invention. The chosen obtuse angle α1 between separating grate 614 and deflecting surface 612 of each bar 605 is sufficient to set deflecting surface 612 to a correspondingly sufficient obtuse angle to direction 750 of the oncoming crop material to enable each deflecting surface 612 gently deflect the crop material and gently loosen and peel the husks from the grain inhibiting grain cracking and pulverizing that customarily occurs in conventional concaves.
Again, the chosen obtuse angle α1 between deflecting surface 612 and separating grate 614 inherently results in upward angle of inclination of deflecting surface 612 relative to separating grate 614 between separating grate 614 and deflecting surface 612 that is obtuse to, being not acute or perpendicular to, the opposing downstream direction 750 of the oncoming crop material. This advantageously enables deflecting surface 612 to gently loosen and peel the husks away from the grain driven thereagainst without cracking and fracturing the grains when the crop material is driven over deflecting surface 612 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in direction 750 from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600 that would otherwise occur if deflecting surface 612 was set at an acute or a perpendicular angle relative to the direction of the oncoming crop material as is the case in conventional threshing bars. At the same time, the upward obtuse angle of inclination of deflecting surface 612 into the opposing downstream direction 750 of the oncoming crop material advantageously enables deflecting surface 612 to partially and not completely restrict the flow of the grains driven over deflecting surface 612 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in direction 750 from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600 causing grains to temporarily collect and be held as a mass of grains in trough 617 from end 710 to end 711 of bar 605 before they fall and drain away through separating grate 614 extending across trough 617 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain. This, again, advantageously concurrently causes the oncoming flow of grains to inherently drive over the mass of grains temporarily collected and held in trough 617 advantageously resulting in grain-on-grain threshing at trough 617, according to the principle of the invention. This grain-on-grain threshing persists at trough 617 during operation of the rotary processing unit, in which grain continuously temporarily collects and is held in trough 617 and steadily falls and is drained away from trough 617 through the section of separating grate 614 extending across trough 617, while at same time same time the oncoming grain is continuously driven over and threshed against and continually replenishes the temporarily collected and held mass of grain at trough 617 advantageously resulting in the continuing grain-on-grain threshing at trough 617. This grain-on-grain threshing is surprisingly inherently gentle and extraordinarily efficient compared to direct grain-on-threshing bar threshing and favorably influences grain loss and grain damage by favorably influencing grain cracking and fracturing, according to the principle of the invention.
Trough 618 contributes to the grain-on-grain threshing. Again, the chosen obtuse angle α2 between separating grates 613 and 614 inherently results in upward angle of inclination of separating grate 614 relative to separating grate 613 between separating grates 613 and 614 that is obtuse to, being not acute or perpendicular to, the opposing downstream direction 750 of the oncoming crop material. This advantageously enables grain to inherently collect and be held in trough 618 when the crop material is driven over trough 618 between separating grates 613 and 614 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in direction 750 from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600. At the same time, the upward obtuse angle of inclination of deflecting surface 612 into the opposing downstream direction of the oncoming crop material advantageously enables deflecting surface 612 to partially and not completely restrict the flow of the grains driven over deflecting surface 612 by the rotor of the rotary processing unit in direction 750 from the upstream end of concave 600 to the downstream end of concave 600 causing grains build up and temporarily collect and be held as a mass of grains not only in trough 617 from end 710 to end 711 of bar 605 before they fall and drain away through separating grate 614 extending across trough 617 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain but also in trough 618 from end 710 to end 711 of bar 605 before they fall and drain away from separating grates 613 and 614 including the part of separating grate 613 extending across trough 618 under the mass of temporarily collected and held grain. This advantageously concurrently causes the oncoming flow of grains in direction 750 to inherently drive over the mass of grains temporarily collected and held in troughs 617 and 618 advantageously resulting in a grain-on-grain threshing at troughs 617 and 618, according to the principle of the invention. This grain-on-grain threshing persists at troughs 617 and 618 during operation of the rotary processing unit, in which grain continuously temporarily collects in troughs 617 and 618 and steadily falls and is drained away from trough 617 through the section of separating grate 614 extending across trough 617 and from trough 618 through the section of separating grate 613 extending across trough 618, while at same time same time the oncoming grain is continuously driven over and threshed against and continually replenishes the temporarily collected and held mass of grain at troughs 617 and 618 advantageously resulting in the continuing grain-on-grain threshing at troughs 617 and 618. This grain-on-grain threshing is surprisingly inherently gentle and extraordinarily efficient compared to direct grain-on-threshing bar threshing and favorably influences grain loss and grain damage by favorably influencing grain cracking and fracturing, according to the principle of the invention. Obtuse angle α2 between separating grate 612 and separating grate 614 is less than obtuse angle α2 in order to generally follow the curvature of frames 601 and 602, and is from 155 degrees to 175 degrees.
The bars 605, including at their opposite ends 710 and 711, are not affixed to be immovable using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to curved end members 660 and 670, after seating the opposite ends 710 and 711, opposed tongues, one after the other, into the corresponding angle slots 700, which removably connects bars 605 to frame 602. As a result, bars 605 are removably connected to frame 602 simply by seating/inserting the opposite ends 710 and 711, one after the other, of each bar 605 into a corresponding pair of aligned slots 700 of the respective curved end members 660 and 670, and readily removed from frame 602 by withdrawing the opposite ends 110 and 111, one after the other, from the respective angle slots 700.
As described above, the bars 605 are not affixed to frame 602 using any suitable technique, such as by welding, to members 660 and 670, to be permanently connected to frame 602, such that the only way to remove them would be to destroy such a permanent connection. The described engagement assembly between each bar 605 and frame 602, each engagement assembly being pairs of tongue-and-slot engagement assemblies, one being end 710 and a corresponding slot 700 of member 660 and the other being end 711 and a corresponding slot 700 of member 670, is a non-destructive, removable and impermanent connection, which means that the tongue-and-slot connection between each of ends 710 and 711 and each corresponding slot 700 does not require the destruction of the engagement assembly, such as by cutting, in order to remove the various bars 605 from frame 602.
To removably install the separate bars 605 on frame 602 in
Keys 721 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 660 from end 661 to end 662, keys 722 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 670 from end 671 to end 672, keys 725 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 660 from end 661 to end 662, and keys 726 are equally spaced apart longitudinally on the outer side of member 670 from end 671 to end 672, when bars 605 are installed on frame 602. The spacing of keys 721 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 645 of member 640, the spacing keys 722 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 655 of member 650, the spacing of keys 725 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 646 of member 640, and the spacing keys 726 corresponds to the spacing of keyways 656 of member 650, when bars 605 are installed on frame 602.
Once all the bars 605 are installed on frame 602 in
Bars 605 are releasably secured and locked in place to frames 601 and 602, when bars 605 are installed on frame 602 and when frame 602 is juxtaposed to frame 601, in which the tongue-and-slot engagement assemblies between bars 605 and frame 602 define non-destructive removable connections releasably connecting bars 605 to frame 602 and the key-and-keyway engagement assemblies between bars 605 and frame 601 define non-destructive removable catch connections releasably catching bars 605 to frame 601. Curved end member 640 is releasably connected to curved end member 660 with nut-and-bolt fasteners 690, and curved end member 650 is releasably connected to curved end member 670 with nut-and-bolt fasteners 692. Accordingly, in the closed position of frames 601 and 602 when bars 605 are installed on frame 602, frame 602 is within frame 601, curved end member 660 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along and is in direct contact with the inner side of curved end member 640 that in turn extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 660, keys 721 extend into, being keyed into, keyways 645 of member 640, keys 725 extend into, being keyed into, keyways 646 of member 640, curved end member 670 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along and is in direct contact with the inner side of curved end member 650 that in turn extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 670, keys 722 extend into, being keyed into, keyways 655 of member 650, keys 726 extend into, being keyed into, keyways 656 of member 650, curved end member 660 extends concurrently along the length of curved end member 640 of frame 601 from end 661 juxtaposed to end 642 to end 662 juxtaposed to end 642, and curved end member 670 extends concurrently along the length of curved end member 650 of frame 601 from end 671 juxtaposed to end 651 to end 672 juxtaposed to end 652.
In the closed position of frame 602 defining the closed position of concave 600 in
In the closed position of the frame assembly 620 of concave 600, curved end member 640 of frame 601 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 660 of frame 602 and confronts and makes direct contact against ends 710 of bars 605 on one side of concave 600, and curved end member 650 of frame 601 extends parallel to and is axially juxtaposed along the outer side of curved end member 670 of frame 602 and confronts and makes direct contact against the opposed ends 711 of bars 605 on the opposed side of concave assembly 600, which interaction entraps bars 605 by and between frames 601 and 602. Curved end members 640 and 650 act as curved stops axially spaced from one another and juxtaposed on either side of the respective curved end members 660 and 670 of frame 602 and the respective ends 710 and 711 of the respective bars 605 for entrapping bars 605 to frame 602 by contacting the respective bar 605 ends 710 and 711 preventing the bars 605 from being displaced for, in turn, preventing the opposite ends 710 and 711 of each of the bars 605 from being non-destructively removed from the corresponding slots 700 thereby preventing independent non-destructive removal of the bars 605 relative to each other from frame 602.
Keys 721 and 722 carried by bars 605 are catch elements, and keyways 645 and 655 of members 640 and 650 of frame 601 are corresponding complemental catch elements. Keys 721 and 722 of each bar 605 and the corresponding keyways 645 and 655 that relate to keys 722 and 722 of each bar 605 define a catch assembly, in which each catch assembly non-destructively catches each of bars 605 to frame 601, when frame 602 is juxtaposed to frame 601 and when keys 721 and 722 are inserted into the respective keyways 645 and 655, in which the engagement of each of keys 721 and 722 to a corresponding one of keyways 645 and 655 forms a non-destructive removable catch connections. Although in each catch assembly keys 721 and 722 are carried by a bar 605 and the corresponding keyways 645 and 655 are carried by the respective members 640 and 650, this arrangement can be reversed in an alternate embodiment, in which keys 721 and 722 can be carried by members 640 and 650 and keyways 645 and 655 can be carried by the respective ends 710 and 711 of bars 605.
Keys 725 and 726 carried by bars 605 are additional catch elements, and keyways 646 and 656 of members 640 and 650 of frame 601 are corresponding additional complemental catch elements. Keys 725 and 726 of each bar 605 and the corresponding keyways 646 and 656 that relate to keys 726 and 726 of each bar 605 define a catch assembly, in which each catch assembly additionally non-destructively catches each of bars 605 to frame 601, when frame 602 is juxtaposed to frame 601 and when keys 725 and 726 are inserted into the respective keyways 646 and 656, in which the engagement of each of keys 725 and 726 to a corresponding one of keyways 646 and 656 forms a non-destructive removable catch connections. Although in each catch assembly keys 725 and 726 are carried by a bar 605 and the corresponding keyways 646 and 656 are carried by the respective members 640 and 650, this arrangement can be reversed in an alternate embodiment, in which keys 725 and 726 can be carried by members 640 and 650 and keyways 646 and 656 can be carried by the respective ends 710 and 711 of bars 605. With concave 600 so assembled, concave 600 can be used in the customary manner in a rotary processing unit. In the rotary processing unit, bars 605 extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating threshing drum, and separating grates 613 and 614, deflecting surface 612, threshing edge 611A, and troughs 617 and 618 adjacent to top edges 465 and 675 of curved end members 660 and 670 of frame 602 to provide threshing, including the previously-described grain-on-grain threshing, of the harvested crop and openings 615 between corner segments 712 and the corresponding openings of separating grates 613 and 614 are for grain to pass through, in which continuous edges 734 of separating grate 614 and continuous edges 745 of separating grate 613 each define an aggressive continuous threshing edge for threshing crop material. Accordingly, each separating grate 614 concurrently serves the purposes threshing the crop and separating grain through openings 732 from the threshed crop material, each separating grate 613 concurrently serves the purposes threshing the crop and separating grain through openings 742 from the threshed crop material, each deflecting surface 612 gently loosens and peels the husks from the grain and inhibiting grain cracking, threshing edge 611A provide additional downstream crop threshing, and grain collected in troughs 617 and 618 provide the gain-on-grain threshing, according to the principle of the invention.
In a rotary combine, a single concave 600 can be utilized as the concave or multiple shorter concaves 600 can be arranged end-to-end and side-to-side to form the concave. Should bars 605 become worn or damaged to require replacement or repair, nut-and-bolt fasteners 690 and 692 are simply removed to release frame 602 from frame 601, and frame 601 is removed from frame 602 to place frame 602 in its open position defining the open position of the frame assembly 620 and of concave 600 to allow any of the bars 605 needing replacement or repair to be easily removed, repaired or replaced, and reinstalled, in accordance with the principle of the invention.
Attention is now directed to
Base frame 802 carries or otherwise supports threshing beds 804. Threshing beds 804 are parallel relative to one another and form openings 806 therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bed 804 is structured to favorably influence crop-threshing capacity, grain damage and grain loss and includes opposed ends 810 and 812, a length from end 810 to end 812, inner extremity 814, outer extremity 816 and separating grate 818 extending across an adjacent one of openings 806 between inner extremity 814 and outer extremity 816 for separating grain from threshed crop material. Separating grate 818 extends along the length between ends 810 and 812, is between inner extremity 814 and outer extremity 816 and includes grate openings and spaced-apart bars discussed in detail below. The bars are each between adjacent grate openings and include struts and severed bars. Each strut connects two adjacent parts of separating grate 818 between adjacent grate openings. Each severed bar includes bar segments, each connected to one part of separating grate 818, extending inwardly toward one another to respective free ends on either side of a gap between adjacent grate openings. The free ends serve as threshing ends that favorably influence crop-threshing capacity. In this example, threshing beds 804 are rigidly affixed to frame 802 by welding and suitable fasteners can be used in alternate embodiments according to known techniques. Frame 802 and threshing beds 804 are made of the customary steel as is normal in the field of concaves. Referring in relevant part to
Curved end member 820 has opposed ends 822 and 824, curved end member 830 has opposed ends 832 and 834 and curved intermediate member 840 has opposed ends 842 and 844. Transverse support member 850 at a downstream end of concave 800 extends between and is rigidly affixed to ends 822 and 832 of curved end members 820 and 830 and end 842 of curved intermediate member 840 via welding or suitable fasteners. Transverse support member 842 at an upstream end of concave 800 extends between and is joined to ends 824 and 834 of curved end members 820 and 830 and end 844 of curved intermediate member 840 via welding or suitable fasteners. Transverse support members 840 and 842 are elongate caps. Base frame 802 is configured to carry or otherwise support threshing beds 804.
Threshing beds 804, or simply beds 804, are set one adjacent to another on base frame 802 and are parallel relative to each other from transverse support member 852 at the upstream end of concave 800 to transverse support member 850 at the downstream end of concave 800 to form the previously-described openings 806 therebetween for grain to pass through. Beds 804 are supported by and extend axially between curved end members 820 and 830 and across curved intermediate member 840. Each separating grate 818 extends across an adjacent one of openings 806 between the inner extremity 814 and the outer extremity 816 thereof 804 for separating grain from threshed crop material. The outer extremity 816 of each bed 804 overlaps the inner extremity 814 of the adjacent bed 804 except for the outer extremity 816 of the outermost or downstream-most bed 804 at the downstream end of concave which rests atop transverse support member 850.
Curved end member 820 has a top edge denoted generally at 826 in
Seats 860 are each longitudinally straight in a direction from the upstream end of concave 800 at transverse support member 852 to the downstream end of concave 800 at transverse support member 850. Seats 860 are coextensive and identical and there is a notch 862 for each seat 860. Each seat 860 extends toward the downstream end of concave 800 from one of notches 862 and there is a notch 862 between each pair of adjacent seats 860. Except for the notches 862 of the axially-aligned seats 860 of the respective curved end members 820 and 830 at the upstream end of concave 800, which are formed by either side of transverse support member 852 and the corresponding adjacent seats 860 formed in the respective top edges 826 and 836, all notches 862 are angular cuts or indentations in top edges 826 and 836 and each notch 862 steps down from the adjacent upstream seat 860 to the adjacent downstream seat 860. Again, each seat 860 extends from a corresponding notch 862 toward the downstream end of concave 800.
Seats 860 formed in top edges 826 and 836 along the curvatures of curved end members 820 and 830 of concave 800 from its upstream end to its downstream end are each configured to face into a direction of movement of a rotor of a rotary processing of a combine in the general direction of the upstream end of concave 800 when concave 800 is installed in an agricultural combine. The innermost or upstream-most axially-aligned seats 860 of curved end members 820 and 930 extend from corresponding notches 862 formed by the respective ends of transverse support member 850. Each remaining seat 860 extends between adjacent notches 862 of the respective top edges 826 and 836 except for the axially-aligned outermost or downstream-most seats 860 of the respective curved end members 820 and 30, which extend from the respective outermost or downstream-most notches 862 to transverse support member 850. Threshing beds 804 are set onto the respective pairs of axially-aligned seats 860 and secured in place. Threshing beds 804 follow the directions of the respective axially-aligned seats 860 from the respective axially-aligned notches 862 in a direction from the upstream end of concave 800 to the downstream end of concave 800 and thereby concurrently face into the direction of movement of a rotor of a rotary processing unit in the general direction of the upstream end of concave 800 when concave 800 is installed in an agricultural combine, in accordance with the principle of the invention. Threshing beds 804 are identical, one of which will now be discussed in reference in relevant part to
Threshing bed 804 is an integral or unitary member and is preferably formed from a single piece of solid, flat, rectangular stock having a uniform thickness and from which separating grate 818 is cut and which is kept flat and is not bent. Separating grate 818 is cut from the single piece of flat stock by a suitable water jet cutter or other suitable industrial cutting tool or machine.
Bed 804 includes ends 810 and 812 and inner and outer extremities 814 and 816, and has opposed upper and lower surfaces 870 and 872 and a thickness T from upper surface 870 to lower surface 872. Ends 810 and 812 are equal in length and parallel relative to one another. Ends 810 and 812 extend from inner extremity 814 to outer extremity 816 on either end of bed 804 and are perpendicular relative to inner and outer extremities 814 and 816. Ends 810 and 812 are each unbroken from inner extremity 814 to outer extremity 816. Inner and outer extremities 814 and 816 are equal in length and parallel relative to one another. Inner and outer extremities 814 and 816 extend from end 810 to end 812 on either side of bed 804 and are perpendicular relative to ends 810 and 812. Inner and outer extremities 814 and 816 are each unbroken from end 810 to end 812. Bed 804 has a width W6 from inner extremity 814 to outer extremity 816 and a length L from end 810 to end 812.
The width W6 and length L of bed 804 are uniform from end 810 to end 812. The width W6 of bed 804 is substantially shorter than length L of bed 804. Accordingly, bed 804 is generally rectangular in overall shape. The thickness T of bed 804 between upper surface 870 and lower surface 872 is uniform, approximately ¼-⅜ of an inch in this particular example. Accordingly, in addition to its rectangular shape bed 804 is also entirely flat and straight both from end 810 and from inner extremity 814 to outer extremity 816.
Separating grate 818 formed in the thickness T of the material of bed 804 from upper surface 870 to lower surface 872 extends along the length of bed 804 between ends 810 and 812 and extends along the width W6 of bed 804 between inner extremity 814 and outer extremity 816. Separating grate 818 includes intermediate longitudinal member 880, grate openings 882 through thickness T from upper surface 870 to lower surface 872, grate openings 884 through thickness T from upper surface 870 to lower surface 872, bars, denoted generally at 886, each between adjacent grate openings 882, and bars, denoted generally at 888, each between adjacent grate openings 884. Grate openings 882 and bars 886 are between longitudinal member 880 and inner extremity 814. Grate openings 884 and bars 888 are between longitudinal member 880 and outer extremity 816.
Longitudinal member 880 is parallel relative to inner and outer extremities 814 and 816 and perpendicular relative to ends 810 and 812. Longitudinal member 880 is between inner and outer extremities 814 and 816, is equidistant between inner and outer extremities 814 and 816 in this example and extends along the length L of bed 804 from end 810 to end 812. Longitudinal member 880 is unbroken from end 810 to end 812.
Bars 886 are spaced apart longitudinally between ends 810 and 812, are parallel relative to one another and to ends 810 and 812 and are perpendicular relative to inner extremity 814, outer extremity 816 and longitudinal member 880. Bars 886 are axially aligned from end 810 to end 812, extend between inner extremity 814 and longitudinal member 880 and cooperate with ends 810 and 812, inner extremity 814 and longitudinal member 880 to form grate openings 882 through the thickness T of bed 804 between longitudinal member 880 and inner extremity 814. Grate openings 882 between inner extremity 814 and longitudinal member 880 are spaced apart longitudinally between ends 810 and 812 by bars 886 and are axially aligned from end 810 to end 812. Each grate opening 882 defined between adjacent bars 886 and is closed proximally by inner extremity 814 and distally by longitudinal member 880. Grate openings 882, each of which is encircled by adjacent bars 886, inner extremity 814 and longitudinal member 880, are for grain to pass through. The edge 883 to each grate opening 882 at upper surface 870 of bed 804 that faces the rotary processing unit when concave 800 is installed in an agricultural combine is a threshing edge of separating grate 818.
There is a bar 886 between each adjacent pair of grate openings 882. Bars 886 include un-severed bars or struts each denoted at 900 for clarity and severed bars each denoted at 902 for clarity. Each strut 900 is between adjacent grate openings 882 and each severed bar 902 is between adjacent grate openings 882.
Each strut 900 extends between and connects longitudinal member 880 and inner extremity 814 between adjacent grate openings 882. Accordingly, each strut 900 connects two adjacent parts of separating grate 818, namely, longitudinal member 880 and inner extremity 814, between adjacent grate openings 882. Struts 900 extending between and connecting inner extremity 814 and longitudinal member 880 are unbroken or otherwise un-severed to thereby serve as structural supports configured to impart structural rigidity to bed 804 and to enable bed 804 to resist twisting and bending.
Severed bars 902 are identical. Each severed bar 902 extends between longitudinal member 880 and inner extremity 814 between adjacent grate openings 882 and includes bar segments A1 and A2 extending inwardly toward one another, bar segment A1 from longitudinal member 880 and bar segment A2 from inner extremity 814, to respective free ends A1′ and A2′ on either side of a gap 910 between adjacent grate openings 882. In each severed bar 902, free end A1′ of bar segment A1 faces the opposed free end A2′ of bar segment A2 in the direction of inner extremity 814, and free end A2′ of bar segment A2 faces free end A1′ in the opposite direction toward longitudinal member 880 and outer extremity 816. Free ends A1′ and A2′, each on either side of a gap 910, each serve as a threshing end. In this example, bar segments A1 and A2 of each severed bar 902 are inline. Bar segments A1 and A2 of each severed bar 902 are also coextensive, although then can be disproportionate in alternate embodiments.
Bars 888 are spaced apart longitudinally between ends 810 and 812, are parallel relative to one another and to ends 810 and 812 and are perpendicular relative to inner extremity 814, outer extremity 816 and longitudinal member 880. Bars 888 are axially aligned from end 810 to end 812, extend between outer extremity 816 and longitudinal member 880 and cooperate with ends 810 and 812, outer extremity 816 and longitudinal member 880 to form grate openings 884 through the thickness T of bed 804 between longitudinal member 880 and outer extremity 816. Grate openings 884 between outer extremity 816 and longitudinal member 880 are spaced apart longitudinally by bars 888 between ends 810 and 812 and are axially aligned from end 810 to end 812. Each grate opening 884 defined between adjacent bars 888 and is closed distally by outer extremity 816 and proximally by longitudinal member 880. Grate openings 884, each of which is encircled by adjacent bars 888, outer extremity 816, and longitudinal member 880, are for grain to pass through. The edge 885 to each grate opening 882 at upper surface 870 of bed 804 that faces the rotary processing unit when concave 800 is installed in an agricultural combine is a threshing edge of separating grate 818.
There is a bar 888 between each adjacent pair of grate openings 884. Bars 888 include un-severed bars or struts each denoted at 920 for clarity and severed bars each denoted at 922 for clarity. Each strut 920 is between adjacent grate openings 884 and each severed bar 922 is between adjacent grate openings 884.
Each strut 920 extends between and connects longitudinal member 880 and outer extremity 816 between adjacent grate openings 884. Accordingly, each strut 920 connects two adjacent parts of separating grate 818, namely, longitudinal member 880 and outer extremity 816, between adjacent grate openings 884. Struts 920 extending between and connecting outer extremity 816 and longitudinal member 880 and are unbroken or otherwise un-severed to thereby serve as structural supports configured to impart structural rigidity to bed 804 and to enable bed 804 to resist twisting and bending. Severed bars 922 are identical. Each severed bar 922 extends between longitudinal member 880 and outer extremity 816 between adjacent grate openings 884, and includes bar segments B1 and B2 extending inwardly toward one another, bar segment B1 from outer extremity 816 and bar segment B2 from longitudinal member 880, to respective free ends B1′ and B2′ on either side of a gap 930 between adjacent grate openings 884. In each severed bar 922, free end B1′ of bar segment B1 faces the opposed free end B2′ of bar segment B2 in the direction of longitudinal member 880 and inner extremity 814, and free end B2′ of bar segment B2 faces free end B1′ in the opposite direction toward outer extremity 816. Free ends B1′ and B2′, each on either side of a gap 930, each serve as a threshing end. In this example, and bar segments B1 and B2 of each severed bar 922 are coextensive and inline.
In this example, there are three struts 900A-C and six severed bars 902A-F. Stay 900A is equidistant between ends 810 and 812, stay 900B is between stay 900A and end 810 and stay 900C is between stay 900A and end 812. In this example, there are two grate openings 882 separated by severed bar 902A between stay 900A and stay 900B, three grate openings 882 separated by two respective severed bars 902B and 902C between stay 900B and end 810, two grate openings 882 separated by severed bar 902D between stay 900A and stay 900C, and three grate openings 882 separated by two respective severed bars 902E and 902F between stay 900C and end 812. In this embodiment, grate openings 882 are identical, and stay 900A is slightly larger compared to struts 900B and 900C, which are identical and severed bars 902 are identical as described above.
In this example, there are three struts 920A-C and six severed bars 922A-F. Stay 920A is equidistant between ends 810 and 812, stay 920B is between stay 920A and end 810 and stay 920C is between stay 920A and end 812. In this example, there are two grate openings 884 separated by severed bar 922A between stay 920A and stay 920B, three grate openings 884 separated by two respective severed bars 922B and 922C between stay 920B and end 810, two grate openings 884 separated by severed bar 922D between stay 920A and stay 920C, and three grate openings 884 separated by two respective severed bars 922E and 922F between stay 920C and end 812. In this embodiment, grate openings 884 are identical, and stay 920A is slightly larger compared to struts 920B and 920C, which are identical and severed bars 922 are identical as described above.
In bed 804 shown in
Since the various beds 804 follow the respective pairs of axially-aligned seats 860, i.e. their collective angle of attack, upper surfaces 870 of the respective beds 804 are configured to concurrently face into the direction of movement of a rotor of a rotary processing of a combine in the general direction of the upstream end of concave 800 when concave 800 is installed in an agricultural combine, according to the principle of the invention. This is because beds 804 are flat and have uniform thicknesses T previously described in connection with
And so in the installed position of the various beds 804 on frame 802, in reference in relevant part to
In the rotary processing unit, the crop material is driven over concave 800 in the direction of arrow 940 in
Each separating grate 818 concurrently serves the purposes of threshing the crop and separating grain through gate openings 882 and 884 from the threshed crop material, each upper surface 870 gently loosens and peels the husks from the grain and inhibiting grain cracking, and free ends A1′ of bar segments A1, free ends A2′ of bar segments A2, free ends B1′ of bar segments B1 and free ends B2′ of bar segments B2 at upper surface 870 of each separating grate 818 provide beneficial supplemental crop threshing thereby favorably influencing the crop-threshing capacity of each bed 804, according to the principle of the invention. In a rotary combine, a single concave 800 can be utilized as the concave or multiple shorter concaves 800 can be arranged end-to-end and side-to-side to form the concave.
As described above, ends 810 and 812 of each bed 804 are placed lower surface 872 down over and directly against a pair of axially-aligned seats 860, the inner extremity 814 is nested directly against the corresponding pair of axially-aligned notches 862 and upper surface 872 faces upwardly for facing the rotor of the rotary processing unit. Upper surface 870 and how separating grate 818 relates to it as described herein is the same for lower surface 872. Accordingly, each bed 804 can be placed upper surface 870 down over and directly against a pair of axially-aligned seats 860 and the inner extremity 814 nested directly against the corresponding pair of axially-aligned notches 862 so that lower surface 872 faces upwardly for facing the rotor of the rotary processing unit and the bar 804 will operate identically as described herein, in accordance with the principle of the invention.
The grate 818 of each bed 804 of concave 800 includes twenty relatively large grate openings, namely, grate openings 882 and grate openings 884, and a corresponding number of bars 886 and bars 888 as described above. Beds constructed in accordance with the teachings of bed 804 and having similar constructions with different grate configurations and combinations of grate openings can be used in a concave without departing from the invention, such as the beds in
Bed 970 in
Bed 980 in
Numerous other bed configurations are, of course, possible, such as bed 990 in
The various embodiments of invention have been described above with reference to illustrative embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.
Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210015048 A1 | Jan 2021 | US |
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| Parent | 14197595 | Mar 2014 | US |
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| Parent | 16840418 | Apr 2020 | US |
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